Strawberry "Poke" Cake

I posted this picture of the strawberry poke-cake I made and served on Easter, to my Facebook page… and received many requests for the recipe after doing so. I wish I could take credit for coming up with the idea, but it’s been around for some time and is already pretty well known.

For those who have never been introduced, here’s the basic gist. A light, moist, refreshing desert with fresh strawberries as a bonus! I am always one to improvise based on what I have on hand, or if I think I might like to change things up a bit, and I encourage you to do the same.

Cream cheese frosting is a departure I made from the recipe when it was given to me. I think whipping cream is what’s traditional. Do what you think you’ll like best!

CAKE

Ingredients:

• 1 box white, yellow (butter,) or even strawberry flavored box cake mix

• eggs, oil and water as called for on the box

• 1 (3 oz.) box Strawberry Jello

• 1 cup boiling water

• cream cheese frosting

• sliced strawberries, for garnish

Directions:

1. Prepare cake batter according to the packaging directions:

2. Pour into greased 9x13 inch baking pan and bake, again, according to box directions.

3. Remove from oven. Let cool 30 minutes.

4. Using the handle of a large wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake.

5. In a medium bowl, stir together jello mix and boiling water until jello dissolves completely.

6. Carefully pour mixture evenly over the top of cake. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge to chill for 2 hours or until Jello is firm and set.

7. Remove from refrigerator and ice with cream cheese frosting (recipe below,) garnish with sliced strawberries.

8. Serve immediately, or return to refrigerator until served.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 8oz cream cheese

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 2 tsps vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Combine softened butter and cream cheese in medium bowl: beat on medium speed until well blended.

2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until creamy.

My Mother's Day Bushel of Blessings

We reserve the second Sunday in May to honor mother’s and the art of mothering, for where would we be without these nurturing warriors?

That term, “nurturing warrior,” describes my own mother perfectly. Wilma Dean was a 6’ tall Ozark beauty, who lived and loved fiercely. Always ready with a warm embrace, a word of encouragement, and a hearty meal, she was also quick with advice or a deserved scolding, and you would never - I mean NEVER - come between her and one of her children! I’ll bet you know a mother just like I’ve described!

The song lyrics, “I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck…” were sung in my family home often, and has inspired me to send this bushel of blessings your way for Mother’s Day.

All you must do to enter is to send me a note. Of course, since you’re writing to me anyway… you know I love to hear your stories! Tell me one about Mother’s! I want to know about your mom, your partner’s mom, a phenomenal mom you know. Tell me about how you became a mom, and how the experience has shaped you.

Enter by writing to me HERE

My Mother’s Day Bushel of Blessings

I’ve got some beautiful flowers to share with you from my friends at Balsam Hill!

Balsam Hill is always so generous to me and my listeners! They are providing this gorgeous white forsythia wreath to grace a door, a mantle, or any indoor space that could use a little brightening up. Advance technology has been used to create the most realistic faux foliage and flowers; this beautiful piece won't fade through the season, and will be just as fresh and lovely next spring!

I’m including three CD’s in my bushel of blessings - Train’s Greatest Hit’s, Michael Buble’s LOVE, and Jack Savoretti’s Singing to Strangers. All three are newer releases and all three are fabulous!

Greatest Hits, is just that - Train favorites like Drops of Jupiter, Hey Soul Sister, and Play That Song, and many others. Special guest, Kenny G, on a cover of Careless Whisper for example, is simply the best!

LOVE, is full of heart and soul, marking Michael’s return to music after a hiatus in which he devoted his time and attention to his son and family. Everyone feels the love when listening to Michael’s Buble’ - it seems like he’s singing directly to you!

Pat Monahan and Michael Buble’ have been recent guests on my podcast series, LOVE SOMEONE with Delilah. This platform allows me to talk to the artists about their work, yes, but also their lives, their motivations, their passions and their hopes and dreams for all of us. Give it a listen!

