Kids and Desserts - Memories I still remember being a kid and asking for a sweet dessert after dinner - every night. But, that was not what happened in my family. Mom treated us once a week with a sweet dessert, usually a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in a small 7-Up Float. Yep, it was super sweet, but small, and I'm grateful now for my mom's wisdom and follow-through with managing desserts for her kids. Kids and Desserts - The Downside Giving kids a lot of sugary desserts has definite downsides - for example: too many dental visits with big bills too scrawny appetites for … [Read more...] about Kids & Desserts
Summer Basil Pesto – It’s All About the Ingredients!
Quality Ingredients Matter If you ask me, the quality of ingredients really matters when making a great summer basil pesto. Why? Because each ingredient contributes to the flavor you experience when you roll it around in your mouth and over your tongue. Let's look one-by-one at the ingredients in a super tasty basil pesto made in the summertime. If you need a recipe, here's my recipe for summer basil pesto. Fresh Basil: The very best basil for pesto is what you grow yourself. It's really fun to grow fresh herbs - and easy, too. Basically, you need to find a sunny spot in your … [Read more...] about Summer Basil Pesto – It’s All About the Ingredients!
Chocolate and Banana Cupcake Recipe
A Dessert that's Perfect for Everyone When I first made and tasted this recipe, I thought it was chocolate-y, moist and not too sweet. For me it was a perfect dessert, but I needed other opinions to help me decide if it was a 'keeper' recipe - or not. So, I asked my grown-up son to try it. After going back for a second one, he commented that it was a perfect muffin for him. Great. Next, I shared a plate of cupcakes with my book co-author, Andrea, so that her family of 5 could do a tasting. All agreed that it was a great dessert. Yay. Then, my good friend, Tomomi, made a batch and asked her … [Read more...] about Chocolate and Banana Cupcake Recipe
Quick Snacks
Quick Snacks are Easy Just about everyone I know likes a quick snack sometime during the day or evening. We like quick and we like easy in our busy lives. Grab and go can be nutritious and delicious, in case you are wondering, and here's how... Start with a Fruit or Vegetable When you grab a fruit or vegetable as part or all of your quick snack, amazing things happen. You enjoy the crunch, you adore the sweet flavor, and you guarantee your body is receiving good nutrition. Fruits and vegetables are super-heroes for all their vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and high quality … [Read more...] about Quick Snacks
Less Sugary Homemade Lemonade
Less Sugary Homemade Lemonade Kids can help by squeezing the lemons, measuring the ingredients and stirring, with supervision. Makes 3-4 servings 2 large, juicy Lemons, or 3 small lemons 2 cups Water 2 tablespoons Sugar Get out a small pitcher. Cut lemons in half, squeeze juice into pitcher and discard seeds. Add water and sugar. Stir well to dissolve all sugar. Taste and add ½ tablespoon sugar if needed. Kids Thrive on Good Nutrition Making less sugary homemade lemonade is a simple 'cooking' project for kids. It helps them enjoy being in the … [Read more...] about Less Sugary Homemade Lemonade
Turkey Breast in the Crock Pot & How to Use the Leftovers
A Cooking Surprise I have been surprised many times in my kitchen. Like when I rehydrated dried shitake mushrooms for the first time or when I cooked a whole eggplant on the gas burner of my stove. Or, when I put a whole, frozen turkey breast into my crock pot and came home 8 hours later to the most moist and tasty turkey breast I've ever eaten. Cooking is funny when you try new things - that's for sure. Turkey Breast in the Crock Pot Recipe 1 Frozen solid turkey breast This is a one-ingredient recipe. All you do is place the frozen turkey breast into the crock pot or slow … [Read more...] about Turkey Breast in the Crock Pot & How to Use the Leftovers