Calico Beans

This is a meal that is nutritious, filling and Oh, so satisfying!  Beans, meat, tantalizing ingredients will make this one a family favorite!

Get the complete recipe here

Pineapple Dream Cake

An easy, tasty treat made with one of my favorites; Pineapple! This is a sure to please treat everyone will love. Made with a yellow cake base, and topped with a whipped topping mixture, with an added bonus on the top! Sure to appease any sweet tooth. See the full recipe here

Quick and Easy Breakfast Solutions

Mornings;  When everyone needs time but no one has any!  Grabbing breakfast on the run doesn’t have to mean grabbing a doughnut.  Anymore there are a good number of breakfast alternatives at your grocers, such as cereal bars, but breakfast doesn’t neccessarily mean cereal.  Any nutritious foods will make a good start to the day.  Spread some peanut butter and jelly on a tortilla and roll it up.  Kids love those.  You can also put a little butter on a tortilla and sprinkle on just a little cinnamon and sugar. Another Tortilla idea is to spread some applesauce on it, and again, roll it up.

Keep some defrosted frozen strawberries in the fridge and mix a little into the kid’s milk in the morning.  It’s not all sugar like the strawberry syrup you buy in the bottle.  Leftover pizza?  Kids normally like even cold pizza, so if you are in a rush, it would do nicely.

Any type of fresh fruit makes a great breakfast.  Bananas, Apples, Grapes, whatever is in season.  Serve with a glass of milk and the kids are ready to go!  I know few people anymore who actually have time for a sit down breakfast during the week.  The important thing is to try to slip some nutrition in there, if possible.  This need not be hard, just a little thought ahead of time.

Food Presentation

Sometimes, it’s not a matter of having a fancy dinner, or dessert, it is a matter of how you present it.  While most of us have become accustomed to just throwing things into serving dishes as is, it might be nice to occasionally spruce it up a little.

It may sound silly, but I can serve a bowl of mashed potatoes, and get no reaction.  I can serve a bowl of mashed potatoes with a little parsley sprinked on top, or a simple pat of butter, and the family “ooohhh’s”.  It just takes the little things to make a normal meal a bit more exciting and inviting.

Desserts can be made more enticing very simply as well.  Sprinkling coconut over a coconut cream pie is one easy thing to do.  Serving fruit with a “dip” is another thing.  Mix Yogurt and coolwhip and you have a wonderful dip, now just arrange your fruit on a serving platter, and there you have it!

Just remember it doesn’t take much to dress up an otherwise hum-drum dinner.  Try it and see if you notice a difference in your family’s reaction.

Strawberry Fluff with Bananas

This Light, refreshing dessert is a must have for Bar-B-Ques, any dinner, or as a snack.  A delicious no bake dessert.  It is nutritious too!  So simple to make and yet so tasty!  Only 3 ingredients neccessary.  The main ingredient, naturally, is Strawberries.  This can be used not only with bananas but with other fruit as well.  Love Strawberry Desserts?  Get the full recipe for

Strawberry Fluff with Banana Recipe

Chocolate Love Cake (Or Italian Love Cake)

For Chocolate Cake Lovers This cake is also known as Italian Love Cake. This cake is sure to please your family and/or friends.  Cake Mix, cool whip, pudding and a couple of secret ingredients will have you hailed Queen of desserts in no time!  You’ll need several mixing bowls for this adventure in baking!

Simple to make, and starting with basic cake mix (You’ll find I lean toward those recipes) you’ll have a delicious Chocolate Cake dessert in no time!

I tend to be a “Paula Deen” type of cook in that I believe “I am your cook, not your Doctor” so baker beware!
Chocolate Love Cake