Ways to Liven Up Leftovers

The calendar (and the thermometer) still says it’s summer, but for many families the new school year has already started. This means that family time is more precious than ever and with a house full of kids waiting to be shuttled to school and extra-curricular activities, plus your desire to make the most of the nice weather, who wants to spend any more time in the kitchen than absolutely necessary? I try to minimize the juggling act by making double duty recipes. Meaning I cook more of a certain ingredient (or ingredients) to use two nights in a row. For … Continue reading →

Unique Italian Dishes—Pine Nuts and Pizza

If you are like my brother then you are probably asking yourself (or in his case, his wife) why anyone would want to ruin a perfectly good pizza by topping it with pine nuts. Well, it’s not. (At least not in these recipes, click here for a pine nut pizza.) The pine nuts are for a vegetarian ravioli and the pizza… well, the pizza gets a healthy dose of cheese, chicken, bacon, artichoke hearts and baby spinach. As you can tell neither dish is particularly traditional, but that’s what makes them so uniquely delicious. If you are tired of serving … Continue reading →

Go International: Risotto with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Risotto, in my manner of speaking is just a fancy word for Italian rice. It is a specific type of rice, and is a staple in Milanese cuisine. Properly cooked risotto generally involves cooking the rice slightly in olive oil, and then adding broth very slowly. When cooked properly, the dish should show case the rich creaminess of the rice’s starches but should also have the texture of al dente for each individual grain. I don’t think risotto is traditionally served with salads, but in my opinion, this is the perfect dish to serve as a side to salad. In … Continue reading →

End of the School Year Pizza Party

It may feel like summer has already started but kids around here are still in school for another 10 days. That means I have about a week to help my friend make homemade pizzas for her son’s end of the school year party. Because of budget restraints his teacher was going to nix their annual shindig this year. (With the price of food the way it is these days I don’t blame her.) That was until my pal came up with the brilliant plan to make her own pizzas and celebrate the end of the school year and her son’s … Continue reading →

Save Money—Make Your Own Pizza

I think my jaw is still on the tile floor at my local supermarket. It hit the ground yesterday when I went to grab a frozen pizza from the freezer. My young daughter loves pizza and twice a month she is allowed to indulge in her favorite frozen classic-—thin crust pepperoni and cheese. The brand we buy typically sells for $3.33 a piece or 3 pizzas for $10. I usually grab three pies and we are set for more than a month. But yesterday when I went to replenish my supply I noticed that the neon 3 for $10 sign … Continue reading →

Another Easy Mother’s Day Meal—Perfectly Simple Pasta

Dads you can do this! Mother’s Day is May 11th and all this week I have been guest blogging in FOOD sharing simple recipes that even the most culinary-challenged dad can whip up for that special woman who bore his children. This next recipe is just as easy as the others and it comes with an added bonus: it’s very affordable. There’s no arguing that mom is worth all the money in the world, but if you are battling high gas prices, rising food costs and a shrinking household budget then you might consider cutting back on excessive Mother’s Day … Continue reading →

Lisa vs. Valorie’s Spaghetti Sauce

The savory taste of fresh herbs or the spicy taste of delicious meats? Take your pick for a sugarless spaghetti sauce. In fact, if you were a firm believer in a tablespoon of sugar in your sauce–we might just change your mind! Both of our sauces use the method of slow cooking spicy meats as a means of bringing out rich flavors. Simmering in the crock pot is a key means of cooking these sauces and I have to tell you, if you think you’d do better to simmer it on a stove–you’d be wrong. So with that said, take … Continue reading →

Seeing Red on Valentine’s Day

If you are not expecting to be treated to a five-course gourmet meal on Valentine’s Day—-join the club. There are many families (mine included) that will be dining at home Thursday night. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Love Day with a festive meal. I’m not talking about an extravagant, expensive dinner featuring steak and lobster (though, that would be nice… it would be even nicer if you weren’t the one having to prepare it). Nor am I suggesting you bypass the main dish and head straight for a delectable Valentine’s Day dessert. Rather, I’m merely suggesting that you … Continue reading →

Making Fresh Pasta

Pasta generally runs for only $1 a box and so frankly, I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra effort to make your own fresh pasta. On the other hand, it always tastes better fresh and if you’re doing flat pasta (or a stuffed pasta like ravioli) it’s just not that hard to do. Making Basic Pasta To make pasta take two cups of flour and put them on a clean counter. Yes, really. . .you’ll save yourself from washing the dish and you’re going to have to dirty the counter anyways. You need to put the flour in a mountain … Continue reading →

Stuffed Pizza

About once every couple of weeks, our family does homemade pizza night. If you have young kids (and honestly even if you have older ones) family pizza night is a great tradition. It’s a great meal to have kids help with as kneading and rolling out pizza dough are easy things to do. Not only that but the best part is, when you make it at home, you can substitute ingredients and make it a little healthier. Using whole wheat flour to make the crust, adding vegetables that your kids like in their toppings, and if your kids don’t like … Continue reading →