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.

I love when spring turns into summer because then cookout season begins! If you are like me, have no time and like quick easy recipes that your friends and family will enjoy then you will love my pasta salad. It’s super easy to make and I always get lots of compliments about it!

Ingredients:
1 Box of rotini pasta (you can do 2 boxes if you have lots of mouths to feed)
1 Bottle of zesty italien dressing (I use more than 1 bottle if I cook more than 1 box of pasta)
1 Container of cherry tomatoes
3 Cans of sliced black olives
1 Container of crumbled feta (you can also substitute with shredded cheddar cheese)
1 Bag of sliced pepperoni slices

Directions:
Cook the box or boxes of pasta according to the directions on the box. While the pasta is cooking I slice up the cherry tomatoes into halves or even quarters if you prefer smaller tomato pieces. I also place a stack of pepperoni slices together and cut them into quarters. I don’t use the whole bag of pepperoni slices so this way it looks like there are more without using a lot. Once the pasta is done and drained I let it cool for a few minutes and then start using the zesty italien dressing (about half the bottle). Then I just put all the ingredients in with the pasta (you will need a good size bowl once all the ingredients are together) I mix everything together and then use the rest of the dressing. If I’ve made more than 1 box of pasta I usually will do a taste test to see if I need more than 1 bottle of dressing. If you prepare the pasta salad ahead of time make sure to put it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I and my friends and family do!

Memorial Day weekend is usually considered the kick-off to the summer. If you are heading out to any Memorial Day celebrations this weekend, please remember there are usually local parades to attend as well.

Memorial Day parades are a nice way to pay remembrance and to honor those who gave their all for our nation’s service.

Here in Portland, Maine, the city’s Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 27, 2013 at 10:30 am. The parade will start at Longfellow Square and head down Congress Street to Monument Square; where ceremonies will take place.

Check out more events for this Memorial Day weekend at http://www.portlandmaine.com/events/

Admittedly, the words “microwave” and “cake” don’t look right next to each other. But let’s face it: apartment living can sometimes mean settling for slightly less than a gourmet kitchen and we’ve got to work with the resources we have – even if we’re cooking/baking and our resource is a microwave. So if you’re craving something sweet and feel like you’re out of options, think again! Give this little microwave recipe from <a href=”http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/bake-cake-60-seconds-yes-read-180300939.html”>Yahoo! Shine</a> a try and you just might be pleasantly surprised.

<strong>Ingredients:</strong>
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

<strong>Directions:</strong>
1. In a small bowl, mix all dry ingredients — flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt.
2. Stir in egg, milk, and vegetable oil.
3. Pour batter into a single coffee mug, or two ramekins. Make sure they are microwaveable.
4. Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds in a (lightly-greased) mug, or 45 seconds in a ramekin.
5. If the batter isn’t fully-cooked, microwave an additional 15 seconds on high, repeating if necessary, until fully cooked. Remember that microwaved foods continue to “cook” for an additional minute afterwards. Try not to overcook!
6. Serve while still warm! Enjoy!