LadyPens » Food and Drink

Save Time and Money with Once a Month Cooking

Sherry Frewerd — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:36:33 +0000

At the end of a busy day, what’s the one thing you’re looking forward to? Relaxing on the couch, taking a long bath, reading a good book…cooking a home cooked meal? Yeah, right. Unless you consider cooking a treat, which most tired mothers do not, the idea of coming up with yet another healthy and tasty dinner is just too much, and certainly not fun. Full Article

Here’s How To Make Frozen Fruit Smoothies

Susanne Myers — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:31:48 +0000

Frozen fruit smoothies are always a favorite in my kitchen. They are simple to make and are actually good for you. These delicious frozen drinks can be made with all sorts of fruit and of course you can also combine them and make your own personal creations. This is how to make the perfect frozen fruit smoothie. It is very easy. Full Article

Healthy Fruit Smoothies – Indulge In One Of These Today

Susanne Myers — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:58:38 +0000

Healthy fruit smoothies are the perfect snack during the hot days of summer. These delicious treats will not only cool you down, they are also full of vitamins, calcium and plenty of water. Get out your blender and create your own favorite version. Smoothies can be made with just about any fruit. Just try a few different recipes until you come up with your own personal favorite. Full Article

Soft Pretzels: Fun Baking for Kids

Tammy Paquin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:22:25 +0000

With three growing boys, the battle to keep healthy, easy and relatively inexpensive snacks in the house always seems to be one I feel I’m losing. Combine that with the fact that the time it takes to keep up with the baking and cooking leaves me feeling like that’s all I do: bake, bake and bake some more! So when I found this soft pretzel recipe, I knew I had a win/ win recipe! It was fun and easy for the boys to make for me and provided them with an inexpensive and healthy snack! Full Article

No Bake Summer Goodies

Tammy Paquin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:20:24 +0000

Just because it’s summer, it doesn’t mean that the kids don’t want goodies. It DOES mean you don’t want to have to turn on the oven and heat up the house! Keep these kid-friendly recipes on hand for those days that you need a need a quick, easy no-bake treat. Two recipes require a small amount “cook” time on the stove top but kids can easily handle the job of getting the cookies onto the cookie sheets. The other two recipes takes time to freeze up but it can be done easily by the kids with just a bit of adult supervision. Full Article

Food and Fun for Kids

Tammy Paquin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:32:20 +0000

Kids love helping out in the kitchen. It can also be a big source of pride for them to tell you that they made the meal, almost all by themselves. It’s also wonderful being able to combine fun, hands-on play time with meal preparation time. My boys love helping me make gnocchi almost as much as they love eating them! Full Article

7 Tips For Creating A Frugal Meal Plan That Works For You And Your Family

Susanne Myers — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:26:44 +0000

Groceries are one area in your family budget where you can easily save quite a bit each way. A perfect way to do that is to create a frugal meal plan each week that will help you spend less at the grocery store. But for this to work (especially in the long run), you have to come up with a menu plan that will work for both you and your family. Here are some tips for accomplishing just that. Full Article

7 Tips for Frying Chicken

Irene Shalom — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:06:32 +0000

There is no need to be an expert chef to get your fried chicken to come out just right. Discover the secrets and tricks experienced cooks use to get their fried chicken extra crispy on the outside, and soft and juicy on the inside. Full Article

Gifts For Cooks Under $10

Stephanie Martin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:33:01 +0000

I love to cook and bake. My favorite place is to be in the kitchen cooking meals for my family. And I’m always looking for new gadgets or replacement utensils for my kitchen. I’m sure that there are many of you out there that also have cooks/bakers on your gift lists and you’re not sure what to buy for them, so I thought I’d give you a few ideas: Full Article

Quick Microwave Breakfast Ideas

Tammy Paquin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:17:00 +0000

I’ve come to love my microwave in more ways than ever. We have three boys who are growing so quickly and always on the go with sports, school and playing in general. They are always hungry and I have definitely found that starting them off with protein rich and fiber rich breakfasts keep them going longer than boxed cereals. In addition, I do dental hygiene on a per diem basis. I might be trying to get out the door in a very short amount of time and I want to be able to eat a quick breakfast that will also fill me up. Full Article

