Rhubarb Loaf
Rhubarb is one of those ingredients that can transform a simple loaf into a culinary delight. With its unique tartness and vibrant color, rhubarb is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of baked goods. Today, I’m excited to share a wonderful recipe for...
Canning Tomato Sauce
Canning tomato sauce at home is a fantastic way to preserve the vibrant flavors of summer for use throughout the year. Whether you’re an experienced canner or a beginner, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring your tomato sauce is...
Portuguese Rice Pudding – How to Make Your Own
In Portuguese kitchens, there’s a beloved dessert that whispers of comfort and nostalgia with every creamy spoonful: arroz doce, or Portuguese rice pudding. It’s the kind of treat that transports you to simpler times, where every bite was a comfort. Now,...
Lilac Syrup – Delicate and Divine
There exists a floral treasure that not only captivates with its incredible scent but also tantalizes the taste buds with its delicate flavor. Enter the realm of lilac syrup, a delightful concoction that embodies the essence of springtime in every drop. Identifying...
Your Guide to Baking Beets Whole
So, you find yourself staring at a bunch of beets, wondering what on earth to do with them? Fear not, dear reader, for I am here to guide you through the wardrobe-staining experience of baking beets whole – a culinary adventure. Selecting and Cleaning the Beets First...
Canning Jars, Lids, and Pressure Cookers – 3 Things You Should Know
When I started gardening, it all seemed fairly simple. Bury the seed, grow the seed, store the winnings. But it quickly became evident that the winnings I was accruing were being produced in numbers that my freezer just could not accommodate. Green beans, peas,...
Churned Butter at Home
When I was young, my grandfather tried to gut a jackfish in front of my sister and me. The reaction he got from us was biblical – crying, screaming, the whole thing. Before long he gave up, placed Jack back in the pail of water he’d come up in, and let us watch as he...
Cleaning House – Dirty Dishes and Dusty Floors
I Have A Dream Pristine, swept floors – floors which seem to go for miles as your eyes trace the interlocking wood planks down to the bay windows on the other side of the house. The smell of baking. A garden, pruned and detailed. Weeded meticulously. Counter tops that...
When It’s Time to Recharge
Always Someday Before kids, I always thought that there would be a time for writing. Somewhere off on the horizon when I was done with the all-consuming (life sucking?) office job, when I caught up on things and organized my life. The funniest of my delusions included...
No Rest for the Christmas Machine
Every Year, I Try to Muster the Courage to Take On the Christmas Season With A Smile. I don’t consider myself to be characteristically negative, but I am sure that Christmas was designed specifically to upset the delicate balance that my family has worked so hard to...
Socially Inept
I’m getting to that age now where bad things are starting to happen to the good people in my life. Friends are enduring infidelity, divorce, death of spouses and parents – and I’m over here feeling like I should have my super-friend badge revoked for...
Postpartum Depression – What I Wish I’d Been Told
New mothers everywhere are being talked to about postpartum depression (PPD) at every government-run meeting. We are told ad nauseum to watch ourselves for signs of sadness that doesn’t dissipate beyond the baby blues. We are given stats and shown charts, but for a...
Beyond the ADHD Clinic: The Daily Struggles of Parenting ADHD
Early in my days as a new parent, my son’s pediatrician looked up at me while I complained of feelings of guilt for some marginal oversight. “Now that you’re a mother, you will come to understand that everything is your fault,” she said. Truer words have never been...About the Neurotic Exotic
Deana is a West Coast freelance writer. She has a business background, but traded it all in for babies, diapers and pharmaceuticals. Born of a composed Canadian mother, and fiery (read: perfectly neurotic) European father, the Neurotic Exotic platform lends itself to highlighting the joys of domesticity and simple pleasures amid the craziness of today.