Get in the spirit: It’s OK to shop now
As promised, here is Stocking Stuffer Report Part II, offering goodies to lift your spirits this holiday season:
Organize your shopping strategy
I may be weird to think the gift of organization is cool, but I’m excited about what’s up with Expo, the dry erase board leaders. Our staff is currently writing inspirational quotes on our board and some go through the trouble to draw a little image. I’ve stumbled into Expo click, a retractable version of the popular pen with low odor. I confess, I kind of liked the odor, but sensitive people should really be able to tell the difference. I like the starter kit with markers, a bottle of cleaner and an eraser. Think teacher gifts. With a pack like this, you’re ready to get the word out.
Pop fun
My current calorie-counting strategy for the holidays is to eat anything offered to me at parties, and eat popcorn every night. I could do that a long time, really. Walmart is offering $15 appliances designed to be hostess gifts, buy you may want to check out the slider grill, George Forman Quesadilla Maker or Mr. Coffee Cocomotion hot chocolate machine for yourself. I’m in love with the Presto Air Popper that is so powerful you must be warned to keep children away and avoid metal bowls that could burn you from the piping hot corn. I’d been making do with an ancient air popper, and find this one has a butter melter on top (oh, joy!). My variations have included olive oil, coconut oil and palm sugar and Chick Magnet Southwest Chicken Rub from Denny Mike’s BahBQue Made in Maine line. DennyMike also has a pungent slatherin’ sauce that comes in a flask-shaped bottle, which actually does fit in a stocking.
Cup double take
Seeing is not believing when it comes to the new Eco Cup. DCI makes I am Not a Paper Cup, an earth-friendly insulated travel mug that looks like what it proclaims not to be. The white porcelain cup with a silicone lid looks like a coffee house paper disposable. When you go to pick it up, it’s heavy. This makes people smile. It reminds me of a movie I saw about a bagel paperweight. I have the new DCI Eco Cup that has a brown band around the mug. It looks even more real, but you can help the earth using it again and again, while you get curious inquiries.
Reindeer udder?
A cow is on Dr. Hess Udder Ointment labels, but perhaps Santa’s reindeer could also get relief from chapped skin with this product that has been around about 100 years. When the company discontinued it, they found farmers and fans, who used the balm on their hands, wouldn’t let them stop, so now Dr. Hess has released a Baby Butts label for diaper rash. This past year Udder Sticks became available for on-the-go healing. Soldiers in Iraq are using it for dry skin and chapped lips and it’s also good for winter cuticle protection. Chemotherapy patients are also getting Dr. Hess’ relief. Over the years makers have added vitamin E and jojoba oil. This product goes on thick and has a bit of a grandma smell, but that’s comfort balm like you want working on you this winter.
“Return to Sawyerton Springs”
By Andy Andrews
I do seem to recall hearing Andy Andrews as a comic. Now I associate him with good, old-fashioned Americana, and that is a compliment in these troubled times. This book features tales from his Alabama childhood, with anecdotes about the time he asked his pastor father to borrow the car. Dad said he could, when he got a haircut. Andy reminded him that Jesus had long hair, and pops reminded his son that Jesus walked everywhere.
Andrews also as authored “The Traveler’s Gift” and “The Noticer,” which remind readers to shift perspective on what’s important in life.
Juan and the Jackalope
By Rudolfo Anaya, illustrated by Amy Cordova
What would a hero do to get rhubarb pie with frijoles and ice cream? The author based his race tale on stories from his uncle Juan in New Mexico, but the story takes a Texas turn. If you’ve heard any Mexican folklore, you’ll love this modern take on La Llorona, Kookooee and others. It starts off with a gathering of the children: “I’ll tell you a tale. You can read it now or check your e-mail.”
Senior yoga
I’m in awe of the fit senior citizens at the Port Arthur YMCA and admire their willingness to work to stay flexible and fit.
Seniors just starting out an exercise plan at home can use chairs for stability in Peggy Cappy’s CD “Yoga for the Rest of Us.”
It’s not that I ever did laugh at yoga, but I sure won’t now that I’ve tried “Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga.” Sure it’s slow and steady, but if you do it right you can even feel a good, deep breath. She goes through the poses real slow like, so you can keep the pace. I’m not bendy enough for some of them, but I can tell that I could be, with just a tad of Cappy’s motivation. It’s simple stuff, and I enjoyed interviews at the end with students sharing the good energy and mobility they gained from yoga.
ddoiron@panews.com
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving flavors part of a trend
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers. I hope you are eating well.
I shared McCormick’s Flavor Forecast pairing predictions earlier. There’s still time to incorporate them into your holiday meal. Here’s how I’ve been enjoying some of them, including vanilla and red food coloring:
Warm spices & pumpkin: I’ve taken tips to stir canned pumpkin into oatmeal and smoothies and add McCormick’s Pumpkin Pie spice right in. It gives you the holiday flavor without so many calories.
Ginger & molasses, baked into Amish Friendship bread. I substituted sugar for the rich, gooey molasses and it smelled so good a neighbor came and got a bite.
Nutmeg & Rum: Think eggnog truffles, or again, I’m trying McCormick imitation rum for a breakfast smoothie with banana.
Peppermint & chocolate: My grandmother always said peppermint soothes the stomach. I felt much better after mixing mint extract into Ghirardelli chocolate chips. I didn’t have a plan on what to put this mixture on, so I just enjoyed it from the spoon.
A timely gift:
My family quizzed me with culinary flash cards. Ghigo Press has three amazing calendars on coffee, spices and wine grapes and extremely helpful cards with artful photography on one side and history, tips and pairings on the other. I aced the spices test, but got tripped up by the beautiful photos. I’d never considered lemongrass from the extreme root close up or worked with such a well-lighted expanse of wasabi in green powder form. I love the spices best, but had most to learn from the grape shots. From Aglianico to Zinfandel, they all look different. I learned that my fave, merlot, is named from “merle,” French for “blackbird.” Foodies will love the calendars all year long and the cards for even longer.
An idea from the coffee cards is to make layered ice pops to stick into a martinia glass of crushed ice. A presentation like that will show a guest you care.
Juiced up
Next time, I may try a mint, purple onion and pomegranate salsa.
I’ve been looking forward to daily “shots” of Naturally Pomegranate drink from Agrolabs. We’ve been hearing for years how good this antioxidant is for you and this blend is a particularly delicious one that’s good in tea, straight up or in a cocktail. It comes in a 16-ounce bottle and it’s a good thing I’ve learned to read labels: the bottle is 16 servings.
Chicken soup season
Spoonful of Comfort is “made and sent with love to warm your heart.” This company is sending a pickle-jar sized package of soup, rolls and cookies to your door, which could be especially valuable as the nation focuses on flu. My mother, who has been making soup for decades, found the soup especially flavorful and appreciated the “chewy” wide noodles. I have to say, the yellow and white polkadot ribbons around the packages sure did perk up the delivery. The Florida company doesn’t use additives or preservatives. www.spoonfulofcomfort.com
ddoiron@panews.com
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers. I hope you are eating well.
I shared McCormick’s Flavor Forecast pairing predictions earlier. There’s still time to incorporate them into your holiday meal. Here’s how I’ve been enjoying some of them, including vanilla and red food coloring:
Warm spices & pumpkin: I’ve taken tips to stir canned pumpkin into oatmeal and smoothies and add McCormick’s Pumpkin Pie spice right in. It gives you the holiday flavor without so many calories.
