October 28, 2013 Apples are everywhere during the fall season. The grocery store and farmer’s markets are filled with a variety of apples from sweet to tart. Purchasing in bulk while the prices are down and variety up is easy to do with a little canning know-how. It’s very easy to preserve these delicious fall…
October 29, 2013 This time of year is perfect for getting creative with food. From drawing spooky faces onto clementine cuties to carving up string cheese as edible fingers, there are many ways to serve up tasty – but good for you – snacks to counteract the sugar rush that abounds around Halloween. Easy Eats…
November 1, 2013 At-home beauty treatments are an all-natural and less expensive way to look younger, stay refreshed and cleanse your skin. I personally love sugar scrubs for my feet to remove the dry skin and keep them hydrated. They can be very expensive to buy, but they’re easy to make at home with ingredients you…
November 8, 2013 The holidays are rapidly approaching. I typically bake both pumpkin and apple pies for the holidays but I’m always on the lookout for ways to enhance my recipes. I saw these two ideas and just had to give them a try. Cinnamon Roll Pie Crust Perfect for apple or pumpkin pie! Ingredients 1…
November 4, 2013 The holidays are one of my favorite times of the year. Not only do I enjoy spending extra time with friends and family, I enjoy all of the different holiday food traditions. Each country or ethnicity seems to have their own holiday food traditions. Since my family is a bit of a…
December 6, 2013 Last December I glanced into my daughter’s dance teacher’s room and wondered what she would do with all those chocolate holiday goodies piled high from her students. The same thing with her classroom teacher and the endless boxed chocolates and platters of homemade cookies. While desserts and treats are nice, and definitely…
November 4, 2013 I struggle when it comes to organizing my things. With so many products in stores aimed at getting your home organized, I thought it was going to be practically impossible to get organized without spending money on these miracle gadgets. Fortunately, I found that it’s easy to organize without all those tools,…
November 15, 2013 Staying at a quaint small bed and breakfast can be a really relaxing way to spend your vacation. My husband and I take an annual trip to Iowa for the Iowa football homecoming game. We have been doing this for about 8 years now, and have reconnected with some of his college…
November 14, 2013 Over the last few years, people have become more interested in learning how to save money. Times have been tough and everyone seems to be reevaluating the importance of material things. Still, it’s understandable that most of us still want to be festive during the holiday season while simultaneously hoping we can…
November 15, 2013 Several years ago, we found out that my oldest daughter was gluten-intolerant. That discovery brought about a huge change in the way that I cooked and prepared meals. I have always loved to bake breads and desserts and wanted to continue to make them, but I also wanted my daughter to be…
November 29, 2013 The holidays are a very hectic time of year for many people. There are so many extra errands that need to be done during the holidays that it is almost inevitable that I spend too much time in the car. I find myself stopping at the store for extra ingredients I need…
December 21, 2013 It’s the time of year when we make resolutions and vow to make major changes in the upcoming year. The problem is that three weeks into the new year we’ve already admitted we won’t succeed. Sometimes it’s because we make unrealistic goals: Lose 25 pounds by Valentine’s Day. Walk 8 miles a…
December 13, 2013 Even though times are changing and technology is a forefront on how things are accomplished, some family traditions will never go away. Holiday baking is one of those traditions. Haystacks And Peppermint Bark are everyone’s favorite year after year. The haystack recipe is extremely simple, you could even get the kids to make…
December 12, 2013 I’ve always been a huge fan of Mexican food. Give me some chips, salsa and a margarita and I’m a happy girl! So I was thrilled to hear about the margarita line from Laughing Glass and very excited to chat with co-founder Carey Clahan about their product. The Laughing Glass margarita is…
December 16, 2013 Growing up, snacks were always a staple in my stocking on Christmas morning. I would receive a variety of tasty treats from candy bars to Cracker Jacks. Candy can add a little sugar to Christmas morning, but conventional candy can be loaded with a number of different allergens, preservatives, artificial flavors, dyes, and genetically-modified…
