Welcome Home

In this episode of The Kitchen Hour Podcast, I kicked back with my good friend and Managing Editor of TheHappiestHome.com, Sarah Powers, to discuss holiday traditions. Are traditions something  you have to “create” or do they just happen? How can you give kids the chance to do traditional holiday activities like sitting on Santa’s lap without stressing yourself out (or scaring the lights out of them?) And just what is up with the Elf on the Shelf suddenly being the new parental obligation?

I had so much fun talking with Sarah during this episode! I hope you’ll enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed chatting. To hear the podcast, just click the “play” button at the bottom of the post, or you can subscribe in iTunes. 

Here’s how to do that! If you’re an iTunes user, visit the podcast page here and click “View in iTunes”. From there you’ll see an option to subscribe, and all new episodes will download to your computer automatically. (You’ll also see a tab in iTunes called Ratings and Reviews, and if you’re feeling inclined I’d be grateful for a positive rating while you’re there!)

If you’d prefer to listen on your iPhone or iPod, download the Podcasts app and search for The Kitchen Hour – it’s easy to subscribe right in the app!

Here are links to some of the things Sarah and I discussed during the podcast:

* Sarah’s Huffington Post essay about how traditions evolve naturally over time and don’t need to be “created” overnight is sparking discussion at HuffPo, just as it inspired our conversation in this podcast!

* Check out this hilarious photo of Sarah’s oldest daughter Allegra (held by her daycare teacher) definitely not enjoying her visit with Santa!

* Sarah and I spent a couple of minutes trying to work out the origins of the Elf on The Shelf, which I believed had originated as a practice in Southern homes until its relatively recent commercial boom. I was a little hazy on the details, but this article about Carol Aebersold, the creator of the “Elf on the Shelf” phenomenon as we know it today, indicates that her parents may have originated the tradition in their East Tennessee home in the 1970s. So I guess, in a way, I was right!

* We also talked about our favorite holiday tunes. Sarah mentioned two newer albums you might want to check out: Elvis Presley Christmas Duets and The Lower Lights: Come Let Us Adore Him.

* During the intro I mentioned our post about toys that stand the test of time. 

Want to find out more about Sarah? You can read all of her posts at The Happiest Home here, read her personal blog Powers of Mine, or follow her on Twitter.

If you love vintage aprons and swoon over flaky pies served up on jadeite dishes – or just like to hear inspiring stories of women who pursue a passion and make it both their lifeblood and their livelihood – you’ll love this episode of The Kitchen Hour Podcast!

In it, I chat with Linda Hundt, owner of the Sweetie-Licious Bakery Cafe in Dewitt, Michigan and now Grand Rapids, Michigan; and author of the new cookbook Sweetie-Licious Pies: Eat Pie, Love Life.

Chatting with Linda was such a treat. She’s an ambitious woman with big dreams, who still believes in the power of slowing down and enjoying the little pleasures of life – like spending time with family and friends, hanging out in the kitchen, and biting into a slice of warm, home-baked pie.

In the podcast we talk about everything from vintage Easy-Bake Ovens to getting over the fear of making a pie crust, to pursuing big dreams and doing what really matters to you.

To hear the podcast, just click the “play” button at the bottom of the post, or you can subscribe in iTunes. 

Here are links to some of the things Linda and I discussed in the show:

note: all Amazon links are affiliate. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a commission (at no extra cost to you.)

* Sweetie-Licious’s Sticky Toffee Pudding Caramel Apple Pie was named one of America’s Best Pies by Food and Wine Magazine.

* Linda shared a touching story about the inspiration behind her Cheery Cherry Cherry Berry Pie, which won Best of Show on the at the Crisco National Pie Championships / Food Network Pie Challenge. Here’s a short clip featuring Linda taking the prize!

* Linda and I discussed the slower joys of canning. Here’s a blog post Linda wrote on the topic, and if you’re interested in trying out canning on a small scale, try the Ball Home Canning Discovery Kit I mentioned in the podcast. (I have two – they are a really easy way to get started or process just a few cans at a time!)

* Last but not least, be sure to check out Linda’s book, Sweetie-Licious Pies: Eat Pie, Love Life on Amazon or at her website. You can also find her on Facebook.

I hope you loved this episode of The Kitchen Hour Podcast! Be sure to leave a comment letting me know what you thought, or if you just want to say “hi” to Linda.

Finally!

After a hiatus, The Kitchen Hour Podcast is back. In the intro to today’s episode I gave a little explanation of my “break” – and a peep at the exciting things ahead. So glad to be back!

Today’s guest is Candace Walsh, author of Licking the Spoon: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Identity.

Candace and I chatted about everything from love and marriage to kids with finicky palates, and especially her book, which tells the tale of a young woman coming of age via the cookbooks she most identified with at different stages of her life.

Please click the “play” button at the bottom of the post to listen in your browser, or you can download on iTunes.

Here are some links to some books and authors Candace and I discussed during the podcast:

(note: all Amazon links are affiliates. If you make a purchase, I will receive a commission.)

