#Everyone I have prepared this for absolutely loves it! A lovely mix of diced chicken breast

[hellisnowlove]

Chicken - Chicken Murphy

[24timesnow]

Chop Steak Hawaiian Recipe - A Delicious Chopped Steak Hawaii Adventure

Calling all island food lovers! Dive into the sun-soaked flavors of Hawaii with this quick and easy Chopped Steak Hawaii recipe. Forget pricey restaurants and say hello to a tropical taste treat made right at home in just 30 minutes.

What Makes Chop Steak Hawaiian Recipe Special?

- Sweet & Savory Symphony: Soy sauce and white sugar marinade infuse the juicy ground beef with a hint of Hawaiian sweetness, balanced by the tangy white wine vinegar sauce. - A Tropical Explosion: Fresh ginger, garlic, and bell peppers add a burst of vibrant flavor, transporting you straight to a palm-fringed beach. - Simple & Affordable: Made with basic ingredients, this recipe is budget-friendly and perfect for whipping up a satisfying weeknight meal. - Impress Your Guests: This dish is not just delicious, it's visually stunning. The vibrant colors and enticing aroma will have everyone asking for seconds! Let's get cooking!

Chop Steak Hawaiian Recipe Ingredients:

- For the Marinade: - 30 ml soy sauce - 1 tablespoon white sugar - For the Sauce: - 1 tablespoon cornstarch - 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar - 1 tablespoon water - The Hawaiian Fiesta: - 500 g ground beef meat - 2 small onions, finely chopped - 2 cloves garlic, minced - Salt and pepper to taste - 30 g ginger, finely chopped - Vegetable oil for cooking - 1 red bell pepper, sliced - Serving Suggestions: - Fluffy white rice - Grilled vegetables - Side salad - Sweet potato fries

Chop Steak Hawaii Recipe Instructions:

- Hawaiian Marination: Combine soy sauce and sugar in a bowl. Add the ground beef and marinate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for maximum flavor. - Sauce with a Zing: In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch, white wine vinegar, and water until smooth. Set aside. - Aloha Heat Up: Heat oil in a wok or large pan. Add garlic and ginger, stir-fry for 10 seconds. Toss in the marinated beef and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. - Veggie Paradise: In the same pan, add oil and onions. Cook until golden brown, then add bell peppers for another minute. - The Grand Finale: Return the beef, vegetables, and sauce to the pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened and flavors meld. - Island Feast Awaits: Plate your Hawaiian masterpiece over fluffy white rice and enjoy!

Hawaiian Chopped Steak Recipe Tips and Tricks:

- Go Bold: For a richer flavor, add diced bacon or chopped ham to the pan before the vegetables. - Spicy Kick: Sprinkle in a pinch of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat. - Get Creative: Experiment with different vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, or asparagus. - Leftovers Galore: This dish reheats beautifully, perfect for lunch or quick dinners. More than just a meal, this Chopped Steak Hawaii recipe is an experience. It's a delicious escape to the sun-kissed shores of paradise, made with love and simplicity. So gather your ingredients, crank up the island tunes, and prepare to be swept away by a wave of flavor! Can I make substitutions?Absolutely! This recipe is all about adaptability. Ground beef: Swap it for ground chicken, turkey, or pork for a lighter feel. Soy sauce: Tamari or coconut aminos offer gluten-free options. Vegetables: Experiment with zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, or pineapple for added sweetness. Spices: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat, or a touch of curry powder for an exotic twistDo I have to marinate the beef?Marinating enhances the flavor, but it's not mandatory. For a quick fix, skip the marinating step and simply stir-fry the beef before adding the vegetables and sauce.Can I skip the white wine vinegar?Sure, substitute with rice vinegar or lime juice for a similar tangy note. If you prefer a milder dish, simply omit the vinegar and adjust the sauce thickness with some water.What can I serve with it?Steamed rice is the classic partner, but get creative! Grilled vegetables, a refreshing side salad, sweet potato fries, or even pineapple chunks add tropical vibes.Can I freeze leftovers?Absolutely! Cool the cooked dish completely, then store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a pan or microwave until steaming hot.Is it suitable for kids?This recipe is family-friendly! Adjust the spice level to suit your little ones' palates. You can even offer plain cooked rice alongside the saucy beef for pickier eaters.Where can I find more Hawaiian-inspired recipes?Dive deeper into the culinary wonders of Hawaii! Explore online recipe databases, browse cookbooks dedicated to island cuisine, or even check out food blogs by passionate Hawaiian home cooks. Read the full article

[eyha]

Chicken Murphy Recipe Everyone I have prepared this for absolutely loves it! A lovely mix of diced chicken breast, sweet or hot italian sausage, potatoes, and sliced hot cherry peppers combined with a white wine sauce, then served over a bed of angel hair pasta. The longer its cooked with the hot cherry peppers, the spicier it gets! 1 cup water, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 large onion diced, 1 pound skinless boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes, 1 cup white wine, 4 tablespoons olive oil, 1 cup sliced hot cherry peppers, 4 large potatoes, 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar, 1 pound Italian sausage cut into 1/2 inch pieces, 1 pound angel hair pasta

[everqueer]

Chicken Murphy Everyone I have prepared this for absolutely loves it! A lovely mix of diced chicken breast, sweet or hot italian sausage, potatoes, and sliced hot cherry peppers combined with a white wine sauce, then served over a bed of angel hair pasta. The longer its cooked with the hot cherry peppers, the spicier it gets!

[shortfeedshq]

Tacos: The Ultimate Guide to Making the Perfect Meal

If you're looking for a meal that's easy to make, versatile, and delicious, look no further than tacos. These simple yet satisfying treats are a staple of Mexican cuisine and are enjoyed all over the world. In this blog post, we'll explore everything you need to know about making the perfect tacos, from the ingredients you'll need to the steps you'll need to follow. So let's get started! Who Is This Recipe For? This recipe is for anyone who loves tacos, whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner in the kitchen. Tacos are a crowd-pleaser and can be customized to suit any taste. If you're looking for a quick and easy meal to make for your family or friends, tacos are the perfect choice. They're also great for parties or gatherings, as you can set up a taco bar and let your guests build their own tacos. Why Are Tacos Great? Tacos are great for many reasons. For one, they're easy to make and don't require any special cooking skills. You can customize them to your taste and use whatever ingredients you have on hand. They're also a healthy option, as you can load them up with vegetables and lean protein. Tacos are also a fun meal to make with friends or family, as everyone can get involved in the cooking and building process. Ingredients To make tacos, you'll need the following ingredients: - 1 lb. ground beef or turkey - 1 packet of taco seasoning mix - 12 taco shells or soft tortillas - 2 cups of shredded lettuce - 1 cup of diced tomatoes - 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese - 1/2 cup of diced onions - 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro - 1/4 cup of sour cream - Hot sauce (optional) Equipment To make tacos, you'll need the following kitchen equipment: - Large skillet - Mixing bowl - Serving bowls - Cutting board - Chef's knife - Wooden spoon or spatula Recipe Directions - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, breaking up any large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula. - Add the taco seasoning mix and stir to combine. - Reduce the heat to low and let the meat simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. - While the meat is simmering, prepare the toppings. Shred the lettuce, dice the tomatoes and onions, and chop the cilantro. - Heat the taco shells or soft tortillas according to the package instructions. - To assemble the tacos, start by adding a layer of meat to each shell or tortilla. - Top the meat with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, diced onions, and chopped cilantro. - Finish each taco with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of hot sauce, if desired. - Serve the tacos immediately, with additional toppings and hot sauce on the side. FAQ Q: Can I use chicken or fish instead of beef or turkey in my tacos? A: Yes, you can! Tacos can be made with any type of protein, including chicken, fish, shrimp, or tofu. Q: Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas for my tacos? A: Absolutely! Corn tortillas are a traditional choice for tacos and are a gluten-free option. Q: How do I store leftover tacos? A: Store leftover tacos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, wrap the tacos in aluminum foil and place them in a preheated oven at 350 Read the full article

[juilojio753]

Nigeria fried rice. Fried rice is one of the most widely eaten Nigerian food; it is accepted by almost every Nigerian both at home and in Diaspora. I will be showing you how I make it. How to Cook Nigerian Fried Rice Recipe - Nigerian Rice - Best Nigerian rice - Jollof Nigerian cuisine consists of dishes or food items from the hundreds of.

