Chocolate Isn't a Vegetable?

Grilled Summer Squash Finally, my garden blessed me with lots of delicious yellow squash, a veggie I planted after harvesting potatoes and onions from my raised beds in May! Grilling squash is a wonderful way to savor this last flavor of summer. Here is the easy recipe: 4 small yellow squash, washed and halved 1/4 cup of olive oil 1 teaspoon of blackened seasoning mix 1 teaspoon of seasoned salt Toss all ingredients in a large bowl until well-combined. Grill 4-6 minutes on medium heat (until softened). Enjoy!

Easiest Cronuts Ever! In case you don't know what Cronuts are, they are donut-shaped, deep-fried croissants of deliciousness! They are also super-easy to make! Heat three inches of vegetable or canola oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. On a piece of wax or parchment paper, unroll and slightly flatten one Pillsbury Crescent Seamless Dough Sheet. Cut the dough using a three-inch cookie or biscuit cutter, then cut out the middle of each 3-inch piece, using a cookie cutter that is about 1-inch across. Gently drop up to two Cronuts or four Cronut holes into the hot oil at a time. Fry each side for about 45 seconds, then cool on a cookie rack. Top with anything you like - I made a glaze out of a 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of warm milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. You could add cinnamon-sugar, nutella, and/or a filling of whipped cream or pudding.

Easiest Fudge Ever! Making fudge that actually sets the way it is supposed to has always eluded me - until now! I found this super-tasty recipe on the Taste of Home magazine website: Empty 2 bags of chocolate chips into a glass bowl and microwave in thirty second intervals (stir every thirty seconds) until smooth. Then, quickly add one can of sweetened condensed milk and one tablespoon of vanilla extract and stir until well-combined. Pour fudge into wax or parchment paper-lined 8x8 pan that has been sprayed lightly with cooking spray. Cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting into pieces. Enjoy! There are so many different combinations to try! Use white chocolate chips, add nuts or dried fruit, or sprinkle lightly with sea salt!

DIY Facial Powder and Blush Making your own cosmetics is inexpensive, fun, and chemical-free! Here are a couple of my favorite "recipes" for DIY make-up: Facial Powder Gently mix 1/2 cup of organic cornstarch with 1 teaspoon of organic cacao powder, adding more as needed to match your skin tone. Add 2-3 drops of Melaleuca essential oil (this helps reduce any bacteria growth). Store in air-tight container (recycled glass jars, like canning jars, work well). Blush Gently mix 1/4 cup of organic cornstarch with 1 teaspoon of beet root powder, adding more as needed to achieve the desired intensity of color. Stir in 2-3 drops of Melaleuca essential oil and store in air tight container. Depending on frequency of use, the powder and blush last about two weeks. I would recommend your local health food store to purchase the ingredients for DIY cosmetics. Internet prices may be a little cheaper, but buying local, fresh ingredients is worth it in the long run.