Author: Emily Gautreaux

Resorts in the U.S that are a Must

Resorts can be a great vacation option. Not only are they relaxing but they are usually inclusive, too. Typically, everything you would need can be found on the premises. The best part? All of the locations on this list are right here in the United States; meaning you don’t even have to leave the country.  Today.com shared 19 of the Best Resorts in the U.S. We are here to tell you about 6 of those resorts.

Indian Wells, California

Palm Springs can be overwhelming if you are looking for a nice get away around that area. The Miramonte Indian Wells Resort and Spa is the perfect getaway for those who want to be close to the city but not TOO close. Located at the bottom of the Santa Rosa mountains, this resort offers golf and bike riding though through the community. There is, of course, a spa and there are even three pools, so you have options. Joshua Tree National Park is also nearby making this resort the perfect nature get away.

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

What about a grand hotel that has 10 lobbies? The Greenbrier is the perfect destination for those of all ages. This historical hotel is actually a National Historic Landmark and over 20 presidents have visited the grounds of this beautiful 11,000 acre resort, There are five golf courses, a mineral spa, over 30 shops, and more than 15 eateries located on the premises.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is the perfect getaway for those who enjoy not only the outdoors but the beach as well. This resort is located in the central area of Hilton Head Island which means it is close to all of the restaurants and shopping areas. One of the best things about this resort is the multiple different rental options. Visitors can pick from a one bedroom rental fully equipped with a full kitchen and washer and dryer. You can even rent a whole home. This local offers so many activities. Rent a paddleboard or kayak, go on a bike ride, or even pick up a tennis racket. The options are endless.

Scottsdale. Arizona

Four pools, horseback riding, and 12-million year old boulder pile; what more could you ask for from a resort. The Boulders Resort & Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton offers its guest a quite unique experience. Did we mention you get to climb on the boulder pile? This resort is for those who are seeking some adventure while still being able to relax. The Boulders Resort & Spa has five different restaurants and there is even two golf courses.

Naples, Florida

The Naples Grande Beach Resort is the perfect getaway for those who are looking for more of a gulf coast local. Feel free to relax on the three miles of beach the resort offers. It has over 10 tennis court and even a nature walk. This Naples designation also has three pools and of course, a spa.

Sea Island, Georgia

If you are looking for a luxurious and private destination look no further than The Cloister at Sea Island. This resort offers 5 miles of beach, private beach. This island off of Georgia offers its visitors a much higher end resort, but if you have the budget it is totally worth it.

For more travel related news and information, click here.

 

 

 

Fourth of July Recipes To Make

This hot weather has everyone craving some Fourth of July, fulfilling recipes.  We could not miss out on these delicious recipes that Southern Living recently provided. This slideshow of 50 Fourth of July Recipes for An All-American Cookout will for sure make your mouth water. So we picked our favorite punch recipe and Macaroni and cheese recipe to share!

Fourth of July Punch

The secret to this punch is that the longer it chills, the better it will get.

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 cups of seedless watermelon, cubed
  • 1 cup of pineapple juice, chilled
  • 1 can of club soda (12oz), chilled
  • ½ cup of fresh lime juice
  • ¾ cup of granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS

Take half of the cubed watermelon and blend the cubed pieces until it becomes smooth. This will take about 45 seconds. Once it is smooth, pour the watermelon juice through a strainer. Allowing the juice to drain through into a pitcher. Throw away the solid parts that stay in the strainer. Repeat the process until all of the watermelon cubes are blended.

In a small bowl, add the ginger, sugar, and lime juice; you want to whisk this mixture until the sugar dissolves. Pour this mixture into the watermelon juice that is in the pitcher. Mix it together, then add the chilled pineapple juice. The punch should be chilled for at least 2 hours, or let it chill for up to 2 days.

When serving, fill the glass with ice and pour the punch in. Top it off with the club soda and serve. The perfect drink for a hot day.

Fourth of July Macaroni Pie

Who doesn’t like a warm, full bowl of Macaroni and cheese? Now imagine it in a buttery, flaky crust.

