Yep – it’s my second post in one day.  I couldn’t wait to continue my Cross Blog Conversation with The Veggie Queen.  But I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in the Ultimate Recipe Swap meme with Life as Mom, either.  One great thing about a recipe swap meme is the variety of recipes you are going to find at the host blog!

The theme is:  Feeding a Crowd.  So what do you do when you feed a crowd?

I like to keep things simple, and since both of my daughters’ birthdays are during summer, we usually have a backyard get together.  I have served Taco Salad almost every time – and everybody has loved it!

In keeping with the 2-for-1 theme, I actually have 2 versions of taco salad – one is my mom’s and one is my mother-in-law’s.  They are both easy to serve outside and they serve a crowd nicely.  Since we always have coolers full of beverages, the “cold” ingredients are kept chilled in the coolers until its time to clean up! [Read more...]

So Jill, whom I may now begin to referring to as “Her Majesty, The Veggie Queen” has responded to my question, and answered another in the process!  That’s why she can claim her royalty status, you know! While wondering about eating vegetarian meals during winter, she also answered my wondering about sources of vegetable proteins! Yay!

So my husband & I have been discussing our transition to more vegetarian meals (and please don’t tell him that I told YOU that his idea of vegetarian in the past meant cakes, cookies, and pies – but no meat…  sigh).  I love the idea of starting with one meatless meal each week – and with Jill’s most recent post, I have several ideas in mind.

I actually love veggie bean burgers – but have never made them myself.  I think her suggestion to add a new grain (like quinoa) is a great idea, and I’m going to start getting my shopping list ready to see what I can come up with!

I love her take on seasons:  “Winter is roots, spring is shoots, and summer and fall are fruits.”  Great tip to get recipes together according to season!

Here are my questions for Jill:

I would love some suggestions for “fake meat” products as an foray into vegetarian eating.  What are some of your recommendations?

I see you have a cookbook devoted to pressure cooking, and your blog bio says you are a pressure cooking advocate.  Can you talk about your passion about pressure cooking and what you recommend for someone who has never used a pressure cooker?

Be sure to tune in for Jill’s answer to my questions and see how we wrap things up!

Let’s face it – we don’t always feel like cooking every meal, every day.

Personally – as much as I love cooking and baking, there are days I just want to avoid my kitchen.   I mean for days  at a time.  I get tired of the whole process:

Menu planning.

Grocery Shopping.

Coupon clipping.

Meal Prep.

Dirty Dishes.

UGH!!! [Read more...]

If you’ve been reading here for long, you’ll know about my addiction to affection for coffee! In fact, I enjoy a wide variety of coffee blends, flavors, and brews.  I love it hot, iced, or frozen (but never lukewarm…)  And I like to support my local coffee shop, but will visit the nationwide chains when it’s feasible, too…  I’m really not picky.

So, needing to save money – but NEEDING my iced mocha – I decided to treat myself to one at home. All you really need is:

chocolate syrup (I use sugar free),

strong brewed coffee or espresso,

milk,

ice cubes

and whipped topping (I used frozen cool whip).

Because you make it yourself, you can customize it to your liking, and for the cost of one iced mocha at any store, you can make several at home!

More chocolate syrup?  Go ahead.

A little less milk?  No problem!

You don’t have to hope that it’s going to turn out right because you are making it for yourself and can make it to your liking…  Make one just a few times and you’ll have it down to a science.

(Oh, and yes, I am a University of Kentucky fan.  Go Wildcats!)

Because I spend more time in the kitchen these days, my two vivacious, curious, energetic little girls are always begging to help.  I only have enough counterspace – about the size of a large cutting board – to do much work on, so we don’t get to do much creatively together in the kitchen.

However, my youngest, Georgie, has the biggest flair for creativity as you will see soon enough…

This is Chocolate Pudding.

This is Georgie…

And this is Georgie and her chocolate fingerpaint pudding…

When she’s a famous artist one day, I will have this framed for her so she can keep her feet grounded!!!  I can be thankful it wasn’t Desitin (which is something my brother got to clean up with both of his girls…)

If you have a Foodie Baby – don’t forget to enter the Stonyfield YoBaby Giveaway – you’ve still got a little time to enter!