tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41628616106433371182012-01-28T16:18:11.205-05:00Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.comBlogger2731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-77012270811373002672012-01-18T22:12:00.001-05:002012-01-18T22:14:07.577-05:00

First, let's all take a moment to let my mom have a good, long laugh. You see, I hate green beans, truth be told. Well, what I actually hate is Southern green beans, especially the kind canned at home. They really aren't green after canning. And they hardly taste like beans. They're mush. Yes. I'm 5 years old (still). My parents always made me eat one spoon full of beans at dinner, so I'd shove

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-47894293098291918312012-01-12T22:24:00.000-05:002012-01-12T22:26:20.758-05:00

Are you like me? Do you dislike surprises? I've never had a surprise birthday party. (In fact, I won't even go out to eat on my birthday for fear of a surprise serenade.) I found out the gender of both my babies as soon as possible. And - even though I think this would actually be fun - I've never just climbed in the car and said, "Let's go!" without having a plan in mind. It's not that I'm a

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-4202684445386141022012-01-05T21:48:00.001-05:002012-01-11T12:06:00.373-05:00

Ah, New Year's resolutions. Do you make them? Good for you. In a word for me? No. I'm not much of a goal-setter, truth be told. What am I? I'm an all good things come to those who wait kind of gal. I'm a think-it-through-er most of the time, but the older I get I'm also a just-go-for-it ... er. Apparently I'm also a maker up of words. And that being said, with two kids, and a job, and this

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-70067006674549440442011-11-07T09:00:00.000-05:002012-01-11T12:05:46.849-05:00

I'm feeling a bit under the weather this week so I need lots of citrus. Lemon-yogurt cake counts, right? And for an extra shot of Vitamin C a bit of lemon glaze is just the thing. OK. I'm trying too hard to justify eating a piece of cake. You know, we shouldn't ever feel like we need an excuse to enjoy a bite of food. I'll be the first to admit that it's a hard attitude adjustment to make, and

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-84861274272489717552011-09-29T10:00:00.000-04:002012-01-02T10:43:40.605-05:00

If I ever meet the person who invented puff pastry I'll give them a hug. It's something I always have a box of in the freezer because it comes in handy when I need a last-minute dessert that's quick to whip up. Stuff it, fill it, roll it. Sprinkle it with sugar, cinnamon or herbs. There are few things as versatile! I will say that I more often use it when making dessert or savory appetizers so

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-79087234137512877692011-09-26T10:00:00.000-04:002012-01-11T12:06:11.619-05:00

  Is there a dish, simple or involved, that you've always wanted to try? Chicken Paprikash was just such a dish for me. I've seen it in countless magazines and cookbooks, and I've clipped one version after another. There is really no reason I haven't tried it; if you know my style of cooking you know that Chicken Paprikash is right up my alley. It's simple yet full of flavor; it's homey and

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-65549132395381309182011-09-02T10:24:00.001-04:002012-01-02T10:46:27.540-05:00

Fall is coming. Can you feel it? I sat at my desk last night, listening to a soft rain and memorizing the sounds my boys make as they dream. I had a cinnamon-apple candle burning on the desk beside me, and I had a pair of warm, fuzzy socks on to warm my cool toes. This morning it's gray and chilly outside, and school buses are making their rounds, picking up children wearing layers of bright,

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-64071556051768011292011-03-23T12:24:00.010-04:002011-03-23T12:42:11.567-04:00

I love traditional shortbread. I think it's one of the most perfect desserts after a big meal - you know, a meal after which you don't really need dessert, but you're craving something sweet to go with your coffee. That's what shortbread is. It's rich and buttery and just slightly sweet, and a little piece goes a long way. Now this shortbread, well, I guess you could call it gilding the lily.

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-56706322661681761922011-03-17T12:56:00.014-04:002011-03-17T13:14:21.091-04:00

St. Patrick's Day is here, you see.We'll pick some shamrocks, one, two, three.We'll count the leaves and look them over,And maybe find a four-leafed clover.I'll sew green buttons on my vest,Green for St. Patrick is the best.I'll wear a green hat, very high,And dance a jig - at least I'll try!- poem courtesy of the theholidayspot.comHappy St. Patrick's Day! We're back in the kitchen after a quick

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-19021393224307987492011-02-28T10:00:00.000-05:002011-02-28T14:44:37.307-05:00

Sometimes I just seriously need a cookie, and nothing store-bought will (ever, really) do. If it's not homemade the texture will be off or they'll be too sweet or the nuts will be chopped so small they're non-existent. And if they're oatmeal cookies from the store they'll be filled with ... raisins. Say it with me now: ewwww. The only oatmeal cookies I like are the homemade kind because they're

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-69490256976282061942011-02-22T09:00:00.012-05:002011-02-22T09:00:04.392-05:00

Don't forget to check out Confabulation in the Kitchen on Facebook!Roasted garlic has to be one of the easiest, versatile and most delicious things on the planet. Like I told my friend Amanda on Friday night, "It's like eating flavored butter without all the calories." If you've never tried it you are missing out, my friends. How can you use it? Let me count the ways. Literally.1. Spread on warm

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-48598135703724885322011-02-14T10:00:00.005-05:002011-02-24T14:35:31.423-05:00

