With most schools still on break until next week, at this point parents could probably use some inspired ideas to keep kids happy and occupied.  There are a multitude of activities for kids and families like roller skating or going to an indoor water park.  But these activities can cost a lot.  Stuffing teddy bears at the mall or playing games at an arcade is fun for maybe one day of winter break, but done repeatedly these activities can break the bank.  A fun alternative is getting kids active in the kitchen.  Cooking and baking appeals to toddlers and teens, and it can create memories as meaningful as any that cost many times more money.  Who knows?...

Tags: baking, Contest, cookies, recipe, activities, children, cookie mixes

Looks like we have at least two BBQ contest left for us this year. The first is coming up this weekend. It’s the “Blues, Brews and BBQ Contest” here in Charlotte. Nice and close to home so travel is not an issue. Greg was going to come in from AL but with Hurricane Ike heading towards the Gulf he’s a little too nervous to leave. Mark will come in from Bristol, TN and of course Papa Pig himself had to come in from Florida (probably more to see his grandkids than to cook). Below is a picture of him cleaning one of our cookers this week. Our team has 5 Lang Cookers. Check out his web site at pigroast.com for so...

Tags: BBQ, Contest, grill

You could win $5,000 by entering the Betty Crocker Cookie Mix Recipe Contest. While you are baking cookies this week, why not try converting one of your favorite scratch-cookie recipes to one using a mix in order to save some time? If you don't have time this month to enter a recipe, you have until noon on February 1, 2008 to do so. Click ...

Tags: Apple Bars, Contest, Cookie