Showing posts with label cooking

Happy Friday dear readers. I hope you are enjoying the last few days of summer as much as I am. Even though it's gotten hot here again, I’m turning my thoughts towards fall gardening and homemaking. Last month, I was honored to become an ambassador for Storey Publishing, so today’s book is the first of what I hope to be many collaborations with it for them. Today's review is about the beloved herb Lavender. It's a staple in my here garden.


Lavender in my Herb Garden!



Lavender in my herb garden

Happy Summer friends! Doesn’t it feel good to see friends and family again and welcome them into our homes? I can’t wait to have our first bonfire and cookout of the season, but before I welcome company, I’m going to do a little shopping for some new cooking and serving goodies at the Macy’s 4th of July sale. Check out my shopping suggestions below and see if something sparks your interest.




4th of July sale at Macys.com


It all started innocently enough on Friday evening. I entered a cool giveaway on Instagram for a wonderful craft prize bundle to celebrate March National Crafting Month. I entered and naturally shared the love with a couple of my crafty friends. One of these friends direct messaged me to ask what I’m going to create this month. Great question I said! Because, it seriously is a great question. I may make a new spring wreath, or new garden stakes and plant markers, or I could finally allow myself to set aside the time to learn a new craft like crewel embroidery like my Mom used to do. Or maybe I’ll make a simple pastel flower garland to brighten our hearth and welcome spring. The possibilities are truly endless thanks to all the fun classes available with Bluprint!


What will you create in National Crafting Month? #Bluprintaffiliate


Something magical happens when you bring your kids into the kitchen with you. From the time my girls were able to stand on a stool to help me prepare sweet treats or just their afternoon snack, I’ve loved watching their faces as they work in the kitchen. Sure, there will be messes and plenty of patience testing minutes- but all that is well worth all the fun you’ll have in the kitchen. I received my first box from Kidstir, a cooking kit subscription company recently and I wanted to share it with you today.



Kidstir Spooky Celebration kit #ad


We live south of the newest “IT” city, Nashville Tennessee. Our local news station has a series on the boom in growth Nashville is having and one of the most interesting area of growth to me is the plethora of new places to eat. From fine dining to food trucks; Nashville is making a name for itself as a foodie city



Demos Restaurant downtown Nashville


March is a perfect time to start a new hobby as the days get longer and warmer. For me, nothing soothes the soul quite like making something with your hands. Whether your craft style leads you to the kitchen to cook, the kitchen table to craft,  or to the garden to work in the soil, everybody can be crafty. Yes! Even you! 

This post contains affiliate links and I may receive compensation depending on your actions.

Some of my friends don’t think they have the time or skills to do a craft properly, so I wanted to share some amazing free mini-courses offered online at Craftsy. 


DIY Chalkboard supplies crafts, supplies, fun
Easy Chalkboard Craft

At Craftsy you can:

“Explore DIY classes with hours of professionally-produced content for free! Learn a new skill in art, cooking, photography, knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, woodworking, gardening, cake decorating and much more.


For instance, in March my thoughts turn to gardening and sprucing up our outdoor space. I logged on to Craftsy, went to gardening and found this great free class on transforming your garden design, something I really want to do this year since my front flowerbeds have grown and matured since we moved here years ago and need help.


Free gardening design class online



If gardening isn’t your thing, you’ll find over 40 different free classes available. I found a beginner cooking class that will help any beginning cook feel better in the kitchen. Some of us seasoned cooks could probably find helpful tips from this lesson as well.


Free cooking class fix cooking mistakes



I love all that Craftsy offers, from their helpful FAQ’s, instructors who are so willing to go the extra mile to help you, to their Guarantee.



Craftsy class guarantee, never expries



Win It: National Craft Month Giveaway at Craftsy!


National Craft Month Giveaway


In honor of all of us who love to make things with our hands, Craftsy is giving away a special mystery box full of craft supplies, valued at $700! Entering is easy when you join and there is no purchase necessary. 

Head on over to Craftsy.com now and follow their instructions.  


Good luck and happy crafting! 




Please share in comments: What is your favorite craft and have you started on a project this month?

Welcome to September readers! I know for most us in the United States it still feels like the dog days of summer; but I’m ready to jump back into my regular blog schedule now that the kids are back in school. With September comes a lot of prepping for fall fun and holidays, so it’s the perfect time for me to welcome back my weekly chore prompt.


This week’s chore is a pretty easy one in both time and effort, but be warned- you may get grossed out by what I’m about to show you. 

Are Your Spatulas really Clean?



You may think your spatulas are clean once you run them through the dishwasher, or hand- wash them, I know I did until recently when I was washing a spatula by hand and noticed I was able to pull the top from the handle.



Clean spatulas: My WAHM Plan




When I got it off, this is what I saw.





Dirty Spatulas: My WAHM Plan

Gross right?




Can you imagine cooking with that? No, of course you can’t and neither could I! I grabbed up all the spatulas I’d been using and started pulling the tops off. Some weren’t as bad as others, but none of them were spotless. Time to clean them!



