By Guest Blogger Deborah Martin

Deborah Martin has some terrific ideas and recipes for us today! Deborah earned a BS in nutrition from Meredith College and is a certified pilates instructor with certification from the Physical Mind Institute in New York City. Deborah is not a licensed dietician, so before trying any new recipe, please call your pediatrician if you have questions concerning ingredients and how your child could react to those ingredients. Deborah's oldest child has a peanut allergy, so the following recipes are completely nut free. Enjoy! ... Rachel H
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By Jenny Stauffer

It's almost time for Cinco de Mayo, also known as a great day to eat Mexican food and drink Mexican beer or a margarita! We love to eat Mexican, so I usually have a surplus of recipes (check back on the previous April and May posts in our Recipe section for more recipes, or on our Pinterest recipes board.) Even when it isn't May 5th, these recipes can be enjoyed all summer long!


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By Guest Blogger Heather Bjork

I was prowling through our archives and stumbled across this post that ran when we first started Triangle MOM. It's such a fun idea that I wanted to re-post this morning. Enjoy! ~KRB

It is inevitable that most families fall into a rut with the meals they eat. Lots of things contribute to this situation with the major reason being lack of time to plan out new menus, shop for the necessary ingredients and prepare the meal. As a result, whoever does the cooking for the family, often relies on his/her tried & true recipes that can be assembled with a minimal amount of time and effort. Yet many of us enjoy eating out because it provides the opportunity to try new and different dishes and/or eat meals that we do not enjoy making at home. Read More

By Jenny Stauffer

Spring is finally here, albeit still cold and rainy as I type this!

Already in my kitchen, meals are lighter and fresher as we anticipate the warmer weather and the chance for outdoor dining! I have tried some new recipes this year that are now in our regular rotation of meals that will work either as a quick weeknight meal or just as well if you are entertaining this Spring.


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by Kristen Bagwell

If you know me, you know that I am not a crafty person. At all. However, if there is frosting involved, I'll try almost anything once...and with that said, I am inspired to try some adorable Easter treat ideas.

There are about 100 different (and very cute) ways to do cupcakes, many of them found here. Today's blog photo is from my mom's cookbook called Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson (there's a blog about them here as well). You don't necessarily need a recipe though - most of these you can look at and copy on your own.

My one exception to "all things sweet" on Easter is a deviled egg. If you are making hard boiled eggs to decorate, you can easily boil a few extra for the recipes I've included at bottom. Time to get cooking (and snacking!) Read More

By Jenny Stauffer

For quite some time, Meatless Mondays have been all the rage. Not so much for my family, though. Each Sunday, I take time to plan 4-5 meals that will take us through the week. Never once did I consider reserving one of those days as a meatless day. Until recently.....

Growing up, I did hit the stage as a teenager and young adult about being picky about my meat, since I made the connection of where my food came from. It was definitely a phase, though I am still picky-”er” about my meat than any other food group, and we do enjoy a vegetarian meal often.

Lo and behold, my second-grade daughter recently made the “connection”, as well, and has had a harder time accepting every meal as readily as she once did. So, we recently adopted an intentional day to be “meat-free”. Okay, not for a day, but at least for dinner! And though it might not always fall on a Monday, when I write my weekly meal plan, I do aim for one meatless meal a week. Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

Healthy snacks feel very boring to me lately...not sure whether I am in a food rut or what. A while back, I found some super-easy dip recipes in Scholastic Parent and Child magazine and thought I'd share.The caramel yogurt was the biggest hit but they are all pretty tasty. If you have any family favorites, be sure to comment and add them below! Read More

By Jenny Stauffer

Every Christmas and Holiday season, I underestimate the sheer amount of food I will consume. It's just that with every party, every get-together, the food is so “festive” and rich. Nonetheless, I return home from our annual New Year's vacation ready to lighten up my meals. It's not that I am setting out on some New Year's Resolution craziness, because, all things in moderation, right?

Additionally, we have started “Meatless Mondays” in our house. For us, this has been something the girls actually anticipate. I come home with one less expensive meat product each week, and we feel better eating meat-free at least one night a week.

