Homemade Valentine’s Gumdrops

Ingredients
• 2 cups sugar {plus a little for rolling gum drops}
• 1⅓ cups applesauce, unsweetened
• 2 small (3 oz) boxes Jello, any flavor
• 2 envelopes (4 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin {like Knox}
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions
1. Line 13×9 pan with parchment paper, lightly spray paper with cooking spray
2. In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients, let stand 1 minute
3. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, boil for 1 minute
4. Immediately pour into prepared pan
5. Place in refrigerator for 3 hours or until firm
6. Loosen sides from pan with a spatula
7. Life parchment paper from pan and place onto a cutting board
8. Cut out gum drops using a knife dipped in hot water to cut squares or use a heart shaped cookie cutter
9. Roll Gum Drops in extra sugar, set onto wax paper until slightly dry
10. Store in an airtight container

Dickinson Seafood: The Place to Go for Crispy Crawfish

If you’re a seafood fan in the Dickinson area, most residents will tell you to get your crawfish fix at Dickinson Seafood. This casual restaurant is very laid back and its prices are affordable, and although it doesn’t have the ambiance of more upscale seafood spots, it’s a dependable choice for a quick lunch break.

The menu consists of fried fish dishes like calamari and shrimp, po'boy sandwiches, and crawfish étouffée. There are a number of grilled fish options for lighter appetites, as well as steak and chicken sandwiches for those who don’t prefer seafood. French fries or side salads accompany most meals, and many regulars recommend adding a few shrimp or scallops to your lunch or dinner. Dickinson Seafood even offers family-sized meal platters of it most popular seafood options to feed the whole family at an affordable price.

Dickinson Seafood is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Dickinson Seafood
131 West FM 517
Dickinson, TX 77539
(281) 534-0674
www.dickinsonseafood.com

Calling All Bibliophiles: These Pinterest Boards Are for You!

Pinterest is a great way to organize your favorite recipes or browse for home decor ideas, so why not use it to pay homage to your favorite books as well? If you’re an avid bibliophile who hates wandering aimlessly around the bookstore feeling overwhelmed by the endless selection of books, these boards will help you to bookmark ideas for new reading material and connect with other readers.

Book Lovers
Whether you’re looking for the best new releases or you simply want to share your love of reading with other pinners, this board is packed full of literary quotes, book recommendations, and peeks inside of some of the most impressive books stores in the world.

Reading Quotes
If all you’re searching for is a bit of inspiration on a tough day, this board pulls quotes directly from your favorite books to offer some words of wisdom straight from the authors’ mouths. From Annie Dillard and Theodore Roosevelt to C.S. Lewis, the Reading Quotes board has quotes for everyone.

Libraries
There are few places more relaxing for an avid reader than a beautiful library, and this board offers a virtual tour of some of the most impressive libraries in the world.

Blast Off at Space Center Houston

People of all ages are interested in the wonders of outer space, and now you can get a close-up look at what it’s really like to live and work in space at Space Center Houston. This is the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, which means that visitors will get an inside take on what NASA astronauts and scientists are really working on in real time.

The 183,000-square-foot museum and “educational entertainment complex” boasts a staggering 17 million visitors in the time since its opening, and it aims to make learning about science fun for visitors from all around the world and at any age. It contains more than 400 real space artifacts, like moon rocks and lunar samples, as well as other traveling exhibits related to space flight. Visitors can even tour the real NASA Mission Control and take in an educational film at one of the many state-of-the-art theaters.

Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston, TX 77058
(281) 244-2100
www.spacecenter.org

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, visit our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends February 29th, 2016. We suggest you like our page to keep informed about future sweepstakes and community happenings.

For mobile users, click here to enter.

Chemical-Free Ways to Clean Your Oven at Avana South Shore

You’re always on the hunt for chemical-free ways to clean your home, but when it comes to really heavy duty cleaning in areas like the oven, it may seem almost impossible. Luckily, it is possible to clean your oven without using chemicals—it just takes a bit of ingenuity and a few smart tips from the pros.

