Posted by Larimer Associates on 1:23 PM
If a basket of bite sized snacks sounds good to you, then check out these "Bite-Sized Inspirations: 10 Sweet and Savory Miniature Nibbles" below!
After having my share of grilled meats and veggies over the weekend, I'm decidedly in the mood for something more compact. Just want a bite or two of something tasty? Here are 10 bite-sized nuggets of inspiration!
From savory to sweet, you can give your meals a sizeable spin to freshen things up. Try some of these recipes below for a weekday meal or dinner party treats. Don't let their size fool you into having more than you can account for.
Savory Bite-Sized Snacks
- Mini Meatballs - Martha Stewart Living
- Mini BLT's - Country Living
- Feta and Tomato Quiches - Sarie.com
- Bite Size Chicken and Waffles - Hungry Girl Por Vida
- Mini Potato Pancakes - The Kitchn
- Mini Paella - The Kitchn
Sweet Bite-Sized Treats
- Tiny Caramel Tarts - Southern Living
- Pie Pops - Bakerella
- Apple Cinnamon Mini Monkey Breads - The Kitchn
- Mini Blueberry Lemon Muffins - The Kitchn
Posted by Larimer Associates on 11:24 AM
Did you know that it is easy to keep plants alive in a small apartment? You can help your plants grow by just continuing your everyday routine? A hot shower can add humidity in the air for plants. Also your apartment is not a huge house, so you can remember to water the plants just by seeing them everyday. Keep reading and check out Apartment Therapy for more decorating tips.
Plants can seem like the world's biggest joy or the world's biggest headache. They can make any house or apartment feel like home, but in a small space your options are a little more limited.
I've lived in all different sizes of homes: houses, lofts — heck, even churches — but the thing that made any space feel like home was a plant or two. My current space is a postage stamp and, although I don't have floors filled with my favorite palms and large-leaved friends, I do have plants galore. Is your space small? Here are five reasons why it's more awesome!
- Humidity: Although many folks are okay with remembering to water their plants, many plants need additional humidty to look their best. In a small space it's easy to mist, or simply take warm showers, to fill the place with a little extra.
- Use Your Walls: Even though the same options are open to those living in larger spaces, somehow it seems less scary to use your walls for hanging planters or wall planters. When it's your only option, you just do it instead of looking at 1,000s of pictures of them on Pinterest for months without pulling the trigger.
- Light Control: Plants, and the light they receive, have a symbiotic relationship. In a smaller space, this is easier to control and see the exact light each one is getting.
- Watering: When my environment was larger, the plants at the far ends of my home always seemed to suffer the most. My watering can would either run out, or I would simply forget. In a small space it's easy to flit around, water them all, and call it a day!
- Design: In a smaller space, you're much more aware of each and every thing in your home. Plants become art pieces and specific choices, instead of just something you got on sale or a friend handed down. Their pots are suddenly worth their designer prices as they've become show stoppers!
Plants and small spaces go hand in hand if you're willing to add them in. Don't be scared! Do you have plant woes in your small spaces? Let us know below!
Posted by Larimer Associates on 12:49 PM
We love our electronics and gadgets; from our computers to our keyboards to our phones and everything in between, our electronics help us run our lives in almost every way possible. That’s why we’d do anything to take care of them and make them last. So you may want to keep something in mind if you want your electronics to last a little longer: dust is the enemy. While heat or liquids are usually cited as the #1 enemy for your gadgets, dust will do more damage much more slowly. Just a few of the household items we should clear of dust - but forget to - are: ● Desktop Computers ● TVs ● Keyboards ● A Mouse with Rolling Balls on Top or Bottom And once you clean those out, don’t forget to add an air purifier to filter the air in your apartment and reduce the overall amount of dust in it! Get more cleaning tips and ideas for where to buy a solid air purifier at the original Apartmenttherapy.com article.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 12:47 PM
Whether you're on a healthy food kick or just trying to change up the same old meals, you should check out quinoa! Forget about pasta and rice and try this new awesome recipe! You can find out about more great recipes at The Kitchn.
