Blueberry Banana Brandy Bars (B4s)

The brandy give these "brown bag" bars a little kick and depth of flavor often missing from some banana cakes.  And, I knew that blueberry and brandy would be a great pairing.  Super easy and a great way to use up those ripe banana sitting on your counter! 

So, funnily, I was watching ~briefly~ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last night, and just so happened to stumble into the part of the movie where Violet Beauregarde eats the complete dinner gum, replete with blueberry pie.  Before Willie could convince Violet not to sample and even spit out the gum before dessert, she enjoyed her meal only to find as she started "chewing" on dessert that she was becoming a blueberry!  Remember Violet (from the original movie)? 

Violet sure learned her lesson...This is the part when the Umpa Lumpas show up to roll her away.  I never liked Violet...Just too bossy!  And, I will admit, I turned off this Johnny Depp version of the movie almost immediately after the start of the Umpa Lumpa disco scene...I mean, really? 

OK, back to my B4 bars...I found this recipe in my King Arthur baking book, under "Brown Bag Banana Bars."  The name does not do these "cake" bars justice.  Packed with poppy seeds and with a texture that has a nice "crunch" from the cornmeal.  I added blueberries, which were in the fridge, for a fresh and bright addition.

Easy to make, moist and full of banana and blueberry flavors: one of my favorite combinations.  And, the brandy gives them a nice smooth flavor...

Delish!

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Peach Upside-down Cake

A sure sign that it's finally summer is the myriad of beautiful, fresh produce at the farmer's market. I'm fortunate to have one right outside my building once a week. Every Wednesday, the office smells like strawberries and kettle corn, and the elevators are full of cheerful folks clutching reusable canvas tote bags filled with organic treasures, and sharing tips about which booth has the best prices on cherries and what, exactly, to do with bok choy.


I ventured down to the market last Wednesday on the excellent advice of my fabulous coworker Nancy, in search of my very favorite summer yield: peaches. After my pineapple upside-down cake post, Nancy suggested a creative (and boozy) variation: peach upside-down cake, with brandy.