Alice and the Mock Turtle

Pasta Salad, Create Your Own Recipe

2016-05-16T15:08:00.000-04:00

I've not been a fan of pasta salad oh, since, perhaps. . . I was born. There are many reasons for that, but it is the truth. Or was the truth. Sometimes I am just a big kid with a picky palette. And, in the past, pasta salad never pleased mine. But, one day, something changed. I really don't remember exactly how I decided to try pasta salad again. Or even if I

Sunflower Cheese Ball with Olives

2016-04-14T13:59:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I find a recipe, make it, and my family loves it. It becomes an instant hit. Then I make it just about every week, or at least every month, until another recipe comes along and replaces it. Sometimes, there is no replacement, but the recipe just doesn't fit as well in with the season. As it is made less frequently, I might forget about using it. Then

An eXtra Blessing~ Shameless Self Promotion

2016-04-13T14:56:00.001-04:00

When Dianna Lee was born four years ago with an extra chromosome with her 21st set, I was a bit overwhelmed by one thought in particular. That thought was that we would be spending everyday in some type of therapy or at some doctor's office or having someone in our home teaching me how to best help Dianna. I was so wrong. Really, caring for Dianna and helping her has been much like

Make Ahead Brunch~ Simply Elegant Crab Strata

2016-03-19T17:31:00.000-04:00

I used to have more time to plan somewhat lavish meals for guests. Like having 70+ people over without catering, making all the food and decorations myself with the help of one or two of my daughters. Those times seem to be fading quickly into the abyss of my blog and memory. Sometimes the simplest gatherings are the most gratifying for me and most pleasing for my guests. But

DIY Vintage Style Lego Shelf

2016-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Do you ever feel like throwing away the Legos you find scattered all about the floor? Does your child have so many Legos that you are certain he would never notice if you did throw away some of them? I certainly have answered "Yes!" to both of these questions. I have five boys who have all enjoyed playing with Legos. This means that our collection has grown and accumulated

Free Crochet Pattern~ Baby Cocoon with Cables {AKA Sleep Sack}

2014-04-16T14:30:00.000-04:00

I've been amazed at how many were interested in the pattern for the Itty Bitty Bow Beanie! I am still working on my skills at writing crochet patterns for others to follow, but I thought I would share this one I just came up with for a baby cocoon or as some may call it, a baby sleep sack. The first thing I crocheted for my now 2 year old special blessing was a baby cocoon. It

DIY Sandwich Platters~ How to Make them Attractive

2014-03-27T08:23:00.000-04:00

Sandwich platters are an easy option for entertaining but can be rather boring or canned even if you make them yourself. Without paying a local sandwich shop or deli to make your party platters, you can make your own from your favorite sandwich recipes or some that I've included below. In the past I've made sandwiches and cut them up, arranged them on a platter and was quite

Family Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2014-03-03T18:11:00.000-05:00

Who isn't a fan of Toll House cookies fresh baked, just out of the oven? I've tried lots of chocolate chip cookie recipes and have claimed one as my favorite. But when I had these, first baked for my by one of my daughters, I knew I wouldn't not need to test another chocolate chip cookie recipe again. Though I have did not strive to find a copycat recipe for Toll House

Easy Savory Chicken Thighs

2014-02-25T22:02:00.001-05:00

Necessity is the mother of invention. Necessity is also the mother of many of my easiest yet favorite recipes. Preparing dinner is perhaps the most difficult task of my day though planning meals is rather relaxing for me. I can plan menus easily while entertaining a curious toddler or keeping a climbing baby safe. I can even write up my weekly dinner plans if I feel miserable

Savory Salmon Spread

2014-02-21T09:37:00.001-05:00

When choosing an appetizer or snack to have for small gatherings, I will often choose something that is served warm like spinach dip or meatballs. Often I will need something a bit lighter before a full dinner though. Sometimes I'll choose a seafood based appetizer when I need something lighter, like this crab salad. But more often I want something even simpler. One of my

Mom's Crab and Corn Chowder

2014-02-13T16:59:00.002-05:00

I don't remember what started the search for 'The' crab and corn chowder recipe, but I know I did search. And I tried a few that looked really good. Only one of them really satisfied what I was looking for~ creamy, thick, scrumptious and relatively easy. Unfortunately, I pretty much lost it and couldn't remember which recipe was it.

