A Quick and Savory Summer Dish

By Mikes Furniture

During the summer, folks have a tendency to lean toward lighter meals in the evening. In fact, they like to toss something relatively simple together. Summertime offers a myriad of local fresh produce and the opportunity to fire up the grill. A quick and easy meal will help you save the fuss of lengthy preparation and leave plenty of time to have fun in the sun. Here are a few quick and savory possibilities for summer dishes:

Grilled Shrimp Souvlaki

Ingredients:

1lb of large shrimp, peeled & deveined

6 tbsp fresh lemon juice (divided)

2 tsp olive (divided)

3 tbsp fresh dill (divided)

1 tbsp fresh oregano

¾ cup Greek yogurt (divided)

2 minced garlic cloves (divided)

2 cucumbers

Black pepper

1 pint of cherry tomatoes

1 red onion

4 whole-wheat flatbreads

8 romaine lettuce leaves

Directions:

1)     Preheat grill pan

2)    Rinse the shrimp well and make sure they are well cleaned. Then stir together 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp of olive oil, and 1tbsp of dill and oregano into a bowl. Add the shrimp and toss them in the mixture. Let them marinate for about 10 minutes.

3)    Mix ¼ cup of Greek yogurt with one minced clove of garlic, 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tbsp of dill in another bowl. Then, with a vegetable peeler, cut the cucumbers into lengthwise ribbons and discard the largely seeded area. Add the ribbons into the yogurt mixture and pepper to taste.

4)    Mix the remaining ½ cup of yogurt with 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of dill and the other half of the minced garlic into another bowl for raita sauce. Add pepper to taste.

5)   Combine cherry tomatoes and 1/3 inch rings of onions in remaining olive oil into a bowl. Grill the shrimp with tomatoes and onion in a lightly oiled cast iron skillet or grill pan. Cook for about 5 minutes or until shrimps are bright red, tomatoes are soft and onions are golden and tender.

6)   Grill flatbread until slightly crisp. Then top flatbread evenly with cucumber salad, shrimp, onions, tomatoes and romaine. Add raita sauce if desired. 

 Now you can sit outdoors and soak in the beautiful warm sunset. Enjoy!

Content provided by: @tailbase

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Vacation Ideas

By Mikes Furniture

Is money tight and you’re wracking your brain for vacation ideas this summer? Then don’t fret! We’ll help you think outside the box with creative ways to vacation on a budget. According to BuzzFeed, there are affordable spots where many budget travelers like to vacation. Some of them include Croatia, Macedonia, Istanbul and Vietnam! It seems that the food and accommodations will not break the bank! Obviously some places are further away than others, therefore budgeting your plane ticket as the bulk of your expenses will be necessary.

For some of us this is only but a dream. After a reality check, you can start planning your vacation close to home. Take it as an opportunity to enjoy the good outdoors, and go up north for a long weekend or create your very own retreat right in your backyard. Here are some options you can do at home:

      1)      Create a campground

Who said camping in your backyard is no fun? Although you will not achieve a complete wilderness atmosphere, you may actually appreciate that you can run to the washroom at any given time or grab something you need inside your home. In fact, it will be especially convenient if you have small children!

First and foremost, begin by setting up your tents to accommodate the right number of people. Then, be sure to nestle the inside with comfortable bedding and pillows! Also, you can go the extra mile to create a realistic outdoorsy atmosphere by creating a campfire surrounded with benches – time for smores!

      2)      Your very own resort by the pool

For those of you with a pool, take advantage of being by the poolside to refresh yourself on hot days! Create a little haven either in the shade or below a gazebo. Use a collection of poufs to sit on, or some comfortable decorative pillows to maximize comfort on your outdoor furniture. That way you can have fun in the sun, or enjoy a refreshing drink in the shade. The choice is yours!

It’s a win-win. You save money, all while having fun. All in favor say “aye”!

Content provided by: @tailbase

www.tailbase.com

Gift Idea For Father’s Day

By Mikes Furniture

Father’s Day is a day which fathers are honored and appreciated by their loved ones for their paternal bonds. Along with the celebration, it is customary to offer a gift. Are you out of ideas and need some inspiration for a great father’s day gift? Then throw those cliché gifts out the window! Rather than spending your money on dust collectors, why not spend it on something useful?

We all know many dads love to kickback on the sofa in front of the television in order to unwind after a long day. Most dads enjoy their “alone time” by watching their favorite sports and movies. Of course not all dads enjoy sports. Some fathers also enjoy gaming to detach from reality once in a while!

That being said, why not invest in a tv console that will enhance your father’s cinematic or gaming experience? There’s an idea! That way he can store all of his favorite movies, games and gaming console all in one place. Not only will he appreciate having all of his stuff neatly organized in one place, but surely mum will too! In fact, there are a variety of styles that Ashley furniture offers, in order to accommodate your home décor. Now there’s a gift that’s worth twice the deal!

See his eyes light up when you present him with an awesome gift that he will appreciate. Don’t forget a hug and a kiss! Happy Father’s Day!

Content provided by: @tailbase

www.tailbase.com

Throw Your Outdoor Party With Style!

By Mikes Furniture

We are entering the perfect season to spend the most of our time outdoors! Going for walks, relaxing in parks, enjoying time with friends and family while picnicking or simply barbecuing in your backyard- so many tremendous outdoor activities to keep us busy this coming summer! Let’s focus on today’s theme- How to throw your outdoor party? What are the much needed things to consider when throwing out an outdoor party?  

Place, decorations, and food are definitely the main elements to have in mind.

First, spot the perfect place. Then, get the furniture right!

Feel like making your bash in a park? Bring out your throw or blanket with you. Any colors will do, but we suggest you match it with your color theme if you have one!

Feel like staying close to home? Throw a party in your backyard without worrying about moving and shifting your furniture too far. If you don’t have any outdoor furniture: bring your dinette out!  This is a great alternative from 3 pieces to 7 pieces; our Ashley Furniture dinettes can accommodate most of your guests when eating on a table.Benches are also a good option for gathering lots of people around your table.

Smart decorating with simplicity

If you are a foodie, we have no doubt that your table will be full of unthinkable dishes, so forget about using any decorations on your table. Plenty is no plague! What about lighting?  You can set up a lively atmosphere with candles!  Lemongrass candles are so efficient - it will repulse mosquitos and give a great lemony fresh scent! The Kadeem candle holder is one of our “coup de Coeur”. This stylish holder can help set the mood with your party theme as you can incorporate stones, sand, pebbles or topiary touches thanks to its removable tray.

        

Food, food always!

The best part of outdoor parties is that you don’t need to make a complicated menu to please your guests. A BBQ is more than enough to satisfy meat or vegan lovers! Give yourself some time for preparation the night before or a few hours prior to ensure that you marinate your elements, so that you can relax and spend time with your guests. BBQ has always been a great woman’s cooking “runaway” as man loves being in control of the grill!

Let’s make the month of June the most outdoorsy partying time ever!

Content provided by: @tailbase

www.tailbase.com