Come have “Coffee and Convo” with Alicia and tell us what’s on your mind!
From
| November 09, 2009
In Coffee and Convo
Featured Recipe: My Favorite Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze
Welcome to my kitchen table! Beverly and I have been sitting down with a “cuppa” coffee and catching up for more than 15 years. It doesn’t matter that we live 800 miles apart, we still pour a cup of coffee and carve out some time to chat. (Mostly over the phone, but it’s amazing with the internet what “kinds” of conversations you can actually have!)
I’d love to invite you to join me.
Starting today, we’re creating a new blog category exclusively for the kinds of things I talk about with my friends over coffee -- everything from my latest food craving or rumor, selling a home in today’s market and my way-too empty nest to the latest recipe I’ve conjured up.
My hope is you’ll also have ideas and passions to bring to the table so that our conversations get richer as time goes by.
For so many years our readers have told us they feel like they know us and consider us friends. We’ve loved that idea! We can all use more friends, don’t you think? We recently heard from a friend through email. Here’s what she said:
“Hi it's me. I wasn't sure who would be reading my email, so I didn't go into details! Although I feel like I know both of you well enough to have included some personal tidbits! I go to ya'll first now for any recipe (who wants to use a conventional recipe if there's a desperate version!!) As a matter of fact, I'm getting ready to make Lazy Spinach Lasagna for my friend who just had a hysterectomy. Boy, is she in for a treat!!
Anyway, love your new Kitchen Scoop site ... and how fun to be able to converse with you through that!!
With love and fond memories
~ Martha
See what I mean? I’m taking a cue from Martha and widening the circle of friends. All you need to do to join in our conversations is to type your ideas and thoughts into the “Comments” box after each blog post. (If you can’t find the box, just click on the word "comments" under the headline at the top of each post.)
If you have an idea to propose for a future conversation, please email us at tellus@KitchenScoop.com Either way, don’t be a stranger, and please stay in touch!!
Comments
From Rita May - November 09, 2009
tried to find the lazy spinach lasagna mentioned by Martha. Is there a way that you can link to a recipe mentioned by someone that comments. that would be great!
Rita
I’ll try the gingerbread tomorrow. I’ll remember to brew extra coffee. I’ll let you know how I like it.
From Martha - November 09, 2009
Wow! I love getting in on new things right when they start, so what a blessing to be invited to have coffee with my precious friend! Alicia, how is it that we live in the same city and never see each other?!? Miss you and your sweet girls. Well once again, I went searching for a dessert recipe in your cookbooks (we were having our neighbors for dessert-too desperate to have them for dinner that night!) and came across one that took my breath! When I worked as a nurse at Rex Hospital in the ‘80’s, my all-time favorite cafeteria dessert was the Oatmeal Pie.When I stopped working after Logan (boy #2) was born, I had withdrawal pains from not getting my Oatmeal Pie “fixes!!” I thought I’d never taste it again! So when I came across your recipe for Rex’s Oatmeal Pie, I rushed to fix it. Man, oh man! The first taste took me back to a favotite time and place in my professional life. I LOVED it! My neighbors and family loved it too (you always make me look so good!!). I love to take this to folks when, yep, you guessed it-they come home from the hospital!!
PS-Rita, the Lazy Spinach Lasagna recipe is in The Desperation Entertaining cookbook on page 98. It’s a winner!
From Alicia Ross - November 09, 2009
Hi everybody! Yeah! I am excited about our convo!
Gretchen - you have brought up a bunch of topics and I can’t wait to explore them.
Rita - just talked to Beverly and we’ll be posting the lasagna recipe ASAP in case you don’t have the book.
Martha- love that Oatmeal Pie and we’ll work on getting that on the site, too, soon. I think having neighbors over for dessert is the perfect answer to staying in touch when life gets busy.
From Beverly Mills - November 09, 2009
Me too everyone! Count me in for convo for sure! And—TA-DA—I have just finished entering the lasagna recipe onto our site, so it should be available once we get the photo loaded. Check back later today!
From Sheila Agaciewski - November 09, 2009
I bought the Desperation Dinners book quite some time ago and have used it many times over the years when I had an adult son and his daughter move home after a divorce. I needed and got help getting dinners on the table that were quick, nutritious and well-balanced. I have been following Desperation Dinners ever since. Thanks for all you do! It was a disappointment for me when our newspaper quit carrying your columns, but thanks to the internet, new books and your website, news and good info keeps coming our way.
I love that you have opened this blog.
The empty nest syndrome in my experience doesn’t last all that long—they come back to visit time and again especially when there is good food to be found there with mom at home.
From Beverly Mills - November 09, 2009
Hi Sheila! It’s always so gratifying to know the stories of people who have been following Desperation Dinners for a long time. Thanks so very much for sharing your story with us, and I’m so glad we can connect now through Kitchen Scoop!
From Peg Ramsdell - November 09, 2009
WOW! It’ hard to believe I am an empty nester (ish) with my daughter away at school. I’ll never forget the first recipe you ever gave me- 7 layer dip. I have been a faithful follower and “cheerleader” for your works since our girls were in elementary school. Keep up the wonderful work!
From Alicia Ross - November 10, 2009
Thanks Peg! Glad you’ve joined the conversation!
Hey everyone, I finally have the Spinach Lasagna open. http://kitchenscoop.com/recipes/spinach-lasagna/
Related Recipes
My Favorite Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze
October 27, 2009
Eating fresh baked gingerbread is like gobbling up a warm hug. It's rare to find gingerbread made from scratch anymore, and yet it is so easy. You’ll love our inexpensive, authentic recipe!
Read full recipe.My Books
Our Cookbooks rock!
What you're saying..
I just want to thank you for several years of eating discovery and pleasure. My son gave me Desperation Dinners! I started out just letting the book fall open and I made whatever it fell to. Later on I started systematically going through the whole book. It took me about 3 years, but it was an exciting adventure.
--Judy Parker of Madison, AL
Have a question?
We hope you'll tell us, but we hope you'll ASK us, too! Send your questions to alicia@kitchenscoop.com and we'll try to find the answers.
From Gretchen - November 09, 2009
What a fabulous idea! I too have an incredibly quiet house as #3 Boy Child left for college this fall (#1 Boy Child graduated and “bounced back” as he continues to look for employment - anybody know of any engineering jobs for those just out of school? He’s working 2 part time jobs and we rarely see him).
I’ve gone from rushing home from work to get dinner on the table for two h.s. (male) athletes by 6, to dinner for 2 who shouldn’t be eating as much as we do. Desparate Dinners are a mainstay still. Often, though, the dinnertable conversation leaves lots to be desired! Certainly will enjoy this conversation more!
FYI, I’m an ECU gradute (many centuries ago) so I’ve identified a lot with your NC Southern recipes and stories. I recall that Alicia’s kids are there now, right? Now I’ve been in the Midwest longer than any other place - it’s home!