Decadence!

guacamole 2 ways

 riviera maya guacamole: This is a recipe for guacamole that was inspired by the simple, wonderful guac we had while visiting Mexico’s Riviera Maya. I think the key to a good guacamole recipe is to keep it short and sweet. 2 ripe avocados, peeled and mashed 1 diced, ripe Roma tomato 2 Tablespoons grated onion…

the best garlic bread on the planet

~ garlic bread ~ Looking for the BEST garlic bread? This is ooey gooey, cheesy, garlicky, and delicious! The black olives are optional. Sometimes I add them, sometimes I don’t. The first time I had this amazing garlic bread I was still living in my little apartment in White Bear Lake. My friend Amy and…

trattoria meatballs

~ trattoria meatballs ~ So a couple days ago I was making spaghetti and talking to our cat (yes, I did just say that… and sometimes she talks back too. She says “mama” when she’s hungry for a treat. Which is about 2,000 times a day. We have created a little furry striped monster.) Anyhoo,…

herb garden salad dressing

What a lovely weekend. A little day trip to Pepin, long walks, and  lots of time spent in the fresh air, working on yard projects and getting our herbs and flowers planted. I hope you had a beautiful Mother’s Day. Here’s a special salad dressing recipe using lots of fresh herbs from your garden… I…

luau meatballs

~ luau meatballs ~ My friend Lisa over at Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish made a “retro” meal a few days ago, Chowmein Casserole. It looked and sounded so yummy, it got me thinking about some of my favorite retro meals…the ones that sort of take me back in time to when I was a kid. Among…

carrot cheddar curry tea sandwiches

~ carrot cheddar curry tea sandwiches ~ Today I made some of our favorite tea sandwiches for teatime. Carrot cheddar curry. We made these little sammies at both of the tearooms where I was employed, and everyone loved them! The mincemeat is my addition, and I think it makes these sandwiches even more wonderful. If…

country pineapple bake

~ country pineapple bake ~ I’m still catching up on trying to post all of my Easter recipes from this year. This pineapple bake is truly amazing with brown sugar-glazed ham, cheesy fan potatoes, and four seasons fruit salad. 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 cups brown sugar 8 eggs 2 (20 ounce) cans crushed pineapple,…

strawberries & cream brownies

~ strawberries & cream brownies ~ Have you ever had one of those days when you felt like you were walking within a dream? Today was that sort of day for me. I feel excited and blessed and happy and a little nervous about this new adventure I’m on. But it’s that good kind of…

vermont sharp cheddar fan potatoes with fresh herbs

~ fan potatoes ~ Fan potatoes, or Hasselback potatoes are made by cutting slits across the potatoes every 1/6 inch, roasting them in the oven, basting them with butter, and sprinkling them with a cheesy seasoned breadcrumb mixture close to the end of their cooking time. While the potatoes roast the little slices will fan…

frozen cappuccino

~ frozen cappuccino ~ These little iced cappuccinos are easy to make and every bit as good as the more expensive coffee shop variety. Serve these up in clear depression glass teacups (like the one pictured above) or your favorite floral cups for a fun and fancy garden party treat! one serving: 2 heaping teaspoons…