The Ways of Her Home

Embracing the homeward call

Cook by the Book: Chocolate Chip Cookies from Magnolia Table

I know just about everyone has their own favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies. There are a million versions out there, right? So, when I saw the chocolate chip cookie recipe in Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Table cookbook, I have to admit I passed it by, assuming it wouldn't be anything new or special and focused on her other recipes that were new to me. But then my friend Missy mentioned that another friend had brought her some amazing chocolate chip cookies after a surgery, and they were the very best she'd ever tasted! So, she asked her friend for the recipe and her friend told her they came from this very cookbook! When Missy shared this with me, I knew I needed to revisit the recipe ... Read more

Cook by the Book: Vichyssoise

Hello! I know my purpose with these "Cook by the Book" posts is to try new recipes from my cookbooks but today I'm sharing an old recipe from a cookbook we've had many years. I served this back at our Winter Wonderland Tea as a warm start to our meal. It's a soup recipe pronounced /vi~shee~swaaz/ but sounds way more complicated and fancy-schmancy than it really is. Not convinced? Ok, here's my secret. This recipe comes from a children's cookbook! When our girls were little, we took them to see the Ratatouille movie and we all enjoyed it so much we purchased the Ratatouille What's Cooking? cookbook, and this was one of our favorite recipes. So, if a kid can make it, anyone can make it no ... Read more

Cook by the Book: Three-Cheese (& Ham) Quiche

(Friends, I was not able to finish the adoption post planned for today because we were busy celebrating a birthday yesterday! So, instead I’m plugging in a recipe post that was ready and waiting and I will be back Thursday with the adoption post.) Last year I set out to use my cookbooks more often and to give my reviews here on the blog, and I have a few new ones to share this week! Today's recipe is a Three-Cheese Quiche from Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Table. My daughter and I served this at our Winter Wonderland Tea. I made the crust, and she made the filling. It was our first time making it, but fortunately, it was a hit! Three-Cheese Quiche 6 large eggs 1 cup heavy cream ... Read more

Wooden Clothespin Nativity

Hey there! I want to quickly show y'all this sweet clothespin nativity we made last week. Last Friday our dear little neighbor friends and their mama came for "Cookies, Cocoa, and a Craft"! I'd been seeing different versions of these clothespin Nativity crafts all over the internet and came up with my own version. I really wanted to do them with our co-op kids, but it just wasn't going to be doable with the number of kids we had and the short time frame to work. If we'd used wood glue, it wouldn't dry in time to take them home, leaving me only with the option of hot glue which I NEVER use with a crowd of kids. Those things are hot! I remember in one of my elementary art ed classes in ... Read more

Cranberry Apple Chutney

Happy week of Thanksgiving! My girl is home and I'm one happy mama! She and her hubby arrived Saturday afternoon and we have already had so much family fun. This week we plan to just enjoy being together, watch some movies, do a little hiking, maybe some shopping, and cook and bake for Thanksgiving. In order for the week to not be so hectic while they're here, I've done a few things ahead of time in the last few weeks and one of those things was making our annual cranberry apple chutney. Since I was already making this chutney to go on a cheese/cracker platter for my ladies' small group a couple of weeks ago, I went ahead and made enough for Thanksgiving week. This has been a favorite of ... Read more

Cook by the Book: Chuckwagon Beans

My daughter's 18th birthday was this week and for her birthday meal she requested BBQ pulled pork with baked beans and hashbrown casserole. This girl loves baked beans and has eaten them since she was a baby! I don't always use a recipe, but usually just throw together all the typical ingredients without measuring to make a sweet, sticky dish of beans. However, this week I wanted to try a less sweet but beefier recipe and decided to make Chuckwagon Beans from Dining with the Pioneers, Vol.1, a cookbook given to me for a wedding gift over 26 years ago! I was working at the sweetest baby and children's boutique through college and when I got married called The Name Dropper. There were ... Read more

Cook by the Book: Emerald Broccoli

Hello, I have a new cookbook recipe to share today! I think I mostly share main dishes or desserts on my blog and I'm not sure why---maybe I don't experiment enough with side dishes and that needs to change. So, here's a quick and easy side dish I tried this week. It's called Emerald Broccoli from The Daniel Plan Cookbook. Several years ago, my husband and I participated in the Daniel fast and so naturally I bought a cookbook for some meal inspiration--any excuse to buy a new cookbook, ha! And wow, it's full of delicious recipes! It's almost a shame to feature a side dish from this cookbook because this book offers some amazing main dishes! But this was a pretty tasty broccoli and it's ... Read more

Cook by the Book: Between Seasons Luncheon

Welcome back! In my last post I began to share a little about a luncheon my daughter and I prepared for my mom and my mother-in-law for Grandparents Day. Today I'd like to share the recipes. And since we're between seasons right now I selected recipes that would blend summer and fall! Also, as I've mentioned before, I'm challenging myself to use my cookbooks more, so I planned my entire menu from cookbook recipes. It was true lady food! Between Seasons Menu Rosy Raspberry Soup Chicken Salad Croissants, Broccoli Salad, and Cheese Straws Apple Raspberry Iced Tea Hummingbird Cake & Coffee The first cookbook I want to feature is actually not even a true cookbook but a ... Read more