Disclosure: I only recommend products I truly love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting lovingpetite.com Fit Guide: I am 5' and 105 pounds. I usually wear XS-S tops and XS bottoms. Hemming petite jeans is one of the easiest ways to look instantly put‑together, no matter your age or budget. In this guide, I’ll walk you through simple, step‑by‑step hemming tips made for petite women over 60—so your jeans hit at the perfect spot, flatter your shape, and feel comfortable all day. With a few small tweaks, your favorite denim can look custom‑tailored and effortlessly chic. Enjoy your new jeans with this easy hemming technique. Items you will need: Thread ( same color as pants or jeans) or Amazon Singer Nylon Thread (for white or light colored jeans) Pins Measuring tape Amazon Scissors that cut fabric Try on jeans with shoes Try on jeans with the shoes you plan to wear with jeans. I enjoying wearing 2.5” wedge sandals or sneakers with low heel lifts. I try on both types of shoes to find a length that will hopefully work for either shoe so, I have flexibility in choosing dressy or casual jean outfits. Too long! pin up hem for wear with sneakers pin up hem for wear with sneakers Check to see if you need to adjust for wedge sandals. ( looks good) Measure & mark new hem of jeans Make sure your pinned area is close to the bottom because you will measure, mark, and cut off the excess bottom before sewing the very bottom ( previously hemmed portion) to the cut pants. Cut off excess jeans Cut the excess off the previously hemmed section, leaving about 1/4”. Place the previously hemmed portion over the outside of the pants. You will start hemming just under the previously hemmed portion so your stitches do not show(see pin). Fold the hemmed portion over and iron so the hem hangs flat. Use starch to make the hem stay down. Checked hem with one leg hemmed with sandals I enjoy wearing my new white jeans with Amazon Michael Kors Wedge Sandals or Amazon Guess Kadlin Sneakers ( with built in heel lifts). Just a few thoughts that may make your experience hemming pants easy. Mark a straight line after you measure to help you cut straight. Use very sharp scissors made for cutting fabric. Use strong thread, even a clear nylon thread works great on white jeans! I hope you find this to be an easy hack for hemming your new jeans. Do you have a special trick for hemming pants? Read How To Hem A Petite Dress-Elongate Legs to learn how to hem your next dress and have an overall elongated appearance. Follow along at www.Lovingpetite.com and Petite Women Over 60 for more styling tips for petite women over 60, delicious recipes, and vacation rentals in Georgia mountains or St. Simons Island, Ga. Visit My Amazon Storefront for your basic sewing needs, petite fashion, & other lifestyle products. As an affiliate, I may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this website.

Disclaimer: I only recommend products I truly love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting lovingpetite.com . Amazon Storefront for these exact shoes! MY AMAZON STOREFRONT -SHOES Discover the most flattering shoes for petite women over 60 to wear to give the appearance of adding an extra inch or two! Explore the best colors of shoes, heel heights, sandal characteristics, and types of sneakers that elevate and create a polished appearance for a petite woman's extra small body frame. It is not all about the clothes; wearing the right shoes is crucial to pulling the whole petite outfit together for an elegant appearance. Colors of Shoes Petite women benefit by sticking to light and neutral shades: tan, beige, gold, and white. Darker shades cut off the leg line, but a light neutral shoe provides continuity from the color of your let to your foot giving the illusion of an elongating appearance. Heel Heights Petite women benefit from wearing heels to add a little height to their overall appearance. Heels look great on all women. The important factor is to be able to walk well and be comfortable in heels. It is not attractive to see a woman struggling to walk in heels. It may take some experimentation for your to discover your best heel height. Most petite women walk well with heels 2.5" or lower. You may find block heels or even wedges to provide more support for walking in heels. Always wear your heels around the house before you wear them out to make certain, you can walk comfortably in them or need to return them. These 2.5" heels in a nude cork color with a very light print of flowers blends well with feet. Sandals When choosing sandals, choose sandals that show a large portion of your feet to add to the illusion that your leg goes on. Ankle straps are great, but avoid excessive ankle straps over the front of your ankles that chop off your leg at that point. A thin neutral colored strap across the front of the ankle is not as obvious as a wide strap across the front of the ankle. Thong sandals with a 1" heel or wedge thong sandals with higher heels create a slimming, elongating effect on your foot. These gold sandals with 1" heels are slimming and elongating on an extra small petite frame. Shoe Shape Pointed toe or round toe shoes are much more attractive on petite women than square toe shoes. Pointed toe and round toe shoes create a slimming, leg-lengthening appearance much like the thongs create in sandals. Sneakers Petite women will benefit from wearing slimming sneakers without extra bulk. Avoid bulky wedge sneakers that are not proportionate to your extra small body frame. Sneakers with built-in heel lifts provide a little extra boost to your small frame and often are more comfortable on your back. Many women have decreased back pain when they wear even 3/8" heel, so if your sneakers do not have built-in heels, you may want to try slip-in heel lifts that come in different sizes. It is really amazing how even a little heel in a sneaker creates the illusion of height, too! Stick with neutral colors with sneakers and avoid bright colors or even bright stripes on sneakers. Guess Kadlin Sneakers with built-in heel lifts. Choose accessories that are similar color to your shoes or match in some way. Choose small purses, cross body bags, and hand clutches over large dark bags that will throw off the whole proportion styling of your outfit. In conclusion, selecting the right shoe to complete your petite outfit, will make the difference in looking frumpy or elegant. By implementing these characteristics of choosing petite shoes, you breeze through shopping for shoes for your next social event, work, or casual outings. I hope you have enjoyed reading about shoes for petite women over 60. Visit Petite Fashions Over 60 for more petite fashion styles and My Amazon Storefront to shop a selection of curated neutral and light colored shoes chosen specifically for petite women over 60. Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com, Fun With Food, and Georgia Vacation Rentals. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from purchases made through links. . Please leave a comment below. We would love to hear your comments! What are your favorite petite shoes?

