
Tuscan Style Corn Sauté
I made a side dish last night that was rather good, IMO, but also super easy and quite simple. Plain corn can be rather boring. Corn needs additions to make a good side dish, and I think this recipe did that. This is for two servings, so adjust as needed. Ingredients: • 5 oz. corn kernels • 2 oz. fresh baby spinach, rinsed and patted … Continue reading Tuscan Style Corn Sauté
Wanda’s Carrot Cake
I use this blog, in part, to document cherished family recipes. Wanda was my childhood best friend’s mom and the woman who taught me a lot about cooking. Here is one of her best recipes: a carrot cake chockfull of many spices, pineapple, coconut and nuts — and carrots too! I had lost the recipe and her family did not have a copy either. My … Continue reading Wanda’s Carrot Cake
First Solo International Trip
Why would a 66-year-old overweight, half-deaf woman with a bad knee want to travel abroad all by herself, especially when Covid was resurfacing? Because it is now or never. With many upheavals this past year, including losing people I love, and my own personal health scare that reminded me of my mortality, I knew I had to do this sooner than later. No more procrastinating … Continue reading First Solo International Trip
One Bucket List Item Complete: Van Morrison Live
Like many people in my age group, I’ve been a fan of Van Morrison’s music for more than 40-plus years now. Beyond the hits everyone knows (if you’ve ever been to a wedding, you know “Brown Eyed Girl”), I own many of his albums from throughout the decades and have loved most of his music, especially some of the deeper tracks. Seeing him perform in … Continue reading One Bucket List Item Complete: Van Morrison Live
A Most Satisfying Vegetarian Sandwich
I’m not a vegetarian, but I’m trying really hard to eat less meat. I got on board with Meatless Mondays, and have expanded that to a few other days of the week. The older I get, the more I see that meat upsets my digestive system, so I’m trying to focus on more plant-based meals. But I love me some bacon. And a good cheeseburger … Continue reading A Most Satisfying Vegetarian Sandwich
Reggie’s Sour Cream Fudge
For the holidays, Reggie would make this sour cream fudge, which we all loved. Personally, I’m not a chocoholic (not that I dislike chocolate, but I don’t crave it). So I really appreciated this creamy fudge during the holidays. Another recipe to add from our family/friend archives. I’ve added some of Wanda Webb’s delicious recipes; she was my childhood best friend’s mom, and was an … Continue reading Reggie’s Sour Cream Fudge

Wanda’s Oatmeal Cookies
I’ve written before about how Wanda Webb was the cooking guru of our childhood. She was my childhood best friend’s mom, and she was an amazing cook. Sadly, my own mom wasn’t great in the kitchen, so I learned more from Wanda during my formative years than anyone else. I’ve had requests for some of her recipes that have been lost even to her own … Continue reading Wanda’s Oatmeal Cookies

Travel
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” — Anthony Bourdain Continue reading Travel

Patience, Taught by a Little One
Photographing children is rewarding but also very challenging. I have one adorable grandniece whom I love with all my heart, but trying to get her annual birthday portrait on her third birthday gave me more lessons in patience. She’s shy (I get that, so was I — and still am — and I have total empathy with her). What she has taught me is that … Continue reading Patience, Taught by a Little One
I Have Become Martin Crane
Last time we needed to buy a new chair for the house, the husband and I had a huge debate. He wanted a recliner. I thought recliners were so “old” and unfashionable. But I pick my battles, and caved for him. We came home with a recliner. After we inherited Pedro, our min-pin/mixed-with-eight-breeds dog, I discovered how much I loved having a “velcro dog” — … Continue reading I Have Become Martin Crane