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Chicken Salad – A Delicious, Cool and Healthy Treat

Jul 3rd, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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Chicken Salad is a great summertime treat for lunch, dinner or to take to a potluck. There are many variations of Chicken Salad you can make, but the basic recipe is:

chickensalad• Diced, cooked chicken chunks
• Chopped celery
• Chopped onion
• Seedless grapes, white or purple
• Mustard
• Mayonnaise
• Salt
• Pepper

I didn’t suggest any measurements here because you can determine the amounts you need for your family or size of dish you are taking for a potluck.

Place the cooled chicken chunks in a bowl. Mix the other ingredients together and pour over the chicken chunks and blend together.

You can add almond slices or pecans for a crunchy treat, hard boiled sliced egg or lemon juice to the mixture for added flavor. Also, use low fat mayonnaise for a healthier treat.

Chicken salad can be served with bread for sandwiches, on a leaf of lettuce for a nice summertime treat or as a side dish with dinner or at a potluck. I’ve never seen a chicken salad that didn’t get demolished at a potluck or graduation party.

Chicken salad can also be economical. Who couldn’t use a little economical help these days? Grocery stores often have chicken on sale, so when it is, purchase a large amount of it. Then have a cooking day and make a large batch of Chicken Salad. Place a big bowl in your fridge for easy access. Your family will grab it for a quick lunch and when you need a last minute side dish, it will be there. You can also divide it up into smaller portions for a quick lunch on the go.

Another great way to serve chicken salad is to put it in a tortilla wrap, in pita bread or over crackers as a yummy appetizer. Oh and don’t forget about serving it in a croissant for a beautiful and tasty lunch.

Chicken salad is better for you than potato salad, different and I think it’s “prettier”. It’s great for picnics, graduation parties, and open houses, 4th of July celebrations, taking to the beach in a cooler, potlucks or any time you want to serve a nice, cool dish. In a clear serving dish, it also makes a pretty presentation, especially if you add purple grapes.

So, remember, when thinking about a nice, healthy, delicious meal, think Chicken salad instead of potato salad. Your guests will appreciate it and you won’t have to cart home any leftovers. Be sure to set some aside at home for yourself and your family.

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Organization Leads to More Time

Jun 25th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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Moms wear many different hats – chef, taxi driver, maid, planner and organizer. It’s up to you to keep everyone organized. Moms are very busy, sometimes too busy. At times you may feel like you don’t even know if you are coming or going anymore. It gets downright hectic and can leave you wiped out and exhausted. Eventually you get to the point that something has got to give.

Did you know that life doesn’t have to be so stressed and hectic? All it takes is a little organization on your part and you’ll have your house and family running smoothly leaving you extra time and less stress. Sounds good doesn’t it? But maybe you don’t know where to start.

Start by organizing your home room by room. Don’t try to do it all in one day. Instead do it one room at a time. If the thought overwhelms you start with the smallest room and work your way up to the biggest most cluttered room of the house. If this concept is still overwhelming you will want to pick up your copy of Moms Talk Biz Guide to Organizing Your Life and Finding More Time. The guide will give you strategies on how to not only keep clutter to a minimum but how to stay organized as well.

You need to get your family on board no matter how reluctant they may be. Remind them of that old saying “When Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy”. They don’t need to understand how important it is to get rid of the chaos and clutter (although it would be nice if they all did!) just let them know that it’s part of their responsibility as a family member to help keep things organized.

All this may sound overwhelming but you’ll soon find that once you get the clutter cleared and the disorganization destroyed you will have more time in your day and more time to enjoy your family. Pick up your copy of Organizing Your Life and Finding More Time for more tips and tricks on how to make the most of reorganizing your home, so you can have more time.

Posted in: organization.

Celebrating the Fourth of July on the Water

Jun 24th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
1 comment

manboylake There is no better place to be than on our boat during the Fourth of July! We pack food, supplies and other necessities and spend late morning to late night on the boat on the water. We usually boat around the large lake we live near, stop and swim, boat some more, swim, beach it sometimes and then watch the fireworks from the boat as they shoot them right over the lake!

Spending the entire day on the lake takes some preparation, especially if you want to make it festive for a Holiday like the Fourth of July. We have a smaller, 27′ boat that doesn’t have a lot of storage space or a galley, so we have to use coolers and totes or bags.

1. You can purchase red, white and blue paper products for meal time to make it more festive.

2. The key to keeping food cold in coolers on long boating days is using lots of ice and be prepared to purchase more ice if necessary. If you have two coolers, use one for beverages and the other for food. Put all of your food items in zippered freezer baggies to seal out moisture. Put the beverages on the bottom of the cooler first then add ice on top. In the food cooler, put the ice first then the food on top.

3. Prepare as much food at home as possible. Here are some ideas, tips and suggestions:

4. Chopped vegetables, divided into separate baggies

5. Cheese cubes

6. Sandwiches, prepared, wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in individual freezer baggies

7. If you are planning to grill hamburgers on the beach or at a park, make your burger patties at home. Place a piece of wax paper between each pattie and store in a large freezer bag.

8. Purchase separate squeeze condiment bottles that you use specifically for the boat.

9. Remove pickles with a small amount of juice from the jar and place in freezer bags. This is safer and will lighten the load.

10. Individually wrapped, sliced cheese needs to be placed in a freezer bag as well to prevent moisture from seeping in.

11. Tote bread, chips and other dry goods in cloth grocery bags.

12. Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix, even in a boat! If you are going to serve alcoholic beverages, make certain you have a designated driver for the boat!

