Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

05/18/2013 01:08 PM

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Strawberry Chocolate Torte

It's National Strawberry month and strawberry season is at it's peak. Farmers markets and stands are boasting sweet berries by the pint, half flat or full flat. If you were to drive through Ventura County, CA...you'd probably see a road side fruit and vegetable stand on every corner. As a matter of fact, the yearly Strawberry Festival is going on this weekend in Oxnard. A mere 45 minute drive (wit

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

05/11/2013 12:08 AM

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Rustic Olive Oil Cake with Honey Syrup

Here's a delicious, adult kind of cake that's sweet but not too sweet. The complexity of the flavor surprised me. Sweet, slightly tangy, almost savory. The flavors come in layers, starting with the gooey, sticky sweet honey glaze....slightly citrus in the middle, ending with the subtle savory-sweet taste of olive oil.I discovered this recipe in a newly acquired cookbook titled The Dahlia Bakery Co

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

05/03/2013 11:55 PM

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Ginger Peach Tea Sangria and a WINNER!

Let me start off by congratulating Mary from Midnite Baker for winning the Tate's Bake Shop Gift Basket Giveaway...WOOO HOOO!!! Congrats Mary! I hope you enjoy it :)Just so you know, I love their first cookbook, Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook so much that I personally ordered the Baking with Friends Cookbook, using the 20% discount code: mom13 which is good through 5/12/13Don't hesitate to use the

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

04/28/2013 11:59 AM

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Quinoa and Roasted Beet Salad (and a Giveaway)

This is the second time in my adult life that beets have found their way into my kitchen. The last time these purple-ish red veggies crossed my threshold was back a few years ago when I was baking my way through Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day and I decided to give beets a break (from my childhood memory of having to gag them down) and made some beautify Red Beet Buns.Loved how they looked but

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

04/21/2013 02:04 PM

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Jamaican Jerk Pulled Pork Sandwich

I looooove me a good sandwich. They're versatile. They're portable. Often, they contain a portion from each of the food groups....meat, grains, dairy (ie: mayo), vegetables and in this case...fruit. Yes...there is some fruit in this sandwich as part of the tropical coleslaw.Which I will share about at the end of this post.Right now....I want to talk about butts. Pork butt. Aka: Boston butt. Aka: p

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

04/15/2013 10:28 PM

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Curry Tofu Hummus

Did you know that April is National Soy Foods Month? Neither did I. Until recently. My friends over at FoodieBlogRoll hooked me up with some soy foods products to help spread the word and share some ideas on what you can do with soy foods. I'm not a soy person, personally but one of my daughters is lactose intolerant and soy foods products is one of the ways she gets around her tumm

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

04/06/2013 08:08 PM

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Flattered Breasts - 50 Shades of Chicken

Ok, so the picture doesn't quite capture the "moment" as depicted in the cookbook, 50 Shades of Chicken. I really need to work on my nighttime pics and get some tips on food styling. The rated G version of this recipe is called Sauteed Chicken Breasts with Garlic, Olives, and Wine. The rated R version of this recipe starts off like this: "Suddenly he seizes me and lays me out on the coun

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

03/27/2013 11:00 PM

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Potage Parmentier - Leek and Potato Soup

Yesterday my daughter brought home a leek. A very large leek. My mind instantly went to an amazing Julia Child recipe: Potage Celestine. But what I needed tonight was simplicity at its finest (short of having it delivered). I had spent most of the day pulling weeds and prepping my little garden strip for planting. I'm exhausted to say the least.After flipping through a couple cookbooks, I discover

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

03/24/2013 12:59 PM

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Thighs Spread Wide - Fifty Shades of Chicken

Thighs Spread Wide - Roasted Chicken Thighs with MushroomsThere are some books you can't NOT buy. Fifty Shades of Chicken, a parody in a cookbook, is one of those books.I couldn't help myself. I tried. I glanced, I picked it up...giggled to myself, put it down and walked away. I even got as far as leaving the bookstore and going home. Only to find myself thinking about it. Often. I cook chicken a

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

03/16/2013 12:48 PM

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Pistachio Muffins

I love pistachios. Actually, I love most nuts (this is not a reflection of my personality). Out of all the nuts out there, I wonder why the pistachio has it's own muffin? I mean...you never hear about peanut muffins, or almond muffins...or even cashew muffins. hmmm...interesting. (sorry, I don't have an answer for this. I can't even find anything about the origin of pistachio muffins. And yes, I d

