Depression Cake

February 11, 2011

Trapped in the house, unable to navigate the icy roads, my mood turned gloomy. I needed a “chocolate fix” … and I needed it right away! Rummaging through the pantry, I was delighted to find a chocolate brownie mix. But, when I read the ingredients, I screamed, “Aaargh!” That meant, “Dadgum it! I don’t have [...]

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Soup’s On

January 15, 2011

It’s still “soup weather,” despite the fact that our Texas temperatures seem almost balmy compared to the rest of the country. I decided yesterday was an excellent day to make a potato/sausage soup. Online, I found a recipe that is supposed to mimic Olive Garden’s Toscana Soup. As usual, I read the recipe … and [...]

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Not So Yucky Yukon Golds

September 6, 2010

I hoped that the farmer’s sign was not a commentary on the quality of his produce. At the Dallas Farmer’s Market, I spied these Yukon Gold potatoes and lusted for them, despite the label proclaiming them “Yuckon” Gold. I figured that farmer was busy growing food and didn’t have time to spell. I didn’t care, [...]

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Roughing It

August 25, 2010

With my kitchen out of commission this past week, I’ve felt as if I were on a camping trip without benefit of Nature’s beauty. My Daddy would say I was “roughing it,” but I realize it’s not so bad. I could have to bring my water in buckets from the river, but instead I can [...]

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Mocha Mud — A Drink That Is Child’s Play

July 16, 2010

We all have an “inner child” who speaks to us occasionally. My inner child, whose name is “Muse,” won’t shut up. She can be alternately willful, petulant, charming, funny, humorous, or acerbic. I can often pacify her with coffee, chocolate, or bacon … or by playing dress up and letting her be a pirate. Without [...]

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Cookies Enabled

July 8, 2010

I recently had an uncontrollable desire for cookies. Not the ones on the computer; I needed a batch of homemade treats! This surprised me, because ordinarily my food cravings run to things like chocolate, or bacon … or chocolate covered bacon. However, cookies it had to be, and I required Snickerdoodles! Do you know those [...]

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Paella — Shaken, Not Stirred

May 13, 2010

I was so plumb tickled by my cooking abilities last night that I bragged about it on Facebook. I posted a picture of a Spanish style paella that I whipped up. Paella is a bit like a rice casserole cooked on the stove top, instead of the oven. Saffron is used to make the rice [...]

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Praise God And Pass The Pimiento Cheese

May 10, 2010

A favorite snack when I was growing up was pimiento cheese spread on saltine crackers. Call me plebeian if you want to, but I think it’s tasty, and have always kept a plastic tub of pimiento cheese spread in my refrigerator. I can eat the whole tub in one sitting. And, I have the waistline [...]

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Devilishly Delicious Eggs

February 24, 2010

What did an egg ever do to deserve “purgatory?” It never even had the chance to hatch into a chicken to fowl foul the barnyard! I saw a recipe called “Eggs in Purgatory” and had to investigate. I’m sure there is some kind of metaphor in the name, but I didn’t pay attention in Sunday [...]

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Mahalo for Sweet Hawaiian Mini Burgers

June 10, 2009

It should have been simple, I mean I picked the least demanding of the five recipes offered to me to cook for the Texas Beef Council as part of their Grilling Experience. Y’all know I like easy, but most of the recipes sounded a bit frou frou for this Texas gal. However, they might be [...]

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Resurrected Rye

April 9, 2009

My name is Shelly, and I am a grateful, recovering Culinary Snob. The squirrel isn’t too happy about my recovery, though. That’s because it means that he isn’t going to get that hunk of rye bread that got “burned” in the freezer! “Culinary snob … what in thunder?” you ask. Well, ordinarily I would chunk [...]

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Stuff It

January 29, 2009

When my Daddy cooked, you never quite knew what you were going to get at the end of his labors. I am my father’s daughter in that regard. Recipes are not to be followed, they are merely suggestions. My Daddy was the one who cooked the “dressing,” or “stuffing,” at our house. When Daddy was [...]

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Seven Meals From One Bird

January 5, 2009

This chicken did not die in vain. Its delightful carcass will sustain Mr. Tucker and I through seven meals. “The heck,” you say. It’s true! There are two tricks to stretching this into many meals: Don’t put it all on the table, or you will just keep eating! Divide the meat immediately. And, after you [...]

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Pasta Salad from Leftovers

December 28, 2008

Leftovers! That’s what I’ve got. I had my family come to visit (no I durn sure didn’t put turkey on the table) and they are picky eaters. I had vegetarian beans, French bread (so I didn’t have to juggle cooking cornbread with all the other baked goods), a fruit platter, and a baked potato bar [...]

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Only The Good Friday: Mmm MMM Good Tomato Soup

December 19, 2008

For my 10th Only The Good Friday, I thought I’d share a tomato soup recipe that’s almost as fast as microwaving a can of soup. Especially because when you put that can in the microwave, it explodes and then you have to clean it up! At least, that’s what happened when I tried it. This [...]

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Mamaw Didn’t Make Bread Pudding With A Hacksaw

August 26, 2008

I forgot my fancy bread! It sat on the cabinet and petrified. Dang! It’s another one of those “don’t you just hate it when” moments. I go to the grocery store with a list (just like Susie J tells me to do), but when I get near the bread, the aroma overwhelms me and I [...]

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Caramelized Mushrooms

August 12, 2008

Oh. My. Thunder! I love mushrooms! Tonight, I cooked some our favorite way and let them cool, then added them to a salad (you don’t even need dressing). Usually, I serve them as a side dish. Just thought I’d share it with you. Yumm! So very simple, and ready in less than 10 minutes. In [...]

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Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.

July 11, 2008

A trip to Dan’s Meat Market, here in Denton, was required today. That’s the best place in town to get some Texas beef! I needed some. You see, I was just sitting here checking my e-mail when out of the clear blue sky (of Chicago) an e-mail came to me. A fella invited me to [...]

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Foiled Again

April 25, 2008

My daddy loved to cook, whether we were on a camping trip or at home. My momma was always delighted that he did, because she wasn’t what you would call a “domestic goddess.” Not by a long shot. She never learned to cook until after she married, and (as much as I loved my momma) [...]

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The Easiest Hors d’oeuvres I Know

March 21, 2008

When we get invited to a party, I’m always stumped about what to bring. I’m usually asked to bring “some little snack,” I guess because people don’t trust what I might cook. Not all of our friends appreciate down home cooking. My repertoire of Hors d’oeuvres recipes is limited, and most of them involve intensive [...]

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