Nigerian Fried Rice is a rice dish that has a continental taste and look. This Nigerian rice meal is a party favourite. Learn how to cook the perfect Nigerian Fried Rice.

Hey everyone, I hope you're having an amazing day today. Today, I'm gonna show you how to prepare a special dish, nigeria fried rice. One of my favorites food recipes. This time, I will make it a bit unique. This is gonna smell and look delicious.

Fried rice is one of the most widely eaten Nigerian food; it is accepted by almost every Nigerian both at home and in Diaspora. I will be showing you how I make it. How to Cook Nigerian Fried Rice Recipe - Nigerian Rice - Best Nigerian rice - Jollof Nigerian cuisine consists of dishes or food items from the hundreds of.

Nigeria fried rice is one of the most favored of recent trending foods in the world. It's enjoyed by millions daily. It is simple, it is quick, it tastes delicious. They're nice and they look wonderful. Nigeria fried rice is something that I've loved my entire life.

To begin with this recipe, we must first prepare a few components. You can have nigeria fried rice using 21 ingredients and 7 steps. Here is how you can achieve that.

The ingredients needed to make Nigeria fried rice:

{Prepare 400 g of long grainrice.

{Make ready 600 ml of turkey.

{Take 3 of large carrot.

{Take 1 handful of peas and runner beans.

{Make ready 2 of large green pepper.

{Make ready 2 of onion bulb.

{Take 3 of tabspoonful curry powder.

{Prepare 1 teaspoon of ginger powder.

{Get 3 of glove of garlic.

{Prepare 2/3 spoonful of black pepper.

{Take 3 of cooking spoonful vegetable oil.

{Take 3 of stock cube (know chicken).

{Get to taste of salt.

{Make ready 500 g of Chicken/Turkey thighs or drumsticks(cooking the chicken).

{Get 1 teaspoon of thyme.

{Make ready 1 teaspoon of curry.

{Make ready 1 of medium onion.

{Get 1 of glove garlic.

{Prepare 1 of small yellow pepper.

{Take 1/2 of ginger powder.

{Prepare 2 of stock cube (knowr).

Nigerian Fried Rice puts a spicy, flavorful spin on the traditional fried rice and is appealing on its own or served with a variety of other African food. Unlike other Nigerian rice recipes, the Fried rice is prepared by stir frying seasoned precooked rice with a mixture of vegetables and cooked proteins(meat/chicken or prawns). Cualiflower fried rice is common to the Nigerians. Fried rice is one of the most popular Nigerian food and this recipe shows you how to easily make it.

Steps to make Nigeria fried rice:

Add a little water and cook the chicken for 10 minutes. Then add more water and cook until done.     The liquid left after cooking the chicken,is your stock. Pour the  stock into a Strainer to remove tiny chicken bones and any other particles in it; then set the stock aside for later use.. Wash and place the cow liver in a pot, add seasoning cube and salt to taste; Cook the liver for 10minutes, then when cooled,cut into cubes and set aside.   Liver can also be fried, before cutting into cu.

Wash all the vegetables.         Dice the onion & set aside ;  Peel the carrots & cut into small cubes. Remove the seeds of the green bell peppers & cut into small cubes. Place the carrots & green peas in boiling water for 5 minutes, strain out and place in a bowl of cold water, leave to cool in the water, then pour into a sieve and set aside..

This method is called blanching. It helps to par-boil the vegetables without cooking it through, thereby cutting down the stir-frying process. It also helps to preserve the vibrant color of the vegetables.. Place the reserved chicken stock into a large pot and bring to a boil. The stock should be at almost the same level as the rice, so that it dries up completely when the rice is done.   You can add some water if the stock won't be enough to cook the Rice..

As the stock begins to boil, add the parboiled rice, seasoning cubes(stock cubes), curry powder, garlic powder, onions and salt to taste. Leave to cook on medium heat until it's done.   TIP; The cooked rice should not be soggy or too tender and the grains shouldn't stick together either.   You can Pour out the cooked rice into a wider pot and set aside..

Heat up the vegetable oil; add the carrots, peas, green bell pepper and diced liver/meat; then add a little white/black pepper, a garlic, curry &seasoning cube to taste..  stir fry for 1 min.

The Rice is going to be fried in small batches, so you'll have to divide the stir-fried vegetables into equal portions. The size of your frying pan/wok will determine how many portions you will have.     7. Pour a portion of the stir-fried mix into the frying pan; add the cooked rice and stir-fry for about 2 minutes. Do not overcrowd the pan,make sure there is a little space in the pan so that you can move the rice around the pan for even distribution of heat..

Repeat this process for the remaining rice and veggie mix. Now your Nigerian Fried Rice is Ready to be serve.

Rice is a very popular food in Nigeria, it would most likely come first on the list of foods eaten in. This Nigerian fried rice recipe is cooked in a fragrant yellow stock and packed with fresh vegetables, plus a diced protein of your choosing. This Nigerian Fried Rice recipe is absolutely bursting with flavor! Make Nigerian Fried Rice in a fraction of the time by making it in your Instant Pot! Nigerian Fried Rice puts a spicy, flavorful spin on the traditional fried rice and is appealing on its own or served with a variety of other African foods.

So that is going to wrap it up for this exceptional food nigeria fried rice recipe. Thanks so much for reading. I am sure that you will make this at home. There is gonna be more interesting food at home recipes coming up. Don't forget to save this page in your browser, and share it to your family, colleague and friends. Thank you for reading. Go on get cooking!

[curutquit]

Special chicken rice. It's absolutely delicious and everybody loves it- no doubt about that. Hainanese chicken rice is a dish of poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with chilli sauce and usually with cucumber garnishes. It was created by immigrants from Hainan in southern China and.

Hainanese Chicken Rice is a simple, frugal yet delicious poached chicken served with flavorful & aromatic "oily rice" (Chinese: 油飯), plus special homemade chili sauce, soy sauce. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. BMT chicken rice guide: Don't have.

Hey everyone, it is me again, Dan, welcome to my recipe page. Today, we're going to make a special dish, special chicken rice. It is one of my favorites. This time, I'm gonna make it a bit tasty. This will be really delicious.

Special chicken rice is one of the most well liked of current trending foods on earth. It's enjoyed by millions every day. It is simple, it is quick, it tastes delicious. They're fine and they look fantastic. Special chicken rice is something that I have loved my entire life.

It's absolutely delicious and everybody loves it- no doubt about that. Hainanese chicken rice is a dish of poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with chilli sauce and usually with cucumber garnishes. It was created by immigrants from Hainan in southern China and.

To get started with this recipe, we must first prepare a few ingredients. You can have special chicken rice using 11 ingredients and 4 steps. Here is how you cook that.

The ingredients needed to make Special chicken rice:

{Prepare of Chicken breast(diced).

{Make ready of chopped onion.

{Prepare of minced cloves of garlic.

{Take of tomato paste.

{Get of Cooking oil.

{Make ready of boiled rice.

{Make ready of Chicken masala.

{Prepare of Cayenne/paprika.

{Get of Garam masala.

{Take of Royco(optional).

{Make ready of Salt.

Wait for bookout. managed to get posted out of the army from SCS, can't share much here cos it's a pretty special vocation and that'll probably dox me haha. Complete guide on how to poach the chicken, make the Besides all the recognition received across the globe, serving Hainanese chicken rice is deceptively simple. It's perfect for midweek family meals. Stir in the cumin seeds, paprika and rice and toss well.

Steps to make Special chicken rice:

Fry the onions and garlic till golden brown. Spoon in the tomato paste and continue cooking..

Next spoon in the spices and salt, allow flavours to fuse. If using royco, mix with water and pour in to form thick paste/sauce/soup. If not add water to do the same..

Add the chicken and allow to cook for a few minutes. The chicken breast is tender and hence cooks quickly..

When the chicken mixture is cooked, mix in the rice. Add a little water if dry and cover pot so that the flavours become one with the rice. Serve hot veggies/kachumbari. Enjoy 😋..

