Summer Fun Tip: Keep a Picnic Pack Ready for Impromptu Outdoor Meals

One big difficulty in planning a picnic is that you can never be 100% that the weather will cooperate. Here's a "Summer Fun Tip: Keep a Picnic Pack Ready for Impromptu Outdoor Meals" to turn any meal into an outdoor picnic at a moment's notice! Check it out below!

It's officially summer, and that means picnic season!  But eating outdoors does require some planning — unless you do as I do and keep a picnic pack ready all summer so when the mood to picnic strikes, you can get out the door without any excuses.  

I don't have any outdoor space of my own, so I take advantage of my many amazing city parks. But sometimes, even though a picnic sounds fun, I'm too lazy to start from scratch with planning, packing and carting everything to the park. Having a bag packed with essentials means I can grab it and go before I loose momentum.   

Here's what's in mine:

• A lightweight bag with comfortable straps— I've found good straps are key to avoid wimping out a picnic because you hate schlepping an unwieldy bag.

• A thin, large ground cover— I use a plain ole' sheet.  Picnic blankets can be quite heavy and bulky, but sheets roll right up and are still big enough to comfortably spread out.  

• Re-usable water bottles— they're practically weightless when empty, so you can fill up at a water fountain and avoid lugging water.  

• Wet wipes— any kind will do, but I like the individually packaged wet cloths so they don't dry out when I leave them in my picnic bag all summer. 

• A knife — I have a small knife with a plastic cover, so I can rummage around  in my bag without worrying about slicing my finger.  

• A corkscrew and bottle opener (duh!). 

• Re-usable plastic plates and utensils (Optional! Only bother with these if you're bringing high maintenance food. Sandwiches? Skip 'em!). 

• Trash bags. 

Food wise, you're on your own.  For last-minute picnics, I love stopping by a food truck or grocery store on the way to the park.  Eliminating  both packing and cooking means that eating outdoors is easy again!  

(Image: Jennifer Hunter)

Original Article Here: http://bit.ly/ZtfWO5

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Gluten-Free Recipe: Apple & Coconut Pancakes

Do you know anyone who is Gluten-Free? If not, do you know anyone who loves pancakes? We're betting you do. This recipe for "Gluten-Free Recipe: Apple & Coconut Pancakes" looks absolutely delicious! Grab some syrup or jam and check it out below!

Ingredients:

Pancake Mixture:

(Makes 3 small pancakes)

• 1/2 ripe banana
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tablespoon almond flour
• 1 Tablespoon coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Apple Mixture:

• 1 sliced red apple
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

• Almond butter
• Shredded or flaked coconut
• Walnuts and pecans

Directions:

 

Place sliced apples into a small pot and cover with water. Add cinnamon, maple syrup and vanilla and simmer on medium heat until the apples are soft (about 15 minutes).

Blend all pancake ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Heat some coconut oil in a pan and cook pancakes on both sides until lightly brown (turning when the top bubbles).

Layer pancakes with almond butter, shredded coconut and the apple mixture.

Top with crushed walnuts, pecans and coconut flakes and drizzle over the left over apple liquid to finish!

Original Article Here: http://bit.ly/Z1ypBc

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15 Easy Food Substitutions For Better Health

Want to upgrade your diet without changing it drastically? Try some 'food substitutions', replacing certain ingredients with more healthy, yet similar ones. MindBodyGreen has "15 Easy Food Substitutions For Better Health", check them out below!



Original Article Here: http://bit.ly/YRixBf

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11 Ways to Wake Up Oatmeal

Do you think of oatmeal as a bit of a boring breakfast food? We hear you on that one, but that doesn't mean you can't change that. Fitnessmagazine.com has "11 Ways to Wake Up Oatmeal" and turn it from a bland breakfast into something you'll actually look forward to eating! Check them out below!

PBJ Protein Oats

Ingredients
1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup water
1 serving vanilla protein powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon natural jam or jelly

Directions
1. Combine oats and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and let oatmeal simmer until 90% of the water is absorbed.
3. Remove from heat and whisk in protein powder and vanilla.
4. Pour oatmeal into a bowl and top with peanut butter and jelly/jam.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup skim milk
1 ripe banana, sliced
2 dashes cinnamon
1/4 cup pureed canned pumpkin
1 dash ground cloves
1 dash ground nutmeg
Handful frozen blueberries (optional)

Directions
1. Put the oats, milk, sliced banana, and cinnamon into a small pot on the stove.
2. Stir continuously over medium high heat for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture gets thick and creamy (and starts bubbling). Stir in the frozen blueberries now, if you like.
3. Turn down heat to medium low and add the canned pumpkin and a dash each of ground cloves and ground nutmeg.
4. Serve hot and enjoy!

Blueberry Banana Oat Cakes

Ingredients
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup dry oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
Dash of vanilla extract (optional)
1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon coconut flakes (optional)
2 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional, for a chocolate banana cake)

Directions
1. Mash the banana.
2. Add everything else except the blueberries and stir.
3. Gently fold in the blueberries.
4. Spray a clean bowl with cooking spray and put the batter in it.
5. Microwave for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 minutes.
6. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before serving.

8 More recipes and the original article here: http://fitm.ag/z2GhId

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Small Cool 2013: Here We Go!

The 2013 Small Cool contest is underway as of today! If you're in an apartment under 1000 square feet in size, then you many be interest in entering. Did we mention you could win a whopping $3,750? Check out how to enter, the rules, and the various prizes below!

....and we're off! The entry form is live and the editors are anxiously awaiting the moment that the first entries hit the inbox. If your home is small (under 1000 square feet) and cool (of course it is!) then you know what to do. We invite you to inspire us - and impress our new-for-2013 judges panel - with photos of your compact home along with your real-life tips for living well in stylish small spaces. 

→Visit the Contest Page for Details & Enter Now!

Contest Schedule

• 5/1 — Submission Forms open.
• 5/6 — Selected entries will begin to be posted.
• 5/20 —Submission form will close.
• 5/31 — The initial round of selecting favorites will close. Reader favorite feedback on the National entries will be tallied and the 5 entries receiving the most favorite votes will be submitted to our Judges Panel for review. Each Judge will review the top 5 entries for each division and the entry which receives the highest Judges Panel score in each size division will be named the division finalist and will move on to the final reader vote where the grand prize winner will be determined. An International winner will also be determined at this time through the same Judges Panel process.
• 6/4 — The final round featuring the 4 size division finalists will be open for voting.
• 6/5 — Voting in the final round will close and a Grand Prize Winner will be determined and announced!

→Visit the Contest Page for Details & Enter Now!

Contest Divisions

• TEENY-TINY 400 Square Feet and under
• TINY 600 Square Feet and under (but over 400 Square Feet)
• LITTLE 800 Square Feet and under (but over 600 Square Feet)
• SMALL Under 1,000 Square Feet (but over 800 Square Feet)
• INTERNATIONAL All non-US entries (under 1,000 Square Feet)

→Visit the Contest Page for Details & Enter Now!

Full article here: http://bit.ly/103fxM3

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