text:
Leukoplakia is a condition in which thick, hard, white patches form inside the mouth and cannot be wiped off. Leukoplakia is commonly caused by
irritation, such as from the rubbing of a rough tooth or a poorly fitting denture, or
from smoking or using smokeless tobacco.
Leukoplakia may clear up if the source of the irritation is
removed, by fixing the tooth or denture, or by stopping tobacco use. It may take
several weeks or even months for the leukoplakia to go away completely.
In some cases, leukoplakia can be an early sign of cancer of the
Last Revised:
December 21, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
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text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
My 22 Minutes of Fame, part V
The following is the last in a five-part narrative about my appearance on Jeopardy! in 1997.
Part I: "How do you get to Sony Pictures Studios?"
Part II: The Mecca of Nerds
Part III: Showtime!
Part IV: December 10, 1997
Part V: Aftermath
As an episode of Jeopardy! closes, the three contestants stand with Alex and chat. Ever wonder what it is they're talking about? Me too. I have almost no recollection of our little conversation that day, despite the appearance on tape of being engaged in some witty banter. It had something to do with lunch being next on the agenda; the one word I remember Alex saying, believe it or not, was "gravy."
It wasn't until I stepped off the stage and was handed the post-show release forms that I found out I had won a trip for two to Jamaica. Not my first choice for a vacation, nor my tenth, but it was a lot better than a bunch of furniture we don't need, or a pair of his-and-hers watches, or a bunch of other second-place prizes they gave away that week. Plus, of course, they gave me all the random shit they always mention—Centrum Silver, Denorex, an Aiwa portable tape player, a Looney Tunes pocket watch, a dozen coupons for free bottles of Mrs. Butterworth's, the electronic home game and the Jeopardy! scorekeeper ("so you can play along at home"). Piles of the stuff, most of which would arrive in various separate packages during the months following the air date. I'll never understand why they sent the cough drops and Denorex samples via overnight FedEx. Like I couldn't wait.
The show broke for lunch, and since I had no reason to stay I gathered up my stuff and met my girlfriend at the studio door. The audience was exiting through that same door, in clumps, and I got a lot of congratulatory and sympathetic comments from a number of senior ladies. Turns out she had made friends with them before the taping and they had all been rooting for me.
The next day I dropped her off in Beverly Hills to spend the day with her sister, and I drove alone down to Long Beach, where the Queen Mary was docked alongside a huge hangar housing Howard Hughes' second-largest folly, the Spruce Goose. Except when I got there I learned the giant wooden flying boat had been packed onto a barge a few months before and shipped off to a museum in Oregon.
So, not having satisfied my aviation jones, I drove back north along the coast and stopped in Santa Monica at the Museum of Flying, built on the site that was the birthplace of the greatest aircraft in history, the Douglas DC-3. Except the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
I decided LA was trying to tell me something. I stayed in my hotel room the rest of the day, and the next morning we caught a flight back to Chicago.
It was gratifying to learn, once December rolled around, that the actress had been blown away in Thursday's game, and wasn't even a contender during that day's final round. So much for the lucky reindeer.
Having had my shot at fame and fortune on Jeopardy!, I am now precluded from ever appearing on that show again. Which is fine with me. Having seen behind the curtain, I don't even find the show all that interesting any more, and rarely watch it now. It may be the king of trivia game shows, but to me it has become old and stodgy. Still, I recommend that anyone who likes the show should give it a try. What do you have to lose? Me, I'm gunning now for Ben Stein. His show rocks, and I think I have a chance, albeit a small one, to win his money. Wish me luck.


text: Food and drink; shops and services on campus In 'Retail and catering' Graduation Food and drinkRetail and cateringFood and drink on campusShops and servicesGifts and souvenirsFarmers' marketsFairtrade Back to 'University campus' Whether it's farm produce, a haircut or the latest best-selling novel that you are looking for, our on-campus retail and catering facilities offer it all. On-campus shops and services The University offers a range of on-campus services, which members of the local community are welcome to use. We have a range of banks, as well as an optician, travel agent and hairdressing salon. As part of our healthy living drive, an extensive fruit and veg stall can also be found near the shops in University Centre from Monday to Friday. Find out about campus shops and services. On-campus bars and cafes The University houses a range of bars and cafes. You are welcome to grab a quick Starbucks in Muirhead Tower or to pass some time watching live sport in our 'Raising the Bar' sports bar in the Munrow Sports Centre. See the full list of every location on campus to buy hot and cold food and drink and also see the restaurants on campus page. Farmers' markets Our monthly Farmers Market comprises over 20 stalls offering a range of locally sourced, environmentally friendly produce. Ranging from seasonable vegetables to wine and freshly cooked ostrich burgers, we encourage you to come on to campus and discover the top quality, fairly priced produce on offer. Find out more about our Farmers' markets. Fairtrade The University is proud of our Fairtrade status, showing our commitment to the principles of Fairtrade and promoting social responsibility. Fairtrade protects the livelihoods of small-scale producers from the developing world. It offers protection for their income against the financial pressures of international trade by guaranteeing them a fair price for their products. Premiums are also paid to the community - which means schools, hospitals and clean water. Gifts and souvenirs We have a large range of University gifts and souvenirs available.


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Weekdays at Noon
(979) 268-1497
Crystal Galny anchors News 3 at Noon and hosts MomsEveryday.com. A true hometown girl, Crystal was born and raised in Bryan and graduated from Bryan High School.
She joined KBTX as a videotape editor in September 2000, began reporting shortly thereafter, and went on to anchor every show at KBTX while serving as the station's managing editor.
Crystal is honored to co-host the Jefferson Awards for Public Service each year at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. One of her favorite memories at KBTX was the week she spent in Washington, D.C. reporting from Capitol Hill about local interests. In 2011, Crystal was named the Wednesday's Child Winner by the Adoption Exchange Association for her story on "Marcus".
Before joining KBTX, Crystal interned for CNN in the White House. She assisted CNN correspondents with the series, "The Clinton Legacy," and with CNN's coverage of George W. Bush's cabinet appointments following the Florida recount in November 2000.
Crystal also interned at the U.S. State Department press office in 2000. One of her favorite memories was helping with a luncheon at Secretary of State Madeline Albright's Georgetown home for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. She also assisted the White House and State Department press offices during the Middle East peace talks at Camp David.
Crystal earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in 2001 from Texas A&M University, where she was also an executive officer of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She spent part of her senior year in Italy, where she studied Italian Art History and Post-War European Cinema through Southern Methodist University.
Crystal is an advisory board member of the Sexual Assault Resource Center, board member of Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley, and past president of the local Society of Professional Journalists. She also enjoys helping the women of Alpha Chi Omega sorority at Texas A&M University.
When Crystal isn't working, she is spending time with her husband, Brent Zwerneman, a sportswriter with the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News who covers Texas A&M. The couple has three young children, Will, Zoe and Brady. When Crystal and Brent aren't competing for a scoop, they enjoy working out, riding their bikes or boating at Lake Livingston.


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Amy Sackville
Amy Sackville was born in Plymouth in 1981. She has degrees from Leeds, Exeter College, Oxford, and Goldsmiths. Her first novel The Still Point was longlisted for the Orange Prize and won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and her second, Orkney, won the Somerset Maugham Award. She lives in London www.amysackville.co.uk


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EVENT: 9th Annual Hope Walk
Join us for the 9th Annual Walk to show support for those in the community who have been touched by cancer.
Walk as an individual or gather a team! Proceeds make it possible for us to provide our services at no cost to those in need.
The owner's of both Second Sole and Lucky Shoes have offered to give $50 gift cards to teams who raise more than $500 for the Walk.
Date & Time:
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Registration starts at 9:00am
Walk begins at 10:15am
2.2 mile walk - handicapped accessible route
Starting at: Fairlawn Community Center,
3486 S. Smith Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333
(water and bananas at start)
Finishing at: Stewart's Caring Place,
2955 W. Market St., Suite R, Akron, OH 44333
(food trucks selling lunch at finish)
Approved parking near event and handicap parking available at the starting line.
Busses will be on hand at Stewart's to return you to your vehicle every 15 minutes.
Honorary Chair:
Michael Dilisio - Owner, Second Sole
A downloadable PDF registration form can be downloaded and sent to Stewart's Caring Place from the link below. Donations for the walk can also be sent directly to SCP.
About Stewart's Caring Place:
Stewart's Caring Place: Cancer Wellness Center is an Ohio based 501 (c)(3) non-profit that provides support services, free-of-charge, to individuals and families touched by cancer. The center was established in 2004 and serves Summit, Medina, Stark, Portage and Wayne Counties. Programs and services include lectures and workshops, a resource center, healing arts, community referrals, movement classes, couseling, attorney consults, children and family programs, support groups and wigs.
For more information visit www.StewartsCaringPlace.org


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Alisa Baumgartner netted the insurance goal in a 2-0 win against Union Friday (Gil Talbot).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After recovering from a nagging injury, senior captain Alisa Baumgartner scored the insurance goal in her first game this season, as the 10th-ranked Harvard women's ice hockey team topped Union, 2-0, Friday night at Bright Hockey Center. With the senior's tally, every Harvard position player has registered at least a point this season.
The shots were plentiful for the Crimson (10-5-1, 7-3-1 ECAC) through the first two periods, but Union (3-17-2, 1-9-1 ECAC) goalie Kate Gallagher brought her 'A' game and kept Harvard off the board for the majority of the first and second stanzas. After outshooting the Dutchwomen 12-6 in the first, Harvard upped the pressure and found a goal in the second, despite a pair of Union penalty kills.
Samantha Reber won a puck off the left-side boards to Hillary Crowe and Crowe's ensuing shot was redirected by Elizabeth Parker past Gallagher for a 1-0 lead with 3:06 to play in the frame. Harvard entered the third period with a 30-11 shots advantage.
The third period saw Harvard commit its first penalty, but the kill unit was up to the task, squashing the Union opportunity and maintaining a one-goal lead. With 12:53 gone in the third, Harvard found its second goal of the night, started by a heads-up play at mid-ice by Jillian Dempsey. Dempsey shoveled the puck back to Sarah Edney at the blue line and Edney winged a pass to Baumgartner at the opposing blue line. The senior collected cleanly and fired a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat Gallagher through the five-hole.
Harvard goalie Laura Bellamy needed just 15 saves to record her second shutout of the season and second against a conference opponent.
Harvard is back in action tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m., when it takes on Rensselaer in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Bright Hockey Center. The men's team faces No. 6 Boston University following tomorrow's contest.


