Gooseberry Patch

Hoosier Featured Friday Today?

Welcome back for another Featured Friday blogger spotlight!

We "met" today's featured blogger when she started contributing her delicious-looking recipes to our Recipe Round-Ups. With so many winning recipes from her multiple blogs, we just HAD to get to know her a little better!

After visiting her blog the first time, we immediately felt at home and knew that we had found a new (to us!) gem, though she's been blogging since 2009. You will love the huge selection of goodies there and, if you're anything like us, you'll find yourself visiting often.

In addition to homestyle recipes, she shares everything from her amazing cupcakes (there's a whole newsletter devoted to them!) to decorating ideas to crafty DIY projects. We absolutely love her mission to make YOU the hero of your family, and with her help, there's no way you WON'T be a hero!

So who is this mystery blogger? Say hello to...

Hoosier Homemade!

We asked Liz to share a little bit about herself, her blogs
and how she got started...keep reading to hear from her!

Tell us about yourself, your family and where you live.

 

I’m wife to Doug for almost 25 years, Mom to 3 boys {21,18 & 14} and we live in northwest Indiana, where I was born and raised.

I have a passion for baking, cooking and homemaking and love to help women be heroes to their families!

 

 

What or who originally inspired you to start blogging?

 

After following several blogs for a couple years, I wanted to share the recipes and decorating ideas that I had with others. Although many people often come to  Hoosier Homemade for cupcakes, I really didn’t start out with a plan to share cupcakes, it just kind of evolved.

 

As a mom of three with TWO busy blogs, how do you find time to develop new recipes, write and take photos to share?

My boys are older so that does help a lot, I’m not changing diapers and chasing them around, although with their school activities it does keep me hopping. I do work full time, with a typical day being at least 12 hours with most days 18 hrs. I usually take off 1 day a week from cooking, baking and taking pictures for the blogs.

How did you get your start in the kitchen?

My Mom was always in the kitchen, she loved to cook for her family and had a huge yard with a garden.

Quick! You have 30 minutes to put dinner on the table...what do you fix?

Usually a stir-fry, since they are very easy, can be changed with many different veggies and if you have your meat cut up ahead, it’s even quicker. We also love this recipe for Kung Pao Chicken...super easy!

 

 

[This recipe is from Liz's other blog, Pocket Change Gourmet, that she writes with her husband...she's one busy lady!]

Care to share your favorite recipe from your blog?

Oh this is a really tough question...there are so many that I love. But if I have to choose just one, I’m nuts for Black Forest...pretty much any dessert with chocolate and cherries. These Black Forest Whoopie Pies are not only delicious, they look like they took forever to make, but are really easy!

Black Forest Whoopie Pies
An amazing dessert that looks like you spent hours. Recipe from HoosierHomemade.com...thanks, Liz!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
Cake

• 1 box Duncan Hines, Dark Chocolate Fudge or other chocolate
• 1 small box instant chocolate pudding
• 1/2 cup flour {you may need a little more if the cookies are flat}
• 1/3 cup oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup water

Filling

• 1 tub {8 oz} Cool Whip Whipped Topping - reserve a little for topping
• 1 can Comstock cherries- use juice for filling, reserve cherries for topping

Topping

• Cool Whip
• Cherries
• Duncan Hines Chocolate Glaze

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, add all cake ingredients, mix well. You may need a little more flour. I baked one tray and they spread a little, so I added a couple more tablespoons of flour. Use a small cookie dough scoop to divide batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Cool completely.

For the filling, fold together about 3/4 of the container of Cool Whip and 2-3 tablespoons of cherry juice. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of filling onto a cookie and top with another cookie. For the topping, fit a decorator bag with a Giant Round Tip and fill with Cool Whip. Pipe on a large dollop of Cool Whip and top with a cherry. Drizzle on Duncan Hines Glaze.

Morning person or night owl?

Definitely morning, by the end of the day I’m exhausted.

Cake or pie?

 While I love a delicious cupcake, I would eat a piece of pie anyday. During the Spring and Summer when it’s hot and I don’t want to run the oven, we love this No-Bake Strawberry Pie and for the holidays, definitely Chocolate with Meringue.

 

If you could design your ideal kitchen, what would be in it?

A very large walk-in pantry with lots of organization, 2 ovens, and spot to hold all my sprinkles and cupcake decorating supplies.

Aside from family and friends, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

 

• Laughter
• Chai Tea Latte
• Chocolate
• My camera
• Blogging!

 

 

If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be?

Browsing antique stores and flea markets looking for dishes and items on which to photograph my food!

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

I’m very competitive, love sports and coached gymnastics for 25 years.

Well, Liz...in the competition for today's favorite blogger, you're definitely the winner! Thanks for sharing all that you do - the recipes, ideas, giveaways and more - and keep up the great work.

Hop on over to Hoosier Homemade today...we guarantee you'll find some inspiration!

 

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See What Jamie is Cookin' Up!

It's been awhile since we've shined the Gooseberry Patch spotlight on a favorite blogger...we're excited to bring back Featured Friday today!

We recently discovered Jamie's blog and since that very first day, we've been looking forward to the new recipes she shares. Lucky for us, there's a new one practically every day!

The food she makes is amazing, her photos make you feel like you're right there in the kitchen and her friendly and funny personality really comes through, especially in the posts about her kids.

Judging by her recipes, we'd say she's mastered family-friendly dinners, crowd-pleasing appetizers and quick & easy desserts...her weekend breakfast & brunch ideas make us wish we lived closer so we could drop in!

We love her monthly menu plans and how she can take flavors that are familiar and come up with a new way to enjoy them...a few clicks around her blog and you'll see just what we mean.

Without further ado, we're excited to introduce you
to this week's Featured Friday blogger...

Jamie Cooks It Up!

We asked Jamie to share a little bit about herself, her blog and how
she got started...keep reading to hear from her!

 

Tell us about yourself, your family and where you live.

I’m a 37 year old mother of five. My kids range in age from 14 down to 5. My husband, children and I live in Herriman, Utah.

 

What or who originally inspired you to start blogging?

One day several years ago, I was searching for a recipe online. I had never seen a food blog before, but came across a very simple one that day. Wow! I thought. Food Blogging! That could be a lot of fun. I did a bit of blog hopping and could see that people were making money at it. I was interested in making a little extra money for my family and wondered if food blogging might be a way to do so. I did some research, took a few ugly pictures of some fabulous recipes and had my blog up and running just two months later.

 

As a full-time mom of five, how do you find time to develop new recipes, write and take photos to share?

I suppose I could best describe it as “here a little, there a little”. I’m always trying to sneak work time in around my family life. I try to cook and take photos for my blog a couple times a week, during the day before my older kids come home from school. I edit photos and write posts after the kids are in bed and then again in the early morning hours.

I have two sweet little twin boys who haven’t started school yet, and are home with me during the day. I try to include them in my cooking as much as possible. Some times they like it, and sometimes they’d just rather be running through the house like wild Indians. So, sometimes we cook, and sometimes we chase each other through the house. In the fall they will go to kindergarten and I’ll be left to cook in silence. Could be good, could be bad. It could be a little bit of both. It would be pretty weird to run through the house like a wild Indian by myself, right?

 

How did you get your start in the kitchen?

When I got married, the only thing I knew how to cook was Pioneer Taffy. I’m serious here! I had a job hosting birthday parties at The Lion House and was required to know how to cook taffy for the kids to pull. Once I started to have kids of my own, and stayed at home raising them, cooking became a creative outlet for me.

I’ve made a lot of REALLY average food in my life. (I’m serious again. Just ask my kids.) I’m always on the look out for ways to make recipes taste better, and better…and fabulously better. I only put recipes that taste “fabulously better” up on my blog.

 

 

Quick! You have 30 minutes to put dinner on the table...what do you fix?

My latest favorite “quick fix” meal is Roasted Tomato and Asparagus Tortellini.

 

 

With SO many recipes to choose from on your blog, which is your favorite?

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Time: 3 hours to marinate + 20 minutes grilling time
Yield: 5 servings

4-5 boneless skinless
    chicken breasts
1 C Kraft Light Zesty Italian
    salad dressing
1 pint grape tomatoes
3 cloves of garlic
1 T olive oil
2 t balsamic vinegar
freshly cracked salt
    and pepper
1 1/2 T fresh basil
2 C mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 C Parmesan cheese, grated
8  oz. spaghetti noodles
2 T butter
salt and pepper

1. Throw your chicken breasts and 1 C of the salad dressing into a gallon sized zip loc freezer bag. Carefully seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 3 and up to 24 hours. Then pat yourself on the back for getting your act together and having a plan for dinner....right in the middle of the summer. Good for you. I'm so proud to know ya.

2. Just before you are ready to grill your chicken, make the Bruschetta. Chop all the tomatoes in half and toss them into a medium sized mixing bowl.

3. Peel your garlic and chop it into rough pieces. Then chop up your basil. If you have some growing fresh in your garden....bless your beautiful hide. You are a better woman (or man) than I am. If you live within 25 miles of here, I sure hope you like to share.

4. Pour in your balsamic vinegar and drizzle the olive oil over the top.

5. Sprinkle some freshly cracked salt and pepper, stir it all up and then taste it. Yes...dig right in. If your tomatoes are lacking in sweetness then add just a bit of sugar. You don't want to kill it over with sweetness now. Just give it a bit of help if your tomatoes are lacking. Adjust the salt and pepper as well, if needed.

6. Get your mozzarella cheese grated.

7. Head out to the grill and cook your chicken up over medium high heat. While it's cooking boil some water and cook your spaghetti noodles.

8. When the chicken is cooked through, turn the grills temperature down to low. Place a disposable 9x13 pan onto the grill. Put your cooked chicken into the pan. Cover the chicken with the Bruschetta.

9. Sprinkle it with the Mozzarella cheese and then cover the grill. Let it cook for 7-10 more minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese in nicely melted.

10. Toss your cooked pasta with 2 T butter and sprinkle it with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pasta with this beautiful chicken and bruschetta. Be sure to get all of the yummy juices from the pan as well. Sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

 

Morning person or night owl?

Morning person, most definitely. The world just seems to be a bit clearer in the mornings.

 

Aside from family & friends, what 5 things couldn't you live without?

My faith, a good book to read, my camera, something to laugh about and something fun to cook.

 

 

 

Cake or pie?

Blueberry Sour Cream Pie, please. But I would take a Coconut Cream Cupcake any day of the week.

 

 

 

If you could design your ideal kitchen, what would be in it?

We recently remodeled our kitchen. I love it every, single, solitary day. Plenty of room to make a big fat mess and plenty of room for people to visit me while I make a mess.

 

If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be?

I would read a fantastic book, cuddle with my sweetheart, eat some chocolate, play cards with my kids, go to lunch with some friends, laugh a lot, eat chocolate a lot, more cuddling, more reading.

 

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

I play the piano and have a degree in Choral Music Education, though some of my children act surprised when I sit down to play. They may, or may not have been heard saying things like “Holy cow! Is that our Mom playing the piano? Wow. Who knew?”

 

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Jamie...we can't wait to see what you'll cook up next!

Visit Jamie Cooks It Up today and you'll find a fun party idea as well as a giveaway! Visit her blog ANY day and you're bound to find something tasty to share with YOUR family & friends. While you're there, you might as well subscribe...you won't want to miss a single recipe!

 

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Have a great blog that you'd like to see featured here?
Leave the link in the comments...we're always on the hunt
for new favorites!

 

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What's Cookin' This Friday?

Here in Ohio, we're in that perfect season where summer is just giving way to fall, and that means lots of familiar flavors in the kitchen...a return to soups and roasts, apples & cinnamon for dessert.

We love this time of year and wanted to share some of what our Featured Friday bloggers have been cooking up lately. Click the links or the photos below to get the recipes!

 

 

Natalie's ready for some football with these hot wings!

Mac & Cheese, made extra tasty by adding duck,
is cooking at Beyer Beware!

 

Try Renae's Mushroom Roast at Down on the Farm!

 

Homemade Tomato Soup at Scraps of Life...looks so good!

