The Blog

Pumpkin Roll This classic recipe just screams Thanksgiving. While the baking and mixing is simple, the technique is intimidating at first, but not difficult to master. Make sure and follow the instructions and the timing carefully, or you will end up with a broken cake and/or a gooey mess. At our house, we make two each Thanksgiving: one with nuts, … Read More

Make some extra special Holiday memories this season at my latest ETSU class, Holiday Baking with Julie! Just in time for the Holidays, I’m putting together my favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes —  gingerbread, pumpkin rolls, pecan tassies, candy cane cookies and more — and sharing them with you. Join me at ETSU’s Foods Lab Kitchen on Mondays, November 14th, … Read More

As Halloween draws closer, Daytime is on location at Food City, featuring all sorts of holiday fun. Here’s the ideas displayed on my segment, with the youngest trick-or-treaters in mind.                 As you can see, there is so much you can do with veggies, sandwich cookies, candy, and even olives, to put a smile on your kids’ face, … Read More

Crepes might sound like a fancy French dish, but this versatile staple should be in every home cook’s repertoire. These thin pancakes have several wonderful qualities: 1) they’re the perfect canvas to handle a wide variety of flavors, including everything from fresh fruit to chicken; 2) crepes can be made well in advance, either kept in the refrigerator for a … Read More

We have many seasons here in America. We have the Christmas season, Football season, Tax season, and the dreaded Flu season. But I’m glad to say that the happiest season of all has arrived: Pumpkin Spice season! Yes, friends, get ready to be assaulted by Pumpkin Spice everything as you travel up down your grocery store aisles. Cake mix, donuts, … Read More

The biggest ever college football game deserves some super special flavors to go along with it. Whether you like to tailgate or host the big game in your den, these easy and delicious dishes will be great all season long. I’ve featured dishes for fans of both the Vols and the Hokies, but these flavors will win your party crowd … Read More

Labor Day is fast approaching and many of you, like our family, are planning that last end-of-summer vacation. Because our family is so large, we find it cheaper to rent a small house near the beach and eat our meals in, instead of staying in a hotel and eating out. But Momma wants a vacation, too, so to make my … Read More

Summer is slipping away like an ice cube on a hot sidewalk and before you know it, we’ll all be finding pumpkin-spice-flavored everything on our grocery store aisles. But before the seasons turn, let’s squeeze out a few more flavors of summer with these fresh and zesty salsas. They all share one key ingredient: freshly squeezed lime juice. And as with … Read More

It’s back to school time here in Northeast Tennessee and that means it’s time to start packing those lunches. And it’s not just lunch time you have to plan for, but rushed breakfasts and kids with the after-school munchies. Here’s a few quick and easy ideas to keep those tummies full without giving you a headache. A ‘Note’ of Encouragement: … Read More

Summer gardens are hitting their stride and what to do with all their bounty? Even if you don’t have your own garden, farmer’s markets and grocery produce counters are bursting with delicious flavors. Here are some simple ideas of how to enjoy the abundance and make sure these seasonal favorites don’t go to waste. But before I do, let me … Read More