Geocaching Friday - Staying Hydrated while Hunting for the Cache

You don’t have to be an athlete to be proactive about staying hydrated. Average adults should have at least a couple of liters of water each day, if not more according to the Mayo Clinic. This is especially important if you are a geocacher! That is because geocaching involves being outside in all sorts of weather.

Benefits of Getting Enough Water

Drinking enough water has so many benefits, and not just for staying hydrated. Here are some of the ways that water keeps your body healthy whether you are driving across town to find GPS coordinates or hiking through the woods to find an especially elusive cache container.

Body Function – The water you drink speeds up your metabolism. While drinks like soda pop, tea, and juice have water added, it is not as nutritious as drinking plain, refreshing water. Our bodies require water for proper digestion, blood circulation, and keeping the inside of our mouth hydrated for saliva production.

Feel Better – Did you know that drinking enough water can help prevent migraines and sinus problems? That’s what Netherlands-based University of Maastricht has found! Drinking enough water keeps everything functioning properly, which results in overall feeling better with regards to your physical well-being.

Eat Less – An apple a day might not keep the doctor away, but drinking enough water every day will help keep those extra calories at bay. Hunger is a symptom of dehydration. But drinking more helps you avoid those junk food cravings that pile empty carbs on your hips and tummy. And speaking of apples, this fruit is filled with natural water. Try eating an apple with a big glass of water between meals to stave off snack habits.

More Energy – Fatigue is another sign of dehydration. When you stay hydrated and can function properly, and do not have all those extra calories, then the result is more energy. More energy means increasing the chance of finding more geocache locations in a single outing! Who wouldn’t want to do that – especially if there’s a popular event going on, like a flash mob.

Drink Healthy to Stay Healthy

Now you know why you should drink water, but what is the best water for you to drink? Reports of contaminated tap water that causes gastrointestinal problems are becoming increasingly common. But buying bottled water just heaps tons of plastic trash in landfills - unless you plan to recycle water bottles into neat arts and crafts projects. The best drinking water is purified through a filter, and poured into a reusable bottle like the one shown below.

Unlike sports drinks which are only beneficial during extremely intensive activity, and juices or soda pop which are just containers of liquid sugar, water is the best choice for staying healthy and hydrated. But what about when you want to add some flavor? That is another way the bottle shown above comes in handy.

How or Cold, Flavored or Unflavored, One-Handed Operation

The bottle above has a built-in filter combined with vacuum insulation. If you want hot tea or cider for a wintertime geocaching event or iced green tea or chilled lemon water for a sweltering summer day of geocaching, this bottle will do the job. Its top locks up as securely as a Lock & Lock container and the push-button operation allows you a free hand to hold your GPS.

Don’t go out on another geocache without this Thermos 16-Ounce Leak Proof Drink Bottle with Tea Infuser, Black. When you consider how many times you can use it without having to buy individual bottles of water, the price makes up for itself in savings several times over. Click the picture of the bottle to order yours from Amazon today! And if you're a Prime member, enjoy free shipping as well!

Tastefully Tuesday - Wheat Germ, Not Just a Food Booster

According to Dr. Oz, “Wheat germ is the most vitamin and mineral rich part of the wheat kernel.” The embryo of the wheat plant, this tiny particle provides the entire plant with all the nourishment it needs.

It takes about 50 pounds of wheat to get just a pound of wheat germ. However as wheat is refined into flour, the germ is removed to prevent the flour from going rancid as quickly. (Could this be why it now takes bread so much longer to mold than it did just a decade ago?)

Benefits of Wheat Germ

That’s why going with a whole-wheat diet doesn’t provide you with the health benefits that you’d think. Wheat germ is so much more beneficial! Here are some of the things it has that are good for you:

• B vitamins – important for brain and heart health
• Fiber – balances sugars, controls cholesterol, and detoxes the intestines
• Omega 3s – healthy fats that naturally lower cholesterol, inflammation, and anxiety
• Minerals – necessary to repair the body after an accident or illness

Wheat Germ at Any Time of Day

Adding wheat germ to your food is easy. At breakfast add it to pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or a protein shake. During lunch try some wheat germ in a salad of lentils and bay leaves, a dish of pasta with basil pesto, or some baked parmesan chicken fingers and sweet potato fries.

Snack on fruit muffins, key lime pie, or pumpkin cookies with an extra helping of wheat germ. And for dinner try adding wheat germ to homemade pizza, spinach frittata, or vegetarian chili (as well as the accompanying buttermilk cornbread).

Wheat Germ – Not Just for Food Recipes

Everything that goes on your skin or scalp soaks into your hair. Here are some alternate uses for wheat germ that have nothing to do with human consumption.

Hair Treatment – Mix up 2 eggs, 1 avocado, and 2 tablespoons of wheat germ oil. Process the egg until it’s almost frothy enough for meringue before adding the other two ingredients. Apply to your scalp and work outward. Cover hair with a plastic cap and don’t touch it for 30 minutes. Finally rinse out using cool water and a mild shampoo. Also safe for dogs!

Sunscreen – The sun is a great source of vitamin D but too much will have you at risk for skin cancers. Mix together 1 ounce each of beeswax (for waterproofing), raspberry seed oil (SPF 30-50), Shea butter (protects skin and has an SPF of 6-10), carrot seed oil (SPF 30), and wheat germ oil (SPF 20 and also super nourishing for skin). Heat in a double boiler until everything melts together. Cool and then add 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil, 1/3 ounce of zinc oxide powder, and 30 drops of essential oils. Pour until an empty push-up deodorant container and you have roll-on sunscreen that isn’t filled with cancer-causing chemicals.

Dog Treats – Who wants to feed their dog products they wouldn’t eat themselves? Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup of wheat germ, 1/4 cup of brewer’s yeast, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons of coconut oil, and 1/2 cup of fresh chicken or beef stock. Roll out dough to about 1/2” thickness and cut cookies with a bone-shaped (or any other shaped!) cookie cutter. Bake for 20 minutes and turn off oven, leaving biscuits to stand in oven to dry, for about 2 hours. Store treats in an airtight container at room temperature.

The Best Way to Mix Ingredients

I used to stand at my kitchen counter with a hand mixer, trying to count off two minutes in my head. Because who can hear the microwave timer over the noisy mixer, right? Or worse I’d use the microwave timer but then have to stir by hand, taking time to switch arms when one grew tired.

But then I got the Hamilton Beach mixer, pictured above. It has 12 speeds, is quiet, and best of all my recipes turn out better when they are mixed according to the instructions. At half the price of a KitchenAid or Cuisinart, the money spent was a true investment, not only in kitchen appliances but also in my family’s health.

Click the picture of the mixer above to check it out at Amazon, where 74 people’s reviews give it an average of 4 out of 5 stars. As one happy purchaser shared, “This thing is amazing. The mixer looks and performs like a pro!” And I for one am inclined to agree.

Don’t wait for time to holiday cooking to make the choice to upgrade your mixer – order yours now!

