Family Words and Special Recipes

Does your family have different words for food? It’s fun to think them up, or just notice those words when they happen naturally, and to record them all. My oldest used to call swiss cheese “hole cheese”. For years I even wrote “hole cheese” on the grocery list. We call the homemade version of a chain restaurant’s teriyaki burger “messy burgers” because between the pineapple and teriyaki sauce and tomato slice – they really are extra messy. My kids love to eat those multi-colored pasta shapes with a little olive oil and grated cheese. They call them “wild oats” noodles … Continue reading

How to Decide What to Feed Your Pet

Sometimes standing in the pet food aisle feels like shopping for things like body wash or shaving cream; with so many options how does one ever decide what brand to buy? When it comes to pet food, the decision carries more weight. I might randomly pluck a bottle of soap off the shelf, but I want to put greater thought into what I’m feeding my pet. But all those options can be overwhelming, and I sometimes wonder if they aren’t all the same. The truth is they probably are. My dog had some digestive problems in the winter so I … Continue reading

Interview: The Chocolate Lab

I had the opportunity to (virtually) sit down with Amanda, owner of a cute little shop called The Chocolate Lab. Her pet products have appeared on the HGTV website and in Puppies USA Magazine — so I figured they were worth a look. Aimee: So how did you get started? What inspired you? Amanda: We bought our first house in November of 2005, and the first thing I did was find myself the perfect little puppy to join our family. I started doing some research regarding dog food, and I was horrified at the lack of care that went into … Continue reading

Spice It Up With Penzeys

“Once you get a spice in your home, you have it forever. Women never throw out spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I’m taking with me when I go.” ~Erma Bombeck I don’t know which spice Erma Bombeck planned on taking with her to the grave, but if I could be buried with my stock of Penzeys Spices I know I’d be cooking it up right in my afterlife. A few years back when my husband and I lived in Jacksonville, Florida my sister came to visit. We were driving through San Marco when … Continue reading