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I love onion rings and always order them in place of french fries when out to eat. I’ve made them at home many times, both fried and baked, and love how frugal they are as well. I write for Homemade Simple and have shared two recipes for both fried and baked, some tips for changing the flavors, and recipes for Read More »The post Homemade Onion Rings and Dipp
If you have teenagers like I do, then all you have to do is mention the word “pizza” and they are all ears. There’s something strangely magical about pizza that attracts kids, especially the hungry teenage boy types. I decided to try something a little different and experimented on those boys. Luckily, the test was a success. I think the Read More »
Far too often when you look over at that browning bunch of bananas on the counter you think to yourself “not another banana bread”! I love banana bread, and banana muffins, don’t get me wrong. But, I much prefer a slice of banana cake. Sometimes though, a more compact dessert is in order, like these banana bars. Full of flavor, Read More »The post
I live with a family of chickens. Well, not literally chickens. I don’t have a mother hen and a bunch of chicks running around. What I meant was that my husband and my children are afraid to eat fish. In my husband’s case he never really ate it as a child, so growing up fish just wasn’t on the menu. Read More »The post Chinese Style Parchment Fish
This cake is one of those recipes that people have been making for years. Seems like everyone I mention it to has either made it themselves or their grandma or aunt or mom used to make it. It’s also one of those recipes that everyone loves and it never goes to waste. Every crumb and morsel is devoured, it’s just Read More »The post Cream Puff Chocolate E
This post brought to you by Nutrisystem, Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine. When I was a teenager I was thin. In fact, I could eat anything I wanted. My weight was never issue and I figured it would be that way forever. Boy was I wrong! I had my first child when I was 25 and I gained 52 Read More »The post Try the #Nutri5DayKit from Nutrisystem at WalMart appeared fi
A few weeks ago I made some fabulous chicken wings. They were crispy and delicious on the outside and tender on the inside. And, guess what? They weren’t fried! That’s right, they were baked in the oven. The secret is to parboil the wings which will cook off some of the fat. When they bake, they don’t have a bunch Read More »The post Crispy Baked C
I’m a huge pasta fan and love trying out new recipes. I’m always scanning the pasta aisle for a different noodle to try. That’s when I spotted the mezzi rigatoni on the shelf. Mezzi rigatoni is the same as regular rigatoni, but basically the noodle is about half the length. The sides are ridged, making it great for grabbing and Read More »The post
This post brought to you by Arby’s. All opinions are 100% mine. Are you an Arby’s fan? We have always loved Arby’s roast beef. In fact, I worked at an Arby’s when I was in high school! My husband did too. Of course, he was my boyfriend back then! He worked in the back cooking, slicing beef and making sandwiches, Read More »The post Arby’s KIN
I’ve always been a fan of white chocolate. It’s definitely sweeter than dark or semi-sweet, and paired with cherries it’s truly a match made in heaven. I love the crinkled tops of these cookies, it just gives them a certain sexy, don’t you think? I’ve been working a lot lately. A. LOT. in fact, so much that I have a Read More »The post Cherry White Choco
If you like sweet fruity desserts, you’ll want to try these. They are made with tropical fruits and topped with orange zested confectioners’ glaze. Great for a luau party or a summer barbecue, one is probably enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. But, if you have more, I’ll never tell. I made these with dried apricots, crushed pineapple and orange Read Mo
It’s only been in the last 5 years or so that I’ve started enjoying a glass of wine in the evenings. Like most people who drink wine, I have a preference. While dry wines are nice for some, I’m partial to sweet and fruity wines. That would explain my adoration for beautiful sangria! May 9th marks the second annual National Read More »The post White
This post brought to you by dio. All opinions are 100% mine. One of these days I’ll start crossing countries off of my bucket list. There are several places I want to visit, and especially want to eat the foods native to those countries! I want to show you a new site called dio. It’s a cool new creative and Read More »The post Dio, My Foodie Bucket List and a
Cheese is glorious, as is bread. So marrying the two seems so natural doesn’t it? These rolls should be served warm, fresh from the oven, so that you can really enjoy their ooey-gooeyness. So yes, it will require a little timing on your part, but they’re worth it, believe me! I originally came across this recipe on Pinterest. That led Read More »The post Gooey
I love making cake from scratch, but occasionally I’m just pressed for time and turn to the ever dependable box of cake mix. This carrot cake is a combination of the two. You can go out and buy a box of carrot cake mix. Simple. Or you can doctor up a spice cake mix with your own fresh ingredients, like Read More »The post Time Saver Carrot Cupcakes appeared fi
It doesn’t have to be wintertime for me to use my slow cooker; this slow cooker pork roast is a perfect example of that. I think I tend to use it more often in the cold weather, but it’s perfect for warmer days too as we tend to be a lot busier then. Think about that. During the winter your Read More »The post Slow Cooker Oriental Pork Roast appeared fir
