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Sunday, December 27, 2015

5 Tips To Buying The Freshest Vegetables!

Buying The Freshest Produce Will Save You Money, It Will Last Longer And Go Further!

Vibrant Color: Chose the vegetables with bright, vibrant colors. Be sure there is no yellowing of the skin. Especially with broccoli, cauliflower, and your leafy greens! Always check for bruises, blemishes and soft spots. 

Tight Skin: Loose or wrinkled skin indicates the vegetable is drying out and has been sitting for a while. Be sure to look for taut, firm skin.


Smell: Your vegetables should have a clean, fresh fragrance that makes you smile.

Firmness: Your vegetables should be firm with a heavier weight. If they seem light, it could indicate the vegetable is drying out! 

Fresh Ends: To be sure your root vegetables are of the best quality and as fresh as they can be, inspect the cut ends to insure they are clean and free from any withering or browning. The cut should look fresh and moist! 

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

10 Kitchen Tips, To Make Life A Little Easier!

10 Kitchen Tips To Help Ease Your Kitchen Stress!

1) Cleaning A Food Spill From The Oven:While your oven is still warm, sprinkle the spill with table salt.
 
Once the oven has cooled, scrape it up with a spatula. 


2) Extinguishing Small Stovetop Fires: 
Always have either a box of baking soda
or salt close by. If a fire breaks out, pour over flames.


3) Cleaning The Glass On Your Oven Door: 
Using a damp washcloth, sprinkle it with baking soda.
Using a circular motion be sure to cover the glass with the baking soda.
Baking soda will help dissolve those pesky baked on stains.
Rinse with a warm wet washcloth and wipe dry.
It will look like a brand new oven door.


4) Keep Your Oven Floor Clean: 
Line the oven with tinfoil, or a rectangular foil cookie sheet.
It will catch anything that bubbles over, and when it gets dirty you can just replace it.
Instead of scrubbing like a crazy person. 


5)  Defrost Your Freezer With Ease: The next time you defrost your freezer. Once you have cleaned it out,
wipe it dry with a clean towel. Put a small amount onto a piece of paper toweland wipe the metal edges with it. The next time the ice starts to build up,
it will just fall right off.


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6) Getting Raw Egg Off Of The Floor:
Cover it with salt, let it sit 5-10 minutes
and then easily sweep it up with the broom.


7) Removing Coffee And Tea Stains: 
Getting those stains out of your counter tops,
coffee mugs or fabric can be a pain. Make a water
and baking soda paste rub onto stains.
Wait five minutes and rinse. 


8) Cleaning Burnt Pans
A) Coat burnt area with a baking soda and water paste,let stand for 3 hours and scrape clean with a spatula .
B) Fill half way with water. Bring water to a boil. Cover and remove from heat. Let it sit for an hour, 
rinse with soap and hot water. It should almost wipe right out.


9) For A Shiny Kitchen Floor: 
Add 1 Cup of vinegar to your mop water. Not only will it make your floor look great,but it will also remove any odors in the air!!


10) Avoiding Tarnishing Of The Outside Of Your Pots:
Always, always, always use the proper size burner for your pots.When you use a burner that is too big for your pot,
the high heat from the burner floats up and around the pot. 
Instead of under it, where it should be. 



Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Is Your Obsession With Clean Eating, Putting Your Mental Health At Risk??

It's Called "Orthorexia"

It Is The Obsession With Healthy, "Clean Eating" 

As it gains traction in this age of Instagrammed food photos, some think it should be recognized as its own eating disorder. 

"It's really a real fixation," one nutritionist tells NBC News of those who take things too far.



"They almost become like a fan club, especially on social media." Steven Bratman, a doctor who coined the term back in 1997, says it's time to recognize it as a type of disorder on par with anorexia but distinct, i.e. the objective isn't weight loss but purity. 

Still, many in the medical field cite a lack of sufficient research and too much overlap with currently described disorders, from anorexia to obsessive compulsive disorder, to warrant its own classification, reports the Washington Post.

