*RE-USE PLASTIC BOTTLE TOPS TO TIGHTLY SEAL FOOD BAGS*

‎*Re-use Plastic Bottle Tops to Tightly Seal Food Bags*

*NUTELLA BREAD PUDDING*

Serves: 2-3
This recipe generously serve two people, but for four servings just double the recipe. If you do not have croissants on hand, use brioche, Challah, French bread or a baguette will work well. Try to use bread that is 1-2 days old when making bread pudding, older bread will absorb more of the custard. So good. :))

3 croissants (preferably 1-2 days old)
3/4 cup Nutella
1/4 cup pecan halves
2 eggs
1 cup cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Slice each croissant in half lengthwise then slather one side with Nutella. Put the halves back together to make sandwiches and cut into 2-inch pieces.
Add sandwich pieces and pecans to a small baking dish (suggested: 10-inch x 5-inch loaf pan).
To make the custard, add eggs, cream, vanilla extract, salt and sugar to a medium bowl and whisk until combined.
Pour the custard over the sandwich pieces then gently push down the bread so the custard starts to absorb.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes then remove the foil and continue to bake uncovered for about 10 minutes until the bread pudding is golden brown, has risen slightly and the liquid has been completely absorbed.
Sprinkle icing sugar on pudding when cool.

*DEAR DIET*

Dear Diet,
It's not me, it's you.
I just don't think it's
going to work between us.
You're boring, tasteless &
I can't stop cheating on you.

*BROWNIE BATTER PANCAKE*

 Think special breakfast for a birthday morning, surprise breakfast-in-bed mornings or just for fun… Whatever the reason, chocolate, fluffy pancakes in the morning are a fantastic idea!
They are sinful first thi...

ng in the morning..... but oh so so good. :))

1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick mix
1 cup Betty Crocker brownie mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
whipped cream
chocolate syrup
sprinkles

Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat or to 375°F then spray with cooking spray or grease with vegetable oil or butter.
In large bowl, stir together Bisquick, brownie mix, milk and eggs until blended.
Pour by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle or skillet and cook until edges are dry.
Flip and continue to cook pancakes are cooked through.
Stack pancakes on individual plates then top each with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and sprinkles.

Turn Any Blender into a Magic Bullet with a Mason Jar - Turns out MOST mason Jars will fit the blender blade as a lid... just fill, fasten, and flip :)

*CAMPFIRE BANANA SPLITS*

Kids love these sweet banana splits, made in foil packets and heated over the coals of a backyard campfire or baked in the oven at your next slumber party. Be creative and add peanut butter chips, coconut, butterscotch or caramel. Mmmmmm!!! :))

6 large bananas, unpeeled, stems removed
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 pkg. miniature marshmallows
Any other toppings you’d like (toffee chips, caramel pieces, berries, sprinkles, etc.)

Preheat the grill for high heat.
Spray 6 sheets of aluminum foil, large enough to wrap bananas, with cooking spray.
Slice the peel of the banana from stem to bottom, while slicing the banana inside lengthwise. The bananas can be cut into slices instead if you like, (while still in the peel) for easier handling later.
Carefully open the banana just wide enough to place the chocolate chips and marshmallows inside the peel with the banana. Stuff with as much of the chocolate chips and marshmallows as desired.
Wrap the bananas with the aluminum foil and place on the grill or directly in the coals of a fire. Leave in long enough to melt the chips and the marshmallows, about 5 minutes. Unwrap bananas, open the peels wide, and eat with a spoon. :))

*ICE CUBES HARMFUL FOR YOUR DOG*

(INFORMATION POSTED BY ANITA ST)

http://www.examiner.com/article/ice-cubes-harmful-for-your-dog

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Summer heat in Los Angeles can be brutal and if your hot, your dog/s are hot.

Did you know that dogs are much more susceptible to heatstroke than humans?

The obvious reason: their fabulous fur and the fact they do not sweat on any part of the body that is covered in fur. They only have sweat glands on their cute little feet. They count on panting, they release excess heat this way and this cools down the body.

It is our job to keep our dogs cool and comfortable in the heat.

In an effort to keep your dog cool you may give them some ice to chew or put some cubes in their water bowl. Sounds logical? NO!!! Ice, ice water or very cold water can cause severe muscle spasms that result in bloat.

There are many opinions on this subject, but I thought I would share this information just in case:

Please read the following letter.