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

03/09/2013 01:18 PM

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English Muffins

I post a rather wide variety of recipes here on Peaceful Cooking. It started out with recipes I was familiar with and made often. But as my interests grew....so did my range. Looking back, I can see how I've grown and changed in my cooking styles and food desires. Often times I post recipes that I've tried for the first time. Such as these English Muffins. Just because I post a recipe, doesn't mea

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

03/03/2013 12:26 PM

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Angel Food Cake

I didn't wake up one morning and decide....'hay, I want to make Angel Food Cake'. As much as I enjoy this cake, I don't think of it very often (it's usually a strawberry season thought). Believe it or not, my decision to make Angel Food Cake stemmed from my desire to make English Muffins.It's a weird, twisted path but I needed rings to make English Muffins. Sorta like cookie cutter rings, and I di

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

02/25/2013 10:58 PM

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Thai Kitchen Zing Rolls

I decided to try another recipe from Thai Kitchen and Simply Asian. I posted one recipe for Spicy Kung Pao Chicken Wings with Sweet Chili Dip which I loved.I then decided to try the Zing Rolls. Which happen to be Vegan. Not that I'm into vegan but one of my daughters is.The ingredients were simple and easily acquired. Except for the Rice Paper Wraps. I looked at various local markets. No luck

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

02/17/2013 02:08 PM

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Kung Wow - Spicy Kung Pao Chicken Wings with Sweet Chili Dip

Happy New Year! The Chinese New Year celebrations are in full swing and ringing in the year of the Snake.The year of the Snake. What does that mean? Well, it means we're going to be focused and disciplined, concentrating on details as we achieve what we've set out to create.Sounds like we're going to be busy this year. And maybe some quick and easy dishes would be appealing.And maybe....juuuu

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

02/10/2013 02:33 PM

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Bamboo Rice with Green Lentils

It's Easy Being Green!With that statement, what do you think of first?Recycle, reuse, anti-plastic, reusable grocery bags, less paper usage, less waste, electric vs gas, organic, no gmo...etc. etc.Yes, all those and more are a huge part of Being Green, are very important, and just make sense.But I'm not here to go into all that with you. I'm just here to have a little fun with the help of Mar

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

02/09/2013 05:07 PM

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Tate's Bake Shop Linzer Heart Cookies and a Giveaway

Today I have a special treat for you.And a surprise.Your treat is this recipe direct for Tate's Bake Shop:TATE'S BAKE SHOP LINZER HEART COOKIESThese decorative cookies make beautiful and tasty gifts. An important tip: be sure to chop the nuts and chocolate very fine in a food processor (pulse to chop so the friction doesn’t warm them), or the dough will be too rough-textured to roll out smoot

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

02/01/2013 01:02 AM

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Dutch Baby or German Pancake

Have you ever had those German Pancakes from iHop? They're my favorite! That lemony flavor with powdered sugar sprinkled all over what I thought was a crepe. But when I tried to make them years ago, I found out that they're something much, much more than a crepe. I just didn't know what. Until last weekend.There's a Fanpage in Facebook dedicated just to cast iron skillets and those of us who

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

01/28/2013 11:14 PM

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Raspberries and Cream Cocktail

I've been a bit busy (there's a Pillsbury thing goin' on you know). So...while I race around (in my head) figuring out recipes, here's a little something to relax with.Raspberries and Cream Cocktail1/2 - 1 oz spiced rum (depending on your personal tolerance)3/4 oz Chambord3 oz Raspberry mix (2/3 cup pureed frozen raspberries mixed with 1 cup simple syrup)2 oz heavy creamFresh raspberries to

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

01/06/2013 02:06 PM

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Turkey-Quinoa Meatballs with Baby Bok Choy

My quest to cook healthy dishes, more often, begins here. Lovely, delicious meatballs with a nice little sauce that's surprisingly not overwhelming but adds a tiny bit of heat. The meatballs are delicate in nature (the difference between ground beef and ground turkey) and full of flavor.The baby bok choy definitely took the back seat in this dish. Although this was my first time cooking the baby v

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

12/28/2012 12:00 AM

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Granola Bars and a Smoothie

Oatmeal....What do you think of when you hear that simple, nourishing, comforting food word?Breakfast? Cookies? Childhood memories?All of the above and more is what I say. I've been eating instant oatmeal for years. It's great for those busy mornings. It's great for those cold mornings. It's even great for a quick dinner on a hectic night.I recently received some samples of Better Oats instan

