It happens to the best of us, with the best of intentions: black bananas. Some weeks James and I go through a bunch of bananas in record time. Other weeks, we’re left with 3 or 4 getting well past their prime. I don’t know about you, but there’s only so much banana bread I can bake! That’s where these Banana Ginger cookies come in.

When it comes to shortbread, I’m a purest. I don’t really pander to things IN it other than butter, sugar, flour and salt. I don’t even like it dipped in chocolate. I’m weird, I know. But there’s just something reverent in those 4 ingredients that come together into a perfect, crisp, buttery biscuit that I would choose over a chocolate chip cookie every time.

Okay, so Strawberry Heart Cake isn’t the most complicated of things to make. But I can’t claim to be the world’s best cake decorator. That title can be battled out between my friends Amanda and Kristan. But maybe you’re like me. You wish you could make the beautiful things those talented women make. Plus, I think we can all agree strawberry cake can overcome a lot of homeliness.

Cheese toasties are one of the best comfort foods the British Isles have to offer. They’re not unlike their American counterparts, the grilled cheese, but it’s kinda like Zebras and Donkeys. Kinda similar, but completely different animals.

I know, I know. I’m on a British kick lately. Yes, my blog is dedicated to Tex-Mex and Southern food. But this is a Texan British household, so just as often British favorites make it to our table.

In my last post, I waxed on poetic about the joys of an electric tea kettle. I said in that post how I’d never seen one until I moved to England.

That’s kind of not true. I had seen them. They’re in Wal-Mart and Target, and even Bed, Bath and Beyond. I just didn’t know what they were, or why I would need one.

True story about tea: When we lived in the UK, I took a misstep at the top of a very tall flight of metal stairs, and ended up falling down the entire flight. It was as painful as you imagine. The first step in first aid on the part of my British co-workers? A sugary, milky, strong cup of tea. I kid you not. As far as Brits are concerned, TEA FIXES EVERYTHING. And 99% of the time, they’re right.

These Mango Maple Muffins are an inspiration provided by my brother-in-law, Chris. He came to spend this Christmas with us. It was our first Christmas entirely at home, and it was more than wonderful to spend it with him.

Chris lives in London. And because he lives in London, we hardly ever see each other. We spent the entire holiday playing games (don’t get me started on the 3-day debate on whether it’s Rummi-cub or Rummi-CUBE.. for the record, I’m in the Rummi-Cube camp), eating chocolate and good food, and catching up. Pure heaven.

One of the best things about winter eating is soup, and one of the best things about winter eating in my kitchen is Bean, Bacon and Ham soup. I don’t know about you, but I always want Ham when it comes to holidays. But even when I buy the smallest spiral ham I can find, James and I are left with days and days of leftovers.

You know how sometimes you’re really excited to be part of something and then it’s nothing like you thought it would be? Sometimes it’s worse. And sometimes it’s much much better.

A few weeks ago, I was asked to participate in a call with Amanda Greene and Jim McGrath of Sam’s Club. This is one of those times where it was much much better.

I have a confession to make. I had never in my life tasted a parsnip until I moved to England in 2004. I’m kind of ashamed of that, because they are the most wonderful of vegetables, and now one of my favorites. Parsnips just aren’t easily found in Texas, for some reason. My nephew, and Rachael Ray, call them “spicy carrots” – not hot spicy, they just have some pronounced flavor.