Delicious Macaroni Salad Recipes

Barbeques, family dinners, and holiday season almost always have macaroni salad served alongside the main course. Rather than using the same old macaroni salad recipe this year, consider an out of the box macaroni salad. Included below are four spinoffs of a classic dish that will please all guests, with their taste buds dancing and craving more salad to have with dinner.

BLT macaroni salad
A fresh new take on a picnic favorite this BLT salad is sure to be a hit at the next gathering. It has all the favorites of a BLT plus the great taste of macaroni that everyone loves. Only needing a few extra ingredients, it is easy to make and will be sure to get everyone's taste buds popping. Much like a favorite BLT sandwich, it involves bacon, sliced tomato, and green onions (for the L in BLT). This tasty side dish only takes a total of 20-30 minutes to cook.

Taco macaroni salad
Much like the BLT salad, this delicious twist on macaroni salad is perfect for those who love tacos. This side dish can be served by itself with a fresh made cornbread, it's so hearty. While it might seem different to add hamburger to a macaroni salad, this is a great way to put a twist on a favorite and give everyone something new to try. Consider bringing this taco macaroni salad twist to a potluck at work, or serve as part of a buffet at your child's next PTA meeting. No matter where this dish will be served, it's sure to be a fiesta.

Garden macaroni salad
With people watching their weight and being concerned about eating more vegetables, this garden salad is a great way to get all those veggies and still get the macaroni salad taste people love. This salad is packed full of vegetables and could even have more if desired. Currently the recipe gives foodies; cucumber, broccoli, onion, peas, radishes, and even some Swiss cheese for flavoring. As mentioned, more vegetables can be added to this garden macaroni salad at any time.

Macaroni salad lettuce wraps
While macaroni salad might be a hit with the guests, sometimes it's nice to have it without a big meal. This spin off macaroni salad wrap is ideal for those whom are watching their weight, or simply have a smaller stomach. The vegan chicken and macaroni wrap is delicious and nutritious. The upside to this particular recipe is that it is a vegan recipe.

As another option for this meal, consider serving inside a pita pocket to make it more appealing to children, or to give a little something extra for flavoring.

All together you have been introduced to four new macaroni salad recipes that will get guests' taste buds popping, and give them something to ask you about after dinner. They'll be so interested in your new found cooking skills they'll want to know where you got the recipes. Now, a great chef often doesn't want to give out their secrets, but sometimes it's best to give them hints so they too can host great dinner parties and have awesome food the next time you might come around.
Bon appétit!

Stop Shopping Last Minute for Thanksgiving

Every year another Thanksgiving rolls around, and that means it is time to go grocery shopping to make sure all the items have been purchased for the ideal Thanksgiving meals. Whether this is for Thanksgiving brunch, lunch, or dinner there can often be an item that has been forgotten from the store. Included below are tips to avoid last-minute Thanksgiving grocery shopping.

Make an ideal grocery list before going to the grocery store. This might sound like an easy task, but even then sometimes items can be not written down or forgotten completely. So really sit down and buckle yourself to making the grocery list of your dreams. To start, simply think about what it is you plan on serving for Thanksgiving dinner.

Following a recipe for ingredients helps cut costs at checkout.

Following the recipes of the entrees being cooked will not only help give you an idea of what is needed from the grocery store but will help you to avoid overspending and having to go back for last minute Thanksgiving grocery shopping. Take a look at every one of the recipes, write down what items are needed (not measurements).

Once you have written down these items, take a look in the pantry and the refrigerator to see what items you already have. If you have any of the items needed for these recipes, cross them off the starter list you have created. Next take a look at what is left on the list, this is exactly what you need for your recipes this Thanksgiving, and only this.

If you plan on buying any pre-made items, place these on the starter list as well. Next place down any beverages that will be purchased, this can be great wines to serve, milk or soda pop for the kids. No matter what items are purchased pre-made, place these all here. Now that you have written down your first draft of the grocery list, it’s time to get it rewritten and organized. If you are a consistent shopper at your grocery store you know its layout. Make this grocery trip a short and easy one as well.  Put the items in your list into sections.

Putting the groceries into sections by frozen, dairy, packaged and produce will help to avoid running back and forth from aisle to aisle.

The final step of this process is going to the store and getting the shopping trip over with. So if you have a mobile app that will hold your grocery list, use that now. If not, remember to post your grocery list on your fridge to grab before you go. Stick a post-it on the horn of your car, so you don’t forget before driving away.

Now that you have your grocery list ready, know exactly what you need, go to the store. Not only will not have a single worry about having to have do any last minute grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, but the whole process will be eliminated and you will have nothing to worry about this holiday season.

