Babs

These chocolate covered strawberry jello shots are a little sweet, a little boozy, and perfect for Valentine’s Day! Let’s make them together 🍓🍫 INGREDIENTS 3 (16-oz.) containers of large strawberries 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 cup white chocolate chips 2 tsp. refined coconut oil, divided 1 packet plain gelatin 1 cup boiling water 1 cup vanilla vodka To prepare the strawberries, slice off a piece of the side of each washed strawberry. Place strawberries in a cupcake/muffin tin to keep steady. You may need to fold paper towels to keep them steady until the gelatin congeals after you fill them. Use a small spoon to scoop out the middle section of your strawberry to make a little cup. A small spoon or small melon baller works wonderfully for this job. Combine one cup of boiling water with a pack of plain gelatin. Stir until no clumps appear. Add one cup of vanilla vodka to the gelatin mixture and stir to combine. Fill each strawberry with the vodka gelatin mixture (I use a teaspoon to fill them) and place the muffin tin in the refrigerator to allow the gelatin to congeal. This will take 2-3 hours. Add white chocolate chips to a bowl, and do the same for the dark chocolate chips. Add one teaspoon of coconut oil to each bowl. Heat each bowl in the microwave for 30-second intervals until melted, stirring in between each interval. It should take about 60 seconds total for each. Once the chocolate is melted, dip each strawberry into the chocolate and place it on wax or parchment paper. Then, put the tray in the fridge to cool and set the chocolate. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve! #ValentinesDay #chocolatecoveredstrawberries #jelloshots

Dinner in a rush? No problem! My new cookbook is filled with easy every day meals! This is my Olive Bar Chicken; one of the simplest recipes in the cookbook. You can just dump and go! Quick, simple, and delicious. Every Day with Babs is 30% off RIGHT NOW on Amazon! Click the link in my bio to purchase ✨ Here's how my cookbook is organized: Get Your "Sheet" (pan) Together Monday (12 recipes): all sheet pan meals Eat Twice Twosday (12 recipes): batch cooking at its best so you can get those refrigerators and freezers stocked when cooking dinner just isn't possible One and Only Wednesday (14 recipes): one-pot meals that come together in no time Thrifty Thursday (13 recipes): dinners that use pantry staples because let's face it, groceries are dwindling (the grandkids were over so l made them their favorite; breakfast for dinner!) Fri-Yay (14 recipes): fun crowd-pleasing meals your family is going to go crazy for! Low and Slow Saturday (12 recipes): all slow cooker meals, set it and forget it so you can enjoy your day Sunday Supper (13 recipes): special meals to share with family and friends, a little more elevated - sit down, set the table, and gather Sweet Tooth (10 recipes): and you can't forget dessert (easy + nostalgic) #cookbook #everydaywithbabs #dinner #whatsfordinner

It’s open window season! I feel better, sleep better and I know I am saving money when I open those windows and doors. There is nothing I love more than to hear hints of nature outside and have a fresh breeze blowing in. I use this time of year (and again in the Spring) to get all those window sills and door tracks clean in the easiest way possible! Here is how I do it: WINDOW SILLS Sprinkle a light layer of baking soda over the entire sill. Then pour just enough vinegar to cover that baking soda. The solution will bubble as you pour. Let sit for 5 minutes and wipe those sills clean! DOOR TRACKS Spray door track with dish soap. Use a clean paintbrush to brush all that dirt and debris away. Dip the paint brush in a bucket or bowl with clean water. Wipe the paintbrush on the side of the bucket to expel excess water before brushing again. Wipe dry with a clean rag. Show me those sills! Come on ;) XO Babs #freshair #cleaningtips

Do you know the 10 Commandments of the kitchen?! What did I miss? #cooking #advice