 

Give this Easy Grilled Pizza a try...it's from Mommy's Kitchen!

 

A classic recipe on Threaded Together...Party Pea Salad!

 

And now, for the desserts!

This Cookie Dough Cheese Ball is one of our favorites
from Sweet & Simple...it's at Goodeness Gracious!

 

Fresh Apple Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
is what's baking at A Well-Seasoned Life!

 

Buckwheat Pancakes are cookin' on the griddle
at Syrup and Biscuits!

 

Brandie made Apple Brown Betty from the Big Book of
Home Cooking...enter to win a copy too!

 

Molasses Cookies are baking at
The Southern Lady Cooks!

 

Blueberry Buckle looks dreamy from Married/Single Parent...
welcome back, Michelle!

 

Nancy made a blackberry-peach coffee cake
that looks AMAZING!

 

These Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars were our inspiration
to share today's recipes...thanks to Faithfulness Farm
for the yumminess!

 

Your turn! What's been cooking in YOUR kitchen?

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Special virtual hugs to all those in our bloggy family expecting or welcoming new additions (whether kids or grandkids) to THEIR families...seems to be a baby boom happening, doesn't it?

Carmen, Kristin, and Anna are all expecting new babies. There are two new grandchildren on the way for Tracy and a new baby girl just arrived (her 22nd grandchild!) for Julie. Congrats all around!

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A Turtle's Life Sounds Good to Us!

If you're a fan of freezer cooking, you might already be familiar with this week's Featured Friday blogger. She recently got lots of attention for this amazing post, and that's how we ran across her blog as well. 

And amazing though her freezer-stocking skills may be, Natalie's blog is so much MORE than bargain shopping and meal planning. She's crafty and thrifty, one of our FAVORITE combinations, and above all else, she's a mom who's loves to spend time with her family. Her blog is a record of all their adventures and the fun they have together is infectious.

Whether she's whipping up some tasty zucchini brownies or crafting a hideaway for her daughter's dress-up collection, Natalie's clever ideas always inspire us...the warmth that comes through in all her posts will keep you coming back to visit.

We're excited to shine our Gooseberry Patch spotlight on...

A Turtle's Life for Me!

We asked Natalie to answer some getting-to-know-you questions and here's what she had to say...

Tell us about yourself, your family and where you live. 

  Hi, I'm Natalie and I blog at A Turtle's Life for Me! I've lived in some area of Central PA my whole life along with the majority of my family! I'm a stay-at-home mommy who is slowly starting to get back into working part-time (those free summers are hard to give up, though!).

I've been married to my college sweetheart for 11 years and we have 2 kids. Stevie is our 9 year-old son who is his father through-and-through. He's the biggest sweetheart, totally laid-back, aware of the people around him, loving and hysterical. Emma is our 7 year-old, and the spitting image of me. She's feisty, independent, sensitive and has a fierce love for her family.

Together we have dance parties, tickle fests, potato sack races and lots of other good times. We fit together amazingly well!

What or who originally inspired you to start blogging? 

I started a blog back in January 2009 with no real purpose or reason. About 15 posts later, I still didn't know what I was doing and I only had 5 followers, so I called it quits and didn't really think about it again. This past January, I started looking at other blogs again and remembered my poor little one sitting there all abandoned.  I pulled it up thinking that I would delete it, but realized even with the few posts I had written, it was a nice little journal for me and the kids.

So, I decided to start it up again with the intent to only blog about what I was already doing and to maintain it for my kids. I'm not looking to do projects just for the sole purpose of having something to blog about. Everything you see on my blog is the way we normally live and the projects we like to do, that I've then decided to share on the blog. It's been a lot of fun and I've been blown away with how much it's grown just in the 7 months since I started it!

As a busy mom of two little ones, how do you find time to write, craft and take photos to share? 

Most of the crafts and recipes I make, are activites I share with my kids! My daughter especially loves painting and other crafts and we just keep 2 stools pulled up to my craft counter so she can do her thing at the same time. It's not about working on the same thing, as much as it is working at the same time! 

She shares little things with me, we sit and giggle and in the end we have a nice little doo-dad to show for it!  Sometimes my son joins in as well, especially in the kitchen. They both love pulling their stools up and they're quite good at measuring and mixing! 

The only thing I find that takes time with blogging is the write-ups. For the most part, I try to wait until they're in bed and I set my timer for 30 minutes. Once the timer goes off, I call it quits and go spend time with my husband! So you won't see daily posts on my blog, but I'm hoping when school's back in session it will get better!

How did you get your start in the kitchen? 

Both of my parents are incredible cooks and bakers.  My dad went to culinary school and is pretty adventurous in the kitchen. My mom is one of those people who seem like they can make anything! She just mixes and dumps and this magical meal appears before you! 

We didn't have a lot of money growing up, but she still managed to celebrate everything! I definitely get my love of holidays from her!  Each holiday (down to National Pig Day!), had themed meals and homemade treats!  My youngest siblings are nearly 21 years old and she still makes the themed meals for them!  Nearly everything I do as a mom is about making my kids' childhoods as special and wonderful as she made mine!

Quick! You have 30 minutes to put dinner on the table...what do you fix? 

Cereal!!   Just kidding!  I always have bags of taco meat, ground beef and shredded chicken in the freezer for these types of nights (which seem to be happening more frequently the older my kids get!).  I'd pull out any of these bags, thaw it in the microwave and throw it on top of a salad for a quick, hearty meal.  Or quick make a "baked" potato in the microwave and top it with taco meat, sour cream, cheese and avocados for a quick, one-bowl meal!

Care to share your favorite recipe from your blog?

 My current favorite (and one I might make today!), is one I posted recently for Apple Dabble Cake. I host an Apple Day every fall for the girls in my family. We meet at a local apple orchard and pick a ton of apples then come back to my house to prepare some dishes. Each girl is supposed to bring a recipe and enough ingredients to make her recipe a couple times.

Cakes and breads are baking, applesauce is simmering, apple butter is cooking, pie filling is frozen...and at the end of the day, we have a box full of fresh apples and apple goodies to take home with us! The little girls especially love it! After our Apple Day last year, my sister's friend passed this recipe along and I became instantly addicted! It doesn't photograph well, but we all know that just means it tastes heavenly! 

Apple Dabble Cake 

 2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
4 cups chopped raw apples, peeled

Mix all ingredients at once by hand.  It will be very thick. Pour into a greased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.  

Meanwhile, in saucepan (when cake is almost done), combine:

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 lb butter (1 stick)

Boil 4 minutes.  Pour over cooked cake and then return to oven for a few minutes until bubbly. 

We love the recipes you share and thrift-store transformations are some of our favorites. So, which came first, kitchen creativity or your crafty skills?

Oh geez, I don't know if there could possibly be an answer to this! When you grow up without a lot of money, ingenuity is key and that translates to recipes and crafts! 

I would guess that for me, the crafts probably came first because even when my mom was still in charge of putting dinner on the table for me, I was already trying to make crafty things and rescue trash for gifts for other people! 

(Our favorite thing Natalie's rescued from the trash? This playhouse!)

In terms of my blog, I started it with the intention of it being a craft/party blog, but it has slowly evolved into recipes as well. The recipes (especially the freezer cooking) seems to be the most popular!

Early bird or night owl? 

Absolutely a night owl!  I have to force myself to go to bed by midnight so I can be up in time for my kids!  I have pretty bad insomnia so it usually takes me a couple hours to fall asleep and it's nearly impossible to get me out of bed before 7:30-8:00!  This is one of the few things I would change about myself in a heartbeat if I could! I'm SO jealous of people who go to bed at a decent time and wake up productive!

Aside from family and friends, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi (as I drink it right now!), books, my phone (which would make friends laugh since I am the worst at answering it!), cheesecake and music!

If you could design your ideal kitchen or craft room (your choice), what would be in it? 

I'd love a new kitchen!  My dream would be base cabinets in a distressed blue that looked like pieces of furniture (think wide hutch bases or dressers).  Dark countertops and open shelving for the upper cabinets.  A huge farmhouse sink and oversized island!  I'm drooling just thinking about it!

If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be? 

I have days like that quite often!  Luckily, my kids love doing much of the same things I like to do!  Some of my favorite days, though, have been at Disney World!  There's no dinner to make, grass to cut, laundry to put away... it's just the 4 of us... smiling, giggling and being together! I don't know how people can be grumpy at Disney World!

Tell us something that no one would guess about you. 

I can actually be quite a hermit at times!  People just roll their eyes when I tell them this, because I'm actually very out-going and involved with quite a bit in my town... but there's this definite, sometimes strong side of me that just wants to live in the middle of nowhere and be able to curl up with a book, not care if I'm still in pj's and know that there's no chance anyone will ring my doorbell!  Although, my hermit side would probably only last for 2 or 3 days max!

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Natalie...we can't wait to see what you come up with next, and we'll be reading along!

Definitely pay a visit to A Turtle's Life for Me...if only for more photos of Natalie's cute kiddos. You're bound to find a recipe to try, a timesaving tip, some creative inspiration or just a funny story. We know you'll enjoy your stay.

Click to visit now!

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Cookin' with a Southern Lady this Friday!

The sun is shining and there's a warm breeze. You're swaying on the front porch swing, enjoying a glass of sweet tea topped off with a sprig of mint...if this sounds like your kind of afternoon, you'll love this week's Featured Friday blogger.

Hailing from the Bluegrass state of Kentucky, Judy is the voice behind this blog that captures the best of Southern hospitality and cooking. Her recipes are the kind you just know were passed down from Grandma's kitchen and will taste just like Grandma's too!

Say hello to...

The Southern Lady Cooks!

We asked Judy to answer some getting-to-know-you questions and here's what she had to say...

Tell us about yourself, your family and where you live.

Hello! My name is Judy and I am the lady behind the blog and Page on Facebook, The Southern Lady Cooks. First of all thank you so much to Gooseberry Patch for inviting me to be a part of their Featured Friday.

I live in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky where I retired from a job in state government. I am a "Mom" to three wonderful adult children; twin daughters, Anne Parker and Leigh Harper, and a son, Charles Robert. A beautiful daughter-in-law, Sarah, and a 4 year old grandson, Thomas Wyatt. I call him Tater Tot! Last but not least Bob is the special man in my life.

How did you get your start in the kitchen?

 I learned to cook from two of the best cooks in the South, my mother and mother-in-law.

My mother was a country cook. Mama knew how to make a meal out of anything she had on hand. We did not have a lot of money but we always had plenty of food on the table and my Southern Mama knew how to make it taste like a little bit of heaven!

My mother-in-law was a Southern lady from Mississippi. She was tiny, soft-spoken, with that Southern drawl, and one of the most hospitable people I ever met. No human being or animal was ever turned away from her door hungry. She prepared great Southern meals like collard greens, beaten biscuits, country ham, red eye gravy, tomato aspic, and fruit salads. Her table was set with her best china and silverware and guests were always served in the large dining room of her home.

These two Southern ladies taught me all I know about cooking. How could I possibly go wrong with such great teachers? I am so thankful that I had them both in my life. I will never prepare a meal, read a cookbook, or entertain a guest without feeling their influence in my life 

What was your inspiration to start your blog?

My inspiration for starting my food blog evolved from another blog. I started blogging about my retirement and just everyday events and slowly began to post a few recipes. Eventually, I realized how much I enjoyed meeting other food bloggers, checking out their recipes and exchanging ideas with them. 

What's the best thing to happen since starting your blog?

I think the best thing to happen since I started my food blog is all the new people I have met through blogging and my Page on Facebook. I really enjoy creating new recipes and experimenting with ingredients. 

Quick! You have 30 minutes to put dinner on the table...what do you fix?

My favorite 30-minute meal to put on the table would be Fried Cabbage with Sausage. I have been making this dish for years. Just add some cornbread muffins and you got yourself some real "comfort" food.