Making Your Slow Cooker Work for You

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:05:47 +0000

If you have never tried using a slow cooker, you don’t know what you’re missing. It can be your best friend in the kitchen. They now come in many different sizes, from a small dip crock to a 6-1/2 quart crock. You can easily find one that fits your family’s size and appetite. Some of the newer ones have lids that lock in place for more ease in transportation. And some even come with an insulated cover. Full Article

Tips for Making Your Holiday Dinner a Success

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:04:13 +0000

Everyone enjoys going getting together with family and friends for a big holiday meal, but sometimes the stress of preparation is almost too much to bear. But, there are just a few simple things that you can do to help reduce and/or eliminate the stress. Full Article

How To Make School Morning & Lunch Preps Less Stressful

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:56:46 +0000

It’s that time of year again – BACK TO SCHOOL! Besides what seems like endless shopping for school supplies, there’s the never-ending school lunches to prepare x 3 (well x 4 counting my husband, LOL). It takes a lot to make sure that everyone gets a well-balanced meal plus something they like. My children take lunch every day instead of buying lunch. This way, I know that they have something that they like AND they’ll eat it instead of throwing it away. And most of the meals that I send with them cost me considerably less than school lunches anyway. Full Article

Menu Planning, Not As Hard As It Seems

Stephanie Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:55:59 +0000

I’ve noticed that a lot more people are talking about menu planning here lately. Some have been doing this for years, others a few weeks/months, and still others just flat out refuse! I love the excuses that I’ve heard for NOT planning a menu: Full Article

Is Avocado A Fruit Or Vegetable?

Susanne Myers — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:20:47 +0000

I’ve always been fascinated by avocado. It is such a delicious, creamy and rich treat that’s pretty versatile. You can enjoy it savory as well as sweet dishes. It’s rather healthy but also incredibly rich and fatty. One of the questions that often comes up is this: Is avocado a fruit or a vegetable? Full Article

Smart Women Take the Right Action

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:13:48 +0000

A few days ago, in one of my Women’s Success Circles, a great question came up: “What’s the one action step that I should take to grow my business faster?” Wow! That’s a great question. The challenge is–there’s not just one simple answer. I wish there was a “magic bullet” that would take your business to the next level, however to grow your business effectively and for the long run, you need to use several different marketing methods. Full Article

Family Recipes: Keeping the Memories Alive

Tammy Paquin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:04:33 +0000

I never knew my husband’s grandmother. I never knew her like he did because by the time we started dating, Grandma N. was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. I only knew the shell that remained of this wonderful woman after the disease had robbed her of most of her memory. What I do have though is what was so special about her and one of the things that my husband and his family remembers most fondly of her, her recipes. Full Article

Easy, Overnight Breakfast Recipes

Tammy Paquin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:52:07 +0000

We don’t leave the house on Christmas and the grandparents frequently come over to watch the boys open their presents. I don’t want to have to spend lots of time in the kitchen on Christmas morning, so I’ve been able to pull together some recipes which are prepped the night before and only require a few minutes the next morning. Obviously, these aren’t just for Christmas morning, but any morning that you’d like to have a nice, easy breakfast with minimum kitchen time! Full Article

Soup: Simple, filling and frugal fare!

Tammy Paquin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:26:29 +0000

Soup making isn’t complicated, and it is a great simple, frugal, and filling meal, especially if you combine it with homemade bread (yes, I’ve included an easy homemade bread recipe as well)! There are some basics to soup making. The most important thing to remember is to relax and experiment! Full Article

My Grandmother’s Old World Recipes Survive the Test of Time!

Carrie Gamble — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:58:17 +0000

It’s hard for me to believe, but April 1, 2009 marked the 100^th anniversary of my grandmother Elizabeth Rose von Hohen’s birth! When you think about 100 years going by, especially this past 100 years, it’s mind blowing to think of the changes she witnessed. As a little girl Elizabeth would take the reins of the buggy and ride down a long narrow lane to the country road which lead to the farm where she would pick up milk for her family. She took pride in the responsibility given to her at such a young age. As the oldest child in the family, Elizabeth’s responsibilities included cooking and baking as well. Imagine the average nine year old nowadays cooking for her family! Ten decades later, I am so proud to have had such a wonderful grandmother and even more proud to have the opportunity to share her recipes with you!