Singing to Strangers, is a new album I delight in presenting to you! Jack Savoretti, who has toured with John Legend, is a charming, talented, singer/songwriter and a household name in Europe, with chart-topping hits in England and Italy. Be careful, he’ll easily sweep you off your feet, and you’ll no longer be a stranger to his music! View the official Candlelight video and you’ll easily see why I’m so enamoured!

Three more blessings come to you in the form of BOOKS! An autographed copy of my own memoire, One Heart At A Time, as well as Mrs. Morhard and The Boys, about the mother that inspired baseball’s Little League, and A Brave Face, written by a mother-daughter team about triumph over tragedy and a how families are formed in never-imagined ways.

In One Heart at A Time, I share my life with you and hopefully impart some inspiration for you to do what is in your powers to change the world for good, heart by heart. Don’t overthink, don’t over guess, just take one small action at a time. The shift you’ll feel in your perception of life will be all the encouragement you need to continue to reach out to others.

Mrs. Morhard and The Boys, by Ruth Hanford Morhard, was a Delilah Book Club feature a few months ago. Written about the author’s mother-in-law and what she did as a single mother to keep her young son busy, safe, and happy during the difficult years of the Great Depression. She could never have known that by creating a popular youth activity it would develop into what we today know as baseball’s Little League; you’ll love this story!

And A Brave Face, by mother-daughter team, Barbara Marlowe and Teeba Furat Marlowe. What does it take to become a mom? It’s a mixture of love, bravery, and tenacity as you’ll soon discover when reading about the woman who saw a picture of a little girl in Iraq desperately needing help and decided then and there, she’d be the one to provide it…

I hope the these books keep you busy through the remainder of spring; when the days are lengthening but still a bit chilly, and curling up with a cozy throw, a cup of tea, and some great reading material still sounds like a fantastic way to spend an evening or weekend.

Barbara and Teeba were also recent guests on LOVE SOMEONE! I encourage you to give that episode some of your time and attention as their story is truly touching and so very inspirational!

If my mention of curling up with a comfy throw and cuppa joe sounded good, you’ll be pleased to know I’m helping to make the vision a reality! I’m including a PediPocket blanket - a warm and cozy throw with built-in foot pocket that banishes cold toes forever!

It’s a little piece of heaven that I hope blesses you on Mother’s Day and every day!

Blessing others just makes my heart happy! These little give-aways are a wonderful way to share good stuff with you and info about some of my favorite things.

This is a sweepstakes, which means the winner will be chosen at random.
All you must do to enter is write to me HERE.

Entries must be received by midnight, Monday, May 6th,
(Thank you for understanding that I can only ship to address located within the United States)  

Zucchini Fritters

I recently hosted a cooking demonstration on a big boat in a bigger sea.

It was a cruise ship actually, and I was in the middle of the Caribbean, chatting away to a group of Delilah enthusiasts about my kids, my life, my farm, and my love of cooking!

I shared my Zucchini Fritter recipe with everyone, and then we taste-tested the result! Mmmmm.

Perhaps it was the excitement, the sea air, the energetic participants… but oh my, they were delicious if I do say so myself!

It will soon be zucchini season, so here’s the (easy!) recipe if you feel like giving them a try:

Ingredients:

• 2-3 medium zucchini, grated

• 1 small to medium onion, finely diced

• 1/3 cup all purpose flour

• 2/3 cup Panko bread crumbs

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 large eggs, beaten

• 3 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 tsp garlic powder)

• salt, freshly ground black pepper, and paprika to taste (or use about 2 teaspoons of seasoning salt)

• 4 tblsp olive oil

Directions:

1. Place grated zucchini and diced onion in middle of a square of cheesecloth, or a clean kitchen towel, and squeeze to drain as much moisture from the vegetables as you can. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, Panko, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika (or garlic powder and seasoning salt,) then add the zucchini and onion and stir well.  

3. Add the 2 beaten eggs to the batter just before frying, and mix until evenly combined.

4. Working in batches, heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Gently drop mounds of the zucchini batter into the skillet, about 2 heaping tablespoons at a time; flatten slightly with the back of a spatula.

