Category Archives: Cake & Cupcakes

Crumb cakes have been around for generations. Most include some moisture to half the batter once the crumbling is complete. This recipe does not. The ingredients are just pressed into place. What I really like about this recipe is how simply it comes together with only a few ingredients, no milk, no eggs. As long […]

This year was a good reminder of the fragility of nature. Not to say nature is fragile. It can cope with a lot and since time is measured in epochs not work weeks it can afford to take the long view. The more immediate view is that the weather here has not been good for […]

In that time where summer transitions to autumn and we are not really ready for gingerbread or spiced pear cakes, this lighter fresh option makes sense to me. Delicate and fragile, the taste of pears stands alone. I have mentioned before that I have a favourite little 4 inch spring form that I often use […]

When summer is closer to fall we start looking for earthier flavours and this ganache will definitely fit that description. Herbs de Provence is generally a mixture of herbs commonly used in the south of France. They usually include savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and oregano with lavender leaves sometimes added for the North American market. […]

Looking for a quick to make contribution to an equinox potluck? Black and white combinations are an appropriate choice. Equinox cookies or dark & light meringues are also good options when a little more time is available. This wafer roll highlights that coming together of opposites and it doesn’t get any simpler. Really! It is […]

Lemon Curd is by far the most well known variety of this heavenly filling. Christmas dinner was never complete for my father without a cold from the fridge spoonful of lemon curd inside a freshly warmed tart shell. Before Seville orange season comes to an end, I wanted to share a different option with a […]

In the middle of winter it is nice to have something that reminds us winter will leave, sometime. I have been very grateful that up until February 3rd, we have had no snow. Since then I have been out three time shoveling and salting and with wind chill we are in the minus double digits. […]

Italian/Sweet chestnuts are in many markets and specialty stores this time of year, a sure sign that Christmas is near and while roasting on an open fire may come to mind first, I wanted to do some experimenting down alternate pathways. I had chestnut puree sitting on a shelf  ( 900 ml/3 1/2 + cups […]

Pluots are part of a group of hybrid fruits known as interspecific plums. Apriums, Apriplums and plumcots are also in this group that are a combination of plums and apricots. Sometimes this happens through natural cross pollination and other times they are man made. Pluot’s parents are Italian prune plums and apricots. They have that […]

During blackberry time, the brambles in safe places are full with pickers gathering their summer treats. Do you have a favourite place to gather blackberries? Jean knew where these peak of perfection berries were hiding on her street and I whipped up a simple cake to spread the wealth. All sorts of fruits can be […]