Ginger & molasses, baked into Amish Friendship bread. I substituted sugar for the rich, gooey molasses and it smelled so good a neighbor came and got a bite.
Nutmeg & Rum: Think eggnog truffles, or again, I’m trying McCormick imitation rum for a breakfast smoothie with banana.
Peppermint & chocolate: My grandmother always said peppermint soothes the stomach. I felt much better after mixing mint extract into Ghirardelli chocolate chips. I didn’t have a plan on what to put this mixture on, so I just enjoyed it from the spoon.
A timely gift:
My family quizzed me with culinary flash cards. Ghigo Press has three amazing calendars on coffee, spices and wine grapes and extremely helpful cards with artful photography on one side and history, tips and pairings on the other. I aced the spices test, but got tripped up by the beautiful photos. I’d never considered lemongrass from the extreme root close up or worked with such a well-lighted expanse of wasabi in green powder form. I love the spices best, but had most to learn from the grape shots. From Aglianico to Zinfandel, they all look different. I learned that my fave, merlot, is named from “merle,” French for “blackbird.” Foodies will love the calendars all year long and the cards for even longer.
An idea from the coffee cards is to make layered ice pops to stick into a martinia glass of crushed ice. A presentation like that will show a guest you care.
Juiced up
Next time, I may try a mint, purple onion and pomegranate salsa.
I’ve been looking forward to daily “shots” of Naturally Pomegranate drink from Agrolabs. We’ve been hearing for years how good this antioxidant is for you and this blend is a particularly delicious one that’s good in tea, straight up or in a cocktail. It comes in a 16-ounce bottle and it’s a good thing I’ve learned to read labels: the bottle is 16 servings.
Chicken soup season
Spoonful of Comfort is “made and sent with love to warm your heart.” This company is sending a pickle-jar sized package of soup, rolls and cookies to your door, which could be especially valuable as the nation focuses on flu. My mother, who has been making soup for decades, found the soup especially flavorful and appreciated the “chewy” wide noodles. I have to say, the yellow and white polkadot ribbons around the packages sure did perk up the delivery. The Florida company doesn’t use additives or preservatives. www.spoonfulofcomfort.com
ddoiron@panews.com
Monday, November 23, 2009
Silver soap, crystal-charge polish remover among seasonal beauty finds
Don’t be jealous of the French. America has just started selling L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin, what the company calls “a legendary hairspray used by hairstylists around the world.” When I saw the gold can and the stylized woman drawn on the label, it reminded me of products my mother used in the ‘70s. It smelled and felt that way, too. My daughter actually asked if the can was “vintage.” I agreed it looked old school, but it’s L’Oréal, so I trust it. I agree that the micro-diffusion allows for even application and appreciate its “humidity protection.” Makers say it has an “ultra-fine formula that provides exceptional hold and disappears at the stroke of a brush, leaving hair clean and shiny with a satin touch. “ I just wish I’d tried it before my walk along the Port Arthur sea wall.
Read on for more seasonal beauty finds:
Silver in the soap
I’ve tasted silver in Indian candies, now it’s in Cor’s high-end facial cleansers with a patented formula of nano-silver with silica. Silver is in the beauty news as an antibacterial agent. Who knew? I tried a tiny sample bar that looks clear and foams up a storm. The nano means tiny, so it doesn’t look silver, but I like it. The expensive soap is designed to last a long time, but save money on multiple products, because you massage in the foam and it “revives, plumps, tones, balances, deep cleans and heals surface skin.
Organic and charged
The tinkle you hear from the green burlap bag sounds like fairies. It’s Reiki charged quartz crystals inside the G2 Organics Nail Polish Remover. It’s non-toxic and odorless and 95 percent organic. To me this means a tad more elbow grease in the removal process, but it’s worth it. To the Japanese, reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing, and a sense of well being. Aloe vera extract and Vitamin E, butyl diglycol (derived from corn), an embittering agent, and ethyl alcohol (derived from grain) get the color off your nails and the bottle look alone is a mood booster and conversation piece.
In-your-face caviar
Caviar is my must-have indulgence for New Year’s Eve. I can start early with what Pevonia Botanica calls Ligne Myoxy-Caviar offering “timeless rejuvenation.” Little sample tubes of balm cleanser, repair cream and hand and foot cream smell great and make my skin feel “expensive.”
Oh, baby
I don’t know who decided what baby products should smell like, but they all seem the same. Jenerations Baby has a slightly different take of freshness with a line of organic body and hair care products for babies and children labeled “for good boys and girls.” That’s me, too. Salon owner Jennifer Reilly developed it to perform to salon standards, and babies are getting more choosy all the time. Parents choose to offer their precious cargo no sulfates, parabens or tea tree oil and lavender which scientists say could disrupt a child’s hormone levels, I’ve heard. Reilly’s eldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, to create a safer product. A percentage of proceeds go to Asperger’s education and research. I’ve tried the sensitive shampoo and no-tangles shine-enhancing conditioner with success on myself. I reckon babies will like it, too.
Sweet scrub
I reiterate my theory that there’s a sugar scrub treatment on your first night in heaven. The scented scratch from the sugar and scented oil is surely something Cleopatra coveted in her beauty ritual. Tree Hut Certified Organic Shea Sugar Body Scrubs. There’s always a catch. It’s recommended you use this simply two to three times a week to smooth sun-damaged skin and even the skin tone. I’ll try not to take several baths a day just to get to the scrub, accented with safflower, evening primrose and avocado oil. Walmart is a supplier of the line, which has scents ranging from Almond and Honey, Brazilian Nut and Coconut Lime to Hawaiian Kukui, Original Shea and Tahitian Grass. I’m keeping Tree Hut’s new shea hydrating Brazilian nut body splash at my desk to change my mood. It smells like a brown sugar drink with a dark liquor and quickly transports my mind to a vacation spot. Shea is the stuff for winter’s chapped skin. Tree Hut’s ingredients also include Hawaiian Kukui nut oil and coconut shells imported from the Polynesian Islands.
Drink to your skin
I tried little samples of Sibu Beauty, featuring antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn. These superfruits remind me of the fruits in local palms. There was a tiny soap, little packets of cleanser and something unexpected. A shot. That’s right, you drink it. I put it one of my tiny curved glasses and pretended I was at a spa. Good stuff. To learn more, visit www.sibubeauty.com.
Power bath
Joyful Bath Co. has a chief bath mixologist and her instructions on her daily 5-minute power bath include slipping in as the tub fills to half way, and letting your exposed skin breath. Salt is a natural anti-bacterial, so don’t shower afterwards, she says, if using something like the company’s ‘Nilla Buttermilk or Citrus Buzz. My faves are Green Tea Glee and Ginger Snap, but please, consider having Asian food on hand, because this could cause cravings. For these, I suggest scrubbing the power bath for a much longer version.
From this joyful experience I also learned some packing peanuts are made from cornstarch, and can also go in your bath.
