Marinade Magic

Marinades are a delicious and an easy way to give your food a lot of flavor by exercising patience.  There are several companies who have a collection of different marinades on the market.  Don't feel overwhelmed when trying to figure out which flavor you would like your meat or which marinade is best matched with which meat.  Try a couple different ones even if they do not specify on the bottle to use it with your specific meat.  I usually use the darker marinades with dark meats like steaks, burgers and roasts and lighter marinades for chicken, fish and pork.  Pork and burgers are very versatile when it comes to the light and dark marinades.  Just pick your favorite flavor already prepared marinades or try a rub, which is a combination of spices. 

The most important thing to remember is to let the marinade sit on the meat for a minimum of one hour.  The longer it sits the better the result.  You can use a bowl with a lid or Ziploc bag, as long as the meat is completely covered with marinade.  Add your marinade to a Ziploc bag or bowl and  your meat and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator.  When you prepare the meat you will have marinade magic.  Also, if you don't have marinade on hand, a regular bottle of Italian dressing always works well and will make any meat a delicious marinade.  You can even make a homemade marinade using equal parts oil and vinegar with a combination of herbs, spices and/or citrus.

Healthy Substitutes

Changing our eating habits isn't always easy.  Sometimes you have to begin with small steps to eventually eat healthy and make healthy choices on a daily basis. 

One of the first things I did was switch from white bread to wheat bread.  Whole wheat is even better.  This switch is important because white bread is processed to remove valuable vitamins and also sugar is added.  Wheat bread is known to improve your heart's function and improve your digestive health.  A simple change like this can jump start your body and give you extra energy. 

Another change I made was to replace butter in certain recipes that you need to saute or make rice, with olive oil. Olive oil is good for your heart and lowers your blood sugar.  This small change does not make a big difference in the taste but does make a difference in how healthy the meal is. 

The final thing I have began to do is keep a stock of my favorite fruit.  So, if I have a craving for something sweet, I grab a naturally sweetened piece of fruit.  And if I decide to have another one, I won't feel guilty about it like I would after eating sweets.  Fruit reduces your risk of chronic diseases and gives you a boost of energy similar to a sugar rush but without the crash.  There are more ways to make small changes to your eating habits.  Eating right won't happen overnight, but you have to start some where!

Pasta Sauce

One of my favorite things to eat is pasta.  It is easy and versatile.  There are hundreds of pasta and sauce combinations to ensure that I'll never get bored.  It is often filling when made as a main dish, and goes well with salad and bread.  There are a variety of pasta sauces available in the jar like spaghetti sauce, marinara, or cheese.   While some are good, there is nothing like freshly made pasta sauce. 

A simple recipe for alfredo sauce begins with the basic white sauce or bechamel sauce recipe I learned a long time ago.

Ingredients are:
2 tsp butter
2 tsp flour
1 cup milk (or cream)

Add butter and flour to a saucepan. Blend together on medium heat until light brown and bubbly. Slowly add the milk to the mixture and whisk or stir until it returns to a boil.  Remove from heat and sauce will thicken upon standing.  Season to taste.




This is the foundation recipe for other sauces.  To turn this into alfredo sauce add about 1 cup of parmesan cheese.  To turn this into an herb sauce add you favorite herbs.  To make a cheese sauce just add your favorite cheese.   Sometimes I don't have the time to make a fresh spaghetti sauce so I am known to use it out of the jar.  To give jar sauces a fresher taste I usually add a fresh ingredient.  For spaghetti sauces I add a fresh diced tomato and for alfredo sauce, fresh cheese and a little milk.  This works well with a lot of jarred sauces.  Let me know how your pasta comes out!

One Food, Two Different Chefs, Two Different Tastes!

I always have a saying that I use when talking about food.  It's "try everything twice".  The reason I say this is because a lot of times people try a food and then make the decision that they don't like it.  First impressions are important for food, as well as, people.  It's important to give food a second chance because many factors can determine whether you like.  Texture can be a determining factor because food can be cooked in different ways which will change its character.  Another factor that can change is the taste which can be determined by other ingredient added to it or the method of preparing and cooking it. 

