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American Chop Suey

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American Chop Suey is a classic comfort food. Because it’s a budget-friendly and adaptable one-pot dish, it’s a popular option for an easy weeknight meal.

American Chop Suey

This dish goes by so many different names. You may know it by Goulash, Johnny Marzetti, Macaroni Red, Goulash, Johnny Marzetti, Macaroni Red, Slumgullion, Chili Mac, Hamburger Casserole Slumgullion, Chili Mac, Hamburger Casserole or Beefaroni. But whatever you call it, you won’t be disappointed by the abundance of flavors in this beloved American meal!

What’s In American Chop Suey?

The core ingredients consist of ground beef, sautéed onions, a hearty tomato sauce and tender elbow macaroni. However, there are many regional variations. In addition to our favorite blend of ingredients, many choose to add green pepper, mushrooms and even cheese. Since it’s a flexible and forgiving recipe, you have the liberty to add your personal favorites to the base ingredients.

American Chop Suey

Origin Of The Name?

First of all, this dish has nothing to do with Chinese food in any way. In Cantonese, the character for chop suey is tsaâp suì, meaning “mixed bits.” There is a belief that the take-out dish was invented by a Chinese chef in the United States. Because it’s made out of mixed bits, he named it tsaâp suì. The Cantonese pronunciation was later converted to chop suey by Americans. Eventually, the dish evolved into an Italian-American staple. However, there does not seem to be a consensus on the exact origin of the dish or its name.

American Chop Suey
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American Chop Suey

American Chop Suey is a classic comfort food. Because it's a budget-friendly and adaptable one-pot dish, it's a popular option for an easy weeknight meal.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. According to the directions on the box, cook the elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

  2. Brown the ground beef and onion on medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain grease.

  3. Add the garlic and cook over medium heat for about 1 minute.

  4. Stir in the Italian seasoning, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, water, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until the mixture begins to boil. Then simmer for approximately 20 minutes.

  5. Stir in the elbow macaroni to the mixture and serve hot.

Recipe Notes

We prefer to serve with French bread and a side salad. 

American Chop Suey

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How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree With Growing Kit For Under $20

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We all love creamy, decadent, delicious avocados. Avocados love us back with loads of healthful nutrients, fiber and the right fatty acids. Wouldn’t it be great to learn how to grow your own avocado tree so you can pick fresh ones every day? A simple solution has become available with the AvoSeedo Avocado Tree Growing Kit.


Now, you can grow your own avocado trees:

  • Quickly and easily.
  • Totally indoors.
  • For less than $20.
  • With an easy kit that comes with full instructions.
How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

AvoSeedo

How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

If you’ve ever tried to grow plants from an avocado seed sitting on toothpicks, you know that avocados are easy to grow indoors. Some instructions make it more complicated than it has to be.

With this $20 kit, you don’t need any fancy tools, a green thumb or any gardening knowledge at all. You simply:

  • Place an avocado pit in the avocado-shaped boat.
  • Float the boat in a small amount of water.
  • Wait 3 to 6 weeks for your seeds to sprout.
  • Once you have full plants, transfer them to a plant pot.
How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

AvoSeedo

Make Some Family Fun

The kit easy enough for children to do. Gardening with your kids is one of the best things you can do for their emotional and mental health. This kit makes it easy to explore the wonders of gardening even if you live in a high-rise.

Brighten Up

In just a few weeks, your avocado plant will grow strong and healthy. There’s nothing like a live, growing plant to brighten up your home and your mood.

Plants clean the air, add color and can even reduce your stress levels. Avocado trees make lovely houseplants with their dark, glossy leaves.

Get Everything You Need

The AvoSeedo Kit comes with everything you need. You get the avocado boat in your choice of pink, blue or green, the water bowl and the plant pot. It works with any type of avocado seed.

If you love plants and you love avocados, it’s time to get busy growing.

How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

Energy Drink Addiction Leaves Mom With Pacemaker at 32

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A 32-year-old mother was recently outfitted with a pacemaker after drinking excessive amounts of energy drinks. Are these drinks really that dangerous to the human body? Learn more about how energy drink addiction can create health issues at any age.

Energy Drink Addiction

© BPM Media

Keeping up With Modern Life

The New York Post describes a British woman and her quest to keep up with her three children. She needed energy, so she turned to energy drinks.

She was drinking around five to six cans a day. Health issues started to plague her. Doctors insisted on fitting her with a pacemaker because her rhythms were dangerously off.

Caffeine’s Effects on the Human Body

The main ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine. When you drink more than one can a day, you’re adding many milligrams of caffeine to your diet.

The nervous system reacts with a hyperactive state. Your heart races, reports Healthline.

