Search Results for: blog how to select onions

How to Select Onions

How many people does it take to select an onion? I thought about this take on an old joke when I overheard a mother and daughter having an onion debate at a local produce store. The each had their own take on how to select the best onions. I use onions all of the time in my cooking. They are versatile and an easy way to add a flavor to cooking that is a common part of most everyone’s pallet. Onions can be used in many different cooking devices and techniques, from the grill to the crockpot. Chopped or diced … Continue reading →

Seven Things You Should Never Buy at the Grocery Store

There are certain items in the grocery store that will tend to cost you to spend more money than you should. Cut these ten thing out of your grocery store shopping on a regular basis in order to get the most for your money. 1. Cut up fruit and vegetables. You’ll pay much more for fruit and vegetables that have been pre-cut. While these items can certainly be convenient, it usually isn’t worth the premium price plus the shorter shelf life. If you really want your produce already processed, see if there is a version in the frozen food aisle. … Continue reading →

Daddy’s Birthday Part I

Yesterday we celebrated my husband’s thirtieth birthday. The children and I had a wonderful day planned for daddy; one that required lots of preparation. His gifts this year are going to be entirely homemade. Mostly because his gifts were some of his favorite foods but also because we recently put a price limit on gifts and food gets the most bang for the buck (my husband really enjoys certain kinds of food that I never make). Two days before my husband birthday, our son and I made some beef stock using some beef bones that I had purchased from a … Continue reading →

Fun Summer Food: Sliders Recipes

I love sliders in the summer because they can feed a crowd and keep everyone happy. These small burgers can be enhanced with all sorts of toppings, from the traditional to the exotic. Consider creating a slider bar for your next party. You supply the sliders, the buns and the toppings, and let your guests pick and choose their combinations. Alternatively, have a few of the best selections already assembled and available. Some ideas for your slider bar might include: fried onions, cheddar, american, provolone and goat cheese, condiments, pickles, sun dried tomatoes, homemade sauces and more. Here are some … Continue reading →

Surviving Spring Break

Day One of spring break and the living is easy. Day Two of spring break and the excitement of being out of school is still fresh. Day Three of spring break and the Easter sugar high is waning. Day Seven of spring break and mommy is ready to carpool… solo. Where are you on the spring break scale? My daughter’s Catholic elementary school breaks for nearly two weeks around the Easter holiday. This is great if you are traveling to Hawaii; not so much if you are stuck home for the entire school recess. If you are looking to preserve … Continue reading →

Help CPK Choose the Next Frozen Pizza Flavor – Win a Trip

Do you like frozen pizza? Help California Pizza choose the next flavor of their Limited Edition frozen pizzas. You could win a trip for two to California wine country! Like most contests, you must start by going to the CPK Facebook page. Facebook seems to be the place to hold contests and sweepstakes related to a specific product. In order to enter the contest by CPK, you have to start by going to their Facebook page. Here, you will be presented with a request for help. They want you to help them select the next California Pizza Kitchen Limited Edition … Continue reading →

The Need for Iron

Just when I thought I had my daily dietary routine figured out and basically ingrained, I learned that my iron levels are lower than they should be. This is common enough in pregnancy and my midwife said that I might need to start taking an additional iron supplement if my recent blood work showed my iron levels to be too low. As it is, my iron levels have dropped since my first round of blood work (I guess that is not uncommon). So there are some thing that I need to do to remedy my minor iron deficiency. First thing … 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 →

Get Breakfast at Starbucks for Two Dollars!

Are you a morning person? Did you know that Starbucks has breakfast items? You can grab your morning coffee, and get some tasty breakfast food at the same time. Starting on January 4, 2011, Starbucks if offering some of their breakfast items for just $2.00, when you buy any beverage. This deal is only good until January 10, 2011. I admit it, I am not a morning person. I enjoy breakfast foods, sometimes, but I generally end up eating those kinds of foods in the afternoon, as lunch, instead of as breakfast. Even if you hate breakfast you might like … Continue reading →

Spring Break Menu—Aloha Hawaii

I’m continuing my Spring Break Menu theme today with selections from the string of pearls in the Pacific known as the Hawaiian Islands. Since I was born and raised in the Aloha State I toyed with the idea of sharing some of the authentic Hawaiian recipes I grew up eating, but then I realized how hard it was to get some of the local ingredients, so I opted to go with these quasi-Hawaiian recipes instead. These simple dishes still pack a Hawaiian punch (despite being generic in nature). In addition, they are wonderful party recipes, should you feel the desire … Continue reading →