Heavenly Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

These Heavenly Homemade Cinnamon Rolls take only minutes to rise.  Bake for 15 minutes, and then ready to eat.  Don't forget to drizzle lavishly with powdered sugar icing. THE BEST HOMEMADE CINNAMON ROLLS These are the most straightforward cinnamon rolls from scratch.  They are perfect for yeast beginners because there is only one 30-minute rise.  This is the best cinnamon roll recipe you will ever make. It only took a little nudging from the family for me to make my homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast this Thanksgiving morning.  Over the years, I have tweaked this recipe from my Mother's recipe for Angel Biscuits .  I think each time I make them, my daughter, Jennifer, says, "Mom, these are the best ones you have ever made."  From the Grandchildren and Jim asking me to make them, they just keep getting better and better every time. This is a light dough, yet loaded with lots of butter, sugar, and cinnamon and lavishly drizzled with heavenly icing....

The Best Cranberry Orange Muffins

Cranberry orange muffins are incredibly moist, packed with cranberries, enhanced with a splash of concentrated orange juice. CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS BAKER STYLE These cranberry orange muffins have all the styles of a bakery muffin, a delicious streusel topping, vibrant cranberries, and intense orange flavors.  They are bursting with the best flavors of the holidays. These cranberry muffins are my favorite muffins.  When I'm at the grocery store or a coffee shop, my first choice for a muffin is always cranberry and orange.  My second choice is a chocolate chocolate chip, who doesn't like chocolate chip anything. Cranberry orange muffins have the purest flavor of almost any other muffin.  I want to taste the authentic taste of orange juice and fresh cranberries, not artificial, as the package says, "Cranberry Orange flavor." Talking about the authentic taste of orange juice, well, that is why I use orange juice concentrate in this recipe.  Remember, it is concent...

Pineapple Chess Pie

Pineapple chess pie has  all the ingredients of a traditional chess pie except for adding a small can of crushed  pineapple. PINEAPPLE CHESS PIE {Granny's Recipe} When I think of some of the pies that my Mother would make during the holidays, I think of this beautiful  Pineapple Chess  pie, which is  rich and delicious. Isn't it funny how we remember certain things about our Mother's traditions? About one week before the holidays, Mother would set up a dessert table. Do you remember when there were  card tables? Beside her buffet, she would lay a pretty tablecloth on a card table, and as she made the desserts, she would place them on the table, ready for guests to enjoy. As a little girl growing up, I always thought, "That is just what I am going to do when I get married "Have a Dessert Table." Well, I kept my plans, which I did about one week before the big day. Now that I am a grandmother, I love to see my grandchildren's eyes light up when they g...

A Southern Classic! His and Her Sweet Potato Casserole

His and Her Sweet Potato Casserole  brings two Thanksgiving traditions together. Creamy, smooth sweet potatoes are crisis-crossed with toasted marshmallows and a crunchy pecan topping. Scrumptious!! SOUTHERN SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE Southern Sweet Potato Casserole starts with baked sweet potatoes peeled and creamed in a food processor with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon to get that velvety smooth texture. It is  indeed simple to make with few ingredients, perfect for the holidays.   His and Her Sweet Potato Casserole is the perfect sweet potato dish. Half of our family likes the marshmallow topping, and half likes the crumble topping, so last year, I came up with the idea of serving one dish with two variations. It was such a hit that I decided to make it again this year. The miniature marshmallows toast beautifully alongside the crumble topping, and the smooth texture of the sweet potatoes just melts in your mouth. Two Thanksgiving traditions in one fabulous d...

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Blossoms

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Blossoms, sometimes called No Bake Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies or Hershey Kiss Cookies, have all the pomp and circumstance of the l egendary  Peanut Butter Blossom. NO BAKE PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS No Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms are homemade candy made with crunchy rice cereal, creamy peanut butter mixture, and a chocolate candy kiss.  Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Kisses took me back to when I visited my sister at her house for Christmas. I still remember looking in each Christmas tin she had her goodies in until I found them. Oh, with the peanut butter mixture and the chocolate kiss in the center, you could quickly go to "Yummieville" (a sugar coma, you might say)!

Baked Apple Cinnamon Delights

Baked Apple Cinnamon Delights are  baked in a lovely bath of apple cider that simmers into a beautiful syrup.  Serve them stuffed with glazed pecans, hot or cold, with a dollop of whipped cream. POACHED APPLES WITH CANDIED GLAZED PECANS Poached apples are soft, subtly sweet apples baked in apple cider syrup and cinnamon sticks, then topped with brown sugar and apple pie spice, making for a wholesome and delicious dessert. When buying apples for my Crockpot Apple Butter, Apple Pie Fritters , and my husband, who eats an apple a day, I decided to make some Baked Apples. I served these at one of the catering events I hosted.  We made 250 of them.  You would think I never wanted to see them again, but they were such a hit I decided to make a batch for my husband. These poached apples are a simple way to achieve an almost perfect way to enjoy the purest flavor of an apple.  They are peeled, cored, baked in apple cider, then baked more with brown sug...

