It doesn’t have to be Autumn for me to be in the baking mood. I know some refuse to turn on their ovens during the warmer months, but I’ve never been one to say no to my cravings. Especially when that craving is for cake. A baked good whose presence I enjoy at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Which makes this Morning Pumpkin Cake with Pistachio Streusel the perfect cake to get your Autumn baking off to a good start.

The first time I made The Faux Martha’s Banana Curd, I knew it wouldn’t be the last time. It took no time to make and it was pure unadulterated joy in a jar if you know what I mean? So this week when I realized the bananas on the counter wouldn’t be consumed in time, it only seemed natural to revisit this recipe again. But I wanted to do something slightly different this time – I wanted to up the ante, so the addition of bourbon only felt right. I enjoy how cooking with alcohol can transform what you’re making into something a little more magical than what you started with. And bourbon is one of the alcohols that I enjoy adding to my desserts. I think you’ll enjoy this addition to an already delicious fruit spread/topping.

The lack of cold weather this season put a little damper on what I perceived to be the idea Christmas. The warmth and sunshine just didn’t feel like the Christmas mornings I was familiar with in years past. But I guess holidays can’t always be picture perfect. The Christmas decor in our neighborhood is slowly finding its way back in to the attics and basements where it will nest for the next three-hundred and forty-nine days or something like that.

If doctors would prescribe baking to their patients, one might say “that the world would be a happier place.” I know, I know, don’t judge me for possessing a bit of childlike whimsy. But what if cookies had the capability of curing the worst of illnesses? And what if you could choose the type of cookie that cured your unwanted illness or disease? What if a chocolate chip cookie were capable of curing the chickenpox , a simple sugar cookie doused with sprinkles could cure pneumonia or just maybe a salted peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookie took away your cancer?

I remember my sister and I sitting on the back porch tearing yesterday’s newspaper into small ragged pieces and placing them into an empty can. Probably one of my grandmother’s #Folgers cans, you know the red one with the plastic lid? We used those as vessels to fulfill our need for the melty gooey, chocolatey goodness that would soon tangle our fingers in a web of mallowy strands and #cocoa smear. If I had to choose a house that I missed, it was this house with the huge backyard where we often watched the deer drink from the pond and the trees overflow with black walnuts, pears and apples. We were young and naive and had no real appreciation for the seasonal jewels that rolled across the forest floor. I mean, we ate the occasional fruit and cracked a few nuts now and again but nothing too serious. I remember seeing our next door neighbor gathering the nuts in the evening to crack for an evening snack.

This summer heat is working me over like crazy and even the sweat beads on my brow are becoming frustrated. It's like the sun has a vendetta and its unleashing hell and taking names, literally. But as far as I’m concerned it could never be too hot to eat chocolate or break into a textbook chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate chip cookies are my sacred-kind of childhood snack and you may call me a snob when it comes down to it. I mean, cookies run rampid on the inter webs, being stuffed with nutella and laced with truffles for the so-called ‘real foodies’ but you can keep those. I’m somewhat of a purist when it comes to the circular, sometimes amoeba-shaped little puckets that pair so well with cold milk and shakes alike. Yes, milkshakes and cookies are sheer perfection, just ask my inner eight year old, he’ll tell you all about it.