Friday, September 19, 2008
Chicken and Vegetable Soup
This is a great idea for either cooking on the stove or simmering in a crock pot all day.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound skinless boneless chicken, cut into bite size pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chicken and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until browned, set aside.
To the same sausepan add the onion, garlic and carrots and saute for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then add the broccoli, cauliflower, celery, tomatoes, chicken broth and the set aside chicken.
Stir together well, bring to a slow boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in the spinach, hot pepper sauce, sale and pepper to taste.
Heat thoroughly and enjoy.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Top 5 Fresh Jokes
A journalist had done a story on gender roles in Kuwait several years before the Gulf War, and she noted then that women customarily walked about 10 feet behind their husbands. She returned to Kuwait recently and observed that the men now walked several yards behind their wives. She approached one of the women for an explanation. "This is marvelous," said the journalist. "What enabled women here to achieve this reversal of roles?" To which the Kuwaiti woman replied: "Land mines."
Wrong Book
A blonde stormed up to the front desk of the library and said, "I have a complaint!" "Yes, sir?" "I borrowed a book last week and it was horrible!" "What was wrong with it?" "It had way too many characters and there was no story whatsoever!" The librarian nodded and said, "Ahh. So you must be the person who took our phone book."
A gift for mother-in-law
A man, fresh out of gift ideas, bought his mother-in-law a large plot in an expensive cemetery. On her next birthday, he bought her nothing. She was quick to comment loud and long on his thoughtlessness. "Well, you haven't used the gift I gave you last year."
"Pay attention : "Are You Paying Attention?"
A professor is giving the first year medical students their first lecture on autopsies, and decides to give them a few basics before starting. "You must be capable of two things to do an autopsy. The first thing is that you must have no sense of fear." At this point, the lecturer sticks his finger into the dead man's anus, and then licks it. He asks all the students to do the same thing with the corpses in front of them. After a couple of minutes silence, they follow suit. "The second thing is that you must have an acute sense of observation: I stuck my middle finger into the corpse's anus, but I licked my index."
Overweight Blonde
A blonde was terribly overweight, so her doctor put her on a diet. "I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for 2 weeks. The next time I see you, you'll have lost at least 5 pounds." When the blonde returned, she shocked the doctor by losing nearly 20 pounds. "Why, that's amazing!" the doctor said, "Did you follow my instructions?" The blonde nodded. "I'll tell you though, I thought I was going to drop dead that 3rd day." "From hunger, you mean?" "No, from skipping.
Read the most hilarious jokes Read more fresh funny jokes at TickleJokes.com
Article source http://www.TickleJokes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vihutuo_Paira
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Spicy Taco 7 Layer Salad Recipe - For Those Who Love a Salad With a Little Kick
Ingredients for the Spicy Taco 7 Layer Salad Recipe:
3 cups of Romaine Lettuce
2 cups of Tortilla Chips (crushed)
1 1/2 cups of Yellow Onion (chopped)
1 pound of Ground Beef
1 1/2 cups of Sharp Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
2 cups of Salsa (medium flavored)
1 1/2 cups of Sour Cream
If you think that the salsa will be too hot for you, simply replace it with a mild version. And on the other side, if you'd really like to spice things up a bit, just add three tablespoons of hot sauce to the salsa. Or include some chopped up jalapenos to the recipe.
Directions:
1. Chop up the romaine lettuce and place in bottom of a large bowl for the first layer.
2. Take your crushed tortilla chips and distribute evenly over the lettuce to make your second layer.
3. Next, spread the yellow onion over the tortilla chips to form your third layer of the salad.
4. Cook up the ground beef in a frying pan. Make sure to remove as much grease off the meat as possible. Generally, I squeeze out most of the grease using a spatula, and then pat down the cooked beef firmly with a few pieces of paper towel. Spread ground beef over the onion for layer four.
5. Carefully spoon the salsa over all of the ground beef. This gives you the spicy fifth layer.
6. Generously spread the cheddar cheese over the ground beef for your next layer. If you do this shortly after the ground beef has been cooked, you get the cheese to melt into it.
7. For the final layer, you are going to evenly add the sour cream on top of the cheese.
8. Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator overnight.