Tastefully Tuesday - Chilling Out During the Dog Days of Summer

It's really hot outside in most areas of the United States. If your dog spends any time at all outside, keep in mind that he wears a fur coat year round and that his body temperature's inner core will soar long before yours. And never, ever leave your dog in a hot car - even for a short amount of time!

That being said, when it's hot outside you long for a cold treat. Well so does your dog! Unfortunately the ice cream treats sold for dogs in the grocery store can get expensive. Here's a more economical, not to mention healthier frozen treat to help even the most panting pooch enjoy the dog days of summer.

The treat is ice, but not just a run of the mill ice cube. This ice is flavored with things like chicken stock and apple slices, and might just have a surprise inside that will keep your dog amused the whole hot summer afternoon. The most difficult part of this for us, besides waiting for the water to freeze, was figuring out how to float ingredients in the water. Fortunately we found an easy method that we are sharing with you here.

How to Fill a Large Container in 3 Easy Steps

Some of the ingredients float. Some of them sink. If you are wondering how to fill a large container so the ingredients are spread out, here is the method I use.

1. Fill container 1/3 filled with water and ingredients that float and freeze.
2. Add ingredients that both sink and float. Fill 1/3 of the way with water and freeze again.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and fill with water, leaving room at the top for the water to expand as it freezes into ice.

Here are some of my favorite recipes for making your own summertime dog treats. My dogs love them, and I'm sure your dogs will love them, too!

- Frozen Fruit Water - Use clean drinking water, apples, and bananas. Then fill container using the 3-step method.

- K9 Frozen Beef Stew - Beef broth, chunks of potato or sweet potato, green beans, and carrots. Then fill container using the 3-step method.

- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Blast - Freeze the bottom third of the container with plain water and freeze. Spread a generous portion of creamy peanut butter on the ice before filling the middle third with chicken broth and freezing again. Finally spread plain, cooked (non-instant) oatmeal on the frozen chicken broth before filling with clean water and freezing again.

Be sure to let things like broth and oatmeal cool enough so that they won't melt the frozen sections of your dog's new favorite summertime treat. You can also fill using broth or water and your dog's favorite pepperoni or bacon style treats. Just make sure you clear any homemade recipes with your vet before allowing your dog to enjoy them.

No Bones About It - Your Dog Will Love This!

We quickly learned that plastic food storage tubs are not ideal for freezer use. Over time they tend to crack and break apart. And they can leak BPAs into your dog's frozen water treats if the plastic is not graded for use with food products. A better option is silicone, like this particular item.



In addition to its trendy bone shape, the pan is as safe for freezer use as it is for oven use. And with the generous size, it is enough to keep your dog busy for hours, even on the hottest of summer days. Or you could make several and invite your dog's favorite neighborhood friends over to join in the summertime fun.

Click the picture of the pan above to go straight to Amazon. And as an added bonus, Prime members will receive complimentary 2-day shipping on this item. Don't make your dog wait any longer than necessary to indulge in this fun way to enjoy summer. Click on over to Amazon and order the pan, and you can have treats in time for the weekend!

Geocaching Friday - Confessions of a Geocache Fail

My name is Becky, and I failed at geocaching.

The reason for the fail was not failing to locate the cache itself. That part I did perfectly fine. And boy was I ever excited to see a trackable coin!

For those who are unfamiliar with or new to geocaching, trackable coins are just what they sound like - coins with a special code that, when entered at the appropriate website, allow the owner of the coin to track its whereabouts. It's pretty fun for both parties!

Let the Woes Begin!

Sadly just after I found the coin, I began to have car trouble. I've been in my house for the past 5 weeks. The worst part is this coin that hangs from the key holder by the front door, taunting me.

Adding insult to injury are memories of all the forum posts at www.geocaching.com from disgruntled owners of coins that were picked up never to be seen or heard from again.

And to make matters worse, this trackable has a really awesome story and a request not to hold it for more than 15 days. I have had this coin for going on 15 weeks. OUCH!

Reaching Out with an Apology

Finally I decided that enough misery was enough misery, and it was time to take responsibility for my fail. I decided to man up and email the owner of the trackable.

I told them all my car woes, not to mention that my beloved dog died during the same time frame) and tried to assure them that I am not the type of geocacher who gets into the hobby and then flakes out, coin in hand.

If they respond then I'll post in a future episode of Geocaching Friday. I don't blame them if they don't, though.

Sticking My Trackable Swag on the Line

In the meantime I think it only fair that I plan to put my own trackable swag on the line. After perusing all that Amazon had to offer, I've decided to go with dog tags.

These tags come 4 to a pack which makes them quite the deal from an economic standpoint. And as many as 85% of the reviews give this item a 5-star rating, which was a big factor in my decision.


If you're a geocacher, then you know the value of great swag. And if you're new to geocaching, why not start out by dropping a trackable or two?

Clicking the picture takes you over to the Amazon site where you can order your own trackable swag. The quicker you place an order, the quicker you can track the whereabouts of your tags!

And if you have geocaching adventures - fails or successes - to share then I'd love to hear about it in the comments section. Until next Friday - happy geocaching everyone!

Tastefully Tuesday - Supporting Paula Deen

In the last week or so it was revealed that Paula Deen said something offensive nearly three decades ago. Having only been around for about four decades myself, I can't imagine being judged to the level that people are hating on this woman!

So instead of getting on my soapbox and blathering on and on about my opinions and feelings, today's Tastefully Tuesday is a list of some of my favorite Paula Deen recipes that are perfect for your family's 4th of July celebration.

THE LADY AND SON’S SMOKED BOSTON BUTT ROAST

SWEET POTATO CHIPS

GRILLED CORN ON THE COB

LEMON BERRY TRIFLE

Have a safe and happy July 4th!

Becky

Geocaching Friday - 5 Dog Walking Tips for Geocachers

Today's geocaching article is about sharing your adventure with your dog. In addition to the dog walking tips below, you'll want to have a way to prevent your dog from getting lost and picked up by animal control. That would be a horrible way to end your day!

Geocaching is a type of scavenger hunt that lets you search for treasure. The treasure might be as ordinary as a marble or a plastic army man, or it might be something coveted like a trackable geocache coin. And sometimes it's just the satisfaction of finding the cache and signing the log note that is the best prize of all, depending on the degree of difficulty and the challenge of finding it.

This is an activity that is perfect for everybody, whether you are single or married with several children. Some geocachers team up and go out searching together. And it's the perfect free vacation activity because there are geocache sites all over the world!

But if you are a pet owner, then you are really in luck. Geocaching takes place outdoors, which means your dog is welcome to join in the adventure. You might even meet up with other geocaching dog owners and seek cache sites as a group with your pets in tow.

Geocaching Dog Walking Tips for a Fun Adventure

However the last thing you want to do is offend someone by using bad pet etiquette or end the day stapling lost dog posters to utility poles. Here are some quick tips to help you and your dog have a safe, fun geocaching adventure.

1. KNOW YOUR LIMITS - If your dog is not people friendly and pulls on a short leash, then urban geocaching is probably not for you. If you plan to geocache in a park or a wooded area where squirrels are likely present, is your dog going to take off after them?

