SUMMER FUN WITHOUT THE BURN
DON’T LET THE BUGS BITE SUMMER TIPS FOR INSECT-FREE FUN!
August is the last full month of summer, which means bugs are at their pesky peak. If you and your family love to get outside in the summertime, protecting your family from bug bites is about more than their itchy aftermath. Bugs can carry many diseases that put you, your family, and your pets at risk. For example, mosquitoes and ticks can transmit the West Nile virus, while ticks can spread Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and much more — including causing alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), which is a life-threatening allergic reaction. So, if you and your family find yourselves outside this summer, here are some tips to keep those creepy-crawlies at bay. COVER UP! One of the most straightforward ways to ensure no one gets bitten by a bug is to cover any
exposed skin when outside. If you can, wear long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes, especially when hiking or camping. And if you can, tuck your pants into your socks or shoes to prohibit anything from crawling up your legs. CHOOSE YOUR OUTDOOR TIME WISELY. Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and late evening, so avoid going outside during dawn or dusk if possible. USE INSECT REPELLENTS. One of the most effective ways to keep bugs from biting is to use some form of bug repellent. Today, many people opt for non-spray repellent alternatives like repellent patches, wristbands, or clip-ons, many of which work great.
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Lemon-eucalyptus oil
Citronella oil (combined with thyme for ticks)
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Picaridin
Diethyltoluamide (DEET)
GET RID OF ANY STANDING WATER NEAR YOUR HOUSE. Mosquitoes use stagnant water to lay their eggs, so any filled buckets, partially filled kiddie pools, broken fountains, or even discarded toys that have collected water can all attract mosquitoes to your yard. Routinely check your yard and dump out any water you find. Lastly, be sure to thoroughly check for bugs on both your family and your pets before ever setting foot inside!
The type of repellent isn’t as important as whether it contains one of these main ingredients:
Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS ARE THERE PENGUINS AT THE NORTH POLE? While we may see these aquatic, flightless birds in Christmas movies and on Christmas cards, you won’t find them in Santa’s city, the North Pole! Penguins can only be found on continents and islands in the Southern Hemisphere. WHO WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO USE MONEY? Today, using money is the norm! But it wasn’t always like that. According to Herodotus, a Greek historian, the Lydians (an empire in southwestern Asia) were the first civilization to use gold and silver coins around 650-600 B.C. WHY DO BIRDS BOB THEIR HEADS WHEN THEY WALK? If you’ve ever seen a bird walk around, you may have noticed that its head bobs with each step it takes. It’s not by accident or random! Most studies suggest that birds do this to stabilize their visual surroundings. WHO NAMED THE DWARF PLANET PLUTO? An 11-year-old girl named Venetia Burney was very interested in ancient mythology. She suggested the name Pluto for the planet to match the Roman names of the other planets. Her grandfather was friends with several astronomers and suggested the name to them — the rest is history!
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
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1/4 cup fresh parsley 1/4 cup fresh basil 1/4 cup and 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1. In a food processor, combine parsley, basil, 1/4 cup oil, capers, lemon juice, and garlic to make salsa verde. Blend until smooth, season to taste with salt, and chill until ready to serve. 2. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water to prevent scorching. 3. In a large bowl, toss gnocchi, tomatoes, onions, and remaining oil until coated. Season with salt and pepper, then thread gnocchi, tomatoes, and onions onto the skewers. 4. On a grill preheated to medium-high, cook the kebabs, flipping halfway through, until the tomatoes are blistered and the gnocchi is browned (7–8 minutes). 5. Transfer kebabs to a platter, drizzle with salsa verde, and serve.
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2 tsp capers
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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1 clove garlic Kosher salt
1 12-oz package fresh gnocchi
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2 pints cherry tomatoes
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2 small red onions, cut into 2-inch pieces Freshly ground black pepper
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Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
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