The Blog

The summer season is cranking up and along with it come plenty of opportunities to gather with family and friends over a festive meal. The next time you need to bring a dish to a potluck or family reunion, here’s a few unique dishes that will have others asking you for the recipe. These two oldies but goodies come out … Read More

We certainly love our strawberries here in East Tennessee and I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy these spring favorites. And there’s no better way to savor the seasonal flavor than with a scrumptious Strawberry Pavlova. This unique dessert, named after a famous Russian ballerina from the early 1900s, is often served at celebrations in Australia and New Zealand, … Read More

Just as I believe every person has a unique and valuable treasure to share with the world, so does each culture. One way a heritage can share its treasure with others is through its cuisine. I guess that’s one thing I love about food is that it gives us a way to enjoy diverse perspectives and experience new possibilities. Our … Read More

Get hoppin’ this holiday with these fun and easy Easter eggs and Bunny Buns. They’re the perfect for kids of all ages! (Thanks to my Leah for helping me with my segment!)   Tie-Dye Eggs Kids can get creative with this unique way to dye eggs using a paper towel sprayed with a water/vinegar solution and drops of food coloring. … Read More

I love lasagna for so many reasons. It’s delicious, of course: layers of pasta, filled with tasty sauce, rich cheese and seasoned meat…what’s not to love? I also love it because it’s not hard to make and is the perfect meal to give away when you want to bless someone with a homemade dinner. Lasagna is a convenient freezer meal … Read More

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day. The time of year when green food coloring shows up everywhere, whether in frosting, beer, or the Chicago River. I decided to look beyond the emerald overload and see if I could find some recipes that reflect the real Ireland, not a fantasy world of Lucky Charms and wee little leprechauns. I chose a few recipes … Read More

Whether you had a nana, mamaw, or a bubbie, dinner was always special at Grandma’s house. My Grandma Rigney, nicknamed Cricket, was an excellent cook in the Appalachian Mountains tradition. One of her specialties was Chicken and Dumplings. She never wrote down the recipe, but she let me watch her make it and she passed her secrets down to me. … Read More

Make your Valentine’s Day celebration even sweeter with these super cute and easy ideas sure to please the ones you love, both young and old. Valentine’s Day Cupcake Bouquet Roses are a Valentine’s Day tradition, but why not roses you can eat? Anyone can create a lovely edible bouquet for someone they love, or as the perfect centerpiece to a … Read More

I am super excited to share this amazing book with you, written by my good friend and fellow Next Great Baker competitor, Elaine Duran. It’s her life story of how she turned some major disappointments and life struggles into a hope-filled destiny. I have to admit I’m a little biased about this book, because I had the privilege of helping … Read More

Any chocolate lover will LOVE this delicious cake. And ANYONE can learn how to make it. I’ll show you how, step by step. And if you’d like to learn more amazing cake recipes and techniques, and you live in the Tri-Cities area, I can teach you in person at my latest ETSU baking class, Let Them Eat Cake 2. Go … Read More