🌯Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos🌯 Take breakfast off your to-do list! 🌯 INGREDIENTS: 1 (28oz) bag frozen Potatoes O’Brien (with red peppers and onions) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 dozen large eggs 1 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or any preferred cheese) 1 (16oz) can refried beans 1 pack burrito-sized flour tortillas (8 burritos) or soft taco size (10 burritos) 🌯 INSTRUCTIONS: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add frozen Potatoes O’Brien, pressing them into a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 5-7 minutes to develop color, then stir and cook for another 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. For crispier potatoes, cook in two batches with extra oil. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt, and pepper. Pour the eggs over the potatoes in the skillet. Let them sit for 1 minute, then stir gently. Repeat twice until the eggs are slightly underdone, about 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle the cheese over the egg and potato mixture. Allow it to melt while you prepare the tortillas. Remove the entire pack from the plastic packaging. Sandwich the tortillas between two damp paper towels and microwave for 20-30 seconds on each side until warm and pliable. Spread 1/4 cup of refried beans on each tortilla. Stir the beans in the can first to make them easier to spread. Divide the potato, egg, and cheese mixture evenly over the beans. Roll up the burritos: Fold the bottom edge over the filling, tuck in the sides, and roll tightly without squeezing too hard to avoid tearing the tortilla. Wrap each burrito in a sheet of parchment paper (around 13” x 10”), ensuring all sides are covered to prevent drying out in the freezer. Then wrap in plastic or tin foil. Place in the freezer. Remove the foil/ plastic wrap and microwave the parchment-wrapped burritos on high for about 5 minutes, or until fully heated. For a crispy exterior, brown the burritos in a skillet with a little oil, about 2 minutes per side. Serve with salsa, hot sauce, or sour cream. #easybreakfast #breakfastburrito

My grandmother started this Easter tradition over 100 years ago. She made each of her 22 grandchildren an individual Easter bread and I now make my nine Grandchildren Easter Bread every year. This year, I decided to make my Grandmother’s beloved bread into a wreath. It acts as a beautiful centerpiece to any Easter table. 🐰🪺✨ GRANDMA’S EASTER BREAD WREATH (makes one wreath)  INGREDIENTS:   1 package instant dry yeast 1 ¼ cups whole milk, warmed  Pinch of kosher salt ⅓ cup unsalted butter, room temperature ½ cup sugar 1 tsp lemon zest 3 large eggs, room temperature, divided 3 ½- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided  Sprinkles, to decorate 5 raw, naturally blue or dyed Easter eggs  INSTRUCTIONS: To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the yeast, milk, salt, butter, sugar vanilla, lemon zest and 2 eggs. Mix on medium speed until combined.  Switch to the dough hook attachment. Add 1 ¾ cups of flour and mix, working the flour int the egg mixture. Mix in more flour, a little at a time until the dough is no longer sticky, up to 2 ¾ cups more flour.  Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 1 to 2 minutes. Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place the dough in a warm spot to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.  Punch down the dough. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a rope about 40 inches long and 1 inch wide. Take the two ropes and twist together. Then with the twist, form a large circle to create a wreath. Carefully place the large wreath onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap, place into a warm spot and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 egg with 1 teaspoon of water. After the wreath has doubled in size, brush with the egg wash. Sprinkle with sprinkles and place the dyed eggs evenly throughout the wreath, nestle them into the dough towards the center. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the wreath is golden brown. Enjoy warm or at room temperature. #easter #easterbread #Recipe

Mr. Babs and I snuck in a little quality time down in Florida before the rest of Mr. Babs’ family arrived for our annual sibling reunion. We thought it would be fun to take you along and share what a day in the life on vacation looks like for us #dayinthelife #florida #vacation

Here is everything I made last week for dinner... EVERY night of the week! Let's be honest, figuring out what's for dinner every night can be difficult. That's why I wrote Every Day with Babs - a cookbook designed to make meal planning easier, more fun, and stress-free! It's organized by day of the week, so you'll always know what's for dinner. Click the link in my bio to purchase a copy! ✨ Get Your "Sheet" (pan) Together Monday (12 recipes): all sheet pan meals Eat Twice Twosday (12 recipes): batch cooking at its best so you can get those refrigerators and freezers stocked when cooking dinner just isn't possible One and Only Wednesday (14 recipes): one-pot meals that come together in no time Thrifty Thursday (13 recipes): dinners that use pantry staples because let's face it, groceries are dwindling (the grandkids were over so I made them their favorite; breakfast for dinner!) Fri-Yay (14 recipes): fun crowd-pleasing meals your family is going to go crazy for! Low and Slow Saturday (12 recipes): all slow cooker meals, set it and forget it so you can enjoy your day Sunday Supper (13 recipes): special meals to share with family and friends, a little more elevated - sit down, set the table, and gather Sweet Tooth (10 recipes): and you can't forget dessert (easy + nostalgic) #cookbook #everydaywithbabs

