By:
On:
In: In The Kitchen

The apple harvest has been plentiful here in the northwest, I can only make so much apple butter and pie.  This cake is delicious and easy!  I have very few things in Grandma’s handwriting and this recipe is something I cherish.  I hope you like it as much as we do. Raw Apple Cake 4 cut raw apples 2 eggs 2 tsp. cinnamon 2 c. sugar 1 c. chopped nuts 2 c. flour 2 tsp. soda 3/4 tsp. salt 1/2 c. oil Break eggs over raw apples, add sugar and mix well with fork then add cinnamon, oil and nuts.  Mix in sifted flour, saltRead More →

By:
On:
In: Reflections, Thoughts and Ideas

How in the world did we get to only 53 days of 2017 left to go?!?  Remember that big long list of goals and dreams we all made at the end of 2016?  I don’t even know where mine is, let alone have much accomplished.  It’s a sad fact that I am still not organized or de-cluttered, not debt-free and not more than several pounds lighter.  I am not going to let that get me down and discouraged. First things first, take a deep breath.  Next, get out the calendar, a notepad and pen.  Now make a realistic to-do list, a realistic list of goals andRead More →

By:
On:
In: In The Garden

Temperatures are dropping along with the leaves.  Last week we had fog, this week we have rain turning to snow this weekend.  I am hoping it stays in the higher elevations at least for a while longer.  We have been working hard at getting ready for winter but we aren’t quite there yet.  Our over abundance of leaves makes the perfect mulch for covering our rose bushes, shrubs and perennials.  I still have two rose bushes to cut back and I need to finish cutting the irises back and cover the strawberries.  It’s funny, in the spring I want to plant, plant and plant someRead More →

By:
On:
In: Reflections, Thoughts and Ideas

My little helper after our last wind and rain storm.  Roger and I were able to get most of the fallen branches in the burn pile and fill up a bag full of pinecones.  He thinks he’s a big dog! Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ~2 Corinthians 8:11 (NIV)  Read More →

By:
On:
In: In The Kitchen

This is one of my favorite cakes to make in the fall, it’s moist, delicious and versatile.  I’ve made several wedding cakes with this recipe.  It was very popular covered and filled cream cheese frosting.  For my nephew Steven’s groom’s cake I poured chocolate ganache over it and filled it with whipped ganache, oh my goodness!  One bride didn’t like chocolate (what?!?) so we substituted pecans, it was amazing.  I have also mailed them and they have held up well.  It can be baked as a layer cake or in a loaf pan for bread but my favorite is in a bundt pan sprinkled with powdered sugar.  Give itRead More →

By:
On:
In: In The Kitchen

I think most people probably have a banana bread recipe or two floating around.  While thumbing through my recipes last night, I discovered between my family and Brad’s I have five!  I always have a few bananas in my freezer and I thought what better way to warm up the kitchen on this cold and rainy day.  This particular recipe came from my Aunt Sissy and is Brad’s favorite, I’ve made it so many times I can practically make it in my sleep!  I leave out the nuts, our son doesn’t like them.  Warm out of the oven with a pat of butter and a hotRead More →

By:
On:
In: In The Garden

The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are turning and it’s time to think about Spring.  Crazy, I know, but this is the time to start planning the first blooms I want to see in the spring.  There is a limited time to get fall bulbs planted before the ground freezes.  A little bit of planning will make for a gorgeous display as temperatures warm back up after the winter snows have melted off.  Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, iris, allium and crocus need to be planted in the next couple of weeks.  I am planning on adding more snow crocus along the path to my door.  Their colorful blooms will be aRead More →

By:
On:
In: In The Kitchen

It seems our lives are much busier than I ever thought they would be.  Some nights it’s hard to get dinner on the table and we have grilled cheese much more than I’d like to admit.  Luckily, we love tacos (who doesn’t!) they are quick and easy.  We like to switch them up, hard or soft tortillas, beef, chicken, turkey or pork.  Last night it was ground turkey and soft flour tortillas.  I had been buying the packets of taco seasoning mix and thought that there has to be something better.  After a few hits and misses I have found the recipe for homemade taco seasoning thatRead More →

By:
On:
In: In The Kitchen

I love to bake, especially when the weather starts to cool down.  Something about this old fashioned cake just feels like fall to me, I think it’s the nutmeg.  It goes together easily and quickly and doesn’t require dragging out the mixer which makes me happy.  We have a few different versions of this recipe floating around the family, they are all similar but then, also a little different.  This is the one my little family prefers.  I’m not sure anymore who handed this one down, it’s been around a while.  I changed the oleo to butter, much better, and I use pecans which I chop into bigger pieces.Read More →

By:
On:
In: Reflections, Thoughts and Ideas

A few hours ago, there was a shooting at a high school not far from us.  The horror and panic is all consuming.  My mind cannot wrap itself around what the students and families must be going through.  No matter what your beliefs on gun control, police, bullying, mental health or whatever else, we as a nation are all in this together.  While we have no idea yet what has prompted this tragedy, we need to not point fingers but to come together regardless of religion, race, politics or whatever else; set that all aside today.  Hug your children and talk with each other.  Tell them you loveRead More →