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how to cook a perfect steak on the grill

6 Steps To Grilling the Perfect Steak Every Time

Posted on Categories Food, Home Life2 Comments on 6 Steps To Grilling the Perfect Steak Every Time

Have you ever had a steak that just wasn’t cooked right? So disappointing. There is nothing better than a perfectly cooked steak, but with so many ways to get it wrong it is no wonder that grilling can be intimidating. After all, there is more to it than just meat, heat, and eat.

This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a little commission when you click these links at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Never fear! I have 6 simple steps to grilling the perfect steak on the charcoal grill every time. We love our new charcoal grill. But before I get into the grilling steps, let’s talk about which meat to buy.

What are the different grades of beef and which one should I choose?

What do we mean when we say “grades of beef?” Maybe you have never considered how the different grades of beef affect the texture and flavor profile of meat. There are basically three grades of beef steak that you will find in the grocery store or meat market: Prime, Choice, and Select. The USDA grade shields are assigned to beef to signify high-quality meat that is safe for eating. Suppliers, restaurant owners, and consumers rely on these grades to safely enjoy a variety of different beef products. The process of assigning a grade to beef is extremely rigorous, and it is not easy to make the grade of Prime, Choice, or Select.

Prime

This beef not only makes the grade, it is top of its class! It has superior quality and intramuscular fat content, which makes it extremely popular with steak connoisseurs. Most Prime beef is sold only in upscale fine restaurants and specialty beef suppliers. Only about 2 or 3% of beef makes the grade of Prime.

Choice

Choice beef is still good quality but has slightly less fat marbling than Prime. Marbling is when the fat is evenly distributed throughout the muscle, as opposed to a layer of fat on the outside edge. This makes the cut a little bit less juicy, but when prepared correctly it is still an excellent steak. Choice beef is the one you see most often in grocery stores and makes up over half of the beef people eat.

Select

Select is basically what you see advertised as the sale-priced meat. It has a lower fat content, making it the most uniform in quality, but it can also lack the moisture and flavor of higher grades. On the plus side it is leaner, which makes it have less calories, and if it is cooked properly it can still turn out to be a tasty steak.

However, most true steak lovers believe it is always worth it to pay the extra money per pound for the choice grade. It will say choice grade somewhere on the packaging, and it is usually well advertised as choice. If your grocery store carries Prime grade, that is even better!

Buy Choice or Prime Grade steaks for the best results.

Sear steak on the hottest part of the grate.

How to Cook the Three Different Grades of Beef

Prime Beef

The moisture and flavor profile in Prime beef make it ideal for seasoning. According to beef purveyors Schweid & Sons the key to maximizing the flavor is to break up the meat and gently disperse the seasonings throughout, as seasoning on the outside can sometimes fall off the meat. The superior taste of Prime beef makes it an excellent choice for the more rare preparations.

Choice Beef

There is less fat content to cook off in this grade of beef, so you will have to be careful to try and reach the desired level of doneness before all the moisture melts away. The thicker it is the longer it will take to cook.

Select Beef

With Select beef you run the risk of having your steak come out too dry, so you need to be careful how you cook it. You may want to add a little bit of meat tenderizer or Worcestershire sauce to replace the flavor of fat. It is usually best to marinate Select cuts before cooking or braise them to obtain maximum tenderness and flavor. Only the tender cuts should be cooked with dry heat.

What temperature should steak be cooked to?

People can be very particular about how their steak is cooked. Medium Rare is the standard most chefs use. Cooked medium rare the steak will be tender, juicy, and if it is prepared correctly will practically melt in your mouth.

The chart below will help you please everyone’s tastes, from steak that is practically raw on the plate to dry as a bone with “no pink” as some like to say. Cooking times vary and depend on the thickness of the cut, so it is best to go with the temperature rather than a cooking time. You can use an instant read meat thermometer for the most accurate results.

With practice you can tell how cooked a steak is just by feel alone. As my husband says on the video the tougher it feels the more done it is. He has gotten so good at grilling steaks (I call him the Grill Master) that he can tell when a steak is ready without even using a meat thermometer.

Go by temperature, not cook time for the best steaks.

Which cut of steak should I get?

The cut of steak you use depends on what you like in a steak and the flavor you prefer. There are 5 main cuts of steak, and each one differs a little in their texture and tenderness. Here is a brief description and some benefits of each one.

Top Sirloin Steak

Top Sirloin comes from the back area that is off the short loin area. This is a less expensive cut of steak but can still be tender and tasty, especially if marinated before cooking. The bones and the round muscles on the bottom have been removed from this type of steak. If you are on a tight budget Top Sirloin might be a good option for you.

Porterhouse and T-Bone Steaks

I put these two together in the same category, because they are very similar cuts of beef that both come from the short loin. They both have a T-shaped bone in the middle and contain two different pieces of meat: the tenderloin and the strip steak.

Basically Porterhouse steaks are cut from the rear end of the short loin and have a bigger portion of the tenderloin, while T-Bone steaks are cut from the front end and have a smaller portion of the tenderloin. Those are the main differences. What’s great is that there are really two different steaks in one! The bone in the middle keeps things cooking evenly, where one side is tender and the other very meaty.

New York Strip Steak

New York Strip steak is a lean cut of beef that comes from the short loin area. It is one side of the porterhouse or T-bone steak described above, and it is always served boneless. There is very little fat in this cut, and it is quite popular.

Ribeye Steak

Ribeye is a beef steak that is cut from the middle rib area. You can buy it bone-in or boneless. Ribeye steak is a flavorful, marbled piece of meat and can be very tender when cooked hot and fast. This is a fattier cut of steak, but that is what makes it taste so good. The marbling of fat makes it a melt-in-your-mouth steak when cooked correctly. The bone-in kind cooks a little more evenly than the boneless steak.

Filet Mignon

Filet Mignon comes from the small tip portion of the tenderloin and is the most tender of the beef steaks. Although tender, it is actually very lean. Prepared many times wrapped in bacon, it can be a little pricey but is so delicious. It is one of my favorites.

6 Steps to Grilling the Perfect Steak

1. Fire up the Grill

The charcoal needs to be very hot in order to properly cook steak.

We just got a new Char Griller Acorn grill, and my husband loves it. It is his new toy. For grilling steaks, you will want the heat as high as possible. You want it extremely hot, or your steak will cook unevenly. First make a chimney of charcoal and light it up. That makes the center hotter than the outside part of the grate. My husband uses a box fan to get air more quickly to the flames. You will know the charcoal is ready when they turn almost white. When the charcoal is ready, put the top grate back on. Allow it to heat up with all the vents fully open, then pour cooking oil on a folded paper towel and oil the grate using long-handled tongs.

2. Season the Steak

Never cook a steak straight from the refrigerator. A cold steak will cook unevenly. Always take the steak out of the refrigerator and let it sit for about 30 minutes until it reaches room temperature. Trim excess fat off of it to avoid flame flare-ups, and vertically slash the thin piece of fat around the outside of the steak to keep it from curling. Generously apply coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Flip the steak and repeat the process. Salt and pepper should be all you need for a high grade cut of meat, because the natural flavors are enough.