No bake desserts are always a big hit around here. Especially when we are in a hurry or need something quick, like when your teenager says they signed you up for a dessert that they need that day! Ahem. Peanut butter bars are always popular with everyone, especially my kids. So when you combine peanut butter and chocolate and it’s Read More »The post No Bake D
Do you love the tang of lemon countered by the sweetness of sugar? These fabulous lemon bars are not only beautiful, they taste marvelous and have the perfect combination of sweet and tart. Freshly squeezed lemon juice and grated zest are the secret to the success of these bars. It’s no secret that I love lemon flavored desserts. I’ve been Read More »The
Recipes. Why are we so obsessed with finding recipes? Because food is what sustains us. Because in order to survive, we must eat. But it’s not just that, is it? It’s much more than that. It’s about finding that recipe that your grandma used to make, or making meals that your picky preschooler will like, or the quest for finding Read More »The post
If you haven’t already noticed, I’m on Pinterest. You know, that visual time-suck that most of us are addicted to? Well, as you can see from the photo above, I’ve put together a board inspired by two of my favorite things: bacon and cheese! See, I participated in a little experiment with Kraft over the last month and created some Read More »The pos
I love my food processor, and right along with my KitchenAid mixer it’s probably the most used appliance in my kitchen. I use it for a multitude of tasks, including making homemade pizza dough, crumbs for breading, and even to make cheesecake! In fact, I’ve written an article for P&G Everyday outlining 13 Unique Ways to Use Your Food Processor. Read More
Living in Wisconsin, I’ve visited several creameries and am familiar with the process of cheese making. It’s a pretty intricate process, one in which you must use fresh ingredients, no waiting for product to be shipped in. That’s why Philadelphia Brand uses only milk from local farmers in close proximity to the creamery that makes their delicious cream cheese.
It really doesn’t matter if this dessert is for children or adults, there’s just something about a layered Jell-O parfait that invokes a smile. An adult’s eyes will light up, and even if they are too “grown up” to show it, in their mind they are bouncing up and down in their chair with excitement. If you’ve never experienced a Read Mor
Layered with raspberry and cherry jams, sprinkled with a buttery streusel topping and drizzled with tempting glaze, these dessert bars are positively dreamy! Mix things up and use your own combination of jam flavors, or stick with one if you like. I’m pretty sure these are one of my favorite dessert bars to date. I’ve always been a cherry fanatic, Read More &
Do you ever get those chicken snack wraps from McDonald’s? Yum! I hate to admit it, but I like the breaded version better. It’s certainly not as healthy as the grilled version, but I love breading, I can’t help it. So I decided to make my own snack sized chicken wrap at home, but I didn’t want to deep fry Read More »The post Rosemary & R
While I don’t consider myself a feminist, I do believe it’s important to support fellow women in business. I was in the corporate workforce for 12 years before leaving to stay home with my children. It was only months later that I delved into working from home and became a female entrepreneur. That was 15 years ago. I chose to Read More »The post Empower
I’m always looking for good dip recipes, especially ones that work well for both fresh vegetable trays and as a cracker spread. It doesn’t matter if it’s a holiday, the big game, or a birthday party, there’s always some sort of dip on my table. I found this Sargento cheese pesto dip recipe and had all the ingredients on hand Read More »The po
While my kids are getting older, I still pack them a cold lunch. My youngest in particular loves those little fruit cups and individual applesauce containers, so I make sure I have a big box of plastic spoons on hand as well. My husband is a fruit cup fanatic too, and he’s also one to take a cold lunch to Read More »The post Dole Fruit Parfaits: A Must Try! ap
Easter means that soon, you will have an overabundance of boiled eggs. Once you peel off the pretty shells, you’ll be left with plain white eggs to make into deviled eggs or egg salad. Instead of the boring route this year, make the edible eggs just as pretty as their outer shells! Use my instructions for coloring the yolks, use Read More »The post Rainbow Dev
Have you ever thought about turning your cherished family recipes into an actual family cookbook? It’s a great idea for reunions, weddings, birthdays, and holidays like Christmas. Have your family members contribute, especially those favorite’s like Grandpa’s fudge or Aunt Laura’s famous mashed potatoes. It makes for a wonderful family heirloom that ever
There’s nothing more nostalgic for me than a good Sunday roast. Beef or pork, I’m not picky, I love either one. It’s probably one of the only “grown up” meals I loved as a child and I still remember sitting impatiently at the table as the aroma made me nuts. I’ve made this sirloin pork roast numerous times and every Read More »The
Ever wondered what size slow cooker to buy? Or maybe what you can make in it, or if there’s any rules for layering your food? Slow cookers are an amazing tool and a real time saver in the kitchen. I use mine often and have done for years. I actually own two different sizes, one is really big for family Read More »The post All About Slow Cookers appeared first
When I was in my teens, I remember going to Chicago with a good friend of mine and buying deep fried popcorn shrimp. They would fill a paper lunch bag with the crispy little goodies and my friend and I would devour them happily. Of course they were full of trans fats and even a bit greasy, but boy were Read More »The post Cheddar Jack & Bacon Breaded Shrimp wit
