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 

Ultimate Workshop

Enter for a chance to win $100,000 to create your ultimate work space from the Do It Yourself Network on Home & Garden Television.

Enter Now  >

Rock ‘out’ side!

During the summer, aren’t there many days when you’re out hanging out by the pool and feel like something is missing? You have a drink in your hand and you’re just sitting back enjoying the weather. All you need is your favorite music in the background. Well, many people don’t realize that without much stress you could have some speakers outside by the pool or patio. You don’t have to ever worry again about bringing out your old boom box that takes about 12 batteries to power on its own. All it takes is having a decent A/V receiver with multi-zone in the living room and running wires. You could also get a cheap stereo receiver out in the patio to power them. The main brand of outdoor speaks I’d suggest are the Boston Acoustic. They have many models but Voyager Rock speakers are what blend in perfectly anywhere outside. They literally look like rocks and hold up to the weather like you couldn’t imagine. Stop by any local home entertainment department and ask them which would be the easiest way to set yourself up with some nice outdoor speakers for your nice relaxation time by the pool. You won’t regret it especially when you got some friends over and blaring some music while you out enjoy the outdoors.

JM

White Flowers

White Flowers in Puerto Rico
Taken by: Nikki Elizabeth, a contributor of Home & Garden Online.

Red Flower

Red Flower in Puerto Rico
Taken by: Nikki Elizabeth, a contributor of Home & Garden Online.

Garden Clip Art

Orchids

Orchid in Puerto Rico
Taken by: Nikki Elizabeth, a contributor of Home & Garden Online.

According to The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, there are “over 880 genera, 28,000 species, and well over 300,000 registered cultivars for orchids”, currently making them the most diverse family of plants known to man.

Orchids are also very adaptable and are known to grow completely underground, on trees, and in other locations. Some of the environments in which orchids may be found include mountains, tundra, rainforests, grassy plains, deserts, and swamps.

Resources

OrchidMania
http://www.orchids.org/
A volunteer organization of orchid enthusiasts.

American Orchid Society
http://www.aos.org/aos/
Interested in growing orchids? Find out how here.