Roasted corn on the cob

We are still using our backyard grill, even though the temperatures are certainly changing in Michigan.  I can’t give up this easy and delicious way to make roasted corn on the cob. The secret to this method is using ice cubes.  Yes, ice cubes.  I have found that corn on the cob, which has been…

Game day snacks

College football season is underway and everyone needs a new game day snack to serve. I tried using an old standby–Pepperidge Farm’s Puff Pastry sheets to make a delicious and easy pizza type snack. To make this snack, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. First, I thawed the puff pastry sheet on parchment paper for…

My Favorite candy — M & M’s

For years, I have loved M & M’s.  Probably because my last name begins with an M, or maybe because I graduated from the University of Michigan, or maybe just because I live in the state of Michigan — for whatever reason I have always enjoyed this candy treat. I wanted to spotlight this candy,…

Easy back to school cake mix cookies

Are you looking for some super quick and super easy cookies to send off with the children to school?  Here are two recipes for the super trendy cake mix cookies.  They are all over Pinterest and the Internet cooking websites.  I tried two different recipes and they were both very tasty.  So choose your favorite…

Summer Tortellini salad

Labor day is here and everyone is looking for a great end of summer salad to take to the barbecue.  Here is your recipe as this pasta salad does not have mayonnaise.  It is made instead with a vinaigrette which is just perfect for taking to your picnic or friend’s dinner. To make this recipe,…

Summer baked peaches

Another amazing baked fruit dessert to try at the end of the season has to be summer baked peaches.  We enjoyed these and can’t wait to try them again.  Baked fruit is one of my favorite desserts any time of year, and summer peaches are perfect to offer to guests after any dinner. To make…

Summer blueberry tarts

The summer blueberries have been so delicious this year, and we have treated ourselves to some delicious tarts with crumble topping.  And, I have to admit, the crumble topping is the highlight of these tarts.  Also, by using some cute tart pans, serving them can have some added fun.  I used my Emile Henry ceramic…

Tomato, mozzarella and basil salad

Sometimes a classic salad is the best choice and easiest “go-to” salad for a summer evening.  This dish is certainly one of the old standbys that works for many occasions. Summer tomatoes are the best for this dish and thin slices of fresh mozzarella are super tasty.  I grow basil every summer in my garden…

Summer stovetop shrimp boil

Over the years, I often serve this dish for summer suppers.  Everyone seems to love all the ingredients, which are very easy to prepare and serve.  This year, I added some turkey sausage, as many recipes feature some type of andouille sausage in their dishes. This recipe is a bit different from the one I…

Shrimp, corn and tomato soup

Soup can be a wonderful healthy summer dinner choice. This recipe comes together very quickly, within thirty minutes, and is perfect with a green salad. I found the original recipe in Real Simple magazine, August 2015, but I did make some changes based on personal preference. Here is a delicious soup that is perfect to…

Cupcake icing

Recently I used this almond buttercream icing for birthday cupcakes.  In fact, instead of making a large birthday cake, these cupcakes were a perfect alternative for the birthday celebration. Buttercream is delicious and by making a small amount of the recipe I found in Frostings by Courtney Whitmore, I was able to easily decorate twelve…

Zender’s noodles

A city within Mid-Michigan named Frankenmuth offers traditional German food, entertainment, shopping and cultural events. One of the dishes that is served in their famous chicken dinner restaurants is traditional buttered noodles.  These noodles are delicious and why wouldn’t they be as they are prepared with Ritz crackers and butter. This is not a low-calorie…