It’s all about the green on March 17 across much of the globe when folks celebrate the life of Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. If you are looking for a green colored treat to make and eat with the kids (or the young at heart), then whip up some cupcakes and use food coloring to get the holiday green theme going.

You can, of course, make cupcakes from scratch, but most kids today seem to like the lighter texture of boxed mix when it comes to portable cake treats. That makes this treat super easy to make. Just grab a boxed cake mix and whip up cupcakes.

I grew up loving Kellogg’s Rice Krispie Treats. The recipe first graced the back of the cereal box back in 1941 – quite before my time. The classic cereal candy was one of the first recipes I learned to make though, and I quickly adapted it by adding peanut butter.

Everyone always goes wild for my Rice Krispie Treat bars. My aunt said that she’d never really liked the cereal candy very much, but mine were better than others she had tried. She asked about my secret, and I shared of course.

My secret is not really a secret, and I know other home cooks who also add peanut butter to the candy recipe. It does make the treats richer and fuller in flavor. It also adds a little protein.

It’s really easy to throw a Mardi Gras party for kids, but it may be better to shift the party back to the weekend, since most kids will be in school the Wednesday after Fat Tuesday.

If you’re from an area where Mardi Gras is a big time of celebration, you will likely have your traditions. Kids love looking forward to and doing family things year after year.  It’s really nice to look back and remember all the fun and silly things everyone did in the name of fun.

For families outside the big key cities like New Orleans where Mardi Gras is a huge celebration, celebrating Fat Tuesday can be a good holiday to add to the yearly list. It falls during the end of winter slump when it’s still cold and there are still a lot of days of school to knock out, so it is a welcome break from the grind for many families.

You don’t have to spend loads of time or money to have a good Mardi Gras party for or with your kids. In fact, you really just need to provide some basic supplies, and the kids are creative enough to make it a great afternoon or evening on their own.

Have you looked in your trash can lately? I mean – really looked. If your household is like most others, then you probably are throwing out a lot of food. That means money down the drain – or more specifically out on the curb. With the price of food going up and with people going to bed hungry across the globe, it’s a real shame to throw out food.

My grandparents had a small farm on the side in addition to my grandfather working as a builder. Everyone in the family worked together to grow and harvest the garden. Meat was processed, packed, and put in the chest freezer. With all the work involved, nothing was taken for granted, and even the “spare parts” that would gross out generations today were treasured, lovingly prepared, and served.

For many years I used a cheap can opener which basically chewed through the cans. I considered buying an electric can opener, but I really prefer the hand models. Finally I bought an Oxo hand can opener. What a huge difference. That one purchase made me an Oxo kitchen product fan for life.

One of my favorite comfort dishes is a hamburger and potato casserole. My aunt in Maryland made this dish when we visited back when I was in high school, and I’ve continued to make this tasty casserole over all the years.

My aunt told me that she didn’t really have a recipe for her Hamburger Potato Casserole. It’s just a flexible main dinner dish that can be adjusted depending on how many are eating. I like having a dish in my rotation that can be made for the family or for a crowd.

Another thing I like about this casserole is that the basic ingredients are simple, and I almost always have them on hand. By changing the seasoning (depending on what I have in the cabinet), I can also but a little twist on the casserole from one time to the next.

I was teaching a class the other day and noticed a student wearing headphones (no – not ear buds) on the back row. He was happily clicking away on his computer and listening to something (game sounds? music?), totally oblivious to what was going on in the classroom. Another student had to tap him on the leg to get his attention so that I could tell him to put away his high tech toys.

Yes. This is a plugged in world. Actually, we’re not even plugged in now that wireless is proliferating. Even remote areas usually offer some options for reaching out and touching others or for checking to see what is going on globally, so it’s difficult to even find a true dead zone.

With all these tools at our disposal, it’s no big shock that some people have become totally reliant on technology. In fact, some people are so addicted to technology that life is passing by unnoticed.

After all the cold weather and snow this year, a Mardi Gras party is just the ticket. You can let the “good times roll” even if you not can’t get down to the Big Easy for the celebration.

Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is not a national holiday in the United States, but it is a popular day of fun in a number of cities including New Orleans. Most people are familiar with the scenes from Bourbon Street with the parades and costumes and party beads. Every time I see those shots on the news, I think:

I’ve got to get down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras one of these days.

I’m still waiting, but I really hope to get there eventually. In the meantime, I can still enjoy the unofficial holiday with a home Mardi Gras party.

Being pregnant with your first child is an incredibly exciting time! Your body is going through many changes and while pregnancy might not always be a picnic with morning sickness and swollen ankles, the anticipation of holding your newborn baby in a few months seems to make all of those symptoms a little easier to manage.

As a first time mother-to-be, you should feel special and pampered. It’s with a first pregnancy that people want to shower you with gifts and well wishes. Hence, the baby shower! Sometime during the latter part of your second trimester, you should take the time to register for baby gifts. And, while you shouldn’t expect to receive everything on your list, many people will want to get you something that they know you need and desire. Just make sure that your registry contains a variety of items at a variety of price points.

You hear about it on the news, especially this time of year. It’s something that lurks on shopping carts, door knobs and gas station pumps. It’s something that can make you and your loved ones sick. Yes, it’s germs. Bacteria, viruses and e-coli thrive in these areas, but you know that already, so you take precautions not to touch your face while pushing the grocery cart. But those aren’t the only places where germs hang out. Here are 10 places in your home that are among the germiest – some may be places you have not even considered.