I will just come out and say it:  I LOVE IT WHEN MY MOM COMES TO VISIT.  And one of my reasons (okay, there are more than one) is purely selfish!  My mom LOVES to cook.  And she loves to cook for my family! I have a tiny kitchen.  Tiny counter space.  And tiny children who love it when I’m in the kitchen cuz I can’t see what they are doing. lol!  And did I mention – I am the resident dishwasher – so preparing one...

The rewards of freezer cooking are that you can save money, save time and have a hot, home-cooked meal any night of the week. This is good, because this method requires planning and effort. If you are planning a full day of cooking, it is no light matter. If you can’t manage a full day of cooking, even preparing 2 or 3 meals ahead of time will be more efficient than scrambling to throw something together on a busy week night.  Either way,...

It is necessary to have the right equipment to do a job well, and for me, the right forms are a big part of my success.  I’m a “form” kind of girl – seriously I have more forms on file than a lot of people.  I like variety – I like change – and I like being able to customize my “chores” so having different forms from different sources is fun for me… As I’m learning how to really do...

I don’t know about you – but when I start something new – I tend to go ALL OUT with it.  If I can afford to purchase the “kit and caboodle” or invest in the “necessities” of getting the hobby off the ground running, I tend to do it.  I like to jump in with both feet, throwing caution to the wind, never mind having a plan of where to PUT all the stuff I get… So with my NEW HOBBY, because I have...

Do you plan menus, write out grocery lists and/or clip coupons to help stretch your budget?  Whether you do it out of necessity, out of the sheer love of being frugal, or have never even considered the idea, most people I know (and many people I don’t know) are finding more bargains at the store registers these days because they have become SMARTER & WISER CONSUMERS! Part of being & wife and mom, I believe, is being Manager of our...

Do any of you thrive in your favorite hobby?  Is it one of those things where you JUST have to do it – find a way to enjoy your hobby to its fullest – on a regular basis?  What is your favorite hobby? I’ve always had hobbies.  My mom was a really great teacher when it came to needlework and crafts, except for sewing which she does not enjoy much, and as a kid, I would get to sit alongside her and learn the newest thing: ...

Maybe you have wondered about freezer cooking for your family.  Maybe you think it will save time and money but you aren’t sure you have enough space.  Maybe you wonder if you need a full freezer to get started with freezer cooking.  Well, there’s good news for you! You don’t have to have a full freezer to get started with freezer cooking. As a matter of fact, you should want the freezer to have plenty of room for all of the...

When it comes to safety, there is room for it in every area of life. As with everything, freezer cooking has some important safety precautions to remember. It is important to pay attention to the tips and implement them. Here are a few tips on food safety for freezer meals. If you’re making extra food at one meal for future meals, separate and refrigerate the portion to be served later before you put the food on the table. This keeps food...