What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Tips to Promote Reading in School

R-E-A-D!

Reading is one of the most crucial skills that anyone can learn. If you can read, you can open yourself up to anything in the world. You can acquire new skills, educate others to read, and even become a better writer. No matter what age a person is they can learn to enjoy reading, or simply become a better reader. While reading is often done to children in their young age, it can be a forgotten pastime and become something they no longer enjoy. With the following tips, not only will reading become a more acquired taste, but it will fill the joy of elementary students everywhere.

Lead by example

We all hear that it is a good idea to lead by example in everything that we do. Children learn from adults and other children too. By reading out loud to your elementary students or children you are teaching them it can be fun to read. They will see you reading to them and realize you have this great power of telling a story. They too will want to have this power and want to know how to do it, if they do not already. So if you are in the middle of grading papers while your students are taking a test, when you are finished read a book of your choice. They'll see you reading a book for fun, not because you have to. This simple step will show them it is okay for them too to take out a book and read it when they have completed their school work. This is a way they can enjoy a book and still be getting an education with themselves.

Give students the option to bring a book from home, off an assigned reading list, or their textbook if they wish. This way they have more than one option and won't feel as if they are forced only to read educational books. How many times do you remember as a student where you were told to only read your textbook when you were done with class? Can we say b-o-r-i-n-g?

Give them something fun to read

Much like the above tip, giving children an option of something fun to read will get them revved up for reading. For example, the Highlights magazines are a fun and educational thing they can read that are also filled with fun trivia questions and puzzles. Aside from magazines that might be geared towards kids, try creating a small section in the home or classroom that can be their book nook. This section could have a small chair, a table, or simply some bean bags children can sit on and read when they are done with their schoolwork, or homework, or if they'd rather stay inside for recess.

The Library

Give children a new experience and introduce them to the local or school library. There are far too many books to choose from in a library and while this is true but imagine all of the possibilities and the imagination that can be created and heightened from children reading. They will be able to go into a world of far off places, princes, and people in disguises, alternate words, or even biographies about famous people. Children can read and learn all at once with their libraries. Get a child a library card and you have given them the keys to the world.

Often library cards are free at the local library as well as the school, however it is important to contact a local library and find out. Either way, the gift of a library card is a gift that they will cherish. The whole adventure of going to the library to pick a new book may get them even more interested in reading. The many benefits of a library are too hard to even put limits on.

Reading Contests

Often elementary teachers will come up with contests that can be held within their classrooms for reading the most books in a year. This is a great way to get children encouraged with reading and give them something to work hard for all at once. Not only will they be reading on a more constant basis but they too will be learning the value of determination and there are rewards for such hard work.

Create a contest by getting a sticker board chart or making one with items purchased from a craft store. This board can have each child's name, and then for each book they can have a star placed next to their name. At the end of the week / month / year they can receive special prizes. For example; first place: $25 Amazon gift card. Second Place; $15 gift card. Third place: $10. Whole class could receive a giant pizza party.

In order to get a star there could be stipulations such as a parent must sign off that a student read the book each time and also that the child must write a paragraph or two about the book and why they liked it. This too will teach the children responsibility and matters of trust. In the end, if a student did not participate in the book contest, they still should be allowed to celebrate in the party and encouraged to join for the next round.

Scholastic Rocks

Many young adults may recall going to the Scholastic book fairs during the school year. I remember them myself, getting the pamphlet from the teacher and going home and circling everything I wanted out of it. There was something about looking at the little magazine and being able to find my favorite Goosebumps books and even at a later time in life there was Harry Potter offered.

Now, while there are the book fairs and book trucks that come around the country there is also the more important book reading contests they offer. They often are running specials to promote reading in all ages. Recently there was a #SummerReadingSelfie contest on Instagram that was run, and there are always the reading clubs to get involved in. If you are interested in the reading club click the link at the bottom of this post. Check out the Scholastic website to find out more at the above hyperlink to get your kids involved in reading even more.

All of these are examples of how to promote reading within children in the elementary classroom, and outside of the classroom. No matter what age a child is in these years they should learn the power of reading and be able to have fun and enjoy it. Once they have begun to read and start enjoying it, don't ask them to put the book away, let them continue as long as it's not interfering with their schoolwork.

Scholastic Reading Club

How do you get your kids involved in reading?

Participating & Winning the #SummerReadingSelfie Contest

Clifford and +Scholastic wanted kids of all ages to take a picture of themselves with the book they were reading this summer. This picture would be of themselves in any place holding the book of their choice to participate in the #SummerReadingSelfie contest. This contest had very simple rules to follow and anyone could participate as long as they had an Instagram account. Simply take the picture of yourself and the book and tag @ScholasticInc on a public photo via Instagram. Simple, right?

