It’s hard for me to believe that it’s nearly Thanksgiving.  Doesn’t it feel like we were just putting up Halloween decorations and carving our pumpkins, doesn’t it? Now family is calling to see what the plans are for Thanksgiving, who is cooking what, and who needs to bring the wine, desserts, or other such goodies. Some families do a potluck-style meal, where everyone does the cooking, thus making it easier on the host or hostess and all ensuring everyone has their favorite dish at the feast.

Many people like to create a more lavish feast, setting the table with their best dishes and silver and cooking all of the entrees, side dishes, and pies themselves. I know others that enjoy eating out in a nice restaurant to celebrate the day. If you don’t like cooking, you can even order much or all of the meal from the grocery store. While it might not be the same as homecooked meals, it can make the day much less stressful if cooking is not your strength. It will also give you more time to spend with friends and family since you won’t be working all day in the kitchen.

Suddenly the beautiful fall colors are everywhere! The stores and garden centers are stacked with Halloween decorations, colorful mums, and rows of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. The air is crisper and it feels to good to get outside and enjoy the day without dealing with heat and humidity. The acorns are already hitting the ground and soon the leaves in the trees will be putting on quite a colorful show.

Before you know it we’ll be planning for the upcoming holidays that traditionally follow Halloween like Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, and New Years Day. But for now it’s nice just to enjoy the new season that’s just begun. We’ll be turning on the oven more, cooking bigger meals, baking more desserts and filling our homes with the delicious smells of homemade goodies.

Do you ever feel like you have run out of ideas to make for dinner? Especially in the summer when you’ve likely been barbecuing every weekend. Then of course there’s pizza, which many families order weekly.  Lots of people make slow-cooked meals during the summer. One of our friends likes to make thick bean soups for her family with some hearty homemade bread on the side. It’s an easy meal that’s very satisfying and very inexpensive. Plus there’s always leftovers for later in the week.

You can have fun with the menu too. One night can be taco night. It’s a lot of fun for the kids since they can put their tacos together anyway they like with options such as cheese, meat, lettuce, tomatoes, sauce, sour cream and other simple sides. Or you can try a meal from a different country each week. It’s easy to find recipes online and it puts a whole new spin on dinner. Plus it’s a great way to introduce new foods and flavors to the whole family.

With many children home from school for the summer, it takes a bit of creativity to find budget-friendly activities to keep them busy. If you’re one of the lucky ones with your own pool, then you’ve got one of the best ways to entertain the children right in your own yard. Of course, you’re also bound to be a popular house for the other kids in the neighborhood, so you’ll need to have extra snacks and drinks around. Instead of bearing the cost all by yourself, you can do what many others do and have the other parents chip in for the refreshments. Most are happy to do it since so much of the activity is taking place at your home.

 Besides all of the yard games that can be played, you can also treat the kids to a special movie day at home. You can have them pick out one of their favorite movies, make some fresh popcorn and settle in for some good family entertainment. Movie days are perfect for rainy days as well as for days when everyone needs a break from the heat. Other days you can also get out and explore some of the local parks and museums if they’re some in your area. Many of these activites are free or very inexpensive. The summer days will pass rapidly, so have fun enjoying your time with family.

During the summer we often have a lot of company that comes to visit. Mostly it’s because our family is spread out across the country and it’s the only time many have off from school for extended vacations. So they’ll hit the road for a couple of weeks to visit a few of us and spend time camping out in our homes. It’s always fun to spend time catching up on things and just enjoying simple things together. With the price of gasoline, it’s nice to not have to shell out for hotels too. Plus we all get a lot of time together like we used to. One of our favorite things is to sit down to a big breakfast, using our Oster Family-Size Electric Griddle to cook up big batches of eggs and pancakes.

We love this griddle and use it nearly every weekend, even when we don’t have company. The beauty of an electric griddle is that you can cook anywhere in your kitchen, so you’re not restricted to the stove top. This griddle also has a ‘keep warm” tray that slides right underneath so we can keep the sausage and bacon warm while we cook our pancakes. It’s a good size to and it has a removable drip tray for easy clean-up when we’re finished. The Oster Family Size Nonstick Electric Griddle makes it easy to conveniently create your favorite family-sized breakfasts and dinners anywhere on your kitchen counter top. Included warming tray slides from underneath keeping portions fresh and warm for the whole family. Anyone who enjoys cooking would surely get a lot of use out of a great nonstick electric griddle like our Oster griddle.

Less than a week now until Mother’s Day. There are a lot of great ways to help your Mom celebrate her special day on this Sunday May 10th, 2009. It does have to get expensive to let Mom know you appreciate her and that you’re thinking of her today. If you still live home, it can be the simple things like treating her to breakfast in bed and taking care of dinner at night. If you have little ones at home, they can make her a card or small homemade craft gift like a picture frame or handprint art. And let Mom take the day off spending it the way she’d like, whether it means going out shopping by herself or spending the day relaxing at home.

