by Suzanne on November 15, 2012
You can tell by looking at this picture that the candle is the “focus” (ha!) on this plate, not necessarily the treats. So, let’s talk about the candle first! Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, birthday to my cyber-foodie friend that I have actually met in person. And we still like each other. Actually, we love each other. Funny how things work out. Today is Katrina’s birthday. I think she is 24 or 25. But, then she has these four handsome boys – and a husband – so that makes me think maybe she is a little older than that. Maybe 29. I think that is part of the reason she calls her blog Baking and Boys. Ya think? But I digress. Katrina and I met online through a Yahoo! food group. We chatted in the chat room, ’cause that IS what you do in a chat room. And found that we really enjoyed each others sense of humor. Shelby from The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch was also a part of that group and we all drifted toward each other like earth magnets. And we have stuck together ever since. We keep saying that we are going to have a girls’ night out – which for us would mean traveling from Texas, New York, and Utah to a place that could handle the three of us for a night. Well, more like a long weekend. We are still searching for a town that will allow us to stay that long. I’m sure we will find something. . . My Mountain Man and I traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, a couple of years ago and I emailed Katrina to see if she wanted to meet up and have lunch. You can read all about it by clicking here! Both of us have made a little sumpin’-sumpin’ for Katrina for her birthday and have mailed it to her for “munching” pleasure. Click on the link for Grumpy’s Honeybunch to see her birthday wishes and recipe. In my case, there are two treats, one of which you will see below. The other will be coming up tomorrow. Check your mailbox, Katrina!!!! No, silly. The one by your driveway. 4.5 from 2 reviews Print Lemon Balls Author: Suzanne Collier, Adapted from Snack Girl Recipe type: dessert, sweet, coconut, almonds, lemons Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: [...]
by Suzanne on November 7, 2011
I just LOVE this time of year. Fall is my very favorite! I want to rake leaves then jump into the pile with childish abandon. [slideshow] I want to walk miles and miles and look at the beautiful colors, wearing my warm jacket and mittens. I want to cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fireplace. I want to bake cookies until the whole house smells like vanilla and chocolate and “home”. I want . . . Wait, if I did all of this I would MELT! It would have to be 20F degrees, not 72F degrees with a 40% chance of rain for me to enjoy any of this. Geez, just thinking about it I had to turn on the fan. Whew! The one thing I CAN do, however, is make some cookies and that is exactly the plan. For this month’s SRC assignment I was given the blog, Bizzy Bakes. And boy, does she ever! Lots of wonderful recipes on her site and well worth a trip over to check it out! However, being that I had cookies on my mind, these Cranberry, Pecan and White Chocolate Cookies really flipped my switch.Everything about them says “holiday” and “YUM” to me. Cranberry White Chocolate Almond Cookies Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose Flour 1 teaspoon Baking Soda 1 teaspoon Salt 1 cup unsalted Butter, room temperature 1 cup Brown Sugar 2 whole large Eggs 1 tablespoon Vanilla 1 cup dried Cranberries 1 cup White Chocolate Chips 1 cup chopped Pecans Method: Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Beat butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Then add vanilla and mix. Add dry ingredients until just blended. Add cranberries, chocolate and almonds and incorporate into dough. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for about 12 minutes. Word of warning, these ARE addictive! I know your family will love them as much as ours did. Loving the Fall and everything about it! Suz Check out the other Secret Recipe Club Recipes for this month now! Right here! You can purchase high-resolution photos of pictures from this blog and other images here. They make great kitchen decor and gifts. Also, the notecards are great for sharing recipes! More added every week. Thru The Bugs On My Windshield by V. Suzanne Collier is licensed under a Creative Commons [...]