---

This was posted on another board with permission to cross post in the hopes
of saving another dog from having to go through this awful experience.
After showing our dogs we went back to our site/set up and got the dogs in their
crates to cool off. After being back about 30 minutes I noticed the water bowl was low on
water. I took a hand full of ice from my cooler and put it in his bucket
with more water. (Note: I use a small Playmate cooler at ringside with ice
water in it also. Have for over 15 years now) I have an 18 foot trailer with AC and set up, as a rolling kennel. After checking the dogs and thinking
they were cooled off enough we fed everyone. As we were walking around
removing the feed dishes from the crates, one of my friends stated that one of our dogs
seemed like he was choking. I went over and checked on him and he was dry
heaving and drooling. I got him out of the crate to check him over and
noticed he had not eaten. He was in some distress. I checked him over from
head to toe and did not notice anything. I walked him around for about a
minute when I noticed that he was starting to Bloat. I did everything I was
taught to do in this case. I was not able to get him to burp, and we gave
him Phasezime.
We jumped on the golf cart to take him down to the show vet only to find out that
he did not have a bloat kit on hand. He referred us to the clinic that was to be on
call, but the clinic was closed. Finding another clinic that was open we rushed him in and they were ready and waiting for us.
They got him stabilized very quickly. After he was stable and out of distress we transported him to AVREC where he went right into surgery . They wanted to make sure no damage was done to any of his vital organs. I am very happy to say no damage was done to any vital organs
In surgery the doctor found that his stomach was in its normal anatomic
position. The Doctor and I went over the events of what happened up to the
point of the Bloating. When I told him about the ice water he asked why I
gave him ice water, I told him my history behind this practice and his reply was "I have been very lucky for the past 15 years." The ice water I gave him caused violent muscle spasms in his
stomach which caused the bloating.
Dr. Vogf stated that giving dog's ice to chew or ice water is a big NO, NO; there should be no reason for them to have ice or ice water. Normal water (room Temp.), or cooling with cold towels on the inter thigh is the best way to help cool a dog. How Dr. Vogf explained it to me was like this:
If you, as a person fall into a frozen lake what happens to our muscles?
Think about that, and then compare that to your dog's stomach.
I felt the need to share this with everyone, in the hopes that some may
learn from what I went through, I do not wish this on anyone. Our baby is home
now and doing fine. He does not like the fact that he has to be walked on a lead in the yard to keep him from running and he hates not being able to go out and rough house with the others, but he needs to heal and be calm.
So please if you do use ice and ice water, beware.

---

Bloat is the second leading killer of dogs after cancer. A dog with a bloating stomach has a short time to live without emergency veterinary intervention.
A little information about Bloat
BLOAT can occur in two forms: gastric dilatation (swelling of the stomach from gas); or, gastric dilatation with volvulus, i. e., torsion, which occurs when the stomach twists on its axis. Often, both forms of bloat occur in a single episode with the second form quickly following the first. When this happens, BLOAT is fatal in minutes. BLOAT is also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus or GDV.
Tragically, the majority of dog owners have never heard of BLOAT. Typically, an owner awakens in the morning or returns home from work and finds dead his/her, otherwise healthy, dog. As dog owners rarely have an autopsy performed, the cause of death is never determined, and the owner never learns about BLOAT. Most canine diseases (e. g., cancer, hip dysplasia, etc.) progress over weeks, months or even years, not minutes. The dog owner has the opportunity to notice that his/her dog is not feeling well and has time to take the dog to the vet to begin a course of treatment. Along with the treatment the owner learns about the disease.
With BLOAT, the disease progresses in minutes or, at most, hours. The only treatment is emergency medical attention. In its two advanced forms, the only treatment is surgery. Symptoms of BLOAT may include:
• excessive salivation/drooling
• extreme restlessness/pacing
• unproductive attempts to vomit/defecate
• evidence of abdominal pain (whining and tenderness in the stomach area)
• abdominal distension
• rapid breathing/panting
• cold/pale mouth membranes
• collapse

---

There is alot of information available on line and if you have a large dog i would suggest you do your homework.

*WHITE PEACH SANGRIA*

a few days ago... my friend Mel from back home called me to tell me she was coming to the Soo for a one day course. I hadn't seen her in a while so I told her to come and stay with us, so we could catch up on all the ...

gossip in our lives. I made this sangria and I had to try it before hand to make sure it was good enough for our gossip session. WELL HELLO!!!! YUMMY!!! it's absolutely amazing, it's really good :))

1 (750 ml) bottle white wine (I used a bottle of Pinot Grigio)
1 cup peach schnapps
1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 nectarines, sliced
1 cup green or red grapes, whole or sliced

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.
Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
Stir before serving.
(Makes 8 cups)

*PANCAKE BATTER DISPENSER*

gr8 for camping

Make your favorite pancake batter (homemade or from a mix).
Clean ketchup bottle

I used my whisk attachment so that I could make sure the batter wouldn't be lumpy, nothing worse than getting the batter clogged trying to get out of that small hole.
I then poured it into my ketchup bottle using my Pyrex measuring cup and presto!
It portion pancake batter with precision―without the usual mess of transferring batter from the bowl.

