Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

“I WOULD RATHER SIT ON A PUMPKIN AND HAVE IT ALL TO MYSELF, THAN BE CROWDED ON A VELVET CUSHION.”  Henry David Thoreau

I often walk this fine line of trying to be creative and walking off the deep end!  And what I’ve learned is that sometimes you just have to leave well enough alone.  Keep things simple and let the ingredients speak for themselves.  And for me, this applies most to baking cupcakes.  Maybe I’ve been watching Cupcake Wars too much!  And if you’ve ever seen that show….they combine some funky flavors in one cupcake!  What works well with pumpkin?  For me, it was the warming spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice combined with the cool tang of cream cheese, the toasty crunch of pecans and the sweetness of a drizzle of maple syrup.  If these speak to you then……. [Read more...]

Wild Blueberry Oatmeal in Warm Maple Cream

“YOU HAVE TO EAT OATMEAL OR YOU’LL DRY UP.  ANYBODY KNOWS THAT.”  Kay Thompson, author of ‘Eloise’.

Growing up in New England, and especially in the winters, my dad would very often make me oatmeal for breakfast.  To some, this may have seemed like the dreaded, dreary breakfast.  I think oatmeal has a bad rap of being a sticky, clumpy, heavy gruel.  But I have always loved it! Dad always served it with milk and maple syrup.  And I remember secretly wishing that he would be distracted while making it, because I was sure to find a lump or two in my bowl.  And I loved finding the sweet, unexpected texture of those lumps!

I still love oatmeal and eat it all year round.  And who says oatmeal can’t be sexy!  So I’ve tried to elevate it a little bit from it’s rustic form; while still giving a wink and a nod to my dad, who I miss with all my heart.  A neighbor gave me this recipe some time ago telling me how she tweaked it from when it was given to her.  And I did my own tweaking to get it to my personal liking.  Here are the basics, but I hope you will feel free to tweak away……. [Read more...]

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Maple Blueberry Sauce

“ALL HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON A LEISURELY BREAKFAST.”  John Gunther

 

It is so nice when I have the time to make breakfast.  Most mornings I am gulping down a quick yogurt while standing up; or grabbing a Starbuck’s along the way to work.  Sometimes it just feels good to treat yourself right and make something a little special.  This is one of my favorite recipes; quick and easy.  The ricotta makes it a little savory, while the lemon keeps it light and fresh and the blueberries  add the right touch of sweetness.  A great idea for breakfast or brunch.  And it’s definitely a great way to start the day.  Today, it was a burst of sunshine on my rainy morning! [Read more...]