December 13, 2013 Love it or hate it, Christmas is the time for fruitcake. The oldest recorded references to fruitcake were discovered in Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. The Ancient Egyptians reportedly added a fruitcake to the tombs of their loved ones so it could sustain them in the afterlife. Did you know that…
December 20, 2013 By the end of December we’re all a little tired of the same ole pumpkin pie and banana bread. Why not switch it up this year with a pumpkin cheesecake and zucchini bread? These recipes will have your family and friends clamoring for more. Pumpkin Cheesecake This recipe makes two 9 inch pies…
December 27, 2013 It’s nearly here, New Year’s Eve! A time for having fun and partying with friends as we ring in the new year. While you might wake up on New Year’s day craving pizza or a burger (shades from our college days perhaps), greasy, fatty foods will actually make you feel worse. Here…
January 3, 2014 2013 was the year of the cronut, the ramen burger and the turducken (a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey). What will this year bring? The waffle chicken tenders, the cookie in a cupcake, a donut breakfast sandwich? This year will see more mashups integrated into restaurant menus. I expect some…
January 10, 2014 2013 was the start of the mashup foods like the cronut and ramen burger. Chefs also started using local food produce in their restaurants. This year, these 2 trends will continue to grow. Some restaurants will even be growing their own food, so they know exactly what they are serving. The healthy…
January 13, 2014 Do you ever peel your citrus fruit and toss the peel in the trash? Stop now! There are so many different ways to use citrus peels (from oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and more) at home. The next time you eat an orange or grapefruit or squeeze lemon juice for your lemonade, hold…
January 14, 2014 Along with the new year, many people have made New Years’ resolutions to get healthier. Some people intend to quit smoking, others exercise more, and still more to eat healthier. Unfortunately, many people last only a few weeks being true to their resolutions. Some people are frustrated because they think that eating…
January 24, 2014 A friend of mine just installed a wood pizza oven and threw a pizza party. He agreed to make the dough if everyone brought over toppings. I wanted to do something a little different and opted for a dessert pizza. Here’s the recipe I used: Pizza Dough You can buy refrigerated dough…
January 24, 2014 Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to splurge on a decadent chocolate fondue. When I was younger, I remember my parents having parties and serving fondue. I have vivid memories of an avocado green fondue pot sitting on top of a small can of sterno. There were long-handled forks with avocado green…
January 31, 2014 Super Bowl parties are being planned across the country, but are you taking into consideration your team’s favorite foods? Here are some items served at the resident stadiums for each team! The Broncos At Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the home of the Denver Broncos, you will find their “Regional and…
February 17, 2014 Vinegar, a product likely sitting in your pantry right now, is not only eco-friendly but also a powerful anti-bacterial. And it’s cheap, too! For less than $3, you can buy a gallon of vinegar and concoct your own environmentally-friendly cleaning products. To get you started, here are seven recipes for creating common…
February 10, 2014 Are you squeezing enough fruits and vegetable into your daily diet? Research has long proven that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. And since fruits and vegetables are naturally rich in fiber and low in calories, they are a great fit…
February 7, 2014 I’m not a big fan of going out to a restaurant on Valentine’s Day. I prefer to make a simple meal at home. Not something that takes too long, not something elaborate – just something made with love. Because after all, that is what Valentine’s Day is about! When I asked my…
February 8, 2014 My husband has been pestering me lately to make him cookies. I don’t tend to do a lot of baking since I follow the Paleo diet. I find a big pile of cookies to be a bit of a temptation some days. The kids and my husband don’t follow the Paleo diet…
February 14, 2014 The Olympics have started and I’m sure everyone is tuning in to watch the various sports and news around the event. We learn about the athletes and some of the Russian culture, but what about the food? Russian food is rich in history but not a common food in the United States. …
