Cookin' Up a Storm!

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This month, I've got a lot of "food things" going on! Those of you who've known me for a long time, know I enjoy cooking, especially sweets! I used to entertain a lot, and I frequently cooked for huge crowds, "with a little help from my friends" (and family!)

I love doing party food, "fun food" for kids, and comfort food. I've helped cater many weddings and special events for friends over the years. I also helped cook fellowship suppers at church for many years.

As an empty nester, I'm not cooking as much. I HAVE been trying some new recipes, and we usually like those I get from the Publix in-store chefs (Southern grocery store chain.) Ed and I tend to "graze" from the refrigerator a lot. We have to eat a lot more leftovers than we used to when we had teenagers! These days, I find myself looking forward to opportunities to cook for groups of appreciative diners on holidays!

My first "food thing" is a covered dish lunch I am co-chairing at my church next week, which could encompass feeding upwards of a thousand people! Preparing for that many people requires some "figuring!" I'm also gearing up for a bridal shower at my home. The honoree is the bride who is responsible for Brittany's first "Bridesmaid" honor!

Brittany's being a bridesmaid has brought to mind my own bridesmaid experiences. I was a bridesmaid at least 9 times (that I can remember off the top of my head, while I'm writing this. Have any of y'all been in more weddings than that?) Seeing the cost of wedding apparel has made me wish I could still buy bridesmaid's gowns at "cost," like I could when I owned my bridal shop in the 80's! LOL!

My other "food thing" is putting together a cookbook as a Christmas Greeting for family and friends. BK (Before Kids) I did a "Favorite Recipes of the Wyatt Family & Friends, 1987" Cookbook for Christmas. In 1992, I did a Cookie Cookbook as a Christmas "Card." I had grand plans for more cookbooks for separate food categories each year. I've been collecting recipes, but the additional cookbooks just never happened. This year, my niece Tricia, has taken it upon herself to compile another cookbook using my previously collected recipes, with additions.

We're "documenting" some of our taste testing, as these photos attest!

The first picture is a fresh peach cobbler, made from my maternal grandmother, "Gan's," recipe. The second is Arlene Hankins' salmon!

I'm looking for an online cookbook site, so we can share the book with more people! Any ideas? Any recipes to share? Bon Appetit, y'all!

My Grandmother--Gan's--Pie

1 stick butter or margarine

1 c. flour

1 c. sugar+1/4-1/2 cup for top (less if fruit is sweet, or to reduce sugar--she used one cup for tart raspberries)

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

3/4 cup milk

Fresh fruit, but no juice (Raspberries and peaches are great. Maybe 4 cups.)

Melt butter in baking dish. Sift together flour, up to 1 c. sugar, baking powder and salt. Add milk to dry ingredients, then pour mixture over melted butter. Add fruit, sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar on top. Bake at 350 until golden brown, maybe for an hour.

Arlene Hankins' Baked Salmon

2 t. olive oil

3 t. dijon mustard

1 t. dry or 1 T fresh basil

small tomato chopped

2 T parmesan cheese

2 T lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

chopped parsley as desired

4 salmon fillets

Put salmon into greased/sprayed baking dish. Mix ingredients, and put on top of salmon fillets 30 minutes before cooking. Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes, or until meat flakes.