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

12/21/2012 09:27 PM

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Tropical Fruitcake

Ya think it's too late to make fruitcake?HA!! Think again my friend. This one can be eaten right away, or it can be made in advance and sit in the fridge for up to 6 weeks. Your choice.I'm not a fruitcake person. At all. But an old friend from high school by the name of Beth was raving about this recipe so I had to give it a try. My twist...(cuz there always is one...mostly) is the fruit that I us

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

12/18/2012 10:21 AM

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Gluten Free Pumpkin, Persimmon, Banana Bars

One of my daughters has decided to go gluten-free. It's not a medical necessity. Just a choice. In respect of her choice, I am trying to find recipes for her that she will enjoy (and because gluten free breads and desserts are so expensive at the stores)Pinterest can be an amazing thing. Easy to categorize and share and search. Anyways....I saw a recipe for Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars and that's what

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

12/09/2012 10:03 PM

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Green Bean Casserole - Alton Brown Style

I don't think Green Bean Casserole can ever really be considered "healthy". If you're gonna do it right, that is. Even if you use non-fat milk or some other milk alternative...it just won't be the same without those crispy French's French Fried Onions. I think I saw a low-carb or low-fat version at the market, but didn't pick them up. It seems that a lot of those altered products make up for the "

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

12/01/2012 12:17 PM

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Black Russian Rye Bread

The Los Angeles Times use to have a great food section. It was a section all on its own that came out every Thursday. It contained several recipes, reviews of dining locations, great articles. It was all about food...from gardening, food trends to food history. Over the years I've made several wonderful dishes from that section of the paper. I miss it. Now? It's 3 little pages called Food & Di

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

11/26/2012 10:39 PM

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Classic Dinner Rolls

This is going to be short and sweet.Classic Dinner RollsPrintable Version2 - 2/14 cups unbleached all purpose flour1 envelope yeast (2 1/4 tsp)2 TB sugar1/2 tsp salt1/2 cup milk1/4 cup water2 TB butterCombine 3/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Heat milk, water and butter until warm (120 - 130' F). Add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping down the sides of t

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

11/24/2012 12:23 PM

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Multi-Grain Cinnamon Raisin No-Knead Bread

The weather cooled down one weekend. The need to bake bread took over. The need to use some of the various flours I have stored in the fridge took over as well.With this batch of no-knead bread, you can make about 5 1 lb loaves. But don't worry. You can either cut the recipe in half or, you can store the dough in your refrigerator for up to 5 days (the egg in the dough prevents it from being store

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

11/18/2012 01:14 PM

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Mexican Meatball Quesadilla (made with leftover meat)

These are not your typical meatballs. Not because they're flavored with a Mexican flair. And not because they were put inside a quesadilla. What makes them so unusual is that they are made from LEFTOVER meat. Cooked meat from the night before that I had leftover.This concept was brought to my attention as I was searching for a recipe to make of Chef Jacques Pepin's. Jacques Pepin is a world famous

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

11/16/2012 11:28 AM

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Lady and Sons Chicken Pot Pie

First was Tyler Florence's Chicken FranceseSecond was Ann Burrell's Braised Chicken with Tomatillos and JalapenosThird came a version of Ina Garten's Apple Pie; Apple Pear Pie in a Cast Iron SkilletNow I'm on to Paula Deen. One of my favorite comfort foods is chicken pot pie. When I saw Paula Deen top hers with puff pastry.....well, it was a no brainer. I had to give it a try. Turns out

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

11/10/2012 05:58 PM

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Apple Pear Pie in a Cast Iron Skillet (or two)

And the chef challenge continues.First was Tyler Florence's Chicken FranceseSecond was Ann Burrell's Braised Chicken with Tomatillos and JalapenosThis week...Ina Garten.I saw where someone had baked a pie in a cast iron skillet (thought that was totally cool!). Then I watched something about pie's on one of the cooking channels. By then pie was totally on the brain. Not only did I want to bake a p

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

11/04/2012 12:47 PM

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Braised Chicken withTomatillos and Jalapenos

Part II of my Facebook celebrity chef cook-off. I guess that's what you'd call it. When you ask a group of people who their favorite chef is and no one picks the same chef, you can't chose a winner. So you kinda have to do them all. Last week's chef was Tyler Florence and I made his Chicken Francese. It was simple and delicious. This time I made Anne Burrell's Braised Chicken with Tomatillos and J

