VUE. Sometimes a name says it all. The best city view in downtown Iowa City is easy to come by. Just head to the 12th floor of the beautiful new Hilton Garden Inn, and when those elevator doors open you’ll find yourself at VUE. It’s the newest, most amazing restaurant and cocktail lounge in Iowa […]
Hilton Garden Inn – A Hotel Gem In Downtown Iowa City, Iowa
Travel has been in my blood since I was a child, and as a travel agent I had many opportunities to explore hotels in many worldwide destinations. So I was anxious to see how the brand new Hilton Garden Inn in Iowa City measures up. (Disclosure: Thank you to Kinseth Hospitality Companies and the Hilton […]
A Quick and Easy Gingerbread House…Just In Time For The Holidays
Many folks get into the holiday spirit in a BIG way, and sometimes we’ve all bitten off more than we can chew when it comes to the decorating and baking and gift buying and present wrapping. I am always on the lookout for recipes that allow me to cut a few corners during this busy […]
Ina’s Potato-Fennel Gratin – A Delicious Holiday Dish
The holidays are upon us, and this Potato-Fennel Gratin would be a wonderful addition to any holiday meal. Earlier this Fall I spent an amazing day with my totally awesome “Foodie Friend” Jim. We spent the entire day in his kitchen…prepping and cooking a five course dinner for some of our luckiest friends. And one […]
A Day Spent With My Foodie Friend…And Our Five Course Autumn Harvest Dinner
A Five Course Autumn Harvest Dinner? No sweat! I simply joined forces with a great “Foodie Friend” to make it happen. And boy…did it happen! Earlier this Autumn I had the privilege of spending a day cooking with Jim in his well equipped kitchen in Kalona, Iowa. (I was like a kid in a candy […]
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 […]
Spiced Tart Cherry And Pear Sauce – Forget The Cranberries This Thanksgiving
I am not a big fan of cranberry sauce. Oh, sure…I have dutifully made it from scratch every year for a hundred years. I have tried many variations. I’ve made that sauce with apples, oranges, or nuts or just plain sweetened cranberries. I’ve made a cooked variety and a raw type too. But it just […]
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 […]
Emma’s Recipe For A Perfect Thanksgiving – From A Grandchild’s Perspective
Yesterday I finally got around to sorting papers and cleaning out my office files, and I stumbled across this recipe for a perfect Thanksgiving. And the recipe brought tears to my eyes. Our oldest granddaughter Emma brought this recipe to me last year when their family drove “over the river and through the woods” to […]
Gluten Free Hawaiian Sweet Bread – Now I’m A Believer!
Gluten Free products have take the country by storm. And this Hawaiian sweet bread recipe is delicious. Just ask my cousin Lynn…the creator of this marvelous loaf! Lynn showed up at a family luncheon with his own basket of gluten free products since he knew the rest of us who had cooked the meal were […]