9. When it comes time to serve the salad, just toss it quickly and add any additional spices and toppings.
If you like Mexican food, then you will absolutely love my Spicy Taco 7 Layer Salad recipe. I especially like the crunchiness of the tortilla chips mixed together with lettuce and salsa. Occasionally, I won't refrigerate the salad overnight and instead serve it while it's still warm. Its like eating a taco in a bowl. Delicious and your hands are kept clean.
Want to get more recipes like the 7 layer salad recipe above?
Visit my site at http://www.UltimateRecipeBookCollection.com to learn about how to get thousands of recipes just like this one. Chances are that you're bored with your normal meals. Why not try a new dish tonight? Come to my website to get more information.
This article can be reprinted by newsletter/ezine owners and webmasters as long as the links are kept active and none of the content is altered.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_S._Stewart
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Want Lower Back Pain to Go Away? Check This Out!
Lower back pain represents a real basic irritant for many people throughout the world. They cry and cringe, holding their painful backs while complaining for what appears to be the hundredth time. Does anybody actually understand what brings on the pain? On that point, there are surely enough causes for the creakiness and acute pangs that one feels after an especially energetic physical game.
Is your favorite chair or sofa causing your back discomfort? Is is the right size for you?
Does your chair or sofa meet the following criteria?
Your knees should rest comfortably at the end of the seat and drop down, not protrude beyond the seat of the chair. In this way, you are relaxing both the thighs and legs.
Your thighs should rest comfortably being totally supported by the seat of the chair or sofa.
The back of the sofa or chair should be high enough to fully support your entire back.
The seat should be wide enough to cover the area from thigh to thigh with at least 2 additional inches. Also, it should not sink lower than your knees upon sitting, thereby causing your knees to be higher than your rear end. Not good!!!
A lot of us do not realize that a chair or sofa should fit our body, in the same manner the proper size of shoes fit our feet.
This is just one among the numerous issues that may causes lower back pain.
The spinal column is really tough and very tender simultaneously. It can hold a few hundred pounds of muscle and fatty tissue, but can also give out with just the slightest incorrect turn. Muscle tissue can only extend so much before it starts to tear.
Stretching your body on a regular basis functions as an immediate remedy for back pain. Therefore create the time in your schedule to properly stretch your limbs and muscles.
Solving the details of what causes lower back pain can be as easy as preparing a list of your habitual activities. There is a lot of activity going on beneath your skin of which you are not always aware. Some real muscle damage may have occurred as you were playing around on any given day. You might not recall every motion you did to wind up being in pain but your body remembers. Muscular tissue and nerves have a more effective memory than the individual in which they reside.
Recurring trauma to the same area of your back could create more problems for you than just pain. You may not clearly understand that an imbalance in your spine may make you sensitive to subsequent injuries. The more impaired your muscles, the more likely it could be to stress them again. Some spinal injuries can lead to herniated discs and pinched nerves. Generally it would be in your best interest to find out what actually caused the lower back pain.
Are there other daily or weekly activities you might be doing that will contribute to your back pain?
See the 7 Most Overlooked Habits that cause back pain. Do you know what they are?
Check out http://www.insider-health.com/lower_back_pain_relief.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becka_Westland
Easy Meatless Meals
But if you tend to stick to the meat-and-potatoes routine, give a vegetarian dinner a try. These three ideas can be just as satisfying as beef or chicken, and are quick to put together after a busy day. And if you decide you absolutely can't do without meat, any of these recipes could also be a great side-dish for a beef or chicken entree.
Black Bean Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
½ cup chopped onion
2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 small can green chiles
1 teaspoon dried thyme
¼ cup sour cream (optional)
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan. Saute onions and garlic in oil over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, green chiles, and thyme and simmer till hot, about 15 minutes. If using sour cream, add at the end of the simmering time. Do not allow soup to come to a boil after adding the sour cream or it will curdle.
Tomato Zucchini Casserole
2 large zucchini, sliced in rounds
2 large or 3 medium tomatoes, sliced
1 cup onion, thinly sliced
½ cup Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 350°. In a greased casserole dish with a lid, layer half of the zucchini, tomatoes, and onion. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients. Sprinkle salt and pepper over, and top with Parmesan. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove cover and bake for about 15 minutes more to allow excess moisture to evaporate. Serve with crusty bread.
