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Easy Slow-Cooker Meals for Busy Weeknights

If you can never seem to find the time to prepare a full meal for your weeknight dinners, the slow cooker may be the answer to all of your mealtime woes. Here are a few easy slow-cooker meals perfect for your next busy weeknight.

Spicy Turkey Lasagna [bhg.com]
Lasagna in the slow-cooker? Yep, it’s possible! This recipe takes just 20 minutes to prep the meat, noodles, and veggies, and since it takes just under four hours to cook, it’s a quicker alternative to the usual day-long slow-cooker meals.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings [allrecipes.com]
If you’re craving something hearty and comforting, these slow-cooker chicken and dumplings taste just as good as the kind your grandma used to make—but likely with half the effort. Use canned soup and packaged biscuit dough to save even more time.

Vegetarian Pinto Bean Sloppy Joes [eatingwell.com]
While many slow-cooker recipes contain meat, this veggie-filled version of the classic sloppy Joe is perfect for vegetarians. Instead of the usual ground beef, you’ll use pinto beans, zucchini, and corn in a sauce that’s equal parts tangy, smoky and perfect for a chilly autumn evening.

Fast and Easy Dinner Recipes Everyone Can Master

So you’re not exactly a whiz in the kitchen? Not to worry! You can still create healthy, delicious dinners in no time flat by following these simple recipes.

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili With Sweet Potatoes [realsimple.com]
Whether you’re a vegetarian or not, everyone will love this simple and spicy chili containing one of the season’s most popular ingredients: sweet potatoes. Simply combine all of the essential ingredients and let them simmer for seven to eight hours in the slow cooker. By the time you get home from work, you’ll have a hot, tasty dinner waiting for you.

Potsie's Creamed Chicken and Biscuits Casserole [food.com]
There’s nothing more comforting than a plate of good old-fashioned Southern chicken and biscuits, and this casserole version is an easy way to make the homemade favorite. Simply combine refrigerated biscuits with chicken breasts, canned soup, and some common kitchen essentials to create a warm dinner that the whole family will love.

Skillet Chicken and Spring Vegetables [countryliving.com]
If you’re looking for a lighter, more nutritious dinner option, this one-skillet dish is the perfect choice. While the veggies are in season in the springtime, you can make this dish all year round.

Did You Know You Can Cook These Recipes in the Microwave?

If you think that the microwave is only good for re-heating leftovers and preparing microwave dinners, think again. This common kitchen appliance is actually a great tool for preparing scratch-made dinners, desserts, and even breakfast dishes! These three recipes will show you how it's done.

The Moistest Chocolate Mug Cake [tablefortwoblog.com]
By combining a few simple baking ingredients in your morning coffee mug, you can create a one-serving dessert that’s perfect when you’re craving a sweet treat. Best of all, this simple cake takes just two minutes to make in the microwave.

1-minute Microwave Quiche in a Mug [fullthymestudent.com]
Quiche certainly isn’t the easiest breakfast to make, but with this simplified recipe it becomes a whole lot easier. Simply blend eggs with fresh veggies, herbs, and bread and cook it all in a mug — in just one minute, no less.

Lemon Shrimp with Rice [marthastewart.com]
Ingredients like Sauvignon Blanc wine, chopped, fresh herbs, and fresh shrimp combine to make a meal with more gourmet flair than your usual microwave dinner. Prepare the other ingredients while the rice cooks, and then pop the whole thing in the microwave for an additional two minutes before serving.

Love Home Canning? Read These Food Safety Tips!

Home canning is a delicious food trend that’s seen quite a comeback in recent years, and it makes a great way to use up fresh produce before it has a chance to spoil. Here are a few safety tips that will help you to can your fruits and veggies safely.

  1. Be aware of the safety hazards. Many first-time home canners don’t realize that there are deadly food poisonings associated with incorrect canning methods. Botulism is the most common one, and it comes from a bacteria found in soil that produces a toxin when sealed in a jar. Luckily, there are preventative measures to kill these bacteria before canning.
  2. Throw out your old canning recipes. Those old family canning techniques are likely a botulism risk waiting to happen. Keep up with the latest techniques to keep yourself and your family safe.
  3. Don’t stray from the recipe. Canning recipes aren’t just created to preserve the taste of your foods; they’re also meant to protect you against illness. Resist the urge to add extra herbs or a pinch more sugar, as this can threaten the pH levels in your jar.
  4. Use a pressure canner. In recent years, it’s become apparent that the only way to stay completely safe while canning meats or low-acid vegetables is by using a pressure canner. This heats the food to 240 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that can only be reached in a pressure canner.

Don’t Botch It: Home Canning Safety Tips [Home Food Safety]
Home Canning: Keep Your Family Safe! [FoodSafety.gov]
Home Canning and Botulism [CDC]
Safety Tips for Home Canning [About.com]

Craving Cookies? Try These Shortbread Recipes Tonight!

With a simple, three-ingredient recipe and Scottish origins, shortbread cookies are an incredibly popular dessert. Today, there are a number of different ways to prepare this buttery, crumbly cookie, each providing a different take on the classic recipe. Here are three unique shortbread cookie recipes.

Super-Easy Shortbread [Food.com]
If you don’t have much time to bake or you simply want to create a more traditional style of shortbread, this is a great recipe to try. It uses the standard ingredients of butter, sugar, and flour, and the golden color around the edges makes each cookie taste perfectly browned.