My sweet boy is giving out Valentines at school this year for the first time. Considering he's 2 and a half, however, I'm the one who did all the fun stuff: choosing, buying and filling them out. He would have loved to do all the "writing" himself, but I thought it might be nice if his friends knew who those Lightning McQueen cards were from! There are only about 12 kids in his class, which means

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-43660803648613270182011-02-10T19:00:00.020-05:002011-02-10T19:45:18.598-05:00

I'm sure it goes without saying that several of you, like me, are fans of Top Chef. I've never missed an episode, and I get excited every Wednesday, awaiting the show's great challenges and chefs. This week's episode centered on Jimmy Fallon, his birthday, and his favorite foods. One of those foods was chicken and dumplings, or chicken-n-dumplins if you're from the South. But hello - what in the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-90858249267227611552011-02-01T19:00:00.002-05:002011-02-01T20:09:49.548-05:00

Have you ever been served a dish that you just couldn't get out of your mind? That was the case with this strawberry, citrus and mint salad, which I first had when I met Kara of What's Kookin' in Kara's Kitchen. It took us a few years, but we finally met in early 2010. We initially connected through our blogs and our love of food and cooking, but we quickly found out that we had a lot in common!

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-41278079392438072332010-12-07T09:00:00.002-05:002011-06-11T16:45:33.179-04:00

This is one of my favorite cookie recipes, and I only make them at Christmas. They're crisp at the edge and chewy in the middle. They're filled with jewel-like candied ginger. And they make your entire house smell like ... Christmas! They do, in fact, have a lot of ginger in them, and I've been known to leave out the powdered portion (a request from Brad). If I'm making them for myself, however,

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-51580113366090879952010-12-01T19:14:00.005-05:002010-12-01T19:20:03.978-05:00

If you're like me you use a handheld mixer most of the time. Now that it's December, however, it's time to break out the big guns, i.e. that beloved Kitchenaid stand mixer that you keep in pristine condition. The most wonderful time of the year - time for holiday baking - is here! I have my first ever cookie exchange next week (!) so I'm scouring my bookmarked recipes and cookbooks for the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-8820079561743578092010-11-19T21:00:00.016-05:002010-11-20T00:27:16.413-05:00

Face it, y'all. It's the Holiday Season (as we've previously mentioned around these parts). Just throw that diet out the window. The next six to eight weeks are all about cream and gravy and cheese and chocolate. That's just the lay of the land. Rules are made to be broken (diets, too), and this is one of those dishes that might just make you slap your grandma if front of your mama on Mother's

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-82513769194114574612010-11-17T18:57:00.008-05:002010-11-17T19:45:48.965-05:00

Okay, okay. If you must eat turkey on Thanksgiving (I jest ... maybe) please promise me that you'll have an old-fashioned ceramic boat filled with oh-so-good gravy. Then take that gravy and ladle it all over your entire plate, ahem, I mean your rice. Yes, yes you'll probably have some form of potatoes on your plate, too, which call out for a ladling, but in our house we eat rice more often than

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-33051290943455274852010-11-16T13:51:00.015-05:002010-11-17T21:39:13.056-05:00

Here's the thing about Thanksgiving: So much of what we cook and eat on this special day is tied up in tradition, and it's hard to stray from that. I know that many of you are planning to make sweet potato casserole, and cover it with pecans and marshmallows, and that's fine. For many of you it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without that dish on the table, and that's fine, too. But for me - and I know

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-79525029132832441132010-11-15T14:05:00.003-05:002010-11-15T14:08:06.385-05:00

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Still working on that all-important menu? Here are some great ideas from the past few years at Confabulation in the Kitchen. And be sure to check back tomorrow when I kick off four days of great, mouth-watering Thanksgiving side dishes! Because really: Who needs the turkey?

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-64475645041439820962010-11-09T17:33:00.003-05:002010-11-09T17:38:36.722-05:00

Dear friends,I haven't forgotten you! Nor have I forgotten the fact that I do indeed have a food blog. Brad and I are celebrating our fifth anniversary and his 30th birthday this week so things have been hectic. Along with my job winding down - four weeks to go - I've just been a wee bit on the busy side. Coming soon will be a series of great Thanksgiving side dishes that you won't want to miss!

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-57740987647361605032010-10-25T09:00:00.003-04:002010-10-28T23:59:33.961-04:00

I'm not sure if you've noticed, and I'm sorry if you're not ready to think about this, but it's coming. Christmas is coming, that is. It's two months from today, friends. Sure, Halloween has yet to pass, and we've not even reached the month blessed with Thanksgiving. But jack-o-lanterns and pilgrim hats are now 75% off. Sparkles and snowflakes have taken their place on store shelves. And you know

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-74347122918925753802010-10-16T23:58:00.022-04:002010-10-18T10:23:15.991-04:00

You know that old saying, "My eyes were bigger than my stomach"? Well, that certainly applies here, as you can see. Yes - I made three plum cakes. In one night. I got a little ahead of myself when I was slicing those pretty little plums, not paying attention to the fact that if I only made two small cakes I only needed to slice two plums. So what to do with all that extra, sweetened fruit? Make

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-62258209075922353972010-10-09T21:46:00.025-04:002010-10-10T21:42:35.462-04:00