Fried Cabbage with Sausage

1 stick butter or margarine
1 small head of cabbage, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped or
    cut into strips
1 small onion, chopped
1 pound polish or smoked sausage,
    sliced into round pieces
    (I use Hillshire Farm.)
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
few drops of hot sauce  (optional)

Melt butter in large skillet. Add cabbage, onion, and green pepper and cook on medium high for about 5 minutes stirring to keep from sticking to pan. Add remaining ingredients, cover and simmer for 20–25 minutes. Makes about 8 servings. Enjoy!

Care to share your favorite recipe from your blog? 

I have a lot of favorite recipes on the blog. One of my favorites is the recipe for Woodford Pudding. It is a Kentucky recipe that has been around since 1835. The sauce on this pudding is to die for. I could drink it!

 

 If you could design your ideal kitchen, what would be in it?

If I could design my ideal kitchen it would be twice as big as the one I have now with a large island in the center and a huge rustic table at one end for guests. I am a Southerner and we like to entertain. My family and friends like to gather in the kitchen more than any other room in my house. I think I might add one of those restaurant sized dispensers for sweet tea, too. 

If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be?

I have to say that all my days are spent doing guilt-free things that I love doing. I love my life, my home, and my family. I feel the important things in life are free and my retirement has enabled me to be one carefree, happy lady. 

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

 You might not guess that I like to do Pilates and used to be a runner in my younger days. I ran my last 5k in 2005 with my daughters. Today, walking for exercise is more my speed.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Judy...we'll join you for dinner any day!

Stop by and visit The Southern Lady Cooks today. You're bound to find something to delight your family.

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Share these goodies with a friend any way you like!

Meet Another Country Cook this Friday!

We've discovered a gem recently and, right away, we knew we wanted to share her blog with you. What better way than to shine our Featured Friday spotlight her way?

You'll love the genuine warmth and heart that comes through in Brandie's posts, and the recipes she shares...wow! They're just the kinds of dishes you'd expect to see in a Gooseberry Patch cookbook and we're always delighted to see what Brandie's cookin' these days.

We're so excited to feature...

The Country Cook!

Brandie's blog is so fun to read and her tone is perpetually positive (even when she's having a bad day). She always makes us smile with the stories that go along with her recipes and they're truly what keep us coming back to visit...not to mention handy recipe secrets like this one!

We asked Brandie to answer some questions for Featured Friday and give us a little peek behind the scenes...here's what she had to say.

Tell us about yourself, your family and where you live.

My name is Brandie Skibinski. I grew up as a Navy brat (that’s what they call us military kids) in Norfolk, Virginia. Eventually, I married a Navy man. My husband is out of the military now and we live in beautiful Southwest Virginia, near the Appalachian mountains.

I'm a proud Virginian and I like to soak up Virginia's history and heritage. My husband and I have been married for 14 years. We have been blessed with two beautiful children. I'm the stepmom to Zackary, who is 19 years old, plays lacrosse and is in his first year of college.

My baby, Alex, is 5 years old and is beginning to share his Momma's passion for cooking and baking (mainly so he can lick the bowls). There are perks, after all, to helping Mom in the kitchen. 

How did you get your start in the kitchen?

When I was a kid, I loved to put together food. I can remember the first thing I ever learned to cook properly was a fried egg. Then I moved up to crepes filled with grape jelly and sprinkled with powdered sugar. I was 12 and apparently I thought that was very gourmet. What can I say, my Mom indulged me.

As I got older, she trusted me more and more in the kitchen and taught me how to use all the appliances. She often worked late at her job so I was happy to take on the role as family cook some nights. I became the master of overdone spaghetti noodles. But my family (God love ‘em) ate everything I made without complaint.

After I grew up and left the nest, I got busy with work and life and for many years I didn't cook much at all. Then, when my youngest son was born, I was able to stay at home with him for a couple of years and I began to reacquaint myself with my kitchen and my love of cooking. The passion was reborn. 

What was your inspiration to start your blog?

My husband and friends were very encouraging. They really thought I should give it a shot. I was a bit skeptical because I figured I would just be writing this blog for about 10 people to read.

The more I started thinking about it, the more I realized that I wanted to keep track of my recipes and my family’s recipes for future generations. I realized it would be completely okay if I just did this for myself and for my family and friends.

It was a way for me to not just share a list of ingredients and directions, but to share the story behind those recipes. We all have family traditions and family recipes. No matter how humble or how simple the ingredients and recipes may be, they are ours and we owe it to our kids to pass on that legacy. 

What's the best thing to happen since starting your blog?

Finding out that we are all more alike than we are different. I just love to hear folks say how their Mom or Grandma made something exactly the way my family makes it. And just hearing other peoples stories and memories.

Our lives are so entwined with food and meal time.  It’s not just recipes we are passing on, it’s memories as well. So connecting with people on that level has been truly special and amazing.

Quick! You have 30 minutes to put dinner on the table...what do you fix?

I read this question to my husband and his knee-jerk response was to answer, “Definitely Chicken Philly Sandwiches”.  Now if y’all knew my husband better, this would come as no surprise.

If I don’t have time to whip up a roast and potatoes, he will always go for the chicken. He’s from the Midwest, and a meal just isn’t a meal without some sort of meat. Heaven forbid if I just hand him a bowl of beans and cornbread.

Care to share your favorite recipe from your blog?

 

Absolutely! My favorite recipe is one of the first recipes I posted on my blog. And believe it or not, I have made friends because of these pork chops. Pork, it’s a beautiful thing.

 

 

If you could design your ideal kitchen, what would be in it?

That answer is easy – more counter space. I have so little counter space right now. I don’t care if the kitchen is 100 years old, give me counters and I’ll be a happy woman.

Oh, and enough room to put a big ole farm table in there so that I can cook for my family and have plenty of room for everyone to be right in there with me. The kitchen truly is the heart of any home. 

If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be?

Honestly, I can’t imagine myself being anywhere other than where I am right now. God has blessed me in abundance. I have a loving and supportive family, a roof over my head and food on my table each day. What more could a gal want?

Except for maybe a spa day and private cooking classes with Paula Deen. Hey, a girl can dream, right? 

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

I can pick up stuff with my toes. And it completely grosses my husband out. Sure, I could just bend down and pick something up with my hands but it's so handy to be able to do it with my toes instead. No bending or straining my back. Now if only I could pick up animals and small children - that would be really handy! 

Thanks for sharing all your secret talents, Brandie, and thanks for taking part in our Featured Friday series today too! Your passion for food and the lasting legacy of recipes makes you a girl after our own hearts. We'll be reading to see what you cook up next!

We predict that you'll be visiting The Country Cook often...the tried & true recipes along the right side of the blog will get you started on her delicious dishes. Handy printable links on each one make it easy to add Brandie's family favorites to YOUR recipe box. Get your clickin' finger ready and be sure to stop by on Wednesdays for Brandie's regular Guest Blogger series too.

Connect with Brandie on her blog and on Facebook too!

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Take a Tour of Bloggers!

With Springtime in full swing in most places and Easter coming up in a few days, we thought it'd be fun to take a little tour of some of our past Featured Friday bloggers and see what they're up to these days. Here's to finding inspiration wherever you look...enjoy!

 

 

Want to fix something special for breakfast? Try Anna's caramel rolls...they're a Gooseberry Patch recipe!

 

 

 

If you're more in the mood for a savory breakfast on Easter Sunday, give Leah's make-ahead breakfast scramble a try and you can just pop it in the oven in the morning!

 

 

 

Tina's Bunny Buns would be a fun treat for little folks Easter morning! These little treats were the inspiration behind this post. Thanks Tina!

 

 

 

Traditional Easter dinner at Carmen's house always includes Ham and Popeye...puffy little noodle-dumplin's sounds good to us!

 

 

 

 

Kristin whipped up this marinated veggie salad and we think it'd be a great side dish.

 

 

 

Mix up Cris's quick & easy baked beans...they'd be just right alongside your ham!

 

 

 

 

Tina also shared her recipe for classic deviled eggs! It's just not Easter dinner without these, right?

 

 

 

 

Looking for a must-share appetizer to serve? Jen posted that she'll be whipping up some of our quick Reuben Dip...yum!

 

 

 

Gail recently posted Claudia's Famous Wing Dip and we think it'd be a great addition too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackie has created a whole page of Easter dinner deliciousness on her blog, including some sweet little Easter basket cupcakes!

 

 

 

 

For the dessert table, there are so many goodies out there...Cora's cookies capture so much of the meaning behind this special day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carmen's Resurrection Rolls do too...bonus photos of cute helpers in this post!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim is sharing her recipe for Luscious Lime Cheesecake...cool and refreshing!

 

 

 

 

She also whipped up this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie that you could serve this weekend. Looks like a magazine, doesn't it?

 

 

 

Try Carrie's Easy Homemade Cherry Jelly or Jewish Sweet Challah Bread and add something really special to your celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of cherries, we don't think anyone would say no to this classic cherry cobbler Jodi posted recently. It's from our cookbook, Quick & Easy Autumn!

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this cute idea that Susie's sharing...Easter in a Jar! Note to other bloggers: this is a blog hop so be sure to link up too.

 

 

 

 

Oh, and if you happen to have some ham left over, Leah's ham sandwiches look amazing...we're really looking forward to trying these!

 

 

 

 

Tina found some beautiful marble eggs...you can't eat 'em but she'll enjoy them year after year. Aren't they pretty?

 

 

 

We hope you found something yummy to try here or some inspiration as we head into a weekend filled with celebration. Enjoy every moment...and if you're making something tasty, share a link in the comments! We'd love to hear about it.

Heading South This Friday!

Ever run across a blog and within reading a few posts, you feel like you really know someone? It happens sometimes when someone writes so clearly in their own voice that, for a minute, you can almost imagine have a conversation.

Today's Featured Friday blogger is just like that.

A born storyteller with a passion for food, Jackie writes her blog from the heart and it shows in every post. She's only been blogging for a few months but already, Syrup & Biscuits so distinctly represents who she is. Even better, her friendly voice invites you to sit down, eat something homemade and listen to the story of the day.

We're excited to introduce you to...

Syrup & Biscuits!

We asked Jackie some fun questions to give you a sneak peek into the voice behind this soon-to-be-favorite blog and she obliged with these answers...enjoy!

Tell us about yourself, your family and where you live.

Being born and raised in Alabama and entrenched in southernism was a gift. It gave me an identity. I am part of a culture that embraces gracious hospitality, manners, love of God and country, frugality, family values and good honest food. That's who I am and that's what I'm all about.

A career move in 1985 brought my husband, two daughters and me from Mobile, Alabama to Tampa, Florida. Our son was born after we moved to Tampa. Mobile is a southern city that has retained its southern personality. Tampa is a city located in the southern part of the United States that doesn't have a southern personality. While raising our children in Tampa, it was important to me that I teach them about southern culture and their heritage. They don't have my accent, but they are Southerners. I'm proud of that.

Currently, I reside in Valrico, FL (a Tampa suburb) with my husband, Sam, and my Basset Hound, Belle. We are so blessed to have all three of our children and two grandchildren live close by.

After a successful career as a nurse, corporate executive and business owner, I hung up my ballet slippers and retired in April 2009. Since retirement, l have busied myself with doing anything I wanted to and nothing I didn't want to. My days are filled with writing my first cookbook, "Apron Strings", maintaining Syrup and Biscuits, gardening, enjoying grandchildren, family and my husband. Life is good. I always knew that. 

How did you get your start in the kitchen?

I have been cooking family meals since I was 12 years old. Being the eldest of three, that job fell to me. In the beginning, cooking was a chore. Somewhere along the way, it became a passion as it remains today. Cooking is a way of nurturing as well as a creative outlet. Good food and good memories go hand in hand.

Some of the best things we have to offer folks is a special meal or dish prepared with them in mind. That's what my Granny did, that's what she taught me to do. She was truly my inspiration for cooking. My mother never liked to cook until the last few years of her life. But, Mama liked nothing better than for me to cook for her. And I loved doing it for her as much as she loved eating it.

The first cookbook that I used was The Betty Furness Westinghouse Cookbook published by Simon and Schuster in 1954 which was a gift from my father to my mother. Since my mother didn't enjoy cooking and my grandmother lived a distance away, this book became my reference for recipes and cooking techniques. I used that cookbook right up until I left home. Some of the recipes stayed with me in my mind, but I always wanted the cookbook. Certainly, I could have bought another copy from amazon.com, but I wanted the cookbook that had the food stains from my dishes on the pages.

