Tomatoes and basil are classic ingredients that really work together in Italian cuisine. This tomato basil soup has the smokiness of fire-roasted tomatoes and tastes amazing with a really good grilled cheese sandwich. Because I make this soup with dried basil, it is easy to prepare even during the winter months. Using a chef’s knife and cutting board, I start by dicing up a 1 large onion and 2 medium carrots. I prepare this soup in a 4-quart saucepan. First,…
I love this Greek yogurt ranch dip because it supports my goals for my health. For a while now, I have been trying to eat healthier foods, especially fresh vegetables. I love carrots, cucumbers, and celery with Ranch dressing. I also signed up for Weight Watchers because I wanted to try out the program with zero point foods. Ingredients Plain non-fat Greek yogurt is a zero point food. The store brand at my local HEB is a great substitute for…
As a classroom teacher, I stay pretty busy during the school year. In the past, I have struggled with finding the time for good self-care, especially where healthy lunches are concerned. In my quest to find a way to eat better in less time, I have become a bit obsessed with meal prepping. I especially like salads because they allow me to use up random vegetables and meat from the fridge. I began trying different lunch containers in order to…
The weather is definitely getting colder in Texas. At this time of year, my family really loves the delicious comfort of warm muffins. These chocolate chip muffins are easy to make and check all the boxes. They are definitely warm and delicious, and taste great with coffee or a glass of milk. The Muffin Method This recipe follows the muffin method that is used in putting together most quick breads. Quick breads are basically breads that rise because they contain…
Overnight oats are a really simple make-ahead breakfast for week days. The possible variations are endless. I often add any fresh or dried fruit I have on hand, as well as granola, vanilla extract, or nuts. Nut butters are also great additions. This recipe is my basic method for overnight oats. I make this up in the evening, and then feel free to jazz it up when I get ready to have it for breakfast. This recipe does use…
I often make a really huge batch of buttermilk pancakes on the weekend. They taste amazing, and I always have an abundance of leftovers. I freeze and vacuum seal the extras in single portions for an easy weekday breakfast option. My kids and I run on different schedules, so it’s really nice for them to be able to have these when they feel like it. I don’t use a mix because I’ve never really found one that rivals the taste…
Pancakes are such a great basic thing to make, and they taste SO much better made from scratch. I do use Bisquick from time to time as a shortcut ingredient in different things. However, my family VASTLY prefers homemade pancakes over any that come from a mix. It’s worth the effort to get that great taste. I am a teacher, so during the school year we often rush through breakfast. Typically, I make a double-sized batch of pancakes on the…
My daughter and I discovered Jerry’s Artarama in Austin a few months ago. My daughter is a studio art major at Texas State University and needs a lot of art supplies for her classes. Many of the items she needs are not things you would routinely find at a national craft store, such as Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. When her professor gave her a list of local art shops to check out, we went to Jerry’s first. In Austin, it…
About a dozen years ago, I decided that it would make sense for me to learn how to make pizzas from scratch. I had a larger than average family, so buying pizza from a restaurant could get really expensive. I started with canned pizza dough, but the texture was not wonderful, although honestly my kids ate it without complaint. It was, after all, still pizza. Next, I tried a conventional pizza dough recipe from the Betty Crocker Cookbook, but this…
I have been making homemade spaghetti sauce in my slow cooker for several years now. It is super convenient to have it ready for dinner when I get home from work. For a really long time before that, I used spaghetti sauce from a jar mixed with a pound of ground beef. It tasted okay, but it lacked depth and the satisfying flavor of homemade sauce. I recently found myself without a key ingredient, so I bought some jar sauce…