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 ounces of elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 1 ½ cups of whole milk
  • 2 ounces of fontina cheese, shredded
  • 2 ounces of extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces of Gruyere cheese, shredded
  • ½ package of refrigerated pie crust
  • ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon of black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 3 thyme sprigs

UTENSILS

  • 9-inch pie plate
  • Small bowl
  • Blender
  • Medium saucepan

DIRECTIONS

The oven needs to be preheated to 350 degrees. Take the 9-inch pie plate and press the crust into it. Make sure to crimp the edges. Place the plate into the freezer for about 15 minutes, it needs to be firm. Place aluminum foil on top of the crust and place dried beans or pie weights on top. Bake the pie crust for about 20 minutes or until it is a golden brown color.

Remove the pie from the oven and also remove the weights and the foil holding it down. Place the pie back in the oven and bake until the bottom dries up. This should take about 5 minutes. The pie will need to cool for about 10 minutes.

While the pie crust is in the oven, cook the macaroni. Once it is cooked drain the pasta, rise it, and place it on the side.

The thyme sprigs and butter needs to be cooked in a medium saucepan. Once the butter is melted, add the flower. This needs to be stirred constantly until it starts to get thick and produce a light golden color. Slowly add the milk while whisking, once the mixture is fully combined remove the thyme sprigs.

Add the salt, pepper and mustard while continuing to whisk. The next step is to start adding the cheeses. Making sure it melts before adding more. Continue to whisk until the mixture is fully melted. Then gentle add the pasta into the mixture. Place the pasta into the pie crust by using a spoon. Bake the pie at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, take the pie out and let it cool before serving.

Wether you try one or both, your Fourth of July is sure to be more enjoyable with these additions to your backyard cookout.

For more delicious recipes, click here.

 

Legislative Achievements for Education

Recently Louisiana has taken a huge step in furthering the education of the students in its state. Louisiana Believes outlines the achievements made for the education of Louisiana’s students. The class of 2018 achieved the highest graduation outcome, the highest in Louisiana’s history to be exact.  All of the hard work paid off and it showed at the Louisiana 2019 Regular Legislative Session.  John White, the State Superintendent of Education, released a statement starting off with, “It is a good legislative session when our state invests in our schools and when our schools demonstrate such academic returns on that investment.”

Not only did classes prove that education is worth investing in, but they helped state leaders improve even more. The pay for all public school teachers will be raised by $1,000. Teachers are not the only employees receiving a raise, school support personnel’s pay will also increase by $500.

$39 million was added to the education funding formula. This will provide the support that is always needed for public schools to operate. This will also be helpful to the employees that run the schools. $20 was dedicated to early childhood education. This is to help prevent pre-kindergarten programs and services from decreasing due to federal funds not being available. This money will also be used to help increase available slots in childcare for families that are working and low income.

High school students will also be supported. While enrolled in high school they will be able to earn college credits, helping them to further their education after graduation. This will also help high schoolers earn industry credentials for the workforce that can be used after graduation. Task forces will be created to help each of these efforts.

The Class of 2018 showed that investing in education is worth it. John White’s official statement said:

“It is a good legislative session when our state invests in our schools and when our schools demonstrate such exceptional academic returns on that investment. In recent weeks, our state announced that more students than ever before are graduating from high school, earning early college credit and industry-based credentials, achieving eligibility for TOPS, and enrolling in college.  As the session comes to a close, I applaud the Governor, lawmakers, and BESE for continuing that progress, and for heeding the voices of families and educators across our state.”

The 2019 Regular Legislative Session started on Monday, April 8, 2019 and adjourned Thursday, June 6, 2019. Education was not the only group to receive more financial help. District attorneys, assistant district attorneys, and judges pay was boosted. Also, a new law now allows young adults to stay within the foster care system until they turn 21. Services have only been given to those young adults in foster care until they graduate from highschool. Before that, young adult would be kicked out of foster care once they turn 18, even if they are not done with foster care.