Disclaimer: I only recommend products I truly love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting lovingpetite.com Fit Guide: I am 5', 105 pounds. I usually wear XS-S top and XS bottoms. Discover how to hem a petite dress, so you can always wear that much loved and sought after dress that you just finally located after searching through numerous boutiques, but it is just too long! As a 5' petite woman, I shop all of the petite boutiques, but, sometimes even the petite dresses are too long. Occasionally, I find a great fitting dress in regular sizes except for the length. With a few simple sewing tools and knowledge of a few simple steps, you will discover how to hema a petite dress to elongate your legs and never have to pass on a dress that fits great except for the length again! You will be amazed that really takes very little sewing tools. The most important tool is a great pair of fabric cutting scissors. This is the one sewing tool that you will not want to skimp on. Cutting a clean straigth line sets you up for success when hemming a dress. Here is a basic list of sewing materials needed to hem your next dress: fabric cutting scissors straight pins needles thread (same color as dress) ruler or straight hard object to mark a line on a dress chalk pen to mark inside of dress iron & ironing board You did it! You bought that beautiful dress that you have had your eye on and you finally have the nerve to tackle hemming the dress. For petite women the best length for a short dress is 3-4 inches above the knee. For a midi to maxi dress, the best length is about 3 inches above your ankle. Those two lengths provide an elongating effect on a petite body. Iron the dress and try it on with the shoes you plan to wear with the dress. Pin your dress up to the desired length. Have someone help pin it to the desired length as you stand in front of a mirror so you can view it from behind and all angles with another mirror. You may need to do this yourself and that is fine. It will just take a little longer. Remove the dress. Turn it inside out and lay on a flat surface (tabletop or counter). measure from the pin downward to determine how much of the dress is too long. If it is more than 1/2" too long, cut off the excess leaving 1/2" to fold under twice before hemming in place. For example, if your dress is 4 " too long, measure, mark, and cut off 3 1/2". Before you cut, measure the amount that needs to be cut off and mark it with a chalk pen all of the way across the dress as seen in the picture below. With a ruler or other straight surface, draw a line through all of the points. This will ensure that you cut a straight line with the correct measurements all of the way across the dress. Cut off excess of more than 1/2" and discard. After you cut off the excess of more than 1/2", fold the hem under 1/4". Then fold it under again, so you have no exposed frayed threads. It will be helpful to pin it and iron it to keep it flat and smooth. (It has been tempting to skip this step, but it is crucial to having a professional looking hem job. Don't skip this step!) Iron two folds before sewing the hem. Now, you are ready to start hemming the dress. Make certain you are using a similar color thread. If it is a thin- striped dress as shown in this image, use white thread and make your stitches in the white stripes of the dress. Start sewing at the edge of the dress (where the buttons meet for a shirtdress or at the sides where the seams meet for other dresses.). Always add double stitching at the end of the edge of the dress for reinforcement. Keep your stitches small and equally spaced apart. Do not pull the fabric. Let the fabric relax and make certain your stripes line up as you stitch the dress. You may need to pull the fabric and let it overlap slightly as you sew into the side seams since dresses curve and are not totally straight. This will ensure that your stitches line up all of the way around the dress. Reinforce your last stitches, so they do not pull out when the dress is washed. Overlap fabric in the seam of the dress. Remove the dress, press it well, and you are ready to enjoy your freshly hemmed dress. Important points: Take the time to measure and mark properly. If you are not certain, try the dress on again after marking it before you cut it. Make certain your marks are the same amount all of the way across the dress before cutting. Take the time to iron the double folded hem in place and pin securely. Keep your stitches equal and spaced as demonstrated in the images above. Insert the needle in white stripes if you are hemming a dress with vertical stripes. Use similar shades of thread to match the fabric as much as possible. Don't try to hem the dress leaving a lot of excess fabric. If you fold up more than 1/2", your hem will look bulky and ugly. Pass this skill on to a young person; this skill has not been taught in recent generations, but what a valuable skill for a woman, especially, a petite woman to have throughout her life. Amazon Shirt Dress hemmed to elongate legs I hope you have gained the knowledge to feel comfortable hemming a petite dress. Of course, you will still want the simplicity of shopping in petite shops for clothes that do not require any tailoring to fit properly, but it will sure be great to have this skill for those rare occasions when no other dress will do except for the dress that needs to be hemmed. If you love shirt dresses and master this skill, you will enjoy these Amazon 100% cotton shirtdresses in a variety of prints. You can have fun hemming these dresses to fit the occasion as shown in the images below. Amazon Shirtdress hemmed to elongate legs. Amazon Shirt Dress (hemmed) Amazon Shirtdress hemmed to elongate legs Vist My Amazon Storefront for these 100% cotton shirt dresses and sewing supplies. Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com for more petite fashions over 60, recipes, and vacation rentals. Enjoy this southern lifestyle of fashion, food, and great vacations! Please leave your comments below. We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite hem length above the knee? Do you prefer 2" or do you like the elongation of a petite body that you get from a hem length of 4"+ above the knee?

Disclaimer: I only recommend products I truly love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting lovingpetite.com Fit Guide: I am 5', 105 pounds. I usually wear XS-S tops and XS bottoms. Women over 60, do you have the dilemma where you have the crepey skin on your upper arms and how to dress? A fitted elbow length sleeve shirt with a scoop or v-neck shirt will be a great choice to wear and not have to worry about the crepiness. Choosing the right top with elbow length sleeves and the bottoms you pair with it will make all of the difference between looking like a frumpy old lady and a youthful, vibrant, and confident woman. Discover how to change the sleeve length and not the size. Look more youthful and less frumpy by wearing the right sleeve length! Banana Republic Elbow Length Shirt Amazon Jamfit Shorts Related: Amazon HDE Shorts The Problem With Crepey Skin and Clothes Crepey skin, skin that is thin, wrinkled, and has the texture of crepe paper is one of the characteristics that ages a woman significantly. Unfortunately, it happens naturally as we age and our bodies lose collagen allowing our skin to become lax and loose instead of the smooth and tight skin we enjoyed in our younger years. You may experience even more crepey skin from if you have lost weight. Moisturizers help significantly and moisturizing from the inside by drinking water helps too. Some days, I can tell I haven't drank enough water, because the crepiness is worse than other days. The Solution With Crepey Skin and Clothes Elbow length shirts work great for days when you feel like you have crepey skin on your arms. Don't make the mistake of buying large shirts with big sleeves; choose your regular size in a fit and flattering style to accentuate your petite frame. Pair your elbow fitted shirt with flattering high waist shorts or pants that accentuate your waistline for an elongating effect on your petite body. petite woman wearing elbow length top and shorts Petite women over 60 should wear their shirts tucked in or fold the shirt under with the shirt covering the top 1" of your bottoms to accentuate your waistline. Petite women over 60 -cover crepiness of upper arms with elbow length sleeves. Petite women over 60 wearing elbow length sleeves with shorts should choose shorts that elongate their legs by choosing inseams between 3/5" and 5". By exposing your legs, you create an elongating effect and the extra coverage on your arms does not appear overwhelming on a petite body. Fold shirt under so shirt covers 1" of waistline of bottoms to accentuate waist casually without tucking shirt in . Elbow length shirts are a great solution for those days you are feeling more crepiness on your upper arms due to dehydration. Steps to reduce crepiness on upper arms: To keep dehydration at bay, petite women over 60 should drink half their body weight in ounces. So, if you weight 105 pounds, you should be drinking about 53 ounces, (6-7 cups) of water each day. Moisturize twice daily, preferably after a bath to lock in the moisture. Exfoliate your skin 1-2 times weekly and follow with moisturizer. Wear sunscreen daily. Many women have noted improvement from the use of red light therapy and micro needling, which helps moisturizers penetrate deeply into the skin. I have seen some benefit from using an Amazon microcurrent red light device along with a NAD Peptide lotion and a hyaluronic acid serum. Eat a nutritious diet composed of lean proteins, antioxidants, and omega 3 fats. Avoid sugar and processed foods because those foods increase inflammation. Weight resistant training helps to build muscle and makes crepey skin less apparent. Crepey upper arms, change the sleeve length, not the size. Choose your elbow length tops to cover crepey upper arms carefully to continue looking vibrant. Accentuate features of your petite frame (waistline, legs, neck, etc) to take the focus off of your arms. Take steps to decrease crepiness of skin as we age by drinking water, moisturizing skin twice daily, eating a nutritious diet, and utilizing proper skin care. Follow along at www.lovingpetite,.com, Petite Fashions For Women Over 60, Fun With Food, and Georgia Vacation Rentals. Please leave your comments below: Do you battle crepey skin? What have you found to be the most helpful tip to reduce the appearance of crepey skin? I would love to hear your comments!

