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Just Add Candlelight: Romantic Valentine’s Dinner Ideas for Two

February 13, 2015 by

Whether you’re on a budget or you simply want to plan a more personalized Valentine’s Day date than dinner at a crowded restaurant, preparing a home-cooked meal for that special someone is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday. Here are three romantic dinner ideas that are made for two—just be sure not to forget the candlelight!

Surf-and-Turf for Two [coastalliving.com]
This is normally one of the priciest dishes on the menu at an upscale restaurant, so preparing it at home is a more affordable way to enjoy an indulgent Valentine’s Day meal. With tender, juicy steak and plump scallops cooked in a champagne-butter sauce, this meal will surely elicit a thank-you kiss.

Creamy Tomato Soup [myrecipes.com]
Valentine’s Day falls at the tail end of the winter in most parts of the country, so snuggle up with your better half over a bowl of steaming hot tomato soup. Gain a few extra romance points by pairing it with grilled cheese sandwiches cut into festive heart shapes.

Mini Heart Pizzas [thenerdswife.com]
Pizza is the fastest route to just about anyone’s heart, as you’ll quickly learn when you present your special someone with these adorable (and delicious) mini pizzas. They’re baked in the shape of hearts for a more festive flair, and they’re so easy to make that even the most novice home chef can prepare them with ease.

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Learn About the National Natural Landmarks Program

February 6, 2015 by

Developed by the National Park Service, the National Natural Landmarks Program aims to conserve sites that contain particularly outstanding biological and geological resources, both public and private. They are selected for their condition, rarity, value to science and education, and a number of other factors. Here are some facts about the program:

1) There are more than 600 landmarks in the National Natural Landmarks Program.
The landmarks span from the continental United States to the American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

2) The National Parks Service runs the program.
It's the service’s job to protect these designated areas and act as an advocate to raise awareness about U.S. natural heritage. They partner with both public and private landowners to solve problems with these sites and attempt to conserve them.

3) The National Natural Landmarks Program offers a number of initiatives each year.
The NNL’s biennial report provides an overview of the program’s efforts for the previous two years as well as information about project successes and new landmarks. Their annual photo contest showcases photos of the landmarks in a wall calendar, and the Natural Landmarks Directory offers a map of the locations of each landmark.

National Natural Landmarks Program [National Park Service]

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Healthy Poultry Recipes to Keep Your Diet on Track

January 30, 2015 by

Poultry is such a versatile meat, you could eat it every day of the week and never have the same dish twice. If you’re looking for new and exciting ways to prepare chicken or turkey, here are some delightful recipes from the National Institutes of Health:

"Fried" Rice and Chicken
Okay, so fried rice isn’t the healthiest food in the world. But in this recipe, it takes on a much healthier role with the addition of brown rice, light soy sauce, and a few assorted vegetables. By using boneless, skinless chicken breast and a low-calorie Hawaiian sauce, this dish becomes a healthy replacement for your favorite takeout food.

Crunchy Chicken Fingers With Tangy Dipping Sauce
A healthier take on the beloved children’s food, this chicken fingers recipe uses whole-wheat flour and corn cereal to achieve the same delicious crunch as the more fattening original. Make a tangy dipping sauce out of ketchup, orange juice, and a few other zesty ingredients for a light lunch that even the kids will love.

Make-Your-Own Turkey Burger
Turkey burgers are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to high-fat beef burgers, and it’s just as easy to make your own at home. This simple recipe uses 99 percent lean ground turkey and a few common spices to create a juicy burger with a whole 33 grams of protein.

For more healthy chicken, turkey and other poultry recipes, visit the NIH website here.

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Job Hunting? Check Out These Cover Letter Writing Tips!

January 23, 2015 by

A cover letter isn’t always required when applying for a job, but it might just be the thing that sets you apart from equally qualified candidates. Here are a few smart ways to make yourself sound capable and well rounded in your cover letter.

  1. Think of a cover letter as its own entity. A cover letter is separate from your resume, so avoid repeating the same points that you’ve already made in your resume. Instead, focus on showcasing your unique voice, expressing your interest in the field, and highlighting your talents.
  2. Be succinct. A cover letter should be no longer than three paragraphs long and should take up approximately half of a page. Anything longer than that puts you at risk of losing the reader’s interest.
  3. Address no one. You should attempt to begin your letter with “Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],” but if you don’t know the name of the person reading, simply jump right into the first paragraph to avoid sounding vague and impersonal.
  4. Include a strong closing sentence. Oftentimes, applicants find it very difficult to end a cover letter, so be sure to focus most of your energy on this part. Explain how your unique skills and experience make you a good candidate for the job, then quickly sign off to avoid rambling.

