It's going to be another sweltering day here in Austin and I've got the perfect way to celebrate!To commemorate 7-Eleven, Inc.âs 84th birthday on July 11th, aka 7-Eleven Day, participating 7-Eleven® stores across the nation will celebrate by giving customers a free 7.11-oz size Slurpee® beverage. As a special birthday treat, the 7-Eleven store at 2600 Guadalupe in Austin, TX 78705 will hold a series of competitions, including timed Slurpee-drinking contests, one-minute 7-Eleven-themed challenges and a Twitter popularity contest. Winners will be rewarded with exclusive 7-Eleven prizes.
With the theme âOur Birthday â Your Bash,â participating 7-Eleven stores will thank customers for their patronage and support by offering a free Slurpee in a cup specially designed for this day while supplies last. Fans in Austin will get an extra treat by participating in a variety of prize-winning games to round out the birthday celebration. Stop the the 7-11 at 2600 Guadalupe between 11:30 and 1:30 for all the fun!!Â
Apples, celery and strawberries are at the top of the latest "Dirty Dozen" list compiled by the Environmental Working Group, while onions, sweet corn and pineapples are among the "Clean 15" fruits and vegetables the EWG says are least likely to carry pesticide residue.
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In releasing the 2011 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, its seventh edition, the advocacy group emphasized that the health benefits of a diet abundant with fruits and vegetables outweigh the risk of pesticide exposure.
Below is a list of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15:
We had a blast last night at "Abel's On The Lake" for our first Majic Happy Hour! We had a great time with Don Kurtz of Paradise Vacation and Travel! We met so many fun Majic listeners who are ready to set sail with us on the brand new Carnival Magic ship leaving out of Galveston and taking us to Mahogany Bay Honduras, Belize and Cozumel Mexico! Check out the fun below and make sure to join us next time!!  Find out more about our fun and fabulous cruise here!
If you want to save a lot of money, yes there is an app for that!! Â I found 3 fabulous and free apps that will save you money on gas, groceries and everything else! Â Check out Keri Bellacosa and myself on "Good Day Austin" and the links below to start saving now!
I love my Peeps, and I always seem to have some left over after Easter. Here is a fun recipe that is a colorful twist on the old Rice Krispie Treats recipe Enjoy!Â
3 tablespoons butter
35 Peeps
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
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In large pot, melt butter over low heat. Add Peeps and stir until completely melted. If using different colors, melt in separate color sections within the pot. Do not mix colors until Step 2. Remove pot from heat once butter is melted. Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.
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Step 3 , Evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 1 1/2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool completely before cutting into desired shapes. Store in an airtight container.
I love this!! Cooking this delicious chicken recipe can land you a husband!!  Since Glamour magazine published this recipe they have heard from 72 woman who became engage after serving it, including Howard Stern's wife Beth!! Whether you are looking for a husband or not, this is one delicious recipe. You can find it in the book "100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know" or check it out below!! Enjoy!!
INGREDIENTS
1 whole chicken (approx. 4 pounds)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 whole lemons Âincluding 1 sliced for garnish
1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Fresh herbs for garnish (4 rosemary sprigs, 4 sage sprigs, 8 thyme sprigs, and 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley)
PREPARATION
1) Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the giblets from the chicken, wash the chicken inside and out with cold water, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander for 2 minutes.
2) Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place the chicken breast-side down in a medium roasting pan fitted with a rack and pour the lemon juice all over the chicken, both inside and out. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper inside and out.
3) Prick 2 whole lemons three times in three different places on each with a fork and place them deep inside the cavity. Chicken cavity size may vary, so if one lemon is partly sticking out, thatâs fine. (Tip: If the lemons are stiff, roll them on the countertop with your palm before pricking to get the juices flowing.)
4) Put the chicken in the oven, lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, and roast, uncovered for 15 minutes.
5) Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Using tongs or two wooden spoons, turn the chicken breast-side up. Insert a meat thermometer in the thigh, and return the chicken to the oven and roast for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 180 degrees F and the juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with a fork. Continue roasting if necessary. Keep in mind that cooking times in different ovens vary; roasting a chicken at 350°F takes approximately 18-20 minutes per pound, plus an additional 15 minutes for a stuffed chicken that is 4 pounds.
6) Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. And here's the secret: Pour the juices from the roasting pan on top of the sliced chicken&151;this is the "marry me juice." Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon slices.
Glamour girl tip: Carving a bird takes a lot of practice, so don't expect it to be perfect on your first try. The most important thing is to have a sharp knife (preferably one made specifically for carving). Start by slicing the breasts, removing as much meat as possible, and then remove the legs and the wings (using kitchen shears work swell too). Don't worry if it looks messy; it will taste just as good.
Happy St. Patty's Day!!  What a perfect day for some yummy Thin Mint Cookie patties!!  This recipe is the closest  in taste to the real Girl Scout Thin Mints.  They take a little time, but the recipe makes a lot of cookies, which can also be frozen!!  That's my favorite way to eat them too!!  Enjoy!!Homemade Thin Mints
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/3 cup milk (any kind)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp peppermint extract
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. With the mixer on low speed, add in the milk and the extracts. Mixture will look curdled. Gradually, add in the flour mixture until fully incorporated.
