Best Blueberry Muffins

This no-fail recipe has been working hard in my kitchen for years. Muffins at my place get served for breakfast, slipped into lunch boxes and devoured for snacks. If we’ve been blueberry picking or scored a hefty helping of blackberries at the farmers market, they might find their way into this batter. It’s great withContinue reading “Best Blueberry Muffins”

Irish Soda Bread

My husband’s father is Irish-American and his mother was Italian-American, which means my husband grew up with an appreciation of both cultures, but a table topped with Italian dishes. When our family began our own holiday traditions, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was among them. But there was no cherished Irish Soda Bread recipe to be handedContinue reading “Irish Soda Bread”

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Honey Bread

My husband is the bread baker in our home. On a good week, he makes two to three loaves (we do feed a teenage boy, after all) that become breakfast toast, lunch sandwiches, afternoon snacks, dinner sides, and even, on occasion, dessert. (As in, “I’m still hungry. Is there anything else to eat?” “Oh yes,Continue reading “Whole Wheat Oatmeal Honey Bread”

Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins

These were a hands-down hit for my house last spring and early summer as we had raspberries ripening on our backyard bushes faster than we could eat them. But frozen berries work, as well. The beauty of this recipe is that the fruit provides much of the sweetness, so no need for a lot ofContinue reading “Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins”

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

I haven’t made a coffee cake in years. They always seemed a little tasteless and disappointing. And there were so many better options. Like Morning Glory Muffins or Brown Sugar and Spice Banana Bread or Cornmeal Blueberry Scones. But a volunteer signup requested coffee cake, so I went searching. The first few recipes I triedContinue reading “Cinnamon Coffee Cake”

Pear Spice Muffins

Every fall I pick and buy local apples by the box. But this year when area farmers were offering pears in bulk, I decided to give them a try too. Let me say that it’s a little scary to haul home 25 pounds of Asian pears — or beautifully sweet carrots or luscious ears ofContinue reading “Pear Spice Muffins”

Apple Oat Scones

For the month of September I search and tasted and tested, every apple combination I could think of. I wish I could say they were all delicious. (They weren’t.) But this recipe was like: Walk away before you eat them all. People grabbed them for breakfasts, lunch boxes, snacks and desserts. I’m sure it helpedContinue reading “Apple Oat Scones”

Lemon Cream Cheese Scones

My oldest daughter has really found her baking groove this year. After a long week of school or whenever she has a moment, she’ll ask me: “Mom, can I bake?” And I, who will take all the help in the kitchen I can get, quickly make room for my cooking buddy. Her specialties are desserts: cookies,Continue reading “Lemon Cream Cheese Scones”

Brown Sugar and Spice Banana Bread

I have tried so many banana bread recipes over the years. After all, every family needs a go-to recipe for what to do with those bananas after they’ve sprouted brown spots and no one will touch them. But I always come back to this one, from The Moosewood Cookbook. I have tweaked and omitted andContinue reading “Brown Sugar and Spice Banana Bread”

Banana Chip Muffins

Pretty much any time I set foot inside a grocery store, I add a couple half-gallons of milk and a bunch of bananas to my cart. Doesn’t matter the season, doesn’t matter if I went in for a few ingredients or my weekly stock-up shop, milk and bananas are must-haves at our house and weContinue reading “Banana Chip Muffins”