5. Fry until cooked through and golden brown; approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Remove to paper towels, then to serving dish.

6. Serve warm as an appetizer, side, or light lunch/brunch. Use your favorite aioli sauce or plain yogurt for dressing.

Deep Harbor | April Book Club

Visit Fern Michaels Author Page HERE (Obviously a dog-lover like me!)

The acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels has a new book out, delving into the remarkable ways in which moments of crises can lead to our greatest acts of courage… I’ve chosen Deep Harbor as my April Book Club pick!

CJ (Carol Ann Jansen) has not had an easy life. First, she lost her parents at a very young age, and as we know, there is nothing that can truly make up for that in the life of the child who has been left behind.

CJ’s older brother, Kick however, did what he could to shelter and protect her, becoming her life raft. Sadly, as a young adult, she is faced with loss once again, when Kick dies in a boating accident.

Moving into her brother’s home to feel closer to his memory, she pours herself into her career as an administrative assistant to a powerful member of Congress. Many who have experienced profound grief in their personal life, as CJ had, might relate to this job focused energy - something one feels like they perhaps have more control over than the lives of those they love.

But CJ’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel when she finds information implicating her boss, someone she’s grown to admire and respect, in less than legal activities - and then he too, goes missing.

Without giving too much of this fabulous, stirring, somewhat suspenseful, novel away before you get a chance to read it yourself, let me just say that CJ finds herself uprooted from everyone and everything she’s ever known, and placed (for her own protection) into a small New England town - on the water that took Kick from her…

There are so many layers to this story; as each is peeled back and reveled to the reader, it’s the heart, soul, and resilience of CJ, a strong female character, that endears Deep Harbor to us.

Pick up your copy today HERE!

My Easter Basket of Good Things

Enter by writing to me HERE

So very soon my friends, Ole’ Peter Cotton Tail will be hoppin’ down the bunny trail (hippity hoppity, Easter’s on it’s waaaaaay) and we’ll be celebrating the day in a myriad of ways.

For many it will begin with sunrise church service, celebrating the highest of Christian holy days (I’m in!), for others it may mean a walk on a spring day, or time spent in prayer or meditation.

Certainly, no one will be immune to the gladness, and goodness, and joy of spring! This time of rebirth, of sights and scents that fill our senses, and creep into our bodies, our bones, our cellular structure… promising hope and renewal.

There will be Easter dresses, Easter bonnets, Easter bow-ties, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, and Easter dinners. There will be an abundance of Easter blessings.

I want to help: I’m going to be give away a basket of Easter goodness to one lucky listener. All you must do to enter is to send me a note. Tell me what you’ll be up to on Easter. Maybe you’ll share your beliefs, your traditions, your hopes… I love hearing from you and getting peeks into who you are and what your lives are like.

In my Easter Basket of Good Things you’ll find:

MUSIC!

Burn The Ships, the latest from
for KING & COUNTRY

From Christian singer/songwriter brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, comes a compilation honoring the many extraordinary changes and transitions the brothers have experienced since their last album.

A marriage for one, a new baby for the other, celebrations, struggles, and all the magical mundane moments in between. Burn the Ships is their personal soundtrack to the seasons of life. 11 songs capturing all the hope, perseverance, and love that a life well-lived involves.

It’s a perfect soundtrack for the Easter season, and calls to all of us to Rise.

Be sure and watch their heartwarming video of how one recent “Make a Wish” projected touched their lives. 

AND, Bridges, Josh Groban’s Newest

A very full album with 12 singles - 9 of them co-written by the man himself! It’s an album of gratitude, opening with the single Granted, and following with many personal and touching songs. There is an impressive guest line-up on Bridges as well, such as Sarah McLachlan, on Run, Andrea Bocelli on We Will Meet Again, and Jennifer Nettles on 99 Years. But I think my favorite is his collaboration with Flamenco musician Vicente Amigo on Musica del Corazon! Wow. Just wow.

