Serenity While I was on vacation last week, I didn’t have access to email or the Internet. I could have checked it when we went into town, but I chose not to. I have to say that I didn’t really miss it. The Internet is very addicting and I […]

  Sunset on Eagle Lake We decided to end our summer by (finally) going on a vacation. My aunt and uncle own a cabin on Eagle Lake “up north” here in Minnesota. My dad’s family has been vacationing on the same lake since my dad was a kid. Over 50 […]

  I had the day off yesterday and wanted to bake something. I’ve been experimenting with so many different recipes the past couple of years (cakes, muffins, cupcakes, breads, bars, etc.), but today I wanted to go back to the basics. Chocolate chip cookies. Oh, how I love chocolate chip cookies. It […]

  I’ve talked about quinoa before and what a wonderful grain it is. It has fiber and protein, plus it’s gluten-free. I’ve used pasta made from quinoa before and was pleasantly surprised. It pretty much tastes like regular wheat pasta, but it is a little firmer in texture. I have […]

  Gardener I am not, but lover of things gardened I am. I have never had a green thumb. My mom always had a garden before she was confined to a wheelchair. She had a flower bed in the front yard and a vegetable garden in the back yard. I […]

 I’ve been getting a little behind on my blogging lately. Sometimes I reach a point where I have just had enough of the internet and being connected all the time. I have to take a break. I get tired of being up to date on all the top news on […]

 One of the facts of life is making mistakes. Let me tell you, I make plenty of mistakes. Over the years I’ve learned how valuable mistakes are. They are the best way to learn. Well, this weekend I learned a lot! Not everything I make comes out perfect, Chocolate Chip […]

 I’ll admit it, I did really horrible last month avoiding sugar. I jumped off the no-sugar bandwagon and hopped on the train to Cupcakeville! First, there was my dad’s birthday (cupcakes). Then there was our 12 year anniversary (cupcakes). Then I had an amazing idea for a recipe for banana bread. […]

 Let’s just go right into the July Cocktail of the Month, shall we? OK. I’m already late with this one because this drink is perfect for the 4th of July. It’s very patriotic and nostalgic. It looks and tastes just like the popsicle from our childhoods! I found it on […]

  In honor of the new title of my blog, I’ve decided to feature a different cocktail each month! This month’s is a Watermelon Martini. Last weekend I hosted a small dinner party for my sister’s family and a friend. I thought watermelon would be a great easy side dish. […]

  So, I was doing pretty well with my “no-sugar” thing. I went a whole month without baking any sweets. Then we went to visit my in-laws and somehow came home with a huge bag of rhubarb. I don’t know why, but these things just tend to happen when visiting […]