How timely was AMERICA WAS HARD TO FIND? It was published on May 14, 2019 and the 50TH anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission was July 20, 1969. One of the main characters is a fictitious NASA astronaut who took … Read more...
Christmas Sugar Cookie Cutouts
I have been making this Christmas Sugar Cookie Cutout recipe since 1986. It is an heirloom recipe brought from Europe and published in The Holidays by cookbook author, John Hadamuscin. The cookie dough is perfect for cutting with traditionally shaped … Read more...
Book Review: THE WILDLANDS by Abby Geni
Timely. Terrifying. Heartbreaking. Yes, THE WILDLANDS by Abby Geni with its examination of human impact on the natural world is timely. The wildlife and environmental realities it highlights are terrifying. And the characters – a family of orphans – suffer … Read more...
Book Review: THE WOLF IN THE WHALE by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Novels featuring Gods and Goddesses and mythology aren’t generally my go-to. But THE WOLF IN THE WHALE by Jordanna Max Brodsky, admittedly, attracted me based on the native Inuit character, Omat. I have been long fascinated by North American … Read more...
Using Meyer Lemons For Lemon Curd
Meyer Lemons are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. The Meyer lemon has smooth golden skin the color of a fresh egg yolk. It also has a thin edible rind, a high volume of juice and none … Read more...
Cooking With Fresh Herbs
Preparation and storage are key when cooking with fresh herbs.
Preparation
Wash herbs when you are ready to use them. Shake off moisture or spin dry in a salad spinner. Pat off any remaining moisture with clean paper towels.
For … Read more...
Alternative Baking — Low Carb Blueberry Pie
Are you trying to eat fewer carbohydrates?
I am, but every once in a while I crave a crusty piece of bread or a special dessert. I have learned that there are some low carb flours that can be substituted … Read more...
For The Joy Of Animals: Mouse Maid
Apparently, Cinderella isn't the only one with a mouse helper. So Handy and compact -- may be having a mouse maid will become the next little thing...
Bring Some Mardi Gras Spirit To Your Dinner Table
Mardi Gras is just around the corner and the Gulf Coast residents have started to prepare for the celebration. Several weeks before, towns across the coast hold Krewe parties, Mardi Gras balls and Krewe parades culminating in the Grand Parade … Read more...
The Easiest Recipe For Butternut Squash Soup
I am not a fan of peeling butternut squash but I do like the vegetable. So I have developed an easy to make butternut squash soup and you won’t miss all the work.
The best part of all is that … Read more...
Book Review: ELMET by Fiona Mozley
This little book took me by surprise in a big way. A debut with a long list of well-deserved literary honors.
Christmas Treats: Chocolate Truffles
The holidays mean we get to eat special foods reserved for this time of year. One of those special treats for my family is Chocolate Truffles.
Book Review: GODS OF HOWL MOUNTAIN by Taylor Brown
The language is poetic and lyrical. Taylor Brown creates an incredible sense of place that transports the reader.
Book Review: THE LOST LETTER by Jillian Cantor
Jillian Cantor is a natural at her first dual-narrative novel... fascinating insight about a little-known resistance tool during WWII ...
Make Zucchini Patties Or Zucchini Patty Pizza For Dinner
Zucchini is an amazing vegetable. It lends itself to so many delicious transformations. I am sure you are knowledgeable about traditional zucchini recipes, such as adding it to pasta or filling zucchini halves with a stuffing mixture or making zucchini … Read more...
Book Review: TRUE PLACES by Sonia Yoerg
For starters: that cover! It spoke to me immediately. But what is beneath the beautiful artwork is equally delightful. While I have enjoyed all of Sonja Yoerg’s novels, TRUE PLACES has to be my favorite, with its juxtaposition of nature … Read more...
Book Review: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens
I was fascinated by WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING when I first learned about author Delia Owens’s background studying wildlife in Africa, and her awards as a nature writer. I was in the mood for a book lush in setting and … Read more...
Grandma Candy
What better way to get kids eating fruits and veggies than to make them into candy — gluten free and with no sugar! My grandkids love Grandma Candy especially Shaylee my granddaughter with Celiac Disease. She ate an entire baggie … Read more...
Forget Their Shoes — Ask and Listen!
The often quoted standard procedure for gaining empathy and understanding is to imagine ourselves in another person’s shoes. But recent research by Tal Eyal, Mary Steffel, & Nicholas Epley (2018) suggests that stepping into another’s shoes and taking their perspective … Read more...
Refreshing Salads For Hot Summer Days
Looking for something different to make for dinner?
Take advantage of some great produce to be found in the markets at this time of year. There are so many choices and great meals can be prepared with these veggies, even … Read more...
Favorite Recipes Where Fresh Basil Shines
Basil is a herb that really shines when it’s fresh.
Just think of a homemade marinara sauce with fresh basil and the flavor it imparts to the sauce. Beyond those familiar dishes we most associate with basil (tomato sauce, pizza, … Read more...
Blueberry Season Is Here — Enjoy The Bounty
During blueberry season it is easy to find fresh blueberries in abundance in grocery stores and farmer’s markets. We have the added treat of having fresh blueberries growing in our yard. Plus, I know that the fruit was grown without … Read more...
Book Review: THE WEIGHT OF INK by Rachel Kadish
THE WEIGHT OF INK by Rachel Kadish is one of those books that, when you close its covers upon reading the final pages, you know you’ve read something special. It is also the kind of book that, days later, sinks … Read more...
Enjoy A Low Carb Italian Easter Dessert
In Italian-American homes, recipes for Easter desserts are a mixture of tradition, symbolism, light textures and rich tastes. Easter Cookies are usually light, have distinctive flavorings and are easy to make. Ricotta cookies are popular with my family and they … Read more...
How Deep Is Your Love?
In honor of Valentine’s Day, National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month (February), and World Spay Day (the last Thursday in February) — A letter from DOMESTIC ANIMAL COMPANIONS (PETS) UNITED FOR A BETTER FUTURE:
… Read more...Dear Humans:
This may seem like a strange