Author Archives: Stef

About Stef

Family: Husband (Tom) and little man Lincoln James. Dwelling: A 1967 Ranch home that changes every day. Homemaker tip: Don’t be afraid to fail. A bad meal can always be fixed with a frozen pizza, a dead plant can be replaced and paint can cure a room. I consider my style: Contemporary with a vintage flair. I love a sleek piece of furniture with the contrast of an old vase or a stack of old used books. I cannot live without eating: Italian Beef sandwiches. I am Chicago-bred and love a good beef with sweet peppers. Pizza is a close second. Three foods you will always find in my pantry: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Crushed Tomatoes and Chicken Broth. My cooking mantra: Even foods that were destined to be bad for you can be recreated in a healthy way.

Baked Fish Sticks

My husband has never been much of a fish eater. This has always made me sad. While I had little room to complain being the non-chocolate eater that I am, I was thrilled when he decided to dub 2012 – … Continue reading

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Filed under Cook, Healthy, Kid Friendly, Main Dish

{Philadelphia Cooking Creme} Shrimp & Broccoli Fettuccine

Thank you to Kraft Foods for offering me the opportunity to recreate a recipe with PHILADELPHIA Cooking Creme. Please click here to learn more about all the PHILADELPHIA Cooking Creme flavors and recipes. While I like to try to make … Continue reading

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Filed under Cook, Main Dish, Product Reviews

{Free Download} Valentine’s Day Typography Sign

I’m never super motivated to dress my house up in Valentine’s Day decor. We don’t do much to celebrate the holiday, but a little love reminder in the house is never a bad thing! Throughout the year, I periodically change … Continue reading

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Filed under Decorate, DIY, Holidays, Valentine's Day

Buffalo Mac ‘n Cheese

Tired of the same old dishes for your Superbowl party? Make this play off the ever so popular chicken wing and wow your guests with something familiar in flavor but new in style! This Buffalo Mac ‘n Cheese blends all … Continue reading

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Filed under Cook, Entertain, Main Dish

{Before & After} An Affordable Kitchen Makeover

This post has been a long time coming. We moved into our house three and a half years ago with the intentions of doing a little bit of work in our kitchen. While dreams of tearing down walls and granite … Continue reading

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Filed under Decorate, DIY, Fab Finds

Beef, Barley and Sweet Potato Stew

Winter storms are brewing, so pull out that crock pot and some nice winter produce and whip yourself up a body warming stew. This is perfect after a shoveling session or snow angels with the babes. Beef, Barley & Sweet … Continue reading

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Filed under Cook, Main Dish

{Budget Friendly} Spicy Tomato Soup

Like many of you, the new year always brings similar resolutions. Be healthy. Save money. This year I plan to share with you some of my belt and budget shrinking recipes to help you stay on track with your 2012 … Continue reading

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Filed under Budget Friendly, Cook, Healthy

Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip

We interrupt this regularly scheduled holiday break with a word from our sponsors: Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dips! It is almost New Year’s Eve and my guess is that many of you will scramble around the house this weekend … Continue reading

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Filed under Appetizers, Product Reviews

Mexican-Themed Christmas Fiesta

As I mentioned last week, my family and I decided to celebrate in a different way this year, Mexican-style! We celebrated this past weekend with festive drinks, food and desserts. It was a Feliz Navidad indeed. To start the party … Continue reading

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Filed under Christmas, Cook, Drinks, Holidays, Main Dish, Treats

{Holiday Gift Wrap} Photo Tags

It is hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner. Luckily, I’ve been ahead of the game this year (thank you Amazon) and my gifts are all purchased. This week I started to embark upon the task you love … Continue reading

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Filed under Christmas, DIY