6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter [Forbes]
Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips [About Careers]
Expert Advice: 8 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover Letter [Nerd Wallet]

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You Might Be Surprised That These Common Foods Are High in Sugar

January 22, 2015 by

Some foods are obviously high in sugar, such as cakes, sodas, and ice cream. But did you know that there are sneaky high-sugar foods that may be sabotaging your diet without you even knowing it? Here are a few foods that are surprisingly high in sugar.

  1. Fat-free yogurts. Sure, fat-free yogurts don’t contain fat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re low in sugar, too! In fact, the majority of low-fat and fat-free yogurts overcompensate by adding quite a bit of sugar to sweeten up the taste. Be sure to check the label on your favorite sweet side, because some 0% yogurts can contain as many as 20 grams of sugar.
  2. Marinara sauce. Marinara sauce is often viewed as a healthy alternative to creamy Alfredo sauces, but this savory pasta topping can be packed full of sugars. Beware of store bought cans and jars especially, as they’re the most common culprits.
  3. Bread. Even supposedly healthy breads, like whole grain and wheat, can contain about three grams of sugar per slice. Processed breads are usually much higher in sugars than freshly baked options, so opt for a loaf from the bakery or a sprouted wheat bread from the health food store.

6 Surprising Sources of Sugar [Eating Well]
6 Hidden Sugar Mines in Your Diet [Next Avenue]
Sugar: Five Foods Surprisingly High in Sugar [BBC]

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Expecting Company? Here’s How to Prepare Your Home for Overnight Guests!

January 16, 2015 by

You just found out that a few friends or family members are coming to visit for a few days, and they’re going to stay at your place instead of a hotel. Before you get stressed, check out these simple tips for making guests feel comfortable in your home.

  1. Create a private area. Although a separate guest bedroom is the ideal area for out-of-town guests, not all homes have this space. Give your guests a bit of added privacy by placing an air mattress in a little-used office instead of offering them the living room couch, or even put up a temporary partition at night if the couch is your only option.
  2. Provide linens. One of the most important things you can do to make guests feel at home is to provide them with clean sheets, towels, and other linens. Place a stack of towels on the bed, and be sure to turn down the bed sheets before they arrive.
  3. Offer storage. Your guests will feel like a nuisance if their suitcases are strewn all over the floor, so offer them a spare closet or even a corner of a low-traffic room where they can store their belongings.
  4. Invest in a few snacks. Oftentimes guests’ eating schedules are different from your own, and they might feel uncomfortable mentioning their hunger. Purchase a few tasty snacks before they arrive, and be sure to accommodate dietary restrictions like veganism or lactose intolerance.

Plan Your Peaceful Christmas: Guest-ify Your Home [The Art of Simple]
Getting Ready for Overnight Guests [Real Simple]
How to Welcome Overnight Guests Without Spending Money [Not Spending Money]
Hosting Overnight Guests [Life Your Way]
Make Your Overnight Guests Feel at Home [Southern Living]

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How to Prevent Cross-Contamination in the Kitchen

January 9, 2015 by

Cross-contamination in the kitchen occurs when you use the same tools and cutting boards to prepare things like raw meat or eggs that you use to prepare fresh produce or cooked foods, contaminating the food you eat with the bacteria from these raw items. To avoid cross-contamination, follow these safety tips.

  1. It starts at the grocery store. Although cross-contamination is usually thought of in the kitchen, it can also happen before you even get your foods home. When shopping at the grocery store, be sure to package raw meats tightly in plastic and put them in a separate bag from other groceries. Also make sure that your carton of eggs doesn’t contain any broken eggs that could leak on other foods.
  2. Use separate cutting boards. One of the most important ways to prevent food poisoning from cross-contamination is by using different cutting boards for meat and other items. Properly label each board, and never cut fresh vegetables, fruits, or breads on the cutting board that you use for meat or eggs. Also, clean your meat cutting board thoroughly and replace it often.
  3. Cook safely. When cooking, never use the same tools to flip raw chicken that you use to stir-fry vegetables, as this can spread bacteria from the raw meat. Throw away any marinades that meat was once soaking in, and always serve cooked foods on a clean, new plate.