I am excited to include two healthy recipes in this article which have been in our family well over 100 years. Both recipes include basic ingredients and simple instructions. They are Hungarian Peasant Meal and Oatmeal Cookies, which were brought here from the old country by my great-grandmother, Anna. The Hungarian Peasant Meal is a dish I was unaware of until we started putting together our family cookbook. My mother told me it was a staple for their family back in the 1930s and 1940s because it was inexpensive. She said she has vivid memories of my grandfather putting a big lump of butter on the boiled red potatoes. He would then break off a piece of potato and take a scoop of the cottage cheese mixture and pop it into his mouth! Delicious! This is so yummy ~ you just have to try it! It is quick and extremely easy to make. In fact, this is the perfect recipe for a beginner to try. Full Article

Kids Can Make Pizza!

Peggy Baron — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:29:06 +0000

Just about any time is a good time for kids to make pizza, don’t you think?Â Here are someÂ steps to help create a positive pizza-making experience for you and your children. Full Article

For Kids Only – How To Read A Recipe

Peggy Baron — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:08:51 +0000

Sometimes you get tired of mac and cheese, don’t you?Â Frozen burritos, cheese sticks, and sandwiches can get pretty boring too if you eat them all the time.Â Hey, how about taking out one of your mom’s recipes, that one you really like, and make some real food?Â Problem is, you donâ€™t know how to read a recipe.Â Of course you know how to read, you just don’t know how to follow a recipe because it’s different than following microwave directions on the side of a box.Â So you don’t starve, here are some tips on how to read recipes and make some good food: Full Article

Feeding the Whole Family Book Review

Carrie Lauth — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:29:19 +0000

Feeding The Whole Family – Cooking With Whole Foods by Cynthia Lair Full Article

Healthy Meals and Snacks Kids Can Prepare For Themselves

Carrie Lauth — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:40:22 +0000

When your family is in a rush, and you need the kids to help prepare their own snacks or meal, it’s tempting to have prepared foods for them that are quick to eat, but don’t have as much nutritional value as you would like. Full Article

Toddler Food For the Picky Eater

Peggy Baron — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:03:14 +0000

Full Article

Soup: Simple, filling and frugal fare!

Tammy Paquin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:59:50 +0000

Soup making isnâ€™t complicated, and it is a great simple, frugal, and filling meal, especially if you combine it with homemade bread (yes, Iâ€™ve included an easy homemade bread recipe as well)! There are some basics to soup making. The most important thing to remember is to relax and experiment! Full Article

Eating More Organic Without Busting The Budget

Carrie Lauth — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:58:33 +0000

So you’re convinced of the benefits of eating organic, but the price tag has got you down. The good news is that with a little creativity and perhaps a change in routine, it is possible to eat a mostly organic diet within the confines of your existing grocery budget. Try some of these ideas that have worked for my family. Full Article

Whole Grain Baked Spaghetti

Carrie Lauth — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:47:03 +0000

Preheat oven to 350. Full Article

Eight Time-Saving Cooking Tips

Rachel Paxton — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:19:29 +0000

1. Plan meals at least a week in advance to incorporate the use of leftovers. For example, have baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy for dinner Sunday, and then use the leftover gravy as the base of beef stroganoff Monday. Full Article

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:07:24 +0000

I have always loved the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. I used to love the commercials of the kids running into each other, one child with the Hershey chocolate bar, and the other child with a jar of peanut butter. Full Article

Cream Cheese Recipes

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:06:28 +0000

When I think of cream cheese, I immediately think of bagels. I love bagels and cream cheese. However cream cheese is wonderful in many other recipes. Full Article

Creating Dips For Entertaining

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:04:58 +0000

Creating Dips For Entertaining Full Article

Easy Potato Recipes

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:04:30 +0000

We are potato lovers. We eat potatoes many times each week. We slice them, we dice them, we fry them and we bake them. Full Article

Easy Recipes For Chicken Breasts

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:03:11 +0000

There are hundreds of ways to prepare chicken. In this article you’ll find recipes for; garlic chicken, mushroom chicken and lemon chicken, 3 very different flavors. Full Article

