Today I’m sharing a few photos I took last month. Let’s start with a photo of a neighbor’s house with a small crepe myrtle in the front yard.
Read MoreAuthor: Carol
I was raised in Tennessee but have lived in Florida for many years. Love my small home in the Tampa Bay area and its developing garden. My decorating style is eclectic - some vintage, some cottage, all with a modern flair. Pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Spent many years in social services but am happily retired.
Caribbean Chicken Salad
Today’s grilled chicken salad was inspired by the exotic, spicy flavors of Asia, Caribbean, and Mexico. You’ll serve strips of grilled teriyaki chicken breasts over salad greens along with a spicy tomato-jalapeno salsa, chunks of grilled pineapple, and a tangy honey-mustard vinaigrette. It’s a perfect meal for hot weather.
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A Walk By Lake Parker
Today I’m sharing a few photos from a walk around the condo complex on Lake Parker. It’s the end of August, and here in central Florida, it is hot. We have afternoon showers most days as it is the rainy season. Hopefully, we won’t have a bad hurricane this fall. The next two months are really the height of hurricane season due to the heat build up on the ocean.
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Grilled Chicken Marinade
Chicken is a great main entree and can be made so many ways. Over the last few years, I’ve shared several grilled chicken marinades with different flavors such as Grilled Marinated Chicken with Apple Salsa or Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa. A good marinade is an easy way to have a tasty entree.
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Don’t Murder Your Crape Myrtles
Lagerstroemia, commonly known as crape or crepe myrtle, is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia, and parts of Oceania. It is cultivated in warmer climates around the world. It is very popular here in the southeastern USA in growing zones 6 or 7 to 10.
Crape Myrtles (crape or crepe are both correct spellings) are trees, and they grow from 20 – 40’ in height. They have been lovingly referred to as the Lilac of the South (with no fragrance) with a very long bloom time in the summer.
How To Eat Takeout Without Ruining Your Diet
When you’re trying to stick to a healthy diet, getting takeout is usually out of the question. After all, most takeout foods are very unhealthy, even if you don’t go for a burger or a pizza. If takeout is necessary, remember to have a good balance in your food order and to allow yourself a treat from time to time. The key is learning how to make takeout healthier.
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Grilled Peaches & Cream Cheese
Peaches are a fabulous summer treat. Besides being a tasty summer dessert, peaches do great things for our bodies. Loaded with anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and A , peaches are low in calories (39 in 100 grams). They contain flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin, which help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals. This helps protect us from various diseases. Rich in minerals, peaches contain potassium, fluoride and iron. Iron helps form red blood cells. Potassium helps regulate heart and blood pressure. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Research also indicates that they help prevent obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
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Our Neighbor’s White Crepe Myrtle
Several weeks ago, I shared the small pink crepe mytles in the condo parking lot. They really can’t let the trees get too big, or they would block the streets.
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