This recipe comes from my Brother Todd and his wife Emily. Their super fast dish of spicy chili beans and rice only requires three ingredients. It is great for those late evening games or work meetings. Plus the leftovers can be transformed into burritos or taco salad. Making for another inexpensive quick meal. One note:…
When I was a kid I used to go to a daycare in the afternoon until mom got home from work. We went swimming at one of the owners pool, took trips to the movie theater and the park. Linda was one of my favorite teachers there. Her daughter and I quickly became friends. She…
This is an interesting twist on the typical Lasagna. It sounds too gourmet to be simple but in fact most everything can be bought pre-made and then thrown together. Don’t have time to bake? Toss the ravioli and zucchini with the meat sauce. Sprinkle with the cheese and let simmer until cheese is melted. Source:…
A friend of mine Jamie Shaffer taught me that kids love to dip. Give them a fruit, cracker or vegetable and a condiment such as cheese, peanut butter, chocolate or salad dressing and they will devour it. Sauces are another way to get kids to eat what they would normally turn their little noses up…
This month’s review is one of my favorites. When I saw an article in the May issue of Family Fun about a tree house Bed and Breakfast in Oregon, I was ecstatic. The little girl in me jumped out with a delighted squeal. Stephen and I were already bouncing around the idea of driving to…
I try to be frugal when it comes to shopping for groceries. I shop around for the best deal and lately I have come home with mostly store brand items. However, the few pre-packaged items I refuse to skimp on are cheeses and Balsamic vinegar. Store brand cheeses tend to be salty and the cream…
I was finally able to salvage enough apples to make this apple tart cake. Fruit does not last very long around here. You know the saying, “If you have not used it in a year then toss it?” I can’t remember the last time I used my apple corer/slicer but by sheer luck it went…
When the economy started it’s downward spiral the commodity most talked about was rice and flour. I started to write down all the many uses of flour. When used in baking it binds the ingredients together and supports the batter to prevent nuts and berries from sinking to the bottom of the pan. When used…
Food tastes so much better when cooked on a grill. From meats to vegetables and fruits the flavors just burst with excitement. Unfortunately, we do not have a grill, yet. But, we are still able to enjoy typical BBQ fare roasted in the oven or seared on a skillet. Plus, we can always go to…
I really jumped on the eating fresh band wagon years ago when I spotted Michael Chiarello on the Food Network. His dishes looked amazing. He made making gnocchi and tomato puree look so simple and then I found Chrissy Teigen carrot soup and fell in love with it. In some recipes that call for pancetta…