Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Desserts for Ramadan | Ramadan 2011 Dates, Ramazan, Ramadan Kareem, Ramadan Karim, Ramadhan

Desserts for Ramadan | Ramadan 2011 Dates, Ramazan, Ramadan Kareem, Ramadan Karim, Ramadhan

Ramadan is the Islamic holy fasting month. Each day the fast broken at sun down, and an array of food is served, to include special desserts. Some of the desserts are served only during Ramadan. I like to compare the desserts to eggnog or fruit cake at Christmas - I can't imagine anyone drinking eggnog or a fruitcake in the middle of summer. The principle is the same for the Ramadan special desserts. Read More

Desserts for Ramadan | Ramadan 2011 Dates, Ramazan, Ramadan Kareem, Ramadan Karim, Ramadhan

Desserts for Ramadan | Ramadan 2011 Dates, Ramazan, Ramadan Kareem, Ramadan Karim, Ramadhan

Luckies of London Limited Has the Most Fun & Unique Affordable Gifts!

Oh boy. I've got a ton of birthdays, anniversaries and housewarmings in the next couple of months and I was starting to panic - how am I going to shop for all of these people and occasions? There's not enough time and I don't have a lot of money and ...

It's so easy to get stressed out about this kind of thing because it really does take a lot of time to find just the right thing for each individual if you have to hunt around different stores and rack your brain trying to remember something they need or want or like.

But there is no need to worry anymore because I've found the most amazing one-stop-shop there is - Luckies of London Limited run by the lovely Jim. And it's all online, so you can shop in the comfort of your own home at whatever time is convenient for you. And boy, are you going to be blown away by the selection!

Check out the extraordinary, affordable finds I got for the folks on my gift-giving list:

- Undercover mini sleeve for mp3 players, cameras, games, phones, etc.

Just like it's big brother, the Undercover Laptop Sleeve, this awesome little padded envelope is actually made of a strong tyvek material, lined and secures tightly with velcro. So while it looks just like a beat up piece of paper, it's splashproof, tearproof and a lot heartier than that plastic thing you've been using to carry your phone/camera/etc. in. But be careful - it's so authentic looking that you might just want to pop your phone in the mail!

- Party Animals

Anyone can make a sandwich, but mine is going to be the only one with cool looking one, thanks to these playful sandwich cutters. I want to get the whole lot - Pig & Hen (I have the Cow). And I'm not going to just limit myself to sandwiches with this l'il beaut. Oh no, I'm going to make cow-shaped cookies, cow-shaped polenta and cow-shaped burgers (or is that too cruel?) for my next dinner parties, to name just a few. And while I'm keeping this guy (I'm calling him Len for some reason), I'm going to get a bunch for my food-loving friends. It's not only great fun, it's something they'll really use too.

- Morris the Memo Holder

Speaking of animals, I love Morris. Not only does he hold your memo notes for you, he'll hold it in his mouth for you so you won't forget your shopping list or reminder to pick up the dry cleaning. There is something so sweet about this burrow. He never asks anything of you - just that you make him feel useful. Now that's unconditional love! He comes in Red, White and Charcoal.

- Pickmaster

This is the ultimate gift for the music lover or musician on your list! Like the old 3-hole punch from high school, the Pickmaster (pictured above) punches out not holes, but a lifetime of personalized guitar picks out of anything flat - cardboard, plastic, etc. You can recycle materials and rock your way up the Stairway to Heaven! This gorgeous sturdy, chromed metal punch is something that the axe player in your life will genuinely appreciate. Rock on!

- YouToDo

It's as tall as I am, which means there's a lot to get through, but I'm up for the challenge. Are you? This list of to dos isn't a chores list by any means. It's more of a life list and the whole family can get involved. There are easy tasks such as "make and flip a pancake" and harder challenges like "learn the capitol cities of Europe." It comes with stickers so you can mark your achievements and there are a few blank spots for you to write in your own to dos. It's much easier to tackle your goals and dreams when they're right there facing you every day. This is a fantastic gift for anyone of any age.

The best part of all this? These are just a small few of the outrageously great products Luckies has to offer. Shop their whole collection now and get the best gifts EVER!

Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Velocity @ Novena Square) - Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Plaza Singapura) - Beijing Top 5 Noodle Spots

Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Velocity @ Novena Square) - Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Plaza Singapura) - Beijing Top 5 Noodle Spots

There are hundreds of thousands of noodle places all over Beijing, hole-in-the-wall places, stalls in dingey alleys and then the accessible expat haunt places. I’ve been too all types and have been ill repeatedly many times, so I’m going to recommend my favourite places that have had me returning.

Noodle Bar @1949

Tucked away in the Hidden City 1949, this noodle bar is a perfect hideout in winter—small and cosy. Diners sit on the 3 sides of the bar to watch the noodle master toss, pull and slice noodles. Portions are generous with plenty of soup—investigation of MSG has yet to be done, but it sure is tasty. The beef noodles is the best choice as the pork one comes a little too greasy for some and the vegetarian version uninspiring. Tables available outdoors in the summer.

1949 The Hidden City. Courtyard 4,

Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, (opposite pacific century place mall south gate)

Tel: +86 6501-1949

Noodle Loft

Straightforward simple noodles in an eclectic setting, with steaming bowls of noodles to be garnished heavily with Northern flavours, chillies in chilli oil and lots of vinegar—just like how they do in Shanxi province. Everything is made fresh here, enjoy the bustle of noodle making activity and order the popular choices of beef noodles and diced pork noodles.

3 Heping Xijie,

和平西街3号

Tel: +86 5130-9655

Xiaolumian

Run by the same owners of The Schoolhouse Mutianyu, Xiaolumian is a good stopover for generous portions of fresh handmade noodles with organic vegetables on your way to/from the Mutianyu side of the Great Wall. Flavors here tend to lean towards the foreign palate, still the typical lao Beijing “zha jiang mian” is worth at go. Portions are large, so be sure to dine with friends.

Yingbeigou Village

Near Mutianyu Great Wall

Tel: +86 6162-6506

info@xiaolumian.com

Food in Novel

The simple yet little tacky interiors here include a real tree rooted in the centre of the restaurant. Noodles are done well and Yunnan’s signature dish of “crossing the bridge” rice noodles is a mandatory order. The dish comes with up to 18 ingredients including chestnuts and shrimps, or simply vegetarian. This place offers a good tasty option for vegans. Skip the choice of rice wine and order the papaya wine instead.

15-1 Dongzhimennei Dajie,

东城区东直门内大街15-1号

Tel: +86 8406-0237

Qin Tang Fu

The most reliable of Beijing noodle shops where every visit is consistently good. Service is always spotty, but the noodles never disappoint. Start with the cold buckweed noodles (the Chinese rendition of soba) with chillies and lots of vinegar before choosing from the beef, lamb or spinach noodles. The restaurant is best known for their “rou jia mou” pork stuffed between bread and the “yang rou pao mo”, a very heavy dish of unleavened bread bits in the lamb broth bath.

128 Dongsi Beidajie,

东四北大街128号

Tel: +86 6407-1211

Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Velocity @ Novena Square) - Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Plaza Singapura) - Beijing Top 5 Noodle Spots

Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Velocity @ Novena Square) - Lao Beijing 老北京食堂 (Plaza Singapura) - Beijing Top 5 Noodle Spots

Noodle Bar @1949

1949 The Hidden City. Courtyard 4,

Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, (opposite pacific century place mall south gate)

Tel: +86 6501-1949

Noodle Loft

3 Heping Xijie,

和平西街3号

Tel: +86 5130-9655

Xiaolumian

Yingbeigou Village

Near Mutianyu Great Wall

Tel: +86 6162-6506

info@xiaolumian.com

Food in Novel

15-1 Dongzhimennei Dajie,

东城区东直门内大街15-1号

Tel: +86 8406-0237

Qin Tang Fu

128 Dongsi Beidajie,

东四北大街128号

Tel: +86 6407-1211

a for apricot

So I went to the -- Embassy two weeks ago for this travel medical insurance requirement (they really have a bad service). I was really confused on how to get one because the website didn't say where to get it. You just get it yourself -from the grave! I didn't have a choice but to go there only to see how strict the embassy is (unlike the New Zealand Visa Application Office, and Philippine and

Take Your Food to Another Level with Sea to Sky Seasonings Salts

Do you get into a routine where everything you make tastes the same?

I certainly do. I tend to rely on the same spices, do the same 10 dishes again and again and fall into the same pattern at mealtime because I'm rushed for time.

I've recently discovered however, that all it takes is a little salt. Not just any salt, of course. I'm talking about Sea to Sky Seasonings Salts.

