When I was young, I was lucky enough to have a mom who loved to bake.  I remember when I was about 6 or 7, I would go to school with my homemade lunch and kids would pay me a quarter just for me to give them homemade cookies from my mom.  I had a nice little side business going there for a while!  I truly love making cookies from scratch and am trying to instill that love of baking in my own kids.  But, I know there are a lot of people who were not raised with Betty Crocker for a mom.  If you don’t learn from a mom, where to you learn to make homemade cookies?  The internet, of course!  I decided to share a few cookie baking tips for beginners in case a few of you need a bit of direction before getting started.  For all you experienced cookie makers, feel free to leave a comment if you have more baking tips to share!  I am including affiliate links in the post for a few items that you may want to invest in.  I appreciate your shopping through those links if something inspires you!

Cookie Baking Tips for Beginners

Make sure everything is at room temperature:  Unless the recipes specifically says “cold butter”, you need to plan ahead and set things on the counter an hour or two before you start cooking.  This is honestly one of the most important cookie baking tips for beginners because cold butter does NOT ‘cream’ well and you will be left very displeased with your resulting cookies!

Read the recipe through before you get started: Check your supply of ingredients and watch for any unusual steps. If the dough has to chill for 12 hours, you should know this before you start! Once you have read through the recipe, then you can start baking!  These baking tips for beginners won’t help a bit if you are in a hurry or don’t have the right ingredients.

Do not attempt to roll out the entire batch of dough: If you are planning on making a cookie that needs to be rolled out and cut on a cutting board, start with small batches of dough.  Make up the whole batch and break off smaller chunks to roll out.  You will have a much easier time of things.  Make sure you use plenty of flour to dust the cutting board, cookie cutters, and rolling pins.  The cookies will stick if you don’t and you will be left with quite a mess!

Take care when frosting cookies:  Frosting things isn’t always easy, but it really gives a nice look to your sugar cookies.  Before frosting your cookies, remember that they must be completely cool to the touch.  If you go to frost anything that is even slightly warm you will end up with crumbs in the frosting and a slightly melty look to the frosting.  Let cookies cool several hours after removing them from the oven.  Consider making your own homemade frosting and dying it with natural food colors or even learn how to dye frosting naturally with kale juice!  Sounds horrible?  It makes a pretty green color and you cannot taste the kale at all!

Choose your baking sheets wisely:  Cheap baking sheets are never a good idea.  Bake cookies on shiny, heavy aluminum baking sheets.  Dark sheets may absorb heat, causing cookies to burn.  You can use a silicone baking mat to help prevent sticking of cookies to the pan,  but it may alter how they spread a bit.  If you plan on using a darker cookie sheet, just keep an eye on the cookies and set the timer for a minute or two less than the suggested time.  If they are already browning, they are probably done.

Measure accurately and follow directions:  Baking isn’t really like cooking dinner.  Baking is a little bit of science and measurements matter.  Just throwing in a handful of something instead of 1/4 cup could really throw off your entire recipe.  Take time to measure carefully.  Use pyrex glass measuring cups for liquid and a standard stainless steel measuring cups for dry ingredients.  Do not confuse the two or your ingredients will be off.

Choose your grease carefully:  When a recipe calls for a greased cookie sheet, be careful what you choose to grease it with.  Don’t use butter or it will burn.  You can use a non-stick spray but I am not generally a fan and I find that it creates a sticky residue on the pan.  A lot of sites say to use solid vegetable shortening, but I’m not sure how healthy that is.  Personally, I have been using coconut oil lately and it seems to be working fine.  I can spread it on the pan with a paper towel just like I do shortening, but I know it is a little healthier for me.   You can also use parchment paper but I only use that for cookies I know are very delicate or incredibly sticky.

Cool before storing:  Do not put warm cookies in a container with a lid.  You will end up with soggy cookies!  Cool cookies completely before storing them in airtight containers.

Select quality ingredients:  You will get OUT of your cookies exactly what you put IN.  Don’t skimp on ingredients.  I use real organic butter, high-quality chocolate, pure maple syrup, and farm fresh eggs.  I am very picky about cookie ingredients!  I find that flour and sugar are all pretty standard no matter what brand you buy, but I definitely have figured out my favorite brands over the last few years for other ingredients.

Know your flour:  Most cookie recipes call for all-purpose flour. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife. Do not sift the flour unless the recipe specifically says to do so.  Remember, you cannot substitute whole wheat for all purpose in a cookie recipe.  You may be able to substitute a small amount, but it will definitely change the taste of the cookie a bit!

Don’t expect your cookies to look like Christmas cookies on Pinterest:  The problem with food bloggers is that they only show you the PERFECT cookies.  You don’t see the other 300 that were burnt, broken, or defective looking.  No matter how many cookie baking tips for beginners you read, your cookies are not going to be perfect.  Remember, half the fun is in the process, not the final product.  Just enjoy your holiday baking and don’t worry about perfection!

