Favorite Recipes CookbookThis printable recipe card personalized with Smilebox

We emulate what we're taught growing up, and in my case, it was that food is love.  I was raised by a mom who enjoyed baking.  It never had to be fancy, planned, or perfect, but it sure was always yummy and fun.  I've been busy again, creating Storybook Recipe Books as holiday gifts.  Enjoy some of my favorites!

CREDITS:  ASTRID'S ARTISTIC EFFORTS, MOONLIGHT JOURNEY, and PERSONAL PHOTOS.

Best-Ever Taco Salad

Need a little something to get you feeling like you are "south of the border?"  This recipe is one of my favorites and with Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, it makes me imagine walking on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I've been missing the beach again, with gulls sailing over my head, waves lapping as the sun rises on Banderas Bay. Sigh!

February Recipe

Honestly, I don't know whether I enjoy baking the food I create or coming up with new recipe cards! This is an old recipe I received from a friend when I worked at General Motors. It is a yummy cake, especially if you are a chocoholic.

CREDITS: "January, 2011 Calendar" by Becky Loyall, Whymsical Musings and Moonlight Journey.

I love creating these colorful recipe cards, but I especially cherish my time at our local scrapbooking store where we exchange these cards on the first Thursday of each month. Sometimes we share tea or coffee from lovely china cups, but mostly we share the food described on our recipe cards.

But more than this store setting or our delicious goodies, we chat . . . everything from the decadent dessert someone brings, to what matters most to those of us that share these recipes.

I have come to realize that the food we prepare can bring us together and the simple breaking of bread among friends is that which nourishes our souls, more than simply a late afternoon snack.

TIP: Use a pretty plate;

it makes good food taste even better.

Set a pretty table;

it makes a simple meal

an occasion to celebrate

the everyday.

Raspberry Fairy Salad

I can't believe it is almost the end of January! Here is my latest creation using the beautiful images from Moonlight Journey entitled "Fairy Folded Cards." With just a little bit of cropping I just simply added my recipe.

November Recipe Card

One of the best ways to cheer up a friend is with an old-fashioned sweet treat. And this one was introduced to me at a dinner party many years ago. This brownie recipe is not only beautiful in appearance, but down right spectacular in taste.

By either placing this recipe in a Christmas baking dish, or cutting them up individually and placed on a seasonal plate, you will be hooked. You can pass out a batch of "good cheer" to those that are in need of some extra love.

CREDITS: Images from Moonlight Journey "Vintage Ladies Holiday Pennant Banner" and Creative Memories.

Diva Molasses Cookies

The most important thing to me is to make a cookie is that tastes great! My mom always seemed to make the best cookies, and this happens to be probably one of my favorites. She would always say to use the best ingredients you can find. And, whenever possible, serve your desserts while they are still very fresh.

I hope this recipe gives you as much joy as it gave me as a child. The molasses and ginger make it a wonderful change of pace and seems especially appropriate this time of year.

I created this recipe card using the latest images from Moonlight Journey entitled "Grunge Divas", plus papers and overlays from Creative Memories.

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY "Grunge Divas", Recipe from Mom

September Recipe Card

A few years ago, I was given a treasured gift by being invited to join a recipe card club. Once a month, 12 of us get together to share laughter, stories, and an empathetic ear. There is a wide range of age, style, and circumstances. Officially, we are there to exchange our recipe cards, but, in reality, for us it has meant so much more. Something magical comes together in a creative way. The best part is that we bring food! We believe it would be "just plain wrong" for there to be a lack of treats and drinks any time women get together.

I used to frequent this wonderful restaurant back in the 70's. It was called the Magic Pan. Well, over the years the restaurant closed, but I managed to conjure up the recipe by sampling this salad each visit. It may not be the "exact" taste, but it comes pretty darn close. Whenever, I bring this salad to someone's house, it is definitely a big hit.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I love the early morning, when the sun is just rising in the east; the sky is bright red and I can hear the birds sing. As I sit here today, I think about myself and my dreams.

There have been many days when I really haven't taken much time to sit quietly and really think about much of anything. Not the dreams, or the birds, yesterday or even tomorrow. In fact, it seems like I have been so busy working that sometimes I forget why I even had a particular dream in the first place.

Today has been one of the days I promised myself more time to sit at my kitchen counter, take a deep breath and actually realize that I am living "MY" dream.

I brought out the old stand up mixer, and made a new recipe from the recent issue of 'Where Women Cook." The results were amazing, a little messy, but it reminded me of the days when my kids were little, and we baked together.

