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Be Beauty Sample Savvy
I've enlisted the help of members of the Facebook Group, Mrs Gloss & The Goss (HERE) who have very kindly put forward suggestions for the most generous-with-samples beauty sites. There is nothing this amazing group doesn't know about beauty but if you feel you have your own favourites, please do leave them in the comment section. Remember back in the day when you had to fight for a tester of anything? These days brands can't give away samples quick enough – because sampling works!
It seems that with many sites, their sampling offer stated is the minimum – you may well end up with extra samples depending upon what's available at the time. Oh, and always check the 'Offers' section first before starting your shopping – I've seen some incredibly good value offers while researching this post.
Another key point to remember is that if a site has had a drop of very popular product, sales activity will be high, which can mean a depletion in sampling choice.
Multi-brand sites are dependent upon what samples the brands they sell supply. A new drop of samples on one site may well be replicated on another multi-brand site who offer a better sampling campaign in general, so always double check!
Alway head to the 'Offers' section on beauty retails sites – while researching this feature, I've seen some incredible offers (notably, Clarins).
Don't forget that you might get more generous sampling in-store rather than on-line – once you're having a serious conversation with a sales assistant, they can be much more tailored in how they sample and introduce you to other lines within the brand with judicious sampling.
Next up in nominations, is Liz Earle. Currently, the site is offering very decent sample sizes – between 15ml and 50ml – and you get three with an order over £50. If your order is £20 or above, you get a free 50ml Eye Lotion. Delivery is free over £50.
Estee Lauder. It seems this site has impressive offers all round – currently a free lipstick trio with orders over £70 (lipsticks start at £21 each), but in terms of sampling, you'll receive two small samples (i.e. a fragrance phial) with every order, which goes up to an additional two luxury size samples if you spend over £60. I've spotted a new section, as yet empty, called The Mini Bar – it may be to purchase samples or select what you'd like to try. We shall see! Delivery is free.
FeelUnique. Several members mentioned the FeelUnique Pick & Mix where you can choose five sample sized items for £3.95 postage, but two free samples is standard with orders over £30. One member said that she has ordered three months in a row and four out of five each time have been decent sample sizes with only one being a sachet or similar nominal sample. You can also filter by product and get a better idea of which are the best to order.
Clarins offers 3 x 5 and 10ml samples depending upon spend with a wide variety to choose from. So far, it's the only one I've seen sampling sun care alongside skin care and foundation. Free delivery over £50. There's a handy current offer of over £60 spend, four delux samples sizes worth approx. £86.
Charlottetilbury.com: Two free samples as standard (of skin care, lipstick kiss cards or foundation in sachets) and currently three Lipstick Kiss Cards as well with any orders. Glossers report receiving more than the 'official' amount of samples when they've placed orders. Delivery is free over £49.
Urban Decay offers 3 samples with every order and free gift wrap and postage. Samples seem to be mainly sachets or bubbles of foundation, concealer and primers but one Mrs Gloss contributor made a pre Christmas purchase and also received a mini Razor Sharp Eyeliner and a mini Perversion Mascara.
Cultbeauty.co.uk definitely gets the thumbs up from Glossers – two samples come with a £50 or over spend from a good selection of hair, skincare and occasionally make up. At the moment there is a small bottle of Beauty Blender Cleanser, and sachets of various skin care. Postage is free with a £50+ spend.
Benefit offers four 'deluxe' sample sizes and they're mainly make-up. Currently, their sampling offer (and my goodness those mini makeups are handy!) includes deluxe minis of Roller Lash, Benebalm, Gimme NBrow and Browvo on orders over £45. Postage is free over £30.
You can join Mrs Gloss & The Goss HERE.
*all products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
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7 comments
Some Estée Lauder counters in store have a 'mini bar' which is where you can purchase trial size products for around £10 (at time of commenting!). For example a 15ml moisturiser for £10. The value works out great when you calculate it, so what you've mentioned could be a similar concept to this! Fab article thank you
Jane, that Kiehl's link is broken. There's a typo in the name.
Great post though, thanks!
(I'm a frequent reader, but an infrequent commenter.)
Clarins were offering 8 free samples with all orders to celebrate Chinese New Year and seem to have regular offers from time to time. Well worth monitoring. However I think that brands end up competing with themselves, online v counter. The Clarins standard offer is 3 free samples with purchase. I never get that many samples if any for a purchase from a Clarins counter, gift with purchase offers excepted. So I swatch at the counter and order online.
Counter-wise, I've always found Sisley to be very generous if they believe you're a willing customer. I lived in Sydney years ago & they used to track word of mouth referrals by asking any new customers where they'd heard about their products, track it back to the source & reward customers accordingly. I'd love them to bring that back over here – never had so much free product in my life! Literally used to get $hundreds free product every time I restocked.
Have to say that my experience with Space NK has always been good. They offer a minimum of two samples but I often find they can put at least one more in the parcel – I got a nail polish once (maybe that was an error but hey!….) Another thumbs up for Estée Lauder UK – although the US get much better deals and have a loyalty programme – why can't we have that here?! Some places are terrible – e.g. Debenhams Beauty Club….I have asked for samples in store and have never got one….maybe it's me but if I'm spending then I do expect to be able to try products. This club actually made that promise on all it's publicity but the concessions in-store always say it's subject to availability – problem is they NEVER seem to have availability.
I love Naturisimo.com for samples. Being Co tent and Love Lula are good too.


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Rhode Island made history on June 21 by becoming the first state in the country to enact a "Homeless Bill of Rights."
While some cities have passed legislation criminalizing homelessness, Rhode Island's "Homeless Bill of Rights" states that homeless individuals must not face discrimination that denies them access to rights or services based on their lack of permanent address.
The bill guarantees that homeless individuals:
- Have the right not to face discrimination while seeking or maintaining employment due to lack of a permanent mailing address or a mailing address that is a shelter or social service provider;
- Have the right to use and move freely in public spaces (sidewalks, public parks, public transportation, public buildings) in the same manner as any other person and without discrimination on the basis of housing status;
- Have the right to emergency medical care free from discrimination based on housing status;
- Have the right to vote, register to vote and receive documentation necessary to prove identity for voting without discrimination due to housing status;
- Have the right to protection from disclosure to law enforcement agencies without appropriate legal authority any records or information provided to homeless shelters and service providers and the right to confidentiality of personal records and information in accordance with limitations on disclosure established by the Federal Homeless Management Information Systems, the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Federal Violence Against Women Act;
- Have the right to a reasonable expectation of privacy of personal property to the same extent as personal property in a permanent residence.
- Have the right to equal treatment by all state and municipal agencies, without discrimination on the basis of housing status.
"If somebody is sleeping outside on the street in an unobtrusive way, it shouldn't be criminal if there's no room in the shelter system. Cause if the shelters are full, where are people who have no where else to go supposed to go?" said Jim Ryczek, the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, applauding the decision.
Hoping to see similar legislation spread to other states, state Sen. John Tassoni, D-Smithfield, said, "Hopefully other states will now pick up the slack and move this all the way across the country to California."
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Al Jazeera's Inside Story Americas: How does the US treat its homeless?
As one state passes a bill of rights for the homeless, others are making it illegal to sleep or beg in public places.

subset: commoncrawl


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Post hole augers, planing augers and more. If you are looking for an auger to make fence post holes look no further. Our post hole augers can handle the job. If you need handles, we have them too. Great Plains Hardware is here to help.
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We want to hear from you! Take our Diabetes Self-Management readers' poll to help us better understand how you control your condition and what aspects of diabetes management matter most to you.
This week's question asks if you find that having diabetes makes traveling more difficult.
This blog entry was written by Web Editor Diane Fennell.
Learn more about the health and medical experts who who provide you with the cutting-edge resources, tools, news, and more on Diabetes Self-Management.
About Our Experts >>


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before 2016 began, i decided to join the Baseball Bloggers Alliance. because of this new partnership, i now have the ability to post excerpts of select blogs on the BBA website. it's important to note that i do post there myself as an author with the username BrantleyBlogger. my goal in affiliating with the BBA was to direct more traffic to my blogspot, and potentially gain new readers/subscribers. i didn't personally know anyone else who's part of the BBA; i willingly went into it blind.
|photo courtesy of the BBA
when i post to the BBA site, the Baseball Bloggers Alliance twitter account automatically tweets a link to that post. a link is posted to the BBA facebook page as well.
i am not currently a well-known blogger, but i have been writing very detailed blogs for most of this '10s decade thus far. so if you see my posts on the BBA site, please know that those excerpts are posted with my permission. the last thing i want is for people to see my excerpts on these other sites, and then try to come at me and claim that i am not the original author of these blogs. i would like to think that all the blogs i've written, specifically those from 2014 and 2015, speak for themselves and back me up that YES i am the writer. but if not, well that's why i'm taking the time to make that clear right here, right now.
regardless of wherever my excerpts are posted, they always link back to the full length blog which can only be found on my blogspot. otherwise, i never would have agreed to be part of this baseball networking community. however, i also want to let everyone know that i will NOT be posting excerpts from all my blogs on the BBA site. sometimes i post personal blogs, and those definitely do not need to be "teased" on any other websites. for that reason, i encourage you to follow MY twitter @clevelandgirl23 and subscribe to MY email list on MY blog so that you don't miss out on anything that i write.
so yeah, i'm going to continue posting on the BBA site this season and see how it goes. here's hoping this helps expose my writing to a broader audience and i can attract some new viewers!


