As summer approaches and luscious fruits start appearing more frequently (and affordably) in grocery stores and stands all over town, I always find myself turning to this delicious recipe for cheesecake-filled strawberries. These are way easy to make, but look like something super gourmet and will impress all who are served them. Not only are these pseudo-fancy treats little bites of heaven, but they’re also ::gasp:: diet-friendly! If you’re a Weight Watchers participant (or one who has fallen off the wagon and is sitting in a ditch eating candy bars like myself), you’ll be happy to know that three of these yummy strawberries equal only ONE Weight Watchers point. So don’t feel too badly when you eat 10 of ‘em–it’s still only 3 points.

Ingredients:

8 oz tub of whipped cream cheese
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1 qt strawberries
graham cracker crumbs (approx 4 graham crackers, crushed)

In a small mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and creamy; set aside.
Using a paring knife, hollow out the top of each strawberry (about 3/4 in.).
Gently fill each strawberry with cream cheese mixture using a teaspoon (each strawberry should hold about 1 tsp).
Place strawberries on a cookie sheet after filling.
Once all of the strawberries are filled, dip the top (cream cheese part) of each strawberry into the graham cracker crumbs and place back on the cookie sheet.
Place the cookie sheet into the refrigerator and let chill for a few hours or overnight.

Yields 44 strawberries

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1¼ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with foil. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. Stir together and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well combined. Mix in the pumpkin puree. With the mixer on low speed add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Fold in the white chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs, about 35-40 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely before cutting.

To serve, lift the cake from the pan using the foil and transfer to a cutting board. Peel off the foil and using a sharp knife, cut into 24 squares.

Here are a couple of tried and true recipes that Laura swears by (and that I’ve tried and really, really work!). You should give ‘em a try this winter.

Terrible Tea:

(1) crushed garlic clove
(1) tbsp honey
(1) tsp lemon juice
8 oz. hot water

Mix garlic, honey and lemon juice.
Add hot water and stir.
Plug your nose and down it!

It’s pretty nasty tasting, but it WORKS. Laura has fought off the flu twice already this fall with Terrible Tea.

GOOT Cough and Cold Salve

(3) tbsp virgin coconut oil
(3) tbsp olive oil
(3) tbsp fresh, chopped garlic

Mix coconut oil and olive oil.
Add chopped garlic.
Place mixture into a food processor or blender (I like using my Magic Bullet) and blend for about 2 minutes.
Pour into a wide-mouth jar and place in the refrigerator.
Let refrigerate for at least an hour, until it turns into a thick paste.

This stuff is used like Vicks and rubbed onto the chest, throat and neck of cold sufferers. We also put some on the bottom of my son’s feet (followed by socks, of course) at bedtime. Works wonders!

If you’re not familiar with the Melissa & Doug line of kids toys, you’re missing out. These play food sets are made from smooth-sanded wood that is realistically painted and are much more durable than any plastic play food out on the market. The cutting food box set comes with 8 pieces of wooden food, a wooden cutting board and a rounded wooden knife. Each piece of food is cut into segments and attaches with velcro, so when my son cuts into each piece it makes a cool crunching sound. You’d think he was a Benihana chef the way he chops away and this stuff!

Selling for just $15.77 on amazon.com, the Melissa and Doug Cutting Food Box is a solid choice for any toddler who wants to help out in the kitchen. The suggested age range for this particular item is 36 months-6 years old, but my son has loved playing with his cutting food set since he was a little over 2 years old. So if you have a little one who’s just dying to chop and slice in the kitchen, get him a Melissa and Doug Cutting Food Box and you won’t regret it!  It certainly saves a trip to the emergency room.

About the same time, her mother sent her a couple of books describing all the different uses for vinegar (there are many such books). In one of these books she found the following recipe & instructions:

** Drain Cleaner: Begin by sprinkling 1/4 cup baking soda into the drain. Immediately pour 1/2 cup vinegar into the drain. Allow it to foam and sizzle for a few minutes. When the action has stopped, pour at least 2 quarts of boiling water down the drain.

Honestly – this works like a charm. She hasn’t bought another bottle of that nuclear waste dump stuff that’s sold in stores since. In fact, she even used this concoction to unclog the toilet in the rv (after a little grandkid toilet paper mishap) and it was the only thing that worked.

Although there are a million uses for vinegar, this is my mother-in-law’s all-time fave and I’m filing this information away for the next time I find that we have a clogged drain. Yay for mother-in-laws!

I’m a relative newbie to living in a place that snows.  Seeing that I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for over 30 years, I knew very little about snow boots and was a little overwhelmed when realizing that I needed a pair.  After a little shopping online and then hitting up my local Columbia Sportswear outlet, I found a great boot:  the Columbia Teraval Boot.

These waterproof boots zip up in the front and have suede uppers.  The faux fur lining makes these boots fit snugly and keep my feet warm even in -5 degree weather.  In fact, these boots are rated to -25 degrees, which means toasty tootsies for me this winter.

But even more important, the Columbia Teraval Boot have saved me from falling on my butt several times now when trying to navigate icy walkways on foot.  The soles of these shoes have something called Omni-Grip, which is a space-age sounding name for Super Grippy Traction Power.  Ok, I’ll admit it; I don’t really know how the whole Omni-Grip thing works.  However, I DO know that this OG stuff  keeps one of the clumsiest chicks around from slipping and looking like an amateur.

The Columbia Teraval Boot can be found on Shoes.com for $95.99.  They offer free shipping to all 50 states, so what are you waiting for?  Save your butt some discomfort from falling on it this winter and pick up a pair of Columbia Teravals.

Ingredients:

(1) 16 oz container sour cream
(1) cup of mayonnaise
(1) 10 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed
(1) 8 oz can of water chestnuts, finely chopped
(1) 4 oz pkg Knorr Leek Soup mix

Directions:

1) Squeeze spinach until dry.
2) In a medium bowl mix sour cream, mayo and soup mix.
3) Add in the chopped water chestnuts.
4) Mix in spinach.
5) Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

Cook’s Notes:

Low-fat sour cream and mayo work fine in this recipe, but the fat-free stuff makes it gross so DON’T DO IT!
Also, if you can’t find the Leek Soup mix at your grocery store the Knorr Vegetable Soup mix will work, too, but it just isn’t as yummy.

This dip seems to be even better if you let it chill overnight, so I usually make it the night before I want to serve it.

Today’s woot is the LeapFrog Diji Pack with free game for just $39.99. Shipping is usually $5 on all items.

So start checking out kids.woot.com today. Remember that the deals start at midnight, so his site is great for you insomniac mommas who are up late.

I’ve also been thrilled to discover that this costume proves to be the purchase that just keeps on giving–almost a year later my son STILL wants to wear it around the house. Now if only I can convince him that “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”  is NOT the song he should be imitating.

Priced at just $19.99 on target.com, this costume is a steal.  So grab one for your own toddler monkey.  However, I hold no responsibility for his or her incredible desire to jump on the bed.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 Cup chopped onion

1 Cup chopped red bell peppers

1 clove garlic

1 pound round turkey

2 (14.5 oz) cans peeled and diced tomatoes

1 (15oz) can 100% pure pumpkin

1 (15oz) can canned tomato sauce

1 (15.25oz) can canned kidney beans, drained

1 (4oz) can diced green chiles

1/2 Cup whole kernel corn

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Heat vegetable oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add turkey; cook until browned. Drain.

2. Add tomatoes with juice, pumpkin, tomato sauce, beans, chiles, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper to your crockpot. Mix well and then add the drained meat mixture. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. This chili gets better the longer it simmers.