Making Carrot Cake

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:02:32 +0000

I often see recipes that say “best carrot cake recipe”. I’m not sure there is really a â€˜best” recipe, however depending on what you add to the recipe I’ve tasted many variations of carrot cake. Full Article

More Easy Chicken Breast Recipes

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:01:37 +0000

We eat chicken several times per week, so we always experiment with new flavors and new recipes. If time is limited, I always suggest buying a bottle of either already made marinade or salad dressing and marinating the chicken while you’re at work. The flavor seeps into the chicken and when you get home from work, just bake for an hour and you’ll have a delicious flavored chicken. Full Article

Pancake Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:00:33 +0000

When I was a child my mom used to make the best pancakes for dinner. She would make zucchini pancakes, carrot pancakes, potato pancakes and even chocolate pancakes. She would serve these pancakes as a side dish, usually with meat as our main course. Full Article

Using Potato Chips In Cooking

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:00:04 +0000

Many of think of potato chips as those crunchy chips we put on a plate alongside a sandwich. However potato chips can add a wonderful flavor to many recipes. Full Article

Several Kugel Recipes and the History of Kugel

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:57:31 +0000

The word kugel came from the German language. The word Kugel means “ball” as in round. When kugels were cooked, they puffed up into round casseroles. In the Yiddish language, the word kugel means square. Today, most kugels are made in square pans. Full Article

Simple Shrimp Appetizer Recipes

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:54:30 +0000

I have always loved shrimp. Shrimp can be served both hot and cold and both as an appetizer or as the main course. Full Article

Simple Shrimp Recipes You Can Use For Dinner

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:54:05 +0000

There are so many ways you can serve shrimp as a main course. You can serve it with rice or with pasta for a great meal. Here are a few recipes my family enjoys: Full Article

Cooking with Applesauce

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:53:28 +0000

When I think of applesauce I think of a childhood memory. My mom used to buy the applesauce with cinnamon in it. Until I was a teen, I thought all applesauce was dark in color and had a cinnamon flavor. I still smile when I see the small servings of cinnamon flavored applesauce in the market, knowing that other moms are also giving their kids this yummy treat. Full Article

Macaroni and Cheese Dressed Up

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:52:52 +0000

I’m not sure I’ve ever met a child who did not like macaroni and cheese. As a mom, it’s a quick and easy lunch or dinner for the kids, but not a personal favorite to serve adults. Full Article

Choosing Almond Butter

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:52:23 +0000

Almond butter is similar to peanut butter, but without the peanuts. This makes the spread less salty and also a wonderful alternative for those with peanut allergies. Several studies have been done with the results all finding that eating nuts is linked to lower risk of heart disease. Full Article

Creating Your Own Pizza

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:41:33 +0000

My kids have both always loved pizza. We discovered some great easy pizza recipes over the years. It can get very costly to keep ordering pizza from the local take out places. So, we began making our own pizzas and today, 20 years later, my kids still love the homemade pizza over the take out pizza. Full Article

Child Friendly Recipes

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:40:53 +0000

Kids like to help in the kitchen. Kids enjoy cooking. I think one of my favorite recipes for kids is Dump Cake. This is literally a cake where you dump everything into the baking dish and then bake. Full Article

Getting Kids To Eat Vegetables

Audrey Okaneko — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:40:26 +0000

Have you ever made peas and carrots for dinner and put them on your child’s plate? If you have, then you now know the many ways children will hide these green and orange pieces from their plates. They will lose them on the floor. They will feed them to the dog. They will hide them in their napkin. They will scoot them under another item on their plate. Kids will try just about anything to not eat the peas and carrots sitting in front of them. Full Article

Buying in Bulk

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:18:51 +0000

Shoppers have enjoyed the convenience of buying in bulk for a number of years. My own bulk buying experiences have been hit and miss at best, but I recently discovered just how convenient buying in bulk can be. Full Article

Five Secrets to Making Better Cookies

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:18:25 +0000

- Make sure your cookie sheets aren’t too thin. The heavier your cookie sheet, the less likely your cookies are to burn. If you can’t afford heavy-duty cookie sheets, you can cover your thin ones with layers of aluminum foil. Full Article