Quinoa has come a long way in the last few years. From health stores to the mainstream, its high protein content and delicate texture have made it a popular substitute for starchier pasta and rice. Several of us here at The Kitchn like to make a big pot of quinoa on the weekends and eat it throughout the week with curry, grilled vegetables, or braised meat. It's one of the most delicious, fast-cooking lunch staples we know (not to mention healthy). Here's how to cook great quinoa — not mushy, not bitter — but delicate and perfectly fluffy.
Cultivated in the Andes for over 5,000 years, quinoa has been called the "mother grain" and "the gold of the Incas." (It's technically not a grain but a seed, but it is used in virtually the same ways as other whole grains.) Today, the popularity of quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is growing steadily as people discover its pleasant nutty taste and superfood qualities. As a complete protein source also high in iron, magnesium, and fiber, quinoa is not only one of our healthiest pantry staples, but also one that's incredibly easy and quick to cook.
We've read that there are 1,800(!) varieties of quinoa, but just three main types are found in markets here: the most common white variety, as well as a red one and a black one.
Here is our standard method for cooking any of these.
Basic Quinoa Facts
How much cooked quinoa does 1 cup dry quinoa yield?
1 cup dry quinoa yields about 3 cups cooked quinoa.
How much liquid do I need to cook quinoa?
To cook 1 cup quinoa, you need about 2 cups liquid.
How long does it take to cook quinoa?
1 cup quinoa will cook in about 20 minutes.
How do I make quinoa less bitter?
Nearly, if not all, of the natural bitterness of quinoa's outer coating can be removed by a vigorous rinsing in a mesh strainer.
How do I make better-tasting quinoa?
Quinoa is really excellent when cooked in vegetable or chicken broth. Also, add about 1/4 teaspoon salt to each cup dried quinoa when cooking. Try adding other spices aromatics during cooking as well: A clove of smashed garlic, a sprig of fresh rosemary, a dash of black pepper.
Can I use my rice cooker to make quinoa?
Yes! Just use the 2:1 liquid to quinoa ratio and follow the instructions on your rice cooker.
How To Cook Quinoa
What You Need
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa (any variety — white or golden, red, or black)
Olive oil (optional)
2 cups liquid, such as broth or water
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Tools
Fine mesh strainer
2-quart saucepan with lid
Spoon
Instructions
1. Measure quinoa and liquid. Measure out 1 cup quinoa and 2 cups liquid.
2. Rinse the quinoa. Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer, and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Rub and swish the quinoa with your hand while rinsing, and rinse for at least 2 minutes under the running water. Drain.
Why rinse quinoa? Rinsing removes quinoa's natural coating, called saponin, which can make it taste bitter or soapy. Although boxed quinoa is often pre-rinsed, it doesn't hurt to give the seeds an additional rinse at home. Some cookbooks suggest soaking the quinoa but, in our experience, this is unnecessary.
3. Dry and toast quinoa in saucepan. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in the saucepan over medium-high heat, and add the drained quinoa. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, letting the water evaporate.
4. Add liquid and bring to a boil. Stir in the liquid and the salt (if using) and bring to a rolling boil.
5. Lower heat and cook covered for 15 minutes. Turn heat down to the lowest setting. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
6. Let stand covered for 5 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the burner. Let stand for 5 minutes, covered.
7. Fluff and eat! After 5 minutes, remove the lid, fluff the quinoa gently with a fork, and serve. (You should see tiny spirals (the germ) separating from and curling around the quinoa seeds.)
Additional Notes:
• One cup of dried quinoa yields about 3 cups cooked.
• Some people like to add olive oil, butter, salt, or pepper. Cooked quinoa can also be used as the basis for pilafs, salads, breakfast porridges, and more.