2. USE A LEASH - Even if there is no leash law, some geocache sites are tricky and involve caving, climbing trees, or wading through water. You'll want to have your dog nearby, especially if he is the only friend you have with you during your adventure, in case something goes wrong.

3. VISIT THE VET - You'll want to know that your dog is not only up to date on vaccinations (like a rabies shot) but also that she is in good physical health to make the hike. Make sure you explain geocaching to your vet so she knows this is a little more than a typical hike on a trail.

4. TAKE WATER - Ideally you want to have enough for both you and your dog. Dehydration happens quicker than you'd think, and the last thing you want to do is adventure your way into the nearest animal hospital for a parched puppy.

5. SCOOP THAT POOP - You don't want to step in doggy doo-doo while out on a geocaching adventure, and neither does anyone else. Be a responsible pet owner and carry biodegradable poop bags that you can safely dispose of in the nearest trash bin.

The Best Collar to Prevent Lost Dogs

The above dog walking tips are a good start, but what happens if your dog bolts during your geocaching adventure? This is where the dog walking tips get tricky. If your dog has a tattoo or microchip to identify it, then aside from randomly searching your primary goal is to pray someone finds your dog and contacts you.


However because you are already using GPS technology for geocaching anyway, you might consider investing in a GPS dog collar like the one above. Unlike other GPS collars, it combines a highly sensitive GPS receiver with an antenna that connect to a waterproof transmitter.

The battery life on this collar is 17 to 48 hours, depending on how often you have to update your dog's location. That gives you a great head start on finding your dog before he is picked up by animal control or meets some terrible fate like darting into traffic on a busy highway.

While I hope you never have to experience the fear of not knowing where your dog is, this collar can help save you time and stress in reuniting with him if he decides to take off on an adventure of his own. Just click the picture above to order one for your dog now!

Tastefully Tuesday - Best Use for Juicer Pulp? 5 Ideas for You to Try Out!

What's the best use for juicer pulp? You know, that stuff leftover after you make delicious, nutritious drinks with your juicing machine? Tossing it out unused is like opening up your fridge or pantry and throwing out perfectly good foods. It's just a waste of money to throw out juicer pulp!

If you throw juicer pulp away, then it's not only like throwing away money, but it's also like throwing away vitamins and nutrients that could be keeping your physical health in tip top shape! It's no secret that your body absorbs vitamins and nutrients from food sources better than it ever could a pill created in a laboratory.

Don't Toss that Pulp!

Before you toss out your juicer pulp, take a look at these creative ideas for ways you can use it to enhance the things your family already eats. You might be surprised at how well received they are by your family.

1. SOUP STOCK - The next time you boil chicken or beef for soup stock, add the pulp from carrots, squash, spinach, and other ingredients from making your own version of V8-inspired juices. The vegetables will give the stock a richer flavor, and add a punch of healthy nutrients your body needs to survive.
2. MEATLESS MEATBALLS - That's right! You can take your veggie pulp and mix it with yeast and flax to make vegetarian meatballs. There's a great Spaghetti and Veggie Balls recipe at the weight loss blog called Reboot with Joe.
3. BREADS - Find your favorite recipe for carrot cake, zucchini bread, or pumpkin muffins. Then replace the vegetable the recipe calls for with juicer pulp. Depending on the vegetables you use for juicing, the things you bake will taste a little different each time.
4. SMOOTHIES - Instead of adding a handful of baby spinach to your next smoothie, add a cup of juicer pulp. You'll get a wider range of nutritional benefits without worrying about whether or not the spinach molded while hiding in the bottom of the crisper in your refrigerator.
5. PET FOOD - Mix some juicer pulp (using only pet-safe ingredients!) with white rice and boiled, shredded chicken breast. Then blend 1 cup of this mixture for every 2 cups of your dog's dry food. They will love you for it, and because you are giving them a healthier meal you are potentially giving them an extra lease on life.

The Best Machine to Use for Juicer Pulp

We like the Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice Extractor, and here's why. First of all the price is very affordable. Secondly, the compact machine does the work of a large, restaurant-quality unit. And third, you can't go wrong with 600+ positive reviews on Amazon. Here's what just a few other people are saying, but you can click the picture above to read all the reviews.

I've had this juicer for 5 years - one word... Quality. Proceed with ease of mind, you will not regret this choice.

This is the best juicer ever! Easy to use and it is so easy to disassemble and clean. It is everything and more than I expected from the previous reviews!

What I liked about this juicer is how easily it cleans up. For me this was very important. Most juicers are a real pain in the rear to clean. This one we were able to clean in less than 5 minutes. That is taking it apart cleaning it, and puting back together. It also gets every drop of juice out leavings very little waste.

Don't waste time with other juicers that splash a mess onto your counter and give you pulp that drips with juice that could be going into your drink. This is the best machine to use for juicer pulp while making delicious, tasty drinks. Click the picture above to order yours now!

Tastefully Tuesday - 3 Non-Dessert Foods to Prepare in Metal Baking Pans

Out of all my metal baking pans, the oblong one is my favorite. It’s so versatile! I use it for everything from enchiladas to Rice Krispy Treats. It cleans well, and the edges are just slightly darker showing a lifetime of delicious meals that I managed to not burn. (Because oven cooking is good, and the stovetop hates me.)

Baking Doesn’t Mean Dessert

When most people think of the oblong-shaped baking pan, they think of cakes or brownies. But my oblong baking pan has brought many delicious entrees to our family’s dinner table, and not one of them had to do with baking desserts! Here are some of our favorites:

1. Shake & Flake Chicken – Heat your oven to 400F degrees. Dip tenders of chicken breasts into a small bowl containing a mixture of 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of buttermilk or heavy cream. Then dip them in a bigger bowl that has 2 cups of crushed, plain cornflakes, a dash of pepper, 1/2 a teaspoon of paprika, and 1/2 a teaspoon of garlic. You may have to press down to get the seasoned flakes to stick to the chicken. Lay them in a baking pan and let them cook about 35 minutes, or until the outside is to a golden crisp and the inside is done.
   
   
2. Breakfast Enchiladas – This bakes up just like regular enchiladas, with slightly different ingredients. Fill your tortilla wraps with sausage, scrambled egg, green and red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and anything else you like. Fold the tortilla around the ingredients and lay in your metal baking pan. Continue until you have a row of tortillas! Instead of enchilada sauce, pour country gravy over the tortillas and liberally sprinkle cheddar cheese over the entire dish. Bake at 250F until cheese is bubbly and contents are warm, and then enjoy!
   
   
3. Chinese New Year Spareribs – You don’t have to wait for any New Year to enjoy this dish. Cut apart 2 pounds of spare ribs and put them in a gallon-sized plastic bag. Add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of pure, local honey, 1 tablespoon of white wine, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, an entire clove of garlic diced into fine pieces, and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Marinate overnight. The next day, preheat oven to 350F, empty contents into oblong pan, and bake for about 45 minutes. Turn heat back to 300F and heat for about 20 minutes longer. When meat begins to shrink, the ribs are ready to eat.

