Oven Baked Stew

When I think of beef stew, I think of low and slow in a crockpot for many hours. This recipe gives the same tender and savory comfort meal without the long hours. Of course, if you would like to make this in a crockpot, you absolutely can. Just add the meat, flour, stock, or water, and the seasonings to the crockpot for the first several hours. Then add the vegetables in for at least the last hour. The original recipe for this came off the back of a box of Lipton mix. Those packages are so full of salt and …

Alexander Cocktail

This cocktail is known as an Alexander and may contain brandy or gin. For this recipe, I have substituted with Southern Comfort, but you may use any brandy or gin that you enjoy. Creamy and rich, this cocktail is the definition of decadence.

Blackberry Pie

My  hands are delightfully stained in purple hues this week after multiple batches of blackberry pies and I am not upset about it. If  you too are looking to improve upon your pie dough designs, do yourself a favor and take 5 minutes (yes, it takes 5 minutes to make this delicious filling) to use the most beautiful of fruits available for pies, the blackberry. The size of the berry makes it easier to fold in flavors without crushing it into a syrup. They also make for a level medium when you are decorating the top. Beware the purple tinting, …

Blackberry Yogurt mousse bars

I made this to show you that you can make it with just about any flavor of yogurt. I was not able to find good Blackberries for the top but you could use frozen if you wanted to as long as you drain and dry them before adding them to the top of the mousse. Have fun with try a different crumb for the bottom or try a different flavor of yogurt.

Sweet Angel On a Devilish Cloud

In Greek mythology, pomegranates were used to trick the goddess, Persephone, into becoming the queen of the underworld. With this dessert, you can tell the story of a sweet girl turned dark and bitter within the clouds. Though most people see the pomegranate as bad due to this story, it actually has many properties that are good! Pomegranate arils are often used for abundance, fertility, and luck. So why not give a guest, friend, or lover a taste of good intentions?

Stout Beer Muffins

Use this simple muffin recipe to serve alongside a meal for any occasion. You basically have everything in the pantry! Include anything you wish alongside your choice of beer. A subtle but delectable treat for dinner or for dessert.

Maple Butter Bits

If you like taffy, this recipe is for you! It is versatile and, depending on the degree that you cook it, can be creamy chewy bits or even a delicious hard-candy treat. Give it a try today for a treat sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!     CandiAnne’s Note: We were stationed at Fort Drum, NY for 4 1/2 years and maple weekend is a huge thing there. You can visit numerous producers, taste their wares, and grab some syrup or other goodies on your way out. In 2007 while visiting the various producers I picked up a bunch …

Maple Sugar

Is there anything better than sugar? Yes! MAPLE SUGAR! This sweet delight is the perfect addition to a cup of tea or as a substitute for granulated sugar. It’s simple and easy to do and a great way to tiptoe into the art of sugar work.         CandiAnne’s Note: We were stationed at Fort Drum, NY for 4 1/2 years and maple weekend is a huge thing there. You can visit numerous producers, taste their wares, and grab some syrup or other goodies on your way out. In 2007 while visiting the various producers I picked up …

Here, Piggy Piggy!

My grandmother and three of her five siblings lived on land that had belonged to their parents. They each built homes less than a football field apart and pretty much had their own little community. My cousins and I had free reign of the dirt roads between the houses, and we ran from one home to another from dawn till dusk. Now, we were not bad children, but we did get into more than our fair share of mischief. One of my grandmother’s sisters, my Aunt Helen, had a home at the back of my grannie’s place. She had a …