Easy to make Kielbasa Ke-bob Recipe

It's grilling season, FINALLY!! I have so many grilled recipes on my website through the years I thought I might share them before today's recipe:

Chicken Pineapple Kebobs Recipe

Grilled Seasoned Chicken

Backyard BBQ Chicken

Steak Kabobs Recipe

Pineapple Chicken Kabobs Recipe

Now, onto today's recipe featuring kielbasa as the main meat source. 

What you will need: 

Package (or two) of Keilbasa

Pineapple rounds

Vegetables, chopped  

The best part about these are the fact you can add anything you want. I personally love grilled pineapple!!

This is such an easy recipe idea because you can put anything you like on the skewers. I love easy to make dinner ideas that you can use any ingredients you already have. Add Kielbasa Ke-bob to the grill, cook until done. Serve and Enjoy!

Visiting the Founder’s District, Hog Island Wildlife Management Area

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Founder's District for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” - Thomas Paine

Have you ever thought about retracing the steps of some of our founding fathers? It might sound a bit strange, but it’s entirely possible. If you visit the Founder’s District, you’ll come across unique attractions that will allow you to do just that. There are several great places in and around Surry that’ll provide you with both entertainment and an educational experience. You’ll notice the Founder’s District is the perfect place for both children and adults to visit because of everything it offers.

From the 17th century practice by English settlers of allowing hogs to forage at the tip of a peninsula jutting into the lower James River came the name Hog Island. Today, this “island” is the largest of several tracts that make up the Hog Island Wildlife Management Area. Here, waterfowl are attracted, often by the thousands, to forage and rest on the tidal marshes, diked impoundments and planted fields. There is also the opportunity to see eagles, an array of shorebirds, and even upland wildlife species on some parts of the area.

Ways to have an unforgettable experience at the Founder’s District:

● Check out Historic Jamestowne. You’ll step foot in an area where the English permanently settled in America. It’s a learning experience that will take you back in time.

● Take advantage of nature activities and attractions in the Hog Island Wildlife Management Area. You’ll get a chance to go on a hike, catch some fish, or even ride bikes alongside loved ones.

● Visit the Chippokes Plantation State Park. It’s not far from the Hog Island Wildlife Management Area, and it’s considered one of the oldest plantations still in existence in the United States. You can camp in the area for an enjoyable, educational experience with the family.

● Don’t forget to visit the Jamestown Settlement museum. It’s home to dozens of unique, interesting exhibits and immersive living-history that may leave you in awe.

Check out the Founder’s District and all that it has to offer. Bring the kids with you for an unforgettable and enjoyable learning experience.

Which spot would you like to visit first?

Celebrate Shark Week with FossilEra

Happy Shark Week ya'll! My son and I look forward to this all year. He is an avid lover of animals but Sharks in particular. Our friends over at FossilEra.com are celebrating with us! They are hosting a HUGE sale of all fossil shark teeth ( during Shark week, Sunday, July 11th, through the 18th). 

Get 10% off, no discount code needed!

This is a sponsored post with FossilEra. The products mentioned in this blog post may not be available - please check the website for current availability. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Fossil shark teeth are often fairly common in the fossil record because sharks constantly replace their work teeth during their lifetime and they preserve well. FossilEra carry a wide selection of authentic fossil shark teeth for sale in many species, sizes and quality ranges. We don't sell modern day shark teeth or reproductions, just the real thing".

"The Megalodon ("Big Tooth") shark was possibly the most fearsome ocean predator in earths history reaching lengths of 50+ feet in length. This mega-shark lived approximately 15.9 to 2.6 million years ago. FossilEra offers a wide selection of fossil Megalodon teeth for sale from around the world in all sizes and qualities. We do not sell reproductions or casts and guarantee the authenticity of all of the fossils that we sell".

FossilEra has such a HUGE selection of fossils and crystals, you can easily find something for anyone. 

My son and I are super excited about their every changing inventory. I promised to share our purchases with you all. Here is a snap of our order!

Things to Do Near Hershey Park in Pennsylvania

I have recently seen so many comments about things to do in Harrisburg, PA. Hershey Park is a wonderful park to bring your family but the area has much more to offer! I thought perhaps it was time to share some of my families suggestions since we just returned from a trip to the area ourselves!

Hershey Park: Yes, as stated above a wonderful place to bring your whole family. While I want to focus on other places to visit in area, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a few things about this Park! My first recommendation...go EARLY to beat some of the crowds. This place gets packed by mid afternoon so be vigilant on planning your trip. While this Amusement Park offers rides, shows, water slides, game you name it they also have interactive characters that walk around. My son LOVES meeting them so I had to mention them!!

Visit Zoo America! They believe it is their responsibility to protect, promote, and encourage the conservation of wildlife, natural resources, and habitats. We love wandering around and viewing the different species. This year we were lucky to see many animals had babies! Including one of their Sea lions whose was named after the Hershey family, "Cocoa".

