Five Spring Adventures Around The Country

Rise And Shine: Exceptional Egg Breakfasts

Eggs are the cornerstone of many a breakfast, but it’s easy to get tired of some of the standard preparations. If you’ve had one too many mornings start with scrambled eggs, here are five new ideas for interesting egg breakfasts.

• Toad in a hole is a classic British preparation – use a jar or cookie cutter to punch a hole in the middle of a slice of bread, then fry it in a pan. Crack an egg in the middle and cook them all together for a delicious meal.
• Bake eggs in small ceramic ramekins with sliced tomato and spinach. These dishes will come out like miniature quiches with much less preparation time.
• Make a savory and delicious omelet with fresh mozzarella, basil, and slices of tomato. This Italian flavor combination is healthy and tasty.
• For a different take on the omelet, fill a finished egg omelet with strawberries and sour cream. Eggs actually go really well with sweet flavors, and this unusual combination is a winner.
• Make an egg sandwich on whole wheat bread or English muffins and top it with sharp cheddar cheese and slices of avocado. This is a delicious and portable breakfast if you’re in a hurry.

Fashion Faux Pas: What Not To Wear To A Job Interview

In many ways, what you say at a job interview is only a small part of what prospective employers will be evaluating. Dressing appropriately is a big part of that all-important first impression, and many people don’t know the right way to dress for an interview. Here are some wardrobe mistakes you should avoid:

• Tattoos and piercings should generally be covered up if at all possible. In general, even though both are accepted in today’s society, the workplace is no place for extreme body art. Once you’re hired, you can look into the company’s policy.
• It’s best to avoid wearing perfume or cologne to a job interview. Shower or bathe before the interview and use an odorless deodorant. People react to fragrances differently, and you don’t want to trigger an allergy in your interviewer.
• Business-appropriate footwear is one of the biggest interview mistakes people make. Don’t think that your interviewer won’t be looking at your feet. Simple, classic business shoes are the only appropriate choice.
• Finally, avoid trendy clothes at a job interview. Business attire is basically timeless, so opting for a more conservative choice that isn’t beholden to the latest fashions will be a better investment.

Eat To The Beat: Five Fat-Burning Snacks

We all want to cut down on between-meal snacks, but it’s just not happening. When you need a little bit of energy in the middle of the day, all the willpower in the world can’t stop you from heading to the vending machine. Thankfully, there are healthy options out there to satisfy your snack craving while also helping you stick to your diet. Here are five great fat-burning snacks:

• Celery sticks make a great snack that has virtually no calories. If you want to bulk it up a little bit, try filling them with organic peanut butter or almond butter for a dose of protein.
• Blueberries and raw almonds are an incredible nutritional blockbuster that packs a huge amount of protein, vitamins, and antioxidants. This is a can’t-miss combination that also tastes excellent.
• Hummus is an excellent low-fat snack with a lot of protein, but skip the pita bread – that’s just empty calories. Instead, serve it with vegetable sticks – carrots, celery, cucumber, and bell peppers all work great.
• Citrus fruits are excellent for fat burning, especially early in the day. The powerful dose of vitamin C will kick your cells into high gear, jump-starting your metabolism and making you more likely to burn fat, especially if you avoid further carbohydrates.
• Snap peas are an excellent vegetable snack that satisfies a sweet tooth while still providing excellent nutrients and fiber.

5 Great December Songs

The air may be chilly by November, but all hope of summer is truly lost by the time December rolls around. If anticipating the holidays isn't enough to sustain you, it’s time to start appreciating winter’s true gift: the cold is a great excuse for spending more time snuggled up in your warm bed with your sweetie. Your soundtrack for spooning can be seasonally appropriate but also heart-warming. Depending on your decade of choice, here are some wintery tunes to stave off the cold.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Bing Crosby and Doris Day’s playful version of this wintertime classic is a particularly persuasive way to district your honey from leaving the toasty bed.

I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
Another classic, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Dean Martin have all marveled about using love to weather a storm.

Time of the Season by The Zombies
The Zombies don’t actually specify what the season is, so why not winter? Sounds like a good time for loving.

Wintertime Love by The Doors
In a love song you can waltz to, a surprisingly tender Jim Morrison croons, “winter’s so cold this year, and you are warm”- how sweetly understated.

Warm Love by Van Morrison
While not necessarily set in the winter, this melodic ditty warms your heart with its sweet lyrics and cheerful wind section.