How to make a Patriotic Windsock

Your kids will love helping with this! Or if they are old enough they can make it themselves!

• Cut the bottom off a cylinder shaped oatmeal container
• Wrap the oatmeal container in blue construction paper
• Cut out stars using white construction paper and glue to the blue construction paper around the cylinder.
• Cut some red and white stripes from crepe paper and glue or staple to one end of the cylinder.
• Punch 4 holes along the top of the cylinder, across from each other.
• Cut two pieces of string about a foot long. Tie the strings to the wind sock (tie the opposite ends of a string to holes on opposite sides of the cylinder).
• Tie a longer piece of string to the smaller pieces – you’ll hang the wind sock from this piece of string.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

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Fourth of July-Beach Style

Jun 22nd, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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beachfood Often we will spend the Fourth of July at the beach and it’s not always easy to come up with ideas for food to take to the beach. The food has to keep in hot weather, be easy to transport and be easy to prepare at the beach. In addition, it’s not always easy to make the Fourth of July stand out from any other day at the beach, so I here’s a few ideas that will help you make your Fourth of July sparkle.

Beachy food tips and ideas:

First of all, you want to make sure you have plenty of ice and a good cooler. You don’t want your food to spoil or your beverages to get warm. Yuk! The best way to pack a cooler is to put your beverages in first, then cover with ice.

Then put all of your food products in zippered baggies to keep them from getting wet and place them on top of the ice. If you have two coolers, use one for beverages only and the other for food. In the one for food, use freezer packs to keep the food cold or put all of the ice in freezer baggies. This will keep your food from getting soggy while keeping it cold.

Also, try to limit the number of times the cooler gets opened. Every time it gets opened, it lets the cold air out. And be extra careful if you are transporting meat or mayonnaise. Keep it as cold as possible at all times.

If you head to the beach early in the day and stay through dinner, try to use your meat for lunch. Say if you’re grilling burgers, do that for lunch, then make peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. It will ensure that your meat doesn’t spoil.

Here are some foods we’ve taken (successfully) to the beach and how we did it:

Grilled burgers:

I make the patties at home first then place a piece of wax paper between each and store in a zippered freezer baggie.
I tote the buns in a cloth grocery bag (LOVE those) along with other things like chips and other snacks.
I usually have a “beach” set of mayo, mustard and ketchup, so our home stuff doesn’t get ruined or sandy. I have a set of squeeze bottles for ease at the beach and to save on clean up.
I take veggies like lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, onion slices and pickles in a zippered baggies. You can do the same with sliced cheese, even though it’s pre-wrapped.

Steak (ribs or other such meat): We love to make steak on the grill and at the beach it can be tricky, especially to eat.

Pre-season each steak at home and store in a zippered baggie. You can even add your marinade to your steak while it’s in the baggie!
The key to successful steak eating at the beach is to use a plastic plate as opposed to a paper plate or a Styrofoam plate. Be sure to tote some steak knives too! We usually forget the steak knives, but eating with your hands is allowed at the beach!

Good veggies to serve with your beach steak are potato pockets. Here’s how you make them.

Potato Pockets

Chop peeled potatoes into bit size pieces and place on a rectangular piece of aluminum foil coated with olive oil. Add chopped onion and garlic powder and make a pocket with the foil, folding in the corners and sealing tightly. Place in a freezer baggie for toting in the cooler. About 15 minutes before grilling the steak, remove the pocket from the baggie and place on the grill. Turn occasionally for even cooking.

Healthy snacks: Instead of the usual potato chips try these yummy snack ideas.

• Slice some apples and sprinkle with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.
• Cut up carrots or baby carrots, cucumber slices, broccoli, cauliflower and olives are easy to store in zippered baggies in the cooler.
• Cheese cubes
• Pickles, removed from the jar and put in a, you guessed it, zippered baggie.
• Ants on a Log, aka celery stalks with cream cheese and raisins. Pre-make at home, wrap each one in aluminum foil and tote in a ZB. Some folks prefer peanut butter rather than cream cheese, whatever works!
• Fruits like oranges, peaches and plums are perfect for the beach. You can eat them without worrying about dripping on your clothes or floor! And any peels or seeds can be tossed right on the beach! I would throw them out of the way, like in the grass though, so others don’t walk on them.
• Beef jerky is a great beach snack. Make up individual baggies for each person.
• Peanuts and other nuts are also healthy and good beach snacks that you can divide into individual baggies as well.

Tips for making your Fourth of July beach party really sparkle.

1. Use red, white and blue paper or plastic goods. You can probably get some with flags or other patriotic symbols at the dollar store or department store for fairly cheap.
2. Poke sparklers in your burgers or steak and light them when serving. Use caution especially around small children.
3. Play patriotic songs on your portable radio on the beach
4. Use flag style beach towels and beach chairs if you have them.

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Inexpensive Fourth of July Party

Jun 20th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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frwrk-rocket1 Independence Day is probably the easiest Holiday to decorate for, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Who wouldn’t mind saving a bit of moola right now?

Decorating Ideas:

• You can usually find red, white or blue paper table clothes this time of year at fairly reasonable prices. Using blue for the table cloth, add white napkins and red paper plates for a festive red, white and blue table. Blue plastic wear on the white napkins and red plastic cups add a nice touch.

• Make a centerpiece using a blue vase of red and white carnations, then add some flags. Give the flags to your guests after your meal is served.