Louisiana’s foster care system has not been invested in the past. Within 2 years of being in the system, one in five young adults end up homeless. One fourth of the young adults in the foster care system were in prison, a 2017 report shows. The report came from the Louisiana State Task Force on Youth Aging Out of Foster Care.

For more education related information, click here.

 

The Best Museums in Each State

Trying to escape the summer heat? Museums are the perfect go to for day trips or even for a whole vacation. What about a road trip that stops at the coolest ones in eachstate? The Discoverer Blog has a list of the Coolest Museum in Each State. We are here to share 8 of them!

Colorado

Located in Denver, the Denver Art Museum is one of the largest in the west. The outside alone is enough to draw visitors. However, the inside is filled with traveling collections, Western art, and contemporary pieces. The Denver Art Museum could be classified as an encyclopedia that holds many different types of artistic expression. They even have hand-dyed Native American blankets.

Georgia

World of Coca-Cola is located in Atlanta and is interactive. Not only does the museum contain the vault that holds Coke’s famous secret formula, but there is a tasting room where its visitors can try samples of Coca-Cola. Over 100 different samples! There is a 4D theatre and there is even a pop culture gallery.

Kansas

Wichita’s museum, the Museum of World Treasures, is the perfect museum to spend an entire day at. There are three floors of over 30,000 different artifacts. There is a little something for everyone. There is a Sea Creatures of the Plains exhibit that displays a giant prehistoric sea creature called the Xiphactinus fish.

Minnesota

Taking a huge leap and being the “leading exhibition of modern art”, the Walker Art Center is located in Minneapolis. This museum is also known for its architecture. The array of modern art exhibits located within the museum is amazing. The sculpture garden holds the “Spoonbridge and Cherry” sculpture.

Montana

The Museum of the Rockies is actually a Smithsonian affiliate. Located in Bozeman, this museum is famous for its Siebel DInosaur Complex, which holds the most fossils of T. Rex in the world. If you are looking for a Museum that explores the Montana Landscape, this is the perfect stop. Learn about the history of Yellowstone and geysers.

Ohio

What about a music museum? The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, located in Cleveland, is perfect for those rock and roll lovers. Multiple exhibits display the rock legends who have helped create music to be what it is today. David Bowie, Elvis and the Beatles are just a few. Visit to see artifacts and costumes from artist who have truly made rock and roll what it is.

South Dakota

The Mammoth Site and Museum was discovered when a housing development was leveling the grounds. In 1974, a 7-foot tusk was found and the excavation began. The museum was created a year after the original find. There are 3 wooly mammoths that have been uncovered and visitors can actually watch the excavation happen. It is believed that there could still be over 1,000 bones and fragments that actually are still buried in the sink hole.

Tennessee

Located in Memphis, the National Civil Rights Museum is housed in the Lorraine Motel, which was where Martin Luther KIng Jr. was shot. It includes personal accounts of people who experienced the movement and there are even exhibits that focus on Jim Crow laws. Visitors can even tour a bus, a vintage one, and listen to the interaction between Rosa Parks and a public transit worker.

For more travel related news and information, click here.

 

Pressure Cooker Ribs That are Quick and Easy

Ribs are always the perfect go-to for summer meals. This Easy 4th of July BBQ Ribs recipe was posted by the Pink Cake Plate. The best part about this recipe is that it can be cooked in your electric pressure cooker! And then place them on the grill in order to add that crispiness everyone loves. We have also included an easy potato salad recipe that pairs perfectly with the ribs.

Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Ribs

  • 4 pounds of country style spare ribs
  • Seasoning Rub for Pork
  • 2 cups of your preferred BBQ Sauce. Sweet Baby Rays original is always a good place to start

Instructions for Preparing the Ribs

If you are cooking with a pressure cooker, the first step is the cut the protein. When cutting the slabs, make sure they are small enough to fit in the pressure cooker you have. Once the ribs are cut into slabs, rub the seasoning all over the slabs. Once each slab of meat is covered in the seasoning, place the ribs in the pressure cooker. Make sure to place the cover on and lock the lid. The cooker should be set on High Pressure. The timer should be set for 45 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, you will hear beeping sounds, the pressure will need to release so make sure to leave the lid on. Turn the pressure cooker off, and once it is safe to open remove the ribs. Place them on a plate or platter to allow them to dry off for a little bit.

