If you love the taste of homemade fried food but don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking, an air fryer may be your ideal solution.

An air fryer is similar to a countertop convection oven but, rather than baking food, it produces a deep fried meal.

The top section of the fryer holds a heating mechanism and a fan. Just place the food in the basket on top. Hot air will come down around the food making for a rapid circulation that crisps rather than bakes.

In addition to being easy to use, an air fryer also does not require a lot of oil to fry food. Therefore, the food is healthier than most fried dishes.

If you are thinking of getting an air fryer for your home, here are some great recipes you can make.

Air Fryer Southern Style Chicken Recipe

It’s not a fryer unless you can make fried chicken with it, right? Here’s a fried chicken recipe the whole family will love.

Ingredients:

·                 2 cups crushed crackers (about 50 crackers)

·                 1 tbsp. minced fresh parsley

·                 1 tsp. garlic salt

·                 1 tsp. paprika

·                 ½ tsp. pepper

·                 ¼ tsp. ground cumin

·                 ¼ tsp. rubbed sage

·                 1 large egg beaten

·                 1 broiler fryer chicken (3-4 lbs.)

·                 Cooking spray

Directions:

1.              Preheat the fryer to 375 degrees. Mix the first seven ingredients in a shallow bowl. Place an egg in another shallow bowl. Dip the chicken into the egg and then the cracker mixture. Pat to help ingredients adhere to the meat. Place chicken in batches in a single layer on a greased tray in the air dryer and spray with cooking spray.

2.              Cook for 10 minutes. Then turn chicken and give it another spritz of cooking spray. Continue cooking until golden brown and juices run clear, about an additional 10-20 minutes.

Air Fryer Garlic-Rosemary Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Brussels sprouts will make a great side for that chicken. Here’s how you can prepare this veggie so it’s nice and tasty.

Ingredients:

·                 3 tbsp. olive oil

·                 2 cloves garlic minced

·                 ½ tsp. salt

·                 ¼ tsp. pepper

·                 1 lb. Brussels sprouts trimmed and halved

·                 1 ½ tsp. minced fresh rosemary

Directions:

1.              Preheat the fryer to 350 degrees. Place the first four ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds.

2.              Toss the Brussels sprouts in 2 tbsp. of the oil mixture. Place them on the tray in the air fryer and cook for 4-5 minutes. Stir the sprouts and cook until they are lightly browned and near the desired tenderness, about eight minutes longer, stirring halfway through.

3.              Toss breadcrumbs and rosemary in remaining oil mixture. Sprinkle the mixture over the sprouts and continue cooking until the crumbs are browned and the sprouts are tender, 3-5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Fried food is quite delicious. If you are looking for an easy and slightly healthier way to fry foods, an air fryer will be your dream kitchen appliance. Which recipes will you be preparing for your hungry crew?

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Photo by Eiliv-Sonas Aceron on Unsplash

The world is becoming an eco-friendlier place. As a result, manufacturers are making products that are recyclable and kind to the atmosphere.

There are several home products that cause pollutants. Q-tips are one of them.

Q-tips are harmful due to their plastic middles. Plastic is laced with chemicals and, when discarded, it ends up in the sea or on land where it can be digested by sea life and wildlife making animals sick.

What’s more, plastic is non-biodegradable so it can survive for years in water and on land increasing its potential to be a health risk for animals.

Q-tips are single use and often discarded immediately making them a huge biohazard. But now, manufacturers are turning things around making reusable q-tips. Read on to find out more about these environmentally friendly products and how you can use them to save an animal’s life.

About Last Swab

Last Swab is a reusable q-tip/cotton swab that produces zero waste. It is easy to clean and store so you can hold on to one longer minimizing the plastic that ends up on land and on sea. The products are durable and last for hundreds and even thousands of uses so they will stay in your bathroom cabinets, and out of natural habitats, for a good long time.

The q-tips come in two different models. The Last Swab Original is for general use while the Last Swab Beauty is for beauty-oriented application. They are made from flexible, high quality non-toxic materials that are gentle on skin. They come in a biodegradable carrying case that will keep them clean and safe.

The product was first introduced in Kickstarter and Indiegogo crowdfunding events. Though still in its infancy stage, 30,000 backers bought Last Swab before it was officially launched. In fact, many people pre-pledged a purchase before the funding campaigns were even underway.

