Recipes

Ingredients:

1 cup whole grain cornmeal

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder (see note)

1 egg slightly beaten

1 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup melted butter or olive oil

1 cup sharp Cheddar or Monterey Jack, shredded

1 cup whole kernel corn, drained

3/4 cup chopped onion

1 (4 oz.) jar diced pimentos, drained

4 tbsp chopped Jalapeño peppers

Instructions:

Mix dry ingredients together. Beat egg, add buttermilk and melted butter, and add to dry ingredients, stirring lightly. Stir in remaining ingredients, careful not to over-stir. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until brown and done in the center

Notes:

You may use 1 1/2 tsp garlic salt for the garlic powder and salt.

TurleyFamily2026-02-02T18:28:06+00:00February 2nd, 2026|

Easy Vegan Pie Crust

Prep: 10 mins | Total: 10 mins | Makes: 1 9″ pie crust

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp sugar

1/4 pound vegetable shortening

1/4 cup plant-based milk (or more if needed)

Instructions:

To make the dough:

Add the flour, salt and sugar into a large bowl and whisk to combine. Cut the vegetable shortening into cubes and scatter into the flour. Use a fork or pastry cutter to slice the vegetable shortening into the flour until you reach a crumbly texture.
Drizzle milk across the flour mixture and use the fork to combine. Mix until everything comes together and you will be able to form a ball of dough. Don’t over-mix.

To roll the dough:

Spread a clean tea towel over you works surface and lightly sprinkle flour over it. Scoop the dough into a rough ball, and put it in the center of the floured tea towel. Roll it out until you have a rough circle that is several inches bigger than your pie dish to allow room for the sides and edges of the crust.

To form the pie crust:

Use the tea towel to help you flip the dough into the pie dish. If some pieces fall off, that’s fine. Use a knife to cut off the excess pastry around the edges. If there are any holes, fill them with some of the extra pieces. Pinch the edges to form a pretty crust.

To Pre-Bake your pie crust (optional):

Only do this if the recipe requires a cooked crust prior to filling it. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Pierce the crust all over with a fork. Bake the crust for 15 mins. Reduce the heat to 400°F and continue baking until the crust is lightly browned, just a couple more minutes.

Notes:

This recipe works best with cold tools, so put all of your tools, your bowl, for or pastry cutter, and rolling pin in the fridge to chill.
Non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening is a little less bad for you.
I found that different shortenings can be a little softer or firmer making the dough hold together a little differently. If the dough isn’t quite coming together, try adding 1 tbsp at a time more plant-base milk until the dough just comes together.

TurleyFamily2026-02-02T18:12:11+00:00February 2nd, 2026|

Cranberry Bread

Prep: 25 mins | Bake: 55 mins + Cooling | Yield: 1 loaf (12 slices)

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup cold butter

1 egg

3/4 cup orange juice

2 tsp grated orange peel

2 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

1/2 cup golden raisins

Streusel:

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp cold butter

Glaze:

1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

2 tsp orange juice

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly. In a small bowl, whisk the egg, orange juice and peel. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in cranberries and raisins. Transfer to a greased 8×4″ loaf pan.
Combine brown sugar and flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 350°F for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
For glaze, combine confectioner’s sugar and orange juice until smooth. Drizzle over bread.

TurleyFamily2026-01-01T17:53:01+00:00January 1st, 2026|

Ingredients:

1/2 cups brown sugar

1 stick butter

chocolate chips

Instructions:

melt together first 2 ingredients. Pour over layer of crackers. Sprinkle with chips. Bake until just glossy. spread to cool

TurleyFamily2025-12-31T23:58:23+00:00November 7th, 2025|

Ingredients:

½ cup quick cooking tapioca granules

1½ cup fresh brewed strong coffee

1½ cup whole milk

½ cup sugar

¼ tsp pink Himalayan salt

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

heavy whipping cream (optional, garnish)

coffee beans (optional, garnish)

chocolate chips (optional, garnish)

berries (optional, garnish)

Instructions:

Stir together the milk, coffee, tapioca, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; cook while stirring 3-5 minutes longer.
Whisk 1 cup (16 tbsp) of the hot tapioca coffee mixture into the beaten eggs, 2 tablespoons at a time until incorporated. Stir the egg mixture back into the tapioca and whisk well.
Bring the pudding to a gentle simmer over low heat. Cook and stir 2 minutes longer until the pudding becomes thick enough to evenly coat the back of a metal spoon.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
The pudding may be served hot or poured into individual serving dishes or small espresso cups and refrigerated several hours until cold.
Serve as is or garnished with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a few coffee beans, chocolate chips or fresh berries. Enjoy!

TurleyFamily2025-11-07T21:15:11+00:00November 7th, 2025|

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups blueberries

2 cups strawberries

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 cups old-fashioned oats, uncooked

¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup butter cut into small pieces the size of small peas

Instructions:

Combine sugar and flour in a medium bowl. Gently fold in blueberries, strawberries and lemon juice, and place in deep-dish baker. Using the same bowl, combine oats and brown sugar. Then, cut in the butter. Sprinkle topping over berries. Bake 40-45 mins or until filling is bubbling around edges and topping is nicely browned.