Shortbread Cookies Recipe & Video [Joy of Baking]
If you’re a more visual learner, this video recipe will show you exactly how to prepare rich shortbread cookies for your friends and family. It also includes a chocolate dipped version that teaches you how to create a semisweet chocolate coating on one half of the cookie.

Great-Aunt Annie’s Traditional Shortbread [Martha Stewart]
Martha Stewart’s classic shortbread recipe uses higher quality versions of the usual staple ingredients. Unsalted butter, confectioner’s sugar, and cake flour give this cookie recipe a rich taste and a pie-like shape that’s cut into wedge pieces.

Beautify Your Bathroom With These Easy Tips

Did you know that by adding a few homey touches, you can make your bathroom feel much more luxurious? Here are a few ways to transform your rental bath into a spa-quality retreat.

  • Add fluffy towels. Investing in a new set of thick, plush bath towels is one of the best things that you can do for your bathroom. If you don’t have a set color scheme, classic hotel white always looks great.
  • Incorporate baskets. Add attractive wicker baskets or wooden crates to clear away clutter and add a soft, rustic effect.
  • Add fresh flowers. Don’t overlook the bathroom when it comes to greenery. Add a vase of fresh flowers or a low-light plant to help clean the air.
  • Add floating shelves. If you still need additional storage, add small floating shelves along a bare wall.
  • Light candles. Finally, light some great smelling candles along the bathtub or toilet and settle in for a relaxing bubble bath.

10 Ways to Give Your Bathroom a Quick Facelift [Oprah]
50 Cheap and Chic Ways to Perk Up Your Bathroom [Style at Home]
Freshen Your Bathroom with Low-Cost Updates [Better Homes & Gardens]

How to Start Jogging — Safely!

You might not think of yourself as much of a runner, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t start. Jogging is a great way to get outside, build your endurance, and maybe even drop a few pounds, and these expert tips will show you how to start doing it in a safe and enjoyable way.

  1. Check with your doctor. If you’re unsure about your health, it’s always smart to check with a doctor before beginning any new exercise plan. Tell your doctor about your plans for jogging and work together to create a safe, accessible workout routine.
  2. Wear the right clothes. Be sure to wear sturdy, well-fitting running shoes so that you don’t injure yourself while jogging. Stay cool and comfortable with loose shorts or pants, and stay warm in layers if the weather is chilly.
  3. Warm up. Warming up helps you to gradually increase your heart rate, so be sure to walk or slowly jog for at least 20 minutes before jogging.
  4. Stretch. Avoid cramping muscles and prevent injury by stretching your limbs before you set out, but after warming up. At this point, your muscles will be warmed up and stretch more easily.
  5. Cool down. Walk to cool down your muscles for at least five minutes after jogging to prevent lactic acid build-up in the legs.

How to Start Jogging If You Have Never Done It Before [Healthy Living]
Jogging for Beginners [FitDay]

Fill Up on These Fiber-Rich Snacks

Eating foods that are high in fiber will help to keep you feeling full longer without making you go over your calorie limit. Here are a few fiber-rich snacks that will stop a growling stomach, help give you more energy, and even help promote good digestion for the rest of the day.

  1. Sweet potato fries. While sweet potato fries are delicious and may seem totally indulgent, this filling snack is actually loaded with fiber.
  2. Edamame hummus. If you’re a hummus lover who is always looking for new versions of this tasty dip, this fiber-rich version is a must try. Edamame hummus is just as creamy as the original, and it’s very easy to make at home.
  3. Rice cakes with almond butter. Rice cakes are a popular health food because they are low in calories and very versatile, and by adding fiber and vitamin-packed almond butter, you can make them even more satisfying.
  4. Flaxseed. Sprinkle ground flaxseed onto your oatmeal, yogurt, or even ice cream for a boost of fiber from an otherwise lacking food.
  5. Pears. If you’re on the go and simply don’t have time to prepare a complicated snack, grab a whole raw pear for a tasty treat that’s filled with fiber.

15 Fiber-Packed Snack Foods [Woman’s Day]
31 Surprisingly Delicious High-Fiber Snacks [Greatist]

Transform Your Ordinary Bookcase Into a Showcase With These Simple Tips

If you frequently find yourself admiring stylish bookcase vignettes on interior design websites, you’re not alone. While these beautiful shelves look effortless online, it can be much more difficult to create one in person. Here are a few simple steps for creating a designer-worthy bookcase — without giving yourself a headache!

  1. Alternate books. Instead of lining your books up library-style, alternate their direction by also adding stacks of horizontal-facing books. You can even place a small paperweight or candle on top of those stacks to add more visual interest.
  2. Organize books by color. If your bookshelf is filled to the brim with reading materials, make it look more organized by arranging the titles by color to create a rainbow effect.
  3. Unify mismatched knick-knacks. If your collection of knick-knacks looks a bit shabby, unify the set by painting them all one color. Try a stark white, a bold primary hue, or a fun pop of neon.
  4. Decorate the insides of the shelves. Give your bookshelf itself a makeover by adding a bright coat of paint or a layer of wallpaper to the backs of each shelf.
  5. Add artwork. Instead of just using books and knick-knacks, turn your shelves into an art gallery. Prop up a frame or even hang a picture from the front of the shelves where their corners meet.

Bookshelf Styling Tips: The Basics and Beyond [HGTV]
Styling a Bookshelf: 10 Homes That Get It Right [Design Sponge]
10 Tricks for Styling Your Bookshelves [Style Me Pretty: Living]

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