Leader Enterprise - June 18, 2014 - Helpful Tips/Smoothie recipes

Copycat Orange Julius (Healthy Option)

Sure hope you're taking time to enjoy the sunshine. I love the cooler evenings for taking walks. We waited a long while for these lovely days, right?

Here's more tips to make life easier for you. Enjoy!!

- Use rubber bands to help open a jar easily: place one around the jar lid and another around the middle of the glass. The rubber provides friction to prevent your hands from slipping.

- Store bed sheets inside their pillowcases for easy storage and access.

- Slot the stick of a popsicle through a cupcake paper to prevent drips on little fingers.

- A ball of aluminum foil makes a great glassware scrubber!

- Place a few drops of essential oil on the inside of the cardboard tube of a toilet paper roll to make your bathroom smell wonderful.

- If you don't have a double boiler when candy making, place a towel inside an electric skillet, warm to about 200 degrees, and place your melted chocolate in a glass bowl on the towel to keep it warm. 

- To test baking powder for freshness, add 1/2 tsp. to 1/4 c. hot water; if it fizzes, it's good. 

- To make your own baking powder, combine 1 tsp. baking soda with 2 tsp. cream of tartar to equal 1 Tb.baking powder. 

-Replace 1 TB. cornstarch with 2 TB. all-purpose flour as a thickener in recipes. 

- Spoon fruit or veggie salads into mini mason jars - fun for summer picnics and easy to tuck into a picnic basket. 

- Top bowls of hot soup with plain or cheesy popcorn for a crunchy surprise. 

Here are a few tasty drinks to help cool you down in these warmer temps.

Iced Vanilla Coffee

ICED VANILLA COFFEE

1/3 c. double strength regular or decaf coffee, chilled

1/2 c. nonfat (or 1%)milk

1 Tb. instant (sugar free) vanilla pudding, dry

1 pkt. Truvia or liquid stevia to taste

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c.crushed ice 

coffee flavoring syrup, optional, to taste

Combine all ingredients in blender, blending on high until drink is smooth. Pour into a glass-top with light whipped cream if desired.

Yield: 1 large drink. Enjoy every awesome cooling sip! 

COPYCAT ORANGE JULIUS

1 (6 ozs) can frozen orange juice concentrate,partially thawed

1 c. milk

(we are loving unsweetened almond milk!)

1 c. water

1/3 c. sugar

(or liquid stevia to taste: 2 drops=1 tsp.) 

1 tsp. vanilla extract

12 ice cubes 

Put all the ingredients into the blender. Process until blended and frothy. Pour-relax and enjoy every sip. Yield:3-4 yummylicious servings 

Here's a little 'trick' to help you with this one. Before squeezing lemons, prick with a knife and microwave for 30 seconds. You'll get more juice that way.

Watermelon Lemonade (Sugar Free Option)

WATERMELON LEMONADE

2 c. water

1 c. sugar (or sweetener)

1 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice (strained) 

(about 6-8 lemons)

2 generous c. of cubed watermelon(seeds removed)

2 c. cold water or sparkling water

Ice

In a medium saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool.Meanwhile, puree watermelon in blender and strain to remove any seeds. You should have about 1 c. watermelon juice. Add lemon juice, watermelon puree to the simple syrup (sugar water); add water; chill. Serve over ice.

STRAWBERRY PEACH SMOOTHIE

1 c.strawberries, cleaned (fresh or frozen)

1 large peach, cut in to wedges (fresh or frozen)

1 c. milk or orange juice (more or less, depending on the consistency you want)

1/2 c. favorite(Greek) yogurt (I used peach)

1 TB. honey or 1 sm.packet sugar or sweetener

Strawberries or peaches for garnish, optional

Place all of the ingredients in a blender; process on high until smooth. Garnish with additional strawberries or peaches if desired. Serve and enjoy! Yield:2 servings

It's not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.-Charles Haddon-Spurgeon

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Easy Taco Pie & Weekend Potluck #123

HELLO & WELCOME TO WEEKEND POTLUCK!
So happy you've joined us! 

AND...



I wanted to share this awesome dish before the weather heats up and you don't want to turn your oven on.  Crust: Crescent rolls  Filling: Seasoned taco meat, sour cream & cheese..Topping: Crushed Tortilla Chips... 
Your family will totally love this dish - and you!! 

Easy Taco Pie

Now, let's take a quick peek back at last week...

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

1000 Island Tangy Pork Chops by With a Blast

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Brick Chicken by Noshing with the Nolands

Brownie Batter Ice Cream by Cookin' Mimi

And, a personal favorite ~

Chocolate Fudge Cookies  by Living the Gourmet

Your hostesses ~

• The Country Cook~ Brandie
• Sunflower Supper Club ~ Kim & Julie
• The Better Baker ~ Marsha
• Frugal Family Favorites ~ Tabitha
• 4 Little Fergusons~ Tonya

Remember that when you link up, it shows on all FIVE blogs. Plus…

We TWEET. We PIN. We LIKE.