Converting Recipes to Lowfat

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:16:57 +0000

The fat content in recipes can be reduced in a variety of ways: Full Article

Easy Cereal Snack Bars for Kids

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:45:31 +0000

It’s hard to find easy after school snacks for kids. These
cereal bar recipes are easy to make and made from your children’s
favorite breakfast cereals. Full Article

Quick, Easy Dinners that Even Toddlers Will Eat

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:44:59 +0000

It’s hard enough trying to figure out what to make for dinner
every night let alone trying to please picky toddlers. Make that
two picky toddlers! We have one that is a really good eater and
one that changes his mind about what he likes almost every day,
sometimes every meal. Through a little trial and error, however,
I have found several dinners that both toddlers and daddy will
eat without any complaints. Don’t be afraid to give your
toddlers new things to try…who knew my boys would love canned
salmon! Salmon patties are now one of their favorite meals. Full Article

Ground Turkey Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:56:58 +0000

Our family has recently made the switch from ground beef to ground turkey. With ground beef more than $2 a pound, we had basically quit eating hamburger for quite some time. On a recent trip to the grocery store I noticed that ground turkey was HALF the price of ground beef, about $1 a pound. I decided to give it a try, and our family loved the ground turkey. Honestly, you can’t even tell the difference in taste, and it is very low fat. There is almost no fat to remove from your pan. Here are some recipes our family adapted to our tastes: Full Article

Easy Spaghetti Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:56:31 +0000

Spaghetti has always been a favorite family meal. My teenage daughter will eat leftover spaghetti for breakfast, lunch, and as a mid-afternoon snack. Not everyone loves spaghetti so much that they will go to that extreme, however, and the same meals can getting boring after awhile. Here are some ways to jazz up this old favorite: Full Article

Easy Holiday Quick Breads

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:56:03 +0000

Quick breads are a quick, easy accompaniment to any holiday meal. Full Article

Easy, Frugal Tuna Casserole Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:55:38 +0000

Tuna casseroles are one of the most frugal dinners you can make. Most picky kids will eat them, and most picky husbands will too! Whenever you can’t think of something for dinner, you can bet you will probably have the ingredients on hand to make some of these all time favorites: Full Article

Basic Quick Mix and Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:55:13 +0000

With an easy basic quick mix, you can make a wide variety of inexpensive homemade biscuits, breads, and other baked goods. This mix is easy to make and store and great for any family on a tight budget. Full Article

Easy, Tasty Chicken Wing Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:54:31 +0000

You can serve chicken wings hot or cold, for a meal, or for snacks. They’re great as appetizers at parties, or when you’re just looking for a tasty midnight snack. Try these four easy recipes: Full Article

Preserving Your Pumpkin Harvest

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:53:50 +0000

By the middle of September you already have a pretty good idea which pumpkin is going to be your prize winner this year. The big one with the round smooth face will make a perfect jack-o- lantern come October, as will the tall skinny one that seems to call out “Pick me!” as you gaze out over this year’s pumpkin patch with childlike anticipation. Full Article

Gingerbread People Recipe

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:53:06 +0000

Gingerbread cookies are a fun family activity during the holiday season. All you need to get started are some gingerbread people cookie cutters and your imagination. Full Article

Freezing Cookies and Cookie Dough

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:52:35 +0000

If you’re looking ahead to the holiday season and wondering how you’re going to get all your baking done, consider freezing your cookie dough or fresh baked cookies ahead of time. When the holidays get closer you can get that last bit of shopping done or last present made instead of spending all your time in the kitchen. Full Article

Holiday Leftover Ideas

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:51:26 +0000

The holidays are a time for friends and family and good old-fashioned home cooking. Who can resist the tempting smells coming from the kitchen at this most favorite time of year? Holiday dinners were among my favorite, most memorable meals as a child. Our family shared our holiday meals with different relatives each year, but wherever we were and whoever we were with, we always knew to expect good food and enjoyable family gatherings that we would remember for months to come. Full Article

Easy Autumn Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:50:58 +0000

Fall is in the air! Fill your kitchen with the aroma of fresh
baked apples. Here are some easy autumn apple recipes that your
family is sure to enjoy. Full Article

