My dad grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota. And though he's spent the last 35 years living in the cities with his wife and four children (most of whom you couldn't pay to go camping) - as the saying goes, you can take the man out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the man. My dad still loves working with his hands, itches to be outside regardless of the weather and is delighted by fresh produce. So, when I was considering tackling this Rhubarb Cookie Cake recipe - it is the season, after all! - he was the person I wanted to bake it for.

I recently lost my mother-in-law Audrey.  At 86 years old she was still enjoying life.  Hearing her famous giggle was enough to brighten my day.  During the process of sorting through her many things – she loved knick knacks – I came across her recipes.  Although she appreciated good food, she was not much of a cook or baker.  She had a few special recipes scribbled on pieces of paper and bundled together with a rubber band.  No cookbooks, no recipe cards, no on-line recipe box, just random pieces of paper.

We have lots of spring birthdays in our family, so we're always looking for fun recipes. We just made a decadent chocolate cake for Joe's birthday, so this Orange Chai-Spiced Cake Roll was just the thing for his brother, Uncle Bill. Now, I'm not so good with mailing out cards, but if you come to my house on your birthday we will definitely celebrate with cake!

I am right in the middle of that beautiful time when you get to celebrate love and life (weddings and babies) just about every weekend of the spring and summer. What a gift to be part of so many wonderful lives! Plus, I love a good party with great food (I am my mother's daughter). So, when our friend Marla got engaged to the love of her life last fall, my mom and I decided to throw our own fun, fresh afternoon shower for her to celebrate with a variety of fabulous women who have nurtured and mentored her along the way.

Even though I was born and raised (and have lived my entire life) in the northern state of Minnesota I have southern roots.  I have grandparents on both sides of my family that are from southern states – West Virginia and Arkansas.  So, as a little girl buttermilk biscuits were regular fare.  Warm from the oven topped with a pat of melting butter and homemade jam they are one of my comfort foods.  Often my mom would invite my grandparents over for Sunday supper.  She would make a big pot of soup and homemade biscuits.  Just writing about this simple yet delicious meal makes me smile (and tear up a little as I realize how much I miss my grandparents).

Weekends are a great time to wind down and enjoy something out of the ordinary, like Mini Mexi Bites.  It seems that our weekday breakfasts rely too much on toast and cereal and fast scrambled eggs.  A little fun and variety makes sense on a Saturday when we’re not in a rush.  In fact, we often eat later in the morning so we usually make it a brunch.  This recipe is quick, easy, and outrageously good.  And the mini size is fun, too!

Nothing says "spring" like freshly-baked bunny cookies.  Of course, to the girls it's all about getting their hands in some cookie dough!  They loved rolling out the circles and logs needed to make the bunnies.  While it was a little time consuming, we made it fun.  It was like playing with play dough to them.  But then we got to cook and eat them, which was a plus!  And even though they denied it, I knew they were sneaking raw dough under the table (and so was Jeremy).  Busted!

After a big Easter dinner, I'm always looking for ways to use leftover ham. This recipe for Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes & Ham is perfect -- a real crowd-pleasing one-dish meal. I put it all together and got it into the oven, and then went to pick up my girls from school. When we returned, we simply added the extra broccoli and cheese, popped it back in the oven for the final 15 minutes and set the table. A delicious, easy dinner -- ready before anyone was starving!

What's more popular than cupcakes?  They're everywhere you look!  They're the hot new trend.  Who needs a cake when cupcakes are so fun and easy to eat?  It's all the rage with celebrities.  Recently, Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly on Nickelodeon) celebrated her birthday, and rather than a beautiful cake, she posed next to her cool cupcakes. So fun!  My girls just love her!