3. Sear and Flip the Steak

Place the steak at the hottest part of the grate, directly above the coals, and let it sear a few minutes, then flip the steak over and sear the other side for the same amount of time. During this searing process, do not move the steak around with the tongs, because this will keep you from getting those great looking grill marks. Close the lid to prevent flame flare-ups. It is a myth that searing locks in juices. However, it does give steak that crusty covering and assures great flavor.

4. Slide the Steak

Searing may be all you need unless your steak is very thick. If the steak is more than 1 inch thick, after you have seared the steak, slide it over to the warm side of the grate but not directly over the coals. Close the lid and continue to cook the steak until it’s at your desired temperature for doneness (see chart from earlier). You do not need to flip the steak during this time.

5. Check for Doneness


Using a digital instant read meat thermometer, check the temperature of the steak while it’s still on the grill. Using the Steak Doneness Chart, grill the steak to your desired taste. Keep in mind that the steak will continue to cook a few degrees more after it’s removed from the grill.

One of the most important parts of grilling a steak is taking it off the heat before it has lost too much moisture. There is a short window of time, usually just a minute or two, when steaks go from medium rare to medium, or from medium to medium well.

You have to stay alert to keep from overcooking your steak. Never walk away from a steak on the grill. And remember, it’s always better to take it off when it’s underdone and then return it to the grill than it is to let a steak get too done. Once that happens, you can’t fix it.

6. Remove Steak and Let it Rest

After removing the steak from the grill, put it on a plate or cutting board and set a loose piece of aluminum foil over it. Let it rest for about 5 minutes, because the temperature will keep going up a little bit and the juices will blend into the meat.

Did you try this method? Let me know how it worked out!

Richard the Grill Master of the Baker House
Ways to Celebrate Easter This Year

Creative Ways to Celebrate Easter, Even When You Are Staying At Home This Year

Posted on Categories Home Life, UncategorizedLeave a comment

When you’re used to gathering around the table with family, attending religious services, and partipating in annual traditions, the thought of having to celebrate a holiday remotely can feel pretty disappointing. There has been so much isolation and change in routine lately with social distancing. Missing out on favorite holiday traditions can magnify feelings of loneliness and make it a tough time for many.

Easter, Passover, and Ramadan will all happen during the coronavirus lockdown. However, even if the festivities might look a little different this year, with a little creativity we can celebrate anyway! Here are some ideas for celebrating Easter, which is my favorite holiday:

Visit Virtually With Friends and Family

Thanks to modern technology with applications such as FaceTime and Skype, and video conferencing platforms like Zoom it is so easy to feel that sense of connection with others, even when you are not physically with them. You can organize a virtual Easter lunch with extended family or watch a church service together. For those who you do not connect with through technology you can go old school and make some phone calls.

Wear What You Want

OK, so if you’re like me and have been living in yoga pants and T-shirts for the past few weeks (no judgement from me at all by the way), maybe it’s still OK to rock that Easter dress or dress the little ones in the clothes you had already picked out for them. You can still shoot that family photo, maybe in the backyard with some flowers in the background.

Personally, I am a little relieved that I don’t have to go look for an Easter dress this year. Every year our choir has a certain color scheme, and I have to try to find a solid color dress (this is hard to with all the floral dresses on sale) that won’t make me look too fat on the big screen at church when I sing. How’s that for transparency?

But if you are the type who loves shopping for a new dress or suit every year why not order one online from a local boutique? Small businesses could really use our support right now anyway.

Tune in to a Church Service

Church buildings may be empty this weekend, but the Easter celebrations will still happen.

Because of social distancing we cannot gather in large groups. This will be the first time in my life (even as a baby) that I have not attended a church service on Easter weekend. At my current church I sing in the choir and usually sing in all six of the Easter services. About 17,000 people attend my church for Easter weekend every year. It is a large multi-ethnic church with tremendously talented musicians. The music is outstanding!

Many Easter church services will be streamed live this year.

Many churches will be live streaming or showing recorded services online this year. If your own church doesn’t stream services you can virtually “visit” another church for Easter. Many popular services are also televised for the holiday. Why not check out one of these from home? If you want to check mine out here is the link with the information. Easter is my favorite holiday because of the reason for the season, so I’ll “be there” virtually.

Give To Others

Make a special holiday online donation to your church or a non-profit organization you believe in or mail a check. In my state of Tennessee the Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse are accepting donations for tornado relief in Nashville.

If you know how to sew you could make facemasks to donate. Your local food pantry, animal hospital, or struggling small businesses would love some help. It feels good to do things for others, and Easter is a perfect time to extend our generosity.

Make a playlist of your favorite worship tunes.

MusicPlaylist
Make an Easter Music Playlist

This doesn’t replace your own church’s music, but a well-chosen playlist of Easter songs will uplift your spirits all day. You and your family can sing along, even if it is only a joyful noise. Here’s a list of the Top 40 Easter Worship Songs for 2020.

Dye Easter Eggs

Get creative when decorating your Easter eggs!

I’m not really sure what eggs and bunnies have to do with the real meaning of Easter, but if you have small children it is still fun to channel your creativity into some good old egg art.

The best way to prepare eggs for decorating is to put the eggs in a pot large enough to hold them all in one layer on the bottom, then cover the eggs with about an inch of water. Add a little vinegar to the water (about 1 tablespoon), then bring the water to a boil and let the eggs boil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and let the eggs sit in the covered pot for 12 minutes. Then you’re good to go! You can even dye them with Kool-Aid powder!

Have an Easter Egg Hunt

Ways to celebrate Easter in 2020
Eggs, bunnies, and chicks are a fun part of Easter for children.

If you have young children you can have an Easter egg hunt in your backyard. You don’t need a neighborhood or school egg hunt party. You can set up your own hunt in your yard or house, and your children will have just as much fun! Don’t worry about getting an elaborate Easter basket. Just go to the store with a list, get some candy, get out, then go home and wash your hands.

However, lately since people are shopping as if a Zombie Apocolypse is happening tomorrow and the only things that can save them are eggs and toilet paper, you may want to use plastic eggs. They might be easier to find in the store. Some people even like them better, because you can hide candy inside.

Make an Easter Brunch

You don’t have to physically be with family and friends to enjoy a special meal.

Who cares if you don’t have company coming over, just pull out the nice dishes and table cloth, and put some flowers from your yard in a vase in the center. I’m a southern gal, and here in the south we celebrate everything with food. You may be used to going out after church for Easter brunch or having a meal with extended family. But this year is a great time to begin a new tradition of cooking.

Don’t like to cook? No worries. Try making a fancy salad or these yummy Spinach Cheese Hot Pockets. Then add my Luscious Lemon Pound Cake for dessert. Maybe you can just pick one new recipe and try it this year, then each year try one more new recipe. Check my blog for a new recipe almost every week.

Try adding some seasonal fruit and pecans to a salad for a special holiday look. This one is drizzled with Rasberry Vinegarette Dressing.

If you normally look forward to a favorite dish your aunt always brings call her for the recipe and try it yourself. Maybe you can even hold a virtual cooking challenge with remote family members. You can set up a Zoom video conference with a family member or friend and talk while you are preparing and eating the meal. Just prop your tablet or phone up on a stand and host a group chat meal. It will feel like you are eating together!

Watch an Easter Movie

There are lots of Easter movies out on Netflix. My favorite though is always the television show “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.” After the egg hunt and brunch is over, get in your PJ’s, gather the family and some popcorn and enjoy a great holiday movie together.

