Tomorrow is Cheese Ball Day!

By Dianne Ruyack Cheese Ball Day is always April 17th! Some people might get confused as to what kind of cheese ball I am talking about? The word cheese ball can actually refer to two very different foods. The first type of cheese balls are the dairy Cheese Balls. I always thought they were for [...]

Curds and Whey: Different Ways to Eat Cottage Cheese

One of my favorite foods is cottage cheese by far! Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks all can include this protein packed food. Cottage cheese is a very healthy way to sneak in some dairy and protein to your meal. You can make cottage cheese taste a bit savory, like a typical cheese, or can even be paired with something sweet, like fruit.

A common grumble with cottage cheese is that it is a bit bland and some of the kids might not be wild about getting a bowl full. If you are in a run, here is a wonderful site I found of 101 ways to get cottage cheese.

A Healthier Cookie?

By Diane Ruyack What is crispy or chewy and goes with milk as a delicious snack or dessert?  Cookies! How do we make them healthier?  Here are some suggestions and ideas to help.

Super Bowl Snack Ideas

By Diane Ruyack Super Bowl XLVI is less than a week away, and it’s time to start planning the menu!  Take some inspiration from the following game day statistics to either follow the trends or to take the food path less traveled with healthy and gourmet game day snacks. Super Bowl Sunday is the second [...]

Celebrate New Years Your Way

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and will be here before we know it. I am one of those people that put a great deal of pressure on what I am doing and who I am with when the ball drops. And yes, I realize this is silly and I have to remind myself it should be a time of reflection and a time of being thankful for the previous year and the year to come. This holiday is notorious for producing high expectations and people want to make the night special. It’s not how much money you spend that makes the evening memorable.

Cabin Fever – Find a Cure for your Kids!

Winter months do bring the holidays, but they inevitably also bring on a case of cabin fever. You might ask: How will I know when my family has come down with this serious illness? The symptoms are easy to spot. You will know by the repetitive opening and closing of the refrigerator, complaining that nothing is on TV and the whining that sounds something like ‘I am bored!’ The good news is that there is a cure! The number one suggestion is to get out of the cabin, if possible (unfortunately, this isn’t always possible). So, on those occasions where leaving the cabin is impossible, it is important to act fast with indoor activities and games to cure your family.

National Cocoa Day

Hot chocolate (also known as hot cocoa, drinking chocolate or just cocoa) is a heated beverage that typically consists of chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar.” Tomorrow is National Cocoa Day. This holiday celebrates all the uses of “Cocoa” but what comes to mind most is a delicious cup of hot cocoa. To celebrate National Cocoa Day, make your favorite type of cocoa to enjoy. For a twist during the Holidays, try adding a candy can to your traditional cup of cocoa!

Fall is in the air—Please Pass the Cocoa!

I remember a few years ago a friend brought her five young children out to ride the horses at our place in the country.  After the ride, one of the little boys took me aside and said, ‘you know what would really be nice?  If you made us cocoa!’  How do you pass up an [...]

Happy National Pecan Cookie Day!

I know for many Americans the pecan cookie is a favorite. For those that prefer sweets on the saltier side, pecans transform cookies into a salty/sweet masterpiece. The native American nut provides a pleasant, textural crunch as well as rich buttery flavor to any variety of baked goods. Pecan cookies are great because there are so many different recipes for these delicious cookies.

Squashed Macaroni & Cheese

By Diane Ruyack When temperatures begin to drop, nothing hits the spot like comfort foods. As your family gears up for a season full of fun and festivities, you will want your kids to eat better and be healthier. Eating dinner together is a challenge between work schedules and after school activities. It is tough [...]