Fall Recipes to Try At Home

It’s the season of autumn. In this cool weather, you would need to have certain kinds of food which will help your stay warm by increasing your body heat. And to help you do this, we have listed out a few delicious recipes which you make in your very own kitchen. These few dishes will tease your taste buds with the fantastic combination of spices and will leave you hungry for more. Try them out and see for yourself.

1.  Pork Chops with Caramel Apples:

Ever thought of using pork and apples in the same dish? The combination is actually quite stellar. The soft succulent meat of the finely cooked pork chops and the sweet taste of caramelized apples makes for a truly flavorsome experience. It’s a great way to make use of those freshly harvested apples from the orchard.

2. Chicken with Marsala Wine:

Here’s another spectacular dish that is enjoyed best in the fall season. And all you need to prepare this awesome dish is chicken breasts and few spices (and the Marsala wine of course!). You start by cooking the chicken to crispy perfection and end by shimmering it with the Marsala wine. The aroma of this dish itself is enough to make your mouth water.

3. Teriyaki Chicken:

Coming up on the third spot on our list of fall favorite recipes is the famous spicy Teriyaki chicken. The time taken to prepare for this dish is minimal and taste will literally blow your mind. The fresh spices like pepper and grated ginger mixed with honey are they very ingredients which has made this dish popular in the season of autumn. And it goes well with rice, bread or boiled vegetables.

4.  Roast Turkey:

How could we forget to mention this thanksgiving staple dish from our list of fall recipes? This is certainly the perfect dish for this season. As long as you have an oven that is big enough to fit the turkey, you will have no problems preparing this dish. You just need to know how to clean your turkey and remember to coat it with butter before sticking it in the oven along with the stuffing. It is without a doubt, a great dish to enjoy along with the entire family.

5. Chicken and Brussels Sprouts With Potato and Mustard Sauce:

This is one more meal fit for a king. The potatoes and Brussels sprouts only make this dish more wholesome and enjoyable. And the mustard sauce serves as an excellent taste enhancer. You will again require your oven for the preparation of this dish as the chicken would need to be baked. A yummy dish for the slightly health conscious.

6. Poached Pears:

For all you sweet lovers out there, we present to you an easy-to-prepare tasty treat. All you will need is a couple of ripe pears and loads of vanilla sugar to prepare the syrup. Eat it hot and fresh once it’s ready. And don’t forget to take care of your teeth after you have enjoyed this dish. Visit your dentist in Merrillville, Indiana for dental care tips. http://merrillvilledentist.com/

Healthy trick or treat candy for Halloween

Want to try something new this Halloween season? Why not start with the way you splurge on expensive treats every year and spoil the kids in your neighborhood? Too much of chocolates and candy can have a negative impact on kids health, especially their teeth. To avoid all these unwanted problems, why not just change the kind of treats you serve? There are plenty of tasty and healthy treats that are an absolute hit with these sweet lovers. For those of you who haven’t tried serving these kinds of treats before, we have mention a couple of them for you here, to help you prepare for the big night.

1.  Graham Crackers:

The first treat on our list is actually a healthy snack that can be given to your kids whenever they get those hungry pangs. Graham crackers are definitely a wholesome and healthy treat which are loaded with the goodness of fibers and vitamins B1 and B2. As these crackers are totally cholesterol-free, they are certainly the healthiest treat to offer kids. These crackers are also available in tasty honey flavors.

2. Popcorn:

Popcorn is another yummy snack which can be given as a treat on Halloween. They are easy to make and when the kids come trick o’ treating, you can offer them to take as much as they want. Popcorn too has a rich fiber content and even antioxidants that are good for health. They even come in caramel flavors to satisfy those sweet lovers.

3. Raisins with Dry Fruits and Nuts:

The third option on our list of healthy trick or treat candy for Halloween is raisins and other kinds of dried fruit. They come in many tasty varieties like dried grapes, figs, plums, apricots and even blueberries. These treats are known world over for the vitamins and nutrients they supply. Always good for growing children.

4. Sugar-Free Gum:

As the name suggests, sugar-free gum is not loaded with sugar like ordinary gum. In fact, certain types of sugar-free gums are actually good for the teeth. This treat will probably save your child from getting those painful cavities which come by consuming a lot of sweets.

