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The Best Meal Planning Apps of 2020

by Kristen 1 Comment

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It’s a New Year, and it’s time to start right. Is part of your New Years Resolution to get organized? Perhaps you want to get fit? Or maybe you want to save some money? If any of those are your goals, it’s time to start meal planning.

We are big proponents of meal planning here at The Kitchen Chalkboard. The benefits are enormous. But starting can be daunting. There are so many ways to meal plan; it’s hard to know what to do.

Technology to the rescue! We reviewed twelve different meal planning apps, and the experience varied from life-changing to frustrating. Want to learn what the best meal planning apps of 2020 are?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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Hosting a Roaring 20s Party? Then You Need 1920s Themed Party Food!

by Kristen 2 Comments

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What a better way than to ring in 2020 than with a roaring 20s party!

2019 is almost over! Can you believe it? Good or bad, it’s always a great time to celebrate the new and usher out the old while. And with 2020 coming up, why not host a 1920s themed party?

I bet images of flappers and opulence immediately come to mind, but what about food? What the heck do you serve? I’ve got plenty of ideas for crowd-pleasing and easy 1920s themed party food plus shortcuts to save you time and money.

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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Looking for an Easy Thanksgiving Appetizer?

by Kristen Leave a Comment

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Look no further!

This weekend my husband and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. Instead of the usual dinner out, we booked a food tour in NYC. We went with a group, explored, ate, and learned a ton! The tour checked out a bunch of Mom and Pop shops in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan. My husband and I ended the day with a full belly, great history on a neighborhood we’ve never really explored and so, so many food ideas!

One of the first stops was at an olive oil store for a tasting of their products. There we learned about the various varieties and processes of oil production. We had tastings of olive oil on bread, and it was delicious. But that wasn’t the real winner there. Truffle popcorn was. I can almost taste it as I write this.

It was simple but flavorful, you ate it and wanted more and more. As I watched everyone “gobbling” it up, I immediately thought of Thanksgiving. I knew this was going to be the easy Thanksgiving appetizer I was making. We visit family locally so Thanksgiving is a rare slow holiday for us. I don’t have to make the meal, I just bring a dish or two. This year, truffle popcorn is one of those dishes.

You need to make this simple Thanksgiving appetizer, too. It’s time to make Truffle Popcorn.

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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How to Use Alexa Cooking Skills

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Everyone could use an extra set of hands in the kitchen, right? Say you are knee-deep in making meatballs and need to set a timer. Perhaps you are so out of ideas you just want someone to tell you what to make and how to make it. What if I told you that there is something that can do all that and more? It’s true.

Alexa is her name, and helping you in the kitchen is her game. I have had the device for months now, and I can genuinely say she is invaluable. Wondering what Alexa cooking skills are, and it can help you in the kitchen?

Let’s go to the chalkboard.

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How to Entertain Kids on Thanksgiving While You Cook

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How to entertain kids on Thanksgiving Pin

The holidays are wonderful. And a little bit stressful — Ok, a lot stressful! Especially when you are trying to cook a big dinner with family all over and tons of kids in the house. It’s a lot! You need a way to entertain the kids on Thanksgiving while you cook. Haven’t even thought about that? Don’t worry, I know you have enough going on. I’ve got you covered.

Here’s how to entertain your kids on Thanksgiving.

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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Black Friday Deals for Cooks

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Raise your hand if you love a good deal! I know I do! Especially around the holidays when you have a bunch of people to shop for. And Black Friday is a great way to save some money. But not all sales are worth it if the price isn’t right or the item is a dud. So how do you know what is worth your precious dollars? I’m here to help. Read on for the best Black Friday Deals for Cooks.

I’ve analyzed the circulars of most major retailers from the past few years to see what goes on sale. Then I did the research to see what’s the best items in each category. Below you will find the best Black Friday Deals for cooks.

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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Online Grocery Shopping Comparison

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Which Online Grocery Shopping Service is Right for You?

I needed to run to the store to grab a few things and I took the boys with me. As we were walking through the aisles my youngest said, “Woah they sell food here? This is unbelievable,” he marveled as we walked around. The women in the store were having a good laugh. It was at that moment that I realized just how much I grocery shop online.

I’m forever on the quest to simplify my life. I love to use technology to make things easier, and with two kids, it is a necessity. Based on my son’s reaction to the grocery store, one may even say I’ve gone too far. I’m not alone in my obsession. According to industry estimates, online grocers are said to be worth $100 billion by 2025.

That estimate was proof that I’m not alone in my thinking — online grocery shopping may just be the greatest invention ever. Being able to meal plan and shop anywhere, at any time? Amazing!

But which service should you use? After using three different services over the past few years, I have out these services to the test and learned their strengths and weaknesses. Want a comparison of three popular services, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Peapod?

Let’s go the Chalkboard.

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Gift Ideas for Cooks

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It’s that time of year! Oh, the holidays –the time when you wonder just what the heck to get everyone on your list! Some people are so easy to buy for like my husband who gets silly socks every year or my boys who only want Nintendo Switch games. But other people — oh boy, they are hard to shop for!

Well, if you have a cook in your life or just someone that loves to eat I’ve got the gift guide for you.

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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How to Avoid Metals in Baby Food

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When my firstborn was a baby, I was so concerned about everything. It’s so hard to be a parent. You want to do what’s best for your child and what’s best is not always known. One day something is the greatest idea ever, the next day it’s the worst. Like they say on Project Runway, “one day you’re in, the next you’re out.”

What I fed my kids was a big concern for me (no surprise there). What do I feed them, how much? I decided I would make their baby food, with our loads of CSA veggies. I was so happy that my oldest son especially loved my sweet potatoes. So much so that his nose turned orange from all of the sweet potatoes he was eating! My pediatrician had a good laugh at that one. Now, at eight, he won’t touch a sweet potato! I can still remember googling “orange nose baby” at all hours of the night.

When I read the recent reports on high levels of metals in baby food I immediately thought, this is so concerning! What do you do? How do you avoid them? Is it even possible? I’ve done some research, and yes, it is possible. I’m happy to say that it’s simple!

Want to learn how to avoid metals in baby food?

Let’s go the Chalkboard.

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I Tried Seven Ancient Grains

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This summer the unthinkable happened. I got sick of cooking! I know, I know! The girl who loves to eat and can talk about food all day long got sick of cooking! But the spark was gone. I knew my family needed to be fed but just couldn’t think of what. Sick of the same old stuff, I needed to change things up.

So I went to trusty Pinterest for inspiration. I pinned and pinned and pinned recipes. When looking at the board, there was clearly a trend. It was full of grain salads. They were colorful and not too complicated and because of that, I was sold!

As I read the recipes, I saw ingredients I had never tried before — namely bulgur and farro. I found that they were ancient grains after a quick search. I was intrigued. What were they? Where could I find them? Most importantly how did they taste? I needed to know everything and as a result, I tried seven ancient grains.

Here’s what you need to know.

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Which Online Grocery Shopping Service is Right for You?

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