Nanny to Mommy

Add in our 2025 goal of paying off debt and cutting down on takeout, and suddenly home-cooked meals have become a must, not a luxury. With inflation making restaurant prices soar, meal prepping has become one of the smartest strategies for saving money and staying sane.

Enter: this super simple, sweet-and-savory Crockpot Pineapple Chicken. It’s one of my go-to freezer dump meals that takes maybe 10 minutes of prep time, and I almost always have the ingredients on hand—especially when my husband impulse-buys multiple pineapples because they were "on sale." (Guess who ends up cutting them up?)

Crockpot Pineapple Chicken

A Brief History of Cheesecake

Cheesecake isn’t just a modern indulgence—it has deep roots in history! The origins of cheesecake trace back to Ancient Greece, where it was first created on the island of Samos over 4,000 years ago. Back then, cheesecake was not just a dessert; it was an energy-boosting snack served to athletes during the very first Olympic Games in 776 BC. Imagine athletes enjoying a slice of cheesecake before their events—it was the ancient version of a pre-workout snack!

So, the next time you dig into a slice of cheesecake, you’ll know that you’re partaking in a dessert with centuries of tradition behind it!

National Cheesecake Day: A Family-Friendly Celebration 

As a busy parent, finding ways to save money while feeding your family tasty and nutritious snacks is always a win. Instead of buying store-bought pop tarts full of preservatives and artificial ingredients, why not try making them at home? These homemade pop tarts are simple to prepare, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor!

Here’s a delicious recipe to create your own pop tarts from scratch. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also have control over the ingredients, ensuring they’re healthier and free from unwanted preservatives. And remember when you are re-creating recipes you find online, they do NOT have to look good to taste good.

Why Homemade Pop Tarts Are a Great Idea for Parents:

Why St. Patrick's Day is Perfect for Family Fun 

 Whether you plan to whip up an Easter Sunday feast or are just looking for some bright, new recipes to ring in the start of spring, the family-owned tree fruit experts at Stemilt are here with all the creative (apple) juice!! You can find even more recipe inspo here and don’t forget that a Lil Snapper by itself makes for the perfect spring snack Easter weekend and beyond. Check the store locator to find some delicious apples near you!

A fresh starter: 

Apple Quinoa Lentil Salad

 Instructions

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions, cutting cook time to between 8 and 10 minutes, to render a firmer grain. Drain, as necessary, fluff with fork and set aside.
2. Cook French green lentils according to package directions, cutting cook time to between 10 to 15 minutes, to render a firmer lentil. Drain, as necessary, and set aside.

Note: test quinoa and lentils before pulling off heat and adjust cook time, as preferred, to achieve a firmer bite.

1. Meanwhile, toast chopped walnuts in a skillet set over medium high heat, stirring intermittently.
2. After about 2 minutes, drizzle nuts with maple syrup; stir consistently for approximately 1 more minute to coat nuts thoroughly. Remove from heat to cool.
3. Whisk ingredients for vinaigrette in a large bowl.
4. Add sliced apple to vinaigrette and mix well to coat (this helps keep apples bright). Add parsley and “cooled” maple-sweetened walnuts to bowl.
5. Then add cooled quinoa and lentils. Mix salad thoroughly and season with salt and pepper.
6. If desired, allow salad to sit in fridge for 15 to 20 minutes so flavors can mix and mingle.
7. Plate salad with a topping of fresh arugula and serve.

Note: If you plan to store salad in fridge, keep arugula separate until ready to plate. Salad, without arugula mixed in, will keep nicely in fridge for 3 to 5 days.

For the main course:

Easter Ham with Apple Glaze

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Place the ham in a large roasting pan, fat-side up. Optionally, you can score the fat. Press the cloves into the fat, spacing them evenly across the ham. Bake for two hours.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze. Place the apples, apple cider vinegar, and water in a large saucepan.
4. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Cool briefly, then puree in a blender.
5. Press the mixture gently through a fine mesh strainer to remove thicker pieces of pulp, so that what remains looks smoother and less like applesauce.
6. Place the mixture in a medium saucepan along with the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and ground cloves.
7. Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat, stirring periodically, for 15-20 minutes to bring the flavors together.
8. After the ham has cooked for 2 hours, pour the apple glaze over it and continue to cook for another hour to 1 1/2 hours, basting every 30 minutes.
9. For the last 30 minutes, slice the remaining 3 Fuji apples and spread them around the bottom of the roasting pan, coating them with the apple glaze. Let rest 10 minutes or more before carving.

My New XL Air Fryer Stands Out!

Recently I purchased a new fancy and large air fryer to help me out, it is called Typhur Dome Air Fryer, which can handle more food in a single layer (e.g. 32 chicken wings, 12-inch pizza), saving my time and ensuring everyone gets their crispy favorites without delay.

 

Appetizers high in protein promote a feeling of being satiated, stabilizing blood sugar levels, slowing digestion, and reducing appetite. Better still, there are high protein appetizers for everyone’s dietary preferences including the meat and fish lovers among us, as well as treats specially designed for vegans or vegetarian guests.

Protein-Loaded Appetizers to Love and Serve

Valentine Fruit Punch Infused Cupcake Recipe

Benefits of Cooking on a Pellet Grill

 

I recently was sent an awesome box from Wildgrain that was full of artisanal breads, pastas, and pastries. I decided to make this spinach dip recipe because I received the Rosemary-Garlic sourdough bread from their mixed box, and I had a holiday party to attend. Everyone absolutely loved it! Definitely was a crowd pleaser. We brought none home, which is a win in my book. My mother-in-law also asked me to make it for our annual Christmas Eve get-together. Personally, I think it would be great at a New Year's Eve Party as well.

Easy Spinach Dip Recipe

If you are like me, then you are finally fully getting to the fall season. I have lost sixty pounds and since I don't want to back track my progress, but still want to enjoy all things autumn, I am sharing three pumpkin spiced protein-packed recipes that are perfect for you to continue enjoying fall.