AstroKnights Mural,Lakeland, Florida

Carol 18 Comments

Lakeland, Florida, is home to a number of meaningful murals and street art pieces. Today, I’m sharing a bright, colorful mural called AstroKnights by C. Stanley Creative. The mural is on the exterior walls of South Florida Gun & Pawn Shop at 844 South Florida Avenue. The owner of the Gun & Pawn Shop requested a bright, fantasy themed piece featuring a knight of some sort.

The mural consists of two astronaut-knights reaching towards a black hole. The design takes into account the mid-wall interruption (the door and awning). These elements were incorporated into the painting, giving visitors the experience of walking into a swirling black hole as they enter the building. The wall was completed with exterior acrylic and spray paint. Size: 88 x 17 feet.

I am wishing you bright and cheerful days.

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Pumpkin Dip, A Tasty, Healthy Appetizer & Snack

Carol 11 Comments

Pumpkin is one of the favorite tastes of autumn. Pumpkin pie, cookies, and many other dishes offer a touch of fall with each bite of pumpkin and pumpkin spice. Earlier I shared a simple recipe for making your own pumpkin or pumpkin pie spice mix. The great thing making it: you can adjust the amount for each spice to meet your needs. Today I’d like to share a tasty, healthy dip for get-togethers and holiday gatherings. Many people have a version of pumpkin dip which often involves cream cheese, whipped cream, frozen topping, and lots of calories. My pumpkin dip is a simple one based on pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling), pumpkin pie spices, and low-fat yogurt with a touch of maple syrup. It’s easy to make and tastes great.

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Frugal, Easy Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix

Carol 9 Comments

A common spice for many fall recipes is the mix known as pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie spice. It’s a basic recipe that is great for beginners and advanced home cooks alike. Making your own spice mix really is less expensive than buying it at the store. Before you start, make sure to check the freshness of your ground spices. Look for the expiration dates, take off the bottle cap, and smell your spice. You should do this at least annually to gurantee great flavor when cooking. Spices lose their potency over time, and if they’re not adding flavor to your food, you’ll be disappointed. I recommend using spices for a mix that have a 2 year expiration date. This will make a spice mix that you can safely use for 1 to 2 years.

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Slow Cooker Pozole

Carol 10 Comments

Pozole or posole is a thick, hearty Mexican stew-like soup made with meat, hominy, and broth and seasoned with oregano and chiles. (The spelling depends on the region.) It can include pork, beef, chicken, or seafood. A mix of pork shoulder and chicken is common, but you can use just pork or chicken. Today’s recipe is this spicy comfort food from Mexico made in a slow cooker for ease. Mexican pozole is garnished with shredded cabbage, lime wedges, avocado, onion, radishes, cilantro, and, of course, warm tortillas. It’s definitely a one dish meal with the addition of the fresh toppings.

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