This is a delicious and healthy granola recipe that can be enjoyed for breakfast with fresh fruit and yogurt or for a treat any time of the day! Sprinkle on fresh fruit, microwave for a few minutes to have instant fruit crisp. ...<< MORE >>

Here are our readers current top 10 favorite recipes. The common theme among these is that they are fast and easy. Plus you'll find they are healthy too, several of the favs are made with organic foods and we even have a vegetarian recipe. ...<< MORE >>

Coleslaw is a great salad for the summer or any time as it is can be made ahead and keeps well in the fridge for several days. This coleslaw dressing recipe is easy and super healthy too. It's low in calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium which is great if you are watching what you eat due to health concerns or if you are trying to lose weight. Cabbage contains lots of fiber and nutrients so enjoy this tasty salad with out worries! ...<< MORE >>

Make this delicious and easy Chicken Cacciatore in your slow cooker this week. Cook up a pot of whole wheat pasta and you'll have a healthy, low fat nutritious meal to serve your hungry family...<< MORE >>

You can't beat cooking roast beef and gravy for Sunday dinner or any day of the week. It's a great one dish family meal or to serve when you have guests. One of things I like about cooking a roast is the left overs, to make another meal and for sandwiches. ...<< MORE >>

This golden colored winter seafood chowder is one my husbands all time favorite soups and it's sure to warm your tummy too. It make a quick easy dinner in 30 minutes or less. Serve it with a green salad and crusty whole grain bread for a complete meal. ...<< MORE >>

I'm going to be a grandmother soon so I've been having lots of fun helping my daughter prepare for the arrival of their first baby and our first grandchild. I'm very pleased that she has decided to breast feed her baby!  "Should I Breast Feed My Baby?" is one of the most important decisions a mother makes. ...<< MORE >>

Anise cookies are a wonderful Christmas cookie to make and bake with you children or for a Christmas cookie exchange. Roll out the dough, cut into holiday shapes with cookie cutters, bake and decorate if desired. This makes a good sized batch so there is enough for sampling and saving for guests. ...<< MORE >>

These low fat lemon muffins are moist and delicious with flecks of nutmeg and lemon peel through out to flavor them. The apple sauce and pineapple juice are what make them moist with out any fat and they are not too sweet. Enjoy your lemon muffins as a healthy holiday snack and they are great for packed lunches too. ...<< MORE >>

These healthy rum raisin spice muffins are made with whole wheat flour and oat bran, plus they are low in sugar and fat. They're perfect for a holiday breakfast or afternoon treat. ...<< MORE >>

 Any time, is a great time to use your slow cooker, and with the cooler weather it's time to enjoy stews again. This hearty beef barley stew is sure to hit the spot with you and your family. It's a delicious one pot meal that contains all the important food groups; vegetables, meat and whole grains. Serve with some whole grain buns or bread to soak up the juice, for a quick and easy dinner. ...<< MORE >>

I thought it would be nice to put together some new, traditional and some unique thanksgiving dinner ideas for you. If you are new to cooking, tired of serving the same old menu or want to try something new this should help. I'll share my recent finds, which are great recipes, photos and ideas you can use to make your thanksgiving dinner extra special or extra easy! ...<< MORE >>

Marinades can be made out of a variety of ingredients, this spicy citrus marinade gives chicken a unique and delicious flavor. When you marinate meat it is best to leave it in the marinade for a minimum of eight hours to get the best flavor, the easiest way is to leave it to marinate overnight in the refrigerator. ...<< MORE >>

You must treat yourself once in awhile and this cherry spice cake with cream cheese icing fits the bill. This moist and delicious cake is perfect for birthdays or when ever you need to make a dessert for someone special. ...<< MORE >>

Carrots are a popular vegetable with kids and adults alike. If your family isn't a fan or cooked carrots they'll love these citrus honey carrots. If you don't have baby carrots peel and slice larger carrots about 1/2 inch thick, on the diagonal. organic carrots a number of years ago and they are the best tasting carrots I've ever eaten. If you ever come across them do give them a try. ...<< MORE >>

These moist pineapple cookies are great for school or packed lunches or any time you need cookies! The glaze is a nice added touch and adds to the flavor. These cookies freeze well. ...<< MORE >>

This is a great time of the year to buy organic produce so I thought I'd share my vegetarian stuffed bell pepper recipe with you. It's a great for a side dish or main course and it's healthy too. It contains lots of healthy fiber, as well as being low in fat and sodium. ...<< MORE >>

