What a fun time I had again chatting with Matt Swaim/Sacred Heart Radio Sonrise Morning Show today about Matthew 2:11 and the magi bringing gifts to Baby Jesus. Here’s a holiday scenario that may be as familiar to some of you as it is to me. You’re invited to a celebratory gathering and you’d like to bring a homemade edible host/hostess gift. The devil … Continue reading GIFTS IN JARS: SALTED CARAMEL & HOT FUDGE (No Corn Syrup!)
Growing up in a large Lebanese household, salad was served almost every day. Mom would pound garlic, salt and a little pepper together in a bowl with her heirloom pestle, then stir in lemon juice and either corn or olive oil. The greens and vegetables would vary with the season. Iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers in the summer. Fall and winter meant greens … Continue reading DIY Homemade Nut & Berry Salad Toppers
I so enjoy talking with friend and colleague (and creative cook) Matt Swaim each week on the Sonrise Morning Show/Sacred Heart Radio. Today we chatted about Halloween and its “ties” to All Saints and All Souls Days. Lots of legends abound about the beginning of All Saints Day. From what I can gather, though, way back in the 800’s the Pope chose November 1 for … Continue reading Halloween and Slow Cooker Meatballs – Boo!
Today, as usual on Thursday mornings, I chatted with buddy Matt Swaim on the Sonrise Morning Show/Sacred Heart radio. The subject was butter – yes, butter was made in Biblical times from goats, camels, cows. Today butter is a common ingredient that we use almost every day. It’s a necessary one, too, in these snack mixes for autumn or Halloween gatherings. Be aware, though, both … Continue reading Boo! 2 Addictive Snack Mixes
I like to save one sweet potato from the autumn garden and suspend it in a hanging planter with enough water and a little fertilizer touching the bottom. Eventually the tuber produces vines with edible leaves and makes for a fun climbing houseplant. When harvesting the sweet potatoes, we usually find a fair number of nice sized, but weird shaped potatoes. These funky specimens … Continue reading Sweet Potatoes & Pears: Perfect Soup Combo
It was a photo of chicken of the woods mushrooms from friends Charlene & Butch Castle that sent me into a bit of a frenzy regarding dinner. Autumn is the time here for harvesting these eye-catching citrus colored mushrooms.They are delicious simply sauteed with aromatics, or dried for winter cooking. Gathering theses mushrooms is best done sooner rather than later. So named because this … Continue reading High Roasted Slashed Chicken Thighs with Carrots & Cauliflower
Fall is officially here. There’s a slight nip in the air and it’s time to retrieve sweaters from the back of the closet, get the split firewood stacked, and use up the last of the garden produce. On my little patch of heaven that means fried green tomato BLT’s. Thick slices of firm green tomatoes with just a hint of color makes the best … Continue reading Fried Green Tomato BLT’s and Classic Fried Green Tomatoes
“A procrastinator’s guide to gardening in late summer” was the subject of my chat with Matt Swaim on the Sonrise Morning Show/Sacred Heart Radio this morning. Here’s what we talked about – gardening outdoors and in from late summer on. Yes, you can still grow produce and herbs during the fall and winter season! Basically, what could I plant now in early September and … Continue reading Gardening in Late Summer
Our sweet and hot peppers are ripening faster than we can pick. We’re out in the pepper rows every day gently twisting peppers from stems. Time to get those peppers in my country kitchen to make hot & sweet confetti jam. You may know this time-honored jam as hot pepper jelly or Christmas jelly. (It’s the colored peppers responsible for the moniker). Hot pepper jam is … Continue reading Some Like It Hot or Maybe Not
Here’s a good Chai mix – the cardamom is pretty expensive usually so if you can’t get it, do 1-1/2 teaspoons nutmeg. Even though it’s in the 90’s here on my little patch of heaven (it’s August, after all….) I’m thinking a mug of chai during those snow filled winter days! Pumpkin pie spice would work in a pinch with the addition of a bit … Continue reading Homemade Chai Spice Mix
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