Grandmom Irene Zippilli’s Ice Box Banana Pudding 8×8 or 9×9 square pan Ingredients: 2- cups Kinnikinnick Gluten Free- Kinni Kritters Animal Cracker Cookies OR Kinnikinnick Vanilla Wafers- crushed. or your favorite cookie crushed, i.e. gram crackers, sugar cookies etc. Should be about 1 1/4 crushed crumbs (you could also use premade cookie pie crust) 1- Tablespoon melter butter 1- 4.6 oz Jello vanilla cook and serve pudding 3- Cups skim milk 2- Large Ripe Bananas 1- 8 oz tub of Cool Whip Lite Directions: Cook pudding according to package directions in the microwave. Cook for 8 minutes- stirri ..read more

You HAVE to check out this fast, safe (even for me!) easy food slicer!  The Rapid Slicer is great- we especially like it for cherry tomatoes and strawberries- and it saves so much time (and bloodshed). It’s super simple to use…just place the food in the base, gently hold the lid on the food, and slice across horizontally. AND you can put it right in the dishwasher.  Get yours here:   ..read more

Tomato-Mozzarella Salad Ingredients: 1- pint of Cherry Tomatoes sliced 1- 8 oz package of “Pearl Sized” fresh mozzarella Extra virgin olive oil Fresh or dried basil Directions: In bowl place “pearl mozzarella” and sliced cherry tomatoes. Add some olive oil and salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil or dried basil. Stir to mix well- enjoy ..read more

Dena’s Famous Gluten Free Key Lime Pie This NO BAKE fast and easy Key Lime Pie is a crowd pleaser for your summer entertaining.   It will go quickly so you may have to make two of them! Ingredients:   1- 9” Store Bought Gluten Free Graham Cracker Pie Crust 1 – 14 oz. Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk 1/2 Cup Fresh Lime Juice 1 Teaspoon Grated Lime Peel 1 – 8 oz. Tub (2 Cups) Frozen Lite Whipped Topping – Thawed 8 Thin Lime Slices (optional)   Directions: Beat the sweetened condensed milk and lime juice in a small bowl until combined….stir in the grated lime peel.  Pour into p ..read more

Ok, to start with, this compact little guy is adorable. We picked red, but it comes in other colors as well.  This machine makes boiled eggs, soft boiled eggs, poached eggs, individual omelets, and even chocolate covered peanut butter eggs with the push of a button! (*See disclaimer) The buzzer lets you know when your eggs are done, and its so simple you can make your kids cook breakfast.  It comes with a poaching tray, omelet tray, 6 egg holder tray, measuring cup, recipe book and recipe database access -AND the non-electric parts can go in the dishwasher! *Disclaimer: It does ..read more

Dena’s Famous Spinach Artichoke Dip Bake 350 degrees for 25/35 minutes in a greased 9″x13″ glass baking dish Ingredients: 1- 14oz Can Artichoke Hearts packed in water…drained 1/3 Cup grated Percorino Romano Cheese 1/4 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese 1- 10oz bag of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained 1/3 Cup Heavy Cream 1/2 Cup Sour Cream 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese Directions: Set oven to 350 and grease a 9″x13″ glass dish- set aside. Chop artichoke hearts into small pieces and mix with Percorino Romano Cheese, and Parmesan Cheese…set aside. In a medium bowl mix together well drained th ..read more

  We met Dee Collins, the creator of these great little snarky books, at a toy fair…and we LOVE her stuff!  These great little books fit right in your purse or tote; you can choose the ones that most fit your mood and record your innermost secrets and/or shopping lists inside.  Find them at www.27thstreetpress.etsy.com   ..read more

Strawberry-Blueberry Trifle Bowl with Cool Whip For a NO BAKE lite and festive 4th of July dessert try this layered fresh fruit Trifle Bowl!!! So easy and fun to make! Ingredients: 2 Quarts of Strawberries – Washed and cut in thick slices 2 Pints Blueberries – Washed 16 oz of Lite Cool Whip Optional – Red, White and Blue Sprinkles for the top Directions – Layer in Trifle Bowl….. (or any Clear Bowl so you can see the layers!) Sliced Strawberries 1 st Layer (bottom) – Cool Whip 2 nd Layer – Sliced Strawberries 3 rd Layer – Cool Whip 4 th Layer – Blueberries Top Layer – Cool Whip!!! Optional – Sp ..read more

My name is Dena and I’m an anxiety mom. I don’t HAVE anxiety but I’m surrounded by it. Of course, I get anxiety…..new job, raising kids, money issues but I don’t have debilitating anxiety, the kind that stops you from doing the things you want to do, going places you want to go or just…..breathing. I know about it because of my daughter, Brooke, who was just…born this way. My daughter is fifteen. We’ve been through a lot together….poor school placements, an inability to stay in classrooms, freezing from fear and crying through small triumphs like sleepover parties. For the last year she’s been ..read more

Dena’s Forgotten Hard Boiled Eggs Ingredients: 12 Large Eggs – Hard Boiled 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise 2 Teaspoon Yellow Mustard 3 Tablespoons Sweet Pickle Relish – Can omit or use less if you don’t like them sweet. Salt and Pepper to Taste Paprika for Garnish     Directions to make hard boil eggs: Put water in a pan and put the 12 eggs in a single layer.   Cover with at least 1” of water above the eggs.   Bring to a boil.  (I put a timer on for about 20 minutes.)  When boiling begins cover the pan and turn off the heat….let the eggs set in the water for 15 minutes.  ..read more