We just went down to Kansas to visit some relatives, including a great grandma who is 92 years old! I wanted to bring a treat that could feed 15 people, that could be made ahead, and that could withstand an 8-hour drive in the car. Apple pie is a family favorite this time of year, but making several pies and bringing them in the car didn't make sense -- until I came across a recipe for Glazed Apple Pie Bars.

I always fall into that trap of buying a bag of onions thinking "It's cheaper! And you get so much more!" Then, after baking a roast, making some vegetable soup and perhaps one or two other meals, I find myself at the bottom of the bag with no use for the last few wilting onions.  (Am I the only one this happens to?) The thing is, I have been raised with the "waste not, want not" attitude, so no way am I throwing those babies out! And off searching for an onion recipe I go.

A fun time can be anytime if you are making easy butter cookies.  It is especially fun when I bake cookies with my 5-year old grandson, Mark. To any kid, a cookie or treat is special.  But not just any cookie will do for Mark.  You see, he is gluten intolerant, which means he cannot have baked treats that include wheat flour or products that contain wheat as an ingredient.  I always like to have treats at my house when he visits and often it means a purchased gluten-free treat.

For us - and many of our friends - weeknight dinners are a toughie. Both spouses are working all day, and we are still terrible at planning ahead, so it's rare to have meat defrosted and a meal ready to start when we get home. We are working on that, but in the meantime, this dilemma usually leaves us rummaging for an appetizer to tide us over while we set to work on the main course.

I recently went on a “girls only” long weekend trip with my close friend Mary.  We traveled to Charleston, South Carolina to enjoy beautiful scenery, rich history, wonderful food and great shopping.  The weather was a bit warm as the thermometer reached at least 98° each day, and on top of that it was very humid.  But, a little warm weather didn’t bother us one bit.  We explored the charming town of Charleston, visited a nearby plantation and made a day trip to Savannah, Georgia.  On our drive to and from Savannah we kept seeing signs for roadside stands selling fresh peaches.  Although we didn’t stop to purchase any, peaches have been on my mind.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, my dad has quite the garden.  Growing vegetables is one of his favorite hobbies.  He loves to garden so much not only does he manage to care for his own very large garden he also helps me plant and tend to my little vegetable garden.

I have a co-worker, Nick, who loves to bake.  Nick is a twenty-something Human Resource Recruiter here at Land O’Lakes.  We have had the pleasure of working together for the past couple of years, as Nick helps us find our summer intern each year.  I recently found out about his passion for baking and I thought it would be fun to have him come to the Test Kitchens and bake with me. 

I love to throw appetizer parties. I find it so much easier than hosting a dinner. I can make everything ahead, set it out on the table, and enjoy the party myself! I even set the drinks out so everyone can help themselves anytime. Pepper Cheese & Chive Gougère -- pronounced goo-zhair -- is always a favorite. It's a unique, delicate and delicious appetizer and -- the best part -- it's deceptively easy! Preparation time is only 15 minutes for these little cheesy cream puffs.

August is a big month here in Minnesota for garden produce.  Farmers markets are in full swing with a wide array of fresh picked vegetables.  Home gardeners are happy to share the bounty of their labor – especially when it comes to zucchini and tomatoes.  It seems that zucchini multiply faster than rabbits and, rarely do tomatoes ripen one at a time!  It’s not unusual to find zucchini and tomatoes looking for a new home here in the Test Kitchens.  They just appear on the counter begging to be taken home.  Someone has harvested their garden the night before and realizes it is impossible to use all of their lovingly grown veggies themselves, so they bring them in to share.  Soon there are recipe discussions and usage suggestions taking place.   One recipe that invariably comes up is Italian Pasta & Tomato Salad because it’s simple to make and features fresh veggies and herbs.