Loving Our Home | Home Tips, Advice, and Easy Recipes

Simple Home Tips and Solutions

Arabian Inspired Chicken with Garlic Sauce

By Leave a Comment

This recipe for Arabian Inspired Chicken with Garlic Sauce is savory and delicious. If you enjoy the wonderful flavors of the Middle East, this will surely please your taste buds. If you are looking for a dish that your friends and family will rave about, this is it! This recipe will feed approximately four adults.

Ingredients For Garlic Sauce

6-10 Cloves Garlic ( grated )
Juice of 1 Large Lemon
1Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro (finely chopped)
1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt
Mix all ingredients together, taste for flavor and place in air tight container, refrigerate

Ingredients For Marinated Chicken

image1-2-024-6 Skinless Chicken Thighs (deboned and cut into cubes)
1 Medium Red Onion (diced)
2 1/2 Teaspoons of Cumin
1 1/2 Teaspoons Turmeric
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Pepper
1 Teaspoon Chili Powder
4 Cloves Garlic (grated)
2 Tablespoons Dry Parsley
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

In a large bowl add oil and spices, mix well.
Add cubed chicken to bowl and blend with oil and spices.
Refrigerate for 2 hours (best results if marinated overnight).

In a large skillet on medium high heat, add marinated chicken, cook uncovered for 4 minutes on each side until done.

Serve this delicious Arabian Inspired Chicken with Garlic Sauce on top of spring mix lettuce with cucumbers and extra garlic sauce or serve on warm pita or flat bread.

Enjoy!

Posted by Eve

Homemade Tomato Soup

By Leave a Comment

If you enjoy homemade tomato soup, I have an awesome recipe for you to try.  It does not cost much and any extra soup can be frozen for later consumption.  This recipe is a chunky version but you can make a less chunky version by simply allowing it to pulse in your food processor longer.

Ingredients

Homemade Tomato Soup
Homemade Tomato Soup (Chunky)

3-4 Lbs Roma Tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1-2 Teaspoons Salt
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
5 Large Cloves Garlic (grated)
1 Tablespoon Basil (dry)
1 Tablespoon Oregano (dry)
1 Teaspoon Red Chili Flakes (optional)
1-2 Tablespoons Cilantro (fresh)
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
1 1/2 Cups Water

Directions

Steam your tomatoes in a colander for 5 minutes.  Set aside and allow it to cool. Then gently peel off skin.  Removing the skin is important because if this step is avoided the skin will roll up into a “needle” and ruin your soup.
Place tomatoes in a saucepan and add spices.
Allow tomatoes and spices to simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
Carefully, pour mixture into a food processor and pulse until tomatoes are broken down.
Return mixture to saucepan.
Slowly, add 1/2 of a cup of water at a time and gently stir.  Add more water, if you prefer a thinner soup. Taste to see if more salt is required.
Allow soup to simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
Serve soup with garlic bread or French bread for a light afternoon lunch.
If you like a more creamier soup add a spoon of sour cream or heavy cream to each serving.

If you love tomatoes as much as I do, you might find yourself addicted to this healthy and simple homemade tomato soup. Enjoy!!

Posted by Eve

Easy Organizing Tips for Your Home

By Leave a Comment

Organizing your home is essential, not just because you keep it clutter free but also because you can find the things you need easily and you feel better mentally when your surroundings are in order. You may even find ways to repurpose items that you have around your house that have just been collecting dust. Here are a few organizing tips for your home that you can implement this weekend.

For Your Kitchen

The more organized your kitchen, the more inspired you’ll be to create new recipes and pack school lunches like a pro. Start by sorting out your pantry to ensure that nothing has expired or has become unusable. Keep all similar food items in the pantry together — for instance, store all of your baking items in one area and all seasonings for food in another. All canned foods should be placed on separate shelf with the labels facing out. This will make it easier for you to locate exactly what you need for recipes. To declutter your counter space, get a few empty vases to store the large cooking utensils that you frequently use. Keep two or three appliances on the counter and put the rest away in storage until you need them.