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OCC Bulletin 2012-26| September 12, 2012
Investments in Corporate Debt Securities: FDIC's final rule: Permissible Investments for Federal and State Savings Associations
Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks, Federal Savings Associations, Federal Branches and Agencies, Department and Division Heads, All Examining Personnel, and Other Interested Parties
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) advises federal savings associations to review the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (FDIC) final rule and guidance issued July 24, 2012, on investments in corporate debt securities. Federal savings associations have until January 1, 2013, to comply with the FDIC's final rule. In addition, the OCC reminds federal savings associations they must comply by January 1, 2013, with the OCC's final rules and guidance regarding investments in other securities, published June 26, 2012.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 authorized the FDIC to issue by July 21, 2012, a final rule to establish "standards of creditworthiness" to replace previously used "investment grade" standards for corporate debt security investments held or acquired by savings associations. The FDIC published its final rule July 24, 2012, in the Federal Register (77 FR 43151) and in FDIC Financial Institution Letter FIL-34-2012. The FDIC's final rule amended 12 CFR 362 and was effective July 21, 2012. The FDIC, however, is allowing savings associations a transition period, ending January 1, 2013, to comply.
The FDIC's standards of creditworthiness, requirement for consistency with safety and soundness principles, and due diligence guidance are comparable and largely consistent with the OCC's previously released final rules and guidance regarding securities investments. On June 26, 2012, the OCC published OCC Bulletin 2012-18, "Alternatives to the Use of External Credit Ratings in the Regulations of the OCC: Final Rules and Guidance." The bulletin informed federal savings associations that they are required to follow the FDIC's standards of creditworthiness when purchasing corporate debt, pursuant to 12 USC 1831(e)(d), as amended by Dodd–Frank, section 939(a)(2). The OCC expects federal savings associations to comply with the final rules by January 1, 2013.
John C. Lyons Jr.
Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief National Bank Examiner


