Category: Food

Food Storage is a wise way of setting your family up for the unforeseen scenarios that come up – the lost job, the family illness that makes it hard to focus on getting to the store for pantry staples or in the worst case, a natural disaster that takes out our normal amenities unavailable.

So, if you’re looking to make preparations for the unknown, what are some important tips for making that happen?

Organize & Plan Ahead

By preparing lists and making note of what sales you can shop each week to add to your pantry you can gradually add to your stock each week when you shop for your regular grocery items.

Helpful Link: 3 Month Pantry List (pdf)

Begin Shopping Now

Don’t wait for a windfall of money to get started on your storage shopping. Start buying extra now and gradually you will begin to see your supply build.

Helpful link: Baby Steps for Food Storage

Shop Smart

Use coupons, hit sales and buy in bulk for items that are a great deal in the bulk sizes.

Helpful link: Money Saving Tips for Food Storage Shoppers

Store Properly

Learn how to store items properly so you don’t find yourself wasting food over the course of time. Keep track of dates, come up with a system that works for your for budget and store your food to maximize longevity.

Rotate & Take Stock of Food Regularly

Come up with a system for noting the dates and be certain you are rotating food accordingly so there is minimal waste.

Look for our next article in this series where you will receive links to a variety of resources which will provide you with what you need to do all of the above in more depth – so be sure to check back for that!

Your homework for today is to make note of possible storage locations within your home. Think outside of the box if you live in a smaller space – you can make it work.

Image: Jesse Michael Nix

One of the hottest baby party/baby shower trends today is the gender reveal cupcake. It’s a fun way to let people know the sex of your baby. If you are very patient you can even surprise yourself with the help of your sonogram tech and the neighborhood bakery.

There isn’t a specific way to do it – no rules, no constraints. Some parents-to-be ask their technician to keep the secret, opting to carry a sealed envelope containing the information from the ultrasound to their favorite bakery. The baker opens the envelope and secretly creates a special cupcake filled with either pink or blue cream – a surprise to even the parents.

Other couples prefer to know ahead of time and the color found inside the cake is only a surprise to the guests at the party.

If you want to make the cupcakes yourself, it isn’t hard. Just bake your favorite chocolate or vanilla cupcakes (either from a mix or from scratch). Let them cool completely and then cut out some of the cake in the middle – just enough to leave a space for a filling.

Tint non-dairy topping either pink or blue, depending on the sex of your baby. You can also use vanilla pudding but it will not give you the clear color that the non-dairy topping will.

Cover the filled cupcake with your favorite chocolate or vanilla frosting so that the colored filling is completely hidden. Decorate the treats with pastel sprinkles in both pink and blue so that no one knows what color lies within until that very first bite.

photo credit: Theresa Iovcheva

Long term food storage is gaining momentum around the country for a variety of reasons – with the economy hitting rock bottom in recent years, to those who believe the end is near, or those who prep for the sake of sanity – you’ve got reasons for food preparation that run the gamut.

Common Reasons to Store Food:

• Loss of income
• Unforeseen natural disasters
• Sick family resulting in job loss or inability to make regular trips to the store
• Allow for ease in creating last minute meals on busy days
• Religious beliefs

Whatever your reasons, it’s not a bad idea to have some sort of long term food storage, but without a game plan as well as resources for making it all work, the idea can seem daunting and quite frankly, overwhelming.

We’re here to help.

There are a variety of websites that can help you accomplish your goals for food storage whether you are looking to prep for three months, a year or longer. They offer everything from basic advice to get you started all the way to checklists, spreadsheets and video tutorials.

They all recommend the following:

• Organization - Figure out what you need and create a comprehensive list of the necessities, including toiletries.
• Plan Ahead - Plan ahead how you will store your items so you know where you can keep your supplies and how you will keep them.
•  Proper Storage - Understand proper storage methods to maximize the longevity of your supplies.
• Begin Shopping Now - Chip away at your list little by little, building up your supply.
• Shop Smart - Use coupons and sales to help you accomplish your goals in an economical way.

Here at Modern Home, Modern Baby we will be featuring a series of posts on food storage that will provide tips and resources covering all you need to know in small bite sized articles so you can digest this process a bit easier – so be certain to come back for those tips in the coming days.

What are you most uncertain about regarding long term food storage?

