Breakfast

Here they are. Warm, soft whirls of dough. They’re coffee cardamom morning buns. And they’re just the thing for a weekend brunch. When you want something sweet but not too sweet. And familiar and comforting but not boring. And special but not too much trouble to make from start to finish in one morning. These …

There are those who dismiss the muffin as a cupcake without frosting. But, well, they’re wrong. And they’re missing out. Muffins are a similar-looking but entirely different creature. Muffins have a craggy, irregular crumb structure unlike the aerated, regular, sliceable cupcake interior. And muffins tend to have significantly less sugar and sometimes they have whole …

Sometimes you want a special breakfast. Something that feels like it came from a bakery. But you don’t want to put your shoes on and you want to be able to eat it before your mind wanders to lunch. That’s where these orange ginger scones come in. They’re dead simple to make. The dough comes …

This banana bread is, right now, my favorite take on the classic. It’s got chocolate. It’s got pecans. It’s scented with cinnamon. And best of all, it’s got a big-crumbed brown sugar streusel topping. It’s the best of banana bread and coffee cake, which, well, makes for an excellent breakfast for someone with a sweet-tooth …

I’ve entered a phase in my life where I want to spend most of my time in soft clothes, old t-shirts, jeans that are so worn threadbare in patches I dare not put them in the washing machine, jersey dresses, things with elastic waistbands or no waist at all. I find myself wanting clothes that …

I always look forward to the time that the outdoor farmers markets start up. Though to be honest, the first few weeks are always a little disappointingly scant on the fruits and vegetables. Spring in the upper midwest isn’t quite the most bountiful season for produce. It’s mostly ramps, spring garlic and onions, the odd …