Gratefulness

This is a tradition we usually reserve for Thanksgiving, but the uncertain times we are currently living in makes this a great time to practice gratefulness. While you are eating brunch, have everyone go around and share one thing they are thankful for. Focus on the positive!

Have a Drive By Party

Decorate your car with signs, balloons, and streamers and drive by friends and relatives’ homes. Yell and wave from a safe distance. Some neighborhoods have put pictures of eggs in their windows so that children can have an Easter egg “hunt” when riding by and spotting them. Do what you can to make it a festive day.

Whatever you decide to do make it special!

How will you celebrate the holidays this year at home? Do you have any other ideas? Leave a comment below.

Ways to practice self care when staying at home

10 Ways to Practice Self Care When Staying at Home

Posted on Categories Home Life, UncategorizedLeave a comment

As we have all recently been instructed to be “safe at home” to prevent the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, many of us have found ourselves with an unexpected gift of more time to take care of ourselves. I don’t know about you, but before all this started I was so busy that I never got enough sleep, my house was a mess, and my to-do list was a mile long.

As a full time teacher and blogger I was in survival mode counting the days until spring break and did not even think twice about putting self-care practices on the back burner. It seemed like I was running 90 miles an hour every day then suddenly Bam! Everything just stopped. My schedule instantly cleared, and I had time to think about me again.

Maybe while we are all staying at home, we can start some new habits that we can carry with us when this social distancing time ends. A crazy frantic lifestyle takes a toll on our lives in many ways that we do not notice at first. It is vitally important that we take care of ourselves. So now or any time you should not neglect self-care, and here’s why:

Why You Should Practice Self-Care

Stress Management

We sometimes need a little bit of stress in the form of adrenaline to motivate us to meet a deadline or finish a task, but constant stress and anxiety can negatively affect both your mental and physical health.

Work Life Balance

Our society seems to reward workaholism, but overwork creates stress, exhaustion, and isolation. Spending all of your time and energy on work can actually make you less productive, forgetful, and disorganized. Working too much leaves us emotionally depleted and can create relational problems at work and at home too. In addition, too much stress can lead to a myriad of health problems from heart disease to obesity to anxiety and depression.

You Are Worth It

Self-care is an important way to have a healthy relationship with yourself. You are worth it! So treat yourself with respect and kindness, and avoid self-criticism.

Taking care of yourself gives you positive feelings and can boost your confidence. Healthy self-esteem is attractive to others, so when you take care of yourself your relationships with others improve as well. Having healthy boundaries reminds you and others that your needs are important too. You will be no good to anyone if you are living on the edge. The best thing you can give to others is a healthy you.

Carve out some “me time” in your day.
(image credit: Unsplash)

10 Simple Self Care Habits You Can Begin Now

1. Write it Down

Start a Gratitude Journal
(image credit: Unsplash)

Have you ever kept a journal? I don’t mean the Dear Diary stuff of middle school girls. I mean your hopes, dream, and goals. Start a gratitude journal. Start today by listing the first ten things you can think of that you are thankful for today. Then do that again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Before you know it this habit will change your outlook on your whole life.

What about your goals? Lots of people make a To Do list each day, but now is a great time to think about your dreams and long term goals. What do you want your life to look like 10 years from now? What do you want to see happening in the different areas of your life? Write it down.

Then work backwards and make shorter term goals until you have your daily To Do list. Actually putting the thoughts on paper with a set plan gives you a clear focus and helps you stay on track. We are all adjusting to a weird new normal, even if it is temporary. Set a regualr routine and plan your day in writing.

In addition to things we are grateful for and goals write down your ideas. How many times have you had a creative thought pop into your head, and you think to yourself, “That is a great idea. I need to do that,” but then as soon as you focus on something else the thought is forgotten. Have a work idea, a home decorating idea, a writing or song idea? Keep a tablet out on your desk or kitchen counter at home, and every time you think of something you don’t want to forget, write it down.

2. Improve Your Sleep Habits

Develop good sleep habits.

Now is not the time to start staying up until all hours watching Netflix then sleeping during the day. Now is a great time to catch up on lost sleep and begin a healthy bedtime routine that will last when life returns to normal again.

Make it your aim to go to bed and get up at the same time each day, even on the weekends if you can. During the day make sure you are getting enough natural sunlight either outdoors or through a window when you can, as this helps regulate your body clock and sleep rythyms. I admit that I do not follow this advice all the time, but experts say that it is best to avoid screen time an hour before bedtime. More tips on improving sleep can be found here on my website.

3. Move Some Everyday

Get Moving!
(image credit: Unsplash)

There are so many benefits to being physically active. You do not have to be an athlete or a gym rat. Any way that you can incorporate more movement into your daily life will make a difference. Being active reduces stress by raising the endorphin levels (those “feel good” hormones) in your brain, boosting your mood, and decreasing anxiety.

Instead of making you tired, even minimal exercise actually increases your energy levels, keeps you alert, helps you focus mentally, and helps you sleep better. Now that you are home more experiment with different ways to add physical movement and activity to your day and find something you like that you can stick with long term.

Get outside when you can. Walk the dog, ride a bike, participate in an exercise class online, clean the house, anything that gets you moving. For a video on exercises you can try at home check out my post on losing weight.

4. Give Back

I know it seems odd for me to include this one under a heading of self care. But volunteering our time, energy, and money to help others keeps us from becoming self-focused in an unhealthy way. It will make you feel good to help others in need, and it can sometimes be a great way to meet others – even virtually.

Giving to others helps foster an attitude of gratitude as we see others who are less fortunate. Volunteering with your spouse can even help your marriage! Donate financially to your church or a charity or non-profit that you believe in. Volunteer to read to a child online or offer to tutor someone.

Find ways that you can assist a non-profit organization from home. Maybe offer to make phone calls or send e-mails. I’m not talking about work tasks. Take time to do something that you do not have to do or feel obligated to do but something that you want to do to help someone else.

5. Connect With Others

Having positive healthy relationships in our lives is just as important as our physical health. Staying at home all the time, even if you are not alone, can feel lonely. Just because you are practicing physical distancing does not mean that you have to be socially distant. Use this time to reach out to people you’ve been meaning to check on. Use creative technology to keep in touch with friends, co-workers, family, and others to help you feel connected and supported.

I have never been on so many Zoom video calls as I have in the last two weeks! Through the wonder of video technology I have participated in a school faculty meeting, a Sunday school class, a church small group meeting, a blog mentoring coaching call, a choir meeting, and even a voice lesson all online. But whether it is through video, a phone call, or a text message be proactive in reaching out to others.

6. Cook More

Since we are not going out to eat in restaurants right now many people are rediscovering how fun and relaxing cooking can be. Many times during a typical busy work week we don’t plan out meals well and end up not taking the time to prepare our own food.

Now is the perfect time to try out that new recipe and get creative in the kitchen. If you are looking for inspiration I try to post a new recipe on my blog each week. I am a busy person and am no gourmet cook, so my recipes are usually easy to follow and are always delicious! You will find that cooking at home is healthier and saves you money.

7. Laugh More

Find something to laugh at everyday.
(image credit: Unsplash)

Stop taking yourself so seriously! Take time every day to try to find the humor in life. Read a funny story, watch a funny animal video on Twitter, watch a comedy movie, make up a Tik Tok dance, change the lyrics to a song or commercial jingle to add some humor.

