RDtipoftheday Favorites: April Edition

Welcome to RDtipoftheday's favorites April edition. This is my blog series that highlights some of the best things I've been watching, reading, listening to, cooking, and eating. These are a few of my favorite things this month.

Reading
I've been loving my new cookbooks. I received several cookbooks as Christmas and birthday gifts (thanks family!). I've also found cookbooks at the library! Can you believe it?!? Here's what I checked out this month.

 image from amazon.com

Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook

As the name suggests, the New Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook features recipes made in cast iron pans. It has recipes ranging for sweet to savory. It includes dishes that can be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. As always, I'm excited to try some new recipes and find new ways to cook in my cast iron pan.

image from amazon.com

One of my 2016 resolutions is to read more. This month, I've read Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst and the cookbook mentioned above. Unglued is a nonfiction book about how people react to situations. I love this book for anyone that want to improve interpersonal skills and better handling different reactions. This book can be used for personal application, work or professional applications, and is great for relating to patients and their families. It teaches you about the different ways individuals react to emotions and how you can respond in a healthy way. I think it is a great read for everyone.

Cooking
I'm working on more recipes for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), so I've been cooking and baking quite a bit. Stay tuned for those recipes.

I recently read Julia Child's memoir and enjoyed learning more about her life. This link popped up the other day on social media, and I thought I would share it with you. Here are five things we can learn from Julia Child's Kitchen.

Listening

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I have been listening to a new-to-me podcast. It's called The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. I have been listening to about 1-2 episodes per week to catch up. I usually listen on my commute or while cleaning house. I've started at the beginning, and I'm on episode 70ish. I'm loving it! Check it out. It's free. She posts one episode per week, but sometime weeks there are bonus episodes!

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The newest podcast I've found is That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs. She is fun and funny, she has 10 podcast episodes. She is an author, blogger, and speaker. She talks a lot about writing in the podcasts I've listened to because of her recently published books. Her books are on my list to read. I'll let you know what I think in my future favorites!

I hope you enjoyed these tips, recipes, and all of my favorites. Let me know if this is a feature that you would like me to continue by commenting below. And, let me know if you have something you want to be featured. Thanks! Have a great weekend!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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RDtipoftheday Favorites: March Edition

Reader Favorites for March 2016

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RDtipoftheday's Friday Favorites: March Edition

Welcome to RDtipoftheday's favorites from March. This is blog series that highlights of some of the best blog posts I've found and my favorite things from this month.

Cookbooks
I've been loving my new cookbooks. I received several cookbooks as Christmas and birthday gifts (thanks family!). Here are some of my favorites.

image from amazon.com

Duff Bakes

image from amazon.com

Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

image from amazon.com

Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics

Books
One of my 2016 resolutions is to read more. So far this year, I've read two books For the Love and Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker.

Cooking
When I'm stressed, I find that I benefit from rest and a creative outlet. Cooking and baking are generally my outlet. So, I've been cooking and baking quite a bit.

I am loving this salad with spinach, goat cheese, blueberries, and almonds. I've been eating it for lunch; it has been on repeat. So yummy!

I made pizza dough. Look for a post with pizza dough recipe coming soon.

In the Spring, I always look forward to eating King Cake. Here's my easy King Cake recipe. Enjoy!

Easter is a time for celebration. It's a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. When I think of Easter, I remember going to church and gathering with family after church. I remember celebrating forgiveness and all that Easter entails with family. We gathered and ate ham, rolls, and my Aunt always had deviled eggs as an appetizer. Here are my two takes on deviled eggs: bacon, egg, & cheese deviled eggs and Tex-Mex deviled eggs. Click on the links for recipes and nutrition facts. You can also sign up for FoodCare for free to access hundreds of recipes.

Podcasts

I have been listening to a new-to-me podcast. It's called The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. I have been listening to about 1-2 episodes per day. I usually listen on my commute or while cleaning house. I've started at the beginning, and I'm on episode 50ish. I'm loving it! Check it out. It's free. She posts one episode per week but sometimes there are bonus episodes!

