Monday, 13 December 2010
-
The Ultimate Gift List for Her
Photo Credit: iStock Photo/xelf
If money is no object and the woman in your life has impeccable taste, lucky you – and lucky her. This Christmas, win her heart with a gift from our ultimate wish list for women, which has everything from sunglasses to a purse to a car; all that's missing is the house. Prices range from just under $700 to more than $46,000, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
Mont Blanc Women’s MB228 Sunglasses
Designed for the snow skier with fashion and function in mind, Mont Blanc sunglasses feature pearlized temple detailing, anti-scratch coating, gradient lenses, comfortable nose pads and excellent craftsmanship. They can be your girl’s for $695.
iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G
The tech-savvy lady in your life will love receiving this delightful multi-touch pad with LED-backlit display. She can experience the web, email, photos and video in a light design that includes plenty of memory. The 64GB iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G will set you back $829.
Coach Hamptons Stitched Suede Flap Carryall
This buttery dark pink-brown suede purse features an intricate stitching pattern, shiny pewter trim and three roomy interior pockets. Open up this limited edition for $898 this Christmas.
Christian Louboutin Simple Botta Patent Boots
There’s nothing simple about the price of these boots, though the design is delightfully unassuming. They’re shiny, black and patent leather, with a 3 3/4-inch heel and, of course, those unmistakable red soles. A pair costs $1,295 at Neiman Marcus.
Gucci Backless Shift Dress
Every girl wants to feel unique and pretty, and the woman in your life will feel all of that and more in this Gucci backless shift dress in 100 percent sable-colored silk crepe. The dress and its detachable leather detail on the back cost $2,100.
Louis Vuitton EOLE 60 Leather Bag
It’s hard to find a jetlagged female celebrity without her Louis Vuitton signature LV monogram weekender bag, whether it’s carrying a small dog or just a neck pillow. Give the woman in your life the gift of traveling in luxury with the EOLE 60, a soft sided canvas leather bag that holds a week’s worth of clothing, for $2,070.
Tiffany Keys Kaleidoscope Key Pendant
A little light blue box says it all. Leave her speechless with the Tiffany Keys Kaleidoscope key pendant, filled with marquise, square and round brilliant diamonds (1.61 carat total weight) and set in platinum. The key is $12,000, and the platinum chain is $325.
BMW Z4
Women want sports cars, too. This one with a six-cylinder engine is light on its feet, fast and gets 30 mpg on the highway. And since 61 percent of its drivers are female, rest assured that women love this hot car. Purchase a coupe or convertible starting at $46,500.
What's your idea of the ultimate gift?
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
-
7 Ways to Use All That Leftover Turkey
Photo Credit: Liquid Library 2004 - 2009
It happens every Thanksgiving – you purchase a 20-pound turkey, but your friends and relatives only eat five pounds of it. Turkey sandwiches are okay the next day, but after a few sandwiches, you really begin to loathe the presence of that bird in the refrigerator at your home.
Liven up your leftovers this year by making something tasty and different. To make your life easier after Thanksgiving, go ahead and pull off all of the meat off the turkey while you’re doing the post-meal kitchen clean-up. Separate it into two containers, one with white meat and one with dark meat, and freeze the amount you won’t use in the next day or two, as that’s how long leftover turkey will keep in the refrigerator. But don’t throw out those bones; you’ll be using those, too.
Turkey stock
Make rich, homemade turkey broth (substitute wherever you would use chicken broth) by breaking the leftover turkey bones into pieces that will fit in a stock pot, and add four carrots, four stalks of celery, one onion (quartered), a head of garlic, halved (you can leave the peel on), two bay leaves, several sprigs of fresh thyme and parsley, one tbsp. salt and 15 whole black peppercorns. Add enough water so that it’s covering the solids by an inch, and bring the water to a simmer over high heat. Simmer the stock for four hours, checking it every 30 minutes for water levels. Add water if the water drops below the solids. Skim any foam off the surface, and drain the liquid into a colander set over a large bowl. Separate into individual freezer containers and freeze.
Turkey tetrazzini
Does anyone have this meal at other times of the year besides November? Regardless, the creamy post-Thanksgiving Day staple is a comfort food on chilly late fall days. To make this casserole, preheat an oven to 375 degrees, and on the stovetop, cook a 16-ounce package of spaghetti noodles according to package directions. In a separate pot, heat half a stick of butter over medium heat and add eight ounces sliced mushrooms. Sauté mushrooms until most of their liquid has evaporated, stir in ¼ cup flour and cook for three minutes. Mix in 3 cups chicken broth and 2 cups milk, cooking until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir in about a cup of parmesan cheese, and remove from the heat. Combine the mushroom mixture with 4 cups chopped, cooked turkey and spaghetti noodles in a greased casserole dish. Top with 2/3 cup parmesan cheese and bake for 30 minutes, until the top is lightly browned.