Disclaimer: I only recommend products I truly love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting lovingpetite.com an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through any Amazon links below. Fit Guide: I am 5', 105 pounds. I usually wear XS-S top and XS bottoms. I wear XS Petite in this dress and can probably wear the Curve Dylan Dress in the same size with the same fit except fuller at the top. This is my honest review of the Dylan Dress by Abercrombie & Fitch. It is the dress for a southern woman, especially if you live anywhere around the coast! Yes, petite women over 60 can wear this dress and look great! This is a dress that flows gracefully in a gentle breeze. The Dylan dress, made of 100% cotton is a great summer dress that will keep you cool on a hot summer day. This dress was made to accentuate all of your curves, especially your waist. The petite dress fits perfectly on a 5' petite frame with good exposure of your ankles, neck, back, and upper chest, so a petite body is not overwhelmed by too much fabric. The Dylan dress comes in small prints, solids, and vertical stripes (all very flattering on a petite body). I like the thin vertical stripes that provide a streamline, elongating impact on a small body. The Petite Dylan Dress-Abercrombie & Fitch - Related Cardigan -Boden-Amazon Michael Kors Sandals The Dylan dress by Abercrombie & Fitch is loved by younger women. This dress is also perfect for women over 60. You can add a cardigan or shawl if you prefer more coverage on your chest. This is a great dress for a garden party or outdoor wedding when you want to stay cool, comfortable, but also look elegant with a dress that moves gracefully in a breeze as you walk. This dress looks great with 1" sandals, so you can walk comfortably outside on most terrain. The Dylan Dress flows gracefully as you walk! The dress hits right above the ankle on a petite woman, which is a great length of an elongating look on a petite body. I love the way this dress moves gracefully with your body. The cut of the dress is so accentuating to the waistline. Abercrombie & Fitch Dylan Dress The way the fabric falls below the waist allows the dress to move with your body. Amazon Raffia Purse, Sandals, & Jewelry This dress is available in another version called Curve that provides a larger bust size with everything else about the dress remaining the same. I really like this dress and my honest opinion is that I would benefit from wearing the curve dress and this dress probably looks more attractive on a petite woman with a smaller bust size. A cardigan thrown over your shoulders and tied in the front provides extra coverage when desired. You will enjoy the Dylan Dress by Abercrombie & Fitch, perfect for petite women over 60 for a day of exploring a coastal town, outdoor party, or most any outdoor event, especially during the day with its cool fabric. Pair with accessories that are proportionate to your body to enhance the overall outfit. Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com, Petite Fashions Over 60, Fun With Food, and Georgia Vacation Rentals. Please let us know in the comments below: Petite women over 60, how would you feel about wearing this dress? Is this a love it or pass on this dress?

Discover the most important element for health and beauty for petite women over 60. Loving Petite shares many tips for dressing proportionately, taking care of your skin and hair, and eating a healthy diet. However, the most important element for improving your health and beauty over 60 is much deeper. The most important element for all women is finding God's love and with god's love you will discover gratitude, forgiveness, and respect for yourself and others. If you have not had the opportunity to truly seek God and address these issues, it is something I encourage you to address in this season of life over 60, so you can enjoy God's grace, good health, and beauty to the fullest potential. Without these important elements, bitterness will steal your peace of mind, health, and beauty one day at a time. Gratitude No matter your situation, it is important to find gratitude each day. Talk to God about what you are grateful for and God will walk with you. We have all been there. Perhaps you are struggling financially, with relationships, or dealing with an extreme loss. Even in the darkest hour, there is something to be grateful. Practice being grateful each day and gratitude will soften and heal your heart. It is just hard to be bitter and grateful at the same time. Having faith requires you to give your burdens to the lord and trust that he has a plan to help you through. Each day will get a little easier. Yes, you will absolutely have setbacks. Keep praying. Keep being grateful. Find joy in every simple thing in your life. Forgiveness Forgiveness can be very difficult. I've struggled with forgiveness as most people have. Holding on to hurts are like poison to you. There is absolutely no way to move forward without letting go of the bitterness and moving on. Just simply make the decision the hurts that resulted from someone no longer hold space in your heart. You won't let it happen again. You may even decide to have a relationship with that person, but it doesn't mean you will trust the person or share your emotions. You can show basic kindness and continue on with your journey of gratitude. No explanations, just kindness. Having forgiveness for others shows you have respect for your self when brings us to our next topic. Respect Many of us have struggled with low confidence. Perhaps you have regrets or carry guilt; daily prayer will help you make peace with any regrets or guilt. Again, it is difficult to be grateful and carry regrets or guilt. Do you want to feel grateful or do you want to feel guilty and regretful? You can choose what you want to carry in your heart, in your soul. I choose gratefulness. Perhaps you have a history of being a people pleaser or played the peacekeeper. It is time to give up that title. Respect yourself enough to set healthy boundaries when you feel you are being manipulated or abused. Often those old feelings of the need to 'fix things' or 'make others happy' will creep in. Remember these are feelings and you know what you know. Stick to your boundaries in a kind way. You will find you do not get upset and respond out of anxiety. Stay kind, but maintain your boundary. There are no apologies needed, nor are any explanations needed. God directs us to protect our heart, so we can pour love into others. If you allow your heart to get hard from bitterness of others' actions toward you, it is not possible to maintain a loving heart. By setting boundaries, you are showing God you trust he is in control and you will find strength in your boundaries, so you can keep peace in your heart and in your life. Boundaries are also respectful of others because it clearly lets them know where you stand, so they can make their own decisions based on the consequences they may face. It is not too late to walk with God over 60. This may be your first time of reaching out to him. He is there, waiting and has been waiting your whole life. Make this season of 60 your best. Reach out to God, engage in prayer, discover those most important elements of gratitude, forgiveness, and respect. You will discover a huge cloud lifting, and your heart filling with love. Not only will it feel with love, but you will find yourself shifting from being a taker to being a giver. Givers give their love freely without expectations because it fills your heart to give. You will discover better health and beauty when you begin releasing the anxiety of holding on to regrets, guilt, bitterness, or hurt. You will find being a 'people pleaser' or 'fixer' is not your job and you will release yourself from that anxiety as well. The result: you will find peace in your heart that will reward your body with health and beauty. Who knows, those frown lines may even disappear! I hope you will follow along with Lovingpetite.com Please leave your comments below: We would love to hear your comments! We would love to hear your insight in finding God's love and how it has changed your life. Do you exhibit less anxiety since finding God's love?

