The Kitchen Chalkboard

We all head to the grocery store and want to purchase the freshest products we can afford. I know that when grabbing milk, I go through all of the gallons to see if I can find one that has the latest date on it. If I am lucky, I will find one that is a day after all of the others. Score!

Recently, as I looked at the various items throughout my kitchen, I started to realize that they were all labeled differently — sell by, freeze by, use by. Which got me thinking, what the heck did it all mean? How can you tell if food is spoiled? Do food expiration dates matter?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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The Mediterranean Diet For Beginners

I turned 40 this year. And I was tired. I had two little kids running around and no time to focus on my health. I was trying to survive. My birthday came about, and I thought it would be cute to try and do a backbend. I could barely get up. Thankfully my girlfriends told me AFTER the fact that their girls watch Youtube videos of gymnastics fails, which include severe injuries from backbends. I needed a change.

I was determined to get healthy. Now, I’m not the kind of drastic measure girl. I love food, so the idea of trying a traditional, restrictive diet was not in the cards for me. Not to mention that my carnivorous family would probably revolt if I made a massive immediate change. I knew that I didn’t want a diet per se, but more of a lifestyle change.

Then I remembered that my husband had mentioned the Mediterranean Diet in passing a few times. Boom! Let’s give it a go. As usual, he regretted those few words as I fully integrated the Mediterranean Diet within a few weeks. Gone were his steaks, No helper Cheeseburger Macaroni dinners and in were fish, tomatoes and feta, a whole lot of feta. You would think he would choose his words more wisely around me by now.

Want to learn about how to do the Mediterranean Diet for beginners?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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Ski Vacation Meal Plan on a Budget

It’s fun to get your family outside during the winter. Skiing is a fun activity that everyone can do together. But let’s be honest, it’s expensive! Lift tickets, equipment, and travel are costly enough, add food, and it’s a considerable expense.

Not to mention that you are on vacation, why deal with complicated dinners? Going out is lovely, but it’s expensive plus you are tired, oh so tired. You aren’t away to cook; you are there to enjoy time as a family.

Want a ski vacation meal plan on a budget?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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How to Eat More Vegetables in the Winter

Everyone has a different feeling about winter. Some love the snow and the cold and look forward to the change of seasons; others hang on to fall with dear might, hoping that winter never comes.

No matter which camp you are in, the winter doldrums can hit hard. Flu season arrives, you haven’t opened the windows in weeks, you can’t remember what sunshine feels like, and inevitably you start to get down. You don’t feel healthy. Along with making every effort to remain active, there’s another way to feel better in the winter — eat more vegetables. Sounds so simple, right? But when you go to the grocery store and see sad-looking produce, it’s not too enticing.

Want to learn how to eat more vegetables in the winter?

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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Bravo TV Themed Party Menu

by Kristen 2 Comments

Your love for Bravo is strong. You watch all of the shows, know every Real Housewives franchise, and dream of being a charter guest on Below Deck. The quotes pop in your head at all times. You are in a slow working meeting, and you are fighting back the urge to say, “mention it all!” or “what are you doing here without Dorinda?” Perhaps that’s just me?

It’s time to host a Bravo TV themed party. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, bachelorette party, a season premiere party, or just a Tuesday, a Bravo themed event is sure to please. But the big question its, what the heck do you serve?

We’ve got you covered with the best Bravo TV themed party menu.

Let’s go to The Chalkboard.

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The Best Meal Planning Apps of 2020

by Kristen 1 Comment

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 4 Comments

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?

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 Entertain Kids on Thanksgiving While You Cook

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