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Savor Fall Flavors With These Pumpkin Recipes

September 15, 2016 by

It’s not uncommon to want to stay inside once the weather starts to cool down, especially since there are so many tasty fall weather recipes to try out. If you start craving all things pumpkin as soon as the first day of autumn rolls around, you might want to add these brand new pumpkin recipes to your to-do list this weekend.

Pumpkin Butter [marthastewart.com]
Instead of buying store-bought pumpkin butter, try this recipe for an all-natural, wholesome alternative. It uses only four ingredients and a bit of blending, and once it’s complete you can spread it on breads, bagels, muffins, and all of your favorite baked goods.

Pumpkin Bread Rolls with Cinnamon Butter [handletheheat.com]
Can you think of two things that go together better than pumpkin and cinnamon? This recipe not only shows you how to make tasty and adorable rolls in the shape of real pumpkins, it also offers the perfect cinnamon butter to spread on top.

Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup [myrecipes.com]
If you love pumpkin so much that you even want to eat it for lunch and dinner, this is the recipe for you. It’s equal parts sweet and savory, and it makes the perfect small appetizer for all of your autumn dinner parties.

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Quick and Easy Marinades for That Upcoming Barbecue

September 1, 2016 by

Every barbecue enthusiast knows that the marinade is key when it comes to adding flavor to your meats, but there are a whole lot more options than just the usual barbecue sauce to choose from. From sweet to tangy to spicy, these grill-ready marinades can take foods from bland to mouthwatering in just a few minutes flat. And best of all? They don’t have to sit in the refrigerator all night, so they’re perfect for the last-minute home chef!

Greek Marinade [greek.food.com]
Olive oil and lemon juice impart a bright, zesty flavor to foods like chicken and fish, while a bounty of fresh herbs and spices will make you feel like you hopped a plane to the shores of Greece. Pour this perfect marinade over your meats and pop them into the fridge for an hour before grilling.

Maple Grilled Salmon Glaze [myrecipes.com]
Take salmon to the next level with this sweet and smoky glaze that you can brush on the fish — or even on a juicy pork chop — right as it’s cooking. Garnish with orange slices to bring out even more sweet, citrus-y flavor.

Barbecue Sauce [marthastewart.com]
Although there are limitless options for marinades, sometimes you’re just in the mood for a good old-fashioned barbecue sauce. This simple, straightforward recipe takes just 30 minutes to make, and it can be used on everything from ribs to chicken at your next cookout.

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Your Handy Guide to Spring Vegetables

March 17, 2016 by

Spring is a bountiful season when it comes to gardening, full of fresh fruits and vegetables that add bright flavors to your meals. If you want to take advantage of what’s in season in the springtime, these nutritious vegetables will help you get started.

  1. Beets. Beets have been having a moment for the past couple years, and for good reason. What used to be the skipped-over bowl in the salad bar is now a popular addition to juices, salads, and even breads and desserts.
  2. Asparagus. Dense with vitamins and nutrients and full of hearty flavor, asparagus is especially plentiful in the springtime.
  3. Spinach. Green, leafy veggies, like mild-tasting spinach, grow especially well in the spring, and they make much more nutritious bases for salads than the usual iceberg lettuce.
  4. Peas. Forgo canned peas in favor of fresher, more flavorful peas right from the produce aisle or farmer’s market. They’re simple to prepare and have a wide variety of uses, and peas grow rapidly all throughout the spring season.
  5. Artichokes. Slice them up for sandwiches or toss them in a salad. However you serve artichokes, they’re always a pleasant surprise.
  6. Zucchini. You’re likely bombarded with zucchini each spring from friends and neighbors with garden surpluses, but that’s never a bad thing. Zucchini is full of healthy nutrients, and its versatile consistency makes the squash a great ingredient for everything from breads to stir-fries.

What's In Season? [Oprah.com]
Spring Vegetables Slideshow [Bon Appetit]

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Irresistible Football-Themed Finger Foods for Game Day

December 17, 2015 by

Game day is coming up, and you’re already wondering what to add to your viewing party menu. Finger foods are always a convenient option, but you might want something a bit more sophisticated than the usual nachos and corndogs. Here are three great football-themed finger foods that even the most foodie guests will love.

Zesty Popcorn Mix [bhg.com]
Instead of grabbing a bag of snack mix from the grocery store, make your own using flavorful herbs, spices, and other ingredients. This recipe shows you how to create a sweet, spicy, and salty mixture using unlikely combinations, such as dried apricots, cayenne pepper, and popcorn.

Shanghai Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce [myrecipes.com]
For an Asian-inspired appetizer, these tasty spring rolls have a gourmet taste without the gourmet preparation. Simply combine ground pork, fresh shrimp, and vegetables with a homemade sweet chili sauce on the side, and wrap the whole thing up in spring roll wrappers to create a handheld dish your guests will devour.

Football Cheese Ball [allrecipes.com/]
Transform the usual cheese ball into a football to make the perfect dish for your upcoming game day bash. This one is especially great if you’re pressed for time, as it’s very easy to whip up and serve with your favorite crackers.

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These DIY Halloween Decorations Are So Easy to Make, It’s Scary!

October 22, 2015 by

Making your own Halloween decorations is a whole lot more fun than buying them at the store, and there are many projects that might be easier that you'd expect. No matter how artistically inclined you are, you’ll love these simple ideas for decorating your home for Halloween.

Candy Corn Centerpiece [diyncrafts.com]
Turn an old wine or beer bottle into a candy corn-inspired centerpiece that’s perfect for Halloween parties. Simply spray paint shades of yellow, orange, and white onto unused glass bottles and arrange them however you please. As a bonus, you can even set out bowls of real candy corn for guests to snack on.