NATURALLY DYED EASTER EGGS ✨🐰🪺 INGREDIENTS: 4 cups of water for each ingredient 4 cups of shredded beets + onion skins 1/4 cup of Turmeric 2 cups red cabbage (the cabbage absorbs so much water, I use less cabbage for 4 cups of water) 1 Tbsp vinegar + 2 Tbsp more for the egg dye bath INSTRUCTIONS: To each pot, add water, 1 Tbsp of white vinegar and vegetables. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, cover and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. The longer you boil, the deeper the color will be but don't boil away your water. After simmering, drain the liquid and let cool. Add the other 1 Tosp to the container and add hard boiled eggs to the container. Place containers in the fridge overnight and let the magic happen - you'll even see results just after an hour or two! In the morning, remove eggs from dye liquid and let dry on upside down egg cartons. Eggs will dry matte. Optional: you can rub eggs with coconut or vegetable oil for a light shine. If you want more pastel looking eggs, you don't have to leave them sitting in the dye overnight- just keep an eye on them! COLOR GUIDE: Red Cabbage - Blue Onions skins- orangel beets to make pink Shredded Beets - Pink Turmeric - Yellow #HappyEaster #eastereggs

I recently learned about the risk plastic cutting boards pose, and I immediately told all my kids about it! Everything I say to my kids, l, of course, tell you too. When using your plastic cutting board, the knife creates little marks, nicks, and cuts on the board. And that plastic from those microabrasions ends up in your food and body. So much so that you likely ingest ten credit cards' worth of microplastics or 50 grams within one year! So...l have made the switch, and you should too. To keep that wooden cutting board germ-free, do this once a week and wash the wooden board regularly after use. WOODEN CUTTING BOARD DEEP CLEAN: Wash the board with dish soap.Then, sprinkle the entire board with baking soda. Add about ½ tosp of salt to a lemon and scrub away. Rinse the board with vinegar, let it dry, and you'll be ready to go! #DidYouKnow

Do these 3 things now so when sickness strikes you’re ready! #sick #sicknessremedies #sickremediesn

Replying to @Amanda Kelley110 THE BABS BARF BASKET! Perfect for those who are struggling with the stomach flu. Sandwich a glow stick between two garbage bags and place around a laundry basket. Put it near their bed (this works like a charm), especially at night. #sick #stomachbug

Many years ago, my mother, my sister, my aunt, and I owned a Chicago Hot Dog and Beef fast food restaurant called Mrs Murphy's Italian Cousins. When we opened, we didn't even have the money to change the signage on the building, so we just added "Italian Cousins" to the original name which was Mrs. Murphy's ! Those days were challenging and fun and even funny at times. I learned so much over those years, it feels like a lifetime ago. This salad from the FRI-YAY! Chapter of my new cookbook, Every Day with Babs, was born at that very restaurant. I adore the salad to this day and joke that I invented the Sub in the Tub way back when. Who knows? What I do know is that you will love this salad. I also love it for a family because you can destruct it for the little ones. Share this amazing salad with the sub lover in your life! XO Babs I wrote Every Day with Babs — a cookbook designed to make meal planning easier, more fun, and totally stress-free! It's organized by days of the week, so you'll always know what's for dinner. Order a copy of my new cookbook by clicking the link in my bio! Get Your "Sheet" (pan) Together Monday: all sheet pan recipes Eat Twice Twosday: batch cooking at its best so you can get those refrigerators and freezer stocked when cooking dinner just isn't possible One and Only Wednesday: one-pot meals that come together in no time Thrifty Thursday: dinners that use pantry staples because let's face it, groceries are dwindling (the grandkids were over so l made them their favorite; breakfast for dinner!) Fri-Yay: fun crowd-pleasing meals your family is going to go crazy for! Low and Slow Saturday: all slow cooker meals, set it and forget it so you can enjoy your day Sunday Supper: special meals to share with family and friends, a little more elevated - sit down, set the table, and gather Sweet Tooth: and you can't forget dessert (easy + nostalgic)