They also have shows, educational and animal viewings (pictured above) plus petting areas for the whole family. Another great benefit, you get FREE admission when you buy Hershey Park tickets!!

 Take a trip to the Indian Echo Caverns. After some HOT weather in the area it feels so good to get out of the heat & enjoy the 52 degree caves! We visited on a day the humidity was around 99% and temps of 100 degrees. This is a guided tour that lasts a good chunk of time depending on how many questions and stories are told. I would recommend bringing a sweater because it does get chilly towards the end. These caverns are well lite but do have some small spaces to walk through. We wore sneakers and I think that is a good idea because the floor can get slippery due to the water dripping! 

Explore Lake Tobias!! I will be honest with you I stumbled on this Wildlife park purely by accident. We had nothing planned one day, driving to another destination, when I spotted a sign to this place. It was sprinkling so I thought I should call ahead and see if they were even open. By the time we got to Lake Tobias the sun was out and they were running the Safari buses!

I could write a WHOLE post on this place because it was THAT memorable (actually I think I will). If your family enjoys animals, like mine does, this is the place for you! First off it's so affordable, I believe it was around $8 a person!! Second, the Safari rides are the BEST I have EVER been on thus far. They are done in a half school bus with educated tour guides that truly love the animals they work along side.

Third the enclosures are HUGE! This place is so large that they could easily expand and still have plenty of room for the animals to roam. My family loved that many of the animals did roam freely and seemed "happy". I know you can't ask an animal if it's happy BUT you can see if they are flourishing in their environment. it might be off the beaten path in the middle of no where BUT....WORTH A TRIP!!!

Hershey gardens. If you stay at the Hershey hotels you might have seen this place as you drive up to check in. I believe you also get FREE admission if you stay in the Hershey Hotels. 

Don't forget a visit to the butterfly conservatory! You could easily spend time walking around and exploring. I would pick a day that is not too humid though ( think hot greenhouses and outdoors to different gardens). 

They even have fun kid explorer scavenger hunts!!

Fort Hunter Mansion And Park is a great educational stop. My family enjoys history so we always try to incorporate that into our trips somehow. While this might not appeal to everyone, I know some of my followers home school. If you do, this place is a great stop on your journey!

We had fun learning the history of the area while viewing some of artifacts they had. My son personally liked the kitchen area because he was not used to seeing how things were done manually many years ago. Another thing I would like to mention...the staff are VERY kid friendly. Many places similar to this don't allow you to touch anything and they kind of frown upon kids being with you. Here they really did a good job of talking history without boring him (and us) and incorporating him in the stories! I think that really shows how truly special a place is because we all enjoyed our time! 

Take a ride on the Pride of Susquehanna. This riverboat has a great selection of cruises starting in May and running to October! They have different trips you can take but we enjoyed the 45 minute sight seeing tour. I will say the location is a bit interesting because you have to walk a good distance to get to the boat from your vehicle. It is located near a ball park so keep that in mind on game days!

Much like my last suggestion you will learn some history on this trip. The Pride of Susquehanna is an authentic stern-driven paddle wheel riverboat built 30 years ago. The driver/guide will point out shoreline attractions as you cruise and they also offer drinks and snacks for purchase if you so choose.

This Island offered so much more than I expected so I wanted to also mention them. You can take a ride on a steam train or horse-drawn carriage while visiting. They also have miniature golf, arcade games, batting cages, and visit the beach!!

Have you ever been to the Harrisburg, PA area??

What are more things to do NEAR Hershey Park?? 

Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe

As the Summer months have started rolling in, I find using my kitchen oven somewhat of a nuisance. The best way to combat that I have resorted to Slow Cooker meals. Here are a few of our favorites before I share this one:

 Dump & Go Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup

Slow Cooker Olive Garden COPYCAT Chicken Pasta Recipe

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Recipe

Now onto today's Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe

What you will need:

1 pound of meat, I used ground Turkey

1 can of diced tomatoes

1-2 cans of tomato sauce

1-2 cloves of garlic diced

12 ounces of cottage cheese

Optional, I also used breakfast sausage

1 box of Penne pasta

Shredded cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

I simply dump the ingredients 9minus the cheese and pasta) into the Slow cooker. I placed on low and let cook for 2-4 hours. 

After the meat is just about cooked I added the pasta in and let cook for another 1-2 hours on low. You could of course cook on high for a shorter amount of time. I added shredded cheese when serving! 

Have you ever tried Slow Cooker Lasagna?

Send any more Slow Cooker recommendations below.

