Tips and Recipes

Spring Clean Your Kitchen!

Spring is just around the corner which means it’s time to start planning my spring cleaning activities. Top on my list this year is the kitchen. It’s important to give the kitchen a good food safety check and cleaning, especially refrigerators and freezers where raw meat, poultry and seafood is stored. There are three basic areas in cleaning a kitchen.
SHELF LIFE
I always start with checking the shelf life of food in both the pantry and the refrigerator.
 This is a good time to throw away foods that are losing their quality or have spoiled. For
a detailed listing of the shelf-life of foods, as well as a kitchen safety quiz, download the free app
 Make spring the time to begin new food safety habits. Once a week, make it a habit to throw out perishable foods that should no longer be eaten or even better, turn your leftovers into planned-overs and use them before they spoil.
REFRIGERATOR
Next, move to your refrigerator. You should routinely be cleaning your refrigerator, but spring is a perfect time to do a more detailed cleaning.

• Check that the refrigerator temperature is set to below 40°F. Purchase a refrigerator thermometer if you don’t have one.
• Keep the refrigerator clean always; this is a good time to look for unnoticed spills and
  remove lingering odors. Wipe up spills and clean surfaces with hot, soapy water and
  rinse well. If shelves, produce drawers, and door bins are removable, take them to the
  sink and wash them there. Check to see that the door gasket still has a tight fit.
• To keep the refrigerator smelling fresh and help eliminate odors, place an opened box of baking soda on a shelf. Avoid using solvent cleaning agents, abrasives and any cleansers
  that may impart a chemical taste to food or ice cubes, or cause damage to the interior
  finish of your refrigerator. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Wipe down the top and outside of the refrigerator. How does all that dust end up on
  the top of my refrigerator? Since I’m only 5’2” tall, I can’t see that dirt unless I’m on a
  chair reaching for something in the cabinet above the refrigerator.

KITCHEN SURFACES
The last area I clean are all the kitchen surfaces. Remove all items from your countertop and wash with hot soapy water. Sanitize your counter top by spraying the surface with a solution of 1 Tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Let the countertop air-dry. Clean all countertop appliances and decorative items before returning to the countertop.
This is also a good time to get rid of unnecessary items taking up room on your counters. I’m going to go minimal this year! Having a clean and sanitized kitchen will help reduce cross contamination in the kitchen, and minimize the risk of food-borne illnesses.
Now, to empty out all the kitchen cabinets…that’s work for another day! I think I’ll go outside and enjoy the spring sunshine.
Enjoy!
Suzanne

Go Nuts!!

Stay Active Indoors

When the weather gets bad, it is hard to stay active inside the house. However, that does not mean that doing physical activity inside is impossible! There are multiple games and ways to get exercise indoors involving the whole family. One effective way of exercising is yoga. Family yoga involves everyone practicing yoga poses together and can be a really fun activity. Yoga can also bring peace to a family home while toning muscles, increasing flexibility, and reducing weight.
Another way of getting active indoors is playing games. Animal charades is a game where parents write down different types of animals on pieces of paper that can be drawn from a cup. Parents and children can take turns acting out which animal they pick by moving and making sounds. This game encourages creativity in children and adults and can make physical activity seem effortless.
A classic fun game to play is freeze frame. This can be with or even without music playing. If someone is caught still moving after the word “Freeze!” is said, they have to keep dancing until all the other players are out. This game is so easy because it doesn’t involve any equipment except a voice. It is simple and works, especially with children.
A cool game that is fun for children to play is called “Stretch and sprout”. This game involves children imagining themselves as a seed by being curled up in a tight ball and then stretching out as far as they can imagine. By creating a visualization of the child transforming from a seed to a flower, this encourages imagination while stretching all of the muscles in the body. Another way to get more out of this game is by encouraging the child to spring up and jump at the end when they are all stretched out.
Another creative game is called “ABC” where parents and children give each other words to spell and spell them with their arms and legs. This game also can help children learning how to spell. By spelling out words with arms and legs, both parents and children exercise their limbs while toning their cores.
Whether it’s a simple hands-free game or a yoga session, these methods are effective in getting the whole family active while being indoors. These exercise ideas may even make the children excited about the next rainy day when they can stay indoors to play these games!
Taylor 
References: http://www.parenting.com/gallery/18-fun-active-indoor-activities?page=6

Enhancing the flavor!

