Fancy Salad

This is so good for us... looks great and tastes great also... One of my favorite meals anytime of year!

Dessert Anyone?

This looked so delicious on a day filled with ice, snow and even some sunshine...Hot cocoa is the ultimate comfort beverage for the day!

Beautiful Cupcakes

These are some of the most beautiful cupcakes ever... Simple and so colorful. A feast for the eyes! from starrycupcakes.blogspot.com

Rainbow snacks

These had some of the best color for a tasty plate of snacks... so nice to look at and even better to eat! I often make snack trays in the evening... especially in winter, just for fun.... photo courtesy of the doodlegirl.com

Kransekaker

A little bit of Norway today.... Thinking of these lovely cookies... they are heart smart too... Oh, those almonds are good for us! Berit makes the best ever!

Tofurkey Soda

This might be okay, but it will bring a smile to your day! (Haven't tried it yet, have you?)

kransekaker, dinner

Found this photo of another favorite cookie, Kransekaker... always delicious...will try to make them again...

Holiday Cookies

These are some of my favorite cookies... I remember baking these with my mother, oh so many years ago... It was so delightful for my brothers and myself, we looked forward to this, then tasting them with warm cocoa or a tall glass of milk... Life was good and is good... Photo : cheftalk.com

Winter Trees

As the days of winter pass by we can be reminded that spring is getting closer by the day. Today is the beginning of winter! Enjoy walking in the cool fresh air or those fabulous winter sunsets... and sipping hot cocoa in a warm home. Each season is so very special... photo courtesy of Southwestern Illinois College...

Vegetable Platter for a Party

This is a good way to save some calories over the holidays... Vegetables are good too! photo from publix.com... Enjoy...

Tropical Fruit, a taste of the Islands...

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Another display of very healthy tropical fruit... a small but tasty bit of the Tropics...

Carved Tropical Fruit

This is one gorgeous photo and interesting website also. Unique style of preparing all kinds of fruit... www.fruitcarverelite.com

Centerpiece in Pink...

Somewhere in Pink... a lovely centerpiece for a table...

Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania

This lovely garden is a favorite of all who visit there...thought you would enjoy this one...

Blue Roses for the holidays

I have never had the privledge of seeing a "Blue Rose" in my garden or anywhere. They are stunning, strange, and bold. Quite possibly one of the most lovely roses in the world... They do exist and we can view their special beauty!

Cupcakes- for the holidays

This amazing little cupcakes are so yummy! Go to cupcake-goddess.blogspot.com a nice site with great ideas for making cupcakes wonderful! She's moved to couture-cupcakes.blogspot.com

Victorian Country Christmas

Every year chocolate looks better and better... So many delicious varieties to choose from. Yes, one might say I'm a Chocoholic... hard to resist this anytime of the year, but especially over the holidays... Enjoy!

Roasted Vegetables

This is a classic from a classic, Martha Stewart. This recipe is easy, quick and very tasty. Found it online on another site, "Madhungry.com" and it linked to her website. Think she is branching out some on the Hallmark channel. Roasted vegetables are great with any meat dish, or even as a main dish. You can substitute any type of vegetables you may like. You can find this recipe @ marthastewart.com/recipes/roasted vegetables and also @ madhungry.com Something for everyone at both websites... good , simple, practical meals for family and friends...

Roasted Vegetables

This is a classic from a classic, Martha Stewart. This recipe is easy, quick and very tasty. Found it online on another site, "Madhungry.com" and it linked to her website. Think she is branching out some on the Hallmark channel. Roasted vegetables are great with any meat dish, or even as a main dish. You can substitute any type of vegetables you may like. You can find this recipe @ marthastewart.com/recipes/roasted vegetables and also @ madhungry.com Something for everyone at both websites... good , simple, practical meals for family and friends...

A Gluten Free Earth?

Yes, it could happen! Gluten in a protein found in wheat, kamut, spelt, rye, barley and triticale. Gluten makes the bread dough soft and flexible when kneaded. Many persons have a genetic disorder called " Celiac Disease" It affects one in 133 in the United States. A gluten free diet really helps a person suffering from this disorder. Many foods are now available in "gluten free" variations, but you must be a careful label reader. For a good list of foods to eat and not to eat to avoid gluten, check out mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free-diet/myo1140 , glutenfreecookingschool.com and csaceliacs.org/recipes all good information and recently updated also. There is so much good info online, check these and others out for some good ideas and reading. I learned doing the research on this, glad to see more info everyday!