If you want to splurge, you can buy her something special she’s had her eye on for awhile or treat her to a gift package at a popular day spa. Whatever you choose to do will be appreciated if it comes from the heart and shows you put some extra thought into the gift. All you have to do is remember how much Mom does to keep everything running smoothly at home and it will inspire you to come up with just the right present.

We recently had a lot of company at our home and did a lot of entertaining day and night. We had a lot of big breakfasts to serve and tried to get creative with lunch ideas and dinner menus. Of course sometimes we simply took the easy route and had a big pizza and salad night for dinner one evening and we went out to dinner another. But for the nights we ate had home we had a lot of fun entertaining and including tasty appetizers and fresh fruits and dips too. We have our Perfect Party Platter and other great serving dishes for times just like these.

Anyone who enjoys entertaining would get a lot of use out of a quality ceramic serving platter like this one. We use it for chips and salsa, shrimp and sauce, fruits and vegetables with dips and for desserts too.  It’s large twelve inch size is perfect for our needs and the dipping portion holds about 8 ounces.  We use this particular dish quite often as it’s one of our favorite and most versatile kitchen serving bowls.

Whether you’re celebrating Easter or Passover, it’s likely you’re looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying your favorite traditions. Since many of us that have family living far away,  the holidays give us the chance to spend time together and catch up on each other’s lives. Cousins get to know each other and play together, siblings bring up all of the old stories from childhood again. And let’s not forget that it usually includes a big meal followed by a variety of delicious desserts.

It’s fun to host the holidays, but it can also be a lot of work. If the dinner is at your home, maybe you can take it a little easier this year and let more people bring their favorite dishes and desserts. It might be a mix of items you might not normally serve, but it sure will give you more time to relax instead of spending most of the day in the kitchen. Plus everyone is guaranteed to have a least one of their favorite dishes that day.

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad to feel spring in the air. The air is filled with that beautiful feeling of possiblities and newness. The flowers are starting to pop up and the trees are beginning to bloom. Of course, it was a particularly cold and long winter here, and topped with the constant barrage of negative news - well the brightness and cheery sunshine is even more welcome.

Pretty soon spring will be in full force and then it will be Easter. Family gatherings filled with good food and good company, the simple things that make everything right. I am already dreaming of summertime and swimming in the pool or making a trip to the beach. Sometimes it’s hard to decide what my favorite season is as there’s something wonderful about all of them.

When I was growing up there was this great wine & cheese place in town that served the best fondue. My friends and I would sit and visit for hours enjoying a nice glass of wine with some delicious cheeses and fondue. We’d dip chunks of bread in the warm cheese sauce or fruits like melon and strawberries in rich melted chocolate. So to me fondue brings back memories of warm, fun gatherings and special times. That’s why I love this Rachael Ray Enamel Cast Iron Fondue Set.

I really like the bright orange color - the set just makes me want to have a party!  Rachael Ray cookware has a great reputation too, so I’m sure it’s very well-made just like their other pieces. The set includes the fondue pot, the base, 6 fondue forks, and the fuel holder. This uniquely stylish serveware is sure to liven up any gathering at your home. Plus fondue is fun for the kids too!

Well it’s a few days early but Valentine’s day is on my mind. I can’t help it, I love this romantic holiday Though it is true it’s not as much fun for anyone not in love. But then again that’s why it’s important to have good friends, they can still make sure you’ll have a nice Valentine’s anyway,. You might want to take in a movie, go bowling, or go out dancing. Because it’s always a great time if the company is good.

We’re actually laying low this holiday, enjoying a nice romantic weekend at home. For once the calendar isn’t full and we’re looking forward to just kicking back and spending some quiet time together. We’ll get some fresh air during the day and plan to enjoy a special dinner at night. Sounds perfect.

Well, it’s really coming down the finish line for getting ready for the holidays. Cards that need to be mailed, packages that have to be shipped, presents to wrap, menus to plan, and of course, homes to be decorated. If you haven’t already finished all of your decorating, then check out the great decorating tips at Better Homes and Gardens.

They have lots of ideas on ways to brighten your home and your holidays. There’s great craft ideas, baking recipes, decorating tips, party planning outlines and more. I know I can always use some fresh ideas and time-saving tips too. Honestly, I can’t believe Christmas and Hanukkah are next week! How did that happen so fast?

It’s hard not to love this time of year. Although it’s getting darker earlier and the weather has turned colder, but the excitement of the holidays is in the air and it’s hard not to ignore. The stores all have turkey on sale and have wonderful treat samples on display to try. And while it’s a bit more hectic, people still can’t fight that holiday mood.

Some people are already so into the holiday spirit they’re putting their Christmas decor up. We prefer to wait until December, but good for them for enjoying it early.

