My Best-Ever Recipes Collection

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Treasured by Brenda's Best-Ever Recipes

Collected over the last twenty years, my best-ever recipes are from various sources and include recipes for special occasions and for everyday meals. You'll find some extraordinary baking ideas, like carrot cake and banana bread, and some holiday favorites like glazed baked ham, and scalloped potatoes, as well as a meal as basic as sloppy joes and a delicious breakfast recipe for pancakes. You will also find my Easter dinner menu which discusses an entire Easter or springtime menu, my complete summer dinner menu and my fall dinner menu.

While enjoying the privilege of being a stay-at-home Mom, I invested my time in caring for my children to the best of my ability and in running our home. Naturally, that meant that one of my jobs was cooking meals almost every single day. Instead of drudgery, that 'job' became a passion and I voraciously read magazines, cookbooks and local newspapers looking for new ideas to test on my family and friends.

I also tuned into a few television-cooking shows on a regular basis. Including and perhaps most notably, the Martha Stewart Living show. Many of her recipes were fancier than I wanted or needed to be but over the years, more than a few of our favorites started from an idea or a recipe that I saw on her show. There is also one dish that I would love to be able to prepare but it is a family joke that I cannot make Martha's Mile-High Lemon Meringue pie. (Mine is like soup.) Whatever it is that I do wrong with this pie recipe, I do so consistently! (Please don't say easy-as-pie in my presence!) Recently, however, I wrote my story about Martha's lemon meringue pie and the lemon cupcakes from her new cupcake cookbook. It is a humorous adventure story!

This page is meant to be a gathering point or a jumping off point to my best-ever recipes series with a bit of my personality and family life thrown in. I hope you enjoy it and find a recipe that inspires you in the kitchen! And, oh yes, that's not my home in the photo but rather someone elses' historic home in Quebec City!

Do You Have A Beautiful Whistling Tea Kettle Like Le Creuset's Cobalt Blue Enameled Tea Kettle? 

I love bolder blues now, like the cobalt blue of this Le Creuset tea kettle, and warm yellows.

Available in a host of colors to suit your kitchen,
Le Creuset Enameled Steel Whistling Tea Kettle
is a beauty in this bold cobalt blue color!
$69.95

What Style Would You Call Your Kitchen? Traditional? Modern? Country? 

I'd have to say I like a casual, French Country look but I have not quite achieved it, yet.

My kitchen style used to be country with lots of wedgwood blue. I still use the same dishes because they are a plain blue and I believe they are somewhat timeless but my style has evolved a bit and now I would like to think of it more as a relaxed, sunny French country style. My blue plates still work but I also love bolder blues now, like cobalt, and warm yellows.

My lifestyle is very casual. Two teenage boys and many hours spent at the computer selling on eBay, writing lenses on Squidoo and a husband who is determined to recreate every part of the house mean that any sense of formality (if there ever was one) is out the window. The formal china, well, I guess I should be selling it on eBay!

If I had it to do over, I would turn in my 'good' Royal Doulton china for something that would do double duty -- simple enough to be used every day but also beautiful enough that when you wanted the table to look lovely it could. In the end, of course, it does not matter what you serve your food on. Just that it be nutritious and delicious and that is what I usually seek in recipes. The best-ever recipes featured here are often (but not always) special occasion ones, the ones that we look forward to at special times like Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Do You Use Fabric Napkins? They Are Environmentally Friendly, Economical In The Long Run and Fun! 

Most often, we use an eclectic mix of fabric napkins at our supper table. How about you?


You'll never use paper napkins again!
Order these lovely cloth napkins from Amazon by clicking here.
At our house, our cloth napkins, like so many items
gathered over the years, are an eclectic mix. Some flowered, some plain.
Some checked, some with...cows. Others with snowmen.
No theme here just a host of cloth napkins.
Environmentally friendly and fun!

The Best-Ever Sloppy Joes Recipe 

Some call a Sloppy Joe with corn a Sloppy Mike so this one may actually be a Sloppy Mike. Whatever you choose to call it though, it is a family favorite that is easy, simple, delicious and nutritious.

featured lens The Best-Ever Sloppy Joes Recipe ~~ Easy & Delicious

Sloppy Joes. YUM. That is what I think when I think of our family's Best-Ever Sloppy Joes Recipe. It is fast and easy and devoured by every member of our family with absolutely no reservations and plenty of enthusiasm! The name 'Sloppy Joes...

Do You Have A Great Cast Iron Skillet Like Le Creuset's Iron Handle Skillet? 