How do you get out of the rut from cooking the same old chicken, ground meat or fish recipes?  The favorite recipes of your family are getting monotonous and becoming not so favorite anymore.  If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.  I heard this over and over again from friends and neighbors.  So what is the answer?  How can I feed my family healthy, low cost, and easy to prepare foods?  I need some new ideas.
Let’s start with the meat and try some different cooking techniques.  Pan-searing, broiling, and grilling along can affect the taste by intensifying the flavors of the meat.  Try the crock-pot for easy and tasty one pot meals.  The list of possibilities of what you can add to your entrée dishes is endless.  Have you thought about using red/green/yellow peppers, avocados, artichokes, apples, or zucchini noodles to complement your meat?  
Try a different way to prepare your vegetables.  Grill or roast and add spices or herbs to change their taste. Citrus juice or grated citrus peel can add a tangy flavor.  Fresh cilantro and chipotle peppers will add a bold flavor.  Condiments can makeover a recipe.  Try horseradish, flavored mustards, salad dressings, or salsas and see the difference they make in the taste.
Try a few of these suggestions, and I bet your family will enjoy the menu makeover and ask for more!
Judy
Source: http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/planning-and-prep/cooking-tips-and-trends/enhancing-the-flavor-of-your-meal

Heart healthy tips to keep your

Thinking about what to do on Valentine’s Day for those who hold a special place in your heart? Take a look at the suggestions found on the American Heart Association’s Website: heart.org .

The site contains 14 practical and health conscious ideas that have more value and show a deeper love than a box of chocolates or a dozen roses ever could. The ideas are listed below. See what you think.
When you’ve finished reading, be creative! Come up with a 15^th idea to show your Valentine he/she’s extra special. Enjoy the read! (Note: Hovering over the printed words or phrases in blue will take you to sites with additional ideas and information.)

1. Rather than tempting your beloved with sweets, consider a gift that has more permanence. Search for a poem that describes your feelings and write it on beautiful paper for a handmade Valentine.
2. Quality time is one of the most meaningful gifts. Bundle up and plan an active outing such as sledding, ice skating, gathering wood for a fire, or if you’re feeling adventurous, visit an indoor rock wall.
3. If your kids are having a Valentine’s Day party at their school or day care, instead of sending candies, consider raisins, grapes, whole-grain pretzels, colored pencils or stickers as tokens of their friendly affection.
4. Cooking at home is an excellent way to control what and how much you eat. Take a date to a local cooking class to practice your skills or learn a new technique.
5. Prepare a romantic candlelit dinner at home using one of our heart-healthy recipes.
6. Give to one another by giving back. Ask a date to volunteer with you at a local organization. Giving back is a healthy habit that can boost your mood and help beat stress.
7. Use this day as an opportunity to tell your loved one how important they are to you, and share ways that you can support each other’s health and wellness. Get started by taking the My Life Check Assessment.
8. Craving something sweet? Gift a beautiful fresh fruit basket to your loved one instead of giving sweets with added sugars.
9. Sharing is caring – if you go out for a romantic dinner date, order one entrée to share. Many restaurant servings are enough for two – splitting will keep you from overdoing it.
10. Don’t forget to love Fido, too! Give your pet a Valentine and remember to walk or exercise them daily –getting active with your pet will benefit your health and your bond with your pets.
11. Take it slow – if you receive a luxurious box of chocolates from your sweetie, stick it in the freezer and enjoy in moderation over the next several weeks.
12. Take a long, romantic walk with your beloved – and try to make it a regular habit. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity each week to help keep your heart healthy. You can reach this goal by walking briskly for at least 30 minutes five days each week.
13. Check out our tips for healthier preparation methods for cooking.
14. Rekindle an old flame – try preparing one of your sweetie’s favorite recipes in a healthier way. These healthy substitutions can help you cut down on saturated fats, trans fats, salt (sodium), and added sugars, while noticing little, if any, difference in taste.ENJOY! Emily