Stuffed Pork Chops with Pepper Jelly Glaze

Collards and Cornbread Stuffed Pork Chops,  juicy, thick gorgeous pork chops slit with a pocket of collard greens and cornbread stuffing and then placed under the broiler with a glaze of pepper jelly.  COLLARDS AND CORNBREAD STUFFED PORK CHOPS These pork chops make a beautiful presentation for any restaurant meal experience you want for your guests or just a celebratory dinner for your family. When I saw these thick pork chops at Sams, I knew I wanted to stuff them.  My husband had his eye on grilling, and after I had talked him into stuffing them, he got a sparkle in his eyes.

German Chocolate Blossom Cookies

These German Chocolate Blossom Cookies start with a German chocolate cake mix, which makes them super easy to make.  They are soft and chewy and topped with your favorite candy––Hershey Kisses. GERMAN CHOCOLATE KISS COOKIES (3 Ingredients) German Chocolate Kiss Cookies are a favorite year round. The recipe has only three ingredients, which you probably already have in your kitchen. They are seriously the easiest cookies to whip up and perfect for your children to join in. These German Chocolate Blossom Cookies are a twist on the beloved Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie, which is so popular around the holidays.   We are such huge fans of German chocolate, and I see so many recipes using cake mixes to make cookies that it sparked an interest in using a German chocolate cake mix and rich and creamy coconut pecan frosting together to make some. These cookies taste absolutely amazing.  It is impossible to stop at one.  They are soft and chewy and all the flavors of a pie...

Blackberry Pie Bars

Blackberry Pie Bars have a buttery shortbread crust, a creamy custard filling with a generous serving of fresh blackberries running through, and a delicious cookie crumble streusel topping. BLACKBERRY CREAMY PIE BARS These Blackberry Pie Bars make a super easy summer treat.  They are perfect for brunch, entertaining guests, and as a simple accompaniment to an afternoon coffee break. I am a huge fan of pie bars.  You are probably familiar with the  Pumpkin Pie Bars  that roll out in the fall months.  Then spring comes, and we see the  Lemon Bars  make an appearance.   But when summer rolls around, I become a huge fan of these blackberry pie bar treats. I'm so impressed with the crafting of these pie bars. Though they are called pie bars, they handle like cookie bars and roar like a blackberry cream pie. They are seriously delicious!

Beach Jello Cups

The summer months are around the corner, and what better way to embrace the heat than with a cool, refreshing treat on a hot summer day.   POOL PARTY JELLO CUPS Whether for the beach or a pool party, the recipe uses berry blue jello and is quick and easy to make. Decorate with gummy sour sharks, gummy fruit rings, and gummy fruit bears. Both children and adults alike are big fans of these Beach Jello Cups. They are cool and refreshing, perfect for a grab-and-go treat on a hot summer day. Are you planning a summer beach trip or a birthday pool party?  Or do you want something fun to make with your children during the summer?   Hope you will give these fun beach or pool jello cups a try.  The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd. 

Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan Pie Bars start with a buttery shortbread crust and are layered with a gooey pecan filling. They are a simple and delicious pecan pie baked into a bar—perfect for serving a crowd! PECAN PIE BARS Pecan Pie Bars are the ultimate holiday treat, yielding somewhere between a pie and a cookie bar. If you are a fan of Pecan Pie, wait until you find out the next best thing is Pecan Pie Bars. The crust is so easy to make, and then all you do is pour a pecan pie like filling on top and bake for 25 minutes. Not only is my recipe for these Pecan Pie Bars super easy to make, but they are also great for serving a crowd. You can cut them as small or large as you like. In the scheme of things, they are easy to transport, a pecan pie you can eat with your hands, and great about portion control.

Southern Spoonbread

Southern Sweet Corn Spoonbread is a century-old Southern comfort food that has graced the tables across the South.     SOUTHERN SWEET CORN SPOONBREAD The Southern Spoonbread recipe is a classic Southern side dish.  It is creamy, moist cornbread that is more like a cornmeal-based souffle or delicate cornbread pudding.   This Sweet Corn Spoonbread is a quick and easy side dish. To make it, combine everything in a bowl, stir, and bake. It is a favorite around my house. We look forward to having it every year on our Easter menu. The recipe also works well for weeknight menus. It starts off with a box of Jiffy cornbread mix, then two kinds of corn, butter, eggs, and sour cream, simply delicious.

Carrot Souffle

This velvety, creamy souffle perfectly complements a holiday meal, providing a grand presentation. CARROT CASSEROLE Like sweet potato casseroles are to Thanksgiving, this carrot casserole is an essential Easter side dish that will surely delight all your guests!  It is rich, fluffy, and literally melts in your mouth.  Oh, so yummy! This recipe came to me from a good friend who has shared many of her recipes through the years.   I cherish recipes I have received from friends over the years.   They bring back so many memories to me when I make them.

