Gluten free baking is foreign territory to me, but I’m always willing to explore new tastes and new ideas in the kitchen. So when Cousin Lynn showed up at a cousin’s reunion with this Bundt cake last Fall I couldn’t wait to taste his creation. Some of the ingredients may be foreign to you, as […]
Chocolate Banana Walnut Bread – A Waste Not Want Not Creation
You know my motto. Waste Not Want Not. I noticed four bananas in our fruit bowl that had certainly seen better days. So rather than throw them away I began to think about how to use them. I wanted something different from the usual banana bread or cake. And I am beginning to use up items […]
Montgomery Pie – I Need ADVICE From My Amish and Mennonite Friends!
This winter I dragged some of my Mom’s old recipe books along with me to Fort Lauderdale, and today I began to thumb through her old Mennonite Community Cookbook . (That 15th Edition copy was printed in 1971, the year Peepaw and I were married.) I came across a recipe for Montgomery Pie. I had […]
Meemaw’s HEALTHY “Kitchen Sink” Muffins
The word HEALTHY sometimes gets a bad rap…especially when it comes to food. Most people think of things like alfalfa sprouts or slimey green mystery drinks…but that’s not my version. I set out to create a healthy muffin using ingredients I already had in my pantry and in my refrigerator. Check out my healthy NO-FAT […]
Waste Not Want Not – Turn Leftover Cherry Compote Into Cobbler
I hate to waste delicious food. I was left with lots of Spiced Tart Cherry and Pear Compote after Thanksgiving dinner, so I decided to turn that leftover jar of fruit into a warm dish of Cobbler. And that turned out to be a delicious decision. I wasn’t sure if I needed to add any […]
Baked Apples – A Versatile New Twist On Dessert
Baked apples are super simple dessert that can be dressed up to look fit for company. Sometimes a simple dessert like this one is even more appealing to your guests…especially if you’ve served them a decadent and heavy entree. And who really needs that pie crust anyway? Sometimes I think those extra calories are just […]
Rice Pudding – Comfort Food Worth The Effort…And The Clean-Up!
Sometimes…the BEST dishes don’t start out that way. Like this pot of (what was supposed to be) Rice Pudding. UGH! What a MESS! I had this kitchen disaster while I was still trying to get used to a new cook top. And as you can see…I had a long way to go to […]
Roman Apple Cake and Autumn – A Match Made In Heaven
Apple cake is one of my favorite Autumn desserts, and one of the best recipes is found in my tattered and stained copy of the first edition printing of the Kalona Historical Village Cookbook. I treasure this book to this day since that book brings back wonderful memories of my Mom. Both Mom and I […]
Dirt Pudding – A Classic Kid’s Dessert From The 1970’s That’s Still A Home Run
Dirt Pudding? Please let me explain. In the 1970s our boys lived on baseball fields. And when they weren’t playing “for real” they would assemble backyard teams of friends for wiffle ball tournaments that would go on until darkness forced them to quit. They would come home covered with dirt, and their hair soaked with […]
Key Lime Pie – This Tropical Treat Is Made In Your Blender!
Key Lime Pie? Oh MY! A special THANK YOU to all of you who stopped by my table at the “Men Who Cook…And A Few Good Women” event held here in Iowa City last Saturday night. It was an honor to be asked to prepare a dish (along with many local chefs and other home cook […]