Search Results for: blog oven love

Toaster Oven

When my husband and I lived in our first home we had a toaster with two large slots big enough to fit bagel halves. I’m pretty sure we got the toaster as a wedding gift. It was a fine toaster and served us well. When we bought our first house the previous owners left their toaster oven behind. I boxed it up along with all the Amway product they left in the garage and gave it to the real estate agent. I know why they left it; it was really dirty and it was easier to replace than clean. Our … Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day Love in the Kitchen

I wish Paula Deen would adopt me. I don’t want a part of her millions; I just want to eat a few meals at her home. I could be the hungry daughter she never had. Please, Paula! The Food Network star and celebrity chef is a ball of fire in the kitchen. However, the one thing I find even more enticing than her mouthwatering dishes is her hilarious titles for them. Actually, it’s not the titles themselves that I find so funny, but the way Deen delivers them with so much aplomb. Earlier today I caught an episode of her … Continue reading →

For the Love of Valentine’s Day

Much like Christmas, Valentine’s Day is rooted in Catholicism, but has spiraled into an over commercialized holiday complete with half-naked babies shooting arrows, sexy lingerie and candy galore. What many people don’t realize is that Saint Valentine’s Day was originally established to honor two Christian martyrs, Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Back then, Saint Valentine’s Day had no association with romance, chocolate or flowers. Fast forward a few centuries and now Valentine’s Day is an excuse to gorge on chocolate and get drunk on champagne. For the record, there is no known historical link between the saints’ feast … Continue reading →

Lessons to Love: Holiday Cooking

I don’t homeschool my daughter, but if I did I would definitely make cooking an integral part of the curriculum. The holiday season has given us the chance to not only make merry in the kitchen, but it has also afforded us a bevy of educational opportunities. Cooking with kids is the gateway to a litany of hands-on lessons, including: *Nutrition *Communication *Reading *Math *Learning about other cultures *Patience *Sharing *Personal hygiene Kids also get to fine tune their motor skills helping out with various recipes. What’s more, since the kitchen is the heart of the home, kids get to … Continue reading →

Book Review : For the Love of a Child: The Journey of Adoption

Monica Blume, a social worker and counselor with LDS Family Services, once saw a young woman who had been adopted watch a film entitled “ Adoption and Unwed Parents”. Tears ran down the young woman’s face. “I never knew that my birth mother loved me,” she said. Blume, who has worked with many, many birthmothers, birth fathers, birth grandparents over the years, wrote For the Love of a Child: The Journey of Adoption not only in hopes of being helpful to birthmothers, birth families, and clergy who may be involved in adoption decisions, but in hopes, she says, that she … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Chocolate Treats for Love Day

Valentine’s Day is almost here and if you haven’t been to the store to pick out that special something for your sweetie, you might want to reconsider. I just got back from the mall, and frankly, I wouldn’t go back if you paid me money. I say spare yourself the drama and headache of battling pre-Valentine’s Day crowds and head to the kitchen to whip up these simple, sweet homemade treats: CHOCOLATE MOCHA CAKE Ingredients: 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup strong freshly brewed coffee 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons water … Continue reading →

My Love of Meatloaf

My dad makes a killer meatloaf. When he pulls it out of the oven it’s not swimming in oil nor is it dehydrated and crusty like decade-old fruitcake. Rather, it’s a perfectly juicy blend of meat and spices glistening with a glaze of his secret tomato sauce. I left home after graduating from high school and have never been able to find a recipe that came anywhere close to my dad’s famous meatloaf. Boston Market’s meatloaf is quite tasty, as is the version served at The Machine Shed, but they don’t include all of the extras my dad puts in … Continue reading →

We Love Kangaroo Care

My daughter was born with some minor health concerns. Because of this, the pediatricians at the hospital recommended she remain in the hospital for a week to be observed. It was very upsetting that we didn’t get to take her home right away. However, the experience was not entirely negative. I was able to stay in my daughter’s room the entire week, and we learned about a very valuable method of caring for babies. This method is called Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo Care is a method often used with premature babies, but it has been proven to be very successful in … Continue reading →

Book Review : For the Love of a Child: The Journey of Adoption

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This book is called For the Love of a Child: The Journey of Adoption (not to be confused with another book called For Love of a Child: Stories of Adoption). This book is published by Deseret Press especially for Latter-Day Saints, but it is very useful for all expectant parents considering placing a child for adoption and their families, as well as informative for relatives, school personnel, counselors and church leaders. The book is unique in its exploration of the spiritual journey many people go through in dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, infertility, and/or adoption. The first part of the … Continue reading →

Simple and Affordable Chicken Recipes Your Family Will Love

Thank goodness for chicken. It’s affordable, accessible, versatile, and most importantly, my 4-year-old will eat it without a single complaint. My daughter is not a saucy kind of gal, so I leave her meat alone when serving the first recipe for Chicken with Sour Cream Sauce. If you have a picky eater at your home, I would suggest doing the same. The second chicken recipe could not be simpler. It is a fantastic way to liven up plain chicken breasts and can be made in less than 30 minutes. I like to serve it with an easy green salad, which … Continue reading →