"On the first morning, when one of the chefs asked me why I took the class, I told him that my enthusiasm for cooking had outpaced my technical skills." - Shauna Niequist, Bread & Wine: a love letter to life around the table. I have felt this same dilemma. My passion for cooking far surpassing my … Continue reading WHEN PASSION FOR COOKING SURPASSES ABILITY
Preheat Oven to 325 F. Grease 10 inch tube pan; set aside. In a large bowl, beat 1 1/2 C granulated sugar, 1 C vegetable oil, 2 tsp vanilla, and 2 eggs until well blended. Stir in 2 C chopped peeled tart apples. In another bowl, stir together 3 C flour, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, and 1 C chopped walnuts. Add apple mixture to dry ingredients. Stir in just until moistened. … Continue reading RACHEL’S APPLE WALNUT CAKE
I love to cook. I love to love people with food. And I love to be relaxed when I sit at my table to share life with the people who have gathered there. Some times it is impossible to experience all of those loves, simultaneously, with from-scratch cooking. This is why I am a HUGE … Continue reading FOR THE FANS OF SEMI-HOMEMADE
"Homemaker". For 20 years this is what I wrote in the box for occupation. As a stay at home parent I spent my younger years advocating that I too was a working mom. But as I age and grow - and my perspectives enlarge - I realize how one sided my soap box issues have … Continue reading WE ARE ALL HOMEMAKERS
I found this recipe on Smitten Kitchen - one of my favorite cooking sites - and prepared it recently for my people. I altered the original recipe a bit to fit my preferences - I added more cheese, more lime, and a dash of cayenne pepper for more heat. And I altered it to fit my patience - I … Continue reading CHILE-LIME MELON SALAD
Hospitality and entertaining are not the same thing. "We invite people into our home to create moments that matter, not moments that impress." This is one of my mantras. I keep saying it because I believe that it's true. And it's what I practice. On Easter Sunday we invited our community to join us for … Continue reading CLEANING REALLY IS OPTIONAL
Chicken Curry is one of my favorite restaurant meals. I've made several versions of this rich, savory dish at home, and this is the easiest Chicken Curry recipe that I have prepared, and so it's pretty great that it is also the most flavorful. The key to recreating the authentic flavor of this restaurant dish … Continue reading CHICKEN CURRY
