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Delicious Homemade Chicken Salad

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This recipe for Delicious Homemade Chicken Salad is one of my favorite summer go-to meals. I really love the versatility of this salad. It can be a sandwich that is enjoyed for lunch or a main course for dinner with some veggies. Since my schedule can be erratic in the summer, I prepare a large quantity ahead of time. Another great thing about chicken salad is that you can use your favorite part of the chicken. For example, you can use the leg meat, thigh meat or breast. The choice is yours!

Ingredients

3 Cups Chicken Breast ( deboned and shredded )
2 Large Stalks of Celery ( finely diced )
1/4 Small Red Onion ( finely diced )
2 Tablespoons Mayonnaise ( more or less depending on your preference )
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1/4 Cup Raisins or Seedless Grapes Cut In Halves (optional)

Instructions

In a large pot, fill half way with water and add desired chicken pieces. Boil chicken pieces until done. For about 30 minutes on a high heat. Remember, that if you use chicken breast, it cooks faster than the other parts. Remove chicken parts from pot and let meat cool, in a large bowl, at room temperature or in the fridge for 20 minutes. Now, with either your hands, fork or knife shred or cube your chicken pieces. Return chicken to the large mixing bowl and add all other ingredients. Mix well and serve on bread or on top of salad.

Chicken Salad with Leafy Greens

Enjoy your delicious Homemade Chicken Salad!

Posted by Eve

 

Photo credit: Flickr/stuart_spivack

 

 

Easy Homemade Coleslaw

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Coleslaw is an all-American side dish and a summer must-have.  I can’t imagine enjoying a cook out without having a spoonful of coleslaw on my plate. This recipe is sweet, creamy and tangy. The secret to great coleslaw is that the finer the cabbage is cut, the better the coleslaw will taste. So make sure you have either a really sharp knife (be careful when using) or a mandolin to shred your cabbage. This recipe for homemade coleslaw is best when prepared the day before, so that all of the flavors can marinate well into the cabbage.

Homemade Coleslaw

Ingredients

1 Large Head of Cabbage (finely shredded)
1 Large Carrot (peeled and shredded)
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons White Vinegar
2 Tablespoons of White Sugar (or 1 tablespoon of your favorite sugar substitute)
1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions
In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar and black pepper. Mix well. Then, add the cabbage, a handful at a time, tossing it to coat the cabbage. Now, add the shredded carrot and mix well. Store in the refrigerator for at least two hours. For the best results refrigerate over night. Give the coleslaw a toss before serving.

Posted by Lorraine

Fun Games from Your Childhood to Play Outdoors with Your Kids

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When the weather gets warm, who doesn’t enjoy a little backyard fun? Playing fun games outdoors with your kids creates a lifetime of memories for everyone. Some of the best outdoor games were played in your childhood and in generations past, but they won’t ever get old for kids. Try playing these fun outdoor games from your childhood with your young ones. A quick trip to your local dollar store will provide you with some of the necessary items you’ll need to have a great day.

Water Balloon Fight!

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Get those balloons ready!

When it’s hot outside and your kids tell you that they are “so bored,” get them outside for a water balloon fight! Get as many balloons as you can and tell your kids to help you fill them with ice cold water. Next, break evenly into two teams (you can swap teams if you’re the only adult, because you have an unfair advantage!). Draw a line in the middle of your lawn with a piece of string and play a make shift dodge ball game with the water balloons. Whoever lands the most water balloons on members of the other team wins! Set clear safety rules. The losing team has to pick up the pieces of balloons around the yard or you can all just clean up as a group. It’s a fun and safe way to cool off on a hot day.

Play Ball!

Another fun game of the past that we all enjoyed is Wiffle Ball. It’s a form of baseball that uses a light weight plastic bat and ball. The way the ball soars in the air when you get a hit is exhilarating—your kids will love it. Make the playing field as large or as small as you want. Make the bases out of odd, yet safe, items that are in your garage. It will be an awesome game and best of all you don’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt, and all your windows are safe.

Slip and Slide!

One of the best water games from the past is the Slip and Slide. It’s a long plastic runner that extends from one end of your yard to the next. Attach a hose to the slip and slide, turn on the water and start sliding! Some people say adding a bit of dish shop to the runner makes it easier to slide. Get a good running start and cruise your way down the slippery surface. It’s a great way to cool off and have some excitement on a hot summer day. You might find yourself just as eager to use the slip and slide as your kids are (memories 🙂 .

Barbecue Time!

At the end of all this backyard fun how nice would it be to end the afternoon with the good old all-American tradition of hotdogs Barbecue Outdoor Grillingand hamburgers for dinner. Hot dogs and burgers are simple and quick to prepare outdoors on a grill (small or large). Eating the food outside together will be a memorable moment that your kids will always remember.

Need to slow down and spend some quality time with your kids? Make plans to enjoy next weekend with them outdoors and teach them these and other fun games from your childhood. As always, take all precautions to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe time outside!

Posted by Lorraine

 

Staying Cool this Summer without an Air Conditioner

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Many people find it difficult to imagine staying inside in the summer heat without an air conditioner running on full blast. However, there are ways to keep you and your home at a tolerable temperature without the use of an air conditioner for much of the summer (in certain regions). Even if you do choose to use central air or a window AC unit, these tips will help you save some money on your monthly electric bill.