These Canadian-inspired infused seasonings & salts enhance flavours way beyond simple table salt. The goal of Sea to Sky Seasonings is "to elevate your taste experience to a new level," and they have most certainly reached it.

By using as many locally grown, ethical and organic ingredients as possible, you get the freshest, most vibrant taste. And you won't find any food colourings or other flavour enhancers here - just natural ingredients that will enliven both your food and your palates.

New flavours are introduced seasonally - I tried some earlier this season such as Vancoucer Coast & Mountains Berry & Honey Salt (try rimming your Margarita glass with this one - heaven), Vancouver Island Seaweed Salt (so good a top of salmon!), Thompson Okanagan Apple Salt, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Garlic Salt (I shook this all over my homemade sweet potato fries), Northern BC Wild Mushroom Salt (so decadent on eggs!) and for the every day, I quickly became addicted to Kootenay Rockies Spring Skiing Salt (so fresh!).

And now I want to try these from Sea to Sky Seasoning core lineup:

Bacon & Tomato Salt - Smokey Oyama bacon, concentrated sundried tomatoes and sea salt all packaged into one delicious ingredient? Oh my!

Cabernet Sauvignon Salt - This Cab Sav from the Niagara region is sure to intensify your evening's menu.

Cinnamon, Chocolate & Chipotle - How sexy is this combination? Just think of all you can use it on!

Silk Spice - Created by Chef Silke Seiler, this seasoning is fascinating and completely unique. What a fabulous gift for the food lover in your life!

Shop the entire Sea to Sky Seasonings Store and rev up your cooking - naturally!

Celebrate Summer with Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes & Easy Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining

The summer goes by so quickly.

Before you know it, it's Fall, the kids are back in school and the heavy coats and wool tights come out. So celebrate the season with Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes & Easy Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining by Denise Gee.

This is more than just drinks on a porch. It's about, as Denise says, "the joy of architecture and neighbourly camaraderie." Doesn't that sound good right about now? No running errands, no cleaning the bathroom - just getting together with friends and family.

Denise lives in Dallas, but she writes, "But what really shaped my design aesthetic was being raised in one of Mississippi’s most beautiful, historic and hospitable cities: Natchez. It was there, growing up downtown in a four-story Victorian house/clothing store owned by my mother and grandmother—and being a young docent at several antebellum houses—that I learned the joy of cooking, entertaining, storytelling, architecture, interior decorating and garden design."

It's true that there's something instantly relaxing about a porch. I think it's that no one works out on the porch - it's where you talk and commune and you automatically unwind and decompress like you would on vacation.

So in order to throw your own Porch Party, Denise gives you some great pointers like planning your buffet, how to stock the bar, garnish ideas and even includes a handy (and extensive) checklist.

And you're going to love her drink ideas - Blood Orange Martini, Prosecco Mojito and something called a Gumby Slumber. For these truly sweltering days, cooling off is easy with Denise's Watermelon Cooler, Blackberry Smash and a fascinating drink called the Michelada that calls for beer, hot sauce and soy sauce.

I love her "Punch" section and learned so much - for example, that Punch should have "at least three but preferably five ingredients and serve a boatload of people (or at least a small crowd)." And doesn't Lemon Sherbet, Ice Ring Finesse and Bourbon Slush Punch sound good right about now?

There is also a ton of non-alcoholic offerings, or as Denise calls 'em, Frocktails, as well as little bites to offer along with the drinks (you don't want the neighbours falling off the porch) such as Greek Crostini, Shrimp & Tomato Salad and Creamy Orange Fruit Dip.

Whether you live in a condo or have a sprawling house in the country, isn't it time you threw a porch party? You've got all you need right here, thanks to Porch Parties.

Need a Little Lift? BioFuel Caffeinated Popcorn Is A Tasty Pick-Me-Upper!

BioFuel Popcorn is an odd, yet exciting mixture of caffeine and popcorn.

And while I would have never thought to put them together, they make for an extremely delicious combination. So much so that I had to tear myself away after I'd gorged myself on half the bag and could have easily kept going until there wasn't a kernel left! I think it's the combination of salty and just slightly sweet (nowhere near caramel corn sweet, though it's got that lovely same sticky feel) that both satisfies and excites your senses.

