THE WELCOME HOME ONLINE MAGAZINE 2017!

Attention: I am starting another brand new year of the Welcome Home Online Magazine and now is the time to subscribe for the first time or renew your current subscription, if you haven't already.

What is the Welcome Home online Magazine? 

It's a place where I post recipes exclusive to subscribers only....over 800 recipes you've never seen before. Everything from Main dishes to desserts....from soups to salads....from country food to Mexican and Chinese! You'll love it!

Read more about it here: http://www.welcome-home-blog.net/p/my-store.html

Dr. Harvey's Veg-To-Bowl: The Perfect Pre-Mix For My Girls

Okay, so I'm a pet lover.  For those of you who follow my page on Facebook and here at the Welcome Home Blog, you already know that. My babies are my family and I love them more than anything.  I will do whatever it takes to keep them healthy, safe and happy. I don't care what it takes or what lengths I have to go, I want to do whatever it takes to make sure I am doing my part to prolong their lives and keep them happy and healthy. 

And so today I bring you some exciting news.  But first let me give you a little background....

Many of you know that after losing my Katie to heart disease, I set out on a mission to find the safest, and healthiest dog food I could find.  That wasn't easy.  I was shocked at how much salt goes into dog food and I searched everywhere for any manufactures that added little or no salt.  It was a near impossible task. You see, pet food companies load their products with salt because salt acts as a mold inhibitor. Doesn’t matter that it is unhealthy for pets and that it can make them sick with kidney, heart and other diseases. It matters that they save money by adding tons of salt to keep the food less perishable. 

But how much salt?

The sad part is that these companies are not required to let you know how much salt they add.  Oh, they will tell you if you call and ask, but they are not required to print it on the labels. And they won't!  So, after calling over 100 pet food manufacturers in my search for food that has little or no salt,  I found only two companies. And each had only one or two canned foods that had less salt. How could that be?  I have never been so frustrated and so alarmed for our pets.  Even those companies out there that say their food is healthy and grain free with no byproducts or chemicals are misleading us.  Besides, these foods are super expensive and my pets are not crazy about either of two I finally found.  I had to do something.

So I decided to come up with my own low salt or no salt diet.  I set out to buy the proteins I needed like turkey, beef, salmon and other fish. Then I had to pick out the fresh veggies.   I bought fresh carrots, potatoes, green beans, broccoli, and spinach.  And the fruits and berries too…I was determined to keep my girls on a healthy diet as quickly as possible. 

I found myself each Sunday spending hours chopping, slicing, dicing, roasting, poaching, and preparing the right blend. I would puree and sauté and mix and combine and taste it to see if I liked it and would eat it myself.  Finally, I would spoon it into individual containers and pray that she would eat whatever concoction I had made that day.  And it was a 50/50 chance they would even go near it.  Sometimes I got it right, other times I had a complete miss.

And then one day, I went to see a pet nutritionist. She said the first thing I need to do is simplify everything.  Spend more time with my fur baby and not in the kitchen trying to create dog food diets.  She introduced me to a product that promised to make my life so much easier.  

It’s called Dr. Harvey’s Veg to Bowl.  She highly recommended it and said she thought it was the perfect choice for what I needed.  Not only is it the ultimate choice in a healthy pre-mix for pets, it is loaded with vitamins and supplements that are perfect for my girls. 

And she was absolutely right, Dr. Harvey left nothing out as far as all the right blend of nutrients. And he doesn't add salt and unhealthy byproducts or chemicals.  

While my heart was in the right place as I stood in my kitchen doing all that food prep, I couldn’t even come close to making sure I was feeding them the right diet.  So I said, let’s give it a go.  I bought the Fine Ground Veg To Bowl and brought it home. 

Dr. Harvey's Veg To Bowl with added Roast Turkey Breast, and Apples

Since then, there has been no more slicing and dicing and chopping. No more long hours in the kitchen and no more guesswork.  I am in and out of the kitchen in no time and watching them enjoy her favorite meals without any salt!  I simply add some hot water to a scoop of Veg To Bowl and a little oil. Then I add some turkey, beef, or whatever protein I want them to have and sit back and watch them lick the bowl clean!   I even add some fruit, like apples, blueberries, watermelon or pears!

My Lucy loves Dr. Harvey's!

Please Note: This is not a prescription diet. It's not a special needs diet for dogs that are ill or need special diets. This is for ALL dogs. It's super healthy and just good food!  It's an incredibly healthy alternative to what's available on the market today. 

I strongly encourage you to consider making your own pet food.  It’s so much better than buying commercial canned and dry foods out there and less expensive too.  You know what your fur babies are eating when you prepare it yourself.  And with Dr. Harvey's you know it’s super healthy!  And with this Veg To Bowl pre-mix, it's easier than ever! 

