November 12, 2012 The stores have already got their holiday displays up. You may already be working your way through your holiday gift list. Before the hustle and bustle really settle in, why not make the month of November a time to celebrate the things for which we are thankful? With a little time and…
November 23, 2012 If you find yourself without electricity to keep your cold food cold, don’t be stuck eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and canned spaghetti. Whip up this New England Clam and Bacon Chowder recipe with shelf stable foods that require no refrigeration at all. It’s so delicious your family will never know…
October 15, 2012 We’ve talked about making spooky and delicious Halloween party treats, now it’s time to make the drinks just as festive. These are some simple ways to take your ordinary punches to extraordinary heights. Ghostly Ice Hand You can turn any punch into an instant Halloween hit with this simple trick. All you need…
October 24, 2012 Busy moms need simple meals the whole family will enjoy – and ones that are easy to make ahead of time. I know the last thing I feel like doing on after a busy afternoon of homework and extracurricular activities is cooking, so it’s nice to have some cold salads prepared ahead…
October 26, 2012 As the weather begins to cool down and mornings take some warming up to – this hearty breakfast of Sausage and Potato Frittata is perfect for weekend brunch or when you have guests in town. This recipe is gluten-free and can also be dairy-free if you substitute a vegan cream cheese for…
October 19, 2012 Before you know it, Halloween will have come and gone and it will be time to dust away those cobwebs on your Halloween décor (literally) and transition into fall. Since Halloween is only for one night, I tend to go light on the Halloween themed décor and instead focus on items that…
November 5, 2012 Thanksgiving is still a little over two weeks away, but there are some things that you should be doing now to prepare for an amazing feast. Don’t get caught off guard trying to find those last minute ingredients – instead follow this Thanksgiving dinner plan. It can really help cut the stress…
November 14, 2012 With Thanksgiving fast approaching many of us are preparing our Thanksgiving meal plans. Whether you’re in charge of an entire meal, a side dish, or the turkey, here are some ways to help ensure your Thanksgiving feast is Mother Nature friendly too. Cranberry Sauce Cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving staple. You could…
November 7, 2012 The fall is the perfect time to break out the craft supplies with the kids. The cool weather and beautiful natural coloring of the world are perfect inspiration. Better yet, you can find everything you need for beautiful and fun fall craft projects right in your own yard. Fall leaves offer a…
November 12, 2012 With Thanksgiving just over a week away it’s time to start making those turkey purchases or pre-orders. Whether you are purchasing a conventional frozen turkey, or considering pre-ordering an already thawed heritage variety, what does this all mean? It can be tricky trying to decide when it may be appropriate to pay…
November 19, 2012 With a meal the size of Thanksgiving you can almost bet there will be some leftovers. As tasty as these snacks and second meals can be, you should take caution to ensure the food is stored correctly. Traditionally hospitals say they see a spike in food poisoning cases around Thanksgiving and the…
November 26, 2012 Challah is a special Jewish bread that is served on holidays and the Sabbath. The bread is incredibly unique as it does not include the typical bread ingredients of milk or butter. Instead it incorporates numerous eggs. Even if you aren’t Jewish you can incorporate Challah into your holiday season for a…
November 9, 2012 There’s nothing that says Mexican food like chips and salsa. But, when you purchase salsa from the grocery store, the tomatoes have been cooked. The salsa loses some of its freshness that way and – it doesn’t have the same taste. This salsa uses fresh tomatoes so the dip keeps its garden…
October 29, 2012 Back to school schedules and activities are finally in sync and your family has a well-oiled routine. With the warm temperatures giving way to cool, crisp days and winter on the horizon, it’s time to do a little fall cleaning. We all find time for spring cleaning, but in the hustle and…
November 23, 2012 Thanksgiving is over, but chances are you still have some leftovers hanging out in your fridge or freezer. What should you do with this yummy food? The possibilities are truly endless, but I have compiled a list of some of my favorite post-Thanksgiving day recipes from some of my foodie favorites. Leftover…
November 30, 2012 The winter holiday season is nearly here and visions of tables full of delicious food fill our minds. It seems as if our thoughts naturally turn to food as the days shorten, and the cold weather descends. Holiday dinners are usually of magnificent proportion – the kitchen smells wonderful as the various dishes…