In many ways I'm just like my Grandmother Rachel. I love to bake and clip recipes. I like to stretch my creative muscles, and while I'm not at all a seamstress as she was I do enjoy crafts. I like my home kept a certain way, and I love to hang my laundry outside so it's a good thing that I still have her clothesline in the backyard. I also love to feed my family, and a Sunday lunch at home means

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-48358993370087185302010-10-03T19:46:00.031-04:002010-10-12T23:47:12.576-04:00

There are few commercially made cookies I care to eat, but an Oreo is one I don't turn down. My grandfather loves them, too, and he keeps a cookie jar filled with them at my parents' house. Cash will occasionally eat the cookie, but he's one of those lick-the-center-clean kids. And me? I like to fill a glass with milk then drop the whole Oreo in for a few seconds before retrieving it with a spoon

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-47307403666927642892010-09-25T18:00:00.001-04:002010-09-25T21:43:48.044-04:00

When I was a kid there were two memorable instances that I came in contact with pears. First, the bad: those grainy, sandy squares of pear in cans of fruit cocktail. Needless to say I picked those out (along with the tough pineapple chunks.) Second, the good: my Great Aunt Maggie's pear preserves, which I don't know how to make and haven't eaten in more years that I care to admit. (Am I really

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-67144174753868061442010-09-21T12:00:00.001-04:002011-04-05T15:23:20.142-04:00

I don't think I ever had tuna casserole growing up. In fact, other than summer fish fries in my Great Aunt Maggie's cookout* I don't remember eating much fish at all. My mom doesn't like fish if it tastes ... fishy ... which means she likes flounder if it's battered, deep-fried and served with Maw Maw's Company Cornbread and sweet mayonnaise slaw on the side. But my dad loves fish. He and I

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-67907308753872940652010-09-11T21:59:00.000-04:002010-09-11T21:59:52.524-04:00

I have a preschooler now, and boy do I feel like a parent. On the very first day I was asked to bring Cash to a party, sign up as an occasional substitute, sell coupon books as a fundraiser, and help at a few class parties throughout the year. I (think) I chose Christmas, Valentine's Day and the End-of-the-Year party. I really wanted Halloween - until I found out that we can't actually bring in

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-82339755451146547502010-09-07T20:11:00.000-04:002010-09-07T20:11:16.693-04:00

I've made cobblers and pies and buckles, but this was my first crisp. Well this specific crisp wasn't my first, because I made this recipe three times to, you know, make sure it was good enough to share. (It is.) I've been using up the few late-summer fruits still hanging around my kitchen, and these nectarines were the last of my goodies. I'm sad to see such glorious fresh fruit go, but I know

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-45206563526505960432010-09-01T22:09:00.000-04:002010-09-01T22:09:37.508-04:00

This is a recipe I've had bookmarked forever. As in a three years kind of forever. And in an effort to stop myself from digging a spoon into a jar of peanut butter, then dredging it through a pile of M&Ms, I finally baked a batch of these crack-a-licious muffins. My love for the glorious pairing of peanut butter and chocolate is well-documented, and I'm not at all ashamed to say that I ate

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-31258382357706078592010-08-29T22:22:00.000-04:002010-08-29T22:22:37.484-04:00

I realize that school is back in session, but all these posts about fall foods and apple picking have got to stop. Because seriously, people, it's not even September and you're breaking out the sweaters. And drug stores, we need to chat, too, because I've got a good six weeks left on my calendar before I'll be ready to talk about plastic pumpkins. Around here we're still out in the yard until

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-60512758836585741662010-08-23T17:45:00.001-04:002011-09-14T08:45:27.466-04:00

We're doing everything we can around here to squeeze a few more days out of summer. Over the weekend I got to cash in my Mother's Day tickets and sing along with Jack Johnson outside under the stars. (Come on over some time and I just might in fact make you banana pancakes.) It was almost cool that night, and while I can feel fall nipping at our heels there are still fresh, juicy berries to be

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-59859381680547111592010-08-16T00:43:00.000-04:002010-08-16T00:43:30.542-04:00

Corn hasn't always held star status in this house, but that all changed this summer. For a long time I eschewed corn on the cob because I despised its negative after-effects: you know, bits and pieces stuck between my teeth. Brad wouldn't touch it, along with green peas, because of the "shells," so he calls them. (We have texture issues in this house if you can't already tell.) But then we

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-31625097911728601062010-08-02T09:48:00.000-04:002010-08-02T09:48:23.701-04:00

Summer has hit me hard. I'm not talking about the heat, although there is that to contend with. I'm talking about the fact that I'd rather be outside on the patio, playing with my little guy in his wading pool and catching fireflies, than sitting inside chained to a desk. You read that right, folks: I've got a severe case of writer's block. And not even this amazing, flavorful, gooey, chewy,

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-40983310387335072092010-07-25T21:00:00.008-04:002010-07-26T08:52:41.402-04:00

It's that time of year when the squash and zucchini start rolling in as if someone has opened the flood gates. They begin to pile up in the kitchen, in the garage and finally by the garden when space everywhere else runs out. You've probably already steamed, grilled, sauteed, baked and fried* as much as you possibly can, leaving you to think "What on earth am I supposed to do with the rest of

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-66897890854481400512010-07-21T09:00:00.004-04:002010-07-21T12:39:34.310-04:00

