Somebody asked me for this recipe, so I'm going to post it today for my memories and anyone else who might be interested in a nice alternative to regular apple pie.

( Apple-Raspberry Pie )

There wasn't any Buffy watching - much to Craig's chagrin - because I messed up. I responded to a Jamie Craig email yesterday, and then saw, way further down in our email, the message about a due date I'd forgotten. The print version of Trinity Broken comes out at the end of October, and in mid-June - when I was recovering from school ending, the inlaws leaving and the like - we got the galley to proof. Due when? July 7.

As of yesterday morning, I had done exactly zero. So I spent the entire day working on it. It might not have taken me as long, but - oh yeah - the monthly friend I'd like to stab arrived with a vengeance. So I was not in top form all day. I finished just a little over midnight.

I still have another - much shorter - galley to do, and a novella to edit, but we are back to Buffy watching tonight, no matter what. I got scolded last night by Craig since he loves the show as much as I do, lol.

On a totally different note...I'm wondering how many people on my flist do home canning? The bulk of my childhood was spent in my grandmother's house and it was an annual thing - Grandma took her canning *very* seriously; the woman pitted cherries with a hairpin so they wouldn't lose their shape and placed peas in a jar with a knitting needle so she could get even rows - but darned if I can remember much. We got a jar of plum jam from a neighbor for Christmas last year that Alicia loves, and Craig's nan still sends jam home with him when he visits, so I thought maybe it was time to start doing some myself. Especially considering what inflation is doing.

So...does anyone have favorite recipes? Sites they visit? Tips that I'm insane?

In response to my earlier post, spikesgurl said, You mentioned your domestic goddess skills... What is your favorite meal to cook, and why? Recipes would be lovely :)

You know, this is actually a toughie for me, mostly because I am constantly trying new recipes. I get bored very easily. Plus, sometimes my favorite meal to cook is the one that gets done the fastest because I don't have time to fuss, lol.

That being said, I have my standards that I always like to do, or I get asked for a lot.

( The Starter )

( The Meal )

( Dessert )

Speaking of recipes, I should really start posting more of them again. I'm a huge breakfast person, too. I really like finding new recipes for that. Oh, and Pepper arrives on Saturday for a week long visit, and I asked her what she wanted. She asked for Craig to grill steaks (because he's awesome on the grill), and for the chocolate strawberry truffle cake. I think I'm going to make her and her sisters be my guinea pigs for the week, lol.

I don't normally shop Williams-Sonoma. I have issues with spending that kind of money on supplies I can find cheaper elsewhere. However, walking by the store today, I was sucked in by the gorgeous pumpkin smell. They were putting out samples of waffles made with their Pumpkin Spice Quickbread. And then I saw this and I fell in love.

So, now I'm the proud owner of this gorgeous pumpkin loaf pan that is likely the most expensive baking tin I've ever owned. I justify it by saying that it's heavy and excellent quality and will last me forever. I justified the pumpkin spice quickbread mix, butterscotch quickbread mix, praline butter, and pumpkin butter by saying it will be nice treats for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. That's OK, right?

Next recipe in my snack making frenzy today---( Cinnamon Candy Popcorn )

I did the stuff today for Alicia's snack sale tomorrow at school, so I thought I'd share the two recipes for what I made. First up---( White Chocolate Fudge )

I've started my Christmas baking early by testing a new recipe yesterday with Alicia. This one's a keeper. Most definitely.

( Chocolate Cherry Brownies )

These turned out fabulous. Of course, you have to like a chocolate/cherry combination, but even Alex ate this and he doesn't do brownies (too cake-like, he's not keen on the texture). They're *very* moist; I had to send all but a couple of them in with Craig because I kept nibbling at them. :)

Since people were asking for it, here's my recipe for the Mississippi Mud Brownies I made with my kids the other day.

( Mississippi Mud Brownies )

Well, I've had to make my rum cake twice in the past two days because Craig and the inlaws keep eating and demanding it, so I thought I'd share my recipe with my friends list. This is probably one of Craig's favorites, a variation on the traditional yellow pound cake, but I'm quite fond of it.

( Rum Cake )

Well, the in-laws are here and have been firmly ensconced in cuddles from the kids, so I have a few minutes before I have to start fixing supper. So, I'm posting the recipe for my Cranberry Sauce Cake since people seemed interested.

( Cranberry Sauce Cake )