Seasonal September Recipes

Fall foods can be some of the best, and you can start making them as early as September! Whether it’s dinners, sweets, lunches or meats, this article will help you fund some of the best things to cook this Fall.

Pumpkin Gingerbread: Can you say delicious? This might be one of the best tasting foods in the world. It only takes an hour to prepare, and this recipe makes 24 servings! https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23822/pumpkin-gingerbread/?internalSource=streams&referringId=631&referringContentType=Recipe%20Hub&clickId=st_trending_b

Creamy Roasted Pepper Dip: This is a great appetizer option when watching a football game or having a family get together. It doesn’t take very much at all to prepare, and the entire group will love it. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/259806/creamy-roasted-hatch-pepper-dip/?internalSource=rotd&referringId=17211&referringContentType=Recipe%20Hub

Apricot & Amond Tart: This is a tasty and very easy dessert to make. The almonds and apricots are perfect together, but you’re doing it wrong if you don’t toss some whip cream on top! https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/apricot-almond-tart/

Chicken with pumpkin, pancetta and chickpea stir-fry: This meal is quick and very easy. Ready in 20 minutes or less, it is a healthy yet delicious option for lunch or dinner. https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/chicken-with-pumpkin-pancetta-and-chickpea-stir-fry/

We hope these recipes are helpful!

Holidays in September 2020

September is an interesting time of year. Half of the month is in the summer, and half of the month is considered to be in the fall. It can still be filled with lots of football, fun and outdoor activities! Some notable things that happen in September are the leaves changing, the start of American Football, many kids beginning school and there are a lot of holidays or “important” days in the month of September. Here are some of them below:

September 7th: Labor Day

September 11th: Patriot Day

September 13th: Grandparents Day

September 18th: The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashana (followed by Yom Kippur on September 27th)

September 22nd: The first day of Fall

September 29th: National Coffee Day

Staying in shape this summer!

Staying in shape is extremely important, but it can be tough when Summer brings on barbecues, pool parties and more. No matter what your plans are for the summer or what your everyday routine is, you can’t forget to try to be healthy. Here are some friendly and fun tips on how to stay healthy and in shape this summer!

Walking: Simple but easy, walking is an awesome way to stay in shape. Are you heading to a beach or pool by where you live? How about walking there instead of driving! The more walking you do the better, this summer. Up your walking to a slight jog or run for an even better workout.

Bike Riding: Maybe walking isn’t intense enough for you, and that’s when you can bike! Even if you don’t own a bike, most cities have bike rentals for real cheap. The best part about biking, is if you are in a scenic area it doesn’t even feel like exercise.

Utilizing your Grill: You most likely have access to a grill, well it’s time to use it. In addition to burgers, hot dogs and fish on the grill, you can grill up some awesome vegetables. Some of the best veggies to throw on the grill are corn, onions, peppers, zucchini and asparagus.

Go outside and play: Kids always want to go outside and play, and it is never a bad thing to go out and play with them. Whether it’s bike riding, kicking a soccer ball around, shooting a basketball or playing catch, this is an easy way to keep moving.

Dancing: This may sound funny, but dancing is actually an awesome way to burn some calories. Toss on some of your favorite music and get grooving!

While it is important to keep moving and eat healthy over the Summer, you also want to let yourself have a day to relax! Sitting by the pool with a nice cold drink helps with mental health which is just as important as physical. What is the point of good weather if you can’t en joy it anyway?

The Best Summer Treats!

Summer time means being outdoors and enjoying the hot summer weather! Every time it gets hot, there are a bunch of treats that seem to just taste a little better than usual! Here are a list of some of them:

Ice Cream: With countless flavors, you could argue that ice cream is the most versatile dessert. No matter what your favorite flavor is, the summer time makes it even better!

S’mores: S’mores are best enjoyed when made over a hot bonfire outside. The summer is the best time of year to do that.

Popsicle: Popsicles are so easy and simple, and you can even make them on your own! Who doesn’t love a good Popsicle? Popsicle Recipes: https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g830/popsicle-recipes-0709/

Ice Cream Sandwich: While there is ice cream involved, this is a completely different treat. These come with ice cream in between two biscuits, wafers or cookies.

Frozen Yogurt: Frozen Yogurt is a great option, if you are trying to be “healthier”. It is similar to ice cream, but you won’t feel as guilty about it later!

Want to create your own desserts this summer? Here are some ideas and recipes to choose from: https://www.olivemagazine.com/guides/best-ever/best-ever-summer-desserts/

May Holidays (2020)

Mother's Day

May has quite a few noteworthy Holidays and “National” days. From Cinco De Mayo to Memorial Day, May surely is a jam-packed month filled with celebrating, remembering, barbecuing, spending time with family and having fun!

