I have a recipe that my sister gave to me several years ago for a homemade ranch mix that can be used to make ranch chip or vegetable dip. I don’t know where the recipe originally came from, but it is delicious. It’s a dry herb mix you can store until you’re ready to use. You can add to sour cream, or sour cream and Mayonnaise to make your dip.

(c) L Gerlach

Homemade Ranch Mix

• 5 Tablespoons dried minced onion
• 7 teaspoons of dried parsley flakes
• 4 teaspoons of salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine all the ingredients and store them in an airtight container. When you’re ready to make your dip add the mixture to the following:

For chip dip add 3 tablespoons of the mixture to two cups of sour cream and mix well. To make vegetable dip add 3 tablespoons of the mixture to one cup of sour cream, and one cup of Mayonnaise and mix well.

You can use the dip right after you make it, or store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.

If you want to make a lighter vesion of the dip, use low fat or fat free sour cream and Mayonnaise.

Post from: Blisstree

Make Your Own Ranch Dip

Here are some examples of what YAVA has available…

Recycled Rolling Rock Beer Bottle Coasters
Set of 4 for $30

These coasters are made from “kiln-fired” bottles. They measure 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

Recycled Bubble Up Soda Bottle Glasses
Set of 4 for $28

Set of bottle glasses measure 4.5 inches tall and can hold up 8 ounces of beverage.

More glasses, coasters, and spoonrests available in other recycled bottle styles including Grey Goose Vodka, Corona beer, etc.

Image credit: YAVA Glass

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Eco-Friendly Glassware from YAVA Glass

Ensalada Rusa

Ingredients:

o 2 lb Idaho potatoes
o 1/2 cup Diced carrots
o 1/2 cup Frozen peas
o 3/4 Diced red pepper
o 1 lb Albacore tuna packed in spring water
o 1/4 cup Shredded boiled eggs
o 1 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
o 1/2 tsp White pepper
o Salt to taste

Garnish
o 3/4 cup Diced red tomatoes
o 2 Tbsp Freshly chopped parsley

1. Boil potatoes with skin on in salted water until hilly cooked (about 15 minutes). Cool to room temperature, then remove skin. Set aside.
2. Blanch carrots, peas and red peppers in salt water until al dente. Chill immediately. Set aside.
3. Drain tuna; place on clean towel. Wring out excess water. Set aside.
4. Place potatoes in a large bowl and mash with a fork until all large chunks are gone. Add tuna, vegetables, eggs, mayonnaise and white pepper. Gently combine ingredients with large spoon. Add salt to taste. Place bowl in refrigerator to chill.

Adding carrots, peas, and red peppers would be quite a challenge for my family who actually prefers the basic style. But like I said, it’s always goo to try new things. I think this would be fine since there’s no relish in it. We don’t like relish in our potato salad .

(Image/Source : Idaho Potato)

Post from: Blisstree

Ensalada Rusa

What are your favorite comfort foods?

~ Vanilla Cupcakes with Lemon-Lime Curd Filling and Lemon-Lime Frosting from montcarte

~ Louisiana Spicy Jambalaya at Friday Delights

~ Baked Donuts from Kitchen M

~ Potstickers with Crab at Eat the Right Stuff

~ Caramelized Banana Ice Cream with Buttermilk Caramel Sauce from Our Best Bites

~ Sticky Mustard Chicken Drumsticks at The Good Mood Food Blog

~ Irish Beef Stew from Evan’s Kitchen Ramblings

~ Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies at Two Peas and Their Pod

~ General Tso’s Chicken from Tracey’s Culinary Adventures

~ Sweet Cherry Pie with Coconut-Almond Crunch Topping at Ezra Pound Cake

~ BBQ Chinese Ribs from Rasa Malaysia

~ Homemade Blueberry Jam and English Muffins at High Over Happy

~ Homemade Corn Dogs from Taste and Tell

~ Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel at Dishing up Delights

~ Oatmeal Stout and Heath Bar Ice Cream from A Good Appetite

~ Twice Baked Potatoes with Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese at Cate’s World Kitchen

~ Homemade Graham Crackers from The Purple Foodie

~ Roasted Asparagus Soup at Chow Vegan

~ Piquillo Peppers stuffed with Goat Cheese from Chez Us

~ Parsnip and Chive Gnocchi at Nooschi

~ Authentic Chicken Teriyaki from No Recipes

~ Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles at The Hungry Mouse

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Weekend Foodie Links

I did have two red ripe tomatoes about a week ago, but a tomato worm ate half of one, and I ate the other one before I thought to take a photo.

(c) L Gerlach

I do have quite a few blooms, and green tomatoes going on.

(c) L Gerlach

The Roma tomatoes are going crazy with little green tomatoes. I feel some sauce making coming up in my future!

(c) L Gerlach

These are the Green Zebra tomatoes I planted, can’t wait to taste these. They’re supposed to have a sweet citrus taste.

(c) L Gerlach

I’m still fascinated by the Blueberry Tomatoes. Some of the leaves are a deep blue, and the tomatoes are blue. I can’t wait to taste these too.

(c) L Gerlach

My favorite plant is this “Angora” tomato. It’s leaves are fuzzy and a blue green color. I think I’m just fascinated with it because it looks so different from the rest. It can’t be because it’s a great producer. I think it’s the smallest tomato plant I have at this point, and so far it’s only blooming, no tomatoes yet.

(c) L Gerlach

I can’t wait to taste all the different tomato varieties, and of course take a few photos of all the different colored tomatoes.

