Crab Rangoon

Crab Rangoon

wontons stuffed with a mixture of crab, cream cheese, garlic powder, green onions, and Worcestershire sauce. The wontons are fried until golden brown and crispy.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Nothing gets a better reaction than ice cream cone cupcakes! I love how everybody’s eyes light up when they see these fun treats!

Deep Dish Cast Iron Sicilian Pizza

Deep Dish Cast Iron Sicilian Pizza

An amazing thick crust pizza baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with a rich tomato sauce and a ton of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. This recipe makes two 10″ skillet pizzas. The dough and sauce should be divided between the two skillets.

Simple Swiss Buttercream

Simple Swiss Buttercream

Swiss meringue buttercream has a better flavor and texture than American buttercream. Once you try it, you will want to use it on all of your cakes and everything else! Swiss Meringue Buttercream keeps well overnight at room temperature without drying out or forming a 

Banana Split Pie

Banana Split Pie

This recipe has all the hallmarks of classic banana split (without the ice cream)— with its sweet layer of bananas, a delicious custard filling with pineapple, a drizzle of decadent chocolate syrup, and a graham cracker crust pulls it all together.

Cran-Orange Bundt Cake

Cran-Orange Bundt Cake

This delicious Bundt cake is so moist. Instead of butter, I used extra virgin olive oil. The flavor of this cake is fantastic and healthier than most cakes made from butter.

Chocolate Custard                                   Meringue Jars

Chocolate Custard Meringue Jars

There’s just something about the individual, mini-sized desserts that are so fun.

Beer Battered Pork

Beer Battered Pork

When this delicious Beer Battered Fried Pork comes out of the fryer, I recommend that you guard it carefully.

Thai Peanut Sauce

Thai Peanut Sauce

This peanut sauce is crazy good! So much better than anything I’ve tried from the grocery store

Rocky Road Fudge

Rocky Road Fudge

For farm kids in rural Indiana in the 1970’s, summers were full of adventure and a lot of work on the farm.  Don’t get me wrong; we had fun Swimming in nearby creeks, rotten egg fights with my brothers, and the bi-weekly visits from the 

New York Style Cheesecake

New York Style Cheesecake

This morning seemed like a perfect day to make a cheesecake. Every day is the ideal day to make a cheesecake. I love every kind I have tried. When we visit NYC, we always stop in at Juniors for a slice.There is something magical about 

Popcorn Cheese                   Ball Party Mix

Popcorn Cheese Ball Party Mix

  My mom made the traditional Chex Party Mix every year at Christmas time. Of all the dishes she made for the holidays; her party mix was my absolute favorite. When I was out on my own, I started making it for friends. I changed 

Vivian’s Tomato Pie

Vivian’s Tomato Pie

Tomato Pie must be a southern thing. It wasn’t until I read the recipe in Deep Run Roots by Southern Chef, Vivian Howard that I had ever heard of it. The pie consists of roasted and fresh tomatoes. I used several varieties of heirloom tomatoes 

Carrot Cake Bars

Carrot Cake Bars

This recipe comes from a vintage cookbook called, The Harmony Community Cookbook. It came out in 1963, and I assume it was part of a fundraising campaign, however, I bought it for a dime at a yard sale.   I had never made a carrot 

Raspberry Chocolate Bars

Raspberry Chocolate Bars

When you look through my recipes on this site, you will see specific trends. I like pie, cookies, and chocolate and raspberry together. I changed out the margarine for butter and cut the amount in half. As I just mentioned, this recipe for Raspberry Chocolate 

Italian Almond Cake

Italian Almond Cake

When eating out at restaurants, I’m generally not a dessert guy. I always feel like it’s a luxury that is best skipped. I’m sure that my miserly way started when I was first on my own in the late 1980s. Money was tight back then. 