Food Ideas:

1. White corn on the cob served in a red or blue glass bowl.
2. Blue tortilla chips served with red salsa and sour cream.
3. Sliced red tomatoes served with slices of mozzarella.
4. Red pepper slices served with a blue cheese dip on the side.
5. Blue Jell-O with raspberries and topped with whipped cream.
6. Star shaped sugar cookies with white frosting and red and blue sprinkles.
7. A large clear, glass bowl of mixed blueberries and strawberries accompanied by a bowl of whipped cream.

Beverages:

Sweet Summer Tea (I know it’s not red, white and blue, but it’s so American)

Red, White and Blue Freezee: Mix together 1 cup whipping cream, ½ cup frozen blueberries, 1 tsp. lemon juice, and sugar to taste in a blender. Top with a few strawberries.

Fourth of July Punch: Blend together 6 cups of orange juice, 20 oz. frozen strawberries in syrup and 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail. Add 3 cups ginger ale at serving time. Makes 18 servings

Now for some other ways to make your Fourth of July party sparkle (pun intended ?).

• Stick some lit sparklers in a dish when serving it.
• Watch a movie like the National Treasure or some other movie that portrays the beginning of our nation.
• Have patriotic songs playing in the background, like the National Anthem, America the Beautiful and so on.
• Dress in red, white and blue.
• Wear some of those funny star shaped sunglasses.
• Decorate a door or window with Uncle Sam.
• Be sure to hang an American flag if you have one.

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Making the Fourth of July Festive on a Tight Budget

Jun 18th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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flagpinwheelThere are so many things you can do and food you can make that doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but will make your Fourth of July sparkle as if you spent a fortune! Below are some decorating ideas, food ideas and other inexpensive things you can do!

Decorating Ideas

Red, white and blue decorations and patriotic decorations come out before Memorial Day, so you should be able to find an abundance at your local dollar store.

Homemade 4th of July decorations are easy to make and you probably have some or most of the supplies you’ll need already on hand.

Here are some inexpensive things you can make using items you have on hand:

Craft Stick Flags

Paint 5 sticks red and 4 white (per number of flags you want to make). Let dry
Glue the painted sticks together in an alternating pattern by gluing them to one craft stick on the right side and two broken craft sticks in the middle and on the left side.
Cut a small square of blue construction paper and color white stars using a white gel pen.
When the glue has set, turn the flag over. Glue on the square of blue construction paper and glue another craft stick to the long craft stick on the back. Let the glue set.

Stars on a String

Cut out large stars using red, white and blue construction paper. Decorate as desired. Fold over one tip of each star and staple or glue to desired length of red or blue string. You can use these to decorate your base camp!

Festive, Yet Inexpensive Ideas for Food

Chicken: You can usually buy chicken on sale really cheap. So, before the 4th is upon us, be checking your local store’s weekly sales paper for chicken on sale, then stock up. You can make great bbq chicken on the grill.

Corn on the Cob: Summertime is the best time to get inexpensive corn on the cob. You can grill it in their husks right along with the bbq chicken!

Watermelon: Watermelon is one of the most expensive foods for the amount you get. You can make watermelon salads, fruit bowls and other yummy side dishes that will fill your family and guests up!

Other things you can do inexpensively to celebrate our nation’s independence are:

• Have a backyard party and have everyone bring a dish to pass.
• Add sparklers to your burgers when serving them.
• Don’t pass up invites to friends or family who are having backyard parties and take a dish to pass.
• Don’t feel like you have to go all out with decorations. Simply using red, white and blue paper plates, cups and napkins will give your home a patriotic feel.
• Use a vase you already have and fill it with flags from the dollar store. Give one to guests as they arrive too.

Celebrating the Fourth of July shouldn’t cost a fortune, especially in a recession! Using simple tips like the ones above will help you stick to your budget AND enjoy a festive Independence Day!

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10 Fabulous Finger Foods for the Fourth

Jun 16th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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redchekeredtablecloth Celebrating the Fourth of July with friends and family is always fun and can be a great time for family reunions. I know I’m always trying to come up with easy ways to feed everyone, without it costing a fortune or taking hours to prepare. So here are 10, easy to make, inexpensive, finger foods that you can serve at your Fourth of July celebration!

1. Pigs in a Blanket: Using refrigerated crescent rolls and hotdogs, roll each hotdog in an unbaked crescent roll. Place in a 9X13 pan, bake according to crescent roll package directions. Serve with ketchup and mustard, or ranch dressing.

2. Easy Boneless Hot Wings: Bake up some plain, breaded chicken chunks according to package directions. Then dip them in a mixture of your favorite bbq sauce, hot sauce (like Frank’s or Tabasco), Mexican seasonings (i.e. Cayenne pepper, cumin, or Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy or Southwest Chipotle). Serve with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

3. Cucumber Pita Sandwiches: Mix softened pkg. of cream cheese and pkg. of dry Italian dressing powder mix until smooth. Refrigerate overnight. Spread on top of flat pita bread (not pockets). Place slices of unpeeled, patted dry cucumbers over spread, top with pita bread with cream cheese spread. Cut into triangles using pizza cutter and serve.

4. Taquitos: Warm some corn tortillas, just until flexible. Place some already prepared taco meat and shredded cheese in each of them and roll. Baste with vegetable oil and bake on 350F until crispy.

5. Fried Zucchini: Cut zucchini into ¼ inch slices. Heat ¼ inch frying oil in skillet; sprinkle each slice with garlic powder, lemon pepper and parmesan cheese. Fry until golden brown and flip; repeat steps. (Hint: wipe out oil with paper towel after each batch of zucchini to avoid blackening)

6. Cheese Puffs: Put 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and ½ lb. butter in food processor and mix until smooth. Add a cup of flour and mix well. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut dough into 2 inch squares. Wrap a pimento olive with each square, sealing the seams. Place on cookie sheet and bake on 350F until golden brown and crispy.

