when we were kids, our family went on a five week RV trip to canada to see the international barbershop quartet convention (you read that correctly). we saw every license plate on our way and experienced things i’ll remember forever. we also gained a treasured family tradition! while at the calgary stampede…one of the biggest rodeos in the world…we found our family’s favorite breakfast…CALGARY STAMPEDE CAKES. bacon bits mixed into pancakes. double yum. at the rodeo they were selling pancakes folded over with bacon inside. mom came up with this recipe when we returned home.

Boursin Cheese is a soft, creamy cheese that works as a dip or a spread. …

one of my favorite comfort foods when i visit home is open faced roast beef sandwiches. this meal is hearty and delicious. the first time my mom made these for pat…he wasn’t sure what to think. i’ll admit it looks a little strange and is a bit messy. but after eating it…he was sold. its a man’s meal for sure.

who doesn’t love irish cream?! i remember being a kid and watching my grandparents use irish cream on the on their ice cream as a dessert. maybe i love irish cream now because i’m no longer being left out of the goodness! irish cream is great in coffees, or even by itself. you can also bottle this recipe in mason jars and make adorable gifts. christmas is coming up! get to making this recipe!!

I am one of the few people I know not crazy about bacon. Don’t get me wrong, I love the stuff if it is cooked correctly, but so often it isn’t. Cooked correctly for me is crispy throughout without being tough…thin, not thick…not any of those slimy parts.

For better or for worse, I discovered a treasure this weekend…a recipe that gets a star on all my bacon needs.I discovered Oven-Baked, Sweet & Spicy Bacon. I am in lust over this stuff and that is after eating only one piece. My pledge to myself is this, “Self…never, EVER make this when you are alone, you know you would eat the whole pound of it by yourself.” After trying this recipe, you will know why I had to make this solemn vow.

For years, mashed potatoes were a source of frustration for me. It seemed I made them the same each time, and yet they would not always turn out the same – sometimes not even edible. Here is a recipe for making the PERFECT mashed potatoes!