Oklahoma+State+Fair

The State Fair of O-k-l-a-h-o-m-a!

I used to live in Oklahoma, so that’s why I had to spell it out like the song!  I loved my time spent in Oklahoma City, but must admit that I don’t ever miss the heat, tornados, and weird bugs.  But I do miss my old friends, and my brother and his wife, who still […]

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Fork+ran+away+with+spoon

The Fork Ran Away with the Spoon

This is a cookbook you can read like a novel.  It has marvelous recipes, but you can also read about the fascinating residents of West Marin County, California.  West Marin has a mystique all its own.  It is said that if you dine well in San Francisco, most likely the ingredients came from West Marin, […]

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Ball+book+of+Canning

Jammin’ in the Summer!

This is what I love the most about summer –  all of the great produce and then canning or freezing the bounty for those cold winter days, or to give away as gifts.  As I mentioned a couple blogs ago, my husband, Bill, brought home 8 quarts of Michigan strawberries on his way back home […]

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WW+cookbook

Cookbook Give-Away for the week of 6-21-10

Summer officially begins today!  And when summer begins, it seems like every magazine offers weight loss tips and recipes to help everyone feel good about trying on swim wear.  This Weight Watcher cookbook from 2000 features Sarah, The Duchess of York.  It is part recipe book, part motivational.  Sarah was a spokesperson for Weight Watchers […]

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Bill+pie-in-the-face1

Happy Father’s Day!

This photo of my handsome father was taken before I was born.  He died too soon, at barely 59 years old, in 1980.  He was able to see his granddaughter, my oldest, Kristina, at her baptism.  He died 5 months later, and never had the joy of meeting his youngest granddaughter at the time, my Kara.  […]

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Saturday’s Recipe: An Avocado Dip for Father’s Day tomorrow!

Here is a great dip to make for Dad tomorrow!  He will love it served with some corn chips while relaxing on his special day.Avocado Dip 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe avocados, about 2 medium2 teaspoons grated onion1 Tablespoon lemon juice1/2 cup chopped peeled tomato1/4 cup dairy sour cream1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste1 teaspoon chili […]

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Hunts+with+Red+Buttons1

Hunt’s Tomato Sauce and the Great Spaghetti Contest

Back in 1985, Beatrice/Hunt-Wesson Foods sponsored a contest they called “Hunt’s Great Spaghetti Hunt.”  The contest was divided by regions of the country, and I was in the “Northern” area finals held in Chicago.  The winner of each region was then flown to New York City to compete for the grand prize, a trip to Italy!  […]

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Pauls+birthday+tent1

The Tongan Miracle Cake

Last month, I wrote about my oldest brother, Paul, who lives in the Kingdom of Tonga, in the South Pacific.  He writes the most fascinating letters about his life on his tiny island of Ha’apai with his lovely wife, Va’inga, and three darling girls, Sia, Pesi, and Wacato.  He needs to write a book about an […]

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