As the Keeper of our Castles, one of our responsibilities is to provide healthy meals for our families.  Soccer, football practice, dance, piano, science club, and all the other extracurricular activities can make us feel scattered and it may seem too much of a challenge to prepare something healthy.

Here is a list of ideas to include more fruits and vegetables into our diets.  I hope this helps inspire you.
1)  Try cooked pumpkin or winter squash for dinner.
2)  Make a quiche and include chopped bell peppers, onions, and spinach.
3)  Try applesauce on pancakes instead of syrup.
4)  Add lettuce and tomato to …read more

When it comes to holidays, Better Homes & Gardens always has great ideas. I always find myself thinking, “That looks easy. Why didn’t I think of that?”. Since their ideas are so cute, I thought you all might need some inspiration for Halloween treats this week. After all, Halloween is only a few day away.
This time, I included a short description of the things needed for each of these cupcake ideas. Perhaps that will help you save some time as you scan through the list. If you’re like me, you’d rather choose a project that you already have the supplies …read more

Fall is here and many of you are looking to cook and bake with yummy ingredients such as pumpkin, cinnamon, and apples.  I’ve searched the internet and found 20 great sounding pumpkin recipes.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal at GoodLife Eats
Pumpkin Waffles at Smitten Kitchen
Black Bean Pumpkin Soup at Smitten Kitchen
Pumpkin Spice Latte from Kettle and Cup
Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte from A Year of Slow Cooking
Creamy and Spicy Pumpkin Soup (low carb) at Low Carb Diets
Spicy Pumpkin Bisque at About.com Home Cooking
Baked Stuffed Pumpkin at About.com Home Cooking
Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Cheesecake at Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup at Think …read more

I know this is hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is only six weeks away!  Eeek!  How did that happen?  Instead of pushing it out of our minds, it’s better to embrace it and make preparations for a less stressful and happier time.  Planning is key to things running smoothly.
I remember the year we purchased our first home.  I decided that I should host Christmas dinner.  We had my parents and my husband’s parents over.  I didn’t realize all the work that would go into hosting the meal, opening presents, and family time. 
I learned a lot that day and now I …read more

Today I left the store frustrated again.  I do not understand why baggers can’t seem to bag groceries correctly.  I can’t tell you the number of times I have come home with my bananas and peaches bagged with my canned goods.  This has been such an ongoing problem that I called the store manager a few weeks ago to complain.  I gave him several recent examples of my tomatoes being bagged with my canned goods and cleaning supplies getting bagged with perishable food.

 Today I got distracted and forgot to keep an eye on what was going on.  Sure enough, I …read more

Now that October is here, we can fully embrace fall.  When I think of fall desserts, I think of cinnamon, apples, pumpkin, and warm sweet goodness.  I’ve been surfing the web for fall inspired desserts that I thought you might enjoy.

Pumpkin treats
Texan Pumpkin French Toast
Pumpkin Latte
Pumpkin Cookies (with cream cheese icing)
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Napoleons
Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce
Espresso Cakes with Pumpkin
Pumpkin Spice Cake
Scrumptious Pumpkin Parfait

Apple treats
My Favorite Apple Cake Recipe
Caramel Apple Bars
Caramel Apple Pie
Chocolate Caramel Apples with Sprinkles
Apple Dumpling Dessert
Apple Upside-Down Cake
Apple Bread
Apple Pear Crisp
Blushing Apples
Weight Watchers Low Point Options:
Apple Pie
Warm Pear Cobbler
Pear Upside Down Cake with …read more

I have never purchased a birthday cake for my children. In past years, I was fortunate enough to use my mom’s cake decorating skills to get fabulous cakes. Last year was one of those times.
My son wanted a Lightning McQueen cake for his birthday. I looked around in the stores and tried to figure out what I was going to do. Then I decided to buy the car figurines from the toy section. At $12 for three cars, I thought it was a bit pricey but it was cheaper than buying a cake and then at least he would have …read more

I just have to say a big shout of CONGRATULATIONS to my friend and fellow blogger Marye Audet.  Marye has been enthusiastically blogging away at Kettle and Cup and Baking Delights for quite a while now.  I’m always amazed at her creativity and inventive spirit.  I don’t know how she does it.  Now, she is a published author!

If you’re looking for something yummy to make for your family or just to drool, you should check out her sites.  You can find Marye at Kettle and Cup, Baking Delights, Everything Cookies and Brownies, and MaryeAudet.com.  Marye’s not just baking up cooking …read more

I don’t know about you, but I like it when a friend passes along a recipe.  It means they liked it so much that they would make the dish again.  Here’s a recipe passed along to me from a fellow blogger, Katie Campbell. 
******************
If you put this out as an appetizer before dinner, during a game or  party, I can guarantee it will be GONE. You won’t have to worry about leftovers with this dip. 

2 eight oz bricks of cream cheese (room temperature makes it easier to mix)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 eight oz jar salsa
3/4 to 1 lb browned ground beef, …read more

I did not grow up in a house supplied with coffee.  Neither of my parents drank it. Pretty much, the only exposure I had to it came from a jar of instant coffee at my grandparent’s house because my grandmother was the only one who drank it. When my mom was growing up, she was told that drinking coffee would turn your feet black and so she steered clear of the beverage.
Since then, I’ve learned to appreciate a good cup of coffee.  In fact, I’ve come to be known as a coffee snob.  Earlier this week, I began sharing some …read more