Press cooked rice into a bowl to make a dome shape. Then turn the bowl upside down onto the serving plate. This "rice cooker chicken rice" is my no-pride, lazy and short-cut cooking (my speciality) at its best - chicken rice, cooked I have made claypot chicken rice in the rice cooker before, so this is not new. Using homemade chicken stock as a soup as well as to cook your rice and veggies ties together No run-of-the-mill chicken and rice. [Photograph: Yvonne Ruperti]. Notes: The success of this dish lies in.

So that is going to wrap it up for this special food special chicken rice recipe. Thanks so much for your time. I am confident you will make this at home. There is gonna be more interesting food at home recipes coming up. Remember to bookmark this page in your browser, and share it to your family, friends and colleague. Thanks again for reading. Go on get cooking!

[kunwiginjanu]

chicken ground sirloin and pasta. Hey guys today I'm making Ground Chicken Pasta. That is minced chicken pasta in red sauce. I hope you all will like it.

Ground chicken meatballs are simmered in chicken broth with zucchini and chayote. I like to serve it with fresh spinach, chopped avocado, lemon juice, and chipotle chile. I thought these came our absolutely delicious and served them with pasta and marinara sauce and homemade garlic bread!

Hey everyone, it is me again, Dan, welcome to my recipe page. Today, I'm gonna show you how to make a distinctive dish, chicken ground sirloin and pasta. It is one of my favorites. For mine, I'm gonna make it a little bit unique. This will be really delicious.

chicken ground sirloin and pasta is one of the most well liked of recent trending foods in the world. It's simple, it's fast, it tastes delicious. It is appreciated by millions daily. They're nice and they look wonderful. chicken ground sirloin and pasta is something which I have loved my entire life.

Hey guys today I'm making Ground Chicken Pasta. That is minced chicken pasta in red sauce. I hope you all will like it.

To get started with this particular recipe, we have to first prepare a few ingredients. You can have chicken ground sirloin and pasta using 18 ingredients and 6 steps. Here is how you can achieve that.

The ingredients needed to make chicken ground sirloin and pasta:

{Make ready 1 lb of ground sirloin, beef.

{Make ready 1 1/4 lb of chicken breast.

{Take 2 cup of shredded colby jack cheese.

{Make ready 1 lb of corkscrew pasta.

{Prepare 2/3 cup of grated parmesan cheese.

{Get 1 large of red/purple onion.

{Get 1 tsp of salt more if needed to taste.

{Take 1/4 cup of sugar.

{Prepare 1 tsp of dried basil.

{Get 1 tsp of whole leaf oregano.

{Take 1/2 cup of parsley.

{Take 1 tbsp of Hungarian paprika.

{Take 1 tbsp of granulated garlic powder.

{Make ready 1 tsp of grains of paradise.

{Make ready 29 oz of can of diced tomatoes.

{Make ready 29 oz of can of tomato puree.

{Make ready 15 oz of can of tomato sauce.

{Get 1/2 cup of cabernet- merlot by yellowtail.

Place a large pot of water on to boil for spaghetti. When it boils, add salt and pasta and cook to al dente. Mix beef and Worcestershire, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Chicken Mince Pasta Chicken Ragu Chicken Marinara Marinara Sauce Best Spaghetti Recipe Spaghetti Recipes.

Steps to make chicken ground sirloin and pasta:

Cook pasta according to instructions on box.

Drain pasta.

Add parsley to the pasta and mix well.

Cook the chicken and beef cut into bite sized pieces I usely buy sirloin patties or form into patties cook and cut it to desired size.

Add onions to meat the red onions will absored all liquids let cook then deglaze the pan with wine let cook down watch closely the red onion is very thirsty even more so then a yellow or white.

While thats set aside add to a pot aall rhe other ingredients and then add meat cook for 15 -20 minutes.

Ever wondered about ground chuck vs. ground beef? Discover the differences between types of ground beef, including ground round and ground sirloin. We recommend using sirloin, but using flank steak works great, too. I actually served this as a hot pasta dish instead of a cold salad, and it came out delicious! I roasted the red peppers before slicing, and sauteed the onions in Wegmans basting oil, salt and garlic pepper.

So that is going to wrap it up for this exceptional food chicken ground sirloin and pasta recipe. Thanks so much for your time. I'm sure you can make this at home. There is gonna be more interesting food in home recipes coming up. Remember to bookmark this page in your browser, and share it to your family, colleague and friends. Thank you for reading. Go on get cooking!

[wijakartuya]

Creamy Pasta Salad. The absolute BEST Creamy Pasta Salad loaded with veggies and tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing. This is the perfect pasta salad for parties and potlucks! My recipe for the BEST Creamy Italian Pasta Salad consist of garden spiral pasta, fresh vegetables, and feta cheese.

Thanks to one secret ingredient, this classic creamy pasta salad is infinitely flavorful. Throw in your favorite veggies, cook up your favorite pasta, and watch this easy pasta salad disappear. How to make the best macaroni pasta salad with an easy creamy dressing and crisp, colorful vegetables.

Hey everyone, hope you're having an incredible day today. Today, I'm gonna show you how to make a distinctive dish, creamy pasta salad. One of my favorites food recipes. This time, I'm gonna make it a little bit tasty. This is gonna smell and look delicious.

The absolute BEST Creamy Pasta Salad loaded with veggies and tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing. This is the perfect pasta salad for parties and potlucks! My recipe for the BEST Creamy Italian Pasta Salad consist of garden spiral pasta, fresh vegetables, and feta cheese.

Creamy Pasta Salad is one of the most well liked of recent trending meals on earth. It's easy, it's quick, it tastes yummy. It is appreciated by millions daily. They're nice and they look fantastic. Creamy Pasta Salad is something which I've loved my whole life.

To begin with this recipe, we have to first prepare a few components. You can have creamy pasta salad using 12 ingredients and 5 steps. Here is how you can achieve that.

The ingredients needed to make Creamy Pasta Salad:

{Take of Pasta Salad :.

{Get 1/3 cup of elbow pasta, uncooked.

{Make ready 1/4 cup of peas (I use frozen).

{Get 1 of small carrot, peeled and shredded.

{Take 1 of small chicken breast, grilled and diced.

{Take 1 tbsp. of freshly shredded white cheddar cheese.

{Take of Dressing :.

{Make ready 1 tbsp. of mayo.

{Prepare 1 tbsp. of sour cream.

{Make ready 1 tsp. of apple cider vinegar.

{Get 1 tsp. of honey.

{Take To taste of salt and pepper, garlic powder.

Jump to the Creamy Macaroni Pasta Salad Recipe or read on to see our tips for making it. This Creamy Pasta Salad recipe has a bold, secret ingredient: French's Spicy Brown Mustard. A family favorite and so easy to make". Watch me make this creamy vegan pasta.

Instructions to make Creamy Pasta Salad:

In a smalk bowl, whisk together the mayo, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, honey and salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste. Set this aside..

Cook the pasta according to the package directions to al dente. In the last two minutes of cook time, stir in the peas..

Drain the pasta and peas into a colander and rinse with cold water..

In a large bowl, mix together the pasta, peas, shredded carrot, shredded cheese and diced chicken. Pour the dressing over the top and stir it in. Taste for any additional seasoning you'd like to add..

You can eat this immediately or you can chill in the fridge until you're ready..

Healthy Creamy Pasta Salad with tomatoes, herbs, peas, and lemony, creamy dressing. Quick & Easy Creamy Pasta Salad Amy Latta Creations Creamy Poolside Pasta Salad. A cool, quick and zesty twist on the traditional! Pasta salad is a summer party staple, but we absolutely adore this fun twist on the traditional. This Creamy Pasta Salad isn't just delicious, it's versatile, too.

So that is going to wrap this up for this exceptional food creamy pasta salad recipe. Thanks so much for reading. I'm confident you can make this at home. There's gonna be more interesting food in home recipes coming up. Remember to bookmark this page in your browser, and share it to your family, colleague and friends. Thank you for reading. Go on get cooking!

[jemmasmithinterior]

DIY Self-Care Retreat

What exactly is a self-care retreat? Simply put, it’s a wellness getaway to help recharge batteries that run low from dealing with the stress of everyday life.

