BEANS AROUND THE WORLD CONTEST
Navy bean soup with mom’s special touch—drop homemade noodles. I will be making that today. Wish you were here, but since you are not, let me tell you how my mom made it. Sorry I do not have measurements, mom knew how to guess.
Drain beans, rinse, add to big pan, and soak in water overnight.
The next morning, drain beans again, return to same pot, cover with water, and add pork butt if desired. I use beef broth instead.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook 3–4 hours until beans are tender. Keep watch because you may need to add more liquid.
Prepare noodles by mixing flour, eggs and enough water to make a soft dough. Drop by the spoonful into the boiling bean soup. Cook approximately 10 minutes, uncovered until noodles are cooked through and slightly firm.
Serve with white bread or cornbread (and ketchup if you dare—I choose not to—sorry Mom!)
Especially good on a cold, wet, dreary day, but actually good anytime!

GLOBAL CUISINE
We are fortunate to have recipes and food available to us from many different cultures. From Mexico, we can enjoy tortillas, tacos and fajitas. Who can resist Italian food such as Lasagna, Ravioli and pasta? Then from China, we get won ton soup, stir fried rice and orange chicken. And these delicious foods cannot be made without SPICES.

FAVE MEMORY
I remember Santa filling my stocking with a tangerine and lots of candy! I ate it at 3 or 4 in the morning when we were full of anticipation and could not wait for daylight. One year our grandparents brought our family a giant candy cane. I believe it was around 6 inches in diameter and about a foot long. Of course I was just a little girl and it may have seemed bigger than it actually was. It was big though, and we had to break pieces off with a hammer! It lasted a long, long time even with our family of 9! Now that I think of it, the candy cane may have been even bigger than 6 inches in diameter. I do not know where they purchased this enormous piece of candy, but I sure enjoyed it and think of it every Christmas!

FAVE MEMORY
My mom made these many times when I was growing up. It was and is a favorite food of mine. Toasting the buttered bread in a skillet results in soft toast. Although there were 7 kids, we were not all eating at the same time because of our age differences. Still, Mom must have stood at the stove a very long time when we were hungry for a toasted tomato sandwich. One was never enough!

Fave Memory
My favorite food memory is lemon meringue pie. Read my short story about how it came to be.

Remember the old metal canisters? These bring back memories, but I am glad the manufacturers updated the design and material.

Sharing a cup of tea with a friend can make a friendship last forever.

In fairy tales, the witch threatens to eat humans, but not in the case of the sweet green witch cupcake!

FOOD GEOMETRY
Once upon a time, my favorite comfort food was peanut butter mixed with marshmallow creme. A few weeks ago, after a particularly-ugly-dreadful day, I eagerly went to the kitchen to prepare my recipe. Sadly, I found no marshmallow creme in the cupboard! But I did find a tub of frozen topping in the fridge. I mixed peanut butter with the topping—it immediately became my new comfort food. BONUS: fewer calories!

Food Geometry
Creamy, dreamy, delicious ice cream. Not sure what flavor? Have them all in one yummy sugar cone! Read the instructions for a perfect ice cream cone that will not topple over. Simple!

Food Geometry
Turquoise and pink shouts the 1950s like nothing else! I enjoyed creating this design as floods of memories doused my mind. Very cute image for any kitchen.

Food Geometry
Candy, candy, candy! Dreamy chocolate, but even better with creamy peanut butter: Mom’s PB fudge, fruit slices in cherry, orange or lime flavors, candy buttons, caramel creams and taffy.

Feeling down? Need a “pick-me-up”? Deserve a treat? I have an idea ... grab a yummy lollipop from this beautiful candy dish! Lime, lemon, grape or cherry? Which one will you choose? Pick a cherry one for me, please.

Strawberry shake with whipped cream and lots of cherries. Looks good enough to eat! Digital art.

FOOD GEOMETRY
Ice Cream and popsicles! Enjoy this design and save the calories. Digital art.