Sweet Meets Savory in These Fresh Strawberry Recipes

From strawberry salads to fresh fruit salsas, the little strawberry is getting a major makeover in savory, salty, and sometimes even spicy dishes. If you want to find out how to incorporate strawberries into your dinner creations, these simple recipes will offer some great inspiration.

Spinach and Strawberry Salad [Southern Living]
Combining spinach and strawberry into a salad is one of the most common examples of a savory strawberry dish, and it’s not hard to see why. The combination of the mild greens with the sweet, juicy strawberries tastes delicious, and it perfectly complements anything from marinated chicken to steaks on the grill.

Brie with Strawberries and Honey [Coastal Living]
If you’re hosting a dinner party and want to provide your guests with an attractive hors d’oeuvres, this is a wonderful choice. Rich, creamy brie cheese is topped with warm honey and sweet strawberries in an appetizer that’s just as tasty as it is pretty.

Asparagus with White Balsamic Strawberries [Seasonal and Savory]
This healthy side dish is simple to make and requires only a few simple ingredients. Sliced strawberries warmed in a white balsamic vinegar make a perfect addition to the slightly bitter asparagus.

The Tropical Chill: Island-Inspired Sweet Treats

If you can’t make it on a tropical getaway this year, a sweet, icy treat from The Tropical Chill will feel like the next best thing. This quaint, quirky ice cream shop serves snow cones, shaved ice, and SnoBalls in a beach-themed location complete with thatched roofs covering the outdoor seating and a large boat that kids can climb on after enjoying their dessert.

The Tropical Chill’s snow cones come in fun flavors like wedding cake, black cherry, and blue coconut, and you can choose to add sweet cream to any of the shop’s flavors. If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, you might also enjoy a refreshing fruit chill in a flavor like strawberry or banana. Cool off this summer in an island-inspired atmosphere at The Tropical Chill.

The Tropical Chill is open noon to 8 p.m. daily. For a full list of flavors, check out the website.

The Tropical Chill
7446 Elbridge Lane
Deer Park, TX 77536
(281) 476-9893
www.thetropicalchill.com

Whataburger: La Porte Burgers

What’s better than a burger? A big, juicy burger from Whataburger. The Texas-based burger chain serves up some tasty fast food in a comfy atmosphere.

Visit and grab yourself a Double Meat Whataburger with lettuce & tomato on a fresh bun, an order of fries sizzled to a golden brown, a fizzy, cold drink and you’ve got yourself a meal. Other options include a Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Bacon & Cheese Whataburger, Triple Meat & Triple Cheese Whataburger and a Whatacatch fish sandwich, with a breaded fish filet, tartar sauce & lettuce. Hot Apple Pie and Gourmet Cookies are on the dessert menu. Stop by in the a.m. for a quick and tasty breakfast of Egg Taquitos, a Sausage & Egg Biscuit Sandwich, Pancakes, a Biscuit Sandwich With Bacon, Biscuit & Gravy, or a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.

Whenever you visit, Whataburger offers delightful fast food not far from The Broadwater in La Porte!

Whataburger
117 Highway 146 S
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 470-8173
http://whataburger.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/whataburger-la-porte-3

Waffle House: A Breakfast Classic

Chances are you’ve seen the big, black block letters on the yellow Waffle House sign. But did you know that the budget friendly, down-home eatery has been around since 1955? Since then, they’ve served almost a billion waffles. And the La Porte outlet continues the restaurant's history of quality.

Breakfast is a favorite time to stop by for – what else? – Waffles with eggs & bacon, sausage or ham, Buttermilk Pancakes, Steak & Eggs, or a Fiesta Omelet with ham, cheese, onions, tomatoes & jalapeno peppers. Later in the day you can put the hammer down on your appetite with a Double Angus Cheeseburger, Texas Cheese Steak Melt, Papa Joe's Pork Chops, Grilled Chicken, or Bert's Best Bowl Of Chili.

La Porte's Waffle House is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it's just a short distance from The Broadwater.

Waffle House
1501 W. Fairmont Parkway
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 842-8081
http://www.wafflehouse.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/waffle-house-la-porte

Good Vibes Only: The Basics of Feng Shui

Have you ever considered applying the art of feng shui to your home's decor? This 300-plus-year-old Chinese belief system involves organizing the home in a way that promotes the flow of energy, and you don’t have to be an experienced scholar in order to reap its many benefits. Use these simple feng shui tips for organizing your home.

  1. Get rid of clutter. This is one of the most important aspects of feng shui. If you don’t use it, get rid of it. Try donating, gifting or recycling unused items.
  2. Know the health “trinity.” The feng shui trinity includes the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, the rooms most associated with health and vitality. Keep these areas clean, filled with light, and free of clutter.
  3. Properly position your furniture. Your furniture should allow for easy flow and movement from one room to the next. Avoid blocking doors or walkways, and keep hidden areas (like closets) free of blockages.
  4. Consider color. Colors like red and orange are associated with passion and energy, so use these in offices or dining rooms. Soothing shades of blue and green promote trust, peace, and harmony in the bedroom or bathroom, while cheerful yellow should be kept to the kitchen.
  5. Clean up the air. Add plants throughout your home to promote air purity, and keep the windows open as often as weather permits.