Making healthy baby food is really quite easy, especially if you have the right tools and some extra time. Discover how to make easy, healthy baby food. Discover the the best tools and easy steps to make your own baby food, 100% natural with no additives or preservatives. Learn how to store your baby food in individual servings in the freezer to save space, preserve for 3 months, and use only what is needed, alleviating waste of food. Provide your baby a well-rounded meal including meats, fruits, vegetables, and multi-grains at each meal. Know exactly what you are feeding your baby to determine allergies and to avoid additives and preservatives that may be allergens or not healthy substances for your baby. The tools that you need to make baby food: Vegetable/Fruit Steamer Vitamix Blender or other heavy duty blender Chopping Block Sharp knives Silicone molds or ice trays Freezer Bags ( I prefer quart size) Permanent marker for labeling bags. Gather your fruits, vegetables, and low fat meats (chicken, turkey, or lamb). It does not take a large quantity of food to make baby food. It is best if you know where the food came from and know the foods are chemical and hormone free. Of course, the reality is we usually don't have that privilege. A little food goes a very long way. One chicken breast makes about 8-10 servings. Two cups of fruits or vegetables makes about 15 ice cubes of food. Use candy silicone molds for small servings and muffin silicone pans for large servings. For this demonstration, I chose peaches, strawberries, red potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini squash, green beans and lean beef/sweet potato mash. Wash and dry all fruits and vegetables. Peel peaches and potatoes. Soak chopped peaches in 1/4 tsp salt added to 4 cups of water to keep from turning brown for 10 minutes. Cut ends off yellow and zucchini squash, but do not peel them. Cut green tips off strawberries. Cut the fruits and vegetables into small chunks in their only little pile until you have approximately 2 cups each. (We will address the beef and sweet potato mash later). Chop fruits and vegetables into small pieces (husbands make great choppers!) Add 1" of water to steamer. Use the short steamer pot to steam the food since it is a small amount for each fruit and vegetable. Do not add any spices. Steam each set of fruits and vegetables for 15 minutes by letting the water come to a boil with the steamer pot of food covered on top. Steam potatoes 20 minutes. Use the short pot steamer for most food with 1" of water in pot. Steam 15 minutes. Steam potatoes 20 minutes. Remove steamer pot of food and pour into a bowl with 1/2 cup of the water used to steam the food. Let it cool. Return the steamer to the pot and add another group of food. If you know your baby is not allergic to any of the foods, you may use the same liquid for the vegetables. Replace the liquid after steaming fruit to avoid carry-over of tart taste to vegetables. When the food is cool, place in the Vitamix Blender or heavy duty blender and mix on high speed for 1 minute. Make certain you have added the 1/2 of the water used to steam the food, so it mixes without burning up your blender. Add 1/2 cup (more or less depending on desired consistency) of the s liquid (cooled) used to steam the food. Pour or spoon pureed baby food into silicone molds. I prefer to use candy silicone molds or ice trays for fruits and muffin silicone ice trays for vegetables and meats. If you use a silicone mold that doesn't have a solid edge, you will need to have your silicone mold on a cookie sheet to keep it stable while you place it in the freezer. Place the molds uncovered in your freezer until it is frozen solid (a few hours-overnight if needed). Strawberries and Zucchini Squash in Ice tray molds Red Potatoes and Squash in Silicone Molds While the baby food is freezing. Label your freezer bags with a permanent marker: name of fruit or vegetable, date and expiration date (3 months from the date you make it). Label if it is a tummy friendly food or to avoid the food with loose stools. Label if you should mix anything with it. Remove silicone molds and/or ice trays from freezer when the cubes are totally frozen. Pop cubes out of silicone molds. Run warm water on the bottom of ice trays to remove cubes. Place cubes in the labeled freezer bags and return to the freezer. food popping out of mold onto cleaned glass cutting board. Place frozen cubes in freezer bags with date, expiration date, name of food and how to prepare or mix with food. To serve: Remove desired amount from the freezer. Place in covered bowl in fridge to thaw. When thawed, set bowl in warm water to warm food up. Frozen strawberries, potatoes, zucchini squash, and peaches before thawing to feed baby. Cover with plastic wrap and let thaw in fridge. For traveling, store in sealed plastic container. After food is thawed, Place bowl in warm water 30 minutes before feeding baby. Tummy friendly baby food lean chicken, turkey, lamb carrots potatoes squash applesauce (made with honeycrisp apples) bananas avocados Foods to avoid when your baby has loose stools; feed in moderation to avoid diarrhea red meats sweet potatoes (small amounts are ok if baby is sick and this is a favorite, not large amounts berries peaches mangos kiwi citrus beets Cereal Babies need iron-fortified cereal because it supplies large amounts of iron and other nutrients. Mix 1 cube fruit with 1 Tablespoon of rice cereal or oatmeal (Gerber instant) along with breast milk or formula to desired consistency. Mix a tart fruit with a bland fruit once you have established your baby is not allergic to any specific fruits. Ex: Strawberry/banana, peaches/applesauce, mango/banana. +Note- if you used rolled oats, blend until it is powdered and cook each time you prepare food for 1-2 minutes to make it easier to digest. Citrus Do to the high acid in citrus, babies may be sensitive to the acidity and may develop a diaper rash or redness around the mouth. If you decide to give it a try, only give tiny pieces of the meaty portion with membranes and seeds remove. Better yet, feed your baby strawberries for Vitamin C and leave citrus for over one year old. How To Cook Meat For Baby Food Cook chicken or turkey cut up in chunks in a sauce pan of water boiling for 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Lamb should be cooked at a lower temperature for a longer period of time 45-60 minutes until it is tender. Beef can be introduced at 6 months. Babies start losing iron at this time and benefit from eating pureed beef. Cook low fat ground beef or chuck roast by boiling until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Save liquid to add to blender to puree it in the blender. Browned lean ground beef I have not added any spices to baby food until I made a mixture of cooked ground beef and sweet potatoes; you can safely add a touch (tiny pinch) of garlic powder NOT garlic salt. You can also add thyme and oregano. You will probably want to add one spice at a time to rule out allergies. Use fresh herbs from your garden if you have them or buy fresh herbs. Make certain babies can tolerate the food before adding spices and herbs. steamed sweet potatoes Lean Ground Beef Sweet Potato Mash 1 pound very lean ground beef 1 sweet potato (chopped) 1/2 tsp. olive oil tiny pinch of garlic powder tiny pinch of oregano (fresh) tiny pinch of thyme (fresh) 1/2 cup (more or less depending on desired consistency) water from steamer pot (DO NOT ADD SALT OR PEPPER UNTIL AGE 1) Directions: Cook meat in skillet until totally browned. Steam sweet potato until tender 15-20 minutes. Let the beef and sweet potato cool. (if it is too hot, it can damage your blender.) Add to Vitamix or heavy duty blender. Add 1/2 tsp olive oil and spice/herbs. Add 1/2 cup (more or less) water from steamer. Puree to desired consistency. Freeze in silicone molds. I like to use small servings of beef, so baby gets some protein and iron in more meals. frozen beef/sweet potato mash Older babies, starting around 8 months, can start eating a chunkier texture if they have safely been eating pureed food for several months. Babies start developing a pincher grasp around 9 months and can start eating pea size chunks of (steamed) soft fruits if they have tolerated thicker consistencies of baby food. Make certain the fruits are steamed to be very soft before giving any pea size fruits to babies to prevent choking. Important Tips: Just like all children and adults, babies need a wide variety of foods to get the iron, vitamins, and mineral needed to be healthy. Encourage babies to try different foods even if they don't like it. Keep introducing new foods. This will also help them to not be picky eaters as they get older. Mix food with instant baby rice cereal or instant baby oatmeal for additional iron and nutrients. Use the boiled water from the steamer to mix in the blender since the liquid was sterilized during the steaming process. You may also use breast milk or formula. To avoid browning of bananas or peaches, add 1/4 tsp salt to 4 cups of water along with 2 cups of the chopped fruit for 10 minutes before steaming fruit. Replace liquid in between steaming each food if you are not sure if your baby is allergic or if it is a tart fruit like peaches, mangos, or strawberries. Make sure the water comes to a boil before you start timing the steaming time. (15 minutes for fruits/most vegetables; 20 minutes for root vegetables: sweet potatoes, potatoes, beets, etc. Make certain your baby gets plenty of iron from beef, iron-fortified cereal, tofu, and beans, since babies start losing their iron by 6 months. Once your baby demonstrates toleration of a variety of foods, have fun with foods and mix foods together with herbs to create their own dishes. Homemade baby food is easy to take to daycare. Breakfast: Place 2 cubes of fruit in a plastic container the night before to thaw. Have daycare remove from fridge and place in warm water 30 minutes before mealtime. Add 1 Tablespoon of iron fortified rice cereal or oatmeal along with formula or breast milk and stir until desired consistency. Lunch: Simply place 3-4 different cubes in a plastic container in the fridge the night before. Take to daycare and have them remove from fridge 30 minutes before mealtime and place in a bowl of warm water before feeding baby. I hope you enjoy making your baby homemade baby food and I hope your baby finds it yummy! Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com for more Fun With Food delicious recipes, Ga. Vacation Rentals, and Petite Fashion Over 60. You may find some of these items on My Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from purchases made through links or on My Amazon Storefront. Please leave your comments below. We would love to hear your comments! I would love to know how you enjoyed this technique for making baby food. What is your baby's favorite food? Do you prefer to feed your baby homemade baby food or store bought baby food?