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Welcome to Western Aviation – World Certified Aircraft, Helicopters, and Jet Appraisals
Welcome to Western Aviation! We are a world leader in aircraft appraisals, aircraft sales, jet sales, helicopter sales and aircraft charter services.
At Western Aviation, we specialize in jet charters, jet leasing, and private charter jet appraisals. We offer instant competitive quotes for charter jet prices and aircraft options for your next domestic or international flight.
We offer our clients affordable rates and the freedom to choose their next charter aircraft Western Aviation's pioneered the "sales options" of corporate and private jets with shared ownership, charters sales of aircraft and full service aircraft marketing. Click here to read why our jet charters are better than commercial.
Aircraft Appraisals
Are you ready to sell your plane, but are not sure what your aircraft is worth? Western Aviation is a leader in aircraft appraisals and can help you get the most out of your private aircraft sale. The private plane sales market can be tricky to navigate and it is all too easy to let your plane go for less than it is worth – or, on the flip side, to mistakenly list your plane far too high and have it sit on the market, unsold. Aircraft appraisals & Helicopter appraisals by Western Aviation's highly-skilled and experienced professionals are the first step you need to take before listing your plane. We bring more than 25 years of experience in General Aviation to the table. We understand the market – and know the selling value of your aircraft.
Aircraft appraisals are also useful when you're looking to get out of an aircraft partnership, refinancing your aircraft or if you want to purchase an aircraft but are unsure of its true worth. Western Aviation offers desktop or in-person aircraft appraisals anywhere in the world. Our aircraft appraiser is Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice endorsed, which ensures an adherence to the highest standards and practices in the appraisal industry.
International Aviation Expertise
At Western Aviation, we understand the importance of being a global company and we work with clients from across the globe, importing and exporting aircrafts internationally. We work to seamlessly facilitate the entire import and export process and have the skill and expertise required to make easy business transactions, despite the barriers presented by international sales. Western Aviation coordinates the entire process, from aircraft registration and de-registration to any legal issues that arise in international transactions. We also handle any inspections required by the government, maintenance organizations or the bank.
We Also Sell Jets, Helicopters, And Other Aircrafts
Jets for Sale
The decision to buy a jet is an important one. It's not only a serious financial investment, but also an investment in your personal safety. Western Aviation features only the finest jets for sale. That means our jets for sale are held to our rigorous standards for safety, performance and appearance before we even put them on the market for our customers. We take the time to sit down with each client, so they are well-educated, well-informed and feel completely comfortable with their purchase. It's a much higher level of communication and care required than buying a vehicle – and at Western Aviation, we are consummate professionals in the aviation sales field. In jet sales, it is crucial that your decisions are based on qualified information and proven expertise. At Western Aviation, we have the in-depth understanding of the jet sales market, industry experience, and consistently high quality of service required to guide you through this important process.
Finding a Plane/Helicopter for Sale
The world of aircraft sales can seem overwhelming and confusing. Where do you start? Let's make it easy: Start with us. At Western Aviation, we make finding a plane for sale an enjoyable, educational and stress-free experience. Our staff has the knowledge and the expertise to help clients feel completely informed about their decision and comfortable with the buying process. We begin by assessing your needs and intended usage. This will help you understand the type of aircraft for sale that you should be looking for. We aren't pushy – we gently guide you through the purchase process to ensure that you get an aircraft that looks and performs exactly the way you need it to. Of course, we allow you the freedom to choose the specific private plane model you want, but our clients have come to appreciate our educated and straight-forward advice during the sales process. Finding a plane for sale or helicopter for sale no longer seems confusing or overwhelming when you are working with the pros at Western Aviation.
Plane Appraisals & Sales: Houston
Texas is a major market for private planes for sale. Houston has become a hub for motivated buyers and sellers and it's where Western Aviation is proud to do business. Western Aviation operates world-wide, but we are happy to call Texas our home. If you would like to request a private consultation or speak to us directly in our Houston home, please contact us HERE and we will be happy to schedule a consultation. We have built our business on our reputation and our relationships with our clients. We're excited and honored to help you on your journey in appraising, buying, or selling your aircraft, or with any of your private charter service needs.


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About Digital Marketing Mentoring Services
It has become an essential aspect of modern business to carve out an online presence, but with so many companies jostling for position on the Search Engine Results Pages, it is more important than ever before to have an effective Digital Marketing Strategy in place to make sure that your business can be found by potential customers. However, a formalised online strategy isn't enough – you need to implement the required changes to your website, getting 'hands-on' with laser focused keyword research, effective Search Engine Optimisation and top quality, proven link-building techniques.
But who can you trust to carry out this work? How can you ensure that the work carried out is of a high standard, and that your implementation team are knowledgeable, experienced and reliable?
Digital Marketing Implementation Services are a UK-based team with a vast amount of knowledge and experience of helping small and medium sized enterprises, and large business websites rank more highly for relevant search terms on the Search Engine Results Pages, and in turn boost the flow of organic traffic to their website.
Digital Marketing Implementation Services work primarily for Digital Marketing Consultants and Agencies, so if you are a Business looking for help with your Digital Marketing we can still help, but will refer your details on to one of our experienced team of Digital Marketing Consultants to outline and oversee your strategy.
If you are a Digital or Business Consultant, or if you run a Marketing Agency in the United Kingdom and are interested in working with an experienced and successful Digital Marketing Implementation Team, get in touch! Please call James Pybus on 07929 030475 today – we would love to help your customers see positive, tangible results thanks to our in-depth knowledge and understanding of effective digital marketing.


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A new possibility has come up that explains ALL the strange facts in this story…here's the theory.
1) Weiner didn't send the photo – it was a frame-up
2) Weiner is hiding something – and the photo is of him (he didn't deny it today) – and that's why he doesn't want a law enforcement investigation OR he knows how sent it.
Here's a theory on the the photo.. – the photo could have been sent from a phone. (Not sent from a computer.)
I am going out on a limb here and I'd like emphasize this is a THEORY – but one that explains a lot.l. If this happened, I believe the most logical person to have done it is @PatriotUSA76 –a person that we actually know almost nothing about, by the way. For example, I don't know for sure that their name is Dan Wolfe or even their gender. Like Weiner, I think there's been some strange behavior on their part as well.
If both PatriotUSA76 AND Rep. Weiner would be less obtuse, this story would be a lot clear. This theory explains why both are acting obtuse.
Here's what this theory explains
- How the photo got into Weiner's Twit Strem
- Weiner's claim he didn't send the photo
- Weiner's refusal to say the photo wasn't him
- Some bizarre behavior I've witnessed from @PatriotUSA76
- @PatriotUSA76 saying repeatedly that anyone could look at their computer
- The EXIF on the photo not matching
- Weiner's claim today "Pictures can be manipulated. Pictures can be dropped in and inserted."
- Weiner statements that he had not called police to investigate the matter
- Gennette's claim not to be involved
Patriot's Story Of How They Saw The Tweet Is Very Implausible
Here's what Patriot told me….
I never folllowed Gennette. I said before I was on Weiner's page when it happened. Said a few times already
Direct message sent by Dan Wolfe (@patriotusa76) to you (@Stranahan) on May 31, 10:36 PM.
Someone should talk about coincidence of why Weiner was right there to delete tweet. That's a big coincidence too.
Direct message sent by Dan Wolfe (@patriotusa76) to you (@Stranahan) on May 31, 11:10 PM.
Not only was he right there to delete the tweet – which he admits. He deleted it seconds after – 1-5 seconds. Pretty big conincidence
Direct message sent by Dan Wolfe (@patriotusa76) to you (@Stranahan) on May 31, 11:29 PM.
We know from the timeline that RepWeiner didn't have a public tweet for 3+ hours.
Then the picture came in
Patriot says they had Weiner's page up. Why? Again — Weiner hadn't said anything for 3+ hours. Why keep the page up?
Then the the tweet with the picture goes up and according to Patriot, within 5 seconds Weiner took the tweet down. BUT – there's no way for Patriot to have known that.
And Patriot saw it – how again?
From Scoovy In Comments…
I agree with a lot of this and have talked to people about it but haven't written it down yet. So I'll just copy and paste – read their whole comment , about 84 in
Let's say that Weiner has in fact been engaging in inappropriate DM tweets with girls. Perhaps through a tip, the patriotusa76 crowd heard about this. Someone (not saying it was patriotusa76 himself) figured out a way to get into Weiner's twitter account and was able to read these conversations as they were happening. I'm not saying Weiner was hacked and his password was changed. I'm saying someone had gained knowledge of Weiner's Twitter password. The knowledge of these conversations was then leaked to a small group of twitter partisans (patriotusa76, goatred, etc.) Let's say this has been going on for some time and started several weeks ago.
This would explain why this crowd knew of a looming twitter sex scandal that would involve Weiner and an incriminating photo/image, as well as his inappropriate messages. But this knowledge presented a problem — how to get this info out into the world. If this was in fact going on and the "hacker" knew about it, the "hacker" couldn't leak it himself — it was private info that was gained illegally. So why not take the incriminating photo that's been screengrabbed (again, I'm saying that Weiner actually did DM the photo, but did it perhaps weeks ago), log into his Twitter account and make it look like Weiner "accidentally" sent it publicly. Presto — Weiner has been "outed."
In this scenario, both sides are technically right — Weiner was "hacked," but Weiner actually did send the photo once upon a time and has been engaged in improper behavior