I have two, one that is perfect for poaching two eggs, one that is perfect for poaching four. They also do a beautiful job of frying ground beef, too!

I absolutely love my
Le Creuset Iron Handle Skillets.
(Click here to check them out at Amazon.)
I have two in different sizes. I put mine in the dishwasher
whenever I use them (which is against the rules)
but they seem to come out just fine!
The 6.33 inch one retails for $69.99.
Mine are not in this pretty blue
and they are not quite so new,
but I love them!

The Best-Ever Glazed Baked Ham Recipe 

This recipe came from a Parents Magazine many, many years ago. Sometimes, when I just want to get the ham in the oven, I do not add the glaze but when I do, it just seems a bit more special.

featured lens The Best-Ever Glazed Baked Ham Recipe

How would you describe the best-ever glazed baked ham recipe? In my opinion, the recipe for the best baked ham would have to be fairly easy to put together and yield an absolutely delicious result. This recipe does just that. It is actually very easy...

French Kiss: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 

Quite possibly the best-ever movie soundtrack & most definitely my all-time favorite CD.

French Kiss: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

French Kiss: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/18/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $13.98

This CD has a great French feel that is fun and romantic. I cannot begin to tell you how many times we have had it on at dinnertime. (Well it now competes with teenage music choices but it is always a contender in my book!)

Amazon Customer Reviews:

"I am currently looking for a CD that rivals this one for great dinner music."

"Takes me to France each time I put it on. Oui!"

"Utterly charming and endlessly appealing."

"I find the tracks easy to listen to and they make me smile."

Those quotes some up my feelings, exactly, about French Kiss.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

The Best-Ever Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe 

This recipe is a twice-a-year family recipe. I try to have it only a twice because it contains whip cream, a treat which we all know we should not eat regularly. However, it is definitely a superb recipe even if we have to wait to have it.

featured lens The Best-Ever Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

The Best-Ever Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe is Umm, Umm, Good! These potatoes are exactly what I think of when I think of comfort food and they are soooo delicious. My sister-in-law quite likes them and she, believe it or not, does not like scallo...

Do You Have A Serving Tray Like 'Valencia' by Mountain Woods? 

We love our wooden tray (we have a white painted one)
and we use it all the time. It is perfect for carrying
teatime treats but it also does double duty as a
table service on our big ottoman. Occasionally,
you will even find me using it on the couch
to sort paperwork. Click here to check this an antique-style one out.
It is called Valencia and manufactured by Mountain Woods.
It retails at Amazon for $24.95.
Amazon's regular price is $49.95
so the price is pretty good!

The Best-Ever Garden Salad Recipe 

This recipe originated from the cookbook Looneyspoons: Low-Fat Food Made Fun by Janet and Greta Podleski. It is special and it is delicious, always winning rave reviews when I take it to a potluck dinner. (You don't even need to mention that it is low-fat!)
featured lens The Best-Ever Garden Salad Recipe is from Looneyspoons

Garden salad recipes abound. This one is my favorite and comes from one of my all-time favorite cookbooks -- Looneyspoons, a low-fat Canadian cookbook by Janet and Greta Podleski. This garden salad recipe is special because it mixes many fresh veget...

Do You Have a GREAT Salad Spinner? The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner Is The Best! 


We absolutely love our salad spinner
and wouldn't be without it!
It makes throwing a salad together a breeze.
You can read all about it at
The Best Salad Spinner or you can
click here to buy it from Amazon.
List Price: $33.50
Price: $29.99

The Best-Ever Hawaiian Potato Salad 

I know you can eat potato salad all year long but there is just something about it that says summer to me so that is when we eat it. I like mine cold with miracle whip but my dressing has a couple of secret ingredients!

featured lens The Best-Ever Hawaiian Potato Salad Recipe

Hawaiian Potato Salad is not the simplest potato salad recipe ever, but is certainly one of the most delicious ones! It contains more vegetables than the average potato salad and a slightly lighter-tasting and healthier dressing that still manages to...

Do You Have A Serving Bowl That Will Keep Your Best-Ever Salad Cold? 



