All posts by Melody

Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Garlic shrimp pasta with broccoli is a quick and easy dinner that’s healthy and nutritious any day of the week. Choose a sturdy whole wheat pasta for the best nutrition. To save time use frozen, shelled and deveined shrimp and prepared packaged broccoli florets. We are big fans of garlic so we’re generous with it and use both the liquid spice plus fresh. Adjust the seasonings to suit your own taste.

what's for dinner: garlic shrimp pasta and broccoliphoto © 2010 jenny cu | more info

Ingredients:
1 lb pasta, ideally Penne or other large pasta
1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
1 head broccoli, cut into small florets
3 teaspoons Watkins garlic liquid spice or 3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon Watkins Grapeseed oil, flavor of choice
1 can chopped tomatoes (12 oz/
Continue reading Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Mothers Day Brunch Ideas

Show your Mom how much she means to you with these sweet Mother’s Day brunch ideas. Rather than planning breakfast in bed for Mom and waking her up early, why not let her sleep in and use these ideas to create a Mother’s Day brunch Mom will thoroughly enjoy.

She will appreciate not having to cook on Mother’s Day. However, you’ll also want to make sure you’re prepared to clean up after yourself as well. It’s Mom’s special day so there’s no reason to make her clean up after the meal. She’ll really appreciate that you’re letting her relax and enjoy her special day without cooking and cleaning.

Continue reading Mothers Day Brunch Ideas

Freezer Meals Storage and Reheating Tips

Making and freezing meals ahead can be a real life saver! #realfood #freezermeals #homemade #homecooking

A photo posted by ✨ Melody Thacker ✨💖🌟💫 (@melody_thacker) on

I love freezer meals because they save me time and money. If you have always wanted to try your hand at freezer cooking but thought you’d have to purchase dozens of plastic food storage containers and freezer-safe casserole dishes you are in luck. As it turns out you only need a couple of casserole dishes and a few food storage containers! Here are some tips on how to freeze, store, and reheat all of your meals:

You will want to stock up on aluminum foil or parchment paper, both gallon and quart sized plastic freezer bags and some labels. Continue reading Freezer Meals Storage and Reheating Tips

Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

thing i love thursdays - FRUITphoto © 2009 Ginny | more info (via: Wylio)

What is fruit salsa? Does it contain hot peppers? I assumed it would so I never bothered to look at any of the recipes before. I confess, I’m not a fan of hot food. It turns out fruit salsa is basically chopped up fruit that can be eaten as an appetizer, snack or condiment!! Who knew?

I’m going to surprise hubby with fruit salsa and cinnamon chips this weekend. We both enjoy fruit and he’s always looking for something to snack on so I think it will be a great treat. Here’s the recipe:

2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and chopped
1 fresh mango, peeled and chopped Continue reading Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

Quick Breakfast Ideas To Fuel Your Family

waffles with berries for breakfastMornings can be pretty hectic for most people, all too often breakfast is skipped or it’s something unhealthy, eaten on the run. Adults are rushing off to work, children need to get to school and breakfast just doesn’t seem important at that time. Following are some quick breakfast ideas for you that are nutritious and quick.

But I don’t eat breakfast! I’m sure you have heard the saying, “Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day” and it’s certainly true especially when it comes to children. Countless studies have shown that children who eat a balanced breakfast are more alert in school, perform better and in many cases are less prone to bad behavior than children who don’t eat breakfast. These are pretty good reasons why your kids should eat breakfast and you’ll enjoy the same benefits too.

Here are some quick and easy breakfast ideas for you and your kids: Continue reading Quick Breakfast Ideas To Fuel Your Family

How to Cook Homemade Turkey Soup

Homemade turkey soup is frugal, healthy and very tasty. What better way to use up some of that left over roast turkey? It’s not hard to make but it does take a bit of
time. You’ll find a simple, basic recipe here and then some optional additional ingredients to make a more hearty meal type soup.

I have to admit turkey is one of our favorite homemade soups, maybe because I only make it a couple of times a year. We really should roast a turkey more often so I can make soup! Continue reading How to Cook Homemade Turkey Soup

Sassy Salsa and Sour Cream Seven Layer Dip

Here’s an easy, make ahead salsa and sour cream seven-layer dip that’s sassy and delicious to serve at your next get together with family and friends. Serve it with healthy, baked tortilla chips, I’ve also included that recipe is below.

Ingredients:
1 tsp. Watkins Cumin
1 can refried beans
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 T. Watkins Salsa & Sour Cream Snack & Dip Seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup black olives
1 cup chopped, seeded tomatoes
1 can diced green chilies, drained
hot pepper sauce, to taste
Continue reading Sassy Salsa and Sour Cream Seven Layer Dip

How To Make Pancakes From Scratch

Homemade pancakesHere’s how to make pancakes from scratch, it’s easy to make these breakfast favorites simply follow along with the photos below. You’ll find two recipes below, one for pumpkin spice pancakes and a basic pancake recipe. All follow the same method! Your whole family will love these delicious and healthy pancakes on a cold winter morning. Serve them with real maple syrup or your favorite pancake toppings.

Continue reading How To Make Pancakes From Scratch

Cooking Quick Tips For Bacon

BaconWe love bacon, but unfortunately it’s not one of the healthiest foods and it can make a big mess in the kitchen that you have to clean up after wards. If you are a bacon lover too here are some quick tips for cooking bacon.

  • Precook the entire package or several packages at once, cook until almost done. Store the pre-cooked bacon in the freezer until needed. This way you can reheat just the amount you need with out all the grease and mess. Heat in the microwave or a fry pan.
  • Cook bacon in a counter top grill, this keeps all the grease and splatters to a minimum.
  • Cut bacon strips in half, they are easier to work with. Plus it looks like you have more pieces on your plate.  Great tip if you are watching your calorie or fat intake.
  • Drain cooked bacon on paper towel to remove excess fat. Pat with a fresh paper towel to remove more grease.