Looking for some new recipes for dinner or ideas on some special treats you can bake for you kids? Check out The Food Network website for some great cooking tips and some great meals and recipes from your favorite Food Network chefs. While there are many great cookbooks in stores you can’t beat the convenience of browsing new recipes quickly just a few computer keystrokes away! It’s a fun and inexpensive way to try out new ideas in your kitchen.

To all of the Mom’s out there who do so much for their families each and every day, we wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day. For all of the times you stayed up late catching up on household needs, for running out to buy last minute gifts for a child’s birthday party, for all that you do to make sure everyone in your family makes it to an appointment or has their supplies they need for school, you are the best.

So make sure you let your Mom know that you appreciate all of her sacrifices and how she puts your needs ahead of hers by taking the time to treat her extra special this Sunday on Mother’s Day. Give her a day filled with wonderful memories and make sure she isn’t in the kitchen cooking dinner herself that night. Even if you can’t afford dinner in a restaurant, you can whip up a special meal right at home. It doesn’t have to be perfect, remember, it’s the thought that counts and your Mom will love it that you thought of her.

While it might seem far away, it’s never to early to start thinking of your Easter dinner and dessert menu. Will you be serving family favorites or trying some new dishes? I like to do a little of both to mix things up. I usually cook a pretty classic Easter meal served with a delicious new side dish or two. I think though the desserts are my favorite part of the meal - they can really be a lot of fun and quite special.

There are so many wonderful pies and pastries to serve for dessert that I tend to overdue it on quantity. I’ll always make a fruit pie or two and a variety of pastries. I also like to make one of my grandmother’s recipes each year, like her custard layer cake or almond ring. There is nothing quite like a scrumptious, made-from-scratch dessert served with a rich coffee to complete a perfect meal.

We just came in from a brisk walk outside. When we started out the sun was shining so the mid 30’s didn’t feel quite so cold. However, by the time we returned the sun had disappeared and suddenly we felt the chill. We couldn’t wait to get inside and warm up. Once we took off all of our layers we all decided it was time for a nice warm treat to enjoy.

Now, like most people on a wintry day, we love making a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows or whipped cream on top to warm ourselves up with when we come in from the cold. And that’s just what we did. We popped some fresh popcorn, sat down with under a cozy blanket and savored our delicious hot cocoa. Some of our other cold weather favorites are warm soups like a creamy tomato or potato  or maybe a fresh, warm batch of double chocolate brownies with rasberry sauce on top. Anything warm and tasty that you enjoy is nice to come home to on a cold, blustery day.

This is the time of year when our baking really shifts into high gear. There are cookies to be made, pies to be baked, dessert breads to create. We love making mini-breads since they’re a perfect breakfast treat and are also wonderful to give out as gourmet gifts. Another big favorite of our is homemade cheesecake. Sometimes there is nothing quite as satisfying after a delicious meal than a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth homemade cheesecake. One of our favorite baking pans is the Kaiser Springform Table set.

 What’s particularly wonderful about this pan is that it includes a sturdy acrylic cake cover so that we can make our family’s favorite cheesecake and easily travel with it to the dinner destination. The pan is made of commercial-weight for even and gentle heat distribution for consistent baking. The 2-layer nonstick interior and exterior coating eliminates the need for flouring pans and allows for quick and easy release. Plus, the pan features Kaiser’s magnum coating which allows for cutting in the pan without damaging the surface. You really can’t beat the lasting value you get with Kaiser Bakeware.

Well it’s hard to believe it, but Thanksgiving is now just a bit more than a week away. Everyone is busy making plans for travel or for hosting the big meal. Who will bring what side dish? What dessert would you like best? Can you make a dessert to bring?  It’s really a fun time of year, if you don’t let the hectic pace and crazy traffic get to you.

Some of our favorite family pies include sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, fresh apple pie, peach cobbler, and pecan pie. The hard part is deciding which pie to choose to make! Plus we like to make mini dessert breads and festive cookies too. It’s hard not to love the holidays when you’re surrounded by your favorite people and favorite foods!

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to buy loved ones for the holidays. What do they like to do or wear? Will they use it and enjoy it? I’m sure we all have some presents tucked away in our closets at home they we just never will use or wear. It’s a shame, because someone spent their good money on these things and it’s seems quite a waste. That’s why these unique kitchen gift ideas are sure to be a big hit at the holidays.

What’s wonderful about quality kitchenware gifts is that they’re useful and can be enjoyed for many years. These gifts are easy on your wallet since you’ll find lots of items for under $25 and in turn, make someone very happy this holiday season!

When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my grandmother - she was a wonderful cook and she had the knack for making great desserts too.  She grew up in Europe, where her family had a bakery, so I suppose it was in her blood and mine too.  I credit her for the love I have for cooking and creating special baked goods and desserts. And it’s also her patience with me as a child that has made it so easy for me to enjoy cooking with my children.  I highly recommend it for all parents. Because it’s really not about what you make, or even how it turns out, but about the wonderful time spent together and the memories that will last forever.

Next time you’re trying to come up with something different to do with your child, how about making a batch of cookies, or a frozen fruit treat? Or you can make banana muffins, cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels…anything fun and simple. You can start by just letting your little one add an ingredient, or help with the mixing, or spoon the cupcake batter into the cupcake liner. And it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s actually better if it isn’t- because you want them to remember the joy of cooking. So make it fun and then enjoy the tasty results with some milk or a hot cocoa. It’s just that simple.