Labor Day Holiday was good at Living Laughing Loving..
Got caught up on some posting on Facebook..
We sure have grown... We now have 2,374 Members.
We are coming up on the One Year Anniversary of the group and we are so excited.. When i started the group last year i had no idea that it would even go anywhere.. I worry constantly that the page isn't strong enough to make it another year.. Here i am disabled and cant do the work like others can.. I just pedal away and trying to keep the members interests. I hope that i can keep the page alive.. it is my life long dream... any ways i am just letting you all know that i am open to suggestions ... if there is something that i can post or look up or research for you please by all means let me know ... right now i am posting recipes , tips , tricks, ideas and advertisement.. i want this group to be nominated best on Facebook but i need the help of everyone to get my name out there to let others know that we are out there.. if you tell one person a day that is one more than i had yesterday.. welp i am off to see what i can post.. here is a few samples for you.. but if you get a chance visit us over at Living Laughing Loving on Facebook.. http://www.facebook.com/groups/living.laughing.loving/
Got caught up on some posting on Facebook..
We sure have grown... We now have 2,374 Members.
We are coming up on the One Year Anniversary of the group and we are so excited.. When i started the group last year i had no idea that it would even go anywhere.. I worry constantly that the page isn't strong enough to make it another year.. Here i am disabled and cant do the work like others can.. I just pedal away and trying to keep the members interests. I hope that i can keep the page alive.. it is my life long dream... any ways i am just letting you all know that i am open to suggestions ... if there is something that i can post or look up or research for you please by all means let me know ... right now i am posting recipes , tips , tricks, ideas and advertisement.. i want this group to be nominated best on Facebook but i need the help of everyone to get my name out there to let others know that we are out there.. if you tell one person a day that is one more than i had yesterday.. welp i am off to see what i can post.. here is a few samples for you.. but if you get a chance visit us over at Living Laughing Loving on Facebook.. http://www.facebook.com/groups/living.laughing.loving/
Chile Colorado Burritos
from The Food Pusher
Ingredients:
Directions:
Put beef, bouillon, and enchilada sauce into a crock pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours**, or until meat is very tender. (Can also cook on high for maybe 3-4 hours.) I've also cooked it in a dutch oven for about 4 hours at 325 degrees. More meat, more time. A third option is to cook it in a large heavy saucepan--bring it to a boil on high heat, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. If you go with a method other than the crock pot, make sure the pot is covered and pretty well sealed to minimize evaporation of the liquid.
When beef is done (very tender and flakes off when stirred), taste and add more salt, if desired. Heat up refried beans in the microwave (covered and in a microwave-proof dish, of course)and put your oven on broil. On an oven-proof plate, or cookie sheet even, lay out a tortilla. Place on tortilla about 1/2 cup of the meat, drained by using a slotted spoon, and a spoonful or two of beans. Roll into a burrito (hopefully you know how to roll these). Pour some of the remaining enchilada sauce from the crock pot over the burrito to cover it. Sprinkle with some cheddar cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2-4 minutes.
Serve.
Makes 5-7 burritos, depending on how full you make them.
*Lots of people ask about what brand of canned enchilada sauce I use. There's even some controversy there. Lots of people seem put off that I use a canned sauce and make their own. I originally used Las Palmas mild because that's what was mostly available in California. When I moved to Iowa, I had to switch to Old El Paso mild, and now my family is used to the super mildness of that and comment how spicy it is when I use Las Palmas. Both are great, as far as I'm concerned, but the Old El Paso mild is definitely the way to go if you want a mild experience.
**Note: You may have to adjust the cooking time depending on this size of your chunks of meat. Larger chunks (like 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunks) may need a little longer. Scrappy sort of chunks that are less than an inch may need a shorter cooking time.
from The Food Pusher
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 to 2 pounds stew meat or other beef cubed (top sirloin is great)
- 1 large can mild enchilada sauce* (at least 19 oz.)
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- 1/2 can refried beans (optional)
- 5-7 burrito size flour tortillas
- 1 cup or so of shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
Put beef, bouillon, and enchilada sauce into a crock pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours**, or until meat is very tender. (Can also cook on high for maybe 3-4 hours.) I've also cooked it in a dutch oven for about 4 hours at 325 degrees. More meat, more time. A third option is to cook it in a large heavy saucepan--bring it to a boil on high heat, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. If you go with a method other than the crock pot, make sure the pot is covered and pretty well sealed to minimize evaporation of the liquid.