I recently caught up with Josh in New York City; a kind, lovely, man who remains grounded and true to his authentic self - he’s matured for sure, but still the 19 year old I met for the first time many years ago. We recorded our time together for my LOVE SOMEONE podcast! Give it a listen, and pay close attention to the information shared on his Find Your Light Foundation!

BOOKS!

The Beloved Christian Daily Devotional,
Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.

With it’s beautiful new on-trend foil and fabric botanical cover, this recently released edition of Jesus Calling has a rich, elegant feel, along with large text and written-out scripture verses.

This devotional is a much used, much enjoyed, important member of my personal library, and I want you to have it too. Experience a deeper relationship with Jesus as you savor the presence of the One who understands you perfectly and loves you forever.

MY book, One Heart At A Time!

A memoire of big and small moments in my life, that led me down the path to the place I’m at today. Granted, the path looks a bit like one of those Family Circus cartoons… it’s not a very strait passage from Point A to Point B, but as the kid in that comic knew, there are so many more interesting things to see and do when you take the road less traveled! I hope you will find One Heart At A Time to be a blessing and an inspiration to change the world, One. Heart. At. A. Time.

CANDY and FLOWERS!

Delicious Brown & Haley’s Almond ROCA

No Easter basket is complete without candy, and I’m including the BEST!

A perennial favorite of my families my entire life! No holiday was without Almond ROCA

, and no basket should be either! Brown & Haley are still operating from their large brick building in downtown Tacoma, Washington, making delicious confections from fresh ingredients since 1912!

A Lovely Balsam Hill
Provencal Lavender Swag

Speaking of perennials - ‘tis the season for gorgeous blooms and blossoms! None more so than the everlasting offerings from my friends at Balsam Hill! , the sway is part of a larger collection of lavender blooms which takes inspiration from the sunlit French countryside.

The incredibly realistic artificial foliage features long lavender stalks in shades of purple and pink, accented by silver-gray leaves for added depth. Let it grace an entry door, a table top or wherever you’d like a sprig of spring in your home or office.

*****

It makes my heart so happy to be able to bless one of you with this gift basket of very very good things, and to be able to share the news of all the products included so that you may try one or all at your convenience.

This is a sweepstakes, which means the winner will be chosen at random.
All you must do to enter is write to me HERE.

Entries must be received by midnight, Monday, April 15th,
(Thank you for understanding that I can only ship to address located within the United States)  

Of course, when you write, I’d love it if you share something of yourself with me.
What’s your story? I want to know!

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Pi Day!

Ok, not exactly A pie, but then again, pie isn’t exactly pi, so let’s dispense with technicalities, and say it’s a wedge, from a circle, which is from whither pi derives. (You’ve caught on by now that no mathematician am I!)

What I offer you here, my pi and pie loving friends, are hand pies. No more mess, or (in my house) arguments over whether someone is dipping inside the un-cut portion of the pie to pull out more filling than they deserve.

These are flakey, buttery, fruit-filled, wedge shaped, hand-held treats of deliciousness!

Ingredients:

BLACKBERRY FILLING:

• 2 cups of cleaned blackberries, fresh or frozen

• 1/2 cup of sugar

• 2 Tablespoons of corn starch

• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

PASTRY CRUST:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 Tablespoon sugar

• 1/2 tablespoon Salt

• 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

• 1 egg lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons of water

LEMON GLAZE

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 3-4 Tablespoons of cream (half and half or milk will do)

• 3-4 Tablespoons of lemon juice

• Zest of 1/2 lemon

Directions:

1. In a medium sized saucepan, combine blackberries, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until well combined and blackberries are hot and releasing juices.

2. Crush blackberries in the saucepan with a potato masher.

3. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil by increasing heat to medium-high. Boil and stir for approximately 3 minutes, then remove from heat.