"The dietary obsessions that people get into with anorexia often lead into these kinds of concerns with proper nutrition and healthy eating," says the director of an eating disorders program. "There’s a great deal of overlap."

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Crayon Candles Make Great Gifts, And Are Also Fun To Create With Your Kids!

If you have children in your home, chances are you have an abundance of worn down crayons that don’t get used much anymore. Before throwing them out and buying new ones, consider using them to make candles. This can be a great way to turn them into something new and bright again. Most children will love the idea of creating candles with you and enjoy knowing their old crayons helped create them. Making candles out of crayons can also be a great gift giving idea.

Be Sure To Go Over The Safety Rules!

Before you get started discuss safety with your children. Since the crayons will have to be melted at a very high heat, they will not be able to participate in that portion of the candle making process. Assure them that there are many other aspects of the candle making that they can be a part of. To start, gather your supplies. In addition to the crayons, you will need a wax carton. This can be from milk, fabric softener, or orange juice. You will also need paraffin wax, two full ice cube trays, a double boiler, and white packing string. If you don’t want to use your double boiler an old coffee can and a saucepan will work just as well.

Okay, Lets Get Started!

Trim the top off of the wax carton, leaving it approximately six inches high. You will want to cut the string at least long. You will later cut the wick to fit the holder. To ensure a wick that burns easier take three pieces and bread them together. Use smaller pieces of string to tie the ends together. The holders for your candles can be anything you desire as long as they are non-flammable. Pretty vases, glasses, and jars work nicely.

Melt about three pounds of paraffin wax in the double boiler or coffee can. To help it melt faster, cut it into small chunks. The melting process with take about fifteen to twenty minutes. While the wax is melting, peel the papers off of the old crayons. You and your children can choose to separate the colors by lights and darks to have a mix that melds well or you can mix it all together and see what the color ends up being.

For Best Results Be Sure To...

For best results, only add the crayons to the wax after it has completely melted. After the crayons and wax have both melted together, immediately remove the mixture from the stove and pour into your candle holders. If you would like to make scented candles try adding a splash of Cinnamon or Vanilla to your hot wax mixture.

It is important that the candles by left alone to completely harden. Make sure you have an area this can be done without disruption. It is also important to make sure small children can’t reach them, as out of curiosity they may want to check on their candles. The wax will stay hot for several hours and can scold the skin.

Making candles out of old crayons is a great way to spend the afternoon creating a neat project with your children. This process can also be done at schools and childcare centers with old crayons as presents for parents. Simply allow each child to decorate the outside of their candle holder while adults complete the rest of the process.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Love With Food

Snack Smart. Do Good

Discover NEW, Organic or All-Natural snacks delivered to your door every month and They'll donate a meal to a hungry child.

Love With Food is giving away five 6-month Deluxe snack box subscriptions to some lucky winners. You’ll get a box of 16-20 junk-free, delicious snacks carefully curated each month and delivered right to your door, and each box donates two meals to hungry kids around the country. Who knows, you might just discover your new favorite snack!
**Enter between October 19th and November 19th for your chance to win.

What is Love With Food?

Love With Food helps you discover new organic or all-natural snacks delivered to your door every month. Our subscription membership starts as low as $9.99/month. Every month, Love With Food members will receive a curated box of unique, hard-to-find tasty snacks which varies based on seasonal themes.
For every box sold, they donate a meal to several food banks such as the Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength - No Kid Hungry. Join us to help end child hunger one meal at a time!

Say goodbye to boring grocery selections and start discoveringyour Love With Food experience!



Never Underestimate The Power Of The Coupon

Never Underestimate The Power Of The Coupon

Most retailers understand the amount of competition they have out there, especially in larger towns. To help encourage customers to remain loyal to them they accept coupons for various products. Here are some useful tips for you to get the most out of your coupon clipping!


