Backyard BBQ Fun: No Grill? No Problem

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No Problem Small Decor Changes Can Lift Your Mood (NAPSA)—Simple changes to your home decor can make a big difference in your mood and attitude. “The right living environment can motivate, inspire and empower you and everyone who walks through your door,” notes design expert Stephen Saint-Onge. What’s more, sprucing up your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are some tips to turn your old space into a new haven: Declutter and design. For a quick design makeover, consider tackling your countertops. According to a recent survey from She Speaks, more than half of women say embarrassment over their cluttered countertops is the No. 1 reason they don’t invite guests into their kitchen. A great solution to clear the clutter is to organize items into glass jars. You can even fill the jars with colorful foods or kitchen accessories to help brighten up the space. To emphasize this look, surround the jars with simple black or white picture frames filled with images that play off the color. Saint-Onge suggests showcasing your children’s art or even postcards from your travels into simple frames for an instant face-lift. Fashion meets functionality. Smaller spaces can seem harder to renew. Therefore, choose items that not only work for you, but are also stylish, yet functional. And since outdated kitchen appliances can depress the look of a room that’s now become the center of most houses for family and entertaining purposes, Saint-Onge believes that having one unique item as a focal point is crucial. For example, the NESCAF Dolce Gusto is a stylish, retro-sleek, one-cup coffee machine that’s not only pleasing to the eye but makes 10 different types of coffee. Its design stands out on any Facts On Feeding Fido (NAPSA)—Don’t bark up the wrong tree when it comes to pet nutrition. Always consult a veterinarian to determine the best feeding schedule and types of foods for your individual animal. As for treats, while they should be given in moderation, you may need to offer them more frequently during training. A sleek new coffee machine can be a designer’s dream. kitchen counter and it’s available in red, black and cream to fit just about any motif. According to Saint-Onge, it’s such little details that can bring a room to life. Shop your house. Everything old can be new again when you repurpose things you already own. That means rearranging items on a bookshelf, moving items to different rooms, or simply switching your throw pillows around. Also, using things you might otherwise discard—an old map, for example, framed as wall art—can be a creative way to add some flair. In other words, look for things you may have stored away and forgotten about. Treat yourself. Splurge on simple things to complete your new space. Consider a new lamp to make your space brighter, a new collection of everyday dishware or a fresh coat of paint for the kitchen backsplash. Throw in a few new dishtowels, fresh flowers and brew a fresh cup of coffee so you can instantly enjoy the fruits of your labor. Bottom line: Treating yourself needn’t break the bank, and you’ll literally feel better for it. For more information, visit www.dolce-gusto.com. A dog’s life can be happier and h e a l t h i e r w h e n yo u p rov i d e healthful treats. Fortunately, there’s one type of treat many dog owners are glad to give. It’s made with goat’s milk, so it’s easy for the dog to digest. Its rich proteins and vitamins are readily absorbed by a dog’s system, where they quickly go about their healthy business. The Nature’s Dog All Natural Treats in Peanut Butter or Chicken Flavor from Canus are low-calorie, energizing snacks good for training puppies or rewarding senior dogs. Each treat provides a natural source of healthy fats, oils and proteins. The all-natural treats are wheat-free, soy-free, corn-free and contain no artificial coloring or flavoring and no animal by-products. Learn more at www.natures dog.com and (866) 496-2527. (NAPSA)—When the weather’s warm, gather friends and family for a backyard BBQ—without the grill! Fortunately, “a backyard BBQ can be a simple affair,” says Stephanie Ashcraft, New York Times best-selling cookbook author and mom of four. “Start with picnic or card tables festively draped with checkered cloths. Top the tables with paper plates and a pitcher of cool lemonade. For the main attraction, serve everyone’s favorite: pulled pork BBQ.” Byron’s Pork BBQ, found in the freezer section at Sam’s Club, is the perfect way to enjoy BBQ without having to spend all day standing over a hot grill smoking your own! It is hickory smoked and comes fully cooked, so it can be easily warmed in an oven or a slow cooker, making a BBQ party a breeze. Or, you can warm it up on top of a grill if the weather permits. It even comes packaged in a grill-friendly aluminum tray and the sweet and spicy BBQ sauce keeps the meat moist and flavorful. “It saves me time and money —leaving more time for family fun,” says Ashcraft. For the menu, nothing’s simpler than letting guests build their own sandwiches. Place the BBQ in a large serving dish, put out the fixings and let everyone else do the rest. Guests can choose from a variety of toppings such as coleslaw, red onions and tomatoes. They can enjoy the BBQ served on top of a bun or plain if they prefer. For the sides, serve up such standards as potato salad, pickles and baked beans. “Don’t forget the dessert,” says Ashcraft. “Brownies pair perfectly with BBQ for a sweet end to a flavorful meal.” To bring the party indoors and out of the heat, Ashcraft recommends serving an exotic twist on Throw a carefree cookout without the grill. the summer standard: California BBQ Pizza. For more recipes and party ideas, visit www.ClubEntertain ing.com or www.ByronsBBQ.com. California BBQ Pizza Ingredients: 1 4-lb. tray of Byron’s Pork BBQ 3 12-inch premade pizza crusts 8 oz. Gouda cheese, shredded 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced 3 teaspoons fresh cilantro, chopped (use more or less to taste) Directions: PREHEAT oven to 350F. BAKE BBQ tray according to package instructions. Once BBQ is fully heated, REMOVE from oven and turn oven up to 450F. SPREAD 1⁄3 of hot BBQ on each of the pizza crusts (about 2 cups BBQ for each pizza). SCATTER onion, cilantro and Gouda over the 3 pizzas. BAKE pizzas for 10–12 minutes until cheese is melted. Prep Time: 5–10 minutes. Cook Time: 90 minutes to cook BBQ + 12 minutes for pizzas. Makes: 3 pizzas or 48 appetizer slices.