For many years I was intimidated by cooking fish. My idea of having fish for dinner was to pick up a package of frozen fish sticks. Thankfully I progressed a little bit beyond that option and we now have several homemade recipes for baked fish at our house that weRead More

I first learned about this chicken stir fry recipe when I went to a cooking demonstration quite a few years ago.  The demonstrator brought along an electric fry pan and had this tasty dish whipped up in no time. We were then all able to have a taste test andRead More

I hope I never get to a point in life where I want to stop learning.  I’m fully aware that as life moves along, it’s all too easy to get comfortable with the familiar and the temptation creeps in to just rest with what you know now.  Why bother toRead More

Do you feel a little intimidated by the thought making your own fish dinner entree at home?  I was too, for longer than I would like to admit.  I spent way too many years thinking that a good fish filet dinner was best had at a restaurant, and at homeRead More

Comfort food, especially in the cold winter months, often comes in the form of casseroles and other warm saucy dishes. Sure, a salad is healthy, but it just doesn’t warm you from the inside out like a dish of food that’s all hot and bubbly. We need the comfort ofRead More

When you think of Beef Teriyaki, do you think of one of those little Chinese take-out boxes? That’s how it was for me for many years.  I had no good recipe to make at home for a traditional Chinese dish like Beef Teriyaki. I’m happy to say that’s finally changedRead More

  I was greeted this morning by a front page article in my local newspaper that was yet another reminder that we’ve had one of the harshest and coldest winters in recent memory. This is true in my home state of Michigan and in many other parts of the U.S.Read More

  I’ve thought about sharing my go-to recipe for homemade BBQ many times, but then always decided against it.  Why? Because I never measure anything. Is it even really a recipe? But the more I thought about it I decided this is a good thing to share because it’s moreRead More

  When it comes to making homemade alternatives, I find there can be several different reasons for why I find a recipe is a good choice.   If a recipe is quick and easy to make, if it saves money, or if it has superior taste or quality, then I’ll findRead More

  Every now and then I still like to take a cookbook off my shelf and page through it for inspiration.  If I’m looking on the internet for a recipe, I usually have something specific in mind already that I need instructions for.  With a cookbook, however, I start browsingRead More

I’ve always been intimidated by cooking a whole chicken and I don’t really know why.  I always had my excuses for not giving it a try which sounded something like this . . . ~  The boneless, skinless chicken breasts are so convenient ~ I like white meat better anywayRead More

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food loved by both kids and adults.  In most households it also means getting the handy little macaroni and cheese mixes from the store. Easy and convenient, but don’t you sometimes wonder what’s really in that envelope of mystery cheesy powder mix?  ItRead More

Applebees used to have this wonderful little appetizer called the Veggie Patch Pizza.  It had a nice thin crust, tasty veggies, and lots of melty cheesy goodness.  It was my favorite thing to order and even though it was an appetizer, for me it was the perfect size little pizzaRead More

Are you a thin crust pizza type of person?  If you are, then I think you’ll like this frugal recipe for a homemade pizza crust that only uses just a little over one cup of flour. I’ve been looking for a good recipe for a homemade pizza crust for aRead More