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Winter Garden Views in January
The weather outside does not lend itself to gardening right now. We recently had a snow storm that dumped about three inches here in North Carolina. Looking over my snow soaked garden gave me the idea to have a share day on my Facebook page. I asked my Facebook fans to share their Winter Garden Views and […]
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Why do Onions Make you Cry?
Peeling onions is something that many cooks do on a daily basis but the job brings along tears. Do you know why onions make you cry? There are many types of this versatile vegetable and most will make you cry when you chop them. Find out about the onion varieties here. Onions are easy to grow […]
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11 Food and Drink Substitutes for Weight Loss and Health
Are you thinking more about your overall health and fitness? These 11 food and drink substitutes help me with my weight loss, and also have other beneficial effects for my general health. I had a scare late last year that had me in the hospital for a few weeks worrying about my heart and my […]
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Chicken Cheese Panini Sandwich – Slimmed Down Lunch Delight
This slimmed down chicken cheese panini sandwich is my first attempt at using a panini press, and it turned out great. My daughter bought me a panini pan for Christmas. She and I often have mum-daughter dates at Panera Bread and I always choose a half panini sandwich and bowl of soup. Jess knew that […]
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Pan Seared Halibut with a Butter Dill Sauce
This recipe for Pan Seared Halibut with a Butter Dill sauce is a perfect way to serve this delicious fish, whether you are a gourmet cook or still finding your way around the kitchen. The sauce is mild but very flavorful and is made before the fish is cooked to make sure that the whole […]
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My 10 Most Popular Posts of 2016
Each year, at the end of December, I take stock of what worked (and what didn’t!) on my blog. Sometimes, I am surprised when a blog post makes my top 10 list for the past year when I wasn’t expecting it. Other times, I think “not you again” when a tried and true favorite post […]
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Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge
This Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge has everything that you want in a fudge recipe. It’s crumbly, peanut buttery, chocolately and deliciously tasty! If you like a fudge with texture this is, hands down the best tasting fudge ever! If you love Reese’s peanut butter cups, you will want to dive right into this pan […]
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12 Unusual Christmas Wreaths
Christmas wreaths are commonly used on front doors, but can also used on mantles and in other areas of the home and garden such as garden gates. A Christmas wreath is a popular way to decorate your entry for the holiday season. And nothing quite sets the mood for your party guests like greeting […]
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30 Minute Pork Stir Fry
This (less than) 30 minute pork stir fry is my latest international recipe, It is so easy to do and tastes just wonderful. This is such a busy time of the year with all the holiday preparation, cooking and shopping to do. To combat this, I am always looking for quick and easy dinner meals […]
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Ground Turkey Stuffed peppers
These Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers fill the comfort food need but keep health in mind at the same time! The cold temperatures that we have been experiencing lately have made me looking for some new “comfort food” creations. There is nothing quite like tucking into a hearty meal when you are chilled to the bones. […]
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Cranberry Pecan Crostini Appetizers
These lovely cranberry pecan crostini appetizers are the perfect light bite to start any special gathering of friends. Cranberries are one of those foods that always seem to find their way onto the holiday table. They are wonderful as a snack with drinks before dinner, and also make a lovely starter to a meal when […]
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Easy Holiday Party Ideas
Setting up a pretty festive table does not have to be stressful. Just follow these 15 easy holiday party ideas to make entertaining a joy. Entertaining this time of the year is so much fun. It is the time for trimming the tree and decorating the house (don’t forget to use Christmas plants!) It’s also […]
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Burlap Wine Bottle Bag – Easy DIY Christmas Gift
This Burlap Wine Bottle Bag is an inexpensive way to dress up a bottle of wine for a Christmas gift. Many of our friends are wine drinkers and I love to purchase one of their favorite wines to give to them for the holidays. Adding this home made bag also adds an extra special touch […]
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Fudge Brownie Truffles
‘Tis the season for fudge, and brownies, and truffles. These Fudge Brownie Truffles combine all of my favorite tastes in one delicious brownie flavored bite. They are so tasty that they’ll deserve pride of placement on your holiday dessert table. The holidays give me an excuse to cook up a batch or two of my […]
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Santa Paint Brush Ornament – DIY Santa Claus Paintbrush Decoration
This adorable Santa paint brush ornament is so whimsical and cute. It is very simple to make and inexpensive and will delight the young and young at heart. The step by step directions below will let you make this Santa Claus paintbrush decoration quickly and easily. I have to admit, I am enjoying being a kid […]
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Cleaning a Dry Erase Board and Eraser
Cleaning a Dry Erase Board and eraser can be a challenge, depending on how long the marks have been left on it. A dry erase board can be a useful household tool for keeping the home organized. Fortunately, I have just discovered an easy way to to the job! I have a dry erase board […]
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Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece – Recycle Reclaim!