We all know how critical it is to keep salads,
especially mayonnaise-based ones, cold.
I saw this bowl and fell in love with it.
You fill The Cold Bowl on Ice with ice
and the cold travels upwards and into the food.
It is acrylic so that means it is great for summertime living
and it is break-resistant and dishwasher safe.
What more could you ask?
Click here to keep your salad cold with this
attractive serving bowl from Amazon
$32.99

The Best-Ever Homemade Chicken Pot Pie 

The ultimate in comfort food to me, this pie comes out for special company. A unique cheesy crust filled with home cooked vegetables, chicken and homemade broth. Couldn't be better!

featured lens The Best-Ever Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIE. If you love chicken pot pie, you know that there is absolutely nothing as yummy or comforting as a fresh, homemade chicken pot pie. If you have only ever had the commercial versions, then you really have been missing a treat...

Pie Bakers Everywhere Need A Few Basic Tools...Plus A Pie Bird 



A pie bird, vent or chimney is
a unique and unexpected gift for the
pie baker in your family. I do not have
one of these handy little guys yet
but I fell in love with them as so many people do
and created a page about them that
you can visit by clicking right here.
If you've never heard of a pie bird before,
you'll learn something. If you know what a pie bird is,
you might just be impressed with the assortment of
pie birds that is available in traditional
and non-traditional forms.

Click here to order this
cute Rooster Pie Bird Vent
from Amazon. I think he would be perfect
in my kitchen. How about yours?

The Best-Ever Country Seed Bread Recipe 

This is my family's number one bread recipe. It is perfect as an addition to a meal of homemade soup, a chicken dinner or even a holiday dinner. Of course, it makes extra-special sandwiches, too!

featured lens The Best-Ever Country Seed Bread Recipe

The Best-Ever Country Seed Bread Recipe is a delight to throw together using your bread machine. Most recipes for your bread maker are easy, but not all are as delicious as this one is. It always receives rave reviews and is a staple at our house. We...

Are You Looking For A Great New Bread Cookbook? 



Kneadlessly Simple: Fabulous, Fuss-Free, No-Knead Breads
by Nancy Baggett looks intriguing. It is not a bread-machine cookbook
(mine recipe is) but instead it is a book that promises
bread without the mess, the experience, and the kneading.
You can even watch a video on Amazon's page about
Kneadlessly Simple by clicking here.
List Price: $24.95
Amazon's Price: $15.72

The Best-Ever Buttermilk Pancake Recipe 

My boys have been raised on this buttermllk pancake recipe and no other recipe is quite the same. It is one of the most requested meals at our house so they are only too pleased to make it when I call upon them to do so.

featured lens The Best-Ever Buttermilk Pancake Recipe

Have you ever heard of Polly's Pancake Parlor in New Hampshire's White Mountains? Food writers have been known to call their pancakes the best in America. We could quibble about whether mine are the best-ever buttermilk pancakes or whether Polly's a...

Do You Keep The Time In High Style? This French Country Blue Toile Wall Clock Certainly Will! 

Click here to buy this attractive
French Country Blue Toile Wall Clock
from Amazon and you'll always know what time it is!
$48.00

The Best-Ever Chocolate Fondue Recipe 

This is a more recent addition to my recipe collection and it was a lucky find on my part. Read the lens for the story of our chocolate fondue. Romance was definitely not in the air!

featured lens The Best-Ever Chocolate Fondue Recipe

Believe it or not, I stumbled upon this recipe in a quick search of the internet. My teenage sons wanted a chocolate fondue; one had won a 400 gram Toblerone chocolate bar as a prize. New Year's Eve was coming and I was not feeling organized or motiv...

Do You Have A Collection Of Napkin Rings? These Silver-Plated Ones Are Amazing. 

We use an assortment of napkin rings at our house.
Each family member has a different ring --
a cow, an antique frog or toad, a traditional silver one that is a family
heirloom and one that is made of glass marbles. We even have
extras for honored guests. These Baroque silver plated ones
are lovely and would be the great start of your own
napkin ring collection. To buy them from
Amazon, click here.
Surprisingly affordable
at just $16.99.

The Best-Ever Banana Bread Recipe 

This is a family favorite that I stumbled upon approximately 17 years ago while we lived in Winnipeg. Flavorful and moist, I have never dared to try any other recipe.

featured lens The Best-Ever Banana Bread Recipe

The best-ever banana bread recipe. We've been making (and eating) it for more than 16 years! Tried, tested and true, this recipe has never failed and we have never, ever found another recipe for a banana loaf that is as moist or as delicious as this...