Double And Triple Your Coupon Savings


One of the best uses of coupons is for purchasing grocery items you already use. Look for stores that offer you double or triple the face value of the coupon. Some stores only offer double and triple coupon values on specific days of the week so make sure you take advantage of them if at all possible. You will be amazed at how quickly this type of coupon system can help you slash your grocery bill.

Watch For Inflamed Prices During Large Sales


It is very important that you make sure the store isn’t inflating the prices on their items though because if they do you won’t save much with the coupons. Don’t be tempted to use a bunch of coupons in items you don’t normally use though or your grocery bill may end up increasing!

Newspaper And Weekly Flyer Coupons
 Pack A Good Punch


You can get coupons from magazines and newspaper ads. Pay close attention the to the expiration dates on them as well. If you have access to the internet go to the sites for the products you use. Many of them offer coupons that they will mail to you or that you can print at home. If these sites offer an opt in list for you to get promotions andcoupons by e-mail then take advantage of it.

In Store Coupon Swapping


Some retail stores that welcome coupons, offer a counter where you can take your unwanted coupons for other people to use. At the same time you are welcome to pick up various coupons others have left to make your own purchases. 
There are great coupon organizers that you can use like a mini filing system. You can categorize thecoupons by the listed areas as well as create some of your own categories. This will reduce the amount of time you spent going through them while you are shopping.

Coupon Hustle


Many retailers are more than willing to honor the coupons for a competitor so that you will purchase the item from them instead of the other store. The best way to approach this issue is to take the coupon into the store with you. Ask to speak to a manager and explain that you really want to make the purchase from them but that the other store offers a much better price. In most cases they will at least match the price of the competition. Other retailers will even beat the price to encourage you to remain a loyal customer of theirs.


Check Online For City Event Coupons


Any time you plan to visit a museum, amusement park, or other activity check to see if there are coupons offered anywhere. Many times you will find buy 1 get 1 free coupons for such outings and that can be a great savings for your trip. You can usually find this out by looking online or calling the chamber of commerce in the area of the event. Online auctions like Yahoo! Auctions and eBay offer you plenty of opportunities to take advantage of discount coupons that others are selling as well.

Dinner At A Discount


Restaurants often offer discount coupons to get people to come in and eat. You do need to pay close attention to the details of the coupon though. Many of them will have specific days of the week they can be used. Some of them also have a set time frame where they can’t be used after 4 pm or something similar.

Spend Less On Your Usual Brands, Instead Of Brands You Do Not Care For As Much


If you take the time to seek out coupons for items you will already spend money on then you can get the rewards of spending less while still getting all the things your family needs. 
You may think it is silly using a $.75 cent coupon here or a $2.00 coupon there but it will really start to add up over time. When you consider the amount of money you spent on groceries, eating out, and entertainment for a whole year those coupons really start to sound good!

Guide To Christmas Shopping On A Budget

Monday, October 5, 2015

Pumpkin Spiced Cookies. A Great Snack After School or After Supper. They Are Delicious And healthy!

Pumpkin Spiced Cookies


Ingredients:

2 cups canned pumpkin 
1 1/2 cups brown sugar 
1/2 cups margarine 
2 eggs 
2 3/4 cups flour 
1 tablespoon Baking powder 
1 tablespoon cinnamon 
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/4 teaspoon ginger

Directions:

1) in a small mixing bowl combine dry ingredients, set aside
2) Combine pumpkin, margarine, eggs & Brown Sugar in a large mixing bowl. 
3) Add dry ingredients, mix well
4) Bake at 325F for 12-15

 Creamy Cinnamon Spread

BestRecipes.co


Thursday, May 21, 2015

Healthy Eating Tips, To Get You Started On The Right Track!

Healthy Eating Tips, Changing How You Eat!

As you may know, not fueling up with the right nutrients,
 can affect how well your body performs and your overall fitness benefits.  
Even though healthy eating is important, there are myths that
hinder your performance if you listen to them.

Below, you'll find some myth busters on healthy eating.