text:
Pen & Paper Games
Player Portal
Play by Post Games
Return to the Tomb of Horrors
> Campaign History
View Full Version :
Campaign History
A place for both players and dm to post their takes on the campaign history to date.
i'll go ahead and start....
For once, it didn't all begin in a tavern. The tavern was second. First was the blood-curdling scream that sent Path running towards the docks. But he soon checked his headlong pace as the obvious source of the scream came running up the cobblestone road and right past him without even seeing him. A pretty young thing, for a human. She was in obvious distress and shock, blinded by it, in fact.
Not one to be torn by indecision, the obvious answer was that he needed to both investigate where she came from, and to speak with her. So, calmly he strings his bow, nocks an arrow, centers his mind, and all while ignoring how far she was getting from him. Then he shoots her through the leg, dropping her to the ground.
Now, he moves as swiftly as he can, and runs down to the docks. His excellent night vision reveals that something came from the water, and also returned to it. There is no other clues, and he is not about to enter the water when something that may have a clear advantage in said water may still be lurking.
Swiftly returning to the young lady, he finds that she has fainted. Taking advantage of this, he forces a healing potion into her mouth, massaging her throat to make it go down. His arrow had already long vanished. Then he carries her to the first inn he finds, a somewhat well-to-do place in the bordering merchants quarter.
A silent gesture and some money soon secure service for her, and gives him time to write a short note. Finding that the inn-keep is literate, he writes another short note of explanation, and orders for them both. This unusual manner of conduct attracts the attention of a few others, some who offer to help, all to listen... or as soon transpires, read. The others understand Path's gestures and written notes to mean that he is mute.
Some of the others have run into similar situations, there is an unusual rise of uncanny things taking place. Unusual signs have been seen, and things that should rightly be dead, are not staying where they were laid.
Someone suggests that something more than simple chance has brought us together, and that since we are ones who have collectively noticed the problem, then we should investigate further.
Our inquiries over the next few days bring us to the attention of the town administration, who commissions us to seek out the source of these evil happenings. With reward upon return, little-to-no payment upfront, the usual blatherings that the short-lived races seem to find so needful.
We decide to pool our resources and consult a learned divinist. This proves more costly than expected, but Path was able to pay 1/3 of the price with a single coin, of ancient origin, and of great value to a seeker in the past. Our payments prove their worth, and so does the diviner, as something was blocking his efforts, but despite that, he managed to come up with a few leads.
Path had urgent business that needed taking care of, and while he was away, the rest of the group searched out the leads, and met with some success. A previous group of well-doers had sought out the same thing that now disturbs the general peace, and won a partial success against it... if the death of all but two, maybe three, can be counted a success. Armed with new information and a new companion, the group continued to seek the source.
Path returned from his affairs with a treant companion and acquaintance. Together the group found the source of the disturbance... a place know only as the Tomb of Horrors. To our dismay, an academy devoted to the unearthing the secrets of the necromantic arts had been built upon the site, and they were most determined to keep us away.
After much tribulation, and several deaths, fortuitously revived before too much time had passed, the academy was defeated. Several abominations were discovered that were too dangerous to deal with directly, they were entombed by Pook, who also took it upon himself to more or less level the structures surrounding. The building material went towards entombing the evils, and apparently the start of a garden.
This, of course, we did not find out until after we returned from the depths of the tomb. Many traps, of a devious and decidedly macabre and evil nature, were overcome, but some took the lives of yet more of our companions. This time, we had not the resources we needed to revive them, for the one who could do such, was one of the first victims.
These deaths resulted in the most unexpected joining to our group of a new companion, one that had unbeknownst accompanied Path from when he was very young. Within his dagger, slumbered away the spirit of a woman, apparently a human woman, one of rare and unusual powers. Her centuries-long sleep was disturbed by the psychic shock of the sudden deaths of our companions, and the survivors' subsequent mourning. Her abilities proved most effective and useful in the deadly environment we found ourselves. We struggled on through more traps, twists, and dead ends.
At last, we fought with the demi-lich... only it was not. This entire tomb, was nothing but a sham, in a way. A monstrous test to amuse the twisted and evil mind of the true source behind all this destruction. We lost yet another companion in that final battle, only to unexpectedly recover hope, when the gem containing his soul was found intact. And a body to receive it as well... unexpected and ironic that we will be able to turn at least one of the evil plans of the academy towards good instead.
A rare treasure indeed, to take from any tomb; the treasure of hope.
Nijineko has summarized what has happened from the players' point of view; I'm going to just give you a few bullet pointsas reminders of what you know:
- There have been an unusual number of undead things around the area, starting in the town of Kalstrand (where the original party met).
- One thing that you saw was unforgettable: a demon-like face, with an enormous mouth taking up half of it. You hired a sage to research this, and found that this was the sign of an ancient lich, thought to be long gone, named Acererak, also known as the Devourer. There are many ancient references to the Devourer's evil.
- You also found that a party led by a wizard named Desatysso and his companions, among them the mighty and loyal Grunther, had been to the tomb of the Devourer, the Tomb of Horrors. One critical piece of information was contained in a broken amulet that he carried, half of which they left behind in the chamber of the demilich. Half the party perished in this final encounter, but Desatysso got what he had come for (he does not specify what it was). His diary is attached below.
- Desatysso apparently found a gate within the Tomb to another area, a different stronghold of Acererak's. Apparently there are three stages: the Tomb, the City and the Fortress. This gate apparently leads to the City.
- You travelled to the Tomb, and found it surrounded by a school of necromancers, the Black Academy. You went in there, trashed the place in true adventurer style, and conquered the tomb, losing many loyal companions along the way, their bodies destroyed.
- You finally defeated the demilich in his Tomb, only to find out that this was not Acererak at all. You need to resupply, then you will try to figure out how to travel to this other area of Acererak's. You're now figuring out what to do.
The diary:
Year of the Stag, Day 111
I, Gorik Desatysso, the Wizard of Burntstone, contracted my old companions of the Band of the Hand to accompany me on my quest to discover the true tomb of that ancient but oh, so elusive mage, Acererak. To this end, I've been following clues, digging up old relics, and researching ancient documents. I've learned enough now to feel confident that I stand a far better chance than most of navigating Acererak's legendary burial site, and finally discovering the real truth behind the Tomb. The reward promises to be mighty indeed...
The Band of the Hand is led by Falon T'Selvin, who has a reputation of skill and prowess exceeded by few others. Further, I know this is a strong group by direct experience. I don't doubt their competence, but this may prove to be their most trying adventure if my information is correct. In any event, they accepted the commission; the Band is charged to accompany me and protect me in my explorations of Acererak's Tomb, which is located in the Vast Swamp to the south.
I have assured Falon and the rest that there will be plenty of loot for all, although I've repeatedly insisted that I've more interest in knowledge than in treasure. In fact, I've told them the truth, that I have been researching the archmage Acererak for many years, and the venture to the Tomb is but the first step in a greater undertaking. Falon muttered something to the effect of, "I'm sure dusty texts and forgotten knowledge are reward enough for a mage, but me, I'm looking for cold, hard cash and maybe a little excitement." I replied that he was certain to find excitement enough for a lifetime.
Day 119
Sather and Lyla have never gotten along. It didn't help matters yesterday when Sather the priestess woke to find Lyla rifling through her component pouch. After seven days of difficult journeying through the Vast Swamp, tensions were already high. It was touch and go there for a while; I didn't know if Lyla was going to get god-cursed or if Sather was going to sprout a brace of knives. Thankfully, I was able to diffuse the violence before anything serious occurred.
We made camp last night in front of a flat-topped hill which we hope will provide us entry into the Tomb.
When the light of day illuminated the hill this morning, we noticed how the piles of rocks and boulders were arranged to give the entire hill the semblance of a giant, grinning skull. This ominous sign does not deter us, however. While Lyla and Tiefon the dwarf search for a possible means of entry, Falon, Grunther, Sather and Aaron busy themselves with concerns of their own, and thus I quickly pen this in my journal.
Day 120
Choosing the proper entrance between the two openings we uncovered was a challenge in itself, but soon we entered by what I felt was the proper route when we discovered Acererak's boastful verse. The verse was not immediately clear to us, but we endeavored to discuss its meaning as best we could. I'm sure that if I had the time that I devoted to studying the Amulet, the meaning of the rhyme would become clear as well...but we didn't tarry for long.
We chose firstly the arch, but I fear it may not have been the most productive, as we ended up in what seemed a forsaken prison; a room with seemingly no exits and no features save for a set of three ominous looking levers. We all breathed easier when a little experimentation yielded a configuration for the levers that opened up a previously concealed door in the room.
Suffice it to say that we traversed a few rooms in this manner, side-stepping traps where we could, and wincing in pain where we could not. We are resting now in what appears to be some sort of ancient chapel. I am at the end of my watch; it's time for me to wake Tiefon so I can get some rest myself.
Day 121
A day much like yesterday. I'm exhausted; we've hardly moved from our last location. I'll write more tomorrow if we gain any ground.
Day 122
Much has happened, and my heart is sorely heavy; we lost Tiefon the dwarf yesterday. Today, Grunther lost an arm.
A damnable patch of green slime covered Tiefon head to foot in but an eyeblink. The dwarf didn't even have a chance to scream before he was rendered into just so much putrescent plasma himself. We couldn't even recover his belongings in the mess. Never has a companion been lost to me so suddenly or so completely; we didn't even have a body for Sather to attempt to restore the tie to. I shall speak no more of Tiefon, as it grieves me too much.
To compound matters, Grunther the big warrior and Falon's friend stuck his arm where he shouldn't have during one of our backtracks. With a horrible scream he pulled it back, but it was completely gone, cut as if by a razor edge. Only Sather's powerful magic prevented all the life blood of the dim-witted Grunther from spilling out upon the uncompromising stones of the Tomb's floor. I expect he'll still be able to swing that axe of his with all his strength once he's calmed down a bit. It's taking all of Falon's leadership to restrain the big man from embarking upon a rampage of destruction throughout the Tomb for vengeance. Of course, that would only be suicide, and thus Falon proves his leadership by restraining his companion.
At the moment we are taking our own rest in what appears to be some sort of abandoned laboratory. We hope that nothing will disturb us here as we attempt to take stock. I am determined to go on, and Falon is bound by his contract to accompany me. He would anyway; he is not the sort to back down from any enterprise once it's fairly begun.
Day 124
Disaster seems to dog our every step now. It seems that with every chamber we win through to using our wits as our guide, we pay the price of another life. It is Aaron to whom I allude. We opened a door, and a stone wall appeared, blocking our retreat. A huge juggernaut on stone rollers issued from a hidden door and rolled towards us. After a long battle, with the aid of Grunther's mighty arm, we finally destroyed it, but Sather's leg was crushed under it, and Aaron was caught under it and squashed to jelly. Sather tried her best, but the damage was too extensive; Aaron's life had permanently fled from him. Sather was heartbroken. I think she and Aaron were very close, closer than the rest of us had ever realized. We composed the remains as best we could, but Sather sits and stares now, and the rest of us worry about her. Furthermore, she was only partially able to heal her own leg; she walks slowly and painfully now, with a limp. If she can't go on, further hurts which befall us will be difficult to withstand. We shall rest another day before we attempt to persuade her to venture onward.
Day 126
Thankfully, I have nothing but good news to write about for a change. After a day of rest following Aaron's untimely demise, we moved inward, towards our goal. We came then into a truly large pillared room. Upon an ebony dais sat a silver throne. As if an offering from the gods of balance for our recent losses, the implements to our quest's end lay in easy reach upon the throne itself: a crown and a scepter. After a few false starts, we were able to move towards the physical remains of Acererak.
We found an imposing chamber with a ceiling all of silver, complete with a granite sarcophagus. The statuary, the chests, and the gold filigreed urn all indicate that we have finally discovered our real goal. The road has been long, the dangers fierce, and the loss of life is unconscionable; I hope that what I seek makes it all worthwhile. We are resting now before we open the sarcophagus. We need to be utterly fresh and rested, and completely alert when we crack it open. The ancient document which I perused so long ago leads me to believe that this could be our most desperate struggle yet. But if we succeed, I will have the means to proceed to the next part of my plan...
Day 127
How arrogant of me to think that with but a hop, skip, and a jump I should have delivered into my hands the singular material necessary to move on to the lost City and Fortress which I seek. I should have done more research, I should have been more careful, I should have...not brought my friends here to die.
Allow me to start over so that you may know what befell the once strong company known as the Band of the Hand. We were diverted in the opening of the sarcophagus when the ever-observant Lyla discovered what appeared to be another concealed route. Excited, we issued down this new passage. It seemed that luck was with us; in short order we were able to penetrate two consecutive secret doors. Overeager, perhaps, we at long last discovered the vault of Acererak's physical remains.
A hoard of glittering, flashing treasure first caught our eyes. The quiescent skull seemed of little import; in fact it seemed a treasure itself with its gemstone fixtures. I must admit that I was distracted from my goal at the sight of such treasure. All of us soon paid, some of us more than others.
Alas, the physical remains of Acererak were still connected with his far-roaming essence! If only I had thought to destroy the skull immediately...before I could do more than stare, the dust of the demilich's body had swirled into a manlike shape and began to press an attack. We reacted as quickly as we could. Some of us targeted this apparition, some the skull...but this availed us not at all: Acererak sucked the life from Lyla before she could do much more than shriek. Her body mouldered to dust in the next heartbeat. Falon was next; his spirit was stripped from him as easily as an anteater might suck a morsel from an anthill. Sather brought the full powers of her diety to bear upon the horror that was killing us; it was in vain. Abandoning all thought of the quest, she and Grunther gathered up Falon's dusty remains and fled. My most powerful battle spells were having absolutely no effect and neither did the Amulet when I presented it strongly in hopes of recognition. Fearing imminent death, I grabbed what I had come for and fled as well.
It is now two hours since we have run screaming from the vault. The demilich has not followed us, thank the good gods. I have to believe that if it made the effort to pursue us, we would all now be dead. However, alive though she is, I fear that Sather has finally broken with reality: she has been cursing the name of Pelor for the last half hour. I know only one thing. I have what I came for. I must harden my heart and move on to the next part of my plan. To not do so would make the loss of lives here utterly vain. My conscience could not support such an additional burden, although I now believe that I was out of my reckoning. Acererak's gauntlet may be too much for me. Be that as it may, I will continue on the long road that I have begun.
Day 128
If you are reading this, then my struggle for knowledge has not been in vain. My quest has led me to this questionable precipice, and now, finally, I leave this legacy behind me if I should not return myself. Few have preceded me to where I go now, and I'm not certain that I'll have the strength to succeed against the might of the one who names himself Acererak. The road to this point has not been easy, and the loss of many of my erstwhile companions is a sore blow. In any event, I add this short epilogue to the actual journal of my quest into Acererak's tomb of horrors in order to give any future readers an understanding of myself and my goals.
My interest in this subject was roused many years ago, when in my wide travels I chanced upon a document which was obviously many centuries old. I quickly deciphered the old mode of Common in which it was written, and was amazed to discover that it was penned by none other than the legendary Acererak, who had disappeared from common knowledge almost a century past. What quite intrigued me is that by the date, the document was thousands of years old! In fact, the document was so aged that I'm afraid that it soon crumbled to dust. However, I was able to discover a great many things regarding the origin of this mythic figure.
The document was apparently a sort of personal memorabilia, being the last thing he wrote as a living being. In the same way that I am upon a boundary of no certain returning writing these pages, so also was Acererak writing a quick encapsulation of his earlier life before he moved on to another level of existence from which there was certainly no coming back. He penned the document immediately before he undertook the ritual which he believed would transform his living flesh to that of an undead lich. The parallel intrigues me, but I hope that my journey is not quite so transfigurative as Acererak's...
In the record, Acererak claims to have been the bastard son of a demonic entity and an unfortunate human female named Valinda. The woman survived the ordeal, and gave birth to a son. The woman did not cast aside the progeny of this union. She could easily have done so because of Acererak's obvious supernatural deformities, but instead raised him with the love only a mother can lavish upon even the most disfigured of children. A strange tale, I grant you, but the document indicated that Acererak's early years were not unlike many a normal child's upbringing.
This idyllic existence ended in Acererak's 10th year. A mob of nearby villagers, frightened of the boy's appearance, put torch to the house and killed Acererak's mother. The boy lived only because of his cambionic (half-demon) nature. The child became a desperate, hunted fugitive, and only barely survived to adulthood. It was during these years that every vestige of love, mercy, loyalty, and pity were driven from the cambion. Acererak became a cold, hard man with hate in his heart and revenge on his mind for the humans who had killed his mother and hunted him near to death.
Acererak found the means to study the arts of wizardry and evil necromancy. Being an entity of enchanted lineage himself, these arts came quickly to him, and he soon became a master of spells. In the text, there was also a reference to someone or something called Tenebrous, to which Acererak owed much of his power, but the details are unfortunately not explained. In any event, it was during this time that Acererak decides that he shall enhance his magical powers by becoming a lich. However, maddeningly, Acererak hints that lichdom is only the first step in some elaborate scheme which he does not deign to describe!
Next, the document discussed a Tomb, a City, a Fortress, and finally something called the Amulet of the Void. It is my belief that the three locations named constitute actual places which Acererak planned to build. Further, it was intimated that through this Amulet passage from one to the next would be possible. The last sentence of the document read, "And so in the fullness of time I shall cast the Amulet out into the lands of Men, that it may draw to me those of proper mettle. Only those of keenest luck and greatest skill will win through to me in my ultimate Fortress of Conclusion. There, they shall receive a magnificent reward for their persistence."
As you can probably imagine, this greatly intrigued me. A little research into the matter indeed divulged that there was said to be a hidden Tomb of he who called himself Acererak, but nowhere in all my searches was there ever any mention whatsoever of a Fortress of Conclusion. It came to me then that perhaps only I, of all who had sought after it, had access to this secret knowledge. If the Amulet truly existed, and was in the hands of living men, its significance was probably unguessed. Otherwise, it probably lay long forgotten in some treasury or burial mound. I decided that I would have it for myself.
Suffice it to say that after a long, arduous search, I ultimately gained the Amulet of the Void. I gaze upon it now, and as I do so, the memory of the years of effort I spent in acquiring it and then the effort I spent in deciphering its encrypted runes rushes through my mind. What a devilishly simple key it was, after all. For those who follow me on my journey of discovery, apply this key to the runes on the Amulet: subtract three, then read. There are two exceptions, but not troublesome ones. The other difficulty was that although the letters are those of our alphabet, the language is an ancient mode of Common that has very little to do with our language; with magical aid, plus the above-mentioned key, I was finally able to discover the hidden message of the Amulet.
It has all led to this. I regret nothing. When my pen leaves this page, I shall step forward through the portal, leaving behind this record and the Amulet for those with the bravery to follow me.
[The following is written in different handwriting.]
The Wizard is now gone.
He led me and mine to our doom. He gives me this Journal and this Amulet as if it makes up for the LOSS of EVERYONE and everything I hold dear. I spit upon him. I hope he finds nothing but Death. I stand now outside the Tomb, looking at the lonely hill of one long undead, one left better off undisturbed. I have cast the broken Amulet at the base of the hill. Let the wild beasts of the swamp fight over it, or use it if they will. My god has abandoned me, and I can find not a single shred of compassion for any that walk on two legs. LEAST OF ALL, will I carry out the last wishes of he whom I despise above all others: DESATYSSO.
We also managed to (we think) properly decode the amulet, now that we have both halves... something about the mouth that devours is more than it seems?
You have figured it out.