7. Easy Nacho Cups: Using Tostitos Scoops, place a spoonful of already prepared warm taco meat in each scoop and top with shredded cheese. Top with your favorite nacho toppings such as: sour cream, salsa, sliced black olives, jalapeno slices, chopped onion and chopped tomatoes.

8. Pizza Roll-Ups: Unroll refrigerated crescent rolls into triangles. Sprinkle each crescent roll with garlic and Italian seasonings. Place 4 slices of pepperoni on each triangle. Place ½ a piece of string cheese on each triangle. Roll up, sprinkle with garlic and Italian seasonings again and bake according to the crescent roll package directions or until brown. Dip in warm pizza sauce.

9. Sweet Turkey Wraps: Soften ½ pkg. cream cheese and mix with 2 tbs. applesauce and 1 tsp. dried thyme until smooth. Spread evenly onto fajita size tortillas. Place thin sliced turkey on each tortilla and roll. Wrap each rollup in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours until firm. Cut into one inch slices and serve.

10. Goldfish Crusted Chicken Fingers: Pour 1 bottle of buttermilk ranch dressing in a large bowl. Crush 1 pkg. of cheddar goldfish crackers in another bowl. Using chicken tenderloins, dip in dressing, allowing excess to run off, then dip in the crushed crackers. Place in foil lined pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is done inside at 350F. Dip in additional dressing if desired.

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Cool Salads for a Hot Fourth of July

Jun 14th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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frwrk-rocketTrying to stay cool this Fourth of July? Here are some nutritious, easy to make “cool” food ideas. They are cool and refreshing, fun and festive to serve to your Fourth of July guests!

Red, White and Blue Cheese Salad

Combine 5 cups cubed watermelon, 2 cups sliced strawberries, 2 cups raspberries, 1 cup crumbled blue cheese and 2 tbsp. fresh, chopped mint in large bowl. Drizzle with ½ cup of raspberry vinaigrette. Serves 6

Firecracker Macaroni Salad

Combine all of the following ingredients in a large salad bowl:

1 pkg. cooked shell macaroni
1 chopped green pepper
1 small can chopped pimiento
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped sweet pickles
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp. vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
Salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or chill for a couple of hours.

Fiesta Salad

Combine these ingredients to make the dressing:

3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
cayenne to taste
1 small clove garlic, mashed

Add these ingredients to the dressing:

2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, diced medium
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
4 green onions, chopped
3 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped

Toss all ingredients together with the dressing.

Cool Veggie Salad

Combine the following ingredients together in a medium sauce pan, bring to a boil. Stirring until sugar dissolves.

3/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup sugar

Combine the following veggies and mix together with the vinegar mixture above:

1 can (16 oz) French style green beans, drained
1 can (17 oz) English peas, drained
1 can (12 oz) shoe peg whole kernel corn, drained
1 jar (2 oz) chopped pimento, drained
1 cup chopped celery
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped

Cover and place in refrigerator for 12 hours, stirring occasionally.

All American Salad

In a small bowl, whisk these ingredients together until smooth:
1/4 cup blueberry or raspberry vinegar
1/4 cup blueberry chutney
1/4 cup minced red onion
Salt and pepper, to taste
Incorporate 2/3 cup canola oil, until smooth

Toss together these veggies in a large bowl:

8 cups washed and torn salad greens
3 cups blueberries
2 cups hulled and sliced strawberries
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese

Add the dressing and toss to coat evenly. Top with 1 cup toasted almonds.

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Party in the Park on the Fourth of July

Jun 12th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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girl4thpicnic In our small town, the Fourth of July is a huge, all day party in the park, starting with a parade in the morning and ending with the fireworks after dusk. When my children were small, we would go to the park early and make our “base camp” for the day. Because we live in a small town, as my children got older, they could then go around with their friends to the various activities and check in periodically back at the base camp.

We would pack enough food to last the whole day including snacks and beverages. We usually plan to eat one meal “out” because, well, it’s fun and a nice treat. We also plan on buying other special treats and beverages throughout the day, which lessens the weight of the cooler.

The best way to pack for a day long park party is to make it light and easily accessible. The way to accomplish this is by planning ahead. We usually take lots of finger food that is nutritious, yummy and doesn’t require refrigeration. We try to tote only one cooler to the park and this is usually easily done since we do get some drinks and other goodies in the park.

First, put what beverages you do plan on taking (like bottled water) in the bottom. Cover them with ice. Then put all your snacks and other food items that need to be kept cold on the top of the ice. Be sure to seal them all in zippered baggies to seal out moisture.

Some great snack ideas that are healthy and easy to pack for a long day in the park are:

• Chopped, raw veggies
• Nuts
• Dry cereal
• Cheese slices or cubes
• Beef Jerky
• Peanut butter and crackers
• Goldfish
• Pickles
• Firecracker Pretzel rods (recipe below)

How to make Firecracker Pretzel Rods:

Dip pretzel rods in melted white chocolate chips or almond bark. Decorate with red white and blue sprinkles. Allow to harden before packing to tote.

Want to add a bit of flavor to your water? Throw in some individual packs of powdered drink mix (flavored water, kool-aid, etc.) to add to bottled water.

Another thing to think about when planning your Fourth of July in the park is comfort. You will want to take lawn chairs or beach chairs, blankets and even pillows. In our neck of the woods, it can get really chilly at night, yes even on the Fourth of July! Be sure to take an extra blanket in case moisture builds up from the dew.

