My husband and I recently attended a wedding on the coast of North Carolina. While we were there, we took the time to visit the Elizabethan Gardens at Manteo on Roanoke Island. Seeing statues that depict characters from real life is so inspiring. For another post on this type of experience, be sure to check…
I love vegetable gardening. There is nothing quite like harvesting and cooking vegetables that you have grown. If you like to grow vegetables but are a beginner, be sure to ready my post about how to troubleshoot vegetable garden problems as well as some solutions. It is helpful in learning what to do about problems…
Anyone who has priced hardscaping lately knows how expensive it can be, particularly if you have large areas to cover. I am redoing my whole area that I used last year for veggies. Long story short, the squirrels were a nightmare for me and I don’t plan to go through that experience a second time. …
I know. Everyone says they have the perfect BBQ chicken recipe. But when you try it out , you often end up with a dry piece of chicken that tastes pretty good but is not in the slightest bit tender. I have tried putting the chicken on the grill for a long time, for a…
This DIY Bean Teepee is a fun vegetable garden hack, and gives great support to climbing beans. This year, I changed my vegetable garden into a combined perennial/vegetable border. It’s a long story but basically, the squirrels got the better of my veggies last year and I swore never again. Since I will have flowers…
One of my favorite things to do on Sunday morning is to meet friends for breakfast or brunch and catch up on the week. Normally, we go out to a variety of restaurants and alternate each week between them. This week, I wanted to have our friends over to our house for breakfast. I’ve been…
This smoky dry rub is a staple in our house. We use it at least once a week. It’s great on steaks or any hearty meat. I love to BBQ. Well, truth be told, I love it when my husband barbeques. I spend so much time cooking and perfecting recipes that it is nice to…
We love chili at our house. It does not matter if it is warm or cold outside, a big helping bowl of this hearty white bean chili always hits the spot. It is my latest addition to my crock pot recipes collection and my family just loved it. This chili recipe can be made with…
This recipe for Slow Cooker Braised Chicken and Noodles with Wine and Tomatoes is full of flavor. I used boneless skinless chicken thighs because they give me the most tender results. There is nothing like crock pot recipes to make meal prep easy. Crock pot meals are a big help to any busy cook. But wait…
My husband is English and loves a traditional Shepherd’s pie. This recipe for cheeseburger pie is a take on that dish made into an American version. The dish is simple to do. I make it the way I make shepherd’s pie…a bit of this and a bit of that. Whatever is in the fridge or…
What is better than a perennial garden bed and a vegetable garden bed? Why, a garden bed that combines them both together. And take it a step further and add herbs to the mix. You will end up with one fantastic garden that meets all your needs. And that is just what the Garden Charmers,…
This year has been a series of setbacks in my garden. It is almost the end of May and I’m way behind, but finally have some progress to show for all my work. Things that set me back were: My father’s death in February resulted in two trips to Maine. A very long winter and…
Looking for an easy recipe for hash browns to cook for a Sunday Brunch? These delicious hash brown potatoes are so simple to make and the fresh herbs make them taste just great. Sunday morning is a special time for us at our house. We normally go out to eat for breakfast as a treat…
Bakery style muffins are certainly not designed for those on a diet. Those babies are enormous. This recipe for jumbo chocolate muffins gives you the indulgence of those big muffins without the price tag that goes along with them. They make a great breakfast on the go. The jumbo chocolate chip muffins are easy to…
This strawberry shortcake is one that my mother made each summer when the fresh strawberries started appearing in the supermarkets. It is our family’s most favorite summer time dessert and is lovingly called “Grammy’s Shortcake” by all her grandchildren. Fresh strawberries make such a great addition to desserts. They are fresh and naturally low in…
Blue is such a wonderful color. It is not often found in flowers, although there are some. Many of the flowers that are called blue have more of a purple tinge to them. But you can add blue to your garden with carefully chosen garden accents, seating and other items. If you like blue in…
It is that time of the year again – barbecue grilling season! Spring has (finally) sprung and if you go for a walk in the evening, most likely, you well be surrounded by the smell of barbecues making their evening meals. We love to barbecue at our house. We do it all year long. (every…
Remember the old Mounds saying: Sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don’t? Well, sometimes I feel like home made cooking and sometimes I don’t. On those days I will make recipes by the semi home made cooking method. (as in taking short cuts ’cause I am pressed for time.) This recipe for…
I love recipes that make use of overripe produce that might otherwise be destined for the garbage bin. This sour cream Banana bread is a great recipe for the frugal cooks out there. It makes a great snack and easy breakfast on the go. Sour Cream Banana Bread This banana bread starts as a thick,…
This savory slow cooker pot roast has a flavor that cannot be beat. The meat cooks beautifully, and ends up being fork tender and full of flavor. There is nothing quite like crock pot recipes for easy cooking and superb flavor. Plus the house smells great while the meal is cooking. Crock pot cooking…
I’m in the mood for Mexican tonight. Well, I am in the mood for Mexican every night, but tonight I am doing something about the yen. Mexican food is so rich and delicious. I love cooking it because I can adjust the spice exactly the way I want it, instead of letting a cook in…
Normally, when I make spaghetti recipes, I just make a meat based marinara sauce with freshly roasted tomatoes. It is fairly easy to make and I don’t need to spend a lot of time on it but it tastes great. But there are times when I feel like going to the effort of making large…
This project for making watermelon play dough is super easy to do. The project takes less than ten minutes to make and the end result smells great. Watermelon season is here and both adults and many kids love to grow them. (and eat them too!) Today we’ll be making red, green, white and black play…
I love easy chicken meals. It seems that we eat chicken several times a week and I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to prepare it that are fast and easy. This recipe for chicken with a tomato avocado layer on top and melted cheese is super easy and tastes delicious. The…
Here is another of my short cut recipes. (as in full of flavor but short on time) This time I am using a great time saver from A Taste of Thai – their peanut sauce mix. This mix makes great tasting stir fries, is super on baked chicken and can be used in a host…
The Bantam weight chicken salad is a copycat recipe from one of my daughter’s and my favorite cafes. It is very tasty with grilled chicken and veggies on fresh greens with most of the veggies from my garden. Add some home made croutons and you have a very satisfying meal. Keep reading to find out…