Taianne Newkirk 
How to make the perfect divinity candy can be tricky. Making any candy can be complex and most times frustrating. My nemesis for years was divinity and getting it just right. Easy right? Nope! I honestly don’t know how my mom did it. She made divinity every year at Christmas time, using a hand mixer … Read more
Many home cooks have wondered “Why is my banana bread not getting done in the center?” There is nothing more frustrating than cutting into your banana bread to discover that the center is undercooked. The next question is “what did I do wrong?’ or “how do I fix this?” I am going to help you … Read more
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And then before you know it, Christmas. And time to start thinking about your Christmas baking. I have already started to pick up my candy and cookie supplies. Every year my daughters and I try to get together one day, a week or two before Christmas to bake or … Read more
October is gone. But the season for pumpkin continues. Well maybe not for Jacko-lanterns but pumpkin pies or pumpkin rolls or even pumpkin bread. I made this easy pumpkin bread recipe and took a loaf to my daughter and her co-workers. And they loved it! Made me feel good. I love when people are appreciative … Read more
Do you need a stand mixer? Before answering this question there are four other questions you need to ask yourself first. 1. How often will you use a stand mixer on average? Once a week or more often? If not, how often do you bake? 3. Do you have the space? Many stand mixers are … Read more
Did you know that America’s favorite cookie is the chocolate chip? One of my favorites is chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. My mom made them frequently when I was a child. She used a standard chocolate chip cookie recipe and just added oatmeal to the dough/batter. Of course, it is a no-no but I licked the … Read more
October is here. And that means, yep you guessed it! Pumpkins! The stores have large containers of them for sale. If you live in a rural area as I do then you will see signs for pumpkins for sale. Pumpkins are not just for carving that Jack-0′- lantern for Halloween however. Let’s not forget about … Read more
As children, we were not allowed to swear. Well, you really shouldn’t swear at any age, but when we asked for SOS for supper, my mom knew what we meant. Shit on the shingles or as some call it shit on a shingle. With 6 kids and a tight budget, SOS was a budget-friendly meal. … Read more
Are you tired of the same Thanksgiving dinner menu? October is upon us and time to start thinking about Thanksgiving Dinner. It will be here in a blink of an eye. Should I follow the traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu of Roasted Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie? … Read more
Marbling? Just what is marbling in beef? For some reason, marbles danced in my head. Marbling is actually those white streaks or flecks you see within the meat. More specifically, intramuscular fat. And that fat, believe it or not, adds flavor, tenderness, and juiciness. So the more marbling in the meat the more tender and … Read more