Down on the Bayou

By Marilyn Hunter

Deep in the heart of the Bayou, lived my third cousin, Cleo. A sweet, gracious southern woman who could talk a mile a minute with a steady drawl. Cleo lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, in a community where food and cooking come from the heart.

The women spent most of their time talking about food, exchanging recipes and collecting cookbooks. The food, just like the lifestyle, was everything you would expect from a small, southern town in Louisiana…a unique blend of cultures and traditions.

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The Giving Pumpkin

By Marilyn Hunter

Once there was a pumpkin…a bright orange pumpkin with dimples, scratches and shine. She loved the two curious little boys who had plucked her from the pumpkin patch. Everyday the boys would come and play with her; pick her up by the stem and gently place her back on the hearth.

They would draw silly faces on her, pretend she was guarding a fortress filled with smaller gourds, and move her to shady spot when the sun shined bright in the room. And one day, near Halloween’s eve, they helped carve her into a spooky Jack O’ Lantern.

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Sugar and Spice

By Marilyn Hunter

Autumn leaves. Crisp nights. Cooler days. Not here.

Autumn looks very different in L.A. It’s slow to arrive and sometimes impossible to tell one season from the next. At least there’s one thing we can depend on this time of year…pumpkin patches! I know fall is officially here when pumpkins begin to appear.

The boys love the fall season for two reasons: pumpkins and trick or treating. I love this time of year for pumpkins and pumpkin pie spice. Food is one of the biggest pleasures the seasons bring and I love to celebrate the change of seasons by baking. For me, the flavor of pumpkin pie spice signals the arrival of fall. I like to add it to pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, even sprinkled on my morning yogurt.

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That’s Amore

By Marilyn Hunter

There are a few dinners I remember from my childhood that stand out as special. Spaghetti and Meatballs is one of them. I’ve always considered it the quintessential Italian meal. The best thing about spaghetti, besides the fun of eating it, is the joy of sharing this communal meal with friends and family.

Just like my childhood memories, spaghetti and meatballs equals love in our house. It’s comfort food that somehow remains unchanged from generation to generation. Nicky loves it as much as Benny, and I love to watch them eat it…twirling their spaghetti into a spoon, marinara dripping down their chins.

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Trail Mix – Mom’s Best Friend

By Marilyn Hunter

First comes hunger and then comes attitude. All you moms out there know what I’m talking about. Two hungry boys and one tired mom can be an awful combination.

To keep everyone happy, I never leave home without healthy snacks. Our healthy snack of choice is trail mix…perfect to stave off hunger and chock-full of natural energy and protein, carbs, and even potassium for important electrolytes on a hot day.

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