I really hate biscuits made with shortening, and I hate Bisquick. I grew up on those over salted things and I thought I didn’t like biscuits at all until I learned to make my own.  Biscuits aren’t hard to make, and they don’t take long, but sometimes the mess first thing in the morning is more that I can face.

Muffins for breakfast are just good. The make the kitchen smell good. They fill everyone up. They are not that expensive. Nearly everyone likes them. These muffins are filling, and delicious. The have the crunchy granola on top and super sweet, dried papaya inside. I don’t know what else to say..besides maybe….What are you waiting for?

By now you have several dozen cookies in the freezer and you are good to go, right? This is about the time I switch to quick breads. They also freeze really well and make really good gifts when wrapped in clear wrap and tied with raffia, or what ever imaginative way you want to do it!
You can make these loaves full sized or make them in the small loaf pans. Often I will put two or three loaves of different types in a basket and add some homemade lemon curd or pumpkin spice butter.
This cranberry bread recipe is one …read more

 Our weekend is a little different than most. Since Marc works retail he works on Saturday and then has Sunday and Monday off. Sunday is really not a day off because there is church a good portion of the day.  Monday is our more leisurely day, although I don’t know if leisurely is a word that can be applied to ANY day around here.

  This morning I decided to treat everyone to doughnuts. I used my normal recipe with some adjustments and these were really good. The kids said they tasted like that candy, Circus Peanuts, but I …read more

Yesterday’s experiment.
2 1/2 cups wheat free baking mix
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
2 tsps. ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon egg replacer mixed well with enough water to reach an egg-like consistency
2 tablespoons spectrum vegetable shortening
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Basic instructions — whisk all dry ingredients in one bowl, all wet ingredients in another. Combine just until all ingredients are mixed well. Batter will be very thick. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 …read more