finding hope

photograph by kristin karch

banana cream poke cake

in the south, new years day is just as big of a celebration as new years eve.  eating collard greens, black eyed peas, and corn bread is a southern ritual for bringing goodness in the new year.  my family has a tradition of spending the day with friends and family and having a big potluck feast.  i made a banana cream poke cake to go alongside all of the savory items.
-i started by making this buttermilk cake as a base and punched big holes throughout
-i then made a batch of vanilla pudding and layered it on top of the cake
-next, i added a layer of freshly sliced bananas
-then i made a layer of whipped cream and carefully spread it over the bananas  (see recipe below)
-lastly i topped the dessert with a layer of vanilla wafers.
my favorite whipped cream recipe
1 liter of heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp of sweetener (maple syrup or powdered sugar)
1 tsp vanilla
inside of 1 vanilla  bean (optional but so good)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
a pinch of salt
-whip your very cold whipping cream until soft peaks start to form
-add a sweetener and whip again
-slowly stir in the rest of the ingredients and keep chilled

photos and words by kristen bach

wild growth calendar

our friend megan of brown parcel press makes the loveliest calendars each year. this year’s calendar is no exception! titled ‘wild growth’, it is full of beautifully illustrated and beautifully printed pages, one for each month. this calendar would make a special gift for someone you love or who loves beautiful things.

photographs and words by rinne allen