Too often, easy dinner recipes are synonymous with bland.  Sure, they may be easy to throw together, but the wow factor is missing!  Where’s the taste?!  Are there any “easy” recipes that are worth your time and your taste buds?

Yes, there are, and here’s one of them!  This juicy grilled chicken shimmering with a honey chipotle glaze will take about 20 minutes to assemble, though it’ll taste like you slaved over the stove for hours.  It’s versatile too; you can serve it with your favorite side of vegetables, over mashed potatoes, rice, quinoa or top a big green salad.  Pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc or a Chardonnay.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
• salt and pepper to taste
• olive oil
• garlic powder
• juice of 1 lime
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 2 Tbsp chipotle powder, divided (1 Tbsp for sauce & 1 Tbsp for rubbing into chicken)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat.
2. Rub the chicken with olive oil, season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder and 1 Tbsp chipotle powder. I like to rub the chicken with a little bit of olive oil because it helps keep all the juices in the chicken  and the chicken stays tender & juicy.
3. Reduce heat to medium and place chicken in skillet. Do not overcrowd the skillet. Work in batches if necessary. Cook chicken  over medium heat for about 5 – 6 minutes on each side.
4. While chicken is cooking, mix juice of 1 lime, honey and  the other 1 Tbsp chipotle powder.
5. Place chicken on a plate and brush with the honey chipotle mixture.

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Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Is Wood Ash Good for Garden Soil?

Wood ash can pile up during a cold winter and it would be nice to have a practical use for it. But gardeners have been given mixed signals about using wood ash on their garden soil. Is it safe to use wood ash in the garden?

Answer: Yes and no.

Ashes from fireplaces and wood burning stoves are a good source of potassium and a lesser source of phosphorus and some micro-nutrients, depending on the type of wood burned.

So if your soil has a potassium deficiency, wood ashes can be a good amendment.

However, they can also be a source of heavy metals that you don’t necessarily want in your garden. And they contain a good percentage, about 25%, calcium carbonate, an ingredient in garden lime. If your soil is very acidic (5.5 of lower), wood ash can improve your soil pH.

If your soil is neutral or alkaline to begin with, adding wood ash could raise the pH high enough to interfere with plants ability to take in nutrients. Wood ash should also be avoided around acid loving plants like rhododendrons and blueberries.

Bottom line is that a small amount of wood ash will add some nutrients and be beneficial to most soils. Large amounts should be avoided.

Important Note: Never use wood ash if any type of fuel or wood preservative was used on the wood.

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Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana announces the launch of its annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake (BFKS) campaign which raises vital funds for the agency’s one-to-one mentoring programs. This year’s 2016 event will feature Bowl for Kids’ Sake t-shirts, fantastic prizes for the bowler and team captain who bring in the most money, as well as an opportunity to support the mentoring programs provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana.

To participate in BFKS, a team captain puts together a team of 5 (including him/herself).  Each team member raises a minimum donation of $40 ($25 for students).  It is highly encouraged that team members try to raise more than the minimum donation by asking friends and family to donate to their team. 

On the day of the event, teams join us at Acadiana Lanes to bowl in one of three bowling shifts (9 AM, 11 AM, and 1 PM).  Team members bring their cash donations to the event to be turned in at check-in.  Prizes are awarded to bowlers bringing in the most donations per shift and one grand prize is awarded to the bowler with the highest overall donations. 

Teams are encouraged to make their team unique by choosing a team theme or bowling in costume!  Let your imaginations run wild!  The wilder the better!

To secure your lane at BFKS 2016, please download and return the team captain form. Once your team is assembled, download and return the team roster form.

Remember, it’s not so much about bowling; it’s about having fun while making a difference in the lives of local children and their families!

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Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

You’ve probably seen the commercials for reverse mortgages, and if you’re a senior citizen, you may have even considered one. Unfortunately, while the commercials do a good job of making a reverse mortgage sound good, they don’t do a very good job of explaining what they actually are. Let’s dive a little deeper into exactly what a reverse mortgage is.

First of all, a reverse mortgage is basically just a loan against your house. It allows you to turn the equity you have in your home into cash. You can draw on it a little at a time, almost like if the mortgage organization was making payments to you; however, whatever you take from the mortgage becomes what you owe, and whatever you owe accumulates interest every month. Payments are not required on the loan. Instead, the mortgage is paid off in full when the house changes hands, usually because the owner either passes away or sells.

As you may have already figured out, it is possible for the amount of the loan to grow to be bigger than the value of the house. Generally the borrower, or their estate, isn’t expected to pay more than the value of the home.

You may be wondering if it is possible for you to get a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages actually exist in several countries, but in the United States, you have to be at least 62 years old, and you have to consider the property you want to use in the reverse mortgage to be your principal residence. It’s okay if you still owe a little on the property, but the money you receive from the reverse mortgage must be able to pay that off. If you live in a less traditional property, such as a condo or a manufactured home, you may be wondering if you can still participate. In these cases, more research is necessary, but you are likely to be eligible.

Before accepting a reverse mortgage on your house, you are required to take a counseling course, however, the required courses are often considered to be less than adequate, and it is advisable to do your own research before you apply.

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Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

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