Archive for the ‘Smart Living’ Category
07.24.2018
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipe
The Instant Pot might as well be called the miracle pot, because it’s simply amazing how dishes that typically take all day can turn out beautifully in mere minutes! When you think about making pulled pork sandwiches, the idea of tending to a pork shoulder all day and hoping it’s juicy and tender at the end of your effort can seem utterly exhausting. But thanks to the fast cooking and moist interior of an electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot, you can have fork tender pulled pork sandwiches in a fraction of the time! Even better? You probably have most of these ingredients on hand in your pantry. This is also a great way to feed a crowd at a low cost. Bonus tip: buy your Boston Butt (pork shoulder) at your local club warehouse where they go for what seems like pennies per pound! Ingredients: 1 tablespoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of fat and cut into 3-inch pieces 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided 1 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce 1/3 cup ketchup 1/4 cup chicken broth 3 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 […]
06.04.2018
Suzanne’s Pressure Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs Recipe
Summer dining is all about grilling, and this crowd-pleasing BBQ Baby Back Ribs recipe couldn’t be any simpler. When you think of Baby Back Ribs, you’re probably thinking about spending 8-10 hours next to a smoker or grill, right? Think again! With this fool-proof pressure cooker recipe that cooks the ribs quickly in flavorful apple cider and finishes them on the grill, you’ll have mouthwatering, fork tender ribs in no time. Seriously, thanks to the magic of an Instant Pot or any pressure cooker, you can have a batch of delicious ribs on the table in about 90 minutes. Ingredients: 2-3 racks of Baby Back Ribs 2 cups of good Apple Cider Salt & Pepper Your favorite BBQ Sauce Directions: Pat the ribs dry with paper towels on both sides, and on the “under” side of the ribs, poke and lift the thin silverskin with a knife and peel off with a paper towel, as seen in this youtube video. Removing that thin skin helps the seasoning get into the meat and makes it more tender to eat. Cut each rack into thirds, about 3-4 ribs per section. Season both sides nicely with salt and pepper, and apply a dry-rub seasoning […]
05.14.2018
Suzanne’s 7 Super Spring Cleaning Tips
Just like my list of Spring Cleaning Tips from last year, here are some handy new ideas worth adding to your list. These all-natural options will cut down on the time spent on cleaning so you can focus more time on family and relaxing since Summer is just around the corner. Enjoy! Clean Hard Water Stains with Lemons Take lemon halves and rub them all over any hard water stains on sinks or faucets. Let the lemon juice set in for a few moments then wipe with a damp cloth. You won’t believe how the citric acid in the lemons will kick those hard water stains to the curb! Shine Stainless Steel Sinks with Baking Soda Spray your kitchen sink with your faucet and sprinkle liberally with baking soda. Wait for a moment then scrub with a sponge or other scrubber. Bonus Tip: Want to use less elbow grease and boost your scrubbing power? Add kosher salt to the baking soda and watch your sink gleam! Make Windows Sparkle with Newspaper It may sound crazy, but when you spray your favorite glass cleaner on windows and mirrors, you’ll get a much nicer shine by wiping it off with an old newspaper. […]
01.31.2018
3 Tips on Making a Great Guacamole
Whether you need an appetizer for a party or a fresh, healthy topping for taco night, I’ve got a super simple guacamole recipe that’s guaranteed to please the crowd and taste far better than any prepared guacamole from the store. Every good guacamole recipe relies heavily on one key ingredient: the avocados! Tip #1: Buy the Right Avocado 95% of avocados in your grocery store are grown in California, with Hass Avocados as the leading type. Every one of these avocados originated from the mother tree that Rudolph Hass patented in 1935! Fortunately, they are typically available year-round in your grocery. When selecting avocados, they should be a deep brownish color and yield to gentle pressure. If bright green and totally firm, they’ll need at least 3-4 days to ripen at home, so plan ahead. If they easily give to pressure or have “hollow” spots, put them back! Tip #2: Check under the Stem If an avocado feels right while shopping but you want to know if it’s got a bright green interior versus a bruised and brown disaster, the stem area can give you a big clue. Simply flick off the stem piece and inspect the color underneath. If it’s […]
12.04.2017
Holiday Warm Mulled Wine Recipe
I have a tennis pal, Ivonne, who has a German heritage and *lots* of German family recipes. If you like mulled wine during the holidays, you’ll love Ivonne’s delicious warm spiced wine recipe! No German Christmas market is complete without Glühwein, which translates into “Glow Wine” referring to the hot iron element used for mulling. Is there anything more delightful than sipping a warm spiced wine on a winter evening? Bring the taste of Germany into your home this Christmas with a simple and satisfying recipe! Ingredients: 750 ml of red wine (one bottle) 250 ml orange juice 3 tbsp sugar ½ sliced lemon 2 cloves 1-star anise Two cardamom pods Two cinnamon sticks Preparation: Take a large saucepan, pot or Dutch oven and heat red wine to barely simmering. Ensure that you do not boil the wine as the boiling process will lead to evaporation of alcohol. Take a sliced lemon, cloves, star anise, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, sugar, orange juice and add it to the wine in the saucepan. Stir the mixture until the sugar in it dissolves completely. Simmer gently for 10-15 minutes. Remove all the added ingredients from the mixture. These ingredients will leave their flavors in the wine. Keep this delightful concoction warm in a crock-pot […]
10.09.2017
