Summer Salad Recipe

Well I have decided to start adding recipes to my blog! This is my first one, I call it Craneta Crunch and Munch. I hope that get inspired and make your very own Summer Salad Recipe!

Ingredients

Serves 2

2 Grilled Chicken Breast (Seasoned with salt, pepper and lemon juice)

1 Granny Smith Apple

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 Cup of Fat Free Feta Cheese

1/4 Cup of Sliced Red Onion

2 Cups of Romaine Lettuce sliced thin

1 Package of Prepared Stuffing Mix

1 Tbs Lemon Juice

Preheat oven or grill to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with butter spray and spread out prepared stuffing mixture. Bake until mixture is crunchy about 10 minutes and put aside.

To prepare salad,

Slice Grilled Chicken Breasts and put aside.

Cut up the granny smith apple into medium size chunks and put it into a small bowl, toss it with lemon juice.

Slice the romaine thin into slivers rather than chunks and place in serving platter.

Top with Fat Free Feta, Cranberries, Red Onion and Sliced Chicken. For the finishing touch, crumble up the crunchy stuffing and top as croutons.

Serve with a Store bought Lite Vidalia Onion Dressing or a homemade lemon vinaigrette!

Tidbit - Instead of the traditional store bought cruton, think outside the box and come up with other creative toppings. Some ideas are Tortilla Chips, Toasted Nuts and Seeds, Toasted Pita Chips and just about any kind of stuffing can be toasted then crumbled on top.

It's a refreshing salad with alot of crunching amd munching going on! I hope that you will give it a try!

Summer Room

Summer is almost here and it's that time of year where we spend more time outside than inside. Well at least I do and I hope after reading this blog you will too. In this fast paced time, it is so important to have a space to settle down in, relax and unwind at the end of a long day. Outside in the fresh air with all the sounds and sights of nature is a great place to start. Whether you live in a home or an apartment, you must have some outdoor space that you can add a little cozy, a little sparkle, a little oasis and make into your very own Summer Room!

Tidbit - With a few easy steps you can make any outdoor space, big or small, into an oasis you can retreat to. Pick an area like a deck, a patio, even a patch of grass and start your imagination.

The first step is to visualize the space as a room with four corners, walls and all, with the sky as your ceiling. This will be your outdoor canvas. This will be easy with a deck or patio, but if you are working with a grass area it will be what you put in that will determine the space.

The second step is to think of its function. Will it be a dining area, a seating area or both. Maybe you even have a deck and a patio. That's even better. Some spaces can be large enough to use as both. Once you figure out the function, the Fun can begin! Filling it up!


The Third Step comes in once you settle on the function, then it's time to pick some furniture. When picking furniture, pick items that won't rust, rot or be damaged in the elements.

There are many affordable sets out there. You don't want to spend a fortune, but you do want items that will last. Personally, I like metal and plastic furniture. Wood items tend to fade and get moldy with time. They are also way over priced. Look for Sets that offer weather resistant cushions and pillows. Make sure that they are attached, so that you can change them out when you get bored of the pattern. You may have furniture to work with already, but it's the way that you set up your area that will make it a retreat and a Summer Room. Here are some idea's on what to look for and how it will be set it up.

Bistro Sets - Two Chairs and a Table

Dining Sets - Table with 4 - 6 seats, Umbrella's are sometimes optional but always a must.

Casual Seating - Two Chairs, Love Seat, End Tables and Low Table (Like a coffee table)

Ottomans are great to have with any of the sets. They offer a place to rest your legs and they can also function as a small table when you add a tray to the top.

Inexpensive Sets can be found at Large Retail Chains like Walmart, Christmas Tree Shops, Target. I Found my dining set for less than $200.00 at Walmart. It's Metal with Mesh Seating. My last set lasted me 8 years, so I know that it will last. Lowes has great umbrellas for $50.00. Never pay more than $50 for an umbrella. They fade too quickly to pay a fortune. Pillows and Cushions can be pricey. So shop around. Online deals are the way to go for chair cushions and you get more options. My Bistro Set was $150 at Kmart 8 years ago, this year was the first time I had to replace my cushions. It was a great deal. Ottomans can also be pricey, if you can find them included in a set, Great, if not shop online for the best deals.

Cozy

Pick a color theme and cozy up your furniture with cushions, throw pillows and an umbrella. Even if you don't have a dining set. An umbrella can center your space and offer some shade.

Throw Pillows can dress up any out door furniture, no matter how old. Pick Vibrant Colors and stick with a color theme.

Sparkle

A string of lights (Even white Christmas Lights will do the trick), Some flickering candles (Battery Operated Candles can be found at party stores and retail chains) Hurricane Lamps (Pier One, Christmas Tree Shops), Tiki Torches, A Fire Pit (a must have)

Tidbit - Look for natures sparkle, Fire flies, at the end of June through July. But make sure not to miss them, because they are gone in August.

Oasis

Make your space feel like an oasis by adding some flowing plants and flower pots. Tropical plants are inexpensive and can be used to corner off your outdoor space, which makes it feel more like a cozy room. When choosing flowers, stick with your color pattern and use colors that compliment the color scheme you have chosen.

All you really need are two comfy chairs, a table, and somewhere to rest your feet. Add a little candle light or some string lights for ambiance. A few flowing flower pots and a fire pit for your entertainment. The sound of your favorite music in the background or some crickets singing will finish off the retreat. Keep it simple or make it big, either way stretch out your legs and enjoy your summer days and nights in your Summer Room!