SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Mr.P and I love the Maine Diner in Wells, ME. This award winning diner serves up comfort food at it's best. The Seafood Chowder—Voted Best Chowder at the Ogunquit Chowderfest 10 years running—alone will have you coming back for more. Whenever we are traveling through that part of the country we stop in for a visit and a cuppa something hearty and good. Sadly we live in Texas and don't make it to Maine as often as we'd like, so I have come up with my own Seafood Chowder recipe. It doesn't come close to the Maine Diners divine bowls, but it is one of my most requested recipes just the same. I hope you enjoy!

Easy Ways To Decorate With Pumpkins

Whether they line a country path, add classic appeal to an entryway, or enhance a seasonal table setting, vibrant pumpkins bring delightful harmony to our autumn décor. The quintessential symbol of fall, everyone's favorite gourd welcomes the season with effortless grace.

PAPER LEAVES FALL WREATH

Inspire yourself with something unique this fall and try out this wreath craft project using old pages from a book. You can use an older book you no longer need, paint your leafy cut outs with some fall water colors, which will keep the text visible. When completed, this understated fall decor will bring a vintage touch to your home this season.

Plan a Large Outdoor Cookout with FIX

The good people at FIX.com contacted me about their new party planning illustrations. Grilling expert and founder of Grilling 24X7, John Thomas, breaks down how to host a successful cookout for a crowd! I thought with Labor Day upon us, I'd play along and share their very informative illustrations and post. John makes planning and throwing an outdoor BBQ simple and fun. So call your friends and family, turn on your grills and get to grilling people -- and enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Christmas Savings Now!

It's September 1. Yes, it's the perfect time to talk about Christmas savings and early shopping!

Why? Because Christmas is only 115 days away, and you can start preparing for it now! Too many people wait until December to buy gifts. With no money saved, countless people turn to credit cards in a panic and end up paying for Christmas well into the new year. Not the best approach.

Grand Central Market, NYC

When traveling to NYC we like staying in the middle of midtown Manhattan, close to Grand Central Station. As we make our way in or out of the station, depending on the time of day, we enjoy wandering through Grand Central Market. This small, but super varied market is filled with delicacies galore from around the city.

LOBSTER CORN CHOWDER

When local corn is available, I can’t get enough of it. As the days get shorter and the evenings cooler, I love to make LOBSTER CORN CHOWDER. It’s summery yet hearty enough to serve big bowls for dinner. 

First, I make the stock with the lobster shells and corn cobs, then add lots of fresh corn, lobster meat, potatoes, bacon, celery, and some fresh chives. This is summer comfort food at it’s best—I may just have to make a pot this weekend!

Triple Peanut & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here's how you take the basic Chocolate Chip Cookie up a notch! Meet the coolest cookie in town, featuring mini peanut butter cups, honey-roasted peanuts, peanut butter and, of course, chocolate chips. These loaded cookies will be gone before you know it, so you might want to bake two batches! If you love the chocolate and peanut butter flavor combo, this cookie is for you!  ENJOY!

PICKLED SUMMER STRAWBERRIES

Pickling isn't just for cucumbers anymore! You can reinvent pickling by using unusual ingredients, such as strawberries.  Preserving summer fruits towards the end of the season allows you to continue enjoying your favorite flavors throughout the fall and into the winter. This recipe uses a vinegar-based brine that preserves the strawberries. The vinegar based brine is very easy to make. After a few days in the refrigerator you will have a delicious sweet and salty treat. If kept refrigerated, these strawberries will last for up to two weeks. Eat them straight out of the jar, or enjoy them in salads and sandwiches, on ice cream and appetizers or along side a cheese platter. Your options for using pickled strawberries are endless, ENJOY!

Ten Uncommon Uses For Used Tea Bags

Everyone is familiar with the health benefits of tea: it fights cancer, reduces risk of stroke and other diseases, and revitalizes body cells. Yet, after you’ve drained your delicious cup of tea, you find yourself discarding the used tea bag. Well, don’t. You’ll be surprised at the number of ways you can reuse this untapped treasure. Here are a ten unique and surprising uses for those old tea bags.

Easy Pull Apart Pizza Bread

Looking for an easy and out of this world tasting, crowd-pleasing recipe? Pull apart pepperoni pizza bread is so simple to make and amazing to eat. For anyone who loves pizza, this recipe is for you. Pull apart pizza bread is perfect anytime of day. Lunch, dinner, an evening snack when you have your friends over or watching a movie with the kids. It's delicious and fast! Enjoy!

Homemade Citronella Candles

Do citronella candles work? Well, don’t expect a single candle on a huge patio to be your golden ticket to eliminating mosquitoes. But in a controlled area, with enough candles, citronella candles will keep mosquitoes and other bugs at bay. They do make a difference.