Boston Cream Pie

Boston Cream Pie, Kiku Corner

Having recently come back from Boston, I am inspired by the historical Bostonian foods, including this Boston Cream Pie from the Union Oyster House. Some sources (like Wikipedia) say that the original recipe was from an Armenian-French chef, M. Sanzian, at Boston’s Parker House Hotel (which is also the source of Parker House Rolls, a type of dinner roll). […]

Ruby Red Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble

Ruby Red Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble, Kiku Corner 4

Rhubarb is a sour, pinkish green spring vegetable that cooks down into a delicious pink or red compote. It used to grow in our mother’s garden when we were kids, and we couldn’t resist taking a bite of the puckeringly sour stalks (just stay away from the leaves, which are poisonous). Once June rolls around, we […]

Six-Minute Vegan Chocolate Cake or Cupcakes

First off, this cake is amazing. I’m not a fan of vegan baking in general, since the texture often seems gummy or rubbery. This cake, however, is the exception. It is chocolately, light, has a superb texture, and the cleanup is easy peasy, since the whole thing is mixed in its baking pan, literally taking […]

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with Vanilla Sauce

pineapple-upside-down-cake-kiku-corner 031

A delicious old-fashioned cake perfect for a picnic! I brought this to a Sail Past feast a few years ago, and it was a hit. It’s from Susan Branch’s Sweets to the Sweet: A Keepsake Book from the Heart of the Home, so follow her advice and serve it with a silky smooth sauce. Often […]

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Tomiko and I agreed to bake some treats for our friend’s Earth Day fundraising bake sale, so this was my contribution! I made these Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, adapted from a Nigella Lawson recipe. The small amount of cocoa surprisingly makes a big impact in these moist muffins. If you make a batch for […]