Steakhouse Quiche

Steakhouse Quiche

One of my first jobs, when I moved to Indianapolis, was in food prep at a fine-dining restaurant. I didn’t have experience when I started, but man, did I get an education while I was there. I spent the first few weeks learning my way 

AMAZ-A-BALLS

AMAZ-A-BALLS

When we make layer cakes, I am amazed by how much cake is removed to get a perfectly level cake. I used to toss the scraps and move on with the task at hand. I later decided to save them and toss them in the 

Country Corned Beef Hash

Country Corned Beef Hash

Have you ever been to a restaurant and see an item on the menu and you know for sure that you’ll love, so you order it and after one bite, you realize there must be a better version of it out there somewhere? That is 

Mile High Apple Pie In A Cheddar Cheese Crust

Mile High Apple Pie In A Cheddar Cheese Crust

As a child, my mother baked a lot of pies. I don’t think I can pick a favorite, I loved them all. It was rare that she would deviate from her tried and true recipes. You know what I’m talking about, old recipe cards stained 

Malt Ball Bars

Malt Ball Bars

As far as this blog is concerned, 2019 has started very slowly. I have only posted one blog so far this year. I guess I have good reasons that, my mom passed away just after Christmas, and I started a new job as well. Also, 

Kitchen Sink Cookies

Kitchen Sink Cookies

I love cookies with lots of different textures and flavors. Our Kitchen Sink cookies, which incidentally have everything in them but the kitchen sink, are amazing. We took them to a holiday party a couple of weeks ago and a guy I never met before 

Beer Bread

Beer Bread

Fourteen years ago Dale and I bought our home. We both wanted to live in a friendly suburban community. So, we grabbed a real estate agent, and off we went in search of the perfect house in the ideal neighborhood. I fell in love with 

Peanut Butter Cups

Peanut Butter Cups

Every year I tell myself that I will give baked goods as gifts to friends. As the holidays approach, I start finding reasons to not follow-thru. My excuses range from “I don’t have the time” to “I’m not a very good baker, who would want 

Chocolate Caramel Corn

Chocolate Caramel Corn

I love this recipe!  It dates back to the 1970s. I updated it, but the original recipe was stolen from my mom’s recipe box. This recipe uses a microwave oven to cook the caramel. This is such an easy recipe your friends and family will 

Ciabatta

Ciabatta

My favorite part of an Italian meal has to be the bread and olive oil. Something about a warm loaf of homemade bread is comforting. When I was young, our family was large, and we didn’t eat in restaurants much. It wasn’t until I was 

Pecan Sandies

Pecan Sandies

My Pecan Sandies are a combination of flaky shortbread and toasted pecans. Before starting this recipe, I had never had a homemade pecan sandie. I like the “cookie isle sandies,” but felt that I could do better.               Our  

Rocky Road Tart

Rocky Road Tart

My Rocky Road Tart is a tribute to the ice cream of the same name. I’ve never met anyone that didn’t love all those flavors that work together to make that sinful ice cream.  I have always been a fan of the rocky road flavors.   

Danish Butter Cookies

Danish Butter Cookies

Who doesn’t love Danish Butter Cookies? The name says it all, “butter”. Several years ago Dale and I bought a cookie press. It changed our world. We made butter cookies by the hundreds. Every cookie was the same and came out perfectly. Perfectly, that is, 

Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

My Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes fit perfectly with the trend of portable desserts. Last month we attended a wedding that tossed out the idea of the traditional wedding cake for 200 wedding-worthy cupcakes. From my seat at the reception, I could see the cupcake table perfectly. 

Blueberry Billionaire Bars

Blueberry Billionaire Bars

I like baking when the weather is cool. My Blueberry Billionaire bars are perfect for chilly days. It’s early fall here in Indiana and I couldn’t be happier. I have never enjoyed the summer weather. I hate being hot. If I could get away with 

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

I have been working on this recipe for White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies a while now. It was a tricky recipe to get right. I knew what I wanted the result to be, but the cookies came out very flat or hard and chewy. I have 

Peanut Butter And Chocolate Swirl Bars

Peanut Butter And Chocolate Swirl Bars

Our Peanut butter Chocolate Swirl Bars are crave worthy.  About six month ago Dale and I went low carb.   Under ANY circumstances, a diet of any kind is not pleasant. It is especially hard for those of us who publish a baking blog.  Our Peanut Butter – 