4. Add vanilla extract, and continue to stir until saucepan has cooled enough that mixture will not burn.

5. Set aside.

PASTRY CRUST:

1. Pulse flour, sugar, and salt together in a food processor, or mix well in a large bowl.

2. Add chopped, cold butter and continue to pulse until coarse crumbs form - or use pastry knife.

3. Turn dough out onto clean, floured surface and dust with a little more flour.

4. Kneed, adding a little flour if needed, or scant cold water, until smooth and no longer sticky.

5. Flatten the dough, then fold, flatten, fold, several times - this creates the desired “flakiness.”

6. Divide the dough in half, roll into balls. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

7. Turn cooled dough onto a clean, floured surface, and use a rolling pin to roll each ball into an 8” circle.

8. Place one circle on top the other, then use a pizza cutter to cut into 8 double layer pie wedges.

9. Working with a top and bottom pastry layer at a time, separate, brush the edges of each with egg/water mixture, place 1-2 heaping tablespoons of filling in the center of the bottom layer, then cover with the matching top layer of pastry.

10. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal and place on parchment covered backing sheet.

11. Repeat for all 8 wedges.

12. Brush tops with remaining egg/water mixture

13. Back at 400 degrees for approx 20 minutes, until edges begin to turn golden brown.

14. Cool completely

LEMON GLAZE

1. In medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

2. Drizzle over cooled hand pies.

3. Let the glaze set (15-30 minutes) before serving.

Notes:

Make filling and dough a day ahead and refrigerate. This breaks the process up, and helps things to move along more quickly the day of assembly and baking (especially if you have little helpers, like I usually do!)

Hi-Octane Breakfast Muffins

This breakfast muffin recipe comes from my friend, Chris, a teacher who needs to fuel up before she starts her day in the classroom. Her hubby, a hard-working construction manager, says they keep him satisfied all morning long. We can all use that kind of fulfillment!

Little muffins packed full of healthful ingredients; seeds, nuts, fruits and veggies, these are truly hi-octane!

There are a LOT of ingredients, so I think it would be a fun recipe to try out with an equally busy friend or neighbor. Shop together and split the cost of the ingredients, then spend a fun afternoon or evening mixing and baking up your healthful breakfast bites for the days (or weeks) ahead.

With so many bodies under my roof, I’d double or triple the recipe, and think about freezing them for those mornings I can’t make breakfast. I say THINK because I know they’d be gone in a flash, even before they got to the freezer!

These are tasty, with the perfect mix of sweet and savory, and the right combo of soft and chewy. Enjoy!!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups multi-grain flour

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1 tbsp cinnamon

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

• 1 1/2 - 2 cup dried fruit bits

  • ( Choose 3-4 of your favorites and use a half cup of each: raisins, craisins, dried blueberries, cherries, apricots, dates, figs, etc.)

• 2 cups carrots, grated

• 3/4 cup low-sugar apple sauce ( or one medium apple, shredded)

• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

• 1/4 cup hemp seeds

• 3 eggs

• 2/3 cup coconut oil (vegetable or olive oil also work)

• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Mix together.

3. Add all the dried fruit, coconut, seeds, carrots and applesauce. Stir well to combine mixture.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with coconut oil and vanilla extract.

5. Add the egg and oil combination to the dry mixture in the large bowl and stir to combine well so that all ingredients are evenly mixed.

6. Spray about 12 standard cupcake tins or about 16 smaller muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray, or use paper liners. Fill to heaping.

7. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes, until tops are browned well.

Have one or two for breakfast and start your day off on the right foot, fully fueled, for what’s to come, with these hi-octane muffins!

Mrs. Morhard and The Boys | March Book Club

by Ruth Hanford Morhard

BUY: Mrs. Morhard and The Boys

Just in time for spring training and Women’s History month! My book club pick for March is an age-old story of a mother looking to keep her son out of trouble.

But this one is true. And it’s one that everyone will recognize after the first few pages.