As a rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed college freshman I had a dream. I was going to minor in French and major in business, and then I would study abroad in Paris at least one semester so I could become fluent in the lanuage. All of this would help me tremendously when I made the big post-graduation move to Paris, where I would be a dark-sunglasses and black-heel clad businesswoman by day and elegant

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-35386335173864542742010-07-19T09:00:00.011-04:002010-07-19T11:44:16.060-04:00

What are the things that a backyard barbecue birthday make? Let's make a list: burgers, balloons, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, Rice Krispie treats, sparklers, and Cokes. Check, check and check - but perhaps kicked up a notch. Cokes are always better when they come in glass bottles and you drink them with old-fashioned paper straws. And Rice Krispy treats and ice-cream cones are only as good as

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-41855805437808039582010-07-08T09:00:00.001-04:002010-07-08T11:08:35.171-04:00

I really like Chinese food. I guess what I actually like is Americanized Chinese food, and the good stuff is hard to find where I live. It's so often over-cooked, over-sauced and over-priced that we usually skip over the Chinese takeout menus in our trusty Ziplock bag and instead opt for pizza or wings. But sometimes a craving hits, and it's hard to ignore so instead of takeout we head to the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-69152908524998356462010-07-03T09:00:00.003-04:002010-07-03T23:47:17.952-04:00

For the Fourth of July I thought I'd highlight something American, and because I've been wanting to make cookies for awhile now I went with Mississippi mud. I don't actually know much about Mississippi or its mud, and I bet you think it's strange that I'm not featuring something from my own area. Well, folks, that's because around here we're known for our red-clay mud, which while great for

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-50048644702654125462010-06-29T09:00:00.001-04:002010-06-29T10:05:26.310-04:00

If my grandmother could see me now she probably wouldn't believe what was before her eyes. Beets. On my table. And I'm enjoying them. Perhaps it's her influence leading me down this road; I do live in her house after all. I can remember sitting in this same kitchen refusing to even touch her home-pickled beets. What I wouldn't give to have a bite of her home-canned beets today! Until I figure out

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-16352079783283041982010-06-22T12:00:00.001-04:002010-06-22T12:41:10.337-04:00

There is no doubt that when it comes to food I am Southern to the core. Fried chicken is my favorite food. I'll choose a buttermilk biscuit over toast any day of the week. And I'd rather have a big, warm piece of my Mama's pound cake than any fancy, bakery cupcake you throw at me. But. (But.) When it comes to vegetables I think I first had them during some out-of-body experience. Because you see

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-755921806384146992010-06-16T14:00:00.004-04:002010-06-23T10:30:10.697-04:00

My sister Elaina's baby shower has now come and gone, and it was so much fun! It was given at my house, along with help from my mom and my youngest sister. I worked from dawn until dusk for a week on the planning, designing and food (which explains the silence around here last week), and it all came out exactly as I'd hoped. My feet hurt, my back hurt and a couple of days my head even hurt, but I

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-86286792315918520002010-06-09T21:00:00.003-04:002010-06-10T10:04:33.158-04:00

My dad called me last weekend with a fabulous invitation: "The blueberries are in; do you want to come pick them today?" You see I had been waiting, maybe not so patiently, for that phone call. And I'm sure he had been ready to call me so I'd quit bugging him. But all I had been hearing was "Not sure we're going to get any berries this year. All these storms have beat the blossoms to death." But

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-16973361068623625772010-06-05T11:00:00.001-04:002010-10-10T21:42:41.630-04:00

You know the old saying, "There's no such thing as a new idea"? Well, it's true, and the Internet reminds me every single day. I kept seeing (and clipping) dulce de leche recipes all over the web, but I wasn't exactly sure how to find this sweet concoction so I could taste it myself. Thus, I turned to the Almighty Google Monster and ta-da! A DIY version exists! But that first version I found? It

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-1683148617466522592010-06-02T09:00:00.002-04:002010-06-02T14:23:17.441-04:00

I don't know about you, but for me summer begins on Memorial Day. That's the day when grills are pulled out all over this land, and Americans gather together to break bread and remember those men and women who made this country great. I spent Memorial Day with my grandfather (a former Navy man) and family on the Crystal Coast. And of course we came back to our house, covered in sand, to devour

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-62176346212942967112010-05-25T09:00:00.005-04:002010-05-25T17:16:34.775-04:00

I've been trying to cook vegetarian meals at least once a week, which means I turn to pastas and sandwiches and often breakfast for supper (hold the bacon.) Other times I've tried to go meat-lite, which means a big salad tossed with a chicken breast, shared between us, or stir-fries with a steak, shared between us. But for the last month I've been enjoying the fruits of someone else's labor, and

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-58593361571361606212010-05-20T09:00:00.008-04:002010-05-21T01:27:04.016-04:00

When it comes to oatmeal cookies many people place themselves in one of two distinct camps: They hate oatmeal cookies or they love oatmeal cookies. I think I know the reason why. Oatmeal cookies for some strange reason are often acquainted with raisins. And if you're like me there is one place you believe raisins should never be found - in baked goods. That's why I've never found a store-baked

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-63738508240647067102010-05-17T09:00:00.002-04:002010-05-17T10:48:17.467-04:00

