Going through the Eat Well, Spend Less basics of back-to-school ideas for staying sane as we head into the school year, and I’m giving away a Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor with the Juice Extractor and Smoothie Attachment to make it that much easier! Stuff. Stuff gets in the way of the things I want to accomplish. It sits there towering, a giant pile of misshapen boxes precariously perched on top of each other and forcing me to deal with it by gingerly removing and dealing with one box at a... more

The Desserts in Jars book tour officially kicked off today. Check to see if I’m coming anywhere near you. I’ll be in New York City and Philadelphia the next few days (with Amanda!!!), and then I’m headed to the West Coast next month. I’ll be adding events as they come up, so watch the Desserts in Jars tour dates page if you want to see if I’m coming closer to you. I would so like to meet you all and say hello. As soon as I sign off here, I’m headed into the city... more

My debut cookbook, Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine, published this week!! Finally. I’ve started this post more times than I care to admit. I’m not exactly sure what to say. I could tell you how I used to write stories in journals, or how I would catalog my family’s bookshelves as if they were a library, and then I would add my journals to the shelves, a crude version of self-publishing. A few years ago I made a faux life list with my friend, Mandi. Faux only because... more

This post has nothing to do with food, but instead focuses on swimming. It’s one of our favorite summer activities, and we’re supporters of USA Swimming’s Swim Today program, encouraging parents to enroll their children in lessons to keep them safe and keep your family active. Plus, it’s great fun. When I was young there was a pool outside my apartment building in East St. Paul. It was closed more than it was open, but at every possible chance, my mom would drag me in the... more

In honor of Father’s Day and dads everywhere, I’m giving away a Magimix by Robot Coupe Vision Toaster. It’s a great dad gift, with a sleek look that makes toasting a breeze. Kitchen appliances may not seem like your standard Father’s Day gift, which marketing tells us should be patterned ties and grilling essentials. Still, when I was growing up my dad sometimes ventured into the kitchen for one thing and one thing only: toast and eggs. My dad didn’t cook but for breakfast.... more

Tips to Eat Well and Spend Less during pregnancy, the first postpartum weeks and beyond, as well as a few things we’re loving as winter turns to spring in 2012. Photo by Aimee I have this sense of urgency lately where I feel like I should be doing something else, but there always seems to be a different task or obstacle standing in my way. It feels a lot like nesting, this desire to organize my entire life with the snap of my fingers, Mary Poppins’ style, and then move on to the more... more

A brief overview of 2011 here on Food for My Family, as well as a look forward into what 2012 has in store for us. As we head into the New Year, I thought I’d take a moment to look back on 2011. I’m always introspective at the start of a new year. I view January, with its blanket of snow and cold temperatures that cleanse and render the world immobile, like a blank canvas waiting for the artist to create a new world from raw materials. I’m excited to see what this year has in store... more