Being a lover of movies, I never missed an episode of Siskel and Ebert. I loved their banter and opinions, and even won a few Oscar party games because of their picks for the winners. Along with many others, I felt sad when Siskel died and when Ebert became ill, but the last thing Roger […]
Chill(i) Out! Cookbook Give-Aways for the Week of 10-18-10
The air is crisp and the spirit is ready for chili! What tastes better on a cold evening than the fiery ingredients of a robust bowl of chili? Chili lovers come from all walks of life, but everyone has their own idea of what constitutes the best bowl of chili. With these two cookbooks, you will be […]
Two Surprise Sunday Give-Aways!
I have two special surprise weekend give-aways for you all! Disney cookbook author, Pam Brandon, just yesterday sent me another copy of her fabulous cookbook from the Epcot Food and Wine Festival! In addition, one of my sweet readers, Susan Bickta from Pennsylvania sent me some cookbooks to give away, too! In Susan’s package was a wonderful cookbook from the […]
Check out First Magazine!
If you see the most recent issue of First Magazine with Dr. Oz on the cover, turn to page 17 and guess who you will see? My daughter, Kristina! She was asked to write something about winter squash.
The Most Popular Flavor in the World
Fine vanilla, indeed. How about the best in the world? If you ever watch Ina Garten’s cooking show, “The Barefoot Contessa” on the Food Network, you know that she always tells us to only use “good vanilla” in our cooking and baking, then procedes to pick up a bottle of Nielsen-Massey Vanilla. That’s because she knows […]
Rye Flour from Grandma Vanni – and our Newfound Relative
The very stern-looking couple is my husband Bill’s grandparents from Finland. Did anyone ever smile in those old photographs? Grandma Vanni, then known as Josefiina Pitkaranta, came to America from Finland via Ellis Island, by herself, when she was only nineteen years old. It sounds so young, yet Grandma Vanni was known to have been one tough cookie. She eventually […]
It’s Not Too Early to Think about Thanksgiving
Seeing Christmas decorations in the stores in September drives me nuts, but somehow thinking of Thanksgiving dishes in October seems okay. I love planning for Thanksgiving, whether I am having a huge crowd or just the four of us. There are many traditional dishes I always make no matter what, like the dinner rolls my […]
Recipes to Die For
I love Patricia Cornwell books and her crime-solving extraordinaire character, Kay Scarpetta. I have read them all and always loved how Kay was passionate about cooking, even in the midst of solving crimes of every kind. While reading them, I remember thinking, she should write a cookbook; then remembered Kay was only a character! So […]