Drinking many cans on a daily basis forces your heart to beat at irregular rhythms. Over time, the heart begins to lose its natural rhythm.

Cardiovascular problems set in with subtle ease. You may not realize that there’s a problem until a serious issue arises, such as a heart attack.

Energy Drink Addiction

Compounding Caffeine with Pre-Existing Conditions

Energy drinks can certainly harm the human body when consumed in large amounts. Serious issues can arise even faster if there’s a personal history of arrhythmia or heart disease in the family, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. A health condition doesn’t have to be present for energy drinks to make a negative impact either.

A person taking illicit drugs and combining them with excessive volumes of energy drinks can also induce heart problems.

Moderating anything in life is usually the best way to lead a healthy lifestyle. Consume energy drinks on occasion, but certainly not in great volume. Everyone’s well-being can improve with this mindset.

 

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Pineberry: Real Strawberry with a Sweet-Tart Pineapple Flavor

Rescued Pit Bull Cries Watching Mufasa’s Death in ‘The Lion King’

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Social media users have fallen in love with Luna Ophelia, a rescued pit bull. Luna’s owner posted a video of her emotional reaction to Mufasa’s death in the Disney animated movie “The Lion King.” According to the post, Josh Myers said that Luna was playing with her toys when the scene came on television.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Luna Ophelia (@luna_o_thepitbull) on

“Just as Simba fell to his death, Luna stopped playing and started paying attention to the movie,” Myers said. “Watching her crying as Simba finds his father’s body was the sweetest thing I have ever seen.”

Luna was one of 12 puppies born in a Tennessee foster home to a stray named Melon. The puppies were taken to a shelter where Luna was adopted by Myers and his girlfriend, Hannah Huddleston. In the video, Luna watches intently as Simba comes to his father and whines noticeably when Simba cannot get his father to wake up. When Simba lies down to cry, Luna does the same, lowering her head as if she too is grief-stricken.

Luna’s Video Goes Viral

The dog has struck a cord with social media users as the comments indicate.

“I have never had any reaction to this scene and look at this dog, I am clearly alien,” eclectic relaxation posted. Kianashanice wrote that she almost cried watching the dog watch the scene.

Crystal w/ a k was concerned that the dog would not understand that it was just a movie.

“The way his head popped up when Scar appeared,” she wrote. “He was into this movie. I hope you explained to him after that it’s just a movie.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Luna Ophelia (@luna_o_thepitbull) on

The reaction to the movie has led Myers and Huddleston to begin documenting Luna’s story on Instagram. Luna Ophelia can be followed here. She currently has more than 2,400 followers.

Piña Colada Sangria

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One sip of Piña Colada Sangria and you’ll be transported to a warm, tropical wonderland!  It’s the perfect summertime party drink and it only requires 3 simple ingredients.

Pina Colada Sangria

Ingredients Needed for a Piña Colada Sangria

  • Moscato is my preferred choice for wine because of its sweeter taste.  I used Middle Sister for this batch.  It goes especially well with the sweet pineapple and coconut flavors.  But if sweetness isn’t your thing, you may want to use a dryer white wine instead.
  • Twenty ounces of crushed pineapple from a can (including the juice).
  • A tropical splash of Coconut Rum adds the finishing touch to this refreshingly delicious cocktail!

 

Pina Colada Sangria

Directions for Making a Piña Colada Sangria

Since summers were meant to be carefree and relaxing, I love easy to make drinks that can be made by the pitcher.  There’s nothing more to it than mixing all the ingredients in a large pitcher, stirring well, and then refrigerating until chilled. It can’t get much easier than that!

Pina Colada Sangria

Pina Colada Sangria
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Piña Colada Sangria

One sip of Piña Colada Sangria and you’ll be transported to a warm, tropical wonderland!  It’s the perfect summertime party drink and it only requires 3 simple ingredients.

Course Drinks
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a large pitcher, combine the Moscato, crushed pineapple and Coconut Rum.

  2. Stir well.

  3. Refrigerate until chilled.

  4. Garnish with mint, a pineapple wedge or with maraschino cherries. (optional)

Pina Colada Sangria

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Pineberry: Real Strawberry With A Sweet-Tart Pineapple Flavor

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Coming across a white fruit that looks oddly like the standard strawberry will give you pause. Introduce yourself to the pineberry. This fruit looks just like a strawberry, except it has white skin and red seeds.

Pineberry
History of the Pineberry

The Fragaria family includes dozens of different strawberry varieties, including the common red cultivar. A pineberry is a descendant within the strawberry family. It’s believed to come from the North American variety and Chili cultivars.

Pineberries simply evolved over time as more seeds were planted from the Fragaria family. They’re popular in Europe and the United States as more people come to know this non-genetically modified fruit.

How Does a Pineberry Taste?

