Nana's Carrot Cake

I love cake.  Who doesn't?  However, I don't make cake all that often, mainly because my husband is very particular about desserts.  There are only a couple of desserts that he likes to eat, and goodness knows I don't need a whole cake staring at me after I bake it, begging me to eat it.  Normally, when I get a hankering for cake, I just go to the store and buy a slice.  And it makes me sad.  So, since today is my sister's birthday (happy birthday, Laura!), I'm going to make THE birthday cake that my family uses.

Fall apart short ribs

One of my favorite things to do when I go to the grocery store, is to look for meats that have been marked down for a quick sale.  We are a one income household, so I try to do whatever I can to keep the grocery budget well in check, and as we all know, meat can be painfully expensive.

Chocolate chip oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwiches

Hello, everyone!  With the first official day of summer coming up on Saturday, I figured I would make up one of my favorite summer treats!  Ice cream sandwiches are always great, but ice cream sandwiches made out of homemade cookies really make it a special treat, and no one will know how simple it is to whip up!  You can use whatever kind of cookie you like, but I always like to use chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.  I've been using this recipe for many, many years.  In fact, it was one of my first recipes that I ever made.  It's that easy! 

Homemade English Muffin egg sandwiches

Hello everyone!  Or, should I say, good morning, everyone!  Who here has time, every morning, to make a healthy breakfast for our families?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?  No, most of us just end up grabbing a fast food breakfast on our way to school or work and end up feeling a little guilty the rest of the day.
What would you say, if I could tell you how easy it is to make those English muffin sandwiches not only at home, but you can make a weeks worth in a matter of an hour or so, and freeze it, so you can grab and go in the mornings!  Not only will this save you calories, but it will save you lots of money, too, because these are so affordable!  So, boys and girls, without further ado, lets get started with breakfast!

Easy cheese danishes!

Hello everyone!  Let me just start off by admitting my deep love of puff pastry.  I consider it one of the best hidden gems in a grocery store.  It is the easiest thing to use, and the results are always amazing and impressive.  Today I had a hankering for some cheese danishes, and these are so easy to make, it’s almost embarrassing.  Nowadays, I usually make it for breakfast the morning of Christmas Eve, although every time I make it, I vow to make it more often! 

Chicken stock

Hello, everyone!  As you may recall, I (somewhat) recently made a roasted chicken for supper, and one of my favorite things to do after I cook a whole chicken, is make chicken stock.  I use chicken stock in ALL kinds of recipes, and if I'm constantly having to buy it, that gets expensive!!  I can buy a box for about $5, and a box may last a day or two in my house.  Since I'm already buying a whole chicken for about $8, why not make a supper (and use leftovers for lunch) AND make a fair amount of chicken stock for the freezer??  Yes, I am cheap, but this just plain makes sense.

Chocolate coconut bites

Hello, everyone!  Since I'm in a sweet mood today, I figured I would make one of my favorite candies!  Chocolate coconut bites!  I prefer homemade candies...I know what's in it, and how much of everything is going in (not to mention the quality of the ingredients...not that I use super high end ingredients, but I have know what the quality is!  Ha ha!)
These are so easy, and pretty affordable, you'll not want to buy store bought again, I promise.

Roasted chicken!

Roasted chicken is far and away one of my favorite suppers to make.  Throw in some potatoes to cook in the juices of the chicken while it roasts, well...I can’t think of anyone turning their noses up at that.  

People get somewhat intimidated by having to roast a whole chicken, and I can understand that.  If you get beef that’s a little underdone, that’s okay; even the thought of pork temperatures have changed over the last few years.  But, serve undercooked chicken, and you have a problem.  And quite possibly a hospital bill.