Have any cookie baking tips for beginners to share?  Leave a comment!

Want an easy cookie to get started with?  Try these White Chocolate Dipped Chewy Molasses Cookies

The post Cookie Baking Tips for Beginners: For Perfect Cookies Every Time! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

Want to know the best tips for decluttering your child’s room?  Keep reading and see what I have learned over the years! My kids, like most everyone elses, have WAY too many toys.  They are scattered from their bedrooms to the playroom into the living room and occasionally make their way into my office.  I get tired of seeing them, frankly, and we need to start sorting through this mess before the holidays.  Since my kids have November and December birthdays there is a HUGE influx of STUFF into my house during the fall and winter.  Decluttering your home takes a lot of work but now is the time to start getting it done! So, how do you keep your kids stuff from infringing on your personal space?  Want to make sure you don’t actually lose your child amongst the 8000 pounds of barbies, legos, hotwheels, and ponies?  Here are a few handy tips to keep that toy clutter organized!

Best Tips for Decluttering Your Child’s Room

1.  Every year before Christmas we have a mandatory clean-out.  I give them one laundry basket and they have to fill it with things they would like to donate to charity.  If you have a neighbor or friend younger than your child, they make great recipients too.  My kids give up their stuff easier knowing it is going to a friend and not some faceless charity!

2.  Containers are a MUST in my house.  I prefer containers with lids that can be stacked on top of one another.  Make sure they are clear so that your child can see through them.  Otherwise, get one of those handy dandy label makers and label everything so your kids know what is in them.

3.  When you put things into containers, SORT THEM!  Barbies go with barbies, matchbox cars go together, Lego’s in one box, etc.  If your child is looking for the Polly Pockets and can’t find them, your system doesn’t work!

4.  Have a one toy in, one toy OUT rule.  Going to the store and have a whiny child asking for a new toy?  The rule is they have to hand over one of their old toys to you for donation to charity when you get home.  Not only keeps the whinies down to a minimum but keeps your house neater!

5.  Shelves are a MUST.  Books, small baskets full of action figures, etc.  All neatly stacked and readily accessible for playing!

6.  Have bins of toys that get rotated out.  Put a selection of toys into the bin and into storage.  In 6 months, bring THAT bin out and put the current toys back away.  Keeps your kids excited about their toys and reduces the number of things you have to keep track of!

7.  Do not forget the benefit of furniture that doubles as storage.  There are lots of great things like coffee tables and ottomans that have hollow insides and lids with hinges so that you can hide things in them. One of my best tips for decluttering is to HIDE as much stuff as possible!

8.  Have  a dedicated art supply spot...whether it is a closet, a drawer, or one of those rolling carts with drawers and shelves.  This keeps all the crayons contained and off your floor so you do not leave pretty red skid marks on your floor when you slip on one!

9.  I like the basket in every room theory.  When my kids were little, they always wanted to be wherever I was…usually the kitchen or living room.  They did not want to play in their rooms or playroom alone.  So, into the kitchen they would come, along with all their assorted stuffed animals and action figures.  At the end of the day, if there is a basket in the kitchen for those toys to go back into, it is much easier to get your kids to pick up their own toys!

10.  The number one solution to keeping up with your kids toys is to live a more minimalistic life!  They do not need 50 gifts at Christmas when 10 will do just fine.  Get them toys that will stand up to the test of time and not break after 30 minutes of use.  The less you bring into your life, the less time it will take to keep track of it.  To get started on a minimalistic life, check out Becoming Minimalist.

Do these solutions always work?  Nope.  My kids are amazingly attached to their stuffed animals.  As teenagers, you would think they would be getting over it by now.  But, no…we still can’t get rid of those.  Instead, I find creative places to put them to keep them organized…baskets, those net things that hang in corners, in the rocking chair we don’t actually use any more but I am too sentimental to get rid of it.  Get rid of what you CAN and reduce the new items coming in.  Eventually, you WILL reclaim your house!

What are YOUR best tips for decluttering your child’s room?

The post Best Tips for Decluttering Your Child’s Room appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

One of my goals for the new year is to stop multitasking and learn to focus my mind on one thing at a time.  I want to quiet my mind from the chaos that is constantly scrolling through it and decided to share some simple meditation tips if you want to join me.  My husband has been going to the Shambhala Meditation Center for about a year now and has found it incredibly helpful on his journey to mindful living.  What is mindful living?  It is basically the state of keeping your mind on the present moment. Is your mind clouded with thoughts about what you’re going to do later? Are you thinking about something someone else said or about something you’re stressed out about?  Giving up those thoughts and living in the present is what mindful living is all about.  Meditation is a helpful technique to learn how to focus the mind so I decided to join my husband on his meditative journey this weekend.  I thought I would share a few simple meditation tips in case you would like to get started on your own mindful journey. I am also sharing a few products that might be helpful with your meditation and affiliate links to Amazon for shopping purposes.