With all of the bad news on TV and popping up on your phone all day, it is especially important now to lighten up and enjoy a laugh now and then. Be observant. There are funny things happening all around us if we are looking for them. Did your dog just do something funny? Did your child just say something funny? What about your hair when you woke up this morning? Now that’s funny!

And did you know that laughter really is good medicine? According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter positively stimulates organs, relieves stress and soothes tension, and improves your immune system and your mood.

8. Stop Comparing

Stop comparing yourself to others! I’m preaching to myself here as well. Our world tends to measure and compare people based on external things. How did we ever get to the place where we think it is OK to base a person’s value on their paycheck or Twitter followers?

Keep in mind that we are usually comparing our worst with their best. People do not often post their “real life” on Facebook. You don’t see people bragging about how their kid brought home straight D’s on their report card or how they are thousands of dollars in debt and can’t get along with anyone in their family.

There will always be people who “seem” better off than you and look like they live a perfect life, so it will always be a losing battle to try to compare your life to that of others. By the way your assumptions about their life being better may actually be completely inaccurate.

Comparison steals your joy and makes you feel ungrateful for what you do have. When you compare you are putting your focus and energy on the wrong person anyway. Your goal should be to become your best you, so instead of wasting energy wishing you had someone else’s life go create your own best life! Only compare yourself to who you were in the past and then applaud your progress!

9. Deal With Clutter

Tackle the clutter and make space for you.
(image credit: Unsplash)

There is so much I could say about the value of de-cluttering your home and life. Without so much visual chaos all around you will feel calmer when you are at home. Cleaning tasks will be easier without so much stuff everywhere, and you will be able to find things you need.

Your home will have a flow to it, since each room has a specific purpose. You won’t have to spend money on things you don’t need or already had but couldn’t find. Now while your calendar is clear and you are home more is the perfect time to do that spring cleaning you’ve been putting off. Go ahead and clean out that closet or junk drawer. You will love the feeling of accomplishment and order it brings.

I just cleaned out our laundry room, and it makes me feel peaceful now when I open the door instead of having to step over all the junk we had “hidden” in there to keep Layla from chewing it. Take care of yourself by creating order and clearing out the clutter.

10. Do What You Love

Make time everyday to do one thing you love.
(image credit: Unsplash)

Maybe this time at home is a good time to do some soul searching. What do you love to do? What are you passionate about? So many times we hear the phrase “do what you love” as it relates to finding your dream job. And this may true to a degree, because a job is not just about money. The right career can make you more productive, inspire others, and make you feel a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. You are more likely to be successful in your career if you love what you do.

But doing what you love doesn’t just have to be your paying job. Part of self care is taking time now to create space in your life and schedule for the things you love to do, even if they are not your job. I love to travel, play with my dogs, spend time with my husband, be outdoors, sing, and write. And I make sure I fit those things into my life as a way to take care of me. I am fortunate that I get to write about many of those things and make some money with this blog.

Take advantage of this time at home to research ways to improve your current job, find a new job, take an online course, practice a skill, or even start a blog. Take some time each day to do one thing you love.

So Go Take Care of Yourself!

For me this sudden clearing of my calendar has been a huge blessing, because I’ve been able to work on this blog from home. What about you? Life is too precious to be wasted. We all have choices. Each day when we get up we can decide to make it a productive fulfilling day or choose to stay in our pajamas and surf the net all day.

Along with work and home responsibilities it is important to remember that taking care of yourself is also your responsibility. No one else is going to do it for you, and it won’t just happen on it’s own. A healthy you is up to you! No use putting off things that you have time to do now. Self care is all about making time for things that are good for you. Is there anything else you would add to this list?

Skillet Italian Macaroni Recipe

Easy Skillet Italian Macaroni Recipe

Posted on Categories Food, Home LifeLeave a comment

Need some quick and easy dinner recipes? Have ground beef in your freezer and no idea what to make tonight? All you need need is a skillet and a stovetop for this easy Italian recipe.

Easy dinner recipe

I love it, because the ingredients are inexpensive, it is easy and quick to make, and it is really delicious. It is one of my husband’s favorites. There are so many different variations you can try. I hope you like it too. Let me know what you think. Here is is:

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 cans (14.5 ounces) diced seasoned tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 envelope onion soup mix
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 1/2 cup fresh spinach (optional)
These are the tomatoes I use.

Directions

  • In a large skillet on the stovetop, cook beef over medium high heat until no longer pink; drain. Add in the onion and saute until soft.
  • Add the tomatoes, water, soup mix, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Stir in macaroni. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8-9 minutes or until macaroni is tender.
  • Add in the fresh spinach if desired and stir about 1 minute.
  • Remove from the heat; stir in Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the top. Cover and let stand for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
If you don’t want it as cheesy, you can reduce the mozzarella to 1 cup.

See! Super easy for busy moms or anyone who needs an inexpensive, easy dinner recipe that takes less than 30 minutes. Italian pasta in a skillet. So simple! This is one of the best skillet macaroni and beef recipes I’ve found, because there are so many different variations you can create.

Leave the lid on for about 2 minutes to let the cheese melt.

You can try penne pasta or shells for a thicker version. If you use larger pasta you might want to add in about 8 oz. tomato sauce or about half a jar of spaghetti sauce to add extra liquid. Allow a little longer cooking time as well. If you decide to cook the pasta separately and add it in, make sure you reduce the water to 1 cup.

For the meat you can try half beef and half ground Italian sausage or all ground sausage to add a little more flavor.

To save calories use ground turkey instead. It tastes just as good! You can also use half-skim cheese instead of whole milk mozzarella. You can really use any cheese you happen to have on hand, but mozzarella is my favorite for this dish.

Serve with garlic bread and a salad. Yummy!

Other variations:

Add in a 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to add a little kick. Add 1 teaspoon minced garlic with the onion in the browning stage. Increase the Italian seasoning to 2 teaspoons. Add in 1/2 teaspoon each of onion powder and garlic powder.

Throw in some fresh parsley to the sauce. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper. Try adding 1/2 cup mushrooms.

This is one of those recipes that you can throw together with just about anything you happen to have on hand. It is hard to mess it up, and everyone will enjoy it. How can you go wrong with meat, macaroni, tomatoes, and cheese? I really enjoy the flavors of onion and garlic, tomatoes, and cheese. I love all things Italian!

Try it tonight and let me know what you think. Did you prepare it as is, or did you try your own variation? Do you have any creative suggestions of your own? Please leave your reviews, suggestions, and comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

National Puppy Day

Is Today National Puppy Day? 10 Fun Ways To Celebrate

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Is it National Puppy Day? Yes! Today, March 23, 2020 is National Puppy Day.

This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn commission when you click on the links at no additional cost you. However, opinions are my own.

Dogs are awesome. They just are. They bring unconditional love and affection into our lives in a way that no one else can. And puppies are the cutest, fuzziest, make-us-smile creatures God ever created. Every year we take time to stop and celebrate National Puppy Day, but if you have a dog every day is puppy day, right? The actual holiday was started in 2006 by author Colleen Paige, and it has now spread across the globe. Her intention was to focus attention on puppy adoption and on the abuses in puppy mills. But she also just wanted us to celebrate these loving little fur balls we call puppies. According to the Center for Disease Control, owning a pet decreases blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. People who own at least one pet also have increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and more opportunities for socialization. All the more reason to celebrate National Puppy Day!

