Today is Easter and I hope everyone enjoyed their Sunday with laughter and fun. In our family, holidays mean rushing around all day from the one set of grandparents to the next. It also means I am going to be eating several meals and end up with gastric distress all night long! This Easter was no different.

My contribution to this brunch was Peach Cobbler. Now I had spent some time looking around on the net trying to find a peach cobbler recipe and came across the Paula Deen recipe on the Food Network. After reading the reviews, I went home and made a batch and it was good, but I had to tweak a few things to make it mine. First you start with 3 cups of peaches (fresh preferred, but frozen will do) 1c sugar, and 1/2c water. Put these items in a saute pan and simmer on med/low for 10 mins. I added cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove to taste and added the juice from one lemon to the peaches while simmering. The lemon helps cut the sweet taste and heightens the flavor. While your peaches are simmering, put 1.5c of "self rising" flour (do not use regular flour, it will not rise), 1c sugar, and 1.5c milk in a bowl and mix slowly to prevent lumps-set aside. Then take a 3qt bowl or pan and put 1 stick of butter in it and put in oven at 350. When peaches are done simmering, and the butter in the pan is melted, pour flour batter in the pan, followed by layering fruit on top and finish by pouring the juices over the top of it all. Finish by sprinkling cinnamon and a few sprinkles of kosher or sea salt on the top. The salt just teases your palate a little when eating. This all goes in the 350 oven for approx 20-30 mins. Serve warm with a dollop of cream, whipped cream, or ice cream.

I have also played around with other fruit like adding raisins or strawberries. During summertime, I will try blackberries when they are in season.

This recipe is definitely different than the one I grew up on, which I believe was the Bisquick recipe, but it is a fine tasting cobbler. I really enjoyed the added salt on top.....my palate just loves the sweet salty combo. This would be great for a summer picnic when you can use fresh fruit and large dollops of creamy cold ice cream....add blueberries and strawberries and it could be very "patriotic".

Well, the next on my list is making a "Juicy Lucy". If you are familiar with any of the Food Network or Discovery shows, the Juicy Lucy has been a reason for frequent stops for foodies in the Minnesota area. This hamburger is also one that is in the middle of a hot debate between two restaurants that claim they were the original inspiration of the said hamburger as well as both claiming they make the best Juicy Lucy. This amazing looking hamburger is literally stuffed with oodles of cheese and grilled. When you bite into this heavenly looking burger, the cheese spills out like delicious cheese lava. Ooooohhh what HEAVEN!

So, go on now....grab a plate!