diy bath bombs

bath bombs

Gift-giving from the heart is always welcomed, IMHO.  Back in August, I hosted a baby shower for my daughter, Laura, and one of her requests was for me to make bath bombs as baby shower favors for our guests.  I have to admit I was a little apprehensive but as I queried the web, it…

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simple syrup (delicious in cocktails & desserts)

simple syrup

Making simple syrup is just that, simple!  All you need is equal parts of sugar and water.  This liquid sweetener is commonly used to sweeten cocktails, iced tea, iced coffee, lemonade, and other cold drinks.  You can buy simple syrup from specialty grocery stores but it is much more economical to make your own at…

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homemade grenadine – so easy to make!

homemade grenadine

When I was younger, a treat for me and my siblings was when our parents would take us out to dinner.  Unlike today, that didn’t happen regularly when I was growing up.  But when it did, it was a special event as I knew I would get treated to a Shirley Temple drink. TweetFacebookLinkedInTumblrStumbleDiggDelicious

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diy beeswax wraps

diy beeswax wraps (easy-to-make)

We’re all familiar with the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) and I’d like to think most make a conscious effort to use those three R’s, yours truly included.  But, sometimes I fall back into what’s comfortable or easy-to-use.  Last week I was at our farmers’ market and I saw a couple of vendors selling beeswax…

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diy kumquat infused vodka

diy kumquat infused vodka

Back in June 2015, my cocktail world as I knew it (virtually nonexistent) made an unexpected, but very pleasant discovery; I liked bourbon!  Up until that time, my favorite tipple was vodka and tonic with lime.  As a youngster, I recall my mom and dad enjoying a drink from a packet called a whiskey sour…

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homemade grainy mustard

easy to make grainy mustard

There’s an immense satisfaction when something homemade turns out well and puts a smile on your face.  It gives that boost in confidence and lets you know you can tackle the next project on a high note.  We love grainy mustard almost as much as we do Dijon.  In the past 20 years, I have…

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marbled eggs – just in time for Easter

marbled eggs made with beet juice

Looking for a fun way to serve hard boiled eggs?  Start with the eggshell.  Years ago when the kids were younger, I would make colored eggs for them as part of the Easter egg hunt.  I would also make marbled deviled eggs to serve to the adults.  Marbled eggs are a cinch to make and…

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what to do with leftover sour cream

sour cream dressing recipe

When a recipe calls for a small amount of sour cream I feel my shoulders slump.  For me the thought of having to buy a container of sour cream for 2 tablespoons or even a cup seems like a such a waste; there’s always some leftover.  I could substitute it for yogurt but I would…

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almond and sunflower seed butter

nut butter - easy to make

but·ter (noun) – a solid yellow substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking; a food made from cooked fruit or roasted nuts that have been ground up.  We’re all familiar with butter made with cream but over the last few years there’s a burgeoning market using nuts and seeds. …

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maple glazed nuts – an edible gift

maple glazed nuts

Another edible gift from yours truly! Maple glazed nuts are super easy to make and a delectable hostess gift.  They’re perfect for casual entertaining or tossed in a salad.  Homemade edible gifts are always well received especially for those who are hard to buy for (i.e. teachers, employers).  TweetFacebookLinkedInTumblrStumbleDiggDelicious

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