For Your Bedroom

You can easily declutter your bedroom closet.  Begin by creating three separate piles — one is for clothes to donate, the other is for clothes to keep at hand, and the third is for storage until next season. Typically, you should donate all clothing items that you have not worn for a full year. Trust, you won’t miss them — just give them away, because you’ll feel so much lighter afterwards, especially with your newfound space. An added bonus is that you will be helping someone who could use the clothes. Purchase an over the door rack so that you can organize your shoes, belts, scarfs and ties. Store seasonal clothes under the bed.

The next place that usually gets a little crazy is the top of your dresser (both the inside and outside). First, assign a certain type of clothing to each drawer (underwear, socks, t-shirts, jeans) and stick to that plan going forward. If you have trinkets on your dresser that you are fond of, adding a small shelving unit for jewelry that will help keep them safer and better organized.  One shelf can be for makeup, another shelf for nail polish and yet another for manicure and pedicure accessories.

For Your Bathroom

Simply purchasing an over the toilet rack will take care of a lot of your organizational problems in the bathroom. An over the toilet rack is a place for your bathroom accessories, extra towels and more. You will enjoy a clutter free sink and shower (except for your most used items, like shampoo and conditioner). Organize your personal products into categories on the shelves — for example, put shampoos, conditioners and body wash on one shelf. Next, put lotions, shea butter and other skin conditioning items on another shelf. And finally, place colognes, body sprays and other scented items on yet another shelf.  Keep things tidy by making sure to replace all items used back to their proper location on the rack.

Maintaining ongoing habits is key to keeping your home organized. So after you dedicate a weekend to doing the initial organization, it’s okay to become particular about keeping things in its proper place.

Posted by Eve

Featured image: Rubbermaid Homefree Series Closet Kit (via Flickr)

Protecting Your Organic Vegetable Garden from Pests

By Leave a Comment

Starting an organic vegetable garden is such an exciting experience — especially if you’re a first timer. As you start to see your little sprouts coming up more and more, you’ll probably also start to feel more and more protective of your little veggies. The goal is to keep the garden organic, so you don’t want to spray it with chemical pesticides and weed killers. Here are some tips for guarding your organic vegetable garden from unwanted pests using natural methods.

The Garden Fence

One of the best ways to keep small mammals, like rabbits and cats, out of your organic garden is to put a fence around it. You can go all out with a professional wire fence that’s rooted in the ground, or you can keep it simple with a plastic green fence that you can buy at a home improvement store. If you choose the latter option, place wood panels all around the edges of the garden and secure the plastic fencing to it with staples and a staple gun. Then get thin bamboo poles — thread then through the holes and gently hammer them into the ground.

garden fence

Keep Your Neem Oil Spray Handy

The deeper you get into the summer, the more you’re going to feel the urge to protect your lovely organic garden from crawling critters like worms, flies, and snails. Neem oil is a natural product that helps keep garden pests away. They just don’t like the smell or taste. Add about three drops of Neem oil to a quart spray bottle filled with water. Keep your Neem oil spray handy and on your hip, like you’re farming in the Wild Wild West.

neem oil

Scare Crow or Moving Owl for Birds and Squirrels

You’ve taken care of the crawling pests and kept the bunny rabbits at bay, but how do you deal with your flying friends? There are certain crops that birds absolutely love, like corn. They can’t resist those sweet delicious kernels of corn and will go through great lengths to peck through the sheaths. The classic solution that farmers use to ward off birds is a scare crow. You can also step it up a notch by putting a motion activated owl on a pole and putting it near your corn. The only thing better than that would be a scare crow that does the Macarena (or maybe just the two-step).

motion activated owl

Stand Up Weed Puller

Weeds are going to find their way into your organic garden. They love the delicious fertilizer, soil and water as much as your veggies do. They steal resources from your plants. So to keep your garden organic, you have to get in there and pull them out regularly. Luckily there’s a product on the market that makes this easy — it’s called a stand up weed puller and it works well on stubborn weeds. Just push the three pronged end of the tool into the dirt, twist it a few times and pull out the weed. You need a little elbow grease, but it gets the job done.

weed puller

Maintaining an organic garden isn’t as difficult as it may sounds. You just have to keep a close eye on it and keep a few natural products and tools handy. Happy #Gardening!

Posted by Jasmine

Spring Cleaning Ideas and Motivation

By Leave a Comment

When the somber days of winter finally vanish and spring has sprung, it’s the perfect time to start taking on simple projects that won’t break your bank and improve your home. Here are some ideas to get you motivated to do some spring cleaning.

