Bring out the slow cooker and line the bottom with cut up potatoes. Place a whole fryer chicken on top of the potatoes. Surround the chicken with more cut up potatoes. Season to your liking. For me, lots of garlic, Italian seasoning, Lawry's...

Today I became the parent of a high school graduate.  Of course I knew this day would always come but now that it's actually here, it's almost surreal. Just like most parents, I always want the best for my daughter.  I want her to be...

Hi!  Welcome to the Backyard Fence.  Remember old neighborhoods, where people would congregate over the fence, talk about life, share a few laughs? I'd love to make this a stopping point for anyone who wants to share....anything!  I love to...

This past week, four of my family members arrived into town to be with Pierre and I for this Thanksgiving! I'm so happy. I just love to see them all and catch up...at least more than we can do on our very short weekly phone calls. The hustle and bustle...

Chicken Cacciatore in a Hurry Ingredients: 4 Chicken thighs, skinned 1 Onion, sliced 1 Green pepper, cut into chunks ½ cup Mushrooms, sliced 1 (14.5-oz.) can...

How To Stuff A Turkey..   We have all had those days, when someone was in town, or decided to ‘pop over for dinner’.  We have all celebrated holidays with family and friends and celebrated being together over a Turkey...

Zippy Green Beans with Pecans Ingredients: Serve cold as a salad or warm as an accompaniment to a roast or steak ¼ cup Pecan Halves 1 lb Fresh Green Beans 1 tsp Extra...

Friday, June 6, 2008 Embellish I'm reading a wonderfully funny, bawdy book called, "My Horizontal Life" by Chelsea Handler...good light summer read about her one night stands, and because she knew they would only last one night, she...

Nothing is normal at our home when it comes to celebrations. Yesterday it was our 13yr old daughter' s birthday. As is the custom here, you get to choose what the family cooks for your birthday meal. Everybody kicks in and it's a great party. Of...

Just a few suggestions on how to lower your energy bills. The primary use of home energy in the summer here is your ac and your hot water heater. You need to develop your own energy saving plan. a new efficient ac will save you about 25% on your energy...

Not long ago I received that letter from the government most of us dread. It was from the Clerk of the Courts advising me it was time to report to the courthouse for jury duty.This is the fifth time I’ve been called. The routine was pretty much the...

Can you believe all the celebrities who died in '07? I'm sure you saw the names. Every newspaper in the country ran a list back around new years of those who didn't make it out alive. Don't you hate that? It's enough to bring anybody down. Of course, it's...

Have you ever noticed the first four letters of the word Butter? It' s not a coincidence. It's Karma. I know, I know. Butter tastes good. In fact, the old saying goes something like: "Name the 3 most important things in French Cuisine." The answer...

I read a Reader's Digest article that made so much sense, that I have to share it with you. Ten best tips for easy slimming down. One of the best things you can do for your overall health is drop a few pounds. Or maybe more than a few pounds. Being...

What the heck is going on? If we were prizefighters I think our corner would have no choice but to throw in the towel!  Life seems to have become an Irwin Allen movie. There's a disaster around every corner. All unexpected, all unprecedented,...

Because slow cookers work at low temperatures with lids on, there is hardly any liquid lost during cooking. With most cooking methods, the water in meats and vegetables turns to steam and evaporates. But with a slow cooker, there's nowhere for the...

Whenever I make a marinade, I take many things into consideration. Quality and freshness come first – the quality and freshness of the product I am about to marinate and the ingredients I use to create my marinade. The recipe ingredients and the...

There is no excuse. This will be remembered as one of the greatest gaffes in the history of irresponsible journalism. It makes 1948’s “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline seem quaint. Someone's head should roll. Like many of you, I awoke this...

Have you read through the Thought Leaders column on the GB Home Page? The number of responses to our question was overwhelming. The answers are as diverse as the backgrounds of the people themselves. Be sure to read through them. But don’t forget about...

 One of the many stages of grief is the feeling of being deeply hurt. The person you loved has left you and you feel abandoned. For me, after the death of my husband, that feeling meant that for quite some time I felt very negative toward men. In my...

RADICAL RIGHTSIZING FOR TOYS Now here’s a novel idea: don’t give potentially dangerous toys for Christmas. "Why I'd NEVER do that!" you say? Since some 80-90% of all toys come from China—this isn't going to be as easy as you think....

It's that wonderful time of year and I thought I'd share a few Eggnog recipes. Not the healthiest, however nothing wrong in moderation. Eggnog It's a rich, indulgent favorite, and Christmas wouldn't be the same without it. Some eggnog recipes...

We have been home for six weeks, so when I sat down at my desk this Saturday morning, I didn’t have a clue what to write but to write I must. We happily go on the road again on Wednesday and the April Blog must be uploaded to mcguinn.com.I could...

Growing Bolder Note: This a fabulous 2007 wrap-up written by Roger McGuinn's wife Camilla. As always, it's a fascinating tale that starts in the present and occasionally "timeshifts" to add context to the present. October 10, 2007: Roger was...