Taste and smell are linked in the human psyche, so pineberries give you a sensation from both of these perspectives. They have a sugary aroma and a mild taste.

In fact, you might feel like you’re biting into a tiny pineapple. This fruit’s acidic taste, however, is missing from the pineberry. Enjoy the pineapple’s essence without the acidic bite.

Keep in mind that pineapples aren’t related to this fruit at all. It’s simply a natural coincidence.

Exploring the Nutritional Aspects of the Pineberry

There are only 43 calories in 3.5 ounces of pineberries, reports My Fitness Pal. You also gain a few nutrients, such as potassium, calcium, vitamin C and more.

Remember that pineberries are fruits with natural sugars. If you’re trying to cut back on carbohydrates, eating these berries in moderation is key. They’re otherwise healthy additions to your diet.

Growing the Almighty Pineberry

Burpee suggests planting pineberries in loose, well-drained soil. Give each plant about 18 to 24 inches of space around them.

The Fragaria family is known to put out runners or plant extensions. Pineberries will continue to spread through your regularly watered garden.

Grow these plants in pots too. You’ll control the runners with this strategy. Apartment dwellers can enjoy their own fruits as a result.

Give your backyard garden a fruiting jewel with the tasty pineberry. The fruits are decorative and sustainable. You’ll be the talk of the town with these distinct plants in your edible garden.

Pineberry

Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

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Bread and Butter Pudding is a delicious comfort dessert with a creamy-custardy center and a golden-buttery top.  It’s so easy to make and the ingredients are cheap and readily available.

Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

How To Make Bread and Butter Pudding

Any type of bread can be used – white, wheat, french, brioche, croissants or even hamburger and hot dog buns. Because it’s better at absorbing liquid ingredients, stale bread is preferred over fresh bread.  It’s a great way to get rid of leftover bread instead of letting it go to waste.

Bread and Butter Pudding

First, cut off all crusts on whichever bread you decide to use.

Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

Then spread butter on both sides of each slice of bread.

Bread and Butter Pudding

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Bread and Butter Pudding

Layer the slices of bread into a large ovenproof dish.  Scatter the raisins and ¼ cup of sugar between each slice.  Altogether you should end up with approximately 3-4 layers of bread.  Then beat together the eggs and ¾ cups sugar into a large mixing bowl until combined.

Bread and Butter Pudding

Now heat the milk and cream in a large saucepan until they reach a boil.

Bread and Butter Pudding

Then pour the boiled milk and cream over the egg mixture. Whisk together until smooth.

Bread and Butter Pudding

Slowly pour the mixture over the buttered bread and let it stand for approximately 10 minutes.  Bake the mixture in the oven for 40 minutes or until completely set.

Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

Easy Bread and Butter Pudding
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Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

Bread and Butter Pudding is a delicious comfort dessert with a creamy-custardy center and a golden-buttery top. 

Course Dessert
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Cut off all the bread crusts. Spread butter on both sides of the leftover slices.

  2. Preheat oven to 350°F.

  3. Layer the bread in a large ovenproof dish, scattering the drained raisins and ¼ cup of sugar between each layer of bread. Altogether you should end up with about 3 or 4 layers of bread.

  4. Add the eggs and ¾ cups sugar into a large mixing bowl. Beat together until combined.

  5. Heat the milk and cream in a large saucepan until a boil is reached.

  6. Pour the boiled milk and cream over the egg mixture. Whisk together until smooth.

  7. Slowly pour the mixture over the buttered bread and let it stand for approximately 10 minutes.

  8. Bake the mixture in the oven for 40 minutes or until completely set.

Recipe Notes

Optional:  Before adding the golden raisins between each layer of bread (Instruction #3), soak them in 3 tbsp of warm brandy or rum. Set aside to cool.

Easy Bread and Butter Pudding

Housework Keeps Brain Young, Research Suggests

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Who would think that doing housework is a way to keep our brains young? Now every time you tackle vacuuming, mopping the floors, changing the beds, and doing laundry, think of them as exercises that are good for your brain! All those chores that we think of as being dull, boring, tiring, and far from pleasant can be included in light activity that reduces brain aging.

Housework Keeps Brain Young

What does Physical Activity do?

New research by the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) indicates that even light activity creates larger brain volume and therefore healthy brain aging. Active individuals who engage in regular physical activity have lower vascular and metabolic risk factors.

Guidelines

The 2018 Physical Activity-Guidelines for Americans recommends that greater than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous (MV) physical activity (PA) each week has substantial health benefits. Even modest levels of physical activity strongly improve one’s health. There is quite a difference between a person being sedentary and being modestly active.

