At Home With Valerie

(Family Features) With many Americans staying home, the pressure is on to maintain fun and variety in the kitchen, so family meals don’t get boring. However, cranking out three meals a day can be a burden. In fact, the average American can only prepare five meals without a recipe, according to a OnePoll survey. Consider these fun tips to add a little diversity to your family’s daily menu. Build a taco bar. This is an easy way to use leftovers from the week. Pull out tortillas or make rice, add any leftover proteins and sides then mix in taco seasonings. Make a family classic. Think back to your childhood and the one or two dishes that became family favorites. Bust out those family cookbooks and recreate classics by having the kids help with age-appropriate tasks. Try a microwave-friendly meal. For those nights when no one can decide what to eat, or when you’re simply tired of cooking, turn to the microwave. One healthy option is Aqua Star’s MicroSteam Seafood Meals , ...

  (Family Features) Enjoy your summer with fresh fruit like strawberries in this Easy Strawberry Shortcake recipe. Find more dessert recipes at Culinary.net . Watch video to see how to make recipe! Easy Strawberry Shortcake Recipe courtesy of Pillsbury 1          can (5-8) Pillsbury flaky buttermilk biscuits 2          tablespoons butter, melted 1/4       cup sugar Strawberry mixture: 3          cups fresh strawberries, sliced 1/3       cup sugar Whipped cream: 1/2       cup whipping cream 2          tablespoons sugar 1/4       teaspoon vanilla Heat oven to 375° F. Separate biscuits. Dip tops and sides of biscuits in melted butter. Dip biscuits, coveri...

(Family Features) America's nurses are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus, providing safe, quality, compassionate and nondiscriminatory care to those they serve, many of whom are doing so at significant risk to their own well-being. The American Nurses Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, created the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses to provide direct financial assistance, mental health support and science- and data-based information to nurses serving on the front lines. "Nurses always answer the call to serve their patients, communities and country during times of crisis," said American Nurses Foundation Chair Tim Porter-O'Grady, DM, EdD, ScD (h), APRN, FAAN, FACCWS. "As we confront the new and emerging challenges of this pandemic, nurses are and will continue serving on the front lines in extraordinary ways." To show your support during this uncertain time, consider taking part in these four ...

(Family Features) There’s plenty of advice on ways to reduce your environmental footprint, but you might be left wondering about the environmental pawprint made by your pet. According to a 2019 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, 67% of families across the country have at least one dog or cat, which is why it’s important to think about how your furry friends affect the planet. Consider these easy lifestyle changes you can make to help reduce their environmental impact. Check those waste bags. Use compostable baggies to pick up after your pet when you take walks. Plastic bags take years to break down, if at all. There are options made from plants and other materials that biodegrade quicker. When it comes to disposal, check with your local waste management services as regulations can vary by community. While many places suggest the compost pile, others may not. Consider your kitty’s litter. For the vast majority of cat families, kitty litter is an ab...

(Family Features) More than 25 million Americans (about 1 in 13 people) suffer from asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Interview Survey. Asthma is a serious lung disease that affects the airways and makes it difficult to breathe. However, symptoms can be controlled with proper treatment and an action plan similar to this recommendation from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Find more information at nhlbi.nih.gov/LMBBasthma . SOURCE: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

(Family Features) Training a pet can be a rewarding process. It takes some time and patience, but it can also be a way to bond with your pet and help set you both up for a happy life together. Here’s a hint: treats usually help. Consider these simple tips from the treating experts at the PEDIGREE® DENTASTIX™ and TEMPTATIONS™ brands to help guide the training process. For more information on finding the right treats for your furry friends, visit temptationstreats.com for cats and pedigree.com for dogs. Be Patient, Start Slow Remaining patient is key to training your dog or cat. Your pet most likely wants to do right by you, but fully understanding what you’re looking for can take time. Changing behaviors can take weeks to months, depending on how rewarding that behavior has been to your pet. When trying to get your pet to learn to do something different, be repetitive and increase your training time a little bit each day until the new behavior is achieved. Reward with Treats ...