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Edible Landscaping 101: Great Time to Start Planning Next Year’s Garden!

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Roasted Tomatoes with Pasolivo Rosemary Olive Oil

Roasted Tomatoes Straight from the Vine

Each year for as long as I can remember, I have planted herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. Sometimes I’ll also plant pumpkins or cucumbers (love both of these!). This year we went all out and planted tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, corn, pumpkins, squash, okra, peppers of every conceivable kind.

It has been an absolute joy to go outside and “grocery shop!” So much so that we’re planning on planting even more next year and have mapped out a few choice spots to have not one, but two gardens. We got an extra freezer to store our produce in and I have a strong feeling we’ll be thanking ourselves for our efforts all winter long.

Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

  • It’s healthier! Fruits and vegetables are outrageously healthy and growing them, yourself, means you control the pesticides used and know EXACTLY what all has been involved from getting them from the garden to your plate.
  • Convenient. Even when we weren’t living inside of a pandemic, the convenience of being able to step outside your back door and grab what you need to complete your meal was crazy convenient. These days, however, it’s even more so. Anything we can do to keep from having to go to the store is a win.
  • Economical. If you shop for fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices in stores I don’t have to explain this one to you at all! Growing your own produce and herbs saves you money during the summer as well as during the winter if you freeze or can your harvest.
  • Fun and Enriching Hobby! Any time we push ourselves out of our comfort zone and learn how to do new things, it’s SO good for our minds. Not only that, new hobbies are great for your emotional health as well. Gaining confidence through growing your own produce is a great payoff and one you won’t even realize has happened until you proudly walk into the kitchen with your colorful bounty.
  • Excellent Exercise, Sunshine, and Fresh Air. Having vegetables and herbs in addition to my beloved flower beds has given me more reasons than ever to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. The extra (enjoyable) work of watering, weeding, planting, picking, etc.. has been wonderful exercise, too.
  • Get the Kids Involved! My oldest grandbabies (3 and 1) have LOVED watching the veggies grow, watering them, picking them, and even tasting them! It’s a great way to get kids involved in a wonderful and useful hobby AND encourage them to eat more fruit and vegetables.
  • Perfect for Those with Restrictive Diets. I have to eat gluten-free and have to say, it’s always extra comforting to KNOW something is completely free from gluten or wheat and hasn’t been cross-contaminated. Anyone who has to avoid gluten, peanuts, soy, wheat, or other problematic ingredients will appreciate the full control growing your own food gives you.

Below is a wonderful infographic about “Edible Landscaping” from an outstanding article titled The 12 Best Edible Landscape Plants. After clicking on the infographic below and seeing the wonderful information, I hope you’ll click through the link above to learn more. If you live in here in the states, more likely than not you’re like me – looking at the end of the gardening season. But, truly, what better time to start planning than now?! Gather your information, arm yourself with facts, accumulate the tools and seeds you’ll need, and map out your garden.

Next year will be here before you know it… so get growing!

Edible Landscaping Infographic

Source


Adorable Kitchen Gadgets for Kids who LOVE Dinosaurs!

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I was on Amazon earlier (full disclosure, I’m never really officially off Amazon), looking for dinosaur-related plates for my grand-babies. I have three grand babies and they’re all little boys – one is 2 years old, one is almost 6 months old, and the youngest? Well, he isn’t officially here yet, but he IS officially loved!

I found three WONDERFUL Dinosaur Food Holders from Funwares:

The TriceraTaco (the triceratops is one of kids favorite dinosaurs) is pictured on the left. It can hold tacos – or sandwiches, waffles, toast, English muffins, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, etc.

On the right is another one I’m kind of freaking out over, the NachoSaurus. I love that he comes with his little food dish for dunking and dipping. He could be used for fries with ketchup just as easily as chips with salsa or cheese. He could also hold candy, carrot sticks, or other snacks.

Last, but in no way least, is TacoSaurus Rex (pictured below). This guy can hold tacos, sandwiches, bagels… whatever the little “boss” has consented to eat that day!

I can’t wait to whip these out on my 2 year old grandson – he is WILD WILD WILD about dinosaurs and will love these.


Colorful Table and Chairs for Toddlers (In Love with This!)

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 This may seem like a deviation from the usual posts on the food blog, but… if you think about it…. it is actually exactly on brand!

My biggest motivation when I cook or plan meals (and I’m sure it’s the same for you) is my much loved family. Every step made in or near the kitchen is done with them in mind – from the oldest to the youngest and from the first one I ever met to the one I’ve yet to meet (as she or he isn’t due until July 9, 2020!).

We have been blessed with two beautiful grand babies (the beautiful July baby will make it three), so I have been thinking for a while now about finding a table and chairs for them to use while the adults take up all the spaces at the dining table. When I was growing up, we kids had a small table similar to the one shown here (except our chairs weren’t nearly as colorful or fun). When we outgrew it, we moved on to a card table and… again… our chairs couldn’t compare to these beauties!

This Kids Wood Table & 4 Chair Set  (Amazon link) is the best-looking and sturdiest set I’ve found – and, yes, MiMi has been shopping around for some time now.

The set is available in a variety of table and chair colors – the one pictured is my personal favorite but you may prefer pastel chairs or a darker wood for the table. There are even gray or white table options available that’re extra sharp, too.

  • Child-sized table and chair set from Tot Tutors; includes rectangular table and 4 chairs
  • Table crafted in sturdy wood with natural finish; wood chairs painted in 4 bright colors
  • Great for children ages 3 and up with 10-inch seat height; home assembly required
  • Table measures 26-inch wide by 22-inch deep by 19-inch high; 10-by-10-inch chairs stand 22-inch high overall
  • For ages 3+ years

See Kids Wood Table & 4 Chair Set for a closer look.  I can’t wait to be able to use this one for all future Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and birthday get togethers!

