Posts by Leslie Anne Tarabella
Red Velvet Cake for Christmas
There’s no rule that red velvet cake is only for Christmas. It also makes a big appearance around Valentine’s Day and Independence Day as well. But something about Christmas just makes us want a beautiful, delicious Red Velvet cake for dessert. Ladies all around the South know to have a red velvet cake…
Read MoreThen, the Christmas tree fell down
It was a rough week. Full of fun, no doubt, but sprinkled with roughness. I fell off my bike. Ouch. All stove up, with a hitch in my get-a-long. The car went into the shop and the bill was twice what I thought it would be. Lois Lane started biting her tail again and had…
Read MoreChristmas in the South
So, we’ve no snow. Just fields of white cotton. Seashells and glitter give us a feel of sparkling ice crystals. Of course, living in the South, we have to take precautions with our decorations. Oh, how we love to spray paint everything and glitter the Charles Dickens out of it. But first . . .…
Read MoreThe sweetest Thanksgiving tradition
Tart cranberry relish, roasted turkey and rich gravy come to mind when most people think of Thanksgiving dinner. But I tend to remember something sweeter, far sweeter than pumpkin or pecan pie, something tooth-shattering, syrupy sweet when I recall Thanksgiving meals. Great Uncle C.J. held a cane grinding every Thanksgiving. After a long career at…
Read MoreA Very Clever Pilgrim
One minute after Halloween is over I start thinking about the holiday I truly love . . . Thanksgiving. No stress, no hassles, just a great meal with family and friends, all tied together with a thankful heart. At least that’s the way I thought of Thanksgiving until about six years ago when I…
Read MoreMy favorite Christmas ornament
It’s getting downright cold here in Fairhope and beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But I haven’t unpacked my Christmas decorations just yet. I like to do things in order, so Thanksgiving must come first. But because I know some of you Jolly Elves just can’t wait, I wanted to show this to you…
Read MoreLights on, Fairhope!
It’s the official start to the holiday season in Fairhope, Alabama when the switch is thrown, and over 1 million lights illuminate the beautiful downtown. Mrs. Claus always makes her appearance to the delight of the children who stop by to say hello. And it isn’t a party unless you have elves. These…
Read MoreVelveeta, I know you not
It was a harsh reality I wasn’t ready to accept. My children had been raised in the “New South” and there was no one to blame but myself. My son looked at the kitchen counter with a mix of intrigue and disgust and asked, “What is it?” “What do you mean? It’s Velveeta.” I told…
Read MoreNovember in New Orleans
November is one of our favorite times to make the two and a half hour drive west from Fairhope, to visit New Orleans. In the French Quarter, we were treated to a Second Line procession from this happy couple’s wedding. All the guests danced down the street as the jazz band played. My husband captured…
Read MoreAnne Byrn Saves The Day
Anne Byrn. Does her name ring a bell? Where have I heard that before? Oh my gracious! She’s THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR!!! You know that like me, you’ve loved this cookbook for years! After I packed away, or gave away most of my cookbooks, because the ease of the internet kept recipes…
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