Simple Meditation Tips for Mindful Living

Before I share the simple meditation tips that I learned, I want to make sure that readers understand that mediation is NOT a religious practice!  Do not say ‘I can’t meditate because I am Christian’ or ‘Only Buddhists meditate’.  Meditation is a HUMAN practice.  NOT a religious one.  These easy meditation tips are designed for anyone who feels that their mind has become cluttered and wants to quiet their thoughts and learn to live more mindfully.

Mediation is different for everyone.  Some people have trouble quieting their minds and focusing on being in the moment.  Others have more difficulty actually physically sitting still for more than a few moments.  I went  to my meditation class with my teenagers and both of them found that sitting still was harder for them than quieting their minds.  I had the opposite reaction and had no trouble sitting still, but my brain just didn’t want to slow down.  Realize that YOUR meditation journey will be completely unique.

Dress comfortably.  It is easy for your brain to get sidetracked, no matter how many mediation tips you read ahead of time.  Dress comfortably (flowy skirts, yoga pants, running shorts, sweatpants, loose jeans, etc) so that you aren’t thinking about your uncomfortable bra straps or too tight jeans.

Find a position that is comfortable for you:  One of the most useful simple meditation tips that my instructor provided is that you do not HAVE to meditate in the classic crossed leg pose if that doesn’t work for you.  You can sit in a chair as long as you are sitting with your rear end firmly planted, back straight, and head upright, as if held up with a thread to the sky.  If getting down onto the ground is difficult, choose any location where you can sit with good posture that is comfortable for you. The meditation center we attended had numerous meditation cushions which made sitting cross-legged much more comfortable.

Focus on your breathing:  I found that emptying my mind was very difficult.  One of the simple meditation tips provided by a fellow student was to focus your mind on your breathing.  Think about every breath as you inhale and exhale.  It is a more ‘mindful’ thought that making a mental grocery list and gives your brain something to focus on.

Do a mental body scan:  Another technique used by my fellow students is to do a mental body scan during meditation.  As you sit, quietly think about each part of your body.  Start at your head and work your way down to your feet.  Think about each part of your body rather than letting your mind drift to your very long to-do list.

Practice with eyes open versus eyes closed:  Not all meditation styles recommend closing your eyes.  The class we attended instructed us to keep our eyes open but develop a ‘soft gaze’ so that you are not really focused on one particular thing.  The way the instructor explained it is that closing your eyes closes you off from the world.  And rather than closing yourself off, they want you to acknowledge the distractions but learn how to set them aside.  I found it difficult to meditate with my eyes open but will continue working on it.   Lighting a candle and using it as your point of focus is recommended by some websites I found. Any candle will work, but you can purchase a meditation candle for that specific purpose.

Meditation is not easy:  Do not get discouraged if you try meditation a few times and don’t feel that it is working for you.  I definitely had a lot of trouble…an overactive brain, a foot that fell asleep…I really need to keep on working on my meditation techniques!  Many meditation centers offer meditation classes for all levels of students, beginner through advance. There are a number of books available on the subject as well as Youtube videos and meditation apps for your smartphone.

Think of meditation as a life long journey.  You don’t really get a measurable change after one or two meditation classes. These simple meditation tips are a starting point on your journey to mindful living.  It is easy to become distracted by our Facebook accounts or the latest drama going on in our family.  The goal of mindful living should be to learn how to quiet those thoughts so that we live in the moment and learn to appreciate it!

Do you have any easy meditation tips to share?

The post Simple Meditation Tips for Mindful Living appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

In a recent conversation with my mom, she told me she is trying to clean out her house and get rid of some things. For my mom, learning how to eliminate clutter is quite a chore…she is a packrat and still has things like my old prom corsage and 50 years worth of cookbooks! It got me to thinking: why do we keep the things we do? To hold on to the memories? Because we feel guilty throwing them away?  You are not the only person who needs to learn how to eliminate clutter from their lives.  The average American house size has more than doubled since the 1950s and is at 2,349 square feet. Do we feel the need for bigger and bigger houses because of the clutter we surround ourselves with? What is this clutter doing to our emotional well-being? Is it possible to live a relaxed and happy life if you have piles of old junk jammed into every corner?

Smaller houses are significantly more eco-friendly but how can we downsize and still find room for our stuff? Clutter in our homes just leads to clutter in other areas of our lives.  Today I am sharing some tips from Alice Inoue’s, Feng shui expert and life guide. For more information, check out her book, Feng Shui Your Life. (that’s an affiliate link!)

