Recipe: Game Day Cheese Straws

Cheese Straws

Need a quick, easy, crowd pleasing appetizer with no baking experience required?  These scrumptious cheese straws are sure to fit the bill. With just five common ingredients, you are looking at 5 minutes prep time, 15 minutes in the oven, taste… priceless.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 tbsp BBQ powdered seasoning, or seasoning of your choice (I have used cajun and ranch and loved them both)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp heavy whipping cream
  • 3/4 stick unsalted butter – sliced into pieces 1/4 inch or so thick

Directions:

Place ingredients into food processor and mix, or mix by hand into a dough.  Roll out into sheet 1/4 inch thick on flour coated parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Don’t over knead or roll as the straws won’t be as flaky.  Cut into long straws about 1/2 inch wide.  Bake in preheated oven for 15-18 min at 350.

Salt and pepper to taste.  Serve with ranch dressing or you choice of condiments!

Game Day Appetizers

Easy Game Day Appetizer

Six Dr. Oz Natural Remedies

Dr. Oz Natural Remedies

I love it when I catch the natural remedies segment of the Dr. Oz Show.  If you are a sucker for anti-aging, anti cellulite beauty products, you definitely want to read this article for home remedies that won’t drain your bank account.  I have tried 5 of the 6 myself, with better results than any expensive miracle product I have fallen prey to in the past!

1. Red Wine Facial for Sagging, Blotchy Skin

Red wine contains resveratrol, an antioxidant. Honey reduces blemishes and redness, while yogurt moisturizes.

1 cup yogurt

2 tbsp honey

4-5 tbsp red wine

Directions: Combine yogurt, honey and red wine. Apply to face and let dry. Rinse clean with warm water.

2.  Toothpaste to Zap a Zit

Toothpaste dries and absorbs oil, thereby healing zits.  Be careful about which toothpaste you choose; bleaching varieties have hydrogen peroxide that burn the skin. Red pastes or ones with cinnamon can cause irritation as well.

Directions: Apply a generous amount of toothpaste onto your pimple. Let dry and then rise with warm water.

3.  Expresso Mask for Tighter Skin

Honey hydrates the skin.  Caffeine improves circulation and creates a taut, supple look.

Directions: Combine equal amounts of dry expresso and honey. Mix together and apply to your face for 10-15 minutes.

4.   Aspirin and Lemon Juice for Flawless Skin

Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which acts as a chemical peel to reduce acne and lesions. Lemon juice contains vitamin C, with acts as an antioxidant to nourish your skin if and combat damage from sun exposure. It also acts as an exfoliant because of its acidity.

Directions: Take 6-12 non-coated aspirin and crush them up into a powder. Combine with fresh, real lemon juice. Let it dissolve into more of a paste for about 5-10 minutes. Lightly apply to blemish. Remove with a cotton ball dipped in a solution of baking soda and water.

5.  Coffee Grinds Scrub for Cellulite

Caffeine enhances fat metabolism, particularly just beneath the skin. It’s easily absorbed when applied directly on the skin. It’s also a diuretic, so it gets some of the fluid out of the fat beneath your skin so that cellulite is less visible. Olive oil is a moisturizer and an emollient, which softens the skin. The brown sugar works as an exfoliant. Although this is not permanent cellulite fix, it’s a great temporary solution.

Directions: Combine 1/2 cup coffee grinds with 1/4 cup brown sugar. Place olive oil over areas of cellulite and then rub the rub mix into skin in a circular motion. Scrub for 5 minutes to exfoliate.

6.  Chapped Lips Home Remedy

The sugar helps to remove dead skin that accumulates from chapping.  The baking soda helps the mixture to lather. To make this a perfect treatment, you need to bring moisture back to the lips. Try adding some olive oil to the mixture!

Directions: Mix 1 tablespoon of sugar, a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of water together. Dip a tooth brush into the mix and brush your lips. Rinse off with water for a smooth and exfoliated lip.

 

 

 

Spinach Tomato Feta Chicken

Tomato Recipe

Looking for an easy, way healthy recipe to use up those garden tomatoes?  I started making this dish in college, and it is still a nutritious, tasty favorite.  Just perfect for this time of year, when the tomato harvest is abundant.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag fresh baby spinach – exact amount not important; you can use frozen spinach, but it is better fresh
  • Crumbled feta – I prefer tomato basil flavor
  • Seasonings of your choice to taste – garlic, salt, pepper are essential
  • 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breast
  • Olive oil – 1-2 tbsp
  • Garlic bagel chips
  • 4-6 tomatoes cut in large chunks.

Spinach recipe
Instructions:

Cook chicken in  stove top pan with 1-2 tbsp olive oil.  Add garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.  Once completely cooked, add spinach, stirring in and cooking down.  Add big chunks of tomato once spinach is cooked.  Let warm for 5 min and serve over garlic bagel chips with feta sprinkled on top.  YUMMY.  The tomatoes make it watery, which I love putting over the bagel chips.  You may want to drain some of the water off.

Tomato recipe

Spinach recipe

The Vegetable That Does it All

13 tips for cucumbers

Are your cucumber plants providing you with such an abundance that you are out of ideas for using them?  Look no further.  These magical veggies (or fruits, depending on who you poll) can be used for everything from defogging your bathroom mirror to instant diminishing of cellulite problem areas, really!!  Read on for 13 tips to help you get the most out of the amazing cucumber!

 

 

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need

every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin

B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin

B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron,

Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and

Zinc.

 

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon,

put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a

cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B

Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that

quick pick-me-up that can last for

hours.

 

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror

fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a

cucumber slice along the mirror, it will

eliminate the fog and provide a soothing,

spa-like fragrance.

 

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few

slices in a small pie tin and your garden will

be free of pests all season long. The chemicals

in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give

off a scent undetectable to humans but drive

garden pests crazy and make them flee the

area.

 

5. Looking for a

fast and easy way to remove cellulite before

going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or

two of cucumbers along your problem area for a

few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber

cause the collagen in your skin to tighten,

firming up the outer layer and reducing the

visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles

too!!!

 

6. Want to avoid a hangover or

terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices

before going to bed and wake up refreshed and

headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B

vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential

nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in

equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and

headache!!

 

7. Looking to fight off that

afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers

have been used for centuries and often used by

European trappers, traders and explores for

quick meals to thwart off starvation.

 

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and

you realize that you don’t have enough time to

polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber

over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a

quick and durable shine that not only looks

great but also repels

water.

 

 

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a

cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic

hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

 

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for a massage,

facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire

cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water,

the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber

will react with the boiling water and be

released in the steam, creating a soothing,

relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce

stress in new mothers and college students

during final exams.

 

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or

mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to

the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30

seconds to eliminate bad breath, the

phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your

mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

 

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to

clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel?

Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the

surface you want to clean, not only will it

remove years of tarnish and bring back the

shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm

you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

 

 

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the

cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen

writing, also works great on crayons and markers

that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

 

Pass this along to everybody you

know who is looking for better and safer ways to

solve life’s everyday problems..

Dr. Oz Homemade Exfoliant

Dr. Oz Homemade ExfolliantHi guys!  I am a self proclaimed Dr. Oz groupie.  He gives some amazing tips, and from the standpoint of a medical professional, I can vouch for the accuracy of the information he provides.  My favorite segment of the show is when Oz gives us “$5 home remedies”, for solutions to problems we throw excessive amounts of money at, often without getting our desired results.

Today I share with you Dr. Oz’s homemade facial exfoliant.  I have tried this one myself, and it feels wonderful.  I can’t say for sure what my skin would be like without regular use of this, and other home remedy treatments, but I do know that it seems to make a difference.  I feel better by simply taking the time to care for my skin, and my wallet doesn’t take a hit.  This particular remedy feels quite refreshing, and gives you an excuse to keep some brandy on hand.

Recipe:

Milk; 1 cup
Lemon juice; 2 tsp
Brandy; 1 tbsp
Mix it up and paint it onto your face. Let it dry completely, then rinse.

The acid of the lemon, the lactic acid of the milk and the alcohol in the brandy combine to exfoliate and brighten your face, naturally reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

What home remedies do you use?

No Bake Peanut Butter Cocoa Cookies

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cocoa No-bakesThis is a re-post, and is by far my most popular contribution to potlucks.  They take 5 minutes to prepare, and must sit for about 1 hour to harden.  Quick and awesome.  Today, I made them as “I am sorry my psycho Jack Russell TerrOR tried to annihilate your cat” cookies for my dear neighbor.  Couldn’t find a card for the occasion, so why not chocolate. Guess who is in the doghouse.  O.k., not really.  He is impossible for me to stay mad at.  At least it wasn’t a skunk this time.

Ingredients:

 

  • 1 cup milk

 

  • 2 sticks butter

 

  • 4 cups sugar

 

  • 1 cup peanut butter (i use crunchy)

 

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

 

  • 6 cups Quick Oats

 

  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

 

(the above measurements make a mountain of cookies – depending on how you size them when you drop them on wax paper, about 70. You can halve the recipe if you don’t need that many, but in my experience, they disappear like magic)!

 

Directions:
  • Put 1st three ingredients in sauce pan and heat to a rolling boil, while stirring. When it comes to a rolling boil, wait onc minute and remove from heat. While waiting for that to boil, combine remaining ingredients in mixing bowl. After removing the saucepan from heat, pour in dry ingredients and stir until mixed. Line counter tops with wax paper and drop mixture into dallops onto the paper. Let stand until cookies harden. Usually about 1 hour.

 

Note: If cookies don’t set up, you didn’t let them boil at a roll for a full minute. If they are too dry, you let them boil too long.

 

Let me know if you have questions.


Cucumber Sesame Salad

Cucumber Recipes

I am ridiculously excited about my very first harvest… ever!  In May, I planted cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, having never planted anything in my life.  It has been a blast.  This is my debut garden recipe.  The tomatoes are giant, but still green.  The cucumbers grow 10 inches a day, it seems.  They are taking over.  Today I share with you a family recipe – refreshing cucumber sesame salad.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 2 medium cucumbers about 12 inches each
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 1/2  teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (see tip)

Instructions

  • Peel cucumbers, leaving alternating green stripes. Then slice in half lengthwise and scrape the seeds out with a spoon. Using sharp knife, cut cucumbers into thin slices.

Cucumber salad

Cucumber salad recipe

Cucumber salad

Quick summer salad recipes

  • Combine vinegar, sugar and salt in a medium bowl, stirring to dissolve. Add the cucumbers and sesame seeds. Toss well and serve immediately.

Tip:  To toast sesame seeds, heat small skillet on low, add seeds.  Stir constantly for about 2 minutes until golden and fragrant.

Toasted sesame seeds

What are your favorite garden vegetable recipes?

Patriotic Cake Pops

Patriotic Cakepops

Need a quick, festive and patriotic dish for your 4th of July festivities?  Try these red velvet cake centered patriotic treats.  I love them because they are easy to make, there is lots of frosting involved,  and look how cute these lil guys are!  They are sure to be a hit with young and old alike.  Decorate as you like, and make sure you whip up plenty.  My were all gone in no time.  Read on for recipe and pics.

[Read more…]

Homemade Anti-aging Remedy

Dr Oz

 

Do you guys get sucked in by the loads  of anti-aging serums out there?  Each one promises striking results, and can cost hundreds  of dollars.  Even if you don’t by the super expensive creams, trying several lower cost solutions adds up over time.  I am excited to share with you a remedy I saw on Dr.  Oz and tried myself. It was part of his $5 cures segment, and you can most likely have the ingredients to throw it together right now – egg whites and carrot juice!
[Read more…]

Garage Sale Score: Bread Machine Fun…

Thursday was an outstanding garage sale day.  Debbie and I were finding deals left and right.  So many that it became difficult to drive.  She just had to get the exercise ball.  (You better have a six pack next time I see you, lady)!

Amongst the numerous bargains of the day, I found me a $5 bread maker:

I had never used one of these beasts.   I brought it right home and got to business, to whip up yummy bread for our weekend camping trip.  I followed a recipe that came in the manual:

 The first loaf I made was more cooked than I like, so I made another with the bake setting on “light” instead of “medium”.  I also added 2 packets of splenda to the recipe to sweeten it up a bit.  It came out perfect.  I read that you have to be careful and follow recipe amounts when it comes to sugar (or honey or molasses) because yeast thrive on sugar, and too much sugar can cause havoc.  I also read that artificial sweeteners cannot be used in lieu of sugar, as they do not react with yeast.  That is what made me think of adding splenda for a subtle sweet boost, and it worked.

So far, I have made for loaves of bread since Thursday.  I have absolutely gotten my $5 worth out of this machine!  Nothing is better than the smell of freshly baked bread filling the home.  This is just in time for us to boost our carbs for marathon training.  Lovely.  If you have any favorite bread machine recipes, send em’ on over!
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