There are so many different types of eating lifestyles out there, and it seems that a growing number of people are associating themselves with various groups. Vegan, raw, gluten free, dairy free, or just an all around food lover. Whatever the reason for your culinary affiliation, you make the choice that is best for you and (hopefully) your body. Eating clean is a food lifestyle I recently heard about and it’s not a new way to eat, in fact you may find that you are a bonified clean eater without knowing it. When a friend described it to me I realized that I’ve been eating pretty “clean” for years. (more…)

My sweet baby girl will be starting solids in the next few days and I’ve been researching and talking to people who make their own baby food. It was the topic of discussion at a group I attended with other mom’s in my neighborhood, and my brother in law is a stay at home dad who used to work as a chef, he gave me a few “recipes” for baby food that I will be trying. Baby food is easy to buy, but it’s just as easy, cheaper, and healthier to make at home.  You may think you need special equipment like a food mill or a baby food grinder, but you can use your own dinner fork for some foods.

Here are a few things I’ve learned. (more…)

Puff pastry is a delicious, light flaky pastry made from dozens of layers of specially prepared pastry dough.   The beautiful dough “puffs” when baked, causing the layers to separate.

You can make pastry dough from scratch, which can take a full day.  Or, you can cheat a little like me, and buy it in the freezer section at your local grocery store.

Puff pastry is always a show stopper.  You can make anything take on some instant fancy when you use puff pastry.

Here’s a few Tips and Recipes for using puff pastry.
And, who knows?  Maybe this will be on your table tonight for the big New Year countdown?!

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Photo credit - Fimb

The holiday season is now in full swing.  I don’t know about you, but the holiday season means lots of food.  Not only is there the large Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, but there is everything else in between that can get us all in trouble.  The treats from neighbors, Christmas candy, New Year’s hors d’oeuvres…  It seems like at this time of year, we are being constantly tempted.  So how to we enjoy the food of the season without gaining an extra 10 pounds?

Here are a few hints to help keep you on track this holiday season while still enjoying the things around you. (more…)

One day I made a great discovery.  I was making a batch of my favorite pesto sauce, and thought how good it would be to add it to a sandwich!  Then I realized you could just add it straight to the mayo and there you have it!  Pesto mayonnaise was born!

I couldn’t believe the amazing flavor it added to my sandwich (especially hot paninis!).  And, from that day forward, I was hooked!

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Have you ever made your own pumpkin puree instead of buying it in a can?  Not only is it super easy, but it tastes fantastic as well!! (more…)

Every once in a while I have to plan and prepare food for a large group when we have our various get togethers.  It still can be very overwhelming.  But, as I do it more often, I have learned a few things to help me along the way.

Here’s a few simple steps to help plan and prepare for your next get together:

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Whipped cream is the finishing touch for so many delicious deserts. Not only does it taste scrumptious, but it can turn a boring dessert into something elegant and perfect.

Not too many people use real old fashioned whipped cream anymore because it can be so tricky to prepare. But preparing it yourself tastes 100% better than the store bought variety.  Here are some tricks to making the perfect whipped cream.

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I love all the fresh peaches that are available this time of year!

Last year I tried canning for the first time, and realized it’s not so bad.  So, this year I was determined to capture my fresh peaches in a jar again.

I canned an entire bushel of peaches, and ended up with 26 beautiful jars to enjoy all winter long.

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I’ve been enjoying a plethera of fresh basil thanks to a local market that is selling it for 99 cents a bunch! My favorite ways to incorporate this divine herb into my cooking repertoire include making pesto from scratch and enjoying plenty of caprese salads. The easiest way to work with fresh basil is by chiffonading the leaves. Once you have accomplished this step, it makes it so easy to incorporate the basil into a basic pasta dish or even use as a garnish on top of grilled chicken or a summer salad.

Never tried chiffonading basil leaves?…no problem, check out this quick instructional video. Enjoy!