Cleanliness is beautiful
The multi-taskers at Vermont Soap Organics put a cool trigger on their Liquid Sunshine Spray & Wipe all-purpose cleaner that cleans people as well as my favorite leather bag, cars and pets, and everything will smell amazing, too. The company has released Lemongrass Zen foaming hand soap that makes my day and Produce Magic, a spray designed to make all the oranges in your Christmas stocking taste better with a wash of coconut, olive, aloe vera, rosemary and more. I’m enjoying being green.
ddoiron@panews.com
Don’t be jealous of the French. America has just started selling L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin, what the company calls “a legendary hairspray used by hairstylists around the world.” When I saw the gold can and the stylized woman drawn on the label, it reminded me of products my mother used in the ‘70s. It smelled and felt that way, too. My daughter actually asked if the can was “vintage.” I agreed it looked old school, but it’s L’Oréal, so I trust it. I agree that the micro-diffusion allows for even application and appreciate its “humidity protection.” Makers say it has an “ultra-fine formula that provides exceptional hold and disappears at the stroke of a brush, leaving hair clean and shiny with a satin touch. “ I just wish I’d tried it before my walk along the Port Arthur sea wall.
Read on for more seasonal beauty finds:
Silver in the soap
I’ve tasted silver in Indian candies, now it’s in Cor’s high-end facial cleansers with a patented formula of nano-silver with silica. Silver is in the beauty news as an antibacterial agent. Who knew? I tried a tiny sample bar that looks clear and foams up a storm. The nano means tiny, so it doesn’t look silver, but I like it. The expensive soap is designed to last a long time, but save money on multiple products, because you massage in the foam and it “revives, plumps, tones, balances, deep cleans and heals surface skin.
Organic and charged
The tinkle you hear from the green burlap bag sounds like fairies. It’s Reiki charged quartz crystals inside the G2 Organics Nail Polish Remover. It’s non-toxic and odorless and 95 percent organic. To me this means a tad more elbow grease in the removal process, but it’s worth it. To the Japanese, reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing, and a sense of well being. Aloe vera extract and Vitamin E, butyl diglycol (derived from corn), an embittering agent, and ethyl alcohol (derived from grain) get the color off your nails and the bottle look alone is a mood booster and conversation piece.
In-your-face caviar
Caviar is my must-have indulgence for New Year’s Eve. I can start early with what Pevonia Botanica calls Ligne Myoxy-Caviar offering “timeless rejuvenation.” Little sample tubes of balm cleanser, repair cream and hand and foot cream smell great and make my skin feel “expensive.”
Oh, baby
I don’t know who decided what baby products should smell like, but they all seem the same. Jenerations Baby has a slightly different take of freshness with a line of organic body and hair care products for babies and children labeled “for good boys and girls.” That’s me, too. Salon owner Jennifer Reilly developed it to perform to salon standards, and babies are getting more choosy all the time. Parents choose to offer their precious cargo no sulfates, parabens or tea tree oil and lavender which scientists say could disrupt a child’s hormone levels, I’ve heard. Reilly’s eldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, to create a safer product. A percentage of proceeds go to Asperger’s education and research. I’ve tried the sensitive shampoo and no-tangles shine-enhancing conditioner with success on myself. I reckon babies will like it, too.
Sweet scrub
I reiterate my theory that there’s a sugar scrub treatment on your first night in heaven. The scented scratch from the sugar and scented oil is surely something Cleopatra coveted in her beauty ritual. Tree Hut Certified Organic Shea Sugar Body Scrubs. There’s always a catch. It’s recommended you use this simply two to three times a week to smooth sun-damaged skin and even the skin tone. I’ll try not to take several baths a day just to get to the scrub, accented with safflower, evening primrose and avocado oil. Walmart is a supplier of the line, which has scents ranging from Almond and Honey, Brazilian Nut and Coconut Lime to Hawaiian Kukui, Original Shea and Tahitian Grass. I’m keeping Tree Hut’s new shea hydrating Brazilian nut body splash at my desk to change my mood. It smells like a brown sugar drink with a dark liquor and quickly transports my mind to a vacation spot. Shea is the stuff for winter’s chapped skin. Tree Hut’s ingredients also include Hawaiian Kukui nut oil and coconut shells imported from the Polynesian Islands.
Drink to your skin
I tried little samples of Sibu Beauty, featuring antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn. These superfruits remind me of the fruits in local palms. There was a tiny soap, little packets of cleanser and something unexpected. A shot. That’s right, you drink it. I put it one of my tiny curved glasses and pretended I was at a spa. Good stuff. To learn more, visit www.sibubeauty.com.
Power bath
Joyful Bath Co. has a chief bath mixologist and her instructions on her daily 5-minute power bath include slipping in as the tub fills to half way, and letting your exposed skin breath. Salt is a natural anti-bacterial, so don’t shower afterwards, she says, if using something like the company’s ‘Nilla Buttermilk or Citrus Buzz. My faves are Green Tea Glee and Ginger Snap, but please, consider having Asian food on hand, because this could cause cravings. For these, I suggest scrubbing the power bath for a much longer version.
From this joyful experience I also learned some packing peanuts are made from cornstarch, and can also go in your bath.
Cleanliness is beautiful
The multi-taskers at Vermont Soap Organics put a cool trigger on their Liquid Sunshine Spray & Wipe all-purpose cleaner that cleans people as well as my favorite leather bag, cars and pets, and everything will smell amazing, too. The company has released Lemongrass Zen foaming hand soap that makes my day and Produce Magic, a spray designed to make all the oranges in your Christmas stocking taste better with a wash of coconut, olive, aloe vera, rosemary and more. I’m enjoying being green.
ddoiron@panews.com
Silver soap, crystal-charge polish remover among seasonal beauty finds
Don’t be jealous of the French. America has just started selling L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin, what the company calls “a legendary hairspray used by hairstylists around the world.” When I saw the gold can and the stylized woman drawn on the label, it reminded me of products my mother used in the ‘70s. It smelled and felt that way, too. My daughter actually asked if the can was “vintage.” I agreed it looked old school, but it’s L’Oréal, so I trust it. I agree that the micro-diffusion allows for even application and appreciate its “humidity protection.” Makers say it has an “ultra-fine formula that provides exceptional hold and disappears at the stroke of a brush, leaving hair clean and shiny with a satin touch. “ I just wish I’d tried it before my walk along the Port Arthur sea wall.
Read on for more seasonal beauty finds:
Silver in the soap
I’ve tasted silver in Indian candies, now it’s in Cor’s high-end facial cleansers with a patented formula of nano-silver with silica. Silver is in the beauty news as an antibacterial agent. Who knew? I tried a tiny sample bar that looks clear and foams up a storm. The nano means tiny, so it doesn’t look silver, but I like it. The expensive soap is designed to last a long time, but save money on multiple products, because you massage in the foam and it “revives, plumps, tones, balances, deep cleans and heals surface skin.
Organic and charged
The tinkle you hear from the green burlap bag sounds like fairies. It’s Reiki charged quartz crystals inside the G2 Organics Nail Polish Remover. It’s non-toxic and odorless and 95 percent organic. To me this means a tad more elbow grease in the removal process, but it’s worth it. To the Japanese, reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing, and a sense of well being. Aloe vera extract and Vitamin E, butyl diglycol (derived from corn), an embittering agent, and ethyl alcohol (derived from grain) get the color off your nails and the bottle look alone is a mood booster and conversation piece.
