Avocado Dressing/Dip

I hate to admit it but its been quite a while since I've eaten a salad. I just get tired of them and I can never find a salad dressing I like. Ranch is at the top of my list on dressings but its so fattening. I just gave up on trying to find a good dressing....Until....I made my own. Its low in calories and full of healthy benefits of Avocado and Yogurt.

Not only will this make a tasty dressing for salads, It also makes an awesome dip for other things such as crackers, potato chips, pretzel and more. This stuff taste almost just like Ranch.

Now, get your blender out.

Here is how its simply made.

Avocado Dressing/Dip

1 Large Avocado

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves fresh garlic

1/4 cup milk (leave the milk out if you want it thick for dip)

1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt

3/4 teaspoon salt

Mix it all together in a blender

Here is a little fun fact about Avocados : The avocado is colloquially known as the Alligator Pear, reflecting its shape and the leather-like appearance of its skin

Some of the benefits of Avocado are:
Healthy Heart
Lower cholesterol
Anti-Inflammatory
Promotes eye health
Prevents birth defects
Cures bad breath
Reduce stroke risk
protects against cancer
Anti-aging
Skin care
Weight management
and more.......check it all out HERE for how and whys.

Maybe ill eat more salads next week using my newly found dressing.



Ive shared this at :
dwellings-theheartofyourhome
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy  
marvelous-mondays-link-party at thisgalcooks

Creamy Jalapeno Bites

While I was out shopping the other day, I found a new food. I'll admit, if it has the word "new" on the package, then I'm sold. I'm a sucker for "new things". My latest new find is this Philadelphia cream cheese with Jalapenos.

I love both cream cheese and jalapenos so I grabbed a small tub of this combination and just knew I could come up with some kind of snack with it.

I had an idea in my mind so I had to try it. I named them "Creamy Jalapeno Bites" because that's exactly what they are.

Take a can of crescent rolls and rolled them out onto a baking sheet. I cut each triangle in half and pressed them out so they would be thin and wide enough. The pieces were not any certain size or shape, I just wanted them big enough to pinch around a spoon of cream cheese spread.

Bake them according to directions on the crescent container, sprinkle with bacon and ..................

Wah lah. You have a delicious side item or finger snack. Perfect for super bowl parties, tailgates or showers. These little bites of hot and cheesy goo will sure be a crowd pleaser. They just got a big thumbs up in my house!


I shared this at:
whatd-you-do-this-weekend at tumbleweedcontessa  
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottag  
create-link-inspire at thecraftyblogstalker
kitchen-fun-crafty-friday-link-party at kitchenfunwithmy3sons 

Children on Facebook

Face it, just about everyone is on Facebook now days. Its fun to socialize, share funny stories, read prayer request, look at someones new baby. Then again there is a lot of drama, ugly pictures, dirty jokes, etc. that come along with it.

Facebook has a rule that you are suppose to be at least 13 to sign up ( I personally think it should be 15).
Kids now days are getting around this, or should I say the parents are letting their kids get around it by teaching them to lie and showing them how to set up a Facebook account with fake information.

(source)

40% of the Facebook users under the age of 18 are actually under the age of 13. This just burns me up!
I know personally a mother that helped her son open up a face book account. He is only 11! His profile states that he is 22. His pictures look as if hes 9 and his little friends? They all look like little tots dressing and acting as if they were teenagers.
I find this to be so wrong and dangerous.
Parents, if your going to open your child up to this part of the world, teach them safety and monitor them. Its not a thing about trust, its about keeping them safe and morally protected.

First off, his page is not even private. So, its open for all the predators and stalkers out there to see everything about him, his family and his friends.
Next, its shows the world where he lives.
You can also see and view just about everyone of his little friends in which I'm sure are only barely 12 or younger. Why? Because their pages are not private either so I was able to snoop all around them. I was disgusted at why in the world a parent would let there child do this.
Parents now days do not monitor their children like they should. I mean, at least make it private where only people they know and trust can see their Facebook. There is a setting for that!
Even though your child is "a good child" or a "mature child" does not make a difference. Children have curious minds. One thing will lead to another. If a little 11 year old is flirted with by "anyone" they will be flattered and carry on with conversation easily. They are too immature to think out the dangers. People on Facebook are real, not a character in a video game (which I have complaints about too but that's another story).

Needless to say, he has asked me already to be his Face book friend but I denied it. I have a rule that I will not allow anyone under 15 to be my friend on Facebook. I am against it, therefore I will not promote it.
I do not put anything on my profile that is not kid friendly but I have friends that will use adult humor or life drama on their Facebook and I wouldn't want a child to see.

Parents! Please. Let you kids be kids. Make them go out and play with the kids on the playground for social activity, not sit in a closed room on the computer talking to "who knows who".

Copyright

I have just added a copyright to my blog. You should too.