Kara recently wrote about a great breakfast dish, which she and her husband shared for dinner. I was surprised (just as she was) to find out that some people just don't do breakfast for dinner. I just have to say it: Is there something wrong with them? I'm all about the easy stuff on busy days when I still want a home-cooked meal, and sometimes that means homemade waffles with sausage or bacon,

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-20834522570366493692010-05-14T09:00:00.003-04:002010-05-14T09:44:55.040-04:00

I know, I know. I make Italian food but don't mention the bread. What is wrong with me? Nothing, actually. I was saving this recipe because it deserves its own post - even if it is easy as A-B-C and is hardly even worth being called an actual recipe. If you hang out around this house long enough you'll find out that we have a certain affinity for Texas Toast, which is really just a euphemism for

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-46586305884931099832010-05-11T11:00:00.005-04:002010-08-18T22:52:33.843-04:00

One of my goals this year is to make homemade pasta from scratch. While I guess technically that's exactly what I did here I'm not quite ready to mark through that item. There are too many other pastas to create by hand, and besides, can I really consider myself a pasta-maker before I've bought a pasta roller? I think not! (All the while, my banker shakes his head in sad amazement.)I have to

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-38289022369080032192010-05-08T20:07:00.009-04:002010-08-24T23:11:36.651-04:00

Strawberry season is in full tilt in North Carolina, just in time for Mother's Day. I'm excited to take these beauties to my parents' house tomorrow, where I'll be celebrating being a mother, and having a mother, with my extended family. This may be my second Mother's Day but that doesn't make it any less sweet! I may, in fact, have already shared one of these cupcakes (or two) with my sweet

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-2288439223116658302010-05-03T12:34:00.010-04:002010-08-18T23:10:54.184-04:00

I've worked at night - and almost every weekend - since I graduated from college. That's the life of a newspaper copy-editor, after all. This means that I miss a lot of holiday celebrations such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and even Cinco de Mayo (unless they fall on a Friday night, which is one of my days off.) I don't get to take part in the cookouts and taco fests and poolside Coronas

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-22016878786859181192010-04-29T21:03:00.027-04:002010-04-30T10:49:39.656-04:00

There is only one food that renders me truly weak in the knees: peanut butter. And I'm not talking about the "healthy", "organic," "natural" kind. I'm talking about what you grew up with: the thick, creamy (hold the crunch, please), sweet, salty, coat the roof of your mouth, glue two pieces of white bread together kind. That is the stuff I'm talking about. I love it between two crisp saltines. Or

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-51440588832385244562010-04-27T10:50:00.026-04:002010-04-27T13:45:12.229-04:00

"What did you feed Cash for supper?" I ask while I'm at work Sunday night. (Because I obviously didn't leave anything at home for the guys. Although we did make homemade "pasta" for lunch! But that's another story, and I'm getting away from things more pertinent to today, such as that photo above. *drool*)"We went to the grocery store. I got some roasted potatoes, and he had some 'ronies with

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-71523275413955873642010-04-25T00:23:00.004-04:002010-04-25T00:25:39.922-04:00

I feel like I should send out a quick apology to all of you who view Confabulation in the Kitchen in a feed-reader. Because, uh, my feed has been stuck since June of 2009. I know! I hated that, too! I figured out how to fix it tonight. And now you have ... a very full reader. So. Sorry 'bout that, but from now on it should all be hunky dory. So just mark 'em as read, and we'll move on. (Surely

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-48746630713203240322010-04-24T19:00:00.003-04:002010-10-10T21:42:47.238-04:00

Now before you get your knickers in a knot, yes, I realize this isn't a true, complete, slow-cooker recipe because it takes - omigoodness - a bit of sauteeing. But if you can't handle sauteeing a few onions and garlic well, there is little I can do to help you, my friend. For most of you out there, however, I know a pan and a little oil won't hurt you. And in fact being the true eaters and

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-69445360521205690252010-04-20T20:36:00.016-04:002010-07-18T23:04:53.788-04:00

If you've ever been on a diet you know what trigger foods are. They're the foods that you simply cannot have in the house because you'll eat them. All of them. At one time. In one sitting. Like, the whole bag. You get my drift? For me those foods are potato chips, homemade bread and chocolate - chocolate in any form. In other words baking Barbara's Chocolate Revel Bars was a bad move on my part.

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-81575455305590190162010-04-17T09:00:00.001-04:002010-04-17T09:00:05.989-04:00

This blog has and always will be about feeding my family. That's not to say that at times I won't try something new and a bit more involved, but it does mean that for the most part what you'll find here are recipes I've made for my family, enjoyed, and put into our meal rotation. It was a given, then, that when I ran across a blog called Full Bellies, Happy Kids it would pique my attention. And

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-30010946678483907152010-04-12T09:00:00.002-04:002010-04-12T14:14:57.383-04:00

People who don't cook say they "can't even boil water." People who do cook say that boiling eggs is a hard task to master. Both groups should be happy to know that instructions for successfully boiling eggs abound on the Internet, and that once they master the task they can eat like kings and queens - as long as they like egg salad, of course. In this house we do love egg salad but only the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-37967450154502205842010-04-03T16:23:00.025-04:002010-05-15T20:46:59.484-04:00

Cash's first Easter was fun, but because he was so small we didn't get into the candy and the egg hunts and the Easter baskets ... but this year? We have done every single bit of the fun stuff that goes along with this glorious spring holiday! And perhaps he didn't quite understand the egg hunt this morning even though he screamed when he had to wait his turn. (One small, purple egg was enough to

