On the Trail: Stop 1 – Lone Elm Park

I know, I know. Last month, I said the Mahaffie House was stop 1. But I’ve updated that to be a stop 1 alternative. Because, especially in this first part of the trail, the first major stop really depended on what jumping off town you chose, what route you decided to take, and even whatContinueContinue reading “On the Trail: Stop 1 – Lone Elm Park”

Dinner at 1800: Chocolate Cakes

I had one criteria for this month’s episode–it can’t use eggs. Yup, eggs have officially become too expensive for me. And this recipe was unique enough to be intriguing. Because for chocolate cake…there isn’t actually any chocolate in it! Don’t forget to check out the one minute Instagram version. Chocolate Cakes The Virginia Housewife PublishedContinueContinue reading “Dinner at 1800: Chocolate Cakes”

Dare to Hope

I learned, early on in life, what I thought was a valuable lesson. That hope usually led to disappointment in life. If you hoped for something, got excited for it, it was bound to fall through or hurt you in some way. So, by the time I reached college, I had my own mantra. ItContinueContinue reading “Dare to Hope”

On the Trail: Stop 1 Alternate – Mahaffie House

So, I’ve decided to try and take you on a virtual trip down the trail. Since we’ve already talked about Jumping Off towns, let’s move on to one of the first stops a family might make. If one (say, my fictional family) were to decide to take the Oregon/California trail, jumping off from Independence, dependingContinueContinue reading “On the Trail: Stop 1 Alternate – Mahaffie House”

Dinner at 1800: Cold Vichyssoise Cream

I partially picked this recipe because it sounded so fancy…afterwards I discovered it actually is just a fancy term for potato and leek soup…which is apparently still a thing! But at least it was new to me…and to Daniel, which is the important thing. Don’t forget to check out the one minute Instagram version! ColdContinueContinue reading “Dinner at 1800: Cold Vichyssoise Cream”

Dinner at 1800: Pork Chops Bavarian

I am finally back after a much needed break! Not needed for just the reasons I thought…but also due to holidays and an unexpected surgery! That’s right, I got the dreaded appendicitis. I’m just grateful we caught it in time thanks to God’s grace in telling me my feeling of illness was not normal. But,ContinueContinue reading “Dinner at 1800: Pork Chops Bavarian”

When It’s Time to Write

You know that feeling when you’ve been doing something halfway for awhile and you are getting impatient to just buckle down and get it done? It feels like it has been that way with my writing and even reading for awhile. Life just gets in the way! There’s always something to clean, an errand toContinueContinue reading “When It’s Time to Write”

Dinner at 1800: Bird’s Nest Pudding

Okay, okay, I admit it. I picked this as much for the name as anything else. Totally worth it to see everyone’s faces as I told them what I was making. Don’t miss out on both the promo video and the actual reel over on Instagram! All my thanks to my sister, Tianna, who didContinueContinue reading “Dinner at 1800: Bird’s Nest Pudding”

On the Trail: Independence, MO

Jumping off points courtesy of The National Frontier Museum For as long as I can remember, I have thought about Independence, Missouri almost synonymously with the Oregon/California Trails. I knew it was the main jumping off town and I was one of those strange people who dreamt about seeing it one day. I didn’t evenContinueContinue reading “On the Trail: Independence, MO”

Dinner at 1800: Ginger Snaps

I know, why would I pick something as simple as Ginger Snaps? Well, partially because I’ve never actually made them before, and partially because they looked fun! Technically, the recipe is from The New England Economical Housekeeper published 1847, but I pulled it from Wagon Wheel Kitchens by Jacqueline Williams, which has so much amazingContinueContinue reading “Dinner at 1800: Ginger Snaps”