Aww! The peace and serenity that is found at the Serenity Lake Cottage, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home located on a small lake on Saint Simons Island, Ga. is truly a hidden gem and is the perfect location for your next vacation. This well-stocked rental close to many restaurants, golf courses, and historical sights is biking distance to the beach and pier village. It fulfills every aspect for a relaxing vacation for couples or families. The Serenity Lake Cottage is located on a small lake where you can enjoy sitting on the back porch in rockers while enjoying the abundance of wildlife. Visitors love throwing fish food (provided by the owners) to the abundance of fish and turtles. The Anhinga bird 🦅 gracefully dives into the water to catch a fish for breakfast or dinner. Turtles sunning on the bank Many visitors have noted in the reviews of the Serenity Lake Cottage, the highlight of their trip was feeding the turtles and fish and observing the otters sunning themselves along with the turtles on the grassy banks. Located in the subdivision of Glynn Haven in a mid- island location, the Serenity Lake Cottage is located close to many amenities. Serenity Lake is just a few blocks from a newly constructed fenced playground where you can sit on benches and enjoy watching your children safely play. There is even an area large enough to play a ball game! The cottage is walking distance to several restaurants in the area including Brogens North, Frederica Cafe, LaPlancha Restaurant, and Sal’s Pizza. With so many restaurants offering delivery service for a small fee, you can enjoy relaxing and having your next meal delivered to your doorstep. Entering the front door, looking through the large windows in the living room, you are instantly pulled to the amazing view of the small lake that comes right up to the back porch giving you the illusion that you are on a houseboat! You are bound to enjoy countless hours gazing out the large windows from the oversized sectional in the living room. Enjoy watching the large Smart TV, playing countless board games ( located in the hutch), and snuggling by the gas fire logs on a cool winter’s night. The Serenity Lake Cottage offers a gorgeous recently remodeled kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. If you love to cook, you will enjoy the gas cooktop and well-stocked kitchen. All of the conveniences of your kitchen from home are provided here from a mixer to mixing bowls. There is even a waffle maker and juicer if you want to create a special breakfast for your sweetheart! Spices and condiments are provided in the pantry. The coffee bar houses a Keurig and Mr. Coffee for the coffee lovers. Enjoy sitting at the large kitchen island or beautiful dining table. Children will enjoy having their own small table and chairs. Master Bedroom Privacy and comfort are provided in all three island themed bedrooms consisting of high quality mattresses to ensure a good night’s sleep. The Master bath encompasses a dressing area with a huge walk-in closet and separate room for the shower and toilet. There is even a bedroom that will please kids of all ages with its beach decor and abundance of books, games, and toys. The large laundry room houses a large front loading washer and dryer, large sink, ironing board/ iron, and a dresser with extra towels and linens. Use the printer in this room to print work-related items or sight-seeing information while you are away from home! You will find the back porch and backyard to be the most magical locations of the home. With its large outdoor dining table, rocking chairs, and ceiling fan, you are certain to spend many blissful hours enjoying the nature of the small lake at your fingertips. Step down the steps to a beautiful brick patio complete with a gas grill, standing swing, and handrail to make cooking and dining outdoors a breeze. A child’s life jacket and safety gate kept in the child's bedroom will accommodate young children to enjoy the back porch with adult supervision. Keep your car covered in the large attached garage with a door leading to the kitchen; unloading groceries and beach items will be an easy task. You will find having the shade for your vehicle during the hot summer is a relief and not something that is found easily in vacation rentals on Saint Simons Island. The Serenity Lake Cottage is just a few blocks away from paved bike trails that wind from the south to the north end of the island through some the most beautiful shaded trails. With the moss-covered trees draping many of the bike trails, you can enjoy riding your bike even on a hot day. Whether you choose to take a bike trail to the beach, village pier, or to the park on the north end of the island, you will find public restrooms easily accessible. Bike rentals including E-bikes are provided on Saint Simons and can be delivered to your doorstep for convenience. My husband, Doug, and I follow Georgia Bike Laws, making biking safe and fun on Saint Simons. It is recommended that you walk your bike across the street and cross only at intersections with a crossing light. Watch for cars turning onto side streets and entering/exiting driveways. We wear communication helmets so we can easily talk to each other while riding our bikes. By following basic bike safety rules, you will enjoy the convenience and fun of biking on the island. This amazing cottage is the hub for enjoying Saint Simons and the entire Golden Isles area including Jekyll Island, Historic Brunswick, Historic Darien, and Cumberland Island. There is so much to see and do on Saint Simons Island and the surrounding areas. Saint Simons Island is home to some beautiful golf courses. Additional golf courses are available on Jekyll Island. Saint Simons Island has so much to offer for all ages. Visitors will enjoy taking a trolley tour. We enjoy the tour by Captain Rod that that departs from directly in front of the pier at 10 a.m. and provides the best history and tour of the island. You will find it reasonably priced and well-behaved dogs are allowed. Enjoy a late lunch or dinner at our favorite restaurant on the island, the Half Shell SSI restaurant. The crab -crusted fish with a side of bacon-wrapped green beans and sweet potato fries never disappoints. However, I have eaten many other dishes on the menu and all are delicious! Barbara Jeans Restaurant and Southern Soul Barbeque are high on the list of our favorites. For a special treat, enjoy lunch overlooking the beach at Echo located at the King and Prince Hotel. They have nailed the ambiance for the perfect beach lunch or happy hour. They have amazing brunches on Sunday and holidays that are sure to satisfy and impress you and your guests. Saint Simons Island Beaches are only biking distance away or drive to The Main Beach, or Massengale Park where parking is abundant and public restrooms and outdoor showers are available. The Main Beach also offers