June 7, 2013 First let me wish all dads a Happy Father’s Day. Father’s Day is a day for children to show their dad’s how special they are. And what a better way than to whip up some breakfast in bed? Here are a couple of breakfast casseroles you can make up the day before…
June 11, 2013 They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so why not reach out and pull on those heart strings this Father’s Day with one of these hearty meals? Father’s Day is the perfect day to grab the apron and get to cooking. If the man in your life…
June 12, 2013 Organization has never been one of my strengths. In fact, I am just downright bad at it. Fortunately for those of us who just don’t have that magically organizational touch, there is Pinterest. If you have ever been on Pinterest you know there are tons of tips on styling your home, organization,…
June 13, 2013 Click the banner below to sign up for the Chili’s e-mail list and get your coupon for a FREE full-size flatbread! Our friends at Chili’s are giving away one million of their NEW freshly-baked flatbreads — but time is limited and they’re going fast! Loaded with signature toppings on a crispy crust,…
June 15, 2013 Summer is a truly hectic time of year for me. I run several businesses online from home. Unfortunately, I don’t have the benefit of a true office. My office is in our living room which is normally a very quiet place. When school is out for the summer months, it becomes a…
June 19, 2013 I am an avid tea drinker, so imagine my shock and surprise when I read recent studies that uncovered that Celestial Seasonings and Teavana tea brands had tested positive for levels of pesticides that exceeded US food and safety limits. Celestial Seasonings is a brand of tea that is moderately priced and…
June 24, 2013 Poor butter, it gets such a bad rap. In fact, many margarine companies and “butter alternatives” bank on this fear of butter to grow their sales and appeal to the consumer. Butter has been labeled as a threat to your heart and overall health. However, is butter really all that bad? Heart…
June 28, 2013 Summer is here and with it, tropical fruits have returned to my local grocery store. Because I live in a small rural town, our selection for fresh tropical fruits is very limited in the winter. I often have to drive into the city to find the more exotic fresh tropical fruits. I…
June 28, 2013 The 4th of July is next week and everyone will be celebrating our country’s independence. Do you know that back in 1776, there was an estimated 2.5 people living in the United States. There are now over 316 million. Talk about lots and lots of hot dogs and hamburgers being sold and…
July 5, 2013 When it’s hot outside, the kids are bound to clamor for something cold. These popsicle recipes make a great snack to cool them down. They don’t have as much sugar as the store bought ones and all you need are popsicle molds. Or you can look around your kitchen and use a…
June 21, 2021 You can have your black bean burger and eat it too this Fourth of July. The Fourth is nearly synonymous with outdoor grilling. However, that doesn’t mean vegans can’t enjoy a nice BBQ or two this Independence Day. Here are some fantastic vegan Fourth of July recipes to keep your celebration exploding…
July 12, 2013 With all the fresh fruit in season, it’s definitely time for fruit pies. But I live in hot, hot Arizona, and the thought of turning on my oven for an hour is not a pleasant one. Not to mention that I’m really not a pie fan. So it’s time for other options,…
July 8, 2013 Quiche is often viewed as a brunch favorite – not something many families tackle on a regular basis. But, quiche doesn’t have to be left to tea parties at high noon or women-only get togethers. In fact, a quiche can be a hearty meal that the whole family will enjoy. Best of…
July 12, 2013 Learning how to make Labneh cheese is one of the simplest cheese-making projects you can tackle. It originated in the Middle East and Lebanon and is similar to our cream cheese, although not quite as firm. Labneh is basically a strained yogurt cheese. The yogurt is strained to remove the whey –…
August 5, 2013 My kids are extremely finicky when it comes to food. We’ve gone through periods of time where my youngest would only eat chicken nuggets and crackers. My oldest child still refuses to use condiments on anything! I’m sure most of us have similar stories and now it’s time to share those tales…
July 19, 2013 I don’t eat much red meat and absolutely no fish (just don’t like the taste), which leaves chicken (and the other white meat). Because of this, I am always looking for different poultry recipes. Fried, baked, roasted, grilled, sliced for stir fried – these same old ways get a little tiresome. Recently…
July 26, 2013 Summers are very hectic at my house. I juggle the normal work and home responsibilities that are always part of my routine – but now I’m also dealing with the kids hanging out in the living room (which is my office). In the summer, I also get to play mom’s taxi service…
July 26, 2013 Ever have one of those weeks where you realized you forgot you had volunteered to bake goods for the school? And then family drops in for the weekend and someone’s having a birthday so you think you need to bake more? That was my week. Only it was 2 birthdays and an…
August 2, 2013 Summer is coming to a close and the kids are going back to school (in some places they are already back). Instead of packing the same old peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (many schools are going nut free anyway), why not try something new? I know my grandkids are always begging me…
August 5, 2013 Mangoes are in season right now – which means you can get some fantastic deals on the fruit. I recently purchased 25 Kent mangoes from a local co-op and have found they are really a very versatile fruit. Mangoes are packed with nutrients and can take a recipe from plain to exotic….