You will also want to have baby or hand wipes on hand for spills, stickiness and other such uses. You never know how accessible clear running water will be, or if the restroom will be clean. I know our public restroom at our park gets quite nasty. We try to use one of the nearby restaurants when we get food. Obviously, you have to do what works in your park or town.

As always, use caution when lighting your own firecrackers and sparklers. Please don’t leave lighters or other matches lying around for small fingers to get a hold of and be sure you only use legal firecrackers. They are illegal for a reason!

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Fun, Festive Food Ideas for the Fourth

Jun 10th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
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bluefireworksLooking for some great food ideas for the Fourth of July? You’ve come to the right spot! Below are some ideas you can use to make your Fourth of July celebration fun and festive with food!

Flag Cake

1. Make a 13×9 cake using your favorite cake recipe (can be from a box mix too, any flavor)
2. Frost with white frosting (cream cheese or vanilla)
3. Use blueberries to make the stars of the flag in the upper left corner
4. Use strawberries to make the red stripes on the flag
5. For added spark (pun intended) add a few sparklers!

Red, White and Blue Cupcakes

1. Make your favorite flavor cupcakes
2. Divide white frosting into thirds. Color 1/3 with red food coloring and 1/3 with blue food coloring.
3. Frost each cupcake, alternating colors.
4. You can make little flags on each cupcake using the red, white and blue frosting.
5. Get little flags or sparklers to stick in the center of each cupcake

Need some ideas for lunch or dinner? Try these easy to make, yet fun food ideas!

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad – Use new red potatoes, white baby potatoes and blue or purple potatoes in your favorite potato salad recipe. (Leave the skins on the red and blue potatoes.)

Grilled Hamburgers with Bacon – Mix hamburger with chopped onion and Worcetershire sauce, form 1 inch thick patties and wrap each patty with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick. Grill on each side about 5 to 7 minutes. Top with your favorite burger toppings.

Festive Steak Fajitas – Using grilled skirt steak, red and yellow bell peppers, onions and your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, fold together in a warmed tortilla. A colorful main course that can be served with guacamole, refried beans and Spanish rice!

Faux Fried Chicken – It looks like fried chicken, but it’s baked-healthy and delicious! Dip pat-dried chicken drumsticks in a mixture of buttermilk and your favorite seasonings and roll each of them in a crushed Cornflakes cereal mixed with parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is done. Serve with your favorite side dishes like corn on the cob and mashed potatoes! Great summertime meal, perfect for a Fourth of July celebration!

Here are a couple of festive, cool desserts or treats you can serve on the fourth. These are sure to please family and guests of all ages!

Frosted Fireworks – Using red and blue flavored beverages, such as Kool-aid or Gatorade, pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Place some red, blue and clear cubes in a festive dessert glass and pour seltzer (flavored if you prefer) over the colored ice cubes. Toss in a little flag for added festiveness.

Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad – Toss diced apples, strawberries and blueberries into a mixture of honey, lime juice and fresh, chopped mint. Serve as a side dish with any entrée or use as a topping over vanilla ice cream.

These ideas will make for a festive, fun and colorful addition to any Fourth of July Celebration.

Red, White and Blue Food Ideas

Are you planning a smashing Fourth of July party, but don’t want to serve the traditional burgers or chicken? Here are some simple, yet very festive food ideas using red, white and blue. Use a combination of the following food ideas to create a red, white and blue Fourth of July Feast.

Red Foods

Main Course
New Mexico Style Red Enchiladas – Brown some ground beef, drain. In a large skillet, combine a large can of red enchilada sauce and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. In a separate skillet warm tortillas until just flexible. Then dip each tortilla in the enchilada sauce. Next, make layers starting with a dipped tortilla then add a couple of spoonfuls of meat, a couple of spoonfuls of the enchilada sauce. Top with shredded cheese. Repeat, making as many layers as you‘d like, but a good amount is usually 3. Top it all off with a fried egg and serve with a dinner roll. (Trust me!)

Salad
Summer Tomato Salad – Using not-too-ripe, coarsely chopped tomatoes and cherry tomatoes combine with chopped basil and parsley leaves. Drizzle EVOO and toss.

Appetizer
Fourth of July Apples – Combine an 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese, 3 tbs. butter-softened, ½ cup of crumbled blue cheese, ½ cup chopped walnuts. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Core and cut apples into eighths and sprinkle with lemon juice. Use a butter knife to apply spread to apples.

Blue Foods

Main Course
Blue Catfish Fillets – Dip catfish fillets (patted almost dry) in ¾ cup blue cornmeal with finely chopped jalapeno pepper, 2 cloves of garlic and ½ tsp. salt. Heat one inch of oil in large skillet and fry the fillets until brown on each side and the fish begins to flake inside. Serve salsa, or lemon or lime wedges.

Salad
Blue Potato Salad – Using ½ lb. Peruvian fingerlings (blue potatoes), boil until soft, but not mushy. Gently mix in 2 tbsp. grainy mustard, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 3 thinly sliced celery stalks, 2 tbsp. minced flat leaf parsley and 2 sliced green onions. Makes 8 servings.

Appetizer
Blue Cheese Ball – Using 3 (3-oz each) pkgs. cream cheese, 1 (4-oz) pkg. blue cheese, crumbled,1 jar Kraft Old English cheese spread, 1 small onion, grated finely, 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, Mix all together. Form into two balls, medium size then wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Roll in chopped nuts. Serve with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

Dessert
Blue Ice Cream – Scoop vanilla ice cream into a parfait bowl or other clear dessert cup. Add some blueberry syrup, fresh blueberries, another scoop of ice cream, some more blueberry syrup and top with whipped cream.

