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Monie Moore
Glossy mile-high meringue topping on a chocolate cream pie, golden and dramatic moniemoore.com
Food · Sweet Things

The Best Mile-High Meringue for Pies – Tall, Fluffy, Foolproof

Mansion Pasta with creamy pink sauce, sausage, and bowtie noodles — a crave-worthy comfort food favorite
Food · Sunday Suppers

Mansion Pasta: Your New Go-To for Comfort & Cravings

Where I’ve Been (And Why the Porch Light’s Still On)
Blog · Faith & Frank

Where I’ve Been (And Why the Porch Light’s Still On)

Breakfast pizza with crescent rolls and sausage
Food · Morning Glory (Breakfast & Brunch)

Breakfast Pizza with Crescent Rolls: Unforgettable & Easy 

Vintage recipe card for Never Fail Soufflé with cheddar cheese and Betty Lou’s 1972 signature
Food · Morning Glory (Breakfast & Brunch)

Never Fail Soufflé: Betty Lou’s Cheesy Classic from 1972

Homemade strawberry preserves in glass jars with fresh strawberries
Food · Sauces & Spreads

Strawberry Preserves: Sweet, Simple, Southern Magic

Banana pudding with sour cream, whipped topping, and vanilla wafers layered in glass dish
Food · Sweet Things

Banana Pudding: The Quick Classic 

Dessert – Hello Dollies – Gooey layered Hello Dollies bars with chocolate, coconut, and pecans
Food · Sweet Things

The Best Hello Dollies – A Gooey Southern Favorite

Freshly baked lemon bars with powdered sugar on top and buttery shortbread crust, cut into squares on a rustic serving board.
Sweet Things

Monie’s Lemon Bars: Zesty, Buttery, and Baked with Love

Moist Southern rum cake with pecans and warm rum glaze
Food · Sweet Things

The Best Rum Cake You’ll Ever Make

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  • Monie Moore | Storyteller, Recipe Keeper, Southern Soul

hey, friend!

welcome

I’m Monie.

I’m a 90s mixtape of faith, food, feeling, and fire.

I’ve done the pencil rewind while cross-legged on the floor.

I've learned to love life with the volume up and the windows down.

I write for the hungry-hearted— the ones dancing in the kitchen, singing in the car, and letting the coffee go cold—again—because life doesn’t pause for sips..

Pull up a chair— let’s press play.

READ MY STORY ⟶

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monie.moore

Not quite back. Not quite gone.
Still writing the next chapter. Still here.

🎉 23 Today. Happy Birthday, my Bear. 🐻 My f 🎉 23 Today. Happy Birthday, my Bear. 🐻

My favorite boy in the whole wide world.

You’ve always had this quiet magic—the kind that doesn’t shout but somehow fills a room. The biggest heart. The gentlest soul. The quickest wit—maybe even quicker than mine (which I find both impressive and rude).

You didn’t make me a mom—but you made motherhood one of the greatest honors of my life.

You’re 23 today—but I still see that little boy with the mischievous grin, the disarming smile… and that laugh.
That laugh has never changed—still the same boyish giggle that floors everyone. It’s the sound of you. And yes, it’s on the soundtrack of my life.

You’re my middle child, but there is nothing middle-of-the-road about you. Rare. Steady. Kind. The calm between your sisters’ storms. The quiet thinker with the devastating one-liners.

Zero NPC energy. 😆 You’re main character all the way, baby boy.

From dance parties that nearly threw my back out to midnight Whataburger runs and Braum’s sundaes—you’ve always made the ordinary feel like something worth celebrating.

You’ve already done so much, but it’s who you are that I’m most proud of. The kind of man who checks in on his sisters, holds doors open, respects others, loves Jesus, and brings joy wherever you go.

23 looks good on you, Bear.
I’ll never stop being your biggest fan.
And I’ll never stop loving you more.

Kiss, kiss… Woobah.
😘
Momma

And yes—I’ll keep sharing this video until we can add more pictures to it. I love you, Jackson.#
My Angels. My Sunshines. My Princess. My Bea My Angels. 

My Sunshines. 

My Princess. 

My Bear.

My Goosie,

On the day you were born my heart was opened to a kind of joy and love I’d never known. Each of you were born during a different phase in my life, each of you born to a different version of me. One of you had a free spirited momma with an abundance of energy and youth, one of you had a hopeful momma with more knowledge and experience but with an extra protective nature, and one of you had a grieving momma with a far less energy but years of wisdom, confidence, and experience. 

The momma you all have in common is one who will always and forever stand by your side, encourage you, support you, fight for you, and love you unconditionally with all her heart. I promise to always continue to do my best to be everything you need me to be. 