August 9, 2013 I was not a big fan of cabbage when I was younger. I think it was because my mom always boiled it. But now I love cooking cabbage in a variety of ways. When cabbage prices come down, I tend to buy a lot of it! I blanch and then freeze the…
August 12, 2013 There is nothing more enjoyable than a nice, cold drink on a hot day, so I am always looking for a refreshing natural drink in the summer time. Water is one of the healthiest things that you can drink and I really enjoy flavored waters the most. There are a variety of different…
February 20, 2015 I’m not a super chocolate lover, but I do love brownies. I like them crisp on the edges and chewy inside. There are so many recipes out there and I’m sure you have your favorite. Even the boxed brownie mixes are good. But what makes them better is adding your own unique…
August 14, 2013 Quinoa has been named the “Food of the Year” by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). They’ve also claimed 2013 as “The International Year of the Quinoa.” Quinoa is touted and revered around the world for it’s super nutrient qualities, but is not a familiar food in the United…
August 20, 2013 Until recently I was not a big time fan of the avocado. Sure, I liked to load up some tortilla chips with guacamole but that was about it. Then something shifted. Suddenly I could not get enough avocados. Considered a healthy mono-saturated fat that can even reduce the risk of heart disease,…
August 26, 2013 The USDA passed new “smart snack” regulations that will apply to public school settings.School lunches are always a topic of debate, but what about the vending machines? Parents can monitor school lunch offerings by packing a child’s lunch or making smart choices from the cafeteria menu. Unfortunately, it’s tough for parents to monitor what…
August 28, 2013 Labor Day weekend is right around the corner and you may be preparing your menu for a day at the lake or picnic. It is tempting to grab pre-packaged snacks and hot dogs for the grill, but it is just as easy to prepare healthy and simply snacks. Maybe even easier! These…
August 30, 2013 Always wondered whether or not you should serve your cheese at room temperature? Or the best way to cut a cake? Here are helpful hints and tips for anytime you are cooking or entertaining. Appetizers and Beverages: Add flavor to hot tea by dissolving old-fashioned lemon drops or hard mint candies in…
September 6, 2013 Sure, the cucumber can make a soothing eye treatment or add a bit of flavor to a tall glass of water but what else is it good for? If you’ve ever planted a cucumber seed, you know the plant can produce a large amount of cucumbers throughout the summer. In most places across…
September 5, 2013 A paleo or primal diet may be the answer to get rid of some weight and feel great, but for those who have a love of bread these diets can get a bit difficult. A paleo diet is void of grains and high glycemic carbs, so breads based on wheat, flour, or…
September 10, 2013 If you are anything like me, your garden is growing like wild and you have more fresh vegetables than you want to look at. You are running out of ways to hide them in foods that your children enjoy and if you try feeding your husband another zucchini, he may revolt. The…
September 13, 2013 Is it me or does it seem like the fall season becomes this time where all we do is run around like crazy? School starts and everyone is trying to get into the new schedule. There are more extracurricular activities, more meetings at work, and the holidays seem to be looming over…
September 10, 2013 I have recently discovered the joys of no-bake dessert preparation. There has always been the tried and true no-bake cookies, but sometimes you want a treat with a little more visual appeal. These recipes provide a bit of flair with, believe it or not, less effort. If you need a treat to…
