Fall is a season of reflection and cozy comfort, making it the perfect time to curl up with a good book and a soothing cup of homemade chamomile tea.  Don't get me wrong, we love our sweet tea but there's nothing like a warm cup of your favorite tea on a chilly morn. I recently picked up some chamomile flowers and a copy of " Managing Your Emotions " by Joyce Meyer courtesy to Hachette Book Group.  Chamomile is one of my favorite teas because it helps me to unwind and has several health benefits.  Thought I'd share my favorite chamomile tea recipe and a few thoughts on Meyer's latest release.  Funny thing, this book was a perfect complement to the calming essence of the chamomile tea.  Homemade Chamomile Tea Recipe:  Ingredients:  1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers (or 1 chamomile tea bag)  1 cup of hot water  1 teaspoon of honey (optional)  A slice of lemon (optional)  Instructions:  Boil water and let it cool slightly to...

Happy New Year! I first posted this recipe a couple of years ago but I couldn't let another day in the New Year go by without making at least one traditional New Year's Day dish. I remember my great grandma soaking black eyed peas, marinating pork chops and picking greens in preparation for the annual New Year's Day meal.  These were traditional dishes meant to bring good luck and prosperity all the year through if eaten on January 1st.  I've often shared the story of my great grandmother coming to visit us from November until March.  She lived in West Virginia and the winters were harsh so each winter we drove to West Virginia to pick her up as Fall ended and she stayed with us until her birthday in early March. She was a lady of few words.  I can't recall every hearing her say "I love you" but I have fond memories of watching her work magic in the kitchen. She was the best cook ever.   She had a knack for using anything in her pantry to ma...

I was planning to grill some steaks for dinner but the rain started just as I was about to fire up the grill. it's a little humid and I didn't want to turn on the oven. I heard about preparing steaks in the air fryer and figured why not give it a try.  Grilled steaks are one of my husband's favorite meals and since I didn't want to mess this up I only cooked one steak. The tester. You know the tester. That recipe you try but you’ve got a backup JUST IN CASE. Seriously if this didn’t work I was prepared to fire up the grill, stand in the rain and cook him the best steak ever.  I love cooking in my air fryer and since being in quarantine I've learn to cook several foods using my air fryer, mostly chicken and veggies but STEAK? Nope, never thought of that.  Cooking in the air fryer is quick and easy when it comes to fried foods but I never imagined you could cook a steak in it alone behold at the top of my air fryer there's a button an image of a steak and ...

Quarantine baking is the latest craze.  Cookies, cakes, pies, casseroles and breads are coming out of ovens everywhere. I have gotten bit by the baking bug too.  I'm hooked on cakes and breads and getting the kids in on the action too.  We still have a sourdough starter that a friend gave me right before our staff starting working from home.  Three months in and Susie Sourdough - yes, we named it - is still in the fridge and we feed it weekly.   Lately, I've been seeing a lot of people baking banana bread. Bananas are always on our grocery list.  Hubby snacks on frosted corn flakes and bananas pretty much every night before bedtime.  How he manages to stomach milk after 7 pm boggles my mind, but that's a story for another day. Let's talk about the difference between him ordering bananas from the grocery store and me ordering bananas from the grocery store.  When HE orders them he orders a lot.  Me, I typically order a bunch of about 5 or...

Can you believe 2020 is almost here! Happy New Year! I have been a little under the weather since my return from Atlanta but I couldn't let the day go by without making at least one traditional New Year's Day dish. I remember my great grandma soaking black eyed peas, pork chops and greens.  These were traditional dishes meant to bring good luck and prosperity all the year through if eaten on January 1st.  I've often shared the story of my great grandmother coming to visit us from November until March.  She lived in West Virginia and the winters were harsh so each winter we drove to West Virginia to pick her up and she stayed with us until her birthday in early March. She was a lady of few words.  I can't recall every hearing her say "I love you" but I have very fond memories of watching her work magic in the kitchen. She was the best cook ever.   Funny thing she would make something and it was delicious.  I'd have the same dish somew...

  My sis and I were talking and out of the blue she says "Remember when we were little and you used to make those sugar cookies?" I can't believe she remembered.  My sis and haven't baked cookies together in years.  She laughed when I told her I still bake those cookies. The recipe was simple: 1 stick of butter, some sugar and flour.   Sometimes we would get all fancy and mix in some of the flavored extracts my mom kept in the pantry or top the cookies with sugary sprinkles or a dusting of sugar. Nothing compares to the smell of cookies baking in the oven and it's one of my favorite ways to spend quality time with the kids. I always enlist the aid of my three boys and little lady when I'm in the kitchen.   Funny seeing my kids whipping up stuff in the kitchen on their own, making their own snacks or following along a recipe from one of my cookbooks.  What makes this recipe so perfect is that it's only 3 ingredients and even ...

Happy Peanut Butter Day! Yep, it’s actually a holiday.  I figured we could celebrate by sharing one of my family’s favorite peanut butter cookie recipes.  I guess I could’ve shared my chicken satay recipe but we’ll save that for another day. It’s a favorite because 1) we ALWAYS have peanut butter in the pantry and 2) the recipe is super easy. Ingredients: 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth, your preference) 1 cup sugar 1 egg Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 2. Mix peanut butter, sugar and egg until smooth.  3. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto lightly greased OR nonstick baking sheet.  4.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 6 - 8 minutes 5.  Let cool completely. Oh, if you are allergic to peanut butter you can substitute cashew butter.   Does your family like peanut butter cookies? Do you have a tried and true favorite recipe using peanut butter?  

Have you seen those infomercials for the bacon bowl?  Pretty neat premise:  a bowl made out of bacon.   A bowl made out of bacon.  Oh the deliciousness and you don't need to waste your money ordering one online.  Bacon bowls are really easy to make. All you need is bacon and a muffin tin I used thick cut bacon but you can use regular sliced bacon or turkey bacon or veggie bacon    Directions: Wrap bacon slices around individual muffin tin cups and bake according to directions. You can weave the bacon if you like for a prettier effect.   Rule of thumb:  More slices = fuller bowl Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes or so Keep a close eye on the bacon so it doesn't burn I used 2 slices of bacon this time but next time I'll use 3-4 slices for a fuller bowl Fill. Fill with scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast or brunch or fill with leafy greens for a tasty salad.  The possibilities...