a snack bar and a walkway on the sand to make pulling a wagon/cart easy. Children will love the laid back island activities including the swimming pool and putt -putt golf at the village area. St. Simons Sweets provides the best ice cream in many different flavor along with other candies and chocolates. It is a great treat on a warm evening after playing in the sun. Children also enjoy horseback riding at Frederica Stables and visiting The Farm at Oatland on Sunday afternoon to feed the farm animals. There are parks and playgrounds located in the pier village area and on the north end of the island besides the playground just a few blocks away in the Glynnhaven subdivision. Fishing tackle can be rented at St. Simons Bait and Tackle Shop . Spend time at the pier catching a fish or pulling in a crab trap. On a rainy day, check out the Regal Cinema for a child approved movie. They are sure to find a great toy at Whippersnappers! Just a short drive away, kiddos of all ages will enjoy The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island along with more beach and biking activities. Adult activities are abundant! Golfing is a popular sport on the island. Sea Palms Golf Course is located a short distance away. The King and Prince Resort has a golf course on the north end of the island. For a more affordable golfing experience, check out the Jekyll Island Golf Course. Pickleball is a popular sport and you will find pickleball in full swing at the courts on Mallory Street close to the Pier/ Village area. There is also a basketball court located close to the courts. Churches of most denominations can be found on St. Simons Island providing worship services. You will find they are very welcoming to visitors. There are several historic churches located on the island including Christ Church and the African Babtist Church. Pet lovers will find St. Simons to be very pet friendly. You can let your furry friends run in play at the fenced dog parks on St Simons Island. Frederica Dog Park is located at the northern end of the island. Epworth Dog Park and Mallory Dog Park at the southern end of the island located close to the Pickleball/tennis courts. Don’t forget to check out Island Dog for your pet’s favorite treats, toys, and pet supplies. Many restaurants offer outdoor dining where you can enjoy dining with your well-behaved, leashed dog. Some of our favorite pet friendly restaurants include Brogens North, Brogen’s South, Half Shell, Echo, Palm Coast, and Mallery Cafe. You will find many other pet- friendly restaurants and shops on the island. Live Music is easy to find later in the week and on the weekends. Check out Im With The Band in the Elegant Island Living Magazine for the weekly schedule. You can relax and listen to the music or get your groove on and dance with your sweetheart! Regardless if you are looking for a laidback, relaxing vacation or an active, adventurous visit, you are sure to find it at St. Simons Island while enjoying the delightful accommodations at Serenity Lake Cottage, St. Simons Island’s hidden gem. If you would like more information, contact Real Escapes, or make reservations at Real Escapes Serenity Lake Cottage. Please follow us at www.lovingpetite.com for more adventures, petite fashion, and recipes as we enjoy a retirement lifestyle. Additional vacation rentals are available in Ellijay, Ga and Statesboro, Ga. To learn more about what to pack for a trip to St. Simons Island, Ga. during the summer read: What I Pack For A Vacation on St. Simons Island, Ga. #Paid commission (As an affiliate, I may earn a commission on purchases made through links.)

This modern mountain cabin, Serenity Ridge Cabin, will be your favorite retreat in the North Georgia mountains. Situated in the Coosawattee River Resort in Ellijay, Ga, you will feel safe in this gated community filled with amenities galore including an indoor pool, 2 outdoor pools, a gym, arcade, pickle ball courts, and an abundance of trails for exploring the great outdoors. SERENITY RIDGE CABIN LOCATED IN COOSAWATTEE RIVER RESORT, ELLIJAY, GA. ONE OF TWO OUTDOOR POOLS. THERE IS ALSO AN INDOOR POOL ON THE RESORT. WALKING BRIDGE OVER THE COOSAWATTEE RIVER THAT LEADS TO AN OUTDOOR POOL This cabin built in 2024 has all of the luxuries of modern living including smart TVs, wi-fi, and an easy entry coded keypad. PLENTY OF LEVEL PARKING AT THIS ONE STORY SENIOR FRIENDLY VACATION RENTAL front porch of the Serenity Ridge Cabin RELAX BY THE GAS LOG FIREPLACE ON A CHILLY EVENING WHILE STREAMING YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE ON THE SMART TV ENJOY A FULLY STOCKED KITCHEN WITH SMALL APPLIANCES, COOKWARE, & DISHES. ENJOY PREPARING FOOD ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LEATHERED GRANITE ISLAND COUNTER. RELAX IN THE MASTER SUITE WITH A LUXURIOUS MATTRESS ON AN ADJUSTABLE BED. THE CATHEDRAL CEILING AND WOODEN SHUTTERS PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE SETTING. YOUR GUESTS WILL FEEL COZY AND COMFORTABLE IN THIS BEDROOM FEATURING A QUEEN SIZE BED. THE GUESTS' FULL BATHROOM IS LOCATED JUST STEPS AWAY ACROSS THE HALL AND FEATURES A TUB/SHOWER COMBINATION. COMING SOON (JUNE 2026-A SPA BATHROOM WITH AN AIRBATH TUB FOR 2! SPEND YOUR MORNINGS SIPPING COFFEE AND EATING BREAKFAST IN THIS FULLY GLASSED SUNROOM WHILE WATCHING THE DEER GRAZE BELOW. THIS HAS BEEN A FAVORITE ROOM OF OURS AND OUR GUESTS! YOUR PUP WILL ENJOY WATCHING THE DEER GRAZE, TOO! RELAX BY THE FIRE PIT IN THE EVENINGS. BUILD A FIRE AND ENJOY THE S'MORES KITS WITH THE FIREWOOD, STARTER, S'MORES KITS PROVIDED BY THE OWNER. EXPLORE THE NEARBY LAKES: LAKE BLUE RIDGE & CARTER'S LAKE ENJOY HIKING AND DISCOVERING THE SPARKLING MOUNTAIN STREAMS. CHECK OUT THE MANY NORTH GEORGIA WINERIES, VINEYARDS, & BREWERIES. MOST OF THEM PROVIDE LIVE MUSIC ON THE WEEKENDS. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THE BEAUTIFUL FALL FOILAGE ! There are many restaurants, antique shops, and boutiques located just a short distance away in Elliay, Blue Ridge, Talking Rock, and Jasper, Ga. There is something for everyone! A guest book is located in the cabin that provides detailed information about 'must see' locations in the area. COMING SOON (September 2026): An additional spa bathroom complete with an AirBath tub for 2! This rustic spa bathroom will be exquisite for couples to enjoy in a cozy indoor setting. Bring your well-behaved dog to the cabin with you. Maximum weight limit: 50 pounds; limit 2. We ask that dogs stay off the furniture and are walked on a leash outside. Cats are not allowed in the cabin due to allergies. To reserve your vacation and to read about one of the best Georgia mountains cabin rental and amazing reviews of the Serenity Ridge Cabin in Coosawattee River Resort, Ellijay, Ga, click the LINK Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com for Georgia vacation rentals. Follow along for petite fashions over 60 and fun with food.