Turkey and mashed potato croquettes
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups mashed potatoes, 2 cups finely minced leftover turkey, 6 chopped scallions, two eggs, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese and ½ tsp. salt. Form mixture into patties, and dredge patties in one cup seasoned bread crumbs. Heat one half-inch of oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry patties on each side until they are golden brown. Serve hot.
Turkey pot pie
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté 1/2 cup chopped onion in 1/3 cup butter until translucent. Stir in 1/3 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Stream in 1 3/4 cups chicken stock and 2/3 cup milk and simmer over medium-low heat until thickened. Remove from heat, and add in four cups of chopped, cooked turkey and one package of frozen mixed vegetables (thawed). In a measuring cup, stir together 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour, 1 1/2 tbsp. melted butter and 1 cup milk, and pour this over the casserole. Drizzle 1/2 stick melted butter over and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
Turkey salad
Combine 2 cups cooked, chopped turkey with two chopped scallions, ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1 tsp. lemon juice and 1 tsp. salt. Serve on whole-grain bread or salad greens.
Turkey chili
Sauté one finely chopped onion over medium heat in 2 tbsp. olive oil until onions are translucent. Add two cloves chopped garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in 3 cups shredded, cooked turkey, two 14.5-ounce can crushed tomatoes, 1 cup chicken broth, two cans of black beans (drained and rinsed), 1 can chopped green chilies, 1 cup frozen corn kernels, 2 tbsp. tomato paste, 2 tbsp. chili powder, 1 tbsp. ground cumin, 1 tsp. dried oregano, 1 tbsp. salt and 1 1/2 tsp. black pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for one hour. Salt to taste, adding a square or two of milk chocolate to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes. Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onion, crushed corn chips and/or sour cream.
Turkey stew
In a large Dutch oven, combine one quart turkey stock with one medium yellow onion, two stalks celery, two medium carrots, three parsnips, one medium rutabaga and three peeled medium Yukon Gold potatoes (all vegetables should be roughly chopped). Add 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. thyme. Bring mixture to a simmer and let cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes, until vegetables are fork-tender. Add 2-3 cups chopped turkey and heat through. Season to taste.
What's your favorite dish to make with Thanksgiving leftovers?
Monday, 18 October 2010
-
Best Cookie Recipes for National Cookie Month
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Everywhere you look, cookies are present at major moments in life: Children leave cookies and milk for Santa Claus at Christmas; people make decorated sugar cookies for any holiday; and chocolate chip cookies are one of the ultimate comfort foods. Few bad days can’t be cured with a spoonful of cookie dough, and you can either make it from scratch at home, add a few ingredients to a mix, slice it off a roll or find it in multiple ice cream flavors.
By definition, a cookie is a small, flat baked dessert, and its name is derived from the Dutch word koekie, which means “little cake.” In honor of October being National Cookie Month, whip up a batch of the best cookies and pour yourself a tall glass of milk.
Best Frosted Sugar Cookie
What: The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies from AllRecipes.com
Why: This rolled sugar cookie is perfect for cutting out with cookie cutters for holidays, sporting events and kids’ birthday parties. The frosting recipe is in the notes above the recipe.
Best Chocolate Chip Cookie
What: Award Winning Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies from AllRecipes.com
Why: If you’ve ever made chocolate chip cookies that were too crunchy or thin, this recipe is for you. The addition of instant pudding in the mix adds flavor and keeps the cookies soft, though you might want to add two tsp. baking powder and ½ tsp. salt to bring out more of the flavor while keeping the cookies balanced.
Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
What: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Food.com
Why: This oatmeal cookie recipe differs from the original Quaker Oats one in that it has more brown sugar, vanilla and raisins, which mean more flavor in every bite.
Best Biscotti
What: Holiday Biscotti from Giada De Laurentiis via FoodNetwork.com
Why: These crunchy, twice-baked cookies already have great flavor from the pistachios and dried cranberries mixed into the batter, and then they’re dipped in white chocolate for even more luscious taste.
Best Gingerbread Cookie
What: Gingerbread Men from JoyofBaking.com
Why: These cookies call for unsulphured molasses with four spices – ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves – for spicy taste that sets them apart from the rest.
Best Unusual Cookie
What: Butterscotch Cookies from SimplyRecipes.com
Why: One can’t go wrong with brown sugar and melted butter in a nutty, rich cookie. The salt on top perfectly contrasts the sweetness in this unusual, delightfully crunchy cookie.
Best Store Bought Cookie Dough
What: Pillsbury Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Why: Rich, noticeable chocolate combine with vanilla and brown sugar in this delightful dough. The dough tastes great, and the cookies cook evenly with just the right amount of chewiness and melted chocolate running throughout.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
-
Inexpensive Ways to Say Thank You on National Boss Day
Saturday, Oct. 16 is National Boss Day, the day desk jockeys everywhere scramble to find something interesting-yet-appropriate to give their bosses to show them they care.
