Prosciutto Wrapped Figs And Blue Cheese

Headin’ For the Hills
Every year, for the last thirty years, my family and some of our dearest and closest friends gather at Tahoe for the first two weeks in August. The amazing thing about it, besides the amount of space we take up on the deck at Garwoods, is that the third generation of these families is now carrying on the tradition. We may not see much of each other during the rest of the year, but we all make sure we’re there in August.

During those two weeks we raft down the river, hike, jet ski, go out to dinner, and hang out on the beach catching up and gossiping. As the years go by the little kids become big kids, and the big kids get married, and add more kids ensuring the tradition continues.

One of the best parts is our End of the Summer Beach Barbeque, which happens on the last Saturday. We stay on the beach all day, play red rover, and watch the sun go down over the lake while munching on the grilled sausages and various other tidbits that everyone brings. One of my family’s favorite’s is below. Try them. They’re so good. See you in a week. I’m headin’ to the lake… Read more…

Bacon Peanut Truffles

The Baconator
In my house we have a healthy appreciation for bacon. Not a weekend goes by where we don’t have at least one “big” breakfast– and for better or worse, it always includes bacon. Though I try not to have it too often, bacon still seems to sneak in to things like salads. (it’s stealthy that way) Of the five of us, there is only one who loves bacon above all things. We call him, The Baconator.

The Baconator is twelve years old, and is the proud owner of a hollow leg (because anyone who is 5’ 5” and eats as much as he does, while not breaking the 100 lb. mark, either has a hollow leg or a parasite). Add bacon to the mix, and it just gets ridiculous. He even asked for bacon for Christmas one year…we opted for the I ❤️ Bacon T-shirt.

So it was no surprise that when flipping through a cookbook a friend recently gave me, my son yelled out “Holy tights, Mom! We gotta make these!” The these that he was referring to are some Bacon Peanut Truffles that were listed in Southern Living’s Feel Good Food Cookbook.

Chocolate and peanut butter has always been a favorite combination of mine. I would hoard the peanut butter cups at Halloween, and ration them for as long as I could. Making these Bacon Peanut Truffles was a no-brainer, and so worth it. They are also pretty easy, which makes them great for gift giving and there are only 151 days until Christmas…

Bacon Peanut Truffles
Adapted from the Feel Good Food Cookbook from Southern Living Magazine
makes about 2 dozen
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Gam’s Bacon Potato Salad

Gams Bacon Potato Salad When it comes to the Fourth of July, there are certain rules that must be followed. Well, at least in my world.

There must be ribs and hot dogs. There must be fresh corn. Pies are a deal breaker…no pies, no party…and of course, there must be potato salad.

My favorite is the New Potato Salad adapted from The Barefoot Contessa. There must always be dill In my potato salad and hard-boiled eggs. This my line in the sand.

Problem is, I am the only one who digs the dill. So, there are compromises. When that happens, I make my grandmother’s version. The only thing better than potato salad with dill is potato salad with bacon…

For a crowd, I have been known to make both, because I am childish that way.

Hope everyone has a Happy and Satisfying Fourth of July!!!

Gam’s Bacon Potato Salad
(She called it German Potato Salad, but I think she was wrong) Read more…

Texas Sheet Cake

You Say It’s Your Birthday…
Once again, it’s birthday week. My boys, my daughter and I all have birthdays. Of course we also have standards testing, baseball, choir, and student council campaigns. At some point I will have to scale the side of Mount Laundry, too. On top of all that, I am still required to come to work…if I expect a paycheck. I know. Crazy, right? So any birthday celebrations are most likely going to be quick and to the point.

My kids are pretty easy to please. As long as there is a donut cake in the morning, they’re good. Just in case you are wondering, a donut cake is a dozen (or so) donuts artfully arranged on a plate with candles sticking out of them. It’s a tradition. We have a donut sugar bomb breakfast while the kids open their gifts. Breakfast of champions.

I am a little more fickle. I don’t really have a favorite celebratory birthday dessert. I like birthday cake, but I also like birthday pie, and birthday pudding. Birthday crisp is pretty good…and don’t forget birthday waffles or pancakes!

This year, I want one of these beauties for a few reasons. First, making a Texas Sheet Cake is easy. Second, I have been harboring an insane craving. Third? Pecans, baby…

Now seems like as good a time as any to make one, though it’s pretty easy to come up with an excuse. You just need to make sure you have others to help you eat it—because a Texas Sheet Cake feeds a crowd.

Texas Sheet Cake
Yields on 18“ x 13” cake
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