Yesterday, I had the day off of work so I decided to plant myself in the kitchen to use up some of the freshly-picked blueberries I gathered at a local U-Pick Farm. I had 3 quarts of berries so I had to find something yummy to do with them! I love the delicious berries that summer brings with it and the time spent harvesting to support our local farmers. I always pick more than I need so I can freeze some for later in the year when blueberries aren't in season. Another berry...

In honor of Bratwurst Day, I thought I would share some steps on how to make sauerkraut successfully at home to accompany your cookout fare. I recently did a class at the German-American Heritage Center on this very topic and my sauerkraut recipes were a big hit. You can download these recipes at the link below! The first thing you should know is that sauerkraut is a product of fermentation. What is Fermentation? Fermentation is simply the process in which a...

I always get a strange feeling around this time of year. It could be all the ghoulish Halloween décor or the fact that the days are getting shorter and my to-do list is not!! Maybe a combination of the two has me a little on edge but the trick is to treat yourself with love and set the right intentions for a happy and healthy fall/winter season. The last thing you need is a cough and sore throat when battling bone-chilling winds and holiday crowds so make sure self-care is a part of...

1 in 3 American adults is at risk for kidney disease which often has no symptoms and can go undetected until advanced stages. Diet and nutrition can protect your kidneys and other vital organs which is why prevention is so important. What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)? A loss of kidney function which has been present for more than 3 months A gradual process The kidneys are less able to remove wastes from the body, balance body fluids, regulate blood pressure,...

When I hear someone is going to remodel a room in their home, it is rarely the bedroom. It's usually the kitchen or some other living area that is frequented during waking hours. However, the bedroom can play a major role in the quality and quantity of sleep and ultimately long-term health. There are many little things you can do to make your bedroom more relaxing and conducive to a good night's rest so you can wake up feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the day. The...

June is National Safety Month so I wanted to share some helpful information about "work safety". Whether you have a desk job or a construction job there are many things you can do to improve your health and safety at work. Below are several links that demonstrate healthy work environments and practices. Click on a link to learn more. Stress can impact your quality of work and set you up for illness or injuries. While some stress may be beneficial, chronic...

1. Be Grateful Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. –Oprah Winfrey This quote reminds us that we need to live gratefully. How do we do this? Remember that this moment is not earned but given. The greatest gift of the present moment is the opportunity to (fill in the blank). Every moment brings a new gift if we make ourselves available to it. Make the most of all of life'...

April 16th has been declared as National Eggs Benedict Day. The secret to making this breakfast just right is making a perfect poached egg. There is a little skill involved so I will tell you how to make a flawless poached egg in the directions below. Don't forget the hollandaise sauce! I will show you how to make a simple variety with less fat and sodium. Baked Eggs Benedict Recipe (Printable PDF version...

March is National Nutrition Month® and the theme this year is "Put Your Best Fork Forward". This campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and making each bite count. Here are some tips to get you started: Create a Healthy Home Environment- Eating is an automatic behavior and you may think you have control of your choices but research shows that our decisions are based on habit and often without much thought at all. We make, on average, 600...

This post is all about spicing up your baby's food. Why would you want to do that?! To develop in your child what is known as a refined palate of course! Additionally, one day you'll be able to say, "I have rarely needed to use sugar and sweets to entice my child to eat!" Mealtime doesn't have to be a battleground and you definitely should NOT have to put dessert on a pedestal just to get your kid to eat some vegetables or 3 more bites of chicken. When you start flavoring baby food with herbs...