• And The Beat Goes On…

    Here we are again, another week of quarantine. This week, our girls officially started school online and thankfully that is going very smoothly for us. I know we are lucky that our girls can work online with very little assistance from us. Having a routine again is helping in many ways. We all get up at a decent time and now have something to do that helps make life feel a little more “normal.” We are not sure if this is how we will finish out the school year, but for now, the system is working. With all of us at home, we are definitely snacking more. While the cakes…

  • Perfect Pumpkin Seeds

    I have fond memories of carving pumpkins with my big brother. He would carve marvelous artistic things while I carved out triangle eyes and square teeth. Often, he would help me out and make mine look a little better. But the best part of the whole process was roasting the pumpkin seeds for a tasty snack afterward. A few years ago, I thought I would try roasting seeds with my girls. The pumpkin carving was messy and retrieving the seeds was more difficult than I remembered. I did salvage enough seeds to roast, and they were not nearly as delicious as in my memory. They were a lot of work…

  • A Legume by Any Other Name…

    Chick Peas, Garbanzo beans, the mysterious, round, beige beans at the salad bar. Whatever you call them, those little legumes are having a resurgence. Chick peas are chockfull of nutrients, protein and fiber. They are a great addition to salads and pastas. They are the base of delicious creamy hummus. They are extremely versatile. I did not grow up eating chick peas. I think they are a love ’em or hate ’em kind of thing and my Mom hates them, so we never had them. But as my little family began to eat healthier, I started to experiment with these funny little beans. We love them in hummus, and you…

  • Chocolate Cherry Granola

    We have had an unusual snow event this week in North Carolina with the first major snow fall in early December in many years.  That means we found ourselves trapped inside with too much time on our hands.  This is always the perfect time to get some baking done and work on some handmade food gifts.  Sometimes, over the holiday season, you need a break from the overly-sweet treats and you might want to make an edible gift that is slightly healthier.  This granola is just the thing.  Don’t worry, it still involves chocolate. A few years ago, I decided to try to make granola at home.  It’s easier then…