As a Mom, you deserve a break and a bit of pampering too. Now, you can't always take a day off just for you. However, you can pamper yourself any day of the week, right at home. These quick pampering tips for moms are sure to give you a quick boost! ...<< MORE >>

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are super healthy and they taste great in this salad, it's no wonder it's one of my family's favorites. I always have to make a big batch when everyone comes home for a visit. I like to chop my veggies small but it's worth the effort, you can make them bite size if you like.  I usually make the low fat version. ...<< MORE >>

This ham and pineapple baked beans is super quick and easy to make. It's great for barbecues with hot dogs, hamburgers, or a side salad and for bringing to a potluck dinner. In fact the first time I had this was at a potluck, the cook kindly shared the recipe with me. ...<< MORE >>

w that I'm just cooking for the two us we've been eating a lot of salads this summer. Sometimes they are a side dish served with grilled meat and other times they are the main dish like this one. I made this quick pasta salad last week, our youngest daughter dropped by the next day and as usual she checked out the fridge for a snack. "You've got pasta salad, may I have some?" she asked.  I replied, "Sure, help yourself!" She liked it except for the peas! Oh well, both hubs and I like peas besides, they and ...<< MORE >>

I was away recently and on my way back home I picked up some organic strawberries. First, we all enjoyed a feast of fresh berries. The taste doesn't compare to anything in the supermarket, sweet and perfectly ripe though out and even the smell of the strawberries was sensational! Then, I got to work preserving the bounty as quickly as I could. I froze most of the berries. This healthy strawberry sorbet is one of the things I like to make with my frozen berries, it makes a really quick and easy dessert or snack for a hot summer afternoon.<< MORE >>

Swiss steak is an economical dish and this recipe makes a nice, healthy low fat gravy with bits of vegetables hidden inside. ...<< MORE >>

Here's an excellent creamy tomato soup recipe, it's great served with grilled cheese sandwiches, made with real cheese of coarse. Isn't that almost everyone's favorite comfort food combination? ...<< MORE >>

This Cherry-Berry Cheese Cake recipes beats instant, no bake cheese cake mixes hands down and it's very quick and easy to make. ...<< MORE >>

Who else wants a safe, natural bleach alternative? Did you know that chlorine bleach, the common household disinfectant that many people have come to rely on can make us sick? The fact is bleach, the chemical sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) can damage eyes, skin and lungs and it's registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as an antimicrobial pesticide. ...<< MORE >>

It seems grilling is a national pastime during the summer and possibly during the entire year. Nothing tastes or smells better than an outdoor barbecue. Cooking out side doesn't heat up your kitchen and it makes clean up easier too. Personally I'm a bit challenged when it come to grilling. How about you? These seven tips for grilling meat may help improve your results. ...<< MORE >>

I love barley especially in soup, this chicken, barley and leek soup recipe is right up my alley. Barley is a wholesome, whole grain so give it a try, it's a nice change from your ordinary old chicken noodle. ...<< MORE >>

This is a very quick and easy, creamy potato soup recipe. I like it because I can whip this up for a quick weekend lunch with staples I always have on hand. It's great to serve when the kids are home and looking for a hearty meal. ...<< MORE >>

This is one of my favorite marinades for steak, I misplaced it for awhile so I'm posting it here so I don't lose it again. My Mother never marinaded anything so the first time I tried it I was worried about what soaking a piece of meat in a liquid would do to it. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded and I discovered the joys of marinating. It really is a great way to tenderize and add flavor to meat ...<< MORE >>

Here's another healthy recipe from my friend Carrie, I can't wait to try this mango rice pudding it sounds yummy. ...<< MORE >>

These are tasty little bundles of beef, cheese and biscuits all spiced up with Watkins barbecue sauce. They are delightful served warm from the oven and great for picnics and packed lunches. ...<< MORE >>

Yogurt cheese makes a wonderful, healthy substitution for sour cream and cream cheese in many recipes. I use it in dips, spreads and cooking. It's easy to make but a bit messy. It's important to use a natural yogurt that doesn't contain any gelatin. ...<< MORE >>

I can't take credit for this photo, I found it at istockphoto and just had to have it!

