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Not the Way You Want to Start Your Vacation

“Hope for the Best. Expect the worst.” I think Mel Brooks helped make those words famous. Or maybe it was the person, who typed them up on small pieces of white paper, and stuck them into fortune cookies. Either way the idiom often becomes my mantra when traveling with children. I just survived a 10,000-mile journey to and from Hawaii with my young daughter, and yes, I hoped for the best, but expected the worst. Shockingly, things went fairly smoothly… unlike past trips. Despite two delayed flights and a few shoulder blows courtesy of the guy sitting behind me, who … Continue reading →

Coconut Candy Cane Cookies and Mega Chocolate Delights

It’s the eighth of December… how’s your Christmas cookie baking coming along? My sister-in-law just called to tell me that her kitchen resembles Mrs. Field’s, but not in a good way. The countdown to Christmas is on and if you haven’t already chosen the sweet treats you plan to lovingly prepare for family and friends, then you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to share two of my all-time favorite Christmas cookie recipes. The first recipe for Coconut Candy Cane Cookies was voted best holiday treat at the TV station I used to work at. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the … Continue reading →

How to Make Homemade Peppermint Bark and Other Sweet Holiday Treats

If you are looking for an affordable edible gift to present to friends and family members this holiday season I highly recommend Peppermint Bark. Interestingly, I didn’t get my first taste of this delicious holiday treat until I was in my 20s. I was anchoring a local morning TV news show and a local chef came into the station to demo the recipe for a Christmas cooking segment. One bite and I was hooked. Chocolate and mint… who can resist that combination? What’s more, the recipe is fantastically simple to make. The other edible gift I like to pass out … Continue reading →

Kids in the Kitchen: How to Make Cute Chocolate Christmas Mice

“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…” Mice and Christmas… it’s a combination most home cooks would rather not have to deal with. Unless, of course, you are making these adorable Chocolate Christmas Mice. This particular recipe is an ideal project for young children since it doesn’t include hot ovens, sharp utensils or boiling liquids. Rather, you will be using store-bought items and letting your kids use their imaginations to create cute little edible mice. Once you’re done making your tiny treats store them in an airtight container. … Continue reading →

Making Edible Reindeer and Other Holiday Treats with Your Kids

Cooking with young children may take twice as long, but it has the potential to be ten times as fun if you are working with kid-friendly recipes. The following holiday-themed recipes are among my 4-year-old’s favorites. Not only does she delight in getting to add ingredients, mix, scoop and stir, but the Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies also allow her to exercise her creativity in the decorating process. As for the Candy Cane Ice Cream Sandwiches, well, one look at the ingredients and you’ll see why this is a holiday classic in our home. PEANUT BUTTER REINDEER Ingredients: 1/2 cup creamy … Continue reading →

Have Yourself a Minty Little Christmas

Chocolate and mint seem to go hand-in-hand, especially during the holiday season. After all, who can say no to a chocolate covered peppermint stick or a multi-layer mint-filled chocolate brownie? The following minty desserts are ideal to serve to holiday guests on a cold December day. Simply pair them with a mug of hot chocolate and the winter blues will melt away in an instant. MINT CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI Ingredients: 3/4 butter, softened 3/4 cups sugar 3 eggs 2 teaspoons peppermint extract 3 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup crushed peppermint candy Ingredients … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Fortune Cookies

After reading my blog on “After School Treats” my overachiever pal shot me an email sharing her kids’ favorite back-to-school recipe. While the rest of us are proudly patting ourselves on the back for whipping up a batch of freshly baked cookies (using pre-made refrigerated cookie dough) my Martha Stewart clone of a friend spent the first day of school creating homemade Chinese Fortune Cookies—-complete with her own computer generated “fortunes”–for her kids. Sigh! Fortunately, she was kind enough to share the recipe and include some tips to go with. All you parents out there who are looking for a … Continue reading →

Great Ways to Cut Your Food Costs (3)

On the last day of this series on cutting your food costs, I’d like you to choose two from each day and begin implementing them into your daily life. If you start slow and only do a couple, you will see savings and you will begin to make it a habit. As you go, continue to try more and more of these tips and you will soon be an expert at shopping for food and providing low-cost meals to your family. Here are my final tips in this series: Purchase skim milk instead of whole or 2%. The lower the … Continue reading →

Unconventional On-the-Road Eats

Don’t spend a fortune eating out on the road. Try these unconventional ways to eat while you are away from home and save your cash for bigger and better things. Main Course Only Pack your own selection of appealing side dishes and ad ons, such as apples, cut carrots, applesauce packs, yogurt tubes, pasta salad, cookies and brownies, grapes, bottled water, etc. Then when you are on the road, pick up main course items only. You’ll avoid spending money on the french fries, the super-sized drinks, the shakes and other extra items. To be really frugal, order a bulk entry, … Continue reading →

Homemade Chinese New Year’s Fun

With less than 48 hours until the official debut of the Year of the Dragon, many communities are getting a jump-start this weekend by hosting parades, festivals and firework displays. Chinese New Year is a festive holiday that celebrates family, friends and new beginnings. If you don’t live near a city that is commemorating the event with special activities, then host your own party. Gather the kids, hang up some red streamers and gold balloons, and then get busy in the kitchen whipping up some simple Chinese dishes, including: HOMEMADE FORTUNE COOKIES Ingredients: 1 egg white Dash of vanilla extract … Continue reading →