Not only is May Sustainability Month, it is also Bike Safety Month! Follow BAL-4 & B-T as they learn about reusable bike tires.
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How to Cook Tilapia
May 10, 2012 By
Fish is low in fat, high in essential nutrients and goes well with a variety of ingredients. It's truly one of the best protein sources out there, but the one drawback is that it can be pricey. Luckily, there are some fish options that can be substituted in if you're working with a budget. When you shop, look for tilapia. It's an inexpensive freshwater fish that can be used in a number of delicious, simple recipes. Here are some great ways to prepare it, right in your kitchen at Fort Stewart Family Housing.
- Pan-frying tilapia is a great way to cook the fish since its durable flesh stands up well to high heat. Coat the exterior with a crust of breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper and cook it quickly in oil over high heat so it cooks through while creating a crispy coating.
- Tilapia blackens extremely well and is a staple in Southern cooking. To blacken the fish, coat it in butter and Cajun seasoning. Cook in a cast iron skillet until the outside darkens. When it's done, serve with a spicy mayonnaise on French bread for a great sandwich.
- Tilapia is also excellent for a fresh ceviche. Squeeze citrus, such as limes, into a large bowl and completely submerge the fish in the juice, then refrigerate. The citric acid will essentially “cook” the fish, bringing out amazing flavors. Serve with a salsa fresca comprised of chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers.
- This fish also works well for fish tacos. Cook the filets quickly in a nonstick skillet with olive oil, salt, and pepper until the flesh becomes flaky. Serve with soft tortillas and pair with avocado, mango, and green onions. Use a pico de gallo salsa for dipping.
- Since it's a hearty fish, tilapia also holds up exceptionally well on the grill. Season it with lemon butter and capers and serve over rice pilaf, couscous, or pasta.
BAL-4 & B-T Learn to Pack a Waste-Free Lunch
May 7, 2012 By
Budget-Friendly Ideas to Spruce Up Your Home
May 3, 2012 By
Creating a beautiful interior does not need to cost you an arm and a leg. If you’re looking to rethink your décor, you don’t have to break the bank. Here are some simple and cost effective tips to bring new life into your home.
Add Color
One of the easiest ways to change the feel of your room is through the accessories. Change out your old throw pillows for new ones with geometric patterns or fun colors. Switch your lamp shades and add a new throw blanket or funky drapes to complete the look.
Hang Art
Another great way to bring some personality into your space is through the art work on your walls. If your walls are relatively empty or if you’re tired of your old pieces, purchase some decorative frames at a craft shop and frame your favorite vacation photos, your children’s art, or cool posters you’ve collected. Make your walls a reflection of you!
Add Life
Literally bring life into the room with fresh flowers or potted plants. It’s amazing how adding a little greenery can make such a huge difference. If you don’t have a green thumb, rely on cut flowers or ask your local florist about low-maintenance plants.
May is Sustainability Month: Follow BAL-4 & B-T as They Learn to Make a Difference
May 1, 2012 By
Balfour Beatty has declared May as Sustainability Month. Throughout the month, employees across all our offices will be learning about ways they can implement sustainable behaviors and practices in the office, at home and throughout the greater community. Sustainability is a collective responsibility. We encourage you to follow BAL-4 and B-T each month to learn about ways you too can make a difference.
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Five Unusual Must-Taste Foods
April 26, 2012 By
With international cuisines now available in a variety of forms, there are several unusual ingredients and preparations that any adventurous eater needs to add to their "must-try" list. If you’re putting together a “bucket list” of exotic, unusual foods, throw these five items on there.
Durian is one of the most popular fruits of Southeast Asia. It has a uniquely creamy texture and deep, complex flavor. The main reason you don’t see it much in the United States is because of its odor, which is incredibly pungent and a little off-putting, but if you can get past it the flavor is amazing.
Miracle fruit is another very interesting plant, hailing from Africa. This odd little berry packs a potent dose of an enzyme that briefly changes the way you taste other foods. It does so by removing the tongue’s ability to taste sour and bitter flavors — so, eating a lemon after a miracle fruit just gives you an unusual citrus sweetness without any puckering bitterness.
