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Crazy Good Chocolate Cake
Mom's famous chocolate cake recipe. With a light, tender, crumb and rich chocolate flavor, it is the BEST chocolate cake out there. It's great with a variety of frostings and toppings, whether as a simple sheet cake, fan-favorite cupcakes, or elegant layer cake.
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Soft, Thick Gingerbread Men
These gingerbread cookies are plush and perfectly spiced. You can make any shapes, but I'm in love with these cute little men. I don't bother with decorating most of the time (other than a dusting of sugar) because these guys are delectable as-is.Â
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Cheddar Bacon Cheese Ball
This nutty, flavorful cheese ball is a longtime hit. It's the perfect appetizer or snack and goes well with both crackers and veggies.
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Dad’s Toffee
It's not Christmas without Dad's crunchy, nutty, adventurous toffee.
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Frozen Fresh Peach (or Apple) Pies
Does dessert get any better than tender peach pie with ice cream? I have a peach obsession, and my only complaint about the fruit is that it’s in season for such a short time during the year. September is my time for all things peach–fresh on cereal, ice cream, or yogurt; baked into crisps and cobblers; and jammed and jarred for the rest of the year. While I enjoy canned peaches, they don’t hold a candle to fresh peach desserts, which is why this pie recipe is so incredible. By freezing the fresh peach pie filling, you can preserve that just-picked flavor to enjoy months later. (Or next week, if…
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Zucchini Relish
If you’re looking for something to do with all that zucchini, this sweet and tangy condiment is the answer! Delicious on hot dogs, sausage, ham sandwiches, burgers, etc, zucchini relish adds depth and sweetness to any savory sandwich, and pairs well with fish (in tartar sauce or alone), meatloaf, or eggs. The great thing about this relish is that you can preserve a bunch of summer zucchini to enjoy throughout the year, and it tastes just as delicious as any relish made from cucumbers. (Maybe better?) This recipe comes from my grandma, Ann Williams Stephens, and is a family classic. She has been making this relish for decades, and pulls…
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Grandpa’s Tomato Salad
This salad tastes like summer. Juicy, sweet, tangy, savory, spicy, creamy, tomatoey summer. My Dad would always make it with garden-fresh tomatoes, and everyone wanted in on that flavor party. In fact, I always thought my Dad invented the recipe, until I later learned that it was my Grandpa Bullough who deserved some of the the credit for passing this food tradition along. Grandpa was known for his love of mayonnaise, and drenching everything in it was his idea of a great no-cook meal. In this case, a little mayo, ranch dressing, and parmesan cheese go a long way in making this a standout salad. It’s great as a lunch,…
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Cherry Cobbler
Ah, Summer! Filled with long sunny days, loads of fresh fruit and veggies, and fun family traditions. The variety of juicy summer fruit is one of the best perks of the season, and for me, no summer is complete without enjoying a fruit cobbler at least once or twice. I love the elegant simplicity of cobbler; it’s easy to adapt to your preferences and available ingredients. In this case, sweet juicy cherries are baked with a buttery shortbread topping; a timeless combination. It’s a marriage of flavors that can outshine just about any other dessert–especially when served warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting alongside. Like pie–only easier,…
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Peanut Butter Yuckies
Don’t let the name fool you. My Dad came up with the “Yuckies” part when my siblings and I were small to try and trick us into letting him eat the whole batch by himself. It never worked, we devoured them, right down to the last crumb. As the Bard wrote: “A peanut butter cornflake treat by any other name would taste as sweet!” Peanut Butter “Yuckies” are a classic no-bake treat that every peanut butter lover will go crazy over. They’re quick and easy to throw together (no oven needed!), and perfect for potlucks, picnics, road trips, game-time snacks, or whenever the craving strikes! Which might happen often, just…
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Baked Oatmeal
I got my love of oatmeal from my mom. Growing up, she would cook a big pot of oatmeal for breakfast, then ladle us generous bowlfuls of it. I remember leaning over my bowl and inhaling the warm fragrance of oats, steaming hot and creamy, studded with raisins and flecks of cinnamon, and topped with a drizzle of honey and a splash of milk. To this day, whenever I make a bowl of oatmeal with honey on top, it takes me back to my early childhood. It was a go-to breakfast for us, and it’s one of those classics that never gets old. That said, one of the best things…