In-your-face caviar
Caviar is my must-have indulgence for New Year’s Eve. I can start early with what Pevonia Botanica calls Ligne Myoxy-Caviar offering “timeless rejuvenation.” Little sample tubes of balm cleanser, repair cream and hand and foot cream smell great and make my skin feel “expensive.”
Oh, baby
I don’t know who decided what baby products should smell like, but they all seem the same. Jenerations Baby has a slightly different take of freshness with a line of organic body and hair care products for babies and children labeled “for good boys and girls.” That’s me, too. Salon owner Jennifer Reilly developed it to perform to salon standards, and babies are getting more choosy all the time. Parents choose to offer their precious cargo no sulfates, parabens or tea tree oil and lavender which scientists say could disrupt a child’s hormone levels, I’ve heard. Reilly’s eldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, to create a safer product. A percentage of proceeds go to Asperger’s education and research. I’ve tried the sensitive shampoo and no-tangles shine-enhancing conditioner with success on myself. I reckon babies will like it, too.
Sweet scrub
I reiterate my theory that there’s a sugar scrub treatment on your first night in heaven. The scented scratch from the sugar and scented oil is surely something Cleopatra coveted in her beauty ritual. Tree Hut Certified Organic Shea Sugar Body Scrubs. There’s always a catch. It’s recommended you use this simply two to three times a week to smooth sun-damaged skin and even the skin tone. I’ll try not to take several baths a day just to get to the scrub, accented with safflower, evening primrose and avocado oil. Walmart is a supplier of the line, which has scents ranging from Almond and Honey, Brazilian Nut and Coconut Lime to Hawaiian Kukui, Original Shea and Tahitian Grass. I’m keeping Tree Hut’s new shea hydrating Brazilian nut body splash at my desk to change my mood. It smells like a brown sugar drink with a dark liquor and quickly transports my mind to a vacation spot. Shea is the stuff for winter’s chapped skin. Tree Hut’s ingredients also include Hawaiian Kukui nut oil and coconut shells imported from the Polynesian Islands.
ddoiron@panews.com
Don’t be jealous of the French. America has just started selling L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin, what the company calls “a legendary hairspray used by hairstylists around the world.” When I saw the gold can and the stylized woman drawn on the label, it reminded me of products my mother used in the ‘70s. It smelled and felt that way, too. My daughter actually asked if the can was “vintage.” I agreed it looked old school, but it’s L’Oréal, so I trust it. I agree that the micro-diffusion allows for even application and appreciate its “humidity protection.” Makers say it has an “ultra-fine formula that provides exceptional hold and disappears at the stroke of a brush, leaving hair clean and shiny with a satin touch. “ I just wish I’d tried it before my walk along the Port Arthur sea wall.
Read on for more seasonal beauty finds:
Silver in the soap
I’ve tasted silver in Indian candies, now it’s in Cor’s high-end facial cleansers with a patented formula of nano-silver with silica. Silver is in the beauty news as an antibacterial agent. Who knew? I tried a tiny sample bar that looks clear and foams up a storm. The nano means tiny, so it doesn’t look silver, but I like it. The expensive soap is designed to last a long time, but save money on multiple products, because you massage in the foam and it “revives, plumps, tones, balances, deep cleans and heals surface skin.
Organic and charged
The tinkle you hear from the green burlap bag sounds like fairies. It’s Reiki charged quartz crystals inside the G2 Organics Nail Polish Remover. It’s non-toxic and odorless and 95 percent organic. To me this means a tad more elbow grease in the removal process, but it’s worth it. To the Japanese, reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing, and a sense of well being. Aloe vera extract and Vitamin E, butyl diglycol (derived from corn), an embittering agent, and ethyl alcohol (derived from grain) get the color off your nails and the bottle look alone is a mood booster and conversation piece.
In-your-face caviar
Caviar is my must-have indulgence for New Year’s Eve. I can start early with what Pevonia Botanica calls Ligne Myoxy-Caviar offering “timeless rejuvenation.” Little sample tubes of balm cleanser, repair cream and hand and foot cream smell great and make my skin feel “expensive.”
Oh, baby
I don’t know who decided what baby products should smell like, but they all seem the same. Jenerations Baby has a slightly different take of freshness with a line of organic body and hair care products for babies and children labeled “for good boys and girls.” That’s me, too. Salon owner Jennifer Reilly developed it to perform to salon standards, and babies are getting more choosy all the time. Parents choose to offer their precious cargo no sulfates, parabens or tea tree oil and lavender which scientists say could disrupt a child’s hormone levels, I’ve heard. Reilly’s eldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, to create a safer product. A percentage of proceeds go to Asperger’s education and research. I’ve tried the sensitive shampoo and no-tangles shine-enhancing conditioner with success on myself. I reckon babies will like it, too.
Sweet scrub
I reiterate my theory that there’s a sugar scrub treatment on your first night in heaven. The scented scratch from the sugar and scented oil is surely something Cleopatra coveted in her beauty ritual. Tree Hut Certified Organic Shea Sugar Body Scrubs. There’s always a catch. It’s recommended you use this simply two to three times a week to smooth sun-damaged skin and even the skin tone. I’ll try not to take several baths a day just to get to the scrub, accented with safflower, evening primrose and avocado oil. Walmart is a supplier of the line, which has scents ranging from Almond and Honey, Brazilian Nut and Coconut Lime to Hawaiian Kukui, Original Shea and Tahitian Grass. I’m keeping Tree Hut’s new shea hydrating Brazilian nut body splash at my desk to change my mood. It smells like a brown sugar drink with a dark liquor and quickly transports my mind to a vacation spot. Shea is the stuff for winter’s chapped skin. Tree Hut’s ingredients also include Hawaiian Kukui nut oil and coconut shells imported from the Polynesian Islands.
ddoiron@panews.com
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Gawad Kalinga
Singer Stephanie Reese has an impressive resume, but you’ve got to see her in person to fall in love with her. An enthusiastic local crowd wanting to help Typhoon Ondoy victims did that Sunday at the Julie Rogers Theatre. As a writer, I don’t usually speak for others, but yeah, I could tell, everyone was in love with this skilled, personable singer who shared her life in song.
Dr. Erlinda and Philip Punsalan were among dozens of people supporting the concert to help those recovering from the Septemer typhoon that destroyed so many homes in The Philippines.
Answering the Call of the Poor Foundation USA, supports the Gawad Kalinga (to give care) program. The local group plans to name the village in honor of the Rev. Dan Malain, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
Aside from the great concert, it was amazing to feel the love of so many people who are making the world a better place. For information, call Shirley Agustin at 722-6748.
TJ grads, football lovers on tap for post Thanksgiving reunion
Jule Joffrion, Johnny Elton, Barry Robbins and the TJ Class of 1975 are once again hosting TJ Reunion Fest. Joffrion says this celebration began two years ago when members of the ‘75 football team reunited one Thanksgiving.
“Old TJ football films had been digitized from the 1975 football season, and we had a great time watching our team. Films from 1973 and 1974 fall football season will be shown,” Joffrion said about the upcoming fest. The gang is looking for more football films.
The group will meet at 8 p.m. Nov. 27, at Cash’s, 8484 Central Mall Drive. Mid-Life Crisis will play. Joffrion says alumni from all classes, and their guests, are welcome.
Cajuns on the radio
The Cajun Express show with Dana Melancon and Gloria Roy is now on is on the air at KAYD-FM 101.7 or via internet at KAYD.com. Listen at 7 a.m. Sundays.