1.  Never Work Out On An Empty Stomach

If you hear a rumbling noise in your stomach, the rumbling is trying to tell you something. Without listening to them, you are forcing your body to run without any fuel.  

Before you exercise or do any physical activity, always eat a light snack, such as an apple or carrots, even a small salad.  You will never be able to focus on your workout if your stomach is grumbling the whole time!  

2.  Balancing Energy Bars And Drinks, With Fruits And Veggies

Although they are fine every once in a while, they don't deliver the antioxidants you need to prevent cancer.  Fruits and vegetables are your best bets, as they are loaded in vitamins, minerals, fluid, and fiber.

3.  Do Your VERY BEST NOT To Skip Breakfast.

Yes,  We all say we don't have the want or the time to eat in the morning, but skipping breakfast is never a good idea. It is so important to fuel your body and mind, as 
breakfast starts YOU for your day.  

Your body needs fuel as soon as possible, and without it, you'll be hungry throughout the day. Causing you to snack on whatever may happen to be in sight, when that 2:30 rumble hits

4.  Unless You Are A Professional Competitor, Stay Away From Those Low Carb Diets

Body builders will cut their carbs to the bare minimum, when prepping for competition. It's much different for someone who is just starting to adjust their lifestyle to their new healthy habits!   Your body needs carbohydrates for your muscles and the storing of energy, to get you through your day and your workout!   

5.  Eating What You Want

Eating healthy and exercising doesn't give you an all access pass to eat anything you want. Everyone needs the same nutrients whether they exercise or not, as well as fruits and vegetables. 

Just remember, everything is ok, in moderation! As long as you don't consume large amounts of those sugary and fatty foods, and keep your potions small. You can have your treats, once in a while! 

6.  It's Not About Cutting As Many Calories As You Can

Although losing weight involves calories, losing it too quickly is never safe.  What you should do, is aim for 1 - 2 pounds a week.  Always make sure that you are getting enough calories to keep your body operating smoothly. 

It is NEVER your goal to cut as many calories as you can. Only the ones you don't need. Everyone's ideal calorie intake is different, but try to keep it below 1800 calories a day when you are starting out. If you find yourself getting hungry during the day add a few more servings of fruits & veggies to help keep your calorie count down!

7.  Skip Soda And Alcohol

Water, milk, and juice is the best to drink for active people.  Watch your sugars when you are choosing fruit juices. But remember to keep in mind that fruits and veggies have natural sugars. So also have a quick look at the ingredients for added sugars, before you make your decision! 

You should drink water often, and not rely on thirst to be an indicator.  By the time you get thirsty, your body is already running a bit too low.  So try to keep some nice cold plain or fruit infused water on hand at all times. 




Changing how you eat is always a great step towards a healthy lifestyle
 and it will affect how your body performs.  The healthier you eat, 
and more active you are, the better you'll feel.  
No matter how old you may be, healthy eating, along with an active lifestyle,
 is something we  should all strive for.  Once you give it a chance, 
you'll see in no time at all just how much it can change your and your families life - 
for the better.

A Few Great Olive Oil Recipes To Get You Started!

Bruschetta 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Crock Pot Chicken Dinner Recipes

Crock Pot Chicken Dinner Recipes

Chicken Corn Chili

Chicken  Corn Chili

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken  breast halves 
1 (16 ounce) jar salsa 
2 teaspoons garlic powder 
1 teaspoon ground cumin 
1 teaspoon chili powder 
salt & ground black pepper to taste 
1 (11 ounce) can Mexican-style  corn 
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans


Directions:

A) Place chicken and salsa in the slow cooker the night before you  want to eat this chili. 
B) Season with garlic powder, cumin, chili  powder, salt, and pepper. 
C) Cook 6 to 8 hours on Low setting. 
D) About 3 to 4 hours before you want to eat, shred the chicken with 2 forks. 
E) Return the meat to the pot, and continue cooking. Stir the corn and the pinto beans into the slow cooker. Simmer until ready to serve.