So thanks to Amanda and Matthew Fitch, who created BioFuel Popcorn as a way to keep up with their long days. They may have been struggling to stay awake for awhile there, but it was worth it!

The Original BioFuel is infused with as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, so it won't keep you up all night unless you have it right before you go to sleep. The Super Caffeine-Infused BioFuel XL however, has twice the amount of caffeine as the Original, so save this one when you're up late working on that presentation or you need to catch the red eye.

If you're worried about the kiddies getting hopped up on caffeine, not to worry. There's a blend especially for the young 'uns.

Inexpensive, completely unique and will give you even pep to get through the afternoon meeting? Yes, yes, and yes.

Maybe you'd better get the big bag.

My New Life Guide Is Lotta Jansdotter's Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Living

I have loved Lotta Jansdotter for years and have written about her products at every opportunity. I wrote about her sewing book back in 2007 and her notecard book, labels and stickers back in 2010.

There is such a clean simplicity to everything that she does that I find so calming and simultaneously appealing.So when I discovered her new book, Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Style, I knew I'd found my new life guide.

What I mean by that is adapted her philosophies and looks into my own life. While there are many similarities to our looks and homes, I am always looking for ways to improve, simplify, declutter and spend more time on the things that truly matter.

Lotta graciously lets us in on her home and office and shows us fantastic ways to decorate, design and entertain. But really, it is more a lesson about a way of life. In the introduction, she writes, "It's my aim to show you that living a stylish life does not require a lot of money. It simply takes some interest, patience, and a touch of creativity."

I really believe that you can live a full life without spending a lot. It's like a lot of organizing books say - keep only what really matters and you will enjoy those few things so much more. So I am already on board with her on this one. I think I just need a little honing and maybe a little more Scandinavian touches throughout the place.

Lotta also says that for her, "home is not really home unless there is a bit of cooking involved," so she she not only shares some of her beloved recipes, but includes recipe cards at the back.

I think what I find so fascinating is that she lives in bustling New York doing all of these wildly creative, energetic things and yet, her home is a haven of serenity, calm and beauty. This, while she has a husband, 2 year-old son and a cat. It's not a pristine white on white penthouse where things don't get touched and/or moved. This is like our home - where people live their lives and get dirty and have laundry to do and garbage to take out. What a relief to find someone like us (because we all know that people like Martha Stewart has staff and is prickly about mess). Just look at her kitchen - things are stacked and stacked. It feels just like home, doesn't it?

She gives great advice about everything from covering your windows so they still let in light to using up wasted space with baskets and shelves. And now I want "tray slings" and to instill "Fika" and "Smorgastarta" in my life! - you're just going to have to get the book to find out what they are.My favourite part of the book is about her office. She loves it so much that she decorates and reorganizes it all the time. A woman after my own heart.

I know about 20 people that could really use this book and about 50 that would love it just for the beautiful wisdom and ideas within it, not to mention the photos. What a gorgeous gift this makes - both for yourself and for others.

And really, giving yourself the life you deserve is the best gift of all. Which is why this is going on my permanent holiday and birthday gift list. Because this kind of joy should be spread all around!

Buy your copies of Handmade Living now.

Cake Vintage Kitchen Papers Turns Your Dinner Party Into the Event of the Season

I love to entertain, but truthfully I'd rather spend my money on ingredients instead of the decorations. But I do like to spruce the place up a bit. It really needs a lift when company's coming by.

That's why my new favourite dinner party accessory is Cake Vintage Kitchen Papers.

This line of beautifully-styled vintage looking papers dresses up your table quickly and without a lot of expense. And you can choose to reuse or recycle them, meaning they'll take up less space than your Grandmother's linens.

Perfect Serving Placemats elevate your food so that everything has the feel of a fine French meal. Whether your tableware is handmade in Portugal or from Ikea, your guest will at least know where which fork goes where. And there's 50 of 'em, so that oughta get you through the summer.

And since doilies are so passe, update your look with 8" Serving Papers (pictured above). This pad of 25 tear-off sheets means that you can use them under everything from your leek and cheese souffle appetizer to your homemade rhubarb crumble dessert.

For the food lover who's always dabbling in the kitchen, the Cook's Journal is a phenomenal gift. It has a table of contents and each recipe is numbered (space for 40-hand written dishes), with room for the ingredients and directions. With vintage images throughout, it is the most beautiful journal and an instant cookbook - just fill in the blanks and you've got your best-seller completed!