Hey Everybody! It’s National Puppy Day!

Here Are 10 Fun Ideas To Help You Celebrate Puppies on National Puppy Day or Any Day

1. Buy Your Puppy Some New Toys

Buy some new toys for your puppy. As their new teeth come in puppies love to chew everything, so give them plenty of safe chew toys. Our puppy Layla loves to pull the stuffing out of all the toys and “conquer” the squeaker inside. So we quickly learned to give her sturdier toys made especially for teething puppies and to supervise her play. I think I enjoy seeing how happy toys make her as much as she does playing with them! We have found that filling a Kong Toy with healthy food then freezing it keeps Layla occupied for hours.

Sometimes Layla likes to sleep with her dog toy.

2. Throw a Virtual National Puppy Day Party!

Since we are currently social distancing, use Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or some other program to connect with other dog owners and celebrate together. You can eat, drink, dress your dogs in costumes, dress yourselves in costumes, have balloons, whatever you find festive and have a perfectly posh puppy party!

What could be more festive than a National Puppy Day puppy party?

3. Have a Puppy Photo Shoot

And you want to make sure you take pictures at that party, right? You don’t have to hire a professional photographer for this. You can just use your phone and set up several backgrounds or situations to show off your pup in all his cuteness. You could send your digital photos off to a service like Shutterfly and have a calendar made and have your own personalized Cute Puppies Calendar on the wall with a different version of cuteness each month!

Cute puppies make great photos!

4. Teach Your Pup a New Trick

Puppies learn quickly and are eager to please. Use small treats to teach your puppy to sit, stay, and come. And maybe try some other fun tricks like shake or roll over. Layla learned “sit” quite easily, and now whenever she sees me near the treat jar she just automatically sits and looks at me expectantly. Use positive reinforcement. Never yell at or hit your puppy. They will not understand and will learn to be afraid of people. You might also want to consider hiring a professional to help you train your puppy.

Puppies love to learn new tricks.

5. Walk Your Puppy

Puppies are high energy and thrive on exercise. And the bonus is that when your puppy is tired she will just take a nap instead of chewing your furniture! And let’s face it – walking outdoors is good for us humans too! Because of coronavirus some people are avoiding dog parks temporarily, but you can easily and safely walk alone or with a partner outside. In fact, when you adopt a puppy you will never have to walk alone again! My dogs get so excited when they see me grab the leash and put my shoes on.

Walking dogs
Walking your dog is good for them and us. I wonder if Layla can read?

6. Keep Your Puppy Safe

Make sure to get your puppy a microchip and I.D. tag in case your puppy ever gets out. The AKC website explains how. It is also a good idea to check your yard and fence for any place that your puppy might be able to get out and secure it for safety. Try to eliminate chemical cleaners and buy non-toxic ones instead. Try to keep toxic plants out of your garden or fence that part off to keep your puppy out. Never chain your puppy to a tree, fence, or doghouse. Your puppy is a member of your family!

Layla likes to be right where the flowers are.

7. Donate to a Local Shelter

If social distancing makes it difficult to volunteer right now, you can always donate money or things to a local adoption shelter. You can even make a donation in your pet’s name. Shelters can use items such as blankets, toys, and cleaning supplies. You can also make a donation to organizations such as ASPCA. Here’s an idea: Share pictures of adoptable dogs and puppies from the local shelter or rescue group to help them find forever homes. Both of my dogs are rescue dogs, and I think rescue dogs are the best!

Local animal rescue shelters and organizations always need donations.

8. Make Them Homemade Treats

There are lots of simple recipes out there for delicious and healthy homemade dog treats. See what you have in your pantry at home and let your creativity take over! Feed your puppy only all natural food and treats. Make sure your brand of puppy food is healthy. And if you haven’t already, try Chewy‘s automatic delivery service so you don’t have to get out to go buy more dog food when it runs out. For now you can get 30% off your first Autoship. No coupon needed!

The right food for your pup is important.

9. Arrange a Play Date With a Friend’s Puppy

Socialization is important for puppies. Dogs are pack animals and do not like to be left alone. Once the vet says your puppy is old enough to meet new dogs, arrange a play date where your puppy can meet a neighbor dog or offer to pet sit a friend’s puppy to give them a short break. Puppies can be quite a handful! Make sure to adhere to CDC guidelines though to keep yourself safe and healthy.

Banjo and Layla like to just chill with their human and look out the window.

10. Shower Your Puppy With Extra TLC

It’s a given that you would want to give your puppy extra love and special attention on National Puppy Day, but I have to say it anyway. Young puppies especially may miss their mother and siblings from the litter. Make sure to help them feel safe and loved by giving them lots of affection.

Puppies give us unconditional love.

How will you celebrate National Puppy Day?

Let’s see how many comments I can collect below. And remember, you can comment any day – even if you read this post past the actual National Puppy Day. Happy National Puppy Day America!

Apple Cobbler

CrockPot Apple Cobbler

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Restaurants in my town have closed their dining rooms because of the coronavirus pandemic, so more people are forced to cook at home. Time to get out the Crock Pot! I love the Crock Pot, because you just dump everything in and turn it on then forget about it for a few hours. My kind of cooking!

This apple cobbler recipe is so easy and delicious! You can find good use for that bag of apples you bought on sale at the grocery store before the crazed fight for toilet paper began. It only takes about 15 minutes to prepare – especially if you have someone peel and chop the apples for you!

The apple chopping king!

Ingredients:

Apple Filling:

5 medium apples (Gala, Honey Crisp, or similar), peeled, cored, and sliced thinly

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup Bisquick baking mix

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping:

1 cup Bisquick baking mix

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup oats (I used Quaker)

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, chopped up into pieces

Directions:

Spray inside of slow cooker with Pam cooking spray or use a slow cooker liner bag. For the Apple Filling, toss apple slices with brown sugar, Bisquick, and cinnamon in a large bowl.

Put these apple slices in the slow cooker.

For the Topping, mix all topping ingredients, except butter, in a medium bowl.

Cut in butter with fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over Apple Filling. Cover.

Cook 3 hours on high.

This is very sweet, so you can cut back on the sugar some if you prefer. It is also best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to compliment the sweetness.

Best Free Educational Websites for Kids

30 Free Educational Websites to Keep Kids Learning While They Are Stuck at Home

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School closures and social distancing due to the COVID-19 outbreak mean millions of parents and guardians who are used to sending their children to school each day are now faced with the task of educating them at home. Maybe this describes you.

Are you suddenly a homeschool teacher? You may be thinking, “I did not sign up for this! How will I keep my child engaged in learning and not just have a free for all in front of the screen?” Well, I am here to help you navigate this unfamiliar transition. Below are a few tips as well as a list of some of the best educational websites for kids – all of them free, since free is my favorite price. And several that are not normally free are currently offering free subscriptions during this Coronavirus pandemic.

This temporary situation will not be the same as regular school, and it is important to remember that. Your child will not be as focused, the lessons will be different online, and the social isolation will make it feel very different than regular classes. But hopefully some of these tips will make your unexpected job a little easier – and will maybe get that Baby Shark hand washing song stuck out of your head! Woops! Sorry, I just made you think about it again didn’t I?

