Sparkle Stories Blog

Created by David Leong, a Chinese immigrant to Springfield, Missouri in the 1950’s, Springfield cashew chicken is a fusion of Leong’s native Chinese food and the fried chicken and mashed potatoes that he discovered Southerners loved.

Whether you’re celebrating the beginning of gardening season or just trying to keep the floor clean, “Dirt Dessert” is a whimsical nod to the March mud.

If you and yours would like to engage in some April Fool’s Day hijinks, here are a few funny food jokes to get you started.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy the spring bounty of our hens increased egg production is by making a batch of deviled eggs. This is a classic, nothing fancy recipe, but it’s our family’s favorite.

If your family needs a little more persuasion to asparagus, my fool-proof method for introducing controversial vegetables is to add a little bacon, as I do in this super simple recipe.

The apple “sandwich” stackers are easy to customize. Think yogurt, cheddar cheese, or any flavor of nut butter you have on hand. Try different kinds of nuts and grains for the crunchy parts, depending on what you like. And if you aren’t afraid of a little mess, lay out the ingredients and let the kiddos stack them together!

While I think I probably consumed some of those big, juicy caramel apples in two or three bites back then, as a grown-up I find that it’s hard to eat a whole caramel apple in one sitting. These days I prefer to make little caramel apple bites, like the recipe that follows, instead.

While we love pumpkin pie as much as the next person, more often than not we end up roasting autumn gourds into more savory preparations. One of our favorites is this herb-y squash risotto.

While you could make these popcorn balls any size you want, I recommend aiming for a large golf ball so that all of your small elves and black cats can enjoy them in a few quick bites.

Pickled cabbage — which most of you probably know as sauerkraut — is one of my favorites, too. It’s amazing with spicy bratwursts, adds a nice tang to grilled cheese, and even makes a tasty side dish on its own.