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Simple Kitchen Tips

Putting Pinterest To The Test: Can You Regrow Lettuce?

 

Ever thought some of those Pinterest Pins were a little too good to be true? Well, Simple Solutions Diva likes to test out some of Pinterest’s most popular pins to see how they work! Today, she features a pin that said you could easily regrow lettuce – basically giving you free lettuce! So does it work? Watch the video and see for yourself!

Also, if you want to save all that freshly cut lettuce, why not follow the Diva’s instructions on how to best store lettuce – Make Your Own Bagged Salad!

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Getting Creative With Veggies – Carrot “Pumpkins”

I know from experience it can be difficult to get kids to eat their veggies! For some reason, two and three year olds just don’t care when you explain that veggies are good for them! But like all good parents, we try to sneak vegetables into their diet – some with success, some without!

So I knew when I saw these adorable carrot “pumpkins” they would be a perfect fall treat for kids – and something a parent can feel good about giving them!

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I hope you like the cutting demonstration in the video!  Disclaimer: When using a big knife, I don’t recommend letting the kids cut the carrots! If you want to get them involved, give them the job of peeling and washing the carrots!

A close-up of the cuts you need to make on your carrot - So cute!
A close-up of the cut carrot – So cute!

 

What kid could refuse these sweet & crunchy “pumpkins” – especially if they are served with dip! Or add them to chicken noodle soup for a Fall or Halloween theme!

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However you serve them, you and your child are sure to love them! (FYI – Even my teenagers happily munched away on these – before I was done filming!)

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Simple Kitchen Hacks To Save Time & Money

Simple Kitchen Hacks

 

Kitchen Hacks – those time-saving, and sometimes money-saving, tips that can make things easier on you in the kitchen! I like to consider myself the Queen of Culinary Improvisation (or some would say the MacGyver of the Kitchen), so I’m sharing some great kitchen hacks sure to simplify things in the kitchen!

What A Cool Lunch Box! Place a water-soaked sponge in a plastic ziplock baggie and freeze – a perfect lunchbox cooler!

My Fresh Little Tomato! Store tomatoes stem side-end down to keep them from spoiling as quickly. This prevents air from entering and moisture from exiting the scar where the tomato once attached to the vine. Storing them at room temperature rather than in the fridge also makes them last longer.

“One Banana. . .” Keep bananas fresher, longer by wrapping the end of the bunch with plastic wrap. Better yet, separate each banana, then cover the stem with plastic. The plastic wrap blocks ethylene gases from releasing out of the stem, consequently ripening the fruit too fast.

“Two Banana . . .” Peel a banana easier by taking a knife and making a small horizontal slice just under stem(where it connects to the banana) to open it easier! Do this before putting the banana in the school lunch box!

Wait, You Can Peel Fresh Ginger? The surface of fresh ginger is very knobby.  Forget the peeler – Peel ginger using a spoon! It is easier to get into the nooks and crannies!

Roll Out The Lemons! Juicing a lemon? Roll it before you juice it – it breaks up the cells inside, making it easier to get the juice out!

Seeds Are So Cheesy!  Wrap lemon in cheesecloth to prevent seeds! The cheesecloth allows for seed-free juice!

Thank you to WTLV-TV’s First Coast Living for inviting me on to share these tips!

Make Your Morning Smoothie, The Simple Way


My family loves a good smoothie for breakfast, but sometimes the morning rush leaves us without enough time to assemble the smoothie! Check out the simple video tip above for a simple solution to that time problem!

 

My smoothie packets all assembled and ready to use in the morning!
My smoothie packets all assembled and ready to use in the morning!

Frozen Smoothie Packet Recipes:

Smoothie Flavor Combos – You are only limited by your imagination!

Our current favorite recipe includes banana, mango, pineapple, spinach, and coconut greek yogurt (mixed with apple juice)! My oldest says, “It is better than ice cream, and healthier, too!”

Other favorites include:

The Superfood Smoothie – strawberry, blueberry, chia seeds and apple juice or almond milk.

The Tropical – Mango, Pineapple, Coconut Yogurt mixed with organic acai juice.

Strawberry & Banana – mixed with vanilla yogurt and almond milk.

Another great tip when preparing your frozen smoothie packets: If you want to include yogurt in your smoothie, use an ice cube tray and make yogurt ice cubes. They make it easier to assemble your smoothie packets!

SSD Smoothie PAckets

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