Discovering Organic Coffee

Many people have turned to organic fruits and vegetables (and even meats) in recent years, striving to live healthier, longer lives. You may be one of these people. But did you know that organic coffee is now available, too? If you can’t find it at your local health food store, then you can definitely find it online. How Organic Coffee Differs From Traditional Coffee The coffee plant has traditionally been grown in the company of shade trees and other food and cash crops. This approach made... Read more »

I Love Christmas Fruitcake!

As a child, while visions of sugar plums danced in the heads of children around the world on Christmas eve, I dreamed of candied orange peel, candied lemon peel, candied citron, candied cherries, raisins, ginger, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, grated lemon rind, brandy, vanilla cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, mixed into a batter made of baking powder, flour, sugar and eggs. I remember watching mom mixing these ingredients together to make the perfect fruit cake! From the time when I was a mere child,... Read more »

Travel Light With A Travel Coffee Maker

You love your coffee. You have your own personal blend. You love your brewer, and have it set on a timer when you don’t forget. But the mornings when you do forget are always hectic, and more often than not, you’re in a rush just to get out the door with enough time to swing by the nearest 7-Eleven to grab a cup of coffee on the way to work. Not quite the cup of coffee you prefer, but better than nothing. Tired of settling? Then it might be time for a travel coffee maker. More popular... Read more »

Fun with Nostalgic Candy

Everyone has that special candy they grew up with that they remember quite fondly. Which candy they remember depends on when they grew up, but there will always be something. Some nostalgic candies just about everyone who grew up with them will love, but those are more likely to still be around. Then there are candies such as Necco wafers that you either love or hate. With some of these candies seeing who enjoyed what is half the fun of the memories. When you don’t quite know what else to give,... Read more »

The Delightful Health Benefits of Chocolate

Some call it a food group. It just means that much and tastes that good. While it’s not the healthiest food in some ways there are many health benefits to eating chocolate too. Dark chocolate is of course the best, as it has the most cocoa and therefore the flavonoids, which provide the benefits. The flavonoids have antioxidant properties, which have the potential to help prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Natural cocoa powders are the best, and when you’re shopping for chocolate... Read more »

Healthy But Fun Party Snacks

When you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle, choosing party snacks can be a real problem. The classic ones just aren’t that healthy and you don’t want to bore everyone else by putting out nothing but fruits and vegetables. Now, there’s nothing wrong with having a solid fruit or veggie tray out at a party; in fact, I recommend it highly. A little dip will make people more enthusiastic about the vegetables. Get a little creative with the kinds of fruits and vegetables offered.... Read more »

Barbeque Secret…Don’t Use Gas To Start The Fire!

I’ve rarely been accused of over thinking a situation. My “code of the west” mentality has been good to me through the years, rescuing me many times from the temptation of unnecessary thinking! Unnecessary thinking can ruin a perfectly good plan, but no thinking at all can be hazardous to your health! A good case in point is a situation I witnessed last year. One brilliantly blue afternoon in late spring my neighbor Joe was preparing for one of his famous cookouts. He was... Read more »

A Fine Kettle Of Fish!

Every year I take up my soup spoon, adjust my bib and continue my search for the best tasting seafood gumbo I can find. It’s not an easy job, but I’m up to the task again this year. You can find it just about anywhere you can smell the salt in the air. My choice is the gulf coast from Alabama all the way to Texas. I’ve tasted gumbo made with shrimp, (head on or head off) chicken, sausage, fish, scallops, clams, oysters and crab meat. Heads on shrimp give the gumbo a stronger and... Read more »

Seafood On My Mind!

Vacation meals should be fun to prepare and delightful to eat! In addition, leisure meals should be easy to prepare! I’m pretty sure that’s a law in most parts of the country, especially on the Gulf Coast. No one wants to spend their vacation time slaving over a hot stove. Dinner is even more difficult when you have to serve twenty or more people. Each year our extended family gets together for a family reunion of sorts, sharing the costs of renting a couple of houses on a beach somewhere.... Read more »

Guide to Spanish Wine

Spain has long been recognized for its fortified wines, particularly sherry, or Jerez as it’s known locally, but in recent years both production and quality of its table wines has improved remarkably. The third largest producer of wine in the world after France and Italy, Spain is now making inroads on to the international market for table wine due to improved marketing and better quality production of its reds and whites. However, it’s the fortified wine sherry which is produced in the... Read more »