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-30709035664913180172010-03-23T19:16:00.021-04:002010-03-24T20:27:39.533-04:00

I awoke this morning to the unexpected sound of a lawn mower in my yard. Our gardener showed up a bit early (try two months early) to take care of the grass that I will admit needed to be cut because of all the rains we've been getting - premature April showers you might call them. While a gardening bill for March isn't exactly in the budget I did appreciate the smell of freshly cut grass, which

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-15474551692082432302010-03-16T18:38:00.024-04:002012-01-19T14:24:49.569-05:00

There aren't many big drinkers in my family. I like the occasional cocktail, and I do love a glass of red wine, but I have to be around friends to indulge. Brad doesn't drink at all, which means that when it comes to recipes that require alcohol, well, I usually pass. (To be honest I've never even stepped inside an ABC** store!) Yesterday, however, I found myself at the grocery store on my

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-32018821529468169172010-03-10T09:00:00.007-05:002010-03-10T09:00:02.635-05:00

Every time I make soda bread I'm afraid it won't turn out. I don't know how else to put this: In its raw form it always seems like such a glob of ... goop. It's a very wet dough, and while it doesn't have yeast it does require a teensy bit of kneading, and of course that's the part that always stresses me out. Yet when I look in the oven I'm always pleasantly surprised, and when I taste it? Well,

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-17252288682670505132010-03-06T20:46:00.033-05:002010-03-06T21:34:20.323-05:00

There is so much I love about these muffins. I love that they make me think of Mama and the blueberry muffins she made us girls when we were small. I love how the big, bright blueberries make the muffins turn a whimsical violet. I love that these muffins are filled with blueberries that Daddy grew and that we picked last year at the height of spring, amidst the bugs and sunrays through the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-19857604423706799522010-03-03T13:11:00.013-05:002010-03-03T13:35:24.997-05:00

I often lament the fact that my husband is a picky eater. Although his palate is much expanded now than when we met I often find myself wishing he'd try something new that I want to try. I have to hand it to him, however, that he has never flat-out refused to eat something I make. He's not really an ooh-er ah-er when it comes to food so when he's really enjoying something I know it. (But it's

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-16716970751569975962010-02-26T14:16:00.026-05:002010-10-10T21:42:53.119-04:00

I'll be the first to admit that I usually turn to my crockpot on days when I just don't have time to cook. It's so nice to get up in the morning, prepare food for the crockpot, turn it on, and go do whatever else it is that's keeping me from the kitchen that day. And the one thing I always keep in the freezer - crockpot ready, you might say - is country-style pork ribs. They're thicker and more

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-84595425440130650262010-02-24T12:14:00.006-05:002010-02-24T12:36:28.939-05:00

Have you ever been to one of those Find-Your-Own-Gem mines? Before you even arrive you just know that they're a ripoff because if it was that easy to find emeralds and rubies we'd all be zillionaires, or the stones wouldn't be worth much. Yet you go and when they blow that silly horn to announce that Mr. Smith just found a beautiful ruby and it weighs THIS MUCH, you get that little inkling of

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-13886645537906177062010-02-17T11:51:00.014-05:002010-02-17T15:01:00.747-05:00

The following scene plays out all too often in my house:"What should I cook tonight? Let's see, I have chicken thawed, and that baguette is going to go bad if I don't use it. Spicy barbecue chicken would be great, but no, Cash won't be into the spice. How about chicken, potatoes and peas? Wait. Peas. Brad doesn't eat peas. Do I have a bag of broccoli? I do. Well, that's always welcome on the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-53539275570741187972010-02-14T17:47:00.012-05:002010-05-15T20:43:33.000-04:00

At our house Valentine's Day isn't such a big deal. Yes, there are a few treats here and there (such as a bag full of M&Ms from MiMi to her favorite boy), and we do take a moment to do something special for each other: He made breakfast for me this morning, and I made a cake for him this afternoon. I suppose I should say I made a cake for them, although the mini-human in the family was much more

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-16743930450285794312010-02-08T11:04:00.012-05:002010-02-17T19:54:48.586-05:00

Statistics show that Americans ate almost 91 pounds of chicken in 2007. That's each American. That's a lot of poultry! I have to admit that our household probably consumed more than its allotted 90 pounds each, I kid you not. We don't eat a lot of beef because other than ground beef Brad doesn't care for it. I like the occasional steak, but I don't really enjoy the atmosphere of steakhouses so

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-3957731351727890282010-02-02T14:11:00.011-05:002010-02-02T14:31:29.136-05:00

This is the perfect example of a Church Lady Cake. Do you know what I'm talking about? When I was little my favorite part of church dinners was heading to the dessert table to choose my cake. Every piece was cut from a 9x13 pan and sat on its own little paper plate. The cakes were never terribly fancy, but they were always wonderfully made. They were little rectangles of church-lady sweetness, is

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-694943391910047022010-01-30T13:01:00.010-05:002010-10-10T21:42:58.299-04:00

