Wait, did you just read the word “cleaning!?!?!”  Why yes you did.  No, I am not a neat freak cleaning nut who likes to keep everything in complete order, but I do enjoy a thorough spring cleaning each year.  To prove I’m not a nut, you should know that this spring cleaning time is the only time each year my closet gets cleaned out.  Once a year closet cleaning, when I need it to be done like once a month.  Obviously I’m not cleaning obsessed.  

I do really enjoy community spring cleaning though.  What is community spring cleaning, you wonder?  Well, it is when you get involved and help out to clean highways, community centers, or your church.  Things like that.  Do you ever help out with any community spring cleaning?  Here are the things that I usually help out with in my community each spring, and I bet you can do it in your community too!  When people come together to help spring clean, it gets done faster and better.

• Church – Each spring my church has a spring clean day.  It is one Saturday in spring where members come in and scrub it down.  On top of cleaning the inside of the church, outside flowers are planted, bushes spruced up and mulch is put out.  It is amazing the work that can get done in just one day.
• Highways – There are things like adopt a highway programs that allow people to take on the responsibility of keeping shoulders of the roads neat and free from trash and debris.  I make it a point to help out two organizations each spring by contacting them and going out there with my orange vest and picking up trash.
• Community centers – Local community centers are wonderful places to have in your area.  It is likely that you have used one of these centers or attended something at one in your life.  Help the center out by helping with the cleaning.  It will make a positive difference!

The thing is that health starts at home.  There is no other way around it.  If you are not healthy at home, you are likely not healthy anywhere else.  Is it possible for you to make greater impacts with a healthy home?  So how do you reach the healthy home status?

1. Try to live green.  Now, when I talk about living green, I am not saying that you need to go completely paperless in your home or do things like make your own shampoo.  It is wise to make an effort though of recycling when possible and using less things that can be damaging to the environment.  When you do your part, your kids in turn will pick up on these good habits and do the same.  You can also be an encouragement to your neighbors and community.
2. Exercise daily.  No one likes to admit it, but everyone knows that exercising is very important to health.  Even if it is just thirty minutes each day, make it a point to get in exercise.  And when you exercise with your children, they are going to pick up those good habits too.  How great is that?
3. Eat thoughtfully.  It is so very important to consider the foods that you buy and eat.  The more local fresh foods you buy the greener you are being and probably the healthier you are being.  Plus eating fast food is not just bad for your health, but it is proven to be bad for the environment as well.  No one wants that on their conscious, no one.

For more helpful family and at home tips, you can check out our partner Nonstopvid.com.

This morning I logged onto Facebook like I do every morning and I felt a heavy burden on my shoulders.  I was not too sure why at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized, Facebook is almost like a chore now.  It is something that I do out of habit not because I want to.  And that little red notifications reminder just stares at me saying, “look how many people you have to respond to or ‘like’ what they said.”  Ugh, can I get a break.

Just like Facebook, Pinterest is becoming more of a habit than something fun to just waste time on.  I see those craft and do-it-yourself pins that I pinned to a board and I realize how all I do is waste time pinning so I will never actually get those things done.  Nothing will get created, none of my recipes made, and it is just too much.

And don’t even talk to me about blogging.  Now it just seems like it is a chore that I really do not look forward to, and that makes me a little sad.

Maybe I am just stressing out for no reason.  Or am I?  I just think that all this social media has got all my time a energy tied up and I cannot get anything done at all.  It is time that I get my things in order and put off social media for a little while so I can find some peace.  After all, life is far too short for you to live with a burden like keeping up with all of your former friends from high school, right?

When November ends and December rolls in many people start to think even more about all the things that they have to accomplish and get done for the holidays.  We tend to rush and rush around getting gifts for family and friends.  We also spend time to prepare baked goods and meals for parties and time together.  All of these thing that we do are for ourselves and our family or friends, but are we taking the time we should to give back to the community during the holidays?

There are many people who are unable to have anything this time of year who would be more than grateful for the little things that we tend to take for granted especially this time of year.  There are families in communities who cannot provide themselves with food or clothing, much less lavish gifts.

Let’s remember people other than ourselves this holiday season.  Take some time out of your schedule to help serve food to those in need.  Or you can give clothes and toys to those less fortunate.  No matter how you give back, just remember that the holidays really are a time to give.

The video below is from a cartoon that I remember watching as a child.  It is from the 1930s and it is just such a sweet reminder of how much little things can mean to children and families.

Candied Yam Souffle

Ingredients:

• 8 Tbs. butter (one stick)
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
• 4 large yams
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 bag mini marshmallows

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Scrub the yams thoroughly and pat dry.  Place them on a baking sheet and bake until very soft (about one hour).  Allow the yams to cool until you are able to handle them.  Peel the yams and throw out the peel.  Place the yams in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add in the brown sugar and nuts and simmer for around 3 minutes.
• Pour the mixture over the yams and stir it in, then add in the cinnamon and nutmeg and stir.
• Put the mixture into a casserole dish and cover with a layer of mini marshmallows.
• Bake for 25 to 35 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Candied Yam Biscuits

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• pinch of cinnamon
• 1 Tbs. packed light brown sugar
• 3 Tbs unsalted butter
• 1 can candied yams (15 oz)
• mini chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 425°
• In a mixing bowl mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and brown sugar until there are no lumps.
• Mix the cold butter into the flour until it is coarse in texture.
• Add the yams and knead until it comes together.  Knead in the chocolate chips.
• Roll the dough out and cut biscuits.
• Bake for 15-19 minutes or until they are golden.  Transfer biscuits to a cooling rack and wait about 15 minutes before serving.