Suzanne’s Superb 3 Bean Chili Recipe
Want a simple and easy way to feed a crowd this fall? Try my 3 Bean Chili recipe! Guests rave over the nice balance of heat and sweet, thanks to the addition of some perfectly sautéed corn. Now, there are parts of the country like Texas where beans *never* find their way into chili. Guess what? We don’t live in Texas! So, this recipe features a whopping three kinds of beans that each add amazing flavor and a nice crunch. The best part? It’s a great make-ahead meal, so if you’ve got guests coming over, you can spend time with them rather than standing over your stove. Just like my pot roast recipe, the flavor gets even better a day or so after you make it! Ingredients 1 cup of sweet or vidalia onion, diced 2 lbs ground beef (90% sirloin for best flavor while still lean) 3 cloves garlic, minced or put through garlic press 2 tablespoons chili powder (or more for an extra kick) 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground oregano 1 28 oz can of tomato sauce 3-4 dashes of Holtkamp Heat Wave hot sauce (or your favorite hot sauce, to taste) 1 15 oz can […]
08.30.2017
Suzanne’s Top Ten Grocery Buying Tips
As the primary shopper for groceries in my family, I’ve learned some handy tips over the years that have helped me make the most of my trip to the supermarket while spending the least. Follow these recommendations, and you’ll be a savvier supermarket shopper too! 1. Know Before you Go. Either find your store’s weekly circular online or, better yet, download your store’s app. You’ll find digital coupons you can click for instant savings at the register and you never had to clip a single coupon! 2. Make your list, and check it twice. By listing out the items you actually need, you’ll be on a mission in the store to check them off without being tempted by all the strategically placed items on end-caps and in the aisles. 3. BYOB. When you Bring Your Own Bags, you won’t find tons of those plastic bags littering a kitchen drawer or haunting your pantry. Bonus Tip: as soon as you unload your groceries, stick your reusable tote bags back in your trunk for your next shopping trip. 4. Safety first. There’s a reason why most grocery chains provide antibacterial wipes near the cart storage area. You might want to grab one […]
07.25.2017
Suzanne’s Simple Summer Cobbler Recipe
I consider cobbler to be the “comfort food” of dessert. I mean, is there anything more satisfying than a warm cobbler served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream? With my no-fuss cobbler recipe featuring remarkably few ingredients, you’ll be able to whip this up in a snap and serve it to a table full of happy diners in no time. Even better? You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry. Since so many fruits are at their peak production this time of year, the options are endless for all sorts of cobblers. Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, apples. They’re all perfectly tasty! The key is using fresh fruit, not canned or jarred. I prefer organic fruit and other ingredients, but that is a personal choice and you should select your favorites! Bonus Tip: Since berries are plentiful and at their lowest price of the year, buy them in bulk and put them in zipped freezer bags. When you want a warm cobbler this winter, take the berries out of the bag and they’ll be as fresh as the day they were frozen! Ingredients 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 cup flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup regular oats […]
06.28.2017
A New Twist on a Tasty Snack: Suzanne’s Ultimate Chex Mix Recipe
Want the perfect salty snack to munch on at your BBQ while the burgers are still on the grill? Make my tasty Chex mix recipe and your guests will gladly nosh on this flavorful finger food while they wait! There are two ingredients below that make this recipe pack quite a punch. Trust me, you’ll never buy the bagged stuff from the grocery store again. Plus, you can make it days in advance and store the mix in an airtight container. Right before your guests arrive, dump it in a bowl and you’re done! Ingredients 9 cups Chex cereal (any combination of Corn, Rice, Wheat) 2 cups Pretzels (sticks, knots or nuggets; just make sure they’re not flavored) 2 cups Nuts (I prefer raw peanuts, pecans or cashews, but any will work) 1 stick Butter (unsalted) 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce 5-10 dashes Holtkamp Heatwave Hot Sauce (as spicy as you like) 3 cloves Garlic, very finely minced or mashed (yes, garlic in Chex mix!) 1 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt 1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder Directions: Place cereal in a large mixing bowl with the pretzels and nuts. In a microwave-safe bowl, add remaining ingredients and microwave until butter is melted. Stir […]
06.26.2017
Adventures in Edible Landscaping: Amazing Wineberries!
In my previous article about edible landscaping, I demonstrated how you can easily integrate food plants and bushes around your home’s exterior or in your garden as an ornamental or decorative feature. Don’t you love the idea of enjoying the beauty of a garden border that also produces food for your family? Well, I definitely have an update with some incredibly delicious berries that deliver tons of flavor! We ordered several wineberry bushes from Edible Landscaping in Afton, Virginia. These fine folks ship year round and grow all their plants naturally without any herbicides or harsh chemicals. Originally from Japan and a member of the raspberry family, wineberries are high on the sweetness scale and low on maintenance. In fact, this pest-resistant bush has excellent shade tolerance and will grow to 6 feet wide and 5 feet tall in almost any area of your yard or garden. Our wineberry bushes were planted by the garage so we can conveniently snack on them coming in and out of the house! Honestly, they’re the easiest fruits I’ve ever grown and multiply like crazy. Sweeter than a regular raspberry, I know you and your family will love them. They do have thorns so I’d recommend […]
