Lifestyle

Find Fresh Fruit and Veggies at These Houston Farmers’ Markets

August 4, 2015 by francis

Farmers' markets provide a great place to stock up on the week’s produce, spend the afternoon outdoors, and support the local farming community while you do it. In Houston, you’ll find a number of bountiful farmers' markets offering much more than the usual fruits and vegetables. Check out one of these great options this week.

Houston Farmers' Market
The Houston Farmers' Market is the city’s main farmers' market, which becomes apparent when you see how many quality vendors there are on its grounds. The market is held every Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot behind Rice Stadium and offers a very large space for browsing. While you'll encounter local farmers selling fresh, organic produce, there are also many places to buy prepared foods that are supplied by local eateries. From homemade samosas to goat cheese made with local milk, you’ll find a wide assortment of foods at this impressive market.
Rice University Campus West Stadium Lot, 5600 Greenbriar Drive, Houston, TX 77005

Canino Produce
If you’re only looking for fresh produce, Canino Produce is a wonderful alternative to the traditional grocery store. This outdoor market is housed in an airy, barn-like building filled with bountiful stalls overflowing with fresh strawberries, local squash, ripe tomatoes, and many other seasonal fruits and veggies. Best of all, the prices are so low that you can shop local and organic without spending a fortune.
2520 Airline Drive, Houston, TX 77009; (713) 862-4027

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Farmers Markets in Houston, Houston Farmers Markets, Things to Do in Houston, Travel

Clutter Cramping Your Style? Here’s How to Get It Under Control!

July 7, 2015 by francis

So you might not be the neatest person in the world, but that doesn’t mean that you have to deal with clutter cramping the style in your apartment. There are a number of smart, simple ways to de-clutter your space without spending hours cleaning every day. Here are just a few tips for managing the mess.

Think function, not fashion. Sure, that matching furniture set might look great, but that doesn’t mean that it actually works in the room. Having too large furniture (or even too much furniture) is a surefire way to make a room look cluttered. Downsize to maximize your space.
Create a place for everything. Go through your home and make a note of everything that doesn’t have its own designated space, from the stack of mail to your everyday beauty products. Invest in small bins or drawer organizers where you can toss things to keep them out of sight.
Add shelving. Keep things off of the floor by adding shelving anywhere that clutter frequently accumulates. Add attractive bins or boxes that you can put things in.
Spend a few minutes. Take a few minutes before bed each night to make one final sweep of your home, putting things away and getting organized. Waking up to a tidy house will make you want to get in the habit of de-cluttering.

Clear Clutter and Take Control of Your Life [All You]
Clutter Control in 10 Steps [Family Circle]
25 Ways to Clear Clutter [Style at Home]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Jamesthe1st

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Apartment Decoration, Crafts, DIY, Organization

How to Care for Your Kitchen Knives

June 2, 2015 by francis

You use your kitchen knives almost every day, from slicing your morning banana to chopping vegetables for dinner at night. Because good knives can be expensive, you likely want to keep them in top working condition. Here are a few simple tips for properly caring for those important cooking knives.

Don’t let them soak. It may be tempting to simply toss your knives in with the rest of your soaking dishes, but avoid doing so. This can cause the knife to bend or get scratched, and it can also be dangerous if someone reaches their hand under the water.
Don’t run them through the dishwasher. Likewise, the dishwasher can also dent or ding your knives. Instead, wash them thoroughly by hand after every use.
Don’t store them in a silverware drawer. This is especially important for renters who might not have much extra space in the kitchen. Instead, invest in a small wooden knife block that you can keep on the counter, or at least use a knife sheath to keep the blade safe.
Keep them sharp. In order to get the best results from your knives, you need to sharpen them frequently. Use a honing steel or a knife stone if you’re comfortable doing it yourself, or if you’re not, you can always send them out to be sharpened by a professional.

Caring for Kitchen Knives: Dos and Don'ts [About Food]
How to Take Care of Your Knives [David Lebovitz]
How To Care For Kitchen Knives: 6 Common Mistakes [Huffpost Taste]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr r.nial.bradshaw

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Cooking, Kitchen Hacks, Kitchen Tools, Knives

Taste these Antioxidant-Rich Foods

April 7, 2015 by francis

Antioxidants are beneficial for a number of reasons. They protect against illness, slow the aging process within your cells, and even prevent against life-threatening diseases like heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants are found in vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Here are a few foods that are packed full of these items that offer naturally occurring antioxidants.

Berries. Fresh berries contain many of the vitamins that antioxidants are found in, and they taste great as well. Have a handful of blueberries for breakfast to help boost your cognitive function and strengthen your immune system first thing in the morning.
Beans. Not only are beans filled with fiber, they’re also packed with antioxidants. Red beans have the highest amount of any type of bean, but it doesn’t hurt to incorporate black beans, lima beans, or navy beans into your diet as well.
Dark chocolate. This one may seem too good to be true, but delicious dark chocolate is full of antioxidants. Having a few squares for dessert can help to lower your blood pressure, but only if you opt for something with higher than 70 percent cocoa. Chocolate is still fairly high in calories and sugar, however, so be careful not to overindulge.