At the local market you will find every type of produce that can be grown in your region depending on what the climate is like and what time of the year you choose to visit.  This makes it the perfect place to shop for seasonal items such as pumpkins or corn that can be grown next door but if you shop at the grocery store they may have been shipped hundreds of miles.  The taste of this produce is much fresher, offering more nutrients for your family and a more colorful finished dish to serve.  And if you want the yams with the most flavor, you can’t go wrong buying local and taking advantage of the nutrient rich soil on local farms.

Unlike grocery store shopping, at the market you have to ability to compare various prices and qualities of produce from various vendors.  Chain stores only offer fruits and vegetables from one distributor and they force a certain price on their consumers.  The concept of a farmers market means that multiple farmers are present to show off and sell their goods so the consumer is able to decide for himself which fruits and vegetables he wants to purchase from each stand.  You discount hungry shoppers will love the competition between vendors to get you the lowest price and they will often be willing to negotiate deals or discounts if buy multiple items.

But supporting local business owners doesn’t just benefit their business.  When farmers in your county or state need less support from taxes because their business is thriving, that means that taxes for everyone in the area will go down.  Also, these farmers are much more interested in preserving the quality of soil for the survival of their farm in the long run so they will not use harsh chemicals or drain the soil of nutrients.  This means that your children will have access to good fertile soil and healthy produce in the future as well.

If you are looking for more local news, check out your area’s Dish Network packages to get updates.

Consumers at the fair:

• Help boost the local economy by keeping the money local and helping to generate jobs.  When local goods and services are purchased at the fair, then the money is likely to go back into the local economy.
• Help local businesses to gain popularity.
• Support community causes.

Small businesses at the fair:

• Spread the word about their business.
• Make some extra money.
• Reach out to new or prospect customers for future transactions.

So next time your county fair comes around, don’t hold off on going.  Consumers and businesses alike will be helping the local economy and doing their part for the community.

The problem is that everyone is looking to make an extra buck and additives are inexpensive ways to get food and food products ready to go in record times.  The faster it gets to the grocery store, the quicker these big wigs can make a dollar and go out and buy their Wicked X Herbal Incense or whatever it is that their hearts desire.  Take a look at the infographic below that depicts the additives in our favorite foods that might actually be harmful to us.

To get started, you will need these ingredients: four yams, small to medium in size, 1 1/2 tablespoons of canola oil, 3/4 teaspoon of coarse kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper, French Sea Salt–also referred to as Fleur de sel, sour cream, and fresh chives, chopped.

The ingredients list is simple, which I know is very important when it comes to weekly meals, so let’s get the things a cooking!

First you will need to preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit. To coat the yams, place them in a bowl that is large in size. Add in the oil, kosher salt, and the pepper. Toss the potatoes in all of the added ingredients. After coating, place the yams on a shallow, but rimmed baking sheet. If there is any more of the oil mixture remaining, then simply drizzle it over the yams. Bake the four yams that have been coating in the oil, salt, and pepper for around 45 minutes or until they feel very tender when you squeeze one.

Once finished baking, use a knife to cut down the center of each yam. To open up the yam, press the ends in toward the middle. Add the fleur de sel ( French sea salt) to each of the yams. Place a dollop of sour cream in each yam, and sprinkle on the chives and pepper and you’re done.

This is simply the best way to mix up the potato madness at the house. If you feel like your family is stuck in a potato rut, then change it up with yams. They aren’t just for sweet side dishes and desserts, yams are good any time!

When it comes time for a classic family meal at my house, one of our favorite ingredients for a side dish happens to be yams.  Typically we just opt for an easy yam and spice mixture that not only tastes delicious, but gives off a wonderful fragrant aroma in the house.  Well, my kids, who are my kitchen helpers, wanted to help me mix things up at the last family gathering, so we came across a new yam recipe.  This recipe was so tasty that it is now a staple in all of our family get togethers, and best of all it is gluten free.  Most of us actually eat this for a dessert because of its flavor, but you can be the judge of that of whether it is dessert worthy or not.  Follow the ingredients and recipe below to create a wonderful side or dessert for your family.

Ingredients:

3 Pounds – Yams, peeled, and in 1/4 inch sections

1/2 Cup – Maple Syrup

6 Tablespoons – butter, divided into 1/2 inch cubes

1/3 Cup – Packed Brown Sugar

1 1/2 Cups – Pecans

Salt

Prepare:

First, you will need to preheat the oven at 400° Fahrenheit.   Next, heat water and a couple tablespoons of salt to boiling in a large pot.  Once the water is at boiling, then add in the yam sections to the water.  You will cook the yams in the pot for about 5 minutes, or until the water begins to boil again.  After the time has elapsed or water has begun to boil again, drain the yams in a colander and rinse them in some cold water. cable internet bundles

Second, you will butter the dish that you have chosen to bake the yams in.  When placing the yam pieces in the baking dish, arrange them so that they overlap each other and fill up the dish.  Use just a pinch of salt to sprinkle onto the yams, and then pour on the maple syrup.  Next you will use 2 tablespoons of butter on top of the yams.  Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake for 22 minutes.  (Baking times may vary, so keep an eye on the yams at about the 20 minute mark.  You want the yams to be close to tender.

Third, while you are baking the yams, you will prepare the pecan topper.  Grind 3/4 cup of pecans in a grinder, blender, or food processor until it becomes more meal-like, but still coarse.  Chop the other 3/4 of pecans with a knife.

Fourth, combine the pecans that you ground and the brown sugar in a mixing bowl.  Then add in the remainder of the butter using you hands.  Add in the chopped pecans next.

The fifth and final step is to add the pecan creation to the top of the yams in the baking dish.  You will finish the baking with the dish uncovered for close to 15 minutes, or until the yams are completely tender.

This dish serves between 6 and 8 as a side dish or dessert.  Enjoy!