Do You Have Some Fun Pieces For Your Table? Make Sure To Add Some Great Salt and Pepper Shakers Like These Cobalt Blue Ones To Y 


There is a little part of me that is electic.
I enjoy having a few unexpected items. Vintage things.
Folky objects. Fun pieces. So not strictly French country --
throw in a few different items to mix it up a little bit!
Click here to buy these retro
Cobalt Blue Salt & Pepper Shakers
from Amazon.
$15.95

The Best-Ever Carrot Cake Recipe 

I stayed away from carrot cake for a long time. It simply never appealed to me. I think I decided to try this recipe because it features maple syrup, an ingredient which I love. As it turned out, it was an amazing recipe.

featured lens The Best-Ever Carrot Cake Recipe

Carrot Cake. WOW. Why should you eat carrot cake? How about because they are a great source of fiber, vitamins, nuts and other nutrients? How about just because they are delicious!!! I didn't know I loved carrot cake until I made this delicious re...

How About Some Fun Glassware? You Cannot Help But Love These La Rochere Bumble Bee Glasses! 


Buzz, buzzity, buzz!
I absolutely love my bumble bee glasses.
You can buy them through Amazon by clicking here.
They make a tall, cold glass of water taste great!

The Best-Ever Lemon Cupcakes Recipe 

This recipe is a serious recipe. However, when I created this page about Martha Stewart's Lemon Meringue Cupcake, I told a bit of my history with Martha's Mile-High Lemon Meringue Pie recipe and then, the cupcake. I hope you'll enjoy the humorous adventure on this page!

featured lens The Best-Ever Lemon Cupcakes Recipe ~~ An Adventure Story

This story includes Martha Stewart and Brenda. (Full name withheld to protect my Squidoo culinary reputation.) Well, actually, the story includes Martha Stewart's Lemon Cupcakes recipe and Treasures By Brenda and, yes, you will find Martha's cupcake...

 


No, this is not one of my
lemon meringue cupcakes!
But this is how it might possibly have looked
if I had purchased these beautiful cupcake
holders from Amazon! Isn't it too pretty?
In my kitchen colors, too!
Click here to order them
from Amazon.
$13

The Best-Ever Ginger Crinkles Recipe & The Best-Ever M&Ms Cookie Recipe 

Two of our favorite cookie recipes!





This beautiful glass jar is a top-rated Anchor Cookie jar from Amazon.
You can read all about it and see Amazon's complete collection
of cookie jars by clicking right here or you can follow this link
to discover the easiest ginger crinkle recipe.

featured lens The Best-Ever Ginger Crinkles Molasses Cookie Recipe

This recipe for ginger crinkles is definitely a favorite in my house.  It is one which we associate with the holidays although there is nothing to keep you from devouring these cookies all year around. It is an extremely easy recipe with all of t...

featured lens The Best-Ever M&M Cookies Recipe

 Are you looking for the best-ever M&M cookies recipe? Well search no more! On this page, you will find what I consider the only recipe for M&M cookies because why would you mess with perfection once you've found it? This recipe is p...

The Best-Ever Hawaiian Punch 

We have been enjoying this punch for years. We often have it for a special breakfast like at Christmas or Easter and, of course, we have it at parties. We never use rum though because it is delicious and nutritious without!

featured lens The Best-Ever Hawaiian Punch Recipe

The best-ever Hawaiian punch recipe you will ever find is available right here on this page! A homemade recipe, it is simple to put together, it is nutritious and it is definitely delicious! I actually have THREE delicious punch recipes but, after a b...

Do You Have A Beautiful Beverage Pitcher Like This Pewter Pineapple Pitcher? 



The pineapple serves as a welcome sign and,
with this lovely food-safe pewter pitcher,
you can serve your guests
The Best-Ever Hawaiian punch in style
and welcome them at the same time!
Click here to buy this gorgeous pewter
pineapple beverage pitcher
from Amazon.
List Price: $120.00
Amazon Price: $99.99

A Fall Dinner Plan With Make-Ahead Recipes 

Prepare for a special fall party or gathering in your home this fall.

featured lens A Fall Dinner Plan With Make-Ahead Recipes

The weather is starting to cool and fall is approaching. Now is the time to start planning a special fall dinner. Whether it is for your family, your friends or both, this menu plan features delicious recipes some of which can be made in advance. The...

A Beautiful Fall Themed Apron By Ritz 

The John Ritzenthaler Company has been making
top quality home textiles since 1892.
This fully adjustable apron is too cute
with its owl theme and coordinated trim!
It would be a great apron for my collection!
How about yours?
Click here to add the Ritz
Life's A Hoot
apron to your collection!
Amazon Price: $15.99

A Complete Easter Dinner or Springtime Dinner Menu 

Everything you need to create a meal that will become a family tradition in your home.

featured lens A Tasty & Traditional Easter Dinner Menu

A delicious Easter dinner menu that is as easy as pie. That is quite an expression, 'easy as pie!' Actually, it is hilarious for I have to admit that pie making, for me, is NOT easy. It is my absolute favorite dessert but it is something that I alway...

