Staycation Beach Party

Get ready to limbo. Leave your sunscreen and passports packed away because we’re bringing the beach to you. Grab this ticket to paradise and throw your own easy, fun and super-sunny Staycation Party.

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How to throw this party:

1) We covered the table with an ocean-printed roll of paper from Michael’s Craft Store.

2) At the dollar store, we stocked up on sand, shells, flamingo plastic cups, paper umbrellas and Barbie-style beach cabana and windsurfing sets.

3) Place cards were created using dollar store goggles and black stickers.

4) Show Beach Blanket Bingo or Elvis in Hawaii movies on TV.

5) Deliver invitations written on coconuts and have a “no shirts, no shoes, no problem” sign on your door.

Click here for more information

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Blondies

WowMeWednesday

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Looking for the perfect festive bite? You’ve found it with Bite Me More’s delicious White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Blondies, an edible gift for everyone on your list. These easy-to-make chunky white chocolate blondies are elevated to new heights when topped with a creamy white chocolate frosting and crunchy homemade peppermint bark.

Click here for the recipe

Tips and Tricks Tuesday

Food Stain Removal Tips:

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Wash fabrics as recommended after these treatments – the sooner, the better.

Coffee
Stretch the fabric over a bowl and carefully pour boiling water through the stain from about a foot above. If the coffee had milk in it, follow with an oil solvent, like Carbona Stain Wizard Pre-Wash. If it contained sugar, follow with a pretreatment product, like Shout Laundry Stain Remover and let sit for 30 minutes before washing.

Ketchup
Apply Shout, then apply white vinegar with an eyedropper or a clean toothbrush to lighten the stain.

Chocolate
Scrape off the excess with a plastic knife or a spatula. Spray with a dish-soap solution (1 tablespoon clear soap to 10 ounces water) then dab with an enzyme detergent before washing (Most everyday detergents contain enzymes).

Mustard
Saturate the stain with white vinegar, then apply a dish-soap solution (see Chocolate for formula)

Ice Cream
Flush with cool water. Apple a prewash stain-removal product (like Shout), then soak in a sink filled with cool water and a few drops of detergent.

Red Wine
Sprinkle salt on the stain, then stretch the fabric over a bowl and carefully pour boiling water onto the spot from about a foot above.

White Wine
Run cold water over the stain, then spray with a dish soap solution (see Chocolate formula) and pretreat by dabbing with detergent.

Beer
Soak in 2 cups cool water and 1/4 cups white vinegar.

Milk
Soak up as much wetness as possible with a towel. Then, apply a solution of warm water and dish soap. Remove soap residue with a damp towel and blot. Repeat if necessary.

Tomato Sauce
Scrape off dried sauce, then apply a solution of warm water and dish soap. Remove soap residue with a damp towel and blot. If the stain persists, blot on an ammonia solution with a warm, damp towel.

Juice or Berries
Scrape up any solids, then apply a solution of warm water and dish soap. Remove soap residue with a damp towel and blot. If the stain persists, blot on an ammonia solution with a warm, damp towel.

CURRIED CHICKEN DAY!

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Some crazy dudes climb straight up mountains to get a natural high. Others jump off the backs of them in search of the same buzz. But we have a much lazier answer, we just grab a bowl of curry. Yes, curry. Studies link curry consumption and the release of endorphins – dig in for your hassle-free Himalayan high.

Click here for the recipe

The Top 5 Kitchen Tools & Gadgets to Help with Weight Loss

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While we love dessert, we like to balance our sugar rushes with healthy habits. Thanks to these kitchen tools and gadgets, we’re able to have our cake(s) and eat it too!

PS. Click on the images for more details.

BLENDER

The blender (both countertop and immersion type) is essential in every kitchen, especially when it comes to blending smoothies and pureeing soups to give them a creamy texture (without the cream).

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FRESH HERB SAVER

Not only are fresh herbs a much healthier option than dried, but they also pack a flavor punch and help in cutting down on salt consumption. Worried you won’t use them up before they wilt? Grab this fresh herb saver, a gadget that, unlike the grocery store plastic bags, will keep herbs fresh for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

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OIL MISTER

While olive oil is an essential ingredient in every kitchen, an accidental slip of the wrist (pour versus spray) can wreak havoc on your diet – fill this oil mister with olive oil (plus herbs for extra flavor, if desired) and spritz away on salads and in cooking pans.

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STEAMER BASKET

The old school steamer basket is a life (and waist) saver. Steaming couldn’t be easier than with this steamer basket (the pop-up handle helps you remove it easily), a surefire way to serve up healthy vegetables and fish.

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MEASURING CUPS & SPOONS

Obvious, right? We know, but don’t dismiss how essential these tools are for staying trim. Measuring cups and spoons will take the guesswork out of determining what a true serving size (“What do you mean that’s all the cereal I get?”) is and keep your portions down to a science.

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NATIONAL APRICOT DAY!

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We’re obsessed with Greg Brady’s tiki necklace, Magnum’s moustache, uke lessons and all things Hawaiian. So, it should come as no surprise that Lisa dreamt up this Coconut Chicken, a quick and simple, golden baked coconut and panko crusted chicken served up with sweet ‘n’ salty apricot dipping sauce. We will be celebrating National Apricot Day by devouring this Coconut Chicken with Apricot Sauce!

Click here for the recipe

NATIONAL TOFFEE DAY!

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There is no better way to celebrate National Toffee Day than with our top Toffee recipes:

Layered Toffee Crunch Cake, a personal favorite as the buttery toffee bits are baked into moist vanilla cake and folded into creamy frosting. Mmmmmmmmm drool worthy!

Creamy Toffee Cheesecake with Chocolate Crust

Banoffee Pie with Crunchy Chocolate Topping

National Tempura Day!

Since it’s National Tempura Day, but also a start to a new year (with resolutions still in tact…hopefully), we are celebrating by baking and not frying, with our favorite Panko Crusted Recipes!

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Crunchy Baked Zucchini Fries with Caramelized Onion Dip

Parmesan Chicken Fingers with Dipping Trio

Crunchy Dill Crusted Salmon

National Bean Day!

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You know what they say…Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart….

With that in mind, we have our favorite Bean Recipes for you to enjoy today. Don’t forget to rinse them first!

THE TRADITIONAL WAY TO RINSE

1) Sort through the beans to remove any stones or debris.

2) With the beans in a colander, rinse them well with cold water, running your fingers through to reveal any more bits of dirt.

3) Transfer the beans to a large bowl filled with enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches. In hot weather, prevent the beans from fermenting by refrigerating while they soak.

4) Soak for 4-24 hours, until the beans have swelled to double their size.

5) Before cooking, drain the soaked beans and rinse once more before cooking the beans in fresh water.

THE QUICK-SOAK WAY TO RINSE

1) Rinse and pick over your beans for stones or debris.

2) Place beans in a pot and cover with 2-inches of water. Over high heat, bring to a boil, boil for 1 minute, remove from heat, cover pot and let sit for 1 hour.

OUR FAVORITE BEAN RECIPES

Bean and Chicken Tostada Cups

Creamy White Bean Spread with Asiago Crackers

Seven Bean Salad

White Bean, Spinach and Couscous Soup