Jill’s German Chocolate Cake
Since Jeanne has been feeling a little under the weather, I thought I would jump in with a quick guest post! So my husband celebrated a birthday last week and he acts like he doesn’t want a lot of fuss or hoopla, but in reality he is all about celebrating, especially when it involves cake and a huge glass of milk! So I thought I would surprise him with his favorite German Chocolate Cake!
Seasoned Cannelli Bean Salad
A wonderful, lightly dressed salad, delicious in it’s simplicity, & a unique use of cannelli beans, along with English cucumbers, grape tomatoes, & sweet onion. Two types of vinegar blended with seasonings, makes this a dish that’s sure to please!
Colorful Veggie & Beef Dinner Nachos
When it comes to meal time, I’m lucky enough to have a family that has a wide range of likes, & very few things they dislike. For this dinner, I wanted to use up some of the rescued produce I had on hand, including some gorgeous red, orange & yellow bell peppers. Now my husband isn’t crazy about bell peppers, but he’s a good sport. So I thought, everything is a series of compromises – he’s not big on bell peppers, but (if you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you already know) he’s a big fan of cheese! Give a little, take a little – and we’re both happy! Families with kids are usually trying to sneak in some healthy vegetables whenever possible, & this is a creative way to do just that, while still enjoying a “fun” family dinner!
Thank goodness for weekends, because sometimes my mind & body just needs some time to “be,” to rest, & de-stress. This was one of those Saturdays that just required some good old fashioned R & R. Everyone in the house needed it, my husband declared it, my son & I took a nap (which he never does). Hey, even Mini (our cat) took a break from her “Spicy Mini” persona to cozy herself into her favorite chair. At some basic level, our body just knows what’s best for us. I think now more than ever, we live in a society which requires more from us. We’re constantly plugged-in, tuned-in, multi-tasking or otherwise engaged in a way that takes so much from us. A quote comes to mind;
Easy Lemon Curd
Freshly picked lemons from my parent’s tree – what a beautiful gift! My step Mom Cookie & Dad have some citrus trees that produce the most amazing grapefruit & lemons, & they are always so generous in sharing them with us. This last batch of lemons went into preparing some wonderful savory dishes, with more left over & just begging to be used! Making something to showcase these beauties seemed like the right thing to do, & lemon curd would fit the bill! Continue reading
Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Clusters!
Today is my first Guest Post, which comes from my wonderful sister, Jill over at Create3Sixty5.com – Enjoy! ❤ Continue reading
Three Bean Chicken Stew
There’s something reassuring about having dinner in the slow cooker on a busy day. It affords me the freedom to enjoy myself, even if it’s just getting things done at home. I think the whole family likes the smell of a home cooked meal. We can almost taste in the air, the flavors mingling together to form rich juices & tender meats. Somehow at the end of a more productive day, I feel a sense of accomplishment, & my reward is a simple yet delicious dinner – the result of planning ahead.
So with that being said, this recipe could not get any easier, but the flavor would have you believe otherwise! Continue reading
Sourdough English Muffins
Recipe from the collection of: Designs by Jeanne R
Homemade sourdough English muffins is another childhood memory for me. Mom made these pretty often, & while they were always really good, we probably took for granted that not all mom’s made homemade breads like this for their families. I have the sourdough cookbook she made for all of us kids, & it makes me smile when I see her handwritten notes in which the measurements were doubled, tripled & quadrupled in the margins! I guess with a family of 5 kids (plus friends), 1 batch wouldn’t suffice! Making these myself throughout the years, I marvel at how easy Mom made this look. I’ll be honest, there’s a fine line between a beautifully cooked English muffin, & one which has been scorched on the stove! You’ve been warned, you’ve got to babysit these little darlings, but it’s well worth the effort. Continue reading
Mini’s with her blanket
I work out of my home office, & I have this little assistant hanging out under my desk all day. She just loves her comfy velvet bed, & I love having such great company! Every now and then, she snores…it’s a dainty little noise, but she does snore! So during the winter, I’ll drape a little blanket over my lap, and she’s all to happy to share it with me. I started thinking, “Mini needs her own blanket!” So here’s her soft little blanket, crocheted out of leftover baby yarn. Not very fancy, but I think she doesn’t mind!
Sweet dreams little Mini!
Sauerkraut & Dumplings
Sauerkraut & dumplings is a signature dish of sorts for Mom. She’d make it in a great big soup pot, & flavor it with pork spare ribs. I’d know dinner was almost ready when she added the dumpling dough to the pot at the very end of the cooking time. The dumplings were always my favorite part, as they’d lend a little creaminess to the dish, & tame the kraut flavor. The dumplings were just about as fluffy as little clouds, floating on top. It seemed as though there were never quite enough dumplings, but maybe that’s what enhanced it’s appeal. Continue reading
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