KitchenAid Kitchen Gadgets - Pasta Press or Pasta Roller

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I recently saw the Pasta Press or Pasta Extruder for KitchenAid Stand Mixers in the Williams and Sonoma catalogue and have been trying to decide if I need yet another kitchen gadget.

After reviewing the pros and cons of each KitchenAid pasta attachment, I think unfortunately, I've decided I almost have to have both! 

The Pasta Press is different from the other pasta attachments for the KitchenAid mixer because it actually makes 6 different kinds of pasta dough - spaghetti noodles already formed and cut (2 sizes), macaroni noodles already formed and cut (2 sizes) and 2 other popular types of pasta - fusilli and bucatini. 

The ease with which this pasta attachment works is incredible - watch the video and see if you don't think you could use one of these great little machines!

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How to Make Walnut Waffles

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This is a super quick and easy waffle recipe that is light and crispy - and loaded with good-for-you walnuts. 

The beaten egg whites lend the lightness and crispiness to this recipe for waffles, but I decided to add in some walnuts just for fun and see how it turned out.  The result was one of my best tweaks ever and have decided this is my all-time favorite waffle recipe.

Try some of the other variations or serving suggestions - you can't go wrong!  These are also excellent dessert or dinner waffles.

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How To Legally Use Images, Videos, Charts and Graphs on Hubpages and Blogs

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There seems to be a lot of confusion about how we can legally use images, videos, charts and graphs whether we are writing on hubpages or writing blogs in general.

After these questions had been bothering me for a while, I decided to look deeper into the questions and try and resolve them in my own mind.  I came up with the following information and hope that you will find it helpful on how to legally use images, videos, charts and graphs on the Internet.

How to Legally Use Images, Videos, Charts and Graphs on Hubpages and on The Internet

A Day at the Beach: My Boogie Boarding Story

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I have had many comedic water experiences in my life, but this one has to be about the best one ever! I grew up loving the ocean in San Diego, California and lived for my times out beyond the breakers.  I have to admit though growing up, I did not do any body surfing and certainly never did boogie boarding.

However, when my brother-in-law Rudy challenged me to try out boogie boarding in my 30s, I could not let the dare go by without trying - much to my chagrin with the usual comedic results.

A-Day-At-the-Beach-My-Boogie-Boarding-Story

Healthy Recipes - How to Make Oatmeal Muffins

Here's a great recipe for an old fashioned muffin but a healthy recipe - how to make oatmeal muffins with numerous variations.

Healthy recipes start with healthy ingredients and this one is loaded with good things - such as buttermilk and oats - quick or regular.

You can add blueberries or nuts - or both.  You can also add chopped apples or raisins.

Still further, you can add a dollop of apple or pumpkin butter to the center of these delicious little gems and have yourself a wonderfully delicious breakfast treat or an afternoon pick-me-up snack with tea or coffee.

Enjoy!

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How To Teach Your Dog To Swim

I recently found out the hard way that I had forgotten some very basic steps to teaching my malamute Griffin how to swim.  On further reflection, I decided that I would go back and try it in a different and more relaxed manner to build up his confidence and thus ensure that he is comfortable as a swimmer.

Here is a hub on how to best teach your dog how to swim - and the wonderful benefits of water therapy for dogs.  Check out the wonderful resources as well and some of the fine products offered for fun in the water with your favorite canine!

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Favorite Funny Stories: A Day At The Lake

Recently, our daughter Kate, her husband Kevin and our middle son Patrick all traveled to Central Oregon for a visit.  During their stay, we did many and various things and had a great time.  Our last day trip was to Lake Billy Chinook last Saturday and here's how that turned out!  As usual, a bit of a day with Lucille Ball and company.

Favorite-Funny-Stories-A-Day-At-The-Lake

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Favorite Funny Stories: The Whale Watching Adventure

Everyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about many things. One of those things is the Orca whales.  They are a marvelous thing of beauty and each and every time that I have seen them, I have been struck anew with what a privilege it is to see them in their natural habitat - I am speaking of the Orca pods of the beautiful Pacific Northwest and viewing them from San Juan Island.

