The Blog

Recently, I took the trip of a lifetime: a Holy Land pilgrimage, along with a small group from my local church. Words cannot describe the feeling of walking in the footsteps of Jesus, whether we were at the Sea of Galilee, the Shepherd’s Fields in Bethlehem, the Garden of Gethsemane, or the streets of Old Jerusalem. The Middle Eastern cuisine …

This post isn’t as much a recipe as a process. The beauty of soup is that it can be made from whatever you have on hand. That’s what I did a month ago, when I had friends over for a holiday gathering. I was running behind and threw together a chicken veggie soup in about 15 minutes. I had so …

“Biscotti” means “twice-baked” in Italian, and these delightful, crispy cookies are meant to be enjoyed by dipping them in your favorite beverage. Whether you choose hot cocoa, coffee, tea, or vin santo as the Italians do, this treat is the perfect way to take a peaceful pause. These are not hard to make but do take a little time. But …

Usually, people say “mashed potatoes and gravy,” but in this case, gravy is the star. This is nothing like your powder packet/open a jar variety of gravy, but the good kind—the kind Grandma used to make. And the kind YOU can make, after this short lesson. If you already know how to make delicious gravy from scratch, yeah! But many …

Never heard of a Brown Betty? I had over the years, but honestly had never eaten or made one. Now I know that a Brown Betty is very similar to a fruit crisp, but without an oat-based topping. Instead, you make a buttery/sugary/spicy crumb mixture, either using flour or breadcrumbs, and layer it throughout your cut fruit. This one, a …

It’s Fall, y’all! Of course, here in the Mountain South, the beginning of fall feels a lot like the end of summer. We even have False Fall, where Mother Nature teases us with crisp days that start with a slight nip in the air, only to return to hot and humid once we’ve put on our first sweaters. As I …

When your schedule gets super busy, it’s great to have a super easy recipe that works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here’s one for the easiest biscuits to make, along with several fun variations. Super Easy Drop Biscuits Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. In a bowl, use a large spoon …

Anytime I travel, I’m always on the lookout for new flavors and unique desserts to recreate back home. My recent trip to South Africa was no exception. Along with a fabulous team, mostly from my local church, we had the honor of walking alongside those who are serving their needy communities in life-changing ways. More about that later. But first, …

Any scone recipe will work to capture the flavors of our late spring strawberry season, but I chose the simplest one. Using only a few ingredients and easy mixing, you can be in and out of the kitchen in no time. This recipe is based on one from The Joy of Cooking and makes up to 12 scones, depending on …

The month of May is right around the corner, signalling the season of celebrations: Mother’s Day, graduations, Memorial Day, family reunions, and all the summertime fun ahead. What better dessert to take to all those festive gatherings than a delicious and versatile pound cake? Pound cake travels well, stays moist for days, feeds a crowd, and the base recipe can …