About Me

I'm an author, a cook, an artist and a mom, not necessarily in that order. Check out my website at Kids-Cook.com

Not Your Usual Zucchini Recipes

You've made every zucchini recipe in your cookbook, but you STILL have bushels of zucchini left. You've given zucchini away to everyone you know, you've left bags of it in the break room at work, but the garden just keeps producing more. Try some of...

How to Make Pizza Dough

Learn how easy it can be to make your own pizza right at home. I've included step-by-step instructions to help you make a tasty pizza crust. Making your own pizza is not only satisfying; it saves you a lot of money, too. Ingredients for pizza are muc...

Velveeta...Unwrapped

An in-depth look at one of the most villified foods in the United States. It's right up there with Spam. Get the history, find recipes you won't believe, learn how to make your own, find out what you do when someone gives you 30 pounds of Velveeta as...

HTML for Photos: A Tutorial for the Semi-Clueless

How often do you look at a really great Squidoo lens and wonder how they changed colors or backgrounds or add photos somewhere other than the upper right-hand corner of the module? They use HTML. I'm not a genius at this sort of thing, so every time...

Make a Perfect Pizza Crust - Part 1 - Something in the Water

Learn how to make a pizza crust that will rival ANYTHING you've ever tasted in a pizzeria. Making a great crust isn't difficult; you just have to know what to do. You are about to join an elite group of "upper crust" pizza makers. No more soggy or ca...

You Know You're Spending Too Much Time on Squidoo if...

You know who you are. You family members roll their eyes whenever you mention Squidoo. Their eyes glaze over at the dinner table as you begin to tell them what you learned today during research for your latest lens. At a certain point, all Squiddicts...

Make a Perfect Pizza Crust - Part 3 - Chill Out

Welcome to The Perfect Pizza Crust - Secret #3! I'm exploring ways to improve the texture and taste of pizza crust, so that it rivals the very best pizzerias. Secret #3 has had the most dramatic impact of any I've tried so far.

How to Make the Best Salsa

The term "salsa" covers a wide variety of tasty meal additions. It literally translates as "sauce," and you can put it on meats and veggies or use it as a dip for your chips. Whatever you do with your salsa, it's sure to spice up your meal. Read on t...

Edible Science Experiments

I love food, and I love science. Isn't it SO cool when you find a way to combine two of your passions!? Using everyday items in your kitchen, you can learn a lot about basic science and about the inner workings of the food you eat. This isn't a list...

Add Borders to Your Lens Photos on Squidoo

Would you like to jazz up the photos on your lenses? You can use borders on your images to give them much more impact and to help them "pop." You just need to use a little bit of simple HTML magic. I have included easy instructions for a variety of...

I Love Lasagna

When we think of lasagna, most of us imagine that rich concoction full of cheeses and usually meat, tomatoes, and large, flat pasta noodles. You might not immediately think of Mexico or Greece. You might not associate lasagna with shrimp or tofu or l...

INCREDIBLY GOOD RECIPES

I read cookbooks like most people read novels. The recipes here have all been tested and have earned the important "husband and kids" Seal of Approval. Most of them have also been tested at Girls' Night and passed with flying colors. I hope you enjoy...

Cool Gadgets for Baby Boomers

Baby Boomers, those of us between the ages of about 45 and 63, know what we want. We want comfort. We want convenience. And if we are entertained at the same time, so much the better. In this lens, I have gathered some of my favorite boomer websites,...

Make a Perfect Pizza Crust - Part 2 - Let It Be!

Welcome to The Perfect Pizza Crust - Part 2. I'm exploring ways to make a pizza crust worthy of a "WOW!" In Part 2, we'll look at a hint that most experienced pizza and bread makers know about and use. However, it is very seldom included in recipes f...

Mock Apple Pie

Wait. You want me to make an apple pie with no apples in it? Mock apple pie has a rich history from the settlers heading west across a young United States to the 20th-century suburban housewife. Read on to learn all about this culinary oddity.

Warm Glass - Hot Stuff: Fused Glass Art

There is something magical about fused and kiln-formed glass. I can take a few ordinary sheets of glass and do extraordinary things with them using heat and a few simple tools. I am still thrilled at the magic of it every time I take a newly finished...

How to Make Super Soup - Tips to Make It Tastier

I love soup! The possibilities are endless, from simple clear soups to thick, creamy potato soups. It can make a light repast or a complete, hearty meal. Simple or exotic. Savory or sweet. Such potential! What do you do when the soup just doesn't do...

COOL KITCHEN SCIENCE

...I mean my kitchen. Here is where you can find explanations to all those kitchen science mysteries, like: How does a cake go from liquid to solid when it bakes? Does baking soda really make your fridge smell better? What IS chewing gum, anyway?

The Kemah Boardwalk Bullet Wooden Rollercoaster

I just got home from a week in Houston. We visited lots of fun places, but the most memorable activity of the week was our experience on the Boardwalk Bullet at the Kemah Boardwalk.

A US Gas Tax Holiday is a BAD Idea!

Should the US Have a Gas Tax Holiday? Both John McCain and Hillary Clinton are in favor of the suspension of the federal gasoline tax (18.4 cents/gallon) for the summer traveling season. This is possibly the stupidest idea I have heard from either on...

Artisan Jewelry from the Andes

I love handmade silver jewelry. The ancient craft of silversmithing provides endless opportunity for creative expression. Here I bring you some of my favorite jewelry artists from Novica.com. This remarkable company has made it possible for artists...

Real-Life Finances for College Students

Most students aren't prepared to handle their finances responsibly when they enter college. Get practical advice on learning to manage your money and tips to save. Photo courtesy of Flickr and viva la vibs

In Praise of White Chocolate

What used to be the poor stepsister to chocolate has become a delicacy in its own right. You can find it everywhere from the most expensive chocolatier to the grocery store checkout lane. This stuff is so popular that people rub it all over their bod...

What Mom Really Wants (the perfect gift - you'll be surprised)

Pay attention, everyone who has or knows a mother or grandmother. I'm going to save you a great deal of frustration by helping you find the perfect gift for Mother's Day, her birthday or any other gift-giving occasion. The best part of it is that thi...

Beeobrien's Squidoo Diary

Inspired by other lensmasters, I am experimenting with this Squidoo diary to see how it improves focus and productivity. Since beginning in early March of 2008, I have built 11 lenses. That comes out to a little more than one per week.

Silly Names

Do you know what nominative determinism means? How about aptonym? They are both terms, made popular by New Scientist Magazine, that refer to the phenomenon of people having jobs and careers that fit their names. A rather surprising amount of serious...

Philip K. Dick

A look at an influential and under-appreciated author of the twentieth century. Writing in the sci-fi genre, Dick was a philosopher and sociologist, taking seemingly ordinary situations to most bizarre but logical conclusions.

What Should You Do After You Publish Your Lens?

Let's assume that you've created a lens with quality content; a lens that deserves traffic and will offer something useful to its readers. If your lens doesn't meet this requirement, stop reading this right now and go make it better. I'll still be he...