Tasty Tidbits – Holiday Tips

Just a few suggestions for this crazy time of year. It can be super overwhelming. Send us your suggestions. We’d love to hear what you do to keep sane over the holidays.

ask alex   Tasty Tidbits   Holiday Tips

First off you’ll want to prepare for your holiday party. Good tips to keep things running smoothly are to get as much ready as you can before the big day. Nobody wants to be slaving away in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun gathering round the tree…

Here’s a few tips for the days leading up to the holidays…

1) Plan your menu at least a week in advance so you can make your grocery list and check it twice.
2) Who wants to hit the store this busy time of year? Send the hubs and the kids to the market to gather your supplies – be sure to include a very very detailed list….If I don’t mine comes home with everything under the sun.
3) Try some dishes that you can assemble in advance then toss in the oven just before dinner.
4) Set the table and the bar the night before, just one more thing off your list.

Handy ideas to have up your sleeves when the guests arrive to keep everything running smoothly…

1) How about an ice breaking game to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Sometimes when young cousins, or even grown adults don’t see each other a lot it can be a bit overwhelming come party time.
2) Have some crafts and coloring on hand to keep the kids entertained while you’re getting dinner ready and the adults are enjoying cocktails
3) Have plenty of kid friendly appetizers on hand, pigs in a blanket, cheese and crackers, fruit and crudite with dip.
4) Finally for a holiday party I always have a few extra gifts on hand…candles, trains, toy cars, a doll, picture frames, so nobody gets overlooked.

Tasty Tidbit – Boil Over!

Want to keep your pasta pot from boiling over?

Here’s an easy way to get a handle on it…

cooking tips   Tasty Tidbit   Boil Over!

Place a wooden spoon on top of the pot.

Viola.

No overflow!

 

Halloween – trick or treat tips

It’s getting close!

Halloween night is just around the corner!

Just thought we’d share some safety tips about staying safe

On All Hallows Eve!

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1.  Always trick or treat with an adult! – Don’t send kids out unattended

2. Stick together! – Big groups are more fun and theres safety in numbers

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3. Stick to the plan! – Map out a route in advance and make sure everyone knows the way

4. Leave the light on! – Only go up to homes that have their lights on and look decorated for the occasion

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5. Stay outside! – Never go inside anyone’s home.  If their not handing out candy in the doorway don’t go in

6. Stay visible! – Dark costumes may look cool but they’re hard to spot in the dark.  The lighter the better.

7. Check your treats! – Always look over candy before the little ones gobble it up and only eat treats in their original wrapper.

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8. Have fun and eat tons of candy! – I always let the kids go crazy and eat as much candy as they want that first night and then the candy makes a quick exit.  Our dentist lets you sell the candy to him.  $1 a pound.  Now that’s a good deal.

cooking tips   Halloween   trick or treat tipsImages courtesy of wikipedia.com


Tasty Tidbits – Brussels Sprouts

Ok, these are really my favorite veggies ever!

And for some reason, people are turned off by them.

Probably because somewhere along the way…

You probably had them boiled to death.

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I get it.

But if you do them right…

Say roasting them…

Or sauteed with shallots and pancetta.

Then you know how good they are!

Here are some fun Brussels Sprouts facts for ya…

They are part of the brassica family with it’s broccoli, kale, cabbage and collard greens siblings.

They were first cultivated in Belgium, around Brussels, hence the name.

California is the largest producer of Brussels sprouts in the U.S.

Brussels sprouts are high in sinigrin, a glucosinate thought to prevent colon cancer.

According to a recent study, they are the most hated vegetable in both the US and England.

Brussels sprouts are thought to prevent and even reverse blood vessel damage.

They are super high in dietary fiber, vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

So in other words…

Eat your brussels sprouts!!!

Tasty Tidbits – Pumpkins

It’s pumpkin season!

Oh how I love the pumpkin.

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Picked up some fun facts about pumpkins at Pumkinpatch.com

Did you know…

Pumpkins are rich in potassium and vitamin A.

Pumpkin flowers are edible.

cooking tips   Tasty Tidbits   Pumpkins

Pumpkins are 90% water.

Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

The tradition of pumpkin carving was brought to America by the Irish…Yup they used to carve turnips but when they arrived on American soil pumpkins were so plentiful they made the switch.

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The largest pumpkin pie ever made weighed over 350 pounds and was more that 5 feet in diameter?

Yum!  Carve me off a slice of that!

All pics courtesy  of Wikipedia.com

Tasty Tidbit – Saving Sauce

Sauce…

Tomato sauce.

Or gravy…

Depending on who you ask.

Is one of my favorite things to make on a Sunday.

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But sometimes we don’t use it all.

So what to do with all that extra?

Freeze it of course!

Individually…

In ice cube trays.

Then you always have just as much as you may need anytime!

Perfect little portions always ready to go.

Go ahead…

Say it…

Brilliant right?

Feel like making some some now?

Try our healthy and delicious Marinara Sauce.

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