If your child is going through a picky eating stage, or are just picky all together find out a way to make a healthier spaghetti.  This recipe hides one whole, vitamin rich vegetable. The Avocado sneaks into this dish, undetectable.

What You Will Need:

1 pound ground beef or turkey.

24 oz. Spaghetti sauce (any brand)

1 avocado

1 tbsp. Lawry’s Garlic Salt

1 tsp. Cracked Black Pepper

Spaghetti Noodles (we like Ritoni pasta)

Food processor

Directions:

Brown the meat in a large sauce pan. Once cooked, drain the fat out by using a strainer. Place meat back in the sauce pan. On medium to high heat, add the spaghetti sauce. Next add a tablespoon of garlic salt and the black pepper. Mix well and allow sauce to simmer. Once simmering turn down the heat to low and cover.

Add one avocado to the food processor and add one tablespoon of water. Blend until a thick guacamole type paste is formed. Add the avocado paste to sauce mix and turn the heat back up to medium high. Once the sauce is simmering, turn the heat down to low and cover once more.

At this time cook the pasta. Once the pasta is drained you can either serve the sauce on top of the pasta or mix the pasta with the sauce. 

It can be hard to know where to start when you are planning a renovation for your kitchen. There are so many different styles out there and each serves a different purpose and will evoke a certain emotional response—let’s face it, our kitchens are where emotions can sometimes run high and sometimes be full of love. Taking the time to really think through your redesign will ensure that your kitchen’s end result will be something you and your family are happy with. 

First rule of thumb is don’t be afraid to ask for help. When you are choosing materials be sure to have all of your questions answered about the material. Questions such as durability, maintenance, ease of cleaning, etc. These are the types of questions that will be more practical but very important when you are making your decision. You and your family’s lifestyles may dictate you choosing one material over another but you’ll never know if you don’t first ask the questions. We are more than happy to help you during the remodeling process — contact Dolphin Carpet with any questions!

Once you have your materials chosen you will want to start thinking about the colors you want to use, such as your paint, tile, natural stone, decorations. All of these should have a thematic threat that ties them together. Your natural preferences will dictate this, but look to things in your life for inspiration if you can’t come up with an idea. Perhaps you are an outdoorsy person. You might think about using more natural colors with pops of color to keep it fresh. You might also think about a more modern design if you tend to like clean lines and simple coloring.

Finally, once you’ve decided on a theme for your kitchen you will want to start obtaining samples and bringing them to your kitchen so that you can see what they look like when they are seen under your kitchen’s natural lighting and light at night. You may be surprised by how a material you were certain would be the right now will look completely different under your kitchen’s lighting.

Once you’ve narrowed down your materials it’s time to start ordering everything and preparing for the renovation! Come on down to Dolphin Carpet and Tile and let our experienced professionals help you choose the right materials for your kitchen renovation.

Do you find yourself wanting to give your kitchen a small face lift, but unsure of ways to do so? There are many ways you can give your kitchen a new look, some of them projects that you can do it yourself! Don’t be discouraged if you feel like you can’t think of anything, here are a couple of fun ways to give your kitchen a new look.

The most dramatic change in a kitchen comes from replacement.  Replacing floor is an amazing place to start and can be done without breaking the bank.  Worn floors in a small space can exude a dingy feeling.  Have you always dreamed of wood floors in your kitchen but thought it was impossible with all of the moisture?  Take a look at wood-look tile!  With the advances in digital printing, many wood-look tiles are difficult to distinguish from wood planks. The maintenance for these tiles is the same as other porcelain tile,  

One great way to make the space look new is to use the idea of hanging kitchen items. You might add a pots and pans holder that hands from the ceiling over your kitchen island. Or if you have a large wall that is either empty or housing that same old tired picture that’s been there for years, take it down and add hooks around the wall randomly and hang your cooking utensils! For a relatively inexpensive price you can go out and get some new utensils if you don’t like the ones you have and purchase some that appeal to you. Depending on your handiness, you might even be able to build the pots and pans holder yourself!

Another great way to give your kitchen a facelift is to change the color. Find a color you would love, and paint an accent wall. Then go out and find a few nice kitchen items in that color, such as a colored mixing bowl or kitchen towels. These items don’t have to be regulated to kitchen related things, you could also find decorations you like ore replace your kitchen blinds. These items being scattered around your kitchen will create pops of color that relate back to your accent wall. 