  1. Take out the oven racks and let them soak in a tub of hot water.
  2. Make a paste of ¼ cup of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of coarse salt and just enough warm water to create a thick consistency.
  3. Using a durable sponge, scrub the paste into the stained parts in your oven. Concentrate on areas that see a lot of spills and drips, such as the bottoms and around the racks.
  4. Let the past sit on the stains for an hour or two, depending on their severity.
  5. Using the same sponge rinsed out with clean water, wipe away the paste and give it a second good scrub. You may also want to use a finer grade steel wool for difficult stains.
  6. For extra cleaning power, spray the entire oven with a spray bottle filled with white vinegar, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.
  7. Before replacing the oven racks, scrub them using simple steel wool and an all-natural dishwasher detergent to break down grease.

How To Clean an Oven Without Harsh Chemicals [Apartment Therapy]
Natural Oven Cleaning Recipe [Wellness Mama]
How To Clean an Oven With Baking Soda & Vinegar [The Kitchn]

Dine on Dishes from Around the World at Opus Bistro

The next time you’re looking for an elegant and exciting place to eat in League City, try Opus Bistro. This stylish eatery doesn’t specialize in any one style of cuisine, but rather offers a diverse menu of dishes from around the country and the world. From the Veal New Orleans to the Fettuccini Aspen, you’ll feel like you’re embarking on a worldly journey each time you eat at this upscale restaurant.

Aside from its exceptional food, Opus Bistro boasts a charming neighborhood location just a short walk from the Kemah boardwalk, plus comfortable dining tables to suit parties both large and small and a lively yet romantic ambiance that is ideal for any occasion. Whether you stop in for lunch, dinner or for a nightcap at the full bar, Opus Bistro is always an exceptional choice for dinner and drinks.

Opus Bistro
1002 Aspen Road
Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565
(281) 334-5225​
www.opusbistro.net

Where to Design Your Own Holiday Cards Online

Instead of sending out impersonal, store-bought holiday greeting cards this year, get creative by designing your own cards online. Whether you want to create a silly photo card or a card adorned with artistic typography, these three sites have everything that you need to make your holiday correspondence dreams a reality.

Shutterfly
This hip printing site enables you to upload one or more photos to add to its wide selection of holiday cards in all styles and sizes. The card templates range from rustic and traditional to chic and trendy, and many of them feature hand lettering, calligraphy and other popular design elements. Include a personalized message to make your cards even more unique.

Snapfish
if you’re searching for a simple card creation site that is entirely customizable, Snapfish is one of the best online options. First, the site asks you to choose the size of your cards, from traditional folding squares to more modern long, rectangular shapes. Next, the site offers a number of colorful pre-made templates that feature spaces for your family photos, and they’re worlds away from the traditional sentiments from years past.

Tinyprints
If you prefer a more minimal greeting card, Tinyprints offers a number of sleek and stylish options to choose from. The site also enables you to create a customized holiday newsletter that updates loved ones about your family’s past year.

Happy Winter!

As sweater weather approaches we hope you all stay warm and cozy this season! What are some of your favorite winter activities?

Stop to Smell the Flowers at Helen’s Garden

There are few things more relaxing or inspiring than spending an afternoon wandering through beautiful flower gardens, and that’s just what you’ll find at Helen’s Garden in League City. This beautiful public garden is located in between a major highway and a popular neighborhood in the area, but it feels like a quiet respite where you can get away from it all.

In the center of Helen’s Garden, a rushing waterfall flows into a crystal clear pool and ties the whole space together, creating a relaxing place to sit and think. Arched trellises are covered with deep green vines, while paved walkways and open patio areas contain wooden benches where you can stop for a rest. Colorful flowers bloom from just about every part of the park, but there are also exotic plants and tall trees throughout the space. Whether you’re planning a small wedding, taking engagement photos or just looking for a private spot to relax, visit Helen’s Garden.

Helen’s Garden
701 East Main Street
League City, TX 77573
(281) 554-1180
www.leaguecity.com/facilities/facility/details/Helens-Garden-17
www.yelp.com/biz/helens-garden-league-city

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