Unique Baskets and Gifts

My aunt was a wonderful cook and baker. I always told her she should open her own restaurant or bakery, she was that good. But she would always say she just preferred baking for family and friends and that she didn’t want the headache of dealing with her own business. Her cakes and pastries were always a big hit and I was so happy whenever she would ask me over to help her in the kitchen. Some of my favorite childhood memories were made in her kitchen. I would get to do the mixing and of course lick the bowls when we were through. This Paula Deen Signature Enamel on Steel Mixing Bowl Set reminds me so much of my aunt’s bowls. (more…)

You just can’t beat prices on turkey around the holidays. Each year I pick up two large ones the week before Thanksgiving and cook them for Turkey Day. Most of the first will be gone after Thanksgiving, but by roasting two, we always have plenty of leftovers. It’s a great way to stretch your budget and have some cash leftover to buy those Christmas presents. I turn the cooked turkey meat into all kinds of yummy dishes, including this Thanksgiving leftovers pot pie which is a family favorite.  Like most pot pies (and casseroles for that matter), it freezes really well. That makes it easy to make up a few of these. Enjoy one for dinner and pop the rest in the freezer. (more…)

It’s really hard to believe it’s November already. It seems like yesterday we were celebrating the long Labor Day weekend, yet here it is, Halloween has come and gone, we’ve changed our clocks and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Around our home, we tend to do a lot of baking at this time of year, from cakes and pies to cookies, muffins and loaf breads.  We have these great glazed mini loaf pans that we love to bake our favorite goodies in. They’re not only great for baking our favorite dessert breads like banana walnut or pumpkin spice, but we also use them for creating mini meals like lasagna and meatloaf. (more…)