Blueberry Coffee Cake Mix together until smooth and fluffy: 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature Then add:  2 eggs – one at a time Then add:  1 tsp vanilla 1 cup plain yogurt Then add and mix well: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or regular whole-wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt In separate bowl mix together: 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup … [Read more...]

I don't typically copy and paste a recipe from online but this one can't be improved upon. I made it and it was delish! Thank you, Simply Recipes for this great recipe! Every year we plant basil and every year the plants do so well that we can't use it up fast enough. What to do? Basil pesto, of course! Here is a simple recipe. Note that pesto is always made to taste, based on the ingredients at hand. So adjust the recipe to your taste. Most pesto recipes call for Parmesan cheese, however, we … [Read more...]

  Cinnamon French Toast By Leann Albrecht Whisk together in mixing bowl: 2 egg 1/2 cup coconut milk ( any milk will do) 1/2 tsp. cinnamon Then lay 4 slices of sandwich sliced bread - flat  in rimmed dish. Pour the above liquid over the bread. Flip once so that both sides are fully covered with egg mixture and all the liquid is absorbed into the bread. Place bread in oiled skillet ( I use 1Tbsp coconut oil) and fry until both sides are browned. Serve hot. I also … [Read more...]

PINTO BEAN SOUP By Leann Albrecht   Place in stock pot - cook on medium heat until beans are completely tender - about 2 hours:                    1 pound bag of pinto beans  1 ham hock or smoked turkey leg  1 large onion    5 cloves of garlic - chopped 5 bay leaves                                                                                      16 ounces of stock - chicken, beef or vegetable Sea salt and pepper to taste                                                         … [Read more...]

Fresh Blueberry Pie - By Leann Albrecht Since it is fresh berry season again, I couldn't help but repost a pie recipe I made last year. On her way home from Michigan, our friend, Prudie, brought a car load of fresh picked blueberries. We were out of town, so Linda met her at the exit to transfer the delicious box of fruit to our house. By the time we arrived home, a few hours later, Linda had a fresh baked pie sitting on our kitchen counter!  There's only one thing to say about … [Read more...]

Bruschetta By Leann Albrecht It’s a great time of year for fresh tomatoes!  In fact, my garden is overflowing them. Bruschetta is a quick and easy way to enjoy the taste of summer.  This recipe can be a stand alone light vegetarian meal, an appetizer or a wonderful side to a larger meal. On our many trips to Italy, we fell in love with the burst of flavor with each bite of bruschetta (pronounced – bru-sket-ta). Italians typically served it as the first course but we enjoy it as any … [Read more...]

I especially enjoy creating new recipes for all the fresh vegetables ripening in my garden this time of year. Tomatoes, green beans, squash, peppers, eggplant, and broccoli have become a mainstay at our house... and they never taste quite as good as fresh picked. Here is a quick recipe that bursts with flavor. This is a picture from last night's dinner.           Sautéed Zucchini By Leann Albrecht 2 medium zucchini – sliced in ½ inch rounds 1 … [Read more...]

Balsamic-Caper Chimichurri - Steak Sauce By Leann Albrecht Our friend, Phil,  gave us some venison recently. I was so excited for the welcome challenge to prepare fresh game. Through the years, I've never developed an appreciation for balsamic vinegar, however, I created this sauce which beautifully enhanced  the flavor of these deer chops. It turned out surprisingly well. The flavors will pair nicely with other robust meats like beef and pork. In small sauce pan, over medium heat … [Read more...]

Au Gratin Rosemary Potatoes by Leann Albrecht On Mother's Day, Carl and I were able to spend the day with our mothers in St Louis.  It was a special day in many ways. Besides visiting with our families, we had some amazing food....one of which was this dish. Gary didn't have a recipe so I created my own version of it. It was fairly simple to make and one that gets better the second day. Here I paired it with a venison steak and Carrot Stir Fry .     In large skillet … [Read more...]

This wonderful simple dish can be served over rice as a complete meal or as a side dish to compliment any main menu.   It is full of flavor and left overs are even better.    It also pairs nicely with South Africa Curry Chicken and Basmati Rice            Savory Veggie Casserole 1 whole garlic bulb - peeled and  chopped 1/2 large red onion - peeled and chopped 2 medium eggplant - peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 1 - 15oz can diced tomatoes 1 cup okra- … [Read more...]