Dessert in a hurry….Baked Cranberry Orange Rice Pudding

Dessert in a hurry….Baked Cranberry Orange Rice Pudding

Baked Cranberry Orange Rice Pudding This baked cranberry orange rice pudding recipe was one of those on the fly creations. Just headed into the kitchen to see what kind of quick dessert I could create!  It’ is always fun for me to just wing it in the kitchen! Get your creative on When I head to the kitchen I love to change recipes up or make them up as I go along based on what is on hand.  Kind of like a kid in the candy store!  Life should be fun as often as possible. It’s good to play with your usual recipes with new ingredients, update the technique and adjust quantities.  Always great to have a change of pace in life whether it’s wearing something new, trying a new restaurant, or even traveling. . Not everything created on the fly turns out as perfect as it sounded in your head but can be amazing too!  Some creations are better than others My Inspiration Leftover Rice Inspiration for this recipe was a large container of white rice from the local Chinese restaurant that was leftover.   I could have turned this into a quick fried rice but had a sweet tooth

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Super Easy Healthy Granola

Super Easy Healthy Granola

My First Granola Recipe The first time I made granola, I found myself researching for an easy cooking method and just what ingredients should be included in the granola. There were many recipes I found so I gathered from all of them what I liked, merged cooking methods. Next I wrote my own recipe that I believed would work well. With that recipe I created my very “first homemade granola”. Merging at least 12 recipes into my own creation. Since that first baking of this granola, I’ve made this about once a month and I do experiment with ingredients based on what’s on hand at the time. Why you should make granola yourself After I made my first batch of granola I realized that I had greatly over spent for years on boxed granola.  You can’t beat the fresher flavor of homemade granola! You are the boss when it comes to cooking! You know your tastebuds best! Experiment!! I love creating in the kitchen which is playtime for me! The best part of making your own is it’s exactly to your taste with the fruits and nuts you love best! And did I mention that the house smells amazing too?

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Baking Bread 101….The Basics

Baking Bread 101….The Basics

Baking Bread 101…The Basics Whole Wheat bread, bread 101 When I was 10 years old when I taught myself how to bake bread. I’d already been cooking by that time for the family on a daily basis. Baking bread isn’t all that difficult at all! There are some basic steps and techniques to follow. Once you understand those basics, the rest is fun and so rewarding with the way the aroma drifts through the house. After the bread cools down to room temperature who could resist cutting into the loaf and slathering it with a favorite spread, butter or even an herbed butter or, maybe even some olive oil with infused herbs? This is one of my very favorite recipes that I’ve made for many years and the one my kids loved growing up.  A nice basic whole wheat bread that works well for sandwiches and for toasting too.  This will make 3 smaller loaves or 2 good sized loaves. The bread once fully cooled and after about 6 hours can be frozen very well wrapped and air tight in plastic bags such as these.  Use this trick….stick a straw into the bag and suck out the excess air to

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Is the Super Woman Complex Dead Yet?

Is the Super Woman Complex Dead Yet?

Are you trying to do it all and over stressing? Are you trying to be a super woman or superman? All of us lead busier lives than our parents ever did! So how does this affect our home life? Hectic! Feeling stressed out? It is still possible to plan and cook healthy from scratch meals quickly but it just takes a little more thought, organization and planning ahead. I had the super woman complex for too many years, and quite honestly that is an understatement!  Just a tiny bit about me:  I have run multiple corporations — at the same time, while working on a variety of charity projects and also sat on board of directors (mostly children’s issues). I am the proud Mom of four marvelous children – two human and two furry. Some ideas for planning organization and planning ahead One of my favorite “kitchen tools” over the years had been a stand alone freezer which I no longer have now that I am living in NYC. The freezing ideas I’m sharing will still work. So many things can be made ahead and even frozen for quick weeknight meals.  I love love love entertaining friends and family!  Drop

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