Great Websites for Unique Sandwich Recipes

You use a recipe for pastas, soups and cakes, but you probably wouldn’t think of looking up a recipe for a sandwich. These helpful websites feature sandwich recipes that are much more elaborate than your usual grilled cheese, and you’ll certainly notice the difference in taste.

Food Network
The Food Network is home to some wonderful shows about sandwiches, and now you can learn to make them yourself. Their Top Sandwich Recipes page features everything from grown-up turkey sandwiches to hot, gravy-covered sandwiches that are more dinner than lunch. The Mahi Mahi Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that you might not have heard of, while the French Dip recipe will show you how to make this diner favorite right at home.

101 Cookbooks
Instead of updating the sandwiches you already love, try something completely new with the unique recipes on 101 Cookbooks. This beautifully-designed website is easy to navigate, and it makes for hours of inspiration for your next sandwich. 101 Cookbooks features an Avocado Asparagus Tartine, Vegetarian Lentil Burgers, and even an Egg Salad Sandwich with Greek yogurt instead of the usual mayonnaise.

Happy Presidents’ Day

Remembering the courage and vision of past and present leaders, we honor and share the spirit of Presidents' Day together as a nation.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wishing everyone a day filled with fun and happy memories!

Tasty Beef Recipes Everyone Will Enjoy

Like the old slogan says, beef is often what’s for dinner. If you’re looking for healthy, creative alternatives to your traditional beef recipes, these delicious dishes are sure to please.

Beef Steak With Carrots and Mint
Hearty and refreshing on a warm summer’s day, this unique beef dish features a cucumber and mint salad as a cool accent against the juicy steak.

Beef Steak With Light Tomato Mushroom Sauce
Just like the beef dishes at Italian restaurants, this savory steak is topped with a tomato and mushroom sauce and is full of robust flavor.

Stir-Fried Orange Beef
Plan an feast for only 260 calories per serving with this delicious stir-fry dish. Crisp veggies make it healthy, while ginger, soy sauce and orange juice add authentic, tangy flavor.

Quick Beef Casserole
On days when you’re too busy to plan an elaborate meal, this fast and nutritious casserole makes the perfect family dinner.  Lean ground beef is a great source of protein, while vegetables and rice hold the whole thing together without adding unnecessary calories.

For more healthy beef recipes, visit the NIH website here.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Our New Facebook Sweepstakes Has Started! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends February 28th, 2014.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

See The American Folklife Center’s Quilts and Quiltmaking Collection Online!

If you’re interested in sewing, fashion, textiles, or quiltmaking in specific, you’re sure to love the American Folklife Center’s beautifully curated Quilts and Quiltmaking Collection. This collection features the history of quiltmaking in America from 1978 to 1996, with a more modern exploration of this intricate craft.

This collection combines material from The Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project and the Land’s End Collection, both parts of the American Folklife Center. The Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project told a narrative about historic and newly made quilts over the years in and around the border of North Carolina and Virginia, using six quiltmakers and their work to epitomize the history of the craft. The Land’s End Collection features 181 winners of state and national quilting competitions in 1992, 1994, and 1996 and represents excellent design and skill during that period. Combined, these two collections form one beautiful, historical representation of American quiltmaking and the people behind it.

This collection is incredibly vast, with historical items that tell the story of American quiltmaking in a variety of different formats. It includes 410 photos, 181 audio files, and a number of well-written articles and essays that history buffs and quilters alike will love. And you can see it all online!

Quilts and Quiltmaking in America, 1978 – 1996 [Library of Congress]

Public Domain/Public Domain

5 Surprising Facts About Blue Eyes

If you have blue eyes, you help make up the 16% of the US population that has blue peepers. However, the prevalence of blue eyes is decreasing with time as interracial relationships become more common, especially in the United States. (Did you know that at the beginning of the 20th century, about 50% of Americans had blue eyes?) Here are more facts about blue eyes that may surprise you.

1. Because blue eyes have less pigmentation, people with blue eyes are more prone to photophobia, or light sensitivity. If you find yourself squinting in the sunlight, consider wearing sunglasses with UV protection or a wide-brimmed hat.

