Jamie Dunkirk and Grace Cashel have a lot in common, not the least of which is their interest in food. Both women enjoy making things from scratch, using fresh, local ingredients.

While Jamie cooks for her daughters, Grace is not above tempting Cash, her grandson, to eat a better breakfast, since, as she knows:

“When her grandson chose his own breakfast, he was prone to either black coffee or the full Southern heart-attack-on-a-platter. She had seen him slather enough butter on his grits to lubricate the chassis of Rosslyn and Rosslyn’s entire fleet of pickups.”

One of Grace’s favorite “tricks” is one of the author’s too. I learned this recipe at The Mountain, a family camp and conference center in Highlands, NC many years ago. It’s still one of my family’s favorites.

Grace’s Whole Wheat Coffee Cake with Blueberries (Serves 4-6)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a medium bowl combine the following dry ingredients:

¼ cup brown sugar
1 cup regular oatmeal
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup white flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda

Add the following ingredients and mix well:

½ cup oil
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk (you can substitute sour milk or plain yogurt)

Pour mixture into an oiled 8” square pan. Generously sprinkle either fresh or frozen blueberries, blackberries or sliced strawberries over the top.

Bake 35 to 45 minutes until browned. Cut in squares and serve, like pancakes, with butter and syrup.

Although Jamie is conscious of nutrition and careful what she serves to her daughters, for special occasions, she’s not above splurging on something fun. When the girls have a “dirty day” party, she makes the following dessert to go with the theme.

Jamie’s Dirt Cakes:

Line one new medium sized (8 inch) flower pot (ceramic or plastic) with aluminum foil, making sure to plug the hole at the bottom. Set aside. Or as an alternative, you can make individual dirt cakes in clear plastic tumblers.

Crush with food processor or by hand, icing and all, and set aside:
1 ¼ lb package of Oreos (you can use less if you prefer)

Cream together and set aside:
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
½ stick (4 Tablespoons) softened butter
½ to 1 cup of powdered sugar—depending on desired sweetness

Blend until thickened:
Instant Vanilla or Chocolate pudding (2 3.5oz packages)
3 ½ cups milk
1 12 ounce container whipped topping

Combine pudding mixture and cream cheese mixture

Layer crushed cookies and pudding, ending with cookie topping

Chill. Adorn with gummy worms and plastic flowers.

(This makes a cute Halloween dessert with tombstone Vanilla Wafers halved on top with hand-piped epitaphs.)