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Our local cub/scout troop is 7th Dublin Donnybrook, headquartered in in our church: Donnybrook St. Mary's.
For details, visit www.scouts.ie or www.donnybrookscouts.org
We welcome new singers of all ages to join our choir in St. Matthew's Church; we especially welcome all children to come and sing with us at our monthly Family Service in St. Matthew's Church.
We have also formed a relationship with the Sandymount Gospel Choir, and look forward to enjoying more of their distinctive style.
"Explorers" is an ecumenical group of people in the Sandymount area who enjoy exploring the Scriptures. Explorers come from all the Christian churches in the area; this season we are exploring The Letter to the Romans with Fr. Kieran O'Mahony. There are eight evening gatherings, currently meeting in Christ Church Hall, Sandymount Green on Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 9pm. The 2017 season finished in April. Details of next year's programme will be posted closer to the time of commencement.
The Knanayan tradition of the Syriac Oriental Orthodox Church is a community of Christians from Kerala, in south western India. Spread across Ireland, they meet monthly in our St. Mary's Church Donnybrook at 11am under the leadership of Fr. Thomas Jacob. He can be contacted by email at firstname.lastname@example.com. The Dublin contact person is Mr. Abraham Baisel: firstname.lastname@example.com
Our Parish Hall in St. Mary's Donnybrook has a limited number of times when it is available for hiring, either on a once-off or recurring basis. If you are interested please contact the vicar in the first instance at email@example.com.
Chaplaincy: The vicar is anxious to make pastoral contact with parishioners who are unable to attend our churches. His chaplaincy work covers Clonskeagh HSE Hospital; Mount Tabor Care Centre and Nursing Home; Ailesbury Nursing Home; Margaretholme; Tritonville Close Sheltered Housing Complex. If anyone wishes the vicar to visit, please contact him directly at firstname.lastname@example.com or by mobile 087 419 6071.


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The last steps for completing the Mame bartop are complete.
For sound I had an old set of usb powered speakers that I gutted and mounted above the screen after I drilled out a 1″ hole at an angle toward the screen. It actually sound as if the sound is coming directly (more…)
More progress today. I started off by placing the monitor in the frame for a little visual size comparison. I like the way it fits so I decided to proceed as planned.
I would have left the base on the monitor but I need the space for the computer motherboard and power supply under there So I mounted a board across with the proper angle. You can see one of the major blemishes the wood from Lowes had. I just used it in a (more…)
I Went out and bought a half sheet of 1/2 inch hardwood plywood and started the cutting process. I then cut the sheet in half again to make it easier to work with. I also made a scale grid of the cuts for each board so I can maximize the use of the wood. I should have been slightly less lazy and drove the extra 10 mils to the Home Depot for the wood but Lowes is 3 miles from me. Lowes hardwood plywood is passable at best with many blemishes in the veneer layer and cost significantly more.
Here are the two sides. The back piece has has some minor sanding and the (more…)
I'm staring a new Mame build and this time I plan on documenting the process here. Last time I just took a few pictures. But this time I plan on taking many more pictures as well as videos of the process. To kick it off here are the freehand bartop mame plans I drew up. Not very good but helped me plan it out.


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The Palaszczuk Government and LNP have united to put politics above people and voted down KAP's Fair Milk Price Logo bill because it wasn't their idea.
The government's hypocrisy is so rank, Labor's Bill Byrne said in his speech before voting the bill down: "$550,000 will be provided to the Queensland Dairy Organisation to design and implement a pilot fair milk logo scheme". This is exactly what KAP's Bill would have achieved.
KAP's Shane Knuth warned people not to be fooled by this Government stunt. "This is a disgusting slap in the face by the government," Shane said.
"They pretend they are heroes, but all they have done is announce they will spend three years developing a scheme that we could have had implemented tonight. By then it will be too little too late."
"It's a sick joke. Based on the current rate of dairy farmers going under, another 210 farmers will have to walk off their properties by the time the government's pilot comes to fruition," Shane said.
KAP's Sustainable Queensland Dairy Production (Fair Milk Price Logos) Bill 2016 would have created a voluntary scheme where milk processors could put a logo on milk bottles if they had paid the farmer a fair price for that milk.
"When people go to the shop to buy milk, most of them want to buy milk that farmers have been paid a fair price for, and they are happy to pay a bit extra for that. But there is no way for them to know which milk that is. We could have changed that tonight. It would have given consumers the power to support dairy farmers, and gone a long way to saving our rapidly dying dairy industry. But no. The government and LNP won't support anything that isn't their idea. I will tell you right now, dairy farmers do not care whose idea this is. They just need change, and they need it now, not in three years," Shane said.
KAP's Robbie Katter said he was appalled that the major parties would so blatantly turn their backs on Queensland's dairy farmers.
"We put this bill up to create immediate, and long term, change for an industry on its knees," Robbie said. "The government has thrown some money at this but that money won't go far, and what this issue needs is for us to do our jobs and develop policy to create positive change."
"The major parties can't expect to keep selling out regional Queensland and people not notice," Robbie said.
In the year 2000, Queensland had 1500 dairy farmers, there are now just 430.


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After a long course in wigs, extensions, wefts, postiches and specialised hair loss and hair care products, we are trying to keep our prices always low and competitive to meet even the most demanding customer's needs.
Since 1986 we made our debut until now we have managed to establish a relationship based on trust with our customers. We travelled around the world, we contacted all the big hair factories and industries so that our products will be in tune with fashion and combine modern aesthetics with high quality.


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Ricky Bratz.:. Herbalist .:. Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner .:.
Ricky's approach to working with clients is a combination of intuition, folk traditions from her Sicilian/Arab/Mediterranean ancestral heritage as well as her training in Western Clinical Herbalism, Southern Appalachian folk medicine and Greco-Arabic Unani.
In addition to her healing work, Ricky has been a community organizer, farmer, and food & health justice educator in North Carolina since 2003. Throughout the Triad and the Triangle, she has initiated and been involved in projects such as: healing justice, community gardening, food access/justice, labor organizing, homelessness, community centers, collective living, racial equity, consensus decision-making, and queer liberation. Because of this work and her own personal intersectional identities and experiences, Ricky is aware of the detrimental impact of oppression on our spiritual, emotional and physical Selves. She believes that knowing, connecting to, and healing our inner Selves is vital for the health of our communities and our society as a whole.
When she's not seeing clients, she spends her time in the garden, being overly excited about all the things she wants to learn and buying too many plants. She enjoys taking walks in the woods with her two dogs and partner, and works for The Conservation Fund's Resourceful Communities program as a Healthy Eating Active Living Coordinator.
Ricky is committed to offering quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare for all, especially queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people, people of color and low income people.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Connect with Ricky at ricky(at)cazimihealing(dot)com
Education and Training
One Willow Apothecaries // Intuitive Plant Medicine // ongoing
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts // Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner Program // 2018
Center for Transformational Presence // Transformational Presence Leadership and Coach Training // 2018
Transitioned Vital Bloom Botanicals into Cazimi Healing // 2017
BA Health Arts & Sciences // Thesis on Identity, Trauma, Race & Herbal Medicine // Goddard College // 2015
Racial Equity Training // Racial Equity Institute // 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Piedmont Medicinal Herb Production // Dr. Jeanine Davis // 2013
Assistant Instructor & Mentor // One World Healing Community (Online) // 2012-2013
The Nervous System // Weekend Intensive Training // 7Song // 2011
Began private Herbal Medicine Practice // Vital Bloom Botanicals // 2010
Clinical Herbalism // Weekend Intensive Training // 7Song // 2010
Southern Appalachian Folk Medicine & Clinical Assessment // Phyllis Light // 2010
One World Healing Arts Institute // Mimi Hernandez // 2010
Southeast Women's Herbal Conference // 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine // Juliet Blankespoor // 2009
Apprenticeship at Mountain Gardens // Joe Hollis // 2009
Usui Tibetan Reiki Level 1 & 2 // Seed of Light Healing Center // 2009
Herb Classes with Suki Roth // 2008, 2010
Herbal Apprenticeship // Handance Farm // 2007
Racial Equity Training // People's Institute for Survival and Beyond // 2004
Work on Small-scale organic farms // 2000-2014
Professional Memberships
More About Cazimi Healing
Free Consult
My Offerings


