The Joy of Baking.. The Pleasures of Home

In case you were wondering... this is my dear mother Mary Lou (left) who has taught me almost (but not all) I know about cooking and baking. She is a master kolacki maker. My favorite alternates: one year I can't have enough of those with lekvar (prune jelly); the next year it's those made with the nut and pineapple filling. Yum Yum. There's very few things in this world that beat fresh hot kolacki, just out of the oven and sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar.

The second picture shows my lovely and very talented sister Stephanie with our dear friend Siutang (we like to think of him as a second brother; Siutang actually helps us out around home. In fact, he's amazing!). Stephanie is making her award winning "whoopie cushions". Okay, Aunt Pat calls them "whoopies". I forget what Steph calls them. You really have no idea how good marshmellow fluff can taste between two chocolatety cookies.

You know, somedays all I'd like to do is find a reasonably priced house (basically a deal) somewhere picturesque (okay, maybe I'm asking for too much... I'd settle for West Virginia (no offense of course), fix the place up, and open a bed and breakfast. I'd do a fair portion of the cooking and baking. Or better yet, maybe I'd just stick to baking (more my specialty). Given the stressful nature of my current job, I'd sure like to make this more reality than mere fancy. So, if you know of any real estate or want to offer your services let me know. :)

And, here is my family home on Dunham Hill Road, where I grew up, playing Pennsylvania Turnpike in the driveway, and where we were told to run around the house ten or twenty times by Dad when we had too much energy as kids. (Hey, it's a good idea -- I just might use the same trick someday). Ah, to turn back the clock ...