YMCA news
In November, the Port Arthur YMCA is celebrating 107 years in Port Arthur. The YMCA was charted in Port Arthur in 1902, with its first building on built on Lakeshore Drive in 1937 it was destroyed by fire in 1959. Then the Y presented programs in rented space. The YMCA dedicated the 7th Street site in 1956 at a cost of $35,000. A deed for land was acquired for the 9th Avenue branch in 1961 and it was dedicated in 1966.
In 1983 a capital campaign was initiated for a new YMCA on 6760 9th Ave. and the dedication came in 1986. Now, in 2009, it’s getting a $1.4 million renovation.
Gizzard Wizards
Chicken Express has been ruffling feathers for a few weeks at its new Nall Street restaurant in Port Neches. The Port Neches Chamber of Commerce helped management cut the ribbon on Tuesday.
Gary L. McCarty told guests the building should always look as clean as it does in all its newness and the stainless steel should be just as shiny and customers should always see a “sea of red shirts” on the numerous employees.
McCarty said that gizzards just about sold out in the days after a feature on the new business ran in Port Arthur News. A diner who calls herself a gizzard fanatic said they were good at Chicken Express, and apparently everyone else wanted to try them for themselves.
ddoiron@panews.com
Singer Stephanie Reese has an impressive resume, but you’ve got to see her in person to fall in love with her. An enthusiastic local crowd wanting to help Typhoon Ondoy victims did that Sunday at the Julie Rogers Theatre. As a writer, I don’t usually speak for others, but yeah, I could tell, everyone was in love with this skilled, personable singer who shared her life in song.
Dr. Erlinda and Philip Punsalan were among dozens of people supporting the concert to help those recovering from the Septemer typhoon that destroyed so many homes in The Philippines.
Answering the Call of the Poor Foundation USA, supports the Gawad Kalinga (to give care) program. The local group plans to name the village in honor of the Rev. Dan Malain, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
Aside from the great concert, it was amazing to feel the love of so many people who are making the world a better place. For information, call Shirley Agustin at 722-6748.
TJ grads, football lovers on tap for post Thanksgiving reunion
Jule Joffrion, Johnny Elton, Barry Robbins and the TJ Class of 1975 are once again hosting TJ Reunion Fest. Joffrion says this celebration began two years ago when members of the ‘75 football team reunited one Thanksgiving.
“Old TJ football films had been digitized from the 1975 football season, and we had a great time watching our team. Films from 1973 and 1974 fall football season will be shown,” Joffrion said about the upcoming fest. The gang is looking for more football films.
The group will meet at 8 p.m. Nov. 27, at Cash’s, 8484 Central Mall Drive. Mid-Life Crisis will play. Joffrion says alumni from all classes, and their guests, are welcome.
Cajuns on the radio
The Cajun Express show with Dana Melancon and Gloria Roy is now on is on the air at KAYD-FM 101.7 or via internet at KAYD.com. Listen at 7 a.m. Sundays.
YMCA news
In November, the Port Arthur YMCA is celebrating 107 years in Port Arthur. The YMCA was charted in Port Arthur in 1902, with its first building on built on Lakeshore Drive in 1937 it was destroyed by fire in 1959. Then the Y presented programs in rented space. The YMCA dedicated the 7th Street site in 1956 at a cost of $35,000. A deed for land was acquired for the 9th Avenue branch in 1961 and it was dedicated in 1966.
In 1983 a capital campaign was initiated for a new YMCA on 6760 9th Ave. and the dedication came in 1986. Now, in 2009, it’s getting a $1.4 million renovation.
Gizzard Wizards
Chicken Express has been ruffling feathers for a few weeks at its new Nall Street restaurant in Port Neches. The Port Neches Chamber of Commerce helped management cut the ribbon on Tuesday.
Gary L. McCarty told guests the building should always look as clean as it does in all its newness and the stainless steel should be just as shiny and customers should always see a “sea of red shirts” on the numerous employees.
McCarty said that gizzards just about sold out in the days after a feature on the new business ran in Port Arthur News. A diner who calls herself a gizzard fanatic said they were good at Chicken Express, and apparently everyone else wanted to try them for themselves.
ddoiron@panews.com
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Quickie cranberries destined to become holiday favorite
Here’s how to read “500 Best Sauces, Salad Dressings, Marinades & More:”
On a full stomach, with a grocery list at the ready and with a full stock of sticky notes to mark just about every page of things you’ll want to try.
A figgy cream pasta sauce with anchovies sounds crazy enough to work, and I’m certain the 30 or so vinaigrettes will improve my salad intake commitment. If I eat that well, I should treat myself to the mocha, minty, hazlenutty and liqueur-doused dessert toppings … maybe just over a banana instead of cake or ice cream.
George Geary will be helping several cooks through the holidays, with amazingly-easy recipes like these:
Cranberry Relish
Author’s note: This relish is made in a flash and is destined to be a holiday favorite.
2 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/4 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
1 1/2 pounds cranberries
In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine water, sugar and orange zest and juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in cranberries and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
Espresso Rub
Author’s note: This rub adds an attractive dark look to the meat without a burnt taste.
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons espresso powder
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon hot pepper flakes
1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
In a bowl, blend together brown sugar, espresso powder, salt, hot pepper flakes, black pepper and allspice.
Pickle trays and beyond
The kids who used to stick black olives on their fingers from the mandatory holiday relish tray are grown. But the tray is still popular at my mother-in-law’s house. Vlasic Pickles for recipes like this one:
Dirty Pickle Vodka Martin1/2
Whether at a holiday work party or in the comfort of your own home, this tasty drink will bring the party to life
Ingredients:
8 ounces Vodka
1/2 teaspoon dry Vermouth
2 Vlasic Kosher Dill Pickle Spears
1 tablespoon pickle juice from the jar
Directions:
Add ice about halfway up a cocktail shaker. Add vodka, vermouth and pickle juice. Shake well, pour into 2 Martini glasses and garnish with a pickle spear in each glass.
Tim Tam triumph
With a name that sounds like it wants an accompanying dance, Tim Tam cookies are an Australian favorite that has Internet fan clubs. Pepperidge Farm brings them to American through March, and I suggest you grab some of these chocolate fudge biscuits. Here’s how PF spokespeople describe it: “Beneath a smooth layer of heavenly chocolate fudge, between two layers of crispy biscuits, a mouthwatering layer of chocolate crème awaits.”
The biscuits were like two continental shelves shifting to allow the cream to melt in my mouth. They are apparently named for a racehorse. Here’s the specs: Tim Tam Chocolate Crème and Caramel cookies are sold at major supermarkets, grocery stores and mass merchandisers nationwide. New Tim Tam Classic Dark cookies are sold exclusively in Target stores nationwide.
Update:
Funky Monkey has outdone itself with three new flavors of fruit that crunches. The freeze-dried fruits come in lunch-box packets sure to garner attention. Pink Pineapple, with guava, is my personal fave of the three with MangOJ (mango and orange juice) right behind. Applemon is apple and organic cinnamon. These things make your tongue tingle and they’re a healthy choice.
ddoiron@panews.com
Here’s how to read “500 Best Sauces, Salad Dressings, Marinades & More:”
On a full stomach, with a grocery list at the ready and with a full stock of sticky notes to mark just about every page of things you’ll want to try.