Four Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:42:50 +0000

Four easy pumpkin recipes to enjoy the fall season.Fall is a great time to try out some new pumpkin recipes.
There’s nothing like the smell of fresh baked pumpkin bread or
cookies in the kitchen! You have to give this pumpkin cornbread
a try. Full Article

Favorite Cream Pie Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:41:28 +0000

The holidays are just around the corner and you are probably
planning what kinds of pies to make this year. If your family is
tired of fruit pies or if you just want to try something new, try
making a cream pie! These pie recipes are very easy to prepare
and are sure to be family favorites during the holidays or any
time of year. Full Article

Finger Jello Recipes

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:40:45 +0000

Kids, especially preschoolers, love finger jello! They love it
even more when they get to help make it. Let your preschooler
cut the jello into shapes with cookie cutters when the jello is
set. Make green and red for Christmas, orange for
Halloween. Making finger jello can be a fun family activity! Full Article

Salad Recipes for Summer Barbecues

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:39:28 +0000

Salads are a great accompaniment to any summer picnic or
barbecue. Everyone has their favorite. I personally love Taco
Salad, my daughter’s favorite is Pea Salad. Full Article

Baked Vegetable Side Dishes for Holiday Meals

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:38:50 +0000

I am not personally a big fan of cooked vegetables. Give me a
fresh salad any day! There are a lot of ways you can disquise
vegetables so that your family will eat them, however, and baked
vegetable casseroles are an easy way to add vegetables to your
holiday meal in a way that your whole family will enjoy. These
recipes are probably too high in calories for everyday meals, but
make a great treat for the holidays. Full Article

Festive Fruit Salads for Your Holiday Table

Rachel Paxton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:38:25 +0000

I love fruit salads. Unfortunately, many of the best fruit salad
recipes are very high in calories and take a little more
preparation time than you might want to spend. Full Article

Vegetables â€“ Health Food Or Killers

Susanne Myers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:16:26 +0000

With the recent outbreak of e-coli traced back to bagged spinach of all things, the FDA now suggests consumers thoroughly wash all bagged produce (including salad) before consuming it to avoid the extreme diarrhea e-coli bacterial can cause. Full Article

What Makes Soup Such A Great Comfort Food

Susanne Myers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:15:42 +0000

When you’ve had a long day or are fighting a nasty cold, there just isn’t anything better than a good cup of soup. There’s just something about a bowl of that warm liquid that makes you feel better no matter what happened. Let’s take a look at what makes soup the perfect comfort food, and of course share a recipe for the soup of all soups. You’ll have to keep reading to find out what it is. Full Article

8 Fun Ideas To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Veggies

Susanne Myers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:59:52 +0000

Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies? I sure do.
My daughter used to be great about trying and eating just about anything…and then she turned 2 Â½. Now it is pretty much impossible to get her to eat anything other than corn when it comes to vegetables. So I had to come up with some fun and sometimes sneaky ways to get some veggies in her. Here are a few of my favorites. Full Article

St. Patrickâ€™s Day Treats

Susanne Myers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:59:10 +0000

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year with some of these fun and of course mostly green St. Patrick’s Day Treats. Full Article

Cooking for Kids: How to Sneak Nutritious Foods into their Meals

Susanne Myers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:58:35 +0000

Kids love to eat. What they frown upon is too many vegetables. If your child is like many others and shuns vegetables or other healthy items, learn to give them their daily dose of good nutrition within the foods they love to eat. Full Article

Cream Cheese Lovers Unite

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:14:15 +0000

I Scream You Scream We All Scream for Cream Cheese Full Article

Fun Easter Meal Tips

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:13:37 +0000

With spring fast approaching, Easter is just around the corner. One of the most enjoyed holidays is Easter and part of the reason why this holiday is loved is the food associated with it. If you are hosting an Easter dinner with your friends or loved ones this year, here are some excellent tips for some delicious Easter recipes. Full Article

Oh No! I Don’t Have Any… Cooking Substitutions To Help When You’re Out

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:12:54 +0000

For a lot of cooks, there are occurences when we do not have the exact ingredients on hand to prepare our desired dish. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t despair, you probably have a suitable substitution on hand, saving the cook a drive to the grocer. Here are some tips. Full Article