"The face of the fiend does more than devour; with the least of my form, 'tis the key to power."
although many died one found true joy for her last act transformed her into raw wild surge of magic she always longed for...Kiri got everything she ever wanted :) so some good did occur also
true... we still miss her though.
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Rathai's Recipes
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Banana Fritters and my first guest post
It feels great to be back blogging after such a long gap and that too with my first guest post. I kept procrastinating this guest post because I haven't held my camera for nearly 10 months and was really doubting myself. The first 10 minutes or so, I was pressing all the wrong buttons on the camera but after a lot of sweating and struggling, I was back on track and managed to take a few clicks before the sunset on a beautiful, sunny Friday.
Taruna has a wonderful space filled with eclectic recipes. I'm really thrilled to be guest-posting at her blog, Easyfoodsmith! I'm sharing my mother's recipe for banana fritters which is a favourite at our place and I hope you guys will like it! Thanks a bunch Taruna for giving me this opportunity to share your lovely space and for encouraging me to get back to blogging! Please head over to EasyfoodSmith to read the entire post and recipe.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Semolina Cake - Basbousa or Namoura
It goes by many different names and is wildly popular in Greek, Turkey, throughout the Levant and the North African countries, since many of these countries share a common Ottoman heritage. The recipe varies a great deal though, some contain eggs while others don't, some include yogurt while others include milk, some made with butter or clarified butter and others with vegetable oil, some with coconut and others without. I made it egg-less and without milk to store it a little longer. A piece of this delectable semolina cake, and perhaps a cup of Moroccan mint tea, is everything you need to be transcended to another world in this autumn cold.
2 cups (350 g) fine semolina (cream of wheat)
1/2 cup (35 g) unsweetened, desiccated coconut
1/2 cup (100 g) caster sugar
150 g melted butter (at room temperature)
3/4 cup (200 g) plain Turkish yogurt (10 %)
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
20-30 blanched almonds or almond flakes (for garnish)
1 cup water
1 cup (225 g) caster sugar
1 1/2 tbs rose water
3 tsp lemon or lime juice
To blanch the almonds, boil the water until it is hot and bubbly. It will take about 7-8 minutes with the lid on. Place the almonds in a small bowl and pour about half of the hot water over the almonds and put a lid on. Allow the almonds to soak in the hot water for about 10 minutes. Take an almond out and rub it between your fingers. If the skin doesn't come off easily allow the almonds to soak for a little longer. If they come off easily, pour the water out and start blanching all the almonds. Spread the almonds on a dry towel and pat dry and keep them in the towel overnight. I cut the almonds into halves but if you find that difficult, you could use whole almonds or store-bought almond flakes.
The syrup has to be at room temperature and the cake should be warm when you pour the syrup over the cake, so you have to prepare the syrup before baking the cake. To make the syrup, boil the sugar and the water at medium heat. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Then add the lemon juice and remove the scum (if any) that floats to the top. Add the rosewater and boil until the syrup thickens a little (if you stir with a spoon, it will coat the back of the spoon and if you touch it, the syrup will feel a little thick and slimy). Don't let the syrup boil for a long time and thicken up too much though, it means less syrup. It will take about 15 minutes to boil the syrup. Once ready, remove from stove and allow to come to room temperature.
In a large bowl, mix the semolina and the baking soda. Then add the coconut, sugar and salt and mix well. Add the melted butter and yogurt and mix well with a spoon until well combined and it comes together. With 3/4 cup yogurt it all came together for me but you could add a little bit more if you have difficulty it combining everything. Either way, the batter will be thick and come together, almost like a dough. Lightly butter a 27 cm (about 10 inch) non-removable cake pan/pie plate before placing parchment paper (so that the paper doesn't move) and then lightly butter the sides and the bottom (if you use a cake pan with removable bottom, there is a risk that the syrup runs down the sides). Spoon in the cake batter and even it out on top with a spoon. Allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes. Then cut the cake into diamonds or squares (before baking it). Place the blanched almonds or almond flakes in the middle of each diamond/square and gently press them down a little.
Bake the cake at 175 C (350 F) in a preheated oven, in the middle rack for about 20 minutes first. Take the cake out and gently cut it into diamonds/squares again (if you cut the cake when it is fresh out of the oven, it might crumble. This is why it is good to cut it before it is fully baked). Place the cake back into the oven and bake for another 20-25 minutes until it looks golden and crisp on top. Take the cake out and spread the syrup slowly and evenly on top of the cake. Allow the cake to soak up the syrup for a couple of hours or overnight and cool down to room temperature. Then cut the cake again when it has cooled down before serving. You can keep the cake refrigerated, and warm it up before serving. You have to warm it up before serving, otherwise it will feel like a brick. I don't warm up the whole cake, only the pieces that are to be served - a few seconds in the microwave is enough. You can keep it refrigerated for up to 1 1/2 weeks.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
How to make lemon curd?
For those of you who are not familiar with lemon curd, it is like custard but less sweet with an intense flavour from lemons. It's also sometimes described as lemon-flavoured butter. Whichever way you look at it - it is delicious! The only downside is that they can't be refrigerated for too long (generally upto one week). Feel free to taste and adjust the amount of sugar in the lemon curd. Since I had the lemon curd with meringue, which is very sweet, I made mine very tangy.
(About 6 servings)
Lemon Curd:
3 large egg yolks
50 g unsalted butter (at room temperature)
2 tbs caster sugar (for the lemon syrup)
1/3-2/3 cup caster sugar
3 tbs fresh lemon juice
1/2 tbs lemon zest
3 large egg whites
2/3 cup caster sugar
1/4 tsp salt or cream of tartar
To assemble:
2/3 cup whipping cream (I used 40 %)
4 tbs icing sugar/confectionar's sugar
1 tsp vanillin sugar/vanilla extract
Fresh fruits or berries (for garnish)
To cook the lemon curd you could use a double boiler or place a glass bowl with 1 inch of water on the stove. Make sure that the bowl on top does not touch the water underneath. I personally prefer not to cook the lemon curd in a double boiler or metal bowls because the lemon reacts with metals (resulting in a strange aftertaste). The best option is to use a heatproof glass bowl to cook the lemon curd in.
Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and place the egg yolks in a heat-proof glass bowl or double boiler. When you separate the egg whites from the egg yolks, make sure that there is no trace of egg yolks in the egg whites (that you need to make the meringue). Place the egg whites in a clean and dry bowl, cover and refrigerate until needed. Cut the butter into small sticks and let it come to room temperature. Mix the lemon juice with the sugar (needed for the lemon syrup) and the lemon zest. Whisk the egg yolks until smooth. While whisking the egg yolks, gradually add the lemon syrup into the egg mixture. Place the glass bowl with the mixture on top of the cooking pot with the water (that should be on a simmer). Keep stirring the mixture until it thickens at very low temperature (on simmer). The lemon curd is not suppose to boil and get bubbly. If the water underneath is too hot, the lemon curd can start curdling and that's why it is cooked over simmering water that shouldn't touch the bowl on top.
Once the lemon curd has thickened (or reached the consistency of hollandaise), taste and add some more sugar as preferred and then add the butter sticks and stir until the butter has completely melted. Take the bowl away from the stove. Strain the lemon curd to get rid of the lemon zest and any lumps that may have formed. Allow the lemon curd to cool to room temperature first, stir and then transfer the lemon curd into a clean and dry jar. Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight, until thoroughly chilled. Generally, you can keep the lemon curd refrigerated for upto one week.
To make the meringue, take the egg whites out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 150 C (about 300 F). Please don't use a bowl that is too wide to whisk the egg whites. Start whisking the egg whites with a handmixer at low to medium speed until foamy and bubbly. At this stage you can add the salt or cream of tartar. Continue to whisk and then add the sugar gradually when the meringue is at the pre-soft peak stage to make sure the sugar gets fully dissolved and now you can start whisking at medium speed. Soft peaks mean peaks that curl downwards when you remove the whisk from the mixture. The peaks that appear at the soft peak stage are still soft and not firm (unlike stiff peaks that remain stiff and straight when you remove the whisk).
Once you have added the sugar you will notice that the mixture gets really glossy, white and dense as you whisk. You have to stop whisking from time to time to check what stage you are at. It is only when you remove the whisk from the meringue mixture, you will be able to see what kind of peaks are formed. Once you have reached the stiff peak stage, you can stop whisking. At this stage the peaks should be stiff and somewhat, if not completely, straight when you remove the whisk. You will also notice that, the meringue mixture is so firm that even if you turn the bowl upside down, the mixture wont move. Take some of the mixture and rub between your fingers and check if the sugar has been completely dissolved.
Line an oven sheet with parchment paper. It's also a good idea to take some of the mixture that is left on the whisk and place them on the underside of each corner of the parchment paper to prevent the paper from sliding. Carefully spoon 12 cookies (or so) out of the meringue using two tablespoons onto the parchment paper. Don't try to flatten the meringue as you do this. Handle it gently. The meringue can sometimes deflate in the oven, if not handled gently. Once the oven is hot, lower the temperature to 90-100 C (about 200-210 F) and place the meringue in the center rack of the oven and allow it to bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Halfway through, open the oven and rotate the oven sheet so that all of them are evenly baked. Turn off the oven and let the meringue rest in the oven for some 4-5 hours or so, or overnight. Store them at room temperature in a clean and dry container.
The lemon curd and the meringue is best done a day ahead or at least 4-5 hours ahead of serving because the lemon curd has to be chilled and the meringue has to rest once it has been baked. To assemble the dessert, whip the cream with confectionar's sugar and vanilla extract/vanillin sugar until stiff peaks, ahead before serving and keep it covered and refrigerated until needed. Assemble the dessert in 6 wine glasses, by first placing whipped cream at the bottom of the serving glass. Even out the layer of whipping cream around the edges, so that the lemon curd doesn't sink through the holes to the bottom. Spoon in a small layer of lemon curd over it. Crush the meringue cookies and spread on top of the lemon curd (this will turn out a little messy). Repeat the process until you have lemon curd on the topmost layer (I noticed that it was difficult to make the lemon curd "stay" there. I would probably skip this step next time). Alternatively, you could also place the cream in a piping bag and pipe it out on top and keep it as the topmost layer. Garnish with fruits and/or berries, I served mine with physalis/ground cherries. For more variation, you could also layer with some crumbled pound cake and/or fruits, you could layer pound cake between the cream and the lemon curd. Serve immediately and cold!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Rava Laddu / Sooji Laddoo / Semolina Balls
Ravai laddu or sooji laddoo (ravai and sooji being different names for semolina) is one of the few fool-proof Indian sweets you will ever find. Growing up, this was the only type of laddu my mother used to make and as a result, not only do I have an affinity for it, I also learned how to make this on my own at a young age. I can't believe it has taken me so long to post it here. My mother always made these with sweetened condensed milk, not granulated sugar, and that's how I prefer my laddus too. I like the more creamy texture you get from the condensed milk versus the 'grainy' texture you get from granulated sugar. If you have all the ingredients to make these, it wont take you more than 15 minutes to make them and these laddus also have a relatively long shelf life.
Also, I want to apologize for the half written 'almond cookie' post that I posted sometime back. It was a future post that I was preparing and oopsie .. I pressed the publish button by mistake. I'm really sorry about that!
1 1/2 cup semolina
3 tbs unsalted butter/ghee/or coconut oil
3 tbs desiccated coconut
2/3 to 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 tbs cashew nuts
2 tbs golden raisins
1 tsp cardamom powder
Wwater (or as required)
Heat the butter (ghee or coconut oil). Add the cashew nuts and saute until nice golden, then add the raisins and saute until the raisins start ballooning. Remove the cashew nuts and raisins from the pan and keep aside in a small bowl. Add the desiccated coconut in the same pan and roast until aromatic. Remove once done. Add the semolina in the same butter (ghee or coconut oil) you sauted the cashew nuts. Roast the semolina, on below medium heat, until light golden and aromatic. Keep stirring the semolina continously while roasting it because otherwise it will get burnt at the bottom.
Once the semolina is ready, switch off the flame. Add the sauted cashew nuts, coconut, raisins and the cardamom powder. Mix well. Spoon in the mixture into a bowl. Then add the sweetened condensed milk while stirring with a fork or a spoon, little by little, and mix until the milk is corporated into the mixture. Wait a couple of minutes if it is too sticky and then stir again (it's a difficult to say how much condensed milk you will need - you might need more or less depending on how warm your mixture is and how quickly it absorbs the moisture and what kind of semolina you use). Start gathering balls from the mixture. Semolina is very thirsty on water and is good at absorbing all the moisture. If the semolina absorbs all the water, to the point that it is difficult to gather balls, you could add a tad more water (as required) later. When gathering the balls, try to press the balls as tight as you can, so that they don't fall apart later. Let them cool down before serving. I prefer keeping mine at room temperature (but as I understand, they can be refrigerated as well) and can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Mango, pineapple and watermelon salsa
I have always struggled with eating salads and fresh vegetables and lately I have also noticed that my fruit intake has slowed down considerably and this despite the availability of fresh produce this summer. These days, whatever fruits and berries I have, usually come in the form of apple pie, raspberry crumble bars, blueberry muffins... well, you get the picture. So in an attempt to increase my vitamin intake, I made this salsa.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Butterscotch Ice Cream
Happy Father's Day to everyone! It feels great to be back blogging after a some break. Thank you and a big hug to everyone who checked on me during my absence. Even though I made this really delicious butterscotch ice cream from smittenkitchen a couple of days ago, I have been in two minds about whether to post it here. Photographing ice cream is more difficult than I thought it would be. I put the ice cream outside to defrost and when I came back, the ice cream looked like soup. I hope you can look beyond that, because the butterscotch/caramel flavour is simply out of this world. This ice cream is very rich in flavour. If you love butterscotch/caramel, you've got to try this recipe.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Lentil Fritters - Masala Vadai
I believe everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. I wanted to post a recipe that I will always associate with my mother today and one that I know she loves too - vadai. Being a diabetic, she rarely indulges in sweetmeat and is more of a snack person. She also happens to be a vegetarian and a very picky eater but one thing she will never be able to resist is deep-fried goodness like these crispy lentil fritters (paruppu vadai) or masala vadai.
This vadai goes by many different names but is often sold as masala vadai at restaurants, probably because the word masala conjures such pleasant images to people. I tried to make these once before, in my early days of cooking, but unfortunately that attempt went bonkers and the vadai fell apart while frying. I did the mistake of not grinding the batter properly. Anyway, I have finished mourning that mishap and have been wanting to give this another try. This time the masala vadai turned out really well and I was told it tasted great too.
We don't normally add garlic to this but I was inspired to try these with garlic after seeing a recipe on Rak's Kitchen for the same. I do add ground garlic to falafel and pakoda and since the garlic adds an immense depth of flavour, especially to fried food, it got me curious. Those of you who do not wish to use garlic could substitute the garlic with a pinch of asafoetida (hing). The green chilies are optional and could be added if you prefer your masala vadai to be really hot.
1 cup yellow lentils (chana dal)
1 onion
1/2-1 tsp fennel seeds (or powder)
1 1/2 tsp red chili powder
2-3 green chilies (optional)
2 garlic cloves
2 sprigs curry leaves
3/4 to 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
Oil for frying
Rinse and wash the lentils in water 4 times or so until the water becomes clear and then soak the yellow lentils for 4 hours. Finely chop the onion, garlic cloves and the green chilies (if you are adding them). I prefer to cut the curry leaves with a food scissor as well. After 4 hours the lentils should have doubled in size. Drain the lentils. Put away 1/4 of the lentils and grind the remaining with garlic. Alternatively, grind the fennel seeds as well, because they can be a little domineering in flavor as whole. The batter should be ground coarsely with a generous amount of whole lentils. The more whole lentils there are in the vadai, the crunchier the vadai will turn out. So bearing this in mind, don't grind the lentils too much - just enough so as to able to shape them. In a bowl, mix the batter with red chili powder, curry leaves, onion, fennel seeds, salt and green chilies (if you are adding these) and mix/knead well.
Heat the oil needed for frying the vadai. Prepare a plate with tissue or absorbent paper to to drain the excessive oil from the deep-fried vadai and keep aside. Pinch off some batter and shape a small ball out of it and then flatten it out little to resemble a small cookie and carefully place one vadai in the oil. Take care not to splash oil while dropping the vadai into the oil. Also, take care not to drop it from a high altitude so as to avoid splashing hot oil around you. Fry it until it looks crisp on medium heat. Once you have fried the first vadai, taste to check whether the salt level is right. Add some more salt at this stage, if needed, and knead the batter before frying the rest of the vadai. Make sure the oil is really hot when dropping the vadai to get a crispy exterior, then lower the heat to medium so that it gets evenly fried. Serve the vadai warm and crispy with chutney/dip/ketchup or enjoy them just the way they are. Good luck!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Mango curry - Amba maluwa
Monday, April 9, 2012
Egg Thokku - Muttai Thokku
Thokku is a thick and sour curry (it probably derives from the word thokkai which means thick). Thokku is either made from sour vegetables/fruits or tamarind paste (or tomatoes) are added to make it sour. The vegetables are cooked along with spices and without adding any water. You stir-fry the vegetables until the water (from the vegetables) has evaporated. The thokku is lastly layered with a few teaspoons of oil before being sealed. The low water content and the acidity prevents it from being spoilt. And you should always use dry spoon and dry hands when serving or opening thokku. This is an effective way to prepare vegetables and make them last a little longer.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Drumstick curry - Murungai kai curry
At my ancestral home, we had a big murungai tree that would blossom after the monsoon season. I never cared much for ours then - my eyes were always set on the mango trees. It was an old and a most stubborn tree that would only blossom periodically. One day, along with some garden work and for whatever reason, we cut down the twigs and branches of that tree. Even though I had never cared much for it, I was saddened to see the state of that beautiful tree. It was only then that I realized its value. I missed the fragrant white flowers that we would inhale. I missed the shadow that we would take refuge in. And most of all, I missed the sight of these green, thin drumsticks that we would desperately try to fetch by jumping up and down with a long stick.
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In the last couple of years, I've become much more conscience of Warning Labels on products I use. I started thinking about chemicals after my dad died from Lymphoma which is a cancer involving the lymph system. The doctor told me it may have been caused by chemicals my dad was exposed to.
My dad was an aircraft mechanic in the Navy and worked with many nasty petroleum based and other chemicals like ketones, petroleum and synthetic oils, hydraulic fluid, paint, ammonia, etc. Skydrol was one such hydraulic fluid that would strip paint off of metal in seconds. His skin came in contact with these chemicals daily. He breathed the fumes into his lungs. There were no safety measures in the industry back then. These toxic chemicals built up in his system and eventually triggered cancer.
I now read all Warning Labels. Here is a label from a Tile and Grout cleaner from DuPont:
Caution: Maybe harmful if swallowed. May cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation.
Now I don't even change the oil in my car. Petro oil is toxic to humans.
I'm also aware of cleaning products I use in the house like Windex. Read the Warning Label on a bottle of Windex. Windex has Ammonium Hydroxide which is a toxic chemical. Here are some more chemicals in Windex that you may want to be aware of: Hexoxyethanol, Sulfonic Acids, Fragrance, C14-17-SEC-Alkane and Sodium Salts. Any fluid that can come in contact with my skin or lungs is evaluated thoroughly. My household cleaners are now Method. Method cleaners/products are non-toxic, biodegradeable and safe to use. You can buy Method products online and in Target.
While I'm thinking about cleaners, there are some great new gun cleaners out that are non-toxic, biodegradeable and non-flammable. This industry has really forged ahead with bio-friendly or "Green" products. A few of the "green" gun cleaners are Froglube, Fireclean, Otis Bio-CLP, Archoil AR-4200 and M-Pro-7. These products are safe to come in contact with and the fumes are non-toxic. One of these products is even FDA approved…Froglube CLP. You can read more about these products at Gun Cleaning Tips.com.
Fireclean CLP is a interesting non-toxic, biodegradable product that I have used. It has no odor which is really nice. Check it out here…Fireclean CLP Review.
Skin moisturizers get the same screening. No fragrance or alcohols of any kind. Alcohol dries your skin and God only knows what else it does when it gets absorbed in your skin. Fragrances can actually be toxic too. Look for plant based oils like Aloe Vera or vegetable oils. Eucerin is a well known skin moisturizer that is recommended by dermatologists. It has no harsh chemicals in it. Olive Oil is one of the best skin softeners/moisturizers that is 100% safe and natural. It's also cheap.


