An easy, snack-sized chocolate cake, made with cocoa and chocolate chips and a smear of caramel sauce, poked into the warm cake, then finished with a powdered sugar icing drizzle.

Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Caramel Poke Cake

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Although I do have a few layer cakes I've done over the years, I'm really not a baker. Mostly they're not very pretty, though they're certainly tasty! The cakes I make most often are simple pan cakes, bundt cakes, or smaller, snack-sized versions, rather than tall, multi-layered cakes. I'm not a big fan of super sweet icings on any cake either, and the truth is, I usually scrape it off! I know. Kind of cake blasphemy isn't it? Most frostings are just too sweet to me.

Jumbo shrimp, tossed in a seasoned olive oil mix and oven roasted.

Roasted Shrimp

Well, now... we had a tad bit chilly start to the day here in the Deep South this morning and today temperatures were in the low 70s, instead of the 90s - finally! Perfect opportunity to turn on the oven to try some roasted shrimp.

Just as with vegetables, roasting really intensifies and brings out the natural flavor in shrimp and they're perfect to use anywhere you would use a pan-sauteed shrimp, or even to just eat as is, with a nice side salad, or a veggie and some bread.

Nicely seasoned, thin cut, bone-in breakfast pork chops, and simply pan fried. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Homestyle Breakfast Pork Chops

While chicken and seafood are pretty common on our table, I have to say, pork is one of my favorite meats, and you can't beat a good thin cut pork chop for a quick meal.

They're referred to as breakfast chops because they are super thin, taking only a very short cooking time. This means they can get on the table fast, even faster than most typical pork sides like ham steaks, sausage and bacon. I would venture to say that they're likely just as often served for supper. Great either way!

A simple and easy side dish casserole made with diced yellow squash, bacon, small shrimp and corn.

Squash Casserole with Shrimp and Corn

Yeah, yeah, I know... everybody is all about pumpkins, soups, stews and fall dishes right now, but I'm still working on end of summer amid these nearly 100 degree days we're still having along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. That hasn't stopped me from making fall favorites like chicken and dumplings, shortcut shrimp etouffee and Cajun-style chicken and andouille gumbo, because I've fixed all of those the last couple of weeks!

This recipe involves the use of yellow straightneck or crookneck squash, a veggie once relegated strictly to the summer months, but now available slap dab in the middle of winter these days. I admit, it's nice but I can't quite get used to that, although you still can't beat the flavor of one that's plucked right out of your backyard.