Cinco De Mayo (May 5th):

  • Cinco de Mayo 2020 is a celebration that is observed, yearly, on May 5. It is a day that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory, on May 5, 1862, over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). In the United States Cinco de Mayo 2020 has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture but should not be confused with Mexico’s Independence Day which is celebrated on September 16.

Mother’s Day (May 10th)

  • Mother’s Day is a holiday celebrated annually on the second Sunday of May. It is a day that commemorates motherhood and appreciates all mothers and mother-figures (including grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers) as well as their contribution to society.

Memorial Day (May 25th)

  • Memorial Day 2020 formally known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday observed yearly on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day 2020 is a day that commemorates all men and women who have died while serving in the military for the United States of America.

Full list of National Holiday’s for 2020 here: https://www.calendar-365.com/holidays/2020.html

May Flowers (Thank you April Showers!)

Everyone knows the saying, “April showers bring May flowers”. But, not everyone knows exactly what flowers those showers actually bring. In this article, we will highlight some of the best “May” flowers to plant/grow in your own home garden this spring and summer!

Sunflowers:

  • Sunflowers are very popular. They add a cheerful note to any landscape. When planted in mid-May, they will be fully sprouted by the end of August! These flowers are extremely easy to grow, and under the right conditions they can grow to be as tall as 4 to 5 feet!

Marigolds:

  • Marigold is one of if not the most poplar flower to grow in home or commercial gardens across the United States. Depending on the variety, they can grow to be anywhere between 8 to 36 inches tall. They are most commonly grown in May. Marigolds are often used as ways to get unwanted pests away from fruits and vegetables that may be in your garden.

Cosmos:

  • Cosmos are commonly planted in May because the temperature across the United States is very sustainable for growing. They are very low maintenance and fit in to almost any landscape. They will grow to be between 2 and 3 feet tall and about 1 foot wide. These are great flowers!

What to do in April

April can be one of the most fun months of the year. There are so many fun activities to do, exciting things to cook and cool places to go as the season changes to Spring. In this article we will give you some great suggestions on how to stay busy in April!

Outdoors Exercise: In some places, the weather is finally going to be nice. The temperatures are starting to rise, and what’s better than being able to go outside and exercise! Some of the best workouts can be enjoyable as well. Hop on your bike and go for a nice long bike ride, or go for a jog through a trail or park!

Picnics: Much like exercising, you may not have been able to go for a picnic for a few months. Well, now you can. Make yourself a couple of sandwiches, grab a picnic basket and head out to your local park that has picnic benches. This is a unique twist on “going out for lunch”.

Cook: There are some great recipes out there for April/Spring time. Pasta Primavera is a healthy spaghetti dish full of broad beans, leeks and asparaguas tips. Make the most of spring greens with this amazing recipe (https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/healthy-pasta-primavera)

            A full list of Spring recipes here: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/top-20-spring

Spring Cleaning: Spring cleaning is an old cliché, but it can actually be really helpful! This is a great time to clear any remaining leaves, tidy up the inside of the house, mow the lawn or even something as simple as changing the lightbulbs. Spring cleaning can be made even better if you have a great music playlist to listen to!

Gardening: Maybe you’ve always wanted to start gardening? Well April is the perfect time to do that. Spinach, lettuce and turnips are all great vegetables to plant in April. Here are 12 essential gardening tips from MarthaStewart.com: https://www.marthastewart.com/270176/spring-gardening-tips

As you can see, there are a lot of fun and exciting things to do in April. If none of these are what you’re looking for, maybe something as simple as going for a morning walk will bring you the Spring excitement that you need!

Employee Spotlight: Brannon Young

Today’s employee spotlight is on Brannon Young.

Brannon has been working for us for two years now, and he is one of Cash For Whatever’s top performers. Brannon always treats his customers with the utmost respect, and the other day a customer wanted to tell us about.  She expressed her gratitude towards Brannon via email, and we highlighted some of it below:

“While I understand these are all likely a part of his daily duties, the manner in which he carried them out made all the difference in the world to me. Life hit me very hard following a major health change and I am still working daily to catch up to a normal life. Needing a loan doesn’t feel great. Having help from someone that respects the situation and your time matters.

Thank you for having such a great person on staff. And thank you Brannon! You had no idea the day I was having and I’m still having. It’s the little things that count. Much success in your future.”

Keep up the good work Brannon! We’re so happy you’re a part of our team!

Brannon is a 35 year old father of three children. He graduated with honors from Triton College with an AA in music technology. He has been a musician/keyboardist for over 25 years. He enjoys traveling, producing music, geography and playing with the kiddos. He is recently married.