1. Check with Your Child’s School First.

Check your child’s school website first to see if his or her teacher left some work. There may be digital assignments or other instructions with resources, materials, and due dates. There may be a platform such as Schoology your child’s school uses to receive and submit work from the teacher. Check school e-mail and see if the school’s main website has a FAQ section about coronavirus and school closures.

2. Make a Daily Schedule.

Without a daily routine like they have at school many children will find it difficult to get motivated and stay focused enough to study and learn. The online coursework or learning packets from school are nonnegotiables, but outside of that give your child some choice about what they want to learn.

Once you and your children have identified the subjects they will study, make a schedule and hang it up so that everyone in the family knows what is expected and when. It is important that kids do not see this as an extended snow day or longer than usual Spring Break. Most kids work off of a regular schedule in their classrooms or they change classes at certain times, so creating a similar schedule at home can ease the transition to a different learning environment. Keep things at home as normal as possible. Make sure to include some sort of recess or outdoor active time as well.

3. Accept Your Limits.

Maybe your child is not the only one having to work from home. Because of social distancing or self-quarantining many parents have also been asked to work from home when they can. This means that hundreds of thousands of mothers and fathers likely will be forced to try to balance homeschooling with all of their other regular daily responsibilities at work.

This is uncharted territory, so we all just have to do the best we can, whether we are parents, teachers, or any other working adult. Your child’s teacher does not expect you to become a teacher overnight. Parents and teachers need to give each other grace and have lots of patience as we try to do what’s best for our children’s education.

Online Resources

I have only listed websites or apps that I, as a teacher, have personally used or know of colleagues who have used with success. A word of caution: Be careful how much personal information your child gives out on any website. Many times a site will ask for all sorts of personal data in the registration process. Often that information is not really needed in order to complete the process.

ABC YA – Free educational games for younger students. I used this site when I taught English language learners in an elementary school.

Adapted Mind – This site turns real math into a fun game. Teachers worked hand in hand with the designers to assure that their K-6 curriculum is research-based, common core aligned, and comprehensive. There are over 300,000 math problems and explanations. What makes it great is that students will feel like they’re playing a game. I have used this with 6th grade students in intervention before, and they loved it. However, this product is lacking some details which makes it confusing at times. I would only use it for fun, not as your main source of instruction.

BrainPop – This is a fun animated educational site for kids – Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology – where students watch videos and learn from characters Tim and Moby (a robot) then take a quiz and complete activities. There is also BrainPop Jr. for younger kids. I have used this frequently and think it is great. Some of their content is always free, but they are now offering all free access to anyone during school closures!

Discovery Education – Self -quarantined or social distancing? This site lets you take free virtual field trips to awesome places all over the world! They also have created a special channel within Discovery Education Experience—the Viruses and Outbreak Channel—featuring digital content that will help you discuss the Coronavirus outbreak with your children. This content includes timely updates on what the Coronavirus is, information on how infectious diseases spread, and essential guidelines for staying healthy.

Educreations Pro – Educreations is a unique interactive whiteboard and screencasting tool that’s very simple, powerful, and fun to use. You can annotate, animate, and narrate nearly any type of content as you explain any concept. As students have to teach material themselves, they learn more. In response to the coronavirus the company is now offering free Educreations Pro upgrades for teachers. Their basic account is always free, so this could easily be used at home.

EverFi – This is a paid site offering digital financial education, but right now parents and teachers can sign up for a free teacher account.

Flipgrid – My middle school students love using this program! They record a short video of themselves explaining a topic and see and comment on others’ videos in their class as they view the “grid.” Parents can now create a free account at home for students.

Funbrain – Claims to be the #1 site for online educational games for kids of all ages. (math, grammar, science, spelling, history) It is a free site, and there are lots of great learning games there. However, some of the games are just for fun and not that educational. The site also has a lot of ads.

Gimkit – Gimkit is a game show for the classroom that requires knowledge, collaboration, and strategy to win. My students love this, because it allows them to win “money,” “ice” another student who is in the lead, and other fun features. If you have more than one child of similar age at home they will beg you to play this and end up learning without realizing it!

GoNoodle – Interactive music videos that get kids of all ages up and moving. My school’s P.E. department has used this with great success. All free!

Highlights Kids – Remember sitting in the doctor’s office waiting room as a kid and looking at Highlights magazine? This site is a place for children of all ages to play games and discover new jokes, surveys, answers to science questions, and fun crafts and recipes from Highlights. And it’s free!

Hour of Code – According to their website, Code.org® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by women and underrepresented youth. The Hour of Code is their global campaign. On this site you can try a free one-hour tutorial designed for all ages in over 45 languages. The high interest subjects such as popular video games keep students focused.

IXL – My middle school uses the paid version, but there are some free resources for families on their website. IXL is a comprehensive tool that provides personalized math and language arts practice. With a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics, IXL meets the unique needs of each student. Kids can try the skill exercises for free at home, but they’ll be limited to a small number of problems per day. You must be a paying member to access IXL’s unlimited exercises, tracking, awards, and certificates.

Kahoot – Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home. You can sign up for free! I use this as a formative assessment in the classroom, but I have also used it when teaching adults. It is super fun.

Khan Academy – A nonprofit with the mission “to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” My school uses this trusted resource created by experts. They have a huge library of standards-aligned practice and lessons covering math for K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, and more – even AP classes. It’s all free too!

Legends of Learning – Students love playing through assignments using math and science games with their own custom-created avatar. Their new standards-aligned “Awakening” home mode allows teachers to direct and monitor student learning from a distance.

MobyMax – In this site you can find and fix learning gaps with differentiated learning in all K-8 subjects. I used it in intervention classes with students who were struggling with math. They liked that they could earn growth rewards and prizes. On their site now they have a quick guide to using Moby at home. A surprising amount of features is included in the free version.

National Geographic Kids – Lots of free educational games, videos, interactive activities, and more.

NearPod – Nearpod is an award-winning student engagement platform with ready-to-run interactive lessons for K-12 teachers. My students have enjoyed these lessons – especially when they get to a part with virtual reality where they can move their iPad around and see a panoramic view of something. There is a limited free version that I have used.

Newsela – This site takes real content from the world’s most trusted providers and turns it into learning materials that are classroom-ready. From their website: “Whether your school is teaching through a closure or building plans to prepare, we’re here to help you ensure that learning doesn’t stop. We’re offering free access to Newsela’s entire product suite for the rest of the 2019/2020 school year.” Lots of teachers in my school use this resource and love it!

PBS Kids – Always free. Great games, videos, and activities for all ages. My sixth grade STEM students enjoy “Design Squad” videos of students designing, building and testing projects. Right now they have a newsletter you can sign up for that will give you daily activities and tips to help kids play and learn at home.

Professor Garfield – I love this free site. I guess because I’ve always loved the comic strip Garfield. Because of the literacy problem in the United States, their mission is “to be a world leader in the direct, free delivery of innovative and motivational digital learning content with a primary emphasis on children’s literacy and creative expression. Initially, we will accomplish this by creating fun and educationally sound interactive activities and games where kids like to play — on the Internet — supplemented with standards-based resources for teachers, parents and mentors. Within ten years, we believe our edutainment site will be regarded as the leading free resource and authority in literacy as demonstrated by visitors, measurable outcomes, and global impact.” Check out some of the interactive learning games.

