Two Great Salad Dressing Recipes To Help You Keep Those New Year’s Resolutions The start of a new year can mean a promise for a healthier lifestyle. Whether it’s eating right or losing weight, getting more vegetables on your plate is always a plus. Adding a salad to your meals is an easy way to add a variety of vegetables to your diet and the combinations are endless. I have to admit that the salad dressing plays a huge role in how much I like a salad – such a good flavor boost. I don’t typically choose creamy dressings, I have a soft spot for a great vinaigrette. The two dressing recipes below are my “go to's". The first one leans a bit more toward Greek and the second one is a classic Balsamic. They are easy to make and I typically keep them about a week in the fridge (if they … [Read more...]
Spritz Cookies With Sprinkles RecipeSpritz cookies with sprinkles recipe
The closer we get to Christmas, the more time I spend in the kitchen. I love baking up holiday treats for any occasion. Sometimes I gift them to friends or family, sometimes its just fun to whip up a batch of cookies with the kids. My favorite cookies are the ones that bring back memories of when I was younger. These spritz cookies do just that and are pretty tasty too! My grandma was always in the kitchen during the holidays. She was always cooking or baking or frying up something delicious. Ever since I can remember I was always right by her side. We fried zucchini together, we mixed homemade pasta sauce together and we made cookies together. Her absolute favorite was spritz cookies. They were (and still are!) so easy to make and the recipe makes a ton! I haven't had … [Read more...]
Crockpot Applesauce
Can you feel the weather getting cooler yet? I am imagining sweaters and boots in my head because our temperatures still say its summer. I'm also imagining fall food because, let's be honest, its the best! I made this crockpot applesauce last week and my whole house smelled like fall. It was amazing! And the applesauce is pretty good too! I think the best part of this recipe (besides the heavenly smell) is how easy it is to make! You toss a few apples in a crockpot pot and in a few hours you have applesauce. Delicious, homemade, no sugar added applesauce! It's like fall in a crockpot. This is also a great recipe to have kids help make. They can wash, peel or chop the apples, depending on their age. My kids were just taste testers this time around. And it got their little … [Read more...]
Grow a Salsa Garden in a Jar
Photo of salsa by Florian (Ed Note:The weather is warm and garden stores are showing off a wide variety of herbs and vegetables to plant in your garden (if you have a garden). Here's a great way to bring fresh flavors to your table with just a little outside space.) Strawberry jars are urn-shaped containers that have openings or "pockets" on the sides. Originally, they were made for growing strawberries as the jar structure allows the crown of the plant to stay above the soil line, which is important for the plant. The design also keeps the fruit off of the ground. It turns out, these handy jars are excellent for all kinds of planting themes such as growing a salsa garden on your patio or deck. What you'll need: 1 Strawberry jar (Terra Cotta or plastic) -- or a regular planting … [Read more...]
Spring Split Pea Soup Recipe
The colors of spring are poking through. In the still chilly early days of the season, a hearty soup still makes a great meal or starter. Split Pea soup brings the green of spring to your table and is a perfect way to use any leftover ham from a holiday meal. Even better, because peas do not require overnight soaking, you can be sitting down to a delicious bowl of soup in less than 90 minutes. This recipe is adapted slightly from this posting on Food.com. The addition of milk (or a little heavy cream if that’s what is in your fridge) brightens the color. What you’ll need to make Spring Split Pea Soup: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 small to medium onions, chopped salt ¼ - ½ tsp ground pepper red pepper flakes (optional) 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 bay leaf 1 … [Read more...]
Perfect Teacher Gift – Homemade Cocoa Mix
Looking for a holiday gift for your children’s teachers (or maybe even a co-worker or 2)? Food Network has a great recipe for make-it-yourself hot cocoa mix. Have your children get involved by helping mix the ingredients and decorating the containers. I used a mason type jar for ours, but you can get creative. One option is a bag of mix tucked into a great mug with a decorative spoon tied to the handle. Don’t forget to enclose a note or sticker with serving instructions! Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix – makes approx. 4.5 cups 2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup cocoa 2 1/2 cups powdered milk 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 pinch cayenne pepper [sc:adsense ] Use a wire whisk to mix ingredients together in a large bowl. To serve, put ¼ cup mix in a mug and add 6 – 8 oz. … [Read more...]