Who can benefit from one?

A self-care retreat is not as indulgent as it may sound. Performing at our best means we need to replenish our mental and physical energy stores on a periodic basis. Here are just a few who could benefit from a little tender loving self-care: • Parents who are always on call • People at transitioning points in their lives • Anyone with a high-stress job • Anyone with low creative reserves If any of the above sound familiar, chances are a little self-imposed TLC is just what the doctor ordered. You could spend thousands on a wellness retreat put together by professionals at exotic locations, but that’s not always an option. Here are some ideas to plan a close-to-home (or at-home if necessary) self-care retreat designed to soothe your soul, rest your mind and restore your energy.

How do I prepare?

Here are basic steps to follow when planning your retreat: • Schedule your retreat and let others know you will be unavailable in that timeframe. • Plan your activities by clarifying what you want to accomplish during this special time. • Think about your meals ahead of time so you can nourish your body. • Be prepared to disconnect from your phone and other electronics.

How long should the retreat last?

Depending on your schedule, your personal retreat could encompass anywhere from a few dedicated hours to several days. If you’re blessed with an entire weekend to yourself, mark your calendar from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. If that length of time is not possible, mark off a morning or an afternoon, as even just a few hours of conscious self-care can yield beneficial results. No matter how much time you dedicate to this, treat these precious hours the same as you would any other retreat or engagement and let others know you are not available.

Where do I go?

Ideally, find a place close to, but away from, home. Maybe a vacationing friend will let you use their home. Maybe you have a favorite camping ground or cabin. You could rent a hotel room or an AirBnB overnight. If none of these are possible, you can still plan a beneficial retreat in your own home. Choose a time when family or roommates are out of the house and go from there.

Prepare to disconnect

Part of your pre-planning is to ensure that you have the freedom to go dark – even for a little while. Let everyone know you will be out of pocket for a certain length of time and will only be available during times of real emergencies. Let them know you will check in with them at pre-set times if absolutely necessary.

What do I do during my retreat?

Move

Incorporate an activity to get the blood flowing, making it as vigorous – or not – as you like. Your activity could be soothing like a long contemplative walk, yoga or tai-chi, or intense like running.

Create

When’s the last time you created something just for the sake of it? Write, paint, sculpt, play music or do anything else as long as it engages the right side of your brain. This is your sacred time to speak to your inner muse, no matter what form she takes. If your activity requires a laptop or tablet, just make sure you are not connected to the Internet.

Contemplate

Set aside time for meditation, prayer or just quiet time. Taking a moment to feel grateful – to appreciate what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t – is proven to increase neurotransmitter serotonin levels and make us feel happier. Consider crafting a gratitude statement, making it as simple or complex as you’d like. Write it down before your retreat (or use this exercise as part of your creative activity) and repeat it to yourself.

Read

Forget the business journals and newspaper. Focus on books you’ve been meaning to read that will aid your self-improvement journey. Before your retreat, decide what aspect of yourself you want to work on and find a book or two that will encourage growth.

Nourish

Because you’re doing this at home, you most likely won’t have the luxury of having someone else create healthy meals to eat during your retreat, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself. Just plan healthy meals in advance. Prep as much as you can and keep them simple to reduce fuss (and dishes).

For meal preparation, we like the idea of packing salads in a jar. Here’s a basic recipe from www.thekitchn.com.

How to Pack the Perfect Salad in a Jar

Makes 1 salad Ingredients • 1 to 4 tablespoons salad dressing • Mix of raw and cooked vegetables, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, cheese, and other salad ingredients • Salad greens Equipment • Wide-mouth canning jars with tight-fitting lids: pint jars for side salads, quart jars for individual meal-sized salads, 2-quart jars (or larger) for multiple servings • Large bowl, to serve Instructions • Salad dressing: Pour 1 to 4 tablespoons of your favorite salad dressing in the bottom of the jar. Adjust the amount of dressing depending on the size of the salad you are making and your personal preference. • Hard vegetables: Next, add any hard chopped vegetables you’re including in your salad, like carrots, cucumbers, red and green peppers, cooked beets and fennel. • Beans, grains and pasta: Next, add any beans, grains and/or pasta, like chickpeas, black beans, cooked barley, cooked rice, and pasta corkscrews. • Cheese and proteins (optional): If you’ll be eating the salad within the day, add a layer of diced or crumbled cheese and proteins like tuna fish, diced (cooked) chicken, hard-boiled eggs or cubed tofu. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the weekend, wait to add these ingredients until you’re ready to eat. • Softer vegetables and fruits (optional): Next, add any soft vegetables or fruits, like avocados, tomatoes, diced strawberries or dried apricots. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the week, wait to add these ingredients until the day you’re planning to eat the salad and add them to the top of the jar. • Nuts, seeds and lighter grains: Next, add any nuts or seeds, like almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds. If you’re making a salad with lighter, more absorbent grains like quinoa or millet, add them in this layer instead of with the beans. • Salad greens: Last but not least, fill the rest of the jar with salad greens. Use your hands to tear them into bite-sized pieces. It’s fine to pack them into the jar fairly compactly. • Storing the salad: Screw the lid on the jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days. If you’re including any cheese, proteins or soft fruits and vegetables, add these to the top of the jar the morning you plan to eat your salad. • Tossing and eating the salad: When ready to eat, unscrew the lid and shake the salad into the bowl. The action of shaking the salad into the bowl is usually enough to mix the salad with the dressing. If not, toss gently with a fork until coated.

What not to do

While personal retreats are just that – personal – there are a few basic things to avoid during your self-care retreat. Remember that your goal is to look inward, not elsewhere, to find entertainment or escape: • No alcohol or other substances – the goal is to embrace your inner self, not escape from it. • No movies, novels or TV shows – try to avoid seeking meaningless escape. • No phone or Internet – If you must check in from time to time, bring an old-fashioned clock or watch to keep track of time and call or email at a pre-determined time. Whatever you do, avoid the rabbit hole of social media during this time.

Next step

Congratulations! You made it through your first self-care retreat. Now what? Take time in the next few days to think about what you learned about yourself. Hopefully you journaled during your retreat so you can reference your notes. And then, schedule the next one.

The post DIY Self-Care Retreat appeared first on XO Ashley.

fromhttps://blog.ashleyfurniture.com/diy-self-care-retreat/

[clicknlick]

“The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.” – Confucius

For many, food is an experience. It is both a science and an art. It is meant to be savored and enjoyed. In a culture with such passion for food, it is no surprise that we also like talking about it. While the Chinese share that love of language, they also have a love of food. Over their centuries-long history, the Chinese have composed an innumerable collection of legacy – including food.

China Wok is a cheerful red and yellow eatery on Purna Das Road. There are narrow steps that take you to a mezzanine floor – and here there are just four tables placed tightly together. The newly opened outlet  and has a very fresh feel to it and served authentic Chinese food. China Wok is where you go when you want the classic (somewhat) greasy, succulent, mouth watering, take-out Chinese food that brings back nostalgic memories of brown paper bag family dinners when no-one feels like cooking.  Great Chinese food even the Chinese would be impressed.

Where do I start? Well lets do the obvious first then shall we? FANTASTIC, and I don’t say that lightly. Varun Rajgarhia, the absolutely lovely, talented and perfect host and owner. When we arrived, we were greeted with the warmest most sincere smile that was followed by dinner packed with punch. This place is small but mighty. It is a small place, with less than 10 tables. It does not look much from outside. Inside, it is warm, inviting and clean. The biggest thing I can say about this place is call ahead. They are a local institution and fill up quickly. Their small dining room can hold maybe 25-30 covers at a seating so space fills up fast.  The cuisine is authentic, delish and served in huge portions for your penny. As a Chinese Food lover, I have been looking for a genuine, original Sichuan restaurant for a long time. This is definitely a must-go one in South kolkata. The service is good, or sweet. They provide a multitude of choices in the menu, all of those we tried today are damn good.

