Fun Friday: Flu Keep Away

If you have not noticed everyone is catching the nasty bug called the flu. It is the worst epidemic seen by the CDC in years. Please do everything to keep yourself protected from the flu.

If you know someone is suffering from the flu here is a great gift to leave on their front porch for them. I'm sure they will need a little pick me up!


22 Deaths in SC read more........

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/216270/2/Flu-Claims-22-Lives-in-South-Carolina


-Denea Duran

The Facts.

Fact: Restoration through mitigation is less expensive than replacing!

Mitigation requires quick action. The faster a SERVPRO Franchise Professional arrives on site to perform cleanup and restoration, the better the results including lower claim costs.

Lower recovery costs: the SERVPRO System helps save money.

• Emergency Mitigation Services help minimize additional property damages. 
• Restoration versus replacement of contents saves heirlooms and money too. 
• Restorable contents will be cleaned and deodorized to preloss condition when possible

Fun Friday: Food Fun

Want something yummy and easy for dinner? Most of the time you have these ingredients on hand in your kitchen. I thought this would not only be easy for you but also for me! 

Simple to whip up with ingredients you have on hand, this side is a sure kid-pleaser that adults will enjoy as well.  I employ one of my favorite kitchen tricks with this recipe:  Any time I use frozen broccoli or spinach that needs to be thawed and drained well, I put it inside a tea towel and literally wring it out.  You will be surprised by how much water is released, and getting rid of it will prevent your finished product from becoming soggy.

Vary the cheese if you like or bake in a casserole dish or jumbo muffins tins.

Ingredients:

1 cup quick-cooking rice (like Minute Rice)

1 cup chicken stock

1 10-oz. box frozen, chopped broccoli, thawed and excess water squeezed out

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1/4 cup Homemade Ranch Dressing, or store bought

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Prepare rice as directed on package, substituting stock for water.  Place cooked rice in a large bowl and let cool slightly.  Add the remaining ingredients, using only 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese, and stir until combined. Transfer mixture to eight well-greased muffin cups–I like to use an ice cream scoop–and top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.  Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees or until tops are lightly browned and edges are starting to get crispy.

Content Credit: http://www.daydreamkitchen.com/2012/08/baked-cheddar-broccoli-rice-cups/

Photo Credit: http://www.daydreamkitchen.com/2012/08/baked-cheddar-broccoli-rice-cups/

and for dessert here is another simple recipe

Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffin Knock-Offs of Whole Food’s 6 Dollar per 4 Chocolate Chunk VitaTop Muffins

Ingredients:
1 3/4 c oats

•  3 egg whites

•  3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or regular plain low fat yogurt)

• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar (or 1-1/2 Tbsp. vinegar)

• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

• 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 1 cup hot water

• 1 cup sugar substitute (like Splenda granular) OR 1/4 cup + 2 tbs stevia

• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or use white chocolate or peanut butter chips!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with foil cupcake liners, or spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a blender, (or food processor), mix all of the ingredients together, except for the chocolate chips. Blend until oats are ground and mixture is smooth.
Place mixture in a bowl and gently stir in 1/2 of the chocolate chips (set the rest aside). Scoop mixture into prepared muffin pans.
Place muffins tins in the oven for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, remove muffins from the oven (but don’t shut oven off), and distribute the other half of the chocolate chips on top of each muffin.
Place  the muffins back into the oven and bake for an additional 2-5 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. *Note, you could skip this step by putting all of the chips in the batter, and baking the muffins for 12-15 min straight, but this method gives the muffins the traditional 

-Denea Duran

Google wants to help you keep your New Years Resolution

Are your New Year’s resolutions already losing some of their resolve? Google wants to help.

The company on Thursday posted a list of tools designed to assist with some of the most common January 1 promises, along with an interactive map that lets users share their resolutions and see what others around them are doing.

“The new year has arrived, and with it all the resolutions that we hope to tackle in 2013,” Google’s Liz Wessel wrote on the company’s blog. “But resolutions can be hard to keep. And since eating better, taking control of personal finances, traveling more and learning something new regularly top the list of New Year’s resolutions, we’ve pulled together some of our best tips and tricks across Google to make 2013 the year you succeed with your goals.”

On the map, part of the Google Zeitgeist project which tracks search trends and other activity, users can post their resolution and see it appear in a location based on their zip code.