I just so happen to have some light dinner options just in case you, too, feel the need to throw in a lighter meal or two into your rotation. Read More

By Tasty Table Blogger Jenny Stauffer

Happy Holidays! This year for the December Tasty Table edition, I thought it might be fun to ask some fellow Triad friends to share their favorite holiday recipes. I have some amazing fellow friends who love to bake, to cook, and that have some really special family recipes that have been handed down that they all were eager to share with you!

I can't wait to try all of these recipes myself! I now have some fresh, new recipes myself that I can bring to the Holiday table, to friends, and to my family this season. Have a safe and tasty Holiday season! Cheers! Read More

By Tasty Table Blogger Jenny Stauffer

Ahh, Thanksgiving is here, y'all! What a special holiday. I often hear people say that they love Thanksgiving more than the Christmas season, because it is one day of quiet, peaceful, family-oriented time, with so little hustle and bustle. It's just a nice, (sorta) simple day to spend with those you love.

If I think back, my favorite memories were during Thanksgiving, really. I loved my grandma kneading her yeast rolls by hand when we were lucky enough to have her with us at Thanksgiving. I remember mom's perfect turkey. She sure slaved away all day long! From the turkey to the pumpkin and pecan pies, to the sides and appetizers, it did take her alone to pull off the entire meal! And she sure did it well!

I hope your memories of family and friends carry you through this Thanksgiving, as well. Enjoy this special time of thankfulness and fellowship.  Read More

By Tasty Table Blogger Jenny Stauffer

Here are some delicious, easy protein-packed dinner ideas. All of them have minimal prep time and are super flavorful. Enjoy!

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by Kristen Bagwell

As promised, we've continued to update our Pinterest page for fall, and this week's focus is food. YES! All things food - desserts, party food, healthy food - all made with seasonal ingredients.

Below is a preview, but make sure you stop by and follow our Pinterest page to see the all of the goodies. The pins below may be found on our Halloween and Fall/Thanksgiving boards. Read More

By Jenny Stauffer

Aahhh, Fall is finally here! With the early warm temperatures, I personally could not be more ready for fall this year. Fall is probably my most very favorite time of the year. Football, the fall festivals and the fair, eating dinner on the deck…I could go on and on! I like to think of fall as the introduction to so many fun times and memories to be made, from the start of school, to Halloween and Thanksgiving, to finally the countdown to Christmas.

Guess what my favorite fall and winter once-a-week meal is? Soup! Every one of us loves soup, and I love that they are full of healthy ingredients that my kids devour. I am lucky that even my picky eater loves soup.

Here are some of our favorite soups. You can also look to Pinterest to reference previous recipes. I'm all about easy and flavorful, so maybe you will find something the will please your family. What is your favorite soup? Do your kids enjoy it as much as ours?  Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

When it starts getting cooler outside, all I can think of is warm...food. That's right: crock pot, soul food, casseroles (which I would say I'm not a fan of, but set one in front of me and see what happens). After 2-3 weeks of 60 degree mornings, fall might finally have arrived. In its honor? Variations on mac-n-cheese. Our current packaged favorite is the new Kraft Homestyle brand (my husband loves the boxed varieties), but here are some homemade recipes to try. Trust me when I tell you that there is something for everyone...yum! Read More

by Tasty Table Blogger Jenny Stauffer

Summer has come and gone and it's back -to-school time already! I know that as my own kids start school this week, it will be a shock to our internal clocks! Now is the time for easy, quick dinners that we can put together in a snap so that we have time for after school activities and homework.

Here are some easy, delicious meals that you might try. Enjoy! Read More

By Jenny Stauffer

I have posted before about finding new recipes and this month I have found some delicious new recipes that will definitely make a regular rotation in our house. I also have started something new this past month. Normally, I jot down a weekly menu of which I plan one weekend morning. Then I use my menu to create my weekly grocery list. And then I throw those papers away. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to type the menus and save them on a file, but I am really more of a pen and paper person. So I bought a spiral-bound notebook and began recording my weekly menus. If it’s a new recipe, I also write down the source, be it Pinterest, a magazine, or a cookbook. I make sure to include what sides we have with our main entrée.