Beefed Up Bloody Mary

Beefed Up Bloody Mary

The Bloody Mary has been pigeonholed as a staple in the recent and ever building fad known as brunch. Don’t get me wrong. I like the idea of brunch, but in the past few years I’ve noticed every restaurant chain out there offers a brunch 

Brown Butter  Chocolate Chunk Cookies w/ Sea Salt

Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies w/ Sea Salt

Our Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt recipe is more complex and a far cry from the first cookies I made when I was a teenager.  I was in the seventh grade, it was the first year that our school required the boys to 

LaDonna’s Famous Sugar Cream Pie

LaDonna’s Famous Sugar Cream Pie

Today’s Guest Blogger, My Husband and LaDonna’s son, Dale Reynolds. Sugar Cream Pie is the official state pie of Indiana! Did you know that? I didn’t, but the one thing I know for sure is that this pie has always been my favorite, and I’m 

Sunday Meatloaf

Sunday Meatloaf

I’ve been craving meatloaf the last few days! Meatloaf has always seemed like a Sunday meal to me. It’s comfort food that satisfies everyone at the table. I have made it a hundred times over the years and every time I make the first cut 

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan transforms eggplant from an ordinary vegetable into a dinner that will receive rave reviews.  Dale and I share the cooking responsibilities in our home. There are meals that I do well, and he has his. I tend to be more adventurous when it 

Old World Sicilian Meatballs

Old World Sicilian Meatballs

I love meatballs!  I only eat spaghetti when it’s littered with them. When I make meatballs, sometimes they are great and sometimes not so good. Recently I started my search for a fool-proof recipe that turns out perfect every time. While online I stumbled upon 

Pimento Cheese

Pimento Cheese

When I was a kid, my mom received the grocery store sale-bills in the mail. She would read them like they were a Danielle Steele novel. She’d make a list of the stores that had specials on items she needed then she would formulate her 

Doug’s Damn Good Fudge

Doug’s Damn Good Fudge

This a story about Fudge! When I was a kid, my family lived several miles in the country on gravel roads. My parents owned several rental properties on their farm. I remember that the tenants didn’t stay long, usually just the winter. All these years 

Nutella Drizzled Bundt Cake

Nutella Drizzled Bundt Cake

This Nutella Drizzled Bundt is made up of an intense chocolate cake and a luscious Nutella cream drizzled down the sides. A cake perfect for all seasons. I am a HUGE chocolate fan, with an emphasis on chocolate cake. I find few things more comforting 

Vintage Vanilla Custard Pie

Vintage Vanilla Custard Pie

The Custard Pie seems to have gone out of style. Creamy custard is from a time of black and white televisions and the idea that all grandmothers set their freshly baked pies on the window-sill to cool.   We live in a different time now. 

Grilled Tropical Sausage and Pineapple Skewers

Grilled Tropical Sausage and Pineapple Skewers

  The next time you are at a party or a get together that includes food, keep an eye on the appetizer table. You will notice that the platters with assembled appetizers will go first. Anything on a toothpick or dip that is already on 

Candied Pecan Crusted Banana Bread

Candied Pecan Crusted Banana Bread

Do you ever have those days when your mind goes back to the memories of a great vacation you’ve had? That’s where I am today. It’s not like I am over stressed at work or in any area of my life, but damn I could 

Raspberry  Truffle Perfection

Raspberry Truffle Perfection

Our Raspberry Truffles are rolled small, pack a raspberry punch, and they are a decadent masterpiece. Our Friend Kelly makes fantastic truffles and is the inspiration behind this recipe. Her truffles are creamy, rich and sweet, in the right balance. If she ever decides to 

Pasta Carbonara

Pasta Carbonara

  “Carbonara” in Italian means pasta coated with eggs and Parmesan cheese. I have read a lot of comments on recipes for this dish that was less than favorable. Man, people get upset when traditional recipes are changed. In traditional carbonara, eggs, and parmesan cheese 

Mexican Street Corn Dip

Mexican Street Corn Dip

The first time I tried Mexican Street Corn was at a mid-summer festival. Everywhere I looked, I saw people eating corn on the cob, but it didn’t look like the same corn I was raised eating. The corn was encased in spices and looked terrific. 