Viva Italia – Awesome Italian Desserts

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:12:15 +0000

Italian food definitely has its fans and one of the numerous delicious varieties of Italian foods are the desserts. Italian deserts usually come in a wide assortment of choices from cakes to cookies to flavorful desserts that are prepared for adults with wine and liquors. If you are looking to prepare an Italian masterpiece for dessert, here are two awesome recipes. Full Article

Italian Pasta

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:11:35 +0000

Pasta is the most versatile Italian fare. While it is extremely popular here in the U.S., believe it or not it is far more popular in Italy. Pasta is basically created from flour. However, certain types of grain can also make pasta. In order to make pasta flour is mixed with water and many times also mixed with eggs. After the mixture is done, it is kneaded and rolled into numerous shapes. The vast amount of pasta that is cooked is first boiled before served, however pasta can be baked, but before doing so it is usually boiled. Full Article

Kick Your Meals Up a Notch with Stir Fried Vegetables

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:10:52 +0000

One of the most exciting dishes that you can create on a regular basis for your loved ones is stir fry veggies dishes. One of the reasons that stir fry veggie dishes are exciting is that they are usually very colorful due to the variety of vegetables included. Stir fry veggie dishes are a great way to add nutritious vegetables to any meal. Full Article

Sweet and Sour Recipes Add Variety to Meals

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:10:13 +0000

One of the ways to really please your loved ones during dinner time is to give them something different. Few families prepare sweet and sour recipes on a regular basis, but those that do are rewarded by happy family members. Sweet and sour recipes are surprisingly easy to create and very convenient. Below are some tips to concoct a yummy sweet and sour treat. Full Article

Apple Turnovers

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:09:33 +0000

Apple Turnovers Your Family Will be Begging For
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If you like apple pie, here is a quick and easy twist to making a yummy pastry with a similar taste. Apple turnovers are wonderful pastries excellent for breakfast, tea time, a snack with a cup of coffee or dessert. They are surprisingly easy to prepare and extremely delicious. Here is a simple, but yummy recipe. Full Article

Home Cooking

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:08:52 +0000

Easy Homemade Meal Options
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Home cooking is loved by most. Most everyone has their favorite home cooked recipe. And although more and more Americans eat out every year, there truly is no substitute for home cooked meals. Full Article

Easy Recipes

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:08:11 +0000

Making Cooking Simple
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Looking for quick and easy to make recipes that not only taste awesome but give the perception that you spent a lot of thought and effort creating the dish? Here are numouers dishes that are incredibly easy, but very delicious. Full Article

Eight Reasons Why Menu Planning Is A Terrible Idea

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:05:05 +0000

Have you heard about meal planning lately? Families are busy and getting busier all the time. As families work on getting organized, many home managers are turning to meal planning as a way to eliminate the evening stress in their homes. Full Article

Prepare a Romantic Dinner At Home For Valentine’s Day

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:04:26 +0000

Remember those pre-child days when you would go out to a fancy restaurant or spend the weekend at a romantic get-away to celebrate Valentine’s Day? That may not be an option this year, but you can still enjoy a romantic dinner with your spouse. Here are a few ideas on how you can easily create a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home. Full Article

Get Rid of All The Cereal Boxes, Please

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:03:46 +0000

One of the kitchen tools that has become increasingly popular is the cold cereal dispenser. For many families that have children, cereal is a great breakfast option or snack idea that is nutritious and convenient. With help from a cold cereal dispenser, you can make sure that your family can easily fill their cereal bowls without the added distractions of open cereal boxes that may lose freshness rapidly and can get messy. Full Article

Eating In – The Health Conscious Choice

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:03:03 +0000

Health Benefits For Eating At Home Full Article

Picnic Backpacks

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:02:22 +0000

The next time you want to enjoy natural surroundings with your friend, spouse or loved ones, one of the things you should take with is a picnic backpack. While everyone is familiar with a picnic basket, picnic backpacks are the latest and greatest in a line of items to help you experience quality time together. If you are looking to enjoy nature and be together with friends and family, a picnic backpack is the perfect accompaniment. Full Article