I promise to extend grace, to make some mistakes, and to apologize when I do. I promise to read one more book, to “do the face thing”, to do whatever you want “just one more time”. I promise to make a late night run for ice cream, to play games until the wee hours of the morning, only to wake up at the crack of dawn to have coffee and quiet time with you, I promise to keep the snack cabinet full of your favorites and to always cook your favorite things when you come home. I promise endless dance parties from the kitchen and up to the playroom (from the windows to the wall 😂) strobe lights and all, I promise to think before I speak and to speak with love and kindness. I promise to always be there when you need me. I promise to work hard for you and to continue to better myself and strive to fully be the woman God designed me to be. I promise to always leave the light on. I promise to always kiss you through the window. I promise to keep waving until I can no longer see your taillights. 

Forever and for always, I will love you more, infinity circle, square, triangle, a bushel and a peck, all the way to heaven and back down... have I told you lately?

Forever grateful to be yours,

😘😘, Momma
s a n t a • i • k n o w • h i m Baby, oh ba s a n t a • i • k n o w • h i m

Baby, oh baby, Presley! We still got it, kiddo! 😂 
⠀
I can distinctly remember the look on your sweet angelic face as Santa walked through the door. You were a bit apprehensive, clung to my leg, grabbed my hand, and asked me to sit next to you. All you wanted was a little black matchbox truck. Bless.⠀
⠀
That dual turtleneck swagger tho. AND the collared sweatshirt. Wonder if it was actually a dickie?! 🤔 (That needs to make a comeback!) You had your matching red and black plaid pants tucked into your red and black cowboy boots, too.⠀
⠀
You’re welcome, Princess.⠀
⠀
We fancy at Christmas. It’s our fave.

⠀
#TurtleneckSwagger #SantaIKnowHim #Christmas1997 #ItWasAGoodYear #ChristmasMemories #BabyItsColdOutside #HaveIToldYouLatelyThatILoveYou #ThoseCurlsTho #WeFancy #YeahIFollowSanta #santaiscoming #christmas2022 #christmasmagic #decemberdaily #90svibes #90sparty
H o m e • F o r • T h e • H o l i d a y s M H o m e • F o r • T h e • H o l i d a y s

Moms negotiating the number of days their kids will come home for the holidays… 

My daughter @presley__anne sent this to me…. Is she trying to tell me something? 🤔 

Is this you? 😅

#homefortheholidays #momlife #momsofinstagram #familytimes #cornersofmyworld #modernmom #coolmom #reellife #motherhoodthroughig #candidmotherhood #dallasmoms
V e t e r a n s • D a y “The best way to find V e t e r a n s • D a y

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -  Mahatma Gandhi

This Veterans Day, let’s pause to honor all those who have served our nation and protected the freedom we cherish. Here’s to the brave men and women of the red, white, and blue, we thank you for your service and answering the call. 🤍

Today, I honor my father, Colonel Neil D. Van Reenen, retired USAF, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, February 23, 1928- September 20, 2001, as well as my uncles, brothers, nieces and nephews who have served their country with pride and dignity. 

#veteransday2022 #militarywomen #militarylove #usairforce #usarmy #usmarines #usnavy #armedforces #veteransupport #supportourtroops #supportourveterans #neverforgotten
T h i s • M y • P u p p y • D o g That’s T h i s • M y • P u p p y • D o g

That’s my puppy dog! 🤣

#sheepadoodlesofinstagram #dogmomsofinstagram #petparent #sheepadoodle #dallasdogs #cutedogpics #funnydogvideos #puppydaily #doglifeisgood #herdingdog #familydogs
w e • a r e • f a m i l y Celebrated the marr w e • a r e • f a m i l y

Celebrated the marriage of my niece Allie & Aaron; my Presley, my date.

Al took my breath away. It was one of those rare moments when life flashes before your eyes, a frenetic array of the smiles we left behind. All the memories of the last 27 years with Allie flooded my heart & mind. I’ve always said she’s a daughter to me & in that moment my heart welled with pride & love for my girl-to say I was a puddle of tears would be a drastic understatement.

The song she chose for their father/daughter dance was a secret Allie held close to her heart. But once the first few familiar notes began to play, I clutched my heart & turned to look into Presley‘s eyes. In that moment, we knew we had to surrender our hearts as the tears streamed uncontrollably down our cheeks. I thank God for allowing me to witness such a beautifully intimate moment & also for good waterproof makeup.

Then came Yeah by Usher (IYKYK) & I couldn’t let this moment pass. I quickly gathered my family to join me on the dance floor (as if they had a choice!) Even Bubba danced, mama!

It was in that very moment, I felt my mother and brother’s presence shine down on us, as our now much smaller family took to the dance floor and proceeded to sing & dance & laugh while dancing to Usher & Ludicrous. It was practically perfect in every way. We were together, our family, and we were happy, once again.

As they say, time marches on & this night put pieces back together inside me that have been broken for far too long.

You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me
You got troubles I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do
It's me and you boy
And as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me
M y • P r i d e • a n d • J o y My sugar & M y • P r i d e • a n d • J o y

My sugar & spice. 

My girls. 

