The other day, my adult daughter called to ask me if I had the recipe grandpa used to may those oyster cracker things. My dad has been gone for 27 years so, this was really reaching back to a childhood memory. Something had made her think of them and she wanted me to make her some. Fortunately I knew exactly where to find the recipe — the Church Cookbook! This is a super easy snack… Read More
Happy Baking Accidents…Blueberry Coffee Cake Kind of Thing…
Or Things That Turned Out Better Than Expected… It was 16 below this morning and after reading a Facebook post of a friend who was making coffee cake, I WANTED some, but I was not willing to drag my sorry self out for any missing ingredients. People die in this weather! So the hunt began — digging through the cupboard, freezer and fridge! I found a can of Pillsbury Blueberry biscuits not yet out date (although that… Read More
Church Cookbook Classics: Gordon’s Poor Man’s Irish Cream
This is the first of my new Church Cookbook Classics series and with St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner I thought I’d start with one of my dad’s recipes in our church cookbook. I realize that not all church cookbooks include alcoholic beverages, but it’s a Catholic cookbook, and we subscribe to the “Jesus liked Parties” theory. We back this up with the Gospel of John and the Wedding at Cana where Jesus’s first… Read More
Not a Paid Activist, Just an Iowa Farm Girl
Dear Readers, Normally when I write about something other than food or farm weddings, it’s about something I have found amusing or curious. So this is your fair warning — I’m going to be serious. This Tuesday, I went to my first town hall –ever! I went to express my concerns to Iowa Senator Grassley about a number of things, but mostly about the dangers of repealing the ACA without an adequate and quick replacement…. Read More
Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar Chicken Salad Recipe
Hot Damn Sam!!! I lost weight this week and it feels great. Granted it was only a pound and that may not seem like much, but getting the first one is huge for me. I don’t have those water weight issues so when I lose a pound I know it’s real — it can change everything for me – having some success gives me lots of new energy to continue and do the next thing! Another… Read More
Week #1 Iowa Food & Family Project and Iowa 10-Week Wellness Challenge
Last Wednesday I received my emails to let me know we are kicking off first day of our Iowa Food Bloggers Challenge for the Iowa Food & Family Project. Let me say, this is not the first time at this rodeo! At 62, I have been up and down the scales like a concert pianist at piano practice. Yup, me and Oprah, we are joined at the hip — generous hips, I will say. … Read More
Cheats Puff Pastry Recipe from The Great British Baking Show
The Farm Girl Attempts Cheats Rough Puff Pastry Recipe from The Great British Baking Show and It Works! I don’t know about you, but I adore The Great British Baking Show. It is my favorite baking show of all time — the tent is gorgeous, the decor is totally charming, the contestants real and diverse, and the food looks to die for! Everyone is nice to each other and helpful, unlike some of the other… Read More
Decorating for a Winter Party for Under $5.00 per Table
Just like many of you, an extended family Christmas Party is part of our family traditions. This year the weather was on the evil side and instead of fighting it, we just decided to postpone it until after Christmas. I was kind of worried that all of the fun and festiveness would be missing or pretty droopy by the time January 7th rolled around, so I decided to redo my decorations in a Winter Land… Read More
Just a Few More Christmas Decorating Ideas
I doubt I am the only one that goes a little crazy decorating at Christmas. My basement storage room is mostly decorations for every holiday and season, but Christmas decorations occupy the most space. Although I do have some sentimental items that I used every year — I tend to mix it up on how I use them. I think I get this from my mom. She loved to change things up — and maybe… Read More
Mom’s Swedish Meatballs and a Party for 12
I grew up in the quintessential big farm family. As the first girl after eight boys, I kind of ruled the roost, at least for a short time, until a baby brother and twin sisters came along and spoiled that gig. Farm life needed all of those helping hands in those days because no one had huge tractors or gargantuan combines. We had little red Farmalls – As and Cs – to help do the… Read More
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