I don’t know why I’d not previously considered combining pears, maple syrup, and spice cake, but I’m sure glad I thought of it last week! In order to make my idea come to life, I augmented a spice cake recipe that I found on allrecipes.com (you can see the original, pear- and maple-free recipe here). Ingredients 2 pears (firm enough that … [Read more...] about Maple-Glazed Pear Upside-Down Cake
Keeping the Home
Winter 2013 Menu
Brrrrrr! Cold temperatures have set in and Christmas is just around the corner, so it’s time to start using this year’s winter menu. As you may recall, I periodically develop monthly menus. We use each for 3 consecutive months before moving on to a new one (read more on why I plan monthly menus here). We only include dinner selections … [Read more...] about Winter 2013 Menu
Navigating the Nutrition Maze: Fresh, Frozen, or Canned Fruits and Vegetables?
It’s clear that fruits and vegetables are key components of a nutritious diet. What’s not so clear is what impact various forms of preservation have on the nutrients in these foods. Are there significant differences in the nutritional content of fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables? If the answer to this question is yes, then … [Read more...] about Navigating the Nutrition Maze: Fresh, Frozen, or Canned Fruits and Vegetables?
Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza
I had a hankering for caramel apples about the time my husband and I needed to take a dessert to our small group. I didn’t want to make caramel apples per se, but I wanted to preserve their flavor in a unique dish. I got creative and here’s the result. Ingredients Pizza dough - 2/3 cup warm water - 2 cups flour (I used white whole … [Read more...] about Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza
Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Lint in Clothes Dryers
Lint can be very pesky as it accumulates in and around clothing dryers. Removing lint is a critical part of dryer maintenance. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, clothes dryers are responsible for approximately 2,900 fires in residential buildings in the U.S. each year. This risk is minimized when dryers are maintained properly. … [Read more...] about Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Lint in Clothes Dryers
All About Apples
Is the produce department at your grocery store packed full of apples? I’ve seen quite a few where I shop and I’m eager to bake some sweet treats with them. I looked up some general information about apples as I perused recipes. Apples are pretty awesome for being such an understated fruit! Varieties Though there are nearly 100 … [Read more...] about All About Apples
Chicken Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese
This variation of macaroni and cheese has turned out to be one of the tastiest dishes on our menu this fall! Ingredients 1 chicken breast, cooked and cut into bite-sized cubes 4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled 3 cups macaroni (uncooked measure) 1/2 cup sour cream 3 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix 4 cups shredded … [Read more...] about Chicken Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese
Fall Home Maintenance
If my husband and I hadn’t previously felt the full weight of the responsibility of home ownership, we’re certainly feeling it now. A kitchen sink that wasn’t draining and an appliance that wasn’t working reminded us that we don’t have a landlord to call for repairs. These incidents highlighted the importance of performing routine … [Read more...] about Fall Home Maintenance