Raspberry Coffee Cake

Raspberry Coffee Cake in the morning will start your day off to a fabulous start.  Serve it anytime for dessert, an afternoon snack, or my favorite breakfast. RASPBERRY BREAKFAST CAKE The recipe is based on my Very Blueberry Coffee Cake, switching out with fresh raspberries, butter, sugar, eggs, and sour cream and sprinkled with a coarse finishing sugar. I grew up with something sweet on the table all the time because my mother had a charming sweet tooth, which she passed on to her four daughters.    Mother was an amazing baker.  Even though I learned from her, I wish I had written down more of her recipes and paid more attention when she baked.

Nutella Sweet Rolls

Nutella Sweet Rolls recipe follows a similar process to cinnamon rolls. They start with a soft, pillowy dough and are filled with the star of the recipe, Nutella, then iced with vanilla icing. Nutella Heavenly Sweet Rolls These ooey gooey sweet rolls are the most decadent breakfast treats you could ever imagine, either for breakfast or,  like at my house, for dessert. Nutella is an absolute favorite with my grandchildren, so I thought making Nutella Sweet Rolls would be appropriate for Valentine's breakfast or, why not, dessert :). These soft, sweet, fluffy sweet rolls are hassle free.   They only take 30 minutes to rise once, so you can spend your time making other special delicacies for your special day. As you see, these rolls are amazing plain, but to give them an additional gooeyness, I iced them with a rich buttery, vanilla icing.  A thin coat gives them a glorious shine and divine gooeyness. If you can't resist these sweet rolls, just take a look at these...

Christmas Tea Cakes

Christmas Tea Cakes are festive tea cakes that are super easy to make with few ingredients, including two cake mixes. Holiday Mincemeat Tea Cakes This is the perfect recipe to use extra cake mixes you have on hand.  This recipe was inspired by all the cookie recipes that use cake mixes.  Another secret ingredient that is classic around the holidays is mincemeat pie filling. You will love the Holiday Mincemeat Tea Cakes if you love mincemeat pie.  I know there are some yays and nays when mincemeat is mentioned.    Growing up in the 60s, my family always had mincemeat pie during the holidays.  Mincemeat is a sweet concoction of dried fruit, spices, dark brown sugar, nuts, and beef. When I saw a jar of None Such Mincemeat pie filling in my cabinet, I wanted to try to make a cookie with some cake mixes I needed to use.   

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

  Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is simple to prepare and has as much flavor as a whole turkey.  Start with a bone in, skin on, and use the same seasonings, but the secret to the juiciest meat is the brining. CROCKPOT TURKEY BREAST This Crockpot Turkey Breast recipe is an excellent addition to serve extra white meat for your Thanksgiving meal, which my family loves.  We always run out of white meat, but not anymore. My recipe for Crockpot Turkey Breast is straightforward, with only 3 ingredients, turkey, poultry seasoning, and butter, that's it.  It turns out moist and flavorful every time.   Whether cooking a whole turkey or a turkey breast, the leftovers are always my favorite.   I love making turkey sliders, sandwiches, turkey soup, and my new recipe for turkey bubble up, which uses this year's leftovers.

Waldorf Salad

The Waldorf Salad recipe is straightforward and delicious and can be made with ingredients from your pantry.  It is ready in 15 minutes and easy for family gatherings or potlucks.    Granny's Classic Waldorf Salad I have been making this classic Waldorf Salad recipe for the holidays and special occasions for years. The recipe comes from my Mother.  It is one of my favorite recipes growing up. The original Waldorf Salad was introduced on March 14, 1893, at the Waldorf Istoria Hotel in New York by the first executive chef for a charity ball and became an instant success.  In years since, the original recipe, which consisted of apples, celery, and mayonnaise, has taken on more additions.

Simple Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Simple Broccoli Cauliflower Salad will elevate a meal for Kings or refresh a family potluck dinner.  The perfect salad with only six ingredients, including the creamy, tangy dressing. BROCCOLI CAULIFLOWER SALAD WITH CREAMY DRESSING My recipe for delicious Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is simple and quick to make, full of fresh broccoli and cauliflower florets, julienne red onions, and tossed in a dressing you want to drink.   Growing up, anytime we had a big gathering, Mother would cook the biggest meal, and the whole family would come.   Recipes like this classic Broccoli Cauliflower Salad totally remind me of those days of the love and care my Mother took in hosting all the family and celebrating us. Just like Mother, I keep this salad as simple as possible.  My family loves this salad year-round, especially around the holidays.   This brings up Thanksgiving around the corner, always a favorite.   I know this salad will become one of your...

Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake

Summertime is the season to indulge in a perfect combination of tangy and sweet desserts like this Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake.     BLUEBERRY GOOEY BUTTER CAKE BARS These delightful Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake Bars have the perfect combination of flavors, the ease of the recipe, and the ease of carrying it somewhere.   Perfect for any celebrations, picnics, potlucks, or grand enough for any dinner party. Gooey Butter Cake has been around for many years.  It all started with the made from scratch version supposedly made by accident by a man in a St. Louis bakery.  Then, in the early 70s, Paula Deen introduced her version using a butter cake mix.  Since then, there have been many versions of the Gooey Butter Cake. With the ease of making recipes that call for few ingredients, I can whip up a batch of these bars in no time.   I had a couple of cups of blueberries that needed to be eaten, so I added them to the recipe.  The tartness of the l...