2 1/2 pounds beef ribs 3 cloves chopped garlic 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil + 2 tablespoons for browning beef ribs Seasonings to coat ribs: - Onion salt - Garlic salt - Pepper - Cumin - Oregano Directions: Coat the ribs with seasonings and brown them in 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add all ingredients and ribs to the crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the meat easily falls off the bones. Remove meat from the crockpot and shred off the bones. Add enough juices from the crockpot to keep the meat moist. Homemade Corn Tortillas Take the time to make these naturally gluten-free tortillas for your family instead of using processed tortillas. I found this recipe for Corn Tortillas by Gimme Some Oven to be the easiest and most delicious homemade corn tortillas, so I am linking it here: Homemade Corn Tortillas. If it works, don't change it! This recipe by Gimme Some Oven is a healthy gluten-free recipe using only Mesa corn flour, water, and sea salt. The only thing I did differently from the recipe is roll the tortillas with a small marble rolling pin on wax paper and then peel off the wax paper before cooking them. Directions for rolling out tortillas: Put a small ball of dough on the wax paper. Fold the wax paper over and roll with a small rolling pin. Unfold the wax paper and peel it off the tortilla. Place the tortilla in the pan to cook. Crunchy Cole Slaw This is a great make-ahead recipe and will taste better if allowed to marinate overnight. Ingredients: 1 package of coleslaw mix 1/3 head red cabbage, thinly sliced and chopped 1/2 cup chopped red onion 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1-2 tablespoons chopped jalapeno (with seeds removed) Dressing: 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon spicy mustard 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Sauce Glaze & Finishing Sauce (Robert Rothschild) Directions: Chop and mix the vegetables together. Mix dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender. Combine all ingredients and chill for 1-2 hours or overnight (when possible). This crunchy cole slaw tastes great on top of rib tacos or served as a side dish. Toppings Creamy feta cheese and niblet corn are shown in the photo. Additional toppings include chopped tomatoes, lettuce, grated Mexican cheese, or dried crunchy jalapenos. Conclusion This easy crockpot meal is perfect for busy families. The combination of tender beef ribs, homemade corn tortillas, and crunchy cole slaw creates a delicious and satisfying dinner. Don't forget to add your favorite toppings for an extra burst of flavor. Please leave a comment and let us know if you tried these recipes and enjoyed the meal. Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com for more recipes and Georgia Vacation Rentals. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission through purchases made from links and from purchases made through My Amazon Storefront.

Awww! The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies signals that the holidays have arrived. Are you searching for a special treat for your family and friends? Better yet, wrap a cookie in a neat little holiday envelope napkin as a delightful gift for them to take home after a festive event. Follow this recipe and you will have the perfect Christmas thick & chewy chocolate chip cookies The Perfect Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe I have tried many different recipes for chocolate chip cookies, but this Thick & Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe by Becca Cousins is my favorite. It delivers the perfect flavor and texture. I prefer my cookies to be big, thick, and chewy! I followed the recipe precisely when mixing. However, I added a special step to ensure the cookies remain big and chewy. After mixing the dough, I shape it into golf ball-sized balls and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Removing them from the refrigerator 15 minutes before baking helps maintain their thickness. The overnight refrigeration prevents the cookies from flattening out and spreading too much, resulting in the perfect thick, chewy, and che cookie. You can make the balls larger than a golf ball. I have experimented with sizes ranging from 60 grams to 90 grams, with 90 grams being large bakery-style cookies. My boys love the large 90-gram cookies! The picture above shows a 60-gram ball. If you don't have a digital scale, just make the dough the size of a golf ball! Importance of Exact Measurements Exact measurements are crucial in baking. I highly recommend investing in a digital scale to measure flour and sugar accurately. A scale also comes in handy when rolling balls of dough, ensuring all cookies are of equal size for even cooking. Ingredients 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, fridge cold, cut into 1/2" cubes 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar, not packed (200 grams) 3 egg yolks 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt 1 1/2 cups (350 grams) all-purpose flour, measured by weight 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used Lily's dark chocolate chips) 1 cup milk chocolate chips Flaky sea salt, for topping Instructions Cut the butter into 1/2 inch cubes. Add the butter and sugars to the mixing bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Start the mixer on low speed until it begins to clump up, then increase to medium speed. Mix for five minutes, scraping the bowl once or twice. The mixture should lighten to a soft beige color as air is incorporated. Scrape the bowl a third time, then add the egg yolks and vanilla. Mix on medium-high for about one minute, then scrape the bowl again. Add the dry ingredients (fluff the flour with a whisk if you’re using a measuring cup instead of a food scale). Mix on low until almost no flour is visible, about 45 seconds. Stop the mixer and then add the chocolate chips. Mix on low for about 30 seconds so that the dough picks up all of the flour from the bottom of the bowl. Determine if you would like golf ball-sized cookies or larger. Roll balls into 60-90 gram weights depending on your size preference. Place the balls on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, spaced apart for spreading. Refrigerate overnight. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the cookie balls from the refrigerator 15 minutes before baking. 10. Bake for 10 minutes for 60-gram (golf ball-sized) cookies (makes about 20 cookies). 11. Bake for 12-14 minutes for 90-gram (between golf ball and baseball-sized) cookies (makes about 10-12 cookies). 12. Remove from the oven. The cookies should look soft in the middle, and they will continue to cook while cooling. For chewy cookies, do not over-mix the flour and do not overcook. Place each cookie in a holiday napkin folded into an envelope. Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com for more delicious recipes and Georgia Vacation Rentals. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission through purchases made through links and from purchases made through My Amazon Storefront.