However, one summer, I decided to arrange a special whale watching tour because my middle son, Patrick is severely visually impaired and although he had seen the whales many times, he had not really 'seen' them because they were too far off shore. 

What ensued was a Lucille Ball-like adventure on the prow of the whale watching ship we were on hoping to see the said Orcas up close and personal.

Favorite-Funny-Stories-The-Whale-Watching-Adventure

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Healthy Recipes: Baked Chicken Flautas

If you love flautas (and who doesn't) you are going to love this recipe because it trims the fat and the calories both out of it by eliminating frying!

This is a delicious alternative to making fried flautas of any kind and also offers many tips on how to revamp the recipe according to ingredients and/or vegetarian options.

Try this recipe - you'll love it!

Healthy-Recipes-Baked-Chicken-Flautas
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Favorite Funny Stories: Diving In - The Story of the Pool

When I was 17 and very impressionable, I had just left home and was living in a religious group.  This was out of self-preservation I imagine at the time but I did not truly 'fit in' as well as I would like.  Especially confounding was one particular day when we as a group had all gone swimming and much to my embarrassment, when I stripped to my bathing suit, I was literally swarmed with young men - I had shown up in my only bathing suit - a bikini.

In my efforts to dissuade these boys from following me everywhere - literally - I decided to exit one of the swimming pools and move to another where some older folks were swimming.  In my haste, I did not realize that one pool was NOT the exact same as the other swimming pool but instead reversed.  Here is my story of my embarrassing moments!

Favorite-Funny-Stories-Diving-In-The-Story-of-the-Swimming-Pool

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Favorite Funny Stories: Boating Adventure on Lake Crescent

One of my favorite stories raising our children is about an eventful camping trip we took to the Olympic National Rain Forest where we camped at Lake Crescent. 

Our children at the time were about 10, 8 and 6 and Patrick, our middle child was born extremely visually impaired.  However, he was undaunted by his visual impairment and wanted to do everything his older brother could do.  When our son Jon went out on the lake with my husband, Pat was incensed.  He wanted to experience this too and so I was elected to take him out in a row boat to show him the 'ropes' so to speak.

What occurred was one of the funniest family stories we have - luckily an adventure that turned out happily and with no one getting hurt - but it was a hilarious trip down memory lane remembering that day and all that went with it!

Favorite-Funny-Stories-Boating-On-The-Lake-at-Lake-Crescent

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Learning Toys for Blind and Low Vision Kids

Learning toys for blind and low vision kids are basically the same ones that you would use for a perfectly sighted child - only the way that you use them perhaps may be a little different.

Having a child who is blind or low vision means that you have to think 'outside the box' when it comes to what is appropriate for them to play with and how they learn but it can be incorporated into a normal everyday family.

For instance, blind or low vision kids learn adaptive skills by playing with blocks, configuring puzzles (foam or regular), walking a low balance beam, watching a mobile, or even just listening to music.  They also love learning musical instruments, reading actual books or listening to audio books. 

A low-riding bike with training wheels, a big wheel, a trampoline - all of these common childhood toys can enhance a blind or low vision child's life and teach them things you may not even be aware of.

Toys with handles and knobs that teach sensory integration skills, games that test mental abilities such as who, what, where and why can teach a low vision or blind child in a subtle way about perceiving the world around them and will eventually give them invaluable skills to enter the world one day as an independent person.

For more ideas and thoughts on learning toys for blind and low vision kids, please see this link!
Learning-Toys-For-Blind-and-Low-Vision-Kids

Favorite Funny Stories: Soccer Bloopers

One would think that starting to play sports at age 38 is a bit much.  Especially if that sport happens to be soccer.  All in all though, this experience serves as the back drop for my favorite funny stories and my soccer bloopers.

