Categories
Dinners Soups

Homemade Beans

There are many kinds of beans out there to cook up- but the pinto just begs to be used.  I start with a soup, then as it thickens, make the rest into re-fried beans.  The flavor is wonderful and you can add smoked meats or not depending on your taste preferences, what’s in the fridge […]

Categories
Appetizers Dinners

Lotsa Stuff Potato Skins

Scrub 6-10 potatoes- adjust to the size of your crowd. Prick them with a fork and microwave for 5-6 minutes on high.  Check if done and continue a few minutes at a time until they are tender.  Cook and cut in half.  Scoop out the centers.  Meanwhile, fry some thick slice bacon- applewood cured if you can […]

Categories
Appetizers

Stuffed Mushrooms

Here comes football season- and we love a bunch of munchies with the game.  Imagine serving fried zucchini, stuffed mushrooms and my lotsa stuff potato skins.  That should fill ’em up and let you watch the game!! Stuffed mushrooms are quick- clean your button or baby bellas and remove the stem.  Chop the stem into […]

Categories
Dinners

Enchilada Sauce

Yes, you can make your own.  It is so rich compared to a can- you may just find yourself making it instead of buying the pre-made.  When you cook that whole chicken for your chicken enchiladas, you have at least 4-6 cups of wonderful chicken broth, complete with some onion and celery flavor.  Add to […]

Categories
Appetizers Salads

Deviled Eggs

Keep it simple!  Once you have mastered hard boiling eggs- pickled eggs and deviled eggs are only minutes away.  We raise chickens, so fresh eggs are always on hand.  Fresh eggs boil horribly- they need to be older eggs.   I have a egg boiler- you prick each egg and place in the boiler and it’s […]

Categories
Desserts

Sea Foam Icing

I actually had a special outlet designed in my kitchen just so I could make this icing.  If you don’t have an outlet where you can plug in the mixer next to the stove- find an extension cord.  I’ve done that too. You need a double boiler or you’ll have to rig up something similar.  […]

Categories
Desserts

Devils Food Cake

This has been for decades the favorite family cake.  Everyone requests mom make it for their birthday.   It’s topped with SeaFoam icing- a brown sugar, egg white mixture.  I cannot even PRETEND I can make it as well as mom.  Back in the day, we had to walk softly, so the cake would rise properly.  […]

Categories
Breads

Gramma Buns

Every family should have something that passes from generation to generation.  I watched my grandma make these buns.  I hope she watched her grandma make these buns too.  When we were kids, in the 60’s, almost every summer included a road trip to Pennsylvania to visit the relatives.  These are memories I cherish- from watching […]

Categories
Appetizers Pickles

Hot Carrots

This recipe started it all.   Yasmin asked for my hot carrot recipe.  She shot a photo of her end results and I shot a photo of my “canned” results and so it began….. I have made hot carrots by the pound, by the 3 pounds, by the 5 pounds and even by the 25 pounds.  […]

Categories
Breads

Corn Sticks

I have never come across anything like this recipe.  My mom made these and I am not sure where she found this recipe. It has been modified over the years and it’s simple- and they disappear.  If any leftover, heat up in the toaster oven to try to recreate that fresh baked texture. Mix a can […]