Just look at this list of ingredients in the Fine Ground Veg To Bowl:

Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Potatoes, Broccoli, Peas, Green Beans, Zucchini, Beets, Parsley, Dried Yeast, Lecithin, Alfalfa, Dried Kelp, Ground Flaxseed, Calcium Citrate, Dried Ground Fenugreek, Dried Ground Fennel, Dried Ground Ginger, Dried Ground Peppermint, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.  And NO SALT!  

Okay, so now for the Big News:

You all know that I will not even talk about a product unless I love it myself. Unlike some bloggers, I will not endorse, represent or add my name or the name Welcome Home to any product unless I am completely sold on it myself. My standards are very high and so you will rarely see me promote much around here.  But I love this stuff!  I love that my girls and even my cat Squeak loves it too! 

My homemade Salmon and Rice Meatballs made with Dr. Harvey's Veg To Bowl! 

Being a recipe developer, I have now gone on to create some delicious homemade recipes for my babies!  Lucy and Libby love my Turkey Casserole. My cat Squeak loves my Salmon and Rice Meatballs.  Both made with Dr. Harvey's Veg to Bowl! 

I was so enthusiastic about this product, that I decided to write to Dr. Harvey's. I wanted to tell them about my difficult challenge to find the answers and how their product has made my life easier. They were as excited as I was and after talking with them, I knew instantly that I had found a company that truly cares about our pets. We shared a common bond and just this week they asked if I would like to be an Ambassador for their company and share their products with my fans.

My answer was an instant YES!  Not only because I believe in their products, but because I love my fans and their pets!  So, starting today, I am an Ambassador for Dr. Harvey's products.  And I am so excited!  I am excited to introduce you to their other foods too.  Like Miracle Dog food, a holistic blend of organic grains and vegetables.  And Oracle, the perfect freeze dried pre-mix for dogs and cats that contain no salt, sugar, wheat or soy! 

I love Dr. Harvey's products. I highly recommend them. It's an easy way to make your own homemade pet foods at home and know that you are including all the nutrients they need. As I said earlier, I have been creating my own recipes with Dr. Harvey's pre-mixes and I can't wait to share them with you! They will be coming here to the Welcome Home Blog soon.

In the meantime, visit Dr. Harvey's blog and Facebook page to read more about their products and how they came to be such a fantastic company! 

Blog:  https://www.drharveys.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/doctorharveys/

Disclaimer:  Dr. Harvey’s provided several products at no cost for me to review. I am not being compensated for helping spread the word about Dr. Harvey’s products, although they did make a donation to my Save A Life program. My goal is to spread the word about Dr. Harvey’s products so that pets can live a better, healthier life.  I received no additional benefits for writing this review and the opinions and ideas in this post are my own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business.

Doggie Salmon And Rice Bites

I love  Dr. Harvey's Fine Ground Veg To Bowl.  This mix of healthy vegetables and herbs is wonderful for those of you who want to start feeding your fur babies a delicious healthy diet. I can't say enough good things about it ....it's affordable, it's convenient to use and so easy to make, and it's so healthy for your babies! 

You simply scoop it out and add a little hot water and your favorite oil.  You can use olive oil, canola oil...I use Omega 3 fish oil and a Vitamin B complex oil that blends in perfectly and makes it even healthier. 

Then simply add your meat. You can use beef, turkey, chicken, salmon or any other fish.  Sometimes I buy cube steaks or I often use ground beef.  I also use turkey cutlets or tenderloins or I buy ground turkey. You can make it anyway you like and then just add it to your mix. Sometimes I add some chopped apples or pears or blueberries. You can make it as delicious and healthy as you want.

Lately I have been using Dr. Harvey's fine ground Veg to Bowl to develop my own homemade recipes for my fur babies. Here's one I want to share you with you today....

Doggie Salmon And Rice Bites 

1 1/2 cups brown or white rice
1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups fresh cooked salmon 
1 scoop of Dr. Harvey's Fine Ground Veg-To-Bowl 
1 scoop of water for mixing

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook rice and set aside to cool. Microwave sweet potato until very soft. Split and mash with unsalted melted butter until smooth. Set aside to cool. 

In a skillet melt olive oil over medium high heat and then sear the salmon on one side until lightly browned. Flip salmon over and sear on the other side and allow it to cook for about 2 minutes longer. Begin breaking up salmon with a fork into small pieces and stir while cooking. Reduce heat to medium. You want the salmon under cooked and still pink in the middle. Remove from pan and allow to cool.

Add one scoop of Dr. Harvey's pre-mix to bowl. Add just enough water to moisten. Stir and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes. 

Add salmon, rice, and pre-mix to a large bowl and using hands mix until all ingredients are well blended. 

Form into small balls and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Serve warm or cold.

Photography is the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home

You can buy Dr. Harvey's wonderful products online at The Dr. Harvey Store or at Amazon.com and many other online sources.  Or you can visit his site, type in your zip code and find the store nearest  you that carries Dr. Harvey's products. 