White Foods

Main course
Pork Steak in Mushroom Sauce – You can make this in the oven or in a crock pot. I prefer the crock pot because the pork comes out so tender! Place 6 to 8 boneless pork steak in crock pot; let cook for 2 hours on high. Add 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 2 cans of cream of celery soup and cook for 2 more hours on high. To bake in the oven, place the pork steak in a 13×9 glass baking dish, top with the cans of soup and cover with aluminum foil. Bake on 350F for an hour to an hour ½. Top with shredded cheese, if desired.

Salad
White Pineapple Salad – Drain 1 large can pineapple and reserve juice; add enough water to the juice to make 2 cups. Heat to a boil and add Jello, mix until dissolved. Chill until thick as syrup. Mash 2-8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese and add to Jello mixture. Mix well with mixer. Add ½ pt. whipped cream and 1 cup crushed nuts, mix well. Pour into a 9x 12 dish and chill well.

Appetizer
White Pizza Bagel Bites – Using 1 pkg. frozen bagel bites, place on cookie sheet, cut side up. Sprinkle with garlic powder and bake until lightly toasted. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, sliced olives and chopped green pepper. Bake for 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted.

Dessert
All American Cup Cakes – Make cupcakes using your favorite recipe, top with white frosting. Make a flag on each one using blueberries for the stars and red licorice pieces for the stripes.

Posted in: Summertime Food Ideas.
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Easy to Tote, Healthy Snacks for the Fourth

Jun 8th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
1 comment

4thparadebikersIf you’re like us, we usually hit a parade or two, then head to the beach for a few hours, and then spend the evening in a park waiting for the Fireworks to start.

With kids, grandkids and teens it’s hard to keep them from “starving to death”, so I’ve learned to tote snacks to have on hand at all times, to serve between meals.

I try to divide as much as possible into individual servings for convenience and to ward off any possible sharing issues from the get-go. I use zippered baggies and those cloth grocery bags that most stores carry now. These snacks will also fit in your diaper bag nicely.

Healthy Snack Ideas:

• Slice apples and sprinkle with lemon juice to keep from turning brown
• Seedless grapes, removed from the vine
• Goldfish crackers
• Crackers with peanut butter inside
• Graham crackers
• Nuts
• Cheerios or other cereal
• Raisins
• Any dried fruit
• Trail Mix
• Pretzels
• Wheat Thins
• Pickles
• Animal Crackers
• Fruit Snacks
• Cereal Bars
• Granola Bars
• Pudding Packs

Easy to Tote Beverages:

• Juice boxes or pouches
• A water bottle for each person and a box of the individual powdered drink mix tubes
• Small sports type beverages such as Gatorade

The key is to keep the weight down, make them easily accessible and divide them up for individual servings. Using these suggestions will help make your Fourth of July a happy and less stressful one!

Posted in: Summertime Food Ideas.
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Delicious Meals You Can Make without Turning on the Stove

May 30th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
No comments yet

grilledcornOh the dreaded thought of turning on the stove when it’s 90+?F outside. There’s got to be some other way to make delicious, satisfying meals for your family without slaving over a hot stove! There are! I’m going to give you some delicious meal ideas for dinner that will not only keep you out of the kitchen, but will satisfy just about every appetite.

Summer is the time for grilling. (Unless you live in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in with those of us who tend to grill year ‘round, in the snow…but that’s another story.) There is nothing like a lip-smacking grilled steak, grilled chicken breast or grilled hamburger. They are delicious and better for you than cooking inside because the fat and grease is allowed to drain off, where when cooked in a pan, the meat soaks up all that fat and grease. Yuk! While grilling up your favorite meat, here are some unique side dishes you can grill alongside the meat that your family will love and ask for over and over again.

The number one side dish in our family when we grill is grilled potatoes. They are easy, yet oh so delicious.

Grilled Potatoes

What you need:

• Obviously potatoes, cut into bit size pieces. I use one medium potato per person. I usually make a couple extra for leftovers. (My hubby is the leftover king; he takes them to work in his lunch which means we don’t waste much.) We leave the skin on, but you can peel them if you so choose.
• Aluminum foil: Tear off 6 inch rectangles, large enough to make a nice envelope for the potatoes.
• Garlic Powder and pepper: I sprinkle some over each potato, but you can season to your taste though.
• Butter: 2 pats of butter for each envelope or a 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
• Onion: Chopped, enough to flavor each potato envelope (optional).
• Any other seasonings or vegetables you prefer.

How to prepare:

Like I said above, but will repeat in case you didn’t catch it, cut the potatoes into bite size pieces, placing 1 cut up potato on 1 piece of aluminum foil. (If you have small potatoes, you can use two per one piece of aluminum foil). Add the onion. Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings and top with 2 pats of butter or the olive oil. Fold the aluminum foil over to make a nice envelope around them so it won’t open on the grill.

The potatoes usually take about 15 minutes longer than the meat so prepare them first and get them going and then grill your meat.

You can use this same type of recipe for just about any of your favorite veggies like a delicious yellow or zucchini squash, red, green or yellow peppers and so on. Use your imagination. You can mix up as many different types of veggies as you want.

Not your typical corn on the cob – I’m sure most of you have heard of or even eaten grilled corn on the cob. This is another family favorite of ours. How about a little twist on the traditional grilled corn on the cob? Here’s a delicious recipe that is sure to please.