How to Eliminate Clutter and Improve Emotional Health

Where do I place a fountain to bring in more opportunities?  Will hanging a crystal enhance my career? Should I paint my room green for better feng shui? These are frequently asked questions in Feng Shui, yet small things like this will hardly make much of a difference and even if they do, their effect will be short-lived. For the long-term, you need to learn how to eliminate clutter to have  the greatest impact.  So where do you begin? Unless someone is spring cleaning or a move is imminent, it’s rare to get motivated to clear out your clutter. Everything in our environment is a reflection of what’s going on in our inner environment, and a cluttered home is directly correlated with the mental and emotional clutter we hold inside.

Why we Hold on to Clutter

Clutter is woven into our emotional energy and it drains us.  It ties us to the past instead of allowing us to live in the present moment, yet we hold on to it for various reasons. How many of these clutter scenarios do you relate to?

Clothes that don’t fit

By keeping clothes that don’t fit, you constantly have a visual reminder that you are not where you once were. If you can accept where you are with your size in the present and let go of the clothes that represent the “old” you, you will have an opportunity to create a “new” you.

Expensive but unused items

Have you ever purchased something that cost “a lot” of money and later realized it wasn’t a wise purchase? Keeping these items constantly reminds you of your “mistake”. Each time it’s in view, you subconsciously judge yourself, which holds you in the past. Let it go.

Keeping things “just in case”

It is hard to learn how to eliminate clutter when you keep things ‘just in case’. Do you have five umbrellas but only two people in your home? Do you have a closetful of shopping bags that you’ve been saving from years ago? Holding onto everything that comes into your possession shows an anxiety about the future and a lack of trust that the Universe will provide what you need when you need it. When you open up space in your home or office, you open up the possibility that something new can arrive.

Items from a past relationship

Getting rid of possessions after a breakup or a death is always difficult because it means you really have to come to terms with your grief and loss. There is no set time when things “should” be cleared out, but the sooner you are able to clear out possessions associated with a past relationship, the sooner you are able to live in the present moment. It’s fine to keep items to remember the positive aspects of a person’s existence in your life. But many of the other things need to be cleared out. 

A gift you are not fond of

A gift you don’t like from someone you do like is one of the toughest things to deal with gracefully.  You can appreciate the sentiment of the gift but still donate it or give it to someone who likes it and can use it. Feng shui-wise, it doesn’t make sense to keep something that does not resonate with you.

Understand what Your Clutter is doing to you!

Imagine being tied to everything in your environment by an invisible thread of energy. As such, you are literally tied to your clutter, even if you can’t see it. Can you believe that you drag your clutter around, no matter where you are or what you are doing? You are losing your energy to it!

Where to start?

Learn how to eliminate clutter by starting with whatever is closest  to you.  That is the area that affects you the most, so start clearing from where you spend the most time. Your bedroom? Your office? Your car?

Mark your Calendar!

Make an appointment with yourself, just like you would with a good friend. It is totally worth it because at the end of the day, you will feel far better than if you spent it at the spa or out on the golf course. Learn how to eliminate clutter for improved emotional health!

Do you have any tips on how to eliminate clutter?

The post How to Eliminate Clutter and Improve Emotional Health appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

This post about what is the true meaning of friendship has been sponsored by Ricola swiss herbs throat drops and Social Stars but all opinions are my own. #RicolaCrowd #FriendshipDay

When we are young, it’s easy to make friends.  You spend hours hanging out with them at school, go to their birthday parties, and ride your bike aimlessly through the neighborhood with them.  As you get older, there are sleepovers, long phone conversations and extracurricular activities that you both enjoy together.  Friendships are easier to make because as a child you have the free time to devote to them.  But what is the true meaning of friendship as you become an adult?  In a world that seems to be cluttered with chaos, friendship is often hard to find and difficult to nurture.  With International Friendship Day approaching on July 30th, Ricola herb drops wants you to take a moment to appreciate a true friend in your life.

What is the True Meaning of Friendship?

When my kids were young, my friends were those women who’s children played with mine on a regular basis.  I had no free time to seek out friends through hobbies or personal interests.  My kids were my hobby!  As the kids have gotten older, some of these friendships have withered away but others have strengthened to become solid relationships outside of our children.  What is the true meaning of friendship in our busy lives?  True friends are the ones you CHOOSE to be with, even if you don’t have to be!  From neighborhood walks to weekday lunches and girls nights out, true friends are the ones you turn to when you find a free hour in your day. Even if those free hours don’t happen very often.