Begun as a grassroots movement in 1958 by an Illinois secretary, National Boss Day became an official holiday in 1962. Today, National Boss Day always falls on October 16 and is typically celebrated with gifts, greeting cards and extra-nice treatment in honor of the Big Cheese.
Since National Boss Day falls on a Saturday this year, plan to do something for your boss the day before or Monday after. According to etiquette expert Emily Post, try not to give individual gifts to avoid the perception that you’re trying to gain special favor with your supervisor or manager. Instead, have all employees pool their money, and purchase a group gift instead. If you don’t know how to say you care as a group, here are some gift suggestions.
Say it with food
With a group of coworkers, take your boss to lunch for National Boss Day, or arrange a potluck lunch in your boss’s honor. Send a fruit or cookie arrangement to your boss’s desk, or purchase a box of local candies (try to stay away from romantic-looking boxes of chocolate). Or, you could all chip in and purchase a gift card to your boss’s favorite restaurant, so he or she can take his or her spouse out to dinner. Stay away from baking your boss a cake or anything that looks like you’re trying to gain special favor with him or her.
Say it with drinks
If your boss is a coffee or tea fanatic, put together a basket with a ceramic mug, travel mug, high-end tea sachets or several varieties of locally roasted coffee and a gift card to a nearby coffee or tea shop. Ask a barista which coffee or teas are best if you don’t know. If you feel comfortable and know what type of liquor your boss prefers, you could also purchase his or her favorite liquor, to help your boss unwind (at home) after a long day. Just be sure to put it in a bag that completely conceals it so he doesn’t get in trouble with his peers or boss.
Say it with sports or music
Try to connect with your boss through the sport or sound he or she loves most. If your boss is a golfer, purchase a supply of high-quality golf balls or a monogrammed golf club cover. For football fans, buy a team-themed mug and put it in a gift basket with other fan gear, such as a pen, leather key chain, portable fan, koozies and hand-painted team platter or chip ‘n dip tray. You could also include tickets to a sporting event or concert
Say it with something live
No, don’t give your boss a puppy; instead, give him a plant or her a flower arrangement with a nice card signed by everyone. Since many claim National Boss Day is a “Hallmark Holiday,” i.e., a holiday created by greeting card companies to increase sales, you’ll have no trouble finding appropriate boss-themed potted plants from online flower delivery companies.
Say it with something plastic
When all else fails – that is, when you can’t think of anything personalized to give your boss – give him or her a gift card to a nice restaurant, the iTunes Store, his or her favorite store or a mall chain. The mall chain idea might be the best if you don’t know much about your boss; then your boss can pick out whatever they want in the privacy of their own shopping trip.
What will you do to show your boss you care?
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
-
Peach Month Recipes for August and September
Photo Credit: iStockPhoto: JenD
August is Peach Month, thanks to the wealth of peach fruits harvested during the month. During August, peaches are at their sweetest taste and lowest price.
Closely related to almonds, peaches are rumored in China to cause long life, perhaps because of their low-calorie count, potassium and Vitamin C. You will usually see two varieties in your grocery store, white-fleshed and yellow-fleshed. White-fleshed peaches are usually sweet with little acidity, while yellow-fleshed peaches typically have an acidic tang plus sweetness.
Delicious eaten all by themselves (but you might want to eat them over a sink, as they’re pretty juicy), peaches are also wonderful when sliced and drizzled with cream or frozen and blended into refreshing peach slushies. You could also make a quick peach milkshake by blending vanilla ice cream, two peeled, sliced peaches and a little milk.
Georgia is known as the Peach State, for producing 130 million peaches per year, in 40 varieties, though South Carolina leads the country in peach production. Whether you live in Georgia or not, if you find yourself with a few or dozens of peaches on hand, whip up one or all of the recipes below, designed to make peaches, a delicious stone fruit, shine.
Peach Ice Cream (AllRecipes.com)
Ingredients:
6 eggs, beaten
3 1/2 cups white sugar
10 fresh peaches, pitted and chopped
4 cups heavy cream
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:
In large bowl, mix together eggs and sugar until smooth; puree peaches in blender or food processor and stir 5 cups of puree into egg mixture. Stir in cream, half-and-half, vanilla and salt and mix well.
Pour mixture into freezer canister of ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.
Peach Cobbler (FoodNetwork.com
Ingredients:
4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup water
8 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/2 cups milk
Ground cinnamon, optional
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the peaches, 1 cup sugar, and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Put the butter in a 3-quart baking dish and place in oven to melt.
Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk slowly to prevent clumping. Pour mixture over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon, if using. Batter will rise to top during baking. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.
To serve, scoop onto a plate and serve with your choice of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Peach Crisp (AllRecipes.com)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup honey-sweetened granola
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
5 cups fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a medium bowl, combine the oats, granola, 3 tablespoons flour, and brown sugar. Cut in the 1/4 cup butter until crumbly.
Place peach slices in an 8-inch square baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Scatter the oat mixture over the peaches. Sprinkle top with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and pecans. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Recommended
-
weblog entry from dollarish@dollarish
