ohmygoodness, I don’t know how people manage to routinely get up early and actually enjoy it. Two days of driver’s ed and I’m already in an utter fog.  I MUST start getting to bed by 10. That, and the problem that my 5AM breakfast seems to be just a distant memory by 9AM.  This...
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This weekend our family had the fun of attending an Ethiopian Christmas celebration attended by many adoptive families and also quite a few Ethiopian refugee families in our area. We chose to make injera as our contribution to the feast, something I would not have been brave enough to do a few years ago.Injera...
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In the mood for some holiday goodies? Here are a few ideas!  Click on the picture to go to the recipe. Lemon Curd Cake with Raspberry Sauce Peppermint Bark Homemade Donuts with Orange Glaze Almond Bark Haystacks Candied Almonds Homemade Marshmallows Chocolate Butterscotch Chip Cookies
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This is my adaptation of a traditional Ethiopian dish called dinich wat.  It is a favorite of my family.  If I make enough to actually have leftovers the next day, my kids have been known to argue over who gets them.  I double this recipe for my family of 10. Preparation Time: 50 minutes...
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When my kids grab apples out of the fridge to eat for a snack, there’s always an apple or two that’s not quite pretty enough to be chosen.  This apple walnut bread is a great way to use up those still-sweet apples that aren’t quite crisp enough to be eaten out of hand.
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Here’s the chicken we had for Sunday dinner, along with homemade mac and cheese baked with a crumb topping, fresh tomatoes, and apple pie. I was too hungry to fiddle around getting the perfect picture, sorry!   But it was yummy– I doubt if anybody’d  complain about a  repeat of that meal!
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12 large tomatoes, diced 2 large yellow onions, diced 4 large sweet peppers, diced 6 cloves garlic, minced Hot peppers, to taste 2 cups lemon or lime juice (or may substitute 1 cup vinegar) 1 tablespoon salt fresh basil, minced, to taste (optional) Start by chopping the tomatoes, onions, garlic, and sweet peppers.   You...
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If you’ve read my book Family Feasts for $75 a Week (did you see it in Redbook? shout out!) you already know I’m a huge fan of the cast iron skillet.  I’ve got two, and I’m always delighted to find more ways to use them. Here’s a recipe for Quick Skillet Granola that does...
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Don’t miss: Avoiding the Back to School Wallet Pinch (by me) at Blogher.com ~~~~ This is the time of year when people get busy canning garden produce.  Just in case you’re looking for a few good easy canning recipes, here are some of the recipes and videos I’ve shared over the years. Mary Ostyn:...
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If you’ve never had sweet potatoes and peanut butter together, you might think this gluten free soup is a bit unusual.  But its rich quick-to-make goodness will win you over.   My entire family loves it. Preparation Time: 30-40 minutes Serves 6 1 large sweet potato, cubed 3 cups water Bring water to boil in...
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