One of the important things for me as a parent, is to raise children who have some life skills under their belt. Now, whether they chose to use those skills as adults is their decision but at least I know my kids can cook when they leave our home {One of our new favorites is …
One of our favorite dinners is pancit bihon, which is a Filipino stir fried rice noodle dish. {By the way, if anyone knows why Filipino is spelled with an “f” and only one “p” and Philippine is spelled with a “ph” and a double “p”, we would like to know. So far we’ve made up …
{Warning:: In this post I’m sharing the similarities of baking with three different flours, gluten free flour being one of them. If you are making a gluten free dish to serve to people who are on gluten free diets, please use proper protocol. Everyone reacts differently to gluten and some people have a very severe reaction, …
Oh, have I got a treat for you today. The first time I had chocolate chip peanut butter cup cookies was at a baby shower our church had for me when I had Phoebe – yep, 14 years ago and I still remember how amazed I was by them. {don’t laugh, this was before pinterest and blogs when …
For me, cookie making isn’t about the cookies, it’s about spending time with my children making memories. I learned a long time ago that I would need to have a relaxed view of cooking making if this was going to be an enjoyable experience for all. Keep it simple, let the children come and go as …
Fall has come to some areas of the country, I hear. We’ve had a few mornings that the temperature has just barely dipped into the 60’s and you should hear all the clamoring for hot chocolate for breakfast. We have a couple of favorite ways to make hot chocolate but we also have a favorite …
Did you know that October is National Cookie Month? Well, it is and we are celebrating. But we’re not celebrating with hard, dry cookies from a package. Oh, no, we’re making all kinds of family favorite cookies this month. Like Sunbutter cookies dipped in chocolate….yummm… When I make cookies I mix the wet ingredients first and …
There are many ways to save money at the grocery store, but I truly believe this is the budget category we have the most control over. Unlike fixed expenses like housing or insurance, grocery spending can be adjusted week by week with small, intentional choices. Most people already know the basics — buying items on …
During this time of the year (harvesting and preparing) I often wonder if my kitchen will ever be tidy again. I know it will and yet, sometimes, I get so frustrated by it. I would love to say that I don’t but that would be a lie. {This post contains affiliate links. You can learn …
“The art of giving food gifts expresses love in a way that something expensive picked up at the store simply cannot do. Homemade gifts are not cheap, but rather priceless and full of that which cannot be bought, love. Homemade food includes a bit of ourselves, our energies, our spirits, and yes, our love. It’s …
Zucchini fritters are a popular summer treat that turns grated zucchini into a delicious, crispy side dish. Whether you’re an experienced home cook or a beginner, this easy recipe will have you creating delicious homestyle fritters in no time. Zucchini Fritters Recipe If you grow zucchini in your garden, you know how wonderfully prolific it can be. …
We’re not huge sandwich eaters around here but sometimes sandwiches are just so convenient, like when we’re traveling. So I’ve been trying to perfect the art of pita making…it is an art you know. And I *think* I’ve come up with a recipe and have discovered the “secret” to making pita puff up. I’m going …
We have a new favorite meal/snack here at our home….meatloaf muffins. Until about a month ago I had never made meatloaf and most of my children had never tasted it. Why? Because Carl doesn’t like it. Now, this is huge because with the expection of pickles and mustard, Carl will pretty much eat anything. It’s …
Yes, it IS possible to make crispy French fries at home! With this delicious homemade French fries recipe you can have a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior oven fries for dinner any night of the week. I’ve been making these easy homemade fries in the oven for over 25 years and our family loves …
The other day Josiah was “mentioning” that we didn’t have any food in the house…only things to make food with. He was right, I’ve been a little preoccupied with things like tiling a floor and haven’t done a good job of keeping of our homemade snacks in the house. So Saturday I set out to …
If you’re looking for a simple, natural alternative to commercial cleaners, a lemon vinegar cleaner is one of the easiest DIY sprays you can make at home. Made with citrus peels and white vinegar, this non-toxic cleaner cuts through grease, removes dirt, and leaves a fresh scent behind — without artificial fragrances or harsh chemicals. …
Yesterday, I made a batch of lemon extract in my attempt to use as much of the lemons as I can. This was super easy, the hardest part was getting up the courage to go into the local liquor store. I did take the “clergy” hanging sign off my rear view mirror, you know, just …
Every Christmas we make a family favorite cookie from Carl’s childhood. We call it a cookie, but really it’s a candy. It’s so fun to see Carl’s parents and brother oooh and aaah over them and hear the stories that get told about Christmases long past. My children have stories of their own pertaining to this …
Protein bars can be quite pricey and most are filled with ingredients that would not be considered “real food”. By contrast, homemade protein bars can be customized based on what flavors your family likes and are filled with real food ingredients. Years ago I read High Protein, No Powder by Tiffany Crumbs which is a …
Yesterday I made homemade caramels. I’ve made caramel sauce before but never caramel candy. oh, my, it was fabulous!