When my daughter got married in 2002, my mother presented me with a gift. The cookbook. The one that I had relied on for cooking lessons for so many years. It was quite tattered. In fact both front and back cover was torn off. But it I didn't care about that. The cookbook that I had loved was now MY cookbook. I asked my mother to write a note in the cookbook and this is what she said, "To the mother of the bride. I hope you enjoy. Love, Mom. 10/2/02." I am a collector of cookbooks and this one is a superstar among my collection. I keep it in a plastic ziplock bag to try to protect it as much as possible.

What was your inspiration to start your blog?

I've always enjoyed writing but never had much time to do it outside of my work responsibilities. Following the death of my mother when I was 52 years old, I suddenly realized that I was the oldest living person in my ancestral line. I was the matriarch.

My life has been enriched by some wonderful people who have given me wonderful memories. I didn't want time to take away the memories. It was important to me that my children and grandchildren know them. It made sense for me to pair the stories with food since I am passionate about cooking (and eating!) and so many of the stories relate to food anyway.

My stories are written from my heart and I try to keep my brain out of it as much as possible. Because the memories evoke such strong happy emotions, I wanted to write them because I can write up a storm and cry but it's hard for me to vocalize the story while crying. Plus, you can't understand what I'm saying when I'm doing my ugly crying.

What's the best thing to happen since starting your blog?

I have so blessed by all the wonderful sweet comments that I get from readers. My readers are the sweetest, kindest people in the world. It is satisfying for me to know that people relate to my stories and thank me for stirring up some pleasant memories. I feel so good about that. To know that I have played a small part in brightening someone's day is just the greatest feeling.

Quick! You have 30 minutes to put dinner on the table...what do you fix?

Homemade Tacos. My whole family is nuts about them. I make my own taco seasoning mix and keep it in a jar in my spice cabinet.
 
Care to share your favorite recipe from Syrup & Biscuits?

I would be happy to share a recipe from Syrup and Biscuits. This is one that I just posted last week which has caught the attention of a lot of people. One of my readers was even taken by the dish in the photo, asked me where I got them and sat right down and ordered them!

Shrimp and Grits

For grits:
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups milk
1 cup quick cooking grits
salt to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
 
Bring stock and milk to a boil. Slowly pour in grits WHISKING constantly to prevent lumps. After grits have started to thicken but are a little thinner than you would like the finished product to be, cover and remove form heat. Let sit for at least 5 minutes. Keep warm. Just before serving, stir in cheese until melted. Taste for salt.
 
For shrimp:
1 pound peeled and deveined wild-caught shrimp (I use medium or large)
2 T. bacon drippings
1 onion, peeled and sliced thin
1 green bell pepper, sliced thin
2 tbsp. flour
2 cups stock, chicken or seafood
salt and pepper to taste
Tabasco sauce
 
Add bacon drippings to pan and heat. Add onion and pepper slices and saute until soft and starting to caramelize. Stir in flour and brown. Slowly pour in stock, stir until thickened. Add shrimp and cook until pink, about 3 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Serve over hot cheese grits. Add Tabasco sauce if desired.

If you could have dinner with a celebrity chef, who would it be?

Scott Peacock. I love his style of cooking. The cookbook that he co-authored with Edna Lewis The Gift of Southern Cooking is one of my favorites. Scott grew up in the same part of Alabama as my family in a little town called Hartford. My parents left Mobile and moved back to Hartford after I had started college so I didn't make the move with them. Both of my sisters, who are younger than me, went to school with Scott but I have never gotten the chance to meet him. I hope I will someday. We speak the same language!

If you could design your ideal kitchen, what would be in it?

Actually, we just remodeled our kitchen a couple of years ago and I absolutely love it. I have such a nice place to cook. The only thing that would make it better is if my Granny could cook one meal with me in my beautiful kitchen.

If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be?

I really, really, really want to participate in a recreated working 18th century colonial farm. Someplace like Colonial Williamsburg that is interactive. I don't want to just sit back and watch demonstrations. Living the life for a whole day, maybe more, is what I have in mind.

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

As I ponder this question, it pounds home just how utterly predictable I really am! I've been married to my high school sweetheart for 35 years. We have raised our three children (well, almost...our youngest is a Junior in college). We are retired and living a wonderful stress free life. My husband golfs. I garden and cook and write about gardening and cooking. We enjoy our family every way we can. I will be participating in my first 10k race on Saturday....my FIRST 10k (6.2 miles) will be 3 1/2 months away from my 56th birthday. WHEW!

Thanks for taking time to answer these questions, Jackie...we enjoyed reading and sharing the answers almost as much as we enjoy your blog.

Here's one more post that
made us chuckle...Jackie
didn't mention it but we can't
resist linking.

You Put WHAT on
Your Tomato Sandwich?

Take it from her husband Sam,
Jackie can fix a mean
"damater samich."

With posts like this, it's no wonder we love Syrup and Biscuits...we think you'll love it too. Pay Jackie a visit and you're bound to find something good to fix. Find her Page on Facebook for even more recipes and stories!

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Blogging, Family Style!

Today's Featured Friday blogger isn't just one voice. They're actually a group of lovely ladies who all contribute to the same blog. Connected by family ties and a love of creating, it's a mini-community of women sharing photos, ideas, recipes and tutorials...we love it!

We're excited to introduce you to...

Threaded Together!

Tell us about yourselves, your families and where you live.

There are currently four of us blogging on Threaded Together. I’m Jennifer and I live in Pensacola, Florida with my husband and two children, ages 4 and 6. My sister, Marissa, currently calls Suffolk, Virginia home where she lives with her husband and two children. Marissa’s husband is in the military so who knows where they will end up next! Our mother, Debbie, lives in Pensacola just a few doors down from my family. She works at a community college, is finishing up a doctorate and loves to sew when time allows. Kelley is my sister-in-law and lives in Panama City, Florida with her husband, their (almost) one year old and a puppy too! We are all strong, independent women with all sorts of interests but are “threaded together” by those family ties, history and a love for crafts, cooking, and creating.

We LOVE the idea of writing a blog with a group of women. What was your inspiration to start your collaborative blog?

We found ourselves constantly emailing instructions and pictures of our different craft ideas and projects on a regular basis. We thought the blog would be a great way to showcase our projects for each other and keep all those directions, recipes, and pictures organized and safe in one place. It also allows us to share with other friends and family … and we’ve also made new friends as a result (Jen’s husband calls them our “imaginary” friends).

We imagine that with 5 of you contributing, figuring out who posts what, and when, could be a challenge. Do you decide ahead of time or keep it spontaneous?

We like to keep it spontaneous! We each post when we can or when we have an idea we would like to share. We try to limit it to one post per day. When one of us creates a post, we just make sure that someone else in the group hasn’t put up a post for that day. If there is a post on the site already, we save it to the draft folder or set a date to publish. It helps having all of us collaborating on the same blog because there are usually several posts added to the site each week but we are able to take individual breaks from posting to craft!

Do each of you feel like you have something special that you like to post about or does everyone do a little of everything?

We each have our favorite types of projects but we all have posted in the various categories.

Marissa is our residence pastry artist. You will often find posts with recipes for her beautiful cakes and confections.  

Debbie loves to sew and cross stitch so many of her posted projects involve the sewing machine or the needle! She also likes to try new recipes, both sweet and savory.  

Kelley is our crafter and repurpose queen. She can take something that has been moved to the junk pile and turn it into something that you would be proud to display in your living room. She also sews and makes quilts that are meant to be treasured for a long time.  

Jen likes to post projects that she has given as gifts and also some of her family favorite recipes. Right now, she is posting a weekly account of her efforts to de-clutter her house!

We have really enjoyed ALL the recipes you've shared, including at least one of ours! Care to share your favorite recipe from Threaded Together?

Jen: My favorite recipe from Threaded Together is Marissa’s oatmeal cookie recipe. It took Marissa a long time to find the best recipe for the oatmeal cookie. She sent me the recipe, but I lost it almost immediately. It has been handy to be able to pull it up on the blog whenever I want to make oatmeal cookies! 

Marissa: My favorite recipe is by far the Chocolate Bomb recipe. I use variations of it ALL the time and my friends are always asking for it at parties and dinners. 

Kelley: Cook? Does Chick-fil-a count? No? Do skillet meals count?

Debbie: I do LOVE all of my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks/recipes, but I think right now I need to say Jill’s Hamburger Dip. Our blog is about keeping friends and family connected and I just recently lost my dear friend Jill to cancer. Collected recipes remind me of friends, family, places, and special times.

These all sound great to us but we couldn't pass up sharing a recipe called...

Best Darn Oatmeal Raisin Cookies in the World!

2 c. flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 c. unsalted butter, softened
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. dark brown sugar packed (I have also used light brown sugar and not noticed a difference)
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 c. raisins (craisins are good too!)
3 c. rolled oats (not instant)
  
Cream sugar and softened butter in mixer.  Add brown sugar and eggs, mix.  Add dry ingredients (I put them all in the mixer at the same time and then mix): flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and mix until blended.  Add vanilla and mix.  Add raisins, mix.  Add oats, mix.  Drop by rounded scoops (I use a 3 tablespoon scoop) onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 11 to 13 minutes.

How about a crafty idea or tutorial?

I think we would all agree that we have lots of favorite crafty ideas, but we loved our Thanksgiving tablescape. [It includes placemats, place card holders, centerpiece and personalized napkin rings!] What better holiday to celebrate family and friendship than Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the holiday where family and friends come together at the same table and our 100th post came right around Thanksgiving. We emailed back and forth, delegating projects, and created a tablescape. Even though we weren’t sitting at the same table that year, we were able to give thanks and celebrate friends and family through our blog.

What's the best thing to happen as a result of starting your blog together?

The best thing that has happened to us a result of our blog is that we can now share crafty ideas, recipes, thoughts, and encouragement despite the space between us. The blog makes it very easy to feel like we are just a few steps away from each other when, in reality, we are actually hundreds of miles from each other. It is like the digital version of the crafting group that meets once a week. We still meet but we meet online rather than face to face.

If each of you could design your ideal room, what would be in it?

Jen: My ideal room would include pictures of my family hanging on the wall, a way to play my favorite music, and all of my craft boxes!

Marissa: A double gas oven, a HUGE gas stovetop (with a griddle and warmer and all), an island with a deep double sink in it, trash compactor, wine refrigerator, a tray in a cabinet under the counter that will lift my mixer up to counter level, and I could go on forever….

Kelley: My ideal room would have my sewing machines lined up on one wall, a cutting table on another, an ironing board and iron ALWAYS at the ready, and shelves with all my supplies organized and easily accessible. Not that I have it drawn out for my next house or anything...

Debbie: My ideal room … has all of my family in it!

If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be?

Jen: My day would not even begin until ten or eleven in the morning because I would still be sleeping. Once I got moving, I would work on a craft project with my kids, then one of my own. I would end the day with some photography practice as the sun went down.

Marissa: Sunbathing at the beach while getting a 12 hour massage!

Kelley: Honestly, it would start bright and early. I'd hit all my favorite junk stores, come home for a fun lunch, and start on a project. At the end of the day, whether finished or not, I'd feel good about my progress and enjoy the evening in the backyard with my hubs and baby.

Debbie: I would love a day to do needlework, sew, craft, read … anything where I didn’t feel like there was some kind of deadline to finish!

Tell us something that no one would guess about (each of) you.

Jen: Even though my house is usually a cluttered mess, I can direct you to even the tiniest needle or button because my craft boxes are currently impeccably organized!

Marissa: It took me a while to get my life going in the right direction (finally did it a few years ago). Before that happened, I never appreciated my mother and my sister. Now I cannot imagine my life without their support, love and encouragement. I would have laughed at you if you told me I would be sharing a long-distance blog with them…and look where we are now! Wouldn’t give it up for the world!

