Find out how to fire up your 4th from the professionals

Who knows the 4th of July better than renowned fireworks specialists the Gruccis? Their heritage dates back to 1850 in Bari, Italy and they have been producers of fireworks for 7 consecutive Presidential Inaugurations.

In the June/July issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray the Gruccis share their favorite Independence Day party treat. Check out their recipe for potato poppers to make your meal explosive.

Sky Blue Potatoes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes Read the rest »

Breast milk or formula is still the staple for your baby’s diet in the first year. There is no scientific proof of which food is best to serve first to babies. Cultures across the world prepare various traditional recipes for their babies’ first feeding. In general, first foods are easy to digest and preferably a good source of iron. Read the rest »

What percentage of coupons from the Sunday paper do you actually use? Five, maybe ten percent? You are not alone. Most people cut out only a small percentage of the coupons from those weekly inserts. In order to make a serious dent in rising grocery bills, you need to have coupons for many of the products you buy, not just a few each week. The good news is that there are a number of resources other than the Sunday supplement coupons that provide coupons for your favorite brands.

Friends, Family, Co-workers: Instead of buying multiple copies of the newspaper, just to get more coupons, share inserts with friends, co-workers and neighbors. Once you have cut the coupons you want, pass your inserts around to others and have them do the same for you. You will find that many people you know don’t even cut coupons and you will receive complete inserts with all the coupons. Read the rest »

How to Pack the Perfect Beach Bag

Every Day with Rachael Ray wants to get readers ready for summer in every way. There are items for head to toe – signature flip flops from Tory Burch to slinky sundresses from Voom. In addition there are all sorts of home and outdoor items like a seagrass beach mat, iPod cases that will keep the sand out and a Fred Ice Kabob tray to keep your drinks cool.

Check out the fun pool and beach items like a nautical swim ring or waterproof books. Read the rest »

This is by no means a list of everything on the planet that’s bad for cats. But it’s a few of the things that should be avoided by themselves or as an ingredient in something else.

Alpha lipoic acid. Also referred to as lipoic acid. It’s an antioxidant that increases production of glutathione and can cause gastrointestinal distress and low blood sugar in cats.

Chocolate. This contains the alkaloid theobromine which is toxic to cats. It also contains caffeine and may contain sugar. Read the rest »

Introducing your baby to real food takes time. Fortunately, there is no need to rush, In fact, going slowly gives your baby a chance to develop a taste for different types of food, and in the long run enables her to make healthier food choices.

There is an enormous selection of fresh, natural food that your little one can eat, but there are also several foods that are not good for babies. Here is a list of many of the foods that you should avoid:

Foods with sugar, salt and caffeine as a main ingredient – Avoid introduction as long as possible: As a general rule, foods containing high amount of these ingredients, usually do not contain much nutritional value and are not very healthy. Read the rest »

With Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Summer upon us, outdoor entertaining is a welcome change. Make the grill the center of attraction for your next party. Plan a menu that allows your guests to sample various barbecued foods. How about hosting a Kabob Party and offer your guests the opportunity to make their own skewer from a selection of marinated meats, seafood, veggies and even fruits. This will be a fun activity for your guests and will satisfy your kids, and vegetarian friends while engaging the guests in conversation. Read the rest »