In a few days' time, we will be loading up the car and heading to our older daughter and son in law's for Christmas. I may have possibly mentioned how much we look forward to this every year in the Anadama Cinnamon Roll post earlier this week. But, this has not been an easy month for us. Larry's Dad passed away early in December, and things have been kind of a blur since then. It wasn't unexpected, as he had been in poor health for some time, and in some ways it was a bit of a relief because he ... Read More about Snowball Cookies
Baking
Anadama Cinnamon Rolls
Because we don't usually host Christmas at our own house anymore, I try to be a good guest by supplying a few treats when we show up for a week of festivities. Our older daughter and her family have a little less flexibility than we do, so we generally head up to the northern part of the state to spend a week or so in the land of grandchildren. It's a magical place where certain of the residents think you are about the best thing since sliced bread, and don't mind telling you so, even as early ... Read More about Anadama Cinnamon Rolls
Almond Shortbread
I have a terrible weakness for the rich, buttery taste of good shortbread, most recently, for Almond Shortbread. I taught Sunday School for years and each Christmas, the Mom of one of the families in the church made each teacher a lovely little shortbread cake. They were about 6 inches across with golden edges and little holes all over the top. Once all 3 of that family’s kids had gone through my 1st and 2nd grade class, I just happened to move into the Junior High class, which meant I got to ... Read More about Almond Shortbread
Chewy Chocolate Crinkles
Time to get out all of the baking sheets, mixing bowls, measuring spoons and the big bottle of vanilla extract! You know - it's Christmas Cookie time! My Mom always had this idea that we should eat a healthy diet, so for the majority of year, we really didn't get a lot of sweets. I know it sounds crazy, but we had to get by on stuff made with whole wheat flour, raw sugar and carob powder. Then came Christmastime and all bets were off - Mom baked mountains of all our favorites and for a few ... Read More about Chewy Chocolate Crinkles
Butternut Squash Quick Bread
One of the things that our garden produces in enormous abundance is winter squash. Our soil seems to be perfect for them, as the vines grow vigorously and if left to their own devices, will churn out tons of squash. We have learned not to plant quite so many hills, and also to trim them back throughout the summer, to ensure we not be quite so overwhelmed by them. Still, they are a big favorite of ours and little treats like this are one reason. Did you know that you can substitute an orange ... Read More about Butternut Squash Quick Bread
Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Whoopie Pies
I hardly know where to begin. These are ... epic? Is epic too strong a word for cookies? I might have thought so before I made these, but now I am thinking it just might be possible for a mere cookie to attain a sort of hero-like status. We shall see. A few years ago, my cousin sent me a recipe for Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, and I used a version of it on my old blog. I think the reason that he thought to send it to me, was because of our shared memory of our Grandmother, from whose kitchen issued ... Read More about Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Whoopie Pies
Apple Crisp Bars
There is no big back story here - I love apple crisp, and I wanted to turn it into something a little more portable, like a bar. Apples have done very well around here this year, which has brought the prices way down, and it is really difficult for me to pass up a deal, so we've ended up with quite a supply of all my favorites - Northern Spies, Cortlands, Jonagold, Macintosh and Macouns. Later in the season, some of these varieties get a little softer, and they aren't so great for baking, but ... Read More about Apple Crisp Bars
Sweet Zucchini Cornbread
If you spend any time on this blog at all, you are probably already aware of my extreme affection for cornbread. In the winter months, we have it often, alongside chili, stew and soups. This version though, for us anyway, is strictly a garden season version. I refuse to buy summer squash at the market, because I am spoiled rotten by the flavor of zucchini, pattypans and yellow crooknecks that have been off the vine only 10 minutes before we eat them. Nothing else compares, and I would rather do ... Read More about Sweet Zucchini Cornbread
Summer Squash Gingerbread Loaf
The best of summer veggies combined with fall baking! This Summer Squash Gingerbread Loaf was conceived from a conversation. Though I live in a rural area, I am very fortunate to have a group of blogging friends to hang out with. These are other people who actually understand what it's like to work from home. How to be your own boss, but also to slave for hours over a post. To work forever to get your photos to tell the story, or to wrestle a sentence into submission, no matter how long it ... Read More about Summer Squash Gingerbread Loaf
Almond Brownies
Brownies. Really, there are few things in life that are more sublime than a really nice batch of fudgy, rich brownies. it is one of the first things I ever remember baking on my own, using my Mom's stained recipe card to guide me. Mom was a bit of a chocolate freak, so this recipe had been used many times. This was quite a long time ago, when box mixes were in their infancy, and pretty terrible. Mom held them in very low esteem, and I have to say that I agree with her about that. Particularly ... Read More about Almond Brownies
Cherry Limeade Cupcakes
I know I have mentioned my terrible addiction to you before. It’s one that I share with my spouse and we are a very bad influence on each other when it comes to this particular obsession. Cherries are irresistible to both of us and I don't think we are interested in rehab. If one of us resolves that we have gone over the top, the other says “No! We haven’t gone far enough!” – and runs to the store, to buy more cherries. For about 6 glorious weeks, we gorge ourselves on them. It would be nothing ... Read More about Cherry Limeade Cupcakes
Rhubarb Kuchen
It is such a luxury this year to have all the rhubarb I could want. Our oldest plants are finally 3 years old, which means we can pick from them pretty freely - yay! As my Mom reminded me on a another rhubarb post a few weeks ago, my grandmother loved rhubarb, and I can still remember the gooey sweet and tart pies that she made with it. She would give us little bits to eat raw, and even though it was so puckery-sour that it nearly turned us cross-eyed, we ate them anyway. They were a taste of ... Read More about Rhubarb Kuchen