Settling the Family Estate Without a Family Feud

“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein We grown children will not be able to control the exact experience we encounter when it comes to the passing of our parents. What we can control is how we handle it. My father and mother…

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Our Prayer Bowl

I have had a decorative glass bowl in our living room for a long time.  It has been an empty vessel for many of these years.  It was simply used to grace our home, adding some color to the room. I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but I do know why we began to…

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Blessing of a Kitchen

Writing always starts with a desire for knowledge about a subject, and then the need to share it with others. At least that is why I enjoy writing! I chuckle now when I think that my first idea for this blog was to write about the history of kitchens in America.  In my research, I…

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A Thyme of Thanksgiving

At this wonderful time of Thanksgiving, it’s good to check your pantry and make sure you have all the seasonings you need to spice up these special days together with family and friends. There are so many special herbs and spices that remind me of the Thanksgiving holiday. When I think of the cinnamon and…

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A New Kind of New Year’s Resolutions

How many years have we made our resolutions, well-meaning though they may be, only to break them, to forget them, to let them slip away from our minds, or just rebelliously change our minds, to change at all? This year I’ve got a great idea. Why don’t we try making some new kinds of resolutions…

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Ever Changing Ways

Have you thought about how much the ways we communicate have changed over the years? Take for example my husband’s birth in Louisiana, in 1952.  His parents living in Miami, would not choose to make a long distance call. Rather they would send a Western Union telegram to announce this event. I value this very…

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Heritage of a Recipe

Two of my favorite salad dressing recipes are Sheila’s Best Balsamic Dressing, and Bob’s Salad Dressing. I wondered about Sheila and Bob. Were they the ones who actually created the recipe, or were they the conduit of seeing that the recipe survived until I could discover it? Mike’s Grandmother Edy’s Chocolate Buttercrunch candy recipe, that…

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Smile, and Say “Cheesecake Flan”

The dessert recipes that I love the most have fewer ingredients, are simple in preparation, and have a wow factor that brings a smile to the table. This Cheesecake flan is one of those exceptional desserts that I believe will become a favorite, and bring a smile to your face. INGREDIENTS: 3/4 cup Sugar 1/4…

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Lessons I’ve Learned from My Daughters

Often times, as we raise our children, we ourselves go through growth. I certainly can attest to doing much growing up during those years of raising our two daughters. When I think of my life with my two, and with my husband, I know without a doubt that I have gained some very valuable schooling…

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Grandma’s Chocolate Buttercrunch

One of my husband, Mike’s, finest memories is spending Christmas at his Grandparents home in Miami. Everything was idyllic there. Mike fondly remembers the wonderful aromas coming from Grandma Edy’s kitchen, the anticipation of gift giving, and all the love. This grandma has carried on one of Edy’s delicious traditions, her famous Chocolate Buttercrunch. Ingredients: 1…

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