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(Santalum paniculatum)
Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood has a sweet, warm, rich and woody scent.
€12,00 – €22,00
(Santalum paniculatum)
The Ohm Deo Dorant is made of exclusive wildcrafted, organic cultivated, cold pressed and pure ingredients to benefit both People and Planet.
• 120 grams – NET WT 4.2 oz Lasts up to 6 months in every day usage
• 50 grams – NET WT 1.8 oz Lasts up to 3 months in every day usage
• 100% Natural Ingredients
• Free of Aluminium and Synthetics
• Vegan & Cruelty Free.
• Suitable for both Men and Women
• Available in 10 delightful scents
120 grams – NET WT 4.2 oz, 50 grams – NET WT 1.8 oz
Keep in a cool, dry place away from pets and children.
|How to use
Apply on dry armpits. Do not over apply. Sprinkle a small amount of powder on your fingertips and apply gently on dry armpits. Do not over apply or rub. A little goes a long way.
Don't use directy after shaving. Avoid sun exposure under armpits. Do not use when hypersensitive to any of the ingredients listed.
|Allergen declaration
Contains Essential Oils. No: GMO ingredients, rice, rice-fiber, lactose, sugar, yeast, conservators, artificial dyes, fragrance or flavors. Suitable for vegetarians. Kosher. Vegan


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Nahum, Hagai win last matches in Gen Cup
Tag: Ada Gymnasium, David Cai, De Leon, Gen Cup
Nahum and Hagai closed out the elimination round of the youth division of the Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League with victories in their separate matches last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Nahum pulled off an upset over Joel, 81-75, in the penultimate game in the regular season, while Hagai routed Ezra in the final tiff, 84-41. Nahum finished the double-round robin contest with a 3-5 record to take the No. 4 seeding in the semis, while Joel ended up with a 6-2 record, but is still ranked first, beating Jonah in the tiebreak (head-to-head). Hagai, on the other hand, finally broke into the win column, but is out of the playoff contention, while Ezra wrapped up the elimination with the third-best 4-4 mark.
Hagai snapped its seven-game losing skid after drawing solid games from Teemo Wang, Wynn Brillo, and Stephen Alonzo. Wang scored a game-high 25 points, while Brillo and Alonzo chipped in 18 and 15, respectively.
Wang was on target right at the get-go, dropping 16 points to lift Hagai to a commanding 42-14 halftime advantage against the depleted Ezra, which played without key players Nathan Borromeo and Jerald Santiago. Brillo also contributed in Hagai's auspicious start, adding 9 markers.
Brillo kept going in the second half, teaming up anew with Wang, while Alonzo also found his rhythm, putting the final touches on Hagai's lopside win after scoring the team's last 6 markers.
In the first game, David Cai exploded for 34 points to power Nahum past Joel.
Cai drilled 7 of Nahum's last 9 points to foil the Andrew Palino-led rally of Joel. Palino had five straight field goals in the homestretch, hoping to save the day for Joel, but Cai disappointed him, while Emmanuel Cobacha also stepped up late in the match, contributing three timely baskets.
Cobacha finished with 25 points to back up Cai, while Joshua Tenorio was the other double figure scorer for Nahum with his 10 markers.
Meanwhile, the semifinals of the youth division will be played on Tuesday with Nahum challenging the top-ranked Joel in the first game and the second-seeded Joel meeting Ezra in the second.
The playoff round in the adults will also start next week with No. 1 Samuel battling Isaiah in the first match on Aug. 4 and No. 4 Ezekiel colliding against No. 5 Caleb in the second quarterfinal tiff. In the two remaining Round of 8 matches set for Aug. 6, the pairings are No. 2 Gideon versus No. 7 Joshua, and No. 3 Jeremiah against No. 6 Daniel.
The two teams that will survive the single-elimination playoffs will duel in the finals scheduled for Aug. 13 at 6pm. The youth division title match is slated on the same day at 7:30pm, while consolation games in both categories will be played on Aug. 11.
First Game
Nahum 81— Cai 34, Cobacha 25, Tenorio 10, Sacdalan 4, Wang 2.
Joel 75 — Palino 24, Ocaya 20, Elchico 14, De Leon 5, Ocanada 4, Cruz 3, Ibanez 2.
Scoring by halves: 39-36, 81-75.
Second Game
Hagai 84 — Wang 23, Brillo 18, Alonzo 15, Chen 10, Gonzales 9, Del Carmen 2.
Ezra 41 — Buno 14, De Jose 10, Hu 6, De Leon 5, Guevarra 4.
Scoring by halves: 42-12, 84-41.


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Thursday, February 26, 2009
A bone-chilling tale
And it was good! He liked it, it seemed to help with the pain, they got him all aligned, FABULOUS! So, Derek went six or so times and then went to once-a-month checks. And finally, several months after starting with the chiro, he went to an eight-week check.
And he came home. With a perfectly straight face, when asked by me, "How was the appointment?" answered, "My colon is in spasm."
I gasped. "What does that mean? How? HOW did this happen?"
Derek just shook his head sadly.
"He was so close, he just went one too far, huh?" I asked.
"Yup. I'm done with the chiropractor." He answered.
And that was that. No one in our home has visited one since.
Until today.
And when I got home from my appointment, my dear sweet husband asked, "Is your colon in spasm?"
I replied, "No, and if he'd tried to tell me it was, I'd have punched him in the face."
So, I went, and it was fine. Weird, but fine. See, I'm all about holistic, natural remedies, right? I totally believe we as a society as FAR too medicated for FAR too much. I mean, come on, Cialis for daily use??? But, still. I have a hard time knowing how much to buy into chiropractic-ness.
I mean, my back kills, so if the dude can fix that, then bring it on! And fine, I get that spines have nerves which lead to EVERY major organ, blah blah blah, but how in the heck can looking at my nakie back tell someone that my colon is out of whack?
See my problem?
Plus, I do not like it when ANYONE tells me that Diet Coke is poison to my body. DUH! But it tastes so good!
And the good doctor knows I'm a doula, and informed me that I need to practice what I preach to my clients.
I don't think he liked it when I said, "I'm on hiatus, I'm not preaching to ANYONE right now."
HA! Take that!
So, I'll go back on Tuesday, because we've got to get this baby moved, but I'm not yet a believer yet... besides, he's too expensive. ;)
10 comments:
- Chelsea said...
I've got to disagree on this one. Me? I love my chiropractor. He's even putting John & I on a family plan where if we come in together, we get about 25% off!
I've never had him make a problem worse or create new problems where there weren't any. I don't know what I'll do when I decide to move out of the state and have to find a new chiro.
I haven't been to see him in a couple of months because I'm so freakin' broke, but otherwise I would be in there every other week.
- February 26, 2009 at 8:17 PM
- Morgan and Derek said...
Don't get me wrong, he didn't make anything worse, at least not that I can tell. I'm just not 100% sold on 100% of what they ascribe to... make sense?
If this baby flips, heck, he can tell me my colon is in spasm. That is FINE with me. :)
- February 26, 2009 at 9:13 PM
- Kate said...
When we were managing the apartments, we had an employee who nearly cut his finger off with a circular saw. And by "nearly cut his finger off," I don't mean his finger got close to the blade, but he pulled it away just in time--I mean that the top of his finger was barely hanging on. We were freaking out and telling him he needed to go to the ER (or at the very least, the worker's comp clinic) and that he'd be covered by insurance. He never went. Wanna know why? Because his chiropractor father told him he didn't need to go.
That said, a chiro totally fixed my back a couple years ago. I stopped going, however, when even though it felt better, I was encouraged to come in 3 times a week for visits instead of practicing strength exercises.
- February 27, 2009 at 6:26 AM
- Morgan and Derek said...
Kate- see? That is what I mean. Where do we draw the line? Hmm....
- February 27, 2009 at 7:21 AM
- Chelsea said...
I've never heard of a chiro that told you to come in for visits *instead* of doing exercises. That's a pretty blatant rip off. Maybe it's more about finding the right one. I know my mom and I go in once a month when we're doing well, twice a month when things are a little off, weekly when there's a minor issue and about every 3 days or so if there's a real injury. After he weans us off the visits (which has always been prompt and reasonable) he'll give us stretches/exercises/workouts we can do during the week or two that we aren't coming in for adjustments. He's even fixed some of John's more chronic issues.
I'll stop plugging my chiro now, but really, he's wonderful. hahaha
- February 27, 2009 at 8:02 AM
- McEuens said...
I'll buy into the chiro "cures" where there's some evidence to support it, so I definitely buy into the success of the Webster Technique (though I don't believe there are any rigorous studies supporting its effectiveness, there is still a decent amount of evidence) and I buy into chiros generally being able to help with back/spine problems. Beyond that, I am a non-believer until someone presents me with some hard evidence.
I think there's a chance that chiros can do some of the other things they say they can do, but I definitely don't believe all of it. So I saw a chiro to get Caleb to flip head-down, and she was great, but when she told me to bring my newborn in to have adjustments done that would help with various newborn ills, I declined to do so, even though there was a logical basis for her claims.
I would go back if I had a breach baby again. I would go for spinal/back problems. If I or one of my kids was dealing with an issue that we had been unable to solve or improve in any other way and there was some logical basis for believing that a chiro could help, I might go back for that too, since the risk would be minimal.
Mostly, though, I wish someone would do a bunch of rigorous, double-blind, controlled studies to either support or debunk chiro's claims. Sorry so long, but you know I can't help myself....
- February 27, 2009 at 8:20 AM
- Becky said...
My husband is a big fan of chiropractors, but I'm not sure I can convert. Oh, well!
Hope he can help with the baby twisting.
- February 27, 2009 at 9:37 AM
- Alisa and Jared said...
I have a chiro horror story (at least for a pre-teen)...but it has nothing to do with the chiro's services...and much more to do with...well...nevermind. :-)
Hope it works!!
- February 27, 2009 at 10:46 AM
- BloggingBills said...
We're not entirely sold on the chiropractor idea either. Especially the 'no inoculations' no medicine, no doctor visits kind. Maybe to help with 'adjustments' when your back is out of whack....but otherwise.
Not a believer.
- February 27, 2009 at 6:29 PM
- Jen said...
I hope you're getting that baby to turn!
- February 28, 2009 at 9:36 PM


