Better Than Gingerbread: Soft Molasses Cookies

When the holiday season rolls around, it’s hard to resist the classic gingerbread cookie. Its spicy warmth and festive shapes have made it a seasonal favorite for generations. But if you’re looking for a twist on tradition—something just as cozy but a little softer, a little richer—then soft molasses cookies are the answer. These cookies take everything we love about gingerbread and elevate it, offering a tender, melt-in-your-mouth...

Gramma’s Tender Crisp Sugar Cookie

There’s something magical about a homemade sugar cookie. They’re simple, yet comforting, with just the right balance of sweetness and texture. But when you make Gramma’s Tender Crisp Sugar Cookie, it’s not just about the cookie—it’s about creating a memory, a moment that takes you back to the warmth of the kitchen and the smell of butter and sugar filling the air. For many of us, sugar cookies are a holiday staple, often decorated...

My Thrifted, Dark Academia Fall Dining Room

Welcome, do you all remember back in 2001 when I shared my kitchen, dining room and pantry mood boards? Well I sure do! I remember searching the web, saving ideas and pictures and dreaming up a beautiful, cozy, intimate, timeless and traditional dining room. I decided to paint my dining room a deep, dark, sexy green color. Many thought it too dark, but to me it was perfect. Today I've realized my style in certain spaces lends more towards "dark...

Fall Dining Room Tablescape| Dark Academia, Thrifted Decor & DIY Propagation Wall (Video)

Oh my word! Can ya’ll tell me WHY it has taken me so long to get some proper fall decor up. I’m in love with how my dining room turned out this year. I guess all I needed was a little thrift store inspiration. Join me as I spend a few days (in this video) thrifting for fall decor to get me in the mood to decorate. Back in our dark green dining room, we put those thrifted items to good use with a little DIY propagation shelf thrown in the...

How to SAFELY Can Zucchini “Apple”Pie Filling

When it comes to baking, few desserts evoke nostalgia quite like apple pie. The comforting aroma of cinnamon and baked apples brings back memories of family gatherings and holiday celebrations. But what if you could enjoy a delicious pie filling that uses a surprising ingredient? Not only are we making a mock "apple" pie filling with zucchini we are going to can it using SAFE canning principals AND an NCHFP approved zucchini pineapple recipe as...