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Confidence in retirement security is up, according to EBRI's 24th annual Retirement Confidence Survey, but the organization was reluctant to declare victory. Although more Americans reported feeling confident in 2014 than in the last five years, EBRI did not find they're more prepared.
The survey found 37% of Americans are at least somewhat confident about their ability to retire comfortably, with 18% saying they are very confident, up from 13% last year. However, the percentage who said they were not at all confident is statistically unchanged at nearly a quarter, according to the report.
On the bright side (and not very surprising), the survey found confidence is higher among those who participate in a retirement plan, either through their workplace or in an individual account.
"When we compare the shifts in confidence between the 2014 and 2013 surveys, the increase in confidence was almost exclusively among those with a retirement plan," Jack VanDerhei, research director for EBRI, said on a call discussing the results on Tuesday.
However, savings are still low and few respondents reported taking basic steps to prepare for retirement. The survey found 35% of workers have not saved any money at all for retirement, and only 57% are actively saving.
"Beyond participation in a retirement plan, there appeared to be no significant behavioral change to account for the change in confidence," VanDerhei said. "Indeed, many clear warning signs about Americans' lack of preparation for retirement have not changed. In aggregate, workers were no more likely to have done a retirement needs calculation, to have saved for retirement or to report savings amounts significantly larger than that captured in 2013."
Greg Burrows, senior vice president of retirement and investor services for The Principal, spoke about the survey results in an interview with ThinkAdvisor on Monday. He noted how important it is for workers to assess what their actual retirement needs will be, rather than just guessing.
"One thing we look at is the percentage of workers using calculators, and still only about 44% use them, which means over half are still guessing at what their needs are," Burrows said. "Amongst our clients and participants, we find that those who use retirement calculators, 40% of them take positive action and on average they're saving about 40% more."
Almost half of workers without a retirement plan said they were not at all confident about their retirement prospects, compared with about one-tenth of people who do have a plan.
Not only are those without a plan worried about their retirement, they're not showing any improvement. Among workers who have a retirement plan, those who reported feeling very confident nearly doubled from 14% in 2013 to 24% this year, while those without a plan dropped one point to 9%.
The bad news keeps piling up for workers who don't have a retirement plan. EBRI found that almost three-quarters of those who say they or their spouse don't have a plan have less than $1,000 in total assets saved.
Burrows noted that percentage of workers with such meager savings has increased over the past five years by more than 50%. "There's a disconnect between an awareness of the need to save versus the action behind the saving itself," he said. "We'd recommend people really concentrate on understanding their expenses so they can make saving part of their lifestyle and they can think about savings as a consumption item to incorporate in their planning process."
The worst part is workers know they need to save more. More than 20% of workers said they needed to save at least 30% of their income. Almost a quarter of those without a retirement plan said they needed to save at least 50% or that they had no idea how much they should be saving.
EBRI credited the confidence boost to market improvements.
"One possible reason for the improved confidence is the rising stock market and property values, and to the extent that those factors carry forward to retirement savings account balances, there may be merit to that assessment," VanDerhei said.
Mathew Greenwald, president of Mathew Greenwald & Associates, which conducted the survey for EBRI, agreed with the assessment that economic improvements drive investors' optimism. "It appears that people make some assumptions about how financially secure they will be in the future based on how well the economy is performing now," he said on the call. However, "with economic conditions being somewhat cyclical, this obviously is not a good way of making judgments or predictions about the future."
There were the same familiar obstacles to saving—cost of living, day-to-day expenses—but the study found debt is another major impediment. Of workers who said debt was a major problem for them, just 3% said they are very confident about their ability to retire. By comparison, 29% of workers who said debt was not a problem reported feeling very confident.
Debt affects retirees, too. Forty-four percent of retirees said they were uncomfortable with their level of debt. Nearly 60% of workers agreed.
Burrows urged advisors to work with their clients on a budget to identify where they can cut back and address problems with debt.
"I can't emphasize enough the importance of understanding the expense side of the ledger in order to put yourself in a position to save," he said. "Saving's not an easy thing. It's not unlike a diet. When you start a diet you think about what you eat and monitoring what you do. With more information, people can be in a better position to make decisions that might be helpful to them. It really does start with some of the basics. We understand that the basics can be really hard, but they're really important, especially over the long term."
Another troubling finding in the 2014 survey is that current workers may rely too much on their chances of just working longer if they reach retirement age and don't have enough. Two-thirds of workers said they plan to work for pay in retirement. However, only 27% of retirees said they do so.
"We seem to be in the midst of a redefinition of retirement," Greenwald said. "The biggest shift we have seen in the 24 years we have conducted the Retirement Confidence Survey is the movement of workers toward planning to work later in life."
Greenwald noted that in 1991, 84% of workers planned to retire at 65 or younger, and just 9% planned to work to 70. Now, 50% plan to stop by age 65 and 22% plan to work until at least 70. Furthermore, "Even with the planned delay in retirement, three in four expect that either they or their spouse work for pay after they retire."
Greenwald said that this represents a "change in the very life course" for many people. "The goal of retiring reasonably young and enjoying retirement when they're, as they say, 'young enough to enjoy it' is being replaced by an expectation by many of working to an age that has been considered by many to be fairly old."
That's a consistent theme among workers, too, according to Burrows. "Where advisors can be very helpful when they build a long-term plan is to not necessarily depend on being able to work in retirement as the backbone of their retirement strategy. Let that be a bonus to a retirement strategy." Burrows noted that more than 60% of retirees indicated they couldn't work in retirement for their own personal health reasons or those of a family member.
A Gallup survey conducted last spring found that, on average, current retirees left the work force at 61.
VanDerhei said that with proposals to alter the limits and tax preferences currently provided to workplace plans this year, respondents were asked how they would respond if the law was changed so they could no longer contribute to retirement plans on a pre-tax basis. "Perhaps responding to their already expressed sense of shortfalls or concerns about the future tax environment, two-thirds say they would continue to contribute at their current rates, though 10% indicate they would reduce the amount they contribute and 5% say they would quit contributing altogether," he said.
EBRI released the 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey, conducted in January by Mathew Greenwald & Associates, on Tuesday. The survey is based on information gathered in 20-minute phone interviews with 1,000 working Americans and 501 retirees.