The freest of all of these ideas? Floor plan and do a complete shuffle of your kitchen. Move your kitchen table, reorganize all of your cabinets and make it look like a completely new kitchen! It may take some time to get used to the new layout, but oftentimes just updating the layout of a room can really make it feel brand new.

These are just a few suggestions for someone who may be thinking about a kitchen update. These ideas may be just the thing you’re looking for!

One of the best meals to make for your family during those chilly fall nights is everybody’s favorite meal—grilled cheese. It’s something that virtually everyone enjoys from children to adults. There are so many great variations on this American classic, but this time of year a grilled cheese made of gouda, green onions, chile butter and corn has just right touch of fall harvest. Spice it up even more and add some substance by adding baked and cubed sweet potatoes. 

These ingredients come together to create the perfect fall sandwich but you will need to make a quick run to the grocery store for the following ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon chile powder 
• Dash of cayenne pepper
• 1 loaf of sourdough bread
• 8 slices of gouda and 8 slices of cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup of corn (can be canned or fresh off of the cob)
• 1 bunch of green onions
• 1 sweet potato 

1. The first thing you will want to do is preheat the oven to 425 degrees. While the oven is preheating, cube the sweet potato. Place the cubes evenly spread along a cookie sheet and lightly cover them in olive oil. Spread salt over per your tastes. Once preheated, place the sheets into the oven and cook for 30 minutes. Check at 30 minutes and if they need more time to brown. Cook for more time if necessary.
2. Next, mix the butter (microwave if necessary), cayenne pepper and chile powder until mixed.
3. Preheat your panini maker. Or prepare your pan if you will be cooking the sandwiches in a frying pan.
4. Spread your butter mixture on the outside of each slice of bread. Assemble your sandwiches next. Put down your cheese first. You can mix and match or do strictly one cheese or the other. Top with corn and scallions and sweet potatoes. Finally put another slice on top with the butter side facing out. 
5. Grill your sandwiches in either your panini maker or in your pan until cheese is melted. and each side is properly toasted.
6. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a minute.

Now enjoy your fall inspired Harvest Panini!

Whether we like it or not, appliances need to be cleaned just as well as the dishes that go in them. It’s never much fun to clean a refrigerator, stove, oven, or dishwasher, but there are definitely ways to make the job easier. Try this awesome trick to return your dishwasher to its former glory!

It will save you tons of time and elbow grease. It’s also an eco-friendly method, and that’s tough to come by when you’re cleaning major fixtures in a home. It’s also really effective for getting in the micro-areas in the dishwasher that you can’t possibly reach, even with a toothbrush. You can be sure that even the tiny spaces won’t have any residual food, mold, or ick left when you’re done! As with any new cleaning method, make sure you check with your manufacturer’s instructions so you don’t void the warranty!

Ingredients:

• Baking soda – 3 tablespoons (will ‘scrub’ the inside of the dishwasher)
• Hydrogen peroxide – 2 cups (will sanitize and whiten the inside of the dishwasher)
• Essential oil – approximately 15 drops (gives the dishwasher a fresh scent when you’re done)
• Liquid dish detergent – 1 tablespoon
• Vinegar – 2 cups

Supplies

• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowl
• Ceramic/glass bowl
• Large spoon
• Cookie sheet

How To:

1. Line the cookie sheet with one sheet of parchment paper.
2. Perform a quick, basic cleanup of the dishwasher by using a damp sponge. Wipe around the door, along the edges, and wipe any food bits out of the drain.
3. Combine hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and essential oil in the mixing bowl. It should feel similar to damp sand when you’re done mixing.
4. Use the spoon to scoop the mixture and create balls. Kind of like you would when making cookies from cookie dough, but bigger. Place the balls on the parchment paper. Allow them to dry for several hours or overnight.
5. Pour the vinegar into the ceramic/glass bowl and add the dishwashing detergent. Mix together, and place on the top rack of your dishwasher.
6. Place one baking soda bomb on the bottom rack in the cutlery basket. Then set your dishwasher to its hottest setting and run it.
7. Open it and boom! The trick worked and your dishwasher looks and smells super fresh and clean!
8. Put the rest of the balls in a container with a lid and use them as needed.

Which kitchen would you choose?  Let us know!