Shape dough into two logs, about 1 1/2 inches (or about 4 cm) in diameter, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1-2 hours, until dough is very firm.
Preheat oven to 375F.
Slice dough into rounds not more than 1/4 inch thick â if they are too thick, they will not be as crisp â and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cookies will not spread very much, so you can put them quite close together.
Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cookies are firm at the edges. Cool cookies completely on a wire rack before dipping in chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Coating
10-oz dark or semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
In a microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate and butter. Melt on high power in the microwave, stirring every 45-60 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. Chocolate should have a consistency somewhere between chocolate syrup and fudge for a thin coating.
Dip each cookie in melted chocolate, turn with a fork to coat, then transfer to a piece of parchment paper or wax paper to set up for at least 30 minutes, or until chocolate is cool and firm.
Reheat chocolate as needed to keep it smooth and easy to dip into.
Makes 3 1/2-4 dozen cookies.
Alex and I love our hard boiled eggs, we're addicted!! Â We are always talking about the right way to boil and egg, I found one that not only works, (I tried it this past weekend) but is fun too! Â Check it out here from "Eggwatchers"!! Check out a little preview below! Â Enjoy your incredible, edible, hard boiled eggs!!
I am not a cook, but do love making a few select dishes. My favorite is meatballs, with Swedish meatballs being my specialty!  I found at that Oprah loves her meatballs too! Her favorite come at a price, $26 for 3 meatballs at Tratoria Mollie in Montecito California where Oprah lives!Thank you Mollie for sharing your recipe so we can make them at home. The secret ingrediant to these yummy meatballs is raisins!! Yes, raisins!! I plan on making these very soon, and you can too!! Enjoy!!
Turkey Meatball (Polpette alla Mollie)
makes 18 meatballsÂ
1 pound hot Italian turkey sausage
2 ounces fresh breadcrumbs , plus 10 ounces to coat meatballs
1 whole egg , plus 4 more for egg wash
2 ounces Parmesan cheese , plus extra for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh chopped Italian parsley
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Pinch salt and pepper
2 tablespoons whipping cream
3 ounces black raisins
4 ounces white flour
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves chopped garlic
12 tablespoons chopped shallot
1 tablespoon brandy
4 cups fresh tomato sauce
1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano
Directions
Heat oil to 400 degrees F in deep fryer or large, heavy pot suitable for deep frying.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
In a large bowl combine sausage, 2 ounces breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, crushed red pepper and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix together briefly to distribute seasonings. Add raisins and mix them in. Shape into 2.5-ounce meatballs and set aside.
Put flour in shallow bowl. In another bowl, beat four eggs. In a third bowl, put 10 ounces of fresh breadcrumbs.
Lightly coat meatballs in flour, dip in egg wash and roll in breadcrumbs coating meatballs evenly.
Using slotted spoon, cook batches of meatballs in deep fryer until golden. Remove from oil and drain on paper-lined plate.
Put olive oil in large frying pan on medium high heat. Add chopped garlic and shallots, cooking until golden. Stir in a pinch of red pepper and add brandy. Put tomato sauce into pan and transfer meatballs, covering them with sauce.
Put pan into preheated oven for 20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked. When finished, take out and garnish with 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, oregano and Parmesan cheese.
Serve alone or with pasta.
Starting today through Valentine's Day you can get delicious cupcakes and "Luvcakes" from a new temporary Hey Cupcake Location! This location is on Research between Great Hills Trail and Braker Lane.This is just north of the junction at Mopac and 183! Â Just go North on 183 and take the Braker Lane exit! Â See the map below! Remember you can only get your cupcakes here through Valentines Day! Â They are open to sell out each day! Â Enjoy!!Hey Cupcake is only selling their "Luvcakes" through Valentine's Day too! Â Check out the cute video below and make this an extra sweet Valentine's Day for someone special!!
Cold weather and the Super Bowl bring out our BIG appetites! Â Want to indulge and eat healthy too? Â Well I have found 8 tasty and healthy recipes just for you...and they taste fabulous too! Â Click here for the recipes! Enjoy!
I think eating the same thing each and everyday would get boring, but if I could look as great as Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox, maybe I will. During those 10 years they worked together on "Friends" they ate lunch together and had the same thing everyday, drumroll please....a Cobb salad!!! Now I love a good Cobb salad, but everyday for 10 years!! I hope they changed it up a bit from time to time. I have a friend that used to work at Warner Brother's and always tells the story of how he would see Jennifer and Courtney walking to lunch everyday , who knew it was to the same Cobb salad? Here is a picture of a Cobb salad in case you were wondering what it is. Here is more on Jennifer and Courtney's salad habit!Â
If you are like me one of the essential things to get through a long hot Summer is ice cream. If you are like me you are watching your calories too! Well now you can have your cake, or I should say ice cream and eat it too! Introducing Arctic Zero, only 136 calories for the entire, yes, entire pint!! No stores carry it in Austin yet, but Sprouts does and we should be getting those soon. In the meantime you can order it on Amazon.com. Below is a link to their website and from what I hear from those who have tried it....delicious!!You can thank me later!http://www.myarcticzero.com/