The Great Depression had hit America hard, and WWII was just around the corner. Baseball was the country’s passion, and a great distraction from all of life’s hardships. Mrs. Morhard’s son was getting up to no good and she was looking for solutions. 

So what’s a mother to do but convince the mayor of her town (a suburb of Cleveland) to let her son and his friends use a neglected tract of land next to the town hall to play baseball? Coached of course, by Mrs. Morhard and other mothers.

And who knew that the first pitch wasn’t as much a fastball as it was a snowball… that grew rapidly into teams, and then leagues. Or that it would not only attract the interest, but the attention and the action of members of the Cleveland Indians who showed up to teach the kids baseball skills and watch the action.

And who could have thought these boys and their mother’s little detention experiment would inspire an interest in youth baseball so great that soon there would be something called the Junior American League, and then the Junior National Leagues?! 

What Mrs. Morhard unwittingly did, you see, was to pioneer an organized sport that became what’s known today as baseball’s Little League.

And did you guess that’s what this book was all about when you first started reading about it here? 

As a mom who is always on the look-out for healthy activities to keep my kids occupied (physically & mentally) lest they find themselves with too much time on their hands that might lead to some unwise choices, I find myself cheering for Mrs. Morhard’s team. 

As as someone who can’t count the number of Little League, high school, and professional baseball games I’ve attended, and who loves the sights, sounds, and smells of the stadiums on summer days, I’m rooting for The Boys!

Pick up your copy (and one for a friend) of the inspiring true story of
Mrs. Morhard and The Boys HERE

I have several copies of Mrs. Morhard and The Boys to give away! Write to me and tell me why you’d like a copy. You might share a favorite story of what you or your mother did to keep kids happy, healthy, and safe. Or, you might share a story about baseball with me. I love ALL your stories!

My February Big Apple Experience

In the middle of February, when Seattle was experiencing a once-in-a-decade snow event, I did what everyone does when it snows and headed to a colder climate… (Uh, what?!) The irony wasn’t lost on me.

I’d planned a trip to New York City, and had appearances and interviews lined up with The Jenny McCarthy Show, TODAY with Kathie Lee and Hoda, Build Series NYC, and People TV.

I’d made arrangements to meet with Tim Tebow, Josh Groban, and Trisha Yearwood to spend a little one-on-one time with these phenomenal people and record a chat session for my podcast series, LOVE SOMEONE with Delilah.

And then Mother Nature threw a little hiccup into my plan and a foot of snow and ice onto my driveway!

The kids, of course, were elated! No school!!!!!!

The animals, of course, were shocked. So coooooold!

The husband, of course, was busy. Go shovel!

And I, of course, was nervous. No school! So cold! Go shovel! And, how in the world am I going to get to NYC?!

Flights were cancelled or delayed. Roads were closed. I didn’t have child-care lined up… This is one of those moments that I need to learn to take my own advice, but instead I worried, and I fretted, and I got a edgy, and a more than a little grumpy.

It’s true. I do this too!

I was scheduled to fly out on a Tuesday afternoon, and Paul was going with me. We were going to spend Valentines Day, and our birthday, which happens to fall on the same day, February 15th, together. The evening before, the weather warmed a bit, and things started to melt - yay! But then overnight, the temps dropped again and when we got up in the morning, all was frozen - boo!

The entire 1/2 mile long driveway, uphill from the farm to the main road… frozen. Pauls truck, a 4x4 with big knobby tires? No way. The tractor? Ha! What to do, what to do?

Finally, at some point, I DID take my own advice; I gave up control and gave it to God.

And a few hours later, the truck made it up the hill. And a few hours after that, and Paul carefully navigating the piled up snow, ice, and abandoned vehicles on the treacherous drive, we made it to the airport.

And we made it to NYC, and all the appointments, appearances, interviews, fabulous Valentine’s dinner and special performance of number off her new CD “Let’s be Frank” by Trisha Yearwood atop 30 Rockefeller Center in the iconic Rainbow Room. I made it to Junior’s restaurant in Times Square and their delicious Reuben sandwich, and potato pancakes! I made it to a few funky shops and an incredible Broadway performance. I made it to a little birthday celebration at the iHeartRadio studios, and a full day with NO appointments at all, just strolling hand in hand with my hubby in one of the most exciting and beautiful cities in the world.