At this very second there are six inches of snow covering my yard. There is more snow falling, and to top it off sleet is covering the snow, making our city one slick, wintery mess. In a few hours I have to go to work so my wonderful husband is shoveling the driveway. It's taking awhile, God bless him, but we Southerners just aren't used to this mess and don't have the tools to deal with the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-44862569524621361342010-01-23T19:58:00.012-05:002010-05-21T01:38:17.375-04:00

Many parents dream of their little ones growing up to save the world in some way. Doctors, lawyers, maybe even president - it all sounds good to them. Of course if my children decide to take one of those journeys I'd be as proud as any mama would be, but I really only want them to be happy, healthy and loved. I'm hoping that their health comes from a love of being in the kitchen and preparing

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-21369645004306597272010-01-19T13:46:00.013-05:002010-01-19T21:13:23.522-05:00

This was one of the simplest meals I've made in a long while. It seems I too often get caught in the Flavor Means 1,000 Ingredients camp, and my meals take too long to prepare and get eaten too quickly. That has to change.My life is scheduled to death. I have a full-time job, a part-time job, a toddler(!), a husband, and a (somewhat messy) house. The joy of preparing our meals is lost on me these

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-48094051170639451402010-01-15T10:51:00.012-05:002010-08-01T22:12:24.650-04:00

Have you ever seen the show Crossroads? It's really great. A country artist and an artist from another musical genre are paired, and they blend their styles to come up with something even better, in some cases, than what they're originally known for. (For example: Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's Raising Sand. Go listen. I'll wait.)That's kind of what I got with this recipe. I had never heard of

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-81308193907800842032010-01-12T11:28:00.010-05:002010-01-13T16:18:17.622-05:00

If I must admit to my weakness before I can rise against it I must say this: I love French fries. They are my one true weakness. You can have your chocolate. You can have your bread and butter. You can even have your wine. For me it's those golden, crisp, hot, salty, deep-fried pieces of potato goodness that I. must. have.And I don't discriminate. I like them all ways: shoestring; steak; curly;

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-44816092572508907772010-01-09T09:00:00.006-05:002010-09-22T00:15:57.754-04:00

Baby, it's cold outside. I went to wash the salt and dirt off my car today, and there were icicles hanging off the car-wash entrance. I can see my breath at noon. I'm wearing boots, coats, scarves and mittens to work. (If you know me at all you know I wear flip flops as long as I possibly can every year, and I often forgo coats because I can always run from my car to the door. Who needs a coat

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-79230119986579233252010-01-05T09:00:00.023-05:002010-01-05T09:00:06.651-05:00

I'm not much of a believer in resolutions; that's probably because I've broken almost every one I've ever made. I do believe, however, in making fresh starts no matter what time of the year it is. There is always room for improvement, and in my opinion putting the effort off until the first of the year is simply a waste of time. But since I never learn from my mistakes I'm going to do the obvious

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-8114309026312653042009-12-24T10:00:00.001-05:002009-12-24T11:59:58.142-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-84683834857094998592009-12-21T13:21:00.010-05:002010-05-01T21:29:33.354-04:00

When I was a kid Christmas morning meant two things: Santa and breakfast - a fabulous breakfast made by my mom. My grandparents and other family members were always invited, and we had great, Southern fare: grits, bacon, sausage, eggs (scrambled and boiled), toast and my favorite ... gravy made from leftover turkey and drippings from Christmas Eve dinner. I still love breakfast, and a few years

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-74098383803399085722009-12-12T14:26:00.018-05:002009-12-12T23:05:14.647-05:00

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chocolate Balls!On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chewy Cherry Chunk Cookies!On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... School Fudge!On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Rolo Cookies!On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Peanut Butter 'Sandwiches'!On the seventh

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-61661995668790573902009-12-11T13:12:00.013-05:002010-12-05T18:54:00.463-05:00

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chewy Cherry Chunk Cookies!On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... School Fudge!On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Rolo Cookies!On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Peanut Butter 'Sandwiches'!On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Tiny Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-25115493186798074282009-12-10T10:14:00.010-05:002010-09-29T20:52:37.391-04:00

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... School Fudge!On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Rolo Cookies!On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Peanut Butter 'Sandwiches'!On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Tiny Chocolate Chip Cookies!On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Santa Buttons!On the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-45317713768359235202009-12-09T11:00:00.005-05:002010-09-29T20:51:01.031-04:00

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Rolo Cookies!On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Peanut Butter 'Sandwiches'!On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Tiny Chocolate Chip Cookies!On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Santa Buttons!On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cranberry Crumb Bars!On

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-86147654483397917832009-12-08T09:00:00.004-05:002010-09-22T20:45:55.037-04:00

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Peanut Butter 'Sandwiches'!On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Tiny Chocolate Chip Cookies!On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Santa Buttons!On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cranberry Crumb Bars!On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chocolate

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-32111862925181337542009-12-07T09:00:00.008-05:002010-09-22T20:29:38.009-04:00

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Tiny Chocolate Chip Cookies!On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Santa Buttons!On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cranberry Crumb Bars!On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chocolate Crinkles!On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cinnamon Roll Cookies!On

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-50353741502768795002009-12-06T09:00:00.007-05:002010-08-31T22:37:05.272-04:00

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Santa Buttons!On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cranberry Crumb Bars!On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chocolate Crinkles!On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cinnamon Roll Cookies!On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Microwave Peanut Brittle!On the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-4989592936940748282009-12-05T11:34:00.009-05:002010-01-24T20:06:26.891-05:00

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cranberry Crumb Bars!On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chocolate Crinkles!On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cinnamon Roll Cookies!On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Microwave Peanut Brittle!On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Almond Lace Cookies!

