Author: Lisa
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Ghent Belgium
We probably never would have considered a trip to Ghent, but the terrace outside our cottage in Bruges was being rebuilt and the owner graciously arranged for us to take a side trip to Ghent for a week. Ghent is a lovely city with a younger vibe than Bruges. In fact, it may have the… Read more
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How to save money every day
When my kids were in elementary school I used to have coffee with a group of moms on Friday mornings. One day, one of the moms shared that they were going to have their mortgage paid off before their kids went off to college. Having three kids relatively the same age and facing the possibility… Read more
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Sanibel Florida
I’ve loved Sanibel Island for as long as I can remember. I spent a large part of my childhood growing up in Fort Myers, so day trips to the island were a fairly regular occurrence. Once our children were old enough to travel, we started vacationing there in the winter to escape the Wisconsin winters.… Read more
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Creamy pasta with peas and prosciutto
I always have the ingredients on hand to prepare this dish because it comes together so easily and tastes so good! I’m not including too much on serving sizes or quantities with this recipe as it is super flexible depending upon your number of guests and everyone has their own preference for sauce vs. pasta… Read more
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Bolognese sauce
We were first introduce to Bolognese sauce in Bologna, Italy, of course. It’s a meat-based sauce typically served with tagliatelle or in lasagna. I tell everyone that making this sauce is a labor of love as it takes 2-3 hours to prepare because the meat must absorb so many liquids; however, I promise it is… Read more
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Fresh pasta
Once you get accustomed to fresh pasta, it is so much lighter and more delicious than packed pasta, you’ll have a hard time going back unless you are pressed for time. This recipe is for 2-3 servings, but can be easily doubled (or tripled). Full disclosure, I started making pasta with a hand crank pasta… Read more
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Pots, pans and bakeware for life (a.k.a. do not buy a set, ever!)
I wish I could have back all of the money I wasted over the years buying cheap sets of pots, pans and bakeware. Had I slowly built a quality collection over time, I would have been much better off in the long run. However, investing in quality pieces when we were starting out felt daunting.… Read more
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Pizza
Pizza at home is a family favorite. We prefer a more authentic Italian version of pizza with a thin, crispy crust. The best part of this recipe is that we can make the pizza dough anytime and freeze it in smaller portions. When we are traveling, I knead the dough by hand, but my trusty… Read more
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Bologna Italy
There are so many wonderful places to visit in Italy that Bologna may not be on your radar; however, it is truly a gem. Bologna is nicknamed “La Grassa” (the fat) because it is famous for its food. We’ve had some of the best meals of our lives there – and, if you’re a foodie… Read more
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How we got three kids through college on the cheap
Admittedly, we didn’t set out to do this consciously, but having three kids within 15 months (twins and a singleton soon after) makes you start to think (and worry) early on. In the end, we were very, very fortunate. We’ve had several friends describing the hundreds of thousands of dollars they’ve invested in their childrens’… Read more