And everything was bigger, and brighter, and better than it would have ever been, had the entire experience not been in doubt. And funnily enough, the weather was warm and mild and the sun was shining our entire trip. (And the snow was still on the ground at home when we returned.)

So grateful!

Click the links in the first paragraph to watch my interviews and subscribe to my podcast series!

Game Day (Any Day) Pretzel Rolls

A batch of delicious, fluffy, salty topped, pretzel rolls recently made their way into the studio kitchen/break room.

If there are pillows in heaven, they’re made from pretzel rolls… well, maybe not pillows, the tops are rather firm, perhaps stadium cushions then? Yes, stadium cushions in heaven are definitely made of pretzel rolls. lol.

So add these pretzel rolls to your offensive line-up for January play-off games and well beyond. They’ll go perfectly with any soup, chili, or stew, next to a leafy green salad, and paired with innumerable main dishes.

Don’t let the three stages of directions for the rolls daunt your enthusiasm, it’s a relatively easy process, but a written explanation can seem a bit overly-involved. It’s not.

Have fun and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 3 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon flour

• 1 envelope (1/4 ounce) fact-acting yeast

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• 3 tablespoons baking soda

• coarse sea salt

Directions:

1st Stage:

1. Combine the flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the warm water and melted, cooled, butter. Add to the flour mixture and mix with the dough hooks until well combined. If dough is too sticky, add more flour. Transfer the dough to a work surface kneading and punching-down until a smooth and elastic ball of dough.

3. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with a tea towel, and let rise in a warm place, or 100°F (35°C) warm oven, for 60 minutes until doubled in size.

4. When the dough has doubled, punch it down, return to work surface, and knead for about 30 seconds.

5. Divide dough into 10 equal (roughly 3-ounce) portions. Dust your hands with flour, roll dough for about 10 seconds until round and firm. This process creates surface tension and prevents the buns from becoming flat. Continue with the remaining dough, then cover with a tea towel and let rise in a warm place for about 20 minutes or until puffy.

6. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2nd Stage:

1. In a large wide pot, bring 4¼ cups of water and baking soda to a boil. (Careful, it will foam up!) With a slotted spoon or ladle, slip two rolls into the boiling water and cook for 30 seconds, turn them over, and cook for another 30 seconds. Make sure they are not sticking to the bottom!

2. Transfer the rolls to the lined baking sheets, score the tops, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

3. Repeat for all rolls, then place them onto baking sheets.

3rd Stage:

1. Bake, one sheet at a time, for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Eat warm with butter, or store in a sealed bag or container for up to one week.

Still in the Game | January Book Club

www.StillintheGameBook.com

I have more than a few football lovers in the family. In fact, my 10 year old grandson, Elijah, just returned from the Youth Football Championships in Canton, Ohio (Home of the Football Hall of Fame) where his team, The Raptors, were fortunate enough to play.

The game has so many fabulous metaphors for life that many of us use even if we’ve never donned a set of shoulder pads or smeared grease paint under our eyes. Such is NOT the case for the man, or his story I’m about to recommend.

For January, which happens to be the month of football playoffs, I’ve chosen an inspiring read, Still in the Game, by former NFL Defensive End, and now motivational speaker and author, Devon Still. It’s on bookshelves Tuesday, January 8th.

Still was brought to his knees by his daughter, Leah’s, cancer diagnosis, but that’s where he was used to finding God. 

His faith, and the lessons that life and the game of football had taught him prepared him to support her in “beating up cancer” and showing up for life!

He wants everyone to, “Be proud of your scars. They’re signs that you survived whatever tried to break you.”

Still has many such scars, the emotional ones that come from growing up in the inner city and being raised in a broken home, to the physical ones from the many sports injuries he’s had to overcome, and those to his career as a result.

