When my Quarantine Cooking adventures began in mid-March, we wanted to try to make as much as possible from scratch. This was in part because things like bread were cleared from shelves in those early days when supply wasn’t meeting demand as well as it is now, but also because it meant fewer hands in…
Lemon buttermilk cake with lemon whipped cream
Here’s what I’m not going to do here: weave some magical story about how this lemon buttermilk cake is a piece of my soul and why its lemon whipped cream topping will transform your life, taking 17 swipes to get to the recipe. No. The only part of this recipe that has any personal significance…
Quarantine cooking: easy family meals
(This Easy Family Meals post was last updated on January 5, 2021) I feel like it’s important to preface this post with the following: I get that spending extra time cooking and baking right now may not be possible for your quarantine situation. You might be working full-time from home while trying to watch your…
How to layer a lasagna: an easy, no-nonsense, step-by-step guide & recipe
It didn’t take a pandemic to turn us into pasta lovers — we’ve almost always had Pasta Mondays in our house. But I have played with new ingredients while we’ve been living the quarantine life, and as part of my commitment to provide you with easy-to-make recipes while we’re in this new normal, I wanted…
How to make brown sugar
Are you doing some “quarantine cooking” too? And realize you need to figure out how to make brown sugar? You’ve come to the right place. This brown sugar recipe will take you no time at all. Promise. ********** Look, I know I’m not really known for sharing recipes here — though I have shared a…
An Antigua all-inclusive family resort: Verandah Antigua
Some guests call it Verandah Antigua. Others simply call it their second home. What I need you to know is that The Verandah Resort & Spa is an Antigua all-inclusive resort that’s worth a closer look for your next family vacation. The Verandah is part of both Air Canada Vacations’ Spotlight Collection and Family Collection,…
7 tips for booking last-minute sun holidays
There’s little I like more than a great vacation with family or friends. Or both. But what tops it is getting those vacations for a steal of a deal. There are so many different strategies for saving money on travel and you’ll probably hear contradicting advice depending on who you’re talking to or what you’re…
A review of the Mirror Lake Inn
The first time we saw the Mirror Lake Inn, it was decorated like a Christmas storybook for the annual Lake Placid Holiday Stroll. Decadent trees shrouded in ribbons, lights and pinecones, all unique in their execution — one for each common room and restaurant throughout the property. The effect? Dickens on overdrive. And I’ve been…
A guide to Lake Placid restaurants
I’ve been to the Adirondacks enough times now that we’ve been able to dine in many Lake Placid restaurants. And there are a lot of them considering what a small town it is. The best part is that most of them are walkable if you’re staying on or close to Main Street, which is essentially…
Adults at Disney: Kissimmee villas, the best rides at Magic Kingdom & more
I’ve been to Disneyworld as a child, as a parent with my kids and as an adult for a momcation. All three options are awesome but I had no idea that being adults at Disney — without any partners or children tagging along — could be so much fun. Use my Disney for adults ideas…