Keep the Blinds Closed

First, if you have large windows in your home and have gotten into the habit of opening your blinds and curtains in the morning, DON’T. Opening the blinds and curtains allows the sun to penetrate and heat up your home. You definitely don’t want to do that with or without an AC running. Keep all blinds drawn shut at the hottest times of the day. Doing this will help lower the temperature inside. Also, consider purchasing room darkening shades or heavy opaque blinds to help block out even more of the sun’s rays. If you want sun rays to enter the home, only open the blinds on small windows.

Shut off Unneeded Electronics

All electronic devices emit heat. This includes your TV, refrigerator, computer, laptop, computer monitor, gaming devices and even your light bulbs. Obviously, you must keep the fridge plugged in, but what about everything else? For example, if your computer is in “sleep mode” it will still emit heat. Try shutting off ALL unnecessary electronic devices in every room in your house. Use low-watt energy efficient light bulbs (the ones that are spiraled). You can even go as far as unplugging the devices from the wall. FYI, your electric company, may in fact charge you for having items simply plugged into the wall, even when off. It’s a minimal fee, yet, it adds up to money wasted.

Cover Your Seats With Cool Material

Cover your favorite sofa and seats with a 100% cotton cover or throw to keep things cool. Think about it — if you have leather or cloth furniture, your natural body heat will warm the seat and in turn raise your body temperature. The cotton fibers allow your body to remain at an more even temperature. It also helps tremendously if you take a cold shower before relaxing in your favorite seat.

More Simple Tips to Stay Cool this Summer

Staying Cool without an Air Conditioner
Ceiling fans are very cooling and help distribute air throughout the room.

Here are a few more simple tips for staying cool this summer without an air conditioner:

1- Have plenty of ice cold water around you at all times.
2- Move at a much slower pace when home (what’s the rush?)
3- Place floor fans facing the ceiling at the center of each room and turn on ceiling fans. Open the window (while keeping the blinds drawn).

Fans will keep the air circulating throughout your home and it will create a flow of air from room to room.

An air conditioning unit is a modern day luxury, but it isn’t always necessary. Use these tips to enjoy your time indoors during the summer and not feel like your house is a sauna.

Stay Cool!!!

Posted by Eve

Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Penne Pasta and Sour Cream

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This recipe for Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Penne Pasta is one of my all time favorites. This is not a loose type of sauce but rather a meaty, rich and super tasty meal. Many people use a combination of ground beef and pork, but I really enjoy using just ground beef. As for the pasta, you can use what ever pasta that you enjoy the best. I prefer penne because the hollow middle fills up with the thick meat sauce.

Ingredients

1 box of Penne Pasta (Cooked Al Dente)
2 Pounds of Ground Beef (80% meat, 20% fat)
2 Tablespoons Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 6 Ounce Can Tomato Paste
3 8 Ounce Cans Of Tomato Sauce
1 Teaspoon Of Sugar
1 Small Onion Diced
1 Small Green Pepper Diced
2 Stalks Of Celery Diced
2 Medium Carrots Diced
3 Cloves Of Garlic Grated
1 Beef Bouillon Cube (dissolve cube in 2 tablespoons of very hot water)
2 Tablespoons Of Dried Oregano
1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Chili Flakes
1/4 Of Red Wine
1/2 Teaspoon Of Salt And Pepper ( to taste )

Instructions
In a large sauce pan on medium heat add the olive oil, diced onions, peppers, carrots and celery and sauté until soft. Remove from pan and set aside. In the same pan, on medium heat, brown the ground beef until done. Remember, not to mince the beef. You want the meat rather chunky. Drain excess oil and discard. Now add the sautéed vegetables to pan. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar and stir well. Bring mixture to a simmer, then set heat on low. Add the grated garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and cook on low for 30 minutes. Remember to gently stir sauce during this time so that sauce does not stick to bottom of pan. After 30 minutes add red wine and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve meat sauce over pasta with a dollop of sour cream.

Make this delicious Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Penne Pasta for family dinner tonight!

Posted by Eve

Strawberry Yogurt Pops Made With Stevia

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When it’s oppressively hot outside, the last thing anyone wants is to have to count calories when consuming a delicious frozen treat. No worries when you make these delicious frozen Strawberry Yogurt Pops Made With Stevia — they’re made with just three ingredients.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to follow the recipe exactly — you can use different fruits such as blue berries, raspberries, mangoes, pineapple, etc. — whatever fruit you enjoy the most. Also, do not put any water in the mixture or it will form ice crystals and weaken the taste of the pop. Instead, if your mix is extremely thick add more yogurt to thin out. Taste your mix before placing it in molds to check for desired sweetness.

** You can find ice pop molds just about anywhere, at a really affordable price.

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt PopsIngredients
2 cups whole strawberries (or the fruit of your choice)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup Stevia

Instructions
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Fill ice pop molds with mixture.

Allow the mixture to freeze for about 3 hours.

Enjoy your Strawberry Yogurt Pops Made With Stevia!

Posted by Eve