Using soy based inks & 30% recycled content, these are treasured items that make not only wonderful entertaining accompaniments, but incredibly memorable gifts too.

Shop the entire Cake Vintage Kitchen Papers collection now. A portion of all of proceeds are donated to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund at Vanderbilt.

Cell Phone Companies are Evil Hamsters

Image via Wikipedia

Verizon pursues dead woman's bill for three months

by Chris Matyszczyk

Before you read this article (below) by Chris Matyszczyk on Verizon, let me say that Verizon is not alone. They are all Evil Hamsters at the corporate level. I'm pretty sure most of you would agree. In fact, can you tell me what your monthly charges are without looking at the bill? Unless, you are a Genius Hamster, you can't.

As a matter of fact, even looking at the bill, EVEN A DETAILED BILL, who can figure this stuff out with a NASA Super Computer?

You dialed with your left hand FEE

You ate while talking FEE

You called an odd number on Wednesday night FEE

You pay a Destructive Signal Interruptibility Tax Assessment Surcharge percentage FEE

You get the picture......I hate these guys....I know hate is not good........but COME ON!

OK, read the latest, and I hope you had a great Sunday!!!

Keith Pilat

Can it really be the case that cell phone companies will pursue every single customer for an unpaid debt? Even if the person has been dead for months?

This thought is nagging me more than certain elements of my wasted youth after reading a Los Angeles Times story concerning Betty Howard and her Verizon bill.

According to the Times, when Howard, from Loma Linda, Calif., was struggling with breast cancer, she signed up for Verizon's wireless broadband. It seems that Verizon had trouble securing an Internet connection for her. So, last September, she signed up for a package that included broadband. Still, sadly, the Internet connection didn't work.

Howard died in December. But her daughter-in-law, Marilynn Loveless, reportedly continued to get bills from Verizon, despite the fact that she'd notified the company of her mother-in-law's death days after her passing. The last bill, in March, was for $110.80. (The package was billed to Loveless' credit card.) On hearing that Howard was dead, Verizon reduced the charge to $54.82. When this was not paid, the bill was passed alertly on to a debt collector.

(Credit: Eric Hauser/Flickr)

Loveless then became the object of pursuit, until she contacted the L.A. Times. On discovering that Howard had been double-billed, the $54.82 charge was withdrawn. But it was replaced by another demand, this time for $81.26--this supposedly related to the package. On further review, Verizon reportedly offered to reduce this bill to $42.75.

The thing is, the Internet connection part of this deal never actually worked. "They just don't get the fact that they're charging for a service they never provided," Loveless told the Times.

You will feel light-headed when I tell you that the paper's dogged pursuit of Verizon engendered a seeing of the light. All of the charges were waived. Moreover, a Verizon representative told the Times: "Mistakes were made. We apologize."

Perhaps, if you're like me, there will still be a couple of little nagging things that will make you feel queasy about this.

Firstly, would it really have taken more than just a touch of humanity for Verizon to have realized the situation and acted accordingly in the first place?

Secondly, isn't there something slightly sad about the amounts with which we are dealing here? This isn't AT&T sending an American soldier in Afghanistan a bill for $16,000.

Here, these seem to be relative pittances, amounts that surely dwarf the cost of the labor time that was expended in pursuing a dead woman and her family for services that appear to have wandered somewhere along the axis between poor and nonexistent.

Perhaps the folks at Verizon who originally dealt with all of this were only following procedure. But some might imagine that it's a faintly troubled procedure that leads to such disturbed customer service in the face of what appear to be relatively simple facts.

I just relayed this story to a friend who is known for his sanguine judgment. His response appeared to put it in perspective: "Oh, you mean the man in glasses knocked on the lady's coffin and said: 'Can you hear me now?'"

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20068068-71.html#ixzz1ORrWNPEh

Copy write and all rights reserved for shared content by the original authors. Original Content, title and trademark reserved by Cloud Concepts Incorporated, LLC., a California Corporation.

Obol Keeps Your Cereal From Getting Soggy

I am very sensitive to the texture of food. I don't like that stringy feeling of overcooked shrimp or anything that's mushy (you should see how hard the nectarines I buy are).

So I can understand the desire to keep your crunchy cereal from turning into pudding. Especially if you eat like puffed wheat, that seems to soften as soon as it hits the milk.