There is a feeling I get when I hang out with most people.  I am not particularly social by nature and find that I am always ‘ON’ in social situations.  There is a certain amount of worrying about what people think of me.  I stress out about the things I say, how I look and if I am wearing the right clothes.  When I invite people over, the house must be clean and heaven forbid you can smell the dog!  What is the true meaning of friendship?  Real friends are the ones you DON’T clean for.  The ones who still call you friend even when you show up in yoga pants with your hair in a bun.  The one’s who don’t care if you have on makeup and will listen to you complain about your boss for an hour.  True friendships have no filters and they are amazingly satisfying!

Do you have a true friend in your life?  Someone who has seen you cry and you totally don’t care? A person who calls you up even when they don’t need something from you?  How about you take a few minutes on International Friendship Day to thank them for their friendship? Show your friends how much you care about them not just because it is a holiday or their birthday.  Give them a card, make them some cookies, or put together a small gift basket of their favorite items.  Nurture that friendship because true friends are hard to come by.  

Toss a bag of Ricola throat drops into your gift basket. Ricola drops capture the goodness of nature, the power of Chrüterchraft (their secret blend of 10 Swiss herbs) and a perfect balance of great taste and natural efficacy. They work with over 100 self-managed farms throughout Switzerland to source traditionally cultivated herbs, free of pesticides and herbicides.  Ricola wants you to nurture your friendships and spread kindness this month as you celebrate International Friendship Day on July 30th.  Thank a friend who drove your kid to school when you had the flu.  The one who’s shoulder you cried on when those menopausal emotions kicked in.  A friend who you CHOOSE to be with during those precious free moments of your day.

How will YOU celebrate true friendship on International Friendship Day?

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The post What is the True Meaning of Friendship in a World that Moves Too Fast? appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

Several years ago I decided I wanted to grow lemon balm.  Great idea, right?  Well, now I am constantly looking for new uses for lemon balm because the stuff is growing like a weed and taking over the back of my house.  Seriously.  Why can’t I get my cucumbers and squash to grow like this?   Growing lemon balm might have been a great idea but it requires near-daily maintenance to make sure it stays where I put it.  If you have a ton of lemon balm in your own yard, here are a few things I have found so far to do with it.

Creative Uses for Lemon Balm

Make a Lemon Balm Syrup for Better Sleep:  Check out the medicinal uses for lemon balm and keep in mind that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.  Don’t take medical advice from strangers but lemon balm is great as a relaxation aid.  To make a sleepy time syrup, simmer 1 cup of lemon balm leaves in just enough water to cover them.  Let it simmer for about 30 minutes or until you have reduced the liquid by about half.  Let cool and strain.  Add honey (about 1/4 cup) and stir until dissolved.  A tablespoon or so at night of this lemon balm syrup may be helpful for better sleep.  DO NOT give to babies and toddlers or anyone else that shouldn’t have honey.  Store this in the refrigerator or a week or two before tossing.

Use in a steam facial:  Steam helps open up your pores and improves the clarity of your skin.  Adding fresh herbs to the hot water not only makes it smell good but can also help open up your sinuses, improve mood, etc. depending on the herbs you use.  Check out this post about making an herbal steam facial for a few tips.

Add to water…cold or hot:  One of my favorite uses for lemon balm is to add it to cold water for a refreshing summertime beverage or a hot cup of tea.  You can muddle the lemon balm leaves before adding ice cubes and water to boost the flavor.  If you are using hot water, you really don’t need to muddle the leaves since the heat will extract more of the oils.

Mosquito Repellant:  Mosquitos hate the smell of lemon balm so take advantage of this!  Grow lemon balm right by the back door and every time you go out, rub a few crushed leaves onto your skin. Just grab a handful, rub in your hands for a second, and then rub all over your arms and legs to protect from bugs.

Make Lemon Balm Jelly:  Check out this recipe for Lemon Balm Jelly from Just a Pinch.  This stuff looks seriously delicious.  It’s just some lemon balm, lemon juice, water, sugar, and pectin.  Put on toast, in a bowl of plain yogurt, on top of cream cheese to be scooped up with crackers or wherever you want that sweet/tangy flavor of lemon and sugar.

Add to smoothies:  Lemon balm has a light lemon flavor without all the tartness from actual lemons.  Add a handful to your morning smoothie for a light, fresh flavor.

Add to fruit salad:  We eat a ton of fruit salad in my house.  To add a bit of a fresh, lemony taste to it, just roll up a few lemon balm leaves and finely slice them.  Toss into a salad and enjoy!

© Heikerau | Dreamstime.com

Make Lemon Balm Butter:  Herb butters are delicious and easy to make.  For lemon balm butter, just soften a stick of butter and mix in about 1/4 cup of finely chopped lemon balm.  Add a dash of lemon zest and salt.  You can replace some of the lemon balm with other herbs like rosemary or thyme.  Use this herb butter recipe on top of seafood or vegetables the next time you make dinner.