A figgy cream pasta sauce with anchovies sounds crazy enough to work, and I’m certain the 30 or so vinaigrettes will improve my salad intake commitment. If I eat that well, I should treat myself to the mocha, minty, hazlenutty and liqueur-doused dessert toppings … maybe just over a banana instead of cake or ice cream.
George Geary will be helping several cooks through the holidays, with amazingly-easy recipes like these:
Cranberry Relish
Author’s note: This relish is made in a flash and is destined to be a holiday favorite.
2 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/4 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
1 1/2 pounds cranberries
In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine water, sugar and orange zest and juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in cranberries and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
Espresso Rub
Author’s note: This rub adds an attractive dark look to the meat without a burnt taste.
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons espresso powder
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon hot pepper flakes
1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
In a bowl, blend together brown sugar, espresso powder, salt, hot pepper flakes, black pepper and allspice.
Pickle trays and beyond
The kids who used to stick black olives on their fingers from the mandatory holiday relish tray are grown. But the tray is still popular at my mother-in-law’s house. Vlasic Pickles for recipes like this one:
Dirty Pickle Vodka Martin1/2
Whether at a holiday work party or in the comfort of your own home, this tasty drink will bring the party to life
Ingredients:
8 ounces Vodka
1/2 teaspoon dry Vermouth
2 Vlasic Kosher Dill Pickle Spears
1 tablespoon pickle juice from the jar
Directions:
Add ice about halfway up a cocktail shaker. Add vodka, vermouth and pickle juice. Shake well, pour into 2 Martini glasses and garnish with a pickle spear in each glass.
Tim Tam triumph
With a name that sounds like it wants an accompanying dance, Tim Tam cookies are an Australian favorite that has Internet fan clubs. Pepperidge Farm brings them to American through March, and I suggest you grab some of these chocolate fudge biscuits. Here’s how PF spokespeople describe it: “Beneath a smooth layer of heavenly chocolate fudge, between two layers of crispy biscuits, a mouthwatering layer of chocolate crème awaits.”
The biscuits were like two continental shelves shifting to allow the cream to melt in my mouth. They are apparently named for a racehorse. Here’s the specs: Tim Tam Chocolate Crème and Caramel cookies are sold at major supermarkets, grocery stores and mass merchandisers nationwide. New Tim Tam Classic Dark cookies are sold exclusively in Target stores nationwide.
Update:
Funky Monkey has outdone itself with three new flavors of fruit that crunches. The freeze-dried fruits come in lunch-box packets sure to garner attention. Pink Pineapple, with guava, is my personal fave of the three with MangOJ (mango and orange juice) right behind. Applemon is apple and organic cinnamon. These things make your tongue tingle and they’re a healthy choice.
ddoiron@panews.com
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Socks in the mail? It’s something to think about
Readers, consider this your first Stocking Stuffer Report.
When I’m out covering events, I love how y’all come up and tell me that you’ve tried something I’ve shared in this column. Several new area shops will be offering holiday bling and here’s a sample of more goodies you may want to consider while boosting the economy:
Who gets socks in the mail?
My daughter is telling friends about Sock Grams’ sushi sock, adorned with tails and rolls, and, sight unseen, they’re a hit. A sushi-loving guy she knows even wants some. Sock Grams in seasonal whimsy come to your home, with Dead Sea Mineral foot scrub if you like. Funky socks were part of my daily wardrobe in high school. It’s time to put my best foot forward again with the company that wishes you warm hearts and happy feet.
Blacksocks delivers socks to your door with a sockscription. What man couldn’t use this? The goods in their sock drawer will always be fresh, clean and without holes. “If time really is money, Blacksocks is worth a look,” makers say. Make your man one of 40,000 Blacksocks customers in 74 countries. A man I know inspecting the product said “Men need this. These are high quality.” Won’t this service derail spousal disagreements?
Bamboo underwear
I can’t definitively tell if Play bamboo underwear is designed for men or women to purchase. The box shows a healthy male specimen stretching a bare torso and clearly enjoying the way jock, low-rise and brief cuts look on him (ladies will love the box) and the A in Play is designed to look like the arrow on video equipment, such as “push play.”
I actually had male and female testers step up to try these bamboo skivvies and all were amazed by the smooth feel of the cloth “It’s a great product. The cloth is nice and comfortable,” one said. I’m thinking the low-rise trunk will be underpant enough to please most men. The revealing jock cut is a bit thong-like, suitable for daring fellows, but I wonder about pantyline for those into tight skinny jeans.
Fight wrap rage
Zibra has created Open It!, a tool that opens everything from super-sharp clamshell plastic cases to your beer. A hidden blade in the handle slices and a screwdriver in the other side of the handle can open battery cases. Precision ground steel blades in short, nubby scissors are my favorite use. The blade can be used to pry and the slicer can open CDs and DVDs. Because Women Know is the tagline for this product that will aid both sexes. It sure will open all your holiday gifts. I’m on board.
Sounds good
Our stuff gets as worn out as we do. I couldn’t hear well out of my ear buds and I sure wanted some good ones for the new TVs attached to all the new YMCA of Port Arthur equipment. My daughter pointed out that big is the new small for headphones, so I thought I could flashback (or Flashdance) all the way back to the ‘80s with neon colors accentuating the totally modern DJ Sport Headphones from chicBuds. Swarovski Crystals are all over retractable buds and PinkTooth amazingness from this woman-owned company. I say “go girl” to the fold ups that look so cool and carry the sound so great and let me keep up with the History Channel and “Golden Girls.” These are the best headphones I’ve ever used, and I love the cushy padding.
You’ll like to Muve it, Muve it
Dance like no one is watching, encourage Muve makers. This “spontaneous dance workout” shows a mixed bag of dancers, from children to young adults to grandparents, moving and shaking some easy, loose stops to music just as varied as they are. Mellow MUVE and Family MUVE lets you follow a lead dancer, or muse, and kind of create your own thing with Hawaiian music, a zombie song and some sounds the teens would love on the dance floor. It’s a fun way to get grandparents moving for better health and little kids into the habit of regular exercise. I enjoyed learning new “muves” and did it fast enough to work up a sweat. It’s fun stuff that doesn’t feel like a workout. Joy.
ddoiron@panews.com
Readers, consider this your first Stocking Stuffer Report.
When I’m out covering events, I love how y’all come up and tell me that you’ve tried something I’ve shared in this column. Several new area shops will be offering holiday bling and here’s a sample of more goodies you may want to consider while boosting the economy:
Who gets socks in the mail?
My daughter is telling friends about Sock Grams’ sushi sock, adorned with tails and rolls, and, sight unseen, they’re a hit. A sushi-loving guy she knows even wants some. Sock Grams in seasonal whimsy come to your home, with Dead Sea Mineral foot scrub if you like. Funky socks were part of my daily wardrobe in high school. It’s time to put my best foot forward again with the company that wishes you warm hearts and happy feet.
Blacksocks delivers socks to your door with a sockscription. What man couldn’t use this? The goods in their sock drawer will always be fresh, clean and without holes. “If time really is money, Blacksocks is worth a look,” makers say. Make your man one of 40,000 Blacksocks customers in 74 countries. A man I know inspecting the product said “Men need this. These are high quality.” Won’t this service derail spousal disagreements?