5. Flavored Yogurts:

This is one more mouth-watering treat which you can give kids on Halloween. It is both healthy and delicious and puts an instant smile on kids’ faces when they eat it. There are many flavored ones which are actually yogurt mixed with fresh fruit. A healthy choice no doubt.

6.  Carrot Cake:

When it comes to sweets there is always room for some cake, which is why we have included carrot cake on our list of healthy delights. Carrot cake boasts of being a low-calorie dessert, plus it is packed with vitamin A. If you love to bake, you can prepare this treat at home itself and serve them fresh to your tiny guests on Halloween.

We at Excel Dental Studios, wish you a very Happy and fun-filled Halloween. Be sure to eat well, to live healthy and keep smiling!

5 Reasons Why You Should Pick Your Own Apples

Where do you go to get the best apples? Your local fruit store? Or the nearest supermarket? These places may claim to stock the freshest fruit, but if you really want to have some fresh and tasty apples, you have to go straight to the source i.e. the apple orchard. You also stand to gain a lot whenever you decide to pick your own apples.

1. Fruit is Fresh:

Fresh apples that come directly from the farm are very juicy, crunchy and delicious. They are a sharp contrast to the ones available at your local grocery store, which turn soft and get dark patches. What’s more, farm fresh fruits, especially apples, come packed with nutrients and essential vitamins which helps to develop the immune system and even reduces cholesterol in the body.

2. Exciting Outdoor Family Activity:

Looking for an exciting outdoor activity to enjoy along with your family? Why not plan a visit to your local grower in Northwest Indiana and spend a day picking your own apples? Your family could definitely use the fresh air and they will also get some good exercise in the process. Beats sitting at home and watching television all day!

3. Boosts Local Economy:

Whenever you buy apples and other fruits from local farmers, you help them earn their livelihood, as farming is their main occupation. This enables them to buy more seeds, fertilizers and other farming materials, needed to grow and produce a rich harvest of crop. In other words, they will get the benefit of your business and you will get fresh produce to enjoy every year. You will even get that good feeling of supporting your local community growers instead of opting for discount offers at a supermarket.

4. Good Learning Experience:

Want to teach your kids something new? Why not show them how to pick out good fruit? Once you show them how to distinguish the good fruit from the not-so-good, they can help you gather the best ones in the orchard. You can also speak to the friendly growers who will be more than willing to talk to you about the entire farming process. It never hurts to learn something new about nature and the environment.

5. Improves Interaction with the Community:

You may not be only one who craves healthy and organic produce. There will be tons of other people in your community who prefer picking their own apples fresh from the orchard. So wouldn’t this be a great place to meet and get to know a few people from your community? If you and your family have recently moved into the neighborhood, pick-your-own-fruit farms would be a great place to interact with people from the community. Thus, it serves as an opportunity for you to make some new friends.

These are some of the advantages you get when you choose to pick fresh farm grown apples. Plus, there are ample amount of apple picking events going on in your Merrillville, Indiana community, which you can check out with your family over the weekend.
Visit http://www.townplanner.com/Merrillville/IN/Events/ for more information. 

Sunday Night Football Snacks

The big Sunday night game is approaching! If you are playing host for this event, your main priority along with keeping a good stock of beers is the food. Good food and snacks will actually help you enjoy the game a lot better, even if the team you are rooting for is not performing as expected. Here are a couple of snacks which won’t take much time to prepare and go well with malt beverages.

1. Chips and dip:

At the top of our list is the quickest and simplest snack which gets ready in minutes. You just need to fill a saucepan with cooking oil and wait till it becomes hot. Then just add the triangle cut tortilla chips into the oil and fry till they brown. Once the entire batch is done, place them on a paper towel and let the oil drain. Serve hot along with different dips like salsa, guacamole or a cheese dip.

2. Salted or Caramel Popcorn:

Popcorn is another crowd favorite snack which can be had by the handful. Empty the contents of the entire popcorn packet into a pre-heated pan and wait for about 5-10 minutes. Your soft and crunchy snack is now ready to eat. They even come in caramel and cheese flavors. A little variety never hurt anyone! If you’re not handy with the pan method, one word…MICROWAVE!

