Tasty Salad

With summer upon us and wanting to continue to eat different, healthy meals I came across this grilled chicken and mango salad. I was so surprised how easy it was to make and how delicious it turned out to be. It’s a great recipe because you can add other fruits and vegetables, depending on what you like! This will be something that I will absolutely make again so I wanted to share it with everyone

What you need:
1 cup prepared GOOD SEASONS Italian Dressing Mix, divided
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
6 cups torn fresh spinach
2 mangos, peeled, sliced
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
½ cup sliced red onions

Make it:
HEAT greased grill to medium. Pour 1/2 cup dressing over chicken in shallow glass dish; turn chicken over to evenly coat both sides of each breast. Refrigerate 15 min. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.
GRILL chicken 5 to 7 min. on each side or until cooked through, Slice chicken into desired size. Quickly grill slices of mango (or pineapple)
COVER platter with spinach; top with chicken, fruit, onions and remaining dressing.
ENJOY!!!

Garlic Corn on the Cob
Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 40 Minutes

Servings: 12

“Delicious and fresh summer treat. A favorite for everyone.”

Ingredients:

12 ears corn, husked and cleaned

12 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup garlic powder
Directions:

1.

Preheat grill for medium heat, or preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.

Place each ear of corn on a separate square of aluminum foil. Place 1 tablespoon of butter on each one, and sprinkle with garlic powder. Wrap ears tightly with the foil.

3.

Place ears of corn on the grill or in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, turning over occasionally.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

I first heard about Color Me Rad when my sister ran a race last year. In looking at her pictures and hearing all about it seems like a real fun race. Color Me Rad goes all over the US and the proceeds go to various causes, not just one in particular. Which is why I am so excited that Color Me Rad is coming to Maine on August 24, 2013. The whole idea behind Color Me Rad is run for the heck of it, not for any other reason than that. The race is at the Brunswick Landing and starts right at 9:00 am. Color bombs start flying right at 9:00 and every five minutes after that for the duration of the race.

All the proceeds are going to the YMCA, which is so near and dear to my heart! When I moved to Maine I worked for the Summer Camp back in 2007. I really loved the people that I was working for and children I was working with. I am excited to be able to do something that I love and the proceeds of this race will benefit the YMCA of Portland ME that I love.

I hope to get a group of people to join in with me, way more fun that way! Happy running!

This pulled pork recipe <a href=”http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/07/root-beer-pulled-pork/”>http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/07/root-beer-pulled-pork/</a> (which we recently posted the link to on our Facebook page) is soooo yummy and surprisingly easy! I’ve made it before with rave reviews, and on my recommendation two of the girls in the office tried it over the weekend, also with smashing success!

Whenever anyone asks “do you know a good recipe for ______?” I almost always direct them to a recipe from Budget Bytes. After saying this a zillion times, I realized I should spread the word about this gem of a blog a little more broadly.

To name just a few of my favorites, I’ve tried Beth’s hearty black bean quesadillas, honey spice chicken thighs, roasted root vegetables, Italian meatballs, balsamic bruschetta chicken, teriyaki meatball bowls, chicken yakisoba, English muffins, sweet potato corn cakes… ok that was more than a few, but that just goes to show how obsessed I am with this girl’s recipes! Her creations make up at least 80% of my meal plan. On top of her recipes being consistently delicious, they’re affordable! Here’s Beth’s mission statement from her website:

<em>”As a food lover and a number cruncher I’ve decided that cooking on a budget shouldn’t mean canned beans and ramen noodles night after night. This is my web log of good food cooked with little cash. My wallet is full and my stomach is too.”</em>

Can’t decide what’s for dinner? Head on over to <a href=”http://budgetbytes.com”>www.budgetbytes.com </a>

Happy Cooking!

Watch the video below for instructions on how to make quick and easy personalized coffee mugs!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06uqexe_bKc&w=420&h=315]

I have been hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire since I was little. My dad and I took our first overnight trip when I was seven and I have loved the White Mountains and hiking ever since. This is one of the most wonderful things you can do, as an individual or as a family. Hiking has so many benefits: you get out into the fresh air, get great exercise, take in gorgeous views and I have never met an unfriendly person on a mountain! Summer is a great time to go hiking, so here are a couple of ideas of great places to go! <img src=”{filedir_2}white_carin.jpg” alt=”go!” height=”172″ width=”207″ />
• Mount Monadnock. It is a good beginners hike and has the benefit of rocky summit so you get some incredible views as it is the highest peak in 30 miles! It is mentioned by both Emerson and Thoreua in their writings. Hike it – trust me and thousands of other people – there is a reason this is one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world! <img src=”{filedir_2}white_hikers.jpg” alt=” world!” height=”375″ width=”500″ />
• Hike in to Lonesome Lake Hut operated by the AMC. I can tell you from experience that this is just not a hard hike. The first time we took my cousins there they hiked in with SUITCASES instead of packs! Come for a day or spend the night! And remember to bring your bathing suit because there is no way you can pass up a dip in the lake!
• Mt. Washington! This is the highest of the peaks in the White Mountains and the summit is known to have some of the worst and most changeable weather in the world, so do not hike this unprepared! However if you do – it truly is wonderful. If you don’t think you are up to doing the whole loop in one day, or if you just want to enjoy the view some more, then make a reservation with the AMC for the Lake of the Clouds Hut and spend the night! <img src=”{filedir_2}lake_of_the_clouds.jpg” alt=”night!” height=”174″ width=”226″ />
So grab your boots and some GORP and hit the trails!