Slow Cooker Adobo Chicken

Slow Cooker Adobo Chicken

Ingredients:
1 Small Onion, Sliced 
8 Cloves Garlic, Crushed 
3/4 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce 
1/2 Cup Vinegar 
1 (3 pound) Whole Chicken, Cut  Into Pieces


Directions:

A) Place chicken in a slow cooker. 
B) In a small bowl mix the onion,  garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar, and pour over the chicken. 
C) Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Angel Chicken

Chicken And Spinach Angel Hair Pasta

Ingredients:

1 Cup Chicken Broth
1/4 Cup Canola  Oil
1/4 Cup Dry White Wine 
3 Cloves Of Garlic, Chopped
1 1/2 pounds Boneless Skinless  Chicken Thighs, Cut Into Bite-Size  Pieces 
1/2 pound Angel Hair Pasta,  Uncooked 
2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh  Parsley
1 Whole Lime
1 Tsp Salt & Pepper

Directions:

A) Combine broth, oil and wine with whisk until  blended
B) Pour over chicken in slow cooker. Top with lime juice, garlic, parsley, salt & pepper
C) Cook on LOW 4 to 5  hours (or on HIGH 2 to 3 hours).
D) Cook pasta as directed on package about 15 min. before chicken is done; drain. 
E) Serve topped with chicken mixture and parsley.

Want More Chicken Dinner Ideas? Click Here

 Classic Chicken Soup

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Forget Carrots For Your Eye Sight, Try Apricots Instead!!

Forget Carrots For Your Eye Sight, 

Try Apricots Instead!!



If you suffer from any kind of allergies involving your eyes, you will do almost anything to relieve that pain & suffering!! 

There is an all natural way to help ease that!! Adding this sweet little fruit to your daily diet, can help decease irritation as well as infection in your eyes!! It doesn't matter what form you choose, fresh, baked, dried. They are good for you in any form!
Apricots, will add beauty to your skin & sparkle to your eyes! They will help increase the natural lubricants in your eyes. This will make it a bit easier to deal with the dry itchy eyes! Apricots are full of Beta Carotene which help repair the signs & effects of aging. To get the most out of these sweet little beauties, do not peel. Be sure to wash very well before eating!!!

Apricots have been known to be recommended for problems such as:

Conjunctival dryness,
Chronic Itching Or Irritation
Loss Of Visual Activity
Even Night Blindness!
Making Apricots a part of your daily routine, can be the difference in maintaining your visual health, or not!! There are so many vitamins in Apricots, they will work together to keep your eyes healthy!! At the very least it can't hurt your chances of maintaining visual health in your wiser years!!!
***Beware, if apricots are not properly ripened, they can be a bit tough to digest, which may cause bloating or cramping!!***

Monday, March 30, 2015

White Bean, Greens & Sun Dried Tomato Crustini

White Bean, Greens & Sun Dried Tomato Crostini 


 It can be very easy to make a satisfying meal from very little to work with. This is a delicious dish with few ingredients that will please many critiques! (maybe not the children though.) I can't say enough about how tasty this recipe really is. You must try it for yourself! :)



Makes 8 Servings 

Ingredients: 

1 Cup Dried White Beans. (soak overnight in 2 1/2 Cups Of water, in the fridge)
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Onion, Chopped
8 Cups Assorted Fresh Greens ( spinach, arugula, dandelion etc.)
10 Whole Garlic Cloves
1/2 Cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
1/2 Cup Fat Free, Plain Yogurt  (greek is the best)
3 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 Tsp red pepper flakes (1 Tsp if you like it spicy)
8 slices of Whole Wheat Or Grain Bread
Salt & Pepper To Taste 1/2 Tsp Coconut Oil

 Directions: 