The company was very pleased by the success of their product and the passion people have for saving the environment. Their plan is to continue spreading the word about their single use products and to have them sold all over the world and in major retail outlets such as Walmart and Tesco. They believe that when they are available at this level, they will have an even more significant impact.

About the Founder

Last Swab was founded by designer Isabel Aagaard. Aagard was frustrated by all the single use products out there and the harm they caused to the atmosphere. She decided to make a change by launching the Last Object company in 2018.

Last Swab was the company’s first product, released in 2019. Last Tissue came fast behind it. Both products are reusable solutions that are kind to the earth.

Last Object is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has production in Denmark and China.

It is wonderful to see that manufacturers like Last Object are doing their part to improve the earth with quality single use products. It’s hopeful that this marks a change for the better in the way people purchase and use household goods. We can only wait to see the impact it has on our wildlife and the air we breathe.

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Photo by Alexandra Tran on Unsplash 

The coronavirus is still spreading around the world, and hand sanitizer is more important than ever.

When the pandemic first hit and lockdowns were in place, people had difficulty finding several items they were used to seeing on their grocery store shelves. Hand sanitizer was one of these scarce items, and locating a bottle seemed to be the equivalent of finding gold.

Now that we are getting back to, well, let’s just say, a new normal, hand sanitizer is easier to come by, but it’s still rather pricey. And, you never know when another crisis will arise.

To make sure you are prepared in any situation, it’s a good idea to learn how to make your own hand sanitizer. Here is a DIY hand sanitizer recipe you can trust.

DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe

Ingredients:

●      2 parts isopropyl alcohol (91-99%)

●      1 part aloe vera gel

●      A few drops of an essential oil of your choice

Directions:

Once you have your ingredients, here are the steps you will need to follow

1.              Make sure the space you are using to mix the solution is clean by wiping down countertops with diluted bleach before starting.

2.              Wash hands thoroughly.

3.              Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix using a clean spoon and whisk. Make sure they are well blended.

4.              Don’t touch the mixture until it is ready to use.

Is Making Your Own Hand Sanitizer Safe?

Home mixtures can help you out if you are in a pinch. However, getting the wrong mix or using improper ingredients can lead to a lack of efficacy, skin irritations and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Homemade sanitizers should also not be used by children who may use the hand sanitizer improperly putting themselves at a greater risk of injury.

How Should I Use Hand Sanitizer?

Using hand sanitizer properly will ensure you are protected from germs. Here are the steps you will need to take.

1.              If hands are dirty or greasy, wash them with soap and water.

2.              Apply hand sanitizer to the palm of one hand.

3.              Rub your hands together making sure the sanitizer gets all over both hands, back and front.

4.              Continue rubbing for 30 to 60 seconds or until hands are dry. The prolonged rubbing ensures the sanitizer will effectively kill the germs it is targeting.

Do not use hand sanitizer near pets.

What Germs is Hand Sanitizer Effective in Killing?

If hand sanitizer is mixed and used correctly, it can kill a wide variety of disease causing pathogens including the coronavirus and the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

However, it will not be effective in killing the following germs:

·                 Norovirus 

·                 Cryptosporidium (which causes cryptosporidiosis)

·                 Clostridium difficile (also known as C. diff)

The vaccines are here, but until we are given the “all clear,” we must keep using hand sanitizer, wearing masks and social distancing. With this recipe, you never have to worry about running out of hand sanitizer again. Will you be trying to mix it up in your kitchen?

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Photo by Katie Harp on Unsplash

When the kitchen isn’t organized, it can be a real pain. Not being able to find the ingredients or utensils you need can turn those quick and easy meals into time-consuming work.

You may have been putting off those kitchen reorganizing projects you’ve been meaning to do, but the sooner you get them done, the sooner you can enjoy stress free cooking. And with these tips, getting your kitchen into shape will be a breeze. Read on to find out how it’s done.

Opt for Open Shelving

Open shelving is the new trend in kitchen décor. It involves taking your pots, pans, cooking utensils, spices, and other kitchenware and putting them right out on your shelves. This makes for a lovely country kitchen vibe, and you’ll never have to go searching through cluttered kitchen cabinets for any of these items again.