You need:

• Corn on the cob, in the husks
• Butter, softened
• Bacon bits
• Chopped chives

How to make it:

• Pull back the husks from the corn, but do not remove completely. Remove the silk and soak in cold water for about 30 minutes.
• Brush on butter over the corn and replace the husks around the buttered corn
• Grill, turning frequently to avoid burning, about 5 to 7 minutes
• Serve with the bacon bits and chives.

Veggie Kabobs – Veggie kabobs are fun, colorful and delicious and healthy. They are also a great way to get your kids to eat more veggies because they come on a stick. I don’t know why kids like to eat things on a stick but they do so what better way to get some veggies in them.

There are a variety of veggies you can use for veggie kabobs, so choose your favorites, or veggies you’ve been trying to get your kids to eat! Some suggestions are:

• Tomatoes: cut into quarters
• Cucumbers: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Mushrooms: whole
• Onions: cut into quarters
• Peppers, green, red or yellow: Slice the pepper into quarters and remove the seeds
• Zucchini squash: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Yellow squash: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Broccoli: Use pieces big enough to stay on the stick
• Cauliflower: Again, you will need to use pieces that won’t break when you put them on the stick.
• Carrots: baby carrots work great or slice regular size carrots into one inch size pieces

Put the veggies on the stick by inserting the stick in the center. For crispier veggies you will need to be more careful when inserting the stick into it so they won’t break. Alternate veggies as you place them on the sticks. You can have any variety of veggies you like in any order you like. I like to put a piece of onion in between each veggie piece for flavor, but that’s me, I like onions. Some like a piece of pepper between each, which is good too. Use your imagination; use a variety of color like green, red and orange. This will entice your kids even more.

Brush each veggie with olive oil before placing on the grill and be sure to leave enough room on the stick for handling! When grilling, turn frequently to prevent burning. I prefer a little burnt flavor around the edges, but again, that’s me! Grill them to your families taste.

Veggie kabobs are a great side dish for any meat including steak, chicken and hamburgers; they brighten up a plate and are full of flavor and yummy healthiness.

So, besides grilling what else could you make that doesn’t require a stove, oven or grill? Oh, I know, how about an easy recipes you can microwave?

One of our favorites is “Chips and Cheese” as my husband calls it. Most people call them nachos. We usually serve them as a snack when they don’t have any meat on them. If you have any leftover taco meat, you can add it to them for a yummy, easy to make, dinner everyone will love.

All you do is:

• Spread some tortilla chips on a plate
• If adding leftover taco meat, do it here
• Sprinkle shredded cheese over each chip
• Microwave for 30 to 45 seconds
• Top with your favorite nacho toppings like salsa, sour cream, olives, tomatoes, lettuce and jalapenos.

These are an easy, delicious and great way to use leftover taco meat, if you decide to do that. They are great no matter which way you choose to go.

Another summertime meal idea is to serve salad as a main dish! You can use your favorite veggies and top with a piece of that grilled chicken or steak, cut into slices. It’s common for some to eat this when trying to shed some pounds too. Not only is it great for staying out of the kitchen on a hot summer’s day, but it’s also a healthy, high protein meal.

Posted in: Summertime Food Ideas.
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Cool Foods You Can Take to the Beach

May 28th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
1 comment

 

watermelonbeachSummertime means beach time in our family. We live in a state with lots of beautiful lakes so we spend lots of time cooling off at the beach on those hot summer days. Of course this entails packing enough good healthy, easily to tote foods, that will keep your family satisfied for the whole day.

I try (emphasis on try) to take wholesome foods that don’t have a lot of packaging to keep down on the garbage waste. I also try to take foods that aren’t in big bags, that little, sandy hands won’t be reaching into them and ruin the whole bag. There’s nothing worse than biting down on a grain or two of sand. Here are some ideas for feeding your family at the beach that are easy, healthy, satisfying and cooler friendly.

Oranges: They’re easy to peel and you can throw the peel in the grass for the deer or other animals to eat! 

Apples:  Great choice for the beach. Again you can throw the core on the ground for the animals, but make sure you throw it out of the path where people walk.

Pickles and cheese: One of my kids’ favorite beach snacks. I put a few pickles in a sandwich bag and some slices of cheese in a separate baggie. This one you’ll want to make sure little hands are clean before they reach in and grab.

Prepared sandwiches: I used to take a loaf of bread, the lunch meat, cheese and all the fixings, but it’s much easier to make the sandwiches at home, pack them in a zippered baggie and tote them in the cooler. You will want to place them on top of the ice, for obvious reasons.

Individually wrapped snack cakes or cookies: Probably not on the top of the list as far as healthiness goes, but for some reason those little chocolate snack cakes taste so good at the beach. Take them out of the box before toting. If they won’t melt in the heat, carry them in a cloth bag as opposed to a plastic bag. (Side note: the cloth grocery bags they have now are GREAT for toting food to the beach!!!) If they will melt, say they have chocolate in or on them, then place them in zippered baggies before placing in the cooler. The plastic that is already on them won’t prevent melted ice from seeping through.

If you do decide to take chips, make up individual baggies for each person. This will help save little, sandy hands from ruining the whole bag!

Watermelon slices: These are cool, refreshing and delicious. But, how do you make them cooler ready for the beach? You can cut up 1/2 inch squares and place them in individual baggies. Or you can cut into regular triangles and place one slice in a baggie or plastic wrap. 

If you decide to grill hamburgers on the beach, prepare your patties ahead of time. I’ve taken a chunk of hamburger meat to the beach; forgetting beaches usually don’t have hot water and soap to wash the raw, greasy meat off your hands. Know what I mean? 

