Cutting out gluten — the protein part of grains such as wheat, rye, and barley — is a choice people usually make for health reasons.
Going gluten-free isn’t always easy, but there are a variety of resources available nowadays to help.
Additionally, more and more stores are carrying gluten-free products.
Here are some helpful tips to help cope with a gluten-free diet:

• Pay careful attention to labels. Some are obvious, but learn the vocabulary so you know what to look out for.

• Look to potatoes and rice for some non-gluten food offerings.

Tea Party Ideas

Mother/Daughter Club: Start a Mother/Daughter Tea Club—Gather together once a month and use special teacups, teapots, and linens along with several types of tea and finger foods. Introduce a different theme each month that interests women of all ages: fashion, health, gardening, etc. It’s a beautiful time to enjoy each other.
Tea Break at Work: Surprise your co-workers with a tea break. Bring sandwiches, cookies, scones, and a special teapot for a break from the ordinary.

Cooking a big chunk of beef can be intimidating…Did you purchase the right cut? How should you cook it? And how can you best bring out the flavor and juiciness?

I had the pleasure of purchasing the Simply Irresistible….Too cookbook from the Conway Junior Auxiliary, and I wanted to share some of the recipes that I have tried. This cookbook provides you with Jr. Auxiliary history, some great pictures of past and current members, and the most enjoyable part to me is that most of the recipes have notes of helpful hints!

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without our time-honored traditions, many of which start in the kitchen.
From irresistible Divinity to festive Christmas Wreath Cookies to cozy Candy Cane Cocoa, the food we make together brings us closer as a family. (See page 28 for recipes for the cookies and cocoa.)

Divinity

2 cups white sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
½ cup hot water
¼ teaspoon salt
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

If you are like most people, you don’t always plan ahead for your Christmas dinner; this can be one of the biggest mistakes you can make. You can start planning your Christmas dinner during the time you are planning your Thanksgiving meal by purchasing items such as sugar, flour, prepared pie crusts, chocolate chips, etc.
Here are a few organization ideas that will help you be ready in plenty of time so you can enjoy the holiday this year:
• Remember to purchase any nonperishable items early.

Gorgeous holiday centerpieces don’t always require a lot of time or expensive materials. Take inspiration from these beautiful arrangements that will wow your family and guests.
No time to deck the house for Christmas? No worries. Use basic holiday decorations and everyday items to get your home ready for company.
Place Setting Accessories
No holiday table is complete until all the accessories are in place. While having place settings is the start of your holiday table, adding the little accents can really bring your table theme together.

Grocery shopping will be an easier experience and you will likely bring home healthier foods if you start with a healthy grocery shopping list. With a list in hand, you won’t be as likely to wander the junk food aisles and make impulse purchases.
Here’s what to include on your healthy grocery list

We had the pleasure of having some dear friends over for dinner a few weeks ago and it was so refreshing and exciting to be able to plan a menu, prepare my dishes, and even enjoying the clean up!
A dinner party does not have to mean Filet mignon must be on the menu; you don’t need to spend hours or loads of money to impress and entertain with style. With a little planning, you can pull off a great meal without going beyond your budget. Here are some great time and money saving ideas:

Leftovers and what to do with them … here are some suggestions for ways to use left over food:
Asparagus Make asparagus omelets by chopping cooked asparagus, and add to beaten eggs. Add a little grated cheddar or American cheese. This makes a great meal for dinner! Place cooked asparagus in a buttered baking dish, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs mixed with parmesan cheese. Bake until heated through.
Cereal Crush cereal well, dip chicken pieces into egg wash, then roll in the crushed cereal. Bake according to your favorite oven baked chicken recipe.