Anyone else grow up in the household of Shake & Bake? The era of frying foods in everything from lard to Crisco? Adding flavor to food by dumping in a packet of a who-knows-what powdery substance with a soup-like name? If you answer yes to any of these, know I’m raising my hand with you! […]

Thriving in chaos. Navigating a conversation in a loud room with ease. Not bothered when jostled. Delightfully picking my way through a throng of people.  If you can’t tell, I am from a large extended family, on both of my parents’ sides. It’s something I am extremely proud of, and isn’t that common. Until recently, […]

Going out to eat. Americans do it on average, 5.9 times a week (including grabbing food on a lunch break and sitting down for dinner; businessinsider.com). Apparently, we’d rather pick up food or sit at restaurant table instead of eating dinner together at our own dinner tables. In terms of going out to eat, there […]

Have you ever used the term, “labor of love?” As in, the said work may not be fun or easy, but is done out of love? I feel it can apply to various challenges in life, but recently I’ve been using it when referring to cooking in the kitchen. The kind of cooking you do […]

Isn’t it interesting how well-loved the pumpkin is? Especially in the current season of fall, the pumpkin is donned and adored throughout the United States. We love it’s look, flavor, and general being. It’s as if the pumpkin has its own personality and vibe. You needn’t look any further than the mass market stores, like […]

Off-brand or name-brand? Local or chain? Discounts or full price? Many decisions in life, even the seemingly insignificant, have angles to be considered. Do you get what you pay for, find ways to get more bang for your buck, or go all in paying top dollar expecting the best? Whatever the purchase, it can be […]

It’s summer, baby! The time for fun in the sun, sand, and sea. Time for adventure, vacations and exploration. Hot days in the sun with fresh food and cool drinks. If none of this resonates with you, it’s possible you don’t like summer. As an American who grew up in the Midwest, summer for me […]

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” Eleanor Roosevelt Are you a traditional type-A planner? Do you thrive on check lists, planners, and calendars, whether paper or digital? Or perhaps you’re more like me and planning and being organized doesn’t come naturally. Maybe you fall somewhere in the middle, although […]

Years ago, when I was about seven or eight, my mom forced my brother to eat liver and onions. He didn’t care for that particular dish, but my mom wouldn’t allow him to leave the table until he’d finished his plate. Liver and onions had not been on my mom’s menu that night. In fact, […]

For a short time after I had my first child, I worked for a tutoring company that had me traveling all over to tutor various kids. Although I enjoyed the kids, the pay wasn’t great, as it was costing me more in gas and babysitters than I was making. Every so often, I think of […]