Recipe Blog Hop

   Come Join our Weekly Recipe Blog hop.  Find new Recipes and Share your own  Here is my Warm Spinach Salad Recipe.

Warm Spinach Salad Recipe

photo credit

With you live in the South you can put Bacon on anything and get awaywith it. I first came across this recipe when I worked at a fine dining restaurant and it was one of our biggest sellers. 

• 1 package baby spinach (about 9-10 oz) or that much washed spinach leaves
• I add mushrooms, pepper, any veggie I feel like
• 4 pieces of thick-cut bacon or 6 pieces thin cut (about 150 grams), chopped
• ¼ cup minced onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 Tablespoons cider vinegar (or the same amount as the bacon fat)
• A pinch of salt
• Two pinches of pepper
• 2 teaspoons sugar 

 Put the spinach (and other vegetables if you like) in a large bowl. The spinach will shrink down some in the hot dressing, but you need room to work. 

Chop the bacon and fry until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. 
 
If you like a lightly dressed salad, leave about 2 Tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan. If you want more dressing, leave more fat and then balance it with more vinegar and a bit more sugar.
Cook the onion in the fat for 2-3 minutes, and then add the garlic - cook for 15-30 seconds or until it is starting to be fragrant. Be careful not to brown the garlic or it will get bitter.
Add the vinegar, and scrape up the brown bits in the pan. (The vinegar will seem potent, but it mellows quickly with the heat and sweetener.) Add the salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir to dissolve, and pour the dressing over the spinach.
Toss the spinach (tongs work well) until coated. Transfer to individual plates or bowls and top with bacon bits and other toppings as desired.
 

 

and the Winner is....

 #41 mrsshukra You have been contacted by email! Congrats!

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You’ll get the Monday Couponing Class and the daily tips and deals delivered to your inbox. In ten short classes, you’ll be bringing home hundreds of dollars in free toiletries, makeup, medicines, household items, non-perishables and other essentials every month.  I just joined so we can check it out together.

 

Freebie Alert - Free Starbucks for Earthday

 

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Science Experiment: Ice Cream

Video 1: Ice Cream Science Experiment Instructions

Squishy Ice Cream Materials:

1/2 c. full-cream milk

1T sugar

1t vanilla

1 large zip-lock bag

1 small zip-lock bag

2c crushed ice

6T salt

Steps:

1. Mix the milk, sugar, and vanilla in the small bag, seal and shake!
2. Mix the ice and salt in the bigger bag.
3. Put the small bag inside the big bag.
4. Squish them together for 10 min or so.
5. Eat!

Video 2: Ice Cream Science Experiment Results

Our results:

We used almond milk rather than cow's milk. It was delicious! We only had to squish the ice cream for about 7 minutes. It was so cold, we wrapped the bags in dish towels to protect our hands.

Related educational resources:

• The Phase Changes of Water Song (Video)
• Freezing Point Depression and Colligative Properties
• Freezing Physics
• Water Cycle Rap

This is the book we used. While this blog does accept books from publishers in exchange for our honest opinion, I purchased this book myself. :-)

The Smell of Clean?

Guest Post By By Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz,
Authors of The Healthy Home: Simple Truths to Protect Your Family from Hidden Household Dangers

 

Every day we see a television commercial featuring an ecstatic mother who is never harried or stressed. Why is she smiling with that happy glint in her eye? Her nose is buried in freshly washed laundry that smells like a "mountain spring."

If you've ever sat next to a real mountain spring, you know it doesn't smell like perfumed laundry.

Nevertheless, we're led to believe that this woman on the commercial is a better mom because her laundry looks cleaner and smells fresher than that of mothers using other leading brands.

Amazing. 

What's truly amazing is that we're buying the potentially dangerous products she's peddling. Merchandisers bank on our love of scent. What most people don't think about is the origins of those scents. That whiff of "mountain spring" comes from scientists -- dressed in protective white lab coats and masks -- who wheel around on little stools, mixing compounds until they've found a way to reproduce "natural" smells through the use chemicals. 

Although we may be tricked by artificial smells, our cells aren't. The skin is the body's largest organ, and contrary to popular opinion, it's not just a barrier that shields us against outside invaders. In fact, it's similar to a fine mesh that allows tiny particles to pass in and out of the body. Think of the nicotine patch that doses the wearer with chemicals that alter the body and mind. What's the difference between that and the residue that detergents and dryer sheets leave behind, coating your clothing and touching your skin? We may not be able to see it happening and we might prefer to ignore it, but those chemical residues are impacting our bodies.

But it's not just the fragrances that lurk in our clothes. 

