Welcome. Thank you for visiting my site. While here you can read about my books, learn a little more about the things that are important to me, and browse my collection of down-home recipes.

You can also read my occasional ramblings that will nearly always include my dog, Josephine, as well as other family members.

And you can learn about Compassion, Samaritan's Purse, and other charitable groups and see what you can do to help others less fortunate.

 

I learned how to make this dessert in 4-H. I think I was in the 6th grade. I remember going with my sisters to the 4-H leader's house in my childhood town of Centralia, WA.

The lesson was how to make Peach Baskets, how to fold napkins, how to set the table using the "thumb's length from the edge of the table" rule, and how to serve the dessert without dumping it on the guests.

You're supposed to mold this dessert over a bowl and let it cool so that it makes a "basket." I'm never patient enough to do that. Besides, this is one of those desserts that is best served warm.

  • INGREDIENTS
  • One can of sweetened condensed milk
  • Several slices of white bread, crusts removed (shocking, I know)
  • Coconut, a 10 ounce bag is fine
  • Peaches, either canned or fresh, either sliced or halved
  • Vanilla ice cream
  • DIRECTIONS
  • Turn on your oven's broiler.
  • Line a cookie sheet with foil.
  • Pour sweetened condensed milk onto a plate (yes, a plate).
  • Empty coconut onto another plate.
  • Dip pieces of bread into milk, coating both sides.
  • Dip coated bread into the coconut, coating both sides.
  • Place on cookie sheet and broil on each side for a couple of minutes - watch carefully because the coconut will burn!
  • Remove from broiler, place on a dessert plate and top with peaches and ice cream. Serve immediately. Yum.

 

To those who know me, it's no big surprise that my second recipe is another dessert. This recipe makes a heavy, dense pound cake with a crispy-ish bottom crust. It's a bit expensive to make, but well worth it. If I'm serving it to guests, I'll often drizzle a lemony glaze-type frosting over the top. But I prefer it plain.

  • INGREDIENTS
  • 1 ½ cup butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 5 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 1 ounce bottle of lemon extract
  • 3/4 cup of 7 Up or lemon-lime soda
  • 3 cups flour
  • DIRECTIONS
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Grease and flour bundt pan.
  • Cream together butter and sugar.
  • Add the eggs and beat well.
  • Mix in the 7 Up.
  • Add the flour and mix until well blended.
  • Pour into bundt pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
  • Let set a couple of minutes before inverting onto a rack to cool.

Have you ever been told last minute that you needed to make something for a bake sale or potluck? This dessert is quick and yummy. Be prepared: everyone asks for this recipe, so you might want to have it down on a note card. It's rich; cut the pieces small.

  • INGREDIENTS
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ¾ graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup butter (do not melt)
  • 1 pound powdered sugar
  • 1 package milk chocolate chips
  • DIRECTIONS
  • Combine all ingredients except chocolate and mix well. Press in 13 X 9 pan.
  • Melt chocolate chips and spread over peanut butter mixture.
  • Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours. Cut when hardened.

 

This is my favorite soup recipe. It's also my family's favorite and the one that everyone else asks for if they know I'll be making soup for dinner. And, bonus, it's very easy to make.

  • INGREDIENTS
  • ½ pound ground beef, cooked and drained
  • ½ cup chopped onion, cooked with the ground beef
  • 2 cans (14.5 oz) Italian Style Tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 cups chopped Swiss chard (green or red chard is okay)
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 can (15.25 oz) kidney beans, undrained
  • 1 can (15.5 oz) garbanzo beans, undrained
  • 1 can (16 oz) green beans, undrained
  • 1 cup small shell macaroni, cooked and drained
  • Grated Parmesan cheese, optional
  • DIRECTIONS
  • In large pot, brown ground beef and onion; drain fat.
  • Add tomatoes and chard; cover and simmer 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Add beef broth, beans and macaroni; stir gently to combine.
  • Simmer, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes or until bubbly. Ladle into bowls and top with cheese.