Linky Guidelines:

If you wish to be a featured recipe or for us to promote your recipe either on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, you MUST follow these instructions.

1. Please link up to your exact post and not the main page to your blog.
2. LINK BACK HERE from your post so that others can find the fun. (Need help linking back? Read this or watch this great instructional videoPlease use a direct link within your post.

When you are kind enough to follow our guidelines, we work hard to get you as much exposure as possible so that your time here is well invested. We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

3 Simple Carrot Recipes {Blast from the Past}

So Easy!  Carrots, butter, honey, salt & pepper...let them cook while you're busy doing other things. 

Honey Glazed Carrots in the Slow Cooker

Roasting brings out the sweetness in veggies..

add a simple sauce and your family will woof them down. 

Roasted Maple Dijon Carrots

Love the ease of fixing this one on the stove top...such a great combo of flavors!

Glazed Carrots & Pineapple

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Apple Oatmeal Cookies

My hubby really loves oatmeal raisin cookies and I had already been thinking of  making some for him when I saw this recipe shared by Jane...the author of Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms blogs.  Jane has a lot of giveaways and she was one of my very first blogging friends after I started my own blog a few years back.  She really helped me get my 'legs' under me to get started. 

I loved all the textures of this cookie.... toasted nuts, oatmeal and baking raisins.  Yes Please! And the apple adds a moistness and sweetness that makes these cookies a perfect treat. 

I adapted this recipe by reducing sugar and adding more flour because I knew I wanted a thicker cookie, and was so pleased with how moist and tasty these turned out. 

Hope you'll try them soon.  They were still yummy and moist a couple of days after making them.  I stored them in an airtight container on the counter. 

APPLE OATMEAL (RAISIN) COOKIES

3/4 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. sugar

(I reduced from 1 c.)

1/2 c. light brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 c. (white wheat) flour

(original recipe calls for 1-3/4 c.)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

(I use Pampered Chef Cinnamon Blend)

1/2 tsp. salt

2 c. old-fashioned oatmeal

1 c. shredded apple, lightly packed

1/2 c. pecans, chopped & toasted**see tip below

1 c. baking raisins or semi-sweet chocolate chips, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

In large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and light brown sugar, beating until smooth and fluffy. Add vanilla & eggs; beat until well blended. 

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt & oatmeal.  Add to creamed mixture, beating on low speed until smooth. On low speed, add apple, raisins and nuts. Place heaping Tablespoonsful of dough about 2" apart on the parchment paper; bake for 12 - 13 minutes. You want the centers to be soft when removing from oven...and edges golden brown.  I let them stand on the pan for a minute before removing them to a cooling rack. 

Makes about 48 good sized cookies, or more smaller ones. 

TIP:  To toast nuts, place in microwave-safe bowl. Zap on high for about 45 seconds, stir, repeat, stir, repeat..until you smell that nutty fragrance that will add great flavor to these cookies. 

You might also enjoy these tasty 
Soft Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

Easy Monster Cookies

Linked to Weekend Potluck

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Picnic Potato Salad (Large or Small Batch)

My hubby's been on a potato salad kick.  He's been bringing it home from the deli uptown weekly, so I decided I needed to have a tater salad recipe on my blog...AND for him to have some homemade here at home. 

(AND...he enjoyed some with his special Father's day lunch today too=) 

And since I have another awesome recipe from my Sis-In-Love, Judy, in my first cookbook, what better time to share it than now. 

I think most families have their own favorite tater salad...and with summer looming ahead, July 4th, picnics and potlucks on their way, I'm glad to be able to share this tasty side dish with y'all. 

Judy's recipe is for a large batch (hubby is one of 8 living siblings) and so that's what Judy always makes for family gatherings, but if there are only 2 of you, like us, or maybe more, you may not want to use the full 5# of taters, so I'll share a smaller batch recipe too.

I suggest...if you prefer small bites of potatoes, you can cut them while warm. If not, then wait until potatoes are cold to dice. 

This is really really good...and fairly simple.  The Baker family loves it...

Guess I don't need to say more...

PICNIC POTATO SALAD 

(LARGE BATCH) 

5# potatoes, boiled until fork-tender, but not mushy

6 - 8 hard boiled eggs, chopped

2 c. finely chopped celery

1/2 c. finely chopped onion

3/4 c. sweet pickle relish

1 qt. Miracle Whip, or mayo of choice

3 Tb. mustard

2 Tb. sugar, optional

salt & pepper to taste

After potatoes are chilled, peel and chop into bite-sized pieces. Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate.  If it's too dry for your liking, add more mayo. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. 

Serves 20 - 30 

(SMALL BATCH) 

7-8 medium potatoes, boiled, but not mushy
(about 6 cups)

4 - 5 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1 c. celery, finely chopped

1/2 c. onion, finely chopped

1/4 c. sweet pickle relish 

1-1/2 c. Miracle Whip

1 Tb. mustard

1 Tb. sugar

salt & pepper to taste

Cool potatoes to room temperature; chop into bite-sized pieces. 