2. Blue-eyed people can be considered mutants! At one point in time, all people had brown eyes, but a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene "turned off" the ability to produce melanin (pigment). This mutation occurred between six and ten thousand years ago and can be traced to a single person, which means that all blue-eyed people share a common ancestor.

3. The countries where blue eyes are most common are Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. Blue eyes are rare in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southern Europe.

4. A 2007 British study found that people with blue eyes are better at strategic thinking, generally outperforming their dark-eyed counterparts in tasks that required long-term thought.

5. It's entirely possible for two blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child. Similarly, it's possible for two brown-eyed parents to have a blue-eyed child.

Human Eye Color Charts [All About Vision]
Reasons to Feel Good About Having Blue Eyes [Mental Floss]
Blue-Eyed Humans Have A Single, Common Ancestor [Human N Health]
Myth or Fact: People with Light Eyes are More Sensitive to Sunlight [Duke Health]

Find Your Body Mass Index with This Online Calculator

Body Mass Index is oftentimes much more helpful than your weight in determining your overall health. If you’re unsure of your BMI and want to assess your obesity-related health risk, this simple online calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s website will tell you your accurate BMI in just a few simple steps.

  • The BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight
  • By inputting your height and weight, the calculator can find your exact BMI and help you to determine if you need to gain or lose weight to reduce health risk
  • The BMI groups people into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity categories
  • Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce your health

Once you’ve found your BMI, this online guide can also recommend ways to control your weight, plan meals, and become more physically active. The online BMI calculator can provide great insight into your overall health, and it only takes a few seconds to use.

Body Mass Index Calculator [NIH]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Five Ways to Introduce More Water into Your Diet

Drinking enough water is the key a healthy diet and can make a difference in your mood and appearance, as well. Try these five tips to make sure you are getting the hydration you need without having to drink gallons of H2O.

Eat cucumbers
Water-rich vegetables are a great way to ensure you are meeting your water intake goals, and cucumbers are among the most hydrating. Sprinkle them in your salad or nibble on a few slices in between meals for a quick, fresh snack.

Make it sparkle
Flat water can be tasteless and hard to drink without a little something to go with it. Pick up a bottle of sparkling water to give your mouth an added texture to offset the lack of flavor.

Fruit cubes
Instead of just regular ice cubes, add a little fruit juice to the ice tray to give your next glass of water a fruity flavor. The new tastes will have you drinking more than just one glass, a great way to get your daily fill.

Yogurt
Protein-rich and hydration-filled, yogurt is a double dose of diet essentials. Have a cup for breakfast or as a snack to make sure your hydration needs are being met.

Coconut Water
A recent trend, coconut water is everywhere these days. Pick up a bottle or two of this super hydrating juice that gives you all the benefits of a glass of water plus sweet, refreshing taste.

Skin Secrets: How to Add More Water to Your Diet [Yahoo Shine]
Benefits of Water: How to Incorporate More Water into Your Diet [P&G Everyday]
How-To Get More Water Into Your Diet [SkinnyMS]

Are You Storing Your Food Correctly?

Improperly storing food is a guaranteed way to cause food borne illness. Make sure you store your food properly to prevent bacteria from growing on food. By following these simple tips you can keep your food and family safe:

  • Always put perishable items away as soon as you get home. Never keep items, including leftovers, out for more than two hours. If it's a particularly hot day limit the amount of time an item spends outside the fridge or freezer to one hour.
  • Make sure you read the labels on items before putting them away. Some items can be stored in the pantry before being opened but need to be refrigerated after opening, like sauces and condiments.
  • Ready-to-eat foods should be used as soon as possible including lunch meats. The longer they stay in the fridge, the greater the chances of bacteria growing.
  • Keep an eye out for moldy food. Mold can grow even in the fridge. If you see anything that looks moldy, throw it out. Try to keep your fridge as clean as possible, and throw out food that has gone bad. 

Are You Storing Your Food Safely? [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]

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