Mirror, mirror on the wall...what's the fairest crisp of all?

Crisps made with summer fruits are simply some of the best treats of summer - and this Peach & Pecan Crisp is our absolute FAVORITE of them all!  Fresh ripe peaches, at their peak of sweet flavor, topped with the absolute best streusel topping ever - fresh butter, brown sugar, oatmeal and tender pecans.  It's better than your favorite oatmeal cookie!

Over the weekend, Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Gulf Coast, destroying homes and infrastructure in Texas's largest cities, displacing tens of thousands of people, and killing at least eight. As many as 13 million people are under flood watches and warnings. After landfall, there has been more than 50 inches of rain in and around Houston, making many homes inhabitable, and it is not over yet.  They need our help.  Please click here or on the photo above for a link to some of the best charities that are on the ground running supplies and providing assistance now.  If you have other ideas or suggestions, please comment and share.  Stay safe and please do what you can to help - every little bit helps!

Ah.....the magic of summer nights, summer barbeques, and grilled kabobs!  Don't you just love an easy dinner that takes only minutes to prepare, minutes to cook, and everyone is happy?  And everyone just seems to LOVE dinner on a "stick" - they can pick out their favorite meats and vegies.
 
​These Greek Pork Tenderloin Kabobs are pretty delicious - served with the WORLD'S BEST homemade whipped Feta Tzatziki Dip, and fabulous served with couscous, rice, quinoa and pita bread.  It's a Greek feast!  A little Greek music, a bottle of good wine, and we're living the summer life!  All we need now is a roaring bonfire and then we'll finish up later with s'mores on some other sticks!

We're busy marinating tender pork tenderloin for some delicious Greek Pork Tenderloin Kabobs, and nothing is better than this creamy, whipped Feta Tzatziki Dip to dip those tender grilled and seasoned caramelized bits of meat and roasted vegie slices into!  Most Greek Tzatziki recipes don't include Feta cheese, but it is my secret ingredient - it really adds a pop of wonderful flavor that no one is expecting.

​Of course, this dip is disappearing faster than I can make it... it's also perfect for dipping fresh vegies or warm pita bread!  And I'm pretty sure I caught someone dipping a ripple potato chip into this when they thought I wasn't looking! ​

'Oh, where did summer go?  The laziness of easy sun-filled days has been totally taken over by the craziness of back-to-school!  New backpacks are stuffed with dozens of things on school supply lists, lunchboxes are packed, haircuts are fresh, new shoes and clothes (will they ever stop growing?), new teachers and schedules are just waiting...now just to get them photographed for the first day of school and down to the bus stop on time!

And our first day of school tradition has always been fresh baked homemade cookies waiting for them, along with a tall glass of cold milk, when they return home to share all of the events of their first day of school!  The first day of Pre-K, first day of First Grade, and a Junior in high school - and next week Melissa heads back for her senior year of college.  There is a LOT going on at our house! 

Good thing I've got this wonderful treat waiting for them!  The chewiest, fudgiest brownie cookies ever, studded with miniature chocolate chips and milk chocolate M&M's.  Everyone goes NUTS for these!

Who doesn't love ooey gooey cinnamon rolls topped with cream cheese glaze?   There are days when there just isn't time to make those, but you still have a cinnamon roll craving.  And boy oh boy, do I have the answer for you!  These wonderful pancakes are almost as good as real cinnamon rolls! 

​The sweet smell and swirl of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon will remind you of warm and fresh homemade cinnamon rolls.  And topped with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze?  Gah!

MAMA V IS FEELING GOLDEN TODAY and I'M SO EXCITED TO FINALLY SHARE THE WONDERFUL NEWS WITH YOU!  I have been asked to join RODELLE KITCHEN as a new Brand Ambassador!  Those of you that have enjoyed my recipes and cooking school sessions know that I've been the biggest fan of Rodelle products for years.  Rodelle is famous for the highest quality pure vanilla, gourmet cocoa and gourmet spices in the market, and this collaboration is something that I have dreamed about!

​And these Golden Caramel Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream are something you'll be dreaming about too!  As I put together batch after batch of these, everyone agrees that these are some of the most delicious and beautiful cupcakes you'll ever eat! 

When I made homemade Vanilla Bean Tapioca Pudding a few weeks ago, everyone was pretty happy - except for my chocolate lovers!  In order to keep peace in the house, I promised to make them their own special dark Chocolate Tapioca Pudding.  Let me tell you, they didn't let up until I did! 

​And if you are lover of warm and creamy tapioca pudding, infused with wonderful vanilla and dark chocolate, you are in for a treat!  I don't know about you, but nothing screams "I love you" like homemade pudding.  So easy to make, but not many people take the time to actually try it.  Ridiculously easy!

I'll never forget the first time I made dinner by myself for my family - I was ten years old at the time, and my Mom had just given me the Betty Crocker Kid's Cookbook for my birthday.  Wagonwheel Mac & Cheese - a delightful dinner of homemade macaroni and cheese with sliced up hot dogs in it.  Yup, I'm sure it was a real treat!  I'm also pretty sure that my Mom was keeping close tabs on me through the entire process.   But I do remember how proud I was to make something so incredible all by myself!  Measuring the ingredients, following the directions, laying all those hotdog circles in a wagon-wheel pattern, and the start of a life-long love of cooking and baking for my family!  Good memories!

​And while I shudder at the thought of putting sliced hot dogs in anything now, I've had a lifetime of making different varieties of homemade macaroni and cheese - and this one is one of our favorites!  So easy to make that MY little guy can help make it - with just a little bit of help!

DANG!  This morning we woke up COLD!  We left all of the windows open for some sweet summer fresh air, not realizing that it was going to drop into the 50's at night.  So this morning everyone is running around wrapped up in warm cuddling blankets and hoodies and it is just downright sad!

​So instead of hamburgers on the grill, Mama's making meatballs today!  And not just any meatballs, but Porcupine Meatballs!  We've got a variety of fresh tomatoes from the garden, lots of fresh basil, and a crop of kids that love mashed potatoes or sticky white rice.  I haven't made these in a long time, but everyone is pretty excited for dinner tonight!

Did you even know that this is an annual event?  National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!  And not like we ever need a reason to MAKE delicious chocolate chip cookies, but can you think of anything better to celebrate?

​I'm sharing our TOP TEN family favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes with you in honor of the day.  I have to tell you, I was a little shocked that there were even more than TEN different recipes for chocolate chip cookies on my blog, but through the years, the list just keeps growing!  Warm from the oven, with a tall glass of cold milk, these are the BEST! 

Each of these are a little bit different, but totally wonderful!  And now that I'm looking at these all in one location, I've noticed that there are a few missing from the top ten...Oatmeal & Chocolate Chip Cookies, White Chocolate Chip & Macadamia Nut Cookies, and what about Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies?  When will it ever end?

​Hope that you give these a try, and please let me know which are YOUR favorite!

CALLING ALL CHOCOLATE LOVERS!  You know how teenagers will scatter when there's a chore to do?  I have found the solution!  And yes, I'm talking about bribery, plain and simple.  Bait and switch, whatever you want to call it!  And the crazy thing is that this will work for just about any age group - young or old, busy or just trying to look busy! 

​I'm not sure if it's the dark chocolate chewy brownie bites, or the creamy milk chocolate buttercream frosting - but I do know that popping a fresh, ripe strawberry on top just takes these sweet little treats to a new level.   I moved my strawberry planters to a new location this year so that the critters can't get at them as easily, and we've had a bumper crop of sweet strawberries this year, they are getting red and ripe as fast as our little ones can pick them!  Aren't they just too cute?  And even sweeter!