Recent Posts

Desserts, Pies, Pies

Lovely Lemon Meringue Squares

 

 Lemon Meringue Pie has always been my favorite pie and my Grandmother made the very best Lemon Meringue Pie I have ever tasted. When I was a child, Lemon Meringue and Chocolate Meringue Pies were the two pies that graced the table on a regular basis. I remember walking into […]

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Super Easy Red Velvet Brownie Cake

 

 I just love red velvet. There is just something so decadent about red velvet. I also adore brownies. So, what better combination than red velvet and fudgy brownies. Since Valentine’s Day is next week, I decided to whip up a couple of easy desserts that you can make for your […]

Appetizers, Bread

SUPER EASY NO KNEAD FOCACCIA BREAD

 

 There is just something about the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven. There is nothing better on a cold winter’s night than a fresh pot of Beef Vegetable Soup on the stove and the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven. But let’s be real, who actually […]

Cookies, Desserts

Holiday Haystacks with White Chocolate, Cranberries & Pistachios

 

 I can not believe that Christmas is right around the corner.  I mean it seems like it was just Halloween and now Christmas is less than two weeks away. So much to do and so little time. That is why these super easy haystack cookies will appear on all of […]

Candy, Desserts

Old Fashioned Cream Cheese Butter Mints

 

 Recently at a family gathering we were discussing how simple weddings were years ago when you would have finger sandwiches, punch, peanuts and mints. When I was younger butter mints made an appearance at every party, wedding or baby shower. After talking about butter mints, I immediately began craving those […]

Desserts, Pies

S’mores Pie (S’mores without a Bonfire)

 

 S’mores!!!!! What makes you think of bonfires, camping and ooey gooey goodness more than a S’more. There is just something about that toasted marshmallow, melted Hershey chocolate and sweet graham cracker that is outrageously delicious. This pie takes all the components of the sweetest campfire snack and turns it into […]

Kid's Fun

Super Easy Halloween “Bake Off” for Children

 

 Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love it all – the brisk breeze in the wind, all of the little ones dressed in their favorite characters with little eager faces waiting for candy and even the occasional haunted house visit. I know that there is often […]

Appetizers, Main Dish

Best Ever Lettuce Wraps (inspired by P.F. Chang’s)

 

 Lettuce wraps – oh my they are so good!!!! So this Southern Girl never even heard of a lettuce wraps until 1996 when I visited a P.F. Chang’s in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Lets be honest when you grow up in a low income household in the South in the 1960’s […]

Main Dish

Spanish Paella with Seafood and Chicken

 

 So let me start by saying this is not an original recipe! I have always wanted to make authentic Spanish Paella but was hesitant because it seemed so labor intensive and honestly I was scared. But what I found was there is no reason to be scared! What I did find is […]

Main Dish, Meat, Pasta, Veggies

Italian Sausage Pesto Lasagna Rolls

 

 During the summer I tend to make an overabundance of fresh pesto. If you have ever grown basil, you know that in the right climate it can flourish and produce more leaves that you will ever need. My solution for that is to make fresh pesto and put it in […]

Appetizers, Pasta, Veggies

Beautiful Basil Pesto

 

 Pesto – So can I start by saying pesto is something that was not normally featured in traditional Southern recipes. Pesto is originally from Genoa, Italy. Pesto traces its name to the Italian word “pestare,” which means “to crush or pound.” For hundreds of years, pesto was made by pounding […]

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Scrumptious Summer Stone Fruit Caprese Salad

 

 So can I be honest? I do not like fresh tomatoes. I know that tomatoes are a fruit. And yes I am told that fresh tomatoes are the bomb. However, I still do not like them. Call me crazy but don’t we all have a little crazy in us??? Recently, […]

Desserts, Uncategorized

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

 

 I had my children at a very young age (I had my daughter, Holly when I was 17 years old). At that time, my husband, Carl, was only making $5.00 an hour and I was a stay at home mom. Needless to say, funds were extremely tight. Even though we […]

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Oh So Gooey Milk Bar Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies

 

 If you have been to Christina Tosi’s Momofuku Milk Bar in New York City, then you know how dangerous these super sweet gooey cookies are! If you have never heard of Milk Bar’s famous cornflake chocolate chip marshmallow cookies, try this recipe and you will find out what the fuss […]

cakes, Desserts, Uncategorized

Fabulous Fresh Strawberry Pound Cake

 

This strawberry pound cake is perfect to serve at any occasion. It’s easy to make but it makes for a wonderful centerpiece.

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Best Ever Strawberry Pretzel Salad

 

 Strawberries, Strawberries oh how I love them!  There is just something so special about fresh picked strawberries.  Biting into a fresh picked strawberry right off the vine with its juicy ripe center that runs down your face and hands. Oh so good and it just makes my day so complete! […]

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

 

 Can I just say “sometimes my life is a hot mess”? If you don’t know, I live with my daughters, Holly and Amanda, and change houses every two weeks. I know it sounds crazy and for this season of my life in works well for us all. The only thing […]

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Honey Orange Glazed Salmon

 

  I did not eat salmon growing up. Let’s be honest, growing up in the 1970’s in the South, we did not even know how to pronounce salmon no less attempt to cook it. Well unless it was in a can. I mean can salmon meant you were having salmon […]

My Favorite Places

One of My Favorite Places – Guglhupf Bakery, Café & Restaurant

 

The Guglhupf serves German cuisine and baked goods while using local and seasonal ingredients.

Appetizers

Pimento Cheese and Bacon Crostini

 

 After moving to North Carolina and after I started doing events at my daughter’s marketplace, Greenhouse Picker Sisters, I became my job to cater the in house events.  I love hosting events at the marketplace and serving great food for our guests.  One problem, there is no working stove in […]

Low Country Boil
Recipes, Seafood

Low Country Boil

 

North Carolina Shrimp, smoked sausage, and fresh picked corn makes a perfect one pot meal!

Watermelon Feta Salad
Appetizers, Salads

Watermelon Feta Salad

 

Such a great summer salad with juicy watermelon, fresh lime juice, salty feta and greek olives