My eggnog drinking experience reminds me of the “Three Bears” story — one is too sweet, one is too rich, and the other one is devoid of any warm notes of spice. Until making eggnog myself, I hadn't...

One of the biggest challenges for the holiday host is spending time with guests while still meeting all the expectations of a holiday meal. And certainly, if you have out-of-town company, you aren’t...

My family doesn’t like store-bought salad dressing because it just tastes like oil with some flavoring. It drags the freshness of salad down, and there never seems to be enough flavor. I’m sure there...

It’s been said the best part of camping is the memories. My family loves to camp, but the hassle that goes into getting everything there, and back, is frustrating. Remembering everything from dish soap...

When you buy produce in bulk, you have to get creative. This is especially true when you buy 17 pounds of something which is used sparingly, such as jalapenos. My husband likes his food ultra-spicy,...

It’s always been my challenge to take a vegetable someone in my family doesn’t like and discover how to change their mind via an interesting recipe. I call them gateway recipes. For instance, I introduced...

There is a domestic urban myth that potatoes don’t freeze well. Most everyone I know is under that impression, and is amazed when I tell them otherwise. With the holidays upon us, and potato sales at...

This week, I’m heading to the farmers market for a 50-pound case of butternut squash for $12. I buy in bulk to get a lower price, but since I only have a family of four, I must get creative. Thankfully,...

My children ate eggplant for breakfast this morning. Mothers everywhere should be in awe of this feat. Of course, your kids — even the picky ones — will eat eggplant for breakfast, too, if you make...

Summer is in full swing, and that means experimenting with my dehydrator. I have two dehydrators, and they will be running all summer and fall. With this versatile kitchen tool, I preserve fruits, vegetables,...

Convenience foods make dinner easy on a busy night, but they are pricey, not always healthy, and rarely taste decent. I decided to make my own variety of frozen meal helpers that are healthy, taste fresh...

The two areas I struggle with domestically are laundry and pie crust. While I make my own laundry soap, I don’t bother to sort by color, and I haven’t tried to figure out what gets washed in cold or...