The Perfect Spatula for Metal Baking Pans

When my husband and I were first married, we were given a spatula from a popular pizza restaurant in the town where I grew up. It had a sturdy metal base and a durable wood handle, and was just perfect for use with metal baking pans! A few weeks ago while surfing Amazon, I finally found a similar replica.

As you can see it is the perfect size! And it does not only work with square-cut pizza, but also with brownies, cake, or lasagna. Click the picture to order your own today, and you’ll be wondering how you ever served up food without it!

Tastefully Tuesday – 5 Grilling Ideas for Dinner

The weather is warming up and you know what that means – it’s time to fire up the grill! There are so many benefits to grilling, that it is hard to list them all. However here are some of the more important ones along with some grilling ideas for dinner.

Healthy, Affordable, Convenient Cooking for Every Family

One of the benefits of grilling that my family enjoys is that it’s convenient. We like to stock up on food when it is on sale – especially meats, now that we have an extra freezer. In the morning we pull out whatever we plan to have for dinner and put it on a shelf in the fridge. Late in the afternoon we’ll throw on some marinade and by early evening it’s ready for the grill.

Another benefit of grilling is that it keeps the utility bills down. We aren’t using the stove, which runs off electricity. And because the stove isn’t heating up the kitchen, the air conditioner doesn’t kick on as often. The supplies that it takes for grilling (either charcoal or filling the propane tank with gas) are much more economical than indoor cooking.

Don’t forget the health benefits of grilling! Here are three of the more important ones:

1. Excess fats drip off meat leaving less fat inside the meals you prepare
2. Vegetables that are grilled retain more vitamins and nutrients
3. The high heat seals in moisture which requires you to use fewer condiments

Everybody wants to live healthier, but taking that first step can seem pretty daunting. And I don’t know anybody who wants to spend their summer evenings slaving over a host stove in a sweltering kitchen. Sometimes it’s hotter in the kitchen than it is outside!

5 Easy Recipes

While not everything is healthy just because it was cooked on the grill, there are things you can do to help keep calorie content low and nutritional content high. For example, limit toppings like high-calorie sauces, butter, and sour cream, or use lean meats and other ingredients that are healthy from the start. Here are some fabulous grilling ideas for dinner that your family is sure to enjoy!

• Barbecue Chicken – In your blender mix together 6 Roma tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 clove of garlic (peeled), 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard, 1/4 cup of light brown sugar, 1/4 cup of pure, local honey, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil until it is as near to liquid as possible.
  
  Place 2 pounds of chicken in a large dish and pour the sauce over it, marinating for at least an hour prior to grilling. Save a little sauce and heat it in a pan to drizzle over the chicken when it’s done, just before serving.
  
  Pair with: devilled eggs, salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
  
  
• Grilled Pizza – This is so easy! Use your blender to mix up 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed) with a little oil from the jar (just a few tablespoons). This is your sauce! Spread evenly over pita bread. (You’ll have enough sauce to make several!)
  
  Add some scallions and some low-sodium turkey. Top with low-fat ricotta cheese and grill until the cheese is melted.
  
  Pair with: veggie kebabs and then fruit salad for dessert.
  
  
• Garlic Ribs – Mix together 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of fresh thyme leaves (chopped). Use this to marinate your ribs for an hour or so before cooking, and then grill until the meat is cooked through.
  
  Pairs with: macaroni & cheese, baby carrots, and grilled cantaloupe slices for dessert.
  
  
• Portobello Burgers – Vegetarian? No problem! Whisk up 1/4 cup each of olive oil and balsamic vinegar of choice. Add in a couple of minced garlic cloves. Put this in a gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bag and add 8 Portobello mushrooms. Let this sit for about half an hour, but you’re also safe doing this the night before to save time.
  
  Grill for about 3 minutes per side and put on a hamburger bun. Top with fresh veggies like green pepper rings and onion slices. And don’t hold the mustard!
  
  Pairs with: corn on the cob, potato salad, and homemade fruit sorbet for dessert.
  
  
• Orange Shrimp – Cancel that order of Chinese takeout! This marinade will cover about 24 large shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails left on) which makes about 8 servings if you’re dong appetizers.
  
  In a mixing bowl combine shrimp with 2 teaspoons of grated orange zest (lime is a great alternative for this recipe), 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped thyme. Let sit for about half an hour, and then add three shrimp per skewer. Grill about 4 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are opaque throughout.
  
  Pairs with: fried rice, asparagus, and of course fortune cookies for dessert!

Cooking Gourmet on the Go!

Whether you are using the above grilling ideas for dinner or want to enjoy freshly-grilled brats for breakfast while camping, Weber’s Go-Anywhere charcoal grill lets you take the fun of grilling anywhere that you go. Use it for tailgate parties, camping, or on your back porch.

Click the picture above to visit Amazon where you can get this shipped to your house within the next couple of days! If you are a member of Amazon Prime, then as always you can enjoy free shipping. Right now they are also offering a discounted price, so don’t wait – order your Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill now!

Geocaching Friday - Why Lock & Lock Make the Best Geocache Boxes

If you are a geocacher then you are no stranger to the term Lock & Lock. They make great geocache boxes because they offer exceptional durability for a low price!

Originally used for food storage, these containers are meant to keep your kitchen pantry or refrigerator tidier. However I was using them for non-food purposes long before I knew about geocaching! I used these plastic containers to hold craft supplies. My older son uses them to organize his model train accessories. And my younger son uses one to hold the loot he finds when metal detecting.

Once my family discovered geocaching, it was not long until we began pondering, what if we created our own geocache location? What kind of container would we use? Would the location have some kind of special meaning? Would we use a theme and create several? Did we want to use riddles? Or would we be completely random?

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, there are plenty of options for creating safe, eco-friendly geocache containers. Sadly not all things that you can recycle make great containers, though! The plastic may have BPA or break down if left exposed to the sunlight. Metal can rust. And never use glass, which could break and create sharp edges.

Why Use a Lock & Lock Container

Sure you could use other types of plastic containers, but it is doubtful that they have a 4-sided locking mechanism to help keep the contents dry and the critters from getting inside. Here are some other reasons why Lock & Lock containers make the best geocache boxes.

• 100% silicone gasket helps keep it both air and watertight
• BPA free
• Holds up to both humid and frigid temperatures
• Plastic resists stains
• Easy to camouflage as you can see from the above picture!

You can find Lock & Lock containers at places like Target or Wal-Mart. Personally I prefer ordering mine from Amazon. If you belong to Amazon Prime as many people do (including my family) after purchasing a Kindle Fire, then you can enjoy free 2-day shipping!

Click this link above and order some Lock & Lock containers to make your own geocache boxes now!

Tastefully Tuesday - 5 Great Recipes for Two from Your Food Processor

Over the past year or so I've posted everything from eating cheaper on a family vacation to how to use appliances besides the dreaded stovetop to prepare meals. Today's post leans more towards the latter! Because our teenage sons are picky, my husband often fixes great recipes for two that we can enjoy while leaving the boys to fend for themselves.

