Apples for Jam

I might as well admit it. I originally bought Apples for Jam : A Colorful Cookbook for the cover (see below - next to the cake!). Sight unseen - I ordered it entirely based on the cover photograph. Crazy, I know - but luckily in this case, it turned out to be a really good choice. With a staggering amount of recipes (200 to be precise); stunning photography and writing of food, family and life; as well as artwork by her children scattered about - I really like this book. Oh, and the whole thing is organized by color. By color. Oh, so visually dreamy. I don't think I've ever had a 'cookbook' I've looked at like this one.

The recipes (oh right. the recipes! it is a cookbook after all) are really good, too. They're simple in nature and construction - family food, if you will. And with a little tweaking here and there, I think a lot of these will find their way into our own family food repertoire. We started with a dessert - we happened to have everything it needed on hand, and well, desserts are always a good place to start, don't you think? With some butter and buttermilk from dear Dulsie, and the very last of our backyard blueberries of the season - it made for a super yum mid-day, early afternoon snack. We barely saved enough for Papa's arrival home from work. (But we did. We would never forget Papa with the daytime dessert making.) And yes...I do know that this makes perhaps recipe #4 that I've shared that involves a baked blueberry thing. Hmn. Well. I don't really know what to say about that. Blueberries are good!

Berry and Buttermilk Cake, Adapted from Apples for Jam

1.5 cups unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
freshly ground nutmeg - a few grinds
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 cup fresh berries
2 Tablespoons brown sugar (for topping)

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Whisk eggs until fluffy in another bowl, then add all wet ingredients. Mix dry and wet gently until combined. Spoon mixture into a 12x8x2 inch pan. Sprinkle blueberries on top. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool in pan before cutting.

(Oh, and since writing this post, I've made the winter squash fritters from this book, too. Um. Soooo good.)

Comments

[leesa]

sold! i ordered that cookbook b/c i really can't stop myself from ordering gorgeous cookbooks. esp. if they involve loads of recipes and kiddo-friendly stuff. girl! i'm stoked. y're awesome, miss. and goodness knows i don't need more sweet-temptations..but thank you so much for the recipe. 'tis the season indeed.

[SOULEMAMA]

Grace - the three oldest among us are sometimes -meat eaters - when we can get it fresh and local. The babes stay veg until four - at which point it's up to them. Calvin loves meat. As red as possible. ;) And Ezra has no interest.
And pregnancy is what turned this long time vegetarian into a carnivore, too!

[SOULEMAMA]

Vasilisa - I'm sorry that happened to you!
Yes, negative stuff does crop up from time to time, but I try to delete it - literally from the blog, and figuratively from myself - as any negative is so overshadowed by all the kindness. I hope you're able to find that place of letting it go too. Though that's much easier said than done, I know. ;)

[Rae]

Oh no, one more book that I have to stack up in my little list of books that I am lusting after.

[Rubyellen]

My husband loves cookbooks full of pictures... Maybe I should get him this one!!! I love all your great finds...

[amy k.]

oh this looks so good!!! Like I need another cookbook-but really, this seems just lovely!

[Anastasia]

i adore this book!! i love all of Tessa's books... i have all 3
Falling Cloudberries is my favourite as she has a whole section on Cyprus recipes and it just took me back to my childhood as thats where my parents are from!!

[juliastitches]

The book feels good, the photos are beautiful and the recipes are yummo. I let my kids flick through and choose the meals! I have her other cook book too and love them both.

[Jeff Keith]

The blueberry thingy looks very delicious! I need to get one of those cookbooks and surprise the wifey and kids with some of that yumminess!

[Grace]

You were much better about keeping your subsequent children vegetarian than I was. Elle was veg until she was 3, but J ... not so much, though I'd planned it that way all along, lol!

[amy]

looks delicious Amanda!

[little jenny wren]

I bought the book some time ago purely because of the cover, and found some shoes just the same for my daughter. The power of a good photo.

[agathe]

I've borrowed this book at my village library two months ago here in France and I am stuck into it. I love what the author writes at the beginning, about children and life (sounds so true to me); sounded like your blog (that I love)... so I wasn't so surprised to see it on your blog page a few days after... I in Provence, France (with a little Adélaïde too), You in Maine and Tessa, in Australia, or Greece... I love that! On wednesday, we've cooked the Beef and carrot stew and the olive oil-orange cake and both recipies were perfect! I don't let comments very often but I visit your blog every day and it's fun to see your Adélaïde growing (mine is 6 months younger). Thanks A LOT for sharing.

[Julie]

But what I really want to know is where can I get those red shoes. In adult sizes.

[Dacia]

looks delicious!

[Casey]

I stubbled across your blog the other day and I love reading your posts! :)

And I have to admit, I'd totally buy that cookbook based on the cover too. And there's just something about color coded pages that makes me squeal with delight. I'll have to check it out.

[Yvette]

How funny - I did the exact same thing - bought the book simply for the cover. I have made the apple bread and chicken casserole and both were huge hits with my family.

[dianeinjapan]

I've been wanting to buy one of Tessa's books for a while now--think I may break down and buy this one (maybe an early Christmas gift to me!) after reading your review. It sounds, and looks, delightful.

[melissa@yummygoods]

i want to eat that book!

[lindsey clare]

ooh this is one of my most adored cookbooks. i received it as a wedding gift earlier this year. isn't it beautiful?
i want her other books too!