February 12, 2014 Valentine’s Day rolls around every February and, with it, comes the pressure to produce a day filled with romance that your partner will remember and cherish forever. Of course, most people try and fail miserably but it’s the thought that counts, right? The holiday can be especially difficult for those who are…
February 21, 2014 Soup to me is such a comfort food! This minestrone soup recipe follows the Italian tradition of relying solely on the vegetables, beans and a scrap of parmesan rind for the flavor of the broth. The beans, cooked from scratch in the soup broth, enrich the soup. Napa cabbage sweetens it and…
February 20, 2014 My kids adore chocolate milk and I love it too – especially when they choose it over of a high-sugared fruit drink or soda. TruMoo is flavored milk that is nutritious and delicious! TruMoo contains no artificial growth hormones and is packed with calcium, and vitamins A&D. It is sweetened with just…
February 21, 2014 A few years ago, after over a year of stomach problems and illnesses, my daughter was diagnosed as gluten intolerant. Gluten is defined as: a substance present in cereal grains, esp. wheat, that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. Her gluten intolerance started a whole new cycled in our life…
February 28, 2014 The King Cake, baked with a small plastic baby hidden inside, is a New Orleans tradition for a Mardi Gras party. Rich in tradition, the King Cake is a cross between a coffee cake and a French pastry and is decorated in royal colors of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power). These…
March 6, 2014 Top of the day to you! And an early St. Patrick’s Day greeting. Corned beef, cabbage and soda bread bring the luck of the Emerald Isle. And who couldn’t use a little luck? I thought I would give you easy recipes to make a traditional Irish dish. And this crockpot corned beef…
March 14, 2014 Whenever watching my team play in the NCAA basketball tournament, I get the munchies. I think it is from nerves! Rather than eating handfuls of plain ole mixed nuts, here are several snack mix recipes to enjoy. There are so many ways to make a snack mix and a variety of ingredients…
March 21, 2014 Many people dislike potato soup because it can tend to be bland. Not this recipe! This soup flavors the potatoes with blue cheese and balsamic vinegar, and a dollop of olive tapenade. Plus, it’s ready to serve in just an hour. Blue Cheese Potato Soup Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil 2 medium onions, chopped 5 garlic cloves,…
March 10, 2014 Spring is almost here and summer is sure to follow along eventually, despite the snow in my backyard today. The warmer weather means I’ll be packing away my sweaters and long pants – to be replaced with shorts, capris and summer dresses. Whenever I’m faced with my summer wardrobe, I start thinking…
March 28, 2014 Do you like playing April Fool’s jokes on people? This is a fun recipe to serve for dessert (or better yet – make it on a day when no one would expect, like a birthday in August!) This meatloaf cake makes a terrific birthday joke cake or April Fool’s Day recipe for…
March 17, 2014 Raising a child is not cheap. Even if you are very frugal and shop second-hand, the cost from birth to eighteen years of age can be astronomical. When my kids were babies, I did everything that I could to keep the cost down. I used coupons on disposable or used cloth diapers. I…
April 4, 2014 Spring has sprung. And although the east and midwest are still digging themselves out from all the snow they got this year, strawberries and other early fruits are starting to produce. We find ourselves wearing lighter clothes – and eating lighter fare. Here are a couple of recipes to start off the spring….
March 26, 2014 Spring has arrived, and it’s the perfect time of year to wash away winter and create a clean slate and space at home. With a little elbow grease, toxin-free cleaning products and a little help from your kids, spring cleaning can be easy-breezy and eco-friendly. In honor of Earth Day, here are seven…
April 4, 2014 Has this ever happened to you? You are right in the middle of a recipe, you open a cupboard (or refrigerator) to grab the next ingredient and it’s not there. You know it was there yesterday but since then, it has magically disappeared. Maybe the kids ate it. Maybe your husband tossed…
April 7, 2014 Peeps have become a thing. Not just a thing you eat but the basis of all sorts of … creativity. What started as a simple marshmallow chick by Just Born has launched a new genre of “entertainment.” Every spring, this little blend of sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin inspires recipes, still life…