I just may need a wee cup of cappuccino to go with that bright red cupcake with the cream cheese frosting. I know we all need to realize the "new" importance of food and health, but sometimes everyone needs a little sweetness.

CREDITS: SHEA FRAGOSO & DEBBIE MURRAY, "A GILDED LIFE" RECIPE SHOWN IN FALL 2011 ISSUE OF "WHERE WOMEN COOK," PG.29.

May Recipes

~ Apricot Bread ~

This Apricot Nut Bread recipe was given to me by my Mom, and probably tops the list as "one of my favorites!" For some reason, it seems like I mostly bake it during the winter at Christmas.

Due to the fact that spring is finally just peeking around the corner, this is a great chicken salad recipe that I create on a sunny summer day. It makes me think of vacation, with a little hint of "south of border." I sometimes omit the clove ingredient.

~ Chicken Salad Riviera ~

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY'S "SENDING PANSY DREAMS" ENVELOPE, AND "FAIRY BOOKMARK AND BOOKMARK ENVELOPE"

Favorite Recipes

I have been working like a mad woman spring cleaning my office. So needless to say, it has consumed all of my free time. I actually think the house is raising.

I am feeling quite guilty about not being able to post due to another issue of my computer losing all it's icons, and not being able to remedy that problem. I am thinking it may time to consider a new computer.


This weekend I am celebrating my birthday while spending two full days catching up at Creative Passions Crop and Quilt Retreat in Chesaning, Michigan. The facility is a 125 year-old church, with it's original stained glass windows. There are 11 of us, doing what we all love doing--enjoying our passions--whether it be painting, crafting, beading, scrapbooking, quilting, stamping, knitting, or whatever. Last night, I even watched a DVD on my computer just to become totally consumed in relaxation. I am enjoying a well deserved change of pace.

Enjoy my latest recipe cards. I love, love, love what I call my "Magic Pan" Salad.

Jane's Tomato Basil Soup

My mom has to be my "official" introduction to the kitchen. She let me scoot the kitchen chair up to the side of our beige Formica table, add some ingredients to the batter after she had already thoroughly mixed it. "Just making sure I did it right," she used to say and give me a smile. It made me feel very important and grown up! Making favorite recipes bring back these memories and helps me feel very satisfied with a yummy food creation in the present.

"Eat food. Not too much.

Mostly plants." ~ Michael Pollan

My sister, Jane, gave me this great recipe. I really like the flavors in a good tomato soup, especially when you add fresh basil. Bon Appetit.

CREDITS: "SENDING BUTTERFLY KISSES" FROM MOONLIGHT JOURNEY.

March Recipe Cards

This biscotti recipe has been in my family nearly 40 years. I used to make these cookies for my son, Brad, when he was a toddler. They are easy to make, and have a truly amazing anise flavor.

It's funny how these simple little cookies have created such a lasting and constant memory of my small little boy all these days of my life.

Enjoy!

CREDITS: STORYBOOK CREATOR 3.0 BY CREATIVE MEMORIES, "TEA TIME" ENVELOPE BY MOONLIGHT JOURNEY.

February Recipe Memories

A couple of years ago, I joined a recipe card club with some of my artistic friends at our local scrapbooking store. As time went on, I realized putting food together is an art just like everything else in life. Over this next year I will be receiving about 120 cards that measure 5" X 8." I have a special roll-top recipe box to hold them all, which really makes the journey of each month even more entertaining for me!

These were some of the cards I created, as well as, a couple of the special ones I received.

"Pa Pa's Delectible Crepe Recipe Card" designed by myself.

It is so inspiring to display my recipe cards on my kitchen counter as I begin a meal. I suppose my favorite meal is anything that's simple, or down-home cooking. I do enjoy stepping out of the box once in a while by coming up with ways to go all Italian, or do another meal all Mexican. I love traveling as it is such a good opportunity to learn more about local cultures and unique foods. I can't seem to get enough shrimp in my life.

Recipe card designed by Sherry Reiber

Recipe card designed by Andrea Wright

I wish I had more time to really develop my skills in cooking. I have a vast collection of cookbooks and family recipes just waiting to be made into really clever designs. Hopefully, you can dream along with me as I share a little bit of my kitchen.

CREDITS: "MEN WITH WINGS" BY MOONLIGHT JOURNEY, "CONSERVATORY" 2-SIDED PAPER BY 7gypsies, 'VINTAGE EPHEMERA & PHOTOGRAPHS" RUBBERSTAMP COLLECTION BY TJ DESIGNS, LLC, & RECIPE INSPIRED BY ELIZABETH MAXSON.