Homemade Lasagna We love eating real food, not that processed stuff you get from a box or a can. With a little prep, you can have healthy meals to come home to after a long day of working and running kids to all of their activities. This lasagna recipe paired with a chopped salad and bread hits the spot for even the pickiest of eaters! Made with "OO" Italian flour, which is produced with Italian wheats grown with little pesticides and no additives. Evidently, they use a find grinding process that make dough easily digestible as explained by Caputo Flour. We follow a mediterranean diet and flour is part of it. Whole grain flour is more nutritious, but I think this flour is fine in moderation. My husband, Doug, and I took a cooking class at Woodbridge General Store to learn how to make lasagna from scratch. We had the opportunity to take one of Chef Melissa Pelkey Hass’s cooking classes, it was a real treat. Of course, it takes practice to add the right amount of spices, wine, etc to meet your palate. I use some of her ingredient suggestions for the lasagna dish and add roasted vegetables to enhance the flavor and health benefits. This recipe can be adjusted to make it quicker to cook based on using boxed pasta and store bought ricotta cheese. I like to use homemade pasta, so I typically make this dish in 2 days to allow refrigeration of the dough overnight and making the sauces the day before making the pasta and putting it all together. DAY ONE: THIS IS THE DAY OF CHOPPING, SO PUT ON YOUR CUTTING GLOVES AND/OR LET YOUR BEAST (BLENDER OR HUSBAND) DO THE WORK! LASAGNA-THE REAL THING! Homemade pasta: 2 c. "OO" flour 4 eggs (add 1 egg yolk if needed-too dry) 1Tbsp olive oil BOLOGNESE 2 cans 28 oz fire-roasted tomatoes 2 cup chicken bone broth 1 cup finely chopped celery 1 cup finely chopped carrots 1 cup finely chopped onions 1.5 pounds ground beef 1.5 pounds ground Italian sausage. 1 c. red wine 1 c. fresh chopped basil Directions: Step 1: Saute finely chopped vegetables (preferably chopped finely in a food processor), add ground beef & Italian sausage. Cook until no longer pink. Step 2: Add chicken bone broth, chopped fresh basil, and can tomatoes. Step 3: Add pureed roasted vegetables and garlic (recipe below. Step 4 Add 1 cup red wine, cook 2-3 hours on low. Use a heavy pot to prevent scorching. You will probably need to cook everything in two pots to accommodate all of the ingredients. ROASTED VEGETABLES FOR SAUCE. (I add roasted vegetables pureed in a blender to the bolognese to enhance the flavor and health benefits. This will require you to cook it in 2 pots instead of one, but it greatly enhances the flavor and provides more servings.) 4 pounds Roma Tomatoes 2 white or yellow onions 2-3 jalapeno 1 red bell pepper 1 green bell pepper 2 large heads of garlic (slice one end, wrap in aluminum foil) (Add extra bulbs of garlic if you like a compound butter spread for bread) Step 1: Slice vegetables in large chunks, place vegetables on silicone or parchment paper covered cookie sheet . Place wrapped garlic on cookie sheet (May take 2 cookie sheets for good caramelizing. Directions: Step 2: Roast at 400 degrees for about an hour until carmalized. Step 3: Puree vegetables in a blender or The Beast. Unwrap garlic and squeeze cooked garlic into the mixture, puree another 30 seconds. Step 4: Add to Bolognese Sauce. Cheeses/Sauces Large carton ricotta cheese or Ricotta cheese or Ricotta cheese recipe below or Bechamel-White Sauce-French Mother Sauce (recipe below) Whole fresh mozzarella cheese chopped in small pieces Shredded mozzarella cheese (I have used ricotta cheese from the carton and the Bechamel-White Sauce. I prefer to use the ricotta cheese from the carton for the convenience and have found the flavor to be very similar.) Homemade Ricotta Cheese 3 c. whole milk 1 c. heavy cream 1Tblsp Kosher Salt 1-2 Tblsp lemon juice Directions: Step 1: Add whole milk and heavy cream to pot. Step 2: simmer until it starts to bubble; don't let it get to a full boil. Step 3: Add 1-2 Tbslp lemon juice when it starts to bubble. Step 4: Set off heat and let cool 45- minutes to an hour. Step 5: Strain with 3-4 layers of cheesecloth in strainer. Step 6: Refrigerate until ready to use in lasagna (preferably overnight). Bechamel White Sauce-French Mother Sauce (just an overall great sauce for meat & veggies). This can be used in place of riccota cheese in lasagna. 1 stick butter 3/4 c. flour 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp Kosher salt 1/2 tsp pepper. Directions: Step 1: Melt butter Step 2: Add flour to make roux (until pasty). Step 3: Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper (must stir with wire wisk to keep from getting gummy). You do not want it to be drippy. Slow down whisking so it heats quicker. When it barely drips, it is ready. Stir well to make sure there are no lumps. Set aside or refrigerate overnight if you are not ready to make the lasagna. Refrigerate all cheeses and sauces overnight! Day 2-LET THE FUN BEGIN! IT IS TIME TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER Start by determining how much lasagna your family will need for a meal. Ex: You may choose to make 3 large dishes or 5 smaller dishes. Amazon Antree Pasta Maker KitchenAid Attachment KitchenAid Blender ROLL THE PASTA Step 1: Sprinkle "OO" flour on parchment paper. Step 2: Divide dough into 4 sections (rectangle shape) Step 3: Think it out Step 4: Start wide setting on rollers on your pasta maker attached to your stand-up mixer. Step 5: Run pasta through slowly (sprinkle flour to prevent from sticking) Step 6: Fold where the 2 ends meet in the middle. (lightly coat with flour to prevent sticking. Step 7: Roll it back through; it becomes sturdier. Step 8: Roll it back through on settings: 8, 6, to 5 to make it thinner. Step 9: Lay rolled pasta on wax paper until ready to put lasagna together. HOW TO PUT LASAGNA TOGETHER Step 1: Put a layer of bolognese (meat sauce). Step 2: Put a layer of pasta Step 3: Put a layer of Bechamel or ricotta cheese Step 4: Add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese & freshly grated mozzarella or Italian blend cheeses. Step 5: Repeat layers: meat sauce, pasta, bechamel or ricotta, grated cheeses, repeat. Step 6: Add fresh basil and additional seasonings on top (pepper, Italian seasonings, etc). Always make sure there is some shredded cheese on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 45 minutes 375 degrees. or wrap with aluminum foil and saran wrap (3 times) and freeze for future use. Alternative: For additional health benefits and flavor, you may add a layer of shaved zucchini. MAKE IT A MEAL! Lasagna is best served with your favorite salad and bread. I like this recipe for Bread baquettes served with a mixture of olive oil, vinegar, chopped garlic and italian seasonings. Compound Butter If you prefer butter with bread, you will enjoy this divine butter / garlic solution: Remember those extra bulbs of garlic you wrapped in aluminum foil and roasted with the veggies? Now is the time to squeeze out that luscious garlic mixture into 1/2/ stick of softened butter. You can add seasonings and herbs to make it extra special! Doug's favorite salad with lasagna is Chopped Salad with a homemade salad dressing (this is another one of Chef Melissa's recipes. Chopped Salad Romaine lettuce Iceberg lettuce Sliced & chopped pepperoni, ham, provolone, & salami Chickpeas Chopped artichokes (Adjust amounts according to preference) Season salad before you add dressing with salt & pepper (use white pepper for better taste). Italian Salad Dressing 1 cup red wine vinegar 1 cup olive oil 2 tsp italian seasonings (basil, oregano, fennel) Toss salad to coat and add more dressing as desired. This is a great meal to prepare ahead of time because you can freeze the lasagna and bread. Just make a quick salad while cooking your lasagna. This is also great to have on hand when you want to give someone a meal to take home. Learning to cook healthy does not take major experience, just the desire to learn. I hope you enjoy this recipe and will adjust it to your level of experience. If you are a beginner, start with box pasta and store bought ricotta cheese. I have found the gluten free boxed pasta tastes better than the regular pasta strips. You can even skip the roasting vegetables and just used the ingredients in the bolognese sauce. I almost always skip the step to make homemade ricotta cheese or white sauce because I like the taste and convenience of using store bought ricotta cheese (stick with full fat; you lose so much flavor when use low-fat). These are some of my favorite supplies for making lasagna: Amazon cast Iron Dutch Oven Beast Mega 1200 Plus KitchenAid Mixer Antree Pasta Maker Attachment Emile Henry Baguette Baker I may make a small commission from purchases made through links as an Amazon Affiliate. Check out My Amazon Storefront. We hope you enjoy this recipe and would love to know if you and your family enjoyed it. What are some adjustments you would make to satisfy your family’s palate? Drop a comment; we would love to hear from you! Follow along at www.lovingpetite.com for more nutritious comfort recipes, petite fashion styling tips, and Georgia vacation rentals.