Something Stinks in the State of Fragrance

Until the twentieth century, fragrances and perfumes were made from natural substances like roots, barks, flowers, and berries, all of which were soaked in water and animal fats to produce fragrant oils. (i)

Today, however, the National Academy of Science reports that up to 95 percent of the chemicals used to make fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and allergic reactions. Many of these chemicals are derived from benzene one of the most carcinogenic chemicals known to mankind. (ii)

Of particular concern is the fact that many of the toxic compounds used to manufacture fragrances can actually penetrate the womb and harm an unbon child. Exposure to chemical fragrances found in many cosmetics may damage the productive system of a human male fetus as early as eight weeks into the pregnancy. (iii)

Today fragrances are added to thousands of products, including health and beauty aids, laundry soaps and conditioners, household cleaners, paper products, oils and solvents, drugs, candles, plastics, and even foods. 

Detergents and fabric softeners described as "fragrance free" or "unscented" on the label may still contain fragrance-inducing chemicals. Such labels only imply that the product has no perceptible odor. A product labeled "unscented" often contains a masking fragrance introduced during the manufacturing process that neutralizes odors. Manufacturers aren't required to list a fragrance on the label if it is added to a product to mask or cover up the odor of other ingredients. 

This makes it very difficult for consumers to know exactly what they exposing themselves to when using a specific product. But you can lessen your risk by slowly eliminating the laundry products you know contain added chemical fragrances. You can also be more confident with reputable "green" brands that have built their entire businesses on offering customers safer, natural alternatives. 

The fragrance industry tells consumers that their chemicals have not been proven toxic. However, it doesn't take a scientist to recognize that chemically produced scents are dangerous to living things. Even a California schoolgirl was able to develop a science fair project that demonstrated the toxic effects of certain perfumes and colognes. She sprayed cotton balls with perfumes and colognes made by Calvin Klein, Polo, and others. Then she put the cotton balls into some cups, each with a live cricket, and sealed the cups with plastic food wrap secured with a rubber band. By timing how long it took the crickets to die, she determined that Calvin Klein was the most toxic perfume -- death in eighty-four seconds. 

The most toxic cologne was the appropriately named Axe brand. (iv)

Ask yourself: If perfume or cologne can kill crickets in a matter of seconds, what damage can they do to someone who wears them all day long? Give extra thought to saturating your clothing and bedding -- and more importantly, the clothing of your children -- in similar chemical perfumes that are part of the "cleaning process." 

Your laundry is one everyday part of your life in which you can easily eliminate unnecessary chemicals. Nontoxic, natural detergents are readily available in many supermarkets and most natural food stores. Reusable cloth dryer sheets or non-PVC dryer balls -- which help reduce static cling -- can be found online. At the very, very least, you can select unscented or lightly scented mainstream laundry products. 

Our cotton sheets should not smell like lavender, and our jeans should not smell like mountain air unless we live in the mountains. We need to retrain our noses to appreciate the true scent of clean -- which is no scent at all. When you smell smoke in your home, you know there is danger. So when you smell those fragrant sheets or that cloying cologne, you should know to run like your life depends on it. 

Because it does. 

(i) Fragranced Products Information Network, "Background," http://www.fpinva.org/text/1a5d908-117.html (accessed January 19,2010); June Russell's Health Facts, "Chemical Sensitivities and Perfumes," http://www.jrussellshealth.org/chemsensperf.html (accessed January 8, 2010).

(ii) K. Leong, "Is Perfume Toxic to Your Health?" Associted Content: Health and Wellness, August 14, 2008, htttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/929891/is_perfume_toxic_to_your_health.html?cat=5 (accessed January 7, 2010).

(iii) H. Scott et al., "Steriodgenesis in the Fetal Testis and Its Susceptibility to Disruption by Exogenous Compounds," Endocrine Reviews 30, (2009): 883-295

(iv) N. Soukaseum, "Determining the Toxicity Level of Perfumes and Colognes," Project No. J1431, California State Fair, 2006, Project Abstract, http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2006/Panels/J14.html#J1431 (accessed July 1, 2010).

© 2011 Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz, authors of The Healthy Home: Simple Truths to Protect Your Family From Hidden Household Dangers

 

Author Bios

Dave Wentz, author of The Healthy Home: Simple Truths to Protect Your Family From Hidden Household Dangers, is chief executive officer of USANA Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art manufacturer of nutritional supplements and health products. He received a bachelor's degree in bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego. Dave lives with his wife, Reneé, and children, Andrew and Sydney, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he enjoys skydiving, playing volleyball and soccer, mountain biking, and skiing Utah's famous powder.