I never do anything halfway and am probably a type AAAA personality.  When I realized that I truly wanted to learn to play soccer, there was nothing to be done for it except to join a league - which I fondly refer to now as 'old lady soccer'. 

It was a truly wonderful experience, even through all the injuries, all the training, all the botched attempt to be athletic and actually be pathetic!  It taught me much though about the sport, about athleticism in general, and how to not be quite so hard on yourself.  It also taught me a lot in retrospect about being a team.

I grew up being forbidden to play sports - because I was a musician and because I was a girl.  I think that was perhaps some of the draw in wanting to play later in life - that and the fact that all 3 of our children played sports nonstop from a young age through high school and even into college.  I discovered that contrary to my family's knowledge, I loved sports and I had a keen understanding of many of them.  Unfortunately, my body didn't quite follow suit - and hence the perfect beginning for my favorite funny stories and soccer bloopers.

Just remember - you are never to old to try anything!  After I gave up soccer, I moved on to urban mushing!


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Low Carb Healthy Recipes: Pork Tenderloin With Herbs

 If you want to make a dish that your family will love or you need a special recipe for an important occasion, it doesn't get much easier than this one! Try this low carb addition to healthy recipes with pork tenderloin and you will be amazed at the results.

Pork tenderloin has many less calories than a beef tenderloin and added to that, this is an extremely low carb dinner choice.  The recipe is for 4 servings and a pork tenderloin usually weighs in at about 1 pound.  It is a very lean meat and if cooked properly, as in this recipe, can be one of the most tender meats you will ever cook.

The trick is never to overcook - always use a meat thermometer.  This recipe probably takes 5 minutes to prepare and 25-30 minutes to cook/let stand another 5 and slice.  It doesn't get much simpler than that!

The aroma while it is cooking is divine.  The blend of the herbs and mustard creates a mouth-watering blend to bring out the best in the pork tenderloin - all the while being low carb and one of the best healthy recipes I've discovered recently.

I actually found this recipe in a cookbook for people with diabetes but the recipe will stand for any diet and for anyone but check out some of the other recipes in the cookbook highlighted.  It is a wonderful cookbook for people with diabetes or people just trying to find healthy recipes.

Enjoy!

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Cooking Light Magazine's 7 Best Foods For Women

Cooking Light Magazine just published an article on the 7 best foods for women to eat on a regular basis and incorporate into their diet - however, I think that these same foods could be of equal benefit to men.  These highly recommended foods are cranberry juice or berries, kale, tomatoes, flax seed, Greek yogurt, walnuts, and salmon. 

With just a minimum of effort, these foods are easily combined with other foods to promote such health properties as fighting breast and cervical cancer, prostate cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and lower your cholesterol - all naturally. 

Salmon, flax seed and walnuts are high in omega-3 fats that are so important in terms of heart disease but these same omega-3's are also vital in preventing osteoporosis and fighting breast cancer.

Kale and tomatoes are good for their vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein and their lycopene.  These as well fight heart disease and breast and cervical cancers.  Lutein is good for eye health.

Cranberry juice is great for preventing and treating urinary tract infections but also contains many antioxidants, as do the actual berry the cranberry.  They also help prevent kidney stones as well as give you natural antioxidants. 

Lastly, Greek yogurt is a food rich in protein and zero fat.  It promotes intestinal health as well as through its valuable proteins aids in weight loss, maintenance of muscle mass, and healthier aging. 

For more of the article, see my hub on hubpages!
http://hubpages.com/hub/Cooking-Light-Magazines-7-Best-Foods-For-Women?done

Central Oregon Travel - Bend Oregon, Sunriver Oregon and the Paulina Plunge

If you are looking for a unique experience for a vacation memory, Central Oregon and in particular Bend Oregon and Sunriver Oregon are enchanting places to spend time.  You can find just about every level of outdoor activity you would like to participate in but there is one unique trip you will find nowhere else....the Paulina Plunge brought to you by a recreational company out of Bend Oregon.