“China Wok is my take on Authentic Chinese and Thai Cuisine at affordable prices. While there is a plethora of Chinese and Thai restaurants in Kolkata, most of them Indianise their Asian delicacies partly to make the same cheap/ affordable and partly becuase that’s what sells. China Wok is my endeavor to bring Authentic Asian Delicacies to the city at affordable prices. While creating the dishes, we have remained true to both traditional cooking techniques as well as traditional ingredients. It was born out of my principle that food tastes best when it is authentic and hopefully the city of joy feels the same and I am sure will find new love for Authentic Asian Food and its simplicity once they try China Wok”  – Varun Rajgarhia – owner – Asia House

The Dishes We Had : 

Welcome Drinks  :

Sweet and Salt Lime & Cold Drinks – 

Soups :

Spicy Lemon Burnt Garlic Soup – Spicy soup with fresh lemon, burnt garlic and green chilies with chicken. Given the lemon addition, this soup is as good for summer meals as it is in the winter. The recipe combines two of my favorite ingredients: garlic and lemon. Lemon soups have the lightness and brightness that some savory soups miss. This soup joins the savory of garlic with lemon for a fresh-tasting finish.

Eight Treasure Soup – Traditional coriander and chili flavored thick soup with vegetables and mushrooms with chicken. It’s both warming and delicious – and full of ingredients that are GREAT for your health! The first time I had it was at a dinner. It was one of the most delicious, sweet, creamy soups I’ve ever had. I was hooked at first sip!

Starters :

Prik Kai Sot Sai Thod – Chicken wings tossed in Thai sweet chili sauce with kaffir lemon. The combination of both fragrant Sweet Chili Sauce and kaffir lime leaves are what make this recipe special so don’t leave either of them out!  These wings have crispy skin that is full of Thai curry flavor. Yet, they are not spicy hot like some Thai dishes. The crunchy kaffir lime leaves add texture and fragrant, making the wings distinctly Thai.

Asian Barbecued Chicken – Pan roasted Chicken smoked with charcoal and caramelized in Barbecue and butter sauce. This Asian-style version of Berbecued chicken on oyster sauce, soy sauce and roasted garlic, with toasted black peppercorns added a strong and bold flavor to the dish. The sauce is superb glazed on chicken.  Grab some napkins everyone!

Chicken Sui Mai – Wafer thin flour wrappers with minced and served with garlic oil. I bet most of you have heard about Dim sum, which is a southern Chinese cuisine that serves with tea and comes in small portions in bamboo steamer! I will never say ‘no’ to Dim Sum and it will always be one of my favourites! Sui Mai is definitely a “must-order” dish. Here they are making it with chicken instead of prawn or pork, just simply because I think We Bengali are more chicken than pork person! Or perhaps, its purely because they feel like trying something different to serve us. Wafer thin floor wrappers with minced chicken served with garlic oil.  There is something charming about going for this dim sum, I guess it must be something I treasure for a long time. 

Mains :

Kung Pao Chicken –  Diced chicken toast in kung Pao sauce and finished with roasted cashew nuts. Apart from the chicken cubes, this famous dish contains chili peppers, spring onions, garlic, ginger,  Sichuan peppers and most often toasted peanuts, but according to the author cashew nuts are also encountered. It may seem very simple, but the flavours are very unusual and surprising for someone who knows Chinese cuisine from European restaurants. Two things make this dish very unique: Sichuanese peppercorns and the very light sour, sweet and hot sauce prepared with black vinegar.

Pla Pad Kraprow –  Sliced fish tossed in Thai Chili Basil sauce with Birds eye Chili. Healthy bowl of goodness! To be honest this is such a great and uncommon and also a popular dish. Every one like this and i specially like this dish too much.  We were amazed by the perfectly cooked fish, crunchy fried crust, and fragrant and flavorful sauce.

Thai Red Curry (Veg) – Traditional medium spicy Thai red curry with fresh chilies and Ginger. This recipe is so simple and tastes amazing! I had Thai Red Curry powder and mixed it into a paste and found Thai Kitchen organic coconut milk in a can. For speed, I blanched the cauliflower and green beans together; and substituted baby bella mushrooms and Living Herbs basil since I couldn’t find fresh cremini or thai basil. Came out delicious, my teenager even liked it!

Rice & Noodles :

Schezwan Rice (Chicken) – Spicy fried rice tossed with roasted Chili paste , bell peppers and dry Red Chilies. It is a Chinese dish of steamed rice that has been stir-fried in a wok and, usually, mixed with other ingredients, such as eggs, vegetables, and meat, and as such, often served as a complete dish. A treat of flavoured rice, with shreds of chicken topped with a spicy schezwan sauce for an unforgettable hit of deliciousness in your mouth!

Chili Garlic Noodles (Egg) –  Chill Garlic Noodles is a simple stir-fried noodles recipe infused with bold flavors of garlic and hot red chill. A quick, easy and flavourful meal, perfect for entertaining and busy work day. It is a delight to eat. It was so soul satisfying. 

Steamed Rice –  Steamed rice is a staple food for almost any Oriental meal. It is soft and sticky compared to other kinds of Asian rice. 

Desserts :

Darsoan with Ice Cream – Crispy Fried flour strips tossed with burnt honey  and caramelized sugar.  A Chinese style dessert which is exquisite. I love it. This is almost every body’s favourite Desert in any Oriental Restaurant. 

I have had a lot of Chinese food in a lot of different places but I have to say China Wok is right up there in the top 5, I have ever had. It’s my understanding they have a great Chef and his preparation is outstanding. I find that most Chinese food restaurant dishes all have the same flavour profile. NOT the case here, each dish is unique and flavourful.

Staff were extremely pleasant and seemed genuinely pleased to hear how much we enjoyed the dining experience. You would never expect the quality from looking at the outside of the building, it being so non-descipt. Currently the leading Chinese food restaurant in area. I would definitely come back to try the lunch specials too. 

Special Thanks to – 

○ Varun Rajgarhia, owner Asia House for the invitation and amazing hospitality. ○ Chef for providing us such a lovely experience of Steam Food

○ Rajdeep Bhattacharjee for leading us.

Proud Member of Panch Phoron #panchphoron

When you need your Chinese fix…China Wok is there! "The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live." - Confucius For many, food is an experience.

[curutquit]

Chicken enchiladas. Seriously the best chicken enchiladas ever, made with lots of chicken, cheese, black beans (optional), and my favorite homemade red enchilada sauce recipe. This chicken enchilada recipe is the perfect dinner when you're craving Mexican food. This easy chicken enchiladas recipe is an authentic Mexican food staple.

Chicken Enchiladas made from scratch - juicy, cheesy and full of flavour! There's a few components to homemade enchiladas, but it is absolutely worth the effort with flavour you can never achieve with packet spice mixes and bottled enchilada sauce. The foundation of this recipe is a double duty.

Hey everyone, it's me again, Dan, welcome to my recipe site. Today, we're going to make a special dish, chicken enchiladas. One of my favorites food recipes. This time, I'm gonna make it a bit unique. This will be really delicious.

Chicken enchiladas is one of the most favored of recent trending foods in the world. It is easy, it's quick, it tastes delicious. It is enjoyed by millions daily. They're fine and they look wonderful. Chicken enchiladas is something which I have loved my whole life.

Seriously the best chicken enchiladas ever, made with lots of chicken, cheese, black beans (optional), and my favorite homemade red enchilada sauce recipe. This chicken enchilada recipe is the perfect dinner when you're craving Mexican food. This easy chicken enchiladas recipe is an authentic Mexican food staple.

To get started with this particular recipe, we have to first prepare a few ingredients. You can have chicken enchiladas using 7 ingredients and 12 steps. Here is how you cook it.

The ingredients needed to make Chicken enchiladas:

{Make ready 2 of whole chickens.

{Prepare 6 of hard boiled eggs.

{Take 1 of yellow onion (diced).

{Get 2 lb of Monterey jack and cheddar cheese mixed (1lbs of each) shred.

{Prepare 1 can of (12 once) Las Palmas enchilada sauce red.

{Get 1 dozen of flower tortillas.

{Prepare 1 cup of vegetable oil.

These Easy Chicken Enchiladas make the best Mexican dinner ever! This homemade classic is an all-time family favorite that's great for easy weeknight meals. A great new chicken enchiladas recipe for you. Chicken and a creamy tomato sauce are rolled up in tortillas for this chicken enchiladas recipe-very quick to assemble!