He wants you to know that our challenges reveal our true purpose, and no set-back is too great to prevent not only a comeback, but it may be the thing that sets us on a path to a life better lived than ever before.

Millions of people around the world have been inspired by Devon’s tireless devotion to his daughter’s victory over cancer and his undaunted optimism. I’m inspired. I want you to be as well.

Learn more at StillintheGameBook.com

Pick up your copy HERE

Pasta with Gorgonzola Cheese and Roasted Cauliflower

My nephew, Dalton (sister’s son), and niece, Laurel, (brother’s daughter), got together on Christmas eve and cooked up this “boujee” (their description!) version of my favorite dish - mac’n cheese.

Tender roasted cauliflower florets, Gorgonzola cheese, and the organic pasta they used, sets this apart from my typical elbow macaroni and cheddar dish, and make it special enough to serve at any dinner party of distinction. It’s versatile enough to use as a vegetarian main, or a side. (Perhaps to a halibut filet?)

Dalton and Laurel, a very Cousin Christmas!

Ingredients:

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets (less than an inch)

• ¼ cup olive oil

• ¾ teaspoon

• freshly ground black pepper

• 1 large leeks, halved and thinly sliced

• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

• 8 ounces pasta like farfalle, bowtie, or fusilli

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

• 6 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

• chives for serving

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower, leeks, and garlic with olive oil, salt and 3-4 twists of freshly ground black pepper. Spread in a single layer onto a baking sheet or roulade pan and bake for about 35-40 minutes until cauliflower is tender and all veggies are caramelized.

3. Cook pasta in large stock pot of salted boiling water - remove from heat just BEFORE it is al dente. Remove about 1 cup of the water - set aside, then drain the pot.

4. Return the pasta to the pot, add the butter, Gorgonzola, a few more twists of the black pepper and 1/2 cup pasta water. Stir thoroughly until cheese is melted and evenly distributed.

5. Add the roasted florets. leeks, and garlic to the pasta, then season with additional salt and pepper (if desired). If it is too dry, add more of the reserved pasta water.

6. Dish into shallow serving bowls and garnish with chopped chives. Serve it up warm and delicious!

After carefully taste-testing and much discussion, our two burgeoning chefs decided it could be made even a little more extra by adding crab or lobster to the mix. I have to agree.

Take Comfort | Chicken & Green Chili Soup

The ravages of winter weather have affected much of the country. Whether it’s wind, rain, snow, sleet, or hail, unless you live in a southern state, you know it’s winter!

No kind of food brings me comfort as much as a hearty bowl of soup. This recipe, which calls for chicken (try it with turkey too) and chopped green chili’s, is Mmm Mmm good, and guaranteed both nourish and to you from the inside out!

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter

• 3 cups Anaheim or Hatch green chili peppers, chopped

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped

• 1/2 large red bell pepper, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup of flour

• 5 cups chicken broth

• 1 can (19 oz) green enchilada sauce

• 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

• 3 cups cooked chicken (or turkey,) chopped

• 1 cup carrot, chopped or use the whole, small, peeled kind

• 1 can (15oz) black beans (pinto, cannelloni, or red beans work equally well) drained and rinsed.

• 1 can (15oz) whole kernel corn

• 1 can (15oz) diced tomatoes

Directions:

1. Melt butter in large stock pot over medium heat. Add chopped peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and onions are translucent.

2. Add flour, and stir to coat the mixture well. Add chicken broth, enchilada sauce, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil and add chicken, carrots, beans, corn, and diced tomato.

3. Reduce temperature to Medium and continue to cook for approximately 20 minutes (until carrots are tender.)

4. Serve hot. (Add a dollop of sour cream or guac if you like!)

This is a super delicious meal all by itself, but made even heartier with the addition of a slice of Cheesy Jalepeño Loaf (which I conveniently linked to for you!) But only if you’re not actively avoiding carbs, like I am right now…