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Five men from the rebellious Caucasus region of southern Russia were brought Sunday before a Moscow court where two were charged for their alleged roles in the killing of Kremlin critic Boris Y. Nemtsov.
One of the charged suspects, former Chechen police commander Zaur Dadayev, pleaded guilty to the murder charge, the official Tass news agency reported in an urgent dispatch.
"Dadayev's involvement is confirmed by his confession," Judge Natalya Mushnikova of the Basmanny district court was quoted as announcing after the arraignment.
Formal charges were also brought against Anzor Gubashev, who was arrested Saturday in the Ingushetia region of the Caucasus. Three other suspects were ordered held for further investigation, court press secretary Anna Fadeyeva told reporters.
Officials from the Federal Security Service and from the Caucasus region of Ingushetia on Sunday identified three men arrested in the case and alluded to a fourth. But it was only when the suspects were delivered for their first court appearance that the fifth man's implication in the killing was alleged.
"The Investigative Committee is requesting that five suspects involved in the murder of Boris Nemtsov be arrested. The investigation is ongoing," Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said via Twitter as the men were brought under intense security to the courthouse.
Under Russian law, a court must approve holding suspects without charges within 48 hours of their arrest. Prosecutors sought and received a nearly two-month extension of custody, until April 28, for all five suspects while the investigation continues.
The three men held without charges were identified as Khamzat Bakhayev, Tamerlan Eskerkhanov and Shagit Gubashev.
Reports by the official Tass and Sputnik news agencies shed little light on a possible motive for the Feb. 27 slaying of Nemtsov, a former first deputy prime minister once seen as a possible president of Russia before the rise of the current Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin.
Dadayev and Gubashev were detained Saturday while traveling in Ingushetia, where they were visiting relatives who moved there from their native Chechnya in the 1960s, Ingushetia Security Council chief Albert Barakhayev told Tass.
Tass quoted Barakhayev as saying that a brother of Gubashev was detained later Saturday, and Sputnik reported that the number of suspects in custody was four. Neither news agency identified a fourth person detained, nor did they mention the fifth brought to court.
Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed Chechen security officer as saying that another suspect in Nemtsov's killing blew himself up with a hand grenade as police moved in to arrest him at his apartment in Grozny, the Chechen capital.
Dadayev served in Chechnya's northern police battalion for a decade, Barakhayev said. The Gubashev brothers worked in private security, he added.
Chechnya, a predominantly Muslim and purportedly autonomous republic of Russia, has been under heavy military and federal security occupation since two secessionist uprisings were quelled in the 1990s. Chechnya is under the rule of a Moscow-installed governor, Ramzan Kadyrov.
Kadyrov propounded just hours after Nemtsov was gunned down as he crossed a bridge with his Ukrainian girlfriend in the shadow of the Kremlin that the slaying was the work of Western security forces trying to discredit Putin or destabilize Russia.
Other Kremlin-allied politicians and analysts have suggested the contract-style killing might have been carried out by Muslim fundamentalists enraged by Nemtsov's criticism of the Jan. 7 attacks on the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine that had published cartoons that offended Islamists.
The arrests of the suspects with Chechen roots can be seen as bolstering either of those theories on motive, although Nemtsov allies have been skeptical about the reliability of an investigation being directed by Putin loyalists.
Nemtsov was hated by the Chechen leadership now overseeing the republic for his biting criticism of Kadyrov, said Gennady Gudkov, a former Federal Security Service officer who heads another opposition political alliance in Russia.
Dadayev's experience as a deputy commander in Chechnya's security forces suggests that Nemtsov's killing might have been ordered by the Kadyrov administration, Gudkov told The Times.
"The killing could have been a kind of a ritual present to the Kremlin akin to ancient barbaric examples of slain enemies' heads brought to a king on a platter," Gudkov said, adding that there are reports Dadayev has been awarded the Russian national Order of Valor, personally bestowed by Putin.
Follow @cjwilliamslat for the latest international news 24/7


text: This is the basted together bee box for my quilt guild. Each month you get a different box with a different theme and you have to use some of the focus fabric and background fabric in the 10 1/2 block that you make. First one at the beginning of the season has to make the label as well and the last one has to baste them together for show and tell. And then there is a draw and you end up with one of the boxes to take home and keep. lots of fun.


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Have you seen it? Have you SEEN it? And breathe. As you may have guessed the new Frozen Fever range is now available online at Disney Store and oh my, I LOVE it!
Yes I know, it's not the cheapest but when is the Disney Store ever? What you can't deny though is the quality, the dolls look like the characters they're supposed to and the dresses, well they are second to none in my opinion.
And what about those dresses? At £30 each they're certainly not cheap, plus Disney have decided our children aren't to have a favourite character this time around and parents will have to buy both Anna and Elsa. Same with the dolls. They're more reasonably priced at £25.95 for the set but yeah it is a little annoying.
Still if you want to have Frozen Fever merchandise before anyone else, Disney Store is the place to go. You know that as soon as that short movie hits the screens at the end of March, it won't be how much things cost but whether you can get them at all. This Disney blockbuster is showing no signs of slowing down and Disney are making the most of it!
The new range will be available online only until March 1st, then from that date will be in selected stores (Oxford Street, Westfield White City, Bluewater, Liverpool One, Birmingham (Bullring), Cardiff, Manchester Trafford, Harrods and Glasgow) only.
Post and packing from the Disney Store is £4.95, unless you're spending over £50 - then it's free.
What about you, love the Disney Store stuff and to heck with the cost or holding off for the supermarket equivalents?
If you want to know more about the new movie you can get a sneaky peek, including pictures, here.


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Basic and Clinical Environmental Approaches in Landscape Planning
- $109.99
- $109.99
Publisher Description
Our societies need to solve difficult issues to attain sustainability. The main challenges include, among others, global warming, demographic change, an energy crisis, and loss of biodiversity. In tackling these issues, a holistic understanding of our living space is important. The field of landscape planning and design is at the core the holistic concept and it makes several contributions to achieving sustainability. First, landscape planning and design connects different spatial scales: from site to region to the planet. Second, it focuses on close interrelationships between human activities and nature. Third, it is concerned with people's values toward their surroundings. This book is based on the presentations made by German and Japanese scholars at the international symposium "New Trends of Landscape Design: Seamless Connection of Landscape Planning and Design from Regional to Site Scales — The Cultural Context" held on November 5, 2012, at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University.


