It’s a gloomy, rainy day in southwest Florida due to a front coming through, but hopefully it will bring some cold, holiday-type air with it! Despite my strong desire to simply curl up on the couch with a blanket and my cats, I decided to be somewhat productive and headed to my kitchen. So, with…
Breads & Muffins
Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread
My family has a few cooking traditions around the holiday season and one recipe on the “must make” list is this delicious date-nut bread. It’s moist, dark, crunchy, not too sweet, and very tasty when topped with soft cream cheese. And if you really want to be authentic, it’s best to enjoy it as a…
My Grandmother’s Banana Bread
My banana trees recently produced a huge bunch that have finally ripened after many weeks of watching them closely to keep the squirrels away. This variety is sometimes called ‘apple’ banana (I think the origin is Cuban) — they’re not only sweet, but they also reveal hints of delicate apple. Their skin is thinner than…
Kumquat Date Bread
I think kumquats are one of the prettiest and tastiest fruits — they’re sweet and sour, all in one. They’ve even been called the “little gold gems of the citrus family”! Kumquats are especially good in marmalades and jellies but they’re also great in salads, with roasted meats, in baked goods and alongside pretty desserts. The most…
Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins
Jordan Marsh (“Jordan Maahsh” as we New Englanders called it) was a department store that opened its flagship store in downtown Boston around 1841. Aside from being a fashion destination, it was known for a special treat — blueberry muffins. The first floor housed a bakery, where they were made, then served in the dining…
Boston Brown Bread
As a kid, it was a magical thing to watch my mom make this Boston Brown Bread. It was steamed in a coffee can or an old B&M Beans can (apparently, this is the ideal size, according to my mother). Sure, she could have bought an already-cooked bread in a can at the grocery store,…
Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes
I love breakfast – especially pancakes. But not just any pancakes will do. They have to be tasty, not-too-thick, not dough-y, and slightly crispy on the edges. THESE pancakes hit all those cylinders. My family has been making this recipe for as long as I can remember and I’ve made them so many times I…
Banana Nut Muffins
I’m blessed to have banana trees in my backyard that produce the most delectable little “apple bananas”. They’re not only cute, they’re sweet and delicious and taste like traditional banana, mixed with apple (and sometimes pear). They’re simply delightful. Recently, two huge bunches ripened at the same time — we counted 80 bananas! After snacking…