Blog

December 20, 2010 - I Need More Christmas

Peppermint Mousse, anyone? You need more Christmas too. The peppermint mousse is really easy, I SWEAR. This is one of those recipes I stumbled across, and thought, “Holy cow this is easy!“. I also thought, “I can’t believe I have all this stuff in the house.” Which was sort of a funny thought, since there...
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December 19, 2010 - A Sweet Treat for Christmas Morning

I make these Overnight Cinnamon Rolls every year for part of our Christmas morning breakfast. I love them because they are ready and waiting for you. These cinnamon rolls couldn’t be simpler. You mix them up, let them raise, shape them and then pop them into the fridge to hang out overnight. In the morning,...
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December 18, 2010 - A Gift of Biscotti

Happy Holidays From My Kitchen To Yours! Looking for something different this year to take to the office party, family gathering, or for your Christmas cookie exchange? I have the answer for you–Christmas Biscotti! Don’t they look festive? When packaged in a cellophane bag with a tag, they make an excellent last minute gift, and...
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December 17, 2010 - Variations on Perfection

Suzanne’s Grandmother Bread can be used a billion and one ways. I doubt I could list all the different ways, even if I was creative enough to think of them. Suzanne could. I would webstalk her like she was Nora Roberts, given the chance. Moving on– By adding an egg to the basic Grandmother Bread...
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December 16, 2010 - This Isn’t Your Dark Chocolate Fudge

OK, all you dark chocolate purists out there–you may need to close your eyes for a few minutes, because what I’m about to say here, could–for you–border on blasphemy. I do apologize for that. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to forge ahead and share these daring words with you—you may want to sit down. White. Chocolate....
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December 14, 2010 - Not Your Grandmother’s Fruitcake

I know that some people actually like traditional fruitcake, but I don’t — not with its candied neon green and red cherries, candied citron and heavy, dry texture. On the other hand, fruitcake made with dried fruit is very good! The following recipe is adapted from Alton Brown’s Free Range Fruitcake. How to make Dried-Fruit...
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December 12, 2010 - Gift Basket Goodies

Christmas is 13 days away! Are you ready? I’m not, but there is 13 days left! I spend an entire day in the kitchen — mixing, stirring, baking and coating with chocolate for goodies to all those important people in my life. A true gift from the heart. Not many of my recipients bake goodies,...
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December 10, 2010 - The Trouble with Piloncillos

“The trouble with piloncillos”, or possibly, “The trouble with not being prepared and substituting a staple with something you really don’t know how to use properly.” Say, piloncillo-what? Piloncillos are a type of cane sugar, sold in Mexican food stores, among other places. They are cheap, keep forever, have a mellow molasses-y flavor, and I...
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December 9, 2010 - Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer And Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid And Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall The most famous reindeer of all? … Rudolph! Cookies! This is a simple, quick, totally easy and cute cookies idea that are a hit with kids. Reindeer cookies originally came from an article in the...
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December 8, 2010 - The Best Gift Granny Ever Gave

My husband’s grandmother was one of the sweetest ladies ever. When you were around Granny, you knew you were loved. She didn’t have to tell you, you just knew. It was evident in everything she did. Her faith and her family were the most important things in life, and her gentle, fun loving spirit captivated...
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December 7, 2010 - Snowman Fudge

I have a confession. I have never used a candy thermometer. My dad gave me one, but I don’t use it for candy. I will go out of my way to find recipes that don’t use one. This recipe is perfect! Mom found this recipe in a newspaper article 55 years ago and has been...
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December 6, 2010 - A Breakfast Treat

It was a cold morning as I curled up under the covers. I began to think about my day. I decided that I was going to bake something for the girls to have with breakfast. I came up with the following recipe and it was a real hit! I used a similar technique to making...
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December 5, 2010 - Decorating Autumn Pies

I am calling these Autumn Pies because they are made with squash and not pumpkin. I grow a lot of maxima squash for baking as it seems to be the sweetest and densest of the cucurbit squash. This year I baked several Autumn Pies ahead for our freezer and also for a Christmas fair. To...
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December 3, 2010 - A Latte for the Season

Before I married Harvey and moved to Missouri, I was a barista. Well that’s throwing the word around loosely, but my family and I had an Espresso Business called Express Concessions. It was a mobile trailer that we took to fairs, horse shows, home and garden shows, dog shows, you name it, and served espresso...
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December 1, 2010 - Nothing Says Autumn

Nothing says Autumn like watching Grandma chase a turkey out of the house in her scooter. No? No one else has this problem? I even have one of these to remind Grandma to close the door behind her. All right then, how about, “Nothing says Autumn like Cranberry Pear Jam”? How to make Autumn Cranberry...
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November 30, 2010 - Homemade Brown Sugar

Homemade brown sugar, where have you been all my life? It’s in the Emergency Ingredients, but it will be a staple in my pantry now. No more expensive brown sugar for me! Brown sugar is simply just sugar and molasses. The ingredients list doesn’t even list anything additional! Mix 1 cup white sugar with 2...
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November 29, 2010 - GooOOO Cake!

At the end of October my husband and I, both graduates of the University of Arizona, packed up the kids, drove to Tucson, and attended Homecoming Weekend. It was a bit of a reunion for me — my best friend (also a U of A graduate) flew in from Chicago, another good friend came in...
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November 24, 2010 - What to Do?

I knew from a very early age that I was a baker and not a cook. So not. a. cook. From the day my grandma taught me how to make pie, I was able to bake most anything – failing at a recipe did not discourage me but challenged me to master that recipe. I...
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November 21, 2010 - My Recipe Box

Do you have a recipe box? I’ve always wanted a simple wooden box that was divided into easy to find sections and recipes. But, this is what I have. Do you see that old and rescued blue leather 22 x 14 x 7-inch suitcase? Yes, that’s my recipe box. And it has a special spot...
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