In the Kitchen: A Lifestyle Blog by Sassafras

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Did you know that there is a National Pizza Day? With the popularity of pizza, it is no suprise that there is. I mean, I'm all about celebrating pizza, aren't you? So that is exactly what we are going to do on February 9th, National Pizza Day.  How about we celebrate this glorious day by learning a little bit more about this globally popular food? The History of Pizza The first food known as pizza was made by bakers in Naples in the mid-1600s.  Pizza was originally prepared for and sold to poverty stricken Neapolitans who spent much of their time walking along the streets.  This led many “upscale” Italians to look down on the poor and their “disgusting” eating habits. While the first “pizza” was made in the 1600s, there have been similar foods being made since the Neolithic age. These foods often include flatbreads with various toppings and were made throughout the world. In the late 1800s, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita made a visit to Ita...

What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day?  While I do love going on dates with my husband, I actually don’t look at Valentine’s Day as a day for him and I. I don’t mean to be a big bummer, but I tend to view this holiday as a bit of a commercialized day. I like to date my husband throughout the year and I tell him I love him multiple times each and every day. That’s why I choose to make Valentine’s Day a day for the family. We love spending time together and while, like my husband, I tell them every day that I love them, but I do like the idea of an entire day that celebrates our family’s love for one another.  While I do love spending time with the whole family on Valentine’s Day, I do not like taking the family out to dinner on February 14th. Truth be told, I don’t really even like going out to eat with my husband on that day: restaurants are far too busy on Valentine’s Day to make a dinner out with kids much fun at all. Your wait will likely be incredibly...

Hello Football Fans!!!! It’s almost the biggest day of the year!  You know what day that is, right? That’s right. It’s time for the Superbowl. It’s also time for a fabulous Superbowl party! Are you hosting a Superbowl party this year?  Even if you are a veteran party planning, you can still throw the most amazing Super Bowl Party with these tips! It doesn’t matter if you are a superfan of either of the teams, or just a casual football fan, your party can be amazing.  Throw the Most Amazing Super Bowl Party with These Tips Make Sure You Can Stream the Game So many of us have cut the cord over the last couple of years to save money, which means no cable or satellite to play the game. If you use a streaming service, make sure that you are going to be able to stream the game in advance. Your guests won’t want to go to a Superbowl party without being able to watch the Superbowl. Have a Separate Space for the Kids If you will be having small children at your...

I just love Spring and I am so ready for it to hit. I just love so many things about this particular season. The weather is getting warmer, everyone is just a little more cheerful and once those flowers start blooming it’s just about perfect to start getting to those fun spring activities. What is your favorite thing to do in the spring? I personally have several favorites including getting outside, walking and enjoying the beautiful spring colors. I also love seeing all of the kids outside playing again after being stuck inside for a few months. There are just so many great things about spring to enjoy, not the least of which is the fact that friends and family get together more often again. Yes, many of us spend a lot of time over the holidays with our families, but once springtime hits, it’s a different setting and mindset. One of my favorite spring get togethers to have is brunch and boy oh boy do we have the perfect selection of items that will help a brunch come together ...

Well, the holidays are over, but the next one will be here soon!  Yes, we are talking about Valentine’s day!! It’s coming up quickly!! The good news is though, that it is still a couple of weeks away so we have time to prepare. Last week we talked about our date plans for Valentine’s day, but now let’s talk about the kids. Do you have Valentine’s plans set for your kids? Do you remember how much fun Valentine’s day was as a kid? No mention of romance, no stress placed on the perfect date, just fun Valentine cards from friends along with toys or treats or candy. When thinking back on my childhood, Valentine’s day was more fun than Christmas at school in my opinion. I loved it! So, how do you plan on helping your kids to celebrate Valentine’s day? I always give my kids Valentine’s Day gifts. In our family, we really like to go with DIY gifts. I like to give my kids gifts that get their brains moving and working creatively. Another thing I focus on often with my kids is making sur...