These great BPA-free plastic food storage containers have snug fitting lids that will keep your food fresher longer. Go Green containers are made of a special material infused with nano-sized particles of silver that reduce the growth of mold, fungus and bacteria allowing foods to stay fresher longer than conventional plastic food storage containers. In a addition to being Refrigerator and Freezer Safe, the containers are microwave-safe and can be cleaned in the top rack of your dishwasher. They even come with a 90 day manufacturer’s warranty.

If you’re going to treat yourself to a new piece of bakeware,  you really can’t go wrong with Kaiser Bakeware La Forme Plus Baking Pans.  They’re truly excellent pans made of commercial-weight steel that will last you a lifetime. I’ve made the mistake in the early days of buying lesser quality pans and more often than not I ruined a great dessert because it stuck to the sides or cooked unevenly. So now if I’m going to buy, I put a little more thought into it and pick something that will last!

But obviously since most of us don’t have the time, energy, or money to tackle all of that, it’s still the perfect time to do some sprucing up and add a few new touches to the yard before the summer heat gets here. It’s also time to get your vegetables planted if you haven’t already - in some areas it might even be rather late for veggie planting. Make sure when buying your annual flowers that you buy the kind appropriate for your sun exposure - no sense in spending money on a lovely fern that can’t take the full sun during the afternoon since it will only get dry and crispy. Most importantly, have fun playing with the wonderful colors you can add to your landscape!

A good kitchen knife set in wooden block is quite handy as it keeps the knives in easy reach on your kitchen counter top. A set like this versatile Chicago Cutlery one is also attractive, adding a dash of style to your kitchen. In addition to including a variety of multi-purpose knives, this particular set also includes a sharpening steel and an excellent pair of kitchen shears. Not only is it perfect as a gift to yourself, but it would also make a wonderful housewarming or bridal present too.

For instance, there are some simple decorating ideas that can easily be done with inexpensive items found in your local stores or even the great secondhand stores around town. There are also wonderful gardening ideas and advice on choosing the right flowers and plants for your location and weather conditions. The trick of course is to not try to tackle everything at once or it will get overwhelming and expensive. A little at a time will lead to great progress and beautiful changes and updates for your special home.

This extra large clay baker can be found in this affordable cookware and bakeware store online. Because the covered clay baker naturally locks moisture in, you’ll enjoy the most tender turkey, ham or roast you’ve ever tasted! Large enough for up to 6.5 quarts or 17.5 pounds, you can also use this classic cookware for making soups, desserts, and more. in this 117 maxi covered clay baker from Romertopf.

Quality stoneware and ceramic kitchen canisters make a great housewarming gift as well as a wonderful bridal shower present. Canisters are a great way to keep kitchen counter tops neat and organized while adding a nice splash of style at the same time. I think whenever you can give someone a gift that is both useful and stylish, it’s sure to be a big hit with the recipient.

I really need to address the kitchen and do something about the cluttered counter tops and cabinets. Once they’re decluttered we’ll probably need to do something about our outdated counter tops. If they can’t be cleaned up with some good scrubbing and brightening, I’m hoping we can get a reasonably priced replacement top and maybe resurface the cabinets. It would look like a whole new kitchen!

Aluminum cake pans like this great flan pan from Kaiser are a great addition to any kitchenware collection. And flan is a really delicious treat that gets easier to bake the more often you make it. Some people create this delicious custard-style dessert quite often, though a heart-shaped flan would be a really unique twist on this old-world favorite.

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.

What is wonderful about using a large clay baker to bake your meal in is how moist and tender the food is when it is done. Clay bakers come in a variety of styles and sizes, making it possible to cook a small dish for one or two or a large holiday turkey. The cookware is easy to work with as long as you follow some basic rules. These rules include: always soaking the baker in water prior use, never preheating the oven prior putting the dish inside, and never using the cookware on a stove top. With proper care your baker will last you for many years to come.

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.

This quality item is from the Romertopf Clay Cookware line. Popular for many years, this cookware is not only useful but quite attractive. Many people even use it for a serving dish. The large clay baker can hold up to 14 pounds, big enough for many of your favorite family meals! There’s even a maxi baker that can hold up to 17 pounds, making it plenty big enough for your holiday turkey.

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.

Not only can you heat your food in these durable lidded glass storage containers, but you can easily use them to store food in your fridge or freezer too. They stack very neatly giving you more room on your shelves and they clean up as good as new in your dishwasher. These great containers are air-tight and liquid-tight, keeping your food fresher longer and helping you prevent spills and messy clean-up issues. A big step up from plastic storage containers for me.

 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.

Rachael Ray makes great, durable cookware and this large aluminum stockpot is no exception. It has an attractive gray matte finish with comfortable silicone handles and a quality nonstick finish. The glass cover makes it easy to keep an eye on your dish while it cooks too. I also like using a pot like this for making homemade soups and stews too. And the oval shape works well for allowing multiple pots on the stove top without overcrowding.

They have loads of common-sense, low cost ideas for keeping a family home neat and fun at the same time. I’ve gotten great ideas for our kids rooms as well as ways to add colors and artwork to our family areas without breaking the bank. Staying organized is another ongoing battle, and iVillage has advice from others in the same boat that I’ve found very helpful. There’s also tips for things like planning a family game night, time-saving tips for moms, planting a vegetable garden, money-saving tips, and much more.

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.