Kelley: I normally play a radio while working on a craft project. If the mood hits, I sometimes take a break and dance around the room. My son LOVES this.

Debbie: I have always wanted to write the Great American Novel … instead I write grants to support community college programs and students. Our blog gives me a chance to do some creative writing and maybe even have a little audience!

We're happy members of your audience, ladies...please keep up your creative collaboration and thanks for taking part in Featured Friday today. We can't wait to see what you all come up with next!

Threaded Together is a must-visit for anyone looking for cooking, baking, crafting, stitching, organizing or...any kind of inspiration! Add it to your spots to stop today. You're bound to find something to make in the kitchen or craft room!

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Meet Another Grandma this Friday!

 

If you've followed any of our online goodies this week, you know we've been celebrating grandmas from all over...many of you have shared your own memories here on our blog and on our Page on Facebook.

Makes sense that today's Featured Friday is a grandma, then right? Of course!

Tina George has been blogging for less than a year but she's already one of our favorites...we know you'll love all the recipes she shares, not to mention the cute pictures of her grandkids! Allow us to introduce you to...

a.k.a. Gramma!

We asked Tina to share a little bit about herself and she was gracious enough to share the answers below...enjoy!

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

I am a wife, mother and Gramma! My husband, Rick and I have been married for 21 yrs. We have a blended family of 7 children and 9 grandchildren...some of which we aren't able to see very often. I enjoy spending time with and caring for my family. I also spend a lot of time with my mother..she is very important to me and has been the greatest role model. She, along with my children, inspire me to be the person I am today.

During my spare time, (haha...what's that?) I enjoy cooking, crafting and reading home decor/craft magazines and cookbooks. I spend some of my time on Facebook connecting with childhood friends and friends I've made from traveling while my husband was in the military. I also make time for blogging and reading my blogger friends pages, who have also inspired me to craft more and redecorate my home! (I didn't know that blogging could be so expensive! haha)

I have lived in South Arkansas for about 15 yrs now. I've enjoyed living here, but would like to move further north one day to be able to enjoy the four seasons. I love snow and we rarely get any here. Before living here we were stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Living there was one of the greatest experiences for my family. There was so much to do and see!

What originally inspired you to start blogging?

Those that know me, know that I love to talk! And I also enjoy writing. So I thought that I could do both by blogging. While reading other bloggers posts and comments, I noticed how they communicate with each other. I thought that this would be a great opportunity to make new friends too!

What's the best thing to happen because of your blog?

Oh my! The friends that I have made! I love the people that I have followed and those that follow me. You can not have a bad day when you keep in touch with these friends! They won't let you!!!

We know you're a big fan of Gooseberry Patch recipes (check out that cookbook collection!) and we loved when you posted 25 days of our recipes leading up to Christmas!

What's one of YOUR most requested recipes?

No doubt....it's my Layered Potatoes! Every time I make them I get so many compliments. I was told recently that I needed to patent them! It's a recipe that I just threw together one night about 8 years ago and we've been enjoying them ever since. I don't think I've submitted this recipe to Gooseberry Patch because I don't measure any of the ingredients...I just add it until it looks good. But I'll try...

Layered Potatoes

1 medium potato per person, boiled and cut in to 1 1/2 inch cubes. Put half the potatoes in a microwave safe serving bowl. Add 2 Tablespoons (per person) of margarine on top of potatoes. (My family and friends love extra butter, so I always add more!) Sprinkle Real Bacon Bits over potatoes until covered. Sprinkle Seasoned Croutons over Bacon Bits, single layer, until covered. Lay slices of American cheese of top of croutons until completely covered. Repeat another layer, holding out some potatoes for the top. After second layer of cheese slices, add potatoes and more margarine. Then I pop it in the microwave to melt the butter and cheese for approx 5 minutes. Serve with 1000 Island or Ranch dressing, which is optional.

Here's another recipe from Tina that we love...it's included in our book, Sunday Dinner at Grandma's!

Hannah's Lemon Bars

For crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

For filling:
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 TBSP all-purpose flour
1/4 cup lemon juice
Add'l powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

Combine flour, sugar, and butter; pat in to a greased 13X9X2 in baking pan. (I used a glass dish..seems to bake better) Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. In a bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, flour and lemon juice until frothy; pour over the hot crust. Bake at 350* for 20 - 25 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with powder sugar. Cut in to squares. Makes about 3 to 4 dozen small squares. But I cut them bigger, so it only makes about 2 dozen!

How did you get your start in the kitchen?

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my momma helping her prepare meals. She rarely used recipes; she would just know what she needed to make the meal taste good. She also taught me how to measure with my hand...a pinch, a dash, teaspoon, tablespoon, etc.

Over the years, I've learned what my family liked and disliked, so like my momma, I would know what ingredients I needed to make the meal taste good for them!

 

Aside from family and friends and your sweet little pup, Tila...


What are 5 things you just can't live without?

• My Faith in God is number one! Where would I be without Him?
• My family heirlooms...grandma's quilts, family recipes, wooden bowls, family photos and more.
• My cookbooks! I own 69 Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, all of the Taste of Home, Best of Country Cooking, and Country Woman Christmas and MANY others!
• My computer because I must communicate with others!
• My car since I'm on the go ALL the time!
• And can I list a 6th and 7th one? My camera and cell phone since I am always taking pictures or needing to call somebody!

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

Oh Lordy, I'm about to let the cat out of the bag! I love to sing and dance but I'm not so good at either one...so when I'm home alone I turn up the music, pick up a candle holder for my microphone and away I go!

Sounds like fun to us, Tina...thanks so much for sharing today and for all the goodies you post on your blog. Keep up the good work...we'll be reading!

If these recipes sounded tasty to you, this is just the beginning. Click here to browse all of Tina's posts...you're sure to find a new dish to try or at least find a sweet smile in one of her family photos!

Tune in next Friday for something a little different. Don't worry, we'll still be featuring our favorite bloggers from time to time (Have a good one? Post a link in the comments!) but we'll also be having a few new kinds of fun on Fridays coming up...you're gonna love it!

Share today's Featured Friday with a friend...just click the button below!

Breathing Creatively this Friday!

We met this week's Featured Friday blogger back before there even WERE such things as blogs!

Elizabeth was a member of our Gooseberry Patch family years ago and we were fortunate to have her as part of our sales team while we did. Not only does she posses a genuine friendliness that every customer deserves, her sunny personality makes her a joy to work with as well.

Did we mention that she also makes the most picture-perfect cookies? All this time later, they're still legendary around our office.

So, when we happened upon Elizabeth's blog, we were simply delighted. Not at all surprised by how darling everything was, we have had such fun following her crafty adventures. 

We're so happy to introduce you to...

Creative Breathing!
(Also known as Bluebird Papercrafts.)

We asked Elizabeth to share a little background with the readers of our blog...here's what she had to say.

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

I live in the most charming college town of Delaware, nestled along a central river in the Heart of Ohio. I live here with my husband of 32 years and one very large white puppy who has come home to our previously empty nest with our youngest daughter. She has an older brother recently married who took his pets with him when he left home.

What originally inspired you to start blogging?

When my nest emptied, I found the need to fill the quietness that filled my home. An article read about Alicia Paulson and her blog Posy Gets Cozy led me to begin my own.

Empty or not, it looks like a cozy nest to us!

 What's the best thing to happen because of your blog?

A love of crafting always kept secret, I was so surprised to find a community of women just like myself. A place to say “cute” many times a day without a second glance. A chance to learn and be inspired and to give back in return. An opportunity to make new friends.

 

Your papercrafts are inspiring to say the least...what draws you to vintage art and patterns? Where do you find inspiration?

An old-fashioned person to the very core, I was immediately drawn to vintage greeting cards often shared. Memories called to mind of my own childhood, a perfect opportunity to use them to tell the stories of my life. Their simple images became the basis for designing and making my own patterns to create the most wonderful craft room creations ever!

Find Elizabeth's pattern for this sweet pennyrug here.

From your time working with us as Gooseberry Patch, we know that you're not only a gifted artist but a fantastic baker. Care to share a favorite recipe?

A favorite way to bring a smile to friends and family is to present them with cookies they have come to love. Gingerbread Men like none you have ever tasted, are my most favorite ones to bake. Soft and chewy, you will not be able to have just one.

GINGERBREAD MEN

CREAM: 1 c. shortening, 1 c. sugar, 1 egg
ADD: 1 c. light molasses, 2 T. vinegar
ADD: 4 c. flour, 1-1/2 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. salt, 2-1/2 t. ginger, 1 t. cinnamon
DIVIDE: dough into two equal portions, wrap in cellophane.
CHILL: 3 hours. Bring dough to nearly room temperature.
ROLL OUT: on well floured surface 1/8” thick.
DIP: Cookie cutters into flour, cut shapes. Place directly onto shiny aluminum baking sheet.
BAKE: at 375 degrees 6-8 minutes ONLY. Remove to counter surface to cool.
DECORATE: purchased tube icing, currants for eyes, red candies for buttons.
Sprinkle with additional sugar after each cookie made

Aside from family and friends, what are 5 things you just can't live without?
 
My crafting philosophy and the one I share on my blog is, “Use What’s on Hand”, but the five things I could not live without while breathing creatively are my trusty glue gun, pinking scissors, silver glitter, Pop Dots, and white paper flowers. White goes with everything when all else fails.

Follow along Elizabeth's tutorial and
make your own snowman like this!

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

No one knows that I have a beautiful craft room and that I love to create vintage inspired art. The chance to share this on my blog, is very meaningful to my life. It is a most happy place to be!

Wow...what a fun place to spend your creative hours!
Click here to see more photos of Elizabeth's craft room.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Elizabeth. It's so good to be back in touch after all this time and to introduce our blog readers to such a wholly creative soul. All our best.

There's so much cuteness on Elizabeth's blog, we just have to share some more photos here...

Puppy Patrol!

Pom-pom friends!

Christmas crafts!

Pay Creative Breathing a visit today and find yourself filled with inspiration and happiness...we sure did.

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Visit the Nest this Friday!

 

 

Okay, we admit it. We can't stop thinking about Christmas crafts these days. It's just the beginning of December and already we're on the lookout for great ideas for gifts, decorating, you name it.

Lucky for us, one of our favorite bloggers is also a really talented crafter...and she loves Christmas! You can guess why we picked her for this week's Featured Friday, right? We know your creativity will be sparked when you visit...

 

The Robin's Nest!

We asked Robin to share a little about herself, her favorite season and her inspiration for all those great ideas. Here's what she had to say...

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

I am a country girl at heart though I'm living in the city of Seattle. I've been married to my best friend Tim for a long long time. We just became empty nesters after raising what he likes to call a quiver full of children. Our nest didn't stay empty too long, we have been blessed with 3 of the cutest grandchildren on earth.




What originally inspired you to start blogging?

My love of photography and crafts. I wanted to share my world with others and blogging just seemed like the perfect way to go about it. Well, that AND pure boredom!

Your blog is full of such great crafty inspiration. How did you get started and how do you stay inspired?

Not only did I come from a long line of crafters- I also taught crafts at the church I grew up in. I loved seeing the ladies faces light up when they realized that they too could be creative. My mind just never stops thinking of crafts-I often dream of ideas! I stay inspired by knowing that the decor I see in catalogs and magazines I can make for a fraction of the cost with just a little know how and lots of tweaking.

5 generations of crafters!
 

We know that this is your favorite time of year, being a Christmas enthusiast! Can you share some of your decorating and crafty plans for the season?

I laugh that I've been dubbed by other bloggers as a Christmas enthusiast. But it is true, it's my favorite holiday! My favorite thing to do each year before Thanksgiving is to put up a live tree right outside our dining room window. I decorate it with berries, special bird food ornaments and peanut garland. The birds and squirrels love it and it's a great conversation piece for my Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner guests.

Love this idea! (Click to see bigger.)

My crafty plans for this year will be recreating a snow scene in my home. This year I am straying away from my traditional decorating and going a bit more whimsical and adding a snowman to the scene for the grandkids.

 

 Care to share a favorite project from your blog?