Sometimes you're asleep, I whisper, I love you
In the moonlight at your door
As I walk away, I hear you say
Mom, I love you more
You're beautiful, baby, from the outside in
Chase your dreams, but always know the road
That'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be
My little girl

Happy National Daughters Day to my sweet girls. I will always love you more, with all my heart and soul, infinity circle, square, triangle, a bushel and a peck… 😘😘
U n e x p r e s s e d • L o v e Grief is all of U n e x p r e s s e d • L o v e

Grief is all of the unexpressed love. The grief that will remain with us until we pass because we never get enough time with each other, no matter whether someone lives until 60 or 15 or 99. I hope this grief stays with me because it’s all of the unexpressed love that I didn’t get to tell her, and I told her every day. - Andrew Garfield
I • W i l l • N e v e r • F o r g e t It’ I • W i l l • N e v e r • F o r g e t

It’s been 21 years, but that day will be remembered always. This cross was a beautiful sight to see when visiting Ground Zero shortly after 9-11. The air was filled with a palpable silence, except the faint Amazing Grace being played so somberly on bagpipes off in the distance.

“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend―even a friend whose name it never knew.” — George W. Bush - We will never forget. 🤍

September has always one of the most difficult months of the year for me. So many life-changing events over the course of my life - too many to even count. The song by Green Day used to sum up my feelings towards this month quite perfectly: “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. 

Some of those events I can share, some I cannot. Only a handful know each and every one of them, and were right by my side through it all.

But it’s the events and consequences of 9-11-01 that are forever branded on my heart and soul. Though I didn’t personally know anyone who perished in New York, D.C., or Pennsylvania, I, like so many, lost so much due to the terror of that one specific Tuesday morning in September.

I was in my classroom in Richardson. I remember the confusion and subsequent horror. I remember the fear of the unknown, the fear that it wasn’t over, the fear that this was only the beginning. I remember wanting to go home and just hold onto my little 8 year-old Presley. I remember that eerie silence when we walked outside, as all planes were grounded - and being a pilot’s daughter that’s a sound I truly love. I also remember it was one of the last times I ever spoke to my dad.

continued in comments…

#grief #griefandloss #dadanddaughter #griefrecovery #griefsupport
g r e e t i n g s & s a l u t a t i o n s Lots o g r e e t i n g s &  s a l u t a t i o n s

Lots of new faces here, so it’s time to re-introduce myself. I’m Monie, I live in Dallas, Texas, I’m a mama to 3 amazing kids ages 29, 20, and 10 (my two youngest are my 🌈babies after miscarriages) and 2 gorgeous Sheepadoodle pups (I’m obsessed with them)!

Insurmountable grief from family deaths to #consciousuncoupling, partial empty-nesting, a few heart scares paired with an autoimmune diagnosis, the pandemic etc… propelled me onto this journey of wellness. I was overwhelmed, grieving, situationally depressed and didn’t know where to begin. I attempted to pull myself out, to pivot, but it wasn’t until a friend showed me the MISSING pieces that things truly started to click!

My breakthrough came when that friend stepped in to show me the way. That’s when I FINALLY began to understand WHY my diet and the products I used were so important. Once I realized all the benefits of cleaner living – from supporting my immune system, sleep, hormones & emotions –a new world came alive for me!

Little by little, I started changing over to cleaner meals using whole food ingredients. It was an adjustment but I really don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. Do I still enjoy my martinis, gooey cookies, ice cream, air heads, candy corn? Absolutely! But now I enjoy them in moderation.

I began sharing my journey all those years ago, to help others who were in my similar position. Please don’t wait for a diagnosis or trip to the ER to get started on a healthier route. Let ME be the person I needed and help YOU make the switch and be that person you can turn to for guidance. 

DM me with any questions you have because I can GUARANTEE I had them, too.

#alittlebeautyeveryday #theeverymom #heymama #autoimmunewarrior #cleanketo #paleodiet #whole30approved #mindsetmatters #modernmom #divorcerecovery #griefandloss
c l e a n • k e t o | strawberry avocado salad c l e a n • k e t o | strawberry avocado salad

I prefer a clean version of the Keto diet. This is a quick, healthy variation of a strawberry avocado salad I like to keep on hand for an easy lunch or dinner side with staple items i have in my fridge or pantry. 

strawberry avocado salad:
3 cups baby spinach
1/4 red onion, chopped
1/2 avocado, chopped 
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
6 strawberries, sliced

vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons evoo
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 
1/2 tablespoon thrive dijon mustard
stevia, to taste (I use 1/2 packet)
s&p, to taste

1. add spinach, onion and avocado to a bowl
2. toast hemp seeds & almonds over medium heat until golden brown
3. make dressing
4. toss salad with vinaigrette, top with strawberries, toasted almonds & hemp seeds
5. devour

makes 2 servings. 

#cleanketo #ketosalad #lowcarblunch #cleaneatingrecipe #cleaneatingideas
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