Once I saw the advertisement on Facebook for this contest, I just knew I had to get involved myself. I didn't have an Instagram account yet but I thought it would be fun to get one since friends have one, and I'm always seeing neat things and contests all over the internet being specifically on Instagram. 

So, I figured, okay why not. I will go ahead and give the contest a shot and enter on my own with the book I am currently reading. This book was written by a fellow author and someone I admire dearly, Jolie Du Pré. Her book is entitled "Benton: A Zombie Novel" and can be found on Amazon for both paperback and Kindle. I have a personally signed copy of the book myself (Thanks again Jolie!) and I absolutely love it. Information on both books can be found at the end of this post. 

As I entered the contest for fun and not thinking I would win, I was in for a shock when I got the notice from @ScholasticInc that I was one of the winners. I needed to e-mail them my home address to a specific email and then shortly after I would receive my prize in the mail. I was so excited, I thanked them on the post for selecting me and sent the e-mail right away. 

Yesterday I received my prize package with the following contents:

 (1) EVEREADY© lantern

Ten (10) Summer Reading bookmarks

 Five (5) Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life. bracelets

One (1) Deluxe set of Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life. posters

(I'm donating most of these too I'm keeping the fourth on the first row and the second on bottom)

One (1) reading tote bag

Four (4) EVEREADY© flashlights

Two (2) EVEREADY© battery packs

 

One (1) copy of Mission: Mars! By Pascal Lee

Two (2) Magic School Bus activity posters

One (1) copy of Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System

Now seeing as I do not have any children of my own there are quite a few things that I received that I am planning on donating to a local preschool and daycare facility called Zoon Around located in Fernley NV. I am waiting on a response from them to find out if they are able to accept donations however, so fingers crossed they can. I'd love to help them promote reading in school. Otherwise, I may have to talk to some of my local friends who are also parents of little ones who would absolutely love some of the items I am sure for their little ones. 

Over all I was excited with the easiness of this contest and I really hope Scholastic runs more contests like this that you and your family can enjoy as well!

WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS DOES YOUR FAMILY READ?

Benton: A Zombie Novel - Volume One

Benton: A Zombie Novel - Volume Two

How to Add Color to your Home Without Painting

Have you been curious to know how to add color to the home without painting? A lot of the time people want to add color to their home but are unable to because they cannot paint. It could be due to renting a home, an apartment rental, or you would like to avoid the costs of painting or taking down wallpaper, there is a way to make the home shine with color. 

Add Color to Furniture

One way to add color to the home is by painting the inside of a bookshelf a fun color. It can give the room a splash of color without having to paint the walls or requiring much work. Simply pick the color(s) you would like to incorporate in the room and use them inside the bookshelf.  Not only will this give the room some color but it will also help books stand out more on the shelves.

Another way to add a simple splash of color is by adding it to your upholstery. This is an easy fix because you can paint your old boring chairs or tables with your favorite color paint. If you would like to have something bright and vivid consider going with colors like orange and red. Looking for darker shades to add to the room instead, consider colors such as royal purple, dark blue and deep reds. 

Throw Pillows and Rugs

Much like splashes of color on the furniture or in bookshelves, consider adding some fun colored pillows and area rugs. This is a simple way to spruce up a room and give it a pop of color without having to paint at all. Area rugs don’t have to be plain boring colors either; they can have patterns different textures and beautiful bold colors. 

The fun of throw pillows is that no matter what room they are, they can almost always add color to the room. Consider adding some pillows on to chairs or couches that have patterns, designs or solid bright colors. These small little pieces can pack a punch in any room. Take a look at your local home goods store for some fun and bright throw pillows. These can even be switched out during holiday season to add festivity to the home.

Wall Decorations

While all of the above can be fun ways to add color to the home without painting, also consider things such as wall decals. Wall decals are an easy way to add color or design to any room, including kid’s rooms. Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree and many other home stores are now carrying different types of decals for a room. 

Canvas prints are becoming more and more popular among the DIY crowd. There are plenty of canvas prints available to be found on Pinterest and other sites. Even Wal-Mart carries them now for the home décor. If canvas prints are not what you are looking for, consider adding movie posters, or some eclectic paintings to the walls to add some fun colors.

Even your family photos can add some beauty and colors to the home without having to paint. 

So whether you are trying to add color to the home, a rental or a dorm room, remember you don’t always have to paint in order to make a beautiful