And now for a dose of kitchen geekery – Because of summer’s Cobb salads and deviled eggs, hard-boiling has been on my mind. I’m not much for super-specific kitchen gadgets, but even as a kid I really liked the egg slicer (great for strawberries, too!) and egg piercer that Mom used regularly. Recently I tried what…
I’ve been making quite a few Molten Lava Cakes in the past twelve months because they a) are ridiculously easy to make and b) they are a 100% cure for a chocolate craving. I looked at a few recipes online and even one in an issue of Martha Stewart Living, but I wasn’t really satisfied…
The middle school math classes I teach are about 80 minutes long, so I regularly incorporate a “stretch break” of about two minutes. Several students, mostly boys, make a beeline to the cabinet where I keep a Perplexus Maze Game. They love it! I bought several of these about ten years ago for gifts for…
I always have a hard time figuring out what treats to make for Christmas. My mom has her repetoire of favorites and I look forward to them on the rare occasions I get to be in Bismarck for Christmas. I think my problem is that I like trying new recipes. A friend recently asked me…
Love granola bars, but wish they didn’t have so much sugar? Make your own. A perfect back-to-school treat! Chewy Granola Bars Recipe2 cups quick-cooking oats (or 2 cups rolled oats, processed briefly in a food processor)1 cup crisp brown rice cereal 1 cup sliced almonds or coarsely chopped pecans1 cup raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots,…
Today we’d call Thomas Jefferson a “foodie” – a true lover of food who seeks out the best. If he were transported to the twenty-first century, he would be both delighted at the availability of fine foods in our markets and appalled at the poor food choices many of us make daily. Perhaps his “pursuit…
Originating in Mexico and South America, Zinnias are favorites in gardens here and abroad. These annuals are easy to grow and provide summer-long color in the garden. Members of the Daisy family, the zinnia comes in most every color except blue. The twenty-some species include plants that range in height from six inches to over…
The next time you bake sweet potatoes, add an extra one to the oven and save it to make these tasty little treats a day or two later. They are gluten-free, plus you can switch up the type of liquid (regular, coconut, almond, etc. milk) and the amount and type of sweetener (brown sugar, honey,…
Here are a few items to add to my list of favorites! 1. Creamy Coconut dark chocolate bar from Lake Champlain chocolates. Wonderfully smooth dark chocolate with creamy coconut centers. Simple, elegant packaging, too! I still love having the bar wrapped with a foiled paper, then a decorative sleeve over it. 2. Pink Himalayan Crystal…
Everyone loves these cookies! The secret is using real butter and the addition of almond extract. Many sugar cookie recipes call for lemon zest or vanilla extract, which can be tasty as well, but almond really does the trick. Most people really like the flavor of almonds and don’t come across it often, making these…