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

10/30/2012 10:36 PM

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Brujas and Peotches Halloween Cocktail

Happy HalloweenHave you ever played with candied vodka? To be honest with you, until this past weekend I had never even heard of it.Until I watched Nadia G. on Bitchen Kitchen's Halloween Special play with some. What fun! The candy flavor really comes through. Pick a candy (gummy works great...and so does hard candies). Toss a good handful into a sealable glass jar along with about a cup

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

10/29/2012 07:52 PM

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Chicken Francese

One of my favorite dishes is Chicken Picatta. This dish is almost identical. It has a little more lemon flavor. Wine is included and capers have been excluded. Bottom line? It's delish!The other day I asked my friends on Facebook who their favorite celebrity chef is. The goal was to cook a recipe from the chef that was mentioned the most. The snafu? No one mentioned the same chef. Now I have to co

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

10/24/2012 12:52 AM

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Apple Pecan Mini Pies with Brie Cheese

I'm not big on pies. Although I love pecan pie.I'm not a fan of pie crust. But some aren't all bad.Cooked apple isn't my thing. But I love a good Apple Betty.So why did I make these Apple Pecan Mini Pies with Brie Cheese, you ask? Haven't you ever craved something that's not your favorite thing? Just to see if you can make it in a way that suits you? Well, that's kinda what I did. I saw the Honey

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

10/22/2012 12:34 AM

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Tandori-Spiced Chicken

Before I get carried away with tonight's dinner, I just realized that I never told you all who won the Muy Bueno Cookbook from my contest. I have no real good excuse as to why it's taken me so long. But I did inform the person who one...and she did receive it.Let's give a nice big round of applause to Tango from Tangos TreasuresWOO HOO!!!!!!!!!I hope you enjoy the cookbook as much as I am :)A

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

10/06/2012 01:49 AM

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Lengua Entomatada (Beef Tongue with Tomato) and Giveaway!

Yes, you heard right. Beef Tongue. It's in there. It's good. I swear.And you're talking to someone who went waaaaaaaaaay beyond hercomfort zone on this one.Before we go there, let me say a few things here. And I think you'll wanna hear them.First off, for the past 3 weeks, I've been participating in the Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off sponsored by Hippocrene an

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

09/30/2012 01:54 AM

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Vanilla Fig and Pear Freezer Jam

What do you do when someone give's you a few pounds of figs? You make jam.Freezer jam to be more exact. And it's a lot easier than you'd think. Start off with clean, sterile jars, fresh fruit, pectin and sugar.Maybe a spice if wanna get fancy.And you're ready to go.This recipe was adapted from The Family Foodie, Vanilla Fig Freezer JamVanilla Fit and Pear Freezer JamPrintable Version6 cups figs, q

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

09/26/2012 10:11 PM

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Capirotada - Mexican Bread Pudding

Last week in reviewing the Muy Bueno Cookbook we had the option of making Mushroom, Jalapeno, and Cilantro Salsa and/or Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding). I had planned on doing both and posting both, last week. I only got to do the salsa. I had purchased all of the ingredients for Capirotada, and was ready to make it when I discovered it's not something you can just "whip up". Not that it's labo

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

09/23/2012 02:35 PM

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Prickly Pear Margarita

As I was thumbing through the recipes and reading the stories in Muy Bueno, I just happened to notice that 'Drinks' had a pretty thick chapter (A huge plus in my book) and when I saw this vibrant fuchsia margarita...I knew it was meant to be. I mean...look at that color! AND its a margarita. How perfect is that?!The Muy Bueno Cookbook is a complication of old-world northern Mexican recipes that sp

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

09/20/2012 10:53 PM

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Mushroom, Jalapeno, and Cilantro Salsa

There are a lot of different kinds of salsas running around out there. There's red tomato, tomatillo, strawberry, mango...etc etc. But have you tried Mushroom, Jalapeno, and Cilantro Salsa?Let me start off by telling you a little secret. Sometimes I get stuck on being a purist. I get attached to the original and am reluctant to embrace the new. I kinda have to mull it over....consider it....talk m

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

09/08/2012 05:45 PM

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Devil's Food Cupcakes with Hazelnut Crunch