Potato Frittata
A frittata is an Italian version of quiche - and it's extra easy since there's no crust.
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium-sized baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 tablespoons flour
¾ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon basil or oregano
8 eggs, beaten to blend
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
Melt butter and oil in a heavy 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Mix potatoes with flour. Add potatoes, paprika, garlic powder, basil or oregano to skillet, and cook, stirring often, until potatoes are just tender, about 10 minutes.
Combine eggs with Parmesan cheese in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over potatoes in skillet. Do not stir eggs - instead, pierce holes in egg mixture and lift edges with spatula, tipping pan to allow uncooked egg to flow underneath until an edge forms, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, cover skillet, and continue cooking until eggs are set, 10 to 12 minutes. When eggs are set, invert frittata onto platter and serve.
For recipes and kitchen tips for the beginning home cook, visit Food for Beginners http://www.foodforbeginners.wordpress.com
Mary Thompson provides tips on setting up your kitchen, items to have on hand to make meal prep easy, and ideas for quick recipes you can make with a minimum of time and fuss.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_M._Thompson
The Top 7 "Audit-Attracting" Deductions For A Home Based Business
* The IRS hates estimates. Even if a tax deduction actually does come out to an even $500, you might want to change it to $497. Even though $500 may BE precise, $497 LOOKS more precise.
* Your "Business Use of the Home" deduction should include ONLY the portion of your home used regularly and EXCLUSIVELY for your business. If you claim your bedroom, be prepared to prove that you don't sleep.
* Personal vehicle used 100% for business purposes. If it's true, claim it. But if you claim it because you have a sign on your car, that does NOT make it automatically 100% deductible.
* Paying your 8-year-old kid $100 a week wages as a business employee. A minor CAN earn up to $5,450 tax-free, but the wages you pay must be "reasonable and appropriate," given their age and type of duties they are performing.
* Claiming a home-office for a W-2 job. This can work, BUT it has to be for the convenience of the employer (your boss), not the employee (you). To survive an audit, have a written,signed statement from your employer (on letterhead) stating that you are REQUIRED to have a home-office.
* Autoship or ADP. If your company's product is nutritional, claiming that you must be a "product of the product" won't pass muster with an auditor. There are other ways to potentially deduct autoship, so don't use this "product of the product" one.
* No matter what, always keep at least a minimum amount of record keeping of what you are doing. Don't let it come back and bite you.
My motto is: It's how much you keep that counts.
Do take every opportunity to reduce your taxes. Don't give away any of your hard earned money.
Matt Ney is married with 3 teenage girls. He has started home-based businesses to provided himself as well as his girls with their own opportunity to generate monthly cash flow. Taking advantage of US tax laws, he has also reduced his income taxes allowing his family to save more for the future. More info on how easy it is to do all this, email me; bodeenmvp73@sbcglobal.net subject taxes
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_J_Ney
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Scrapbooking For Children - Keep it Fun and Safe
There are a few precautions you can and should take to ensure the safety of your child. Ensure that the medium they are using (markers, paint or water colors, crayons, color pencils etc.) are non-toxic. This obviously depends on the age of your child.
Glitters can be quite a mess as well so if your child is not keeping it neat, try to buy them glitter glues rather than packs of glitters whereby if dropped or a strong wind blows, you'll have to spend your whole afternoon vacuuming! Don't forget to leave an empty plastic bag or rubbish bin next to your child and instruct them on throwing the waste from paper clippings in there.
Stickers can help in keeping your child interested. Buy stickers and ink stamps on things your child loves. From cars to cartoon characters and have them stick it in their scrapbooks.
You can also encourage your child to collect simple things for scrapbooking; stamps, certain magazines for clippings, candy wrappers and even wooden ice cream sticks.
More importantly, ensure that the scissors your child uses is safe for them to use! Pay attention to the size and sharpness of the scissors you buy. It should be sharp enough to cut paper but not sharp enough to cut a finger! Also, the paper that you buy for your child's scrapbooking should be those that are simple enough to cut. If you feel you cannot trust your child with a certain tools e.g. cutters or preferably anything with a blade.
Lisa is the owner of Modzy.com, the #1 online scrapbooking supplies store. Find thousands of scrapbook products and low prices everyday at http://www.modzy.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Sutherlan