PCC natural markets

If you are in the Seattle area, you might want to check out PCC natural markets, there are several. They are mostly organic and natural products. They also have a great website @ pccnaturalmarkets.com Holiday tips, recipes, info and more. Check it out just for fun!

Tart Cherries for Health

All through the years these have been used for alternative medicine. I just did not realize how valuable they are. "Tart Cherries" have many unique qualities that help with muscle pain, inflammation, diabetes, gout, back pain etc. The darker the cherries the more of the compounds that help heal are present. Montmorency are perhaps one of the best, grown mainly in Michigan. Must be the great soil and climate that make this variety grow so well. The are sold as juice, frozen and canned. Becoming increasingly more popular, so they are easy to find on the store shelf. A good article can be found @altmedicine.about.com, search tart cheeries.Try reading about these wonderful fruits that taste delicious also. Enjoy!

Simply Organic

This is a very nice and helpful website featuring their Organic Products, ideas and everything to show how to use the organic products they sell. Holiday tips, contest and coupons. Check it out if you could use the info... simplyorganic.com

Fit after 50

Fit after 50, the top five exercises for baby boomers. Great story for us Oldsters and it makes sense to me. Guess I'd better get moving, link @ foxnews.com/story/o,2933,319246,00,html Enjoy your day with exercise!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I'm sitting here thinking of all my favorite sweet items for the holidays. Thinking of baking to warm up the cool chill in the house. I'm too tired, but maybe on wednesday! One special treat, oh, those lovely Red Velvet Cupcakes, with there fabulous cream cheese frosting. Plain and simple, yet so very delicious! So I'm looking up recipes on Bing and Google search. Interesting to make from scratch. The common ingredient appears to be: Buttermilk, in both the batter and frosting. Most also have vinegar in the batter. Don't quite understand this, but all the recipes look easy enough for me to try. At Foodnetwork.com, Paula Deen has a good recipe. Think I might actually try it. I like her baking and cooking via television. She has a certain passion for food. I like to eat, so why not, Red Velvet Cupcakes it is! Hope I can manage to measure the ingredients right... If they turn out I'll print the recipe. Till next time, happy baking and eating, just not too much!

I remember Nothing and other reflections

Saw this interesting and comedic look at life with Nora Ephron on the Today Show on NBC this morning. She has a new book out this week, it is called "I remember nothing and other reflections." Looks like a fun reading adventure filled with all the twists and turns that life has to offer, I'm planning to read it in the future. ( the soon future) She loves life and all that goes with it. Check out the video on tuesday, Nov.9th programing on nbc.com/today also Kathy Lee and Hoda. Just have to read something fun!

The Earthbound Cook

The co-founder of Earthbound Farms, Myra Goodman has a new cookbook, simply called "The Earthbound Cook". Delicious recipes, tips for green living and all good things for a healthy earth. You can find info and a good review @ mnn.com ( mother nature network) a great site for all things to do with green living and new ideas to do so. Enjoy the article and eat well...

Cranberry French Toast with mascarpone

This is a quick and very satisfying winter breakfast or brunch, perfect for the weekend. Healthy and Happy cooking, great way to start the day. I would add an extra dollop of whipped cream and a side of scrambled eggs for some protein. The recipe is @ Oprah.com/food/7-different ways to cook-with- cranberries.... very tasty, enjoy!

California Women's Conference

The California Women's Conference is in full swing today. Celebrities and community leaders are sharing ideas on just about every topic imaginable. Today's speaker is Michele Obama. This is the premier forum for women. Very interesting and lots of great ideas moving throughout the day. Information can be found @ www.womensconference.org Check out the wonderful ideas and motivational speakers. Worth a look... have a healthy day...

Toxins in the home

While I was visiting the Dr. Oz website I found this very interesting article: Toxins in the home, featuring a product that is used as a fire retardent. PBDE is used on those lovely foam pillows, they are cozy... but maybe harmful to our health. Read and watch a video on this @ www.DoctorOz.com it is very informative as is the entire site. Good watching and reading today.

Good Morning

Good Morning to my new blog called "Parents Unite." In the following days I will be writing about everything! Everything about life, living, and the pursuit of being healthy. Health is our most important part of life. We never know just how important until we lose it. So check back often to see what is going on here. Happy and Healthy living are always best! Take care...