In my house the hands-down favorite dress-up outfit is fairies. Gossamer wings, fluttery skirts and sparkly wands make for the perfect game of pretend. The girls race around the house bestowing us all with sprinklings of fairy dust, wishes granted and spells cast. I recall my own fairy costume as a child, and as fun as it was, it was never the same without the wand. Waving of hands or nodding of heads didn't cut it when a spell really… Read More

Cobbler usually evokes thoughts of cooler days when the desire for comfort food runs high. When the cobbler is made with berries, though, it's all Springtime to me. This cobbler is little on the 'cheating' side, using canned biscuits in lieu of homemade dough and frozen berries replacing the usual fresh. This will be our Father's Day dessert, and just like any other day here, time is of the essence, so streamlining the preparation was key. My husband is just… Read More

In our home, daddy's favorite meal is breakfast, and because of that we have "breakfast for dinner" often. One thing dad likes is breakfast sandwiches made with waffles or pancakes, egg, cheese and sausage. We also enjoy a good strata, and on one recent "breakfast sandwich night" I got the idea to turn this handheld favorite into a one-dish-wonder. It turned out so well that I can see it being requested for many meals. Although it's delicious as-is, the maple… Read More

Here's another great way to use one of those rotisserie chickens sold at the deli in your favorite grocery. I love lettuce wraps; they're like egg rolls without all the extra fat and calories. I'm lucky enough to have kids that will eat lettuce, among lots of other veggies, so these are great for us. I like using the rotisserie chicken since it's already cooked and more tender than other pre-cooked chicken products. It's also pretty straight-forward without extra preservatives… Read More

I think pasta is one of those great discoveries (inventions?) that the world wouldn't continue turning without. Ravioli is one of my favorite types of pasta. We've had it straight up with tomato based sauces and Alfredo, to a casserole made with layers of ravioli, cheese and sauce. While we most often have it for dinner, I also like to make a quick and different appetizer with it. I tried to do a no-bake version of this, but the result was… Read More

Edamame (ed-ah-MAH-may) are boiled green soybeans commonly served as an appetizer in Japanese restaurants. They have become more common in Western culture in recent years. Most often sold in the U.S. frozen in shelled or unshelled form, they are packed with vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, protein and fiber. They're crunchy and mild without tasting like a bean at all. My kids love them straight from the shell. They especially like them paired with two… Read More