You may have read my recipe for Jello Gummy Snacks and wondered about ways to make that yummy snack just a touch healthier for your kids. In my family, I have one child who is sensitive to red food dye, so right away using Jello can sometimes be a problem. These Juicy Gummies are a wonderful alternative to that snack and have just a few very simple ingredients. If you are looking for a gummy type snack without all the added “Yuck!” give these a try. Continue reading “Juicy Gummy Snacks (The Healthier Version)” »
I have one son who LOVES gummy snacks. He thinks having a cupboard FULL of fruit snacks is the ultimate in snacking perfection. But, I have trouble finding fruit snacks for a reasonable price that I ACTUALLY want him to eat. Many options are full of preservatives, and the ones that aren’t are at a price that I am just not willing to pay for a “quick” snack. I stumbled upon many recipes online for homemade snacks, but none of them set up to be quite “gummy” enough. They often had a texture much closer to a jiggler, and were not very easy to pack into lunchboxes. So, I set out to create my own. Here is how you can do it at home, super quick and easy! Continue reading “Easy Peasy Jello Gummy Snacks” »
My Grandpa Jack was quite a character. He loved to stop by to visit, have a meal, and talk a little bit. One of his favorite times to do this was near the holiday season, when the house would fill with the aroma of these sweet Molasses Cookies. The warm spices warm your soul, and they are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee. The taste of these cookies reminds me a bit of Chai tea…so I have a serious affection for them. Grandpa Jack never left without his bucket of cookies this time of year! Continue reading “Grandpa Jack’s Molasses Cookies: Sentimental Sunday” »
There is a little tension in my house this week. Okay, a LOT! You see, it’s Buckeye week, the most anticipated candy making session of my entire year. My boys love buckeyes. They may even be addicted to them.
Buckeyes were a yearly addition to all the cookie trays when I was growing up and I have continued that tradition with my own children. But, because they love peanut butter cups all year long, they eagerly await the day that the kitchen fills with the smell of peanut butter and powdered sugar. They eat them off the tray sometimes as fast as I can roll them. And…always…I have to remind them to slow down, because I learned as a child that too many buckeyes can really give you a heck of a sugar buzz! Continue reading “Classic Buckeyes: Peanut Butter Candies your Family WILL Love!” »
This adorable little candy was on every holiday cookie plate my mother made when I was growing up. I always called them Christmas Breakfast candy, but I have no idea where the idea, or the recipe, actually came from. They always reminded me of little dollhouse food, a perfectly cooked egg and two slices of bacon…in miniature. When I had my own kids, I started to make this, too. They became very popular and people started looking for them. My husband looks forward to these little bites every year. They really dress up a holiday cookie plate and look so cute on a Christmas breakfast or brunch table. The best part? They have only THREE ingredients, so you can whip them up in no time. Continue reading “Christmas Breakfast Pretzel Candies: 3 Ingredients to Adorable!” »
It’s the reality of life…sometimes the budget is just a bit tighter than you would like as the holidays come upon you. It may be a surprise bill or a true emergency that sent you into a budget crisis, but it’s hard to picture the traditional holidays when your budget is tight. Don’t fret…so much of Thanksgiving can be found in the traditions of the day. You can still host a nice Thanksgiving, while not putting yourself into debt or running up those credit cards. These simple tips can help. Continue reading “5 Ways to Enjoy Thanksgiving on a Tight Budget” »
My husband loves to be in charge of the turkey every year, and he has experimented with lots of ways to make the best turkey for our Thanksgiving table. But, when it comes to turkey…there are lots of ways to cook that bird. If you are looking for something new this year, these ten ideas can get you started down the right road. Continue reading “10 Ways to Cook the Thanksgiving Bird” »
Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving for the zillionth time or the first time (okay, especially if you are hosting it for the first time), setting the perfect table is fun. If you are going to spend hours in the kitchen, you want a beautiful tablescape to display all your creations. Yes, your niece is going to announce that she is suddenly a vegetarian. Yes, your daughter is only going to eat a roll. And yes, your Uncle is probably going to drink too much and make everyone uncomfortable. But, these 10 Must-Haves for Thanksgiving entertaining will have your home looking amazing…and later, when they all go home; you can finish off all the wine!
And something fun for you to wear over your cute outfit!
Dusty’s Note: This post contains affiliate links. As always, I encourage you to shop around and find items that really appeal to you, but have provided links to come of my favorites as a reference.
Sometimes, around here, dinner is a BIG problem. It’s not that I can’t get dinner on the table, it’s that every single time I do, there is someone at the table who wishes they had something different. This used to frustrate me, and sometimes still does. But, when I started practicing the Design-Your-Own Dinner with my kids…that changed. Last night I made Stir Fry. I got rave reviews from everyone at the table. Why? Because they built their own dinner from the bottom up, and that means they had all the things they love. It’s really that simple. Stir Fry cooks fast, so I can whip up each person’s order in record time, usually a lot less time than I was spending in the kitchen making other dinners. The best part? They don’t even realize how healthy this dinner is. All the vegetables they are consuming are amazing, and the quick cooking time means those veggies are at their peak. Want to Design-Your-Own Dinner? Read on to find out how I do it! Continue reading “The Design-Your-Own Dinner: Stir Fry!” »