Already, I have found great benefit from this. It is nice to instantly locate a recipe and I like being able to see what is on our weekly rotation. I am not the most well-organized person, but I would encourage you to try something similar, in whatever method would work for you. Even if it’s frozen ravioli and sauce, it’s nice to look back and have weekly or daily ideas for dinner on hand.

I hope you try out one of these delicious ideas for your own dinner this month! They are all super tasty and received two thumbs up from our family! Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

As usual, the 4th of July has me thinking "hmm, what can we eat?" Our July 4 favorites range from our favorite cookout tried-and-trues to desserts and snacks that seem patriotic (sometimes this is a bit of a stretch...you'll see). 

Usually we meet somewhere in the middle, preparing our normal grilled favorites and mixing in some red, white, and blue. Below are some side-dish and dessert recipes that may provide inspiration...we've got everything from traditional apple pie to red, white and blue jello. Enjoy! Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

 I have to be honest: the last thing I want to do at the end of a hot summer day is cook. I also hate getting a lot of take-out food, partly because of the expense and partly because I just don't think it's the healthiest thing I can give my family. (In case you wondered, our takeout choices do not usually include a salad or anything served with fresh vegetables.) 

With that said, I dug up a few "favorite" recipes that require little or no cooking, and wanted to share them with you today. Bon appetit! Read More

by Jenny Stauffer

It’s that time of year again!  Time to heat up our grills, enjoy the outdoors, and let our kids chase lightning bugs and stay up to enjoy the warm weather!    These recipes are perfect for nights like these and are ideal for either entertaining a crowd or for feeding a family.  

I tried to find alternatives to the regular hamburger and hot dogs, and these recipes are fun for both the adults and kids aIike.  I have tasted and tested each of these recipes and my whole family gave them a thumbs up!  Happy summer!   Read More

By Jenny Stauffer

Happy Cinco De Mayo!  Tomorrow we will be celebrating this day that commemorates the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War and celebrates Mexican heritage and pride.  Don’t y’all just love another reason to dish out some Mexican food? If you are grilling out with friends, joining a large fiesta, or just having a small family celebration, hopefully some of these recipes will fit the bill.

As always, if you have another recipe to share, please add your comment at the end of the blog!  More recipes can be found in our Food/Recipe section here.  

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by Kristen Bagwell

This is a great time of year for salads - especially if you are realizing this week that you're not quite swimsuit ready! I dusted off this post from last spring and am ready to start shredding...lettuce, that is. Yum!

We grew up on the same salad each night: lettuce (iceberg or romaine), carrots, tomatoes, celery, some onion, radishes if we had them, cucumbers, and italian dressing. Croutons, if mom was feeling really crazy. I do like the "house" salad, but it can get a little old...which is why I've taken the liberty of jotting down some of my favorite recipes for us. If you are trying to lose weight, watch the portion amounts of dressing and cheese on some of these. In general, though, they are all pretty light.

My cooking creativity is not as bad as my crafting creativity...but it's close. Needless to say, these are all recipes I've either copied from restaurants or swiped entirely from friends. Do you have any favorites? If so, leave us a comment under today's blog, and I hope you enjoy! Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

My grandmother used to always tell me "just because you can buy it doesn't mean it's growing right now." That never made any sense to me when I was younger, but now I see what she means. Food just tastes better in season, but how do you know which foods are in season, and when?

One way to know is to shop your local farmers market, or participate in a co-op or produce delivery service. If you don't have the time or inclination to do so, you can always do what I do for every possible question...look online! Click here for the local foods guide on about.com; it will tell you what's in season (and when) in NC. Then, we can talk menu! Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

When I saw the cover of Fine Cooking magazine last month, covered almost entirely by a casserole dish of mac & cheese, I knew I'd found a keeper. (Feb/March 2012 issue) Then I noticed a small sidebar: "100+ variations." Can you say "come to mama?"

Seriously...most of us think of mac & cheese as either a cold-weather food or a blue-box staple. Either way, prepare to change your mind. This article gives basic instructions to make perfect mac & cheese every time, and then provides suggestions for beefing up your dish. (Or lobster-ing it up, as the case may be.)

