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

[deborah]

oh, i love love this cookbook. it's one of my favourites.

[kali]

Yep, it's a favourite of mine, as are her others.
Use her recipes often.

[Est Rasmussen]

This is the most wonderful book, as the stories and the pictures are so evocative. The recipes are great too. One of our family's favourites is Banana Bread. Thankyou so much for your lovely blog. I have only recently discovered it!

[julie]

Looks like a beautiful cookbook... I love starting with desserts!

[jean]

this is such a lovely book! I, too, was pulled in by the cover. Gorgeous.

[Tere]

Hi Amanda,

I've noticed this book in shops before--also attracted to its cover--but never picked it up. Would you say it has a decent amount of recipes that are vegetarian or adaptable for vegetarians?

Your cake looks great! I don't know if it's the weather or what, but I've been in baking mode lately; yesterday I made a huge chocolate cake, from a recipe Amy Karol posted on her blog, mmmmm....

Tere : )

[kristin]

I couldn't live without this cookbook. I've been using it for over a year now and bake the oat cookies every few days (sometimes I add a little chocolate). The meatballs are my son's favourite, with the vanilla cake coming a close second, and always covered in rose petals.

Enjoy!!!

[Pam]

Another blueberry recipe is welcomed here. I have shared your blueberry banana bread recipe with many people and everyone does indeed love it.

Thank you for sharing!

[Baleboosteh]

It really is a lovely book. I've drooled over it in the bookshop but haven't a copy of my own yet. I do have her other two though, both equally delightful.

[SOULEMAMA]

Tere - Three of us eat meat here ocassionally, but for the most part, our meals are vegetarian. I think the book contains just the right amount for us. You should take a peek at it!

[Stefani]

I've noticed that book over on your side bar and been tempted but not yet ordered... yeah, I'll be hitting that "Pay Now" button in a few minutes! It looks gorgeous!

[bubbachic]

Looks yummy...thanks for sharing!

Dee
x

[Nic]

I bought falling cloudberries for the exact same reason. I got it as a gift, but coveted it so much that I put it on my christmas list. Her book on Italian cookery is a stalwart of my kitchen too, especially her chickpea and chard soup.

[Katherine]

This is a lovely book, I bought it after seeing it on Manda's blog. I got her other books out of the library, the photos are sumptious.

[Cass]

I've been thinking about buying this book too (based on the cover) and now I think I will!

[Rachel]

OH, thanks for sharing! I have wondered what the inside of the book looked like. Think I will have to order a copy for myself!

[shari]

such a beautiful book that is now on my wish list. thank you. speaking of treats, would you be up for sharing your zucchini bread recipe. i don't know if you saw my tribute to it on my blog but t and i LOVED it. xox

[celine]

I am with you on that one, I would buy the book just for the shoes!

[SOULEMAMA]

Oh yes, Shari! You're so sweet - thanks for reminding me. I'll work it up and post it sometime next week! I think we've got our last of the zuchinni this week. Ah...

[Gemma]

I've had this for a few months. It's great. I think the white risotto is in it. Love it!

[Libby]

The book and the blueberry dessert look beautiful! I love it that you too have to work hard at saving some of your afternoon treats for Dad. Sometimes we fail...and then our afternoon treats have to become "our little secret" :)

[Lisa Clarke]

With so many readers, you probably have a lot of "power" - how many of us just stuck that book on our Amazon wish lists? LOL!

[Stacey]

What a great looking book, I'll have to go peak at it the next time we're at the bookstore. Thank you for all the books and such you've introduced us to.

[Anne]

I think I need a new cookbook...

[camerashymomma]

oh man! i can see why you bought it for the cover! those shoes are to die for! that recipe looks yummy too, thanks for sharing!

[Anna]

This is also a favourite book of mine, I bought it based on the cover alone. The blueberry cake is a favourite in my office, so much so that I bought a blueberry bush earlier this year and planted it in my garden. Blueberries are quite expensive, so I no longer feel guilty- far from it, I just pootle outside with a bowl and there they are. Bliss.

[Lina]

Squash fritters?! Just reading those two words together makes my mouth water. Comfort food at its finest!