Dr. Myron Wentz, author of The Healthy Home: Simple Truths to Protect Your Family From Hidden Household Dangers, holds a Ph.D. in microbiology with a specialty in immunology from the University of Utah. He founded Gull Laboratories in 1974 and developed the first commercially available diagnostic test for the Epstein-Barr virus. Later, he founded USANA Health Sciences and Sanoviv Medical Institute. Dr. Wentz was honored in June 2007 with the Albert Einstein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Life Sciences. He is the author of A Mouth Full of Poison and Invisible Miracles. He travels the world with his lovely partner, Prudence.

For more information please visit http://www.myhealthyhome.com/ and follow the authors on Facebook and Twitter

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Brand New Mom Community

 Time 4 Mommy Community is a site for moms to take a little time for themselves. 
We have been up two weeks now and already have over 60 members. Come make new friends, promote your blogs & businesses (remember to Get Listed)
                         We have three new moderators - Chit Chat Room & Crafty Moms Group - Theresa - owner of http://theresagrisanti.com
              Introduce yourself - Ashley - owner of http://andthelittleonestoo.com
                 Freebies and Deals - Francine - owner of http://havingkidswillcoupon.com

                We've been adding a few new groups so please check around and see what interests you. Our crafty moms group will be featuring a new craft tutorial every month. We also have a Writing group and a writing critiquing group.

                  Looking to save Money? Join our Coupon and Deals forum or our new Frugal living group.

                   Remember we have our daily Monday through Friday Hops so join in and make friends! 
                      Is there anything you would like to see on Time 4 Mommy? Please Email Mandie & Amanda with your suggestions.  time4mommy@gmail.com

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5 Ways to Create Family Tradition and 5 Reasons Why We Should

Guest Post By Abigail Brenner, M.D.

Co-Author of The Essential Guide to Baby's First Year

Life today is so fast-paced and demanding, it’s important that we find ways to reconnect with each other on a daily basis. Establishing family traditions helps us do just that. Traditions are those special times that bring families together, allowing us to express unity as a family and to create bonds that last a lifetime. Since every family unit is unique unto itself, the traditions created by each family are sure to be unique and special to the whole family unit as well as to each of its members individually.

Focus traditions around daily activities
You can utilize every day rituals, the activities and routine of daily living, to establish family traditions. These might include rituals surrounding bedtime. Talking, reading, snuggling up together, and saying a prayer are things to look forward to on a regular basis.

Spending time alone with each child, such as having dinner with individual children or doing a hobby or project together personalizes experiences and affords parents the opportunity to recognize and encourage each child’s special qualities. Weekly family meetings (perhaps with a favorite dinner) allows for discussion of upcoming schedules and activities for each family member and provides a forum to air differences, raise important issues, and plan ahead for the family.

Create a yearly family tradition
These outings can include camping, hiking, or going fishing at the first sign of spring. The first ballgame of the season is often an event anticipated weeks ahead of time. A picnic to a favorite place or a backyard BBQ for friends and neighbors can create an atmosphere of cooperation in the planning and preparation for the event.

The entire family can participate in a “spring cleaning” day around the house, or perhaps a day annually or monthly to lend a hand within the community.

Take an annual family vacation
Family trips can include traveling to reunions to visit with extended family. An annual vacation may be purely for rest, relaxation, and fun, or may have an educational bent, such as a visit to a cultural/historical site or one that reflects a specific place or event that is being studied in school.

What’s important is that each family member has an opportunity to weigh in on choosing where the family should go. Family trips can also have themes, such as ecology, learning about the environment, working on a farm or ranch, or “service trips” such as helping a community at home or abroad.

Use your family history
These traditions provide a sense of continuity and cultural identity and allow us to explore the similarities, the things that resonate within each of us individually, with our ancestors. Visiting the cemetery to the gravesites of family members is common to many cultures and affords the family a time to honor and remember those who have gone before us.

Beyond hearing stories about one’s ancestors, making a trip of “discovery” to the mother country, the home of one’s ancestors, puts families up close and personal with the land and landmarks of one’s relatives.

Family objects and artifacts, things inherited from family members (Bibles, wine cups, candlesticks, baptismal outfits, Christmas ornaments, etc.) can be incorporated into family rituals and ceremonies.

Start a holiday tradition
Birthdays, anniversaries, and other personal family events are occasions to establish any number of traditions, such as a favorite cake or meal, or visiting a place closely associated with the event.

Annual religious and national rituals and ceremonies provide unity in community, celebrating with those who share ideas and beliefs. Beyond what we have in common, though, families can learn together about other spiritual traditions by visiting local houses of worship and participating in holidays and celebrations of other traditions. This practice encourages tolerance, acceptance, and diversity.

There’s no doubt that the benefits of establishing family traditions go well beyond spending time together. These are five reasons why we should create family traditions.