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-21022708984918739962009-12-04T09:00:00.010-05:002009-12-04T09:00:06.414-05:00

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chocolate Crinkles!On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cinnamon Roll Cookies!On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Microwave Peanut Brittle!On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Almond Lace Cookies!There is just something about the name of these cookies, Chocolate Crinkles,

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-40536105706655763322009-12-03T09:00:00.002-05:002009-12-03T22:09:03.382-05:00

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cinnamon Roll Cookies!On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Microwave Peanut Brittle!On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Almond Lace Cookies!First, a confession. I've made these before (and I even posted about them.) But they've never been featured in The Kitchen, and boy howdy do they ever

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-74940308873512107442009-12-02T09:00:00.008-05:002010-09-29T20:19:16.278-04:00

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Microwave Peanut Brittle!On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Almond Lace Cookies!(As you can tell, I've been busy and have put together 12 Christmas treats for the first 12 days of December. I hope you enjoy them all!)I have always liked to cook. I remember standing on a chair at the stove, where I was in charge of

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-24079102318507483672009-12-01T09:00:00.009-05:002010-07-01T00:00:21.210-04:00

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me ... Almond Lace Cookies!My youngest sister absolutely loves lace cookies so these were specifically made for her. I always thought they'd be much more difficult to make than they actually were because they're so thin and delicate, just like the lace your grandmother may have kept in her hope chest. As you can see you can practically see

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-17531106859135907982009-11-25T15:28:00.007-05:002010-01-15T14:46:40.325-05:00

Simply put, I am not a fan of pumpkin pie. Give me a slice of chocolate pie, or slide pecan pie my way any day; but pumpkin pie I just do not care for. I know it's a traditional part of the American version of Thankgiving. I know that a lot of you believe it's sacrilegious for me to admit I dislike it. But I have a feeling there are a lot of you out there nodding your head in agreement. That's

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-56862577676370248812009-11-24T13:13:00.008-05:002010-01-24T20:10:23.954-05:00

You're unlikely to find any recipes for roasted turkey on this blog for one reason: The Thanksgiving turkey? Eh. I can take it or leave it. In my eyes it's the side dishes that reign supreme on Thanksgiving. Stuffing! Rolls! Casseroles! Puddings! Potatoes! Those are the dishes that Thanksgiving is made of. And you can add one more to that list this year: Cauliflower Gratin. Oh, my.This is not a

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-48136715726480776552009-11-20T09:00:00.001-05:002010-01-24T19:59:34.097-05:00

This casserole has probably been around for ages. It has the usual suspects: butter, mayo and canned cream soup. It's terribly fattening, but it's very popular, and while it does have quite a bit of chopped broccoli in it I wouldn't jot down the recipe and hand it over to your cardiovascular surgeon. I would, however, give it a place of honor on your Thanksgiving table because that's exactly

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-13498803016665794022009-11-17T09:00:00.006-05:002010-01-24T20:10:30.646-05:00

One of the first things I do every fall is wait for the butternut squash to show up in the grocery store. Its arrival truly signals the beginning of the holiday season; it cues the comforting smells of cinnamon in my house; it means soup season is in full swing. And, oh, what a soup this is.Brad took me to a great dinner last Valentine's Day, and our second course was a bowl of luscious, whipped

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-21818225095377720232009-11-14T09:00:00.006-05:002010-09-29T22:45:05.029-04:00

I grew up with a love for macaroni and cheese, but are there many kids in America who don't? It's one of the most marketed kid foods, I'd say, with that kind that comes in a box. You know, all those little rugrats with "the blues". I've never really understood how something like warm, gooey, creamy mac-n-cheese can give you the blues, but I guess it worked on some marketing test group. To me,

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-50177032802866384522009-11-10T10:29:00.012-05:002010-09-08T20:46:50.708-04:00

My new book club met for the first time last Friday night. We appropriately read Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, which is the story of a group of women who do, what else? They start a book club! Not only did everybody enjoy the book and the discussion they also enjoyed the refreshments. I wanted to serve something fall-ish, and I remembered that a friend and I were recently talking about the

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-32466136807155376632009-11-06T09:00:00.004-05:002010-09-28T23:54:43.963-04:00

I have a salty tooth, but Brad? Brad has teeth MADE of sugar that have to be treated with sugary foods ever so often so they don't fall out. Wait. It's supposed to be the other way around, isn't it? I wanted to make something he liked but not so much that he'd sit at the table and eat the ENTIRE thing, such as a bag of cookies. This is what I came up with - a tried and true recipe. This simple

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162861610643337118.post-47322455518473047922009-11-03T11:52:00.014-05:002010-09-08T20:52:59.142-04:00

I don't have a lot of experience baking and cooking with pumpkin. I readily admit that I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie, and when my co-workers make runs to Starbucks for pumpkin-spice lattes I politely decline. (I realize there isn't actually any pumpkin in those lattes, but I'm a hot-chocolate kind of girl.) I've had pumpkin cookies, but they're too cake-like for me. And pumpkin cheesecake is

Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387869223038293214noreply@blogger.com3