So, make your patties ahead of time, have your veggies sliced and ready in little baggies, as well as your cheese. As far as condiments go, I buy separate bottles specifically for the beach. That way if they get sandy, it’s not a big deal to toss out or try to salvage some before you toss the whole bottle.

Beach time is fun time and can be a great family bonding experience. Toting food doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking if you prepare in advance using the tips and suggestions above.

Posted in: Summertime Food Ideas.
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How to turn your Scrapbook Hobby into a Profitable WAH Business

May 18th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
No comments yet

Do you love to scrapbook, either on paper or digitally? Do you wish you could turn your love for scrapbooking into a lucrative work at home business? Well now you can!

With the help of Scrap Venture Pro, you’ll learn how to take the hobby you love and turn it into a profitable business that you can do right from the comfort of your own home.

What is Scrap Venture Pro? It is your first step towards starting and building a successful scrapbook business as a scrapbook artist. Scrap Venture Pro is a membership site for anyone who wants to start a scrapbook business from home scrapbooking for others.

The experts at Scrap Venture Pro will guide you every step of the way and show you how to:

  •          Create a sustainable and profitable business as a scrapbook artist
  •          Gain the freedom of owning your own business and working from home scrapbooking for others
  •          Develop a business which fills a need for a hungry audience
  •          Build your new business on a solid foundation-growing and evolving as a profitable business owner

What will you receive? Each week you’ll receive a step-by-step report that will walk you through every progressive step in your new business. Scrapbook Venture Pro will walk you through each step, from creation to success, helping you build your scrapbook hobby into a profitable, money-making business scrapbooking for others.

As soon as you join you’ll receive your first lesson which includes:

  •          Introductory lesson with an overview of the membership.
  •          First complete lesson with an assignment to help hold you accountable.
  •          Bonus Report: Target Market
  •          Bonus Worksheet: Do you have what it takes?
  •          Bonus Worksheet: Target Market
  •          Bonus Worksheet: Ideal Client

What will you learn? Everything you need to know about starting, building and succeeding in your new scrapbook business as a scrapbook artist. As a matter of fact, I guarantee you’ll learn so much within the first two months, I’ll give you your money back if you’re not completely satisfied within the first 60 days.

By putting our strategies to work today, you’ll have your business up, running and making money!

You’ll learn how and where to find your first and lasting customers; you’ll learn how to set prices and hold sales events; and you’ll learn how to grow and build your money-making scrapbook enterprise.

Everything you’ll receive as a member of Scrapbook Venture Pro is real- world advice and practical ideas-no fluff, no hype-only solid business advice and counsel.

You’ll receive 52 weekly lessons packed full of tools and aides you can implement and use in your new business RIGHT AWAY. You’ll get practical and real ideas for advertising and marketing, building your customer list, getting noticed, social networking and taking action. You’ll receive advanced strategies to continue building your business, being proactive instead of reactive and you’ll learn how to create a workable system, seamlessly balancing all the important aspects of your business.

If you’ve been holding back starting your scrapbook business as a scrapbook artist because you didn’t know where or how to begin, hold back no longer! Join Scrapbook Venture Pro NOW and be on the road to success with your own scrapbook business TODAY!

Posted in: Making Money Online.
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Game Review: In a Pickle

May 16th, 2009
by Mary Lutz.
No comments yet


My newest obsession is the card/word game called “In a Pickle”. I love this game. No surprise there though because I love card games and I love word games and In a Pickle combines both!

How to play:

Each of the cards in the game contain one noun with an arrow pointing down. There are 4 cards placed face up on the table, one in each direction (imagine north, south, east and west). Each player is dealt 5 cards.

Play begins with the player to the left of the dealer. Each play consists of laying one card from your hand either on top of or underneath one of the cards on the table. The idea is to make rows of cards off of each of the 4 cards on the table and the object is to win rows. The number of rows to win is based on the number of players. For 2 players, 5 rows must be won. For 3 players, 4 rows must be won and for 4 or more players, 3 rows must be won.

This game is all about “in”. For instance, a card on the end of a row on the table is “coat”. A player has the word “limousine” in her hand. She can place “limousine” on top of “coat” because “the coat is in the limousine”. Makes sense right? Another example: If the player had the noun “button”, she could place “button” under “coat” because “the button is in the coat” (it could be in the pocket).

During a normal round, nouns can only be placed at the top of the row or the bottom, never in the middle or between cards.

When a row has 4 cards, it’s called “a pickle”. When the game is “in a pickle”, each player then can only play on the row that’s a pickle and can only play on the card that’s at the bottom of the row, not the top as in a normal round. When in a pickle, each player lays one card that makes sense with the previous card played until ending with the person who laid the fourth card in a row, creating the pickle. Players can pass if they don’t have a word that makes sense in the pickle. Whoever lays the last card in the pickle wins the row.

In a normal round, if a player doesn’t have a card that makes sense in any of the rows, they can trade any number of cards in their hand for cards in the deck, and that constitutes their turn.

Each time a player plays a card, they draw a card from the deck to keep 5 cards in their hand.

This game is all about using your imagination. A solar system can be the actual solar system, or it could be a toy, a mobile, on a poster, etc., for example, but it does have to make sense. Make an announcement each time you play a card, adding an explanation if needed. Players can vote using thumbs up or thumbs down if the explanation is iffy. Majority rules.

There is a variation to the game, but we haven’t played it yet because I love the original play. “In a Pickle” is inexpensive to purchase, and tons of fun!

It’s great for younger kids who can read, and fun for adults of all ages. I highly recommend “In a Pickle” for family game night or parties.

Posted in: Randomness, Reviews.

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