1) Drain remaining water from beans. Rinse and add 5 cups of fresh water, add chopped onion, salt and sliced garlic. (keep 1 clove for later)
2) Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer for about an hour. Until the beans are quite soft.
3) Drain Beans, but be sure to keep at least 1 cup of the liquid for blending beans later.
4) Pour Beans into food processor or chopper, add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of liquid back in with the beans. Puree until smooth. Set aside
5) Saute tomatoes with coconut oil and a little garlic. Add 1/4 Cup of bean liquid, and cook until they start to brown. 10 minutes or less.
6) In a large frying pan add the remaining bean liquid, garlic and red wine vinegar. Saute for 5 minutes. Just until the greens are wilted. Add tomatoes and toss well.
7) Grill or toast the bread slices. Spread with bean paste top each one with tomato, greens combo!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

3 Tips To Whiter Teeth, Using Items That Are ALWAYS In Your Kitchen!

3 Tips To Whiter Teeth!!

Whiter teeth, like thick, shiny, hair, is something that many people in our cosmetically driven world desire today. There are many ways to make these wishes come true, without expensive creams, gells, sprays, or surgery !! 
Here are 3 great tips for whitening your teeth, with items you  ALWAYS have in your kitchen!!

1. Baking Soda and Lemon Juice Paste


Baking Soda isn’t a shocker here. Sodium bicarbonate (its official name) is classified as mildly abrasive. It will gently scrub away dingy surface stains to return teeth to a brighter, whiter shade. It’s also very alkaline (the opposite of acidic) so I would think if you have a very acidic mouth or eat a lot of acidic food, it could help balance out the Ph, which would be useful as acid breaks down enamel. (this is strictly speculation on my part.) It will also reduce the acidity of the lemon juice, which acts as a natural bleach of sorts. I use a mixture of baking soda and water on some days, and use the lemon juice on others, as I don’t want to overdo it.
You will need…
-Several teaspoons of baking soda
-Enough lemon juice or water to form a paste
-A toothbrush
Directions
Mix several teaspoons of baking soda with enough fresh lemon juice (or water) to make a paste. Wipe your teeth and any extra saliva off of them with a paper towel. Put a good amount of paste onto your toothbrush and apply. Leave the paste on for 1 minute, then rinse, so as to avoid the acid effecting enamel. If you are using just water you can leave it on for up to 3 minutes.

2. Strawberry, Salt and Baking Soda Scrub


Strawberries are high in Vitamin C, which can help break-down plaque that is causing your teeth to look yellow. It also has an enzyme called malic acid, which may help to remove surface stains. The salt acts as an abrasive portion of the paste, physically scrubbing away stain-causing gunk, and the baking soda is an extra touch that you can choose to leave out if you’d prefer (I just like to add it to anything involving my teeth.)
You will need…
-1-3 large strawberries
-A pinch of seat salt
-1/2 teaspoon of baking soda (optional)
Directions
Mash the berries into a pulp, and add a pinch of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda, if you’re using it. Wipe any extra saliva off your teeth with a paper towel, and then apply a generous portion of the mixture to a toothbrush and apply. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. Do this nightly.

3. Coconut Oil Rinse



I know, I know,  this sounds absolutely  CRAZY (I thought it was crazy too when I read about it for the first time) but rinsing your mouth with coconut oil (called ‘oil pulling’) is a unique, old, remedy that people swear by to help whiten teeth. It doesn’t sound like the most pleasant thing in the world, but I actually don’t mind the taste, and I think it does make a difference in the color of your teeth. It won’t make a difference by “bleaching” per say, but lauric acid in coconut oil can rid your teeth of bacteria found in plaque that can make them yellow. It is also supposed to promote gum health, and help keep your breath fresh.
You will need…
-A tablespoon of coconut oil
Directions
In the morning, before you brush your teeth, scoop out a tablespoon or a little less (depending on the size of your mouth) of coconut oil. You can either soften it, or just put it in your mouth (I usually do the latter, and just let it soften.) Push, swish, and “pull” the oil through and around your teeth for 10-15 minutes, then spit it out, rinse with water, and brush your teeth.