Once the ribs have been taken out of the pressure cooker, heat the grill up to high heat. Place the them on the grill. Pour the BBQ sauce in a bowl and brush the sauce on both sides of the ribs. Grill the ribs for about 5-7 minutes. They should be browned and crispy. You might have to lower the heat if the ribs start to burn.

Potato salad is the perfect side to pair with a nice plate of ribs.

All Recipes has a quick and easy potato salad recipe that fits perfectly with these summer ribs.

Ingredients

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the potatoes in a large pot and boil them; sprinkle with salt and place the lid on top. Once they are boiling, reduce the heat to a medium/low setting and let them simmer. The potatoes should be tender (this should take about 10 minutes) and once they are, drain them. Place the potatoes in the empty pot.

Mix the pickles, hard boiled eggs, red onion, celery, mayonnaise, mustard and apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle with the black pepper and salt. Place the potatoes in the mixture and stir everything together. This should chill for about 6 hours, or even leave it to chill overnight, before it is served.

For more delicious recipes, click here.

 

Louisiana Desserts Worth Trying

Louisiana is often known for its fantastic seafood, but what about its amazing desserts? Only In Your State lists 10 of the amazing, unique, desserts that you can find in this beautiful southern state known as Louisiana. We are here to share our top 7 from that list.

Bananas Foster Dessert

This dessert was invented by a man named Paul Blange at a restaurant that was opened in 1948 called Brennan’s. This became a very popular dessert due to the large import of bananas in New Orleans. And who doesn’t enjoy ice cream?! This dessert is perfect year round.

Sno-Balls

No, snow-cones and sno-balls are NOT the same thing. Snow-cones are often made from crushed/shaved ice that is more grainy and crunchy. Sno-balls have a fluffy like texture because of how finely the ice is crushed up. Sno-balls are often topped with different toppings and they can even be filled with cream.

Calas Fried Rice Fritters for Dessert

Calas Fried Rice Fritters are often compared to dumplings. They are made up of yeast, rice, sugar, flour and eggs, this is then fried and that’s how the fritters come to life. The best part about this dessert is not only its taste, but also the history behind it. Creole street vendors, who were often women, would sell the Calas Fried Rice Fritters early in the morning in the French Quarter.

Due to the popularity of the beignet, Calas became a less popular dessert. Often being made in home by using leftover rice.  Thankfully due to the work of food preservationists the Calas Fried Rice Fritters have been making a comeback.

Beignets for Dessert

Speaking of beignets, this famous New Orleans treat brings visitors from all around the world. Beignets are made from different varieties of dough and are best served hot. They are deep fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It can get pretty messy, so you might want to stay away from dark clothes while eating them. If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding your favorite fruits on top. Typically they are enjoyed as a meal for breakfast paired perfectly with a nice cup of chicory coffee or even some hot chocolate, but also recommend giving them a go after as a dessert too.

King Cake

The Louisiana style KIng Cake is most commonly known to be popular around the time of Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday”. The New Orleans style is often made of a mixture of coffee cake and cinnamon rolls. These cakes are then iced and sprinkled with Mardi Gras colors: green, purple, and gold.

Remember, if you get the slice with the baby, you have to buy the next cake.

Pecan Pie

Pecans are often found in southern states, meaning Pecan PIe is a perfect recipe. This recipe calls for a filling of butter, sugar, and eggs. Including white or brown sugar. These pies are often associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas too.

Doberge Cake

This cake is layered with cake and dessert pudding. This dessert originated in a New Orleans bakery in 1933. Beulah Levy Ledner developed the idea based off of the Hungarian/Austrian Dobos Cake. These cakes are often filled with half chocolate pudding and half lemon pudding. This dessert is the perfect option for those who need more than one flavor.

For more Louisiana related articles, click here.