Last-Minute Christmas Treats

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

This is it! Christmas is just two days away. If you are still in need of edible gifts to pass out on the big day or you are hosting out-of-town guests, then you’ve come to the right place. The following sweet recipes are extremely easy to prepare and can be on the table or in a decorative tin in about an hour. HOMEMADE COOKIES AND CREME FUDGE Ingredients: 3 cups granulated sugar 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) Evaporated Milk 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) white chocolate chips 1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme 1/2 cup … Continue reading →

10 Fall Plants that Attract the Birds: Part 2

Posted on November 16, 2008 by Mary Ann Romans

In my household, the kids are just as excited to watch the birds outside of our dining room window as they are to watch television. I kid you not. Fall is when they put on the very best show. We have a large bird feeder, as well as some plants that tend to attract a colorful array of birdie personalities. In this series, I’ll be sharing some of the best plants (and trees) that attract birds in the fall. If you missed the first post, just click here. 3. Elderberry When I first spotted the elderberry on our property, I … Continue reading →

Crazy for Cranberries

Posted on October 31, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

Do you remember the last time you ate fresh cranberries? Most people only consume the plump tart fruit on Thanksgiving, and even then, the vast majority of diners are not eating the real deal. Folks, that gelatinous cranberry colored blob that you plop out of a can during the holidays doesn’t do justice to the real fruit. Believe it or not there are a myriad of recipes out there that feature fresh cranberries in their righteous glory. This year consider banning over processed store-bought cranberry-ish blobs from your table, and instead, consider making these delicious fresh cranberry dishes: CRANBERRY CHERRY … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: Apple and Cranberry Meatloaf

Posted on October 10, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

Meatloaf is my friend. If you parent a picky eater then you can surely relate. Meatloaf can disguise a multitude of ingredients that less than adventurous eaters wouldn’t typically touch with a 10-foot pole. Personally, I look at meatloaf like a sponge. It happily absorbs just about any ingredient and dulls its flavors enough so that you know you are eating something other than meat, but you can’t always identify exactly what that “other” item might be. Which makes it the ideal vehicle to sneak in fruits and vegetables your kids might not normally eat without bribes of chocolate chip … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: M is for Muffins

Posted on September 21, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

Studies show muffin consumption increases during the fall and winter months. If you find yourself seeking out recipes for fruity fall harvest muffins each autumn then you might want to add the following to your repertoire. The first is one of my all-time favorite muffin recipes, which features a popular seasonal fruit-—cranberries. This Classic Cranberry Muffin recipe courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa is one of the only ways I can get my preschooler to eat cranberries. It’s a very straightforward recipe that makes enough muffins to feed an entire classroom full of children. The second recipe is for a Fall … Continue reading →