PBfit Review: Healthy and Delicious for the Whole Family

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PBfit

Delicious PBfit – All Natural, Vegan, and Gluten-Free

While I’m normally the class clown, I want to be somewhat serious for a minute.

I guess that’s somewhat of a benefit to being the person who’s never serious, when you ARE serious, people know it’s… well… serious.

Think back to when you were in grade school. If you’re a parent or grandparent, odds are you have trouble thinking of overweight kids or even teachers. I can, honestly, remember the names of the overweight kids because they were so few.

Today, sadly, things are much, much different. You cannot go to the store, it seems, without seeing precious children who are already dealing with weight as an issue – at an age when they’re only “issue” should be homework or keeping their little brother from snitching on them!

I don’t have to tell you how unhealthy and dangerous carrying extra weight is. I won’t insult your intelligence with any diabetes statistics. You know that there is an epidemic in our country – with children and adults. An epidemic that HAS to be confronted head-on with better nutrition.

PBfit Smoothie

Chocolate PBfit Smoothie with Apple and Banana

The problem is… kids have incredible appetites! They’re growing and busier than any self-respecting Type A bee, so that’s only natural. Starving them is most certainly NOT the answer. Fun activities and healthy food are the answers needed and, fortunately, healthy food couldn’t be easier.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, too. It’s delicious! In fact, eating healthy is so delicious – and makes you feel so much better – that the entire family will benefit.

PBfit is one of my family’s newest obsessions and it will surely become one of your family’s as well.  With 87% less fat than traditional peanut butter and 1/3 the calories, all natural PBfit makes meals and snacks healthier and even more delicious than ever.

You simply mix a little water with the PBfit mixture and… badabing!… delicious and creamy peanut butter. You only make the amount you need for the moment, so it’s always fresh and fantastic. If you want to add a little chopped peanuts or even a mashed banana, have at it. While the options are endless, it’s never better than when it is in its simplest form – good old fashioned peanut butter. PBfit Chocolate Peanut Butter

Chocolate PBfit Peanut Butter

It’s wonderful spread on bread, toast, or English muffins (with or without banana slices – YUM!) but I actually prefer dipping apple slices into the peanut butter. I also love making smoothies with the traditional PBfit as well as the Chocolate PBfit (it makes outstanding peanut butter, too… very reminiscent of Nutella).

When making your favorite smoothie, simply toss in some PBfit for extra protein and flavor. It is absolutely perfect in chocolate and banana smoothies. I usually throw an apple in, too, for good measure.

After all, an apple a day and all that…

There are a lot of excellent sounding PBfit recipes on the official website. I’m slowly but surely going to workmy way through each of them. Seriously, this is outstanding – you are going to love each of these – Chocolate PBfit, Organic PBfit, and the Original PBfit.

Kids will get a huge kick out of “making” their own peanut butter and you’ll never have to let them know how much healthier it is for them. Heck, even I get a kick out of “making” my own peanut butter and my qualification for “kid” expired quite a while back!

PBfit Smoothie

 

Each of the three varieties is IDEAL for smoothies and even milkshakes. They smoothly incorporate into the other ingredients – seemingly even better than traditional peanut butter does. I’ve actually been surprised just how smooth and creamy my smoothies are.

Below is a recipe from PBfit that’s a perfect example of the options when it comes to smoothies.

 PBfit and Jelly SmoothiePBfit & Jelly Smoothie

1 cup frozen blue berries
4 tbsp pbfit
1 scoop vanilla protein
1 tsp low carb sweetener, monk fruit
3/4 cup milk of choice
*** optional, 1 tsp goji berry powder for color added nutrients

Blend and enjoy!

Find more recipes, nutrition information, and a lot more on PBfit.com.

PBfit sent me the samples in the picture above in exchange for telling my readers about their product. They also graciously shared the PBfit & Jelly Smoothie recipe and picture with us. The raving words and opinions are all my own, of course (as are the rest of the pictures). I was blown away by PBfit – I honestly had no idea how delicious it would be, for one thing, or how many different ways it could be used for another.

You can find PBfit in most grocery stores as well as on Amazon. I hope you’ll check it out – you and your family will absolutely love this!

Dinosaur Taco Holders (How Freaking Cute!)

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Dinosaur Taco Holders

If I haven’t mentioned it here, it’s the only place I haven’t mentioned it and you’re the only ones I haven’t told…. our first grandbaby (a boy) is due in a matter of weeks and we are completely over the moon.  As someone who had all daughters (three to be exact), I can’t wait to see what it’s like to have a little boy in the family.

I’ve been brushing up on my dinosaurs (ever notice how many kinds there are… trust me there are A LOT) so I can impress him with my knowledge. Just so you know, I plan to be the coolest MiMi in the world.

These adorable Dinosaur Taco Holders are just the thing for any other cool moms, dads, grandmoms, granddads, aunts, or uncles who want to score points with the little ones.

Let me just say, right up front, that many little girls LOVE dinosaurs just as much as (or even more than) little boys.  They’re fascinating! My own daughters, while they loved (and love) animals to distraction, were simply never into dinosaurs .

Dragons? Absolutely. But dinosaurs, not so much.

If you have little boys or girls in your family who’d get a kick out of these taco  holders, they’re available on Amazon. While they’d make fun Christmas gifts, I think they’d be just as fun to have at your house for extra, extra cool lunches.. as well as extra “cool points” for yourself.

Those are always nice!