January Recipe Cards

Above recipe card by Nancy Van Hoose

"Alice in Wonderland" images

available through Moonlight Journey.

Above two cards created by Sherry Reiber

Some of the images above

available through Sherry on

her Creative Memories website.

When my sisters and I were growing up, my mom was the best cook. Oh, how all of us remember some of her specialties like Beef Stroganoff, Lemon Meringue Pie, or fresh Apple Pie. I remember my mom for her Spanish rice.....which caused me to wish I could go to a friend's house for dinner on the days it was prepared. But always on my birthday, she made me a Burnt Sugar Cake, which I absolutely loved with "Mrs. Purdy's Creme Frosting."

Once again this year, I have joined a recipe club where a dozen gals exchange their family recipes artistically on a 5" X 8" card. It is more than just getting a beautiful card. It is a monthly retreat where we tell our stories, share our talents, our skills, our secrets, and how each of we women journey through our lives.

Many thanks to each and every one of my recipe card friends for letting me get to know you a little bit more, hear about your gardens, farms, and discover different lifestyles than my own.

And so, let me share 12 months of some of favorite recipe cards in the future year. I regret that I cannot post each and every card I receive due to time restraints.

Bake a Batch to Share

It won't be long before the hustle and bustle starts for the holidays, but with a little pre-planning, you can whip up these wonderful mini bread loaves to share with family and friends. I love the aroma of them baking in the oven! I used instant coconut cream instant pudding instead for a change.

Mini Banana Bread

1 Pkg. yellow cake mix

1 Pkg. banana cream or vanilla flavor instant pudding (3.4 oz. size)

4 eggs

1 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Beat first 5 ingredients in a large bowl with mixer 2 mins. or until well blended. Add bananas and nuts; mix well until blended.

Pour into 5 mini loaf pans sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake 40 min. at 350 degrees or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool completely.

These mini loaves will keep about 3 days at room temperature or 3 months in the freezer.

Alice's Banana Bread

The original manuscript, "Alice's Adventures Underground," was published in 1865, by Reverend Charles Ludwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. Then later that year, the tale was published by Lewis Carrol as "Alice in Wonderland." Among it's first readers was Queen Victoria and the young Oscar Wilde. The book has never been out of print.

This banana bread recipe (one of my very favorites) will definitely be one of those baked goods that will call "EAT ME." Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee that it will not cause you to grow!!

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY DIGI PAK "ALICE'S BRAG BOOK"

Mad Tea Party Brownies

Little did I know when I started an art journal a few years ago, that it was the beginning of a journey towards a series of of recipe cards with an "Alice In Wonderland" theme.

The roots of these cards came through the inspiration of my artist friends, Deb and Teri, when we began designing our "Mad Tea Party" books. That book still is a work in progress for me! Hopefully, within the next few months, I can present to you some of my special recipes focused on this "through the looking glass" theme.

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY "ALICE BRAG BOOK" DIGI PAK

Mad Hatter Ranch Dressing

Give yourself the gift of better health...easy to say, but sometimes so challenging a thing to do. One of our local grocery stores provides locally grown "Lettuce Alone" with an optimally fresh, nutrient rich lettuce product, free from chemicals and preservatives.

Their bag contains mixed greens, which may contain red and green leaf and romaine varieties. I love to take a peek inside their label for new recipes for salad dressings. This week was a recipe for a ranch dressing, that I entitled "Mad Hatter Ranch Dressing."

CREDITS: Dressing Recipe from "The Dressing Room" at lettucealone@carmalot.com, and the Alice In Wonderland Images are from Moonlight Journey.

Got Cake?

There never was a cake I didn't like, especially chocolate fudge cake. I am fond of banana cake, the stately coconut layer cake and there's the magnificent Italian cream cake in all it's glory. And how about old-fashioned pound cake with strawberries? Or even give me a piece of angel food cake. The list goes on and on. I love that some people just have a knack for whipping up high and handsome cakes. These labors of love grace both elegant sideboards and kitchen tables as symbols of a good cook. There's a definite skill involved in measuring and mixing. You can even make a cupcake and feel proud of your accomplishment!

The results are sure worth the effort, even with paper, glue, and glitter. I made these artist trading cards to share with Becky Loyall of Whymsical Musings, and Wendy Aspinall from Bliss Angels. Like my grand daughter Lauren says, "I love cake!"

And, now for the unbelievably gorgeous artist trading cards I received from my friends, Becky and Wendy. I was completely blown away!

Artwork by Becky Loyall, Whymsical Musings

Artwork by Wendy Aspinall, Bliss Angels

Thanks you SO MUCH......these cards are amazing!