Escargot is one of the most revered dishes in French cuisine — and, yes, it’s snails served in their shells. But if you can get over the yuck factor, they’re amazing, buttery packages of rich flavor.
Fugu, the Japanese puffer fish, needs to be prepared by an expert before it is served, as the poison glands inside the fish’s body can paralyze or even kill a human being. But, if you're on the adventurous side, and willing to take your life in your hands (just kidding!), the flesh itself is light and delicate.
If you’ve never sampled caviar, widely known as one of the world’s most decadent foods, you owe it to yourself to try it. The powerful, flavorful fish eggs are excellent atop blinis or small toasts.
Enjoy a Date Night at Home
April 12, 2012 By
If you’re on a budget, or just looking for a low-key date night idea, why not enjoy a date night at home? Spending time at home with your loved one can be the perfect way to spark some romance and enjoy an intimate evening together.
Movie Night
Movie nights are a cozy way to spend time together. Set the scene with popcorn and other movie snacks, grab a blanket, and cuddle up. If you have different tastes in movies, why not have a movie marathon and each pick a film to share with the other?
Cook Together
Head into the kitchen, and try making something new together. Pick out something you’ve never prepared before, turn on some good music, and pop open a bottle of wine. Even if the dish doesn’t turn out perfectly, you'll still have fun!
Game Night
If you’re looking for some laughs, enjoy a game night with your sweetie. Pull out Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and Twister, make some snacks, and have a blast.
Candlelit Dinner
For a truly romantic evening, treat your loved on to a special dinner at home. Set the mood with candles, soft music, and a delicious meal. End the night with chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne, and pretend you’re at a 5-star restaurant!
Not Alone Program for Military Families Affected by War
April 9, 2012 By
We would like to take the time to familiarize our residents with a helpful program that supports military families whose lives are affected by war. Not Alone, a non-profit organization, aims to “empower warriors and their families in their life after war.”
Not Alone provides many different avenues for receiving anonymous and confidential support at no cost, including:
- eGroups
- Training
- Workshops
- Personal Clinical Care for anything including post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression, and medical management
- Forums/Discussion Boards
- Social Networks
- Retreats for warriors and for spouses
- eClinic
Not Alone hosts weekly online groups for spouses on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Caregiver/Spouse Support Groups are held on Wednesday nights. The first Wednesday of every month is an open topic, with the rest of the Wednesdays dedicated to our series, 7 Lives of Military wives. Thursdays are Trench Talk, an open forum discussion revolving around deployment cycle issues.
To enter the group, go to http://notalone.webex.com
Under the "Today" tab, join the session up to 30 minutes before start time.
Wednesday password: "spouses"
Thursday password: "trenchtalk"
Are you unsure whether or not you should seek support? To determine your stress and anxiety levels, take Not Alone’s free Stress Assessment Test.
If you’re looking for immediate assistance, please contact the Not Alone eClinic, a 24/7 hotline at 1-866-781-8010.
For further information about Not Alone, visit their website at: http://notalone.com. You can also follow Not Alone on Facebook and Twitter.
Fun Game Apps for Your Smartphone
April 5, 2012 By
We all need a little fun from time to time – and there’s no easier way than to pull out your phone and play a quick game, or two, or twelve. If you’re ready to bolster your apps with some fun games, check out these addictive options.
Jetpack Joyride
This “arcade-style” game puts players into rocket-powered rides and tasks them with gathering items, fighting bad guys, and, of course, earning the most points possible!
Where’s My Water?
This puzzler challenges players to provide an alligator with water for his shower, and tasks them with delivering the water through a series of increasingly difficult puzzles. Who knew plumbing could be fun?
The Oregon Trail: American Settler
This oldie-but-a-goodie gets new life as this fun app which not only conjures up a bit of nostalgia, but also offers up addictive resource gathering and village building activities, so settlers can conquer the Wild West once more!
