This is a 1970s classic that takes me back to WAKY A.M. radio. My preference is crunchy peanut butter, whole grain bread and marshmallow cream.

I’ve mentioned the “fluffernutter” a few times recently to puzzled 👀 looks. Simply use the marshmallow cream instead of jelly.

*Users note: be sure to check your face in the mirror after eating. I’m always finding marshmallow residue on my face afterward.

They are almost too pretty to eat. However, I made it happen.

Last Saturday Heidi and Sophie went to a cookie decorating party and had to leave early due to a family Thanksgiving gathering.

Ronnie Jo saved their creations and some icing and we finished them Sunday night. The girls were so excited that they made their own batch of cookies and Heidi wasn’t going to be satisfied until we all (Andrew, Liam and myself) participated. Andrew took the challenge and worked diligently to make a good cookie. Liam did OK while I did a fair job of playing Christmas music 🎶 while we worked. (I did try but came up a little short on the artistic gene. Heidi also claims I may be a bit short on the listening DNA as well.)

After they sat over night the icing firmed up and they were crunchy and delicious. Also, I believe there is a new Christmas tradition at our house.

Try to ignore my fancy spoon with the melted spot and focus on the golden brown chunks of French bread 🥖 that have been doused with butter, sugar and 🍍 pineapple.

This heavenly recipe comes from my cousin Vivian Whitehead as well as her sister-in-law Audrey Bush. I’m pretty sure they have both brought this dish to family gatherings. I will give the “Sugarbaker” shout out to Kevin Whitehead.

Heidi has adapted the recipe a bit, however, it goes mostly like this:

1. One cup of sugar

2. Three beaten 🥚 eggs

3. One stick of butter

4. One small loaf of French bread

5. One teaspoon of vanilla

6. 20 ounce can of pineapple tidbits

Slice bread 🥖 into pieces, mix other ingredients and pour over bread, bake uncovered at 350 in a 2 quart casserole dish for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Folks at the Hackman Christmas 🎄 party were asking for the recipe!

Heidi Wintin says “A mighty fine meal, if I do say so myself.” Sophie and I concur.

Slice a chicken 🐓 breast and fill with Philadelphia Chive and Onion cream cheese and wrap with bacon. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Spray the asparagus with olive oil and season with garlic salt and pepper and bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Sauté sweet potatoes 🍠 in butter and add a pinch of salt and pepper. When it is a little brown push the sweet potatoes to the edge and melt some more butter and add brown sugar. Then mix that all together.

As a special treat tonight, we got to use real plates and silverware because the dishwasher was fixed.

By the way, how about this beautifully decorated kitchen table that Heidi’s cousin Sarah’s husband Chuck Hinton made for us!?!

Can you hear the Christmas 🎄 music 🎼 in the background? Heidi love’s Christmas!!! And it not even Thanksgiving until Thursday!

Can you see the steam coming off of these luscious chicken thighs? This is my version of Jamaican chicken. The crazy part is how tasty it is!

With Nina having shoulder surgery this week, the Sunday family meal responsibility came to Heidi and myself.

I trim the skins off the thighs and season them with Creole spices, garlic salt and applewood rub. Place them in a pan and slice a stick of butter on top. They are smoked in a pan on the Weber grill with charcoal and apple 🍎 wood for the smoke flavor on indirect heat for about 40 minutes . They are ready when the internal temperature is 165.

Throw in the sirloin 🥩 steak, Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and the asparagus and everyone is 😃 happy. ( Bob Evans is a “Go To” at our house.)

A JayC cherry 🍒 pie and some ice cream and even Nina thinks we did a good job,

Whoa!!! This is for sure a step up from Texas Road House. Firstly, they had Sam Adams Octoberfest on draft. Delicious!

For an appetizer we had the Wild West Shrimp 🍤. Very good with some spice and ranch dip.

Bruce predetermining the stuffed mushrooms 🍄 and they were incredible!!! You must get these garlicky and cheesy treats.

As an entree’ I enjoyed the Parmasean Encrusted 🐓 chicken, sirloin done medium well and a baked potato 🥔 with bitter, sour cream , 🥓 bacon and 🧀 cheese. Outstanding!

The house made chips were also over the top!

When you go Christmas 🎄 shopping in Clarksville this holiday season, you might want to check out Longoria 🥩 Sreak House!!!

As you dodge the “Road Apples” on Highway 6 in Nappanee, be on the lookout for Ruhe 152 across from Heckaman Insurance in downtown. It is a hip micro brewery bringing big city food to Amish Country.

Jay had the grilled salmon over rice and Brussel sprouts. It was the healthier choice.

I had the spicy brisket with shredded cheddar on the 🥨 pretzel bun. The was tender with a little heat.

The chef does a wonderful job and the bar has plenty of options.

No picture, however, Andy Mitschelen let me taste his PB & J Tater Tots. I will get them next time! Tater Tots drizzled with fresh ground peanut butter and whatever fruit jelly is in season.

Located on the Hamilton/Tipton county line near Atlanta, Indiana is Lisa’s Pie Shop. It is a tradition for me to stop in on my way to Nappanee to visit my college friend, Jay Heckaman. This trip was for his daughter, Kaitlyn’s wedding.

There are Blue Ribbons covering the walls from all of the prizes their pies have earned.

You have to purchase the entire pie 🥧 so I settled for a cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing.

The bottom of this sweet creation had a brown sugary stickiness to it that was delectable! I ate it while driving and had the cream cheese icing smeared on my face as well as my sweatshirt.

The inner circles were also very tasty.

Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Brownstown is a solid spot for us to dine. Friday was All Saints Day and Grandparents Day at Lutheran Central School. There was basketball 🏀 practice after school and then I met Heidi and Sophie for dinner. I was the first one there so I started with a XX Amber and a frosty mug and wound up with this beautiful experience.

It was delicious! The ice in top just set it off! Somewhere in that clump of ice is a lime that truly adds to the fun.

The last two visits I have had the Monterrey 🐓 Chicken. The rice and beans are good, however, the 🍄 mushrooms of this dish make the meal!!!

And the way they can put a brown spot on the liquid cheese 🧀 is incredible.

Heidi and I get home from NOT seeing Elton John (He called in sick for the concert.) and we are unloading from an overnight road trip (Stream Cliff, Christmas gift shopping, Apple Buzz at the Oaken Barrel, Big Joe chairs for the Lutheran Central reading nook, etc) and Nina let’s us know that lunch is ready.

Chili soup and peanut butter pie is the menu.

I add shredded cheese 🧀 and Bugles. (It would usually be corn chips) Here in southern Indiana , pasta is part of the chili recipe. Spaghetti today and some times it may be macaroni. It jut depends on what is in the cabinet.

The 🥜 peanut butter pie was outstanding! The powdered sugar/peanut butter crumbles on top is the meringue had a sweet crunch to it and sets this pie apart from any others. Of course it was baked this morning so it was fresh!

I’ll probably have dinner at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Soup Supper so this foodie thing just seems to go on forever. I tweaked my back last week and I do have intentions of jumping onto the exercise band wagon soon to off set all of these delicious calories.