Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from February, 2014

Sweet Baby Ray's Crockpot Chicken

Well this is a favorite, some of you might have this recipe already and have made it for your family.  My family loved it and I thought it was good enough to share. 4-6 Chicken breasts 1 bottle of Sweet baby Ray's BBQ sauce 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tsp garlic powder Mix everything together but the chicken Place the chicken in the crockpot (frozen is ok) Pour the mixture over the chicken Cook on Low for about 4-5 hours   Make sure to check after 4 hours to see if done. Don't over cook 

5 DIY Outdoor Projects for Spring!!

These long winter months are starting to get to me.  I am itching to get outside and create.  Soon the days will be longer, sunnier, and everyone will be ready to spend more time outside in the great outdoors! Besides looking fantastic, an outdoor oasis can actually add value to your home. To help you create an outdoor space to be proud of this summer, I am going to highlight five do-it-yourself projects that you can accomplish in less than a weekend. Hop on over to Homes.com to see all 21 examples of the five different do it yourself outdoor projects that you could start planning to tackle once this winter weather leaves us and spring and summer arrives.

My Marinade for Steak

This marinade is a concoction of mine that just kinda happened as I went along.   I get a huge thumbs up from my family and friends when I use it.  Hope you enjoy!! Marinade for Steak 4-5 Cloves garlic (chopped) 4 tbsp Balsamic vinegar 4 tbsp Fresh lemon juice 2 tbsp Montreal steak seasoning 2 tbsp Honey 1-1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp Soy sauce 1 tsp Oregano 1 tsp Basil 1 tsp Thyme 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes 2/3 cup Olive oil    Mix all ingredient together and put  in a ziplock bag with the Steak or London Broil and leave for at least 4-6 hours. I try to leave mine overnight.   Then Grill as you would.

Why does the brain remember dreams?

An article from  Science Daily Some people recall a dream every morning, whereas others rarely recall one. In a new study, research shows that the temporo-parietal junction, an information-processing hub in the brain, is more active in high dream recallers. Increased activity in this brain region might facilitate attention orienting toward external stimuli and promote intrasleep wakefulness, thereby facilitating the encoding of dreams in memory. The reason for dreaming is still a mystery for the researchers who study the difference between "high dream recallers," who recall dreams regularly, and "low dream recallers," who recall dreams rarely. In January 2013 (work published in the journal Cerebral Cortex ), the team led by Perrine Ruby, Inserm researcher at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, made the following two observations: "high dream recallers" have twice as many time of wakefulness during sleep as "low dream recallers" ...

75 Great Uses for Baking Soda

Baking soda is an excellent natural cleaning option.  The things you can do with it are endless. Check out these great 75 uses for Baking Soda. You will be saving yourself some money by not needing to buy a chemical cleaner.      Click  75 Uses for Baking Soda

Skinny Cauliflower Tots

I found this great recipe on Kourtney Kardashian's blog. I love finding healthy alternatives to try.  Cauliflower roasted is amazing so these should be as well . Skinny Cauliflower Tots Ingredients (All Organic/Non-GMO products): 2 1/2 cups raw cauliflower florets (about 2 cups when cooked) 1 large egg 1 large egg white 1/2 cup onion, diced 1 tsp garlic, minced 2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced 1/2 cup Colby Jack cheese, grated 1/2 cup seasoned Panko breadcrumbs salt and pepper, to taste Instructions: First, cook the cauliflower florets by pouring 1/4 inch of water into a large pan over medium heat. Once the water is simmering, reduce the heat to low and add the cauliflower. Cover with a lid and let simmer for about 5 minutes. The cauliflower should be tender, but not mushy when done. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Chop the cauliflower into fine pieces and place 2 cups of the cauliflower pieces into a medium bowl. Add the remaining ingred...

Sunning sensibly has numerous health benefits for the body

This article sheds some light of how important Vitamin D and sun exposure is beneficial to your health. " NaturalNews  In spite of years of bad press about the harmful effects of the sun, with its powerful ultraviolet rays, such as UVAs and UVBs, researchers are now pointing to its many benefits instead. For both mental and physical benefits, exposure to the sun is necessary for good health. Even the benefits offered by substitutes, such as vitamin D supplements, are not as well processed by the body as natural exposure to the sun. The many benefits of sun exposure In a recent issue of  Dermato-Endocrinology , researchers found that the benefits of exposure to the sun go significantly beyond the production of vitamin D. Of course, this vitamin is an important one for the body, but there are numerous benefits to the body that make sensible exposure to the sun a must for continued good health. relieve pain from chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and diabete...

