These Chili Recipes Help Warm Chilly Evenings

All it takes is a homemade dinner of something warm and comforting to get you into that cozy fall feeling. Here are a few chili recipes that you’ll love to make on those chilly autumn evenings.

Pumpkin Chili [oliviascuisine.com]
While you’re likely used to seeing pumpkin in every cookie, coffee, and pie as soon as summer is over, this recipe for pumpkin chili will show you a new and exciting way to use everyone’s favorite fall gourd. It can be made on the stovetop or in the slow-cooker if you’re pressed for time, and it becomes even more festive if you serve it inside of a small, hollowed pumpkin.

Slow-Cooker Chocolate Chili With Three Beans [bhg.com]
If chocolate in chili seems too good to be true (and maybe a little bit strange), you’ll become a believer once you taste this unique recipe. Best of all, you can make it in the slow-cooker, so you’ll come home from a long day at work to a warm, home-cooked meal.

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili [allrecipes.com]
A healthy turkey chili cuts down on fat and calories compared to the traditional beef version, and this one is also very easy to make. Just toss all of the legumes, veggies, and spices into the slow-cooker and you’ll have a hearty and nutritious meal in just over four hours.

Go For the Green: How to Mount a Staghorn Fern

Photos, posters, artwork… Some things lend themselves to framing and mounting—but what about houseplants? Epiphytes, like the popular staghorn fern, are perfectly suited to the framing treatment as they draw water and nutrients from the surrounding air (read: no soil required!). Store-bought mounted ferns can be costly, but you can easily create your own at home with a few supplies and a little elbow grease. Here's how:

1) For this project, you'll need a mounting surface, typically a wood board or plaque or a shallow crate. You'll also need clear fishing line, a picture-hanging kit, sphagnum moss, nails, and, of course, a staghorn fern.

2) Lay your mounting surface on a table, then hammer four nails into its front, in the shape of a square.

3) Wet your moss, then wring out extra moisture. Create a moss "bed" for your fern in the area between the four nails. Position your fern upon the moss, then wrap fishing wire around the nails and across the fern to affix it to the board.

For the rest of the tutorial, click though to How To Mount a Staghorn Fern on Apartment Therapy.

Cool Off With These Rich and Creamy Ice Cream Recipes

Summer brings with it heat and humidity—but also an excuse to indulge in some cool, frosty ice cream! If you'd like to recreate the experience of your favorite ice cream parlor at home, this trio of homemade ice cream recipes will have you off to a sweet start.

Five-Minute Ice Cream [AllRecipes]
Yep, you read that right: This recipe only takes five minutes to make, start to finish! Simply combine white sugar, heavy cream, and frozen strawberries in a blender or food processor, then blend it all together until the strawberries are roughly chopped. Reviewers note that other kinds of frozen berries can be used in place of the strawberries, and some recommend substituting low-fat yogurt and sugar substitutes to cut down on the fat and calories.

The Master Ice Cream Recipe [New York Times]
Incorporating egg yolks into the mixture produces ice cream with a supremely smooth, creamy, and custard-like consistency. Better still, it's said that this vanilla ice cream can provide the foundation for any other ice cream flavor. Add the fruit, candies, nuts, and aromatics of your choice to transform the vanilla ice cream into whatever flavor your heart desires.

My Favorite: Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream [Real Simple]
Refreshingly indulgent, there's a reason why mint chocolate chip ice cream is a tried-and-true favorite. This recipe for the crowd pleasing ice cream steeps fresh mint leaves in a cream and milk mixture for an herbal flavor that can't be recreated by extracts. The addition of three tablespoons of cream cheese results in a texture that's extra rich and decadent.

Quick and Easy Potluck Recipes

So you were invited to your first of many summer potlucks this summer, and you’re totally stumped on what to bring. If you’re searching for the perfect recipe for a group, you’ll want something that’s easy to make and easy to serve, but still really delicious. Here are three unique summertime recipes that are also potluck-friendly.

Key Lime Bars [myrecipes.com]
If you’re in charge of bringing the dessert, these key lime bars are the perfect addition to any potluck. They’re the perfect blend of sweet and tart, and although they’re made entirely from scratch from crust to filling, they’re still simple to prepare.

Salsa for a Crowd [tasteofhome.com]
While salsa is a dish that feeds a lot of people at once, it’s still a really easy dish to throw together. This unique, summery salsa recipe combines corn and black beans with the usual tomatoes and spices to create the perfect topping for tortilla chips, pita wedges, or even tacos.

Sunny Broccoli Salad [midwestliving.com]
Bring a side dish that’s both delicious and healthy when you prepare this broccoli salad. It takes just 20 minutes to make, and unexpected ingredients like low-fat mayonnaise, bacon, and sweet raisins create a punch of flavor that will have all of the other guests asking for your recipe.