September 16, 2013 September is notoriously a busy month with back-to-school activities and impending holiday season. Make meal preparation a little easier by incorporating ready-made freezer meals into your routine. Freezer meals are perfect for busy families because they kill two birds with one stone. Prep a bulk meal one time and freeze the portion…
September 18, 2013 Fall is the perfect time to make some headway with your gardening. The best part of fall gardening is the ability to save money. Most people attempt to plant their gardens, shrubs, trees and lawns in the spring. However, the fall may actually be a more ideal time to do so. Fall…
September 20, 2013 Ever wanted to use the whole watermelon but didn’t want to go through the long pickling process where you have to fill jars and put in a hot water bath? How about vegetables? They look so yummy in the store, and now you can pickle your own quickly and easily. As the…
September 27, 2013 Germans seem to love their meat, beer and polka! Throw in some brats soaked in beer, grilled and served with Dijon mustard and you will make anyone happy. Serve up these other German dishes for a nice Oktoberbest feast. Bierocks (German Meat Turnovers) A delicious pastry baked with a savory beef, onion,…
September 20, 2013 Baking is one of my favorite part of the holiday season. Whether I am making candy, pies or cookies, the holidays mean you will find me in the kitchen more often than usual. And tasting more frequently too! With all those goodies around, I decided to see if I could make those…
September 26, 2013 Being from Oklahoma, many people consider me southern. Maybe it’s the fried chicken, catfish, steak, BBQ, grits, black-eyed peas, baked beans and many other “southern” classics that grace the Oklahoma menus. But, actually, Oklahoma is a midwestern state that happens to have a little southern flare. And, as I found on a…
October 11, 2013 Moms today seem to often be in a hurry. Rushing here. Rushing there. Meal time can be tough, and the last thing you want is a grocery store stop on the way home. Instead, keep some refrigerator biscuits in your house and you’ll be able to make fast meals. And sweet snacks…
October 11, 2013 Whether it’s pumpkin picking, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin bread or even pumpkin crafts, there’s nothing that says October, like the bright orange pumpkins dotting the landscape and making their way onto the dining tables. Here’s some simple ways to enjoy your pumpkins this Fall – from decorating to dinnertime to dessert, there’s something…
October 18, 2013 When I first saw this recipe it was listed as a delicious Christmas Eve hot chocolate recipe. My first thought was that I would definitely make it this next Christmas Eve. My second thought was, why wait? Across the country, October nights can get very chilly. In Michigan, where I used to…
October 9, 2013 With three kids, my days are pretty hectic. It’s hard enough to get dinner on the table, and the last thing I want to do is spend more time in the kitchen preparing myself lunch. With Tai Pei® frozen entrees, I know I can quickly heat up a delicious meal in minutes. Tai…
October 17, 2013 With a growing kid in the house, it’s important that I keep snacks on hand to satisfy that non-stop appetite. And I’m certainly not alone. Moms across the country are looking for a hearty and protein-filled snack for their growing teens – and crunchy-cheesy-spicy José Olé Nacho Bites are the perfect go-to…
October 10, 2013 A trip to the pumpkin patch shows just how much variety there is in the pumpkin family, so how do you tell which pumpkins are best for eating? It is important to note that all pumpkins are eatable. Even the Jack-O-Lantern can be served up in a delicious dish. However, each pumpkin…