When beef is done (very tender and flakes off when stirred), taste and add more salt, if desired. Heat up refried beans in the microwave (covered and in a microwave-proof dish, of course)and put your oven on broil. On an oven-proof plate, or cookie sheet even, lay out a tortilla. Place on tortilla about 1/2 cup of the meat, drained by using a slotted spoon, and a spoonful or two of beans. Roll into a burrito (hopefully you know how to roll these). Pour some of the remaining enchilada sauce from the crock pot over the burrito to cover it. Sprinkle with some cheddar cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2-4 minutes.
Serve.
Makes 5-7 burritos, depending on how full you make them.
*Lots of people ask about what brand of canned enchilada sauce I use. There's even some controversy there. Lots of people seem put off that I use a canned sauce and make their own. I originally used Las Palmas mild because that's what was mostly available in California. When I moved to Iowa, I had to switch to Old El Paso mild, and now my family is used to the super mildness of that and comment how spicy it is when I use Las Palmas. Both are great, as far as I'm concerned, but the Old El Paso mild is definitely the way to go if you want a mild experience.
**Note: You may have to adjust the cooking time depending on this size of your chunks of meat. Larger chunks (like 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunks) may need a little longer. Scrappy sort of chunks that are less than an inch may need a shorter cooking time.
DIY Body Sugaring For Removing Unwanted Hair
This is from Tipnut.com
Since the paste can grab and pull the hair out deep at its roots, the new growth is slower to appear than if you shaved (which just removes growth at the skin surface). Your skin is left soft and smooth and there’s not much mess (especially when compared to waxing) since the mixture is water soluble and washes off easily.
If you’d like to give this a try, here are three different recipes plus directions for application (and ripping). Good luck!
Supplies Needed:
Recipes:
Tips:
This is from Tipnut.com
Since the paste can grab and pull the hair out deep at its roots, the new growth is slower to appear than if you shaved (which just removes growth at the skin surface). Your skin is left soft and smooth and there’s not much mess (especially when compared to waxing) since the mixture is water soluble and washes off easily.
If you’d like to give this a try, here are three different recipes plus directions for application (and ripping). Good luck!
Supplies Needed:
- Candy thermometer (to measure temperature while mixture is heating)
- 1″ strips of cotton fabric (about 8″ to 10″ in length)
- Wooden popsicle sticks or spatula
Recipes:
- #1: 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed), 1/4 cup water
- #2: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup honey, juice from one half lemon (freshly squeezed)
- Combine ingredients in a heavy saucepan and turn on the heat to medium. Once it starts boiling, reduce heat to low and cook until the mixture reaches 250°F (stir often so it doesn’t boil over) then remove from heat. If you prefer a thicker paste, just heat to 245°F.
- Let it sit until it’s warm then pour into a glass canning jar. Continue to let it cool until it’s at room temperature. Careful! This will cause serious burns to your skin if it’s not cooled down properly before applying.
- 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup honey, juice from one half lemon (freshly squeezed)
- Directions: Mix ingredients in a large glass bowl then heat in the microwave for two minutes, stopping every 20 to 30 seconds to stir. Once it’s finished cooking, allow to cool down a bit before pouring into a glass canning jar and letting it rest until it’s at room temperature.
- Lightly dust the skin surface with cornstarch and rub it in. Lightly is key, this will help protect the skin a bit so the paste doesn’t stick to it as much (helping lessen the pain).
- Using the popsicle sticks, slather a thin layer on your skin in the direction of the hair growth then cover with cotton strips (do in batches of 3 or 4 until the entire area is covered). Rub the fabric a few times firmly (in the direction of the hair growth).
- Let it sit for about a minute then pull your skin tight with one hand and rip each strip off quickly with the other (in the opposite direction of the hair growth). Reapply paste as needed (you can reheat if it gets too cool).
Tips:
- Hair should be at least 1/4″ so the mix/paste has something to really grab onto.
- Hand wash the strips in warm soapy water, dry and you can reuse them again and again. Muslin or diaper flannel work well.
- Careful to avoid growths such as skin tags, warts and moles. Also avoid applying on top of stretch marks, broken skin, scar tissue, delicate skin around the eyes, irritated area or rashes and varicose veins.
- Seal any leftovers in the jar and refrigerate to use later (simply reheat).
