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
A Time For Everything..Including Baking! Recipe for Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes
Is it just me or did we just skip February? I am amazed at how fast 2017 is rolling and I am afraid it is just going to pick up speed from here! Well, a bit of catch up from my last post. I had a huge 10-day book/author tour that resulted in stopping at seven schools and a book club. I also took my canning supplies and canned several batches of lemon curd with one of my favorite peeps, dipped pretzels with a few adorable girls, visited several dear friends, had time with our ... View the Post
Ahh NUTS! – Recipe for Cinnamon-Sugar Coated Almonds
When I saw these yummy sugar cinnamon coated nuts splashed across my FaceBook page, I knew I had to make them. Then I read that they were made in a crock pot. Seriously! Isn't a crock pot for chili and pot roasts? So I picked up a 3 lb bag of raw almonds at Costco, pulled out my crockpot, and made sure I had at least 4 hours to complete the task. Because I wanted to do a lighter sugar coating, I added twice the nuts that were called for and my family loved them. Hey, who needs MORE sugar ... View the Post
Cranberry Pumpkin Bread Pudding..oh yeah!
This year I totally went wild with pumpkin recipes. I have always loved the comforting taste of pumpkin in bread, cookies, and soup. For some people, Fall hasn't officially started until they see pumpkin drinks added to their favorite cafe's menu board. When I tried to make pumpkin puree from an actual pumpkin versus just opening a can I was totally hooked! There was no comparison to the taste, color, and texture. If you use canned pumpkin, there is not judgment here, but I am just telling ... View the Post