You may think like me, that surely there is nothing on my blog that anyone would want to copy as their own but you will be surprised. If someone thinks its a win, they will take it and call it there own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(source)

By placing a copyright on your blog you are simply showing thieves that you do not tolerate this type of activity.

Lets get started.....

Click webweaver and generate your free copyright code. It will only take a minute. Once you have generated the code, add it to the bottom (or wherever you choose) of your blog page by using the html gadget option on your layout. You can scroll down and see mine at the very bottom. ;) Cute huh?

There are also more legal information you may need or find interesting by visiting serendipityandspice. This is were I just learned about the copyright thing.

Its a good idea to always add a source to as of where you copied a picture, clip art or artical you use on your blog that is not your own. And bloggers rule, its always a respectful and fair to add a link leading to where you got some of your information. It also would not hurt to add a watermark to your pictures. I use Pickmonkey for mine. Its a fun picture editing site. Sure, people can still steal and use your pictures but this will detour them to a degree.

I hope maybe I covered a few things you didn't know. Its always good to be safer than sorry.

January Daisies

Its been a while since I did some artwork. I have been so wrapped up in crocheting and the holidays, that I nearly forgot about the relaxation of painting.

One afternoon after all had settled down, the house was cleaned and crochet orders were caught up, I decided I wanted to paint a while. I didn't have a new blank canvas so I took an old ugly abstract painting I did a couple years ago and painted over it with a new look. That's the fun of acrylic!

"January Daisies"

I knew sort of what I wanted to paint. I needed a picture for my bathroom to coincide with the colors of the curtain and rug. I grabbed just three colors plus white and began my masterpiece. I was not sure what to paint or how to do the colors so I just began using the brush on the canvas and adjusted and blended as I went. once it was completely dry, I randomly drew long stem daisies blowing in the wind.

 

I plan to do some more paintings as soon as I get more time. Painting is so relaxing.

Ive shared this at:
create-link-inspire at thecraftyblogstalke

Baked Kale Chips

I introduced myself to a new vegetable called Kale. I've heard of this leafy vegetable but never tried it until now. My sister told me that she baked kale leaves in the oven to make a healthy nibble snack.
Well, since I'm wanting to eat healthy I gave it a try. I actually tried a piece of kale before baking and found it to be delicious. I thought it had a slight bitter but nutty flavor.

 Baked Kale Chips

First I cut off the big stems then rinsed the kale in a colander.

You want them to be as dry as you can get them so it will turn crisp correctly. So after I rinsed them, I tore them by hand into small pieces and laid on a sheet of paper towels and used another paper towel to press the water away.

Then I put the kale pieces in a large baggy but you can also use a bowl. I poured a couple tablespoons of olive oil and sea salt into the bag and tossed the kale to get it coated well.

I covered a baking sheet with foil and laid the frilly greens in a single layer to bake.

At this point you can add other flavors if you wish such as garlic, or paprika (which is what I did). But its totally optional. Just the salt and olive oil alone make a wonderful flavor.

Bake at 325 for about 20 minutes until crisp.

They will be thin and fragile but not so bad that you cant pic them up to eat them. My husband and daughter liked them therefore I almost didn't get a chance to get a picture after baking. They didn't last long. These do not do good to eat later because some of the leaves will turn soft again but I heard you can store them in a paper bag to keep the crispness.

I'm thinking of trying some other recipes using this fiber filled vegetable soon. Do you have a Kale recipe you love? Id love to hear some more ideas.

Ive shared this at:

whatd-you-do-this-weekend at tumbleweedcontessa
made-by-me-109-linky-party-and-features at jaqsstudio 
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage
create-link-inspire at thecraftyblogstalke

Happy New Year!

Wow, twenty thirteen went by way to fast but I'm ready for a new start.

As I look back on the past twelve months, its hasn't been that bad. My daughter graduated college, I received a pay raise, my online shop stayed steady, I learned a few new things, got rid of a few so called friends. I didn't have to go any further than deleting them off face book because that's the only place they seemed to know me. You know what I'm talking about. Even though I would have liked to be closer and would have been a good friend for them, they just had their own groups and lives and were to busy or thought they were to good to know me well. I say, good riddance.

Looking forward, I'm pretty excited about what the new year may bring me. 

In February, I hope to have some exciting news to share. (no pregnancy, weddings or moves). Just something I've been challenging myself to accomplish and hope it happens.
I also, hope to get a new car this year. I have had one now for seven years and if I see my budget will let me, I hope to have something new. Its just scary thinking about getting into another four years of car payments.
I might be a mom to a college student again. My daughter is waiting on news of acceptance into a masters program.
I plan to visit the beach more often this year, loose weight, tithe more and be a better person.
I have lots of drawers and closets to clean out and maybe learn a few new recipes and crafts.

Today I will be having my traditional New Years dinner complete with collard greens, black eye peas, mashed potatoes, pork loin, macaroni and cheese and cobblers. My house will be full of friends and family as we celebrate the New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!