The Paulina Plunge is a downhill waterfall mountain bike tour that is an all-day event but that will leave you speechless.  It is not strenuous and anyone from 4 to 70 can participate.  The company provides the mountain bikes, the helmets, buses you to the forest to begin the tour, and you can even order a fried chicken lunch delivered right to you on the tour.

It is a beautiful way to spend a day - it includes biking in about 4 segments each about 1-1/2 miles down forest roads to 4 to 6 waterfalls depending upon the runoff for the year.  The most wonderful part of the whole experience is that you can swim in the waterfalls and there are actually 2 natural water slides to partake of.  It is an experience you won't forget!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Central-Oregon-Travel-Bend-Oregon-Paulina-Plunge-Mountain-Bike-Tour?done

Here's Your Sign - Answers From A Malamute Owner

I am constantly bombarded with the most insane questions when I take my 2 malamutes out and about - this is just a few of the ones that I get asked constantly - and what I wish I could say in return!

A take-off on Blue Collar Comedy - Here's Your Sign....hope you find it amusing.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Heres-Your-Sign-Comebacks-From-A-Malamute-Owner

Sex Drive, Coitus Interruptus and Our Naked Truth

In my late 20's, I discovered the power of being able to have a healthy sex drive - all because of my loving and encouraging husband.  However, on one particular night, this new side of me had some slightly comical and nearly disastrous results. 

As the kids say these days though - 'it's all good' - it turned out to be one of my most memorable voyages into becoming a fully evolved sexy woman.

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Central Oregon Vacation - Learn Urban Mushing and Dog Sledding

Whether you are on vacation in Central Oregon or live here, and want to learn a great way to exercise your dogs via urban mushing/dog scootering or dog sledding, Karen Yeargain of Tumnatki Siberians is your ticket to the experience of a lifetime. 

Recently, we participated with our Alaskan malamutes with Karen's Siberian huskies on an outing in Sisters Oregon in Central Oregon - not on vacation - but for the sheer pleasure of exercising our dogs and doing urban mushing.  It was a wonderful experience and only one of several we have participated in.

Dog sledding and urban mushing does not have to be confined to Siberian huskies or Alaskan malamutes - about any medium sized breed of dog can be trained to pull in this fashion as a form of great exercise - but the proper training is advised.

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Sunriver Oregon

If you are looking for a wonderful place to go on vacation as a family, individually, a place to hold a wedding or social event, or even a place to schedule a seminar - Sunriver has it all.  Sunriver at any time of the year has the amazing ability to please anyone and everyone.  There are simply that many things to do.  In summer, you can horseback ride, river raft, golf, hike, fish and swim.  In winter, you can snowshoe, nordic and alpine ski, sled, ice skate, and enjoy the beautiful high desert Sunriver Lodge. 

Accommodations in Sunriver are unsurpassed in their amenities and their wide range of prices.  Most all come with everything you'll need to have a self-contained vacation as most come with well-stocked kitchens.  Most come with their own hot tub where you can gaze at the stars on a summer or winter night.  Most rentals also provide bikes to traverse the more than 35+ miles of bike paths surrounding Sunriver.

Sunriver by far is one of the ultimate resort communities because it feels like home rather than a stuffy resort.  However, that said, you can still wine and dine, enjoy such luxuries as a spa and a health club and all the outdoor activities that you can imagine without ever leaving Sunriver.  For convenience, there is a small mall in the center of town complete with several dining establishments and a wonderful bakery.  There are 2 small grocery stores within Sunriver, one of which has a gas station.  There are also 2 golf courses as part of Sunriver and many, many more in the surrounding communities.  Sunriver even has its own airstrip.

If you are looking for a wonderful place to vacation or schedule a business meeting, Sunriver is your place.  Happy vacationing and happy traveling!

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