Here’s a quick dessert that could be stirred up and baked while finishing the rest of dinner, or even made after drop in guests arrive, ready to be served hot from the oven. It’s a good one for kids to help with, both because it is fun to see how the sauce ends up on…

A few weeks ago, I used friends and family as pilot testers for some cookies labeled Batch A and Batch B. If they wanted to try one of the chocolate chip cookies being offered, they had to try two, one from each plate…and then they had to give me their feedback. The things you have…

One of those automated invitations arrived in my email the other day, asking for three dozen cookies for an event this weekend. I was glad to sign up, but I knew that there are lots of really fantastic bakers who will also be providing cookies, so I wanted to try something that might be a…

It seems like the Super Bowl is becoming one of those “food holidays” like Thanksgiving, with the focus on all kinds of snacks, many of which are pretty much the antithesis of health foods.  Looking at the prices in the stores this week, many of the menu items planned are not necessarily budget friendly either….

The day is cloudy with sleet starting to rattle against the windows. Just the day for warm houses and lovely baking smells. Three of my grandchildren had a sleep over, and I wanted to have a special breakfast for them before church. However, yesterday’s brunch had already featured scrambled eggs, and I wanted to stay…

  Christmas cookies are a distant memory, the Valentine’s day chocolate frenzy is over, and the lighter fruit desserts of Easter and early spring are weeks away. So what might be a desert to serve for a late winter/early spring potluck or dinner with friends? These soft and spicy bars could be a good accompaniment…

The festive Christmas season may seem to have closed out on December 25, but many of us forget that Christmas Day is only the first of the “twelve days of Christmas.” If you had great plans for sharing gifts of homemade goodies but got behind in your efforts, this weekend still provides time to get…

All the predictions for 2013 include increasing food prices, so the “frugal” part of this blog is going to be getting a lot more emphasis. Unfortunately, beef prices have already started the climb upward and onward. Since our household eats very little beef, that has not impacted us very significantly, but for many of my…

Eggnog is one of those seasonal foods that many of us enjoy in small doses. However, it often seems like there is still some left after a round of toasts and even several days of eggnog lattes. This year, I added to the amount that needed to be used up because I found a great…

Part of our family Christmas tradition is sharing a leisurely Christmas morning breakfast, with a set in stone menu:  scrambled eggs (grated cheese and salsa allowed as toppings if desired), yeast-raised coffeecake, and “Grandpa’s Citrus Cup.” I remember this fruit salad from my grandmother’s holiday breakfasts decades ago, and my kids christened it with Grandpa’s…