Smashed-Up Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Smashed-Up Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

When it comes to sweets in our house, we try to practice moderation, but when it comes to mini peanut butter cups, that goes out the window. To make these Smashed-Up Peanut Butter Cup Brownies, I had to hide the bag of peanut butter cups. 

Mildred’s Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mildred’s Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies

Most people already have their favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies. That doesn’t seem to stop us food bloggers from posting hundreds of new recipes every year. My recipe is an original, I did not change one single thing, I guess you can say that 

Strawberry-Chocolate Crackle Cookies

Strawberry-Chocolate Crackle Cookies

When I started thinking about creating a strawberry-chocolate cookie, it was clear that I wanted the flavor to come naturally without making the cookies too dense and moist because of the water content in strawberries. After a few attempts, I came up with the perfect 

Piñata  Cupcakes

Piñata Cupcakes

Piñata Cupcakes? Seriously? But, have you ever seen anything so festive? Me either! I love whimsical deserts. Bright, bold colors, flavors that seem crazy together, but work seamlessly. Cupcakes, in general, are whimsical. They are casual, yet perfect for weddings. When I’m at a party 

Thumbprint Jam Cookies

Thumbprint Jam Cookies

Thumbprint Jam Cookies are great for the busy baker! Is it me or is this year passing by at lightning speed? I swear it was January last week. I find myself over scheduled most days. What, with working, blogging, and running our online record store 

No Knead “Everything” Bread

No Knead “Everything” Bread

Our No-knead “Everything” Bread is the perfect easy bread.  Most bread recipes never turns out like they should. The bread is heavy like a brick, or the crust is so hard that you cant cut through it. I’ve had my share of bad bread through 

Blueberry Swirl Muffin

Blueberry Swirl Muffin

I have tried every Blueberry Muffin recipe out there, and this one is the best. The blueberries are cooked and smashed into a jam, and the whole blueberries give an old fashion muffin feel, at the same time, the blueberry jam boosts the flavor assuring 

Marshmallow Stuffed Brownies with Sea Salt Flakes

Marshmallow Stuffed Brownies with Sea Salt Flakes

I love brownies, all kinds of brownies! They are casual enough for a pitch-in lunch at work, or as the centerpiece at a dinner party. At our house, my husband, Dale and I argue over the size of squares to cut the brownies. I am 

Incredible Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

Incredible Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

 Making Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting is easier then you think. I use a Kitchen Aid Mixer. I’m not paid to say that I love their products, but I DO love their mixers. I do not use shortcuts when I bake, I don’t use baking mixes 

Oatmeal Cherry Pecan Monster Cookies

Oatmeal Cherry Pecan Monster Cookies

  Have you ever sat in an all-day meeting at work that seems drain your soul? I mean, the idea of sitting in a hot meeting room with people you don’t necessarily like spending time with, is the worst and don’t get me started about 

The Best Whipped Cream Ever

The Best Whipped Cream Ever

What can I possibly say about Whipped Cream that hasn’t already been said? The only thing I can think of is I F’ING LOVE WHIPPED CREAM!!!!!!!! I’m not talking about the stuff from the can with a list of ingredients you’ve never seen before. Our 

Rustic Sausage and Egg Casserole

Rustic Sausage and Egg Casserole

Everyone should have a good egg bake recipe up their sleeve. The Rustic Sausage Egg Casserole is ours!  My husband Dale and I have been together for 20 years. In the beginning, it was about accepting our differences, but after all these years it is about 

Whiskey Pumpkin Pie

Whiskey Pumpkin Pie

I freakin love Whiskey Pumpkin pie! I’m a big guy so; you’d probably guess that right away, and I know my way around a kitchen which wouldn’t surprise you either. Around the holidays we are like most and attend a lot of pitch in dinners. 

Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

If I’m honest with you, I have never made these Double Chocolate Chunk cookies. It wasn’t until today that I even saw the recipe. My husband, Dale bakes them and is known far and wide for this chocolate masterpiece. It is a recipe he has 

French Meringue Cookies

French Meringue Cookies

I like to think of French Meringue Cookies as the angel food cake of cookies. They are light, slightly sweet, and easy on the calories. The origin of Meringue is traced back to the 17th century in a Swiss village. Over the next few hundred