Hello everybody!!
I'm a writer of romance, mystery, and historical novels but I LOVE to cook.
I cook everything. Sweets, breads, casseroles, easy dishes, jams, all day cooking dishes, crock pot recipes, soups, pizza, pasta... you name it, I've probably made it!
I have six kids (four teens!!) and I know the meaning of fast and easy. Or fast and healthy, or slow and healthy, or fast and fatty. All of those.
I like to celebrate ALLLLL the holidays. All the ones you know and probably a few you've never heard of.
This isn't a 'quick cooking site' because sometimes you just have to simmer a sauce on the stove for a few hours.
We're sort of "accidental vegans" in the summertime.
Fresh ingredients are always best and we're so lucky to live in a farming community where we can access all kinds of produce.
Of course, I'm not all about the meat, but I can make a mean pot roast.
I try to avoid preservatives, I know how to can, and we try to grow a lot of food to store up for winter. Some years, that just means 4,988 lbs of tomatoes but we try.
We try to reduce, reuse and recycle. Lots of reusing.
We're conscious of our carbon footprint and believe we've got to take care of this planet. Barter and trade is my jam, baby!
We're lucky to live in a rural, fertile valley. We got the goods, and most of our neighbors do, too.
But chocolate is my middle name, I also love the taste of an ice cold Diet Coke a few times a year and won't turn down a doughnut if you put it in front of me. (Honestly, I won't turn down much of anything if it shows up on a plate in front of me. I'm not picky like that. Some days, I just want to eat food that I don't have to cook, ya know?)
I'd love to call this a fresh and healthy food site, but the truth is that I'm like Persephone; healthy half the year and the rest of the time, I'm down in the Underworld clutching a package of Milanos to my chest as I binge watch some BBC detective show.
We make all sorts of weird dishes, like lilac jelly. We'll try anything once!
In the summer I lean towards all fresh, all the time.
When the weather turns, my inner squirrel comes to the forefront and I try to eat my weight in sweet breads and stews.
Winter is all about cookies and casseroles.
And cakes.
Spring hits and I'm realizing my pants don't fit, so I'm back to healthy, lean eating.
So, whatever you're looking for, there's a good chance you'll find it here!
I was part of a recipe blog for five years (until I wandered to the Yucatan for an expended period) and these posts are mostly from my time there but I'll be adding new posts all the time. If you have any questions or recommendations, drop me a line and I'll see what I have. Thanks for joining me and enjoy!
