Beyond the Box: Baking from Scratch

It's been... quite a year. Has it felt that way for you too?  It seems like everyone I know is chugging along chanting the same mantra: "let's just get this year over with!" Of course, I think we've done this the last few years, and the New Year has yet to bring something significantly better, but hope springs eternal, right? And I have the most comforting dish for you today for those days when hope betrays your trust. Sometimes after a break on the blog, I wonder if it's worth addressing that I've been gone. My statistics don't show that I have a lot of regular readers, and direct feedback suggests that my only readers are my close friends and family who already know what's been going on with me (and I suspect a lot of them, as much as I love them, quickly scroll through and give it a  consolation like while thinking "tl;dr"). In getting this post ready, I've been beautifully surprised at how many apparently random views I'v...

Fall is really, truly here. At least, around here anyway. It's cold and gray and often damp, and there are more leaves the ground than on the trees. But you know what fall is like, so I won't bore you with descriptions of it. Instead, I'm going to jump right into this blog like it's a pile of freshly raked autumn leaves -- except this scrumptious dish won't leave you smelling slightly mildewy and damp. If it does, I recommend you see your doctor right away. Today I bring you a recipe straight from my sweet little grandma: her specialty Apple Fritters.

Ah, autumn.  The leaves are turning, the air is crisp, and everything is available in pumpkin spice flavor.  I'm not head-over-heels crazy about pumpkin spice everything. It's good, but I think it's a little overdone, and frankly, I think everyone has lost sight of what pumpkin spice is supposed to be. Most of the pumpkin spice goodies you see don't even have any pumpkin flavoring, let alone actual pumpkin.  But not my cupcakes! These have plenty of real pumpkin and warm cinnamon to make you feel cozy and happy this fall. Yum!

I'm back to baking treats for people today! But this one is healthy , because it's chock full o' veggies! Okay, so healthy might be a stretch, but there are lots of veggies in this one.  Don't let that scare you,  though, because this Spiced Carrot Cake is moist, sweet, dense, and just a little bit spicy.  Cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg give a little bit of a kick and the tangy cream cheese frosting smoothes it all back down.  And you can decorate it with cute little frosting carrots!

Ah, Banana Bread...  It's one of those recipes that everyone seems to have, and yet they're all just a little different.  One thing they seem to have in common is, thankfully, bananas.  (If your banana bread recipe has no bananas, throw it out.  But first show it to me, because I don't believe you.)  This recipe has bananas and is lovely.  Try it!