Not long ago, my friend Marlen was telling me about her kitchen woes that surfaced during a remodel. Somehow, somewhere, some wires in her fabulous new double oven and stovetop went awry and left her without an oven or stove … Continue reading Jumping from the frying pan to the electric skillet

This column marks the beginning of our fifth year together, here on the pages of the Alpine Avalanche. It’s mind boggling how the last four years have flown by so quickly. A lot can happen in four years – just … Continue reading Savoring West Texas for four years… and counting

I recently ran across a large envelope filled the seeds leftover from my garden in the Hill Country. What a surprise! The seeds, all Heirloom variety seeds, were packaged for use by 2012. It is now 2020. They’ve been misplaced … Continue reading Old seeds and herbal teas – properly stored, both can stay viable

I like to collect things… a minimalist I will never be. My husband and I joke that we are “optimalists,” which often closely resembles the opposite of minimalism. When we made the move from the Hill Country to Fort Davis, … Continue reading Cast iron cookware – it gets better with every use

My dear friend, Elaine Harmon, often leaves books at my doorstep. She has a true knack for finding the perfect treasure and matching it with a happy new home. A few weeks ago, she gifted me with a copy of … Continue reading Cookbooks from friends are such a treat

I ordinarily buy onions in bulk in the large sack. I cook with onions every day, but try as I might, I usually don’t use up the onions before green sprouts start emerging from the bulbs. Our last trip to … Continue reading When life sprouts your onions, stick them in the dirt!

In an effort to stay out of the stores as much as possible, I’ve started baking lots of bread at home. I’m actually quite the novice. While my previous husband liked to feed his sourdough starter and use it as … Continue reading Sourdough vs. yeast – what you knead to know

Today is the first day of spring. Can’t you just feel it in the air? Even with all the crazy uncertainty going on around us right now, it’s still the first day of spring. New life is happening all around … Continue reading Today is the perfect day to plant some seeds

Saint Patrick’s Day, next Tuesday, March 17, is the feast day of of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. He was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland … Continue reading Do you know why St. Patrick has his own day?

In the midst of cold and flu season, it’s never a bad idea to have certain items in your pantry to help you stay well. I’m no expert or health coach, but I’m proud to say that haven’t had a … Continue reading Home remedies – make it yourself and feel better faster