Bamboo underwear
I can’t definitively tell if Play bamboo underwear is designed for men or women to purchase. The box shows a healthy male specimen stretching a bare torso and clearly enjoying the way jock, low-rise and brief cuts look on him (ladies will love the box) and the A in Play is designed to look like the arrow on video equipment, such as “push play.”
I actually had male and female testers step up to try these bamboo skivvies and all were amazed by the smooth feel of the cloth “It’s a great product. The cloth is nice and comfortable,” one said. I’m thinking the low-rise trunk will be underpant enough to please most men. The revealing jock cut is a bit thong-like, suitable for daring fellows, but I wonder about pantyline for those into tight skinny jeans.
Fight wrap rage
Zibra has created Open It!, a tool that opens everything from super-sharp clamshell plastic cases to your beer. A hidden blade in the handle slices and a screwdriver in the other side of the handle can open battery cases. Precision ground steel blades in short, nubby scissors are my favorite use. The blade can be used to pry and the slicer can open CDs and DVDs. Because Women Know is the tagline for this product that will aid both sexes. It sure will open all your holiday gifts. I’m on board.
Sounds good
Our stuff gets as worn out as we do. I couldn’t hear well out of my ear buds and I sure wanted some good ones for the new TVs attached to all the new YMCA of Port Arthur equipment. My daughter pointed out that big is the new small for headphones, so I thought I could flashback (or Flashdance) all the way back to the ‘80s with neon colors accentuating the totally modern DJ Sport Headphones from chicBuds. Swarovski Crystals are all over retractable buds and PinkTooth amazingness from this woman-owned company. I say “go girl” to the fold ups that look so cool and carry the sound so great and let me keep up with the History Channel and “Golden Girls.” These are the best headphones I’ve ever used, and I love the cushy padding.
You’ll like to Muve it, Muve it
Dance like no one is watching, encourage Muve makers. This “spontaneous dance workout” shows a mixed bag of dancers, from children to young adults to grandparents, moving and shaking some easy, loose stops to music just as varied as they are. Mellow MUVE and Family MUVE lets you follow a lead dancer, or muse, and kind of create your own thing with Hawaiian music, a zombie song and some sounds the teens would love on the dance floor. It’s a fun way to get grandparents moving for better health and little kids into the habit of regular exercise. I enjoyed learning new “muves” and did it fast enough to work up a sweat. It’s fun stuff that doesn’t feel like a workout. Joy.
ddoiron@panews.com
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Give thanks for Indian-style fig chutney; spread the love of peanut butter month
My daughter and I want to live down the street from Bal Arneson and her family in Vancouver, B.C. She looks fun, wise and friendly in her book, “Everyday Indian” and I love the little anecdotes she shares about growing up in India.
One story tells how new brides head to the kitchen with elder women to attempt creating perfect roti for their new father-in-law. It looks like our tortillas and would be amazing with her curried scallop salad, zucchini paneer or Indian-Thai fusion prawns.
My brother-in-law is from India and has exposed us to the cuisine. Arneson has some very easy methods for achieving great flavor, even with the simple lentil. We want to live near her to sample some of her cooking. That spicy food must taste even better in the cool Vancouver clime. Here’s an easy one that sounds good on a Thanksgiving table:
Apple and Fig Chutney
Arneson writes that as a girl, she suffered consequences when caught sneaking a bite of apple chutney that was reserved for men in the family.
1 cup chopped apples
1 cup dried figs
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon chat masala (recipe follows)
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 cup water
Mix everything in a pot and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Let the mixture cool, then place in a food processor and process to a paste. Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Chat masala (mild)
1 tablespoon mango powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon coriander
1 teaspoon pomegranate powder
1/4 teaspoon dried ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to three months. For more of an enhanced flavor, add 1 teaspoon fennel seeds and 1/4 teaspoon mint powder.
November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
Venders are touting new back-to-basics products such as Natural Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter Spread with 90 percent peanuts. There’s no need to stir, and it should make any pb lover happy. There’s also a new organic version.
Smucker’s Natural selections includes: Creamy, Chunky, Peanut Butter with Honey, No Salt Added, Natural Style Reduced Fat Creamy, Organic Creamy and Organic Chunky. A few ideas from the makers:
• Warm a small amount of natural peanut butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl until soft and then swirl into yogurt.
• Stir natural peanut butter into hot oatmeal and sprinkle with raisins or other dried fruits.
• Drizzle warmed natural peanut butter into hot cocoa.
• Spread natural peanut butter on a rice cake and top with sliced apples or mini-chocolate chips.
Water’s the new wine
That’s what Hawaiian Springs says. A water “sommelier” recognizes the smooth, clear, slightly sweet drink as one of the world’s finest waters. I’ve never been to Hawaii and this could be as close as I , or many others get, so I wouldn’t mind having a case of this water under my stocking (with or without an airplane ticket attached). It comes from the Arctic rains that fall over the Big Island and travels through a volcanic rock filter. The U.S. Geological Survey names the source aquifer on Mauna Loa one of the purest in the world.
The bitter end
I’d have never believed I could get hooked on bitters. It must be the chic spray pumps you can slip into your evening bag. You can spritz Urban Moonshine Organic Bitters into your cocktail, or use as an aperitif or digestive. It’s like making people take a dare to try them, but there have been an array of reactions.
“I feel like an orange peel just kicked me in the face,” was Cody-on-the-desk’s proclaimation after trying the citrus version.
Original is not for the faint of taste buds; there’s a maple I haven’t tried. I consider it a palate cleanser (that’s what they do in Europe), but others felt they needed to cleanse their palate of the spray. Proclaimed bitter benefits: support liver function and detoxification; tone and repair the digestive tract; regulate the secretion of hormones involved in blood sugar balance; and reduce cholesterol by increasing its elimination from the body.
The Urban Moonshine Cocktail
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
3 ounce Reeds Ginger Brew
3 ounce organic vodka
5 dashes Urban Moonshine Citrus Bitters
Muddled fresh ginger to taste
Bottle art
The lure of bottle art is tempting to both sexes. I work with a guy itchy to get his hands on one of those vodka skulls. I know a woman who has ridden her motorcycle to Sturgis, but she’s not getting my “Open Road” Lee DeVito-designed bottle of 1800 Tequila. No way. This is art, and it’s one of 12 in the second annual collection of limited-edition Essential Artists bottles from up-and-coming artists. There’s kind of a snow globe effect as you peer into the bottle to view the image of a rider with a guitar slung over her back as she heads down a mountain highway. More than 15,000 submissions were considered for the designs and this fine tequila’s price has been reduced to $24.99 to support “affordable art.”
With this collection, you can have an art show in your living room with refreshments built right in.
Update
Amazing Grass powders are my new go-to breakfast on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when I have drop my daughter off at Lamar. I drop a powder and a banana into the Magic Bullet for a power-packed drink. The company has launched a new Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar that I can choose when I’m feeling “chewzy.” It’s soft and satisfying, with your taste buds processing organic dates, peanut butter peanuts, rice crisps, and agave nectar and Amazing Grass Green SuperFood. That’s a sneaky organic blend of wheat and barley grass, alfalfa, spinach, broccoli, acai, carrot, beet, rose hips and other stuff you’d never guess you were eating.
ddoiron@panews.com
My daughter and I want to live down the street from Bal Arneson and her family in Vancouver, B.C. She looks fun, wise and friendly in her book, “Everyday Indian” and I love the little anecdotes she shares about growing up in India.