Make Infused Vinegar:  Fill a mason jar half full with fresh lemon balm leaves. Top them with white wine vinegar and add the lid.  Place the jar in a dark place for 3 to 4 weeks.  Strain out the leaves and bottle the vinegar.  Use lemon balm vinegar in homemade salad dressings, tuna, etc. for a delightful hint of lemon.

There are a ton of creative uses for lemon balm that I really want to try in the coming months.  I am getting tired of just pulling it all out and tossing it in the compost bin!

Do you have other ways to use lemon balm?

The post Creative Uses for Lemon Balm When it Takes Over Your Garden! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

As we move into late August, the heat loving plants are thriving and I am looking for ways to preserve hot peppers.  In late spring I planted many different varieties of these spicy little buggers…jalapenos, habaneros, seranos and many more.  Of course, I couldn’t just plane ONE of each of these varieties…oh no!  I had to plant at least two of everything I bought.  Which means that as we head into late summer and early fall I now have so many hot peppers I don’t even know what to do with them all.  For months I have been giving them to neighbors, cooking with them, dehydrating them and then just turning a blind eye to the full pepper plants.  Every time I go out there I bring in yet another basket full of hot peppers!  There are only so many recipes a person can make with hot peppers…one or two peppers really goes a long way in terms of heat!  So, I decided to share a few ways to preserve hot peppers in case you were suffering from an overabundance of them like I am!

5 Ways to Preserve Hot Peppers

1. Dehydrate them.  This is my favorite method to preserve hot peppers.  We dry literally hundreds and hundreds of them and keep them in large plastic containers with lids.  We usually grind them up in our mortar and pestle to make a nice, spicy powder.  The husband and boy child love everything spicy so it gets sprinkled on everything from spaghetti to macaroni and cheese.  If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can put the dried hot peppers in a food processor. However, PLEASE use caution!  You will aerosolize a lot of powder and this stuff hurts to get in your eyes and lungs.  Do it outside and turn your face away when you turn the machine on.

2.  Pickle them. This is another incredibly easy way to preserve hot peppers.  Just slice off the tops and slice the peppers in half length wise or into rings, depending on your preference.  If you like a lot of heat, keep the seeds intact.  Otherwise just remove the seeds and membrane after you cut them.  Place your sliced hot peppers into a clean mason jar.  Pack it about 3/4 of the way to the top.  Fill the jar with white vinegar, leaving an inch or so at the top.  You can add garlic and spices if you would like.  They will keep for quite a while like this.

3.  Freeze them.  You can chop the hot peppers up and freeze them or puree them in a food processor in a bit of oil or water and place the resulting paste in ice cube trays for freezing.  Again, if you like heat, just keep the seeds in the peppers before processing.  You can use these in just about any recipe that you want a bit of heat in.  It is especially good in chili, jambalaya, etouffe and many other southern dishes.

4.  Cook with them.  If you have a lot of hot peppers you could do a whole bunch of cooking and then freeze the meals and dishes that you make.  Homemade salsas, chili, chutney, and many other dishes freeze quite well and all of them need a few hot peppers.  Cooking in bulk now will save you lots of work later this winter!

Photo courtesy of http://www.happy-mothering.com

5.  Ferment them!  This is a totally new idea for me but you should definitely check out Happy Mothering for the details.  Fermented foods are supposedly very good for your health and this seems like a fascinating idea!

There are a ton of creative ways to use hot peppers and one plant can yield quite a bit!  If you have extras you can try your hand at salt curing hot peppers or try one of the methods I mentioned above to preserve hot peppers for use throughout the entire year.

What’s your favorite way to use hot peppers?

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The post 5 Ways to Preserve Hot Peppers for Spicy Meals All Year Long! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

Thank you Healthy Choice for sponsoring this why pack a lunch discussion. Visit your local retailer to pick up your own Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamer or Original Cafe Steamer meal today!

Every morning, my husband leaves for work at 6 AM.  And every day (or just about every day) he walks out the door with his handy, dandy little lunch box.  No, it doesn’t have cartoon characters on it like it did when he was a kid.  But, nevertheless, it contains a healthy lunch along with real silverware and a cloth napkin. He has been doing this ever since we were young and poor and had no choice but to pack lunches from home.  Now that we make more money, he STILL brings a lunch from home every day.  Why pack a lunch for work, you ask?  Well, here are a few very good reasons.

Why Pack a Lunch for Work

Packing a lunch from home is MUCH cheaper:  A lunch at a sandwich shop will run you $7 or $8 generally.  More for a good restaurant, less if you hit a fast food joint.  But, no matter where you go, packing a lunch from home is much cheaper.  Whether you bring leftovers from dinner or a sandwich and chips, save yourself money and bring your lunch from home.