Appliances versus Your Kitchen Stove

The days are hot enough without the oven or crock pot raising the temperature inside our tiny kitchen! That's why my favorites are the recipes that you prepare right in the appliance, like the blender or juicer. However we have found that the food processor is a great alternative to using the stove, especially in the summer.

Of course you can try making these in the blender, but in my experience the result is either too clunky or too soupy. And I'm sorry but I just don't want my hummus to take on the same consistency as my good morning berry-berry smoothie. That would completely ruin spreading hummus on crackers, tortilla chips, or celery sticks!

5 Food Processor Recipes

While my skills with the stove are sorely lacking, I am a food processing whiz. Here are my top 5 recipes that I enjoy with my food processor. If you're looking for great recipes for two, then keep reading!

1. CHICKEN SALAD - The next time you grill boneless chicken for dinner, add in a couple of extra pieces and store them in the fridge until the next day. When you're fixing lunch, toss the chicken (I cut mine into large chunks), half a cup of fat free mayo (or ranch dressing), 2 celery stalks (broken into large chunks) and a handful of walnuts. Serve in a wrap.

2. SALSA - Canned salsa from the store always leaves a metallic taste in my mouth. I much prefer fresh salsa! It just tastes so much healthier. Add half a dozen Roma tomatoes (cut into large chunks), 3 green onions, 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro leaves, 1 jalapeno (seeded), 1/2 cup of yellow corn (preferably cut straight from the ear - this is especially yummy if it's leftover from grilling dinner the night before), 1 tablespoon of lime zest, half a clove of garlic, a few turns from your pepper grinder, and 1 tablespoon of sea salt. Process away and you'll be eating tortilla chips with healthier salsa in no time!

3. HUMMUS - Add 4 red bell peppers (seeded and cut into chunks), 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 garlic cloves (peeled and quartered), and 2 cups crumbled feta cheese to your food processor and blend away to make a great-tasting, garden-fresh hummus. Serve with pita bread or your favorite veggies.

4. PULLED PORK - Nothing says summertime like a pulled pork sandwich. Any time we have leftovers after grilling pork chops, I cut the meat into large chunks and throw into my food processor. Assuming I have 2 large pork chops, I add 1/4 cup of ketchup, a healthy (but not obese) squirt of yellow mustard, a couple of pinches of brown sugar, a few turns from my pepper grinder, a pinch of sea salt, the leaves from one sprig of fresh cilantro, and a tiny splash of vinegar (as in no more than half a cap full). After mixing I transfer to freezer-safe containers and the next time my husband and I want pulled pork sandwiches, we just re-heat this creation in the microwave.

5. ICE CREAM - Summer is coming and there is no time to waste. As soon as fruit comes into season, begin freezing it in half-pound portions using freezer bags, freezer jars, or however you prefer. When you want ice cream pop a half-pound container of fruit into the food processor with half a cup of sugar (or a sugar-alternative like Stevia or Spelda) and churn until the fruit is roughly chopped. Slowly add in 2/3 of a cup of heavy cream (with the processor running the entire time) and once it's incorporated, you have ice cream! You can eat it right then, or safely store it in your freezer for about a week.

Once I turned 40 I developed oral allergies to some fairly common ingredients, namely cocoa and cinnamon. Even trace amounts in foods that did not contain those ingredients, but were prepared in a facility that uses those ingredients in other products would set off a reaction. (An example is snack cakes. Just because I buy vanilla does not mean they were not using the machines to make chocolate ones earlier that same day.) Another big one is raw onion or garlic (we substitute onion and garlic powder where necessary, even in the above recipes) so I tend to avoid those, too!

The Best Food Processor for Your Buck

When selecting a food processor, make sure you get one that can provide a variety of functions for the money you are spending. Nothing is more irritating to me than buying a kitchen appliance only to find out that it will not work for the recipe I am creating. That's why I would like to invite you to:

Visit Amazon's Buyer's Guide - Cuisinart Food Processor
You can learn all about your new food processor here, and have it shipped to your house within a day or so. As always, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime you will not only enjoy a deep discount but also free standard shipping as well.

Geocaching - Get Your Swag On!

Geocaching is a game similar to a virtual scavenger hunt that uses GPS coordinates. You find the cache site, sign the log book, and if you're lucky, trade out a bit of swag. When I go geocaching, it's all about the swag. The general guideline regarding swag is, "Trade even, trade up, or don't trade at all."

So far my favorite bit of swag found has been this guy here:

What Trackables Are and Why Geocachers Love Them

However I recently snagged my first trackable coin swag! I have to say, that was a real thrill. Trackables are items people register online. When you find it, you log in and record it. When you drop it somewhere else, you record that, too.

The above trackable coin is the first one that I found. I have found another one since, but that first one is my favorite. These are the gold nuggets of swag, and the people who invest in them enjoy tracking where these bits of swag adventure as much as we geocachers enjoy finding them.

Swag Doesn't Have to Cost a Fortune

But swag doesn't have to be expensive, or even anything big. Swag can be something as trivial as a cheap plastic party favor. As my oldest son's BFF remarked after finding his first bit of swag, "All this work for a plastic stink bug."

Sometimes that is exactly how it feels. But then you look at that plastic stink bug and remember the satisfaction of finding the container, and being able to mark one more location as "FOUND" at the Geocaching website. Here are some things that make excellent swag.

• loose change, even pennies and nickels
• plastic army, cowboy, indian, or any other men
• dice and game tokens from old board games, like Monopoly
• plastic party favors like you'd see at a child's birthday party
• anything made with plastic pony-style beads

The Best Swag for Your Buck


Plastic party favors make great swag because they are weatherproof. Unlike baseball cards, they won't fall apart due to rain or snow that leaks into the container. And unlike the coveted trackables, they are fairly inexpensive.

I personally like the cheap plastic swag because it never fails to put a smile on my face. It takes me right back to the birthday parties of my childhood, and reminds me that even if it is only because I followed the coordinates to the site container, I am still a winner at something.

Click on the picture above now to order swag for your own geocache bag. As always, if you are member of Amazon Prime you will enjoy an additional bonus discount along with free shipping. And if you have other ideas for swag, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section!

Tastefully Tuesday - Slow Cooker Recipe Twists

A lot of people associate slow cooker recipes with wintertime because the dishes fall into the "comfort foods" category that are hot, piping, and a perfect way to combat the cold. However you can enjoy your slow cooker year-round regardless of the weather.

Here are a few of my favorite crock pot recipes. As you can see they are just as delicious on a hot, summer day as they are during the frigid, cold temperatures during the winter.

EASY PEASY CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
These aren't your grandmother's chicken and dumplings, but they will offer the same level of comfort that you felt eating at her kitchen table.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 cans (10.75 ounce) of condensed cream of chicken soup
• 2 celery stalks, sliced thin
• 1 bag of fresh, shredded carrots
• 2 packages (10 ounce) of refrigerator biscuits, torn into pieces

Directions:

1. Place the chicken, soup, and veggies into the slow cooker and add enough water to cover.
2. Cook on high for about 5 or 6 hours.
3. About 30 minutes before serving, add the torn biscuit pieces and continue cooking until the bread is no longer raw and doughy in the center.