I'm pretty crazy about chalkboard paint. Here are two easy projects that I've created: Chalkboard Clay Pots (shown below) and Chalkboard Gift Boxes.

Aside from family and friends, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

God, laughter, coffee, chocolate and being in the great outdoors. Pretty much in that order though I was tempted to change the laughter and coffee around!

Robin, husband Tim & granddaughter Noelle

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

For fun I like to target practice with a variety of guns. My husband and love to compete against each other with shotguns, rifles and pistols. It's a great stress reliever that I highly recommend.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Robin...and thanks for being such a great crafty inspiration, especially at this time of year!

Something that Robin barely mentioned was her love of photography, something that you'll see on your first visit to The Robin's Nest! Super talented with a camera, her hummingbird photos are some of our favorites...

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Meet a New Girl this Friday!

 

 

 

We think this week's Featured Friday is a breath of fresh air in the blogosphere. Anna's voice is funny, inspiring and best of all, real. She shares stories of her little family, trying new recipes as an aspiring foodie and most recently, adventures in moving. We're delighted to introduce you to...

 

 

 

girl with blog!

Read below for Anna's answers to our getting-to-know-this-girl questions...

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

My family - my husband, puppy and I - just moved to Minnesota, not far from where I grew up. We spent the last year living and working at a Bible camp on the prairie of North Dakota, and while there I was introduced to true country life! In the end, we decided the suburbs were the place for us (for now!) and so here we are. I love to integrate country style into my decorating and cooking, and am a HUGE Gooseberry Patch fan!

What originally inspired you to start blogging?

I started my blog to keep our family and friends updated on our life in ND, and along the way I simply fell in love with writing, and connecting with the people who read my words! I attended a large blogging conference last summer, and was inspired to pour more of myself into my little blog. It's so neat to build relationships with people all over the country! Minnesota also has a thriving blogging community, and it's been so very much fun to become a part of it!

This month you've taken on the challenge to write every day of the month.
How are you finding the time to write so often?

It's been really difficult! There have definitely been evenings when I'm getting ready for bed, and remember that I haven't posted yet that day! But I am bound and determined to make it, so I just keep plugging along ... =) I'm finding out that I am not meant to be an every day blogger!

 

You have 30 minutes to make dinner...what's your go-to meal?

Shrimp Scampi! Just a few tablespoons of butter, some garlic and lemon juice, and shrimp! A yummy, super simple, and fancy feeling supper!

Care to share a favorite recipe?

Of course! Being a good Minnesotan, I'd like to share my grandmas recipe for a traditional Scandinavian Christmas cookie. They taste like really delicious shortbreads!

Grandma Corinne's Sandbakkels

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. almond extract
2-1/2 c. flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly to make a thick dough. Press a small ball of dough into lightly greased sandbakkel tins - keep the dough thin or it will be difficult to remove them from the tins. Place the filled tins on a cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, just until the cookies are barely turning golden. Let tins cool to the touch, then remove cookies from tins to cooling racks. Enjoy with a glass of milk!

In my kitchen, we never run out of _____!

Garlic and extra virgin olive oil - these two ingredients can make a simple meal shine!

Pie or cake? Cookies or fudge?

Um, all of the above? =)

Aside from family, friends and your cute pups, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

1. Chocolate
2. cookbooks
3. coffee
4. Christmas music
5. and the Food Network!

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

I was the queen of my hometown in 2003!
Miss Defeat of Jesse James Days, Northfield, MN.

(Oh, we're pretty sure that's guess-able...isn't Anna adorable?)



Thanks so much for sharing a peek behind the scenes today, Anna. We can't wait to see where your blogging adventure takes you, and we'll be right there, reading along!

Visit girl with blog today and you'll find yourself smiling, inspired and a little happier for the visit. Find Anna on Facebook and follow her on Twitter too!

 

Share today's Featured Friday post any way you like...just click the button below!

Take a Tour this Friday!

 

We thought we'd share something a little different this Friday. Gotta keep you on your toes, right?

Join us as we take a tour of our previous Featured Friday bloggers. There's some really yummy-looking recipes, lovely decorations and crafty ideas out there...get your bookmarking finger ready!

 

 

 

First up...our buddy Cris at Goodeness Gracious! She's still cooking her way through our cookbook, Mom's Favorite recipes and she's up to 33 recipes now. You can find all the links on this page! Go, Cris, Go!

 

 

 

Linda of Prairie Flower Farm shared a link to a recipe for a Homemade Twix Bar...does that look yummy or what?

 

 

Michelle at Married/Single Parent whipped up these San Francisco Chops...click here for the recipe!

 

Check out Carmen's family-friendly Chocolatey Oat Bars over at Old House Kitchen...they sound easy and tasty too!

 

 

 

When Jodi posts about dinner at her house, we wish we lived closer to her neck of the woods...those purple potatoes are beautiful!

 

 

Cora of Heartfelt and Homemade shared her peachy recipe and it really sounds like a Piece of Heaven.

 

 

 

In the mood for something savory instead? Over at Scraps of Life, Susie is sharing her Cheesy Super Bowl Dip!

 

 

 

Renae cooked up one of our recipes recently...you'll love her go-to recipe for Delicious Drumsticks!

 

 

Getting ready for the Thanksgiving?
These posts are right up your alley...

Tina at Mommy's Kitchen recently shared an entire meal plan for Thanksgiving...we think the sweet potato casserole looks oh-so yummy.

 

 

 

 

Kristin over at Delightful Country Cookin' is sharing this week's craving...Thanksgiving dinner!

 

 

Kim of A Well-Seasoned Life is all about the season's most popular berries...get her recipe for Cranberry Salad here!

 

Nancy always has something good cooking and she & Kim are thinking alike! Get the recipe for her Cranberry-Pecan Coffee Cake...it really looks scrumptious!

 

Lots of folks are using pumpkin these days.
It's one of our favorite ingredient for fall too!

 

Gail of Faithfulness Farm shared her recipe for Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins...we can't wait to try these!

 

 

 

Julie's blog Circle Cliff Views features TWO great recipes right on the front page today, both using pumpkin...we want to try out these muffins!

 

Looking ahead to Christmas? You're in luck...

 

Not Quite June Cleaver is sharing a step-by-step recipe for her yummy-looking Christmas Cakes...don't call them anything else!

 

 

 

 

Leah at Beyer Beware is sharing a recipe and gift idea in one...check out her Texas Two-Step Soup in a Jar!

 

 

At her blog A Vintage Chic, Julie's sharing an amazing recipe called Gingerbread Cinnamon Buns. Wouldn't these be perfect for Christmas morning?

 

 

It's not all recipes though...

 

 

Tracy over at Bassett's Bull is giving us a peek at her Thanksgiving decorations!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Home is Where the Heart Is, you'll see some of the things that make Kim smile...this vase is one of our favorites.

 

 

 

 

You'll find some beautiful Autumn photos at Farmhouse Country Style, including some from her local Country Living Fair!

 

 

 

Super-crafterJen is showing off her nephew's new quilt and some darling bags we'd love to try...visit Jen's Fun Little Things for the goodies.

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the tour with us today!
We hope you found something yummy and a little inspiration too.

See someone here you didn't recognize?
Click here to view all of our Featured Friday posts!

 

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Visiting the Old House Kitchen this Friday!

 

 

Like many of our blogger friends, we first discovered this week's Featured Friday when she shared a recipe of ours. As a busy mom of seven, Carmen has quite a collection of recipes of her own and her blog does a great job of sharing them with all of us!

Among the recipes, you'll find helpful kitchen tips and recipes for fun, like this one for fingerpaint. She shares stories about the kids as they've grown over the last year, photos from family celebrations and peeks inside her home. Her blog feels warm and comfortable and when we visit, we feel like part of the family too.

 

 

We're happy to introduce you to...

Old House Kitchen!

We asked Carmen some getting-to-know-you questions and she was gracious enough to give us a sneak peek behind the scenes...

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

I live with my family (husband, seven children, and my mom) in an old Pre-Civil war farm house in Amish country outside of the small town of Spencerville, Indiana (known for it's covered bridge). My husband is a full time history and Bible teacher and a part time Discipleship Pastor. We homeschool our 4 girls and 3 boys who range in age from 13 down to 2 years old. We enjoy being together, playing with our goats (we have two; a Nubian and a Nigerian Dwarf) and chickens (16 total), having a garden, and camping. We plan to go up to northern Michigan next summer for a few weeks!

What originally inspired you to start blogging?

I found myself typing up various recipes repeatedly for different friends so I started putting them into a computer system that I use. I figured if I am typing them for the computer system I might as well share them with everyone by blogging. That began in February of this year and it's been so much fun!

(We're betting that her recipe for Grandma Fray's macaroni & cheese was one of the most requested recipes!)

As a homeschooling mom of seven cuties, how do you carve out time to write?

Some days are definitely more productive than others! Our computer is in a central location where the kiddos do their schooling, so it helps that, if I need to be on the computer, I'm right there with them. I have been working on time management in all areas of life lately and it has been a big blessing. I do most of my blog writing in the morning when most of the kiddos are still sleeping or in the afternoon while the littlest one is napping, the younger ones are watching a video, and the older ones are working on their studies. It can get pretty crazy around here so sometimes I have to jot ideas down on paper so that I don't forget them later!

What's the best thing to happen as a result of starting Old House Kitchen?

Getting to know other ladies, their blogs, their families, and hearing how much they enjoy and appreciate the recipes. It's a big blessing!

We love the so many of the recipes you share on your blog. How did you get your start in the kitchen?

Why thank you so much! I share this story on my blog that, growing up, I didn't really learn how to cook. Before my husband and I got married, we decided that since we were both college students and he was home before dinnertime, he would cook our dinner meals. Well...the first week, we had stir fry every day. I quickly got started on the cookbooks! I called my mother-in-law and my husband's grandmothers a lot! We didn't have stir fry for a long time after that!

Care to share a favorite recipe?

A favorite that the kids beg for every weekend are my Parmesan Crusted Chicken Sandwiches.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken Sandwiches

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese (I'm cheap so I use Kraft from the can)
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 t. Italian herbs
1 1/2 t. basil
1/4 t. cayenne pepper

Crumbs:

1/3 tube of butter crackers, crushed into little bitty bits! (the rectangular kind that are mouthwateringly good...yummy butter goodness!)
1-1/2 T. Parmesan cheese
3/4 t. oregano
1/2 t. garlic salt

The goal to cooking the chicken right is to have them the same size. You will want to cut each chicken breast into at least 3 separate equal sized pieces. Cut them on a slant not in three chunks...you want it to look pretty! :)

Place the chicken in a 13" x 9" baking dish. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, Italian herbs, basil and cayenne pepper. Spread the mixture over the top of the chicken.

Mix the crumb ingredients and sprinkle over the chicken. Place in a pre-heated 425 degree oven and bake for 25-35 minutes until cooked through.

When cooled enough to handle, slice chicken into 1/2-inch pieces and lay on each half of 6 French bread sub sandwiches (or any other roll you like). Sprinkle generously with colby jack cheese. Bake in a 325-degree oven until cheese is melted and the rolls are a bit crispy on the edges, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Top with lettuce, tomato, black olive, onions...anything you like! Enjoy!!

Fill in the blank: In my kitchen, we never run out of _____ !

Helping hands! Our kiddos love to help in the kitchen! For Thanksgiving they are looking forward to all the homemade pies we'll be making the days before.The day of they enjoy setting the table with the china and getting the turkey and trimmings ready for the table. They have regular chores every day of the year, but this is one of those extra special days. One of our goals for our children is to be handy in the kitchen. Whether it be cooking, baking, canning, freezing, cleaning...I want them to know how to do all the things that I never did. I want to give them a head start in case their future spouses only know how to make stir fry. *wink*

(Get Carmen's recipes for homemade pie filling and pie crust...just in time for Thanksgiving!)

When you're not taking care of your family, what's something you like to do, just for you?

I enjoy scrapbooking, and just being plain ol' artsy/crafty. I have an Elementary Education degree with a major in Art so being artistic is something that is part of me, something that I have to do. The things I make might be items for other people but I enjoy the time listening to books on my mp3 player while crafting when the kiddos are in bed. It's relaxing.

