FTC DISCLAIMER: This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
Cathy, Rhonda and Kelly are SASSY, SILVER and SISTERS giving opinions and reviews on a little bit of everything with a sense of humor!
Monday, July 31, 2023
Cathy's Review of Smart Juice Organic Super Fruit 7
Monday, July 24, 2023
August 2023 Dinner Meal Plan + Desserts
I have started a new project called the August 2023 Dinner Meal Plan. I'm a planner especially when it comes to weekly dinners. I don't like to grocery shop so the Walmart Grocery Pickup and Delivery service is a Godsend.
I sell the plan, for a super low price, in my Etsy shop and it gives you four weekly menus, 28 dinner recipes, and 4 dessert recipes.
Here's an example of a weekly menu...
Here's an example of a recipe...
There are a variety of recipes from 30 minutes or less to slow-cooked meals. I try and use seasonal fruits and vegetables in the recipes. That saves us money, and who doesn't like to save money? 💰
This is a digital download and you can either download it onto your tablet/computer for easy access or print it out and do what I do and put them in a binder. I print 2-sided copies and slip them in a sheet protector.
⮛ CLICK LINK BELOW ⮛
➣➣ August 2023 Monthly Menu with 28 Dinner Recipes and 4 Desserts ⮘⮘
I hope you give it a try and if you do, please give me feedback on how I can improve or if you like it just the way it is.
I will be continuing my monthly meal plans with September, so stay tuned.
Are you a menu planner? How do you go about planning your meals? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
Keep it sassy,
Kelly
😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋
Monday, July 17, 2023
Bread Machine Milk and Honey Bread Recipe
As I was looking for my bread machine book recently, the drawer was such a mess that I decided to clean it out. While cleaning out the drawer I found this Milk and Honey Bread recipe for bread makers. It sounded so good I had to try it. So, I got my bread machine out, and low and behold the book was inside the machine. Too late, I had already decided to try this recipe. Besides, if this recipe flopped, I had time to make my regular bread.
Milk and Honey Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plus 1 TBS milk
- 3 TBS honey (I used my husband’s honey, Pop’s Bees)
- 3 TBS butter (melted)
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (not bread machine yeast)
Instructions:
- Add ingredients to the bread machine pan in the order recommended by your bread machine manufacturer. Settings: Basic with Medium crust Size: 1.5 lb
This bread
turned out GREAT!! As you can see, it
made a nice even 1.5 lb. loaf. It is a soft bread and stayed soft even two days later.
Not as white
as my white bread recipe, but since it has honey and butter in it that is to be
expected.
It has a
great flavor. My husband LOVES it.
I found this recipe at The Spruce Eats site.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/bread-machine-milk-and-honey-bread-3051769
Do you make bread? If you haven't tried making bread, you really should and I hope you will give this recipe a try.
Keep trying
new recipes.
Rhonda
The Middle Sister
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
FTC DISCLAIMER: This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
Monday, July 10, 2023
Celebrate National Blueberry Month with some Fun Facts and Recipes
National Blueberry Month is celebrated annually in July. My grandson loves blueberries, and he can’t wait to pop a few little nuggets of sweetness into his mouth.
Here are
a few interesting facts about blueberries:
- Blueberries are
a superfood - Surprisingly, a big handful (1/2
a cup) of blueberry gives only 44 calories and offers 2 grams of dietary
fiber and almost 10% vitamin C content of your daily suggested.
Blueberries are also free of gluten. They make your brain function better. Who could you more brain power? ME ✋
- Among more than
40 fresh vegetables & fruits, blueberries ranked top position in
antioxidant health benefits concerns.
- The blueberry is the only food with a truly naturally
blue color. “anthocyanin” is The pigment which makes blueberry's
distinctive color. This pigment also gives the blueberry awesome health
benefits.
- Blueberries are a
native species of fruits to North America with a colorful history taken back to pre-colonial periods. Before colonists came from Europe, blueberry was
brought here for centuries. Until the 1930s, high bush species were not found in Europe.
- One blueberry
hedge can produce over 6,000 blueberries per year.
- British Columbia is considered the world’s largest
blueberry growing region; the US, Chile & Canada ranks top three.
Canada’s top exported fruit is blueberries. Presently, Maine has become
the largest blueberry producer.
- It is clinically
proven that blueberries help to reduce belly fat. Yup, blueberries
themselves fight against belly fat! It helps you to lose weight quickly. I need a bushel of these babies 🤣
- Scientifically,
it is proven that Blueberries can fight against Type II Diabetes,
dementia, heart disease, and more. More specifically, you should take 150g
of blueberries daily to minimize the chance of cardiovascular disease.
- Blueberries have
a profound impact on improving your memory.
- If you boil
blueberries for twenty minutes in water, you can use the color liquid
after straining as a Natural Eastertide egg coloring.
If you love blueberries, here are some recipes you are going to want to make. You can't go wrong with the blueberry pie, jam, muffins, salad, and french toast recipes.
🔵Star-Studded Blueberry Pie
photo cred Taste of Home |
TOTAL
TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 50 min. +
cooling YIELD: 8 servings.
Ingredients
- Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)
- 4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup quick-cooking tapioca
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
Directions
1.