“Research shows that you’re more likely to achieve your resolutions if you write them down and have support,” Wessel wrote. “Try sharing your goals with communities around you.”

In addition to adding your own resolution to the map, you can watch in real time as new ones appear, or view resolutions by category. They include Love, Health, Finance, Career and Do Good, among others.

A quick look at Google’s interactive map Thursday found a user in Norway vowing to “stop drinking,” someone in South Africa hoping to “work less, earn more” and a Florida man (we assume it was a man) resolving “to grow a mustache.”

In the blog post, Wessel also pulls together apps for Google’s Chrome browser and Android mobile operating system designed to help with popular resolutions like losing weight, working out more, getting your finances in order and taking up new hobbies.

The list includes diet-related apps like Diet Diary and BBC Good Food as well as links to YouTube channels dedicated to healthy cooking.

Content Credit: Cnn.com

Photo Credit: Google Image

-Denea Duran

Fun Friday: New Year, New You

New year means a new you.... Right?! Well im sure on Facebook this weekend everyone will post their new years resolution. Instead of taking something big like (working out everyday for 30 minutes) which Im sure everyone would love to do that but sometimes my schedule does not allow me to do such.  Just follow some simple tips to improve your health, body and skin! 

 

-Denea Duran

Grinding of the Greens Program

Now that Christmas is over, your Christmas Trees can have a second life through the Grinding of the Greens program.

Organizers with Keep the Midlands Beautiful help recycle the trees by grinding them down to mulch, which will be made available to the public for free in three weeks.

If you would like to donate your tree, organizers ask that you make sure to remove the tree from its stand and remove all ornaments and lights.

There are 16 drop-off locations in Lexington and Richland counties, and you can donate your tree until Jan. 13, 2012.

Drop-Off Locations:

--> City of Columbia Compost Facility -121 Humane Lane, Columbia. (Off Shop Road across from SPCA). M-F, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

--> Clemson Institute for Economic & Community Development -900 Clemson Rd

--> Crooked Creek Park - 1098 Old Lexington Highway, Chapin. (Next to Chapin Middle School). Daily 7:30 AM - 11:00 PM

--> Fort Jackson Recycling Center - Building #6568 on Lee Road, Fort Jackson.  (Enter the Fort through Gate 2 on Forest Drive.  After Burger King, turn left onto Lee Road.) M-F, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Sat 8:30 - 3:30 PM

--> Friarsgate Park - 1712 Chadford Rd., Irmo. M-F 2-9 PM, Sat 9-8 PM, Sun 1-6 PM

--> Hollow Creek Tree Farm - 228 Windmill Road, Gilbert

--> Hopkins Park - 150 Hopkins Park Road, Hopkins. M-F 2 PM-9 PM, Sat. 9 AM-8PM

--> Lexington Co. C&D Landfill - 498 Landfill Lane, Lexington. M-Sat 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

--> Lexington Co. Sandhills Collection Center - 3241 Charleston Hwy., Cayce M-W-F, Sat 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sun 3:00 - 7:00 PM

--> Lexington Co. Southeast Collection Center - 538 Martin Neese Road, Swansea. M-W-F, Sat 7:00 AM -7:00 PM, Sun 3:00 - 7:00 PM

--> Meadowlake Park -600 Beckman Rd Columbia. M-F 2-9 PM, Sat 9-8 PM, Sun 1-6 PM

--> Polo Road Park - 730 Polo Road, Columbia. M-F 2-9 PM, Sat 9-8 PM, Sun 1-6 PM

--> Richland Co. C&D Landfill - 1070 Caughman Road, North (Off Monticello). M-F 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM, Sat 12:30 - 5:30 PM

--> Richland Co. Lower Richland Drop-off Center - 10531 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia. M-Sat 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sun 12:30-6:00 PM

--> Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church - 5508 Sunset Blvd. (Highway 378), Lexington

--> Seven Oaks Park - 200 Leisure Lane, Columbia. (Near the intersection of St. Andrews and Piney Grove Roads.)

Content Credit: http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=165053

Photo Credit: Google Image

Before we say Happy Holidays .........

Before we are off to say Happy Holidays, remember we are still collecting for the the canned food and coat drive. If you have out grown your coats please donate them. Tis the season for giving~ 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAVE A FUN & SAFE HOLIDAY~

-Denea Duran