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

My nickname that my husband calls me. Back in high school, we used to go down the street from his house and play basketball. When I'd shoot a free throw, he'd giggle and tell me that I hopped like a bunny rabbit. So he started calling me Bunny or Rabbit. It's now morphed into Babs (after Looney Tunes' Babs Bunny). He never calls me by my given name anymore. I like it. It's special. It's funny, too. You should see the looks we get when new friends hear him call me that for the first time. They get so confused!

Thanks again for joining in the fun today, Carmen...we so enjoy visiting your blog to see what everyone's up to and what's cookin' too!

Pay Old House Kitchen a visit today and you're sure to find something delicious. Become a Fan on Facebook too and you'll never miss a post!

Grab a button while you're at it!

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Beware this Featured Friday!

 

Okay, you don't REALLY have to beware of this week's Featured Friday blogger...unless you're afraid of yummy recipes and super-cute kiddos!

Leah Beyer refers to herself as a "mother running on empty" but we think she's pretty amazing. She a mom of two kids under 6, juggles a demanding full-time job outside the home, manages to whip up some amazing hunks of meat and blogs about it ALL at...

Beyer Beware!

We asked Leah to give us a little behind-the-scenes info and to share some of her favorite recipes. Here's what she had to say...

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

We live in the heart of the Hoosier state. My husband is a third generation dairy farmer. Or rather was a third generation dairy farmer.

We sold our dairy cows last fall and now just farm corn and soybeans. I grew up an Illini and am still one at heart. While my whole family still lives over in Illinois I have made new roots with my husband. Read about how I got here over on my blog.

We have two children. Our son is five and our daughter is three. I work full time helping to insure we have food to buy that was raised by the American Farmer.

What originally inspired you to start blogging?

Guilt. As a working mom, sometimes I felt like I was going crazy. I would hear about the perfect mothers out there and feel guilty. So, I started blogging to capture the moments of my kids lives, share my easy and yummy recipes, and connect with other moms who are experiencing the same joys and struggles I am. It was the need for self-therapy and memory retention. Read more about the start of my blogging over here.

As a busy mom who also works outside the home, how do you carve out the time to write?

I don't sleep. No, I think about my life in blog posts now. When my kids do something crazy or I am making a new or favorite recipe, I take pictures. Then, when the kids are in the bathtub, I take my laptop in with me and write my blogs. I also travel quite a bit for work. When I am on the road I can write several blog posts ahead. But, once you start blogging, you realize you have so much content that you find time. When you would be watching TV, sleeping, doing your dishes, folding your laundry, you are blogging instead.

Your recipes are some of the best family-favorite dishes we've seen. How did you get your start in the kitchen?

My parents both cook. I would say my dad enjoys it and my does it. I was in 4-H growing up and the foods project got me started in the kitchen. As I became an adult, I realized I loved making food. Getting together with friends and family around the dinner table is where most of your memories occur as well. Cooking is a part of my life that I love sharing with others.

Care to share a favorite recipe?

Since meat dishes are the center of our meals, we have several favorites. We love BBQ'd brisket and pork roasts, especially on the grill. A brine makes them killer.

Pork burgers are another grill favorite.

 We are also a breakfast food family. The kids and I could eat breakfast foods for every meal. Our favorite egg casserole is the scrambled egg casserole.

This time a year is perfect for comfort food, and one of our favorites is Beef and Noodles!

Leah's Beef & Noodles

1 Beef Roast
1 beer-can or bottle
1 package dry onion soup
3 cloves of garlic
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
10 cups of water
1 pound of homemade (store-bought) noodles

Place roast in crock pot and pour beer, onion soup, and cloves over top. Cook on low overnight. In the morning, break meat apart. Add the mushroom soup and six cups of water. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Cook on low all day. An hour before you eat, add noodles as well as more water. Up to four cups depending on how moist you like it. Serve over mashed potatoes.

What's the best thing to happen as a result of starting Beyer Beware?

Reconnecting with friends from the past. I have gotten several emails, Facebook messages and comments from friends from college and childhood letting me know they are regular readers. The messages have allowed for me to reconnect with people I haven't talked to in a very long time. Reestablishing friendships is so rewarding.

Pie or cake? Cookies or fudge?

I am personally more of a pie gal, but the kids are cake lovers. My mother-in-law makes cakes professionally, so we have cupcakes regularly coming into our house. Cookies are really our favorite. And once my friend Amy, who was raised Amish, introduced us to her Chocolate Chip Cookies, we never look at any other chocolate chip cookie the same way. Don't make them unless you really want to eat 72 in one night.

Fill in the blank: In my kitchen, we never run out of _____ !

BUTTER! And if we do, I send my husband to town to get more. I have finally stopped having to say not margarine, butter, REAL BUTTER. Nothing is better than butter.

Aside from family and friends, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

My computer and cell phone obviously. But then it would be my knife set, pots and pans, and my Kitchen Aid. Cooking and baking have become my therapy. Now, if I could just find someone to clean up my mess every night.

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

I have never made a homemade pie crust without my mother in the room. Gasp. Pillsbury does such a great job making one that I can buy, I have just never tried to make my own.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Leah...and don't worry, your pie crust secret is safe with us!

Be sure to stop by Beyer Beware today to see what's cookin' in Leah's kitchen or just see what those cute kids are up to. We know you'll enjoy your stay and you'll definitely get a chuckle out of every visit!

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Share this post by clicking the handy button below. 

This Week's Featured Friday!

When we first found this week's Featured Friday blogger, we were confused by the title...how can someone be married AND single? Well, after reading Michelle's stories of raising two girls while her husband was deployed, we got it.

Introducing...

Married/Single Parent!

Not only is her story inspiring, she blogs about food too! Sharing recipes from her own stash as well as some from our books and other places, she's always got something tasty on the table.

We asked her to share a little bit about her life...here's what she had to say.

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

Well, according to our tax forms I am a Domestic Engineer. One year while having our taxes done I didn’t appreciate the way the tax preparer called me just a housewife. It was the tone of his voice more than the word. I objected to him writing that down as my occupation. Since my previous career was in the engineering field Domestic Engineer seemed more fitting. It wasn’t until we had our taxes done the following year that we found out he actually wrote it down as my occupation.

I love being a SAHM and taking care of my family. I enjoy cooking, but baking is my way to de-stress and relax. Right now I’m in holiday planning mode. I am known for my Christmas cookie trays and the variety I make. I have already picked out the top 25 cookie recipes and I’m in the process of making out the final list and baking order. Some of my other interest include blogging, web design, digital photography and gardening.

Our family lives in Central Pennsylvania, in a little coal town surrounded by mountains. It is absolutely beautiful here during Autumn with all the changing leaves. My husband is my best friend and an amazing man. Christopher is currently an Army ROTC Instructor and in the PA National Guard. He has been deployed three times and will again in 2011. I could never do what he does. We have two daughters, Haillie and Abby. Haillie is fourteen and a freshman in high school. She plays flute and is a very talented digital artist. Abby is eleven and in the sixth grade. She is our social butterfly and has an eye for photography. They are my taste testers and harshest food critics.

What originally inspired you to start blogging?

Family. I started my first blog to keep family members updated on what we were doing and to share photos of our girls. It was back in the day of dial-up and html coding. I remember clicking on the upload button and praying that the phone didn’t ring, making me lose my internet connection. Over the years as my family has grown and changed so has my blog. When my kiddos no longer wanted to be blogged about I started posting recipes. Food is happy to be photographed, sits still and never objects. A food blog has been the perfect way for me to share, store and save my recipes. A quick search is all it takes to find the one I’m looking for. Long gone are my days of lost recipes that were written down on a scrap of paper and stuffed in a drawer.

Monday I will be celebrating my 10-year blogoversary!

As a busy mom of two girls, how do you carve out the time to write & share photos on your blog?

I sort of have a routine in place, plus I have the help of my family. While I’m menu planning for the following week I make draft posts of all of recipes I want to share. My camera is always on my kitchen counter or tripod ready to go. Sometimes while I’m setting up a plate for a photo my family jumps in with an idea for a better presentation. I love when they help me out. Then in the evening after the kitchen is cleaned up from dinner, homework is done and the house is calm I blog. At that point all I have do to is edit, add the photo and write about dinner and my day. 

We love that you include our recipes on your blog. How did you first hear about our cookbooks?

I was shopping for Americana decorations in a cute little country craft store when I came across my first Gooseberry Patch cookbook. Meals In Minutes. A couple months later my daughter brought home a school fundraiser. Guess what she was selling? Gooseberry Patch cookbooks of course. I bought three more cookbooks. I love all the cookbooks but the Christmas ones are my favorite.

In my kitchen, we never run out of _____ !

Flour! In my pantry you will usually find at least four bags on hand. I love to bake fresh breads, muffins, scones, pies, cakes & cookies.

Care to share a favorite recipe?

With this cool autumn weather I am always ready for a bowl of potato soup and a slice of homemade bread. This recipe has been a hit with family and friends. It’s actually three different recipes that I combined and tweaked to my liking. Absolutely delicious!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

6 baked potatoes
1/2 cup butter
1/2 onion, diced
2/3 cup flour
4 cups heavy cream
4 cups chicken broth
10 pieces bacon, crumbled
1/3 cup chives
1 garlic clove, minced
8-oz. container sour cream
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Peel and cut the baked potatoes into medium sized chunks. Place butter and onions in a large pot and cook till onions are semi-clear. Pour the chicken broth into the pot with the onions. Warm broth and while it is heating mix milk with the flour, whisking till smooth. Whisk the milk/flour mixture into the heated broth, continuing to whisk till well blended and smooth. When soup has thickened add the potatoes, chives, salt, pepper, and garlic. Simmer for 10 – 15 minutes or till potatoes are heated through. Finally mix in the sour cream and Cheddar cheese until melted and well blended. Sprinkle with bacon when ready to serve.

Pie or cake? Cookies or fudge?

All of the above and then some! If I had to make a choice then it would be cake – Butter Pecan Cake and cookies – Pecan Sandies.

Aside from family and friends, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

1. Coffee w/Hazelnut Creamer – I recently tried to give it up and it wasn’t pretty. Every morning starts with a frothy cappuccino followed by an iced coffee in the afternoon.

2. Mocha Jo – She is my fur baby and goes almost everywhere with me.

3. Laptop – I am addicted to the internet.

4. Cookbooks – Give me a cup of tea, a blanket and I’m snuggled on the couch reading them like a novel. I get so excited when I get a new cookbook.

5. Digital Camera – I love the freedom of being able to take a hundred pictures to get that one great one.

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

This one is a tough one because the one thing that comes to my mind is so embarrassing. I am a HUGE Twilight fan. It’s getting to the point that an intervention may be required. We original bought the books for our oldest daughter. Then when the first movie came out I rented it for her. She was not a fan of the books and had no interest in watching the movie. I decided to watch it myself before sending it back. I was hooked. Within the following six days I had read all the books. I’m currently reading the series again for the umpteenth time. Team Edward all the way!

Thanks for taking time to share with us, Michelle...we always look forward to what you're cooking up in the kitchen and hearing updates on the girls too. Keep up the great work and thank Christopher for his service in the military for us, would you?

Be sure to check out Married/Single Parent today...Michelle's sure to be making something yummy!

Cookin' with Nancy this Friday!

When we found out that Nancy Girard was blogging, we were thrilled. She's a Gooseberry Patch friend from way back and has a whopping 12 recipes published in our books.

You're going to want to bookmark her blog and add her to your list of online recipe resources.

Say hello to this week's Featured Friday blogger...

A Recipe A Day!

Nancy's recipes are tried & true, homestyle fare (right up our alley!) and her photos will make you hungry any time of day. She may not post each and every day but there's more than enough delicious goodies on her blog to keep you inspired! We asked Nancy a few getting-to-know-you questions and here's what she had to say.

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live. What originally inspired you to start blogging?

