Rhubarb is definitely one of my favorite things in all the world, and this Brown Butter Rhubarb Cake is not the only reason. There are few things that are more rewarding to grow. Once established, it will continue to produce pretty much for the rest of your life. It is a big plant, but not unattractive, so it's not hard to find a spot for it, even in an urban setting. You have to give a couple years after first planting before picking very much, but after that, so long as you keep the flower ... Read More about Brown Butter Rhubarb Cake
Cakes
Quick and Easy Chocolate Snack Cake
Snack Cakes are a very good thing to have in your bag of tricks. A snack cake implies a fast prep, probably without a mixer, and fairly simple ingredients. This Chocolate Snack Cake is all that, and results in a cake that is richer, moister and with a more refined texture than you might expect. You can thank the buttermilk for the texture, because it gives this cake a nice light rise, while it enhances the chocolate flavor. If you spend any time on this blog at all, you are probably already ... Read More about Quick and Easy Chocolate Snack Cake
Upside Down Ginger Pear Cake
This post isn't just a recipe. It's also an ode to my favorite cast iron skillet. Larry and Ellyn gave it to me for my birthday in 1981, before Lauren was even born. He got it at the local hardware store, and I think he paid something like 8 dollars for it. I can still remember how excited Ellyn was when I was ripping off the wrapping paper. As do most kids, she loved giving presents and being part of the surprise. Though, only a few months earlier, she had over the course of a couple days, told ... Read More about Upside Down Ginger Pear Cake
Chocolate Pudding Cake
Why do we equate chocolate with affection? And Valentines Day? Who cares? Not me, that is for sure. I never have a struggle finding reasons to have chocolate in any case, but an actual chocolate-sanctioned holiday? I'm there. I can completely buy that chocolate means love, and if we are going to celebrate love, chocolate is the best way to do it. The trouble is, my own object of affection isn't very fond of chocolate in large amounts. He hid this from me until after we were married, which I ... Read More about Chocolate Pudding Cake
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bundt Cake
As you are reading this today, I hope that you are enjoying memories of a wonderful Christmas. We spent it up north, as we usually do, and this year Larry's Mom went with us, as it less than a month since we lost his Dad. It has been awhile since she could travel anywhere, because Larry's Dad was ill for so long, so she had never been to our older daughter's house before. As expected, it was a bit bittersweet for her, but I think it helped her get through a difficult time a little more easily. ... Read More about Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bundt Cake
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
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
Clementine Crunch Cake
Aren't clementines like the best thing ever? Peeling requires so little effort, and yet it reveals so much delicious juicy flavor. It's hard to restrain yourself, and even buying a 5 pound box doesn't seem to make them stick around for long. I had plans to work on this cake and twice, when I was ready to begin, the clementines were all gone! That required an extra trip to town, and another 5 pound box. What a pity, huh? Which brings up the question of what to do with those little boxes, once ... Read More about Clementine Crunch Cake
Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Pound cake - sometimes I think it exists just to prove that often, the simplest things are the very best of all. When it comes to making a cake, there are few that have more simple or humble ingredients than a pound cake. And, I would argue, there are none that taste better. A pound cake must have a few crucial requirements. Dense, but not heavy texture. A rich buttery flavor. A crisp, deeply colored exterior that retains a little bit of crunch, even after it cools. It also requires a finished ... Read More about Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Blueberry Skillet Cake
After a couple weeks of awful hot and humid weather, where no sane person entertained even the ghost of an idea that involved turning on the oven, I woke the other morning to cool, crisp air and a weather forecast that said the day would stay that way. Just what I was waiting for, as we had a container of freshly picked blueberries in the fridge, that I had been hoping would get a chance to be in this cake. I actually worked on this recipe last August, but ran out of blueberries before I had a ... Read More about Blueberry Skillet Cake