How to deep Clean Spatulas:




Soaking spatulas in vinegar water to clean My WAHM Plan


  • Gather Spatulas
  • In large bowl or dishpan, mix one cup water and a half cup white vinegar
  • Pull tops off spatulas and place both dirty sections in water/vinegar solution
  • Soak for 30 minutes

  • Once they're done soaking, make sure the hole in the spatula top is clean as well. If running under warm water doesn’t dislodge remaining grime, take a bamboo skewer or butter knife, wrap a paper towel around the end and gently wipe around the hole until clean. Be careful not to stretch the hole or the handle may not stay secure.
  • Rinse both parts of spatulas again
  • Allow to air dry



Deep Clean Spatulas ready to use My WAHM Plan


Once your spatula parts are completely dry, reassemble and store as usual. Now you have deep clean spatulas just in time for fall baking and cooking. 



To keep your spatulas clean in the future, be sure to hand wash them after each use and take the top off to clean. If you don’t hand wash your spatulas, simply use my soaking method at least once a week and you’ll never have gross spatulas again.



Please share in comments: Is there an organizing/homemaking topic you’d like to see me cover here on the blog? Please let me know!

The warm summer days and long summer nights are finally here! It's time to get ready to kick off the official start of summer next Sunday by planning your first family picnic, or cook-out!  This is a sponsored post by Lunchbox and I will receive compensation for each approved download. However, I only share information I feel will benefit my readers. 





Kraft can help you plan the perfect celebration with the FREE “Kick Off Your Summer” cookbook! In this cookbook, you’ll find delicious recipes and tips for your picnics, cook-offs, parties and more so you can be known as the “Official Cook of the Summer!”

You'll find awesome recipes like the Philadelphia Fruit Pizza. 



Or these Memphis-Style BBQ Sliders!



Let Kraft help you plan the perfect celebration with the Free Kick off your Summer cookbook! Download your copy today by clicking the pictures above and get busy #CookingUpSummer!  


From a very early age, my daughters have enjoyed spending time with me in the kitchen.  They have graduated up the ranks over the years and can cook a number of things on their own, but there is one appliance that is still a bit intimidating for them to work with; a hot oven. 

As adults, we know that getting hot, bubbling food out of the oven without getting burned is tough sometimes, so I was happy to work with our sponsor today, BrylaneHome, who sent us their 6 slice convection- toaster oven to review and share our thoughts. All opinions are my own. 


About BrylaneHome 6-slice Convection- Toaster Oven:

Convection-toaster oven #BrylaneHome

Their Toaster oven is a multi-use kitchen appliance you will be happy to have on your kitchen counter! Not only is it a toaster, it’s a rotisserie and a convection oven.  You can bake, broil, toast and roast a variety of dishes. It’s small enough to fit on our counter, but big enough to hold a nice size casserole dish. 

I really like the fact that you can set this toaster oven to a low 150 degrees, set the timer and walk away. The toaster oven will automatically shut off.

This is perfect appliance for my kids to use. With the BrylaneHome convection-toaster oven they can make a quick batch of cookies, muffins, or warm up a leftover cheddar drop biscuit or two after school without the hassle of working with the big oven. 


warming up cheddar drop #biscuits

We will be putting this toaster oven to good use come Thanksgiving when oven space is at a premium. I won’t’ have to do the pull, squeeze and shuffle this year when someone else arrives with a dish that has to go in the oven to keep or warm or finish cooking.

The warming feature has quickly become one of our favorites on this Toaster oven. It’s just as easy as using a microwave and you get the feel good warmth of food pulled from the oven.  That’s a win here.


If you are hosting a special holiday meal this year, you may want to save yourself the oven shuffle hassle and head on over to BrylaneHome and check out this convection- toaster oven.



Fall, One of the Happiest Seasons of All

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, September 24, 2012

 
I simply adore this season for a host of reasons and I have passed on that love to my girls.

fall cooking baking fun
Courtesy Ms. T
 


The other morning it was a little chiller than normal and the front window was steamed up from our cat looking out. I hadn’t even noticed it as I got my oldest to the bus on time; but it was THE first thing my youngest noticed. She was so happy to see that steamed up window.  Why does that make you so happy I asked? Because she said “it means that baking season is here”! She is her mother’s daughter.
As if by some physic link my oldest texted my from the bus saying that the nice crisp morning made her think about my Apple Pie. Coincidence? I think not.
See it has been so ghastly hot this summer, here, there, everywhere! That I haven’t done much baking. I was loath to turn the oven on for the 2 minutes it takes to broil some sourdough crustini’s, but there was simply no way my family was doing without them.
We love fall here, not just for the baking, but for the cooking of favorite recipes and the seasonal activities- Fall Festivals, watching football games, going for nature walks on our property, driving down the Natchez Trace to look at the pretty leaves, raking up our own batch of pretty leaves, yard work and prep that is soothing in its traditions. Ever since my girls were little they have helped my ready our yard and porches for winter. This year will be no different. With one exception: they are bigger and filled with more stories and memories.
Fall is a busy, happy time here and I hope it is for you and yours. 
Do you love Fall as well? What is your favorite Fall activity? Share your love with us!


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