Steps to make Chicken enchiladas:

1)hard boil eggs, 2)heat oil in pan.3)dice onion,.

When oil is hot put tortillas in oil and flip. Then take out. They should be just kinda opaque and pliable, put tortillas on a plate covered with paper towels to soak up oil let cool.

Boil chickens in water then shred when does (I like to add garlic powder and onion powder to my water with the chicken).

In chicken is done debone and d skin the chicken, shred chicken let cool.

Take chicken, 2/3 of cheese, onion, and shredded egg, add some of the red enchilada sauce, and mixed together.

Take tortillas red enchilada sauce on both sides of tortilla then put a handful of mix inside tortilla and roll.

Put cheese on top and sprinkle a light amount of enchilada sauce on top.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, served with guacamole, sour cream, rice, refried beans... Enjoy.

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These have been one of my most popular recipes since I first posted, which I am not surprised! Enchiladas can be filled with anything you can think of! In this Chicken Enchiladas recipe, I used shredded chicken breast, but here's a few more ideas. All you need to make the enchiladas are corn tortillas, already cooked and shredded or chopped chicken meat, some grated melty cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack, and red chili enchilada sauce. Using a large shallow bowl, dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce to lightly coat.

So that is going to wrap this up for this exceptional food chicken enchiladas recipe. Thank you very much for reading. I am sure you will make this at home. There is gonna be interesting food at home recipes coming up. Remember to save this page on your browser, and share it to your loved ones, colleague and friends. Thanks again for reading. Go on get cooking!

[curutquit]

Spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_Nairobi East. A simple and delicious pasta meal, made in no time! Infused with Asian and Italian flavours, that promises to delight the pallet! It is spicy and full of flavour!

You guys know how much I love a good quick and easy dinner recipe and this Spaghetti Stir Fry recipe is just that. This stir fried spaghetti recipe is easy, quick and absolutely delicious. Add water in a pot and put on the stove.

Hey everyone, it is Jim, welcome to our recipe page. Today, we're going to prepare a special dish, spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_nairobi east. One of my favorites. For mine, I will make it a bit unique. This will be really delicious.

Spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_Nairobi East is one of the most favored of recent trending meals on earth. It is enjoyed by millions daily. It's easy, it's fast, it tastes delicious. Spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_Nairobi East is something that I have loved my entire life. They are fine and they look wonderful.

A simple and delicious pasta meal, made in no time! Infused with Asian and Italian flavours, that promises to delight the pallet! It is spicy and full of flavour!

To begin with this recipe, we must prepare a few ingredients. You can cook spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_nairobi east using 9 ingredients and 13 steps. Here is how you cook that.

The ingredients needed to make Spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_Nairobi East:

{Make ready 2-3 pcs of boiled chicken.

{Get 1/2 of pkt pasta/ spaghetti.

{Make ready 1 of tomato.

{Get 1 of onion.

{Get 1 of green pepper.

{Take 1 tbsp of grated garlic n ginger.

{Make ready to taste of Salt.

{Make ready 2 tbsp of cooking oil.

{Get 1 bunch of dhania.

Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil and leave to boil before adding salt and spaghetti. This simple and delicious recipe for Chicken Spaghetti uses just seven ingredients for a fabulous, savory dinner. Keep all of the ingredients on hand and you never have to. It was so tasty, I put it under a chicken and broccoli stir fry and I didn't need any rice.

Instructions to make Spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_Nairobi East:

In a sufuria, bring water to boil. Add some little cooking oil n salt..

Add in your spaghetti..

Boil for 10- 12 mins..

As u boil be working on other ingredients..

De borne your chicken pcs n cut them into small pcs..

Once your pasta are ready, drain excess water n set aside..

Dice/ chop the other ingredients n put aside..

In a frying sufuria/ pan, add cooking oil. Heat abit then brown your onions..

Add tomatoes as u mix. Add green pepper, garlic n some salt. Add in your chicken, mix well then reduce heat..

Once everything has incorporated, add your pasta, mix soo well but gently to avoid breaking your pastas..

Cover your pan n simmer for 5- 7 mins on low heat..

Put off the heat completely, add dhania, mix n serve when ready..

Bon appetite..

Chicken Spaghetti and Stir Fried Vegetables - Chicken Spaghetti and Stir Fried Vegetables - Talk about Italiano. Bar B Q Chicken Spaghetti, Penny Blue Gnaze, Spaghetti And Grape Pitcher - In this video chef is sharing different and delicious Italian recipes. The liver recipe: I used chicken liver that I cut while it was frozen, washed it and drained it … Then we put it in a hot frying pan with a spoonful of vegetable oil and stir until it changes color, then add the onion chili pepper, chopped. Chicken spaghetti is a uniquely American casserole that is the epitome of comfort food: tender noodles and shredded chicken blanketed in a creamy, cheesy sauce. Add the cheese, tomatoes, chicken, and spaghetti.

So that is going to wrap it up for this special food spaghetti in stir fried chicken. #localfoodcontest_nairobi east recipe. Thank you very much for reading. I'm confident that you can make this at home. There's gonna be more interesting food at home recipes coming up. Don't forget to bookmark this page on your browser, and share it to your loved ones, friends and colleague. Thanks again for reading. Go on get cooking!

[jemmasmithinterior]

DIY Self-Care Retreat

What exactly is a self-care retreat? Simply put, it’s a wellness getaway to help recharge batteries that run low from dealing with the stress of everyday life.

Who can benefit from one?

A self-care retreat is not as indulgent as it may sound. Performing at our best means we need to replenish our mental and physical energy stores on a periodic basis. Here are just a few who could benefit from a little tender loving self-care: • Parents who are always on call • People at transitioning points in their lives • Anyone with a high-stress job • Anyone with low creative reserves If any of the above sound familiar, chances are a little self-imposed TLC is just what the doctor ordered. You could spend thousands on a wellness retreat put together by professionals at exotic locations, but that’s not always an option. Here are some ideas to plan a close-to-home (or at-home if necessary) self-care retreat designed to soothe your soul, rest your mind and restore your energy.

How do I prepare?

Here are basic steps to follow when planning your retreat: • Schedule your retreat and let others know you will be unavailable in that timeframe. • Plan your activities by clarifying what you want to accomplish during this special time. • Think about your meals ahead of time so you can nourish your body. • Be prepared to disconnect from your phone and other electronics.

How long should the retreat last?

Depending on your schedule, your personal retreat could encompass anywhere from a few dedicated hours to several days. If you’re blessed with an entire weekend to yourself, mark your calendar from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. If that length of time is not possible, mark off a morning or an afternoon, as even just a few hours of conscious self-care can yield beneficial results. No matter how much time you dedicate to this, treat these precious hours the same as you would any other retreat or engagement and let others know you are not available.

Where do I go?

Ideally, find a place close to, but away from, home. Maybe a vacationing friend will let you use their home. Maybe you have a favorite camping ground or cabin. You could rent a hotel room or an AirBnB overnight. If none of these are possible, you can still plan a beneficial retreat in your own home. Choose a time when family or roommates are out of the house and go from there.

Prepare to disconnect

Part of your pre-planning is to ensure that you have the freedom to go dark – even for a little while. Let everyone know you will be out of pocket for a certain length of time and will only be available during times of real emergencies. Let them know you will check in with them at pre-set times if absolutely necessary.

What do I do during my retreat?

Move

Incorporate an activity to get the blood flowing, making it as vigorous – or not – as you like. Your activity could be soothing like a long contemplative walk, yoga or tai-chi, or intense like running.

Create

When’s the last time you created something just for the sake of it? Write, paint, sculpt, play music or do anything else as long as it engages the right side of your brain. This is your sacred time to speak to your inner muse, no matter what form she takes. If your activity requires a laptop or tablet, just make sure you are not connected to the Internet.

Contemplate

Set aside time for meditation, prayer or just quiet time. Taking a moment to feel grateful – to appreciate what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t – is proven to increase neurotransmitter serotonin levels and make us feel happier. Consider crafting a gratitude statement, making it as simple or complex as you’d like. Write it down before your retreat (or use this exercise as part of your creative activity) and repeat it to yourself.

