If you’re looking for a gift idea that’s above par yet meets your budget requirements, consider a wine club gift. They come in all price ranges, including one I just found that sends your friend or loved one a new and interesting variety every month for less than twenty bucks per bottle. The wine club… [Continue Reading]
Dill pickles rock. Well, pickles rock. I have a small garden, and the bounty varies. When I get enough cucumbers to make a batch of pickles, and my tastebuds say ‘dill pickles’, this is the recipe I use. I’ve tried several that offer up good flavor, but this one gives nice, crispy pickles and good… [Continue Reading]
I discovered this recipe one year when I received a windfall of both corn and tomatoes and wanted a way to use both. It’s a lovely relish, an abundant recipe, and a very tasty condiment. A pint of red corn relish is a big hit as a hostess gift, and is great for Christmas giving… [Continue Reading]
Chamomile is a lovely smelling and looking flower whose primary use is for a nice, calming herbal tea. I was given the gift of chamomile jelly once. I was a tad skeptical, but the first taste made me a convert. This light aromatic substance is a small piece of heaven. It is delicious. I can… [Continue Reading]
Another successful confection from my candy-making phase is traditional hard candy. Hard candy is a classic. It takes few ingredients to make, and it is pretty in a candy dish or a gift jar. This old recipe is my favorite. 2 c sugar 1 c water 3/4 c light corn syrup Food coloring (red, green,… [Continue Reading]
When I was a teenager, a couple friends and I went through a candy-making phase that lasted about 3 months. Being a big fan of butterscotch, I dug up this recipe from the family archives. It’s made with stuff found in most people’s kitchens, is pretty foolproof, and sure is good. I’ve given it for… [Continue Reading]
Several years ago, my Aunt Sylvia gave me a jar of the most interesting sandwich spread. It was different and really, really tasty. I asked for the recipe, and was surprised to see green tomatoes as one of the core ingredients. I’m always on the lookout for ways to use excess produce, and green tomatoes… [Continue Reading]
On a recent trip home, I went on a recon mission to find some of my favorite family recipes that I didn’t already have in my collection. I went on a candy-making spree sometime in my teen-aged years. My stepfather brought this recipe to the table in the midst of my hard-candy phase. I loved… [Continue Reading]
I’m not really sure when this recipe showed up in the family retinue, or from which Bruno sister it originated. I can tell by the condition of the index card on which it’s printed that it’s been awhile, though. And these are a fave of mine. I don’t make them every year, but always remember… [Continue Reading]
