MelissaStuff

Did you know there was such a thing as Hot and Spicy Food Day? Around my house, it seems, everyone who cooks, except for me, thinks it should be Hot and Spicy Food Day every day. But the actual "holiday" is August 19th.  In honor of the day, we will be celebrating with a little Tandoor Chef - easy and quick.  Here are five other reasons you should try them out: 1.   Weight Loss:  Studies show that the main compound in chilies, called capsaicin, has a thermogenic effect and may cause the body to burn more calories and boost metabolism.  Heat up!   Lamb Vindaloo . 2.   Heart Health:  Studies show that cultures that eat the spiciest foods have much lower incidence of heart attack and stroke. It could be because chili peppers help to reduce the damaging effects of bad cholesterol while capsaicin helps to fight inflammation. Heat up!   Vegetable Pad Thai . 3.   Cancer Prevention:  Some studies suggest that c...

Oh my, this holiday is racing towards us full speed ahead. I am trying to slow it down enough to enjoy the moments . . . I'm not quite sure if it's working yet.  But I am so glad that I have been able to mark one item off my list - the food for our celebration. We bought both a Honey Baked Ham and a Honey Baked Turkey! Since Christmas is typically a ham holiday, I bought a bone-in, half-ham and then a roasted turkey breast. Both are covered in the traditional Honey Baked sweet, crunchy glaze that they are famous for.  The Hon ey-Baked Hams are hand chosen for their leanness and smoked for 24 hours.  They come already spiral sliced down to the bone.  The Honey Baked Turkey Breast is glazed with the same amazing flavors as the traditional hams. You can buy them roasted or smoked.   In addition, you can buy a whole slew of sides that are just heat and serve. Just move them into a new dish and your sides will look homemade without all the ...

This post was written on behalf of Market Street. All opinion are my own - as always.  We focus so much on the food of the holidays, but without the right ingredients and tools we wouldn't have any of that food. Think back to when your mom or your grandmother cooked Thanksgiving dinner when you were a child . . . was there a certain cooking or serving dish that was always a part of the process? Maybe that's the one item that you want to make sure gets handed down to you. In our house, my mom had a cast iron skillet that she used for special things like cornbread. I believe it might have been my grandmother's originally. To this day, I still have a fascination with cast iron skillets of all sizes and shapes. Throughout the last several months, I have been using my Lodge Cookware and it is quickly becoming my favorite set of cooking ware. Not only does it cook evenly and clean up easily, it's also really pretty with no extra effort. I can leave the sides in th...

Oh, no . . . so sorry to leave ya'll hanging. Guess you can tell once Halloween hit in this household, it has been a heck of a crazy ride and it's only getting busier from here on out. I can NOT believe that Thanksgiving is less than a week away. I do have to tell you one of the things that makes me feel better about the crazy way the holidays are rushing towards me is because I have a little secret to help out next week. Are you ready for it? Honey Baked Ham! I know, I know, it's turkey season - but they have turkeys too! And all the sides to go with them. You can even get pies there. Seriously, it's the best way to enjoy your holiday instead of stressing.   Just listen to this description: Slow-roasted and smoked, every Honey Baked Ham is glazed by hand with the signature, sweet crunchy glaze and has the one-of-a-kind taste that everyone looks forward to . . . the moist, tender Turkey Breast [is also] coated with the same sweet, crunchy glaze as Honey Baked'...

All of us moms find ourselves needing healthy food ideas, especially when school starts back and we're packing daily lunches and then still trying to come up with easy, nutritious dinners, too. During this crazy back-to-school time, Green Giant wants to offer you some help. On September 23 at 8 pm, they will be hosting a Google Hangout with celebrity chef Gina Neely . You'll be able to get some new ideas on how to simplify dinner time routines as well as ways to revamp those tried and true meals that we always seem to default to making. In fact, I'd love for you to join this Pinterest page and share your family's favorite easy meals so we can all try some new things . . . Follow Melissa's board Family Favorite Meals on Pinterest.

I am totally a procrastinator when it comes to holiday decorating and cooking. I have great ideas and life gets busy and then the holiday is over and I find myself wishing I had done more. So this year I am starting early . . . for me, at least. I am planning a big Halloween party and pulling together Pinterest boards for Halloween Treats , Halloween DIY Decor , and DIY Halloween Costumes . Check the boards out and if you have a link you'd like me to consider adding, please leave it in the comments!! Follow MelissaStuff's board Halloween Decor Suggestions on Pinterest.   Follow MelissaStuff's board Halloween Treats on Pinterest.   Follow MelissaStuff's board DIY Halloween Costumes on Pinterest.