Welcome to Michele’s “The Spice of Life” articles on cooking and baking adventures, childhood memories as well as living life through its turns and twists. Come join her as she brightens your day through her great sense of humor, and openness in her journeys through life.
Last week I wrote to you about having tea with my Grandma Westra's neighbor ladies and the renegade car. My favorite childhood cookie was the Windmill, which was made by the local Rippin Good Cookie factory. Rippin Good Cookies https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/2016/05/25/last-ripon-cookie-plant-close-year/84908674/ closed its doors in 2016, due to consumers demanding a less sugary cookie. Gratefully in … Continue reading Cookies: The Deliciousness Continues
" 'C' is for cookie, and that's good enough for me." A great song from the annals of the old school "Sesame Street". I can't think of a better mascot for cookies than Cookie Monster. Every furry blue inch of him loves cookies. So much so, he sang a song about it. Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with … Continue reading “C” Is For Cookie
I opened the refrigerator, looked back at the stove, then up at the clock, and then down to my grandson. Sigh. Inspiration for cooking left last year. Like a lot of gals, cooking, planning, and shopping for 3 meals a day, seven days a week finally takes its toll after 28 years. That's 28,224 meals, … Continue reading Tired of Cooking
True confession. I do NOT like mustard. I have had a long battle with this condiment and I decided that I need to investigate why I dislike mustard so much. I'm just a tad flustered by mustard. I can remember my brother wanting to play the "refrigerator game". This game was easy to play. You … Continue reading Flustered by Mustard
Tempt Me! That is the title of a wonderful book by mother-daughter duo Kathryn Strand Koutsky and Linda Koutsky. This beautiful book features a nostalgic historical trip through visual arts in cookbooks and food advertisements. Starting with 1880 and moving right on through to 1980, the beautiful artwork as well as historical nuggets proves this … Continue reading Tempt Me
I've been thinking about the Warrens, Wisconsin Cranberry Festival. It is always held the last weekend in September. But, like everything else fun and public, COVID-19 has destroyed that celebration as well. My mother-in-law, Margo Bruxvoort, loved to go to the Cranberry Festival. It was a fun time to walk around taking in the craft … Continue reading Cranberries
I grew up eating lots of sandwiches. NOT roast beef sandwiches though... eew! If you remember back last year, I wrote an article about throwing roast beef sandwiches into my neighbor's shrubbery. That was the budding food critic in me- sandwich throwing. Every Saturday at the Syens home, noon lunch would consist of fried eggs … Continue reading The Sandwich!
I always enjoy the family scrapbooks, and especially the cookbooks full of recipes from all of the different family members. So for some fun, I will share with you some Bruxvoort Family Reunion Recipes from the '90s. I tried to pick recipes that were unique or recipes I had not heard of before. Enjoy! Cranberry … Continue reading Bruxvoort Family Reunion Recipes
I'm sure what I am about to tell you will go down in the history books of motherhood. There are dandies and then... there is this gem. A little girl, full of fun, sass, and inventive creativity all balled up in some terrible 4-year-old cuteness. Ya! I am gonna brag about "little me", cause I … Continue reading What smells?
Life is seldom boring on Trosky Road. Join me as I give you a slice of my American life.