- If paste is too hard to work with, add a spoonful of water and reheat the mixture in the microwave for a minute or so until it’s hot. Stir then allow to cool as above.
How to Grow Mushrooms at home...
From http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com
So, how do you grow mushrooms at home?
There are two choices when it comes to growing your own mushrooms. You can either buy a pre-made mushroom box - with intructions included - from your local plant centre, or you are start from scratch and do it all yourself. There is little point in reciting the instructions that you would already have from a mushrom box so instead I will explain how to grow mushrooms from scratch.
Button mushrooms are one of the most commonly consumed mushrooms in the world and probably the best variety to try and grow at home. While they are the easy to find in your local supermarket, home grown mushrooms always taste better.
In order to start growing mushrooms at home you will need:
1. A 2ft x 3ft growing tray which is aproximately 6-8 inches deep.
2. Compost - Mushroom Compost is made from a mix of well rotted materials such as hay, straw, straw horse bedding, poultry litter, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells and gypsum. Sphagnum moss peat is then added to this so as to provide a consistent product. Be in mind that it may well be easier to buy some pre-made!
3. Mushroom spawn - this can be bought on-line or from good plant retailors.
4. Peat moss
5. A piece of wood or flat object
6. A water mister
7. Some old newspapers
To begin with, place the well-rotted compost into the growing tray and water. Be sure that the compost is completely wet - you want it moist not soggy.
Next, take 1 to 2 cups of the dry button mushroom spawn flakes and mix it into the compost. You’ll need to loosen the mixture and put it into loose piles in the tray. With a piece of wood or something flat press the compost and spawn mixture into the tray. Now let it set over night.
Keep the temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 3 weeks, misting daily with your spray bottle.
Once you see white webbing on the surface of the soil you’ll need to apply a 1 ½ inch layer of moist peat moss and cover with a few layers of newspapers. The newspaper must be kept moist. Continue to evenly spray the newspaper twice daily. Maintain a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
After 10 days remove the newspaper and continue to mist twice daily. In a few days you’ll see tiny white pinheads sprouting.
Once the button mushrooms reach your desired size you can pick them and new mushrooms will grow in 10 to 14 days.
From http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com
So, how do you grow mushrooms at home?
There are two choices when it comes to growing your own mushrooms. You can either buy a pre-made mushroom box - with intructions included - from your local plant centre, or you are start from scratch and do it all yourself. There is little point in reciting the instructions that you would already have from a mushrom box so instead I will explain how to grow mushrooms from scratch.
Button mushrooms are one of the most commonly consumed mushrooms in the world and probably the best variety to try and grow at home. While they are the easy to find in your local supermarket, home grown mushrooms always taste better.
In order to start growing mushrooms at home you will need:
1. A 2ft x 3ft growing tray which is aproximately 6-8 inches deep.
2. Compost - Mushroom Compost is made from a mix of well rotted materials such as hay, straw, straw horse bedding, poultry litter, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells and gypsum. Sphagnum moss peat is then added to this so as to provide a consistent product. Be in mind that it may well be easier to buy some pre-made!
3. Mushroom spawn - this can be bought on-line or from good plant retailors.
4. Peat moss
5. A piece of wood or flat object
6. A water mister
7. Some old newspapers
To begin with, place the well-rotted compost into the growing tray and water. Be sure that the compost is completely wet - you want it moist not soggy.
Next, take 1 to 2 cups of the dry button mushroom spawn flakes and mix it into the compost. You’ll need to loosen the mixture and put it into loose piles in the tray. With a piece of wood or something flat press the compost and spawn mixture into the tray. Now let it set over night.
Keep the temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 3 weeks, misting daily with your spray bottle.
Once you see white webbing on the surface of the soil you’ll need to apply a 1 ½ inch layer of moist peat moss and cover with a few layers of newspapers. The newspaper must be kept moist. Continue to evenly spray the newspaper twice daily. Maintain a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
After 10 days remove the newspaper and continue to mist twice daily. In a few days you’ll see tiny white pinheads sprouting.
Once the button mushrooms reach your desired size you can pick them and new mushrooms will grow in 10 to 14 days.
Crockpot Cube Steak and GravyCube steak (I used a family size pack)
2 cans (10.75 ounce size) cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope onion soup mix
3/4 cup water
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low all day. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes or with your favorite side dishes.
2 cans (10.75 ounce size) cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope onion soup mix
3/4 cup water
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low all day. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes or with your favorite side dishes.