Mommy Blog, Tips & Ideas
Smoked Pork Chops in Orange Juice
Jul 14th
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
4 smoked pork chops, about 1 inch thick
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
4 canned pineapple slices
Instructions:
Place the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter has completely melted add the chops. Cook until lightly brown about 5 minutes each side. Remove chops and place pineapple slices in butter to slightly brown about 2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet. In a small bowl mix together the orange juice, wine, mustard and ginger. Be sure all the ingredients are combined together well. Place the chops back into the skillet. Top each with a pineapple slices. Add the juice mixture. Cover the skillet with a tight lid. Simmer on low for 25 minutes.
Tips for Preparing Your Patio for a Fourth of July Get-Together
Jul 14th
Summer time is drawing near and there’s no better place to spend the warm evenings than in your own back yard. If you have a patio, you have the perfect place to celebrate. It doesn’t matter if you’re having a birthday or an anniversary party, your patio can be transformed into someplace your guests will love. Here are some tips for preparing your patio for a Fourth of July get-together.
Patios are often considered to be a nuisance because they can be hot. This doesn’t have to be the case on July 4th. In fact, you can treat your patio as another room to your house, it’s just outside. There are so many things you can do with your patio to make it a place you’ll love to share with friends and neighbors.
Begin by cooling your patio down. This can be accomplished by either providing a covering or by installing a misting system. With a cover made of aluminum or heavy canvas, the sun is blocked, which helps reduce the temperature. A misting system cools you by spraying a light mist which evaporates, thus cooling the air by as much as 35 degrees.
After you’ve had your patio cooled, it’s time to think about lighting. For July 4th, think about decorating with candles in red, white, and blue votives. Star-shaped accent lights can also be hung in the trees to provide a festive mood. Hurricane lamps are also popular lighting for patios.
Make sure you have plenty of seating available. Clean lawn chairs and patio furniture should be placed to encourage conversation. Place a small table within each conversation group as a place for guests to put their drinks. Plush cushions will help make the seating more comfortable.
If you’re having a barbecue, be sure to have a table and chairs for your guests to eat at. A colorful, patriotic tablecloth and cloth napkins are perfect for the evening. Red, white, or blue dishes top off the table and keep with the Fourth of July theme. With a few candles strategically placed, your table will be as beautiful as the fireworks.
Balloons may be appropriate if you expect to entertain children. Set aside an area in the yard, close by the patio so adults can keep an eye on the children, for the children to play in. Plan some yard games to keep children happy and busy until it’s time for the fireworks.
You still have time think about how to decorate for the summer. These tips for preparing your patio for a Fourth of July get-together should give you some ideas to consider. Of course, decorating to match your style is important, but hopefully these tips will help.
Not Like Grannie’s Chicken Salad
Jul 13th
Ingredients:
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, Cubed
1 pound fresh green beans, broken in half
2 plum tomatoes, Chopped
Instructions:
Place 2 teaspoons of oil in a large skillet. Add the chicken and cook over medium heat until when pierced with a fork juice runs clear about 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and allow draining on a paper towel. In a large saucepan place green beans and enough water to just cover the beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the saucepan and allow the beans to simmer about 10 minutes or until just beginning to tender. Drain well. Place the vinegar, basil, 1 tablespoon of oil, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Blend the ingredients together well. Add the cooked chicken, green beans and tomatoes. Mix well to be sure the chicken, beans and tomatoes are covered completely. Cover the bowl and refrigerate at least 2 hours. When ready to serve stir a couple of times to make sure everything is mixed together well after sitting.
Parenting a Special Needs Child
Jul 13th
Discovering your child has a special need can sometimes feel like being in the middle of the dry Red Sea when the waves come crashing down. For most people their lives will never be the same again. The special needs child can affect the dynamics between spouses, siblings and even the community outside the home. Although the mountain may seem impossibly high, it can be climbed.
Remember that you are not the first in this situation. Find a support system, through your doctor or hospital. These are the people who most understand your situation and can help you work through them with the greatest knowledge and wisdom. Keeping yourself at peace is the first step to being the best parent you can for your special needs child.
Research the problems through all the books in your library and all the information you can find online. Ask your healthcare providers to give you information about the diagnosis and the treatments. You will want to know as much as you can so that you can communicate comfortably with the health professionals.
Don’t let the situation overwhelm you. Remember that there are some things that you can change and some that you can’t and you should focus on those things that you can change.
Look for community services and activities for your child. It is important that they feel as normal as possible. Activities with other children or programs to help them cope with their special needs can be the best thing for their healing momentum and also their acceptance of the special needs.
Share openly with family and friends about the situation. Some people will react by drawing closer but some may pull away as well. Getting things out in the open will help the people closest to you adjust to the situation.
If it is possible, you will want to set aside some time to talk with your special needs child. As they grow older, they may want some say in their care or programs. Establishing a line of communications will make it easier for them to share problems and concerns in the future.
Be willing to ask for help. The best thing that you can do to parent your special needs child is to stay well yourself. If you need help then you should ask for help. Remember that no one outside your mind will know what you need or want if you aren’t willing to tell them.
After all is said and done, parenting a special needs child is not all that different from parenting any child. Give them love, show them a positive life example and make them a priority over things. The basics are the best elements for raising a joyful child even if there are special needs involved as well.
Grand Old Flag Fudge
Jul 13th
Ingredients:
12 ounces good quality white chocolate
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup coarsely chopped almonds, toasted
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried blueberries
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
Instructions:
In a large microwave bowl place the white chocolate and milk together. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes. Chocolate should be almost melted. Remove from microwave and stir with a rubber spatula until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in the almonds. Carefully fold in the blueberries and cranberries. Add the orange peel and mix well. Place foil into an 8 inch square pan. Be sure the foil extends over the top of the pan so you can use it as handles when removing the fudge. Spread the mixture into the pan evenly with a rubber spatula. Place in the refrigerator until firm. This usually takes about 3 hours. When fudge is firm remove from pan by lifting the foil by the extended area. Cut and store tightly in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
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