Enjoy The Summer By Planning A Picnic

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:01:39 +0000

With summer around the corner one of the things that numerous couples and families look forward to doing is having a picnic. When outdoors you can stop basically anywhere and have a picnic. For almost all creating a comfortable and natural ambiance around their picnic is extremely important and generally includes a cool picnic basket. If you are looking to picnic this year, here are some suggestions on choosing the best picnic basket. Full Article

Pot & Pan Basics

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:00:59 +0000

Just as any good carpenter requires the right tools to get the job done, so does a cook require the right tools – in this case pots and pans. We don’t realize it, but pots and pans have a lot to do with the type of foods we cook and the quality and ease of creating these meals. If you are looking to maximize your meals and cooking experience, here are some hints on the precise pots and pans to use. Full Article

Meal Planning – The Economical Thing To Do

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:00:15 +0000

Meal planning is an excellent to save time, energy and money when feeding your family. For those thinking about meal planning, it is critical to note that you don’t have to sacrifice a delicious, healthy meal for a busy schedule or a limited budget. If you are looking for an awesome way to make meals for your family, here are some practical tips. Full Article

Cooking Tips

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:59:27 +0000

Food Preparation Guidelines
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The difference between a good cook and a great cook can generally be as minute as a couple good cooking suggestions. Cooking ideas can help us make cooking dishes much easier and side step the many pitfalls in food preparation. While it has been said that experience, patience and knowledge are very important when cooking, a few basic cooking tips can definitely make many good cooks look like master chefs. Following are just a few cooking tips that will ultimately help you in the kitchen. Full Article

Leftover Meals

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:58:35 +0000

Most refrigerators are filled with leftovers. While most of us hate to let food go to waste, the only option is to reuse food we couldn’t finish a few days ago and create dinner out of leftovers. While leftovers were once a delicious meal, sadly, to many family members they are no longer appealing. Fear not, with just a few suggestions, you can create tasty meals once again merely by using leftovers. Following are some tips. Full Article

Dinner Planning For Busy School Days

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:56:59 +0000

Another summer has quickly passed us by. The kids have reluctantly gone back to school. It stands to reason that life should be a little less hectic, right? Unfortunately, that’s usually not the case. Between all of your daily â€˜Mom obligations’, helping with homework and providing transportation to every extra-curricular activity under the sun, you probably have little time to devote to dinner planning. Full Article

Mom, What’s For Dinner Tonight?

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:56:13 +0000

With dance practice, choir, the science project that’s due tomorrow and tae kwon do, who has energy to concoct a decent meal for the kids after school? You do! You can have time if you serve a quick to cook kids’ meal. Full Article

Having Fun While Decorating Easter Cookies

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:55:33 +0000

For those of you anxiously awaiting Easter time, the one thing that makes Easter extremely special are decorated Easter cookies. Just like Christmas cookies have become synonymous with Christmas time, so have Easter cookies become a part of Easter tradition. There are plenty of great ways to dress up the Easter season and decorated Easter cookies are just one of them. Here are some tips on putting smiles on the faces of your kids or friends this Easter season. Full Article

Unique Ways To Convince Your Kids To Enjoy Veggies

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:54:41 +0000

Kid’s recipes should be easy, flavorful and healthy. Getting kids to consume vegetables is a major task. Finding a way to get vegetables into the mouths of babes is easy if they are involved in the fun. Coming up with creative ways to get kids involved in the preparation and the cooking of kids’ recipes is part of the fun. Kid friendly recipes will allow you the peace of knowing your children are eating healthy and they will like being in control of what they are eating. Full Article

Nutritious Kid-friendly Recipes

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:53:52 +0000

One of the things that parents spend a lot of time thinking about is making and preparing nourishing recipes for their little ones. While it can sometimes be difficult to always prepare nourishing recipes, especially when you have little time or are in a hurry after work, there are many nutritious recipes that you can create very quickly, here are some of them. Full Article

Grilled Cheese Done Right

Christine Steendahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:53:16 +0000

Grilled cheese sandwiches are the simplest meal to make. Children can even learn to make it themselves. The ones I used to make contained regular cheese and white bread with butter to cook it. Here are a few ways to make that grilled cheese sandwich healthier for your kids. Full Article