by Suzanne on January 3, 2011
So, I’m not David Letterman, but I do like to keep lists. Mostly, I like to check things off my list. It’s an obsession. So, here’s my Top 10 of 2010. It’s kinda like looking back through baby pictures. From birth to 9 months. 10. Monster Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Tomatillo Salsa 9. Empanada Run 8. Creamy Potato Leek Parsnip and Celery Soup 7. It’s Not My Fault! 6. Pickled Baby Cukes 5. Roasted Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seeds 4. Mai’s Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce 3. Chicken Asparagus Penne Pasta Salad 2. Never-Fail Pie Crust 1. 2-fer “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” ~Benjamin Franklin Happy, happy New Year! Suz
by Suzanne on November 1, 2010
MM had wanted a motorcycle for years. Twenty-two years of our marriage (to be exact) before I gave in. I was never much of a motorbike kind of gal. Now, my dad loved to fix up old Cushman Scooters and sell them. But not before we went on a few short rides up and down the street. I also sat on a friend’s chopper when I was in high school for this photo. Thank you, Roy Dale, for sharing this pic with me after all these years. That’s the back end of my 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang on the right. Yep, my Dad loved cars as much as I do. SWEET! Wish I still had it. MM had a 1979 Kawasaki 750 when we got married that stayed at his dad’s workshop in New Mexico. When we would go visit his parents, he would take me for rides up into the mountains. But that was the extent of my motorcycle riding experience. So, pretty much nada. Until the ripe ol’ age of 48. You see, after I gave in to his obsessive-compulsive, sad-puppy-dog-eyes pleas for a Honda Goldwing, I rode in the “Lazy-Girl Seat” on the back for about a year. Even fell asleep a couple of times and read a few books. Serious. MM kept telling me I should take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course and learn to ride, just in case I ever needed to “drive” the Goldwing. YIKES! Finally, I relented to the power of persuasion and thought, from a safety standpoint, maybe I should learn to ride. I reasoned that it would make me a better rider and, most probably, a better and safer car driver, too. Those would all prove to be true. I would now suggest that everyone take the MSF Course. You WILL become a more aware of motorcycles, other vehicles and safer driver of an automobile, I guarantee! Keep in mind I had NEVER “ridden my own”. Ever. Sitting on one to pose for that picture up there was as close as I ever got. Until 2004. Man, did that ever change things. This would have been a much easier learning process at the age of 18 rather than 48. But, I can’t change history. The MSF Course is over a weekend, twelve hours on Saturday and twelve full hours on Sunday. I passed! Out of a class of twelve, one hot-shot [...]
by Suzanne on July 26, 2010
I found this recipe back in the May 2001 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Ripped out the pages that went with the recipe and made them on several occasions over the years. Two years ago I mistakenly dumped the recipe in the trash while I was de-contaminating “my study”. MM has his own. I really get in a dither about cleaning out things and throwing stuff away. I used to be a semi-hardcore packrat. Now, I am The Trash Queen! Seems an even worse affliction when we are on the road and I don’t have my 39-gallon trash can. I don’t think the one in our RV even holds 3 gallons. That just means that MM is taking out the trash (or me when he is in a tiff about how much trash I “create”) at least twice a day. Yep. Twice. Sometimes thrice. And speaking of trash, I’ve been amazed. And a bit disheartened on this trip from the Mid-West to the Southwest. When we went to the Northeast last year, a.k.a. Schenectady, NY to Pittsburgh and points inbetween here and there – recycling was HUGE! They even handed you recycle bags when you checked in at the campgrounds – although I always had to go back for more. Remember, The Queen of Trash. That’s me. However, on this trip to the Mid-West and Southwest, not ONE place has any accommodations for recycling. Not one! From Wichita, KS to Minneapolis, MN – all over the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, back through Minnesota, over to South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Now, I’m not a big tree hugger, but I do like trees and think our environment is important. I think recycling is important and saving our landfills for biodegradables is important. But, come on! How many states are not with the program? Disturbing, actually. OK, where was I. Oh yes! RIBS!!! Let’s “dispose” of some ribs! So, here’s the recipe. I followed it exactly the first time and they were so good that I follow the recipe exactly every time. I’m so excited that I found this and can share with you, but I’m also posting this so I never lose it again. I don’t have any pics, yet. But when I do I will post for you. Meanwhile, you’ll just have to settle for a few more “On The Road” pics. Baby Loin Back Ribs Southern Living Magazine [...]