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Cuc Phuong National Park is one of Vietnam's most
important protected areas. Though wildlife has suffered a precipitous in
Vietnam in recent decades, the park's 222 square Km of primary tropical forest
remains home to an amazing variety of animal and plant life: 307 species of
birds, 133 species mammal, 122 species of reptile, 2000 plant species and
Cuc Phuong National Park (1 day- private tour)
Cuc Phuong Tour, Cuc
Phuong bird watching, National Park in Ninh Binh, plants & mammals: Cuc
Phuong National Park is located 100km south of Hanoi in Ninh Binh province. The
park is conveniently located on the route to several tourist attractions,
including Bich Dong Pagoda, Hoa Lu, and Sam Son Beach. It was officially opened
in 1960 as the first national park in Vietnam. Cuc Phuong National Park is
surrounded by several limestone cliffs, the highest being May Bac, meaning
"silver cloud," with a height of 656m. There are plenty of plants and
mammals living in the park. There are an estimated 2,000 different species of
flora and the 450 species fauna account for 38% of the national fauna.
Leaving Hanoi at 7.30.
We drive (2.5 hours) 130km to Cuc Phuong National Park. The park is
surrounded by several limestone cliffs, the highest peak being May Bac, meaning
"silver cloud," with a height of 656m. The Park is one of Vietnam's
most beautiful and important protected areas. The ancient forest contains
almost 2000 species of trees and amongst them lives some amazing and rare
animals including the Clouded leopard, Delacour's Langur, Owston's Civet,
Otters and Asian Black Bears! There are plenty of plants and mammals living in
the park as well.
Upon arrival, we take a
walk around the Primates Rescue Center to learn more about the life of
primates in Vietnam. Later on having lunch at the local restaurant then
continue to drive further into the middle of the national park, stop for a
while to visit the Cave of Prehistoric Man then you will trek around 2
hours to discover the wildlifes, birds, trees...in the park. The high light of
the trek is the visit to 1,000 year old tree. Stop to take pictures and
relax before get back to Hanoi. Tour ends at 17:30.
+ Transport with AC;
+ Lunch and entrance
+ English speaking
Excluded: Beverage,
Personal expenses, Tips for tour guide & drive…


