Maggie's Almost As Good As Grandpa's Biscuits and Gravy

Maggie's Almost As Good As Grandpa's Biscuits and Gravy

When my father-in-law (a wonderful chef) would make Biscuits and Gravy for us when we visited, it instantly became a favorite that I've tried many times to replicate.  It's been so long, all I can remember of the recipe was that it was SO GOOD!

I've tried many times to make something close - but the memory fades after so many years.  So, I've just headed out in my own direction & aim for really good Biscuits and Gravy.  We really like this one...

Special Waffles

Once upon a time, I used to make pancakes from scratch.  But with a busy family underfoot, who didn't care about taste over speed, I eventually dropped the habit & went with whatever quick mix was available at my nearest grocery store.  Once the kids grew up & I cared about the taste over speed, I decided to go searching for a great recipe.  Unfortunately, among the plethora of recipes out there, I couldn't find anything that satisfied my grown-up taste.  Eventually, I remembered that when I need a simple, basic recipe, the best place to find one is in my Fanny Farmer or Betty Crocker cookbooks.  This recipe has become a favorite, & is used in many ways, whenever we need a pancake batter!

Avocado-Egg Salad

When I was little, my Aunt Norma Elliott was my regular baby-sitter,  Many of my earliest memories include her.  She was awesome - she taught me how to read, sing, sew, and be happy even when things didn't go my way.

On of our favorite outings was to take a picnic lunch to the park, where my Uncle Budge Elliott worked.  One favorite meal was an Egg Salad Sandwich.  While Aunt Norm was wonderful about making it just right, she wasn't super picky about getting all of the eggshell off!  To this day, a crunchy bite of egg shell will send shivers down my back & flood my mind with happy memories of picnics with Aunt Norm & Uncle Budge!

Fast forward to today, & I am on a weight-loss journey, searching for yummy meals that fill me up, and came across this one for an Egg Salad Sandwich.  I like it, but wanted to adapt a bit, so came up with my own recipe version.

Photo by Kirsten Morningstar

Mom's General Conference Cake

I am a Mormon - a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  As a church, we gather together every six months to hear the words of the prophets and apostles and general leadership of the church.  Those who can get tickets, gather in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The rest of us gather around televisions, internet feeds, radios, and a printed copy of the proceedings in the church magazine publications.  It is a time of learning, reflection, growing, and sometimes change.  It is also an event that covers six 2-hour long sessions that covers a full week!

Consequently every family has traditions that are passed on from generation to generation and friend to friend to help make the time more enjoyable.

When I was a kid, I lived in Phoenix, Arizona, where one TV channel would carry only one session.  Sunday morning, I'd drag my blanket & pillow off my bad and into the TV room, where we would watch the session from the afternoon before.  Sometimes we kids would fall asleep unless we had something to keep us awake - like food!  Thus my Mom came up with a "Conference Cake" that became our tradition.  It continues today!