The Princess and the Frog

I received this as an email in 2003. 
It’s so good, it bears repeating. 
This is the fairy tale that we should have been reading as little girls! 
(My hubby is the exception.)
Once upon a time in a far away land, a beautiful, independent, self-assured princess happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues on the [...]

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Carnivore Or Herbivore?

What is my brother going to say when he gets home to find that his 8 year old son is growing like a weed and is eating meat all of a sudden? 
He has turned into a carnivore overnight.
Nephew has been big on salads since he was 2.  He was the only toddler I’ve ever seen [...]

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Berry Picking

 
Early this morning, I thought that I would go out and pick berries for breakfast for me and the kids.  My SIL has blackberry bushes around two sides of the property.  A few summers back the berries were abundant.  Last year, the harvest was very late; we were already back in CA by the time [...]

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FAQ’s: Using leftover chocolate ganache…Can you use half & half instead of cream?

Can I make ganache with half & half rather than cream? 
That’s a good question!  Everyone is trying to cut back on the fat and calories these days. 
I would reccomend that you just make 1/2 the recipe (See Chocolate Ganche Cake post) and see if the ganache comes out to the consistency that you are hoping for. 
Be sure [...]

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Big Brother is Watching Your Cookie Dough

Last month I purchased a vat of Nestle’s Chocolate Chip Cookie dough from Costco. 
Sometimes I want to make cookies for my students and I don’t always have time to make them from ’scratch.’ 
I heard your gasps of horror at the thought of me buying store bought cookie dough…..
When students ask me if I made them, [...]

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Chocolate Ganache Cake

Years ago, hubby and I drove up to Monterey and stayed at the Martine Inn in Pacific Grove. 
The inn is a charming bed and breakfast on the coast of California. 
Our room was wonderful, with a sitting room area that overlooked the ocean. 
Finally this was a trip where we could stop frequently, and did.  Unlike when we [...]

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“Mom when are you making that chicken again?”

 
I’ve been making this recipe for abut 15 years.  It is one of those where if the guys know what’s in it, there is a chorus of “I’m not eating THAT!”  But serve it up, tell them taste it and before you know it, the pan or crock pot has been licked clean.  Not really, [...]

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Appetizers

 
I promised earlier this week that I would share two quick appetizers with you for the big game on Sunday. 
These are ridiculously easy and fast.  If you have two crock pots, even better.  The ingredients are a bit unusual.  If you think that some of your crowd might be a bit squeamish…just tell them it [...]

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Superbowl Soup

 
At our house, the countdown has begun for the Super Bowl.  The guys are all excited.  They’ve been remembering their days playing high school football when I would call from the stands….”What inning are we in?” 
I have no idea which teams are playing, but I will be watching….. the commercials.  I have reserved my spot on the couch.  I [...]

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Infamous Fudge

     

     It must have been in the mid 1980’s when this famous fudge recipe was published in the local paper.  I remember wanting a new fudge recipe and since this was from my favorite candy store, I was excited to try it for the holidays. 
     This candy store is in the Western United States…as far [...]

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