Today’s project uses some old barn board style wood to make an easy and very inexpensive Thanksgiving Centerpiece for our dining room table. My husband and I are in the middle of renovating our kitchen and other areas of our home, so we have a lot of bits and pieces of wood that is just […]
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Grinch Paintbrush Ornament – DIY Christmas Project with Paintbrushes
Yes, folks, it is getting to that time of the year. This is the time when my mind goes into overdrive trying to come up with ideas for fun craft decor items to make for the Christmas holiday. My latest creation is this Grinch Paintbrush Ornament. I have always loved the movie The Grinch Stole […]
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Sausage Garlic Parmesan Pasta – A Delicious 30 Minute Meal
This delicious Sausage Garlic Parmesan Pasta recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes, and I can also make it for my family at a cost of less than $10. What is not to like about that? My family loves any recipes that have pasta in it, and I love coming up with new ideas […]
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Biltmore Estate Gardens Tour
Biltmore Estate Gardens are a highlight of a visit to this iconic estate in Western North Carolina. The gardens, while not classified as a Botanical Gardens per se, is a fabulous place to see plants of all types. My husband and I recently spent several days in the mountains of North Carolina with our daughter. […]
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DIY Cutting Board Holder for a Cabinet Door
Are you looking for a place to put your cutting boards? I have been storing mine on my counter tops, but I have been wanting to de-clutter the look in my kitchen lately, so I came up with this nifty idea for a DIY Cutting Board Holder that fits neatly behind my cabinet door. My […]
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Grocery Bag Dispenser Tutorial – Super Easy DIY Project
This DIY Grocery Bag Dispenser Tutorial gives me a place to keep my used plastic bags and is super easy to make, too. Are you a grocery bag hoarder? I have always been one. They have so darn many uses, that it is a shame to just throw them away when you come back from […]
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Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars
It’s time for some apple pie oatmeal bars! They are packed full of flavor and a perfect choice for enjoying the cooler autumn days. Apple desserts (like these apple crumble baked apples) just scream fall! It’s fall, y’all! For me, that means three months of non stop baking, decorating and general holidaying. I just […]
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Pantry Closet Makeover Tutorial
This pantry closet makeover tutorial will show you how to make a tiny kitchen closet into a mini walk in pantry. My kitchen is small. It’s a gallery kitchen with very little counter space, so I am always optimizing it for extra storage. The pantry is the size of a small closet and every single […]
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Creative Metal Yard Art – Garden Art with Bugs – Flowers – Critters
Decorating your yard with creative metal yard art can add a wonderful touch of whimsy to your outdoor garden space! I recently spent a week in a lovely cottage in the mountains of North Carolina. It was a great get away with my husband, daughter and her boyfriend. We spent the time driving around the […]
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Cranberry Pecan Stuffed Pork Loin Filet
This Cranberry Pecan Stuffed Pork Loin Filet is full of the taste of autumn. It has a delicious cornbread stuffing center, a nice crunch, some sweet/tartness from the cranberries, and the delicious flavor of yummy pork. Cranberries are a staple of fall and Thanksgiving. There is even a National Cranberry Relish Day on November 22. […]