Safe Food Handling: What You Need to Know [FDA]
Separate To Keep Food Safe [Home Food Safety]
Cutting Board Safety [Home Food Safety]

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New to the Kitchen? Memorize These Basic Cooking Terms

January 8, 2015 by

When you’re about to make a new dish, it helps to know exactly how to interpret each term in the recipe. More than just abbreviations like "tsp." or "oz.," recipes often include phrases like "blanch," "caramelize," and "pickle," making it a little more challenging to know if you're making it correctly. Here are four kitchen terms that you should keep in your arsenal in order to follow a recipe.

  1. Blanch (or blanche). This is a term that refers to the process of boiling vegetables or nuts to remove their skins and seal in their flavor. It's often done before canning or freezing.
  2. Caramelize. When sugar is heated to higher than 300 degrees, it turns brown and takes on a unique taste—that is, it caramelizes.
  3. Pickle. This is a type of fermentation that occurs when vegetables or meats are preserved in brine.
  4. Reduce. When a recipe calls for liquid to be reduced, it means to bring it to a rapid boil causing evaporation. This allows it the liquid or sauce to thicken, increasing its volume and flavor.

The Basic Kitchen: Glossary of Cooking Terms [Le Petites Gourmettes]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes and Gardens]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Cookery]
Culinary Terms: Food Dictionary and Glossary of Cooking Terms [Culinary Arts at About.com]

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How to Care for Winter Skin and Hair

January 2, 2015 by

From dry, static-filled hair to rough, cracking hands, the chill of winter sure takes its toll on your body. Here are a few soothing tips to help you care for sensitive skin and hair this winter season.

  1. Avoid the hot shower. Although a steaming hot shower can feel great after a long day of work, hot water actually strips your skin of its natural moisture and causes it to become even drier in the winter.
  2. Trade in your lotions for replenishing oils. Moisturizers and lotions are both good ways to add moisture back to dry skin, but nothing works better than rich grapeseed or argan oils. Apply these nourishing oils immediately after a bath or shower to help them absorb better.
  3. Care for your feet at home. By using a pumice stone on your feet once a week and applying a rich cream every night, you can prevent rough, calloused winter feet before they happen.
  4. Moisturize the scalp to prevent dandruff. One of the most obvious (and embarrassing) signs of stressed out winter skin is dandruff on the scalp. Prevent it by switching to an anti-dandruff shampoo, using only lukewarm water in the shower, and moisturizing the scalp with a vitamin-rich oil.
  5. Minimize shampooing. If your hair feels dry and brittle during the winter, try shampooing only every other day.

19 Tips for Healthier Skin and Hair This Winter [Greatist]
10 winter skin and hair care tips you can’t do without! [The Health Site]
Winter-Proofing Your Skin, Hair, and Eyes [Real Simple]

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Stretch Your Paycheck with These Frugal Spending Tips

December 26, 2014 by

You work hard and save as much as you can, and of course you deserve to indulge every now and then. Here are a few thrifty tips to help you avoid overspending on necessities and, in turn, maximize your savings for things that are more worthwhile.

  1. Map out your meals. It can become a bad habit to order takeout or grab lunch instead of brown bagging it. Map out your entire household’s meals at the beginning of each week, allowing for the occasional lunch out or dinner in, in order to maximize your grocery trips and make a restaurant visit all the more worthwhile.
  2. Stay aware of your utilities. Utilities like your cell phone or electricity are essential, but that doesn’t mean that you should pay for them blindly. Instead of using an automatic withdrawal system for each month’s bill, analyze how much you’re spending on each utility and barter with the service for a better deal if you feel that you’re being billed unfairly.
  3. Buy off-brand or discounted. Sure, things like your favorite yogurt or those new designer shoes require a bit of brand loyalty, but there are a number of areas in your home or pantry where you can be thrifty without much notice. Opt for store brand groceries where you can, use generic household cleaners, and buy clothing when discounted.

Beware These 9 Common Overspending Triggers [Daily Worth]
Our House: Common Overspending Traps to Avoid [Well Heeled Blog]
Overspending On Sale Items – How To Avoid The Traps [Miss January]

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