You Just Have to Try This Recipe for Strawberry Shortcake This Summer

If you're only going to make one strawberry shortcake recipe this summer, let this be the one! It's a recipe for classic strawberry shortcake that's deliciously old-fashioned—because why mess with a good thing? We love the recipe because it's easy to put together in a pinch, and it highlights one of summer's sweetest crops: strawberries! Here's how it's done:

1) Cut strawberries (32 ounces' worth) into quarters, then toss them in 1/2 cup white sugar and set aside.
2) Beat one cup of whipping cream at high speed, gradually adding 2 tbs of sugar. Chill the whipped cream once soft peaks form.
3) Make the shortcakes using 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/4 cup sugar. Cut in 3/4 cup cold butter.

Get the full recipe on Myrecipes.com!

3 Healthy Weight Loss Tips for Women

It can be difficult to lose weight on your own, but with some dedication and a few smart tips from the professionals, your weight loss goals are completely attainable. Here are three healthy ways for women to lose weight. (Be sure to ask for doctor for advice, too!)

  1. Never skip a meal. Many people skip meals while dieting in order to cut calories (or because they went overboard with a previous meal), but this is one of the worst things you can do in the long run. Not only does skipping meals make you feel hungry and even faint or dizzy, it also slows your metabolism and can even cause you to overeat at your next meal. Shoot for five small, balanced meals per day.
  2. Be realistic about your weekly weight loss. While it is possible to drop a lot of weight all at once, you’re much more likely to gain the weight back if you follow this plan. Instead, aim to lose 2 to 2.5 pounds per week, which is the amount that most doctors consider healthiest for the average woman.
  3. Plan short, intense blocks of exercise each day. It’s not always easy to work out every day, but studies show that shorter, more intense bursts of regular exercise are more conducive to weight loss than working out for longer periods only a few times per week.

Our 75 Best Tips for Losing Weight [Woman’s Day]
Women's Health [WebMD]
6 Weight Loss Tips to Steal From French Women [Shape]

How to Safely Exercise Outdoors During the Summer

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]

When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them to Clean! Here’s How!

Did you know that lemons work as a natural disinfectant, a stain remover, a polish for metals, and so much more? Try these simple cleaning tips using the power of citrus!

  • Scrub your dirty dishes or plastic containers with a recently juiced lemon and a little bit of coarse salt to remove any stains or smells. This also works for wooden cutting boards.
  • Rub some lemon juice on a sponge and leave it in your refrigerator for several hours to remove any odors.
  • Give your microwave a good cleaning by mixing three tablespoons of lemon juice and one and a half cups of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl into your microwave and put it on high for five to ten minutes. Then just wipe away any remaining spots with a dishrag.
  • Make your own eco-friendly household cleaner with citrus peels and white vinegar. Simply place citrus peels in a glass mason jar, then pour enough vinegar over top to cover the peels. Let the mixture infuse for two weeks, then strain out the vinegar into a spray bottle!

Cleaning With Lemon Juice [DIY Network]
10 Clever Ways to Clean With a Lemon [The Kitchn]
34 Useful Reasons to Load Up On Lemons [Reader’s Digest]

Plan a Family-Friendly Party at Broadstone Towne Center With These Non-Alcoholic Mocktails!

A drink doesn’t have to have alcohol to feel fun and festive—take these flavorful mocktails, for example! If you’re planning a family-friendly party at your home at Broadstone Towne Center, serve these celebratory beverages to guests of all ages.

Watermelon Lemonade With Kiwi Splash [tablespoon.com]
In the summertime, this watermelon lemonade is a perfectly refreshing and fruity beverage. A splash of tangy kiwi adds a complex flavor.

Raspberry Spritzer [eatingwell.com]
If you enjoy the taste of sparkling seltzer, this fruity beverage is the perfect choice. Its refreshing bubbles are balanced by the juicy raspberry flavor.

Mexican Hot Chocolate [rachaelraymag.com]
For parties in the colder months, this spicy Mexican hot chocolate will warm your guests right up. The addition of chili powder will add an exciting kick that makes the classic hot chocolate feel much more grown up.

Kiwi Orange Mango Juice [rachaelraymag.com]
This one is not only festive, it’s also really healthy. Blending the flavors of kiwi, orange and mango creates a uniquely fruity flavor that’s perfect for parties.

Enjoy These Sweet Lava Cake Recipes

With warm, gooey chocolate inside of a moist cake exterior, molten lava cake is a chocolate lover’s dream. This decadent dessert may look like a gourmet treat, but it’s actually surprisingly easy to make. Here are two sweet and simple molten lava cake recipes!

Paula Deen’s Molten Lava Cakes [Food Network]
Everything that Food Network host Paula Deen makes is delightfully sinful, and these Molten Lava Cakes are no exception. They take just 30 minutes to prepare, and the mix of bittersweet and semisweet chocolate with orange liqueur adds a unique taste that your guests and family will love.

Healthier Molten Lava Cakes for Two [Texanerin Baking]
If you want to cut calories while still maintaining the indulgent taste and texture, this Healthier Molten Lava Cake recipe from Texanerin Baking is the perfect choice. It makes just enough for two people so that you can share with a friend, but you won’t be tempted with leftovers. Plus, the dark chocolate and espresso powder add major chocolate flavor without the added sugar of milk chocolate.

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