Posts in Summer
Blueberry Waterfall Birthday Cake

It wasn't my idea to run 14 miles through the woods scaling ridges and fording slippery rocked streams to celebrate our birthdays. We can blame that one on Elizabeth. Luckily I am a glutton for punishment and I can't think of a better way to spend a day. 

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Free Cookies

I have a lot of experience making cookies, but not so much experience with political activism. My safe estimate is over 100, 000 cookies baked, and probably 30ish rallies and protests.

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Bloody Mary Mixer or Virgin Mary

I was invited to be on a neighborhood garden tour one summer. I had declined the invitation for a few summers in a row, because my garden is often more about production than beauty. But this particular summer I decided to take on the challenge.

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Fried Zucchini Pickles

County Fairs are a big deal in our neck of the woods. Folks bring out their biggest pumpkins and prettiest pigs to show off, pies are tasted and judged, and handmade patchwork quilts are on display. Fair food is almost always fried. These pickles remind me of fair food, and the best part is they are delicious even if you don’t want to fry them. 

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Disappearing Deviled Eggs Dilemma

I have done an informal survey asking folks what disappears first off the buffet table. It is always the deviled eggs. Spanakopita triangles come in close second. It seems the most labor intensive, time consuming dishes disappear the fastest. 

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Toaster Oven Brown Betty

These days most folks have air conditioning in the south, and don’t think twice about turning on the oven in the middle of a heat wave. Well I am one of the hold-outs. We don’t have air conditioning and so I have come up with creative ways to bake without heating up the whole darn house!  Of course you can make this in a regular oven, but if you want to save energy find a pan that fits in your toaster oven and give it a try.

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Dad's Cheesecake

I grew up going to parties and potlucks, and my dad would often bring this incredibly good cheesecake. Everyone always oohed and aahed over how good it was and asked for the recipe. Then he would laboriously write the recipe on an index card for them. He kept it pretty simple and straightforward with this classic sour cream topping.

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