I've been on the lookout for more organic recipes for you and here's a good one for Mexican Style Rice from my friend Carrie. ...<< MORE >>

You may have heard that white refined sugar isn't very good for you, that it contains no nutritional value. I'm a bit on the fence about this, my sweet tooth influencing me no doubt but I do believe we shouldn't eat too much of it. There are a number of delicious natural sweeteners that you can use on a daily basis as a healthier alternative in your beverages, cooking and baking. ...<< MORE >>

Biscuit mix is a handy staple to have on hand to quickly whip up a batch of biscuits, pancakes or other comforting quick breads. It's really easy to make your own and healthier for your family too, since you know exactly what's in it. I like this recipe as it calls for whole wheat flour. ...<< MORE >>

Natural body care

MommyFest is holding a Blog Party May 12-16, 2008 and moms from all over the net will be blog hopping around visiting other participating mom blogs. You'll have an opportunity to meet, learn a bit more, share and chat with other moms in cyberspace. You can't have a party without presents and treats! Mommyfest is giving away fun prizes so you won't want to miss out! I'll have to see what kind of goody I can cook up for a freebie as well... So click the banner to learn more!

 

Before I forget, Happy Fifth Birthday MommyFest!

These chicken breasts are quick and easy to prepare, moist, tender and super healthy as well. What's not to love about them? Chicken breasts are naturally low in fat, this recipe has no added salt and calls for heart healthy grapeseed oil. You should know if you purchase frozen, seasoned chicken breasts they have quite a bit of salt added, so if you are watching your sodium intake you will want to use fresh or ones you've frozen yourself. ...<< MORE >>

Company is coming, so what are you going to make for dessert? Try this quick apple cake, it not only looks pretty it tastes delightful! Can't you already imagine the taste of apples, cinnamon, cake, caramel glaze and a dollop of whipped cream on top? You are sure to wow your guests when you serve this. ...<< MORE >>

My Mom often made baked apples for dessert and since I just came across her recipe I'm making these as a Valentines day treat for hubby and myself. They make a quick, easy and healthy low carbohydrates, low calorie, low salt dessert but don't tell my husband! ...<< MORE >>

Roasting the butternut squash and root vegetables caramelizes and sweetens them which gives this soup a rich flavor and color. When I was a child my Mom used to serve a variety of healthy vegetables at dinner including squash and parsnips that she grew in her garden. She had a hard time getting me to eat those two in particular but she never served a soup like this one!  ...<< MORE >>

Hello dear readers and subscribers! My apologies for not posting new recipes and homemaking tips recently. I got the flu in November and it really set me back, haven't been sick like that for years and sure do hope you don't catch it. I have also been busy taking care of my lovely customers, helping them with their holiday shopping. Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. Are you ready for the holidays? Whether you are super organized or a last minute sort of person I have a gift for you that I'm sure you will enjoy. ...<< MORE >>

I love my microwave, and can't imagine not having this appliance in my kitchen to cook, defrost and reheat meals. I use it every single day for everything from cooking a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, reheating a bowl of homemade soup for lunch to cooking dinner or baking brownies. In this day and age, anything that saves time is a real lifesaver for the homemaker on the go. When it comes to the microwave, many people don't realize its potential for creating delicious meals and only use it for reheating.  Here are 15 tips that will help you to ...<< MORE >>

I don't know how many times I've heard the question, "What's There To Eat?" From my hungry children and a hungry husband too when they've come home from a busy day. If you are a Mom I bet you have too! I have always tried to keep my cupboards, pantry and fridge stocked with healthy foods. Here is a neat video I thought you might enjoy, it talks about the choices we have regarding the food we feed our children and ourselves. ...<< MORE >>

Ham was a special treat for me when I was a kid as we didn't have it very often. My Mother cooked a real, old fashioned ham with the bone in and always served it with mashed potatoes. She ground up the smaller bits of meat from around the bone, and mixed it with sweet pickles and mayonnaise for a sandwich filling. Then she used the bone to make a wonderful pot of pea soup.  Try this delightful apple spiced ham, you won't believe how good it tastes with the addition of a few extra spices. ...<< MORE >>

Laundry is a fact of life for most of us, we have it easier compared to the homemakers of a 100 years ago. Imagine, having to wash all your family's laundry on a washboard with a bar of lye soap, like they did! It was hard work back then, but today, it's still a challenge to get clean, fresh smelling laundry. We are faced with another challenge as well, what type of laundry products should we use? Convention laundry products or all natural laundry detergent? We want something that is safe for our family and effective too. ...<< MORE >>

I was hankering for meatloaf yesterday, it's one of those comfort foods that's just right for a fall or winter dinner. So, I made meatloaf last night and it was the best ever. Imagine getting excited about meatloaf but I think it was the new Organic Seasoning for Beef that made it taste so good. It's the first time I tried it and it's earned it's place in my spice cupboard. I like anything that is easy and saves me time and this seasoning will be handy for sprinkling on beef before cooking as well as for adding to soups ...<< MORE >>