Chickpea (Garbanzo Bean) Salad

2 cans Chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 cup Edamame Beans, cooked and rinsed

½ cup Red Bell Pepper, chopped

½ cup Green Bell Pepper, chopped

¼ cup Dried Cranberries

½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar

1 tsp Garlic Powder

¼ tsp Sea Salt

½ tsp Sugar

¼ tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Italian Seasoning (with Rosemary, Basil, Oregano, etc.)

1 Tblsp Cumin

Note: I first had this Chickpea Salad from Publix.  It was kinda expensive so I figured I could make my own and when I did it tasted EXACTLY like the one from Publix.  Soooo … these measurements are approximate.    Add more seasoning, oil and vinegar to taste.  The main seasoning flavor should be the Cumin!

Combine all ingredients and stir gently with a wooden spoon.  Enjoy!

Banana Cake



Banana Cake



2-1/3 cups All Purpose Flour

1-2/3 cup Sugar

1-1/4 cup Ripe Bananas, mashed (I add a little more)

¾ cup Oil (I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

2/3 cup Buttermilk

3 Eggs

1-1/4 tsp Baking Powder

1-1/4 tsp Baking Soda

Beat all ingredients together and place in greased and floured 9x18 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 mins.  Recipe compliments of my good friend, Traci Reider, who is one of the BEST cooks I know!!!

If using recipe for a layer cake, as I do: Divide batter evenly into four greased (I use Pam) round cake pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 mins.

Cream Cheese/Banana Icing

1-8 oz pkg Cream Cheese, softened

1 stick Butter, softened

1 tsp Vanilla

1 box (2 cups) Powdered Sugar

2 Ripe Bananas, mashed

2 Ripe Bananas, sliced (for layers)

Blend together cream cheese, butter and mashed bananas.  Add vanilla and sugar.  Beat until creamy.  Use sliced bananas for in between layers (on top of icing).  I actually make 1-1/2 of this recipe as Alayna loves lots of icing!  Hint: If browning bananas bother you, add a tad of lemon juice to the recipe OR add a bit of Fruit Fresh.

Debbie Kincaid Carboni

Let Them Be Little!!!

Some of you may not agree with what I have to say but it’s a pet peeve of mine and I just gotta say it!!!

I hate to think about what the next generation will be like?  SPOILED doesn’t even begin to cover it.  Kids today have NOTHING to look forward to cause they’re parents are GIVING it all to them now!

5 and 6 year olds with cell phones?  WTH?  I’m sorry but as I recall I didn’t even use a telephone at 5-6 years old … well … I do remember at that age getting on the phone to tell my Daddy “I love you” when he called from somewhere in Vietnam … long distance.  Why does a 5-6 year old year need one now?  Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot what one Mom told me “it helps me keep up with where she is … keeps her safe” … duh me!!!  Puhleeeeeze!!!!!  And this from a Mom who let her 6 year old daughter walk home from the bus stop … alone … into an empty house … alone … because she didn’t want to pay what is it? $5-10 a day for the After School Program?  A cell phone DOES NOT keep your child safe nor does it let you keep up with where they are.  Oh sure a lot of them have GPS now but are you really using it to track them?  And if you’re not … do you really know WHERE they are?  I can understand 12-13 year olds having them … we did have ‘teen phones’ back in the day lol

Now manufacturers are making bras starting at size 3T … oh no, not your normal ‘training bras’ either … real bras with underwire and padding that look just like Mommy’s!  Exactly like Mommys!!!  AND Mommy’s are buying them! WTH? 

Grade schoolers getting their ‘back-to-school’ manicures and pedicures!  With how rough and playful and into everything exploring … how long do you really think those expensive pedicures and manicures last?  WTH?  Yes Alayna had manicures and pedicures … that I did … and only once in a while cause they didn’t last … she was too busy chewing or biting the polish off!

We have Mommy’s who have their toddlers (Toddlers in Tiaras) fitted with false teeth until their permanent teeth come in because having missing teeth hurts their self esteem.  WTH?  … and spray on tans, and smothering their soft baby skin with gobs and gobs of make up, and dressing them like grown ups … for what?  To make them look grown up!  Why?  Well I got news for ya … they aren’t ‘grown up’ they are babies … little girls!  Now the newest thing for these Toddlers in Tiaras is botox … yep …. BOTOX for babies!  Why?  Because, as one 8 year old little girl said, it makes her feel better about herself!  WTH?

If you question a parent about any of this what you get is …”everyone else is doing it”.  Is this a legitimate reason?  Really?!?

I say … let them be kids … they already grow up waaaaaaay too fast!  Pigtails, ribbons, smocked dresses, dolls and barbies, crewcuts, jean pockets full of bugs and ‘treasures’, matchbox cars, making mud pies, digging for worms, ‘playing’ dress up, innocence … LET THEM BE LITTLE, cause they’re only that way for a while!!!

Mother's Day

Its Mother’s Day and Mama has been gone for four months now … I miss her sooo much … my friend, my ally, My Mama … part of me wants to believe she’s just away …on a long vacation and she will be home any day now …

I remember once as a child … while we were leaving church I had ahold of Mama’s hand but in the crowd somehow I lost my grasp … I quickly looked around for her and when I spied her, I squeezed and pushed my way up to grab ahold of her hand again … or at least what I thought was her hand … when I looked up, I was holding someone else’s Mama’s hand.

You can imagine the panic I felt … me … a small child having to hold my head way back to look way up into the faces of adults … “oh no, I’ve lost my Mama” … hot tears running down my sweet little cheeks … I’ve never forgotten that memory or how I felt and that’s how I feel now …

Like I’ve lost my Mama’s hand …