Keep track of your paint colors the easy way — write the name on the back of your switch plate in each room. No more guessing! Plus, if you're going to sell your house, the new homeowners will thank you for this one. If you are saving paint just for the name of it, this is the perfect way to dispose of it (and declutter your space!). How to dispose of your paint: Oil-Based: never pour it down the drain, instead, bring it to a local hazardous waste disposal site Water-Based: you can let it dry out completely if there is a small amount of paint left (once dry, you can throw it in your regular trash)...if you have a lot of paint left, take it to a hazardous waste disposal site if no longer needed. BABS TIP: if you have a large amount of one color, donate it to a local school or community center! #paintcolors #Home

I could use your help! The one thing we're unsure of is the great room's stain. Should we stain it closer to the stair color (a bit darker, not as warm), paint it cream, or leave it? I think it's finally safe to say we have a month left until the Basket House is ready This was my first renovation, and I've learned so much. What do you think so far? Our biggest goal was to keep that 1800's charm. Also, to clarify we are putting built-in pull out beds in the loft area for my older grandkids #baskethouse #thebaskethouse

The secret to youth? If you ask me at age 76 looking back, the secret to youth is not the expensive skin care routine trying to ward off those (beautiful) wrinkles or how you dress. The secret is all in how you embrace life - the everyday! It’s about your attitude. So when given the opportunity, DANCE in the rain. #advice #sliceoflife #vacation

A love letter to my younger self. 💌 #coffeeshop #youngerself #selflove

FLOWER POT BREADS There is a local restaurant in Connecticut that bakes bread in flower pots. I have been determined to figure out how to transform some of my favorite bread recipes to flower pots! This Spring, I perfected it. These flower pot breads make the perfect addition to any Spring table. PREPPING THE FLOWER POTS EQUIPMENT 6 (4.5” in diameter terracotta flower pots) Neutral oil, for greasing (avocado or sunflower) The day before, soak the terracotta pots in warm soapy water for 30 minutes. Dry thoroughly. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Generously brush each pot, the inside and outside with neutral oil. Place onto a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove from the oven. Let cool and repeat this process 2 more times. (Oil, bake, cool, repeat) After the 3rd time, your pots are ready to bake in! #bread #flowerpot #spring

My new cookbook EVERY DAY WITH BABS is 30% off RIGHT NOW on Amazon and at Target - head to the link in my bio to purchase your copy! Three years ago I set out on a quest to take the stress out of dinner time!! I've uncovered the secret to getting dinner on the table ever night of the week without breaking a sweat. All of my tips and tricks accumulated over the last 50 years of getting dinner on the table into one cookbook. One thing I did that makes a big difference? I gave each day of the week a theme so you're one step ahead of the game — you know exactly what type of dish you're cooking every night of the week. It's how the book is organized. For all my other secrets, order today! Here’s how my cookbook is organized: Get Your "Sheet" (pan) Together Monday (12 recipes): all sheet pan meals Eat Twice Twosday (12 recipes): batch cooking at its best so you can get those refrigerators and freezers stocked when cooking dinner just isn't possible One and Only Wednesday (14 recipes): one-pot meals that come together in no time Thrifty Thursday (13 recipes): dinners that use pantry staples because let's face it, groceries are dwindling (the grandkids were over so I made them their favorite; breakfast for dinner!) Fri-Yay (14 recipes): fun crowd-pleasing meals your family is going to go crazy for! Low and Slow Saturday (12 recipes): all slow cooker meals, set it and forget it so you can enjoy your day Sunday Supper (13 recipes): special meals to share with family and friends, a little more elevated - sit down, set the table, and gather Sweet Tooth (10 recipes): and you can't forget dessert (easy + nostalgic) #cookbook #everydaywithbabs

What a special weekend with QVC! Not only did I get to visit QVC and join David in the kitchen, but I also got to surprise my granddaughter!! We arrived on her campus early, and Mr. Babs and I visited the bookstore! Grace's boyfriend met us there, and we all surprised her. Of course, we had to go back to the bookstore and then out to a wonderful meal together. The next morning was mass, and then a fantastic full day at QVC, where I got to share my new cookbook, Every Day with Babs! I'm so blessed to be part of the QVC family. We picked up some Philly Cheese Steaks and headed home. We're going to sleep well tonight! #QVCPartner #ProudlyQ50 #LoveQVC #AgeofPossibility