ReadWorks – I have used this free site for years in intervention to assist students with reading comprehension. Their nonprofit mission is to support the effective teaching and learning of reading. From their website: “Teachers, parents, and students never have to pay to access ReadWorks digitally or otherwise. All adults, no matter who they are, may create a digital class and assign reading content and curriculum to students for free. We have always believed that students deserve barrier-free access to the highest-quality reading materials and instruction and that belief has only grown stronger during this crisis.”

Scholastic – They just released free daily courses for kids stuck at home amid coronavirus school closures. The section is called “Learn From Home” and has four age categories. There are up to 3 hours of content a day, and they can be completed on any device.

Starfall – For children in K-3rd grade. I used this for English language learners when I taught elementary ESL. According to their website, “Starfall’s emphasis on phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity has proven effective in teaching emergent readers. Starfall activities are research-based and align with Individual and Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics.” There is a lot of free content, and their low-cost membership program expands the free content to include animated songs, mathematics, and reading activities spanning K-3. Membership also supports the production of new books, songs, educational games, and movies.

Storylineonline – This is another site I liked to use as an elementary ESL teacher. The site has videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more. According to their website: “Reading aloud to children has been shown to improve reading, writing and communication skills, logical thinking and concentration, and general academic aptitude, as well as inspire a lifelong love of reading. Teachers use Storyline Online in their classrooms, and doctors and nurses play Storyline Online in children’s hospitals.” Adults enjoy it too!

Seussville – The home of all things Dr. Seuss! What else is there to say?

Teacher Created Materials – In light of the coronavirus crisis, on their website they are now offering free downloadable work from home resources such as Daily Practice Worksheets, Quick Science labs, and Reader’s Theater scripts. These are all teacher-approved materials you would normally have to pay for. I have used many of their materials in the past and found them to be very helpful. In addition to the free resources they are offering 40% off selected Learn-at-Home resources as well. Just use the promo code HOME40. This code expires April 30, 2020. The good thing about eBooks is that they are immediately available for use with no shipping charges!

TED-Ed – You can create a free account by registering. This site has video lessons and series by top educators, made into animated videos for kids. Lots of material here!

VidCode – According to their site Vidcode offers the #1 research-backed standards-aligned computer science courses, focused on open-ended projects. This is one I have not tried, but I know other teachers who have used it with success. It won a Parents’ Choice Award and is supposed to be the best way to learn to code for teens. Right now you can sign up to access Vidcode’s full curriculum until May 2020 or schools reopen. What a deal!


Dog People vs. Cat People

Cat People vs. Dog People What’s the Difference?

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Is there a big difference between cat people and dog people?

Are you a cat person or a dog person? I’m allergic to cats and absolutely love dogs, so that’s a no-brainer for me. Dogs and cats are very different. When you feed a dog they think, “You must be God!” But when you feed a cat they think, “I must be God!” Did you know that being a cat or dog person may actually reveal some interesting things about you, as recent Nuwber data and a university survey reveals.

Nuwber uncovered some interesting findings:

  • Dog people tend to make more money
  • Cat people have better credit scores
  • Dog owners prefer warmer climates and spend more time outdoors
  • Love to travel correlates with cat ownership

The saying “A dog is a man’s best friend” or in my case a women’s best friend might be true. The answer to whether you are a dog person or a cat person may also say a lot about your personality. According to WebMd, a survey done by the University of Texas at Austin found that some popular ideas about pet lovers may be true after all. In fact, you may end up being a lot more like your furry friend than you ever realized.

Here are some interesting findings from this survey:

  • Dog people were 11% more conscientious than cat people. This means they are generally more self-disciplined, strong sense of duty, and tend to be “planners.”
  • Dog people were 15% more extroverted than cat people. They are outgoing, enthusiastic, and positive. They seize the day! Is that you?
  • Are you open to trying new things? Cat people were 11% more likely to be open, according to the survey. Open people tend to be the creative artistic types. They are curious and are typically nontraditional thinkers.
  • According to this survey, if you’re a dog person, you’re 13% more likely to be agreeable than a cat person. Agreeable people are most likely kind, altruistic, trusting, affectionate, and sociable.
  • If you’re a cat person and you get stressed out easily you’re not alone. In this survey cat people were 12% more neurotic than dog people. Neurotic people are easily stressed, anxious, and just general worriers.

Last year a General Social Survey cited in this Washington Post article that dog owners are in fact happier than cat owners. You cat people probably disagree, but hey I’m just the messenger. Similar to the U.T. Austin survey,  The General Social Survey research based its conclusions on how people reported their feelings. Nuwber decided to leverage their data to see if there are any metrics that support, or disprove, these strong claims.

What other differences are there between cat and dog owners? What other factors could make one group happier than the other? Nuwber wanted to know if feeling happier has to do with financial well-being or something else. Or, they wondered, “Maybe, it is the choice of your pet that somehow influences your lifestyle and makes you and your pet resemble each other in character after a certain period of time.” Why are dog owners usually more friendly and open, qualities generally associated with being positive and happy?

Some of the data Nuwber uncovered may answer these questions:

DEMOGRAPHICS

Certain demographic characteristics may be tied to cat owners vs. dog owners, including the state in which you live, your occupation and your income.

STATE

According to Nuwber’s data, there are generally more dog owners in warmer, sunnier states, while cat owners are more likely to live in the northern, cooler states. The purple on their map represents states where percentage of cat owners is higher than percentage of dog owners, while turquoise represents states with a higher percentage of dog owners:

Image from Nuwber

Nuwber decided to go deeper into how significant the difference of cat people vs. dog people is in each state. In this map, with purple still representing more cat than dog owners, and turquoise more dog than cat owners, darker colors indicate a more significant difference in the percentage of cat owners vs. dog owners.

Image from Nuwber

This makes sense to me as a dog owner. Dogs love to be outside where they can run around, smell things, and get exercise. They do not like to do this in the freezing cold weather, so warmer states for dog owners makes sense. I live in Tennessee, and I have two dogs.

Texas, where the previously mentioned university survey was conducted, is a good example. According to the table above there is a significant difference in probability between cat owners and dog owners.

Washington, on the other hand, has a rainy cool climate. It is more likely a state where cat owners would live, since most cats prefer to stay inside.

OCCUPATION

According to the data from Nuwber, your pet choice may also be determined by your job. Their data shows that cat owners are more likely to be medical professionals (a difference of 0.66%). I guess this makes sense. Since cats require less care than dogs do, they might be a better pet for people working in the medical field who work odd hours and may be gone for longer periods of time. 

Nuwber found that cats’ home-body nature makes them a good fit for retired individuals as well (7.61% difference). Usually retired people are older, and they may not be as physically capable of handling a high-energy pet like a dog. Dogs are a little more high maintenance. Retired people also typically spend more time at home.  Those in the category of “homemaking” are also more likely to own a cat.

Nuwber’s data shows that dog owners are more likely to work in a professional/technical (1.31% difference) or white collar (2.52% difference) field. Also, according to their data, dog owners are more likely to hold financial positions. This is compared to other careers, like farming and education, both of which have a higher probability of cat ownership. Who knew?

If you are interested in learning more about the differences in occupation probability between cat and dog owners check out Nuwber’s website.