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Preventing loss of life from SADS, Sudden Death
Highlighting cardiac risk in the young through to middle age
Funding lifesaving equipment
Supporting research into SADS
Tel. 01277 811215 E-Mail firstname.lastname@example.com
« StartPrev1234567NextEnd »
|Page 5 of 7
Disclaimer: The primary purpose of this website is for general guidance; those concerned about health issues should speak to their GP for further advice.
Copyright © SADS UK 2011


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Defiant, brave and free, the great abolitionists Thomas Garrett, William Still and Harriet Tubman, along with hundreds of lesser known and nameless opponents of slavery, formed a Corridor of Courage stretching from Maryland's eastern shore through the length of Delaware to Philadelphia and beyond -- making the Underground Railroad a real route to freedom for enslaved Americans before the Civil War.
Winner of the 2002 World Gold Medal!
Whispers of Angels is the recipient of the World Gold Medal for History Programming at the 2002 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival!
Winner of the 2002 Chris Award Statuette!
Whispers of Angels received the highest possible rating in this year's Columbus International Film and Video Festival!
Whispers also received Honorable Mention in the screenwriting category of the 2002 Chris Awards!
Click here to order the award-winning, hour-long documentary program.


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The sixth annual Aberystwyth Ffotomarathon, organised by FfotoAber, held on the weekend of 22-23rd October 2016. Some 70 people took part in the challenge to create 6 photographs to illustrate 6 different themes in 6 hours. The winners were announced at a special awards ceremony at the Morlan Centre in Aberystwyth on the Sunday evening.
The themes were: The other side, 4, Raw, Pattern, Collection and Blue.
Tony Hicklin was announced as the winner for best collection in the camera with removable lenses category while Llio James took the prize for best set taken by fixed lens camera. Kiera Ellis took the prize for the best collection for the category 16 years and under and Charlotte Rigg won for best collection taken on a mobile phone.
The winners for the best photograph for each theme were Samantha Rigg (The other side), Tony Hicklin (4), Tegwen Morris (Raw), Siwan Fflur (Pattern), Wendy Phillips (Collection) and Kaloyan Cholakov (Blue).
Ffotomarathon Aberystwyth
22 Hydref 2016
©keith morris
07710 285968
01970 611106
- Filename
- FfotoMarathon2016_km123.jpg
- Copyright
- ©keith morris 2016 firstname.lastname@example.com
- Image Size
- 1000x667 / 85.8KB
- Contained in galleries
- Aberystwyth FfotoMarathon / Photomarathon 2016


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#15 Halie Proffitt
|Brentwood, Tenn. (David Lipscomb HS)
|Exercise Science
High School: A two-time All-State soccer player from David Lipscomb High School. ...One of the most heavily recruited soccer athletes signed by the program with approximately 30 schools seeking her services. ... Named All-State in 2004 and 2005. ... All-TACA in 2004 and 2005. ...An All-Region selection and All-District selection in 2004 and 2005, ... A three-time team captain in 2004, 2005 and 2006. ...Most Valuable Player for David Lipscomb High School in 2004 and 2005. ...A member of the Tennessee State Olympic Development Team for two years. ...Started her high school career at Franklin High where she was a member of the 2003 State Championship Team. ...As a member of the Tennessee Futbol Club she has been part of a state finalist team in 2003 and 2006 and a State Champion in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. ...In 2004 she scored 29 goals in a season. ...She has scored 54 goals in her career. ...She has 27 career assists. ...She has averaged 1.96 goals per game and .73 assists per game.
Personal: Also excelled academically with membership in the National Honor Society, Who[apos]s Who Among American High School Students and inclusion on the school Honor Roll. ...Plans to major in exercise science. ...Daughter of Dawn and Nathan Proffitt . ...She was coached in soccer at David Lipscomb by her father.


