Cook it!

Cooking with kids Ahhh…the kitchen…where all the magic happens. If you’re looking for a recipe, a way to put all of those canned goods to use (yum…salsa chicken) or tips on cooking with kids, well, here you are. In the right place. Just like destiny.  

Healthy Asparagus Side Dish

June 21, 2012
California Grown Asparagus

Thank you to California Grown for connecting me with California growers and encouraging California consumers to “Choose California Grown” when they can. A post about California Grown? YES, PLEASE! If you know me, or you read my blog even occasionally, I am a huge proponent of buying locally, whenever possible – especially food. When you [...]

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Marshmallows on a Stick: Last Minute Valentine Goodies

February 13, 2012

Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday of the year. I love love. If you’re looking for a last minute fun project for your kids, or some goodies for their classrooms, give me an hour and I’ll give you some sweet marshmallow pops. I got this idea from a book my mom got me for Christmas, [...]

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Canned Cranberry Curd

January 19, 2012
canned cranberry curd

Warning: This is the sweetest little jar of curd you ever did taste. It is highly addictive. Especially when a dollop is plopped atop a gingersnap. SNAP! That’s some good curd!  My good friend Valerie and I had planned a canning get together with our other good friends, Grace and Akemi. This was during the [...]

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Seasonal Food: Butternut Squash Lasagna with Creamy Bechamel Sauce

November 10, 2011
Trader Joe's No Boil Lasagna Noodles

Because I’m tracking my budget for food during the month of November, I started the process of planning this week’s seasonal meal by first reviewing what I already had. I went through my cupboards/freezer/basement/etc. I had plenty to work with (how often do I waste simply by not starting here?). I settled on a butternut [...]

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How to Roast a Butternut Squash

November 7, 2011
How to Roast a Butternut Squash

I love love love winter squash. It’s all a part of the change to autumn – the colors of winter squash inspire me, be it the pale pumpkin orange of a butternut or the kabocha squash with its multi-colored green stripes and bright orange flesh. Their candy-like sweetness screams for autumn spices: cinnamon, nutmeg and [...]

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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

October 31, 2011
How to roast pumpkin seeds

So you spent the weekend carving mere pumpkin squash into festive jack-o-lanterns, ready to light the way to the sugary prize behind door number 1. And now the practical (and dare I say, fun…) side of your brain is like, “Wait! I’ve got all these seeds, and I can’t put them to waste!” And then [...]

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Peach Blueberry Pie for Pie Day!

July 5, 2011
Blueberry Peach Pie

I’ve always fancied myself more a cook than a baker, but I find myself surprised by the confidence I’ve gained from many an hour stirring sweet fruits and sugars until they’ve merged to form the perfect jam. I love fruit.  And making jams and jellies has only increased my desire to find other fun ways [...]

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Green Eggs and Ham

April 19, 2011
Green Eggs and Ham cake by the Violet Sweet Shoppe

Easter is a family day. A big family day. Lots of people, lots of food. And lots of eggs. Because my family is all about brunch on holidays, it’s a perfect opportunity to try and find unusual uses for all of those eggs. Fancy deviled eggs, green eggs and ham, meringue. Oh, meringue. This year I’ve [...]

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The I Don’t Eat Beef St. Patrick’s Day Menu!

March 6, 2011

I don’t eat beef. There, I said it. Not even grass-fed beef. Not top sirloin. Not even corned beef and cabbage.     <<< I DON’T EAT THIS!                   Actually, I like cabbage very much, which is kind-of weird because I hear it’s not that popular. Cabbage [...]

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Jar Pies: Apple Pie in a Jar

March 1, 2011
Jar Pies

As someone whose life is overrun with canning jars, I’m always looking for ways to make use of said jars. Of course there’s always jellies and jams, curds, and pickles. There are crafts and gifts, and lonely buttons and paper clips that need homes. And then there’s this…jar pies. Individual pies baked in canning jars. [...]

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