November 21, 2012 Autumn is a beautiful time of year, and for most kids, it means hours of outdoor fun; frolicking in piles of fallen leaves, gathering acorns and pinecones or playing hide and seek in the forest. For some kids, however, the shifting weather means pesky allergens that cause itchy eyes, runny noses or…
December 10, 2012 December is finally here and that means the holiday season is in full swing. The holidays always bring out my desire to create festive foods. There is no better time to experiment with fun new foods than during this festive season – whether it’s trying new recipes or giving old favorites a…
December 7, 2012 Cooler weather means it’s time for me to start baking again. While fresh fruit and Greek yogurt work well for light breakfast on a hot summer morning, the cooler weather calls for baked egg casseroles, golden French toast and hearty meat and cheese omelets. This Citrus Cinnamon French Toast recipe is one…
November 21, 2012 When it comes to holiday cooking, I tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen – whether I’m baking peppermint cupcakes for teachers and neighbors, or creating a lavish meal for a sit-down family dinner. So it’s important that I have the right tools and cookware on hand. But often,…
December 6, 2012 The holidays are fast approaching, and with holidays come gift exchanges. In these trying economic times, it can be a challenge to get through all this gift giving without ending up in the poor house by January. We’ve got an easier way. By following just these few simple tips, you can save…
November 13, 2012 Hopefully, the remains of Hurricane Sandy have left you and your loved ones safe – and with nothing more than your lawns blanketed in leaves, gutters stuffed to the gills and your windows covered in yuck. For those now ready to tackle this season’s outdoor clean-up here are several tips and tools…
December 14, 2012 Every year millions of people start off the new year with at least one resolution, or commitment toward better change in their lives. It could be losing weight, quitting smoking, taking up a new hobby , going to the gym, starting a long-put-off project or doing a daily random act of kindness. Unfortunately,…
December 21, 2012 What better way is there to celebrate the holidays than with the delicious tastes of chocolate and peppermint. This simple holiday pie combines crushed Starlight candies and milk chocolate chips. The result is something to celebrate and definitely something you’ll want to serve to all of your holiday guests this year. Ingredients:…
December 18, 2012 The holiday season is the perfect time to gather with family and friends, but coming up with food to serve can be a bit stressful and time consuming. This year why not keep it simple and get a little creative, with José Olé. Instead of serving up traditional roasted turkey, green bean…
December 17, 2012 Christmas and cookies really do go hand in hand. If you aren’t a master cookie maker, Christmas is the perfect time of year to give cookie decorating a shot. Cookies are easy to decorate with a few simple tools and can add a little holiday spirit to the days leading up to…
December 31, 2012 In true southern style, we will reign in the new year with some black eyed peas. For those of you who are not from the south, or have never heard of the New Year’s tradition of serving black eyed peas, eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day is supposed to bring…
January 1, 2013 Foods that are deemed “good for your heart” will be making a more frequent appearance on my grocery list this year. At 46, I like to think that I’m in fairly good shape. I try to watch what I eat and am reasonably active. Unfortunately, over 50 million people in the U.S….
January 4, 2013 With the holidays over, many families are enjoying new television sets and furniture pieces. Unfortunately, these common gift items can pose a huge safety risk for your child. In fact, television sets falling and furniture items tipping over is becoming a more common cause of injury and death among children. The US…
February 5, 2013 If you’re anything like me, you spent a lot of weekends during your teen years at the mall. Though my allowance was barely enough to buy a “BFF” necklace, I didn’t care, because all I really wanted was an Auntie Anne’s pretzel. Those were the days, when the hardest part of my…
January 7, 2013 With winter well underway, many of you have probably already broken out the hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is a staple of winter in our house and for good reason. You can add a little warmth to your day in one simple drink. Unfortunately, regular old hot chocolate can get boring. So why…
January 11, 2013 The word frappe comes from the French verb frapper – which means to slap, knock or beat – and it’s often used as a substitute for the word milkshake. Whatever you call it, we call it yummy! Strawberries and chocolate make this rich, creamy frappe the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day or any day….