Add eggs, celery, onions and relish. In medium bowl, combine Miracle Whip, mustard, sugar and salt & pepper. Stir, then mix into potato mixture.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. 

Looking for another great summer salad?
Try this tasty Kansas Cucumber Salad

or this fabulous Kansas Cornbread Salad
(Guess they must eat pretty good in Kansas, eh??=) 

Linked to Mix it up Monday
              Weekend Potluck
                GBP Roundup - Picnic
                 Meal Plan Monday
                Full Plate Thursday

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Happy Flag Day!

In case you weren't aware, today is Flag Day! 

After reading this info shared in our American Profile publication, I wanted to pass along these things to you too.

We are proud to be Americans!  And we show that by having the largest/tallest flagpole in our whole town! 

(It use to be a light pole on the turnpike...we fly the Marine Corps flag underneath the American flag). 

(From American Profile - week of June 2, 2014)...

LET IT FLY

"June 14 is Flag Day.  No gifts are exchanged.  The post office stays open. And few if any of us, get the day off work.  So what's the big deal about this holiday with little or no hoopla? 

Inspired by patriotic grassroots celebrations that had been going on for years, most organized by teachers and school children, Flag Day, the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 (when the Continental Congress sanctioned a flag for the brand-new United States of America), was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. The holiday was observed sporadially until 1949 when President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day, when everyone is encouraged to proudly display our nation's colors."

So if you haven't done so yet...GO DISPLAY YOUR FLAG!! 

FLAG DO'S AND DON'TS

• It is improper to use an actual flag or flag design as jewelry or clothing.  But flag patches or pins worn on the left side (near the heart) of a shirt or uniform are OK. 

• It is customary to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset, but flags may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated. 

• Although burning flags as a form of protest is hugely controversial, burning -- in a 'dignified manner' -- is the recommended method of disposing of soiled or worn flags. 

(Take them to your local vets organization and they will take care of that for you). 

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Fritos Corn Salad & Weekend Potluck #122

WELCOME TO WEEKEND POTLUCK! 

and...

When I share something worth sharing...again...

One of my favorite summertime dishes...easy to throw together.  Impressive too! You will certainly be asked for this simple recipe!! 

Fritos Corn Salad

(Always be sure to go to the recipe source before pinning link ups) 

Now, let's take a quick peek back at last week...

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

Magic Custard Cake by Sugar Cookies to Peterbilts

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Rhubarb Buckle by On The Home Front

Baked Sandwich by Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

And, a personal favorite ~

Graduation Oreo Truffles by Makin' It Mo' Betta

Your hostesses ~

• The Better Baker ~ Marsha
• The Country Cook~ Brandie
• Sunflower Supper Club ~ Kim & Julie
• Frugal Family Favorites ~ Tabitha
• 4 Little Fergusons~ Tonya

Remember that when you link up, it shows on all FIVE blogs. Plus…

We TWEET. We PIN. We LIKE.

Linky Guidelines:

If you wish to be a featured recipe or for us to promote your recipe either on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, you MUST follow these instructions.

1. Please link up to your exact post and not the main page to your blog.
2. LINK BACK HERE from your post so that others can find the fun. (Need help linking back? Read this or watch this great instructional video Please use a direct link within your post.

When you are kind enough to follow our guidelines, we work hard to get you as much exposure as possible so that your time here is well invested. We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

Homemade Ice Packs (2 simple ingredients!)

I love any- and every- thing about DIY!  Why pay the price to purchase something when you can make it yourself for so much less?

I present to you these lovely Homemade Ice Packs.  Was so tickled to find this 2-ingredient (if you count the water!) idea to have on hand. 

Make a few and keep handy in the freezer for bumps, bruises and scrapes. 
Especially nice to have for the busy summertime. 

(Or just curl up with one to cool down???) lol

Thanks to Shari Lynne at Faith Filled Food for Moms for sharing this terrific idea. 

HOMEMADE ICE PACKS 

Water

rubbing alcohol

freezer zip lock bags 

food coloring, optional

For one small ice pack, mix 1 c. water with 1/2 c. rubbing alcohol.

Double or triple for larger bags.

Add food coloring for fun if desired. 

Pour into small freezer zip lock bag, zip it closed, squeezing out any air...place into another one to prevent any leaks. Lay flat in freezer until ready to use. (If you can't find a flat spot...I know that can be a challenge for me...just lay them on a cookie sheet to freeze flat.) 

When using, be sure to place a towel between the ice pack and your skin to prevent any more owies. 

You might also want to try this wonderful 
Homemade Fabric Softener  (3 ingredients!)

Linked to Mix it up Monday
        Tips & Tricks

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3 Great Recipe Ideas for Father's Day {Blast from the Past}

These amazing sandwiches are my hubby's favorite...

this is what he's getting! =) 

Slow Cooker Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Oh so delicious...beans, kraut, kielbasa, taters...your man will LOVE it! 

Crockpot Beans and Kraut Stew

Make 1 big one or several small...creamy, dreamy, delicious!

Choco-Liscious Chocolate Cream Pie

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