Colleen Houck

RECIPES: Burgers, Stuffed and Flavored   In the United States we celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday in September. Since this 3-day weekend is the tail end of our summer many people take the opportunity to barbecue, kind of as a last hurrah before autumn rolls in in earnest. So, in celebration of Labor Day and the end of summer, this post is all about burgers. Stuffed burgers. Flavored burgers. Not so much a recipe, but tips and ideas for making stuffed or flavored burgers. Colleen had a family barbecue for the 4th of July so we took advantage …

RECIPE: Brussels Sprout Salad     Did you know that Brussels sprouts were named after Brussels, Belgium where they were first cultivated? Yep. I had to google it. Many people say they hate Brussels sprouts or refuse to even try them. This dish may just convert or recruit them to sprout lovers. If you’re feeding it to picky eaters, I suggest you just call it “lemon cranberry slaw”, or something else innocuous, until they’ve given it an objective try. This sprout salad is another dish that is an excellent choice for a potluck, party or barbecue. Instead of a mayonnaise …

RECIPE:  Creamy Grape Salad I am totally obsessed with this salad! It is so delicious, refreshing and extremely easy to make. I have made it twice in 2 weeks changing it up a little each time. I was afraid that the halved grapes would release their juice and make the salad soggy, but it held up very well, even with apple and lemon juice added. Both times I made it, I kept some in the refrigerator for at least a week with no problems.   Creamy Grape Salad 2 pounds table grapes, preferably mixed colors 1 apple, any firm variety …

RECIPE: Antipasto Pasta Salad   Summer’s here and it’s potluck, picnic and barbecue season! This is my all-time favorite pasta salad to make for those occasions, or just to have ready in the fridge to avoid cooking on hot days. It is made up of all the yummy bits you might see on an antipasto tray. It’s so good that I could, and I speak from experience here, eat it at least once a day for a week and still look forward to the next bowl. It’s great for outdoor gatherings because there’s no mayonnaise to spoil. The recipe is …

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, therapy for a bad day, for a good day, for any day! Did you know that STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS? Coincidence? I think not! Do you ever have a bad day where things just get worser and worser and you want to crawl under your covers and hide or even run away to escape it all? I know I have. It’s hard to scrape your wounded soul from the depths of despair sometimes but if any of you have a mother like mine, sometimes that gentle nudge to get up and carry on comes in the …

Another Christmas has come and gone. It seems a little sad when the Christmas season comes to an end. The decorations and lights are all packed away, the Christmas songs and movies are no longer on the radio and television, the excitement and holiday spirit has dissipated and family togetherness goes back to the grind with work and school. Now with the New Year upon us, it can be an exciting time for new beginnings, new resolutions, and new adventures. But, before we fully embrace the New Year, I’d like to reflect on a few simple traditions, both old and …