January 15, 2013 Frugal millionaires. You’ve heard of them. They’re known for getting rich by pinching pennies. But are these men and women really that frugal? Take Warren Buffet – who is famous for his frugality. Roger Lowenstein, in his book on Buffet, recounts that when Buffet’s first child was born, he turned a drawer…
January 21, 2013 Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and what better way to honor an American hero than with food? Dr. King was from the South and his favorite foods prove he was a true southern comfort food lover. According to historical accounts, King’s favorite food was pecan pie. He also enjoyed other…
January 24, 2013 Do you love watching the Super Bowl with friends and family? Is it your turn to host the party? How do you enjoy the time with family and friends and root for your favorite team and still put on a spread? The answer: Keep it simple and prepare everything ahead of time….
January 25, 2013 Strawberries and chocolate. What a perfect combination for Valentine’s Day! This Strawberry Pie in a Chocolate Crust is sure to impress everyone (including your sweetheart) this February. I first had a variation of this delicious dessert several years ago at a girlfriend’s house. She served the pie in a baked pie crust and used fresh…
January 28, 2013 Many parents feel they are offering their children a nutritious beverage when they head to the juice aisle of the grocery store. Looking down the aisle you see many products touting that they are “100% Fruit Juice”. This seems a healthy choice, right? Fruit is great for children, so why not 100% fruit products?…
February 1, 2013 The end of winter seems to be the bleakest month of the year. The holidays are over and the cold sets in deeper. Here are five ways to beat those winter blahs. Pretty Pedicure Who says pedicures are only for the summer? Even if you’re not wearing sandals, treat yourself to a…
February 6, 2013 We’ve all heard about the risks of handling raw meat – disinfect, wash everything, be careful or you’ll get Salmonella or E-Coli. We’re careful to cook meat thoroughly, and even restaurants have a warning on menus that state eating raw or under cooked eggs or meat can get you sick. After hearing…
February 15, 2013 March is National Cherry Month and it’s time to celebrate these decadent little fruits! Did you know the largest cherry crop in the United States comes from Michigan? In fact, my hometown of Traverse City, calls itself the Cherry Capitol of the World. There is even a cherry festival every year in…
February 8, 2013 Breyer’s ice cream and marketing team has long maintained it’s standing as one of the few “all natural” ice creams available to the masses. They proudly touted an ingredient’s label that only contained a few ingredients such as cream, sugar, and eggs. However, that is all swiftly changing. The Breyer’s brand will…
February 8, 2013 Lent begins on February 13th and goes through March 30th this year. This season is often when people begin searching for a new meatless recipe to add to their menu. Whether you are giving up meat for Lent or simply to reduce your ecological footprint, this delicious meatless recipe for Creamy Celery…
February 12, 2013 I am vigilant about reading the labels on the food I purchase for my family. Typically. I will admit, there are times that I just don’t care to read the label and would rather enjoy the meal before me. Quick fixes and prepackaged meals, on occasion, still win out in my household….
February 20, 2013 I prefer to make foods from scratch so I know exactly what is going into the meal I feed my family. There are some foods I never dreamed of touching, one of them being breakfast cereal. Who would have thought that making breakfast cereal would actually be easy? From bran flakes and…
March 1, 2013 The Big Debate Are chocolate chip cookies better crispy or chewy? I personally like them chewy with crispy edges. I made chocolate chip cookies on two separate occasions recently – using the same recipe (the Tollhouse recipe on the Hershey’s chocolate chip package – I add walnuts or pecans) and ingredients. The…