Split Pea Soup

It hasn’t been this cold here in years! I’m no lightweight when it comes to cold and snow, having spent my whole life In Upstate NY. My first year in Buffalo, it didn’t go above 0℉ for something like 62 days. That was the year I had no car, didn’t live on a bus route,…

Epicurean Sauce

This delightful, delicately flavored sauce is the perfect accompaniment to ham or roast beef. We had a wonderful ham for Christmas Eve dinner this year. It can be a busy day, so I like to do something easy for dinner. Sometimes it’s a slow-cooker meal so that my dinner prep is over well before lunchtime.This…

Cranberry-Orange Coffeecake

Cranberry coffeecake is one of my favorite holiday breakfasts. Everyone often gets up at a different time, so it’s nice to have something I can make in time for the early birds that will still be fresh for the later risers. I think I must have tried six or seven recipes over the years, with…

Butter Cookies

One of my favorite family traditions around the holiday season is decorating these rich, buttery cookies. Participation is mandatory from a very young age, whether you were born into the family or joined later. We’d have different colors of frosting, all sorts of sprinkles, colored sugar, cinnamon candies, and silvers. That’s what we called the silver-colored…

Buttercream Frosting

​ The best basic frosting couldn’t be easier. It’s perfect for Butter Cookies, cakes, or cupcakes, and takes just a few minutes to make (plus a half hour or so for the butter to come to room temperature before beginning.) You can add food coloring for variety, or shortening for extra decorating stiffness. You’ll find…

Turkey Noodle Soup 

Last week was Thanksgiving. We had such an incredible turkey! The gravy was divine. You might think a turkey is a turkey is a turkey, but you’d be wrong. You just can’t beat a fresh, local bird! I’ve been cooking Thanksgiving turkey every year for twenty years, and I usually worry that there won’t be…

Potato Salad With Bells On

Looking for a fresh, tasty side dish to brighten up your dinner table? Look no further, you’re going to love this! It’s been a weirdly warm fall. After a rath er cool early summer, my garden was unexpectedly, delightfully productive in October. I wasn’t going to develop any new recipes this fall, but I just…

Turkey – Pea Alfredo with Linguine

  Why on earth do people complain about turkey leftovers? I’ve never understood this. I love leftovers! When I was growing up, we always had Thanksgiving dinner mid-day, then had turkey sandwiches in the evening. I think I enjoyed that meal almost as much as the main one. Now that I cook my own turkeys,…