I am all about breakfast. It’s probably my favorite meal of the day as it gets you going, fueling your body for the day ahead. I’m also very much a morning person, which I suppose would explain my love of breakfast. Brunch is fun too, and when you can combine a gathering toward lunch time with the foods normally reserved Read More »The post Mexican Quich
I’ve made several German recipes for my kids’ high school German classes over the last few years. My daughter decided she wanted to try real homemade German pretzels when she was a Freshman. Previously I had made Bretzel Rolls , so luckily I was already prepared for this. The Bretzel rolls were amazing so I set out to find a genuine Read More »The post H
Over the last couple of months I’ve been giving Bluebird from Walmart and American Express a test run. I’ve talked about using it for your everyday spending needs, planning for special projects, and using it as an alternative to gift cards. I’ve also covered purchase protection and other benefits the card offers. My test run is over, but my relationship
Do you love garlic bread pizza? I know that we do. Garlic bread pizza is not a new thing for sure, lots of restaurants and pizza joints are doing it now. You can have the same flavors at home, but without using garlic bread. What do you say? Let’s make a garlic bread pizza together, shall we? My kids are Read More »The post Garlic Bread Crusted Classic Pizza a
Muffins with Nutella filling, doesn’t that sound fabulous? Well they are. In fact, when I told the boys that I had muffins with Nutella hidden inside, they dove on them. Each teenager ate 3 in one sitting. Needless to say these didn’t last very long! I originally pinned this recipe to my Pinterest breakfast board. it’s from Damn Delicious. I Read More &
If it weren’t for the fact that my husband would object, my family would be happy to eat chicken almost every day of the week. I am always saving chicken recipes to try for dinner. My kids love chicken and so do I, it’s only my husband who puts up a fuss. He’s a beef man. Sure he likes chicken, Read More »The post 15 Chicken Recipes for Dinner appe
Bean dip recipes are a favorite among partygoers, especially football fans. At least the ones that I know! In case you’re wondering, con queso means “with cheese”, hence the name Con Queso Bean Dip. This dip is thickened by refried beans and flavored with salsa and cheese sauce. You can even add your own spice to zest it up a Read More »The post Cr
Nothing says Valentine’s Day like the iconic pink or red heart. These Valentine cupcakes are shaped like hearts and covered in white, pink and red frosting. What could be better? These Valentine cupcakes are easy too. You don’t have to be a master baker to turn out something fun and festive. I’ve raised four children over the past 20 years. Read More &#
There’s nothing like a piping hot bowl of soup chocked full of potatoes and other deliciousness to take a bite out of winter’s chill. Garlic and potatoes are the star of this soup recipe, so if they are among your favorites, you will want to give this one a try. This is great for lunch and easily keeps in the Read More »The post Rustic Garlic Potato Soup
One of the things I remember most about my childhood was when my mother made me cinnamon toast. Usually it was just toasted white bread, toasted, buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. She also loved cinnamon raisin bread and bought the red bagged Sun Maid brand all the time. I love to make yeasts breads, don’t get me wrong, but Read More »
Over the last month or so I’ve been telling you about my experience with the new Bluebird card available from WalMart through American Express. One of the awesome benefits with Bluebird is that it comes with Purchase Protection. I have a Kindle Fire. I love it. Problem was, so did everyone else in this house! So for Christmas, I bought Read More »
Any type of berry will work in this recipe, I just happen to be fond of blackberries. As berries go, blackberries are my favorite, followed closely by blueberries. These bars are moist and delicious and hard to resist. I found this streusel bar recipe over at Sargento. You’ll be surprised to know that this recipe contains whole milk mozzarella not Read More »
These tasty little hand held treasures have just the right amount of pizza sauce and melty cheese all rolled up inside a flakey, tender crescent! These little gems are perfect for game day or great as an after school snack. These will be on my Super Bowl platter this year. You can keep them as a cheese only roll up, Read More »
The holidays are over but if you still have apple pie filling and cranberries on hand, why not make a delicious dessert for an any night treat? Pair it with vanilla ice cream and serve warm. I actually made several jars of this apple pie filling a few months ago, so I used it and some of my frozen cranberries Read More »
These ribs are absolutely delicious and the smells wafting throughout the house are really difficult to resist! Pair these beauties with baked potatoes and sweet corn for a fabulous weeknight dinner. I love my slow cooker, though sometimes I forget about it all tucked away in the cabinet. I’ve been trying to bring it out more, and this is one Read More »
Initially I intended to make Banoffee Pie with the bananas that I bought, but I never got around to it. So I rifled around in my freezer and pantry to see what new add ins I could try for good old fashioned banana bread. I found dried cranberries, golden raisins and an opened bag of pecans. Some people add spices Read More »
It’s here, 2013, a new year and a fresh start! I’m looking forward to trying plenty of new recipes this year, the slow cooker will be used a lot more and I really need to dust off my pressure cooker too. I need to bake more and now that the weather is cold, it’s a great time to fire up Read More »
