National Coming Out Day: People's Stories Matter

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I don’t have a recipe to share with you today and this post is kinda really long but its important and near and dear to my heart.  Today is the 25^th Annual National Coming Out Day.  To me coming out, today or any other day, is not a political or religious thing but an incredibly personal journey that somebody who identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender has to take and it is not an easy road.  

Too often we hear of people being disowned by their families, bullied in school, running away, or committing suicide.  National Coming Out Day was created to build community and awareness and I hope that one day nobody will have to “come out” but instead everyone will be accepted for exactly who they are, without questions, judgment, or fear. 

Carmel Apple Pull-Apart Bread

It is unofficially fall here in Virginia - this weekend it was almost 90 degrees but this morning when I stepped outside the cool crisp air let me know that summer was over.  I love summer - however this summer was challenging and getting used to 90 degree weather with lots of humidity was no picnic.  So this year I am ready to welcome fall with open arms! And to celebrate the unofficial start of fall I made Carmel Apple Pull-Apart Bread.

What's Momma Makin' - Spicy Southwest Potatoes

Welcome to another addition of What's Momma Makin'! 

Another family favorite are potatoes au gratin. This version have a spicy twist to them, thanks to Aunt Laura’s creative cooking, she used to call them Southwest potatoes. Laura was an incredibly amazing woman and a fabulous cook, I will be making a few of her signature recipes this fall, classic home grown comfort food and mouth watering holiday magic, wait until you get a taste of her Thanksgiving sausage dressing!

Toffee Cinnamon Roll Cake Mix Cookies

Ever since I found out that I won the Duncan Hines Spring Bake recipe contest I have been experimenting with their Frosting Creation flavor packets like crazy!  It's been fun stretching my creativity in the kitchen. Like did you know that you can use a cake mix to make cookies?! For these gems I added the Cinnamon Roll Frosting Creation flavor packet to my cake mix cookie dough - and let me tell you AMAZING!  These cookies are soft and chewy just like I like them (you can always bake them a little longer if you are a crunchy kind of person) plus these are full of flavor!