Below are the basic instructions outlined in the magazine article. Keep reading for a link to the Fine Cooking interactive mac & cheese recipe builder, and happy mac & cheesing! Read More

By Tasty Table Blogger Jenny Stauffer

Spring is right around the corner! Last chance to get your crock pots and dutch ovens warmed up...these great ideas from Jenny S. are sure to please. Enjoy! ~ the Triangle MOM team

Today I am sharing some recently discovered - and some all-time favorite - recipes that will warm you right up. Plus I included an easy oven recipe as well as one that's great on the grill too. Since winter has been so mild we've been enjoying our grill longer than usual. But now that it's colder, you can easily bring the last recipe indoors and cook on a skillet.

Enjoy, and stay warm! Read More

By Tasty Table Blogger Jenny Stauffer

One of my biggest passions is browsing recipes. I love new cookbooks. I will go to my friends’ homes and look at cookbooks. I love cooking magazines and can’t get enough. And I watch Food Network a lot. So I am always trying new recipes each week. Lately, my biggest obsession for recipe finding is the website www.pinterest.com. I love the visual “clips”.  (Click here to see TMoM's blog on how to use Pinterest). I also really like to read cooking blogs. A few of my favorites blogs include "For the Love of Cooking", "Plain Chicken" and "Skinny Taste."

Each Sunday, I look through my tagged recipes, recall family faves, and then make a weekly menu. Usually I try one or two new recipes a week. I have made a few new recipes lately I thought I would share! Where do you all find new recipes? How do you plan your meals? Leave your suggestion below in the comment box! Read More

By Tasty Table Blogger Jenny Stauffer

Well, I just cannot believe the holidays are almost over! Doesn’t time fly by faster the older we get? I know many of you have been dashing here and there, from party to party, house to house and may need some new ideas of how to entertain or what to bring to eat. Maybe some of these recipes will inspire you to try something new! Also check out my post from last year for other ideas! Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

It may be a little late for this, but in case you have a cookie party to go to, or just want to give treats instead of gifts, we've pulled together our top 10 family favorite cookie recipes. These are great any time of year, but are always a crowd pleaser around the holidays. The first recipe is my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe which I must say is the best recipe ever.

Side note: These recipes could also provide some fun for those of you looking at 10 days at home with your kids and not enough plans to keep them busy. (Just saying.)  Read More

by Rachel Hoeing

As we gather all the relatives together for Thanksgiving meals, we get geared up for some delicious turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans. If you have a child like my daughter … she will eat none of the above. (The battle with that is a story for another day!) Alas, I have a few recipes below that are family favorites for all of us and they can easily slide in with the other Thanksgiving items on the buffet. Hopefully even the pickiest of eaters may take a taste. I am not claiming that any of these are healthy – just yummy and easy! Read More

by guest blogger Jenny Stauffer

We always love to hear from Jenny Stauffer, and this post includes more of her family favorites! 

We are all busy right now with school and after-school routines, and these recipes will get your family to dinner with little effort on your part. All of these are in our family’s regular rotation of meals.

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by guest blogger Jenny Stauffer, Triad MOM


This month, I have decided to share some of our family’s favorite dinner recipes. Some of them are more suited for company, but most of them are recipes that are in our regular rotation of meals. We are so busy this time of year, it’s great to fall back on those easy favorites that are relatively quick and easy to prepare. Some of these recipes may even be in your collection of favorites! Read More

by Triad MOM guest blogger, Jenny Stauffer
 
Happy (almost!) Cinco de Mayo!
 
Why not have a piece devoted to my favorite food in the world, other than Italian?  Well, Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and I didn’t want you all to miss out on some great Mexican recipes that we use all year long!  One side note.  You may have noticed, but we are not big steak eaters.  So, if you have a yummy steak, or vegetarian addition, at any time, please share!   Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

I don't mean to brag, but my sisters claim that I make the best grilled cheese sandwich in America. (I am not sure whether this was sincere praise, or if they were just trying to get out of making their own...but I digress.) There is never a bad time for cheese melted between bread, buttered and grilled to perfection. I don't usually step out of the white-bread-american-cheese format, though...that is, until my older sis forwarded me a newsletter from The Hungry Girl.