Tissue Paper Jack O’Lanterns [countryliving.com]
Instead of carving a messy pumpkin with sharp knives, create an equally festive jack-o’-lantern out of some simple tissue paper balls from the craft store. Cover them with construction paper facial features to make an entire army of adorable faux pumpkin faces.

Recycled Paper Bats [treehugger.com]
Do a bit of good for the environment by using recycled construction paper to create these sweet and scary hanging bats. Since they use an easy origami pattern, you can even construct these realistic bats without any cutting or gluing.

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How to Ease the Itch of Bug Bites and Poison Ivy

September 3, 2015 by

Bug bites and poison ivy are inevitable in the summertime, but that doesn’t mean that you have to itch and scratch your way through the season. If you’re looking for a way to ease the irritation of these common warm weather ailments, these all-natural home remedies can help.

  • Ice cubes. Simple, quick, and gratifying, the common ice cube is one of the most effective ways to relieve the itch of bug bites. Just wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and hold it on the bite for a few minutes to induce numbing.
  • Tea bags. Press a wet tea bag on a bug bite to draw out toxins and minimize itching through the tea’s natural astringent.
  • Baking soda paste. For bug bites and poison ivy alike, creating a paste of baking soda and water will neutralize the pH and relieve itching.
  • Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar also neutralizes the pH in your skin, so swabbing some on poison ivy or insect bites will quickly alleviate the itch.
  • Soap and water. If you’re fortunate enough to catch poison ivy as soon as you touch it, immediately wash the affected area with lukewarm, soapy water to rinse off some of the oil.
  • Oatmeal baths. If the damage is already done and you have itchy poison ivy, take oatmeal baths in cool or lukewarm water to relieve itching.

DIY: 7 Best Natural Mosquito Bite Remedies [Gardenista]
Poison ivy: Tips for treating and preventing [American Academy of Dermatology]
9 Genius Ways To Relieve Bug Bites [Women’s Health Magazine]

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How to Safely Exercise Outdoors During the Summer

July 23, 2015 by

Even if you’re a very fit person, exercising outdoors in hot summer weather can be dangerous. Unless you take the necessary precautions, the heat and humidity can cause dehydration, dizziness, and exhaustion. Here are a few smart tips to help you exercise safely outside all summer long.

  • Stay hydrated. This one may seem obvious, but dehydration is the leading cause of illness and injury during hot weather exercise. Be sure to drink a lot of water not only during and after exercise, but also beforehand to fuel your body for your workout.
  • Choose smart times. Because the sun is lower (and so is the temperature) during the morning and evening, these are the smartest times to exercise outdoors.
  • Wear the right clothes. While you might wear sweatpants to exercise outdoors in the fall, you should invest in something lightweight and absorbent in the summer. Try synthetic fabrics like Spandex and Lycra, as these wick away moisture.
  • Listen to your body. Even if you’ve only been running for 10 minutes, that might be too much for your body in the dog days of summer. If you start to feel lightheaded and dizzy while exercising, make sure that you stop or slow down, no matter how long it’s been.

5 Ways to Exercise Safely in the Heat [U.S. News]
8 Tips for Exercising in Summer Heat [Active]
Essential Tips for Outdoor Exercise [Arm & Hammer]

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Preserve the Tastes of Summer With These Easy Canning Recipes

June 18, 2015 by

When the weather begins to heat up, it can only mean one thing: Berry season is upon us! Preserve the flavors of summer for a bit longer by canning your favorite warm weather fruits. Here are a few easy summer canning recipes.

Peach Preserves [allrecipes.com]
Few fruits taste more like summer than juicy peaches, and this recipe for sweet peach preserves is just as delicious as an actual peach. Spread it on crusty bread, your morning bagel or even hearty biscuits once colder weather strikes.

Pineapple Chili Salsa [freshpreserving.com/]
Most people don’t live in the type of climate where pineapples grow, but these tropical fruits certainly do feel like summer even if they’re store-bought. Make a zesty pineapple salsa to last you all winter long using those whole pineapples from your local grocer.

Strawberry Refrigerator Jam [thekitchn.com]
Strawberries are just as delicate as they are delicious, so elongate their short lifespans by using them in a simple, basic jam. This easy recipe is perfect for even the most novice jam-makers, and it tastes much more special than name brand versions. Best of all, it only takes a surplus of strawberries and a bit of sugar to make.

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Check Out These Spooky-Fun Facts About Halloween

October 16, 2014 by

Although many people think that Halloween is simply a children’s holiday filled with spooky fun, others believe that October 31 stems from something more sinister. So what is the real truth about Halloween? Here are a few facts that you may not know about the year’s scariest (and sweetest!) holiday.

  1. Halloween’s origins can be traced back as far as 2,000 years. The holiday stems from a Gaelic festival called Samhain, which translates into “summer’s end,” an apt name for this favorite fall celebration. Samhain was a time for the community to gather resources for the coming winter months.
  2. Halloween was far from sinister. Although Halloween and its predecessor Samhain held a few supernatural and pagan aspects, it was overall a very peaceful and community-oriented holiday.
  3. Halloween costumes derived from All Saint’s Day. While we wear costumes for Halloween these days, the costume aspect actually derived from All Saint’s Day, not Samhain. Druid leaders wore traditional costumes made of animal skins to celebrate All Saint’s Day, and because the two holidays fall so close together, they merged with one another over the years.
  4. The tricks led to the treats. In the 1920s and 1930s, American youth turned Halloween into rowdy block parties filled with acts of vandalism. In an effort to make the holiday more wholesome, community leaders attempted to ply children with sweets given out by neighbors, which eventually led to what we know as trick-or-treating.

Twenty Interesting Things About… Halloween [The Pioneer Woman]
13 Facts You Never Knew About Halloween [Business Insider]
History of Halloween [Live Science]

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