From a reluctant girl.

It was a long winter.

A very, very long winter.  We live in an old drafty house, and it was cold.  And we were cranky.  

And I couldn't get bread to rise.  And there was no fruit to find outside of navel oranges and grapes.  Frozen fruit is OK, but we all know that it gets mushy as it thaws; and it turns your muffin batter blue if you try to bake with it.  

Strawberries show up first around here, usually tart and tasteless, with big green shoulders and completely white interiors.  You can find them in one or two grocery stores at a decent price, and if you are a sucker like me, you buy them.  But if you can hold out long enough, roadside stands start popping up, and you can get a huge bucket of freshly picked berries from our local farms.  This is a great notion, but they are usually ample in bugs and little worms (I HATE worms), and the bottom half of the bucket are smashed and unusable (I still opt for grocery store varieties).  

As I peruse our new selection of spring and summer fruits, I of course first think about what I can make with them.  The overwhelming abundance of strawberries and a few way overripe bananas reminded me of a dessert that was served at my bridal shower.  

At around the time I was married, I was next to friendless.  I had some "friends" at work and "friends" at school, but really- I was so dependant on my then fiance that I had no need (in my mind) for other "friends."  So when my mother came down to throw for me a surprise bridal shower, she had a time finding people to invite.  

Regardless of who came, the food was a site to behold (and consume).  My brother's girlfriend at the time was an aspiring pastry chef (and is now in Paris doing exactly that), and she and my mother came up with a spread fit for Kate herself.  My dear, sweet husband watched as I downed a huge sandwich before I entered the party, and I was furious to see not only the above, but chicken satay, bruschetta, and an absolutely huge cake from a local bakery.  Throwing caution to the wind, I shovelled more food into my mouth at that event than my tiny stomach could hold.  And I was happy.  And temporarily chubby.  

But out of all of the delicacies at the event, these sandwiches reign in my mind as being so very simple, and yet so unique and elegant.  Yes, that is banana bread, and the white stuff is cream cheese that has been cut with a few tablespoons of sugar and some vanilla extract.  I love this recipe so much, and really, it is the first one that I wanted to keep all to myself.  

Mine.  

So as I have a particular fondness for this dish, please don't defile it with store-bought banana bread, or low fat cream cheese, or out-of-season berries.  Give care in choosing the bananas (make sure they are fully ripe), toast your walnuts or pecans, and then chop them so that they are teeny-tiny (as the bread will cut more easily).  Make it, and when you do, share it with someone you really like.  

Banana and Strawberry Sandwiches

one recipe Banana Bread

one block full-fat cream cheese, softened

3 T sugar

1 t vanilla extract

One container of strawberries, sliced

Prepare your banana bread, and let it cool completely.  I have used the one shown above many times, and I love it.  The key to good quickbread is not to over mix.  Gently and methodically fold your mixture until it is just moist.    Also, if you choose to make this recipe, it usually takes me more on the 60 minute side of baking.  I always rotate my pan at 30 minutes.  Remember that bananas are moist, and if at 60 minutes baking you are not sure it is done, leave it in another 3-4 minutes, and then pull it out and let it cool in its pan.  I think you will find that it is just finished.  

Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together.  Stir vigorously, as you want to thin out the cheese a bit.  

Using a serrated knife, cut your completely cooled loaf into very thin slices (about a half inch).  Lay out the slices, and spread a decent layer of cream cheese on each of them.  Place slices of berries on half of the bread slices, and then sandwich them with the berry-free slices.  

Cut in half, and serve within a few hours.  

Note, berries lose their "bite" when they are out of the fridge for too long, making this sandwich sort of a drag.  However, you don't want to make these, and then shove them in the fridge.  No one likes a mouth full of cold cream cheese, so it is important to assemble them right before you indulge.  

Enjoy.  

From a girl reluctant to share, 

Rachel Bee

Cupcakes are sanity.

I love my kid, but last week was a doozy.  Or is it "doozie?"

Regardless of how it is spelled, last week was one of the hardest weeks of my life: potty training.  We had some successes, but a lot more failures.  He must be potty-ready by his 3-year old class, or he can't move up (as I am consistently note-reminded).  So we gave it a whirl, knowing that he has no interest in being a "big boy," or playing "target practice," or going "like daddy."  My child is 2 3/4 going on a baby, and I think he quite likes not having to think about it.  He came into the living room multiple times with diaper in hand, going, "On, Mama?"

In some of those moments, it was very hard not to get into a "battle of wills," believing he is out to break me, and I am meant to stand strong.  He is 2, after all, and not after world domination, or even mommy-domination (mommy-dommy:).  I have to admit, the whole realization of what happens in a diaper must be rather frightening, and I am not sure I liked it very much either.

One week down; the rest of his life to go.

Through the nuttiness of last week, a heck of a lot of baking brought me some sanity, as you will be glad to know. For starters, I give you these...

Seriously, these could be the most delicious things that have ever come out of my oven.  These are Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Cupcakes, and they are heavenly.

They are, if you are paying attention, a version of a cake I made for my husband, and then 4 more in the last few weeks as word of it's deliciousness has moved around...

I did decide to add a dollop of jam to the center of these cupcakes, which made them bake up sort of lumpy; which is why there is so much Lemon Cream Cheese frosting on top.  I know I could have "cored" the cupcake, and then shoved some jam into it's innards; but then there is the question of what on earth to do with all of that leftover cupcake, with a tub of extra frosting and all les ecoutrements laying around.  Not to mention I really don't care for a big hunk of jam in my mouth, and I wanted it's moisture to bake through the rest of the cupcakes.

And it did.  And it was delicious.

So, if you would like to make a batch of these yourself, follow the recipe found here, only before the cupcakes go into the oven, take no more than a teaspoon of good quality jam and plop it right on top of each cupcake.  Then take a toothpick or skewer and push the jam down and swirl it around the cupcake, gently.  Do not expect to see some beautiful swirl creation- that's not going to happen.  Just push it down so it's not floating and burning on top.

Drool.

To assemble, first make sure that your frosting is pretty cool.  Cream Cheese Frosting is softer than other buttercreams, and you will have a frustrating time assembling these if the frosting is gooey and room temperature.

1.  Mound up the frosting vertically to about 1" high, using an offset spatula to smooth the sides and the top.
2.  Take your offset spatula, and place it vertically into the center of the frosting heap.  Turn, and remove a big chunk of frosting (this will be very frustrating if your frosting is room temp).  Continue to work, until the negative space reaches to the cake (or almost).
3.  Prepare a shallow dish of graham cracker crumbs.  Take your frosted cupcake, and roll it in the frosting (the frosting will not fall off).  Roll until every negative space is full, and set aside.
4.  By spoonful, take your strawberry mixture and drop it into the negative space, being careful not to drip (and then drip anyway).  Fill it until you are satisfied, and then voila!

Someone is going to be very, very happy, with these: the best things that will ever come out of your oven.

Enjoy!

Off to engage Langston in his morning pee (the one he definitely has down).  Yeah!

Rachel Bee