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Bernice O’Connor – Cigarette girl shooting

Bernice O’ Connor described as petite and comely shot and killed her ex-husband, Edward O’Connor.  O’Connor had jimmied his way into her kitchen using a screwdriver on a small service door, shortly after 4:00 am, July 31, 1930.  She jumped from her bed and grabbed a pistol just as he reached her bedroom door.  She warned him to keep away and he replied, “I’m coming in and how!”    She told him that she would Read more…

Peach Melba Dump Cake – Easy and Delicious

Peach Melba Dump Cake is so easy to make! No bowls, just a measuring cup and a measuring spoon! Everything is dumped into the cake pan! I have always loved peaches and raspberries and this is the perfect pairing! Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven! Y’all I can’t tell you how really delicious this is! You start with fresh or frozen peaches Read more…

Coconut Candy Bar Cookies

Coconut Candy Bar Cookies are another of my mother’s creations! She thought that Coconut Macaroons were kind of blah… So she decided to spice them up, and what better to make something more delicious than chocolate! These Macaroons have finely chopped Mounds bars in them and then they’re dipped and drizzled in melted chocolate chips. These are so delicious that you won’t believe how good they are!

Sue’s Texas Sheet Cake

My cousin Sue always brings a Texas Sheet Cake to our family dinners. It is a rich chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and oh so easy to make. It’s made in a jelly roll pan! On sale! Meyer Lemon Cookbook eBook! I haven’t done a chocolate dessert for a while, and I thought with everything opening up a little it might be nice to make something that feeds a crowd! This will easily feed 30-35 Read more…

Esther Pepitone Albano – one of my heros

About a month after your new husband goes missing there is a knock on the door.  You and your 18-year-old niece go and answer the door.  It’s your missing husband’s former partner, he strong arms his way in the door and demands, “You do one of two things, either give me $500 and all of your jewelry, or I’ll kill you like your husband.”  You grab a pistol and shoot him, he doesn’t seem dead, Read more…

Esther and the Axeman

This post may contain affiliate links.  That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you!) Please see my full Disclosure Policy for details. First the Axeman New Orleans in 1918-1919 was held captive by a man known only as the Axeman.  This serial killer would break into the homes of Italian grocers and kill them with their own axes or straight razors.  Depending on what sources you read Read more…

Annette’s Coconut Squares

This post may contain affiliate links.  That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you!) Please see my full Disclosure Policy for details. On Sale! Meyer Lemon Cookbook eBook! Coconut Squares are my mother-in-law’s favorite cookie or cake… It is a light cake square covered in a delicious chocolate topping and rolled in coconut. Yummy! Chocolate and coconut. She used to buy these from a bakery in Cleveland Read more…

Nana’s Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links.  That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you!) Please see my full Disclosure Policy for detail On Sale! Meyer Lemon Cookbook eBook! One year at Christmas, Nana Gaunt said she was making something new for dinner! She had a great recipe for Strawberry Salad. Our holiday dinners are normally at my sister’s house and everyone brings something, appetizers, salads, sides, desserts Read more…

Mabel Champion – The end of the Story

Part Two So, what about Ausley?  In April 1923, Ausley is re-captured in Omaha.  He was using the alias of Albert Ohse and has an unknown woman with him.  He writes a letter to Mabel telling her how much he loves her.  Ausley told reporters, “Mabel’s one girl in a million.  They don’t make many like her.  I jumped my bond to go to New Orleans and play the races to get my money to Read more…

Mabel Champion – The Sphinx

Part One Imagine driving in a car in 1922 from Indianapolis to Cleveland all in one day.  You’re tired, you’re hungry and your friends suggest you go out to dinner.  So, you head to Downing’s restaurant in Cleveland.  Your husband’s been drinking, even though it’s during prohibition, so he’s a little unsteady on his feet.  A drunk man approaches you as you go into the restaurant and demands a drink.  Your husband blows him off Read more…