Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!

Food... let's talk about it!

Purple Star emoji 21 items
I have always enjoyed being in the kitchen baking and making unique dishes. Over the last few years or so, my kids and I have looked more at what we put into our bodies and have tried to make healthier choices. We also like to make new creations in t...
Sections
3
 
 
 

Favorite seasonings

In my opinion, food tastes better when it's naturally seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, but I also have a few that I like from the store. 

 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This is probably the number one seasoning that is store bought that I use. For many, many, years now I have used it with some lemon pepper seasoning from McCormick on my steamed green beans and that's the only way I can get a few of my kids to eat gr...
Lawry's® Coarse Ground With Parsley Garlic Salt
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
If there's time to make fresh, great! If I need to buy some premade from the store, I use McCormick. Since I enjoy eating seafood a good bit, I tend to use this a lot.
Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
I've only found this seasoning in the past three years and man I wish I had found it sooner! I like to put it on just about everything. Cottage cheese, noodles, mashed potatoes, popcorn… the list goes on!
Tajn
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This is a seasoning that I like to use with pork. Just think about drizzling a little maple syrup onto some freshly cooked bacon… YUM, YUM, YUM!
McCormick® Grill Mates® Smokehouse Maple Seasoning
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This is another one that I like to use with pork. When I cook a ham, this is the only store bought seasoning I will use. It's sweet, but not too sweet.
McCormick® Grill Mates® Brown Sugar Bourbon ...
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
They say you either love it or it tastes like soap... I LOVE IT! I use it in many dishes and always have some on hand.
How To Prep & Store Fresh Cilantro
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
I'm  not Italian but I sure do like making Italian food! Oregano brings out the best in Italian food. Whether you use it fresh or dried, it will make any pasta taste like it came from Tuscany itself!
Oregano
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
The health benefits from garlic are so amazing, and it tastes so good. I love using it fresh in pastas and sauces but it's also good to season meat with and sauteed veggies.
Garlic
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
I love using fresh onions to sweetly spice up whatever it is I'm cooking. They make some people cry while cutting them, but not me. They can sometimes have a stronger smell than they do taste. They are slo delicious sauteed with garlic and butter!
Onion

favorite homemade snacks

These are snacks we like to make at our house. We live busy lives and if we can prep some snacks when we do some meal, it makes the week that much sweeter!

 
Amanda Ray profile picture
My kids and I love making these in the air fryer as an after school snack. My youngest also like to make these in the morning for her lunch at school. To help keep them warm, we take them straight from the air fryer and wrap them in foil and store th...
Pizza Roll Ups - An Easy Last Minute Appetizer
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This is a favorite in our household. Super easy to make and oh so healthy. We start with chopping up our veggies… tomatoes, onion, pepper, and cilantro. Add in some imitation crab meat and just a few seasonings, and you have a delicious snack that ca...
My own homemade crab salsa
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
We use tortillas for so many things in my house and this is definitely a favorite. It doesn't need cooked, satisfies the sweet tooth and is healthy. What more can you ask for?
Peanut Butter and Banana Wraps Recipe
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
We always have strawberries and bananas in our house and when we just want a drink and not a meal, we make some smoothies. There are so many ways to make these, it just depends on your own taste buds. Our favorite fruits to include are strawberries, ...
Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
We like to make these up when we do some meal prepping on the weekends. They can be stored in an air tight container for several weeks, but they NEVER last that long! It's also fun to change up the candy piece from time to time. M & M's, peanut b...
Chocolate Pretzel Treats Recipe
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
We go through our share of cheese in my house too! This is a quick and easy snack that even my ten year old can make.
Keto Cheese Chips Recipe {Easy Low Carb Snack!}
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This is a great snack by itself but we also love adding the strawberries to things like yogurt. You can do this with all kinds of fruits, and makes a healthy after school snack.
How to Make Oven Dried Strawberries

local farmers markets

We love shopping at the Farmers Markets. There are only a few close to home, but we don't mind traveling a little distance for some guaranteed fresh fruits and veggies. Here are some of our favorite ones to visit.

 
Amanda Ray profile picture
Another great farmers market, this one is indoors and has farmers from the next county over come to set up and share their great foods.
City Place
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This one is on the pedestrian mall in downtown Cumberland and always has lots of vendors that offer a great variety of farm fresh fruits and veggies. This one also has vendors for various plants and farmers that offer meat products as well.
Downtown Cumberland Farmers' Market
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This is my favorite of the local farmers markets. It has a playground area that the kiddos can play at while you shop. The vendors here are also super nice. They have also offered my kiddos some fresh fruit while we shop.
Farmers Markets
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
This isn't a farmers market per say, but a farm store that's open daily. They are also know for their old fashioned candies that you can but by the pound. They also have all your specialty baking supplies that you could possibly need. Definitely a st...
Hill Top Fruit Market
 
Amanda Ray profile picture
While this place is an hour away, it is completely worth the drive! They have EVERYTHING! Freshly made fruit butters, fresh breads, fruits, veggies, and plants, are just some of the things you will find here. And when the fall comes, they always have...
Virginia Farm Market