It’s impossible to ignore that money is a little tight for most of us this year. People seem to be a little reluctant to rack up more credit card bills, they’re eyeing their grocery bills a little closer, and taking a closer look at some of the extra expenses they might want to do without for awhile. And of course, how much do they want to spend this Christmas?  This shop has some neat kitchenware items that would make superb holiday gifts for under $25.

You’ll be able to buy something unique and useful without putting a strain on your wallet. And even better, you’ll be giving someone you love something they can use and enjoy for years to come. For us, that’s a deal you just can’t beat!

The clock has been turned back, the evenings are darker, the air has turned chilly, and the leaves are falling in droves. One minute the scenery was filled with the beautiful reds and golds of autumn leaves and now the leaves have begun piling up in the yard. 

The good thing about getting out and raking up the piles of leaves is that it makes for a perfect excuse to come in from the cold and eat! Around here the oven is on much of the weekend, filled with dinners cooking and snacks baking. So the leaves can keep falling and we’ll keep cleaning them up - seems like it’ a good trade-off for warm cookies and banana nut bread.

Halloween arrives this week and suddenly it’s November. With the cold weather comes the fast-approaching big holidays. And with the holidays comes the visitors from out of town and dinner guests. Entertaining can be quite a lot of fun, as well as quite a lot of work. So now is a good time to review your kitchenware to make sure you’ve got the essential cookware on hand to keep you kitchen running smoothly through the holidays.

Having the right pots and pans on hand will surely make your meal prepartions much easier. What you want to avoid is the realization that you don’t have the right tools to make something you’ve planned for the big meal. And worse, having to run out and pay top dollar because you don’t have time to shop around and buy the item ahead of time. We can certainly attest for the durability of our Gourmet Standard pots, as they have served us quite well through many a big family gathering and still look as good as new.

As the thermometer continues to drop outside, the oven and stove seem to be in constant use in our homes. Baking cupcakes and cookies for school events and birthdays. Slow cooking our homemade stocks and soups. Baked lasagne and roasted chicken. Family meals filled with our favorite warm, comfort foods.

We’ll continue to grill our steaks and chicken outside throughout the winter, but we can’t deny how much we love the smell of food cooking inside when it’s getting colder out. You walk into the house after a busy day and the wonderful aromas of the foods cooking just envelope you. Welcome home….

‘Tis the season for some of our favorite sports!  Our families are involved in everything including hockey, football, basketball, and soccer. So most weekends are spent driving all over the town or state, getting to the next game or practice. As much as it can make us crazy sometimes, we really love the family time together and watching our children grow, learning sportsmanship, confidence, and teamwork.

Of course sometimes we can sit back and relax as we watch a pro game on televsion. Right now our favorite football team is gearing up for a great year, and hockey season is just starting. It’s always more fun when we watch it together!

Around here, the acorns are starting to drop and the trees are just beginning to change their colors. In the coming weeks there will be an amazing amount of changes in nature. It will be a great time to get out and explore, a perfect time between the heat of summer and the “huddle inside near the fireplace” coldness of winter.

In our county, we have a lot of street fairs, recreational parks, outdoor exhibits - usually there is so much going on it’s hard to pick which event to attend. But our favorite family time is just getting out to take a long walk in the woods and see if we can find some camouflage creatures, load up on acorns - and then come home and have some popcorn and hot chocolate. Simple pleasures that we never tire of!

We’re lucky, we have a nice home in a nice area (no, it doesn’t look like this beautiful estate on our blog). But, boy, we get pretty excited around here everytime HGTV starts a new Dream Home contest. Who wouldn’t?  The odds might be astronomical against winning, but we try anyway, just that one chance.   Like many of the previous winners, we probably couldn’t afford to keep it because of the taxes and other issues, but wouldn’t it be great to just enjoy it for awhile first?  Plus you get to keep the money if you sell the house anyway. Sounds good to me.

It looks like the 2009 home is being built in the beautiful wine country area of Sonoma Valley, California. They have some artist renderings on the site and it’s beautiful - farmhouse style with a wrap-around porch. I bet the kitchen will be stunning, with all of the latest and greatest appliances. Wouldn’t that be wonderful to cook in? Now we just have to keep an eye out for the contest. Maybe this year we’ll win!

It’s hard to believe that Labor Day weekend is here,  just when we were getting into our summer groove.  But the truth is fall is our favorite season. There is something about the crispness in the air, the beautiful colors, and the tempation to spend more time indoors cooking and relaxing.

Fall is also a great time for a roadtrip, maybe to some place historical or even the beach if it’s not too cold. Our families have found September and October to be a perfect beach season. The weather is still nice and the beach is much less crowded. It’s like having your own piece of paradise all to yourself.  Here’s hoping we all can make the time for a much-needed family getaway soon!