Search Results for: blog black bean salsa

Easy Holiday Party Dishes—Baked Beans and Cheesy Wedges

Doesn’t sound too appetizing does it? Hang in there… you might be surprised. The following recipes are ideal for busy cooks who need a dish to pass at a New Year’s get together. The first dish is a hearty version of the classic baked beans. (What’s a holiday gathering without beans, right?) I’m not sure if it’s a Midwestern-thing or if people around the nation have a hankering for beans around the holidays, but whenever there are baked beans on a buffet table at the parties in Wisconsin they disappear fast. This specific baked bean recipe is great for office … Continue reading →

Hawaiian Style Holiday Gifts—Fruit Salsa and Passion Fruit Dressing

While my daughter and I have been icing cookies and dipping pretzel rods in chocolate my best friend in Hawaii has been busy whipping up her own holiday treats. Though hers are decidedly more savory than sweet. My pal Lisa’s handiwork serves as the inspiration for this blog. Her holiday recipes for fruit salsa and passion fruit dressing prove that fancy sweets aren’t the only homemade holiday treats that can be doled out to friends and co-workers. In fact, these recipes offer a welcome change to the traditional sweets given this time of year. Just package each in individual jars … Continue reading →

Fun Ways to Get Rid of Leftover Turkey

Thanksgiving hangovers are no fun. However, you can prevent the post-Turkey Day pain by being prepared. I’m not referring to an aspirin run; rather, I prefer hair of the dog treatments. If you gobbled til you wobbled on Thanksgiving Day, then get right back up on Black Friday and do it again, but with fun-filled, kicked-up turkey recipes like these: SPICY TURKEY SKILLET Ingredients: 2 pounds of leftover turkey, shredded or sliced 1 package taco seasoning mix 1/4 cup water 1 cup chunky salsa 2 cups corn 1 can (15-ounce) black beans, drained 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend 3 … Continue reading →

Go Green This Summer

My daughter went to summer camp and all she got were green stains on her shirt. No, they weren’t grass stains or remnants from an art project gone wrong; rather, they were much tastier. This is the second year that my daughter has attended Cooking Day Camp, and I must say; the results were even better than I had expected. The week-long camp is designed for kids 6 to 8 years old and includes a special emphasis on getting children (especially picky eaters) to try new foods. The idea is that if youngsters have a part in making the recipe … Continue reading →

Summer Bonding

How many times have you heard childhood experts insist, “The family that eats together stays together”? Well, what about the family that cooks together? We recently hosted a Fourth of July party with two other families, but rather than doing all the cooking myself or having a potluck, everyone pitched in to cook the celebratory meal. You’d think that the process would be chaotic with young kids and grown-ups stepping on each other. However, with a little delegation and each person working on individual tasks we avoided the problem of having “too many cooks in the kitchen.” If you are … Continue reading →

Graduation Party: Less is More

With unemployment a current epidemic, gas hovering near $4 a gallon, and food prices soaring, it’s no wonder so many families are being forced to scale back on graduation parties. Fortunately, you don’t have to dig yourself deeper into debt in order to celebrate your son or daughter’s big day. There’s a way to have fun with a budget-friendly party, as long as you follow these simple tips: 1. Skip the fine china and opt for disposable plates, bowls and utensils. 2. Consider a potluck and ask friends and family to bring a dish to pass. 3. Double up on … Continue reading →

Budget-Friendly Commencement Ideas

Who says you have to drain your bank account to celebrate your child’s graduation? Even penny-pinching parents can honor their son or daughter’s academic success in style. The key is to think frugally and creatively. For example, while you may not be able to serve up a five-course meal for 200 at a fancy restaurant, there are ways you can feed all of your graduate’s friends if you budget carefully. One way is to select a themed buffet. Mexican food makes for a great buffet option and you can spice up the meal by offering fun options such as a … Continue reading →

The Need for Protein (Part VI)

It should be clear by now that protein is essential! Babies can’t develop without it. We’ve seen how many sources of protein are produced (or how they can be produced) and how this affects the overall nutritional value of these particular proteins (meat, eggs, and dairy). But these are not the only sources of protein (as any vegan will attest), there are many other foods that are also great sources of protein. Fish, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and vegetables. Fish is an amazingly lean source of protein and most kinds of fish are also an excellent source of essential … Continue reading →

Planning a Super Party

The Green Bay Packers are headed to their first Super Bowl in 13 years. I happen to live in Packer country and right now the entire state is going bonkers. The Green and Gold just beat the Chicago’s Bears to clinch the NFC Championship title and a chance to bring the Lombardi Trophy home to Wisconsin when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Believe it or not, people here are already planning their Super Bowl parties. We’ve received a couple invitations, but haven’t formalized our plans. Regardless of where we go I know we will be … Continue reading →

Summer Party Prep: Theme Menus

One of the easiest ways to make your summer parties memorable is to create a well thought out menu. After all, nothing makes party guests happier than a super spread. When choosing items to include on your party menu, consider how many guests you will be feeding. It’s much easier to cook up a slew of pizzas for a party of 20 than it is to make individual steaks. Budget is also a factor when throwing a backyard bash, so you might want to choose a party theme that is conducive to both your financial situation and your cooking skills. … Continue reading →