• Christmas,  Crafts,  Decorating,  Holidays,  Holidays,  Holidays

    Christmas Painted Mirror

    A family tradition        Christmas is absolutely my favorite holiday! The weeks leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ is full of decorating, cooking, shopping, planning and  fond memories.  Some families drive into the forest to cut down their own Christmas tree, and make an evening out of decorating the tree together , other families might go see The Nutcracker, or go caroling.  Our family has a tradition that I don’t think I have seen anyone else do. It is the much anticipated giant painted mirror in my Mom’s living room.  My parents built their home in the 1970’s, and it has…

  • Celebrations,  Christmas,  Holidays,  Main Dishes,  Soups

    New Year’s Day Black Eyed Peas

         What are some of the traditions you grew up with? We have many in my family; like banging pots and pans at midnight, or staying up late and celebrating with loved one.  Some traditions have changed over the years, some have not. Like this old Southern tradition of eating Black Eyed Peas on New Year’s Day.   If you’ve been reading my blog , you know I am from the San Francisco Bay Area, but my mom grew up in Mississippi, and my dad was born in Arkansas.  So needless to say my Southern roots, albeit through my parents and grandparents are alive and well in this California girl. …

  • pink champagne cake vallejo recipe home bakery
    Celebrations,  Desserts,  Recipes

    Champagne Cake

    Vallejo’s Home Bakery Copy Cat Champagne Cake Original Home Bakery Champagne Cake My version of Home Bakery’s Champagne Cake As I reminisce about the celebrations of my youth, I distinctly remember the first time I realized there was such a thing as a business that only sold special cakes, cookies, pies, and other deserts; deserts that were far superior to the frozen or grocery store kind. Beautiful cakes & deserts displayed behind glass, with lights illuminating the artful, sweet creations. Cakes meant for celebrations and special occasions, what a concept! lol. Up until this point, my Mom or Aunts would make our special deserts for holiday’s or birthdays, always beautiful…