How About Holiday Napkins? These Easter Ones Are Sweet. 



These Easter napkins
are sweet! They're exactly the right touch
for an Easter themed table!
Click here to buy these lovely
spring napkins from Amazon.
$4.95

A Complete Summertime Dinner Menu 

With the work done the day before, you'll be free to visit with your family and friends!

featured lens Complete Make-Ahead Summer Dinner Menu & Recipes

Summertime and the living is easy! Or maybe just easier with this complete summer dinner menu comprised mostly of recipes that can be made ahead! Some of them require quite a bit of work beforehand (potato salad generally does) but, on the day you ar...

Do You Have Some Fun Summertime Dishes Like This Great Ant Dish Set? 

I do hope that you will NOT have
any ants at your picnic...
unless it is the ants on these
fun, red gingham dishes!
Click here to buy this fun
ant tableware set
from Amazon.
$19.98

More Great Recipes at Culinary Favorites from A to Z Headquarters 

Packed with great food-related pages from Squidoo -- Be sure to visit!

featured lens Culinary Favorites From A to Z Headquarters, A Culinary Cookbook

Welcome to Culinary Favorites, a collection of the most amazing food and recipe pages that are devoted to SPECIFIC INGREDIENTS.  On this page, you will find pages dedicated to specific ingredients like asparagus, carrots and ham plus you wi...

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Some Of The Best-Ever Kitchen Gadgets 

featured lens Distracted? Buy A Timer NOW!

Buy a timer if you don't already have one! A recent discussion about the use of timers amongst a group of work-at-home moms showed that they are helpful and led to the creation of this page. Our discussion centered around the need for a timer to avoi...

featured lens KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender KSB560AQ, A Review

The KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender is another top-rated small kitchen appliance. Also too new to Amazon to have earned a reputation there, it receives an overall score of 5 out of 5 elsewhere. Done in Martha's sign...

featured lens KitchenAid Artisan Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5 Qt Stand Mixer, A Review

The KitchenAid Artisan Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5 Qt Stand Mixer is a top-rated kitchen appliance.  Too new to Amazon to have built up a reputation there, I turned to another retailer to check out this small kitchen appliance's reputat...

featured lens KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 12-Cup Food Processor KFP750AQ, A Review

The KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 12-Cup Food Processor KFP750A is my third in a series of reviews of Martha Stewart's line with Kitchenaid. So far, all of the appliances in this series have received top reviews, although the customers on...

featured lens KitchenAid Hand Mixer 7 Speed From Martha Stewart's Blue Collection

Martha Stewart's KitchenAid Hand Mixer 7-Speed is the final in a series of reviews about Martha's blue collection small kitchen appliances and yes, it is proving to be as good as you would expect something from KitchenAid and Martha to be. Yo...

Some Of The Best-Ever Cookbooks 

featured lens Eat, Shrink And Be Merry Another Great Low-Fat Cookbook!

Eat, Shrink And Be Merry, the third cookbook by Janet and Greta Podleski was published in 2005. It is another fantastic, low-fat cookbook featuring over 150 wonderful recipes for your favorite foods without all the fat. The Podleskis offer common sen...

featured lens If Company's Coming Use Jean Pare's Cookbooks!

Company's Coming and Jean Pare have written a cookbook for almost every cook from the very youngest to the very experienced. This fantastic series of cook books is extremely popular and most books are still available. A few are out-of-print or hard-t...

featured lens Recipe For Finding Good Cookbooks

Are you searching for a good cookbook? The best cookbook? Perhaps even a perfect cookbook? Maybe you are a casual cookbook collector (like so many of us) or maybe you are a serious collector. In either case you know that many cookbooks are NOT great....

Are YOU passionate about cooking? You can create pages or lenses on Squidoo, too! 

YES YOU CAN! Anyone can create pages or lenses on Squidoo!

Join Squidoo and create your own lenses just like this page. It is free to join and you might earn some money through affiliate marketing. Simply put, lenses are web pages and Squidoo calls them lenses because they focus on topics. You are an expert on something. Whatever interests you probably can be written up to help inform someone else. Ready to join? Click right here.

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