Search Results for: blog choosing strawberries

Choosing Strawberries

Yummy, yummy strawberries. Who can resist the plump sweetness of a great strawberry. There is nothing like this great fruit when it is ripe and perfect. Enjoy them with chocolate, with cream, or in one of the many great recipes here in the Food Blog. But, one of the things about strawberries is that when they go wrong, they go very wrong. From tough bitter berries to rotten moldy berries, you could be in for a nasty surprise if you aren’t careful. And strawberries have some special concerns when it comes to choosing where and how the strawberries are grown. … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Spend Less to Feed Your Kids

Kids can be little vacuums sometimes, eating up everything in sight. While it is good for growing bodies to get the calories and nutrition that they need, it isn’t always great for the budget, especially when you want to eat out. A typical family with three kids can spend $25-$30 at a counter service restaurant or $50-$70 at a family-friendly sit down restaurant. There are a number of ways to reduce the cost of food for your kids, that are not extreme and will leave you spending less to feed your kids. Here are five of the best ways to … Continue reading →

Love on the High Seas

It’s called the “Love Boat” for a reason. Each year tens of thousands of couples head out on the high seas to celebrate their relationships. While some decide to tie the knot on cruise ships, others come for the quiet sunsets, romance and intimacy. Often, though, the sentimental setting can spark lovebirds to rededicate themselves onboard luxury ocean liners. Most major cruise ships offer vow renewal ceremonies for passengers who request them before setting sail. A generic package includes: A vow renewal ceremony performed on the ship, music, a bouquet for her and a boutonniere for him, as well as … Continue reading →

Before You Throw It Out

Sometimes you can use the strangest household things for a container garden. Never one to throw anything out if I can find another use for it, we’ve a couple of interesting containers, mainly because buying large containers for plants is often an expensive exercise. If you look at the price of half barrels and kegs they’re not cheap. Price large containers at nursery or garden center and you might come away having second thoughts about the wisdom of container gardening but they are perfect for so many things like strawberries or potted annuals for color, a small amount of vegetables … Continue reading →

Does Buying Organic Make You a Better Parent?

If you watched Monday’s episode of “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” then you’d think the answer was: “Absolutely!” Take that Jon. Monday’s show featured Kate taking her kids to an organic produce farm run by an Amish family. Cameras captured Kate and her eight kids picking up fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers, corn and other veggies at “Henry’s,” then taking their goods home to make a “meal from scratch.” “It is pure joy when I can go to a produce stand and buy produce that has been picked that morning and it will land on my table that evening for dinner,” … Continue reading →

Kids in the Kitchen: Sweet and Simple Strawberry Treats

Thank goodness for strawberries. When she was a baby the sweet red fruit was one of the only all-natural snacks my young daughter would willingly devour. Three years later strawberries are still on the top of her “Favorite Foods” list and being able to pick our own at a local farm has become an annual family tradition. We headed out on our latest strawberry picking adventure a couple of weeks ago and per usual it was… well, eventful (as are most outings with a preschooler). This year the crop was plumper and juicer than ever. We picked 10 pounds worth … Continue reading →

Strawberry Crumble Truffle

‘Tis the season for fresh berries in abundance. That also means, if you love to bake, it is the season for strawberry shortcakes, blueberry crumbles and anything else that you can possibly imagine. This recipe is one of those that is great for impressing guests because the results are so delicious but it’s not difficult to put together. It’s also nice because you can do it ahead of time, since they have to freeze to be firm. The impressive layered dessert is very easy to put together and save for the baking time for the crumbly topping, and the chopping … Continue reading →

The Sin is in the Smoothie

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“I’ve started eating much less and have smoothies for snacks throughout the day. I use milk, strawberries, blueberries, walnuts, whey, yogurt, pomegranate juice, and cocoa powder. Even though I’m eating less I can’t seem to lose any weight. Is my metabolism too slow?” There is nothing wrong with your metabolism. You’re simply consuming too many calories! Smoothies can be great for dieters but they can also be their downfall. Just because it is in a liquid form doesn’t mean it is low in calories. Milk: Are you using fat free, skim milk, 1%, 2% or whole milk? Milk still has … Continue reading →

Shopping List and Tidbits for August 21 to the 24

This is the food blog’s week in review. Rather than simply linking and describing the recipes or other interesting tidbits that we have here, this is a shopping list for the week’s recipes. It is divided into staples–things that are called for but that you likely keep on hand, recipe ingredients–things that you need to buy, and tidbits–those interesting items that belong in food but don’t qualify as recipes! Also a big thanks to Mary Ann who is giving us excellent tips on choosing all of our produce! Staples: baking powder brown sugar butter eggs flour milk powdered sugar salt … Continue reading →

The Great Freeze! Freezing your stockpile – Part 2

Freezing Fruit Most fruits after freezing will lose a lot of their texture, but not their flavor. Freezing fruit is great if you plan to use them in recipes. When choosing fruit to freeze, select ripe (but not too ripe) fruit and freeze as soon as possible. Most fruits frozen are good for 9 –12 months. Berries – Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Cranberries – To freeze your berries, place them in one layer on a cookie sheet and place in your freezer. After they have become frozen, Food Saver them, or place them in plastic bags to finish freezing. You … Continue reading →