I went in last week for my COVID-19 injection. The nurse was a very kind man named Michael. I really wanted to give him a hug to show my appreciation or, at the very least, a handshake, but I stopped short of doing so. That is where we are, my friend, and it is awkward. No touching. And unless you... READ MORE >
As some of you may know, at the beginning of 2020, I decided to take a break from writing the cooking column after 13 years, 340 columns, and one book. Who knew that just three months later, we would all be on lockdown and home? At first, it was a daze. We were on a March vacation in Utah. Flying... READ MORE >
The day has come for my final column and radio show. I say this with very mixed feelings. After writing more than 300 columns, a book, and working on two radio shows, the time has come to make a change. As of January 1st, 2020, I will be signing off the columns and the air. I truly loved this work,... READ MORE >
I am writing this column while I am hours away from boarding a plane to go on a Caribbean cruise with my mom and dad. I am so excited, yet this is a hard time to get away. There are lots of Christmas bazaars, church luncheons, gift shopping to do, and Christmas cards to mail. I feel I have been... READ MORE >
We have had a rough last few weeks in the Holthaus home. My in-laws have had some health issues, and my brother-in-law’s grandson is very ill after heart surgery. Just when I think we are organized and back on schedule, the game of life sends us another card of unfortunate news. I am lucky, though. I have a supportive family,... READ MORE >
I recently had the chance to host my mother-in-law at my house for three nights and four days. In the 21 years I have been married to her son, Michael, this has never happened. Usually, my father-in-law is with her. It was so lovely to visit with her alone. She was laughing and sharing stories about how she met her... READ MORE >
I am about to depart for our annual Woman’s Wellness Weekend. This has been a tradition for over 19 years. Once a year, I get together with my mom, her three remaining sisters, two of my cousins, a great aunt, and our matriarch, Gloria. Sometimes there is a friend or two who come along as well. We find a fantastic... READ MORE >
This time of year, I get very excited about my favorite fall treat… candy corn! I know it’s not everybody’s favorite, but it is sickly sweet and chewy, and I love it. I like to mix it with salted peanuts, so the corn gets a light coating of powdered salt, and then I pick only the candy corn out of... READ MORE >
The pressure has been unrelenting… my sweet neighbor even brought three gross Yucchinis over yesterday so I will cave in any way for her sake. Zucchini recipes! Here they are. I feel I must go back and give you a little history on my aversion to this vegetable. Let’s blame it on my mother. She grew up in the time... READ MORE >
Until recently it had been years since I heard about moonshine. Moonshine was originally a slang term for spirits that were usually made without government authorization. It is a homemade whiskey that is not aged, and therefore it is clear. After the Revolutionary War, whiskey was among the items taxed to pay for the war. For this reason, poor farmers... READ MORE >
