
One of my favorite times of the year is the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Not because I follow football, though I do enjoy viewing a game or two. It is the fact that this is one time of year I can count on Tostidos brand Salsa con Queso to be on sale for around $2. Imagine my joy last night as Jonathan brought in the weekly circulars! I was preparing supper, so I had him go through the adverts to see who “won” with the lowest price for queso and then I would plan our weekly menu/grocery shopping around this location. You know what happened? Nobody wins. Everyone loses this week because queso is not less than $3 anywhere. It was all very disappointing. Some people want chocolate or decadent foods that can only be acquired by artisans who hand craft their specialty in a specific location. I’m a simple girl. I just want the queso and a good, crispy tortilla chip that can hold an adequate amount of said queso. Oh and a coca-cola classic (Mexican please, it tastes so much better). If there happens to be a bag of jelly bellies involved, you won’t find me complaining. Rereading this, I sound like I have the snacking habits of a first grader. Excellent! First graders always have energy! Also, please note, were there not a baby currently enjoying the warmth of my womb, I would include red wine and sushi to this list.
How about you? Do you have a favorite snack to enjoy while watching the big game? Any alternatives to queso that I should try? (Please do not suggest a store brand queso. I might cry.)


Pumpkins. I’m not going to lie, I avoided pumpkin pie for most of my childhood. It just seemed so inferior to pecan pie or blueberry or apple or blackberry or any type of pie really. The appeal of pumpkin pie for me was the spray whipped cream, which I liberally applied to my slice. So delicious that way. As you might be guessing, this recipe is not for pumpkin pie. It is for pumpkin bars. While I have come to love pumpkin pie, these pumpkin bars are a favorite! We do not usually have them on Thanksgiving day because they would compete unnecessarily with the pie, but they are worth mentioning here.
This is not necessary a traditional Thanksgiving recipe, but we’ve enjoyed it at Thanksgiving time and it’s just good. It’s also tasty in the summer or the spring. Frankly, I’ll come to your house anytime I know you’re making this. I believe it may originally have been a Pampered Chef recipe, but what do I know? It’s written on a piece of a paper bag here in my kitchen.
















