Cooking
Smart Mama recipes, food items and more!
Avocado Watermelon Salad Recipe
Avocado is something that is not only delicious, but is an incredibly healthy food to incorporate into your diet. It is versatile, allowing you to mix it with various of flavors to have it take on a completely different flavor. Nutritious Salad The Avocado Watermelon Salad is: light, refreshing, incredibly healthy Crisp and flavorful tomato, […]
Skewered Buffalo Chicken Bites
Wether you are searching for a recipe for the Big Game celebrations, a birthday party or dinner for you and the kids, these Skewered Buffalo Chicken Bites paired with Naturally Fresh Lite Blue Cheese dressing, will always be a hit. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:18] The Naturally Fresh dressing pairs great for these Buffalo Chicken Bites with a kick – […]
Macys Culinary Council with Chef Ming Tsai
Miami friends, mark your calendar and head to http://bit.ly/Ming14 to reserve your spot at Chef Ming Tsai’s Macy’s Culinary Council appearance at Dadeland on December 12! Macy’s Culinary Council events provide the chance to sit in the audience of renown chefs. It’s a pretty incredible experience. Do you remember how my then 7 year old got […]
Master the Mango
Much of my South Floridian audience has something to say about mangos. Many of us have at least one mango tree in our backyard. We have one in the front and one in the back. Although still too young to produce fruit, we anticipate the day when we can grab a few fresh mangoes to make […]
Baked Apple Chimichanga Recipe
How can you use all those apples? Our Crockpot Homemade Applesauce is just as incredible as this my Baked Apple Chimichanga recipe. Many of you are spending this time of year at the local apple orchards filling your baskets with freshly picked apples. Or, ordering gourmet boxes full of the fruit from Harry & David, or the like. While […]
Crockpot Applesauce
Crockpot applesauce. Just the thought of it gets me sniffing around for that aroma. Making homemade applesauce is tradition for so many families. I remember going to upstate NY to go apple picking close to my Godmother’s house. It always amazed me to see so many apples dangle from the big trees. Those just picked […]
DIY Microwave Popcorn
Make DIY Microwave Popcorn with the kids! It’s delicious and far healthier than the store microwave popcorn bags! There have been reports on the harmful effects of microwave popcorn. The the most harmful effects come from the packaging and the chemicals in the “butter” and seasoning. We still LOVE popcorn in this house and love […]
Spinach Salad with Homemade Peach Punch Dressing
A nice big salad is a great option for lunch or even dinner! My standard green is spinach. I love its nutty tasty. Sometimes I toss in bacon. Sometimes I toss in fruit. Sometimes I toss in a crumbled egg. There are all sorts of great accompaniments for a spinach salad. I recently tossed in […]
Red Quinoa Salad with Black Beans, Corn & Avocado
This quinoa salad is easy to put together and is so hearty in nutrients that it makes a great filling meal. This quinoa salad is a great side or main dish salad. It is served cold. Not sure if you’re ready to try quinoa as an ingredient? Check out these nutritional facts. They will likely persuade […]
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip S’Mores
No need for a campfire or even a fire for that matter. These Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip S’Mores will satisfy your sweet tooth and leave some sticky marshmallow fingers! This is an easy cooking with children recipe![amd-zlrecipe-recipe:13] Yes, you could also make these s’mores around a campfire by simply roasting the the marshmallow and […]
Chef Marcus Samuelsson of the Macys Culinary Council
The Macy’s Culinary Council held an event at Dadeland Mall in Miami where well-known Chef Marcus Samuelsson showcased his skills and taught us each a whole lot. Chef Marcus Samuelsson has been seen by many of us on shows like The Taste, Chopped, Top Chef Masters and more. He is very well respected by his peers […]
Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe
A bowl of fresh tomatoes, basil from the garden and a box of pasta and you have most of the ingredients for a perfect pasta salad. Make a Caprese pasta salad, a salad served cold, for backyard barbecues or other get togethers. Big Fat Juice Tomatoes at Winn-Dixie Tis the season to toss in the […]
Growing Herbs for Recipes
Useful Tips for Growing Herbs for Recipes Growing herbs for recipes is one of my summertime, actually all-year-long favorite things to do. Imagine stepping outside your kitchen and plucking fresh, aromatic herbs to enhance the flavors of your culinary creations. An herb garden offers a plethora of benefits, from adding vibrant colors to your outdoor […]
