Taking a break from detailing our Italy trip, I wanted to share with you a tasty combination that I made on a recent cold and blustery day. With thoughts of Thanksgiving in my mind, the idea of a cornbread with the addition of pumpkin sounded like a good combination. As it turned out, it was a good idea; moist, golden and lightly sweetened with honey. The soup that I made with it came from one of my favorite blogs, Manger. It is a combination of French lentils, farro and lots of vegetables.
The feeling I am trying to express in this post is that of warmth and comfort. The food is the starting point, of course. But I would like to give you a few more visuals to explain how I am feeling. Perhaps, because I am still dealing with the aftermath of surgery, I need to concentrate on what makes me happy and secure.
This Tuscan kitchen made me happy. There were logs in the fireplace ready for an evening fire on a cool night. ( Wide angle lens tends to make people appear wider). The gas stove was a dream to cook on and I could have spent an entire vacation in this charming villa. I wanted to forego the motorcycle touring and just hang out here.
This was the view from the window. The church bell rang on the hour all day and all night. Who needs a watch?
This picture is small. I saw it on Pinterest. Although it is not necessarily my style these days, it is just like the house that I have seen in my dreams. I don’t know about you, but I dream about houses. In my dreams I always have this other house that I have neglected, but that I am very proud of. I encourage my dream guests to make themselves at home, even though it is cluttered and dusty. And I wonder to myself in my dream why I do not live there. It is cozy and comfortable but a little bizarre. This room lacks that bizarre element, but it is close to my vision.
I am on the mend. Stitches taken out today. Life is returning to normal and I am back in the kitchen. If you are in the mood for some comfort food you will love this cornbread and Mimi’s Soup.
HONEY-PUMPKIN CORNBREAD
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Lightly butter a 9-inch square-baking pan.
- Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, butter, honey, buttermilk and orange zest in a separate bowl. Stir the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture until moistened; transfer to the prepared baking pan.
- Bake until the cornbread pulls away from the sides of the pans and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20-22 minutes. Cool in the pan 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and cook on a wire rack at least 10 minutes before cutting.
Both the cornbread and soup sound wonderful! I don’t dream about other houses but I loved seeing the place you stayed at in Italy! Hope we can get together soon. This weather is really putting a damper on things!
Hugs,
Penny
You too? Lol I had neck/back surgery August 13 and I am just about feeling better. Have lost over 10lbs from lack of appetite due to Meds.
This menu is just up my alley!
You are a great spokesperson for Mim..I love her blog too and have her book..need to get cracking on one of her recipes..:)
The kitchen in Italy is fantastic..
before our trip I dreamt of this..unfortunately the villa we were in..expereinced difficulties during our stay so …it was not to be..
I hope you heal quickly and well..I love the way you said concentrating on what makes you feel secure..etc..
I agree..
I don’t dream about other homes either..but if I could pick mine up and put it by the water..wellll…:)
So happy to see your post and that you are cooking again! A sure sign that you are on the mend.
My Houzz idea folders and Pinterest boards are overflowing with house ideas and no action, but I have great taste!
Will definitely try this pumpkin cornbread recipe. Just perfect for a fall menu of comfort food especially for this Lake Lure dreary weather, however, the leafy season is always my favorite.
One more batch of company and then we are home free. Will you still be in town the third week of November? XO
Looks like a great place to hang out in Italy. Soup and cornbread is just the right food for those cool days.
I’m happy to heal that you are on the mend and you’ve given us two nice recipes. Your meal sounds warming and comforting, just like your photos.
It really turned cold….all of a sudden….Soup and cornbread sound just right! Love a soup with lots of vegetables.
Sounds heavenly—I want to try this soon. Thanks, my friend.
Hope all is well with you
Jane x
So agree about the magic of Venice…been there several times and I am enchanted every time.
So pleased you are on the mend, Penny, and that everything is going well. Keep up the good work!
Love your combo of soup and pumpkin cornbread here…it does look comforting. Now I can wish (hope) for a cold and blustery day!
It is finally starting to feel like fall here. I love your take on soup and cornbread. Delish!
I missed this post when I visited last! What a charming place where you stayed. The view is spectacular and the interior looks charming. Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery and I will definitely check out Mimi’s soup – it sounds wonderful with the cornbread!
Love that kitchen. I want to go there…. Pumpkin cornbread…. I love that, too.