On Mondays, we eat red beans. This is one of the many lessons I learned while working for Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans. Supposedly this tradition comes from Monday also being laundry day, which was a long grueling task before washing machines. People needed a meal that was hearty, yet did not require…
My Top 7 Budget Tips
This month is Hunger Action Month. For more on that, check out my blog post from last week. It tells all about my experience working for Second Harvest Food Bank and provides links to getting involved in your community’s fight against hunger. In recognition of this month, I will be sharing my favorite tips and tricks…
Hunger Action Month
Happy September everyone! September 1st means the start of school in many places and getting back to the structure of non-summer life. I also think of it as pre-fall, we are one month closer to cooler weather here in Texas. September is also Hunger Action Month: a month where people all over America stand together…
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend
Is it too early? Maybe. But school starting puts me in the mood for fall. I’m ready for a chill in the air, cozy sweaters, and warm soups. However, here in Houston it is still in the 90’s every day. I will have to settle for making a new and improved pumpkin spice blend to…
Hash Brown Waffles
Phew! We made it to Monday. These are not words you will hear me say often, but this weekend was a doozy. Over the past two years, we have been repairing our home after being flooded by Hurricane Harvey. It has been a LONG process. Because we are not even in a flood plane, much…
Tahini Free Hummus
School is just around the corner. In fact, many school districts in our area are starting this week. If you haven’t done any lunch or snack prep whatsoever, don’t panic! I’ve got a super easy, delicious hummus recipe that is nut free and tahini free that is perfect for getting some extra fiber, healthy fats,…
Top 10 Foods to Freeze for School Lunch Prep
“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” -Nora Ephron As a child, I loved buying school supplies for as long as I can remember. I think of elementary school…
Gluten Free Dairy Free Sausage Gravy
We have had a wild few weeks in this household! We traveled the very tip of Maine with a mostly potty trained toddler to visit family before the new baby comes. We have been working on getting the last few house projects finished that we’ve been putting off since our post Harvey flood remodel. And…
Cooking with Toddlers: Oatmeal Edition
Some common complaints I hear about cooking with kids is that it takes too much time, everyone leaves frustrated, knives are scary, it doesn’t always taste as good or look as good as without help, and they’re not sure where to start. Let’s start with the basics. When to start. ASAP The sooner you get…
Travel Snacks for Toddlers
Summer means one thing for many families…travel. For some, this brings to mind tantrums, overwhelmed toddlers, and high priced snacks and airport lunches. I am here to offer hope. Keeping a toddler well-fed and well-entertained is crucial to a happy, healthy trip for all. Because my husband’s family lives 20 hours away by car, we…
Birch Benders Pancake Mix Review
I have a confession. I absolutely love pancakes. They are my favorite breakfast food. When I think about pancakes, I think about the Dragons Love Tacos book, which discusses the dragons affections for tacos and their accompanying fixings the entire time. I love pancakes. I love blueberry pancakes. I love warm fruit topped pancakes. I…
Chimichurri Steak
Here’s the thing. I love having people over. I do not love that I usually get over excited and end up spending most of my time rushing around the kitchen trying to make the 8 dishes I planned to wow my guests. I grew up in a Southern home where you show your love in…