Perfect for camping or when you just want one or two pancakes.
Store unused batter in fridge.

NOTE: you can make different shapes with pancake batter, kids will love it. Be creative. :))

*ROLO MARSHMALLOW*

  (PICTURE POSTED BY MANON VEILLEUX)

Marshmallows
Mini Rolo chocolate chunks

Try this on your next camping trip. :))

Take a bag of Rolo chocolate chunks and stuff one inside a marshmallow and then poke the stick through the center of the marshmallow behind where you have put the Rolo chunk, and brown the marshmallow.

*GRILLED VEGETABLE SKEWERS WITH A BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE*

Warm weather calls for grilling, relaxing on the deck with a cold beverage in hand.
Often, when grilling, the focus is on the meat. I will be the first to admit that when I grill, meat is the highlight!
But these vegetable skewers are the perfect side to any meat. I brush the vinaigrette on after grilling as I find brushing it on while grilling can cause flare ups which can burn the skewers.
If you make these skewers, make sure you make plenty. People will gobble these up so quick you will wish you made more!
You can also use other vegetables including cherry tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini or any of your favorite!

1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
2 medium red onions
15-18 large mushrooms
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. dried oregano
wooden skewers

Soak the wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes.
Whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, pepper, garlic and oregano.
Set aside until needed.
Wash and cut the vegetables (except the mushrooms) into large, evenly sized, chunks.
Stick the vegetables on the wooden skewers, in any order you wish.
Place on a hot grill and cook until they are just tender. Baste with the vinaigrette and serve.

*DIETER'S PRAYER*

Today's Tip:
*DIETER'S PRAYER*

As I wake up from my sleep
I pray my diet I may keep
But if temptation makes me slip,
I pray the Lord my pants won't rip.

*CHERRY BREAD*

This is such a super simple bread to make but it’s soooooo good. Just throw the ingredients together, mix, and bake! No chopping necessary ;)) Make a loaf of this, top each piece with some cream cheese, and serve it for breakfast ;)) Or serve it as a nice snack during the day. Either way you choose, you definitely will not regret making it.

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cherry juice
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 small bottle of cherries (without stems)
1/4 cup of flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place the 1/4 cup of flour in a small bowl. Take the cherries out of the jar, one by one, and place them in the flour making sure to coat them all.
Discard the flour that had the cherries in it.
Place the coated cherries in a larger bowl. With an electric mixer, mix all other ingredients together in a bowl.
The batter will be thick but don't panic. It's supposed to look like that ;)
Grease and flour a loaf pan (I used a 9 inch one).
Place batter in loaf pan and bake for one hour.

*HOMEMADE VITAMIN WATER*

(IDEA POSTED BY ANITA ST)

Mason jars
Favorite fruits
Favorite spices

Mason jars make great containers to “brew” these magical infusions. I immediately started a watermelon/rosemary one — truly delicious and inspired me to increase my water intake by quite a large margin. What’s especially cool was that I refilled the jar 3 times and each time the water was pleasantly infused.

Just slice the fruits into manageable portions and place in jar with sprigs of fresh herbs. Cover with water – another option I want to try is to infuse coconut water.

I have also tried the Pineapple/Mint and a few nights ago I created a blend of apricot and peach slices with a vanilla bean, but enjoy the herbs better mixed with the fruit. I also really enjoyed a Pineapple/Cilantro blend. What I discovered is that I can use the core of the pineapple along with some of the “meat” so that’s a creative way of using a part of the fruit that would normally go in the trash. I’ve also tasted cucumber-infused water and think that adding some herbs would make a lovely combination. Cucumber is ultra-hydrating to the skin and considered a beauty-aid.

After 3 refills, I’ve been ‘recycling” the sliced fruit (and sometimes the herbs) into my green smoothie in the morning. Another great advantage to consider about making your own vitamin water is ecological; think of the great service you are doing the planet every time you avoid using a plastic container that can take up to 2000 years to break down — so you are leaving less of a carbon footprint.

