Meal Planning: May 6 – 12

Having a meal plan is a great way to get a head start on the week. You gotta eat, right? Plan for it. spicy chicken rub Today I’m in the air and airports heading home to my fam after a few days away. I do this very infrequently, but I know that our regular schedule [...]

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Spring Vegetable Soup

Spring has arrived! And with it come a variety of spring vegetables to toss into the soup pot. Getting a weekly produce box has really grown on me. It’s also grown me as a cook. I’ve been compelled to try vegetables and fruits that I might never have purchased at the store. The culinary world [...]

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Good Cheap Eats in California – New Feature!

Looking for good cheap eats in California? I’ve got you covered with reviews of the best restaurants and food shops to enjoy on a budget. As you know, I’m a California girl. While my parents are both Minnesota-born and bred, they moved west in 1967 when there was a teacher shortage in the Golden State. [...]

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Sauces for Artichokes

Artichoke season has arrived! Enjoy those beautiful green globes now, peeling off their leaves to dip in one of two sauces. There’s something to please everyone. I played my cards right in teaching my kids to like foods that my husband doesn’t love. He is not picky, but he doesn’t loooooooooove the same foods I [...]

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Hearty BBQ Fare

BBQ, cooking out, grilling — depending on where you live, they evoke thoughts of hearty meats, cool salads, and tasty sides to enjoy in the great outdoors. Here in Southern California, we call it “grilling.” But, whatever you call it, it’s tasty! Here are some of our favorite recipes to serve on a night of cooking and [...]

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Monthly Meal Planning for May

Monthly meal planning is a great way to make daily life easier as well as plan for special events. 1994 – can you believe it?! May is a very important month in the fabric of our family. We celebrate the great trifecta of celebrations, one that should make every man shake in his boots: the [...]

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Grocery Geek: Ending Out the Month Under Budget

I scrimped in some areas this month in order to come in under budget for grocery spending. I also found some math errors. This means our average for the year is more in my desired range! This week’s shopping basically rounded off the month. Monday I’ll be doing another round of freezer cooking, so it’s [...]

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Try Mini Pizzas for a Fun and Easy Pizza Night

Mini pizzas make for a fun and easy pizza night. Make a big batch for freezing and cold-pizza breakfast, too. We are big pizza lovers at our house. It seems like my kids are asking for pizza at least twice a week. Recently, I’ve been switching things up: creating new pizza toppings, playing with new [...]

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Enjoy Homemade Pretzels in Lots of Fun Ways

Homemade soft pretzels are delicious on their own. But, mix up several toppings and offer some creative dips, and you’ve got the makings of a fabulous pretzel bar. April 26 is National Pretzel Day. Who knew? But, since we love pretzels around here, I’m not complaining! Love pretzels? Nay, we adore them. In fact, a batch [...]

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Salad’s On!

An assortment of salads can make a delightfully filling lunch or supper. Create a buffet for all to enjoy! Years ago we lived in Santa Barbara where we were part of a young, vibrant church. Not only were the people loving and caring, but they were good cooks, too! I was just an ignorant college [...]

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