INCOME

Taking care of a dog is typically more expensive than caring for a cat, but dog owners also tend to have higher incomes. Nuwber sites a survey from Mars Petcare which found that dog owners have a $47,000 higher income on average. It looks like the Nuwber data supports the results of this survey. Their stats show that there is a tendency for dog owners to earn more than cat owners: those in the income bracket of around $100,000 have a higher probability of owning a dog versus a cat.

Banjo and Layla are spoiled.

According to Nuwber for instance, average dog owners with jobs in the financial field earn anywhere between $75,000 and $120,000, per data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is opposed to careers in farming (yearly salaries between $25,000 and $51,000 with the exception of administrative and leadership positions) or education (salaries between $34,000 and $64,000, same exceptions apply), both of which have a higher probability of cat ownership.

The graph below shows Nuwber data on the differences in income probability between cat and dog owners:

Image from Nuwber

As I mentioned earlier dogs are generally higher maintenance pets and tend to cost more. Just ask my husband about the sticker shock he often gets since we got Layla. People spend a lot of money on their pets!

Our sweet Layla

Often times not only do the jobs associated with dog owners have higher salaries, but they also allow more flexibility, with work-from-home and paid-time-off options. That flexibility means dog owners can spend more time with their dogs to play with them, take them on walks, and do other “dog maintenance” tasks. As mentioned earlier, cats don’t require as much attention or money and can be home on their own for longer stretches of time assuming they are left with sufficient food and a litter box.

Credit Ratings

One surprising finding is that while dog owners have higher incomes, Nuwber data reveals that cat owners have higher credit ratings:

Image from Nuwber

This chart shows that those with credit scores between 650 and 800+ are more likely to be cat owners, while scores of 649 down to under 499 are more likely to be dog owners. So while dog owners may earn more annually, they may not be saving their money or spending it as responsibly. Or maybe they are spending it all on their dogs!

HOBBIES

Whether you prefer dogs or cats may not just reveal something about your personality but may also indicate what you enjoy doing. The same Mars Petcare survey shows that while dog owners tend to be more interested in sports and the outdoors, cat owners enjoy more quiet creative activities.

Below is a breakdown from Nuwber of how cat and dog owners like to spend their time:

Cat owners are more likely to have an interest in home decorating (0.46% difference) and cooking (1.13% difference), activities that take some creativity and are done inside the home. 

While cat owners enjoy indoor activities, Nuwber’s data shows that dog owners lean toward outdoor activities and sports like golf (1.88% difference). People with dogs tend to be more athletic and spend more time outside walking, running and playing with their pups. Have you ever heard of anyone going running with their cat?

On the other hand, data aggregated through Nuwber reveals that cat owners have a higher probability of indicating travel as a hobby or interest. When you think about it, it makes sense. Cats can be left home alone for longer periods of time, with a friend or neighbor checking on them every so often to make sure they have enough food and water.

Dogs, however, require more attention and care, with most dog owners leaving them at a friend or family member’s home when out of town, or boarding them. We pay a college student to stay at our house when we travel and take care of our dogs. Most dog owners I know still love to travel, but they just have to plan carefully. And many even travel with their pets! I am a dog person, and I love to travel so much that I have a travel blog!

According to Nuwber, cat owners are slightly more likely to enjoy reading; however, owning either a cat or dog has a strong correlation to reading, with probabilities of over 90 percent. One of our dogs actually watches TV and runs outside when a dog is on a commercial. I guess she is looking for the dog she saw in the “box.” But who doesn’t also love to read snuggled up on the couch with their fur baby?

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

To sum it all up, the data from Nuwber and the other surveys indicate that there are some objective reasons dog owners might have a subjective feeling of being happier. After all, dog lovers live in warmer climates, thus spending more time outside, have higher paying jobs and make more money, all of which could contribute to happiness.

I don’t know whether or not this means that cat people aren’t happy people. But I do know that our two dogs, Banjo and Layla, bring us much joy. I am sure that whether you are a “cat person” or a “dog person,” your pets are a valued member of the family and brings lots of love.

Which one are you? Do you agree with these findings? Leave your comment below.

How to Make Spaghetti Sauce

How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce

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Don’t eat your noodles plain. Cover them with delicious tomato meat sauce!

It’s Fun Food Friday! This week’s recipe is so yummy.

It may be tempting to just open a jar or can of store bought spaghetti sauce, but I encourage you not to do this. Why? Because I am going to teach you how to make homemade -from scratch awesome spaghetti sauce with ground beef or chicken. And this recipe is so easy I know you can do it! The taste is worth the little extra effort, I promise.

I have to confess though that I make it a little differently every time and cannot tell you exact measurements to use, so you may have to experiment a little to get it just the way you like it. I estimated the amount in the recipe. Most really good southern cooks just throw in a little of this and a little of that and taste along the way. But I will do my best to break it down in simple, easy to follow steps.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

garlic (use a real one or the kind in a jar not dried garlic) – 1 Tbs chopped

Worchestershire sauce – 2 squirts

Oregano – 1 tsp.

Basil (fresh is best) – 1 tsp.

Parsley (fresh is best) – 1 tsp.

1 Bay leaf

Chili Powder – 1/2 tsp.

ketchup – 2 Tbs.

sugar – 1 tsp. (don’t put too much)

small can tomato paste

large can tomatoes – 14.5 oz.

can tomato sauce – 14.5 oz.

1/2 cup water

Directions:

Brown the ground beef in a large pan then add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is browned a little then drain the fat off using the pan lid to keep the meat from falling into the sink. Keep water running while you do this to keep from clogging the sink.

Stir in all the rest of the ingredients. Simmer on the stove with the lid on the pan for 45 min. – 1 hour.

In the last ten minutes boil the spaghetti noodles and drain.

Serve over pasta with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve with a salad and garlic bread.

Be creative and add your own variations. You can use chicken instead of beef. Try adding chopped green bell peppers or other vegetables. You can make it Vegan by adding more vegetables and leaving out the meat. Do you have any ideas? I’d love to hear them!

Easy Broccoli Cheese Cornbread Muffins

Broccoli Cheese Cornbread Muffins

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These muffins are so easy to make, and they are delicious! There are lots of different variations, so you can be creative and try different things instead of broccoli if you want.

Ingredients:

1 (8 1/2 oz.) package corn muffin mix

1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed – I like to make sure it is not mostly stalks.

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese (Colby Jack combo works well too)

1 small onion, chopped fine

2 large eggs

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted – Real butter works best.

Directions: Stir up the first 4 ingredients in a large bowl

In a small bowl stir together eggs and butter, blending well.

Add egg and butter mixture to the broccoli mixture, stirring just until all ingredients are moistened.

Make a little dip in the center of the mixture to pour the egg mixture into.

Spoon into mini muffin pans sprayed with Pam, filling three-fourths full (I made mine into regular size muffins in the above picture. If you do this you need to bake them about 8 minutes longer).

Bake at 325 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes or until golden. Let them stand about 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Makes 2 dozen mini muffins or 1 dozen regular size ones. These look pretty and are great for company. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months and have them ready in a flash if you need to bring something to a potluck.

Variations: Instead of broccoli add 1 small can of Mexican corn and jalapeno cheese; You can experiment with low-fat cheese but some bake better than others.

Inspired by a recipe I saw on myrecipes.com

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