Dessert

Chocolate Orange Tartlets

November 10, 2015

OrangeChocTarts (1 of 2)

So far we’ve a had a very mild autumn, but in the last few days there has been a bitter cold chill in the air. Like most people, I am not a fan of frosty mornings and dark evenings,  but I love the chance to sit by a roaring fire and indulge in hot chocolate and buttery treats. These chocolate and orange tarts are just the type of treat that can make any day seem brighter. Continue Reading…

Cake

Caramel Apple Pecan Cake

October 21, 2015

ApplePecanCake (2 of 4)

We still have lots of apples in the garden, so I was trying to think of ways to use them up other than making apple butter (we now have enough apple butter to get us through the next apocalypse, or winter, whichever comes first!) It’s the time of year for caramel apples. I do like the idea of caramel apples, but I have never been a big fan of eating them. They always seem kind of impossible to eat and raw apple and caramel is not nearly as nice as slowly cooked apple and caramel. So, instead of caramel apples, I came up with this caramel apple cake. Continue Reading…

Soup

Cauliflower Cheese Soup

October 9, 2015

CauliflowerCheeseSoup (2 of 4)

This creamy cauliflower cheese soup is like a hug in a bowl. It will make all your troubles go away, and may even prevent bad weather related grumpiness – it’s that powerful. There are lots of hearty soup recipes out there, but not many soups are this cheesy and creamy. It’s pretty much a meal in itself. Continue Reading…

Dessert

Fig Bakewell Tarts

September 29, 2015

FigBakewells2 (1 of 1)

When I spied a very large box of fresh figs in the supermarket, I knew I had to have them. I had no idea what I was going to make with them, but their perfect purple forms were calling me. When I got them home I eventually decided on a simple fig jam to preserve the majority of them, and with the rest of them something sweet and nutty to show off their flavor. Continue Reading…

Soup

Roasted Courgette and Garlic Soup

September 21, 2015

CourgetteSoup (3 of 3)

Even though the first day of autumn officially starts tomorrow, we still have a large crop of courgettes in the garden (the OH is disappointed they haven’t died off yet). So, I am back with yet another courgette (or zucchini) recipe this week. As the evenings are a little chillier, I decided to put them to good use in a hearty garlicky soup. Continue Reading…

Breakfast

Peanut Butter and Banana Granola

September 15, 2015

Granola_-2

September is one of my favorite months, and all these years later I still feel grateful that I don’t have to go back to school, and can enjoy the last few days of sunshine without having to wear an itchy wool uniform. It’s been a beautiful week here in Washington, but the evenings are starting to close in and the mornings are getting darker. To brighten up those  dark mornings I’m investing more time in breakfast. Continue Reading…