* Candace mentions Daniel Boulud having an influence on her cooking as a young married woman. His most recent book is Daniel: My French Cuisine.

* When we chatted, Candace was enjoying the friendship through diversity represented in Jerusalem: A Cookbook

As promised, here is “that” picture of Candace that was, um, defaced at a Trader Joe’s. (Followed by one of her eight years older, but looking years younger!)

And here’s a link to the essay Candace wrote about her Trader Joe’s photo (the essay ended up on the Huffington Post, after all.)

An excerpt:

“Until I was waiting in line for the restroom at Trader Joe’s. On the wall: a bulletin board with photographs of happy customers. One: a vaguely familiar mother with a baby in a sling, wearing an ugly calico nursing shirt. The baby was pulling her hair. Her toddler was doing her best to fall out of the wagon, as she reached for a glass jar. The woman looked run-down and frumpy, but she was smiling gamely for the camera.

Oh. My. God.

That woman was me.”

 Here are some other places you can find Candace online:

* Twitter: @CandaceWalsh

* Like Candace’s Facebook page

* Follow Candace on Pinterest

And last but not least, one of Candace’s favorite recipes – a super-fresh salad featuring lots of textures and flavors, with a homemade vinaigrette.

Kimber’s Vinaigrette and Salad

Yield: 6–8 servings Salad

About 6 cups mixed greens

1 avocado, sliced

1 ruby red grapefruit, halved, pieces segmented out from the membranes (do this step over the bowl of greens so that the juices drip in)

Vinaigrette Dressing

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 ∕3 cup balsamic vinegar

1–2 tablespoons tamari

I am so excited about this week’s podcast, my first with two guests at the same time (ooh, dangerous!) spoke with Asha Dornfest and Christine Koh, authors of the fantastic new book (affiliate link): Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More by Doing Less.  

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Asha and Christine pretty well over the last few years, and I can report that they are just as genuine, funny, warm, and smart as they sound in this recording!

We had so much fun discussing modern parenting, less-stressful dinners, defining your values and priorities, moving past feeling overwhelmed and how to carve out space for family time.

Please click the “play” button at the bottom of the post to listen in your browser, or you can download on iTunes.

Links related to the show:

* MinCamp, the free companion to Minimalist Parenting

* Christine’s blog, BostonMamas

* Asha’s blog, Parent Hacks

* The Stories That Bind Us: NYT story I referenced in the podcast. You can also read my related post, if you like: Happy Families Have Stories.

* The official site for Minimalist Parenting.

Disclaimer: Amazon links within this post are affiliate, so I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

I’m so excited about the latest episode of The Kitchen Hour Podcast, featuring author, blogger, and math instructor Laura Laing. In the podcast Laura and I discuss the “new math,” how to beef up your child’s (and your own!) “numeracy” (numerical literacy), how to find the fun in numbers, and why math really, really doesn’t have to be scary.

Related Links:

* Laura’s blog: Math For Grownups

* Laura’s book: Math For Grownups

Resources Laura recommends:

* The Khan Academy: videos, assessments and interactive math challenges to help your child (and yourself!) strengthen your math skills

* Bedtime Math: a fun, nightly math activity for parents and kids to do together at bedtime.

Remember, you can either listen to the show by clicking the “play” button below, or download it from iTunes! Enjoy.

 

This week I’m so excited to feature Amy Allen Clark, founder of the extremely helpful site MomAdvice.com and author of the fantastic new book The Good Life For Less. I’m lucky enough to have had the opportunity to hang out with Amy in person a few times, and we even danced together on a rooftop in Miami once (yes, for real!) She’s just as sweet and adorable in real life as she seems online, and I was thrilled to chat with her about her new book, entertaining on a budget, simplifying life, the best ways to use a slow cooker and more.

This is a great interview, and a long-awaited one: we recorded it before Christmas (hence all the holiday-related chatter!) but there were some technical difficulties that took a long time to edit out (and you might notice, there are still a few glitches here and there). Also, I had a cold and sound a little like a frog during our chat. Yikes! But the interview was just too great not to air. Just click the player below to stream it right here in your browser, or download in iTunes.

Looking forward to joining you in the kitchen this week!

Show Links:

* My Food Manifesto – Please share what would be in yours!

* The Complete Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn

* Alice.com for drugstore deals

* Sam’s Club Click ‘n’ Pull Service

* Microwave Peanut Brittle – MomAdvice

* One Month of Slow Cooking – MomAdvice

* The Good Life For Less by Amy Allen Clark

* Ninja Slow Cooker – Amazon.com

*If you purchase a product via an Amazon affiliate link, I will earn a commission.

It’s back! After a longer-than-intended hiatus, The Kitchen Hour Podcast has returned with a great new episode featuring my friend Kate Hanley, yoga instructor, coach, author and creator of MsMindBody.com. As I explain in this episode, I took a much-needed break over the holiday to catch my breath, but also to strategize some new ways to make The Kitchen Hour Podcast more helpful, more inspiring, and more fun! I’ll be rolling out some new ideas over the next few months, and couldn’t be more excited…but really, I’m just glad to be back and recording again.

