Reflections of a Mom

When the kids started leaving home, making their own ways in this world, I would wake early in the morning and quietly celebrate them on their birth day. I still do this for each of our [adult] children’s birthdays. This morning I wake to reflect on Andre’s life. What gifts can a Mom possibly give…

Read More

Tomato Sauce

Homemade tomato sauce really enhances any recipe its used for. Although these aren’t my daughter’s tomatoes (@foghinofarm), I have to make due with what I have at the ready. If you have a farmer’s market near you, do yourself a favor and visit it; you’ll not only be helping a farmer or market gardener, but…

Read More

Scenes From a Sicilian Village

Scenes from a Sicilian village • when my husband and his family left their beloved Sicilian home, it was in hopes of finding that sweet American dream ~ more than forty years later, we are looking at a quiet sweet dream of our own, returning part-time to Galati Mamertino, to live out our “Godfather”-like days,…

Read More

Pistachio Au Lait

Oh, Family Mart, what will I do without you? From the friendly greeting upon walking in, to the always delicious fare you offer (honest-to-goodness jammy eggs), not to mention NOT having to take out a loan for bread and milk, as is often the case at the American second cousin, twice removed. The Japanese shops,…

Read More

New Mexico Red Chile Sauce

You can take the girl out of New Mexico, but you will never take New Mexico out of the girl! Whether cooking for the holidays or a birthday, or just because it’s taco Tuesday (or Wednesday, Thursday, Friday…), one of my favorite cuisines is and will always be, New Mexico style Mexican food…and yes, there…

Read More

Cranberry-Peach Cream Scones

In today’s episode of Cleaning Out the Pantry, I reached for a bag of unsweetened, dried cranberries and some delicious dried white peaches from Trader Joe’s, courtesy of Mik❣️ For an explosion of flavor, I soaked the dried cranberries and peaches in one cup of warmed apple cider with a tablespoon of Braggs Apple Cider…

Read More

Cinnamon-Pecan Crunch Scones

It’s that PCS-hurry-and-use-all-the-ingredients time in the house. Today’s bake was inspired by the lone bag of cinnamon chips and pecans I had in the fridge…and the quarter bag of Nilla wafers that were lurking in the pantry. Yeah, I asked the same question – why do I have a quarter bag of Nilla wafers? Surely…

Read More

10 Days in Vietnam

We are nearing the end of our  Okinawa Chapter of this military life. And like many others in our position, we are soaking up the extraordinary travel opportunities while on this side of the world before we leave. In January, we were fortunate enough to have our daughter visit one last time. Besides luxuriating in…

Read More

Serendipity

Serendipity is one of my favorite words! A happy accident; what could be better? (noun ~ the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. ) We had some beautiful friends over for pizza on the weekend. Tyson’s Ohana made our night a lovely one to remember 🌺 As per…

Read More

Ham and Cheese Scones with Sauteed Greens

It’s a snowy day here in Wyoming – perfect condition to stay in and bake! The oven warmed the kitchen and delivered a heavenly smell that will linger throughout the day… Whether you are basking in the sun (Okinawa and Arizona peeps) or you’re dealing with your own blustery winter, this scone-spinach combination is perfect…

Read More

Hussar’s Pickled Beans

Originally posted on delectablediction:
Hussar’s Beans ? ? Ok folks ~ my dear friends Jeff and Sharon shared this phenomenal pickled green bean recipe with me several years ago… Seeing how its the canning and “putting up” time of year, thought I’d make them for you and share.  They are crisp, slightly spicy and seasoned…