You could describe this delicious Farmhouse Buttermilk Cake, topped with a wonderful brown sugar topping, as a snack cake or even a coffee cake. It’s a casual kind of cake—not too fancy, but full of sweet down-home goodness! It’s exactly the kind of cake that’s right at home served in a farmhouse kitchen or enjoyed on a large farmhouse porch. I adapted my version of this cake from a recipe I found at King Arthur Baking, and they describe it as an “old-fashioned brown sugar cake.”
If you’re craving a good salad, this is a great one for fall! The crisp, chopped fresh apples and lightly-toasted chopped walnuts give this Apple, Walnut, and Stilton Cheese Salad a delicious autumn taste. It’s tossed in a dressing of raspberry balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and walnut oil, but if you don’t have those ingredients, there are some substitutions noted in the recipe—you can even make it super easy and use your favorite raspberry vinaigrette from a bottle!
This Banana Spice Loaf is a great recipe to make as summer turns into autumn—it’s a sweet, moist banana bread spiced with nutmeg, allspice, and cloves! And it’s topped not only with a glaze, but a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar and walnuts, too. So there’s lots to love about this banana bread! 🙂
I’ve grown basil every summer for many years—sometimes in a garden, but lately in a large pot, since I don’t have space for a garden right now. I love making homemade pesto with my basil! It’s really easy to make and there’s nothing like cutting fresh basil from your own garden or pot to make it!
Have you ever been to Provence? I have never been to France but if I have the chance to go, Provence will be one of the areas I want to visit! This region of southern France stretches from the Mediterranean to the hills of Haute Provence, and from the Rhone River valley to the Italian Alps. It was the site of the first Roman colony beyond Italy and today it’s known for fragrant lavender fields, beautiful beaches like Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Nice, quaint small villages, and fine wines and food. The cuisine of this area includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, extra virgin olive oil, and nuts—basically the core of the healthy Mediterranean diet.
I learned these things about Provence when I did a review a few years ago of Provence Food and Wine: The Art of Living, by François Millo and Viktorija Todorovska. This book introduces you to the geography, history, traditions, wines, and recipes of the region, one of which is Tomatoes Provençal. Since I love tomatoes, that is the recipe I chose to make from the book, and I’m reposting it now because it is a wonderful recipe for summer and a simple yet delicious way to use your garden tomatoes!