Open Up the Windows

Let the fresh air in.  Nothing will get you more in the mood to clean than smelling the fresh air from outside coming into your home. Play a little of your favorite motivational music or an audiobook to get your energy flowing.

Dust First

Plenty of dust has likely accumulated in your house throughout the cold winter season. Grab a dust buster or Swiffer and dust off your shelves, lamps and knick knacks to start.

The Floors

Your floors are your foundation, so that’s the next detail to take care of. Vacuum and mop all of the floors in your home. This is also a great time of year to rent a rug shampooer from your local supermarket and shampoo all carpets throughout your house.

Linens

Changing the curtains and bed linens in all rooms will rejuvenate the appearance in your home.  Remove the dark winter colors and replace them with the cheerful colors of spring, such as vibrant yellows, oranges and shades of pink.  You may find it easier to purchase a duvet that incorporates all of the colors of spring to cheer up your bedroom. You may also want to add bright and colorful throw pillows on the bed and the sofa in your living room to add springtime pops of color.

Flower Time

Adorn your home with planted flowers or flowers in vases to bring in the spring season.  Remember that some flowers need full daylight, near a window while others can be placed wherever you like.  Try a potted sunflower in the kitchen so that every time you go in for breakfast you’re met with its beauty and fresh scent.  Place flowers on the coffee table and end tables in your living room.  Make sure to choose flowers that blend well with your color scheme.

Your Front Door or Porch

Remember to do some spring cleaning on the outdoors as well. Sweep your stoop or porch thoroughly. Wash your front and back windows. The front porch is a great place to hang ferns to beautify your entrance. They will make your entrance more welcoming to you and your guests. If you are an apartment dweller, you can make a lovely floral wreath to hang on your front door.

When you hear the birds chirping and begin to smell the fresh scents of spring, you’ll probably get all the motivation you need for spring cleaning. Start with these simple ideas and add additional projects to your list as you go along.

Posted by Eve

 

Image courtesy Flickr (pattynwalter)

How to Clean & Freshen Your Carpet Naturally Without a Rug Shampooer

By Leave a Comment

 
If you have pets or just prefer natural solutions, you probably want a non-toxic cleaner for your carpets. Many people don’t understand the effects that harsh chemicals can have on your indoor air quality and overall environment. Thankfully, there are a plethora of products available that are made with all natural ingredients and are safe for both humans and pets. Here are a few of the best products to safely clean and freshen your carpet naturally without having to use a rug shampooer.
 
 

Eco-Me Carpet Freshener

 
Sometimes you just want a product that you can shake over the carpet to freshen and clean, then vacuum. This Eco-me carpet freshener is made with 100% all natural products and is safe for pets as well as humans.  The blend of citrus and sage provides a pleasing, calming scent to add to the air in your home.
 
 
 

 

Out! Stain and Odor Remover

 
Out! Stain and Odor Remover is a popular and highly rated product that you’re definitely going to want to have on hand if you have a pet that sprays or has accidents on your carpet or upholstery. Just spray the area liberally, and the smell seems to evaporate. It’s made with a natural beneficial bacterial enzyme formula that attacks the pet odor and freshens the area in the process. You could also spray your carpets with it every week for a quick cleaning/freshening before you vacuum.
 
 
 

 

Tweetmint All Purpose Non-Toxic Disinfecting Enzyme Cleaner

 
A lot of people like Tweetmint cleaner because it can be used to both clean carpets and eliminate pests, like spiders and ants. It can also be used for cleaning more than just carpets in your home. It comes in a concentrated bottle, so while it’s a bit costly, it will last for months. Just add a few capfuls to your spray bottle and add a few coats to your carpet.
 

 

 

Simply Green Naturals Cleaner

Natural CleanerThis product comes in a convenient spray bottle.  It is also made from 100% naturally sourced ingredients. Simple Green Naturals Carpet Cleaner a spot-cleaner, so this product will work for you if you have children or pets that soil your carpets.

 
 
 
 
Remember why you chose carpets for your home: so that your family and pets can feel comfortable playing, sitting or even laying on the floor. These products will help you to clean and freshen your carpet naturally and eliminate the need to rent an expensive rug shampooer.
 
Posted by Eve
Image courtesy Flickr; advaits