If you haven't heard of her, the Hungry Girl is Lisa Lillien, a NY Times best-selling offer and creator of the Hungry Girl brand. She also has her own show on the Cooking Channel (Saturdays). If you want to try something other than american cheese on white bread, take a look below for three new twists on an old favorite. I've also included some of my Food Network favorites in case those are more your speed. There's something for everyone, I promise! Read More

By guest blogger Jenny Stauffer

Since I started guest-blogging for this spot, one question I hear often is, “Do your children eat that?” And here is my take on that. I cook what I cook, and for the most part, my kids eat what we eat. I do consider my pickiest eater. But really, unless it is an obvious offender (i.e. salmon), I am not making another dinner!

I really think it is important to prepare the meal you and your husband love, and if you need to, you can adapt it to suit your kids’ taste. Take pasta. My non-picky eater-loves blue cheese, goat cheese, mayo, mustard, you-name-it. She will eat prosciutto, etc. Picky eater hates creamy anything. So, I make the pasta, and spoon some plain noodles out for her, and maybe I add some chopped deli meat to her plate to make up for the lost protein. If she doesn’t eat it, oh well! The rest of us loved our dinner! This is why I love pasta! Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

So I was sitting around yesterday thinking  - where is spring, and what is with this cold weather? I was feeling a little bit "blah" until I had the best idea ever - chocolate! What better time to make my mom's chocolate pound cake? Talk about curing a world of hurts...I think this stuff should be classified as a medical miracle. (Or a spiritual one, at least.) Read More

by guest blogger Jenny Stauffer, Triad MOM
Note: I realize this blog says January, but since it is supposed to be so cold today, I thought we might all enjoy it. Hope you do!  - KB

January to me means lots of slow-cooked, warm and hearty meals that are easy to make after the hub-bub of the holidays come to a close.  Super Bowl is in the horizon, and for all of these reasons, the crock-pot just beckons my call!  Don’t we all love a meal we can throw in a pot and call a meal?    I have even found that some of my favorite meals that simmer all day on the stove can be tossed in the Crock-Pot and will taste the same, if not better.  I hope these recipes give you some new “easy” ideas in the kitchen, both for comfort and entertaining! Read More

by guest blogger Richa Kulkarni

My family loves Mexican food ... we had been to one of our favorite Mexican joints here "Sol Azteca" and I love Spinach Quesadillas. Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

There is a Southern saying that defines the traditional New Year's Day meal: "Eat poor on New Year's, eat fat the rest of the year." The true Southern New Year's menu includes ham, corn bread, black-eyed peas and collard greens. But why? There are many tales behind this very specific menu. Let's get started. Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

If you've been reading faithfully this week, you've probably gained a few sympathy pounds by now because we've mainly been talking about food. (I was hoping to work those pounds off by focusing on shopping as the other key topic this week, but it's not working so far.) Seriously, I have not stopped eating since Sunday. If I wasn't eating, I was thinking about what to eat next, and if I wasn't thinking about food, I was shopping for it or writing about it. Somehow after all of that, I still have no idea what to make for our "traditional" Christmas Eve dinner.  Read More

By Triad MOM guest blogger Jenny Stauffer

This month, I thought you all may enjoy some easy, elegant dishes that celebrate the holiday season.  No, I do not normally cook like this, but I usually have to bring a side or an appetizer to some event or another, and these are tried and true crowd-pleasers.  Some have multiple steps, but most can be made ahead of time to make it easy!

Cheers and Merry Christmas!  I hope you enjoy! Read More

by Kristen Bagwell
Are you tired of the same old holiday recipes? Good thing we have such great readers, because now we have some of their favorite recipes to try. Thanks to everyone who submitted a recipe. I hope you all enjoy these dishes! Read More

By Rachel Hoeing

How can you guarantee a relaxing, peaceful holiday? Keep everyone FULL and happy! The main course at the holidays varies from family to family, but one thing we all always need are good munchies! Appetizers, starters, hors d'oeuvres ... whatever you like to call them, make sure you have plenty on hand and you'll have a house of smiles throughout the holiday season. Read More