Looking for some fun Valentine Recipes to make with or for your kids, or just because you’re in the mood? Try these wonderful creations from Catherine McCord of www.weelicious.com. Start with Dried Cherry Scones as an appetizer, leading to a main course of Ravioli Pesto Hearts. Finish with Raspberry Shortbread Tarts or Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups with Sea Salt, and top it all off with Strawberry Milk! Maybe they don’t make a meal, but certainly each is an entirely fun Valentine treat! Dried Cherry Scones (Makes 13 3-inch Heart Scones) 2 ½ Cups Flour½ Cup Sugar2 ½ Teaspoons Baking... (Read More ...)

Let your little monsters enjoy the ghost and goblins of Halloween without the highs (and lows) of a sugar rush. Catherine McCord, founder of the family friendly culinary site, Weelicious.com has come up with these simple and delicious healthy “trick or treats” that ensure the monster within every child is kept at bay. Pumpkin Pancakes w/Chocolate Filling Pumpkin Pancakes (Makes 18 Pancakes) 1 Cup White Flour 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat 2 Tsp Baking Powder 1 Tsp Baking Soda 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon 1/2 Tsp Salt 1 Large Egg 1 1/4 Cup Whole Milk 1 Tbsp Honey 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil, plus extra for greasing the... (Read More ...)

Sundays are my days of rest. While I don’t take the day off completely – there are still dishes to wash and the never-ending loads of laundry that a family of four accumulates – I do try to keep the day “loose.” If you’re throwing a kids’ birthday party on this day, you won’t see the Perillo clan there. Sundays are about family, and we’ll make exceptions only for the very closest of friends. One thing I do love doing with such friends is brunch. Forget the lines and rushed service at restaurants. Not only is it better to chill at home and let... (Read More ...)

Being a busy mom, versatility is key in the kitchen. My vegetables should do double duty just like me, so I love finding new ways to prepare them. Zucchini for breakfast may be a hard sell to any kid, but packed as a muffin studded with walnuts and flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar, well, you’ll see the look on their faces start to warm up. I’m not talking about making purees and disguising vegetables. I’m talking shredded chunks of fresh from the vine zucchini bursting in every bite. It’s also a fun recipe to let the kids help with, and if they’re skeptical... (Read More ...)

www.twicebakedtwins.com The chocolate chip cookie has been a favorite for decades. Some bakers add oatmeal, M & M’s, peanut butter or nuts. The traditional cookies were invented accidentally by Ruth Wakefield in 1934. Ms. Wakefield owned the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts and served these gems to her customers. It is reported that Ms. Wakefield had run out of her baking chocolate and substituted a chocolate bar that was given to her by Andrew Nestle. (Sound familiar?) During WWII, the GIs from Massachusetts shared these cookies which they received in care packages from back... (Read More ...)

It is a year filled with new promises, dreams and the next phase in food trends! We are seeing different foods from other cultures popping up all over. One of the top food critics predicted that this year’s favorite cuisine would be Austrian. Another reported that Indian food was it!! The new dessert trend is the old fashioned comfort dishes like brown bettys, buckles, cobblers and crisps. These are the recipes our Nana passed down to us and we have been making for years. Who new it would be the “it” dessert for this wonderful new year! Let me tell you a little about each one.... (Read More ...)

Thanks Judy and Joy! Make sure you visit their site to get more twice-baked fun, and if you want to DIY, get the recipe after the jump. 1930’s Sugar Cookies 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes) 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 well beaten egg 1 tablespoon heavy cream or evaporated milk 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar and vanilla until soft and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add egg and cream, beat another 1-2 minutes. Sift dry ingredients and slowly add to creamed mixture on low speed until mixed. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate... (Read More ...)

If we have to ‘Fall’ backwards……let’s do it with this dish! These luxurious apples are a wonderful example of what Fall has to offer. The aromatic flavors along with the warmth this season brings reminds us that family and good friends should always be cherished. Baked Apples with Vanilla Bean Custard Creme   4-6 large golden delicious apples (or any apple of preference) 2 tablespoons butter, for baking dish 1/4 – 1/2  cup sherry 1/4 -1/2 cup sugar   Preheat oven 350F. Butter a baking dish and set aside. To prepare apples, core each one and place in dish.... (Read More ...)

We all want to have a healthy, home-cooked meal on the table for our family as often as possible.  But maybe you’ve had to work late or been too busy running the kids to all their activities or just don’t have the time or energy to run to the store for the items you need for that recipe you saw in a magazine last week.   Whatever your obstacle, having some key ingredients on hand at home can help you put out a nutritious and delicious dinner in a flash.  Here are some of the items to help you in your time of need. Dry Pasta and Marinara sauce in a jar Hands-down this is the easiest and most... (Read More ...)

At chic mom, we’re feeling a bit like stuffed sausages after the holidays and with the upcoming Superbowl (isn’t that just an excuse to eat?) We want to get back on track and start thinking about feeling great in our bathing suits! Contributor to chic mom magazine, Leanne Ely, offers us this tasty recipe to get our days off to a delicious, smart start. Thanks, Leanne! Healthy Breakfast in a Glass on The Go, By Leanne Ely 1/4 cup low fat coconut milk 1/2 cup mixed organic frozen berries 1 tablespoon freshly milled flax or chia seed (yes, like the chia pets!) 1 portion of whey protein powder... (Read More ...)