I’m always on the lookout for a crowd-pleaser. One of those dishes that can be prepared in advance. One that is delicious at room temperature. One that can be enjoyed by the vegetarians in the group. This one fits the bill.
DIY
tin can alley
They say that spring has arrived. I bought some lovely daffodils at the local market. I was almost convinced …then this happened.
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soup
The Best Beef Barley Soup
I have fond childhood memories of arriving home from school on chilly days greeted by the welcoming aroma of my mom’s homemade cooking. Her beef barley soup, which she referred to simply as vegetable soup, was a household favorite. I admit to a tweak here and there, but I think of hers as The Best Beef
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cookies
the almontina
I’ve had a copy of this tucked in with my many ‘hope-to-make-this-soon’ recipes for quite some time now. When I checked the fine print at the bottom of the page …it is from an old Hallmark Magazine dated December 2009! Guess you could say that I like to collect (and hold onto) recipes!
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Travel
how to celebrate your 35th
For years, when our children were young, my husband, John, and I didn’t do a lot of traveling to far-off lands. Since we lived in southern New Jersey, we decided to limit our road trips to destinations up and down the east coast. That worked out well since my brother and his family lived in Maine.
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side
Mom’s Homemade Cole Slaw
How great is it to hand down family recipes and traditions? It promotes a wonderful feeling of connection and continuity. My Mom’s Homemade Cole Slaw recipe has been one of those cherished by a number of extended family members. Several years ago, I wasn’t able to locate my copy. Panic mode set in! My sister-in-law came to the
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Travel
the magic of quebec
Growing up in southern New Jersey certainly had its perks. Frequent trips to the ‘jersey shore’ were typical …my most vivid memories are of our family vacations in Ocean City, NJ. Sometimes we would get crazy and venture out to spend some time in nearby Wildwood. Good times. Every so often, when time and money
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pizza
the best grilled pizza crust
Just imagine making The Best Grilled Pizza Crust at home. Add some fresh veggies. Salty meats. Creamy mozzarella. Your favorite combination of toppings. You’ll find that you won’t want to do take-out quite so often. There are many fine recipes out there for making your own pizza dough. I hope to share my favorite with
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soup
Ina Garten’s Italian Wedding Soup
This is my family’s version of Ina Garten’s Italian Wedding Soup. When it comes to my favorite cookbooks, Ina Garten’s name shows up more than once on my top ten list. Her Italian Wedding Soup in Back to Basics is wonderful. It seems so wrong to change a thing, but really, I just tweaked it
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DIY
a note on pot herbs
Pot herbs come in many flavors and forms. It can be confusing …allow me to add a note or two on pot herbs. The term seems to cover any combination of fresh or dried herbs used to enhance our soups and stews. It is thought that the term is French in origin. The word is that
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gift
home sweet home
When visiting a friend for the first time in their new home, it’s always a nice gesture to arrive with a housewarming gift. Problem is …how do you know what they need? How about flowers or a decorative potted plant? I used to have my own gift basket business. Actually, I liked to refer to my
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gift
flowers & veggies
Looking for a way to spruce things up around the house? Have some friends stopping by for drinks? You can’t beat the look and feel of fresh flowers and you don’t have to spend a lot to get the effect.