10 Antioxidant-Rich Foods [Food Network]
8 Foods Rich in Antioxidants [FitDay]
Best Antioxidant-Rich Foods [Reader’s Digest]
20 Common Foods With the Most Antioxidants [WebMD]

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Diet, Food, Health, Wellness

Creative Takes on Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly for Adults

March 3, 2015 by francis

Do you love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but you’re worried about the strange looks you’ll get from your friends when you pull one out at a party? Don’t be! With these fun and fancy recipes for adult PB&Js, you can enjoy the treat in style.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie [cookingchanneltv.com]
This sweet and nutty pie is the ideal dessert for any social gathering. The classic flavor of fruit jelly perfectly mingles with a peanut butter and cream cheese filling, while a whipped cream topping is just the icing on the cake.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars [chow.com]
Guests of all ages will love these peanut butter and jelly dessert bars, which are made with a browned oat crust and thick strawberry jam for a hearty taste that’s the perfect grown-up version of your childhood favorite.

PB&J Cocktail [delish.com]
If you want to add a really adult twist to the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, this PB&J cocktail is a lively and exciting choice. Although the two flavors seem like an unlikely pairing with alcohol, once you taste them with aged rum you’ll certainly become a believer. Line the rim with salted peanuts for a truly authentic taste.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/kae71463

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Cooking, Peanut Butter, Recipes

Expand Your Vocabulary With These Free Apps for Apple Devices

February 3, 2015 by francis

Building an expansive vocabulary is beneficial to people in just about any profession. An expansive vocabulary helps you to better communicate thoughts and feelings, and it prevents embarrassment from using a word incorrectly. These helpful apps for your Apple device offer fun, convenient ways to learn new words, even when you’re on the go.

Dictionary.com
The popular online dictionary website offers an app that features a comprehensive dictionary and thesaurus for looking up unknown words. In addition to its most basic features, the app has a Word of the Day section that displays a new word and its definition every time you log on. Check the app each morning and you’ll improve your vocabulary in no time.

VocabDailyFree
This free app is dedicated to helping users improve their vocabularies through definitions, usage examples and even a recording of the pronunciation for various words every day. If you’re a history buff, you’ll also love the opportunities to learn about the history of each word. Vocab Daily’s simple black and white interface is so easy to use that you can even learn new words while multitasking and doing other things.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/supernico26

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Apps, iOS, Tech, Technology

Expecting Company? Try These 4 Simple, Elegant Appetizer Recipes

January 6, 2015 by francis

Don’t get caught off guard the next time you have a last-minute gathering at home. With these convenient appetizer recipes, you can prepare beautiful and delicious hors d'oeuvres without taking time out of your busy schedule.

Bacon-Wrapped Apricots with Sage [Real Simple]
With such contrasting ingredients coming into play, this appetizer seems like it’s much more complicated than it is. All it takes is some apricots, crispy bacon, simple seasonings, and a few toothpicks to create a handheld appetizer.

Orange and Fennel Marinated Olives [Oprah]
No one hosts a party better than Oprah, and her sweet and savory marinated olives will have your guests asking for the recipe all night.

Endive with Ricotta, Almonds and Raisins [Real Simple]
Endives make an attractive vessel for eating the creamy ricotta in this simple appetizer, and the crunchy almonds and sweet raisins are just the icing on the cake.

Leek Tart [Martha Stewart]
A tart looks pretty and it’s easy for guests to eat, but most tarts are complicated and time-consuming to make. This one uses basic frozen dough and a few simple tricks to turn create a perfect tart crust.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Geoff Peters 604

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Appetizers, Cooking, Food, Recipes

Food Canning 101: 5 Basics

December 2, 2014 by francis

Your grandmother may have been on to something with all of those canned fruits and vegetables. Canning is a great way to preserve the lifespan of fresh produce, and it creates a number of unique new ways to eat your favorite veggies. If you want to start canning in your own home, here are 5 things that you need to know.

Do not use overripe produce. Although canning helps you to extend the lifespan of produce, it won’t reverse the ripening process if it has already happened. Be sure to use only crisp, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sterilize cans before starting. Because your produce will be sealed tightly inside of the glass jars, you want to make sure that there is no bacteria inside of there as well. Wash each jar with hot, soapy water and soak them in a boiling water bath for at least 10 minutes before you begin.
Research acid additions. Many types of fruits and vegetables require ascorbic acid or citric acid to prevent browning or maintain pH levels, so do your research before canning.
Do not fill the jars completely. Your produce will expand during the boiling process, so be sure leave an inch or so of space at the top of each jar.

More Canning Tips and Do's/Don'ts [Pick Your Own]
Canning 101: The Basics [Simple Bites]
USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2009 revision [NCHFP]

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Canning, Cooking, Food

Three Uncommon Uses for Dryer Sheets

November 4, 2014 by francis

From brand-new dryer sheets to used ones straight from the dryer, there are a number of different ways to use dryer sheets around the house. These static-absorbing, fresh smelling sheets are some of the most useful household products you can find, and they’ll even help you in places other than the laundry room. Here are some of the best lesser-known uses for dryer sheets.

Quickly eliminate static. Dryer sheets are made to remove static from your laundry in the dryer, so why not use them on the clothes you’re wearing, too? Simply run a dryer sheet up and down that static-prone blouse or shirt, and you’ll be good to go.
Dust hard surfaces. Used dryer sheets make cheap, effective tools for dusting furniture. Just use the sheet like you would a rag or paper towel. Because they're meant to attract static and lint, dryer sheets will attract dust as well.
Repel insects. It seems unlikely, but bugs really do not enjoy the fresh scent of dryer sheets. Tuck one in a lunchbox or picnic basket to keep insects at bay, or even rub a new sheet across your skin before you go out on an afternoon hike.

12 Surprising Uses for Dryer Sheets [All You]
25 Alternative Uses for Fabric-Softener Dryer Sheets [Curbly]
20 Household Uses for Used (Yes, Used) Dryer Sheets [Apartment Therapy]
10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets [Real Simple]