How To Create Good Feng Shui in Your Home [About.com]
Feng Shui Basics [Feng Shui For Real Life]
Feng Shui Basics: How Your Space Can Affect Your Mood [Tiny Buddha]

Browse a Kaleidoscope of Fabrics at the Painted Pony ‘n Quilts

If you're an avid crafter, then you're likely already acquainted with Painted Pony ‘n Quilts. This 8,500-square-foot store in La Porte houses more than 10,000 bolts of fabric, as well as everything else creative types require to maintain a hobby in the fabric arts: quilting patterns, sewing machines, quilting kits, notions, books, and much more.

For both the novice or experienced sewer, Painted Pony 'n Quilts hosts instructional sewing classes in topics like paper piercing, applique, and machine quilting. These informal, affordable classes are a great way to further your craft. Or if you prefer, enroll in one of Painted Pony 'n Quilts's many events and clubs, and you'll be introduced to people who share your interest in embroidery, quilting, historical fabrics, and wool.

Painted Pony ‘n Quilts is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Painted Pony ‘n Quilts
1015 S. Broadway Street
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 471-5735
www.ppnq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/painted-pony-n-quilts-la-porte

Tortillas: Enjoy Mexican Food in La Porte

Tortillas is the perfect spot to fuel up on tasty Mexican fare in a festive, family-friendly setting. This place's expansive selection includes plenty to choose from, with nice prices and some tasty options for the tykes on the kid’s menu, making it a great place for a family meal.

Appetizers at this La Porte restaurant include Queso Flameado – melted cheese with chorizo, Fajita Nachos with beef or chicken, and a Sampler Platter with quesadillas, potato skins, wings & flautas. In addition to Burritos, Enchiladas, Tacos and Quesadillas, other tasty fare includes a Flauta Dinner with two rolled, deep-fried corn tortillas filled with chicken, the San Luis Potosi with two cheese enchiladas, tamale, taco & guacamole, and the San Lucas with grilled chicken topped with shrimp, crawfish, & mushrooms.

Want to learn more before you visit? Check out the Tortillas website!

Tortillas
9602 Spencer Highway
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 479-1710
http://www.tortillasmexicanrestaurant.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tortillas-la-porte

Mesquite Grill & Taco Factory: Breakfast Tacos and More in La Porte

Monster tacos? You’ll find them at Mesquite Grill & Taco Factory. Tacos for breakfast? That’s part of the deal, too!

Get your motor revved up in the a.m. with Bacon & Egg Tacos, Mesquite Ham & Egg Tacos, Potato & Egg Tacos, and Chorizo & Egg Tacos. Later in the day, you can have your tacos filled with Top Sirloin Steak, Carne Guisada – beef tips with brown gravy, Grilled Chicken, Blackened Red Snapper and Pork Tenderloin. Lunch plates include the Specialty Taco Plate with rice & refried beans, a Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich with seasoned fries, and a Quesadilla Plate with beef or chicken, melted cheese, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream & refried beans.

Really, there's a lot to love about this La Porte restaurant!

Mesquite Grill & Taco Factory
1601 Fairmont Parkway
La Porte, TX 77571
(832) 741-3339
http://www.mesquitegrillmonstertacos.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mesquite-grill-and-taco-factory-la-porte

Add a Touch of Color to Your Space With These Easy-Care Blooming Houseplants

If you want to breathe new life into your home’s decor, there are few better ways than by adding a few blooming houseplants. These unique plants give you a pop of green and a burst of bright color from their blossoming flowers, and they’re surprisingly easy to care for.

  • Begonia. Although most people think of begonias as outdoor plants, they also look beautiful inside your home. Types with fibrous roots work best indoors, and they bloom almost continuously throughout the year.
  • Peace lily. This elegant plant features a beautiful, white flower against its lush green leaves, and it’s one of the easiest to keep alive. The peace lily even does well in low light.
  • African violet. If you’re looking for a plant that will last for years to come, this is the one to choose. Their purple, red, or white flowers bloom almost year-round.
  • Orchid. Although orchids can be quite finicky plants, they flourish when placed in bright, indirect sunlight. Plus, they’re some of the most beautiful flowering houseplants.
  • Geranium. If you’re prone to forgetting a few waterings here and there, the geranium is the plant for you. These vibrant flowers thrive in dry soil between waterings, and they really bloom when placed in a bright window.

Flowering Houseplants [About Home]
The 16 prettiest and most colorful indoor flowering plants [Today Home]
16 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Flowering Houseplants [AOL Real Estate]

San Jacinto Monument and Museum: Living History

History buffs will absolutely love the San Jacinto Monument and Museum. Featuring artifacts from many historic battles and personalities, the San Jacinto Museum offers a glimpse into Texas’ storied history. You can tour the historic battle field that was integral in the creation of the iconic American west. Take the old fashioned elevator to the top of the monument and behold the beautiful view. There is also a preserved battleship available for touring. The museum features many great artifacts illustrating the history Texas. These include letters from historical figures of note, key items relating to important battles, and even clothing and accessories from this bygone era. Travel to the top of the San Jacinto Monument, the tallest monument in the world, and marvel at the view from the observation deck. See the beautiful skyline as well as many historic landmarks from your perch atop this majestic monument.

San Jacinto Monument and Museum
1 Monument Circle
La Porte, TX 77571
http://www.yelp.com/biz/san-jacinto-monument-and-museum-la-porte

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