Some folks like murder mysteries, some like autobiographies of world leaders, and some love a good beach read otherwise known as a romance novel.
I prefer a cookbook any day of the week. Lately, I have been going through my mom’s cookbooks, and I think the best are the pages that are beyond smudged and streaked with ingredients from long ago. You know somewhere on that page is a good recipe.
Hopefully, you have an inkling of which one it is. My favorite go-to cookbook is my New Doubleday Cookbook and pages 682 and 683 are so mucky with years of dribble and flour residue. Those pages are the best because they offer about 15 bread recipes, including sandwich yeast bread, rapid-rise yeast bread, and milk bread varieties.
These pages are the pages the book opens to when you just lay open the book. I encourage you to go to your mom or grandmother’s cookbooks and do the “lay it open” test and see which pages it automatically goes to because there is a golden opportunity to make something truly wonderful on that page.
I love baking bread; the aroma of a house filled with freshly baked bread is an incredibly visceral experience. I don’t think a candle labeled “bread” could come close to replicating it. Baking cookies is a close second for me, with the smell of lasagna coming in as my third favorite scent in any kitchen.

Read the full Love & Luck food page in your Thursday Bowie News. Find some new delights to cook up for St. Paddy’s Day on Monday.

(Family Features) A warm, cozy meal may seem like a burden to make after busy winter days, but Skillet Lasagna lets you skip the craziness of home cooking with an easy, one-pot solution. Discover more comforting recipes that let you reclaim evenings with loved ones by visiting Culinary.net.

Skillet Lasagna

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 44 ounces marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup ricotta
• 1 1/2 cups frozen spinach
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• bread, for serving
• Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)

1. In large skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef with onion power, garlic powder and salt and pepper, to taste. Drain excess grease. Mix in marinara sauce, heavy whipping cream, ricotta and spinach.
2. Break up lasagna noodles and add to skillet. Cover and let set over medium heat 10 minutes. Stir and top with mozzarella cheese. Cover and let set 10 minutes.
3. Serve with bread and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

(Family Features) A cozy morning at home sharing a delicious breakfast – for many families, it’s a picture of perfection. Whether your brunch favorites include pastries and pancakes or fruits and French toast, enjoying a meal together is a heartwarming way to start the day.

Now, you can savor all your favorite flavors inspired by wish kids. These Bananas Foster French Toast and Peanut Butter and Apple breakfast recipes are made with the freshness and irresistibly soft texture of Butterbread from Nature’s Own, which partnered with Make-A-Wish on a $500,000 donation to highlight and support wish kids through 2026.

Since 1980, the global nonprofit has granted more than 375,000 wishes in the U.S. to children with critical illnesses, helping them build the strength and hope needed to fight their illnesses. Granted wishes can be life-changing, bringing a sense of normalcy to families that can impact entire communities.

To celebrate the partnership, the Slice of Hope Campaign was launched, introducing in-store displays as well as a digital “Well Wish Wall” where shoppers can submit their well wishes for kids to see.

Special-edition bread loaf packaging also highlights the collaboration by sharing inspiring stories from three wish kids: Addison, who fulfilled her dream of experiencing the wonders of Pearl Harbor; Aden, who ventured out for an epic fishing trip; and Joanna, born with an adventurous spirit that wouldn’t rest until she learned to surf the breathtaking shores of Hawaii.

“We are truly honored to partner with Make-A-Wish on this meaningful two-year journey, committing to help grant life-changing wishes,” said Krystle Farlow, senior director of brand management for Nature’s Own. “Together, we hope to continue to inspire and spread goodness, one wish at a time.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit naturesownbread.com/make-a-wish.

Bananas Foster French Toast

Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

French Toast:

• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 stick butter
• 1 loaf Nature’s Own Butterbread

Bananas Foster Sauce:

• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 bananas, sliced lengthwise and quartered

1. To make French toast: In mixing bowl, combine eggs, half-and-half, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
2. On nonstick griddle or griddle pan on medium heat, melt butter.
3. Dip each bread slice into egg mixture until fully coated (two times each). Place on griddle and cook until each side is slightly brown.
4. To make bananas foster sauce: Melt butter and brown sugar together; add cinnamon. Once melted into caramel, add sliced bananas.
5. Continue spooning sauce over bananas in pan.
6. Plate French toast and spoon bananas with sauce on top of each French toast stack.

Peanut Butter and Apple

Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 slice Nature’s Own Butterbread
• 1/2 apple, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon honey

1. Spread peanut butter on one side of bread.
2. Arrange apple slices on top of peanut butter.
3. Drizzle honey over apple slices.

SOURCE:
Nature’s Own