That's why you've got to get yourself the Obol. It keeps everything separate until you're ready to pull it together. And nothing says you've got to use it only for cereal - soup and crackers, chips and dip, it works for so many things! In fact, why don't you send me a tweet or leave a comment here or on my facebook page to what you're going to use yours for?

If you're like most people, you'll be happy with the Obol in CreamWhite. But why not add a splash of colour with the new Lime & Tangerine Obols? Ooh, they're fun. And all are available as of June 1st at Brookstone.

As a restaurant reviewer and food writer, it's important to me that the textures of food be the way they're intended. And my Obol lets me blend the ingredients together at my leisure.

Now that's customized!

Get yourself some Obols now and put an end to soggy cereal once and for all.

Treat Yourself to Berry Allure's Incredible Chocolate Covered Delicacies

Why have a regular chocolate bar when you can indulge in Berry Allure's Chocolate Covered Delicacies by DOTI US, Inc.?

This family-owned company from Poland creates chocolate-covered fruit and nuts. But not just any ol' kind. Nothing ordinary about these.

We're talking the good stuff here, the impressive stuff - Chocolate Covered Gooseberries, Cocoa Dusted Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Chocolate Covered Blackcurrants, to mention just a few.

Chocolate and fruit has been done before, but not like this. Dark Chocolate Covered Orange Peel is the perfect offering at the end of your dinner party while you serve coffee. And award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier Rikke Gryber's Rowanberry in Dark Chocolate pairs beautifully with wines, cheese and Amarone.

There is so much to choose from juicy and ripe sour cherries, strawberries, gooseberries, black currants, ginger pieces, chunks of rhubarb and orange peel are "candied and dipped in luscious chocolate. Our carefully selected nuts, be they cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts or brazil nuts, are tenderly roasted before their chocolate bath in order to bring out their amazing aroma, taste and crunchy texture."

Oh my.

And while Berry Allure's Chocolate Covered Delicacies are indeed decadent, they are somewhat healthy as they use good chocolate and they are filled with vitamin packed fruits and nuts.

If you are going to have chocolate, why not have the good stuff?

Shop now.

Full Circle Makes the Best Kitchen & Cleaning Tools!

Why are you still using that scrub brush that you got from the dollar store two years ago?

Ew. Not to mention that it is nowhere near eco-friendly.

That's why you've got to check out Full Circle.

Their cleaning tools are so beautiful, so wonderful to hold and use, completely eco-friendly and sustainable and - here's the biggest suprise - absolutely affordable!

Everything from dish brushes, scrub brushes, sponge, cloths, towels,to make-your-own natural cleaning set and home composting solutions are available here, so you can clean and have a clean conscience.

The Be Good Dish Brush has quickly become one of our most used kitchen tools ever. I used to just rely on a sponge and dish cloth, but this recycle plastic, renewable bamboo dish brush gets at all the stuck-on food and grease with so little elbow grease, I have time to go and make myself a drink afterwards!

Now that the Farmer's Markets are getting going, the The Ring Vegetable Brush is a must for gently removing dirt from your hand-picked carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, etc. The natural and recycled bristles work out the land from your veg quickly and easily. And the part bamboo handle is just gorgeous (Why can't Full Circle make jewelry too? This is the perfect bangle!) and so smooth. Everything Full Circle makes is just so easy on the hands, something that you certainly wouldn't notice with those cheap plastic things you've been using up until now, but you can't help but take note of - rest your thumb there, put your hand there, ahh!

And speaking of brushes, the Reach Bottle Brush works in travel mugs, baby bottles and I've been using mine to also clean the sludge that occurs in vases full of water (why does it do that?) and dust out the inside of my lamps. You simple place the longer end of the brush on the inside and squeeze the handle to clean both surfaces simultaneously. The handle and bristles are made with recycled plastic and the wire is made of recycled stainless steel. This is one of those tools that you didn't realize was so handy until you had it, and now you can't live without it.

One of my favourite designs is the Stick'em Magnetic Kitchen Towel (pictured above). You know how chefs have a towel that sits on their hip so that they can wipe their hands or grab a hot pan out of the oven with one quick move? That's what this towel is like. You can put it wherever is most convenient, not just where it happens to fit.You can toss it towards the fridge or stove and it sticks! How cool is that? And here's the best part - the bamboo and organic cotton blend is so cushy and soft, you use it more than any other towel that's passed through the house. Ooh, if only there was pajamas in this material...