Main Image: Suzba

2nd Image: author generated

Moms Night In with your girlfriends should be a regularity in your schedule. I’ve talked before about putting together a Bunco Night or a Pokeno Game or hosting an intimate Raclette Dinner Party because I think time socializing with someone other than your toddler or testy teen is important. And sure, your dear husband might be fun to visit with too, but there’s just something to be said about time with your girlfriends.

Another fantastic option for getting together is a wine and cheese tasting. It allows for lots of chatting, eating and the discovery of new wines and appetizing dishes. Truth be told, this party could be done with girlfriends or with couples, so run with it how you choose; just make socializing a priority!

There are a variety of ways you could do this. You can host the entire event yourself if you thrive in the creativity of that planning, or you can have guests bring items and it can be a potluck type event.

Self-Hosted Wine & Cheese Tasting

If you love to have the creative control of an entire event then here’s what you need to see this event through on your own:

• Have a white wine glass and a red wine glass for each person attending. Provide wine charms and rinsing water for ease of changing out wines.
• Choose 4-6 wines, half of which should be white and half red to meet the interests and palates of all attending. You may want multiple bottles of each wine depending on the number of guests…and whether or not you have lushes in your midst.
• Once you’ve chosen your wines, do your research as to which foods pair nicely with them and create your menu accordingly.
• Set up your spread with wines next to their complimentary dishes. Include labels next to wines and food items so attendees are aware of what they are getting and can make an informed decision both with dietary and personal taste in mind.
• Provide pre-printed score sheets with wine names and lines for personal notes. This will allow for guests to go home with their own reminders as to which wines they might like to purchase again in the future.

Pot-luck Wine & Cheese Tasting Party

• Instruct each guest to bring their favorite wine and cheese/appetizer pairing to the party.
• Provide blank label tents for guests to use for labeling their wines and food items on the food table.
• Have enough red and white wine glasses for each guest as well as wine charms and rinsing water.
• Provide pens, blank templates for scoring/notes for guests to make notes of what items they enjoyed for future reference.

Nearing the end of either of the gatherings, a discussion of which wines and food items went together well can happen based on the score sheets.

At the close of the evening, you’ll have had a relaxing evening with friends and you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle the kids again.

**Please enjoy your wine responsibly and have a designated driver – or a cab.

Websites for Inspiration & Pairings:

Rachel Voorhees is a blogger who is nearing the end of her wine connoisseur training (i.e. Sommelier School) and her website is chaulk full of information on wine pairings, wine destinations and all things wine, wine and more wine. She is also a wine columnist as Momtastic  – keep tabs on her and you have a one-stop resource for your  Moms Night In party.

Pinterest is great for menu inspiration!

Can’t Make it Out? 

Have Wine, Will Drink is a newly launched site that aims to provide you with information and socialization all centered around wine. So, if you can’t get out for wine time with your friends, then have a Mom’s Night In with your online gal pals.

Have Wine, Will Drink hosts regular twitter parties using the hashtag #winebuzz. So if you can’t make it out for a wine tasting party, head over to their website and mark your calendar to meet up with the gals for a glass of wine and giveaways! It’s always a ton of fun!

Would you host a Wine and Cheese Tasting or attend one? 

Image: meetusinghal

If you are tired of the Kool-aid guy crashing through your wall in the summer, and even more tired of the chemicals and weird additives in those colorful, sweet drinks that your kids love, give this all natural, vibrant red lemonade a try.

Hibiscus is a flower that gives a citrusy punch and a bright red color to lemonade, tea, and punch. You can usually find it in dried forms at health food and natural foods stores. It provides calcium, iron, beta-carotene, and vitamin C to your child’s diet – always a good thing!

Keep the hibiscus syrup around for a quick, colorful alternative to those other drinks kids love. You can also make popsicles with it. You can even add it to your favorite cocktails for a beautiful twist.

The hibiscus syrup will keep in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for several weeks.

Hibiscus Lemonade

• 5 cups water
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup culinary hibiscus buds
• 5 cups water
• 2 cup lemon juice

Instructions

1. Bring 5 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar to a boil, stirring constantly.
2. Boil until the sugar dissolves.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add the hibiscus and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
5. Strain the flowers out of the sugar mixture by lining a colander with a paper towel or cheesecloth and setting it over a bowl. Carefully pour the liquid through the paper towel and into the bowl.
6. Add the strained sugar mixture to a pitcher.
7. Add 2 cups of lemon juice and 5 cups of water.
8. Stir and taste. Add more sugar as necessary.
9. Drop lemon slices and ice in chilled glasses and pour the lemonade over the ice.
10. Serve immediately.