Housework Keeps Brain Young

Impact of the Activity

This Framingham Heart Study had 2,354 participants, 1,276 of which were women, had a mean age of 53 years, and 1,099 met the PA guidelines. It found that each added hour of light-intensity activity was equal to approximately 1.1 years less brain aging. That is an achievable level of volume and intensity according to Nicole Spartano, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine at BUSM.

In individuals that do not meet the PA guidelines, every hour of light-intensity PA and doing at least 7,500 steps each day also meant higher total brain volume, which equals 1.4 to 2.2 years less aging of the brain. Active people also have lower odds for health problems that include diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

Additional Exploration

Spartano emphasized that there is a need to explore what impact physical inactivity has on brain aging in different ethnic, race, and socio-economic groups, and she is leading an investigative team. She is grateful to acknowledge the important funding for this research from the American Heart Association, the National Institute on Aging, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

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These Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts are the perfect treat for birthdays or any other special occasion. They are soft, sweet, easy to make, and so delicious! Because they are baked and not fried, they taste more like cake and have more of a dense texture than a fried donut.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

How To Make Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

The first step is to beat the eggs, butter, vanilla, and sugar until smooth.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Then in a separate bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, salt, and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture and beat until combined.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Now it’s time to add the milk and mix until smooth.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Then for my favorite part, fold in the rainbow sprinkles. It’s okay to use the little ball sprinkles (nonpareil) on top of the donuts AFTER putting on the glaze. However, do not put these kind of sprinkles directly in the batter. They will bleed into the dough and ruin the color. Instead, use the longer, thicker sprinkles seen below.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the pans to cool for a few minutes before removing the donuts and allow them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk until smooth. Add food coloring one drop at a time until the desired color is reached.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Dip the cooled donuts in the glaze and top with additional sprinkles.

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Now it’s time to enjoy your fresh Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts filled with sprinkles!

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts
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Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts

These Gluten Free Funfetti Donuts are the perfect treat for birthdays or any other special occasion. They are soft, sweet, easy to make, and so delicious!

Course Dessert
Servings 12 donuts
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

For the Glaze

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two six-count donut pans by spraying generously with cooking spray.

  2. Beat the eggs, butter, vanilla, and sugar until smooth.

  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, salt, and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture and beat until combined.

  4. Add the milk and mix until smooth.

  5. Fold in the rainbow sprinkles.

  6. Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans.

  7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

  8. Allow pans to cool for a few minutes, then remove from pans and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

  9. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk until smooth. Add food coloring one drop at a time until desired color is reached.

  10. Dip the cooled donuts in the glaze and top with additional sprinkles.

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Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opens May 31, 2019

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Mark your calendar! Reservations are required for visits to the new and exciting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California between the dates of May 31, 2019 and June 23, 2019. It is the largest single-themed Disneyland expansion ever. It covers a whopping 14 acres with an estimated cost of $1 billion.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

There will be no additional cost to make reservations, but access to the Land and its experiences may be unavailable based on demand. It is recommended that you check in at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge page for more details.

Guests staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels during May 31 and June 23 will receive a reservation (one per registered Guest) to access Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during their stay with the required valid theme park admission.

The official opening date at Disney World Park in Orlando, Florida will be on August 29, 2019.


Following are some of the major attractions and shops in addition to various places to eat and the first Disney venue that will sell alcoholic beverages:

Black Spire Outpost

Black Spire Outpost on the Planet Batuu is a large imaginary village with round-topped towers and the petrified remains of towering ancient trees that is an extension of the Star Wars world and is on the edge of the galaxy between the Wild Space and the Unknown Regions. The village may be modern but is built on the remains of crumbling structures that were built by a long-extinct civilization. You will encounter a group known as the “Gatherers,” treacherous rogues, scoundrels, smugglers, Resistance individuals, and the First Order that is eager to stomp out any flickers of opposition to their control.


Savi’s Workshop is where you can build a custom one-of-a-kind lightsaber with kyber crystals at this shop that features whimsical pieces and miscellaneous memorabilia that continue the traditions of the Force and allows you to become one with the Force. You can select from four lightsaber themes: Peace and Justice, Power and Control, Elemental Nature, or Protection and Defense. When your lightsaber is completed and purchased, you will be ready to embark on incredible new adventures.

At the Droid Depot, a customized droid like R2-D2 and BB-8 can be designed, assembled, and activated.

Toydarian Toymaker is a whimsical workshop with handcrafted toys, plush, playthings, art and collectibles, many handmade by the busy toymaker, Zabaka the Toydarian. Her storefront is filled with crates of toymaking supplies and unique works in progress such as Wookiee dolls and classic games.

Coming Attraction

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will be opening later this year. You will be able to join the Resistance on a secretive mission and a climactic battle against the First Order while seated in the belly of an imposing First Order Star Destroyer and looking up at a gigantic robot.

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