Soup is, in my opinion, the most comforting of meals. So now that the weather has turned cool, and we have little to do but wait for Peanut to arrive, I can think of nothing but big bowls of steamy, savory soups. My mother and grandmother and aunt make fantastic chicken corn soups. If they [...]
Sugar cookies are a holiday staple in my family, and snickerdoodles are a tradition in Nick’s. Nobody makes them quite like his grandmother, but we gave it a shot this year. Grandma’s snickerdoodles are crackly on top, slightly crisp, and just a little chewy on the inside. And they pair nicely with a (snowman) mug [...]
While Julia Child’s bouef bourguinon was simmering on Saturday afternoon, we rolled up our sleeves and pulled Grandma Motz’s sugar cookie dough out of the refrigerator. Grandma Motz may not have been fancy or French like Julia Child, but the woman knew how to make a sugar cookie. This recipe has been passed down through [...]
Yesterday brought the first snowfall of the season. But we didn’t mind! We had our Christmas tree and holiday music, NFL, hot chocolate from festive mugs, and chicken and dumplings. This is the first time I’ve made chicken and dumplings, but I think my mother and Aunt Esther would be proud. It’s a classic dish [...]
My Grandma makes the best strawberry jelly. Hands down. So you can imagine my skepticism of a jelly recipe that calls for hot peppers rather than sweet strawberries. But sisters-in-law Megan and Kirsten assured me it was well worth a try. So we sanitized the jars, chopped the peppers, boiled the ingredients, and chilled the [...]
Nick tracked down this family recipe and served it to his hungry wife last weekend. The recipe comes from the Lawn Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary cookbook, which was given to Nick’s mother by her grandmother over 30 years ago! According to Nick, Great Grandma Irene Eckert was a spunky lady with red hair. (She dyed [...]
Does your family have a favorite Thanksgiving Day casserole? Nearly every one does, and this is the dish that always makes an appearance at the Rowlands’ table. Ingredients 3 eggs, well-beaten 1/2 cup flour 2 Tbsp sugar 2 cups shredded Shard Cheddar cheese 2 – 1 lb cans (4 cups) whole kernel corn, drained 10 [...]
A few weeks ago we visited family in Ann Arbor, and BJ and Megan were the perfect hosts. They recently moved to Michigan from Alabama and brought their sweet, Southern hospitality with them. Megan treated us to home cooked dinners and delectable desserts every night. And after BJ took us to the Penn State vs. [...]
Dad’s pizza pie is a family favorite. The recipe was passed down to him from Grampy, and I suppose I should learn to make it because Nick loves it! It’s best served with a cold beer while watching Penn State football games. And last weekend it warmed us up after a long drive from New [...]
Passed down through generations of Rowlands. Ingredients 2 cups sugar 1 cup lard 4 cups Wondra flour 1 teaspoon baking powder pinch of salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon baking soda cap full of vanilla sugar for sprinkling royal icing Directions Knead first five ingredients like a pie crust Pour eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, and [...]