Curry and Garlic Candied Pecans

A metal bowl filled with nuts and a red ribbon.

Ingredients 1 lb pecans 1 egg white ¾ c sugar 1 tsp curry powder 1 ½  tsp garlic salt 1 ½ tsp kosher salt   tsp cayenne pepper Directions Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Spread pecans on the cookie sheet and toast for 10 minutes.…

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Dark Chocolate and Cherry Fudge with Pistachios

A plate of chocolate fudge with nuts.

There is still time! In the next ten minutes you can craft a marvelous batch of homemade chocolates that say “I love you” better than any cards or flowers. This treat will absolutely not celebrate the commercialism that has become Valentine’s Day but instead your own creativity and the delightful idea of giving something you…

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Daryl’s Famous Mac n Cheese

Two bowls of macaroni and cheese on a wooden board.

Ingredients 2 ½ cups dry macaroni, cooked according to package directions ½ cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces 2 cans cheddar cheese soup ¾ cups milk 1 egg, beaten 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated (original recipe calls for mild – could do a mix) Optional – a few drops of hot sauce Directions…

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Delicious Baked Ham

A plate of food with some meat on it

Ingredients 4 to 6 lb bone in ham, labeled partially cooked, fully cooked, or ready to serve (my Mom calls these city hams) 1/2 c honey mustard or brown mustard 1 c light brown sugar 2 c crushed ginger snaps 1/4 c Jack Daniel’s in a spray bottle (I had an unused one from a set of…

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Desperation Dinner Sandwich

Bacon and raspberry french toast on a blue plate.

It’s that time of year when the garden needs all your time and so do many other things. Spring is busy and for a few weeks it seems like everything is in high gear. Somehow grocery shopping gets ignored but dinner time still comes. Wouldn’t it be easier to do a last-minute dive in the…

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Double Chocolate Cookies (The Best!)

Oatmeal cookies on teal plate outdoors.

There are a lot of ways to say, “I love you” but isn’t a homemade cookie really the best? The answer of course is yes and if you haven’t nailed your own perfect cookie recipe, I am happily going to share mine. This cookie is irresistible I don’t know anyone who doesn’t eat one and…

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Egg Salad Sandwiches

A sandwich cut in half on top of a plate.

Ingredients 5 or 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cooled (makes 4 sandwiches) 1 stalk celery, minced 3 Tbsp chopped green onion (about 2) 1 Tbsp sweet pickle, chopped, plus 1 tsp pickle juice 2 tsp chopped fresh dill (or ¼ tsp dried) Optional: 2 tsp chopped parsley Optional: 1 Tbsp capers ¼ cup mayonnaise ½…

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Eggplant Parmesan

Baked eggplant casserole with cheese and sauce.

It’s no secret that cold weather makes us all crave hearty dishes That frequently translates to an Italian menu with big bowls of pasta brimming with a luscious sauce. But next time you want Italian food, don’t forget how delicious a beautiful Eggplant Parmesan can be. The rich cheesy tomato sauce, the tender eggplant, and…

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Endive Salad

A salad with feta cheese and tomatoes on top of it.

Ingredients 2 Belgium endive 4 Tbsp apple, finely diced (about 1/4 of the apple) Blue Cheese Dressing Walnut brittle Blue Cheese Dressing 1/2 cup mayonnaise  1/4 cup sour cream 1 clove garlic, minced (use a garlic press if you have one)  1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt (or to…

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Fancy Party Pinwheels

Assortment of savory puff pastry bites.

Once when Richard was little and we were traveling we made an emergency stop at a restaurant in East Tennessee. The emergency was endless whining creating the real possibility that I might lose my mind. Clearly this stop was inspired by desperation rather than hunger. Several tables were occupied by parents with young children, but…

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