Banana Bread with Nutella and Hazelnuts

Andrea Meyers - Banana Bread with Nutella and Hazelnuts

Nutella Day isn’t until February, but it’s never too early or late to celebrate. We reserve Nutella as a special treat once a month because, frankly, it’s too hard to resist. We’ll open a jar and before you know it there are deep canals in it from spoons and Monkey Boy’s fingers, though we do [...]

Curried Peanut, Sweet Potato, and Tomato Soup (The Kids Cook Monday)

Andrea Meyers - Curried Peanut, Sweet Potato, and Tomato Soup

Peanut soup is something I’ve always wanted to try, so when we visited my parents in South Carolina, I picked up two bags of raw peanuts in the shells and had a fun afternoon shelling with the boys. I set out a half-sheet baking pan and gave each of the boys a pie pan, and [...]

Steamed Asparagus with Red Onions, Almonds, and Raisins

Andrea Meyers - Steamed Asparagus with Red Onions, Almonds, and Raisins

Last spring we planted an asparagus bed, and it has really taken off. At first we only saw small tips peeping up from the soil, then they shot up to tall spears almost overnight. Now the wispy fern sways in the breeze on long thin stems and will stay around for the summer. Asparagus needs [...]

From the Pantry: Tamari Soy Sauce (Tamari Almonds)

Andrea Meyers - Tamari Almonds

My first experience in an Asian grocery store was on the island of Saipan back in 1989. I was still new to the small island and its mix of cultures, and Asian ingredients were not part of my vocabulary, so browsing through a bewildering array of soy sauces left my head spinning and I couldn’t [...]

Homemade Peanut Butter (The Kids Cook Monday)

Homemade Peanut Butter (The Kids Cook Monday) - Andrea Meyers

Peanut butter is a snack and sandwich staple around our house, whether for toast, sandwiches, crackers, celery, or just on a spoon the old-fashioned way. Our boys are particularly fond of peanut butter and banana sandwiches on whole wheat bread. Peanut butter is very easy to make at home, and there is a tremendous difference [...]

Bourbon Praline Pecans (Where Women Cook Giveaway)

 If you asked me to choose my favorite pecan dessert, I would have a really difficult time because I love pecan pie, but these pralines would be in the running. Crunchy pralines may technically be more authentic New Orleans style, but I can’t resist the creamy version. I use real cream—no evaporated milk—because I believe [...]

Prune Cake

Andrea Meyers - Christmas Prune Cake

It’s a shame that fruitcake has earned such a horrible reputation. When I was growing up I didn’t like them, I think because the flavor seemed strong to my kid-size palette, but now I love a good moist fruitcake with plenty of real dried fruits and a dash of rum or other baking alcohol. Michael’s [...]

Peanut Butter Cookies from Mouse, Cookies, and More

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe from Mouse, Cookies, and More - Andrea Meyers

Our oldest son, Builder Guy, started reading at an early age and since he was a toddler has taken his favorite books everywhere we go. One of his current favorite books is Mouse Cookies and More: A Treasury. The book contains four stories: If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Mouse [...]

Irish Cream Pound Cake

Andrea Meyers - Irish Cream Pound Cake

It’s that time of year, time for me to dust off my Irish genes—which are mingled with Scottish, a bit of Cherokee Indian, as well as a few others that I’m not sure about—and enjoy a bit of my family heritage. We’ll have some Irish stew, Irish soda bread, and at least one dessert with [...]

Mini Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Nutella

Nutella lovers around the world, it’s time to celebrate World Nutella Day! The brainchild of Sara Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy and Michelle from Bleeding Espresso, World Nutella Day started in 2007 and gave fans of the delicious chocolate hazelnut concoction a chance to share their devotion in whatever form seemed fit, whether spread [...]