Dessert with a side of American history: Peach Cobbler

Easy and flexible to make, peach cobbler is a simple, rustic dessert with a rich history. Recipe below.

THE OTHER NIGHT WE WERE IN TRADER JOE’S PICKING UP OUR USUAL BASICS—nuts, wine, pasta, tiny avocados—when we noticed a display of boxes of peaches. And not just peaches. Big, ripe peaches that, when I opened the box lid, sent up a beautiful fragrant invitation. Yes, I said, even though I wasn’t sure what the universe was inviting me to. Continue reading “Dessert with a side of American history: Peach Cobbler” →

Light, airy and not too sweet: Lemon Lavender Scones

These lemony treats are perfect for breakfast, a snack with coffee or tea, or just because. Recipe below.

PUT ME IN A NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY OR COFFEE SHOP and you can be pretty sure I’ll be looking for scones. And the scones that hit the sweet spot for me are the not-too-sweet ones. No chocolate chunks or sugary glaze, thank you. Just a tiny bit of sweetness, maybe some fruit and/or nuts (or not), and maybe an herb thing going on. Like these Lemon Lavender Scones. Continue reading “Light, airy and not too sweet: Lemon Lavender Scones” →

Chocolate x 2: Chocolate/Chocolate Chip Cake

Chocolate chips are part of the chocolate cake batter and the two-ingredient frosting on this rich, easy-to-make cake. Recipe below.

THE OTHER DAY I WENT INTO THE PANTRY to find something or other, and I did not find it, but I did come across a lot of bags of chocolate chips. I am not even sure where they came from, as I don’t recall actually buying any at all in the first place. Well, maybe one bag, around the holidays, for a project that had temporarily flitted through the brain. But… is this five bags of chocolate chips? That is a lot of chocolate chips for a two-person household. Continue reading “Chocolate x 2: Chocolate/Chocolate Chip Cake” →

Third time’s the charm: Chocolate Bundt Cake with Bourbon Glaze

This deliciously chocolate, finely crumbed cake is iced with a three-ingredient bourbon glaze. Recipe below.

I BAKED THIS CAKE THREE TIMES BEFORE I GOT IT RIGHT. Three times. Three. The problem was not the flavor—a lovely chocolate—or the texture—finely crumbed and pleasing and entirely too easy to eat. It was the pan. Continue reading “Third time’s the charm: Chocolate Bundt Cake with Bourbon Glaze” →

A classic dessert bread gets a nutty, umami twist: Miso Banana Bread

Sweet white miso adds delicious umami, sunflower and pumpkin seeds a nice crunch, to this not-to-sweet spin on banana bread. Recipe below.

WE LOVE BANANA BREAD. Blue Kitchen already has three different banana bread recipes, and to be honest, I was surprised that there were only three. Now there are four. Continue reading “A classic dessert bread gets a nutty, umami twist: Miso Banana Bread” →

A not-too-sweet anytime treat: Blueberry Sour Cream Cake

Blueberries and sour cream are the basis of this modestly sweet cake a dessert, a breakfast treat, a mid-day pick-me-up. Recipe below.

WE ARE STILL BEING VERY CAUTIOUS THESE DAYS. We are not flying. We are not going into our offices. We are only going into shops and the library and other public places when they are relatively empty. We aren’t going to bars at all, which is so sad. But we are still seeing people, with great care, as we wait out what looks to be a multi-year pandemic. Meaning we still want to have some treats on hand, just in case. Thus this simple bundt cake. Continue reading “A not-too-sweet anytime treat: Blueberry Sour Cream Cake” →

Simple, sunshiney Lemon Blondies

Lemon juice and zest in both the blondies and the glaze give these super easy treats an addictively bright flavor. Recipe below.

FEBRUARY IS NONSENSE. Outside, the 32 inches of snowfall around our house is melting in a depressing, half-assed way; our backyard and gangway are a hell of snow mounds and falling ice. But inside, we have this—this easy little jolt of sunshine. Continue reading “Simple, sunshiney Lemon Blondies” →

Cinnamony, sweet (but not too), cozy Apple Cake

Chunks of apples dot this simple, rustic apple cake. Recipe below.

THE STREETS KEEP FILLING UP WITH SNOW. And while our neighbors are really great about clearing their walks, there still is plenty of scary ice out there, and plenty of mounds and ramparts of snow at all the corners, and more snow is coming down as I write this, and the deep freeze is definitely here. Two days ago, we only went outside to finish excavating the car. (And yes, when we drove it out, we set out dibs to save our spot. We do live in Chicago.) Yesterday and today I didn’t go outside at all, except when a pal brought over our Girl Scout Cookie delivery (thanks again, Al!). Continue reading “Cinnamony, sweet (but not too), cozy Apple Cake” →

Tinkering with a perfect, simple classic: the Perfectly Chocolate Cake

A perfectly simple (really simple) classic chocolate cake gets more interesting with cayenne pepper, cinnamon and buttermilk. Recipe below.

YESTERDAY WAS MY BIRTHDAY AND TODAY I AM EATING A PIECE OF CAKE while I write about cake. Originally I intended to get fancy and order a cake—to have it delivered or pick it up somewhere. But in the interest of self-preservation, we are still not going into shops, and as I hunted around here in Chicago, I found that pretty much nobody offered contactless curbside pickup of cakes (and I can’t blame them, what with Christmas and all). And the delivery options scared the pants off me. $200 for a cake? For two people? EEEEEEEEEEEE Naw. Continue reading “Tinkering with a perfect, simple classic: the Perfectly Chocolate Cake” →

Perfect for giving—or keeping for yourself: Pecan Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Pecans, rosemary, plenty of butter and not too much sugar make rich, satisfying and not-too-sweet cookies. Recipe below.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US. DIFFERENT, BUT STILL HERE. We’ve been sending and receiving packages, mostly not gift wrapped, sent directly by the company (and often from the maker): “You guys are getting a package from a potter in Racine today—don’t open it!” And you know what ships well? Or drops off on doorsteps? Cookies! Continue reading “Perfect for giving—or keeping for yourself: Pecan Rosemary Shortbread Cookies” →