A third factor that can change the food is how it is packaged.  Taste can be changed significantly by purchasing an item that isn't fresh.  It could make the food bitter.   The packaging could be fresh, canned or frozen and can make the flavor change the whole recipe.  Since each chef's interpretation of a food is different it's always a good idea to try it once and then try it again prepared a different way by a different chef.  You can compare this to the common question, "How do you like your eggs?".  Many people enjoy eating eggs but they don't always like them prepared the same or one standard way.  Think of your other foods the same way and try something new.  

Fresh, Frozen, Canned! Which one is Best?

Which way is best?  Well it all depends on two things: what it is and how you like it.  Of course, most can agree that fresh is always better.  It has not been processed, over salted, or been introduced to artificial ingredients.  Buying fresh means it’s in its purest form, which means you can add what ever flavors you want or none at all.  On the contrary, it may also be the most expensive choice mainly because the shelf life is not very long.  Another down side is buying fresh may also mean it is not always available depending on the season or the outcome of the crop.

Frozen foods are great because they closely capture the original fresh taste but can be stored for much longer.  They also can be flavored the way you want them to be or they can be purchased alreadyflavored and seasoned.  They are available year round which makes it convenient to have your favorite foods no matter if they are in season or not.  On the contrary, frozen are not always low in cost but compared to fresh they are less expensive.

Finally, canned foods are the lowest in cost.  They are convenient and have a long shelf life which allows you to buy in bulk.  On the contrary, canned foods have a lot of additives to help conserve them in the can for extended periods of time.  This also takes away from the vitamins that you would have gotten from the food before processing.  It is easy to empty the can and just heat but be careful when adding salts because salt is used to preserve the food even if you cannot taste it.

I personally love fresh vegetables when I can get them for a reasonable price, but my second choice would have to be frozen.  Some things just don’t taste well to me personally from a can.  You have to be your own judge and try out the same foods in all three forms in order to make an informed decision on what tastes best to you.  It all depends on if you’re choosing based on flavor, convenience, health, or recipe.  You be the judge.

Crockpots (A busy parent’s best friend)

The crockpot has been around for many years. The design has changed over time but the popularity has not. Especially for those of us who live busy lives, but still want to come home to a hot meal. The number one reason that parents choose fast food for dinner is because it is quick and doesn’t require a lot of time to prepare. Just a quick drive to the fast food place and dinner is ready in an instant. While fast may be good for the sake of convenience, you may be sacrificing your hard earned dollars as well as needed nutrition that is not offered in processed foods.

Let’s say you wanted to feed a family of four a fast dinner at an average of five dollars a person, it comes out to be $20 dollars a day. So you were too busy throughout the work week to cook, so you spent $100 a week just on fast food. After a month, you have spent over $400 bucks on fast food. I won’t even tell you how much a year that comes out to be. Faster is definitely not better so let’s slow down a bit. The crockpot can help you make healthier meals that are made with love and done by the time you get home at a fraction of the cost. It takes less time to throw ingredients in the crockpot in the morning before work then it does to drive to the fast food restaurant, place your order, pay the cashier, wait for your food, and drive back home. There is nothing better than the aroma of a home cooked meal that is waiting for you and your family to enjoy after a long day at work. There are thousands of cookbooks and recipes dedicated to helping you make the most out of your crockpot. Your wallet and your family will thank you for making this simple change.

Its important to know what your worth is when looking for a job.  It may seem discouraging because so many have lost their jobs.  You should always have a positive attitude and go for positions that are appealing to you.  Not only is pay important, but taking a position that you will not eventually dread agreeing to.  Think about the things that you enjoy most, and would do without being paid.  Those are the type of positions that give you the feeling of happiness and success.  In a perfect world, we would get paid lots of money for not doing much at all, but in this world if you can't find what you are looking for then you need to try something else.  Hard work will pay off in the end.  So don't paint yourself into a corner thinking you have to work for someone else all your life.  Make the perfect job for you!

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Eating at Home

In our society, people have less and less time. They say their is no time to prepare a meal at home for the family because of work, appointments, school, children, and other responsibilities.  Fast food because a quick but expensive answer.  It may be quick but it is far from nutritious.  If you struggle with picky eaters, it may be helpful to make time to prepare meals with your children.  This can help them to explore new foods, and they are more likely to eat things they prepared with their own hands.  It improves self confidence and self esteem!

Get Organized!