Visit Dr. Harvey's blog and Facebook page to read more about their products and how they came to be such a fantastic company! 

Blog:  https://www.drharveys.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/doctorharveys/

Disclaimer:  Dr. Harvey’s provided several products at no cost for me to review. I am not being compensated for helping spread the word about Dr. Harvey’s products, although they did make a donation to my Save A Life program. My goal is to spread the word about Dr. Harvey’s products so that pets can live a better, healthier life.  I received no additional benefits for writing this review and the opinions and ideas in this post are my own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business.

Grilled Chicken Thighs in Zesty Orange Sauce

Grilled Chicken Thighs in Zesty Orange Sauce

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2 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken thighs
½ cup soy sauce
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup orange marmalade
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups olive oil
pinch of red pepper flakes
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Heat marmalade in sauce pan over low heat until liquid. Add to orange juice, garlic, soy sauce and olive oil along with the pepper flakes.  Reserve some of the marinade for later before adding chicken. Place chicken thighs in a shallow dish or in a re-sealable  plastic bag. Mix the marinade ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover and marinate at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Shake off excess marinade and place chicken thighs on preheated grill over medium-high heat and grill just until grill marks are visible. Lower the heat to medium and continue grilling for additional 15-20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.  

Warm Sauce in sauce pan over low heat. Brush sauce all over chicken, covering top and bottom of thighs.  Wrap in aluminum foil for about 10 minutes. Uncover and serve on a platter

Photography is the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home

Grilled Rib Eye Steaks

Some people only want a Porterhouse or a T-bone steak. Some love a New York strip and then there are those that won't eat anything but filet mignon because they are convinced it is the most tender. But for me, the ultimate steak is the  rib eye also known as the Delmonico.  

It's the superstar of the steak world. An incredibly tender cut and known for it's extensive marbling. During cooking, that fat marbling melts and bastes the meat from within. The result is a richly-flavored juicy and tender steak! Rib eyes are flavorful enough that they don't need anything more than salt and pepper and a little garlic powder. 

Rib eyes do best when cooked on a high heat, so be sure to preheat the grill prior to cooking.  It is important to take them out of the refrigerator 35-45 minutes prior to grilling and allow them to come to room temperature on your counter.  Finally, it's important to allow your steaks to rest for five to ten minutes after cooking to allow the proteins to reabsorb the juices and the flavor within them.

How to Choose the Perfect Rib Eye

Look for bright red coloring on the meat.  It should be at least an inch thick, ideally more like an inch and a half thick. It should have abundant marbling. Good marbling should be obvious in good rib-eye steaks; the veins of fat running through the meat are a sign that the cut will deliver a rich meaty flavor. 

 The fat melts into the steak, creating a buttery richness.  The proportion of the rib-eye steak is also important; when you are holding the rib-eye steak the right way up (with the widest part with the “eye” in it at the top) the top piece round the eye should be generously proportioned and there should be a decent sized defined fat nugget at the “eye” of the steak.  Most important is the amount of tenderloin surrounding the outer edge of the steak. This is the most tender part of the steak. I call it the melt in your mouth part.

Grilled Rib Eye Steaks

2-4 rib well marbled rib eyes cut 1 ½’ to 2” thick

Salt and pepper

garlic powder

olive oil 

Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature, about 30 to 45 minutes. This is important if you want them to cook evenly with no cold spots.

Heat a gas or charcoal grill to high (about 500 degrees). It is important to preheat your grill for at least 10-15 minutes to reach that temperature. Add some vegetable oil to a thickly folded paper towel or old dish towel and using tongs, oil the hot grill by rubbing the oil saturated towel across grill grates.

Meanwhile, Place steaks on a large platter and drizzle them with a little olive oil. Then generously season all sides with salt and pepper and garlic powder. When the grill is ready, place the steaks on the grates and cover the grill. Cook, undisturbed, for about 4-5 minutes. Flip steaks over, cover the grill and cook for another 4-5 minutes for medium rare.

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   To check for doneness, use an instant thermometer to register 130 degrees for medium rare.  
   
   
   Rare: 120-125°
   Med-Rare: 130-135°
   Medium: 140-145°
   Medium-Well: 150-155°
   Well Done: 160°+

Or use my tried and true hand test as follows: 

For Rare Steaks:  touch the middle of the steak with your fingers. It should have a similar feel as when you touch your cheek. It should have plenty of give and cushion. 

For Medium Steaks:  touch the middle of the steak with your fingers. It should have a similar feel as when you touch your chin. 

Well-Done Steaks:  touch the middle of the steak with your fingers. It should have a similar feel as when you touch your forehead. 

Important:  Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.  I don't tent foil because the steaks will continue to cook if you do.  Just set them aside and allow the juices to flow back into the steaks.

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Photography is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.