“As we express our gratitude we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F Kennedy The leaves are turning from green to vibrant hues of yellow and red before falling to the ground and being raked into piles. Fall is a time of year when things are being wrapped up for the year and the beginning of the quickly approaching Holiday season. I have Christmas cards ordered, but I am NOT ready to ... View the Post
Pumpkin Scones Have Arrived. Let Fall Begin!
I love it when the air gets crisp and green foliage is replaced by vibrant hues of yellow, red, and orange. Fall is a time of year when I try new soup recipes and look forward to my favorite ones simmering on the stove. We swap out taco salad for taco soup, well you get the picture! A few years ago I cooked up pumpkin from scratch. Just sayin', once you have crossed over to the homemade side it is hard to go back. I had no idea it was so easy. But, if you are still using canned pumpkin- ... View the Post
Sweet Potato-Black Bean Tacos..and why writing down recipes we know, like the back of our hand, matters.
One of the things I loved about going to Grandma Upton's house was knowing that whatever she cooked up, was sure to be amazing. She had a simple way about her and the way she cooked. She kept a "drippings" can next to the stove that held bacon grease and was often scooped out of for frying up eggs or pancakes. Her desserts and candies were always cooked to perfection. The only regret is that she didn't write all her recipes down. No one thought to capture Angel Food Pie, until there was ... View the Post
The Sweet Taste of Summer!
I love the tastes of summer! Whether it is hamburgers being grilled, fresh corn salad, or a perfectly ripened watermelon. But one of my favorite all time recipes is the classic Strawberry Shortcake! I am not sure if I love it because the sweet berries burst with flavor, the buttery shortcakes are topped with whipped cream, or because I can't savor a serving without thinking of my grandmothers kitchen. Because so many of my memories are tied around food and the hands that helped to create ... View the Post
I will eat this here and there… Ratatouille Toast with Fried Egg
For some reason, I have had a serious aversion to eggplant. I probably sounded like the beloved Suess character who does not like green eggs and ham, he does not like them, Sam I am! But something changed my mind. It was not a goat, boat, house, mouse, box, or even an adorable fox. It was a picture in a magazine. The photo was so appetizing that before I could say Wizzer-wazzar-what I had picked up all the ingredient, "aproned up", and started dicing. Just to be on the safe side I decided ... View the Post
Marshmallows from Scratch? Your Hot Cocoa will thank you!
I remember the first time I read that Martha Stewart had made her marshmallows from scratch. I thought..GEEZ woman..get a life! I mean you can buy a bag of marshmallows for a $1.50! But then I saw a recipe for the marshmallows and figured I would give it a shot. At least I could cross that off my bucket list. WOWZA. They were so amazingly easy and yummy! when I swapped out the peppermint extract for the vanilla it took our hot cocoa drinking to a whole new level. All I have to say is I ... View the Post