Search Results for: blog the families cookbook winter 06 ree to pe

Ask a Food Blogger: Corn Pudding

Question: Do you have any good recipes for corn pudding? I love it but can’t find a recipe I like. When you’re looking into local cuisine on a trip (or in our case in a different neighborhood) it’s good ‘street sense’ to watch where the natives go. For example, when we go into Chinatown we don’t look for a place popular with the tourists, but instead opt to follow the locals down into what seems like a little dive in a hole in the ground for some of the best egg rolls, lo mein around. If it’s good enough for … Continue reading →

Popcorn Balls

I’ve decided that whoever came up with the idea of popcorn balls clearly did not have children. If they did their children never had braces! Traditional popcorn balls are frequently impossible to chew, stick to hold and not so easy to make either. Although I often tend towards the grandmotherly ways of old–this is one recipe that definitely needed a makeover. This version yields popcorn balls that are less messy and easier to chew. Not to mention the fact that they are so much easier to make. Traditionally made popcorn balls require a candy thermometer and corn syrup and measuring … Continue reading →

Food Tips and Kitchen Hints for September

Last month, I began collecting hints and tips that I thought were great and highly useful in the kitchen. Here is my latest edition of hints, tips and tricks in the kitchen. For an elegant decoration on frosted cakes or brownies. . . Take a chocolate bar and use a vegetable peel to shave off the tip. The result will be super easy chocolate curls that make you look like you’re a pro! Chilling Beverages for a Party When I heard about this I thought it was ingenious. Unfortunately we don’t have a washing machine. . .but if you’re hosting … Continue reading →

Make Ahead Suppers: Mexican Lasagne

As next week marks the first full week of fall activities for us (classes start later than actual school does so rather than being thrust into back to school, we meander into it) and with the beginning of classes means the beginning of weeks where I have to have a make ahead night and a crock pot night. (Or two, or three of them.) This lasagne is a healthy dish but I like it because it’s a little different. I generally prepare it in the morning and then stick it in the oven in the evening. I haven’t tried it, … Continue reading →

Drinkable Yogurt and Peanut Butter Balls

I told you I was on the after school snack bandwagon. This week marks the first week of classes for my kids and with that, I need to start packing snacks. So here is a complete menu of super healthy snacks. But your kids will never know that these are healthy so don’t worry! They’ll eat it. Drinkable Yogurt Drinkable yogurt is pricey and you can make a healthier version at home. What I generally do is buy a large bunch of bananas and whatever doesn’t get eaten before they ripen–I mash and store in plastic bags in the fridge … Continue reading →

Blueberry/Peach Walnutty Crisp

If you haven’t discovered the wonder of baking a crisp from scratch, I assure you–you’re missing something. Baking a crisp or a cobbler is great because it’s like getting the yummy pie filling without having to go through all the hassle of getting the pie crust right. Crisps are easy–no fail type dishes. If you can stir, you can make a crisp. This particular combination uses the end of summer bounty or you can use frozen fruit if you can’t find fresh in your store any longer. (Note: In season fruit is always cheaper to buy fresh but out of … Continue reading →

Ask a Food Blogger: What Are Free Range Meats?

Question: I keep seeing in my grocery store certain meats being advertised as ‘free range.’ They are much more expensive than ‘regular’ meat. Can you tell me why this meat is called ‘free range’, why it’s so much more expensive, and if it’s better for my health? This is an excellent question! Since you’ve really asked three questions. . .I’ll have to give you three answers. What Is Free Range Meat? Free range meat is a cut of meat from an animal that is allowed to roam in unrestricted pastures. Sort of. The USDA defines the term ‘free range’ such … Continue reading →

Pie in the Middle Muffins

I think my new theme for the food blog is going to be after school snacks. Don’t worry, I’ll get to sharing other fantastic recipes soon enough but it seems that my recipe searches as of late are centered around finding easy to prepare, good after school snacks. I’m also still on the apple theme, probably because we’re looking at going apple picking in a few weekends. This is not my original recipe but rather comes out of one of my Taste of Home magazines. This muffin is labor intensive if you’re chopping the apples and making the apple filling … Continue reading →

After School Brownies You Can Be Proud Of

So my kids don’t go to school, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get the 3 o’clock munchies. For the last two years, which we are now affectionately referring to as the “twin years”, I just went to the grocery store and bought the pre-packaged stuff just like everyone else. There is an equation in life, particularly when life gets very hectic, that says sometimes it’s easier to just spend the money in order to save the time. But no longer is it easier to spend the money. My old ‘cooking self’ is back again, and I am now on … Continue reading →

Ravioli Soup

Okay so you can call me a weather freak. I love the changing of the seasons. I love that New York actually gets four seasons and that each is distinctive. I just saw this weekend the very first set of golden and crimson leaves and so I started to pull out my fall recipes along with our fall and winter clothes. This soup is delicious and it wins my kids’ seal of approval. Even my husband, who claims that soup is not “chewy” enough to qualify as a meal has decreed that this soup has what it takes to make … Continue reading →