Super Easy Desserts for Entertaining: Caramel Pie and Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Fudge Cake

‘Tis the season for decadent desserts that impress. . .but who has the time? This is a super easy pie that comes together rather quickly but yields impressive ‘guest worthy’ results. It reminds me of the topping on a German Chocolate Cake with coconut and pecans. Since all of the ingredients are poured into the pie as is, it comes together in a snap, but you do have to allow time for freezing. This pie makes a good pie to do ahead of time as it freezes well. Caramel Pie You will need: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup … Continue reading

Target Coupons for Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Coca-Cola, and More!

Thanksgiving is over. Your family has either eaten all the leftovers, or wants nothing more to do with them. It is time to go grocery shopping! Here are some grocery coupons from Target that will help you save money. International Delight has a coupon for $1.50 off when you purchase 2 International Delight coffee creamers. The coupon is for the 16 ounce size. Nestle Clasico has a coupon for $1.00 off when you buy 1 jar of Nescafe Clasico instant coffee. The coupon is for the 7 ounce size. Smuckers and Jif have one of those strange combined product coupons. … Continue reading

Easy Tasty Healthy Toddler Snacks

Sometimes it can be hard to get toddlers to eat anything, let alone things that are good for their growing minds and bodies. They are busy little people who often prefer to remain engrossed in whatever activity they happen to be engrossed in at the time instead of sitting down and clearing a plate of whatever nutritious meal you have just lovingly prepared for them. Fortunately, hunger does eventually overcome the excitement of play and your little one is likely to rush to your side and demand to be fed. Right. Now. With a little advance planning, you can make … Continue reading

Basic Pantry List

Here is a list of the basic staple food items that you should have in your pantry. With these basics, you can create thousands of dishes, many at just a moment’s notice. By stocking staples, you can save money and ensure that you can create those quick nutritious meals. Because I like to be organized in the kitchen, and because so many of you have requested a pantry list, I decided to put one together this morning. This list is based on the minimum basics that I like to keep on hand. Don’t be afraid to add your own favorites … Continue reading

Super Sunday Tailgating Fun

Super Bowl Sunday doesn’t kick off until next month, but if you live in Wisconsin or Illinois, then the big game is less than 24 hours away. Tomorrow the Green Bay Packers square off against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game. Final preparations are underway at Soldier Field for what many are calling one of the biggest games in franchise history. I happen to live in Wisconsin, and whereas I am not a die-hard football fan, there is no escaping the hype surrounding Sunday’s humongo game. Tailgating parties are taking place from church parking lots to hotel lobbies. … Continue reading

Lunch in the Homeschool House

Even homeschooled kids eat lunch. The only difference is that homeschooled child can rummage through the kitchen at lunchtime or the homeschool mom can cook the meal rather than pack it the night before. For many families, cooking a hot lunch is one more step that if alleviated would be cause for rejoice. In families with multiple children with multiple tastes lunch can up being chaos or more like a diner than a family meal. Feeding time at your homeschool does not have to resemble feeding time at the zoo. Here are some tips to keep you in control and … Continue reading

Do Your Kids Hate to Eat Vegetables?

Many children dislike vegetables, and will resist eating them. The television show Nightline might be able to help you get your kids to eat vegetables! There are many theories about why a child decides not to eat his or her vegetables. Some children are picky eaters, and have a long list of foods that they will not eat. This list, of course, includes vegetables. I read somewhere a theory about why so many children refuse to eat their vegetables. Many vegetables, (including spinach and broccoli), have a bitter taste. While adults have fully developed taste buds, children are still physically … Continue reading

Keeping Portions in Mind: Part 1

“My doctor has advised me to give up those intimate little dinners for four, unless there are three other people eating with me.” –Orson Wells We live in a world where bigger is seen as better unless we are talking about dress size or thigh size. Super Sizing seems like it hits the spot when you are so hungry you could eat a horse. Our eyes have been trained to see proportions as bigger than what is real. We expect more food on our plate when we go out to eat. We want to eat until we have satisfied our … Continue reading

100 Calorie Snacks

Dieting does not mean you have to give up snacking. In fact, choosing snacks wisely can help you with your weight loss goals rather than deter them. Snacking prevents you from becoming over hungry which leads to unhealthy food choices and overeating. Yet, you must be certain to choose your snacks wisely to also avoid pitfalls. Let’s face it; we all love to snack throughout the day. A nice rule of thumb is choosing a snack at 100 calories. Staying in that range keeps you in control of your snacking intake while making it easy to adjust to your individual … Continue reading

Back-to-School Battle: Lunch

With millions of students heading back to class next week parents are bracing for the obligatory back-to-school battles with their children over clothes, transportation… and lunch. Some kids simply refuse to eat school lunch, which leaves moms and dads scrambling to come up with homemade meals that are both healthy and tasty. For many parents that means buying packaged lunches, which may look nutritious, but are actually far from it. For example, did you know Lunchables’ Maxed Out Cracker Stackers Combo Ham and Cheddar—-a popular lunch choice among middle school students–contains 22 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol and … Continue reading