SLOW COOKED PULL-APART PORK BBQ
Serve this mouthwatering delicacy from the south on a potato roll, on your favorite multi-grain cracker, or pair with sour cream, cheese, and scallions for a great twist on traditional nacho toppings.

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless pork roast (about 3 pounds)
• 1 bottle (18 ounce) of your favorite BBQ sauce
• 1 dash each of garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper

Directions:

• Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for about 7 hours, give or take half an hour.
• Remove from slow cooker and shred.
• Return to slow cooker and continue cooking for 1 hour, adding extra BBQ sauce if necessary.
• Serve as desired.

SWEET & SOUR HAM SLICES
If you are in the mood for Chinese food, instead try this healthier option made in the convenience of your slow cooker. Eat as a stand-alone entrée or serve over white or brown rice with chunks of steamed carrots, green peppers, chunks of onion, and pineapple.

Ingredients:

• Slices from an entire cured, bone-in picnic ham
• 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of hot chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon of soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of butter
• 2 tablespoons of green onion tops
• 1 can of crushed pineapple with juice
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup of white vinegar
• 1/3 cup of ketchup

Directions:

1. Spread 1 cup of brown sugar on the bottom of the slow cooker crock.
2. Place ham slices in crock.
3. Rub remaining ingredients minus pineapple onto ham.
4. Dump can of pineapple into crock over ham.
5. Cook for about 8 hours.
6. Serve over white or brown rice.

The Best Slow Cooker for Your Favorite Recipes



The Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is the perfect choice for all your slow cooker recipes. The programmable LED screen makes it easy to let dinner cook in the background while you go about your daily activities - or even head off to work for the day. And the six-quart, dishwasher safe crock and lid not only mean that you will have enough dinner for your entire family but also that clean-up will be a breeze afterwards.

Click the image above to see how to get your own Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker from Amazon now! Prime members will also enjoy an 18% discount as well as free shipping.

10 Safe Geocaching Tips – a GPS Treasure Hunt for the Whole Family

Geocaching is a GPS treasure hunt that is a lot of fun. Aside from the gas money there are few costs associated with the hobby. And if you find a lot in a general area, such as along a bike trail or large public park, then it only costs the energy you use to bicycle or walk there.

Staying Safe while Geocaching

Because the hobby does take place outdoors there is always the element of risk. Inspired by an article on another geocaching website, here are ten tips based on the geocaching experiences that either happened to me or happened to some of my geocaching buddies.

10. Be wildlife aware. If you read the logs for a geocache site and other people talk about seeing snakes, raccoons, bears, and other wildlife, then there is a chance that you might see them also. Use common sense and stay away from wild animals, no matter how friendly they seem.

9. Obey the police. Sadly the police sometimes ask you to leave an area when you are looking for a geocache container. This could be because someone placed it on private property, or because they have just not heard of it before. Regardless of why they are asking you to leave, just do it.

8. Have spare batteries. Nothing stinks worse than having your battery-operated GPS die in the middle of locating a container. Or having your flashlight batteries die when you geocached so long that you are bumbling and stumbling along in the dusky twilight (if not total darkness) trying to find your car.

7. Carry essential supplies. Along with a flashlight, GPS, and cellphone you may want to take gloves, a Swiss army knife, and a walking stick. The more geocaching experience you get, the bigger your list of essential supplies will grow.

6. Bring first aid stuff. My husband is a firefighter, so we have a first aid kit in each vehicle as well as one in the house. At the very least you should have wet wipes, bandages, and some bug spray. Check the second below this list to learn about the ideal geocaching first aid kit.

5. Have a way to communicate. Don’t go geocaching alone. Make sure you and your partner both have a phone in case you are separated. You can take walkie-talkies as a backup. Sometimes one electronic communication device will work in an area where another has failed.

4. Use sunscreen year round. The winter sun does just as much damage to your skin, lips, eyes, and scalp as the summer sun does, especially if it glares off a snow covered landscape. Long sleeves and a jacket are not a bad idea, either because you never know where geocaching will lead you.

3. Check for ticks. So far this year, I am the only person in the family who has found a tick on themselves, and I never would have if it were not for geocaching. While I do not relish the thought of having a tick, it was the first time I have had one in years and a sign that I am more active than in summers past.

2. Stay hydrated. Some geocache containers require you to get out of your car and walk a few feet. Others require you to rappel down rocks, dive into caves, or kayak upstream for half a mile. Keep a bottle of water with you regardless of the season or weather.

1. Know when enough is enough. I hate marking an online log with a DNF (Did Not Find) status. I want to find every container at ever geocache site that I visit! But sometimes no matter how hard we look the container is just not there. If it does not seem like a safe situation, then it is time to back off and move on.

The Best First Aid Kit for Geocaching

Because my husband is a firefighter, our first aid kits keep us prepared for just about anything. The closet that I have been able to find is the American Red Cross Disaster & Emergency Kit by First Aid Only for sale on Amazon.

About the size of a 3-ring binder, it has plastic pages that hold all the products. It is super organized and everything is individually wrapped so even if you open a plastic page to take one item out, everything else is still sterile. It literally has whatever you need for almost any geocaching emergency, including getting lost in the woods.

You can go geocaching without a lot of things, but a first aid kit shouldn’t be one of the things you lack when taking the family on a GPS treasure hunt. Click the picture of the first aid kit above to learn how to invest in a American Red Cross Disaster & Emergency Kit by First Aid Only for your family now!

5 Healthy Alternatives to the Traditional Panini Sandwich

In Italy, panino is the Italian word for a sandwich made from bread other than sliced bread (such as ciabatta, rosetta, and baguette).  First they cut the bread horizontally, and then filled it with deli ingredients such as delicious Italian meats and cheeses or perhaps some other foods. And finally the panino is pressed by a warming grill and served warm.

A toasted sandwich made from sliced bread is not called panino by Italians. They call it toast, and they usually fill the sandwich with ham and a few slices of cheese before heating it in some type of a sandwich press. According to Wikipedia, one popular version of panino in Central Italy is filled with porchetta, slices of pork roasted with garlic, salt, rosemary, and sage.

In the United Kingdom as well as across North America, people have adopted the term panini to mean any type of pressed, toasted sandwich. Kitchen appliance manufacturers hopped on the bandwagon and began creating gadgets called everything from panini presses to toasted sandwich makers.

The Panini Maker Alternative

For years I have pondered investing in a panini maker for my kitchen. Because I tend to burn things on the stove, it seemed like the perfect solution to making everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to Italian-inspired panini creations.

