A few weeks ago, I got a text from my Mom, asking me for her Banana Bread recipe. Strange - I know, right? But, she was away from her own kitchen and she knew I would have it, because she gave it to me many years ago when I moved out on my own and it was on my old blog. It's a recipe I know by heart, because I have made it so many times. Definitely time to get it moved over here to Creekside, so today I am getting that taken care of. I asked Mom again this morning, and unfortunately, she doesn't ... Read More about Mom’s Banana Bread
Recipes
Classic Margarita
Happy National Margarita Day! I bet you didn't know it was Margarita Day, did you? Well, that is why I am here - to help you out on occasions such as this, where you might otherwise miss an important event. I mean, you don't want to get to work on Monday morning and have someone ask you "What did you do for National Margarita Day this year?", and have nothing to tell them, do you? Dios mío, no! I could not let that happen to you! But, here is the thing about Margaritas - it is very easy to mess ... Read More about Classic Margarita
Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Brown Butter
It is a sad day when I finally have to buy Brussels sprouts in the store. We have finally run through all the of the ones we grew in the garden, along with nearly everything else left from last fall's harvest. We used up the last of the onions a week or so ago, and the potatoes were all gone awhile before that. This dish also used up our remaining shallots. If you grow a garden, you should definitely make room for some shallots because nothing makes you feel quite so much like a millionaire as ... Read More about Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Brown Butter
Spicy Tomato Cheese Crackers
You know those cheese crackers you can buy in the store? The little orange ones that have some kind of magnet in the bottom of the box, perfectly attuned to human physiology, so that you can't keep your hand out of there, but just keep going back in the box for another one? For a long time, they just had one flavor, but they keep adding more and more all the time, including spicy ones. Did they really have to make spicy ones? They seem to have an even stronger magnet in those boxes than the ... Read More about Spicy Tomato Cheese Crackers
S’more Chocolate Pie
It's a little ironic that only days after mentioning how little my husband loves chocolate, I am offering yet another chocolate dessert that you just might like to make for your Valentine. The fact is, I like chocolate - actually, I love chocolate and I know that lots of other people do too. Maybe even you, am I right? You know it's true. And, when you get right down to, it even my Valentine was impressed by this particular chocolate thing. That is partly because it's a pie and the guy loves ... Read More about S’more Chocolate Pie
Chili Toasted Almonds
So, in my last post, I mentioned that Larry is not the world's biggest fan of chocolate. He is, on the other hand, rather fond of treats like these Chili Toasted Almonds. I can't say that I blame him, because they are awfully good. Maybe you want to whip up a Valentine's treat for someone in your life who likes things more spicy than sweet? I think these almonds would be a perfect fit for that kind of thinking. Almonds are also very good for you, so you will also be sharing some health benefits, ... Read More about Chili Toasted Almonds
Chocolate Pudding Cake
Why do we equate chocolate with affection? And Valentines Day? Who cares? Not me, that is for sure. I never have a struggle finding reasons to have chocolate in any case, but an actual chocolate-sanctioned holiday? I'm there. I can completely buy that chocolate means love, and if we are going to celebrate love, chocolate is the best way to do it. The trouble is, my own object of affection isn't very fond of chocolate in large amounts. He hid this from me until after we were married, which I ... Read More about Chocolate Pudding Cake
Spicy Avocado Dip
There are very few things that ever make me think of moving from Upstate NY. We both grew up here, and despite the rough winter we're having this year, we enjoy all of the seasons in their turn. But then there are avocados. If you are trying to grow or raise as much of your own food as you can, avocados can be a bit of a brick wall when you live where we do. Along with citrus, shrimp and Shiraz, it's never going to happen here - we live far from the ocean and our climate is never going to ... Read More about Spicy Avocado Dip
Valentine Sugar Cookies
Aren't these beautiful cookies? They taste beautiful too, and of course if they don't taste good, then they have no reason to exist - at least as far as I'm concerned. I'm not the world's best cookie decorator by a long shot, but I can appreciate what goes into creating beautiful cookies. Not long ago, I was at an event, and one of the featured refreshments were sugar cookies, amazingly decorated to match the theme. They took hours to make I am sure, but after taking one bite, I started looking ... Read More about Valentine Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting
I like to keep things pretty realistic here on the blog. Over the years my blogs have morphed from being stream of conscious postings, to stream of conscious plus a lot about food and photography to what you are reading now - a food and garden blog. It's a food and garden blog that is being written by a real person though, and sometimes among the cookies and flowers, real life wiggles it's way in. That is where I am this week. My Dad is having some very distressing health struggles right now, at ... Read More about Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting
Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Just a nice quick and easy recipe today: Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies. Everyone needs a good peanut butter cookie recipe, or two, or ten - right? In getting recipes moved over here from the old blog, I realized that none of my favorite peanut butter cookies have made the trip yet. Okay - one did, actually - Peanut Butter and Jelly Kisses, which are a favorite of Larry's. I like the simplicity of these though, along with the fact that they not only keep practically forever, but that they also just ... Read More about Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Chicken Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust
Ah, January! Cold, windy, snowy, bitter. You make me want to hunker down and pull a pile of warm blankets over my head for a few weeks. Unfortunately such behavior is frowned upon in our modern world - even if you do claim to be a hermit. That is where meals like Chicken Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust come in - it makes even the coldest person want to climb out of their blankets and come to the table and enjoy a warming meal. You can, of course, top a pot pie with a normal pastry type ... Read More about Chicken Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust