Category: Recipes

Oh yes, I do have summer on the brain!  I’m perfecting my cool, refreshing recipes for the hot Texas summer.  After getting 2 lbs. of fresh strawberries on sale at the grocery store the other day, I was in full on experimental mode in the kitchen.  I wanted to create a dessert that would finish off a grill out that would be light but still pack a flavor punch.  I think I achieved that, I even made a ‘kid’ version by freezing it in plastic cups for ice pops.

I’m so ready for winter to be over and the warmer days of spring and the hot days of summer to arrive.  Fresh veggies call my name and cucumbers scream the loudest. 

This cool, light, refreshing spring/summer salad takes little work to prepare so you can make it in no time at all.  It’s easy to throw together for a potluck or grill out.

Are you as excited as my daughter is about the release of the Disney movie FROZEN on DVD on Tuesday, March 18th?  And I’m excited about the price rollback of the DVD at Walmart from $16.96 to $14.96.  Even better…if you pick up some specially marked 24 ct. boxes of Eggo Waffles there’s a $5.00 coupon on it for the FROZEN DVD as well.  Waffles and a movie…that’s some affordable entertainment right there folks!

In 1989, Fresh Express created the very first ready-to-eat, packaged garden salad available in grocery stores nationwide. Today, Fresh Express is the market leader in delivering great-tasting, nutritious, fresh salads to health-conscious people. The brand has an unrivaled selection of fresh salad mixes, complete kits, and wholesome, organic products. But whichever variety of Fresh Express you choose, rest assured you’ll be getting the freshest, best tasting salad you can find.

Just in time for Pi Day, I’m sharing this easy to make Cheesy Shepherd’s Pie altered from eMeals Costco Plan.  I shared another inspired recipe from that plan the other day, Lemon Herb French Style Green Beans. 

eMeals is a meal planning service that takes the stress of meal planning and grocery shopping away, giving you the tools you need to get dinner on the table…even on busy nights!  And there are so many plans to choose from, there’s sure to be one that benefits your family.

I know some of my readers have large(r) families and do more frequent bulk shopping than I might. I like shopping at warehouse clubs though and we go about once a month even if we don’t buy a lot.

I love the fact that eMeals has now added a Costco Family Meal Plan to their many choices.
With this plan you get easy-cook, Costco-based dinner recipes & shopping lists delivered to your inbox every 2 weeks.

I’m part of the eMeals blogger network and as a part of that I receive a subscription from them so that I can try out their service and when I like something I can share it with you!  Last month eMeals launched a new Low Calorie Family Plan.  It has all the benefits of eating under 500 calories with the flavors and tastes of your favorite foods.

Eating slim doesn’t have to mean cutting out your favorite foods. With the eMeals Low Calorie plan, you can enjoy a varied meal plan with your favorite dishes, from pizzas and pastas to salads and steaks, all with less than 500 calories per serving.

Because of my family’s picky palates, I tend to alter a lot of recipes.  It’s rare that I make something ingredient for ingredient in a recipe but every once in a while I find one that I KNOW is going to be a winner just as it’s written.  This is one of those recipes.

It comes from the book Everyday Confetti, that I reviewed in January.  Folks I’m telling you, it’s full of recipes that will become favorites just like this one.  PLUS it has tons of ideas on how to make an ordinary day… something worth celebrating.

I have a bag of quinoa sitting on my pantry shelf that I’ve been reluctant to use.  I bought it for a couple of recipes that I tried and loved, but the rest of my family is very wary of this super-grain.  Perhaps it’s because of its static-y properties of sticking to everything it touches before it’s cooked.  Or maybe it’s the translucency it takes on after it’s cooked.  More likely it’s the fact that they can’t pronounce or spell it.

When we were traveling last week we had breakfast at a local restaurant that had so many breakfast choices it was unbelievable.  I settled on a French Toast platter that had a praline sauce on top.  There were so many other indulgent offerings on the menu though that I was inspired to make something equally yummy at home.  It’s really quiet simple and delicious.