Despite the fact that the price of panini and toasted sandwich makers has come way down in recent years, I wanted an appliance that would do more than just toast sandwiches. Then it hit me – I could just make use of my George Foreman grill! Here is why it works:

• NO STICK SURFACE – Even if I cooked hamburgers or chicken in my Foreman grill the night before, I can still enjoy a breakfast panini.
• HEATS EVENLY – This means no more worrying about the middle of the bread toasting faster or slower than the outside edges around the crust.
• LARGE COOKING SPACE – The 144 square inches means I am not limited to cooking one sandwich at a time.

This appliance is so easy to use, that even my teenage sons are able to cook on it without the risks that come with cooking on top of the stove.

Healthier Panini Wrap Recipes

The only problem with using my Foreman grill as a panini sandwich press was that it started to pile extra onto my daily carb intake. I found that I can use low-calorie, whole grain tortilla bread for sandwiches and get the same great taste without the guilt or the high carbs. Here are my favorite recipes:

1. GYRO WRAP – Heat some pre-formed meatballs and slice them up. Spread onto tortilla with baby spinach leaves, feta cheese, and some cucumber slices.
   
   
2. TURKEY REUBEN – Place some low-fat Swiss cheese, a few slices of roasted turkey breast on your wrap and then top with a heaping of sauerkraut and a drizzle of Thousand Island dressing.
   
   
3. SANTA FE CHICKEN – Dice chicken into small chunks and place in the tortilla with taco seasoning, slices of red onion, fresh cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, and a few jalapeno slices.
   
   
4. PHILLY CHEESE – Slice beef into very thin strips and place on the wrap with provolone cheese, green peppers, sliced onions, and mushrooms.
   
   
5. OMELET WRAP – Scramble up an egg and place on the center of your wrap. Then add anything you would want in an omelet – bacon, sausage, spinach, mushroom, onion, tomato, or whatever else you like!

After adding all of your ingredients to the wrap, roll it up so that nothing comes out of the bottom end. Place in the pre-heated grill and press lightly for two or three minutes. Do not press too hard or you will find yourself cleaning up a horrible mess – take it from me!

My George Foreman Grill of Choice

There are a lot of Foreman grills out there for purchase. I like this one from Amazon, and more than eighty 5-star reviews agree with me. As they state: This grill has made cooking a snap for our family. It’s a super versatile appliance. It is a nice way to cook your meals. And especially this one – I use it every day! 

Click the icon above to get your own George Foreman Nonstick Family-Size Grill from Amazon. If you are a Prime member, you can also enjoy both a generous discount and free shipping. And if you already have this grill I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section!

Geocaching for Kids - Everything You Need for a Fun Family Adventure

While geocaching is something that is enjoyed by people of all ages, geocaching for kids is perhaps the most beneficial. In addition to all the other benefits the hobby provides, it allows families a way to spend time together and work towards a common goal - finding a geocache container!

When people ask my sons, "What is geocaching?" They often reply, "Using billions of dollars of military hardware to find Tupperware® hidden in the woods." And technically, that is pretty much an exact description.

Geocaching is using GPS coordinates to find the latitude and longitude of a hidden container. The container could be in an urban or rural location. It could be out in the open, like at a public park, or hidden several thousand feet above sea level on the Appalachian Trail. We even saw on the map where a container is hidden in the middle of the Potomac River for kayak enthusiasts.

Preparing a Geocaching for Kids Adventure

Geocaching with young kids in tow might sound intimidating but really it is no more stressful than any other family outing. Here are some tips to help get you started:

• CLOTHING - Dress how you would for any other outdoor family event, like a hike over rocky terrain or a walk through an area with weeds or high grasses. In other words, dress comfortably according to the weather and wear socks with sneakers as opposed to sandals or flip-flops.
• SNACKS - Bringing snacks with you will save you the time and cost of stopping off at a convenience store or the drive-thru window of a fast food restaurant. Goldfish crackers, fresh fruit, and bottled water all make great geocaching snacks.
• CACHE BAG - Even though my kids are teenagers, we cannot leave the house without our "cache bag". It has a small notebook for keeping track of which sites we visit, a couple of mechanical pencils and pens for signing logs in the geocache containers, and some loot. Currently our loot is baseball cards, army men, and some small party favors. 

Whatever other preparations you make will depend on the unique needs of your family. They might include medication (like an epi pen for those allergic to bees or other outside things), bug spray, wet wipes (even if your kids aren't in diapers, these things have a million uses).

The Best GPS to Use When Geocaching for Kids

If I had to buy a GPS right now, I would purchase the Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS from Amazon. The display is about the same size as a cell phone, and its paperless connection to the Geocaching website makes it a great eco-friendly tool as well. Some of the other features of this little gadget include:

• Connect to Geocaching.com
• Free 30-day premium membership to the site (regular membership is still free, though!)
• Pre-loaded with plenty of popular geocache sites
• Easy navigation with colorful menus and graphics
• Transreflective screen for easy reading on super sunny days
• Storage for up to 10,000 geocaches
• Waterproof to IPX-7 standards to protect against drops and spills
• 3-meter accuracy when finding the geocache site
• 2 AA batteries provide 18 hours of life for a whole day of geocaching
• USB connects right to your laptop or desktop computer

Whether you are just starting out geocaching or have been doing this for years, you are entitled to have fun while staying safe. The Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS allows you to do both. It even connects to waypoint locations that you set up -- such as where you parked the car or the location of that public rest room that you passed ten minutes ago. (Because we all know that kids don't have to go until after the bathroom is out of sight!)

Click the icon above to head straight over to the Amazon site where you will enjoy a generous discount. And if you are a member of Amazon Prime, then you will also enjoy free shipping as well! Don't wait until you are stuck relying on a cellphone that struggles to find a signal or a has a low battery life. Order your Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS today!

Tastefully Tuesday - Home Made Snow Cones with Healthy Fruit Syrups

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play." Do you know what my inner child wants? My inner child wants home made snow cones!

Every year when warmer weather arrives I find myself nostalgic for the treats of my childhood. Ice cream sandwiches, grape soda straight from the bottle, and cantaloupe still warm from the sun, straight from the garden, and lightly sprinkled with salt all come to mind.

Today I am allergic to chocolate, have no garden filled with cantaloupe, and avoid soda like the plague. But one treat I can still enjoy is home made snow cones. And now that I make my own syrup, I don't even have to feel guilty about eating them!

Snow Cone Syrup Recipes

Making your own snow cone syrup is not only easy, but it is also healthier than the product you buy in the store. Making the syrup at home allows you to control what goes in it, so you know your family is not consuming potentially harmful dyes and preservatives. Here are a few tried and true recipes.

• TRADITIONAL SNOW CONE SYRUP - If you are into the sugary syrups, then mix up 2 cups of white sugar, 1 cup of water, and one package of unsweetened, fruit-flavored drink mix. It is going to be super, duper sweet but the shaved ice will help water it down quite a bit. However the next recipe will provide the same texture with only a portion of the calories and carbs.

• LOWER SUGAR SNOW CONE SYRUP - This recipe is just like the one above with one simple difference. Instead of sugar use a low-calorie sweetener, like Splenda. Just mix until all the powder is dissolved and store in a bottle with a pour top (like ketchup or pancake syrup).