All Natural Lemon Loaf

2014-02-10T23:11:00.001-05:00

For the lemon lovers out there, here is a recipe full of natural tart lemon flavor. I set out to make a lemon loaf like the one my boys {who are endless lemon lovers} drool over at the coffee shop. I wouldn't say this is a copy cat recipe. I would say it is BETTER! Fluffy. Moist. Flavorful. And natural. I didn't search the web for a copycat recipe because I

Orange Poppy Seed Bread

2014-02-06T09:17:00.002-05:00

Do you understand the idea that the radio can kill a song? It's played over, and over, and . . . Then without notice the song disappears, rarely to be heard on the radio again. And one day, you walk into a coffee shop and the song is playing. I forgot all about this song! Sometimes I feel that way about recipes. Everyone makes spinach dip or buffalo wings when there's a

Fingerplays~ Building Fine Motor Skills and Vocabulary

2014-02-04T22:48:00.000-05:00

It doesn't take an expert to know that children respond to music. Music captures their attention. Music encourages children to move. But music can do so much more than that. I've learned through my daughter who has Trisomy 21 {Down syndrome}. I have specifically seen that through music, more exactly fingerplays, she has strengthened and refined her fine motor skills

Reuben Dip~ Just Like the Sandwich But Easier!

2014-01-29T14:38:00.000-05:00

Reuben sandwiches, loads of corned beef with Swiss cheese and cabbage, are the essence of a game night for me. Have you ever tried to make Reuben sandwiches for a crowd, though? It's not too easy. Here's a great alternative and one of the best last minute dip recipes~ Reuben Dip. Ingredients are readily available at your local deli, and the dip can be made quickly.

Chocolate Cream Filled Puffs

2014-01-27T13:21:00.001-05:00

Pastries seem so difficult. When I think of making pastries, I think of croissants and folding endlessly. Or I think about working with puff pastry which is my culinary enemy. Cream puffs are not so. Cream puffs are easy. They are my friend. There's no folding in butter. The only butter you work with is melted. The dough is done entirely with a

How to Make a Quiche and Create Your Own Recipe

2014-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

In a little college town in norther Idaho sits the best coffee house I have ever been to. It's more than a coffee shop. It's a study hall. It's a pub. And it has some of the best food I've ever enjoyed. When I'm there, I get coffee and something for breakfast each day of my stay. Sometimes I choose a cinnamon roll, which are always fresh, made from scratch and

Moroccan Style Breakfast Rice

2014-01-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

I am the youngest of five children. My oldest sister, who was twelve years older than I, cared for me like I was her baby doll. Even when she had her own small apartment, she would have me come over throughout the week. She had married a man from Morocco when she was young, about 19 or 20. My memories of him are strange as he was

Cinnamon Scones with Vanilla Glaze

2014-01-17T15:54:00.000-05:00

My husband likes to bring me little treats; he's a sweetie! Sometimes flowers or sometimes a small trinket just to say 'I love you'. The other day his gift was a vanilla scone from our local coffee shop. It was tiny. It was tasty. It was his 'I love you' for the day. I was certain he had been influenced in his decision of this gift by a recent trend in our kitchen.

Hot Fudge Ice Cream Cake

2014-01-06T15:43:00.000-05:00

Years ago I planned a birthday party for my big brother. I was afraid my party plans were ruined when the DC area {where I live} was hit with a huge snow storm. January 6, 1996 was the first day of record breaking snows and another snowstorm hit a week later. My big brother's birthday was sandwiched between the two storms. I prepared to postpone the party, but everyone

New Year's Eve Countdown Cookies

2013-12-27T15:15:00.000-05:00

Here's an easy way to add some festivity for children to your New Year's Eve~ Countdown Cookies! I am certainly no master cookie baker or decorator but these are relatively simple {as far as shaped and decorated cookies go}. I use a basic sugar cookie dough. It's a great recipe to use when you will be decorating cookies with sprinkles or frosting since the dough isn't too sweet

Brunswick Stew ~ A Family Favorite Recipe

2013-12-20T09:31:00.000-05:00

Of the dishes you make how many are family recipes? I often think that favorite recipes are always the handed down ones written on old index cards. As I looked at my family's favorite dishes that I make over and over, I realized most of them are new to us. There are really no recipes that I make that are from my mom or grandmother. Most likely because my mom was not a

Cranberry Pistachio Snack Mix

2013-12-17T16:33:00.002-05:00

Need a small gift for someone such as a teacher or teacher's helper, or a neighbor? Here's a sweet and salty holiday snack mix that you can make today. It's simple. It's tasty. It's gluten free! teacher gifts, neighbors, church friends, anyone you may need a small gift for All you need is a something to package it in. I suggest mason jars to show of the contents

Walnut Cranberry Pie

2013-12-14T17:11:00.001-05:00

Berry pies are evocative of summer time, and pecan pie is almost always alongside a pumpkin pie at the Thanksgiving dessert table. I make a Honey Crunch Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving every year; it seems rather strange to me to make it for Christmas. So what to make to followup a fabulous Christmas feast? I found a new family favorite, just as fun to make as to eat. A

Free Crochet Pattern~ Itty Bitty Bow Beanie

2013-12-01T23:32:00.001-05:00

I really never expected to be away from blogging for so long. After my baby girl was born, I knew it would be a while before I got back into blogging but really did not see it taking over a year and a half to get a couple of posts in. I feel like I'm almost ready to start doing some fun things around my house again and even have the energy to share some of those things