Your time is important to you.  Sometimes you may feel like their isn't enough time to do all the things you want to do.  If you allow yourself a reasonable amount of time, and list the goals you want to complete, you can accomplish a lot more than you could before.  Start by making a list of all the things you would like to get done.  Then, by each one, give an estimate of how much time needs to be devoted to each task.  Finally, make a schedule and try your best to stick to it.  Allow time for extras like eating and transit.  If you are having a problem sticking to the schedule, use an alarm or timer to ensure your using your time effectively.  Being organized will increase your sense of efficiency.

Vegetable Container Garden

If you love to cook at home as much as I do,  then you may have noticed the prices of fresh produce has gone up and is continuing to rise.  Sometimes when we are prevented the things we need, we are forced to find other ways of getting them.  This can become frustrating to depend on an economy that is failing.  I decided to take matters into my own hands and start a vegetable garden.  Instead of planting in the soil, which would have caused problems because of the cold weather and constant rain, I started a container garden.  I invested in large pots and nutritious soil and have watched my garden grow vigorously.  Since my plants are in containers, they can be put inside or outside.  When you are buying seeds its best to invest in organic seeds instead of the cheaper seeds you see in your local store.  The cheaper seeds or non-organic seeds are genetically altered.  Organic seeds will guarantee your harvest comes back annually.  There are many books available to help you become a expert container gardener.

Flatbread Pizza

The other night, I had such a craving for pizza.  I had been planning on making a pizza but forgot to purchase the crust and pizza sauce.  I realized I had spaghetti sauce and could attempt to create my own homemade crust, if necessary.  I was too hungry to wait, but I noticed a picture of a pizza on the back of the flat bread on my table, which I grabbed last time I was at the store.  I didn't have a recipe, only a picture, so I went for it.  Apparently, I didn't leave it in the oven long enough so the flat bread became soggy.  Next time, I'll have to cook the bread alone before adding toppings.  I'll keep you posted. The pizza would have been perfect with these toppings: Sauce, cheese, spinach leaves, onion, fresh tomato slices, banana peppers, mushrooms, and onion.  Here is the before and after pictures.

Delicious Meals on a budget

Things are so tight now a days with gas, food, and other prices going up daily.  I would love to go out to eat every night and have my favorite foods, but its just too expensive.  I have a suggestion for those of you who love gourmet as much as me.  Go to your favorite restaurant's website and check out the menu.  Many of them have details about what the ingredients are in their menu items.  Try to make it at home.  You can make a lot more and enjoy it for a little longer.  If that doesn't work, you can always search recipe websites with your favorite knock off recipes.  Most of them are pretty close if not exactly the same as the ones you pay for in your favorite restaurant.

Olive Garden is one of my favorites because I have a fetish for pasta.  I found a recipe for the Zuppa Tuscana soup online and made it at home.  It was everything I remembered it to be!

Job Hunting Alternative

Its important to know what your worth is when looking for a job.  It may seem discouraging because so many have lost their jobs.  You should always have a positive attitude and go for positions that are appealing to you.  Not only is pay important, but taking a position that you will not eventually dread taking.  Think about the things that you enjoy most, and would do without being paid.  Those are the type of positions that give you the feeling of happiness and success.

Looking in the paper may not reap you the rewards or answer you are looking for.  Sometimes you have to think outside the box.  That may mean creating a new position that is not already available.  Think about the things that you have complained about that you wish was available to you, or that would make your life easier.  Chances are their are others that feel the same way.  This can be an opportunity for you to have fun, provide for your family and create a niche that no one else has.  This could lead to big bucks if you stay consistent and do not give up!

Salad Bar

This past weekend I graduated and I was asked what kind of menu I would like for my party.  It took me a while to decide on or two favorites.  Plus, I wanted to keep it as healthy as possible.  I had a flash back of the days my family used to go to 'Ponderosa Steakhouse' when we still had one.  My favorite part was the salad bar.

There were so many different selections to create the perfect salad.  I requested a recreation of the salad bar for my party.  It had romaine lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, onions, peppers, eggs, ham, turkey, broccoli, bacon bits(real), three kinds of cheese, and I'm probably forgetting something. It was absolute heaven! I like to go out to eat to try new foods, but I know I can make it better and cheaper at home.  The second plus is I can have seconds and maybe thirds for the same cost.  I encourage you to try it!