Top 5 Holiday Gift Ideas

Finding the perfect gifts for family and friends can be the most satisfying part of the holidays. It can also be the hardest. Here are some great ideas to thrill your loved ones and make your holiday shopping experience an Ode To Joy:

 

1. Amazon.com Cheer

An Amazon.com gift card allows its recipient to choose from a vast array of possibilities, including books, electronics, clothing, jewelry, and sporting supplies. What could be more luxuriant than spending a gift card without even leaving the house? Click here for more info: http://www.amazon.com/gp/gc/ref=topnav_giftcert

 

2. Sparkling Convenience

 A popular new item for 2011 is the Genesis Soda Maker, a kitchen appliance that can turn tap water into sparkling water and produce a variety of soda flavors (regular and diet). Great for cocktail mixers as well! The Genesis is available here: http://www.sodastreamusa.com/Genesis-Machines-C30.aspx

 

3. ‘Tis the Season for Technology

The tech world is abuzz with one of the hottest items for 2011: the L5 Remote. This  accessory is capable of turning an iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch into a universal remote that can control your TV, DVD, cable box, and DVR. No batteries, WiFi, or wall plug needed! Click here for more: http://www.l5remote.com/

 

4. Merrily Streaming Movies

Now you don’t need a PC to stream movies to your tv! The Roku Streaming Player allows users to stream movies directly and instantly to their televisions, choosing from a massive roster of selections via Netflix, Crackle, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video. Check out the Roku: http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/

 

5. Kindle the Holiday Spirit

The Kindle’s not new for 2011 but it isn’t yet as universally owned as other tech staples like the iPhone and iPod – so it’s still a much-wanted item on many people’s wish-lists. Gift-getters of all ages will enjoy this wireless e-reader: https://kindle.amazon.com/

Let It Steep: Understanding Tea

There are so many different kinds of tea on the market, and it can be somewhat difficult to make heads or tails of the difference between them. But it’s actually simpler than you think.

The first thing to know about tea is that it all comes from the same plant. What makes individual blends different is the processing applied to the tea leaves after they’re picked. This processing releases different levels of chemicals – including caffeine – from within the tea leaf, changing the flavor and composition of the cup.

The most common type of processing is oxidization – the natural fermentation process that occurs in vegetable matter after it’s separated from the root plant. Green tea undergoes the least oxidization process, cooking the leaves as soon as they’re picked to keep the flavor as fresh and botanical as possible.

Oolong tea is what’s known as a semi-oxidized blend – the leaves are carefully aged to about 50% oxidization, creating a flavor profile that is strong but nuanced.

Finally, black tea is created when the leaves are allowed to oxidize completely before being cooked. These leaves brew to a dark, strong liquid that has the most caffeine per cup.

One newly popular kind of tea is white tea. This drink is brewed from the tender young leaves of the tea plant, which are often kept shaded from the sun so they develop less chlorophyll. This tea is higher in some natural antioxidants that can have real health benefits.

Autumn Events in New York City!

If you’re looking for some unique events to take in this fall, you’ll find them in the Big Apple. With street festivals, comic conventions, and more, the city that never sleeps is your ticket to fun. Here’s a look at some highlights:

New York Comic Con – New York’s biggest comic event returns to the Javits Center October 13th through 16th. Special guests include Mark Hamill, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes revisiting the roles of Jay and Silent Bob during a special live podcast, John Landis, Rose McGowan, and more. The event will also be in conjunction with the New York Anime Festival.

CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival – From October 18th through 22nd, the world's most important platform for the discovery of new music, CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival, invades New York City with over 1,300 artist performances and dozens of cutting-edge films. CMJ fills more than 80 of the city's greatest venues, nightclubs, and theaters with over 120,000 fans, music industry professionals, college radio tastemakers, bloggers, press, filmmakers, and musicians.

The Chocolate Show – From November 10th through 13th the largest show in the United States completely dedicated to celebrating all things chocolate comes to NYC. Sounds delicious!

First Steps For New Bakers

Baking is one of those things that even confounds expert chefs. The precision and timing required to make truly delectable baked goods can take some getting used to. If you’re interested in teaching yourself how to bake, here are some tips to get started:

First off, get a recipe and follow it. Baking is very difficult to improvise within, so following a simple, understandable recipe to the letter is vital in getting your basic skills where they need to be. It can often be instructive to try to make the same recipe multiple times to polish your results.

Prepare your ingredients ahead of time. When baking, unless noted, all ingredients should be at room temperature. Adding hot or cold liquids to doughs and batters can make them set differently. Pre-measure everything in advance before you start mixing anything – since baking is very time-sensitive, rummaging around for ingredients can throw you off.

Making sure you have the proper pans and baking sheets is also essential. Different sizes and materials can greatly change the consistency of your end product when it comes out of the oven. Do not substitute baking pans unless you’re ready to deal with the problems it might create.

Don’t open the oven door often! Keeping a consistent temperature inside the oven and protecting your cakes from shocks is vital in ensuring that they cook through and do not fall.

Let your final product cool completely before tasting or cutting it. In many recipes, the last stage of baking happens after the cake is removed from the oven, giving it time to bind together. Cutting too early can result in flimsy, crumbly baked goods.

An Autumn Recipe For Mulled Wine

Autumn's arrival means more chilly nights and get-togethers warmed by the cheer of good friends. What better time to make Mulled WIne? It's extremely easy to do; just follow this simple recipe, which should take about 20 minutes to make, and yield 10 servings.

Ingredients:

- 2 bottles dry red wine
- 4 ounces port or brandy
- 12 whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 large orange, zested
- Serving suggestion: Garnish with cinnamon sticks or freshly ground nutmeg.

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Do not allow mixture to boil. Heat for 20 minutes and serve in a large, heat resistant punch bowl.

Recipe courtesy of The Food Network; Show: The Cookworks

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