Franciscan Apple Earthenware & A Fruit Nut Oatmeal Loaf

Franciscan Apple Earthenware

🍎 🌱🍎 Franciscan Apple Earthenware 🍎🌱🍎
A Fruit Nut Oatmeal Loaf
And Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I’ve been reminiscing about my mom’s delicious home-cooked meals, which she served on these dishes for well over half a century. This Franciscan Apple Earthenware has proven to be very durable, a few pieces are chipped, but overall a fine collection in great condition. And now that I am the keeper of the entire collection, I will cherish it forever. Thank you for all the meals and memories, Love You Ma! ❤️

Franciscan Apple is one of the most popular raised-relief hand-painted patterns from Gladding, McBean & Co., which began production of Franciscan dinnerware in 1934 at their plant in Glendale, California. This pattern first appeared in 1940. My father received this set as a gift almost 80 years ago.

The name Franciscan is an allusion to Franciscan Friars and reflected the simple, informal style of Mexican folk pottery. The Franciscan Apple pattern has become a darling of collectors with its branches, beautiful green leaves and red harvest apples painted on cream-colored porcelain reminiscent of days gone by.

Franciscan Apple Earthenware, Fruit Nut Granola Loaf

American production of Franciscan Ware ceased in 1984, following the announcement to relocate all Franciscan production to England.

Franciscan Apple Earthenware

The endearing retro design includes one of a kind hand-painting; teacup handles shaped like apple tree branches; little apple knobs atop the butter dish, sugar bowl, and casserole dishes; and my favorite, apple-shaped tea bag holders. It continues to be a treasure for collectors of vintage dinnerware, like me.

Franciscan Apple Earthenware, Fruit Nut Granola LoafMy oatmeal cookies are always a big hit, and this oatmeal loaf is also a big winner. It’s a dense bread chock-full of nuts and seeds and fruit – toasted almonds and walnuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds, dried apricots, cherries and raisins. It’s heavenly sliced and heated in the toaster oven, served nice and toasty, spread with butter or a piece of brie cheese.

This oatmeal loaf is perfect to serve to house guests as a simple light breakfast along with coffee or tea, or as an addition to a (Mother’s Day) brunch buffet. It’s even more delightful when served on vintage china…

Fruit Nut Oatmeal Loaf Recipe

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Crunchy Salty Oatmeal Cookies

Crunchy Salty Oatmeal Cookies

Crunchy Salty Oatmeal Cookies
With Whole Cashews and Raisins

I keep these cookies under glass on the kitchen counter next to the coffee maker. Guests seem to find them irresistible!

They are less sweet than some traditional oatmeal cookies but the raisins bring plenty fruitiness. These oatmeal cookies are quite crunchy, and pleasantly salty and savory – with a bit extra salt in the batter and Maldon sea salt flakes on top. The whole cashews add extra buttery nutty textures and flavors.

And when my guests leave after a fun time in Vegas, they head back with some Crunchy Salty Oatmeal Cookies for the trip home.

🧡 Cookies Baked in Vegas, Don’t Stay in Vegas 🧡

Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

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Oatmeal Date Walnut Cookies

Oatmeal Date Walnut CookiesOatmeal Date Walnut Cookies for the Holidays

They’re really terrific all year round, but just a little dusting of powdered sugar can make this hearty-crispy-chewy oatmeal cookie perfect for the holidays as well.

Oatmeal Date Walnut Cookie Recipe

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Vegetarian Meatloaf, Mushroom Gravy

Vegetarian Meatloaf, Mushroom GravyA Moist, Tasty, Satisfying Vegetarian Meatloaf
made with
Oatmeal, Quinoa, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, and Gruyere Cheese
served with
Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy

The somewhat mysterious walnut loaf on the vegetarian restaurant menu seemed way too heavy for lunch, so I ordered the sprouted salad instead.

While the salad was completely delicious, I was still curious about that hearty, compelling “vegetarian meatloaf” so I decided to make one at home.

While researching vegetarian walnut meatloaf recipes, I came across several that sounded similar to our local restaurant’s version. Upon further investigation, it appears that the original recipe is over 2 decades old, from famous vegetarian chef Deborah Madison.

Madison recently noted that 20 years ago she would add cheese to many of her recipes. These days however, with the variety and quality of vegetarian ingredients, she no longer relies on cheese to substitute for the meat. In this vegetarian meatloaf, cheese does play an important role…but vegan cheese should work fine too.

In my interpretation of the recipe, I substitute oatmeal and quinoa for Madison’s brown rice, and make many other adjustments as well, but credit for the concept definitely goes to her.

Vegetarian Meatloaf, Mushroom Gravy Recipe

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How To Wake Up Your Oatmeal

How To Wake Up Your Oatmeal

Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl
Sunnyside Up Fried Egg, Avocado, Salsa Roja, Feta
Pepitas, Radish, Jalapeno, Cilantro

Would it not be a shame to behold a glorious sunrise, then turn to a boring bowl of beige oats for breakfast? Let’s fix that.

Sunrise Over the Port of Los Angeles

Sunrise Over the Port of Los Angeles

How To Wake Up Your Oatmeal

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