Yearly Archive: 2014

Radiating Excellence > 2014

Roasted Vegetables

roasted vegetables

“Eat your vegetables!” That phrase has stricken many children with fear and disgust throughout the generations, so I’ve heard. Vegetables have gotten a bad rap for a long time as something not to be enjoyed, but rather eaten only because…
Read more

Homemade Syrup

waffle with pecans, homemade syrup and coffee

This syrup. Is. Delicious. And so easy. And it can taste like anything you want it to. We eat a lot of waffles and pancakes at our house. I am not of fan of the syrups from the grocery so…
Read more

Not Just For A Season

Deck the Halls lyrics

Joy to the world, peace on earth, ’tis the season to be jolly, goodwill to men …… this is the time of year that we hear these lines sung on our radio stations and piped into stores, malls and restaurants,…
Read more

Chicken Corn Chowder

chicken corn chowder

Soup, I would venture to say, is the ultimate comfort food. It comforts us when we are cold, tired or ill. It comes in so many varieties and flavors – it is universal. I can’t think of a culture that…
Read more

Daughters and Horses

daughter and horse

Many years ago, I came across this piece. I don’t think I have ever known the author’s name, (so if you do know, please let me know). I love this and have shared it many times over the years. For…
Read more

Unfailing Love

love never fails children and horse

I’m a problem-solver, a fixer, a mender-of-all-things-broken. It makes little difference to me if it’s person, place or thing. If all is not well, everything in me yearns to facilitate restoration. For many years, it made little difference to me…
Read more

Chicken Bundles

Chicken Bundles

One of the all-time most requested meals from my kitchen – chicken bundles. In fact, the last time I made these, my husband mentioned that he could eat these every meal and be happy. I’m going to credit that statement…
Read more

Battle in the Garden

battle in the garden

Music is and always has been a very important aspect of my life. I began banging on the piano before I could hold myself up. We had family sing-a-longs around that piano throughout my childhood.  I sang in choirs at…
Read more

Black Bean Salsa

black bean salsa

Black bean salsa is an all-time favorite of ours year-round and always a hit with a crowd. Fresh, flavorful, crisp. Actually, I love the black bean-tomato-corn combination and use the trio in a lot of dishes. This salsa is a…
Read more

Sweet Mustard Sauce

One of my family’s favorite ways to eat ham is with this sweet mustard sauce. During grilling season, it can be brushed onto a ham steak on the grill. In the colder months, I make it a little thicker, slather…
Read more

Almond Apple Pie

I would like to blame it on the fall season – this strong desire I suddenly had for pie. In fact, I would like to blame all my dessert issues on some season or other. Alas, I cannot. The season…
Read more

Potluck for the Soul

One of the best things about growing up in the farming Midwest was the carry-in meals, aka ‘potluck dinners’. Carry-ins at church, after funerals, before bowling, for sports banquets, for new mothers, family reunions – just about every occasion was…
Read more