Are you ready for this? I mean.....are you really ready for this?!This is a Bon Appetit recipe for a 3 layer cake. I didn't have a need for cake. So I decided to make cupcakes. Easier to share at work that way.....so I wouldn't have to eat them all myself. Cuz as good as these are...I would eat them all. They are the fluffiest, lightest cupcakes I have ever eaten in my life. Hands down!Be prepared

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

09/06/2012 11:41 PM

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Cocktail and Mocktail

Are you familiar with Marx Foods? They have some pretty cool fine foods and exotic spices. They sent me a few samples of some of their spices and asked me to participate in their Cocktail & Mocktail Mixology Contest. Of course when I said yes, I had no idea what spices they were going to send me. Wow...what a challenge. I got Fennel Pollen, Saffron Threads, Juniper Berries, Long Pepper, Dill P

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

08/25/2012 11:39 PM

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Easy Garlic Chicken

As you may already know, I cook chicken way more than I cook beef. Not only is it usually less expensive but it's a lot more versatile. Over the years I've learned what I like, what works, and how to optimize my chicken dish. I think the most important thing I've learned (and I learned it from Julia Child) is not to overcook your chicken. It really makes all the difference in the world. When you c

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

08/11/2012 02:16 PM

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Beef Tamales

This is a partial recipe post. I didn't make the beef filling. Just warning you....but, whatever shredded beef recipe you like, use it.Let me back up here. Tamales have been on my I'd-really-love-to-learn-how-to-make-that list since forever. One of my childhood friends from school informed me recently that she makes them every year. (What?!) When she offered to show me how, I didn't care tha

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

07/31/2012 07:55 PM

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Limoncello and a Strawberry Lemon Drop to pass the time

Limoncello is one of my favorite liqueurs. But it's a little pricey depending on the brand you buy. And let me tell you....brand makes a huge difference. I've tried a few. One of them was just awful. If I had tried it the first time I ever had limoncello, I would never try it again. Ya, it was that bad. Anyway...I'm not here to recommend what brand you drink or like...I'm here to show you how to m

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

07/22/2012 01:14 PM

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Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie

Dulce de leche, banana and peanuts.....'nuf said. Ok, so I do have more to say (come on, you oughta know me better than that by now).You know how when you "think up" a great combo in flavors, then you google it and of course it's already been done. A gazillion times over. Ya well....it happens to me all the time. I never get to think up anything new and original.But that doesn't ever stop me from

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

07/15/2012 05:51 PM

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Summer Squash Pickles

Its that time of year....for those gardeners out there, when you're picking more than you can eat. It's a great feeling, having an abundance of fresh vegetables. Friends and family get to benefit from our gardens generosity as well, as we hand out our 'spoils' by the bagful.It's also a time when we're racking our brains trying to figure out exactly what we're going to do with it all. Sure, there a

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

07/08/2012 12:14 PM

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Strawberry Summer Cake

Yep....that's all there was left by the time I was able to snap a picture. This super easy, very yummy Strawberry Summer Cake doesn't last long once it comes out of the oven. (As always) I have a little story about this cake. You all are familiar with (or most likely have an account with) Pinterest.com I'm not as hooked on it as a lot of people seem to be. I play over there every now and the

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

06/30/2012 10:42 PM

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Carnitas and Tex-Mex Squash Casserole

Here you have some very basic, standard, simple ingredients. When you add a few spices and cooking techniques, they become exquisite.I'm talking about two fantastic recipes from The Homesick Texan Cookbook by Lisa Fain. I swear...I just LOVE this book. It has become one of my favorites and for some reason, as the days get longer and sun gets hotter, I start cooking more Mexican and Tex-mex meals.

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

06/28/2012 09:40 PM

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Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

If you like Banana Bread...you're going to absolutely LOVE Banana Bars. Light, fluffy...and yes, very moist! Very much like the consistency of cake.I saw this recipe posted on a very dear friends blog. Her name is Cathy and she is the awesome publisher of The Dutch Baker's Daughter. When I originally saw the post, I was so excited to have something else to make with those overly ripened bananas. T

Peaceful Cooking / Cooking for My Peace of Mind

06/23/2012 02:03 PM

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The Perfect P.M.S. Brownie

One night last week I was craving brownies. Which is odd for me. I'm not a "brownie" person (I maybe have mentioned this before). I enjoy brownies.....there's nothing wrong with brownies. But if I had to choose between brownies, cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies or ice cream. I'd choose cookies. (at least that's my answer today). But I think sometimes, one needs chocolate. Copious amounts of luscious

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