Read

Forget the business journals and newspaper. Focus on books you’ve been meaning to read that will aid your self-improvement journey. Before your retreat, decide what aspect of yourself you want to work on and find a book or two that will encourage growth.

Nourish

Because you’re doing this at home, you most likely won’t have the luxury of having someone else create healthy meals to eat during your retreat, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself. Just plan healthy meals in advance. Prep as much as you can and keep them simple to reduce fuss (and dishes).

For meal preparation, we like the idea of packing salads in a jar. Here’s a basic recipe from www.thekitchn.com.

How to Pack the Perfect Salad in a Jar

Makes 1 salad Ingredients • 1 to 4 tablespoons salad dressing • Mix of raw and cooked vegetables, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, cheese, and other salad ingredients • Salad greens Equipment • Wide-mouth canning jars with tight-fitting lids: pint jars for side salads, quart jars for individual meal-sized salads, 2-quart jars (or larger) for multiple servings • Large bowl, to serve Instructions • Salad dressing: Pour 1 to 4 tablespoons of your favorite salad dressing in the bottom of the jar. Adjust the amount of dressing depending on the size of the salad you are making and your personal preference. • Hard vegetables: Next, add any hard chopped vegetables you’re including in your salad, like carrots, cucumbers, red and green peppers, cooked beets and fennel. • Beans, grains and pasta: Next, add any beans, grains and/or pasta, like chickpeas, black beans, cooked barley, cooked rice, and pasta corkscrews. • Cheese and proteins (optional): If you’ll be eating the salad within the day, add a layer of diced or crumbled cheese and proteins like tuna fish, diced (cooked) chicken, hard-boiled eggs or cubed tofu. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the weekend, wait to add these ingredients until you’re ready to eat. • Softer vegetables and fruits (optional): Next, add any soft vegetables or fruits, like avocados, tomatoes, diced strawberries or dried apricots. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the week, wait to add these ingredients until the day you’re planning to eat the salad and add them to the top of the jar. • Nuts, seeds and lighter grains: Next, add any nuts or seeds, like almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds. If you’re making a salad with lighter, more absorbent grains like quinoa or millet, add them in this layer instead of with the beans. • Salad greens: Last but not least, fill the rest of the jar with salad greens. Use your hands to tear them into bite-sized pieces. It’s fine to pack them into the jar fairly compactly. • Storing the salad: Screw the lid on the jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days. If you’re including any cheese, proteins or soft fruits and vegetables, add these to the top of the jar the morning you plan to eat your salad. • Tossing and eating the salad: When ready to eat, unscrew the lid and shake the salad into the bowl. The action of shaking the salad into the bowl is usually enough to mix the salad with the dressing. If not, toss gently with a fork until coated.

What not to do

While personal retreats are just that – personal – there are a few basic things to avoid during your self-care retreat. Remember that your goal is to look inward, not elsewhere, to find entertainment or escape: • No alcohol or other substances – the goal is to embrace your inner self, not escape from it. • No movies, novels or TV shows – try to avoid seeking meaningless escape. • No phone or Internet – If you must check in from time to time, bring an old-fashioned clock or watch to keep track of time and call or email at a pre-determined time. Whatever you do, avoid the rabbit hole of social media during this time.

Next step

Congratulations! You made it through your first self-care retreat. Now what? Take time in the next few days to think about what you learned about yourself. Hopefully you journaled during your retreat so you can reference your notes. And then, schedule the next one.

The post DIY Self-Care Retreat appeared first on XO Ashley.

fromhttps://blog.ashleyfurniture.com/diy-self-care-retreat/

[jemmasmithinterior]

DIY Self-Care Retreat

What exactly is a self-care retreat? Simply put, it’s a wellness getaway to help recharge batteries that run low from dealing with the stress of everyday life.

Who can benefit from one?

A self-care retreat is not as indulgent as it may sound. Performing at our best means we need to replenish our mental and physical energy stores on a periodic basis. Here are just a few who could benefit from a little tender loving self-care: • Parents who are always on call • People at transitioning points in their lives • Anyone with a high-stress job • Anyone with low creative reserves If any of the above sound familiar, chances are a little self-imposed TLC is just what the doctor ordered. You could spend thousands on a wellness retreat put together by professionals at exotic locations, but that’s not always an option. Here are some ideas to plan a close-to-home (or at-home if necessary) self-care retreat designed to soothe your soul, rest your mind and restore your energy.

How do I prepare?

Here are basic steps to follow when planning your retreat: • Schedule your retreat and let others know you will be unavailable in that timeframe. • Plan your activities by clarifying what you want to accomplish during this special time. • Think about your meals ahead of time so you can nourish your body. • Be prepared to disconnect from your phone and other electronics.

How long should the retreat last?

Depending on your schedule, your personal retreat could encompass anywhere from a few dedicated hours to several days. If you’re blessed with an entire weekend to yourself, mark your calendar from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. If that length of time is not possible, mark off a morning or an afternoon, as even just a few hours of conscious self-care can yield beneficial results. No matter how much time you dedicate to this, treat these precious hours the same as you would any other retreat or engagement and let others know you are not available.

Where do I go?

Ideally, find a place close to, but away from, home. Maybe a vacationing friend will let you use their home. Maybe you have a favorite camping ground or cabin. You could rent a hotel room or an AirBnB overnight. If none of these are possible, you can still plan a beneficial retreat in your own home. Choose a time when family or roommates are out of the house and go from there.

Prepare to disconnect

Part of your pre-planning is to ensure that you have the freedom to go dark – even for a little while. Let everyone know you will be out of pocket for a certain length of time and will only be available during times of real emergencies. Let them know you will check in with them at pre-set times if absolutely necessary.

What do I do during my retreat?

Move

Incorporate an activity to get the blood flowing, making it as vigorous – or not – as you like. Your activity could be soothing like a long contemplative walk, yoga or tai-chi, or intense like running.

Create

When’s the last time you created something just for the sake of it? Write, paint, sculpt, play music or do anything else as long as it engages the right side of your brain. This is your sacred time to speak to your inner muse, no matter what form she takes. If your activity requires a laptop or tablet, just make sure you are not connected to the Internet.

Contemplate

Set aside time for meditation, prayer or just quiet time. Taking a moment to feel grateful – to appreciate what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t – is proven to increase neurotransmitter serotonin levels and make us feel happier. Consider crafting a gratitude statement, making it as simple or complex as you’d like. Write it down before your retreat (or use this exercise as part of your creative activity) and repeat it to yourself.

Read

Forget the business journals and newspaper. Focus on books you’ve been meaning to read that will aid your self-improvement journey. Before your retreat, decide what aspect of yourself you want to work on and find a book or two that will encourage growth.

Nourish

Because you’re doing this at home, you most likely won’t have the luxury of having someone else create healthy meals to eat during your retreat, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself. Just plan healthy meals in advance. Prep as much as you can and keep them simple to reduce fuss (and dishes).

For meal preparation, we like the idea of packing salads in a jar. Here’s a basic recipe from www.thekitchn.com.

How to Pack the Perfect Salad in a Jar

Makes 1 salad Ingredients • 1 to 4 tablespoons salad dressing • Mix of raw and cooked vegetables, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, cheese, and other salad ingredients • Salad greens Equipment • Wide-mouth canning jars with tight-fitting lids: pint jars for side salads, quart jars for individual meal-sized salads, 2-quart jars (or larger) for multiple servings • Large bowl, to serve Instructions • Salad dressing: Pour 1 to 4 tablespoons of your favorite salad dressing in the bottom of the jar. Adjust the amount of dressing depending on the size of the salad you are making and your personal preference. • Hard vegetables: Next, add any hard chopped vegetables you’re including in your salad, like carrots, cucumbers, red and green peppers, cooked beets and fennel. • Beans, grains and pasta: Next, add any beans, grains and/or pasta, like chickpeas, black beans, cooked barley, cooked rice, and pasta corkscrews. • Cheese and proteins (optional): If you’ll be eating the salad within the day, add a layer of diced or crumbled cheese and proteins like tuna fish, diced (cooked) chicken, hard-boiled eggs or cubed tofu. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the weekend, wait to add these ingredients until you’re ready to eat. • Softer vegetables and fruits (optional): Next, add any soft vegetables or fruits, like avocados, tomatoes, diced strawberries or dried apricots. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the week, wait to add these ingredients until the day you’re planning to eat the salad and add them to the top of the jar. • Nuts, seeds and lighter grains: Next, add any nuts or seeds, like almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds. If you’re making a salad with lighter, more absorbent grains like quinoa or millet, add them in this layer instead of with the beans. • Salad greens: Last but not least, fill the rest of the jar with salad greens. Use your hands to tear them into bite-sized pieces. It’s fine to pack them into the jar fairly compactly. • Storing the salad: Screw the lid on the jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days. If you’re including any cheese, proteins or soft fruits and vegetables, add these to the top of the jar the morning you plan to eat your salad. • Tossing and eating the salad: When ready to eat, unscrew the lid and shake the salad into the bowl. The action of shaking the salad into the bowl is usually enough to mix the salad with the dressing. If not, toss gently with a fork until coated.

