Shelly Wutke

Surfing online one day, I stumbled across a site that suggested a ton of different ways to use appliances. I thought I had a trick or two up my sleeve until I read through, and I was blown away by the different, fun ways to use both the big and small appliances in my house. Try a few of these just for fun – some of them are so amazing you’ll probably make them part of your weekly routine.

There’s a bumper crop of tomatoes out there right now, and they’re just begging to be chopped up into salsa. Check out my recipe, make your own homemade salsa, and add it to BBQ chicken or fish, plain rice, and anything that needs to be spiced up. A good rule of thumb is to take a look at what you’re about to eat and ask yourself, “Would salsa be good with this?” The answer is always yes, yes it would.

What makes up a well-stocked kitchen? I’d have to say it depends the person cooking in it. Although we all have our favourite must-use kitchen gadgets, some people like to use kitchen tools every day that other people may never have heard of. But out of the plethora of cool kitchen gadgets available, there are a few gadgets I think we can all universally agree are absolutely essential to a happy, well-run kitchen.

The words ‘Back To School’ can bring about mixed emotions for a lot of parents. On one hand, it’s nice to spend time with the kids in the summer – on the other? It will be absolutely amazing to get them back into a regular routine. But a regular routine means packing lunches, so here’s some creative lunch bag inspiration they’re sure to ‘eat up.’

Leashes and collars will do the trick for dogs, and cats can be kept indoors to protect them from the hazards on the roads, but if you have a cat or dog that’s what I call a ‘streaker’ – meaning anytime the door is open they bolt, you have a definite problem that needs solving.

There’s a little known fact about living in the dorm room that no one will tell you before you go for the first time – you will be hungry. Without access to mom’s kitchen, there is a lot you’ll have to do without. But armed with a microwave? You’d be surprised at what you can whip up to satisfy those dinnertime or midnight cravings.

For me, one of the most stressful parts of back to school is figuring out what to pack in their lunch kits. This year I’m getting a jump on things by creating a list of lunches that are cute, creative, and will be something they enjoy eating.

The only thing you can guarantee about summer is that it will fly by and back to school will be upon us all before we know it. This is the year to get a jump on your shopping by scoring some of the best picks for your kid’s backpack. 

Out where I live, the hills are alive with the color blue. Thanks to a bumper year for the amazing blueberry we’re all enjoying more of this sweet fruit than ever, and with my cupboards literally covered in them, I’ve had to think of some creative ways to use them.