My name is Nancy Girard and my husband and I currently reside in Chesapeake, Virginia. My husband, Gerry, retired from the military a couple of years ago and now works as a defense contractor. We have two children, Michael, 28, and Libby, 26.

Mike is an IT Specialist at Seaworld Orlando and Libby is the Curator at the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier at Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg, Virginia.

We also have a Jack Russell Terrier, named Zippy, and my daughter has two dogs, a boxer/terrier mix, named Zoey, and a new addition, a Beagle named Hamlet. Being empty nesters is great!

What inspired you to start blogging?

Since my kids are now on their own, I originally starting blogging so they would have a place to find all their favorite recipes.

What's the best thing to happen so far because of your blog?

I think two great things have happened since I started blogging - the most important is that I have "met" many, many great bloggers, cooks, and photographers since I started this journey. There are so many talented folks out there. The second is helping new bloggers - giving suggestions, my experiences, etc.

We know you're a fantastic cook, not just because of your blog, but also because of the recipes you've sent to be included in our cookbooks! How did you first hear about Gooseberry Patch cookbooks?

I bought the very first cookbook Gooseberry Patch put out in the catalog and I was hooked! I have collected EVERY SINGLE cookbook, I am happy to say. I have a HUGE cookbook collection - over 1200! - and there are very few that I use and love like the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks! In fact, my Gooseberries are on a shelf in my dining room and I've had many guests thumb through them!

In my kitchen, we never run out of _____ !

In my kitchen we NEVER run out of garlic!

Care to share a favorite recipe?

My favorite recipes change with the seasons and right now my favorite is Ribbon of Pumpkin Coffee Cake. I am a diabetic so I don't get to eat but a bite and it's so good and perfect for the upcoming holidays.

Pie or cake? Cookies or fudge?

Pie over cake and cookies over fudge!

Aside from family, friends and your pups, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

Five things I can't live without (in no particular order) - my iPhone, my cookbooks, my Kindle, diet pepsi, potatoes

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

I don't think anyone would guess that I went to a bullfight in Spain when I was 15 yrs. old (I lasted about 20 mins). I've always had a soft spot for all animals and I think that it really made me more aware of how we treat animals and it's one of the reasons why I try to always adopt animals no one else wants.

Thanks for sharing so much goodness from the kitchen...keep up the good work, Nancy!

Can't get enough from the hundreds of recipes on the blog? Check out this amazing 800+ recipe collection on food.com! (We told you she was a resource.)

Nancy's recipes appear a DOZEN times in Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. Here's one of our favorites that appears in our book, Autumn with Family & Friends. It's the perfect hearty dinner for this time of year.

Caramelized Onion Pot Roast

One of my favorite slow-cooker recipes! Long, slow cooking transforms a budget-friendly roast into a scrumptious meal that's good enough to serve to company!

2 T. oil, divided
2-1/2 lb. boneless beef chuck roast
salt and pepper to taste
4 onions, sliced
1 c. beef broth
1/2 c. apple juice
1 T. brown sugar, packed
1 T. cider vinegar
2 T. Dijon mustard

Heat one tablespoon oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown roast on all sides. Remove to a plate; sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Add remaining oil to pan and cook onions until deep golden, stirring frequently. Add remaining ingredients to onions in pan. Spoon half of onion mixture into a slow cooker; place roast on top. Top with remaining onion mixture. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 9 hours. Serves 6.

 

Wishing You a Jolly Friday!

It's funny how typed words on a screen can affect your day, isn't it? Some blogs cheer us or inspire our creativity, stirring up excitement whenever we read them. Others inspire us to take action, make changes or try something new.

Today's Featured Friday blogger is all that...but a little something different too.

Definitely inspiring, Jodi's writing slows us down and reminds us to take note of the little things that matter: baskets of yarn waiting to be made into afghans, sweet sleeping dogs who know just when to rest their head in your lap and watching the sunset year 'round on a quiet lake.

We're so glad to introduce you to...

The Jolly Bee

 

We asked Jodi a few getting-to-know-you questions for today's feature...enjoy!

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live.

I always wanted to be a mom and have lots of kids swirling around me. But, I don't think I could handle more than the three I have -- they keep me so busy. I work as a vice president at a financial institution and from the minute I get home until when my head hits the pillow, I'm usually doing something with or for my kids. Just recently, I've started to take more time out for me.

My oldest child went off to college in August and my daughter's a senior in high school. My youngest is in seventh grade. They are very involved in school activities. My husband works long hours, sometimes nights and weekends. It was great when the kids were little because we never needed daycare. It's harder now because someone's always on the go (which means I'm on the go too).

When I'm not running them around, I love *really love* puttering around my house or crafting or cooking.

I live in a small village in Central New York -- which is a wonderful area to raise a family because it's close to the Adirondack Mountains, yet close to cities. It's the best of both worlds.

What originally inspired you to start blogging?

My mother is such a talented crafter, I figured maybe I had inherited a crafting gene. I tried my hand at crocheting and quilting and I loved both. Sadly, few of my nearby friends share these interests. Then I started reading crafty blogs. I realized there was this whole network out there -- mostly women who support and encourage and inspire. I knew I had to be a part of it so I started my blog.

What was the best thing to happen so far because of your blog?

The best thing is the friendships I've made. I know it sounds strange because I don't really "know" these women, but we've been connecting through comments and e-mails for a long time now and I do consider them my friends. They all have such varied interests -- books, cooking, children, gardening, crafting. Truly, my days are so enriched by the give and take, the sharing and the feedback.

As a busy mom of three talented kids, how do you find time to write and take photos to share?

I am distracted by my blog at times. I love reading the comments and I love learning what my blogging pals are up to. But when my kids entered junior high, they started doing their own things -- joining clubs, teams, musical groups, etc. There were times when I felt like I was nothing more than a driver at their beck and call. No one wanted to stay home and hang with me. So, I knew I had to find my way and develop my own interests.

In college, I majored in magazine journalism so I was confident in my writing ability. The photography is a bit of a challenge. I take lots of pictures and delete most of them because they're pretty bad. I just carve out time to blog whenever I can because it's important to me.

We love the recipes you share and your afghans and quilts are beautiful too. So, which came first, kitchen creativity or your crafty skills?

Definitely kitchen creativity came first -- but that was out of necessity (hey -- we have to eat!). I'm not really a daring cook. I pretty much follow directions and experiment only a little bit. My kids are fussy eaters so when I find a recipe that works, I stick with it. Lately, I've been cooking more for me and I'm much more conscious of what I cook. This past summer, I joined a CSA and I've been loving the wide variety of vegetables. Some have had me stumped -- but thank goodness for the Internet. There's always a recipe out there worth trying.

In my kitchen, we never run out of...

Chocolate chips!

Care to share a favorite recipe?

Sure!

Pumpkin Chip Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup mini-chocolate chips

Heat your oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then, combine the wet ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. When well mixed, add the wet ingredients to the large bowl and mix until just combined. Add the chips. Spoon the muffin mixture into lined tins, filling about 2/3 full. Bake for about 20 minutes.

Pie or cake? Cookies or fudge?

Pie and cookies (but I never, ever
buy store-bought cookies -- it's
homemade or nothing).

Aside from family, friends and that sweet dog of yours, what are 5 things you just can't live without?

1. My crochet hook

2. My stashes (yes that's plural and it applies to my yarn and fabric collections)

3. The Adirondacks and the lake where we have our camp

4. My piano (it's very old, a little out of tune, but it's like family -- actually, it's been in the family for nearly 90 years)

5. And, living where there are four, distinct seasons 

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.

Oh my. It seems like this should be something really juicy, but I'm really an open book. I am what I am. I'm 45 years old. I love my family. I'm happy with where I'm at in life. I guess people may be surprised that I wanted to work for the Boston Globe and report on international political affairs -- because these days, I'm in a completely different field and I rarely venture too far from home.

Wow! We're sure glad you're writing your blog instead of for the Globe, Jodi! Thanks for sharing with us today. Keep writing and we'll keep reading!

Buzz on over to The Jolly Bee and introduce yourself today...we know you'll enjoy your stay!

 

Featured Fridays are Back!

Missed our series featuring our very favorite bloggers out there? Well, you're in luck because Featured Fridays are back!

Like many of our favorites, we ran across today's blogger when she shared her love of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. A few clicks in and we knew we'd found something special. Say hello to...

A Well-Seasoned Life!

Kim McCallie is the voice behind this new food-focused blog and, you wouldn't know it by reading, but this working mom has been blogging for less than a year! She shares delicious-looking recipes and step-by-step photos just like a pro and sprinkles in stories about her family and life in Georgia.

As Kim says, "Life is too short to waste any time eating bland food." We couldn't agree more and are so happy to feature this aspiring food and recipe-writer with you. We asked Kim to share a little bit about herself and her journey into blogging...

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I've been married to Eric for 14 years and have two funny and intelligent sons, ages five and seven. I love cooking and talking about food. I'm at my best when I'm preparing and organizing food for showers, parties, and other events. I tend to be shy and introverted in social situations, but my food makes me brave.

What originally inspired you to start blogging and following your dream of food writing?


A few months ago, my older son asked me what I dreamed of being when I grew up. My first thought was that I wanted to be a writer. A couple of weeks after that conversation, he asked, "What was that dream you had? The one that never came true?" It really made me stop and think about how I could inspire my children to follow their dreams when I had never followed mine. Around the same time, I read a food column in the local newspaper that discussed recipe writing and introduced readers to recipe writing reference materials. I knew I didn't have a novel in me but I knew that I could write about my favorite subject - food. Blogging seemed the best way to combine my writing, sense of humor, and photography.

As a mom of two little guys, how do you find time to write about and photograph new recipes?
Being a full-time working mom, it's hard for me to cook and photograph during the week unless it's a quick dish. I try to do all of the cooking for my blog on the weekends. After homework is done and the kids are settled down for the night, I'm able to steal away and write and plan, surrounding myself with cookbooks and cooking magazines. As much as my world centers around the kids, I love having "me" time and blogging about a subject I love.

How did you get your start in the kitchen?
My mom started working shift-work when I was a Senior in high school. That pretty much forced me to learn to cook a few simple dishes to feed my dad and brother. Later, when I was dating my husband, he enjoyed cooking for me. So, I started cooking with him and experimenting with new dishes. By the time we were married, my confidence in the kitchen had grown and I grew to love the creative process of cooking. I always tended to cook way too much for two people, but the food never went to waste. Does the "freshman 15" pertain to the first year of marriage as well?

Care to share a favorite recipe?
My Toffee Apple Dip recipe is a favorite with my family and friends and I think the one recipe that they associate with me.

Toffee Apple Dip

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
4 T. butter, softened
3 T. powdered sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 t. vanilla extract
8 oz. pkg. toffee bits
Sliced apples

With the mixer on low, combine the cream cheese and butter until well blended. Add the powdered sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until well blended. Reserve about 1/4 of the toffee chips, set aside. Pour the rest of the toffee chips until the mixture and fold in with a spoon. Refrigerate the dip until well chilled, preferably overnight. Right before serving, sprinkle the reserved toffee bits on top. Serve with apples.

Who's your favorite celebrity chef and why?
Paula Deen - I admire the way she picked herself up by the boot straps and made a life for herself and her sons. I can relate to her Southern cooking style. And, her recipes can be easily duplicated in the home kitchen.

Pie or cake?  Cookies or fudge?
Definitely cake and covered with frosting.
And, cookies with lots of sprinkles.

Tell us something that no one would guess about you.
As much as I love to cook, I love to other see other people enjoy my food even more. To sit back and watch people eat my food and return for seconds and thirds makes me very happy!

We'd come back for seconds (or thirds!) of Kim's Chicken & Dumplings...her Mexican Beef looks worthy of a fiesta too!

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Kim. We can't wait to see where your blog takes you and we'll be reading all the way!

Be sure to add A Well-Seasoned Life to your favorite places to visit...Kim's always got something yummy coming up and we know you'll enjoy your time there.

Have a blog that you think we'd love? Drop us a note and point us in the right direction! Oh and don't worry - if you've been loving the Links We Love series, we'll continue to share these with you whenever we find good ones!