You save yourself time:  Why pack a lunch, you ask?  Do you like sitting in your car trying to get to a restaurant in lunchtime traffic?  Do you like standing in line or idling in the drive through?  No. Those things are no fun and take away from your actual time to eat.  Snarfing your food down quickly to get back to work is not good for your digestion.  Save time and pack a lunch from home!

Decrease your impact on food waste:  Food waste is a huge issue in today’s society.  You have a ton of leftovers in your fridge.  Will you use them all up by the time they go bad?  Why pack a lunch, you ask?  So you don’t end up throwing away a lot of perfectly good food!

Quality and taste are better:  Unless you are eating at a really good restaurant for lunch (and spending a fortune), you will be getting better tasting and higher quality food by bringing it from home.  That soggy vending machine sandwich or slightly too greasy fish fillet aren’t really that appealing, are they? Packing a lunch from home means that you control the ingredients and how fresh they are.

You will eat healthier:  When I go into a restaurant, I look at the menu and see salads.  Then I see cheese and bacon smothered hamburgers.  Which do you think I get?  Right.  I am not ordering the salad.  I should.  I know it is better for me.  But the unhealthy stuff just looks too tempting.  Pack something healthy from home and your waistline will  thank you!

If you are pressed for time but still want to pack a lunch, consider packing the new Healthy Choice Simply Café Steamers. Only 4 to 5 minutes to cook in the microwave means more time to eat and no getting stuck in traffic.  They are made with USDA-certified organic ingredient and alll 4 varieties contain 270 calories or less.  They are  100 percent natural and made with nothing artificial. That includes NO GMO products! Here are the varieties you can choose from:

• Unwrapped Burrito Bowl: Organic black and pinto beans, fire-roasted corn, red bell peppers, and scallions with organic whole grain brown rice in a tomatillo sauce
• Sweet & Spicy Asian-Style Noodle Bowl: Udon noodles, organic edamame and carrots, celery, red bell pepper and scallions in a spicy soy sauce
• Three Cheese Tortellini: Organic cheese alongside organic spinach and mushroom in a savory marinara sauce
• Creamy Spinach & Tomato Linguini: Pasta with organic spinach and tomatoes

Healthy Choice Simply Café Steamers use a steaming basket technology that locks in flavor and freshness so you get a delicious meal with very little work.  Cooking with steam allows the food to stay fresh and flavorful.

Why pack your lunch?

Because you can pack it with organic food!  45 percent of consumers are actively trying to include organic foods in their diet (including me!). Healthy Choice is the only major brand in its category that can call 100% of its products “healthy” as approved by the FDA. For more information about Healthy Choice Simply Café Steamers, check out the links below!

Healthy Choice website * Healthy Choice on Facebook * Healthy Choice on Twitter

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The post Why Pack a Lunch for Work? Here are 5 Awesome Reasons! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

Do you have a service member in your family that needs some love this holiday season?  Are you wondering what to put in military care packages? When I was little, my father was in the Naval Reserves.  I have fond memories of him in his shiny black shoes and spiffy white hat.  I was too young to understand much about war or what military men and women were dedicating themselves to.  As an adult, I have a better understanding of the sacrifices of these brave men and woman.  They dedicate so much of their lives to protecting and serving our nation and that commitment doesn’t get to take a Christmas vacation.  One of the service projects that our church participates in is putting together military care packages for service men and women who are away from home for the holidays.  If you have a loved one serving in the armed forces or just want to brighten a soldier’s day, I encourage you to create a few military care packages to send this holiday season.  What should you put in them?  I will include a few affiliate links to some military care package ideas that you may want to purchase.

What to Put in Military Care Packages

Edibles:

Single-serve snacks like granola bars, beef jerky, trail mix, cookies, etc will help keep them fresher, longer.  Avoid chocolate which has a tendency to melt. Include single packets of powdered drink mix or hot chocolate.  They get awfully sick of plain old water all the time. A batch of homemade cookies would also be nice.  You can package them in a Pringle’s container to protect them from breakage while shipping. When it comes to food, think durable and non-perishable.

Toiletries:

Wondering what to put in military care packages?  It’s the little things that count! Soldiering is hot and sweaty work.  You definitely need to include a few travel sized toiletry items in your military care packages.  Include items such as a new toothbrush, shower gels, nice soaps, baby powder, chapstick, antacids, sunblock, batteries, stain remover stick, eye drops, baby wipes, travel pillow, gel insoles, T-shirts, underwear, and socks. Put everything in Ziplock baggies. It will keep them from leaking inside the box, help protect them from sand when they get there, and your soldier can use the baggies for other uses.

Entertainment:

There is a lot of time to waste in the desert and not much to do.  Include items in your military care package that will help pass the time. A Rubik’s Cube, a deck of cards, small Etch-a-sketch, 20 Questions or trivia cards, crossword/Sudoku puzzles, books, magazines, and favorite newspaper section will all make your soldier’s day more enjoyable! Do not send anything valuable in your military care packages.  There is no guarantee that it will make it back home.