[Heather Wilson]

oh my, you have sold me! That cover is so sweet. I want it just to set on my kitchen island to make me smile...and maybe I'll use some of the recipes too ;)

[Sarah]

Ooh! A new cookbook to wish for!

[Amy]

I totally did the same thing. That photo... I saw it and had to have the book. At any price, as it turns out.
I asked my husband to bring it back from London when he went for work. The exchange rate? Not so good at that time. I paid nearly twice the cost. Still worth it. Love love love this book.
My favorites so far are the meatballs (I forget what she calls them, maybe mince balls) and the rice pudding. So so yum!

[emilyruth]

oh, i totally judge books on their covers & i would have bought this one too...too cute!... & tessa was our number two baby girl name (but so far we only have one girlie) so i think it is fate:)...adding it to my amazon wish list right now...

[Regina]

The cover is VERY appealing and the pictures look gorgeous! Good pick!!

[beki]

Thanks for the recommendation. It does look like an appealing book. I'm sure I would have ordered it for the cover alone.

[Angel Jem]

The book, both the recipes and the photos, is beautiful, isn't it? I got this for my birthday 2 years ago & it is a family favourite.... one of the few cookbooks I've found where I can plan a whole month of meals and snacks outof it!

[Toni]

That book has been on my wish list. Thanks for showing us a peek inside. It makes me love it all the more! Blueberries happen to be my very favorite berry. We had our own patch once *sigh*

[robin]

Don't get me goin' on cookbook love!!:) THIS cookbook looks positively dreeeeeaaaamy!! <3

[Nessie]

I love when a book lives up to its cover...
looks and sounds delicous!

[MiraclesHappen]

Now, if only you posted the winter squash fritters recipe! I have three winter squash sitting on my countertop from our produce basket last week. :o)

It does look like a LOVELY book. I will have to check it out myself.

[Heather]

OK, now I want to know how you keep your trim figure with all that baking you do. Thanks for the inspiration -- I have about 50 pounds of blueberries in the deep freeze from this summer's harvest, and it's time to start using them.

[showpony]

great a glowing review, now I can buy this without worring that i've just bought it for the cover too.

emma

[Vasilisa]

Kiros's mum is Finnish, her first book has Finnish recepies too. We use bilberries though, slightly different from blueberries. Anyway, your bake looks great. Reading your comments, I always wonder whether you ever get nasty comments? With so many readers too. I just got some cruel comments and they really hurt my feelings. Does it ever happen to you?

[Grace]

I also added this book to my wishlist based on the cover photo alone. So glad to see someone has tried some recipes from it and that they were good!

I've gotta ask ... your comment above had me curious ... which of your family members are vegetarian and which are not? We were a vegetarian family for a long time and reintroduced meat when I was pregnant with my younger child (couldn't do without, apparently). We still eat a fair number of vegetarian meals, although my son really prefers meat, lol!

[molly]

one more book for my list. christmas shopping is going to be easy for me this year!
that cover. i would've caved for that cover, too!

[lori]

thanks Amanda! Going to my interlibrary loan now to see if by some miracle they have it and it doesnt already have 64 people waiting in line for it. LOL!

[melissa]

amanda - i've been a longtime lurker and admirer of your blog. thanks for today's post - you'd better believe this blogging foodie has one ordered and en route from amazon! now if only i could grow blueberries somewhere in my chicago apartment....

[Melissa]

This book sounds fun! Now I am very curious and want it because it is organized by color. :) Thanks for sharing the recipe!

[kendra]

That book looks beautiful! I added it to my amazon wishlist.

[emily]

i think i just might have to treat myself to this cookbook! it just looks so beautiful . . . thanks for the recommendation!

[suzie sews]

This was my summer 2006 cook book...I have made so many things from it, all yummy. I bought her other cookery book as I so enjoyed this one and was sadly not as 'in love' with it. To many food stuff I do not cook with and as I learnt to cook in Greece I was surprised. BUT this one is special...lots of full tummies on this.

[Krista]

We love a sweet book called "Blueberries for Sal". It's read over and over at our place. Thanks for the recipe :)