One word when it comes to mashed potatoes – Instant! Granted, there’s nothing better than warm and creamy homemade mashed potatoes, but there are just times when time and resources are short and quick fix potatoes are the way to go. When it’s that time, this is one dish that’s fun and easy for the novice kid in the kitchen. Continue reading » » » »

Your kitchen pantry doesn’t have to look like that of a gourmet restaurant in order to be a successful home chef. Many recipes require that you buy specialty items you may never use again to complete a dish. Others require items that are more common, but those are the very items we tend to run out of the fastest. The top three… Continue reading » » » »

If you don’t have a true timer handy, microwaves work just as well. Many have a timer function on them. If yours does not (or you’ve lost the handy dandy microwave manual) simply set the microwave to cook for the desired amount of time and set it on the lowest power level. Continue reading » » » »

I love pouch mixes. They are often both inexpensive and quick & easy to prepare. One example is the Betty Crocker muffin mix. My favorites are the Chocolate Chip mix and the Blueberry mix. The two are ideal for muffins in a hurry. Even better, they only require a little water – no milk, no eggs, no oil… fantastic for when the cupboards are running a little bare. Continue reading » » » »

I’m surprised at the increased cost of syrups lately. While I can understand, my purse doesn’t appreciate it. I am also baffled at just how much syrup kids can douse over just 2 or 3 pancakes! In my house, we’ve made a change. No longer do we free-flow the sweet, sticky stuff creating lagoons of syrup. Continue reading » » » »