It’s all about apples around here -- where to pick them, the many varieties and what to make with them! The New York area is full of orchards, ripe with virtually every kind of apple. It’s a regular weekend outing for friends to pack picnic lunches and head out to the orchards to pick-their-own. We ...
High on Open Sky
Imagine walking into a real store and being warmly greeted by someone who is really excited about what they are selling. And I mean every item they sell. They give you space, but would be thrilled to guide you through offering concrete reasons why a certain product may be right for you. You’re in a ...
Zesty Breakfast Casserole
What we love about this recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. We like ours to be a bit spicy, which is why we use Andouille chicken sausage. To mellow it a bit, we use some diced red peppers and onions. If you prefer a mild sausage or a different kind of vegetable, you really can't go wrong ...
Playgroup Power
The other day at playgroup, we had some granola baking in the oven (as we often do) while our kids played and we caught up on each other’s busy lives. In addition to all my granola ingredients, at the last minute, I grabbed a bag of tough skinned apples that nobody would eat in my house. If there ...
Running up that hill! Celebrate National Friendship Month
The other day, with no friends available to join me on my morning run, I had to go alone. Sometimes that’s ok, but most often I prefer some company, especially when I am running up the hill at the end of the first loop. So, on this day, having been up many hours of the night tending to my sick son, ...
NESCAFE Dolce Gusto by Krups: What’s Brewing for Playgroup
If you’re in the market for a single cup coffee maker, you should consider the groovy new Dolce Gusto, made by Krups. Here at Cooking With Friends, we’ve been making and tasting different coffee and cocoa drinks all month long. This whimsical bubble-shaped single cup coffee maker comes in lots of ...
Cooking With Friends Named “Word-of-Mom” Blogger by Cookie Magazine
Shannon and I are thrilled to share some great news with the Cooking With Friends community. We’ve been asked to be on the Cookie Magazine “Word-of-Mom” Blogger Panel and, the way we look at it, this is a chance for all of us to share our insights and experiences with other moms across the country. ...
Peek-a-boo Pasta
Peek-a-boo Pasta The other night, I was making Peekaboo Pasta, a dish all three of my kids love and call a favorite. It’s a winner for all -- it’s simple to make and loaded with fresh vegetables. As I was chopping the zucchini and dicing yellow squash, my daughter Sofia came into the kitchen and ...
Gingered Peach Jam
Give peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a sophisticated twist with this jam, but don’t stop there. Use it as a sweet salsa over chicken or fish, a topping for ice cream, swirl it into plain yogurt or drizzle it over a soft cheese such as brie served with crackers. The jam is lovely too with scones ...
Lasagna To Go
Friday night’s dinner was a tray of hot bubbling lasagna. It was really simple to make, since all I had to do was take it out of my freezer and place it in the oven late afternoon to bake. By 6:00 pm, my kids were devouring layers of noodles, cheese and meat, asking for seconds while telling me how ...