Tag Archives: summer

The End of Summer: A Collection of A Lot on Your Plate’s “Best of Summer” Recipes, D.I.Y’s, and More!

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As school quickly approaches and the hot weather begins to taper off, this can only mean one thing, sadly, Summer break is almost over.  In honor of the last weekend of Summer as thought of by most, I put together a collection of A Lot On Your Plate’s most popular Summer posts in the hopes of inspiring readers to make this weekend super fun, while affordable, and go out of Summer with a bang.

Below are some fun D.I.Y’s, fab finds, and recipes perfect for family fun, barbecues, or just some gold old fashion relaxation time. Enjoy!

The Best of Summer:

5 Minute Recipe’s: Twisted S’Mores; 10 Unique S’more Recipes

D.I.Y: Fruit Sliced Ice-Cubes

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5 Minute Recipe: Super Easy Lemon Infused Caprese Salad

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Fab Find: Powell & Mahoney Limited Vintage Cocktail Mixers

Fab Find: Spindrift Sodas & Waters

Recipe of the Week: Super Easy Individual Mini Pizzas

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D.I.Y: Raspberry Ice-Cubes

Fab Finds: All Things Grilling

D.I.Y: Patriotic Marshmallows

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No Cook Recipes: Orange & Pineapple Slices, Perfect for a Luau Themed BBQ!

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Recipe of the Week: Mini Ranch & Triple Cheddar Turkey Taco Bowls

Below is a back to school related post, just in case you are interested ;)

Tips, Tricks, & How To’s: Getting Back Into the School Routine

(Also check out the Thrifty Finds: Back To School Edition)

I just wanted to take a moment to let everyone know that this weekend, A Lot On Your Plate finally surpassed 100″ Likes” on Facebook and I have you guys to thank!  It is extremely appreciated, so thank you so much :)  You can check out the Facebook page by clicking here: A Lot On Your Plate on Facebook!

For those of you with Twitter accounts, you can follow A Lot On Your Plate on Twitter for all the latest updates, recipes, D.I.Y’s, & more by clicking @alotonyourplate.

To everyone returning to or just starting school, have an awesome year!  Remember: Work hard now, so you can play later!

Have a great weekend everyone & happy Summer!

- J

How To: Vacation On A Budget

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How To: Planning An Awesome Family Vacation On A Budget

It’s not too late to plan a Summer vacation.  There is also nothing wrong with being thrifty when planning it, especially if you’re getting most out of your money.  Here are some helpful tips to planning a fun-filled vacation without emptying your wallet!

Start Saving Now: It’s never to soon to start saving for a vacation, even if you don’t know when or where your going.

Research the Location: Once you have picked your destination (preferably one you can drive to yourself), research the area.  Check out the fun things and places in the area you will be staying, to get an idea of how much money you may be spending. Check out travel guides, online sites, and tour guides for additional information on your destination.

Compare Hotel Accommodations: Try to get the biggest bang for your buck.  You might even be able to find a hotel that offers complimentary breakfast! (I know Best Western offers it.)

Set A Budget: Set aside spending money for each family member. Estimate what you feel you will be spending on activities and events. Be sure to set aside money for gas as well if you are driving.

Bring Your Own Food:  Sometimes without even realizing, a fortune can be spent on going out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  It’s definitely okay to treat the family and go out to eat, but is also okay to make your own meals to save some money.  When going out to eat, try to avoid chain restaurants and venture out to local restaurants in the area.

Keep Track Of Your Expenses:  Download a banking application on your phone to keep track of how much you have spent so far, that way you can keep an eye out on your budget. If you do not have a smart phone, try to have access to a computer so you can check out your bank’s online site.

The Most Important Tip Is To Take Advantage Of Every Second You Have With The People You Love While On This Vacation: Have fun, be safe, and take this time to just be with your family! Appreciate every moment you have with them on your trip.

Be sure to check back for more How To’s and helpful tips & tricks here at A Lot On Your Plate.  Follow A Lot On Your Plate on Facebook and like it on Twitter @ALotOnYourPlate!

Happy Sunday!

- J

DIY: Raspberry Ice-Cubes

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DIY: Raspberry Ice-Cubes

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1. Bring a pot of water to boil. Once the water is done boiling, let it sit & cool. By boiling the water, your reducing cloudiness, while the water settles clear in the ice-cube tray. While waiting for the water to boil, thoroughly wash your raspberries.

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2. After the water has cooled and the fruit is prepared, place the 2-3 raspberries into each cubicle of the tray, covering each fruit filled cube with water.  (I pour the cooled water into a measuring cup to make for easier to pouring).

3. Carefully place the ice-cube trays into the freezer.  Allow at least 4 hours to completely freeze.

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4.  Pop the cubes out of the tray and serve immediately.

This recipe also works great with lemons, strawberries, peaches, and limes, but feel free to get creative. For a different spin on my fruit Ice-Cubes, check out my post DIY: Sliced Fruit Ice-Cubes.

*Ice cubes can also be made mini baking pans, if a tray is not available to you, just allow a little more of a freezing period.

Silicone ice-cube tray’s shown above are available at Bed, Bath, & Beyond.
Feel free to comment below if you have tried, or plan on trying, i’d love to hear what you think and be sure to check back for more DIY projects from A Lot On Your Plate!

Happy DIY’ing!

- J