Letter writing supplies:

Just like they enjoy hearing from loved ones, we at home like to hear from them!  Stationary is a must if you expect to get any letters from  them. Send paper, envelopes, address labels, and pens, etc.

 A Hand Written Note:

Know what to put in military care packages that service members really love?  Nothing makes a day more enjoyable than getting a hand written note from home.  Tell them not only about what is going on in your own family but fill them in on a few key current events.  They don’t get to sit around much and watch the news or surf the web.  Keep things light..no need to get into heavy topics currently in the news.

Having a loved one away for the holidays is tough and treating them to a few gifts from home is a great way to let them know they are in our hearts and minds.  However, there are a lot of military service members that don’t have people at home pulling for them.  Consider organizing a military care package service project through your church, neighborhood, school or scouting group and bring a smile to a soldier this year! Check out SupportOurTroops.org for more information.

Are you making any military care packages this year?

Need creative ideas for your care package?  Try this!

Make a Tic-tac-toe Travel Game

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Have you started getting the itch to dust, organize and declutter your home?  When the crocuses and tulips start peeking their heads out of the ground, I know it is close to spring!  Along with the nice weather comes the open windows, the gardening, and the spring cleaning.  Each room of the house has its own set of ‘chores’ that I try and do once a year.  Spring cleaning your office is is a great way to prepare for tax time.   If you want to join me on my spring cleaning journey, I will include a few affiliate links for things that might come in handy.

© Lucato | Dreamstime.com

Spring Cleaning Your Office:

Don’t Let It Lead to Identity Theft!

© Flynt | Dreamstime.com

Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Office:

Like this post?  Try this one, too!

10 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Home

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Have you tried to sit down to a family dinner, only to have it be a horrible experience?  Cooking chaos, kids crying, picky eaters and a huge mess does not have to be the norm at dinner time.  I wanted to share a few tips for a successful family dinner because it is a family […]

The post Families Eating Dinner Together: Tips to Make it Fun and Stress Free! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

With the cool weather finally on its way, its time for you to learn how to make homemade soup.  Do you buy it in cans?  Or the new and trendy boxed soups?  Well, I do that occasionally, too, but if you make homemade soup, you can rest assured that you are providing a healthy family […]

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Several years ago I decided I wanted to grow lemon balm.  Great idea, right?  Well, now I am constantly looking for new uses for lemon balm because the stuff is growing like a weed and taking over the back of my house.  Seriously.  Why can’t I get my cucumbers and squash to grow like this? […]

The post Creative Uses for Lemon Balm When it Takes Over Your Garden! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

It’s cookie season! Read through these cookie baking tips for beginners if you are new to the art of baking. When I was young, I was lucky enough to have a mom who loved to bake.  When I was about 6 or 7, I would go to school with my homemade lunch and kids would […]

The post Cookie Baking Tips for Beginners: For Perfect Cookies Every Time! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

Several years ago I decided I wanted to grow lemon balm.  Great idea, right?  Well, now I am constantly looking for new uses for lemon balm because the stuff is growing like a weed and taking over the back of my house.  Seriously.  Why can’t I get my cucumbers and squash to grow like this? […]

The post Creative Uses for Lemon Balm When it Takes Over Your Garden! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

One of my goals for the new year is to stop multitasking and learn to focus my mind on one thing at a time. I want to quiet my mind from the chaos that is constantly scrolling through it and decided to share some simple meditation tips if you want to join me.   Meditation is […]

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The weather here in Georgia is warming up and the pool opens in just a few weeks. I am looking forward to BBQs, pool parties, and (of course) some fresh watermelon. Georgia actually grows a lot of watermelon down in the south of the state. Even though the fruit is local, I still need to […]

The post How to Choose a Ripe Watermelon for a Sweet and Juicy Treat! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

I have been trying very hard to reduce stress in my life, which means getting organized and simplifying things whenever possible. If you feel overwhelmed regularly,  here are a few ways you can start making your life easier, less stressful, and more fun. Moms Help the World Go Round We are a very active family […]

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Several years ago I decided I wanted to grow lemon balm. Great idea, right? Well, now I am constantly looking for new uses for lemon balm because the stuff is growing like a weed and taking over the back of my house. Seriously. Why can’t I get my cucumbers and squash to grow like this? […]

The post Creative Uses for Lemon Balm When it Takes Over Your Garden! appeared first on Turning the Clock Back.

Jalapenos, habaneros, serranoes and many more types of chili peppers grow well in backyard gardens. There are only so many hot pepper recipes a person can make and one or two peppers goes a long way in terms of heat! I decided to share a few ways to preserve hot peppers in case you were […]

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