If you want to spruce up the boring bowl of ramen noodles, then I have something for you. A simple yet hearty soup that will take a bit of work but trust me, it’s all worth it. Especially with the snow and cold weather that doesn’t to seem to want to go away. This ramen noodles soup with all the fixings will sure give you the warm and cozy feeling you desperately need.
INGREDIENTS : (serves 2 adults and 2 kids)

3 packs of ramen noodles (pick a flavor)

6-7 cups of water

6 slices of bacon, chopped finely

half of medium onion, chopped …read more

I don’t know about your family by my own loves it when I make breakfast for dinner. I don’t cook breakfast during the week, only on the weekends. That’s probably why they love it when dinner is breakfast. What I love about this kind of meal for dinner is that I don’t have to be creative about it. I don’t have to thaw anything either. How hard can it be to slice potatoes in cubes for hash, fry up some bacon and then eggs? The only major decision is whether to make scrambled eggs or fried ones (whole yolk …read more

Anyone who spends a lot of time cooking in the kitchen knows that you have to have at least 2 separate cutting boards. 1 for the vegetables/fruits and 1 for meats. How about an Indexed Cutting Boards for meat, cooked food, fish, and vegetables?

Red board for meat, white for cooked foods, blue for fish, and green for veggies/fruits. A color-coded chopping boards to avoid cross contaminations. The indexed cutting boards even have a filing unit for easy storage.  I have been wanting to buy myself this but haven’t had a chance to do so. I think as soon …read more

One of my family’s favorite chicken dish is this lemon chicken that get a lot of compliments from my son who happens to be the picky eater in the family. This is one dish where I don’t have to tell him to finish his dinner. I don’t cook separate dishes (unless for spicy dishes) for every member of the family so If we go through dinner without having to tell anyone to finish what’s on their plate is a welcome experience.
INGREDIENTS :

4-5 boneless chicken breasts

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 can chicken stock

juice of 1 medium …read more

If you’re not already taking advantage of the fantastically tasty, easy to use legumes otherwise known as chickpeas (or garbanzo beans), you’re missing out. Not only are they hearty, but chickpeas are extremely nutritious and high in protein.
But what do you do with a can or bag of chickpeas? Below are some healthy ideas for incorporating chickpeas into your next meal.
1. Make hummus.
2. Toss them in a fresh salad.
3. Eat them out of the can (this one was from a friend – I personally find the idea repellent!).
4. Mix them with tabouleh.
5. Make falafel.
6. Include them in a bean salad.
7. …read more

Puff (Chronicle Books, 2008), Oregonian food editor Martha Holmberg offers 50 recipes that take full advantage of what she calls “the cook’s secret weapon,” including delicate Caramel-Lacquered Wafers. These heart-shaped cookies capture the spirit of the occasion and are delicious by themselves, or the perfect accompaniment to a rich bowl of ice cream, a creamy mousse, or a luscious pudding.
In French these are called langues de boeuf, meaning beef tongues, which is hardly an appealing way to describe these incredibly delicate, crunchy cookies. They start out like a classic palmier but then get rolled in …read more

The Super Bowl is just a couple days away. If you haven’t figured out what to serve at your party yet, we have some helpful tips for you from Phil Lempert, the “Supermarket Guru.” Phil worked with ConAgra Foods to put these tips together to help you save up to $50 on your party this Sunday.
Phil breaks down a head to head comparison on how to swap out typical football fare for more wallet-friendly and tasty options to show how you can save up to $50 for your party this Sunday.
Think frozen: Ordering in pizza and wings …read more

Having recently moved into a new, much smaller apartment, I’ve found that the kitchen has become the most difficult area to organize comfortably so I can get back to cooking. The sushi and pizza guys are becoming way too familiar at the front door, but the downside of downsizing is half the cabinet space and way more utensils and tools than is expected of a downtown girl.
But, rather than dwelling on the problem for too long, let’s dive into some solutions. The first is to take a good look at what’s really essential. Do I really need that many frying …read more

A popular New Year’s resolution is giving up chocolate. However, many dieters have a hard time avoiding this sweet treat. But there is good news … some research points to including limited amounts of chocolate into your diet, as chocolate may have many health benefits.
Many researchers say chocolate can have a positive effect in reducing blood pressure. High blood pressure causes many serious conditions if left unchecked including heart attacks and stroke. However, you can reduce the damaging effects quickly by reducing your blood pressure.
Studies have shown that chocolate’s benefits to heart health come from a substance in …read more

I have to admit, I’ve not been one to jump on the slow cooker bandwagon with much enthusiasm. They appear rather old, traditional and clunky when you think about it – not exactly the type of meal that inspires the youth and fun  that’s become so expected of my carefree, sushi loving generation.
But when it comes to my time, I get rather protective. Instead of falling back on old habits of take out menus and last minute treks to the nearest pub, I see slow cookers becoming a bigger and bigger part of my life. Here are some tips to …read more