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Anyone have a suggestion for a topping to put on oatmeal? Maybe some type of fruit/nut crumble?Oatmeal is one of the daily offerings at the retirement community I live in, and it gets a bit boring. I recently bought some really good cinnamon from Amazon, which adds a lot of flavor. I've also added thawed out frozen fruit mixtures in the past.I've also tried a number of granola-type mixes, but none have really meshed well with oatmeal.My latest attempt was this (roasted sliced almonds combined with naturally dried cherries and apples, lightly glazed with maple then finished with a touch of cinnamon):http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007SRY2XYDelicious, but far too expensive. And the varying texture between dried fruits and crunchy nuts was a bit too much.I've tried searching on the Internet, but almost everything I find is a topping for something else that CONTAINS oatmeal. :)
Along with cinnamon, I use unflavored twinlab's vegefuel protein powder, da vinci sugar-free vanilla syrup and/or granular sugar substitute and occasionally a mini snack-packet or two of raisins.I have found Designer Protein's vanilla praline whey protein adds a nice butterscotch flavor (I'd use alone--no other sweeteners or spices)I bought a can of pumpkin to stir in, since I've read that is used, but haven't tried it yet. Bananas would probably also work. I just came across this recipe I had saved (also haven't gotten around to trying it) for 'banana bread oatmeal'. Here are a few versions:http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-banana-bread-o...http://www.quakeroats.com/cooking-and-recipes/content/recipe...
I soak golden raisins in rum for a few days (or weeks) to soften them and mix them with my oatmeal.;-)C.J.V. - would probably work with other dried fruits, hic!
My kids love oatmeal, and put a variety of things on top. I just asked them for a list, and this is what they said:- brown sugar- cinnamon- any flavor jam- maple syrup- fresh or canned fruit like bananas, peaches, apricots, etc.- granola- vanilla ice cream (DH is the one who loves this one)DS (the one who is in culinary school) says it is a blank canvas, and just use your imagination!
I like to cut apples into small chunks and simmer in a bit of water & cinnamon until a little soft. The apples can then be spooned over the oatmeal. They also create their own "sauce". I personally don't add sugar, but you could simmer the apples in a simple syrup too. It would probably work well with pears or other fruits.I like to add chopped pecans to my oatmeal. Also, another really good preparation is to use steel cut oats made with coconut milk. Gives a really good flavor even without toppings.Dried cherries are good too (but a little on the expensive side). Hope this helps!Dawn
Apricot preserves is my favorite.Maple syrup, of course.Cherry, blacberry, or blueberry preserves or a syrup made from the frozen berries. to name a few...OleDoc
Anyone have a suggestion for a topping to put on oatmeal?Brown sugar and heavy cream. Sometimes I need to add salt to someone else's oatmeal. Simple and delicious.PhilRule Your Retirement Home Fool
I like to mix yogurt with oatmeal -- Greek yogurt is best!
Just this morning, had one of my favorites: thawed some frozen blueberries and mixed them in my oatmeal with some crushed flax seed, as well.
Probably not an option in a retirement community, but I cook my oatmeal in apple juice then add cinnamon and walnuts most days.
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'll respond in one message so I don't make this an even longer thread. :)I bought a can of pumpkin to stir in ... Bananas would probably also work.Pumpkin sounds interesting... And, since you mention a typical pie filling, it makes me think about other pie fillings. Cherry pie filling might work better than dried cherries, since I find their gummy-bear texture off-putting.I've tried bananas, which they do offer us. I like them in a breakfast cereal, but not so much in oatmeal. And they are usually still green. But I've let them ripen at home and then brought them back in a little container after they were cut into slices.My kids love oatmeal, and put a variety of things on top.They regularly offer up brown sugar, raisins, and a small pitcher of milk with the oatmeal. Not a big fan of raisins, but the brown sugar has been good from time to time. I prefer butter to the milk.I've considered a good boysenberry jam. And they do have a nice raspberry syrup, usually for when they offer pancakes, waffles, or french toast.I like to add chopped pecans to my oatmeal. Dried cherries are good too (but a little on the expensive side).I was kind of hoping to find a nice crumble with a variety of nuts -- pecans, walnuts, almonds, macadamia, pistachios, etc.. I haven't liked the texture of dried fruit in the mix, but have use thawed out frozen cherries (also expensive).They do make a wonderful "green" (i.e. pistachio) muffin here, when they make them.Hmmm. I love almond pastries made with almond paste (similar to a pie filling). I wonder if the almond paste would mix well with the oatmeal, or be a good base for a crumble? Maybe too sweet.but I cook my oatmeal in apple juice then add cinnamon and walnuts most days.Do you chop up the walnuts into small pieces, or leave them in larger pieces?
Found the recipe using bananas that I was originally looking for:Gooey Banana Bread Batter Instant Steel Cut OatmealJust like eating a big bowl of gooey banana bread batter, only better for you! If you like gooey, porridge-like breakfasts, you will go crazy for this one.http://ohsheglows.com/2012/05/18/gooey-banana-bread-batter-i...
Probably not an option in a retirement community, but I cook my oatmeal in apple juice then add cinnamon and walnuts most days. Ditto, but we cook ours in almond milk (unflavored, unsweetened)--to used to cook in dairy milk before I became lactose-intolerant, a sprinkle of salt, and usually add either grated apple or dried cranberries before cooking, and sometimes add half & half just before eating. I bet stirring in apple sauce after the oatmeal is cooked would be similar to cooking with grated apple.When I think of it, I stir in some ground golden flax seed and/or hemp seed. Which reminds me...when DD was a small child, she liked few sources of protein so that's when I started cooking hot cereal in milk and sometimes adding extra milk powder or even peanut powder to hot cereal.The OP might ask for additional kinds of hot cereal if they aren't offered...I adore Wheatena (kind of a whole wheat version of cream of wheat--I miss it now that I'm sensitive to gluten) and buckwheat cereal is nice for a change.PS--Buzzed-up oatmeal (we use a food processor) makes a great pancake flour. If the senior community's chef makes boring pancakes, oatmeal pancakes as well as buckwheat are nice for a change.
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Simon's Cat: Valentine's Day with Extras
Valentine's Day was yesterday in New Zealand, and I was going to post these then, but I was having a Bad Day so it didn't get done.
I was having a Bad Day before I even remembered it was Valentine's Day, but that made it worse of course. I'm quite sure many more people have a Bad Day on 14 February than a good one. I'm equally sure that for many Valentine's Day is the cause of it.
If you're lucky enough to be in a good relationship, the existence of Valentine's Day changes nothing. For the rest of us, it's not much fun.
The most exciting thing in my day yesterday was a text from my GP telling me my next cervical smear is due. Really? You couldn't have waited another day to tell me? (To be fair, she's actually an excellent doctor.)
I think they call them PAP smears in the US. Their sensibilities are too delicate for the word "cervix".
I suppose it's a bit like they're too delicate for the word "toilet". They have to say "bathroom". They come to New Zealand for a visit and wonder why we look at them strangely when they ask for the bathroom.
Any USians reading this – now you know. That's what the look is for. We're not embarrassed you asked, it's the word you used. It's a toilet, or whare paku. Whare paku is Māori – literally shit house. No doubt there! Eminently sensible.
I always wondered what USians asked for when they were looking for an actual bathroom? Is there some sort of verbal inflection so they can tell the difference that the rest of us don't know about?
Anyway, on to the real reason for this post. Readers of Why Evolution is True will have already seen most of these, but there really is an extra, so keep going.
Simon's Cat: Looking for Love
The first video is a compilation of a few of the adventures of Simon's Cat. I'll always remember the moment when **Spoiler Alert** Simon's Cat's lady love ate the butterfly.
Simon's Cat: Dinner Date
'Dinner Date' is new this year. This time Simon's Cat seems to have given up on looking for love himself and is instead interfering in Simon's preparations for the evening.
Simon's Cat: Guide to Love
This is another new one, about the love between a cat and its staff. It's lovely! And it's in colour!
Perhaps my Valentine's Day would have gone better if I had a cat. Or two.
Or perhaps I need one of these.
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12 Responses to "Simon's Cat: Valentine's Day with Extras"
Thanks Heather. Those "tunes" are delightful. They helped me out while I'm recovering from some nasty infirmities. They always lift the spirits. I hope you feel better soon. And, I like the idea of getting a cat.
"I always wondered what USians asked for when they were looking for an actual bathroom?"
A difference between NZ and the US is that in NZ toilets are often in a separate room from the bath, whereas in the States, they are almost always together. You may find a separate toilet on a floor that has no bath, but you will almost never find a bath without a toilet. So the same phrase is used whether looking for the toilet or the bath.
You forgot that we also call them "restrooms".
"Restroom" is to my mind the ultimate misleading euphemism. The last place I'd go to for a rest is the bog!
I've been married to my wife Patti for 15 years and have known her as a partner for 25 years. We have never celebrated/acknowledged V-day as a meaning of celebrating our love. We've never exchanged cards, had a fancy dinner, and I've never bought flowers. I know some women (I have an ex-girlfriend for proof) that freak out if Valentine's Day isn't perfectly executed. We consider all holidays as capitalist institutions designed solely to make money. Because of family, we do celebrate Christmas, but that's about it. I know this is cynical, but we've thought this way since our early 20's…I wasn't nearly as cynical back then. I guess we don't feel questioning 'holidays' was/is a cynical view. In the US, the uber-capitalist system wants to make as much money as possible on any and all holidays…whether religious, secular, or familial. It's pretty ridiculous nowadays. Does NZ start marketing holidays 2 months before the date? It's standard here…we start gearing up for Christmas merch before Halloween is done (10/31).
Today, I listened to a restaurant mogul, Bobby Flay, say that in his restaurants, Valentine's Day elicited the most tears. Basically, women who are let down because they were brought to a high-end restaurant for their first time while dating said person, and the question wasn't asked. It's a lame excuse for a celebrated day.
It's a forced holiday…but aren't they all?
I think they call them PAP smears in the US. Their sensibilities are too delicate for the word "cervix"
Did you know that the Pap Smear was named by its inventor, George Papanicolaou, after spending over twenty years studying cervical smears (many of them provided by his long-suffering wife). I learned this from the marvellous book, The Emperor of All Maladies, by Siddhartha Mukherjee, which I've just finished. I can strongly recommend it, particularly if you have known someone with cancer (and who hasn't).