What not to do

While personal retreats are just that – personal – there are a few basic things to avoid during your self-care retreat. Remember that your goal is to look inward, not elsewhere, to find entertainment or escape: • No alcohol or other substances – the goal is to embrace your inner self, not escape from it. • No movies, novels or TV shows – try to avoid seeking meaningless escape. • No phone or Internet – If you must check in from time to time, bring an old-fashioned clock or watch to keep track of time and call or email at a pre-determined time. Whatever you do, avoid the rabbit hole of social media during this time.

Next step

Congratulations! You made it through your first self-care retreat. Now what? Take time in the next few days to think about what you learned about yourself. Hopefully you journaled during your retreat so you can reference your notes. And then, schedule the next one.

The post DIY Self-Care Retreat appeared first on XO Ashley.

fromhttps://blog.ashleyfurniture.com/diy-self-care-retreat/

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DIY Self-Care Retreat

What exactly is a self-care retreat? Simply put, it’s a wellness getaway to help recharge batteries that run low from dealing with the stress of everyday life.

Who can benefit from one?

A self-care retreat is not as indulgent as it may sound. Performing at our best means we need to replenish our mental and physical energy stores on a periodic basis. Here are just a few who could benefit from a little tender loving self-care: • Parents who are always on call • People at transitioning points in their lives • Anyone with a high-stress job • Anyone with low creative reserves If any of the above sound familiar, chances are a little self-imposed TLC is just what the doctor ordered. You could spend thousands on a wellness retreat put together by professionals at exotic locations, but that’s not always an option. Here are some ideas to plan a close-to-home (or at-home if necessary) self-care retreat designed to soothe your soul, rest your mind and restore your energy.

How do I prepare?

Here are basic steps to follow when planning your retreat: • Schedule your retreat and let others know you will be unavailable in that timeframe. • Plan your activities by clarifying what you want to accomplish during this special time. • Think about your meals ahead of time so you can nourish your body. • Be prepared to disconnect from your phone and other electronics.

How long should the retreat last?

Depending on your schedule, your personal retreat could encompass anywhere from a few dedicated hours to several days. If you’re blessed with an entire weekend to yourself, mark your calendar from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. If that length of time is not possible, mark off a morning or an afternoon, as even just a few hours of conscious self-care can yield beneficial results. No matter how much time you dedicate to this, treat these precious hours the same as you would any other retreat or engagement and let others know you are not available.

Where do I go?

Ideally, find a place close to, but away from, home. Maybe a vacationing friend will let you use their home. Maybe you have a favorite camping ground or cabin. You could rent a hotel room or an AirBnB overnight. If none of these are possible, you can still plan a beneficial retreat in your own home. Choose a time when family or roommates are out of the house and go from there.

Prepare to disconnect

Part of your pre-planning is to ensure that you have the freedom to go dark – even for a little while. Let everyone know you will be out of pocket for a certain length of time and will only be available during times of real emergencies. Let them know you will check in with them at pre-set times if absolutely necessary.

What do I do during my retreat?

Move

Incorporate an activity to get the blood flowing, making it as vigorous – or not – as you like. Your activity could be soothing like a long contemplative walk, yoga or tai-chi, or intense like running.

Create

When’s the last time you created something just for the sake of it? Write, paint, sculpt, play music or do anything else as long as it engages the right side of your brain. This is your sacred time to speak to your inner muse, no matter what form she takes. If your activity requires a laptop or tablet, just make sure you are not connected to the Internet.

Contemplate

Set aside time for meditation, prayer or just quiet time. Taking a moment to feel grateful – to appreciate what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t – is proven to increase neurotransmitter serotonin levels and make us feel happier. Consider crafting a gratitude statement, making it as simple or complex as you’d like. Write it down before your retreat (or use this exercise as part of your creative activity) and repeat it to yourself.

Read

Forget the business journals and newspaper. Focus on books you’ve been meaning to read that will aid your self-improvement journey. Before your retreat, decide what aspect of yourself you want to work on and find a book or two that will encourage growth.

Nourish

Because you’re doing this at home, you most likely won’t have the luxury of having someone else create healthy meals to eat during your retreat, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself. Just plan healthy meals in advance. Prep as much as you can and keep them simple to reduce fuss (and dishes).

For meal preparation, we like the idea of packing salads in a jar. Here’s a basic recipe from www.thekitchn.com.

How to Pack the Perfect Salad in a Jar

Makes 1 salad Ingredients • 1 to 4 tablespoons salad dressing • Mix of raw and cooked vegetables, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, cheese, and other salad ingredients • Salad greens Equipment • Wide-mouth canning jars with tight-fitting lids: pint jars for side salads, quart jars for individual meal-sized salads, 2-quart jars (or larger) for multiple servings • Large bowl, to serve Instructions • Salad dressing: Pour 1 to 4 tablespoons of your favorite salad dressing in the bottom of the jar. Adjust the amount of dressing depending on the size of the salad you are making and your personal preference. • Hard vegetables: Next, add any hard chopped vegetables you’re including in your salad, like carrots, cucumbers, red and green peppers, cooked beets and fennel. • Beans, grains and pasta: Next, add any beans, grains and/or pasta, like chickpeas, black beans, cooked barley, cooked rice, and pasta corkscrews. • Cheese and proteins (optional): If you’ll be eating the salad within the day, add a layer of diced or crumbled cheese and proteins like tuna fish, diced (cooked) chicken, hard-boiled eggs or cubed tofu. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the weekend, wait to add these ingredients until you’re ready to eat. • Softer vegetables and fruits (optional): Next, add any soft vegetables or fruits, like avocados, tomatoes, diced strawberries or dried apricots. If you’re making salads ahead to eat throughout the week, wait to add these ingredients until the day you’re planning to eat the salad and add them to the top of the jar. • Nuts, seeds and lighter grains: Next, add any nuts or seeds, like almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds. If you’re making a salad with lighter, more absorbent grains like quinoa or millet, add them in this layer instead of with the beans. • Salad greens: Last but not least, fill the rest of the jar with salad greens. Use your hands to tear them into bite-sized pieces. It’s fine to pack them into the jar fairly compactly. • Storing the salad: Screw the lid on the jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days. If you’re including any cheese, proteins or soft fruits and vegetables, add these to the top of the jar the morning you plan to eat your salad. • Tossing and eating the salad: When ready to eat, unscrew the lid and shake the salad into the bowl. The action of shaking the salad into the bowl is usually enough to mix the salad with the dressing. If not, toss gently with a fork until coated.

What not to do

While personal retreats are just that – personal – there are a few basic things to avoid during your self-care retreat. Remember that your goal is to look inward, not elsewhere, to find entertainment or escape: • No alcohol or other substances – the goal is to embrace your inner self, not escape from it. • No movies, novels or TV shows – try to avoid seeking meaningless escape. • No phone or Internet – If you must check in from time to time, bring an old-fashioned clock or watch to keep track of time and call or email at a pre-determined time. Whatever you do, avoid the rabbit hole of social media during this time.

Next step

Congratulations! You made it through your first self-care retreat. Now what? Take time in the next few days to think about what you learned about yourself. Hopefully you journaled during your retreat so you can reference your notes. And then, schedule the next one.

The post DIY Self-Care Retreat appeared first on XO Ashley.

fromhttps://blog.ashleyfurniture.com/diy-self-care-retreat/