1. Traditions establish and strengthen family bonds by providing a solid structure, a sense of continuity, and a feeling of belonging.
2. Family teaches values. Traditions support and communicate a family’s belief system. They instill faith and convey the family’s perspective on life experiences.
3. The immediate family serves as your witnesses through life’s transitions, sharing and committing to each other in times of joy and celebrations and lending support and comfort through crises, disappointments, and losses.
4. A healthy family unit is a vital force in the nurturing and molding of a child’s identity. Family traditions are a sound way to foster a sense of stability and security and this contributes to the emotional health, self-esteem, and self-respect of family members.
5. The family serves as the model for all interpersonal relationships. The way an individual is cared for, supported, encouraged, allowed to express and be themselves in the family, or not, enormously influences the choices and decisions an individual makes moving into the future.

Family traditions are part of the “language” of a family, a short-hand, symbolic way of relating that everyone understands. As life moves forward and people grow and change, family traditions keep us connected. For sure, they create memories for everyone to share for a lifetime, and even beyond.

Copyright © 2011 Abigail Brenner, M.D., co-author of The Essential Guide to Baby's First Year.

Author Bio

Abigail Brenner, M.D., co-author of The Essential Guide To Baby's First Year, is a board certified psychiatrist currently in private practice as well as an ordained interfaith minister who helps people design, create, and perform personally meaningful rituals. She is also author of  SHIFT: How to Deal When Life Changes, and the author of Transitions: How Women Embrace Change and Celebrate Life.

For more information please visit http://www.abigailbrenner.com and follow the author on Twitter or Facebook

Freebie Alert - Blockbuster Express Rental (4/18)

Happy Tax Day! Blockbuster has a new FREE rental code that is valid through the end of the day today, Monday, April 18th. Use the code MOVIEMONDAY to receive your free rental. (This code is valid on $1.00 movie rentals) Go Here to find a Blockbuster Express Kiosk near you! This codes should work once per credit or debit card.

and the Winner is....

                               
                                  Merideth is the winner of the UPrinting Invitation Giveaway!

70% off Restaurant certificate PLUS $25 ecard deal

 $25 gift certificates for $3, PLUS receive a FREE $25 Restaurant.com eGift Card* when you buy 5 gift certificates! Use promo code “ENJOY” at checkout. Offer ends April 20th!  

Gourmet cooking for Teens!

There's no need to eat plain and uninspired cooking!

Whether you're a first-time or seasoned chef, you can prepare and take pride in the more than 50 mouthwatering recipes in this book for all times of day.

Here are just a few examples:

Sunrise Muffins

Grits and Cheddar Cheese Souffle

Pizza from California, Chicago, and New York

4th of July Shortcake

And there are so many more flavorful dishes! All the recipes feature organic ingredients and foods that are available in supermarkets from coast to coast. No recipe is too hard for the beginning cook. Just follow the step-by-step directions and enjoy making your favorite dishes from scratch.

                                                                 Read an Excerpt

My thoughts - This is a great cook book for those of all ages, not just teens. It's a wonderful book to inspire your children to cook at an early age, teach them to have a sense of accomplishment, and it has easy to follow instructions and delicious recipes.

Freebie Alert - Hide in Plain Sight Kindle ebook

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Another Kindle Freebie for you, Remember you don't have to own a Kindle for these. You can read them on your phone or computer too!

Time 4 Mommy Meme Monday

Come join us Every Monday at our Time4Mommy Community forOur Meme Hop  1. What did you do this week to take time for yourself?I didn't think I was going to get any time to do anything because of billing for our business and dreaded taxes but on Sunday I was able to critique for the writing group I'm in (A writer's Block). The writing group is something I do completely for myself.

2. What kind of bathing suit do you wear?
This year I'm going with a tank top two piece. I look awful in a one piece.Not too great in a two piece either anymore so I'm trying one with a little more coverage.
3. What is your favorite hobby?At the moment it's painting. I'm not very good at it but it's so relaxing and it seems to calm my chaotic mind.

Giveaways!

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday, I know I did. Remember about our giveaways! They are low entries so there is a good chance you'll win. I'm adding more this week :)

 Yanni - Truth of Touch Giveaway Ends 4/19

Invitation giveaway from Uprinting Ending 4/13

Freschetta coupon & Storage System Ending April 29th

Eternal rider 3 Book Giveaway Ending 4/28  

 

Papa John's Coupon

Last night we ordered Papa John's pizza because there was NO WAY I was cooking dinner after doing my taxes all day!They must have known that because they are running a tax special - for pizza, who knew?Get a large 4 topping pizza for $10.40 from 4/15 - 4/18Coupon Code TaxDay11