For the last several years, my family has maintained a weekly tradition called "Ecletic Family Dinner" (EFD for short). This is a standing date for a home-cooked meal. No invite is necessary, just come when you can. The reason we call it "eclectic" is because a multitude of extended family members, roommates, friends and significant others have been included - at one time or another - when living in the area. The beauty of EFD is that we see lots of people we love. The challenge is in feeding so many people! That's why I recently offered to handle dessert - by preparing Ice Cream Parlor Malts. They are quick, delicious and (best of all) customizable! So everyone gets what they want.

EGGS...You can dress them up or dress them down.  You can eat them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  They're loaded with protein and are an important part of any diet.  Whether you eat them fried, scrambled, poached, or deviled...it makes no difference.  Eggs are awesome! For our annual camping trip to Lake Michigan (which is right around the corner), we always look for easy, delicious recipes to incorporate into our campfire cookouts.  See, the best part of camping for us is always THE FOOD! 

Visiting Italy has been on my "bucket list" since grade school. I've always wanted to experience the art, the beautiful landscapes, the history and the food. So, last fall when I had the opportunity to travel there with my whole family, I was thrilled! We saw the Mediterranean Sea, The David, real gondolas and more. Tiramisu quickly became our favorite Italian food (as you can see, we practically licked our plates clean). So, at each stop along the way we sampled the delicious tiramisu that region of the country had to offer.  

I love the simplicity of summer grilling. Throw some veggies in foil with butter and herbs, and salt some chicken, steak or fish and grill. So, as if that wasn't wonderful enough, I decided to take my grilling over the top -- by adding a pat of Caramelized Onion Butter to the top of my grilled steak. There's a restaurant in town known for serving their steak with a pat of butter -- you know, the kind of place that charges $35 or more for a steak. Well, I enjoyed this same decadence on my breezy deck, with a steak that cost less than half that amount, and, I dare to say, mine was even more amazing with onion butter!

Soon after my parents were first married, my mom set about to make pies for a Sunday dinner at her new mother-in-law's house. She had heard my dad rave about how much he loved coconut cream pie and wanted to surprise him! After dinner, she asked the group cheerily, "Who would like some coconut cream pie?" My dad blurted out, "No, thanks. I can't stand coconut cream pie!" Turned out banana cream pie was his favorite, but my mom was sure he'd said coconut. Not one to just let things go, she cut him a big slice and set it in front of him. He put a lot of effort into eating every last bite!

I have a friend, Barb, who I have known most of my life.  She is married and busy raising two kids (shout out to Ben and Amy) in the state of Washington.  Fortunately, she still has family in Minnesota so I see her a couple of times each year when she comes home for a visit.  We have one of those relationships where we just start where we left off the last time we were together.  We can talk for hours.  Often we will meet for dinner and we always, I mean always, have dessert.  Our hands-down favorite is a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with Easy Hot Fudge Sauce. 

Strawberry shortcake is always a favorite to serve this time of year. Here in Minnesota “pick-your-own” strawberry fields are ripening and advertising their fresh sweet berries. Grocery stores have plenty of these luscious red delights. This is simply the perfect time to make a dessert that showcases this beloved fruit.

It's 8 a.m. and the girls are still fast asleep. Joe is in bed reading and I make a plan -- to bake some Sour Cream Cherry Scones and surprise everyone on Saturday morning! Ever so nonchalantly, I go downstairs without saying a word...