You don’t need a gym in order to exercise. Even three 10 minute walks three days a week can lower your blood pressure, shrink abdominal fat, and raise HDL cholesterol levels. Exercise keeps your brain healthy and is a great remedy for stress. There are many ways to painlessly fit exercise into your daily life. If you are a pet owner, walk your dog daily. Avoid drive-throughs, park your car and walk into the building( park at the far end of the lot and walk quickly for even greater benefits). Use the stairs instead of the elevator or try to spend half of your lunch time taking a walk. Instead of emailing, walk to colleagues’ desks to talk to them.

Housework is calorie-burning exercise as well. Listen to music to make it more enjoyable. TV watcher? Get up to change the channel, instead of using the remote. Walk in place during commercials, instead of getting a snack. Phone addict? Stand or pace while you talk. Walk around the mall several times while shopping.

Have fun and involve your whole family. Swim, ride bikes, jump rope, or play basketball with your children. Schedule family outings such as berry picking, mini-golf, bowling, or hiking in state parks (pick a trail with hills for maximum results). Don’t just lie in the sun at the beach, take a walk at the water’s edge. Climb rocks with the kids and look for shells.

Change your attitude. Exercise can be fun and a real opportunity to enjoy yourself.

Lately I’ve been re-evaluating my eating habits and focusing on making better choices especially around the office where I spend most of my day. On a weekly basis there is always donuts and pastries it’s hard to resist them when that’s all that’s available to you at the time. It made me start thinking about the effects of eating such foods on a regular basis, not only do you start to gain weight but you also become sluggish and less productive. Food is fuel for our bodies and when you fuel yourself with the right foods it creates a domino effect of positive outcomes. I did some light research on focus foods, online studies suggest we eat leafy greens, fruit, whole grain, nuts & seeds, pop corn and berries for better mental focus each food is suggested to improve your attentiveness. To keep my metabolism going I eat every 2 hours totaling 6 small meals a day. Summer is slowly on its way and that is all the more reason to be cautious with our food choices.

May is National Grilling Month! Now there is nothing better than steaks, or hamburgers and dogs on the grill. But sometimes you can get a little tired of meat on the grill. What’s so good about grilling is that you can cook far more than just meat – veggies and fish taste great over an open flame too! The easiest way to do this is on kebabs – use a good meaty fish and they hold up wonderfully.
Here are some quick as a flash ideas for great kebab grilling!
• Use rosemary stalks as skewers – it adds great flavor and looks very impressive! And remember – always soak your skewers first.
• Marinate! And get creative – Italian dressing will always do the trick, but just check out his yogurt marinade from Jamie Oliver http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/the-best-marinated-fish-kebabs
• Try some different fish – Cod, halibut and haddock are always good, but so is swordfish and monkfish!
• Go with the whole from the sea idea. Fish, and scallops and shrimp all taste great grilled. Look at what Emeril made! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/teriyaki-glazed-seafood-kebabs-recipe/index.html

So be adventurous and have fun breaking out of the meat on the grill rut!

Healthy Teeth = Happy Pets

Oral Disease

Oral disease is the most common health problem for pets. By the age of three, approximately 80% of dogs and 75% of cats have developed periodontal disease. Left untreated, the infection can lead to tooth decay or tooth loss and can even spread through the blood stream and cause kidney, liver, lung and heart problems.

Oral disease is easily treatable, and can be prevented by following a program of regular veterinary oral exams and a home dental care routine.

Preventing Oral Disease

By preventing oral disease, you can help your pet live a healthier, happier life. Do not feed your pet table scraps – this can increase the formation of plaque and tartar. Dry, crunchy pet food can help clean plaque from the teeth.
Causes of Oral Disease

Oral disease begins when plague – a soft film containing bacteria – forms on the pet’s teeth. If not removed, the plaque will harden into tartar. Tartar builds up below the gum line, causing inflammation of the gum tissue (gingivitis) and the lining of the tooth socket (periodontitis). Without treatment, your pet’s teeth can loosen or fall out, and the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious health problems.

Common Signs of Oral Disease
• Yellow-brown tartar near the gum line
• Red, swollen or bleeding gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Abnormal drooling
• Pawing at the mouth
• Sneezing and nasal discharge
• Loose or missing teeth
• Difficult eating and loss of appetite
• Behavior change

Your pet is never too old to start a dental care routine. It is an important step in maintaining health. The older your pet gets, the more likely it is to develop oral disease. Ask your veterinarian to help you get started.