Piña Colada Popsicles

    A few weeks ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to go away for the weekend without the kids for the first time in over ten years.  Although we really missed our boys while we were away, having this time together made us realize how important it is to set time aside whenever possible to bond as a couple.       Since we can't always get away, I started thinking about ways we could do this right at home. This doesn't mean that we can't enjoy some adult treats after the kids go to bed.  It's summer vacation here in New York City so what better way to cool off after a long, hot day than by enjoying some Piña Colada popsicles.  These are strictly for adults as the recipe does include rum. PIÑA COLADA POPSICLES This recipe will make 12 piña colada pops: INGREDIENTS 2 cups pineapple juice 2 cups cream of coconut 1/4 cup rum (or coconut rum) Optional- maraschino cherries DIRECTIONS 1. In a large pitcher, add the pineapple … [Read more...]

7 Tips For Cleaning Produce

    Do you love cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables? If so, you might be wondering what the best way is to clean these items. Making sure your produce items are properly cleaned is the best and safest way to enjoy them, and doing this only takes minutes. If you want to be sure you are enjoying the cleanest produce, take a peek below at 7 tips for cleaning produce. You will be amazed at how easy it is. 1. Buy a vegetable peeler
 Many contaminates can find their way into vegetable skins and even if washed, can still hang on. Buy a quality vegetable peeler so you can remove the peels from items such as cucumbers, zucchini, and of course potatoes prior to preparation. 2. Rinse peeled vegetables Just because you removed the dirty skin, you still need to wash the inside of your produce items. Rinse the items under running water for a good 30 seconds so clean away any debris or dirt, even the stuff that is too small for the eye to see. 

3. Buy a produce brush A produce brush is … [Read more...]

Homemade Meatloaf And Ketchup Recipe

    When I was growing up, there were certain recipes that my mother would prepare regularly that she had learned how to cook from her own mother, my grandmother.  Many times, my sister and I would come home from school and sit with her in the kitchen telling her about our day as we helped her prepare dinner.  One of her favorite recipes was for homemade meatloaf and I was always intrigued by how she mixed all the ingredients together in a large bowl and kneaded her hands throughout the mixture to blend them all together.     These are the recipes that I prepare in my own home for my children.  Not only do they remind me of happy times during my childhood, but they also help me to carry on family traditions with my boys.  They also will often descend upon me in the kitchen to tell me all about how their day went at school.  The best part is that they love meatloaf as much as I did when I was a kid and will usually clean their plates when I serve it to them.  Hopefully your family will … [Read more...]

Make Fresh Shrimp Salad Bites For Your Next Dinner Party!

      I am a huge fan of eating shrimp and always have been for as long as I could remember.  Don't laugh but I often think about what a tragedy it would have been if I had been allergic to shellfish.  I can't imagine what life would have been like without trying shrimp at least once during my life.  Even though I love shrimp, I'm not such a big fan of recipes that force me to spend hours in the kitchen cooking.     When it comes to this Working Mom, I want to prepare dishes that are going to be easy to make, nutritious, and delicious to eat.  That is why I am sharing this Shrimp Salad Bites recipe with all of you.  This appetizer can also be the perfect afternoon snack because it is so light and fresh.  Also, it takes just minutes to prepare and contains flavorful and delicious ingredients. SHRIMP SALAD BITES RECIPE Yields: 30 servings as an appetizer / 4 servings as lunch Ready in 10 minutes. Ingredients: 3⁄4 lb cooked shrimp, peeled and tails removed 2 … [Read more...]