I hope you enjoyed these tips, recipes, and all of my Friday favorites. Let me know if this is a feature that you would like me to continue by commenting below. And, let me know if you have something you want to be featured. Thanks! Have a great weekend!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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State of My Goals Address: January

As promised in previous posts, I am sharing updates on my goals. You can take a look at my 2016 goals and my thoughts on goals and resolutions. Sharing these goals is a way to keep me accountable and help me to improve, grow, and learn. People who share their goals tend to be more successful. So, I'm sharing the goals here to encourage you and to keep me accountable. And, I'll share progress over the year. 

Sharing my goals is also meant to encourage you to evaluate if you want to set goals. Evaluate what you want to accomplish this year. You are welcome to comment with your goals and share your progress as well. Feel free to tag your goals with #RDTODgoals or #healthyRD on social media.

2016 Goals
1) Try 30 new recipes. 
In January, I tried a few new recipes including:

• Gumbo yaya

• Biscuits (tried this twice - once on a baking sheet and once in my cast iron skillet)

• Salted caramel skillet brownies

• Skillet cornbread

• Quick & fruity breakfast smoothie

• Lemon cookies

2) Read more.
I'm in a study at church. We are going through Galatians, so I've been reading and studying more through the study. I also purchased a few books to read on vacation this year.

3) Build endurance and strength.
I continue to attend my favorite strength-training class. I love the instructor. She challenges and encourages us to lift weights, albeit-light weights, for an hour. She checks our form and encourages us to push ourselves and grow.

I also made a workout playlist to encourage me to do more cardio. I love listening to music, and I save this playlist only for workouts. Its a good incentive for me to workout and helps me keep track of time.

4) Travel.
I did not travel in January, but I do have a couple trips in the works for this year. Stay tuned.

5) Learn something new.
This month I learned to make a few new recipes (see goal #1). I also learned about using and caring for cast iron pans. Look for a post about what I've learned about cast iron pans.

These are my broad goals for 2016. They have more specific meanings to me. SMART goals are important when you are making changes, but that doesn't diminish the value of broad goals. What goals are you working on in 2016? Comment below.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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RDtipoftheday's Gift Guide for Your Chef, Baker, and Foodie Friends: Under $30

The Christmas season can be hurried and rushed. Sometimes, we lose focus on what's important. This season should be a time to be thankful and remember our foundation for hope.

If you are like me, I sometimes take on too much, get too busy, and miss the importance of this season. What I'd like to do is help free up some of your time. Be a helping hand. Over the next few days, I'm sharing some gift guides for your favorite chef, baker, or foodie friend. My hope is that these gift lists will be a time saver. You can find great gifts for your family and friends. And, have more time to focus on the season. Merry Christmas!

 

 

Serving Ware
Do you have a friend that loves to entertain? Give them something to entertain with. I love this wooden cake stand from Target. You could also use a marble board, cheese plate, or piece of slate as a gorgeous backdrop to your food.

Cutting Boards
Cutting board come in a variety of materials including wood, plastic, butcher block, or bamboo. They come in many shapes and sizes. They are super practice and can also be used to serve foods.

Cast Iron Pans
I love cast iron pans. They hold heat well and are pretty enough to display. It's great to get a great sear on meat or cook cornbread. Bonus: Cast iron pans actually add iron content to your food.

Image via Wikipedia


Salt and Pepper Sets
For the hostess or chef that seems to have everything, salt and pepper sets are a great buy. They come in a variety of shapes and materials; check out this one with copper. They can be fancy or kitschy.

Images via Google images



Measuring Cups and Spoons
Every chef and baker needs measuring cups and spoons. Why not get cute ones? Anthropology has really cute sets of cups and spoons. I also love my stainless steel measuring cups and spoons from William Sonoma.

Cookbooks
Does your favorite chef, baker, or foodie have a role model? I love watching the Food Network. If you know your friend's favorite chef or baker, consider getting them a cookbook authored by their role model.

Images  on left via Wikipedia

Recipe Box
Give your favorite foodie a place to keep their recipes. Here's a wooden one from Crate & Barrel. Rifle Paper company has cute, metal recipe tins.

For more recipes and tips and tricks for healthy eating, follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

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