In the interview, Kate and I talk about everything from yoga and meditation, to slowing down in your “real” life, to finding the right people to tell about Big, Exciting Plans (note: it’s not the Debbie Downer, or Worst-Case-Scenario-Wanda in your circle of friends or family). Kate shares her ideas for switching up your perspective when feeling stuck and cranky, and even ends up giving me an on-the-spot coaching session when I let it slip that I’m still feeling grumpy about a certain laundry issue that happened the night before!

I also talk a little about my strategies for reducing food waste and how my mindset about grocery shopping has changed over the years.

You won’t want to miss this episode – so go ahead and stream it right here in your browser (below) or download in iTunes, and let us keep you company while you’re in the kitchen!

 Show Links:

* The salmon cake recipe I mention while talking about leftovers, plus my post about food waste.

* Kate’s book, The Anywhere, Anytime Chill Guide.

* Information about Kate’s Yoga Playhouse – one just ended but she schedules them periodically!

* Kate’s coaching services geared specifically toward busy moms. 

This week on The Kitchen Hour Podcast, I talk with Tsh Oxenreider of Simple Mom about simplifying the holiday, giving back, her newly-announced forthcoming book, and her experiences living and raising a family in Turkey (and how that compares and contrasts with “normal” life in the United States.)

Just scroll down to the bottom of the post and click the little “play” button, or download the podcast in iTunes!

Some of the links and resources Tsh and I talk about in the podcast include:

* Tsh announces her forthcoming book, Intention

* Operation Christmas Child

* Compassion International. Also check out Tsh’s brand-new post about helping children and mothers in Ethiopia by supporting a village via the Child Survival Program.

* Tsh and I discussed this post: Dear School Teachers, by Mary McCarthy of Pajamas and Coffee.

I’m so grateful to have all of you along for the ride for my 7th podcast! In 2013, I plan to add new elements to make the podcasts as fresh, entertaining and helpful as possible.

So I want to hear from you: in addition to interviews with interesting people, what would you love to keep you company while you get dinner on the table? Tips, resources, humor, news?

Let me know in the comments or drop me an email: [email protected]!

pssst…don’t miss the Aldi gift certificate giveaway going on right now!

With the holidays coming up, many of us are going to be sharing space with other families and friends – including other kids (in my family, LOTS of other kids!) Will your house erupt with squabbles, spats and fights over toys? If so, do you ever wonder how to handle them – particularly when you have a different parenting style from your friends or family members?

In today’s podcast I chat with Heather Shumaker, author of It’s OK NOT To Share…And Other Renegade Rules For Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids (Tarcher/Penguin 2012). Heather and I talk about:

* Why it’s so hard to parent “your way” in public…and how to do it with grace

* How hyper-managing kids’ play can backfire (and how to take a step back and relax)

* Violent play: is it as bad as we’ve been led to believe?

And much more. The great thing about Heather’s “Renegade Rules”? They may seem to go against the grain, but so many of them are just plain common sense…and reading her reasoning can validate thoughts you’ve been afraid to speak out loud.

So during your next Kitchen Hour, play the podcast and let Heather take some of the anxiety and pressure out of parenting. You may never look at the way you interact with your kids the same way again.

Today I’m very excited to bring you a conversation between myself and Amy Suardi, mother of four and author of the blog Frugal Mama. Amy and I talk about Black Friday (or should we call it Black Thursday?), keeping holidays meaningful and low-key, and how to keep gift-giving under control. (I also share my conflict about photo Christmas cards, sharing that I once accidentally melted the faces off my brothers’ kids on their card and then felt guilty about it…)

Here are some of the great resources Amy and I discuss in the show:

Shopping Resources:

* ConsumerSearch is great for finding the highest-quality product for the best price.

* RetailMeNot for online coupon codes

* Amazon Prime for free two-day shipping.  The $79 annual fee pays for itself in saved fuel, shipping fees and minimum purchase requirements, impulse buys at the store, and time and energy gained.

Ideas for a More Meaningful Holiday:

* Forget Black Friday:  Sales are really advertisements that hurry us to buy stuff.  Amy suggests that we figure out what we want first, then go look for the deals (and they will be there). Looking at sales, coupons and Groupons in this way helped Amy ditch the guilt about feeling like “I should,” and find a slower pace of life that is centered around finding purpose and creating community.

* Handmade and unique gifts: We live in an age of cheap mass-produced goods, so what often comes forth as the most treasured gift is the heartfelt one, a gift of our time or our effort, Amy points out. Whether it’s a hand-knitted sweater, a cookie-of-the-month club, or a poem written just for that person, the most valuable gifts are often the least expensive.

Here are some of Amy’s posts on similar topics: keeping clutter down and saving money at Christmas or any time of the year:

* Coupon books of favors for kids

* Stocking notes instead of more disposable “stuff”

* Thanksgiving rituals, like these memorable placements

I hope you enjoy this week’s episode of The Kitchen Hour Podcast! Remember you can also listen in iTunes.