Crockpot Balsamic Glazed Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin

Crockpot  Balsamic Glazed Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin Serves:  6 Ingredients 2 pounds Pork tenderloin 1 teaspoon Ground sage ½ teaspoon Salt ¼ teaspoon Pepper 1 clove Garlic; crushed ½ cup Water ½ cup Brown sugar 1 tablespoon Cornstarch ¼ cup Balsamic Vinegar ½ cup Water 2 tablespoons Soy sauce Instructions Mix together the seasonings: sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Rub over tenderloin. Place ½ cup water in slow cooker; place tenderloin in slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. hour before the roast is finished, mix together the ingredients for the glaze in a small sauce pan: brown sugar, cornstarch, balsamic vinegar, water, soy sauce. Heat over medium and stir until mixture thickens, about 4 minutes. Brush roast with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking. (For a more caramelized crust: remove from crockpot and place on aluminum lined sheet pan, glaze, and set under broiler for 1-2 minutes until bubbly and carameliz...

Folding Ottoman Bed

This is such a unique item.  I never saw this before. Hide a guest bed in plain site with this Ottoman by day  Folding bed  by night  Put your feet up and relax, and stop wondering how you can accommodate overnight guests. Problem solved with this clever ottoman!   Shop for this great item at  solutions blair

When is the best time to buy Airline tickets? Planning a trip?

I always find this subject very interesting especially that my last two trips I planned were half done with a travel agent.  Normally I would not use one but it really all depends on if your willing to do your homework or not.  When you look into it yourself and check out the resorts and airlines, you have a better idea of what prices are and can decide what will be best for you and your plans. Travel agents can get you a great deal but sometimes you can get it cheaper booking it yourself.   My last two trips I ended up getting my own airfare but my resort I went through an agent.  Agents sometimes are offered more amenities that they can pass on to you.  However whenever I vacation in Puerto Rico, I usually do all the booking myself.  It really does depend on the time of year you go and what type of accommodations you prefer.  In Puerto Rico I like to rent a condo on the water with a kitchen facility.  I like that type setting to just do your...

GRAPE JELLY MEATBALLS

 I've made this a few times and it is a great crowd pleaser. Great for parties and bbq's, or just a night with friends. It is so simple and goes right in the crock pot. GRAPE JELLY MEATBALLS 2 12 oz jars Heinz chili sauce 1 32 oz jar grape jelly 1 bag meatballs (about 80 in a bag) Put chili sauce and jelly in a large pot, heat until jelly is melted and sauce is smooth, stirring often. Add frozen meatballs; heat until meatballs are thawed and then simmer for 3-4 hours.

Buttermilk Banana Blueberry Bread

Buttermilk Banana Blueberry Bread INGREDIENTS 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1/4 cup buttermilk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 ripe bananas, mashed 1 cup blueberries INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat four 5 3/4-inch mini loaf pans with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in eggs, buttermilk and vanilla until well combined. Beat in bananas until well combined. Gradually add flour mixture to the sugar mixture at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add blueberries and gently toss to combine. Scoop the batter evenly into the loaf pans. Place into oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a tester inse...

Lemon, Goat Cheese, and Asparagus Pasta

Lemon, Goat Cheese, and Asparagus Pasta Yield: 5-6 servings | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 15-20 minutes INGREDIENTS: 1 pound of penne pasta 1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed, and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tbsp. finely grated lemon peel 5 oz. log of soft fresh goat cheese (don’t buy the pre-crumbled one) Salt and pepper, to taste INSTRUCTIONS: In a large pot, season water with salt and bring to a boil. Cook your pasta until al dente, about 7 minutes, then add in the asparagus and cook for 3 minutes longer. Meanwhile, combine oil and oil in a large bowl and crumble the goat cheese in. Drain the pasta and asparagus, while reserving 2 cups of pasta water. Add the hot pasta & asparagus to the cheese mixture. Add about 1/4 cup of the pasta water to the mixture as well. Toss to coat, adding more reserved liquid if it’s too creamy or dry, by adding the water in 1/4 cup increments. I ended up adding almost 1 1/2 cups of the reserved liqui...

DIY: Scarf & Tank Top Hangers

  DIY: Scarf & Tank Top Hangers For those of you that are in love with scarves like I am, you will appreciate this post.  My scarf collection just keeps getting bigger and bigger because I seriously love wearing them. But the way I had them hanging just wasn't working. They were taking up too much room in my closet and ended up getting all wrinkly. I came across this really great idea online for different ways to hang scarves, a DIY Scarf Hanger  It was the perfect solution! All you need are shower curtain rings (I got some at the dollar store) and a hanger. Just attach the rings onto the hanger, hang your scarves through the rings, and voila! Not only do they stay wrinkle-free, but they are easy to look through and don't take up too much room. Works really great for your tank tops too. 

New year for new beginnings

  Currently I am working on a kitchen project in my home. I am trying to transform my very outdated kitchen into a new functional organized space.   On a strict budget,  I have some cabinets to work with but not nearly enough for the transformation.  I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I want in this space.   Do I want an island in the middle of the room and remove a half wall or do I want to work off the wall space that I have.   After researching on Pinterest and other sites for ideas, I have decided to use the cabinets I have to build a pretend island in the middle of the room to see if I could live with that.  I figure it's a practical idea considering that it's such a drastic change.  So this is what my kitchen looks like now.  I'm going to be working with someone who's going to help me build and transform the space.  I am hoping for some decisions by the end of this week.  I really need to decide if I should ...