Welcome to Inspired2cook…I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a stay-at-home mom, I love cooking and entertaining, and I have a passion for blessing my family and friends with great homemade food! My goal with this blog is to motivate you to get in the kitchen and cook by providing you with tested recipes from my favorite • Read More »
Archives: Handy Hints
Leftovers aren’t forever!
November 21, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Leftovers aren’t forever! | Filed in: Christmas, Entertaining Tip, Fun Food Facts, Handy Hints, Holidays, Morsels & Musings, Thanksgiving, Turkey.Here’s some great advice on how to safely store your holiday leftovers (or any meal for that matter): Leftovers Aren’t Forever -from Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers On Thanksgiving, store your leftovers safely. Get any leftover turkey and stuffing into the refrigerator within two hours of serving. Never leave leftovers out overnight. Slice all of the • Read More »
Kitchen Share SE opening in Portland
August 18, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Kitchen Share SE opening in Portland | Filed in: Cookware & Cooking Gadgets, Entertaining Tip, Handy Hints, Life in Oregon, Local Goodness, Morsels & Musings.Kitchen Share SE, a kitchen tool lending library for residents of SE Portland, will be celebrating their grand opening on August 21st from 5-8pm in SE Portland at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church (2800 SE Harrison Street). The festivities will include music, food, demos, and homemade ice cream. Kitchen Share SE will be a place where “community members can borrow • Read More »
Secret Aardvark Habenero Hot Sauce
April 20, 2012 | By andrea | 1 Comment | Filed in: Condiment, Handy Hints, Life in Oregon, Local Goodness, Products I Love.
I have a confession to make…I’m a hot sauce junkie. I just love the stuff! Maybe I’m addicted to the endorphin rush that comes from eating spicy foods. Whatever the reason, hot sauce makes me happy. Recently, I bought a bottle of Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce (Aardvark for short), a local Portland-made product. The spicy • Read More »
Lake Grove Zupan’s Grand Opening!
April 18, 2012 | By andrea | Comments Off on Lake Grove Zupan’s Grand Opening! | Filed in: Fresh Produce, Handy Hints, Life in Oregon, Local Goodness, Morsels & Musings, Recipes.
Today was the grand opening of the Lake Grove Zupan’s Market, a locally-owned store that caters to food lovers. What’s the big whoop, you ask? Well, several years ago my beloved Wizer’s Market (the store that occupied the same location) closed it’s doors. I had been shopping at the quaint gourmet market for nearly 20 years, so it • Read More »
Pink Muscat Grapes
April 13, 2012 | By andrea | 1 Comment | Filed in: Fresh Produce, Handy Hints, Morsels & Musings.
I was at Whole Foods Market the other day and noticed a grape variety on display in the produce department that I’d never seen before: Pink Muscat Grapes ($3.99/lb.). Their pinkish-yellow color intrigued me. Thankfully, they had some samples out so I could try one (okay three). Their flavor is sweet, delicate and floral — much • Read More »
Welcome Ultimate Blog Party 2012!
April 13, 2012 | By andrea | 8 Comments | Filed in: Handy Hints.
Welcome to Inspired2cook…my name is Andrea! I live in Oregon, and I’m a stay-at-home mom who LOVES cooking, entertaining and blessing people with soul-satisfying food! To learn more about me and my mission with this site, read the About Me page. Most of the recipes on Inspired2cook are easy enough for a beginning cook yet fresh • Read More »
Happy Easter!
April 8, 2012 | By andrea | 1 Comment | Filed in: Handy Hints.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” –Romans 15:13
Raspberry Sauce
February 8, 2012 | By andrea | 3 Comments | Filed in: Dessert, Entertaining Tip, Handy Hints, Recipes, Sauce.
This ultra simple recipe for Raspberry Sauce is the perfect finishing touch for a potpourri of desserts. Slightly sweet and slightly tart in flavor, its a perfect compliment to chocolate, vanilla, lemon, and almond. Drizzle the sauce over ice cream or serve with a slice of pound cake or flourless chocolate cake. I like to spoon it • Read More »
Call America’s Test Kitchen Hot Line with your cooking questions
December 26, 2011 | By andrea | Comments Off on Call America’s Test Kitchen Hot Line with your cooking questions | Filed in: Handy Hints.While perusing the Cook’s Illustrated website recently, I saw that they now have a radio show and hot line for asking cooking questions. I love these people! Call their toll-free number, leave a message with your cooking-related question, and Christopher Kimball (creator of America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated) might choose your question to answer on the America’s • Read More »