Tag: food

Cooking

The Versatile Egg

Lora Knows...

A couple of agents in my office, Larry & Cassie, have chickens and are nice enough to share their abundance of eggs. Eggs are an amazing source of protein and are versatile in their uses. They can be used any meal of the day and even make a great snack. Here are a few ways I use eggs in my home.

Shakshouka

Loosely translated to “all mixed up” in Arabic, shakshouka features poached eggs in a spicy tomato and bell pepper sauce seasoned with cumin, paprika, and cayenne.

Tortilla Española

You’d be hard-pressed to find many traditional restaurants or cafés in Spain without this frittata-like dish on the tapas It comes together in a skillet by cooking eggs mixed with potatoes (and sometimes onions) fried in olive oil and seasoned with salt. It’s often served in a wedge with a side of salad greens.

Scotch Egg

A staple in England, this egg consists of sausage meat wrapped around a peeled boiled egg, which is then coated in breadcrumbs and fried.

Tamagoyaki

Translating literally to “grilled egg,” this custard-like omelet popular in Japan is made by repeatedly pouring thin layers of egg mixture in a square pan and rolling them over each other into a log shape. It is then sliced into pieces, and either served for breakfast, incorporated in a bento box, or used as a sushi filling. Unlike traditional omelets, tamagoyaki is sweetened with a couple tablespoons of sugar and seasoned with soy sauce.

Cooking, Entertainment, Holidays

How to Host a Memorial Day Party

Lora Knows...

One of the most enjoyable ways to celebrate Memorial Day is to throw an outdoor party for friends and family. Here are some fun party ideas!

Decorations

Memorial Day is a time to celebrate freedom, so go red, white and blue. Everything from flags, banners, balloons, flower arrangements, all the way down to plates, plastic wear, napkins and cups. If you’re feeling creative, you could spray-paint stars on the grass in your yard (just use a light touch to avoid killing the grass), tie-dye cloth napkins red, white, and blue, or make festive paper medallions to hang from tree branches or use as centerpieces for your tables.

Keep It Bug Free

Unfortunately, not all your party guests will be welcome ones. Luckily, there are several effective tactics to keep those pesky bugs away. Cover dishes with netted food tents, and give guests pretty cupcake liners to place over their cups when they’re not sipping their drinks. You can also put a few fans out to literally blow bugs away.

Fire Up The Grill

Hamburgers and hot dogs are classic fare. Be ready to grill up lots of these during the party. Have all the yummy condiments like ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, pickles, pickled onions, kimchi, and even grilled pineapple. For guests who prefer a meat free menu, you can also grill eggplant, portabella mushrooms, or veggie dogs and burgers.

Mix It Up

Cool beverages will be a must to pair with food, especially if it’s warm outside. Play up the red, white, and blue theme by serving glasses of patriotic-hued ice-cream soda or lemonade loaded with fresh strawberries and blueberries. For a vintage American feel, serve your drinks in Mason jars filled with ice to keep them cool all day long.

Festive Desserts

Blueberries, strawberries, and fresh cream can be combined to make all sorts of delicious treats in colorful renditions of the stars and stripes. For instance, topping cakes with these berries and cream is a simple way to make them patriotic. Other ways to inject American spirit into your desserts include creating red, white, and blue mini cupcakes, baking a berry American flag pie, or dipping pretzels into melted candy melts for colorful

Seating For All

If you’re hosting a bigger bash, you might find it tricky to provide enough chairs for everyone. You could always ask your guests to bring their own seating or rent some folding chairs, or you could embrace the outdoor setting by spreading out a few picnic blankets—the kids might love sitting on them.

Light It Up

To continue the fun after dark, hang string lights in the backyard and scatter lanterns filled with or battery-operated ones. While you’re at it, you could also light your firepit, if you have one, for extra ambience and roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.

Family

Home Emergency Kit Essentials

Lora Knows...

One of the best ways to improve your household’s safety is to focus on preparation. If disaster strikes, your household could be without power and running water for an extended period of time. That’s why having an emergency kit filled with supplies is an essential home safety measure.

Remember, when packing your emergency kit, disasters can be different throughout the country. Depending on where you live, you could face flooding, blizzards, tornadoes, or hurricanes, so make sure you make your emergency kit personalized to your location.

Food and Water

During a crisis, you may not have access to basic necessities like clean water and food, so make sure you have a supply of these items available. According to the Red Cross, you should keep one gallon of water per person per day. You may also want to pack portable water filters designed to remove waterborne bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from water. When it comes to food, the Red Cross suggests keeping nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items handy. If you’re packing canned food, make sure you have a manual can opener in your emergency kit. You should have a three-day supply of both food and water for evacuation situations and a two-week supply for if you’re sheltering in place.

First-Aid Kit
A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you get through an emergency. You should regularly check your first-aid kit and replace any of the contents that have expired. You can buy a premade first-aid kit, or you can put one together yourself with the following items:

  • Adhesive bandages
  • Gauze pads
  • Adhesive tape
  • Roller bandages
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Cold pack
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Thermometer
  • Antiseptic spray
  • Latex gloves
  • Eyewash
  • Emergency blanket

Other Basics
You should consider stocking up on several additional supplies that can help keep your household safe and sound. This list includes:

  • Prescription Medications: Have a seven-day supply available.
  • Nonprescription Medications: Keep over-the-counter medications.
  • Personal Hygiene: Soap, toothpaste, and feminine products are all necessities.
  • Power Banks: A rechargeable power bank can help keep your phone charged.
  • Change of Clothing: Each household member should have at least one extra pair of clothes.
  • Flashlight: One for each member of your family.
  • Radio: A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can help keep you informed.
  • Batteries: You should cache a supply of batteries for radios, flashlights and other items.
  • Bedding: Pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags can help your household stay comfortable.
  • Personal Documents: Medical info, passports, insurance policies, birth certificates & more.
  • Pet Supplies: Don’t forget to stock up on items for your pets.
  • Map of the area: If you evacuate, a map can help you navigate your way to safety.

You never know what you’ll face in an emergency, so, depending on where you live, these items can be helpful to keep with your kit.

  • Cash
  • Waterproof matches
  • Rain gear
  • Life raft
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Tent
  • Flares
  • Hand warmers
  • Work gloves
  • Tools (hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, wrench, shovel, axe, utility knife)
  • Needle and thread
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Duct tape
  • Dust masks
  • Entertainment (games and books)

By taking some time to focus on preparation, you can help increase your chances of safely making it through a crisis.