Great Summer Salad Recipe..

I found this recipe on http://www.epicurious.com/ I love this salad and love their website.  This is a great summer  salad to take to a BBQ!    Hope you like it too!

Black Bean and Rice Salad

Bon Appétit
August 1991

Yield: Serves 12


2 14 1/2-ounce cans chicken broth

1/2 cup water

1 1-pound package long-grain rice

2 bay leaves

2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained, rinsed

2 red bell peppers, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 medium red onion, diced

1 medium bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons orange juice

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

Lettuce leaves

Fresh cilantro sprigs


Bring chicken broth and water to boil in heavy large saucepan. Add rice and bay leaves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

Transfer rice to large bowl and fluff with fork. Mix in black beans, bell peppers, red onion, chopped cilantro, oil, orange juice, vinegar, cumin and chili powder. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Line platter with lettuce leaves. Mound salad on platter. Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs and serve.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Black-Bean-and-Rice-Salad-2369#ixzz0ttK1TbsX

Summer Vacation, How to Keep the Kids Occupied....

Summer vacation is half way over, the kids are starting to get bored and parents are pulling out all the stops.  Here is a list of suggestions for activities you can do with your kids this summer. 

1. Have a picnic in the park 
2. Create a scavenger hunt
3. Catch fireflies
4. Put the sprinkler on let the kids play under it
5. Make homemade ice pops using juice or yogurt and ice trays with toothpicks
6. Make huge ice cream sundaes
7. Have a sleep over
8. Build a castle from boxes and paper towel rolls
9. Visit a new playground each day/week
10. Take  photos of different kinds of bugs or animals you see and make an album
11. Do the same for flowers
12. Build a tent fort
13. Make fairy houses
14. Go to the beach and collect shells
15. Go to your local zoo
16. Check your local paper for summer fairs or concerts
17. Make silly sock puppets
18. Fly a kite
19. Ride your bikes in the park
20. Go hiking
21. Take a field trip to the local pet store to look at animals
22. Ask if you can visit the fire station or post office (you may need to make an appointment)
23. Do puzzles
24. Make your own board game
25. Have a weekly game night
26. Watch a movie marathon
27. Use sidewalk chalk to decorate the driveway or sidewalk
28. Make collages from cut out photos in old magazines
29. Put on your own play
30. Run relay races

Feel free to add to this list...