On a lightly floured
surface, roll one-half of the pie dough to a 1/8-inch.-thick circle: transfer to a
9-in. pie plate. Trim pastry even with rim; flute edge. Refrigerate for 30
minutes. Leave the remaining pie dough refrigerated.
2.
Preheat oven to 400°.
Combine blueberries, sugar, tapioca, lemon juice, and salt; toss gently. Let
stand for 15 minutes.
3.
Add filling to pie pastry,
dot with butter. Bake for 20 minutes on a lower oven rack. Reduce heat to 350°;
bake for 10 minutes more. Cover edges loosely with foil to prevent burning. Return
to the lower rack of the oven; bake 15-20 minutes longer, until blueberries are bubbly
and beginning to burst. Cool on a wire rack.
4.
Roll the remaining dough to
a 1/8-inch.-thick circle. Cut out stars using different-sized cookie cutters as
desired. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350° until golden brown,
5-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Place stars over cooled pie in any
pattern desired.
🔵White Balsamic Blueberry, Corn, and Feta Salad
photo cred Taste of Home |
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. + soaking Grill:
20 min. YIELD: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 8 medium ears of sweet corn
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives, plus more for garnish.
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
1. Carefully
peel back corn husks to within 1 in. of bottoms; remove silk. Rewrap corn in husks, and secure it with kitchen string. Place in a stockpot; cover with cold water. Soak for 20
minutes; drain.
2. Grill
corn, covered, over medium heat for about 20 minutes or until tender, turning
often. Cut the string and peel back the husks. Cool slightly. Cut corn from cobs, and transfer to a large bowl.
3. In
a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, chives, salt, and pepper. Pour over corn;
toss to coat. Gently fold in blueberries and feta. Garnish with additional
chives as desired.
🔵Luscious Blueberry Jam
photo cred Taste of Home |
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Cook: 20 min. + standing YIELD: 8
cups.
Ingredients
- 8 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 package (1-3/4 ounces) of powdered fruit pectin
- 7 cups sugar
Directions
- Rinse five 1-cup plastic or freezer-safe containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly. Mash blueberries; transfer to a Dutch oven. Add lemon juice; stir in pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
- Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, and skim off the foam. Ladle into containers and cool to room temperature, for about 1 hour.
- Cover and let stand overnight or until set, but not longer than 24 hours. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 12 months.
🔵Glazed Lemon Blueberry Muffins
photo cred Taste of Home |
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 25 min. YIELD: 11
muffins.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened.
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- Dash salt
- 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- GLAZE:
- 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon butter, melted.
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat
oven to 400°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk, lemon
juice, and zest. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture
just until moistened. Fold in blueberries.
2. Fill
paper-lined regular-size muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake for 25-30 minutes or
until a toothpick inserted in the muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before
removing from the pan to a wire rack.
3. In
a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, butter, and vanilla;
drizzle over warm muffins.
🔵Blueberry French Toast
photo cred Taste of Home |
Prep: 30 min. + Chilling Bake: 55 min.
Make 8 servings (1-3/4 cups sauce)
Ingredients
- 12 slices of day-old white bread, crusts removed
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) of cream cheese
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 12 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
- SAUCE:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon butter
Directions
1. Cut
bread into 1-in. cubes; place half in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cut cream
cheese into 1-in. cubes, place over bread. Top with blueberries and remaining bread
cubes.
2. Whisk
the eggs, milk, and syrup in a large bowl. Pour over the bread mixture. Cover and
refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
3. Remove
from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 30
minutes. Uncover; bake 25-30 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center
comes out clean.
4. Combine the sugar, water, and cornstarch in a small saucepan until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir until thickened, 3 minutes. Stir in blueberries; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until berries burst, 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Serve with French toast.
Facts from 42 Fun Facts about Blueberries that You Should Know.
Recipes from Taste of Home.
Sunday, July 2, 2023
July 4th Safety Tips
As we get ready to celebrate Independence Day in the USA, many of us plan to attend fireworks displays, a backyard picnic, or perhaps enjoy the fun at the beach. The American Red Cross offers these tips so you can enjoy a fun-packed, safe holiday.
🎆 FIREWORKS SAFETY 🎆
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals. Stay at least 500 feet away from the show. Many states outlaw most fireworks. Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks. If you are setting fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps:
- Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures, or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
- Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.
- Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
- Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."
- Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
😋 PICNIC SAFETY 🧺
- Wash your hands before preparing the food.
- Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.
- If you are going to cook on the grill, never grill indoors. Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.
- Always supervise the grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited. Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe.
- Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
🏖 BEACH SAFETY 🏖
Watch the weather and get out of the water at the first sign of lightning or the rumble of thunder. Stay indoors and away from water for 30 minutes after the last lightning flashes or thunder roars.
Plan ahead for aquatic activities:
- Swim only at a beach with a lifeguard, within the designated swimming area. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards and ask them about the local condition.
- Always designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
- Children, inexperienced swimmers, and all boaters should wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- Protect your neck – don’t dive in headfirst. Walk carefully into open waters. Watch out for and avoid aquatic life.
- If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then, turn and swim to shore. If you can't swim to shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore. Draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
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