3/4 c skin-on almonds 1/2 c walnuts 1/2 c hazelnuts 1/2 c pecans 2 Tbsp water 1 tsp cornstarch 1/3 c light corn syrup 3 Tbsp brown sugar 3 Tbsp evaporated whole milk 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp vanilla
Directions
Toast all nuts at 350 F for about 9 minutes, tossing every 3 minutes. Bake until fragrant – DO NOT BURN
Chop the nuts (individually by type) so all nuts resemble coarse breadcrumbs
In saute pan over medium heat, dissolve cornstarch in the water
Add corn syrup, brown sugar, evaporated milk, and cook until sugar dissolves and everything is combined (about two minutes)
Remove from heat, stir in salt and vanilla.
Mix in the nuts.
Use the filling immediately.
Sometimes the best recipes aren’t just passed down – they’re rediscovered.
Ingredients: 1 c brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 4 Tbsp water 2 cups pecan halves
Instructions;
Combine all ingredients except the pecans in a skillet and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbling (about 1-2 minutes)
Add the pecans and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until it looks like a glaze on the pecans
Remove from the heat, and spread the pecans out on parchment paper to let cool
Chop and add to the cookie dough. Or eat by themselves.
Let me know if you prefer the cookies warm or cool.
Red, White, and Blue Cosmic Brownies. Swapping the thin childhood frosting for a thick, ultra-rich, decadent chocolate fudge ganache.
If you grew up before September 1999, you probably remember the OG Little Debbie Fudge Brownies (the ones topped with a thin layer of frosting and chopped walnuts).
But right at the turn of the millennium, the late-90s cosmic bowling trend took over. To match those neon black lights and lasers, Little Debbie ditched the nuts, dropped the neon candy-coated pieces, and the legendary Cosmic Brownie was born.
Recently, I’ve been recognizing signs of neurodiversity in myself. Rather than seeing that as something to change, I’m choosing to embrace the things that make me who I am.
As a polyamorous author, I’ve always been drawn to the spaces where people challenge expectations and create lives that feel authentic.
The world is richer when we make room for different ways of thinking, connecting, creating, and being.
Acceptance is not about making everyone fit the same mold. It’s about recognizing that there was never only one way to be human.
If we were all clones, the world would be so much less interesting.
Wind whispers through fields of flowers. Petals carried by the breeze.
Shivers And pebbled skin.
Classic watercolors fill the walls, Careful strokes, built over time.
Too pretty not to share, Gifting to appreciative friends.
Until only one remained, Memories of love linger.
Freshly painted white walls Beams of sunlight dance.
The one piece remains, Highlighted in the expanse.
Satisfying. Yet not enough.
Not emptiness, But space.
Not a void, But opportunity.
While counting daily steps, Exploring a local gallery
Hidden in a corner, Ensnaring my attention,
Black and white photography, Exposed and unseen.
Alighting curiosity, Lip caught between teeth.
Evaluating the cost, Weighing the value.
Plotting the placement, Clashing with the other.
Hanging it on the opposite wall An attempt at balance.
It did not fill the space, It added to the room.
Two walls. Two perspectives.
In time, Another curated work.
One wall remained empty. Open for the future.
From an overfilled room To a bountiful heart.
Room For Polyamory is a reflection on making space for a life that fits, while still honoring what came before.
This poem uses the metaphor of a home and its artwork to explore love, connection, and abundance.
The room is about both the physical space and the capacity, permission, and emotional space to love more than one person.
The poem is not about throwing away the beautiful things we inherited. Some ideas, traditions, and loves are meaningful, even if they no longer belong in the center of the room. Like cherished artwork, they can be appreciated and given a place where they can be seen clearly.
The empty walls are not a void; they are a possibility. Creating a more curated life takes patience, reflection, and careful choices. New perspectives do not erase the old ones; they create a larger, richer gallery.
It is a journey from a room that felt overfilled to a heart with space to breathe, explore, and grow.
Indulge in Life's Guilty Pleasures 