Just after Christmas last year, my parents sold their big, sprawling farmhouse and moved into a smaller place.
When I say their house, I really mean their home. It was a place my siblings and I — and our kids — all loved dearly. We might still be a little in shock that we don’t gather there for just-because weekends and holidays anymore.
We miss the pond for fishing and shooting fireworks over, the little dollhouse-like cabin where the grandkids played, the acres and acres for driving the Ranger.
I know my parents don’t miss the weed-eating, the mowing, the house upkeep, the pool upkeep, the upstairs/downstairs cleaning, et cetera. We know why it was necessary for our parents to sell the big house – and all the acreage — but I know I’m still in the mourning stage.
Since I live about three hours away, I haven’t had as much time to get used to the idea. I still picture my parents there at that house and it’s a little jarring every time I head to central Arkansas and we drive past the normal exit to go “home”.
But there is something that’s helping with the transition: family recipes.
Even though my parents aren’t at that particular place anymore, we can still go “home” when we’re all together, gathered around a dinner table that’s laden with certain foods like my mother’s turkey and dressing (she makes it year-round) or steak with lemon pepper or fried chicken (like only my mama can make).
And for dessert, maybe it will be just-out-of-the-oven oatmeal cookies, just-out-of-the-fridge cherry cheesecake, or tart lemon pie (my daddy’s favorite). Another crowd-pleaser dessert is my family’s fruit salad recipe. My mom, sister and sisters-in-law all love this one. It has lots of ingredients, but it’s easy to make. As always, just leave out anything you don’t like – and add more of what you do! {My husband doesn’t like coconut or pecans, so I left those items out of my latest batch.}
- 1 cup coconut flakes
- 1 cup chopped pecans (or your favorite nut)
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup red grapes, halved
- 1 - 1 1/2 cups bananas, sliced
- 2 cups maraschino cherries
- 1 large apple, peeled/diced
- 2 small cans mandarin oranges
- 1 container Cool Whip
- 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, sour cream, cream cheese and sugar. Mix {very} well. In a separate, larger bowl, gently combine coconut, pecans, apples, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, red grapes, bananas and cherries together.
- Add the fruit mixture to the lemon juice mixture and gently combine all ingredients. Lastly, fold in the whipped cream.
- Chill for at least one hour before serving.
- Serve garnished with extra cherries and chopped pecans on top.
Getting to Know Your ARWB Foodies
Shannon Magsam
NWAMotherlode
What food reminds you of childhood?
Probably my mother’s homemade oatmeal cookies. She always seemed to have those ingredients on hand when we were all craving something sweet after dinner.
What is your favorite international cuisine?
I’m in love with pizza of all shapes, sizes and flavors. I’m always in the mood for pizza 🙂
What is always in your refrigerator at home?
Sharp cheddar cheese, 1% milk for my morning hot tea, grapes, leafy greens for a salad, fresh eggs from my backyard chickens, and bacon.
What is your most used cookbook?
“We Gather Together” from the First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville. I used to write a feature for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette called “Classy Cook” and one of my classy cooks, Elizabeth Lear, gave it to me.
What is your favorite kitchen gadget?
Probably my garlic press. It gives me great satisfaction to use.
Do you have a favorite food indulgence?
My guilty pleasure is a sugarcookie and chocolate milk while leafing through books at the Barnes & Noble cafe.
What is your go-to ingredient that you use time and time again?
Cheese. Cheddar, cream, mozzarella, parmesan, bleu.
What is your favorite food meal to cook at home?
My favorite is Creamy Tomato Fettuccine (except I use bowtie pasta) and a stacked salad.
What is a cooking tip that you would like to share with beginning cooks?
Even peoplewhocook a lot sometimes make huge mistakes in the kitchen (they burn something, they accidentally leave out ingredients, the meal tastes just meh). In fact, the more you cook, the more mistakes you’ll make. But the more you cook, the more you’ll improve, too!
When you’re not cooking, what are your favorite pastimes?
Writing, reading, eating out, walking my poodle, hanging out with my husband and daughter.
What else would you like us to know about you?
That I love the Arkansas Women Bloggers community! Each blogger represents a special ingredient that makes the whole recipe even more delicious! (OK, that’s cheesy, but you know how much I like cheese.)
Connect with Shannon:
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Shannon Magsam is co-founder of nwaMotherlode.com, a website for mamas in Northwest Arkansas, and NWA Mom Prom, the ultimate girls’ night out. Shannon also moonlights as a freelance writer and PR specialist for a Fayetteville-based global firm. She was previously a newspaper reporter covering a broad range of topics, including crime, courts, business, education and food. Shannon and her husband, John, are lovin’ life with their 12-year-old daughter, three chickens, two cats, and 1 standard poodle.