Makes about 8 servings

photo credit: Marye Audet

My daughter’s preschool has a big bowl of apples on the table. It always makes me smile. Something about the wholesome picture of a teacher and lovely apples.

Sometimes, when a child has a lot of, ahem, energy in her hands (and I’m not talking about my girl, noooooo) the teacher will jump up and say, “Have I got just the job for you!” Her excitement is infectious and both of them run to the bowl of apples.

Then a polishing cloth is selected and reverently the teacher takes down the bowl and sets the child up polishing. I’ve seen this. With my very own eyes. It works wonders for dispelling hitting, kicking and otherwise unwanted energy. Wonders! It’s like an advanced ninja move for child handling.

So, if you, like me, have a teacher in your life that you want to thank, give this a try. It’s a recipe from Tree Top of applesauce land. And let me just add that all teachers, especially preschool and kindergarten teachers, deserve any and all gratitude we can give them!

Tree Top Apple-Dapple Cake:

Cake:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup Tree Top Apple Sauce
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 cups finely chopped apples

Glaze:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup milk

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, oil, applesauce, and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Stir in apples.
3. Spread the batter in a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes.
4. For the glaze, combine the brown sugar, butter, and milk in a small saucepan. Cook and stir until bubbly and all of the sugar is dissolved. Cool slightly. Drizzle warm over cake when it has cooled for 5 minutes, so it can seep into the cake and keep it moist and completely irresistible.

photo credit: lisaclarke

I’ve been thinking about health lately, probably because I’m a bit traumatized by that whole feeding tube diet dust up. So, in an effort to support sane women among us, (and stay on a healthy kick – healthy habits, healthy mind, healthy body), I’m sharing some wisdom from my lovely, and also sane, friend Lizelle. She’s a fellow blogger and during one coffee kvetch session, we got to talking about her commitment to cooking.

I’ll share with you some of her wonderful insights on life in her kitchen. Mostly, though, I’m inspired by how she handles fresh ingredients and all this cooking! Read more…

Going to dinner with kids can be a such a feat that you may choose to avoid it altogether – but sometimes, it’s just nice to have someone else do the cooking for you.

Here are some tips to make it all work, so you can leave with your sanity still intact:

Set the Stage for Behavior 

Before you enter the restaurant, set the stage for good behavior with your kids. For those who are old enough to understand specific directions and expectations, a quick reminder as to proper behavior in a restaurant setting is always a good idea. Read more…

When it comes to cooking, I use one of three things: olive oil, safflower oil, or coconut oil.

I know they’re healthy options, I know they’re tasty in my food (especially the coconut oil in homemade waffles), and I also know that there’s a lot of options.

Particularly when it comes to olive oil. There’s straight olive oil, virgin, extra-virgin, cold-pressed … the list goes on and on.

The most common varieties are obviously virgin and extra-virgin. But what’s the difference?
Read more…

When we made the switch to whole grains, I had to do it slowly.

It wasn’t a big deal when it came to things like bread, because I often bake my own, but when it came to things like pasta, I got nothing but flack.

So, how do you make the switch?

Start at Cooking Light, which has an extensive section on whole grains that explains which ones are best and what they can be used for.
Read more…

When hosting friends for an intimate gathering for dinner, you often envision great conversation with fantastic food throughout the course of a lengthy evening, which is ideal. When you host a dinner party that incorporates the raclette, that’s exactly what you get and then some.

The raclette method of cooking, while it may seem like a new and emerging trend, has actually been around for hundreds of years. It was one that began in Switzerland and has in recent years made it to other parts of the world. The raclette is fantastic for dinner parties because it’s a form of cooking that allows socializing while eating slowly throughout the course of an evening. Read more…

Pinterest is a great resource for party planning, home decor and fashion, but it’s also a great source to find a large variety of popular recipes quickly, or it can be a place where you keep track of recipes that you love so you can easily organize your weekly menu. Read more…

Getting your kids in the kitchen doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be an opportunity that results in a positive experience for your both. It will result in a child that not only participates and contributes to the family efforts, but it will result in opening the doors of communication as you work together to create a family meal or clean up afterwards – so consider the five suggestions below for getting your kids working with you in the kitchen. Read more…