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Archive for the 'Italian' Category
A Holiday Worthy Appetizer
According to the looks of my Google Reader, it is definitely the holiday season, and there is no doubt that everyone has sweet treats on their mind. I have seen so many incredible recipes for cookies, cakes, bars and candy. I am pretty sure I have enough recipes saved to last me for a few holiday seasons to come, and I would like to thank you fabulous cooks/bakers out there for sharing them.
With that said, we can't possibly live off of sweet treats alone for the next month. Although many of you may beg to differ, I think even my large sweet tooth will need a break here and there.
With the holidays comes entertaining, and with entertaining usually comes a need for appetizers. I know when I entertain I like to make as much as possible from scratch. There is just something about people enjoying something that you created. Although, I have learned from experience that if you want to enjoy yourself, you have to pick and choose your battles. For some reason though, it always seems like the great sounding appetizers are also time consuming, and are best prepared right before serving. Obviously the last thing you want to be doing when your guests arrive is slaving in the kitchen with those appetizers. Well my friends, I have found an appetizer that is not only a cinch to make, but will make your taste buds forget all about those sweet treats we have come to love this time of year.
The fabulous Ina Garten has come through once again. When I saw her make a roasted tomato caprese salad, there was no doubt in my mind that I would have to try it. Oh, and try it I did! Twice actually! I made it for my husband as part of his birthday dinner, and we fell in love with it. After raving about it to my dad, he insisted that I make it for him as well. So, when my dad's birthday rolled around last week, I was sure to put it on the menu for his birthday dinner as well. He loved it, my stepmom loved it, and my husband and I loved it all over again.
It is a must try recipe! It is simple, doesn't call for a lot of ingredients, and (although it takes a while to cook) it doesn't take much prep time at all. What more can you ask for? I promise, it will be a hit!
Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad
courtesy of Food Network and Barefoot Contessa
12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeds (not cores) removed
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
16 ounces fresh salted mozzarella
12 fresh basil leaves, julienned (or left whole)
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
Arrange the tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut sides up, in a single layer. Drizzle with 1/4 cup of olive oil and the balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with the garlic, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 2 hours until the tomatoes are concentrated and begin to caramelize. Allow the tomatoes to cool to room temperature.
Cut the mozzarella into slices slightly less than 1/2-inch thick. If the slices of mozzarella are larger than the tomatoes, cut the mozzarella slices in half. Layer the tomatoes alternately with the mozzarella on a platter and scatter the basil on top. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Serve at room temperature.
Note: I left the basil whole the first time I made it, but the second time we julienned it. Personally, I preferred it julienned and found it easier to eat that way.
Yields: approximately 6 servings
Perfect Pesto & More
As you may have noticed, I was absent for about two weeks, up until two days ago. My husband and I were actually in Long Island and NYC for a wedding and vacation for a few days and then I had family visiting for a week. So it has been a bit hectic and I apologize for my lack of posting. I promise that I will be sharing some highlights from our NYC trip very soon though. Needless to say, we had some amazing food during our visit.
While wandering around the city we decided to check out the market and shops in Grand Central Terminal. We were very excited to find a Penzey's, since we don't have one in South Florida and have always ordered online. We were also intrigued by this little oil and vinegar shop we came across, Oliviers & Co or O & Co. I let my husband take a peak while I ran to a different store to pick something up for my mom. When I returned he seemed quite excited about what he had found in the shop. The lady pretty much let him taste every oil and vinegar in the shop, even the bottles that were priced well over $100. They also had a great selection of imported pastas. So now the question was, what do we buy? So I tasted a few and we finally made some decisions.
Our final choices included:
Gaec Salvator Extra Virgin Olive Oil – France
Basil Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fig Vinegar – Provence
Purple Basil Vinegar – South Asia
Penne with Wheat Germ
Straccetti with Wheat Germ
We were so excited to return from our trip and find our products were shipped right behind us and arrived a couple of days later. My husband's birthday was quickly approaching and he loves pasta, so I knew this would be a great opportunity to try out some of our new goods. I decided to do a pasta tasting for his birthday dinner. One of the dishes would have to be pesto, because I felt that would be a great way to showcase our new Gaec Salvator. I started searching for a great, simple recipe. Of course I turned to Cook's Illustrated and was happy to find a classic version in my The New Best Recipe book. I figured I couldn't go wrong with that.
The outcome? A perfectly simple pesto that was made even better with our incredible EVOO.
Stay tuned for more recipes to come using our delicious new additions!
Classic Pesto
courtesy of Cook's Illustrated,
The New Best Recipe
1/4 cup almonds (pine nuts or walnuts are fine too)
3 medium garlic cloves, unpeeled
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves (optional-I did not use)
7 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Toast the nuts in a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until just golden and fragrant, 4-5 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a plate.
Add the unpeeled garlic to the empty skillet. Toast, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and the color of the cloves deepens slightly, about 7 minutes. Let the garlic cool, then peel and chop.
Combine the basil and parsley (if using) in a heavy-duty zipper-lock plastic bag. Pound the bag with the flat side of a meat pounder or rolling pin until all the leaves are bruised.
Place the nuts, garlic, pounded herb(s), oil, and 1/2 tsp. salt in a food processor. Process until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down the sides of the workbowl. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, stir in the Parmesan cheese, and adjust the salt to taste.
The surface of the pesto can be covered with a sheet of plastic wrap or a thin film of oil and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Yields: about 3/4 cup
The lighter side of Rollatini
My husband and I love Italian food. As a matter of fact, my husband would eat Italian every night if you would let him. So I struggle at times to figure out how to satisfy our Italian cravings while still keeping it on the healthful side. Instead of being heavy on pasta I try to think of lighter ways to incorporate the flavors of Italian cooking. That way we can have the comfort of the food, but without the guilt.
After spending some time catching up on the past two months worth of cooking magazines that I hadn't gotten around to, I had a spark of inspiration. I'll be honest, I am still a bit green when it comes to designing my own recipes. I get a tad anxious in the kitchen when I don't have the safety net of a tried and true recipe. I am learning to experiment though and I am getting more comfortable with it each time. My biggest motivation to do this is the fact that I want to make more healthful dishes, but I don't want them to be bland and I want to base them off of the more indulgent flavors we love so much. So I took a stab at it and below is what I got. A tasteful and healthful combination of eggplant, chicken, green beans, sun-dried tomatoes and homemade San Marzano marinara (I'll get that recipe to you soon); along with the flavors of Italian spices and a bit of indulgence with Italian cheese.
Eggplant and Chicken Rollatini
1 medium eggplant
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
garlic powder
Italian seasoning
about 25 fresh green beans
2 cloves of garlic, minced
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons water
5 sun-dried tomato halves, chopped (dry or packed in oil)
2 cups of your favorite marinara sauce
12 thin slices of mozzarella cheese
Slice the eggplant thin, cutting length-wise (you should get about 12 slices). Soak the eggplant in cold water for 20-30 minutes. Remove from water and pat dry.
If you are using dry sun-dried tomatoes, place the halves in hot water and let soak until ready for use (about 20 minutes).
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and heat your grill to medium-high heat.
Using an oil sprayer, spray each piece of eggplant on both sides, as well as season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Take chicken breasts and season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Place chicken on grill and cook about 6 minutes on each side. In the meantime, place the eggplant on the grill as well and cook about 3-minutes on each side.
Heat a small pan, sprayed with olive oil, over medium-low heat. Add the green beans, garlic, salt & pepper, and crushed red pepper. Saute (continuing on medium-low) about 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons water, cover and increase heat to medium-high; let steam for an additional 2-3 minutes. When tender, remove from heat.
Cut each chicken breast into thin slices. Take a piece of eggplant and lay it flat, place two chicken slices on the bottom end, top with two green beans. Then place a couple of pieces of sun-dried tomato over the chicken and green beans. Carefully roll the ingredients into the eggplant and place in a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Continue assembling and lining in the dish until all of the eggplant, chicken and green beans are used.
Spoon the marina sauce over the rolled eggplant. Place a slice of mozzarella over the top of each roll. Place in the oven and bake 20-30 minutes, or until heated through.
*I served this with a small side of whole wheat pasta tossed with garlic and a bit of extra virgin olive oil.
Servings: about 3
Oh So Good Pasta Ponza
Have you ever come across a recipe or saw one being made on TV and decided that you had to make that for dinner that same night? This was exactly what went through my mind while watching an episode of Everyday Italian. While Giada was cooking away on my television, I was trying to keep myself from drooling. Normally this dish would have had to go on the back burner for a while because although Greg loves Italian food, I didn't really think it would be something he would like. Well, wasn't I lucky, because Greg just so happened to have to work at Dolphin Stadium that night which meant I was on my own for dinner. Pasta Ponza it was!
I was short some of the ingredients so I had to make a few substitutions, but the dish was still amazing! I am sure it would be even better following the exact recipe, but I was quite pleased with my version as well.
The dish is just so rich but yet light at the same time and is one of those things that just comforts you. I actually made it for myself again the next time Greg worked a game. He saw a picture of it on my computer (waiting to be blogged about) and he was like, "What is that?!" I told him and he seemed pretty disappointed that I made it while he was working. Go figure! I told him that I didn't think he would like it and promised him I would make it again while he was home. Well, I haven't made it for him yet, but it will definitely be in the repertoire again in the near future.
Pasta Ponza
Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis
Butter for greasing
2 cups (12 ounces) red cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 cups (12 ounces) yellow cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (I only used red)
1/4 cup capers, rinsed and drained (I didn't have any on hand so I diced up Spanish olives)
1 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
1/2 cup Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs
1 pound ziti or other short tube-shaped pasta