Grape Bread Recipe with Currants & Nuts
I made this loaf on a whim. My girls love grapes. I think it might even be there favorite fruit! I had currants that remained from my Irish Soda Bread recipe from March so I thought those would add an extra sweetness. This recipe was adapted from Green Black Red, Recipes for Cooking and Enjoying […]
Top Kitchen Tools for Healthy Eating
Eating healthier is surely on the minds of everyone nowadays. Diets have changed drastically over the last couple of decades. People are no longer filling their stomachs with fast food or food that is hidden by gravy and other fattening toppings. Here are 5 kitchen tools that will help you to eat healthier and perhaps […]
Where Are the Best Grocery Deals
From big box stores, to grocery stores to local markets, where are the best grocery deals for families? Maximizing grocery savings does take some time. Many people use coupons in order to reduce the amount of their grocery bill. Some grocery stores also have frequent shopper benefits. Becoming a frequent shopper at one of these […]
Hormel Gathering Dips Review – An Easy Entertaining Idea
Last weekend we headed over to a last minute get together at the home of our good friends with anther family. We get together a lot. We’re not formal. We like to have fun, chat, eat and have a glass (or two) of wine. I said I would bring an appetizer. With the last minute […]
Don’t Toss the Bananas, It’s My Kitchen Shortcut!
Moms need kitchen shortcuts to save them time and energy. We’ve found a kitchen shortcut – in a way – that has to do with bananas. We love bananas in this house. It might be the favorite fruit with the kids. I buy them regularly. But you know what happens? There is always at least […]
Best Super Bowl Dips & More
Over the years I’ve shared loads of dishes that are great for Super Bowl Sunday! Here are my favorite 6 Super Bowl Dips & More for you to easily create for the Big Game or any other entertaining! Skewered Buffalo Chicken Bites Pepperoni Dip Easy BLT Dip Buffalo Chicken Dip Chili with Beans Dip Chicken […]
Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Recipe
Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Recipe I recently made a Brussel Spouts with Bacon side dish that came out delicious and I knew I needed to share it with you! Yes, everything tastes better with bacon! This Brussel Sprouts with Bacon recipe might help encourage those veggie-resistant eaters in your home to have a spoonful or […]
Santa Truffles Recipe
Santa truffles, why yes! We make dozens of Christmas cookies in this house. My husband has his favorites, as do cousins that come to our home every Christmas Day. I spend hours and hours in the kitchen, with my apron and flour all over the place. I make nut ball, struffuli, crescent cookies, lemon bars, […]
How to Use Leftover Ham or Turkey
You spent hours at the table devouring every last bite of turkey and ham. The meats were delicious and the leftovers must be used. I’ve shared with you our Ham Croquetas recipe that is perfect for the leftover ham like Hormel® Cure 81®. That same recipe can be easily be tweaked to make turkey croquetas. […]
Pepperoni Dip Recipe
An easy dip recipe for football season, get-togethers or any type of informal gathering is essential. You’ll want to pull out the bag of tortilla chips and pull up a chair after you make this dip. This Pepperoni Dip Recipe uses just 3 ingredients and can be made in a small crockpot or a small […]
Halloween Ghost Cupcake Recipe for Kids
Ready for a SIMPLE Halloween cupcake? Yes, Halloween cupcake ideas are everywhere. They are all so cute and often fun to make, but some can be very time consuming and a bit fancy for busy moms. We’re getting festive over here with ghost Halloween cupcakes that use pre-made ingredients! Using store bought cookie dough and whipped […]
Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Recipe
Are you a whoppie pie lover? A whoppie pie is a deliciously, sinful treat. Typically two cake-like cookies are sandwiched together with frosting in the middle. They’ve been called moon pies, too. This take, perfect for the autumn, adds pumpkin and pumpkin spice to the ingredient list to make a Pumpkin Whoppie Pie! My love for pumpkin […]
Bonefish Grill’s #TripleBangDare: Secret Handshake Might Win Us Shrimp
It’s Football Sunday so we’ve got a Triple Bang Dare to take on today! Throughout football season Bonefish Grill is challenging us with the #TripleBangDare. Complete the dare and you’re entered to win a month’s worth of their delicious Bang Bang Shrimp! That’s bang-a-licious, as my 7 year old would say! Today’s (Sunday, Oct 13) dare from […]