Ultimate Kitchen & Bath Giveaway

How does $100,000 to customise your kitchen and bath any way you wish sound? The “diy” (Do it Yourself Network) is hosting a remodeling contest. These type of contest are fun in that when you win you will most likely be featured on the network as they perform the work on your house.

 For more details: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/pac_ctnt_988_leader/text/0,,DIY_26336_64620,00.html

Home & Garden Television is sponsoring a similar contest. This one has $100,00 cash, a Subaru Tribeca, and a $50 gift card to TGI Fridays. Its a very strange combination of gifts. They also have daily winners for TGI Friday gift cards.

 Details:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_50504,00.html

Pink Mini Roses

Photo by E. McCoppin

Shelf Decorating

“Transform bland bookcases and wall shelves into stunning displays.”

1. What is your passion? Display it. Your interests and hobbies should be obvious based on what’s on your bookshelves.
2. Group items together based on their shape and color.
3. Choose big, bold items that will stand out. Small items will easily collect dust, thus requiring more time to maintain them.
4. Create assymetrical arrangements, setting objects off center and making their arrangement look interesting.
5. Create wall shelves that aren’t perfectly lined up, but instead at different heights.

Looking for more tips? Explore shelf decoration at the HGTV web site.

Chicken Baked in Coconut-Curry Sauce

I absolutely love Thai food, especially the coconut-curry dishes. I found this delicious recipe in the April 2007 issue of Cooking Light Magazine and thought I would share! Give it a try!

(This recipe yields 4 servings, but it can always be cut in half to yield less. Also, this dish is delicious served over basmati rice.)

You will need:

• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 to 1 1/2 tsp red curry paste
• 4 (6 0z) skkinless, boneless chicken breats halves
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup thinly sliced yellow squash (about 2 small)
• 1 cup 1/4-inch-thick red bell pepper strips (about 1 large)
• 1/2 cup diagonally cut green onions
• 4 tsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 lime wedes

How to make it:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl and stir with a wisk.

3. Place chicken breast halves between 2 sheets of heavy- duty plastic wrap or wax paper; pound  pound each piece to an even thickness using a meat mallet or a small heavy skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over both sides of chicken.

4. Fold 4 (16 x 12-inch) sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil in half crosswise. Open foil; layer 1/2 cup zucchini, 1/4  cup squash, 1/4 cup bell pepper. 2 Tbsp green onion, and 1 chicken breast on half of each foil sheet. Spoon 3 Tbsp of coconut milk mixture over each serving. Fold foil over chicken and vegetables; tightly seal edges.

5. Place packets on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 22 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Place on plates. Unfold packets carefully, and sprinkle with 1 tsp cilantro. Garnish with lime wedges. Serve immediately.

Calories 278 (27% from fat);  Fat 8.4g; Protein 41.7g; Carb 8.4g; Fiber 22.3g; Chol 99mg; Iron 2.8mg; Sodium 523mg; Calcium 57mg

This nutritional info is based on one packet, not including rice.

Safe, Home-made Cleaning Products

Here are just a couple recipes for cooking up your very own environmentally- safe, house cleaning products with ingredients found in your pantry and fridge! Toxin-free and inexpensive, these cleaners provide easy preparation and considerable strength to get your home sparkling clean!

What you will need:

• Baking soda- deodorizer and scrub; removes acidic stains, polishes shiny surfaces, and softens hard water
• Distilled white vinegar- deodorizer, preservative, disinfectant; removes dirt, mineral deposits, grease, mold, and soap scum
• Lemon- deodorizer, grease cutter, and stain remover
• Plant-based liquid soap- soap made with palm, coconut, or olive oils. Referred to as “Castile soap.” (Can be found at natural food stores. )

All-Purpose Scrub

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• Plant-based liquid soap
• 1/2 of a lemon

Pour baking soda into a bowl, and add just enough liquid soap to create a creamy paste. The lemon will act as a sponge, so spread the mixture on the flat side of the lemon-half and scrub the surface being cleaned. Wipe away any residue with a damp rag.

Window Cleaner

• 1/2 tsp Castile or plant-based liquid soap
• 3 Tbsp distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups water

Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake. Spray onto window and wipe clean with 100 percent cotton cloth or newspaper.

Garden Plans

Download free garden plans including the following: Deluxe Landscape Plans, Container Gardens, Small Plans (< 200 Square Feet), Medium Plans (200-400 Square Feet), and Large Plans (More than 400 Square Feet). All available at Better Homes & Garden.

Garden Plans by Image

Garden Plans for Cottage Style  
Garden Plans for Shady Spots  
Vegetable Garden Plans 
Deluxe Landscape Plans
Container Garden Plans  
Small Garden Plans
Medium-Size Garden Plans
Large Garden Plans 

Will Samsung 71 series bring down the Sony King XBR?

With the new Sony XBR 4 & 5 landing in stores what will Samsung have in store to compete with the new XBR’s? The Samsung 71 series are the main sets that will be competing against Sony’s new line. The 71 series will also include 120Hz rating which allows the “judder” effect of fast motions to be cleaned up. The dynamic contrast ratio touts 25,000:1 compared to the 18,000 XBR. Both sets include more or less the same things. For people who do have large amounts of light entering their room the 71 series will include a semi-glossy screen very similar to the Samsung 65 series. Even though the screen does have a glare screen it does not compare to the glare that is resulted on plasmas. Most people since day one on televisions have dealt with glare on old CRT’s but keep this in mind about the Samsung 71 series. This clear gloss screen does allow for exceptional picture quality. I’ll be posting a comparison blog as soon as I get the chance to have these two sets next to each other.

Will Samsung bring down the XBR when it comes to the 71 series against the Sony XBR 4/5? Comment and let us know what you think!

JM

Cacti

Cacti in Tampa
Taken by: Nikki Elizabeth, a contributor of Home & Garden Online.

Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise in Tampa
Taken by: Nikki Elizabeth, a contributor of Home & Garden Online.

Summer BBQ Party

Enter for a chance to win a trip to the Great American Country (GAC) tailgate party to see Brad Paisley in concert. The grand prize includes airfare and hotel accomodations for four, $500 in cash, and tickets to the concert which will take place in Atlanta, GA on September 20, 2007. In addition, ten first place winners will receive a summer supply of baked beans. This sweepstake is provided by Home & Garden Television.

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