Notes:

Fresh or frozen berries may be used. You may use 4 cups of frozen berry medley, or another (4 cup) combination of your favorite berries.

TurleyFamily2025-11-07T20:56:32+00:00November 7th, 2025|

Amazing Homemade Tortillas

Prep: 15 mins | Cook time: 15 mins | Resting Time: 20 mins | Servings: 12 | Total: 50 mins

Ingredients:

3 cups flour (hard white, hard red, kamut, or spelt, or a mix)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder (optional)

1/3 cup olive oil

1 cup warm water

Instructions:

Combine flour, salt and baking powder; add in the water and oil. If you are using a stand mixer, mix with a dough hook until well combined, scraping the sides as necessary. Let it continue mixing 2-3 mins to knead. Let set 20 minutes or longer.
Divide into 12 equal pieces. On a lightly floured board, roll into a circle the desired thickness. Lightly flour the top as you go to keep the rolling pin from sticking to the dough.
Fry dough over medium heat on a lightly greased skillet or griddle. Cook approximately 1 min on each side. Don’t overcook or your tortilla will be tough!

Notes:

When using hard white and red wheat this dough is very easy to work with. With kamut and spelt, it is more fragile. You will need to use a bit more flour and be careful to roll them a bit thicker. The flavor on the kamut is wonderful!

TurleyFamily2025-11-07T20:50:19+00:00November 7th, 2025|

Easy Feta Chicken Bake

Prep: 10 mins

Ingredients:

6 boneless chicken breasts halves (about 2 lb.)

2 tbsp lemon juice, divided

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 pkg. (4 oz.) Athenos crumbled feta cheese with Basil and Tomato

1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange chicken in 9×13″ baking dish.
Drizzle with 1 tbsp of the lemon juice. Season with salt and black pepper. Top with feta cheese; drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp lemon juice.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with red pepper and parsley.

TurleyFamily2025-10-01T17:37:27+00:00October 1st, 2025|

Ham and Shells Casserole

Prep: 40 mins | Bake: 25 mins | Yield: 12 servings (1 cup each)

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (16 oz.) medium pasta shells

3 large onions, halved and sliced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 pkg. (9 oz.) fresh spinach, torn

1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp pepper

3 1/2 cup fat-free milk

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup (4 oz.) crumbled goat cheese

2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook and stir onion in oil for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Add spinach and rosemary; cook 1-2 mins longer or until spinach is wilted.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 mins or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in ricotta and goat cheese until blended.
Drain pasta; place in a large bowl. Add the ham, onion mixture and sauce; toss to coat. Transfer to a greased 13×9″ baking dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.

TurleyFamily2025-10-01T17:33:32+00:00October 1st, 2025|

Black Forest Cake (From Scratch)

Prep Time: 2 hrs | Cook Time: 45 mins | Total Time: 2 hr 45 mins | Servings: 12

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, sifted

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 cup hot water or hot coffee

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Cherry Liqueur Syrup:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup cherry liqueur

Whipped Cream Frosting:

3 cup whipping cream, cold

1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Chocolate Bark:

250g good quality dark chocolate, chopped

Assembly

2 1/2 cups cherries, pitted and cut in half

1 bar dark chocolate, optional, for shavings

cherries

Instructions

Chocolate Cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F, grease two 8″ round baking pans and dust with cocoa powder. Line bottoms with parchment.
Place all dry ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Stir to combine.
In a medium bowl, whisk all wet ingredients (pour hot water in slowly as not to cook the eggs).
Add wet ingredients to dry and mix on medium for 2-3 mins. Batter will be very thin.
Pour evenly into prepared pans. I used a kitchen scale to ensure batter is evenly distributed.
Bake for 45 mins or until a cake tester comes out mostly clean.
Cool 10 minutes in the pans then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Cherry Liqueur Syrup:

Place sugar and water in a small pot. Stir and bring to a boil. Simmer for 1 min then remove from the heat. Stir in cherry liqueur and allow to cool completely.

Whipped Cream Frosting:

Whip cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, ideally in a cold bowl with a cold whisk.

Chocolate Bark:

Melt chocolate over a double boiler or in 20-second bursts in the microwave.
Using a large offset spatula, spread melted chocolate in a thin layer on a large sheet of parchment.
Roll up from the short side of the parchment. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate or freeze until firm.
Unroll to create chocolate bark.

Assembly:

Cut each cake layer in half horizontally.
Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Brush generously with cherry syrup.
Top with approximately 1 cup whipped cream and spread evenly. Top with approximately 1 cup of cherries and gently press them into the whipped cream. Repeat with remaining layers and frost the outside of the cake.
Decorate with chocolate bark, chocolate shavings, rossettes and cherries, if desired.

TurleyFamily2026-05-23T22:38:44+00:00October 1st, 2025|