Working full time while raising a family can be trying on most families.  Add into the mix the desire to want home cooked meals, and you run into many challenges.

Here is what I would think a common evening might go in most families with parents working outside of the home. 

• 5:00 p.m. - Get off work, and if you are lucky, leave your office.

• 5:30 p.m. - Pick up child or children from daycare or after school care.

• 6:00 p.m. - Hopefully arrive home. 

Feeling a little heavy after your Thanksgiving festivities?  Need something light, fresh, tasty and quick?  Try this smoothie as a quick morning breakfast treat.  You'll never even know its loaded with nutrition!

This antioxidant rich cocktail provides cancer fighting, weight-managing, and skin-nourishing ingredients, and it tastes so good, your kids will love it.  Just don't tell them it provides three full servings of fruits and vegetables!

When I planned my big kitchen reno three years ago, I thought I had covered all the bases. The big island, an efficient work triangle, lots of light. One aspect that had never entered into my planning was accessibility.

I had never considered how to make my kitchen wheelchair accessible, or accessible for someone with a visual impairment. These are questions many of us don't entertain.

Over the years I've cooked more than thirty turkeys and tried at least 29 recipes. Finally, success! Here's one that's both delicious and fuss free.You don't even have to baste it. Plan on about 1 1/2 pounds of bone-in fresh turkey per person. Get it ready the day before so all you have to do is bring it to room temperature and pop it in the oven on Thanksgiving.

Fuss Free Turkey

I'm not a big proponent of the Occupy Wall Street movement. I generally support their cause, but, quite frankly, I don't have time for a new cause right now and I sure as heck don't have time to sleep in a park.

But today, my interests are completely overlapping with those of Occupy.  And if you don't really "get" what the Occupy movement is all about, this is a perfect demonstration.

I once took them for granted. Neglected them. Over-used them. They did their job fine, without much attention or gratitude from me. Until the spring of 2009, when they didn't function properly. That's when I realised how much I depend on my eyes.

After a year and a half of a slow and steady recovery, my vision started to normalise. I now have a greater appreciation for my baby browns. 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner (let the mad dash to the grocery story begin!) and while this holiday offers up plenty of family mingling, it's hard to deny that everyone's favorite part of "Turkey Day" is, well, the turkey and fixings. As the mom of a little boy who will eat absolutely anything offered up to him, it's my responsiblity to ensure that at least some of his food choices are healthy. So what are some of the healthier options when it comes to Thanksgiving fare?

When I go a few days without making a mess in my kitchen, I start to get antsy.  Cooking is my comfort zone and I enjoy making meals for my family. 

The distinctive smell of adobo takes me back to my childhood. I picture my Lola standing by a boiling cauldron, with a wooden spoon in one hand, meat clever in the other.

There are as many adobo recipes as there are Filipino cooks. Some cooks like their meat crisp and brown on the outside. This method involves frying. That's one step too many for me. Mine is the quick and easy, one-pot method.

Feeding my family healthy, nutrituous meals is a priority in my house but I don't enjoy spending every night in the kitchen after I get home from a busy day at work.  To avoid the alternative (which usually means ordering pizza at our house) I have implemented a few tools to get dinner on the table in a reasonable amount time, basically before my family dies of starvation.