Get a Six Pack Holder for Rogue Bottles

Do you experience an avalanche every time you close the refrigerator door? Do the bottles stashed in your door fall over as soon as the fridge door is closed? There’s an easy and environmentally friendly solution.

The next time you get a six pack, keep the packaging so you can store your bottles in the designated slots. We guarantee they will never stray again.

Get Shelf Liners

Messy and disorganized is one thing, sticky and gross is another. If your food containers are leaking remnants onto your cabinet surfaces, shelf liners will help keep them clean.

Lamp shades make great shelf liners because they are easy to wipe clean. If you have an old lamp, using the shade as a shelf liner will be a great way to recycle. If you don’t have a shade to use, ask your local hardware store if they have any scraps.

Heavy shades make the best liners, and they work on kitchen drawers too!

Cooking Caddies Are a Space Saver

A cooking caddy is the perfect thing for holding spices, condiments, cooking oils, and other every day, nonperishable ingredients. It will consolidate items so they take up less space on the counter, and it will make them easier to find.

You may have a container lying around the house that doubles as a caddy, but if not, they can be found in most kitchenware stores.

Use a Tension Rod for Cleaning Products

Cleaning products are susceptible to spills that can make a real mess and may even damage fixtures in your kitchen. To keep them from spilling, consider installing a tension rod in your cabinet.

A tension rod can be installed from one end of the cabinet to another and bottles can be hung on the rod by their spouts. It’s a great way to minimize spills while keeping cleaning supplies organized.

No one likes a disorganized kitchen. The tips in this article will help you give your kitchen a fresh new look while making cooking easier. What do you like to do to keep your kitchen orderly?

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Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash 

Our body is full of nerves. The vagus nerve is one of the most important.

The vagus nerve is not one nerve but a bundle of nerves that goes from the gut to the heart to the brain. It communicates with every organ in the body.

It plays an important role in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is part of the autonomic service system also known as the “rest and digest” system. It is involved in heart rate, libido, urination, and gastrointestinal activity.

The nerve also controls inflammation and releases chemicals that control muscles, dilate blood vessels, and slow heart rate. Studies have shown that vagus nerve stimulators can be implanted in the body to treat extreme depression and epilepsy.

With the vagus nerve being so essential, we must do what we can to maintain it so it functions properly. Here are some tips for keeping it in the best shape possible.

9 Natural Ways to Heal Your Vagus Nerve

Gargling

Gargling helps to stimulate the vagus nerve. Gargle hard until you get tears in your eyes. Then you will know you have successfully worked the nerve.

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing exercises can also be effective. Deep slow belly breaths will stimulate the nerve. Sit or lie down and take deep breaths holding them for a few seconds. Then release. Repeat 5-10 times. Not only will this tone the vagus nerve, it will make you feel happier and more relaxed.

Laughter

Something as simple as laughter releases neurotransmitters that boost vagal tone.

Fish Oils

Fish oils lower heart rate and strengthen the vagus nerve.

Fasting

Fasting gives the digestive system a break allowing the vagus nerve to rest up. You don’t have to fast completely. Intermittent fasting or cutting down on snacks will also help.

Yoga

Yoga involves deep breathing and increases GABA that stimulates the vagus nerve.

Singing

Singing uses the muscles in the back of the throat which stimulate vagal tone. The louder you sing, the better.

Cold Showers

Sure, no one likes a cold shower but as your body adjusts to the cold the sympathetic nervous system slows down and the parasympathetic system gets stronger producing beneficial effects on the vagus nerve.

Cleaning the Tongue

Any exercise that requires you to open your mouth wide will strengthen the vagus nerve and that includes tongue cleaning. What’s more, the vagus nerve connects with the tongue so the cleaning motion will promote stimulation.

In addition, tongue cleaning is great for minimizing bacteria in the mouth reducing the risk of cavities.

If you are looking for a tongue cleaner you can count on, Dr. Tung's Tongue Cleaner is highly recommended.

Dr. Tungs is dedicated to manufacturing cutting edge natural oral care products. Their Tongue Cleaner has a curved cleaning edge that removes bacteria and plaque in seconds. It is comfortable, effective, easy to use, hygienic and adjustable.

The vagal nerve is arguably the most important nerve in our bodies. Now that you know more about it, what steps will you be taking to make sure it’s functioning at its best?

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Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash