I actually made this a few weeks ago, after yet another family visit that left behind the remains of a bunch of bananas. Neither of us is at all fond of eating fresh bananas, particularly ones that are getting past their prime. On the other hand, such bananas are just reaching the perfect stage for baking, and we are both big fans of baked stuff with bananas. And if your grandkids happen to leave behind some nearly-overripe bananas and you don't feel like baking with them right away, did you ... Read More about Banana Streusel Coffee Cake
Recipes
Margherita Roasted Potatoes
I'm working to get the last of our summer produce "put up" before it's too late. Kind of a bummer to have to interrupt my taking photos of pretty leaves and pinning things in Pinterest to can more tomatoes, but tomatoes won't wait! I try to also find as many ways as I can for us to enjoy the veggies we have while they are still fresh. Canned tomatoes are very welcome in January, but right now I want to enjoy them straight off the vine, and all the ones I can cram into meals now, are ones I don't ... Read More about Margherita Roasted Potatoes
Skillet Pumpkin Fudge Brownies
This recipe solves a pesky little kitchen problem that I will bet anything you have run across. It goes like this: You find a great recipe for some pumpkin muffins, or maybe pumpkin doughnuts. You open a typical grocery store can of pumpkin puree, measure out the one cup needed for the recipe - and don't they all just need that ONE cup - and then thriftily scrape out all of the remaining pumpkin into a refrigerator dish and pop in in the fridge. "I'll make some thing out of that later in the ... Read More about Skillet Pumpkin Fudge Brownies
Pumpkin Raisin Yeast Bread
It is getting to be that time of year. You know - when there is pumpkin everything, everywhere you look! I confess I don't really "get" pumpkin coffee drinks at all - I guess probably because I'm not particularly fond of sweet coffee, unless it also involves chocolate. But, pumpkin everything else, I am very much okay with. Like this Pumpkin Raisin Yeast Bread! Our own pumpkins did well this year - we have quite a nice number of lovely little pie pumpkins to use this fall. This ... Read More about Pumpkin Raisin Yeast Bread
Lemon Garlic Salt
It has been a busy couple of weeks here at home. Larry retired at the end of August, and though you might think that would mean we have more time, we actually seem to have less than ever. A lot of things got put off all summer, because we kept saying "We'll have more time in September." Well September is here, and we have to get it all done now. Then the influx of family began, as it does every two years or so, when we try to get as many people together as possible for a nice long visit. That ... Read More about Lemon Garlic Salt
Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Zucchini
Full of fresh late summer veggies! I keep telling myself I have to stop putting zucchini recipes on here this summer, but then, the next thing I know, there is a plate of some sort of new zucchini thing sitting in front of my camera. It's like the zucchini are taking over everything - my garden, my mind, my blog, and most especially my dinner! I tell you - they are insidious! But today, I could not be more glad, because this is an absolutely fantastic meal. Ready in no time, it can be vegetarian ... Read More about Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Zucchini
Blueberry Ginger Buttermilk Cake
A lovely late summer cake! Alas, this will be the final blueberry post for the summer of '14. Not the last blueberry thing we'll eat, for sure. We freeze blueberries to use in the wintertime. They are equally good as the fresh ones in a cake like this. If you run across this recipe for Blueberry Ginger Buttermilk Cake later on in the year, don't hesitate to use frozen berries in it. But fresh ones are what we have today. A final picking that Larry did with his Mom the other day. Blueberry ... Read More about Blueberry Ginger Buttermilk Cake
Fresh Corn Fritters
Here in Upstate NY, this is really the best time of year for sweet corn. Nothing really compares to that first early corn that we crave so much after a long winter without it, but for the absolute best stuff, August and early September are when you find varieties that have the most flavor. Later varieties usually have ears that stay tender and sweet, even as they get huge - those are perfect for getting in the freezer for wintertime soups and side dishes. Just blanch them for a couple ... Read More about Fresh Corn Fritters
Kale Walnut Pesto
One thing that enjoys a cool summer is kale. Man, do we have kale! Usually, we have a lot of kale early in the summer, and then again in the fall, but this summer the spring kale never tried to go to seed, so it is still going strong. Every morning, when I go down to tend to the chickens, I make a detour through the garden to grab a handful of kale for my breakfast smoothie. Often we have it for dinner as well, and we are still overloaded. So, I wanted to find a way to use up a lot of kale ... Read More about Kale Walnut Pesto
Brown Butter Pecan Cookies
Do Moms still do this? Bake a batch of cookies while the kids are at school so that the house smells amazing when they walk through the door? Our weather seems to be making an early turn toward fall, which has me thinking about those first days of school every year, both from my own childhood, as well as the girls'. The anticipation, mingled with a bit of dread - seeing friends again, will the outfit I pick get me off to the right start, will someone be mean to them on the bus, will their ... Read More about Brown Butter Pecan Cookies
Creamy Vegan Zucchini Dill Soup
We are still on a zucchini kick around here. Nothing wrong with that as far as I can see. It's a good year for squash, with plenty of rain and nice sunny days in between. The tomatoes are wishing it were a little warmer, but squash doesn't mind that is has been cooler than normal. It makes the plants produce a little longer as well, because in warmer weather production speeds up which tends to wear the plants out more quickly. Not a problem this year. I have never understood the idea of getting ... Read More about Creamy Vegan Zucchini Dill Soup
Blueberry Cheesecake Mousse
Sometimes, I have grand plans for a new recipe, and it all falls apart somewhere, leaving me wondering why I ever thought that was going to work in the first place. That happened with a quick bread a few weeks ago, that morphed into a cake, that ultimately ended up being a completely failure. Then we have recipes like this one. This began life as an idea for a no-bake cheesecake. I did a few trials of the filling, and we agree it was one of the best things ever, so one day I set out to get the ... Read More about Blueberry Cheesecake Mousse