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Pumpkin cupcakes

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 cup sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup corn starch
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger, ground
1/2 tsp nutmeg, ground
1/8 tsp cloves, ground
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin

  1. In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and sugar until fluffy.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and pepper.
  3. Mix eggs and vanilla into butter mixture. Gradually mix in the flour mixture and buttermilk.
  4. Mix in pumpkin until smooth.
  5. Add batter to greased cupcake tin, filling each 3/4 full. (Makes about 18.) Bake at 350 F about 20-25 minutes.
  6. Cool on racks, and top with maple cream cheese frosting.

Peach butter

2 lbs peaches
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice

  1. Peel peaches. (Cut an X in the bottom of the peach, submerge in boiling water for 30 seconds, then in an ice bath for one minute, and peel.)
  2. Cut peaches into eighths, removing pits. Combine with water, and simmer near boiling, 15-20 minutes, until tender.
  3. Puree with food processor, and return to pot, adding sugar and lemon juice.
  4. Simmer near boiling, 30-40 minutes, stirring often, until a spoon leaves a train across the bottom of the pot.
  5. Let cool. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated.

Peanut butter cookies

1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, stir together peanut butter and sugar.
  2. Beat in the egg, baking soda, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
  3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheets, pressing down on the top with a fork.
  4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes, then remove from cookie sheets.

Buttermilk pancakes

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk, shaken

  1. Combine ingredients until smooth. Optionally, add vanilla extract and a pinch of sugar.
  2. Make pancakes.

Turkish tomato dip à la Mundy

2 tomatoes
1/2 tsp thyme, dried
1/2 tsp oregano, dried
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp mint, dried
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice

  1. Cut tomatoes in half, and grate into a medium bowl, holding the sliced end. Discard the skins.
  2. Add the remainder of the ingredients, and salt and black pepper to taste. Serve with hot, fresh bread.

Chocolate cake

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup (non-Dutch) cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter. Add brown sugar and sugar, and beat until fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Mix in buttermilk and vanilla.
  2. Sift in the remainder of the ingredients, and stir until well-blended.
  3. Pour into a buttered and floured loaf pan, and bake at 325 F for about 60 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan.

Roasted asparagus

1/2 bunch asparagus
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 lemon

  1. Place asparagus on a baking sheet lined with foil. Sprinkle spears with olive oil, minced garlic, and half the lemon’s zest.
  2. Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes, rotate spears, and bake 10 more minutes.
  3. Add remainder of lemon zest, and some lemon juice. Serve.

Honey wheat bread

1 1/4 cups warm water
2 Tbsp honey
2 tsp yeast
3 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp salt
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

  1. In a large bowl, stir together water, yeast, and honey. Let sit until foamy on top, around 10 minutes.
  2. Stir in olive oil, salt, and whole wheat flour.
  3. Gradually add all purpose flour until mixture can’t be stirred.
  4. Turn dough out on floured surface, and gradually knead in flour until dough is soft. (This may require 2-3 cups of all purpose flour in total.)
  5. Loosely cover ball of dough, and let rise 45 minutes.
  6. Punch down, and shape into a log, placing in a greased bread pan. Let rise 45 minutes.
  7. Slit the top of the bread to allow for expansion. Bake 30 minutes at 425 F. Remove from pan, and let cool.

Baked ziti

1 lb ziti (or penne)
15 oz ricotta
1 1/2 cups mozzarella, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
1 egg
3 cups spinach, fresh
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups marinara

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Saute mushrooms and garlic in olive oil. Remove from heat and stir in spinach until wilted.
  2. In a large pot, cook pasta until tender but not finished, about 7 minutes. Drain.
  3. In a large bowl, mix ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, and egg. Stir in mushroom/spinach mixture and pasta once cooled.
  4. Place a third of the marinara in bottom of large casserole dish, then half the pasta, then marinara, pasta, and marinara. Top with 1/2 cup mozzarella.
  5. Bake for 45 minutes.

Buttermilk biscuits

1 cup milk
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter, cold

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 F. Mix the milk and lemon juice, and refrigerate.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Slice butter, and add to bowl. Mix with hands until the butter is evenly incorporated. Stir in milk.
  4. Flour the counter top, and turn out dough, forming a 3/4-inch thick layer. Use a cookie cutter to cut round biscuits out of dough, and arrange on a baking sheet lined with foil.
  5. Bake for 15 minutes.