Heather Atwood’s new book is a wonderful tribute to the cuisine of coastal Massachusetts. The Sicilian, Portuguese, Finnish, and Irish cultures are rooted deep in the coastal towns and many recipes touch on these cultures. 175 gorgeous recipes and beautiful photographs await us In Cod We Trust.
The book is broken down in regions – South Coast, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod and so forth. Heather’s narrative on each region is lovely, informative and feels like you are on a little getaway while you read them.
Portuguese Codfish Cakes with Garlic and Fresh Herbs, Bolos Levedos (a lightly sweet, egg-rich pancake of sorts), Cavacas (Glazed Portuguese Popovers) and Queijadas de Leite (Milk Tarts) are just a few recipes from the South Coast region that I have tabbed to make.
Mermaid Farm Milk Ricotta and Lemon Muffins are going to be made this weekend to serve along with our breakfast. They look as incredible as the Beach Banana Bread Brownies sound. Thankfully, I had some ripening bananas on the counter and made the brownies this afternoon. Incredibly delicious. Recipe shared below.
Other recipes that stand out to me are Morning Glory Farm’s Corn and Wild Mushroom Risotto, Nantucket Wonders (a type of donut), Chilled Fresh Corn and Coconut Soup, Tamarind, Walnut and Fresh Ginger Cake, Edward Gorey’s Eggnog Muffins, Cape Cod Pork Chops and Cornmeal and Wild Blueberry Dumplings. Truthfully, every recipe looks delicious.
There are gorgeous seafood recipes in the book as well and it truly is a cookbook with a variety of exciting new recipes to try.
Beach Banana Bread Brownies
For the bars:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoons of salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
2 cups all purpose flour
For the frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons of milk
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and flour a 15 x 10 inch jelly roll pan.
To make the bars:
In a large bowl, or standing mixer, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs until creamy. Blend in bananas and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter and eggs mixture, and blend for 1 minute. Stir in walnuts.
Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
(Note: I whisked the ingredients together – first wet, then added dry. It took 20 minutes for them to get golden brown for me.)
To make frosting:
Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Let the butter turn a delicate brown, then remove from heat immediately.
Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk. Whisk together until smooth (it should be thicker than a glaze but thinner than frosting). Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the cake is still warm).
Pack in an attractive tin with parchment paper between the layers.
Random Number Generator picked comment #1 — Christine Murphy – you won!
GIVEAWAY: I have an extra copy of this fantastic book to send one of you. Open to US addresses only. To enter leave a comment here telling me if you have ever visited Massachusetts. A random winner will be chosen on September 28th. Good luck!
Thanks to Heather and Globe Pequot for the review copy and for allowing me to share a recipe here.
I lived in Massachusetts for about 20 years. My husband still works there even though we live in NH now.
I haven’t had the pleasure; but, I’d love to visit Massachusetts.
I have been to Cape Cod and Nantucket It’s lovely there! These recipes appeal to me strongly
I have never been. But would love to go!
Visiting is on our list for a road trip next fall. It would be nice to see and try foods that we could look forward to on our visit!
Born in Worcester and lived on the Cape for five years.
Hubby and I was just there last month. We went to Bar Harbor, Rockport, Plymouth, Cape Cod.. Feel in love with the place.. Had my first lobster roll as well..
Live where I can see buzzards bay and the canal. People, food and views are beautiful.
I’ve never been, but have been wanting to take a trip from Florida up the east coast.
I have never visited Massachusetts, but would love to someday.
I visited Cape Cod in 2013. I fell in love!
I have lived in Massachusetts all my life, and would love this book.
Would love this book.
I grew up in Boston. Spent many summers on Cape Cod and Cape Ann.
Yes, I visited my sister in Boston for a weekend.
I have visited Boston before, but would love to visit Cape Cod!
I have never been to Massachusetts.
I spent family vacations in Sturbridge,Massachusetts, went to graduate school in Boston, have in-laws who own a B and B in Rockport, and recently spent a week vacationing in Cape Cod (where I picked up three cookbooks BTW!) Love Massachusetts!!
Love this area!
I never have despite living in NY for nearly two decades!!
I have`never had the pleasure of visiting Mass. but I’d love to go. I was just telling my family the other day I would love to visit the New England States.
No, I have not ever been to Massachusetts, but would go in a heartbeat if I could. I’ll bet the photography in this book is stunning.
I have never gone to the upper North Eastern part of the U. S. I have traveled everywhere else in the U.S. but have missed that area. I have always wanted to go though!
I haven’t visited Massachusetts yet, but I would love to. It’s so pretty there.
I visited MA years ago and went to Cape Cod and it was beautiful! I also visited Boston and it too was awesome….. but nothing beats Cape Cod and little Lobster shack we visited for probably what was the best Lobster I have ever eaten! Thanks for sharing …. I would love to win!
When I was very young, I moved from Mobile, AL to Cape Cod. Talk about culture shock! But it changed my life in more ways than one, because my mother dove right into preparing East Coast foods and I was in love – cod, lobster, cranberries, apple, pumpkin and Portuguese and Spanish influences. All very different than the Southern food I’d grown up with but expanding my palate in ways that influence my cooking even today. Wow – thinking about all this makes me hungry for my mother’s cranberry cookies 🙂
I have been to Massachusetts but it’s been well over 30 yrs. We road tripped there in the 70’s. Beautiful eastern state! thanks for a chance to win this cookbook
Our son was stationed there years ago. We had great fun wondering around Boston.
Yes, I have been to MA. My favorite place we visited was the American Textile Museum in Lowell. And in Boston, Pizzeria Regina!
Yes, once years ago when my sister lived there. Enjoyed our travels there a lot
MA is on the list for the next New England trip – we’ve been to most other states up that way.
As a native Maritimer, we share very similar tastes with New England. In fact I am making seafood chowder for dinner tonight. Would love this book and am proud to say I have recently joined the ranks of the Canadian snowbirds so have a US address!
I’ve visited Boston and western Massachusetts but I have never had the chance to go Cape Cod.
I have never been to Massachusetts.
I have never had the pleasure of visiting Massachusetts but would love to.
I have been to Massachusetts several times and am trying to find a time to go back.
I have been to Boston and the Cape. Love the Italian neighborhood. Delicious food and wonderful residents!!!
I’ve been to MA a couple of times. Love Boston and the Cape!
I spent a summer as a singing waitress on the Cape and have always wanted to go back. This would make a great addition to my cookbook corner in my new store.
I visited Boston, Massachusetts about 20 years ago when I went to an Insurance Conference. We had enough time to drive up the coast to Plymouth Rock and up the Coast of Cape Cod. Beautiful white beaches and delicious lobster. I’m actually going for a second visit very soon. I can’t wait. The cookbook sound awesome, would love it.
I have been to Massachusetts a long time ago on business I would love to go back with the book if not in person
I have a US adress
I love Massachusetts! From Salem to Boston and the Cape! Love Provincetown and Hyannis….so many special places to visit there.
I went to Boston when I was pregnant with my son 15yrs ago. I craved biscuits & gravy and couldn’t find it anywhere! Misery!!
Boston is one of my favorite cities and I have many happy memories of Provincetown!