Diet 4 Success

I can’t believe it, but Valentine’s Day is less than a month away and that means I need a Valentines day gift idea. I want to make a romantic dinner for my boyfriend. Something special that he’ll remember, and I can actually prepare without gourmet cooking skills. We’ve been dating for a year, and he’s not a picky eater, so that helps, but instead of going out and dealing with all the crowds, I thought a romantic dinner at home just the two of us would be nice. We’re homebodies at heart. I started looking through cookbooks for ideas I found a great one; fondue.

It’s seems so 60’s, but you know it’s made a resurgence. There is even a restaurant near my house that serves nothing but fondue. I’m planning a simple dinner of grilled salmon, wild rice pilaf, a green salad, good French bread, wine and chocolate fondue for desert. I’ll use strawberries, pound cake, marshmallows for dipping in the warm chocolate sauce. I love the idea, and think he will too. It’s super easy, and it’s romantic. I bought a great cast iron fondue set online. It’s part of the Rachael Ray Collection. It has two handles for easy transportation, it’s porcelain covered cast iron, so the heat distribution is even, it will retain its heat, and clean up easily. It has a 1.5 quart capacity comes with 6 forks, stands on its own base and has a fuel holder. Best of all, I can use it over and over again. I may even plan a party and serve cheese fondue for an appetizer. I think that’s original! It’s given me new inspiration, and I can’t wait to use it.

My kitchen is overdue for some updating. Of course, it would be a lot easier to tackle it if I had more time and money to do it all. But for now I know I can take care of some of the smaller things that will make the room look a lot nicer. For one thing, I have a lot of clutter on my counter top that needs to be addressed. There are the different stacks of paperwork that needs to be cleared away, plus I need to find a nice organizer to use for the future to prevent future pile ups. I also need to put away some of my smaller appliances that we don’t use as often and find a place for some of my favorite teas and treats. I think a colorful ceramic canister set will add a nice, attractive finish to my kitchen counter. Read more…

My cookware set has seen better days. I have used and abused my favorite pots and pans for a number of years and it shows. Of course, it was a low-budget set so I’m just grateful that they’re still as useful as they are, considering what I’ve put them through. They’ve been with me through numerous moves into various kitchens, and somewhere along the way I’ve lost a cover or two. So I’ve set aside some money to treat myself to a fabulous new set of cookware. I want something that not only performs well but that can last for years without looking to beat up either. I’ve decided to go with a colorful set, like this gorgeous Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel 10 Piece Cookware Set. Read more…

I used to have a miniature crock pot in my kitchen to keep aromatic potpourri simmering all day long in order to send wonderful scents throughout the house. It worked very well and I liked having our house smelling so sweet and yummy all the time.  But, now I’m onto something bigger and better… Orange Spiced Cider.  What a wonderful way to send a sweet and spicy aroma wafting throughout the house, and end up with a wonderful hot drink at the same time!  I used to stir up a spiced cider only during the holidays, but now, every day is a holiday as far as my family is concerned. Read more…

Do you enjoy making homemade soups? I know I do! Sure, there are a lot of prepackaged soup mixes and canned soups available in grocery stores and they certainly make it easy to go from cook top to the table. But the taste simply just can’t compare to the fresh flavors and textures of a rich, homemade soup. Plus most prepared soups are loaded with salt, and I for one could use less of that in my diet. Now the trick to making a good soup is to start with fresh ingredients and a variety of wonderful spices. Last but not least, you need a good-sized pot to make it in, with plenty of room for your ingredients. This Classic 10 Quart Covered Stockpot from Magnalite is a great example of the perfect pot. Read more…

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s always been a time to enjoy family, share good food, and delight in wonderful traditions without the madhouse atmosphere that sometimes takes over at Christmas. Thanksgiving has all kinds of great foods associated with it, from the main entree to all of the wonderful side dishes and desserts. I always look forward to my annual visit to the market to pick out the perfect turkey to cook in my beloved cast iron covered roaster. I’ve found that there’s just something about roasting fowl that really enhances the natural flavor of the meat. Read more…

Are you hosting an event or raffle? The Winners Circle Gift Basket would serve as the perfect reward for any competitor or raffle winner. Food gift baskets are not the traditional prizes for being victorious however they provide a good, pleasing sense of accomplishment. It would benefit the person that wins it because the basket is full of various foods, cheeses, and sweets. That way the winner can share it with friends, family and everyone will find something to enjoy about the basket. Read more…