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How PR landed humans on the moon
With so many contributing in so many ways—and each having a unique story to tell—the contractors' PR reps outnumbered the entire NASA staff. Here are the lessons.
"Because without public relations . . . we would have been unable to do it."
-Dr. Wernher von Braun, director of NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center and chief architect of the Apollo Saturn V launch rocket, July 22, 1969
The Apollo program is the largest, and the most important, public relations case study in history.
It's a story that had to be told, but to date had not—and certainly not from the perspective of marketing and PR practitioners. It is a story that could only truly be told while many of the key participants were still alive and willing to be interviewed and share their stories with us for our book "Marketing the Moon."
My co-author Rich Jurek and I had always assumed that NASA had a massive PR machine that drove Apollo. That's the common wisdom, and this position is incorrectly reported in books and articles all too frequently.
What we learned by speaking with half of the men who walked on the moon, NASA public affairs officers, PR representatives from contractors like Boeing and Raytheon, and journalists from outlets like Reuters and the New York Post is that NASA didn't put a man on the moon alone; it was a team effort by NASA, industry, and the media. We're thrilled to showcase this story for the first time and in colorful detail in our book.
Collaborative competition
This is a story that has value today. The idea of government and industry working together to achieve a goal has been lost in the competitive nature of government relations. Indeed, during the Apollo program it was common for industry and government employees to work side by side.
It didn't matter what organization your business card said—they were all on the same team, trying to achieve the same goal. That benefit accrued to the companies that worked on Apollo was part of the goal and the PR people worked to make sure their companies shared the limelight.
During the Apollo program, PR was most often handled by the private contractors and subcontractors of the program, as they had reason not only to get out the story of their involvement in the program, but all to sell their capabilities on both the national and international stages. This was a fascinating partnership between NASA and industry.
A little help from their friends
NASA had a lean public affairs team for such a large government agency; in July 1969, it consisted of only 146 employees in 15 locations nationwide. Therefore, the contractors' public relations representatives became primary sources of information about technical aspects of the Apollo missions for thousands of journalists.
"We knew each other, we talked, and as the program gained momentum in '68 and early '69, all the PR guys got together and tried to figure out how we could carve out a little bit for ourselves and be of assistance to the thousands of journalists around the world who were following the program and coming to Houston for the moon landing," Harold Carr, a public relations representative for Boeing at the time, told us.
Whenever the press had detailed questions about spacecraft design, hardware, or spaceflight subsystems, the answers came from PR representatives from the companies that built the components.
"We sure didn't do the PR job by ourselves," Chuck Biggs, a NASA public affairs officer during Apollo, remarked in an interview with us years later. "We needed representatives from Rockwell, Martin Marietta, and all the other contractors to do the job. By head count, we had more contractors' public relations people than we had NASA employees."
It was a true communications partnership created to tell the Apollo story worldwide through the media.
Seeking recognition and advantage
Naturally, every Apollo contractor hoped their PR efforts would result in positive coverage about their company in the thousands of news stories about the lunar landing. Nearly all were actively engaged in efforts to secure additional government contracts, so favorable press coverage and association with the Apollo program set them apart and gave them an advantage.
To these ends, contractors developed elaborate press kits containing detailed information about each company's role in the program. These printed materials supplemented the in-person expertise available to reporters during the course of the missions.
With all the recent hoopla about how online content serves as a tool for public relations, few people realize that content has been around as a PR tool for more than 50 years. The greatest story never told (until now) about content as a marketing tool is that it helped to deliver humans to the moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s. While everybody is looking for the next big thing in public relations, I found inspiration by going back half a century.
I have a large collection of press kits prepared by the public relations staffs at the major contractors for the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. These press kits provided valuable additional information not found in NASA-issued releases. Reporters and editors working on stories about the lunar landings had access to such documents from more than a hundred manufacturers. I love the artwork and design of the kits.
Guaranteeing that a kit of materials would stand out from the crowd was no easy task. A mere printed release together with press-ready photos tucked inside a pre-printed folder wasn't enough when hundreds of other public relations people were also courting the media and handing out documents. But a creatively produced press kit with well-presented, clear, informative materials often captured attention and led directly to mentions in the media.
First camera on the moon
Hasselblad, the Swedish camera manufacturer, chose to showcase what their product did. In a thick press kit sent to the media and issued at Apollo launches from Apollo 12 onward, the single press release headlined "First Camera on Moon" seems like an afterthought next to the stunning 36-page book of photographs included within the kit.
The book, with an introduction by Victor Hasselblad, features dozens of photographs from the first flights of the lunar module on Apollo 9 and 10 and the first lunar landing of Apollo 11. It demonstrated to reporters in stunning detail precisely what a Hasselblad camera could do and why it was chosen by NASA to document the Apollo missions.
Clearly, if a product was as simple to understand as a camera used on the lunar surface, the manufacturer had an edge getting it mentioned in the media. But most companies weren't in such a position.
For spacecraft hardware manufacturers, capturing the media's attention required a bit more creativity. Realizing that reporters would need to interpret complex data for readers and viewers in accessible language, several contractors included visual representations of esoteric technical information in their press kits.
For example, Grumman included a multi-sheet graphic that dissected its lunar module. A series of cutaways printed on layers of clear acetate sequentially revealed the detailed inner workings of the spacecraft, providing a comprehensible visualization of the LM's construction at the Grumman plant.
Sometimes history is our best guide to the future. The Apollo program was a triumph of public relations as much as it was a feat of engineering. I'm thrilled to tell this story.
David Meerman Scott is an internationally acclaimed strategist. His new book can be found on Amazon.com.
(Image via)
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Ellen's Southern Kitchen and I got off to a great start. Sitting at the bar, I had a nice conversation with what seemed like half the restaurant staff. I drank an ice-cold beer while waiting for my entrees and was alerted to the stuffed jalapeños the kitchen was working on but had not yet added to the menu.
The jalapeños were interesting. Stuffed with large hunks of shrimp and cheese, the peppers had a shoddy cornmeal coating I attributed to a kitchen that was still working out the kinks on a new dish. The peppers themselves, though, were cleaned of their seeds and mild, with a tangy, creamy dip that squelched away any remaining heat. They had the potential to become a great bar snack.
My chicken-fried steak was even better. It was a shame the breading didn't cling to the beef a little better, but what hung on to the tender meat was crisp and unbelievably crunchy. I had to will myself not to mop up the cast-away shards of breading with the gravy that remained on my plate. (I'll admit to indulging the shameful practice for a fork-full or two.)
Ellen's Southern Kitchen
Ellen's Southern Kitchen
1718 N. Market St., 469-206-3339, ellenssouthernkitchen.com. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. $$
Chicken-fried steak $11.49
Meatloaf $10.99
Pork chop $13.49
Fried chicken $10.99
Even though I usually prefer a simple BLT, adding an egg and avocado to a classic hardly seems a crime when it tastes this good. Ellen's version boasted bacon so crisp I went hunting for the extras that fell out of the sandwich, and the yolk became a runny condiment that brought the whole thing together. If it weren't for bland and dry whole-grain bread, the sandwich would have been a real show-stopper. I walked away from the restaurant with a positive impression and a sincere desire to return, even if the location seemed a little odd to me.
Ellen's opened earlier this fall in the West End. Joe Groves, a newcomer to the Dallas restaurant scene, took over the old Heart Attack Grill space, which boasted waitresses dressed as nurses with short skirts, red vinyl booths and the worst burgers you could buy in Dallas. The gimmick didn't work and the burger joint closed not even a year after it opened.
Groves set upon the space with a complete transformation in mind. Black and white wallpaper with an ornate floral print covers the walls, and dark carpet blankets the old tile floors. The bright red booths are gone, replaced by tables and chairs with dark wood and blue seat pans. A large granite bar was installed where the old burger counter used to sit and a warm waitress is there to greet you when you walk through the glossy, jet-black doors.
That's how my second visit started on a cold, blustery winter evening. We were offered our choice of tables in the dimly lit dining room and given an awkward menu printed on loose leaves of paper by a waitress who told us it was her first day.
While our waitress was briefly shadowed by a trainer, it was clear her training was minimal, and her clunky service was in stark contrast to the treatment I received while I sat at the bar. Questions about the menu and drinks were met with blank stares and repeat trips back to the kitchen. It was clear she'd been given an apron and a pad of paper and then turned loose on the restaurant — a significant failing of the management, and an indication of ownership that's still relatively new to the restaurant game.
That's a shame considering the good work chef Russell Mertz is accomplishing back in the kitchen. Mertz used to cook at The Butcher Shop, a steak restaurant in the same neighborhood, before Groves poached him. He's responsible for some respectable dishes that feature scratch cooking, with most components cooked to order, according to Groves.
The menu at Ellen's reads like diner fare with a Southern flare. Breakfast is served all day, complete with eggs any style, more of that crunchy bacon, sausage and hash browns. Customers who want a more substantial morning meal can dive into eggs Benedict, omelets, pancakes and waffles.
For lunch and dinner service, more comfort classics make an appearance. The meatloaf is a dense, rich, flavorful hunk of meat hiding under a thin veil of sweet gravy. The fried chicken is almost as good, boasting a crisp, not-at-all-oily crust that stays put, and the pork chop, while a little dry, is hard to beat considering the prices.
Mertz's food can't compete with the likes of Sissy's Southern Kitchen & Bar or other fancy restaurants with a Southern flair, but it shouldn't have to. The prices are cheap and more on par with what you find at your standard neighborhood diner. Compare Ellen's Southern Kitchen to this caliber of cooking and suddenly the food here shines very brightly.
Most entrees come with a choice of two sides, and the braised greens are one of your best choices. With a subtle tang and huge hunks of ham, the braised greens taste light in contrast to a sometimes heavy menu.
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Smoked macaroni and cheese is another side that deserves some real estate on your plate. The smoke isn't derived from bacon as you might think, but from smoked cheddar cheese that leaves the faintest trace of campfire in the finished dish.
For now, Groves says his breakfast and lunch crowds are his largest, and the office workers who fill his dining room are surely thankful that a restaurant within walking distance of their desks offers affordable plates based on fresh ingredients. In a neighborhood dominated by TGI Friday's and Hooters, getting a meal cooked with some thought behind it can be a tough order. In that vein Ellen's is a great addition to the neighborhood.
There is work to be done if Ellen's is ever to become a worthwhile Friday night destination, though. In addition to service that was less than optimal, the dining room feels a little sparse and minimalist. The color scheme is great, but the décor doesn't come together like all the ingredients in that BLT did. A bookshelf that cuts the dining room in half seems oddly placed and truncates the space instead of integrating with it. That menu sure could use a leather binder, too.
Groves is off to a great start though, and with some tweaks Ellen's is a good contribution to the downtown dining scene. I just hope nothing changes with that chicken-fried steak. It's perfect how it is.


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Hair Tutorial: Messy Bun
I get questions about my messy bun all the time, and I've always been hesitant to do a tutorial. Why? Because this is my lazy go-to – and I never really knew how to do a step by step on how to make your hair into a rat's nest. I tried demonstrating it with photos, but it's really difficult to do your hair in slow-mo and use a remote at the same time. I ended up just doing a video. This is basically just like the easy little bun/ponytail hybrid that every gal has done at some time in her life…just messier. Way messier. It's just the way I like it, because you don't have to worry about upkeep throughout the day. Hope the video helps, but if not…I'll try again;)The volume powder spray I use in the video is: Sachajuan Volume Powder.
p.s. See my past hair tutorial here.
EDIT: I just realized that when I uploaded the video, it cropped a lot of overhead space – you can barely see what I'm doing with my hair! Does anyone know how I can fix this (or if I can upload a full version of it to another site)? Uploaded a new, uncropped version.