Post from: Blisstree

Tomato Experiment July Update

Gramercy Tavern Cocktail Mixes
Suggested retail $15.95, on sale for $5.99

The Cranberry Daiquiri mix and the Gramercy Parksider mix are both included in this sale. The Cranberry mix is a combination of cranberry and orange juice that match well with dark rum. The Parksider is meant to mix with either vodka or gin. It contains a mixture of basil and lime, sweetened with sugar.

Eleven Madison Park Cocktail Mix in Spiced Pineapple Cooler
Suggested retail $15.95, on sale for $5.99

A bright combination of pineapple, lemon, and spices. Goes great with rum.  Sounds like the sort of cocktail you’d find on a tropical vacation. Yum.

Margarita Caddy
Suggested retail $29.00, on sale for $9.99

The caddy contains a combo of three mixes: Lemon Lime, Mixed Berry, and Mango. Lemon Lime features the juice of Key limes and Eureka lemons, with a touch of orange. The Berry contains strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry juices. Mango features exotic Alphonso mangoes from India.

The Margarita Caddy collection would be a great gift for your host. Each bottle makes between 3-4 margaritas.

Image credit: Williams-Sonoma.com

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Big Savings At Williams-Sonoma

I love making homemade ice cream not only because I know exactly what’s going into it, but because there are so many varieties and flavors you can play with, and so many fun little treats and additions to throw in. The kids also think it’s pretty neat that you can make it right in your own kitchen and get really excited when I bring the ice cream maker out from the cupboard.

homemade chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream

Our favorite around here is an Oreo cookies and cream. Using a simple sweet cream base (no vanilla added) and some chopped Oreo cookies, we get a pretty refreshing dessert that everyone loves.

Last week I tried a cherry ice cream, but I need to play with different varieties of cherries a little more since it ended up being nearly tasteless (so sad!).

We’ve also made our own chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream (which is amazing, if not a bit of work), and a chocolate chip malt ice cream.

Also check out:

~ Green Tea Ice Cream
~ Avocado Coconut Milk Ice Cream
~ Candied Bacon Ice Cream
~ Chocolate Stout Ice Cream
~ Green Tea and Soy Sauce Ice Cream
~ Black Sesame Seed Ice Cream

What’s your favorite ice cream to make?

Post from: Blisstree

Homemade Ice Cream

Kraft Foods just gave me an idea though with this Confetti Mac & Cheese.

Confetti Mac & Cheese

INGREDIENTS :
1 pkg. (7-1/2 oz.) KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 cup each: shredded carrots and zucchini
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

PREPARE Dinner in large saucepan, following the Light Prep directions on package and adding vegetables to the boiling water for the last 3 min. of the Macaroni cooking time.

STIR in mozzarella.

This is just so easy to make I’m hitting myself for not thinking about it beforehand. If you prefer making your own homemade mac & cheese, I don’t think there’s anything wrong in adapting the shredded carrots and zucchini into it. It’s colorful like confetti, delish in all pasta goodness, and healthy as well for the kids.

(Image/Source : Kraft foods)

Post from: Blisstree

Confetti Mac & Cheese

How about you? Care for some red toasters to start us off?

Cuisinart CPT Red Toaster

Cuisinart CPT-120RFR Toaster, $27.99. I call this “bloody red”. It’s deep, bold and screaming for attention .

Aroma Red Art Deco Toaster

Aroma Red Art Deco Toaster, $36.53. The red color of this toaster on the other hand is paler. It’s not too shocking per se.

I kinda like the Cusinart better though. I mean, if you’re going to go red, might as well do it all the way. Sort of, . You?

(Images : Overstock)

Post from: Blisstree

Red Toasters

Free radicals from the sun and the environment around us can damage our skin. When we eat the right foods we can help minimize the damage done by our environment, and even help repair our skin from the damage of free radicals with important vitamins, essential oils, and antioxidants.

Here are ten of the best foods to maintain a healthy glow for your skin.

1. Berries are a tiny food with a powerful antioxidant punch, helping your skin fight off free radical damage from the sun.
2. Avocados are loaded with B-complex vitamins and essential fatty acids, giving avocados an anti inflammatory property. They’re also great for evening out red or blotchy skin.
3. Salmon and other fatty fish provide essential fatty acids that are important building blocks to healthy skin, maintaining cell membranes for younger healthier looking skin.
4. Whole grains contain selenium which is an important mineral for maintaining healthy skin.
5. Pressed Oils like canola and olive oil also provide healthy fats that are important maintaining healthy skin membranes. Your cell membranes hold water and help maintain the plump healthy look of your skin, and helps prevent wrinkles and age lines. Look for oils labeled cold pressed, expeller processed, or extra virgin. Other processed oils are heated to a high temperature, and may contain solvents which counteract the benefits of the oil.
6. Green Leafy Vegetables are loaded with vitamins, including zinc which are great for maintaining a healthy glow to your skin.
7. Sweet Potatoes are loaded with vitamin A (beta carotene) which does wonders to help create a great complexion.
8. Nuts like Almonds and Walnuts are loaded with essential fatty acids, can you say Omega 3?
9. Lemons and citrus contain vitamin C and bioflavonoids which help your body detoxify, and the support collagen in the skin, to help keep the skin firm and young looking.
10. Green tea contains polyphenols, which have strong anti inflammatory properties to help skin fight off free radicals, and prevent sun damage. Some studies even show that it may help fight off skin cancer.

When you’re shopping for these healthy foods, look for organic versions, with little or no processing. Fresh organic foods will help you get the oils, and antioxidants your skin needs, without adding any additional chemicals your body doesn’t need.

This post was sponsored by Neutrogena skinID™ – The only Personalized Acne Solution made just for you. Guaranteed Results or your money back.

Image via sxc.hu

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Top 10 Foods For Healthy Skin