By Holly Giles | Recipes
Blueberry Muffins Blueberry muffin recipes vary with ingredients. However, I have found a tried-and-true recipe! Making them in batches and freezing is the secret to having a fresh, warm treat available anytime, especially when guests arrive. Can I use wild blueberries in muffins? Absolutely — and you should.Wild blueberries are tiny flavor bombs: sweeter, tangier, […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes
Iced Coffee Iced coffee is a relatively new term for this generation. My grandmother just called it cold coffee. She had been making it for years before it was cool. When her morning coffee got cold because she was too busy to drink it, she just threw a few ice cubes and called it good. […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes , Simple Living
What is the best homemade bug spray? The best homemade bug spray is made with a Florida native plant, Beautyberry. This native plant is often considered a weed and can be recognized on roadsides or woods. This DIY project is great for the whole family to learn. Make your own mosquito spray and use fewer […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes
Chocolate Banana Monkey Muffins Chocolate Banana Monkey Muffins are a staple recipe in my kitchen. Who doesn’t often have bananas that have gone past their eating prime? I like to use bananas and make a few recipes I can put in the freezer for later use. The chocolate adds a unique flavor not often found […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes , Simple Living
Peach Cobbler Southern peach cobbler is a nostalgic recipe for me. My grandmother, Meemee, made the best peach cobbler every time. When the peach season came around, I couldn’t wait to go to my grandparent’s house. I knew cobbler would be on the menu over the weekend. I carry on the family tradition of the […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors
Rainbow Springs State Park in Florida Rainbow Springs was a destination for a family getaway. We spent one day touring the park. It was fascinating to see the remnants of the old roadside attraction from the 1930s. Florida does a great job of transforming important springs that were once attractions back into natural habitats. The […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes
Blueberry Hand Pies Blueberry hand pies are the perfect solution for portable and portioned desserts. They can be made entirely from scratch or use store-bought ingredients for quick results. Visit our post on blueberry syrup to make your filling for these pies. Hand pies have been around for centuries in different forms. Carrying around a […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes , Simple Living
Canning Sliced Peaches Canning sliced peaches have been the perfect taste of summer for me since my days at the barn in Alabama with my grandparents. Those juicy bites of perfection dripping down my face were a delight. Watching my grandmother “put up” peaches weren’t as much fun as swinging on the grapevines out back, […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors
Haw Creek Preserve Haw Creek Preserve state park popped up on a map I was looking at, and I had never heard of it before. It was a Monday, and all of us were home for the day, which was quite unusual. I suggested we pile in the car, head to Bunnell, and check it […]
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By Holly Giles | Simple Living , southern homestead
What is a victory garden? The victory garden of the 1940s has made a comeback with full force. Families are looking for food sources they had not thought of before, which is exciting news for gardening. What was the victory garden during WWII? During world war II, the government was reverting large manufacturing to war […]
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