3. Pretzels:

We certainly cannot leave out this popular snack from our list. Pretzels go well with any beverage and is a crowd favorite….add some nacho cheese sauce on the side if you want to dress this little “oldie but a goodie” up!

4. Cheese Burgers:

This is always a delicious and tasty item which you can include on your list of Sunday night football treats. Your guests will be eager to get their hands on this greasy, cheesy delight and will surely be licking their fingers afterwards. Dress up your sliders with a variety of healthy items such as lettuce, tomatoes, and onions!

5. Hot Dogs:

Here is another amazing snack which is an instant hit with football fans of all ages. The franks can be easily grilled and then slipped in between a hot dog bun. Don’t forget the finishing touches of mustard and ketchup.

6. Fried Chicken:

This is a staple snack food item for a majority of football (and chicken) lovers. Just make a mixture of mayonnaise and sour cream and coat the chicken breasts with them. Then dip them in some breadcrumbs before placing them in heated cooking oil. After they brown, serve this deep fried goodness to your hungry football fans.

7. Beef Chili:

Preparation of this dish is not very difficult or complicated and can be prepared in your very own kitchen. As long as you have some quality beef and the right ingredients you can make some righteous beef chili. Perfect to spice things up while watching an intense football match.

8. Buffalo Wings:

And then you have the wings…people swear by their homemade wings. It does take the most time to prepare than all of the above items on our list---but it’s worth it! Once you have all the correct ingredients the dish comes together very well. Savor your buffalo wings with a blue cheese dip or spicy sauce.

While any of these options are good, don’t forget that a simple cheese a veggie platter and cut fruit are always healthy options and you don’t need football season to enjoy them.  Incorporate healthy options all year round, so you can enjoy a couple of Sunday nights “splurging”!

So whether you’re watching your favorite major team play or cheering on our local #Merrillville schools, enjoy your game days from Excel Dental Studio!

5 Popular Stress Relieving Activities

Wouldn’t it be amazing to live a world without stress? However, in this fast-paced life of ours, it is difficult to avoid getting stressed out at some point or the other. If you are currently going through a stressful phase of your life, take a couple of minutes for yourself and try out these few exercises and activities to help you get back on your feet.

1. Deep Breathing:
     The best thing you can when faced with stressful situation is to just breathe. Empty your mind and simply breathe. You might even find the answer to your problem once you clear your head. Just fill lungs with rich oxygen, hold for a count of three and breathe out. Doing this for even five minutes will help you feel better.


2. Meditation:
      Life can really get hectic at times. You may be working eight hours a day, five or even six days a week. On top of this you might have some family responsibilities to shoulder at home. With this lifestyle you might get stressed out easily. Therefore, it is important that you set aside a little time of for yourself and just be still and calm. Sit in a position which you find most comfortable and close your eyes. Forget about everything else and just be with yourself. You can even imagine yourself sitting by the beach.


3. Yoga/Pilates:
      Yoga, the ancient Indian technique of relaxing and strengthening body and mind is the best exercise for combating stress. The postures and breathing exercises used in yoga help to relax muscles thereby easing tension. It also promotes good blood circulation in the body. Pilates is another exercise form which works well against stress. The combination of systematic breathing and simple body movements makes all the core muscles of the body stronger. It also strengthens nerves and improves body posture.


4. Walking:
      Evening walks in the park usually help you take your mind of the things that stress you out. If you work at a job where you are sitting indoors the entire day, going out even for a short fifteen minute walk will be very refreshing. Brisk walking is a mild workout which does not take up a lot of time and energy. So next time you travel home from work, visit your nearest park for a quiet evening stroll.


5. Swimming/Exercise:
      Swimming is an activity where you get to exercise and have fun at the same time. So it’s obviously a great stress reliever as well. Going for dip in the pool refreshes all your senses. Swimming helps to burn excess fat in the body keeping you fit and in shape. It’s also a great way to free yourself from your daily routine and just have some fun.


6.  .       Laugh! 
      An oldie but a goodie, laughter is indeed the best medicine. Getting involved with family and friends, sharing good times within your local community are a great way to bond over what is important.
       #Merrillville has a wonderful resource for finding out what’s going on right in our town! Visit http://www.townplanner.com/Merrillville/IN/Events  to see what fun thing you can do this weekend!