Growing up I was surrounded by ample amounts of fruit trees, bushes, and plants.  I can remember standing outside for what seemed like hours picking the plump blue purple colored fruit.  Papa (Grandpa pictured in the photo) would hand us kids a bucket and lead the way.  My sisters, cousin and I would always find the bush with the most berries on it, then race to see who could fill their bucket first.  A few berries for the bucket, then a few in our mouths, eventually we always picked enough to bring  Baba (grandma) to make into pies.  Of course we had moments of spilling buckets of fruit while waving our arms like maniacs shooing away those biting torpedo flies, but we always managed to still get buckets upon buckets of blueberries.

When autumn approaches do you find yourself reaching for cans of pumpkin with almost every trip to the grocery store, only to realize when you get home your cabinet is already storing a few?  Endless pumpkin baking leaves me doubting my supply.  Why not check the cabinets and make a list before I leave for the store you ask? Let’s just say at times I fly by the seat of my pants and my organizational skills need improved upon.  A little extra pumpkin can only equal good things for me and those around me.

Mini anything is cute! Individual bite size treats. These little delights are the perfect size to pop in your mouth with one bite. Less mess, right?

Personally, I am a two-bite taster. First bites are usually examining what I just ate, looking at the mini’s texture and determining the taste. Second bite is to savor and enjoy.

Soccer weekends with my daughter can provide quality mother-daughter time and the opportunity to experience the area’s local grocery stores’ produce section.  Do others find it exciting to touch, feel and smell things in the produce section?

This past trip away we stopped at Meijers up in the Toledo area.  We were wowed by the variety of fresh fruits ready for our picking.  With this being Spring, the rhubarb stood out the most.  It was sitting there on the shelf looking amazingly fresh!  Long, firm, deep red stalks just screaming at me to buy.

Anything raspberry holds a special place in my heart.  I have memories of eating rows of these plump tart fruits as a kid.  Baba and Papa (my grandparents) had two long rows of raspberries.  We had enough room to weave our way through the path but still snagged our skin and clothes on the thorns while trying to avoid the bees.

So versatile it can be used as a base for many other buttercreams. The photo above actually has lemon curd mixed into it. This is one of my favorite frostings. It has everything this baking girl can want in a frosting… creamy, silky, buttery taste.