These are just a few of the amazingly wonderful, inexpensive kitchen tools from Full Circle. Look around and finally get items that are worthy of you.

If You Love Good Food, You're Going to Love Southern Living Off the Eaten Path

One of my many, many dreams for the near future is to have a Southern food counter or truck or restaurant.

Though I've never even been to the South, I am enamoured by the food, ingredients and people. I can think of nothing more comforting than shrimp n' grits, a muffaletta sandwich (a specialty of New Orleans), fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread.

So when I heard about the brand new, just released Southern Living Off the Eaten Path by Morgan Murphy, I knew it would have to find a place amongst my very carefully selected cookbooks.

It's the subtitle after the colon that really got me - Favourite Southern Dives and 150 Recipes That Made Them Famous - and the fact that award-winning travel writer Murphy drove 15,000 miles in his 1959 Cadillac last summer and picked 75 places to include.

It is so jam-packed with photos, recipes and backstory, that it's more of an intimate scrapbook or personalized tour of the South than a mere cookbook. If I could somehow manage it, I'd like to do what Murphy did, and visit every single one of these places in one fell swoop. Now that's what I call a vacation!

And what is so surprising is that the recipes are not your average "dive" dishes. Krazy Kat's in Delaware for instance offers Vanilla-Cognac Brined Pork Tenderloin with a Gingersnap Jus! You'd better believe that's joining my regular rotation of dinners. And Lobster and Brie Mac and Cheese from Cabana in Nashville and Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs from The Local in Virginia? Ooh la la. I think I just found my dinner party menu items. And I've got to make the PCP Pie (Pineapple-Coconut-Pecan) from Ed & Kay's in Arkansas at the next do or potluck. Can you imagine the kinds of hoots and hollers that will get?

Of course the book is teaming with the kind of comfort food dishes that are famous in the South - Hush Puppies, Crawfish Pie, Beignets, Shrimp and Crab Etoufee, Sweet Potato Casserole, Chicken-Fried Steak with Country Gravy, Southern Fried Catfish, Pecan Pie, Cornbread, Candied Yams, Chiles Rellenos, Buttermilk Biscuits - and a heckuva lot more (My mouth filled with saliva as I wrote these. I'm heading into the kitchen to make some of these treasures as soon as I'm done here).

Go ahead and check out the preview here.

Thank you, Mr. Murphy, for bringing the South up here to me in the North via Southern Living Off the Beaten Path. I am so grateful to be surrounded by all of this great food made by great folks from these great places.

I hope you don't mind, I've gone ahead and doggeared the whole darn book.

Desperate for Vim, Vitality and Vigour? Get It All with EatStrong Snacks!

I am desperate need of some extra energy,

I know you feel the same. My to-do list is teetering with items yet to be crossed off, laundry is done but not put away and where did that new basket of dirty clothes come from? That's just the beginning, so I need to ramp things up and eat food that is full of energy to help get me through these frenetic days/weeks/months.

And something quick and easy and that doesn't taste like wallpaper would be great.

After months of searching, I am thrilled to have found EatStrong.

Founder Sophie Pachella created a fresh new line of "honestly healthy snacks." Yep, this is the real deal - good food that fills you up.

Take the EatStrong Trail Mix, for instance. It is a surefire way to keep low blood sugar crashes at bay and to get you through those tough crunch times where you don't have time to eat, but you've got to have something. Vitamins, minerals, omega-3s and fiber abound in this delightful mix of almonds, cashews, flax seeds, pistachios, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Ooh, it's tasty and filling. Oh, and to keep your sweet tooth at bay, Sophie's popped in some organic cacao chocolate drops, so you won't have to give into the lunch room vending machine anymore. Phew!

And if I need a quick meal or snack on the go, I prefer EatStrong Energy Bars to those supermarket ones that are supposedly "healthy," but you and I both know how laden with fat and sugar they are.

This soft bar of finely crushed flax, sunflower and hemp seeds is only 230 calories, but it will keep you going for hours on end. Again, some organic chocolate drops have been added in to satiate you. According to Sophie, this blend of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants will "increase metabolic function, fortify muscles and promote lean body mass."

It's practically a workout in a bar. Practically.

Life is sometimes too busy to stop and eat well. At least eat well on the run.

Get EatStrong now.

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