• FRUIT MASH SYRUP - Don't throw out your fruit once it gets a little too soft to eat fresh. Peel and cube it, then throw it into a sauce pan. Over medium heat, constantly mash the fruit with a potato masher until it is the consistency of oatmeal. You don't have to add any sugar because the well-ripened fruit is filled with natural, healthy sweetness. You can strain the juice off the fruit and keep it in recycled plastic bottle with a pour top.

You can mix the fruit compote leftover with the shaved ice and a container of yogurt for a smoothie-type alternative. Save the compote in the freezer and use it as filling when making fruit pies and turnovers, or in cakes.

Snow Cones - A Healthy Ice Cream Alternative

When eating snow cones, aside from the bit of syrup used to flavor the treat there is really no need to feel guilty about eating them. That's because the primary ingredient of snow cones is shaved ice, which is just frozen water. And the health benefits of water are so numerous, that it is almost impossible to list them all. Here are some of the ways water helps our bodies.

1. provides energy for muscles to work properly
2. balances bodily fluids for digestion, absorption, circulation, and saliva creation
3. makes us feel fuller which helps prevent overeating
4. keeps skin healthy because staying hydrated allows you to sweat out toxins
5. produces healthy waste which keeps kidneys healthy and reduces the risk of kidney stones

When making home made snow cones, my family once relied on the blender to chop up our ice. The problem was that even though it has an ice crush feature, the sizes came out disproportionate and it still allowed for large chunks. The snow cones were just okay.

Then my son received the above as a birthday gift from his grandparents. We love the retro design -- it matches perfect in our kitchen, since most everything else in there is also red. It shaves ice quickly and cleans up easily afterwards. It is probably our most used appliance!

Click the icon above to order your own Nostalgia Electrics Retro Series Snow Cone Machine. You can also check out the reviews, over half of which give the product 5 stars. In addition to the 90 day limited warranty, you can add extra protection from Square Trade, which is also explained on the Amazon site. And if you are a member of Amazon Prime, enjoy a hefty discount plus free shipping, too.

Don't wait until the dog days of summer to make home made snow cones - click the picture above and order your machine now!

Eco-Friendly Geocache Containers

Last week I shared my family's newfound love of geocaching. Geocaching is a modern day treasure hunt that GPS coordinates to find specific locations based on their latitude and longitude.

Someone told me that this is not a well-known hobby. Perhaps they missed the part of the Geocaching website that says in the past 30 days, people logged more than 7.5 million finds. Go geocachers! But, I digress. This week I really want to discuss containers.

In the week since we have seen some pretty unique containers, from tiny little magnets to a glass pumpkin. However the best containers that we have seen are ones that are clearly made from recycled materials - like a plastic container that once held powder for instant lemonade or some other fruit juice.

Another clever one we saw was the very top of a plastic soda bottle. Unscrewing the plastic cap revealed the geocache log, nice and dry within its watertight, plastic home. Unlike the cheap plastic food storage containers we saw at past cache sites, this tricky little container held up better.

Earth-Friendly Container Tips

When creating an eco-friendly geocache container, here are some things to keep in mind:

• DURABLE - This container, even if you leave it in a protected spot (such as a decoy, like a birdhouse or beneath those metal squares on light poles) could face exposure to the elements. It has to stand up to extreme temperatures, wind, and moisture. Also, avoid glass because you don't want to find out that anyone sustained an injury from your container.
  
• UNBREAKABLE - Your container should not only be durable, but it should also be unbreakable. Obviously some plastic bottles and jars can break down over time. Unbreakable really refers to glass, which could be sharp and cut people. It also means flimsy metal, which rusts faster and could cause nasty scrapes.
  
• WATERPROOF - The primary item inside the container is the paper log. This is what people sign when they find your cache so you can know who was there on which day. If there is any question that your container might not be waterproof, then put the log in a small plastic bag that zips shut.

How to Make a Plastic Jar Geocache Container

While some people might point you to "Lock & Lock" or "Ammo Box" style items to purchase for use as geocache containers, our goal here is to recycle something that we already have at home. One common item is a plastic jar. Here are some basic instructions for turning a plastic jar into a geocache container.

1. Take an empty plastic jar (peanut butter ones work great for this) and clean it out really well with warm, soapy water.
   
2. Once it is thoroughly dry, cover the outside of the jar with camouflage-patterned duct tape. You can also put some tape on the lid, especially if it is a bright color like red or yellow.
   
3. Finally affix the geocache label on the top of the lid or side of the jar, wherever it is most easily recognizable.

And that's it! Now you are ready to review the guidelines for placing a new geocache and register your geocache container.

In the meantime, check out these other awesome containers. Can you think of some creative ways to make them with earth-friendly and other recyclable materials? Until next week, happy geocaching!

These bolts are magnetic and really tricky to find if you are in an urban location with a lot of signs and other structures around.

Light poles have become my favorites. See the empty medicine bottle? Remove the label to protect sensitive information and tada - instant geocache container with a child-proof lid.

While it might look like a sprinkler, unscrew the cap and what you really have is a tricky little geocache log waiting to be signed by geocachers clever enough to find it.

Fence cap containers are easy to hide from the prying eyes of pesky muggles, and difficult to find if you have never seen one before.

See this surveyor's stake? Yeah, it's really a geocache container! A hole drilled in the bottom  hides the plastic tube that holds the minuscule log.

Here's another example of bottlecap cache containers. They are hardly big enough for anything larger than the tiny log, but in the spirit of geocaching that is really all you need.

You will never look at dog doo the same again after finding this cleverly disguised geocache log. (Yes, it's fake. And yes, I totally want to make one now!)

Around here pine cones are everywhere. I would never, ever have expected to find a container inside a pine cone.

Here's another tricky one. If your GPS leads you to an area that has these, don't automatically assume that this is the hiding spot -- but don't automatically assume that it is not the spot, either.

Remember the magnetic bolts in an earlier photo? Grr, these are so frustrating -- and yet at the same time, so rewarding.

Would you ever think of looking inside a log if you hadn't seen this container? I wouldn't have!

Again, this one is so very tricky. But I really want to try it now. And am now thinking that one of the ones in Pennsylvania that eluded me may have been similar to this. Argh!

I would never pick up old chewing gum to see if there was a log tucked beneath it (until I saw these tricky little containers).

Using real sticks as camouflage. Clever!

You aren't allowed to bury your containers. But you can recess them so that the top of the container is in plain view. This is one of those that, when you find it, you'll find yourself slapping your forehead over.

When closed, you can hardly tell this is different than any other tennis ball.

This is something else that, if I didn't know about geocaching, I would not have suspected as being a container. Now I suspect everything, everywhere, all the time.

Real leaves make great camouflage for this container. It looks like someone spray painted a plastic baby wipe container. Way to recycle!

If it looks like a birdhouse, and acts like a birdhouse, then there might just be a geocache container inside!

These are the magnetic nano containers. My youngest son is a whiz at finding these on those white roadside historic signs. I'm glad because I have trouble spotting them every single time.