Where to start when visiting Gettysburg, Pennsylvania battlegrounds

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."⁣ - Abraham Lincoln

For years the Civil War raged on in our country. The North against the South. It was interesting to me that even though this war ended we still are very much a country still divided. We walked the Gettysburg battlefield and I could not help but remember those who fought here.⁣ ⁣With my son next to me, I hope he never sees a bloody war like this in his lifetime. Yet, there is something to be said about not letting history repeat itself by educating ourselves through past events. When I was in sixth grade we took this very trip and now I am honored to do the same years later with him.

If you go to Gettysburg, and I hope someday that you do. Start at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. There you will find maps of historic Downtown and the battle fields. If you are new to the area or have never been or maybe it has been some time watch the Film (created by the History Channel), view the Cyclorama and walk the Museum. This truly sets the tone of your visit while giving you a crash course in the history of the Civil War and the different locations surrounding you.

Next up walk the grounds. We ventured down the walkway, located below the Visitors Centers café to General Meade's headquarters at Gettysburg (located on Taneytown Road at the intersection with Hunt Avenue). You can easily walk the trail and it opens up to one of the many stops on the Auto tour.

Some Interesting knowledge we learned:⁣

🐎 General Meade’s horse was rumored to have been shot twice, yet still survived.⁣

🐎 A Confederate soldier was found in an unmarked grave, in the last 25 yrs.⁣

🐎 64 medals of honor were awarded to Union Soldiers⁣

🐎 No more monuments can be created in the Military National battle grounds.

Gettysburg is so much more than the fields of battle or the statues you might see. History is all around you! One of the greatest things my son and I took with us was the tremendous sacrifice the people of Gettysburg endured both on and off the battle fields. It is because of this that I encourage you to next visit the Historic Downtown area.

Have you visited Gettysburg, PA?

Know any interesting facts about the Civil War??

Baked Chicken with Spinach in Creamy Parmesan Sauce Recipe

Chicken with Spinach in Creamy Parmesan Sauce Recipe

This Chicken with Spinach in Creamy Parmesan Sauce is just a must try! I love finding meals that use several of the ingredients we already have on hand. Feel free to interchange any items to fit your personal tastes.

What you will need:

1-3/4 teaspoons of Italian seasoning 

1 diced onion

1 package of Chicken ( I used drumsticks we had in the freezer but use what you have) 

1/4 teaspoon pepper 

3 cups uncooked egg noodles 

1 half of a small Heavy Cream which is about 1-2 cups

1 can of diced tomatoes ( I used a handful of fresh Cherry tomatoes cut in half)

Completely optional a few mushrooms sliced

Handful of fresh spinach

Place chicken in a oven pan and bake at 370 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked. Combine heavy cream, seasonings and all diced items into a bowl. Place the mixture in a skillet and let simmer. towards the end of baking your chicken. 

Once chicken is baked place in the skillet with the sauce. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. The sauce does not take long to thicken around 5-10 minutes tops. I add parmesan and spinach next, let them cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve by placing the chicken and sauce on top of the noodles.

Enjoy!

Tips to harvesting cherries｜ 21 Brix, Portland New York

Pretty please, with a cherry on top! -Gena Showalter

Last year, we had so much fun learning about local harvesting and "U-Pick" farms around us. Harvesting trips are such a great way to involve the family, while supporting our local farms! If you want to see some of the other produce we picked, take a look at these articles: Grapes, Strawberries, Peaches and Apples.

Here are some tips to harvesting cherries:

🍒 Search your local area and find farms then keep notifications on. Many of the "U PICK" items are seasonal and weather permitting. The dates are ever changing and seem to sell out quickly!

🍒 Bring something to keep them in. While the stand we visited had baskets to use. I suggest bringing your own basket, container, bin or bucket. It helps if it has a handle!

🍒 Wear comfortable clothes and appropriate shoes! you will be climbing ladders, stools etc. to reach them.

🍒 Remember U-pick areas have been previously visited and some produce doesn't make it in bins.

On this particular trip we picked sweet cherries. They even had fun Cherry slushies for the kids after picking. I will say the sour cherries are fun but the sweets are the ones we were after. Most places simply weigh what you have in your bins and you pay per pound. to me nothing tastes as good as right off the tree or vine!

Do you pick your Cherries??

Grocery store or Local Farm Stand??

6 Ingredient No-Knead Bread Recipe

During the pandemic, I made it my mission to learn to make bread. I tried so many recipes but this one takes the "cake" so to speak. Its is my SUPER easy YET so delicious 6 Ingredient No-Knead Bread Recipe.

What will you need:

4 Cups Bread Flour

1 tsp. Salt

1 packet of Active Yeast

1 3/4 Cup WARM ( not hot) water

1/2 Cup Honey

2 tbs. Sugar

Mix ingredients into a bowl, together! The dough should be a tad sticky. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let sit until doubled in size.

Once it has doubled in size lay flour on your counter and roll the dough with flour until it is not tacky. Place in a oven pan covered at 45o degrees for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 20 minutes until golden brown.

 

Serve & Enjoy!