Several years ago I was visiting a beautiful hotel in Old Town Philadelphia with my best friend. They had a large, inviting urn filled with icy spring water and lots of thin slices of citrus (orange, lemon, lime). It was so refreshing and I vowed to make this a habit at home and even followed through on this — all of two times. But I am happily infusing every day since seeing these lovely photos and hope that a new habit has been born!

*CHOCOLATE COVERED KIWI POPS*

(IDEA POSTED BY ANITA ST)

All I can say is yum. These looks so freakin yummy, and so easy! These kiwis may be covered in chocolate, but kiwis are so healthy for you because they are full of vitamin C, E, folate, fiber and potassium. I will just assume that it cancels out the bad part.

Kiwi
1 cup dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup Coconut oil

Kiwi – peel and cut into 1 inch thick rounds, with a popsicle stick in each round.
Freeze on a tray in the freezer.
Melt over double boiler: 1 cup dark chocolate and 1/2 cup Coconut oil.
Cool down to room temp.
Dip each Kiwi-pop into the chocolate mixture (it will immediately turn crispy) and place on a tray to refreeze.
Enjoy!
Anita St says: You could dip them in coconut, ground up nuts, use other fruits like fresh figs or strawberries.

*PEANUTTY S’MORE*

While roasting your marshmallows, set the peanut butter cup on a graham cracker and place it on a rock near the fire so it softens up. Mhhhm...

mmm good!!

1 large marshmallows
2 graham cracker squares
1 Reese's peanut butter cup

Cook the marshmallows over hot coals until they are browned outside, and soft all the way through, 2 to 4 minutes.
Place peanut butter cup on top of one of the graham cracker squares by the fire. When marshmallow is done, top over Reese's cup. Top with the last graham cracker square. So gooooey, so good!!! :))

*Gourmet S'mores
Just can't imagine camping without s'mores??? Try adding one or two of these ingredients below on this classic campfire treat:

peanut butter
Nutella
coconut
strawberries
pineapple
dried apples
candied ginger
banana slices

*HANGING HERB PLANTERS*

 Nail flip flops to wall, insert coffee mugs. It will take you just minutes to hang and assemble them.

(PICTURE POSTED BY Tawny Lu Vosper)
You can grow your herbs in these mugs

*TREAT FOR DOGS*

*Seen this on a friend's page and thought I would share. :))

 Fill a bucket with water or chicken stock, toys, treats, carrots, etc and freeze!
This will keep your pups busy for hours outside!

*EASY HOMEMADE ICED COFFEE*

 Can’t get any easier then this.... so good on a hot day.

1/2 cup water
1 – 1 1/2 cup milk
1 Tbsp. instant coffee
1 Tbsp. white sugar
ice cubes

Spices and flavours (optional):
Cinnamon
Ginger
Almond
Vanilla
Hazelnut

Fill a large glass with 1/2 cup of water

(1). Microwave it on high for 30 sec to warm it but do not boil the water
(2). Add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and mix
(3). Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of white sugar
(4). Add some spices/flavours while the mixture is still warm (optional). Mix it well
(5). Cool it in the freezer for 5 min (or fridge for 10 min)
(6). Add 1 cup of milk
(7) and mix
(8). Add some ice cubes
(9). Serve.

Variations
-If you have brewed coffee: add 1/2 cup of brewed coffee for step 1 and skip step 2 and 3, then proceed as usual for the rest of the recipe.

-If you're using cream instead of milk: add the cream (usually 1 or 2 tablespoons is enough) after you add the sugar in step 4. Then in step 7, add water

-If you want a black iced coffee (with instant coffee): add water instead of the milk in step 7. Also add additional coffee/sugar if it's too dilute for you (no more than 1 tablespoon of each, otherwise it's just too strong and your heart will be racing all day).

Total time: 15 min
Ingredients (1 serving):

*HOT CRASH POTATOES*

Love potatoes and these are really easy to do... but you do have to start them in advance since you’ll be cooking them twice. Those potatoes are really good and you can play with the ingredients..... I have added bacon and cheese and I have also added different spices to the potatoes. They are just yummy!!!

New, red potatoes (or other small round potatoes), washed
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Rosemary

Cook potatoes until fork tender in a large pot with salted water.
Remove from heat and drain.
Drizzle olive oil on a cookie sheet. I line mine with foil to make cleaning up easier.
Place cooked potatoes on cookie sheet, leaving a good amount of space between them.
With a potato masher, gently press down on each potato until it slightly mashes.
Rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and press down again on.
Brush the top of each potato generously with olive oil.
Sprinkle potatoes with salt and pepper and fresh chopped rosemary.
Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.