Seasoned Cooking: 18 January 2013 Announcements

When we decide it's time to celebrate at our home, we find ways to take it to a delightful level of deliciousness. Whether that means topping our seared steaks with creamy blue cheese or sipping port with fresh berries, enjoying flavors is just part of living in my sphere. So when a birthday presents itself and the birthday boy loves mint and chocolate, it is only appropriate that a cheesecake featuring both flavors takes center stage.

When the season of many pumpkins continues, it's time for the pooch to get involved. And, if there are going to be puppy treats, we might as well go all out and make them dog biscuits made with the puppy's own cookie cutters. What? Are you saying your dogs don't have their own cookie cutters? Okay … maybe he's a little spoiled. Still, make these fun dog biscuits for your furry friend and you'll be rewarded with canine adoration.

Did your resolutions this year include making better use of your space? The kitchen is a great place to start with that and we're helping you out with some great ideas for doing just that! Pick one or two ideas or get great space-saving by mixing and matching lots of options.

Dried beans are inexpensive, healthy, and usually annoying to use in cooking. Between soaking overnight and hours and hours of cooking time, most people just opt to use canned versions of the same. But if you have a heavy, lidded pot and a working oven, you can take advantage of dried beans without all the fuss. And you can enjoy South American Black Bean Soup on a day when winter has you chilled to the bone.

Crockpot cooking is one way to keep your family all warm and well-fed during the cold winter months, and planning a weekly menu keeps you out of the cold and icy weather more often. By planning just one weekly shopping day with one goal in mind - creating enough crockpot meals for a week - you can feed your family hearty meals and stay toasty warm indoors, coming home to those wonderful aromas of a delicious, slow cooked meal all ready for you and your family to enjoy.