1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 ounces) Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (I substituted Parmigiano Reggiano)
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (I used fresh basil)
*I also added some grilled chicken on top for a more balanced meal.
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
Place the tomatoes, capers (or olives), 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the prepared baking dish. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tomato mixture. Drizzle the top with olive oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden. Cool for 5 minutes.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Place the pasta in a large serving bowl. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the pasta. Add the cheese and toss well. Thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley (or basil) and serve immediately.
Yields 4-6 servings
Summery Soup
When it comes to dinner, sometimes I'm just not in the mood for meat, veggies and a starch; I want something different. So, while thumbing through my Ellie Krieger cookbook I came across a recipe for Summer Corn and Vegetable Soup and knew that would be a great change-up. It called for lots of my favorite vegetables and it was more of a chowder style so I knew it would be hearty.
I whipped a batch up one night and served it with a half of a sandwich. It was so filling! I couldn't even finish my bowl. Greg was even satisfied by this "lighter" meal. It is jam packed with fresh and easy to find ingredients and is a cinch to make. What more could you ask for?
Summer Corn and Vegetable Soup
Courtesy of The Food You Crave by Ellie Krieger
4 cups fresh corn kernels or two 10 oz. packages frozen corn, thawed
2 cups non-fat milk
1 tbs. olive oil
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
1 small zucchini (about ½ lb.), diced
2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
¾ tsp. salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
½ cup fresh basil leaves, cut into ribbons
Put 2 cups of the corn and the milk into a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and zucchini and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups corn and the broth and bring to a boil. Add the pureed corn and the tomatoes and cook until warmed through but not boiling. Add the salt and season with pepper. Serve garnished with the basil ribbons.
Yields: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (according to book) Serving size: 1 ½ cups Calories: 180 Total Fat: 5 g Cholesterol: 5 mg Sodium: 365 mg Carbohydrates: 32 g Dietary Fiber: 4 g Protein: 9.5 g
Pollo Arrosto al Balsamico
I decided to take my laptop and make a trip over to Borders the other day since ours has a nice outdoor patio that overlooks the waterway. I figured it would be some nice scenery while I searched for jobs and worked on my blog. When I go to Borders I always check out their clearance section for cookbooks because you can score some great finds for really cheap at times. Well sure enough I found a lovely book by William-Sonoma called Savoring Italy. It was a large book and had beautiful photography of Italy all through it. It also gave a lot of background into Italian ingredients and cooking. Of course I found this intriguing since I am obsessed with Italy and Italian cooking. I figured it would be a lovely coffee table book even if the recipes weren't that great. After flipping through it for a few minutes I soon discovered that it also had some amazing looking recipes. How in the world could I turn this book down, especially on clearance for $6.95! Needless to say, I have a new cookbook and the cookbook has a new home. :o)
I definitely wanted to use a recipe from the book this week, so when I found the Pollo Arrosto al Balsamico or Roast Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar and Sage, I thought that would be a great weeknight meal. It was fairly easy to make, although we had a little discrepancy with the cook time. In the end, the chicken was moist, flavorful and oh so delicious! I served it with a nice side salad and cheese polenta. Greg and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I look forward to using the leftovers this week.
Roast Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar and Sage
courtesy of William-Sonoma Savoring Italy
1 large roasting chicken (about 5 pounds)
12 fresh sage leaves
2 large cloves of garlic, chopped (I used about 4 large cloves)
2 tbs. olive oil
2 tbs. balsamic vinegar
½ tsp. sugar
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Tuck the chicken wings behind the back. Using your fingers, gently loosen the skin on the breast and legs, being careful not to tear the skin. Insert a few of the sage leaves and some of the garlic under the skin, distributing them evenly. Pat the skin firmly back in place. Tuck the remaining sage leaves and garlic into the cavity.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Rub some of the mixture over the chicken and pour the remainder inside the cavity. Cross the drumsticks and, using kitchen string, tie the legs together. Place the chicken, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan.
Roast the chicken, basting occasionally with the pan drippings, until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh away from the bone registers 175 degrees or the juices run clear when a thigh is pierced, about 1 ½ hours.
Transfer the chicken to a carving board. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and keep warm.
Pour the pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan. Skim off the fat. Reheat to serving temperature, if necessary.
Carve the chicken and arrange on a platter. Pour the juices over the chicken and serve immediately.
Note: Our electric thermometer read a little over 175 degrees, but when we first cut into the chicken to carve it, it was still a bit undercooked. You may want to test more than once for accuracy.
Green Pizza
Greg and I love pizza, but we have had a very hard time finding a good pizza place in our area. While wanting to use some things from around the house and having a craving for pizza, I decided to make one homemade. We could have it exactly the way we wanted and we could enjoy it fresh out of the oven.
Not really feeling like the typical tomato sauce and cheese pizza I rummaged through the refrigerator and pantry and came across some pesto, which I thought would be a great replacement for the tomato sauce. I also found onion and chicken, which are two of our favorite pizza toppings anyway. I knew I had flour and yeast, so the dough wouldn't be a problem either, so I got to work.
The outcome was delicious! It wasn't too heavy but it was very filling and the flavors were light and tasty.
Chicken and Pesto Pizza
pizza dough (I used this Emeril recipe)
store bought pesto
½ cup fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
1 ¾ cups grated mozzarella cheese
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced and cooked
Prepare your pizza dough and roll it out onto a prepared pizza pan or stone.
Spread your desired amount of pesto on top of the dough, being sure to leave the edges clean for the crust. Add the grated Parmigianino Reggiano cheese, mozzarella cheese, onion and chicken.
Place in a 425 degree oven for about 18-20 minutes.
Yields: (1) 16 inch pizza
When in Rome.
I love recipes that can be made with things that are generally kept stocked in the kitchen. These are always great go to dishes that don't require a last minute run to the grocery store. These are also dishes that have ingredients that can be subbed in and out if you are missing something or have something in the refrigerator that needs to be used up.
While watching the Food Network the other day, I found one of "those" dishes. It is Giada's Roman-Style Chicken. The dish is jam packed with a tasty combination of fresh ingredients. This will definitely stay on my list of "go to" meals. It was delicious to say the least!
Roman-style Chicken
adapted from Giada De Laurentiis and Food Network
4 skinless chicken breast halves (I used boneless skinless chicken breast)
2 skinless chicken thighs, with bones (I omitted these)
1/2 tsp. salt, plus 1 tsp.
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus 1 tsp.
1/4 cup olive oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
3 ounces prosciutto, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine
1 tbs. fresh thyme leaves (I used dried)
1 tsp. fresh oregano leaves (I used dried)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Season the chicken with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. In a heavy, large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, cook the chicken until browned on both sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Keeping the same pan over medium heat, add the peppers, prosciutto and cook until the peppers have browned and the prosciutto is crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, wine, and herbs. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Return chicken to the pan, add the stock, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Add parsley and stir to combine.
Light but Satisfying
I really feel like I should have been born Italian. I just love the culture and food. I mean their ingredients alone are enough to make me drool. Italian food is my absolute favorite thing to cook by far. With that said, of course Giada De Laurentiis is one of my favorite chefs. Her recipes are very inspiring and open doors for you to explore many options.
Recently I was looking for a lighter pasta dish. I didn't want a heavy sauce, just something refreshing. While looking through Giada's Family Dinners I found a recipe for Fusilli with Shrimp and Arugula. It sounded great, but I wanted to put my own twist on it. In the end it turned out fabulous and is now a favorite of mine and Greg's. We have also made it without the shrimp as a simple side dish.
Spaghetti with Shrimp and Basil
adapted from Giada's Family Dinners
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots (or yellow onion)
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup dry white wine
1 lb. large shrimp, peel and deveined
1 cup petite diced tomatoes
fresh ground black pepper
12 ounces dried thin spaghetti (or pasta of your choice)
about 6 leaves of fresh basil
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes; saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the wine. Simmer until the wine reduces by half, about 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and stir to combine. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, just until they are pink; about 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking together, until tender but still firm to the bite; about 8 minutes. Drain.
Add the spaghetti and the basil (torn into pieces) to the skillet with the shrimp. Toss to combine. Season the pasta to taste with salt and pepper.
Yields about 4 servings.
Delish Appetizer!
Rachael Ray, you either love her or you hate her. I just so happen to love her. I will admit that I am not always a fan of her recipes, as they can be a bit out there. I guess I should say that Greg isn't always a big fan, since he can be somewhat of a picky eater at times. Her combinations can be a bit too much for him. I still love getting ideas from her and I love her magazine. I feel that although I don't always use her recipes religiously, she inspires me to think outside of the box.
We hosted a birthday dinner for my dad back in December. I had actually never had anyone from my dad's side of the family, including him and my stepmom, over for dinner before. I know it sounds strange, but this is the first time we have lived close to them since I graduated college back in 2005. So, I really wanted to wow them. I am pleased to say that Greg and I did just that! They didn't stop talking about that dinner for weeks. I made a few more time consuming appetizers, so I was looking for another one that was simple. While flipping through the December issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray I found a section of little finger sandwiches. This Pesto-Prosciutto Sandwich was one that was mentioned. It sounded like a winner, tasty and simple. That it was!
Pesto-Prosciutto Sandwiches
courtesy of Everyday with Rachael Ray
Frozen Puff Pastry (I actually used crescent roll dough)
Thinly sliced prosciutto
Store bought pesto
Thaw dough if necessary and then roll out. Cut into the desired shape. Mine were more of a triangle since I used crescent roll dough. Bake in a 400 degree oven until golden brown. Let cool and then split (if necessary). Spread the bottoms with store bought pesto, top with prosciutto slices and cover with pastry tops if desired. I chose to keep mine open faced.