One story tells how new brides head to the kitchen with elder women to attempt creating perfect roti for their new father-in-law. It looks like our tortillas and would be amazing with her curried scallop salad, zucchini paneer or Indian-Thai fusion prawns.
My brother-in-law is from India and has exposed us to the cuisine. Arneson has some very easy methods for achieving great flavor, even with the simple lentil. We want to live near her to sample some of her cooking. That spicy food must taste even better in the cool Vancouver clime. Here’s an easy one that sounds good on a Thanksgiving table:
Apple and Fig Chutney
Arneson writes that as a girl, she suffered consequences when caught sneaking a bite of apple chutney that was reserved for men in the family.
1 cup chopped apples
1 cup dried figs
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon chat masala (recipe follows)
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 cup water
Mix everything in a pot and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Let the mixture cool, then place in a food processor and process to a paste. Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Chat masala (mild)
1 tablespoon mango powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon coriander
1 teaspoon pomegranate powder
1/4 teaspoon dried ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to three months. For more of an enhanced flavor, add 1 teaspoon fennel seeds and 1/4 teaspoon mint powder.
November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
Venders are touting new back-to-basics products such as Natural Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter Spread with 90 percent peanuts. There’s no need to stir, and it should make any pb lover happy. There’s also a new organic version.
Smucker’s Natural selections includes: Creamy, Chunky, Peanut Butter with Honey, No Salt Added, Natural Style Reduced Fat Creamy, Organic Creamy and Organic Chunky. A few ideas from the makers:
• Warm a small amount of natural peanut butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl until soft and then swirl into yogurt.
• Stir natural peanut butter into hot oatmeal and sprinkle with raisins or other dried fruits.
• Drizzle warmed natural peanut butter into hot cocoa.
• Spread natural peanut butter on a rice cake and top with sliced apples or mini-chocolate chips.
Water’s the new wine
That’s what Hawaiian Springs says. A water “sommelier” recognizes the smooth, clear, slightly sweet drink as one of the world’s finest waters. I’ve never been to Hawaii and this could be as close as I , or many others get, so I wouldn’t mind having a case of this water under my stocking (with or without an airplane ticket attached). It comes from the Arctic rains that fall over the Big Island and travels through a volcanic rock filter. The U.S. Geological Survey names the source aquifer on Mauna Loa one of the purest in the world.
The bitter end
I’d have never believed I could get hooked on bitters. It must be the chic spray pumps you can slip into your evening bag. You can spritz Urban Moonshine Organic Bitters into your cocktail, or use as an aperitif or digestive. It’s like making people take a dare to try them, but there have been an array of reactions.
“I feel like an orange peel just kicked me in the face,” was Cody-on-the-desk’s proclaimation after trying the citrus version.
Original is not for the faint of taste buds; there’s a maple I haven’t tried. I consider it a palate cleanser (that’s what they do in Europe), but others felt they needed to cleanse their palate of the spray. Proclaimed bitter benefits: support liver function and detoxification; tone and repair the digestive tract; regulate the secretion of hormones involved in blood sugar balance; and reduce cholesterol by increasing its elimination from the body.
The Urban Moonshine Cocktail
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
3 ounce Reeds Ginger Brew
3 ounce organic vodka
5 dashes Urban Moonshine Citrus Bitters
Muddled fresh ginger to taste
Bottle art
The lure of bottle art is tempting to both sexes. I work with a guy itchy to get his hands on one of those vodka skulls. I know a woman who has ridden her motorcycle to Sturgis, but she’s not getting my “Open Road” Lee DeVito-designed bottle of 1800 Tequila. No way. This is art, and it’s one of 12 in the second annual collection of limited-edition Essential Artists bottles from up-and-coming artists. There’s kind of a snow globe effect as you peer into the bottle to view the image of a rider with a guitar slung over her back as she heads down a mountain highway. More than 15,000 submissions were considered for the designs and this fine tequila’s price has been reduced to $24.99 to support “affordable art.”
With this collection, you can have an art show in your living room with refreshments built right in.
Update
Amazing Grass powders are my new go-to breakfast on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when I have drop my daughter off at Lamar. I drop a powder and a banana into the Magic Bullet for a power-packed drink. The company has launched a new Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar that I can choose when I’m feeling “chewzy.” It’s soft and satisfying, with your taste buds processing organic dates, peanut butter peanuts, rice crisps, and agave nectar and Amazing Grass Green SuperFood. That’s a sneaky organic blend of wheat and barley grass, alfalfa, spinach, broccoli, acai, carrot, beet, rose hips and other stuff you’d never guess you were eating.
ddoiron@panews.com
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Fall season can be a time for harvest, new growth
Now that it’s dark so early, consider curling up with a stack of new self-improvement books that can help you deal with everything from offensive coworkers to the pushy relatives you’re about to see at Thanksgiving dinner. Get cozy with these:
“Ordinary Greatness”
By Pamela Bilbrey and Brian Jones
When an internationally-recognized violinist dressed down and set up a concert in a Washington, D.C. metro station, virtually no one noticed. Rushing people weren’t expecting greatness in their busy day. Anecdotes, including how ordinary Mother Teresa seemed to a woman in line to meet her and how Steven Spielberg sneaked of a studio tour tram to meet movie makers, authors share how business leaders can make small changes to help employees unite and grow. It seems too few people realize how much praise is worth.
“Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat”
By Michelle May, M.D.
Doc May says the latest trend in diets is not being on a diet, and eating healthy food when … drumroll … you are hungry. There’s a lot about determining when you are hungry, as opposed to just bored, and how to truly enjoy your food. Minimize distractions and concentrate on ambiance, flavors and textures are some tips. You will thank her for including recipes such as cinnamon apple pockets and basil pesto. Here’s an easy one for fruit kabobs:
Ginger Yogurt Dip
1 cup nonfat yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Stir ingredients together and chill or serve immediately.
“The Upward Spiral: Breakthroughs to Joy”
By Janet Cunningham
You may feel like you’ve been on retreat — speakers, snack table and after-presentation chatter included — when you finish this book. The meet-up, attendance and follow-up is told from three perspectives. Overweight Sally is a please-all mom with an unsupportive husband who gets fired up about making her craft hobby into a business. Pat and Nora get their say in three-separate stories that involve everything from tarot cards to cheating spouses. It’s part novel and part inspiration.
“Fulfillment Using Real Conscience: Practical Guide for Psychological and Spiritual Wellness”
By N.S. Xavier, M.D.
Jesus enjoyed several feasts and avoided arguments, and some good humor alleviates stress, the author points out. Anecdotes from the Bible, Zen masters and other cultures put life into perspective in this book. I like the one about an overflowing tea cup. It seems you have to let some (knowledge) out before you can allow more in.
“Make it Rain 101: How to Grow Your Client Base & Maximize Your Income”
By Patrick D. Kelly
It’s not all about the networking, but if you’re good at it, it pays off. Kelly explains how in easy, digestible short chapters that suit workers of any age range.
“Yes You Can”
By Stacey Hanke and Mary Steinberg
“What’s wrong?” When I get this, it’s a clue I could be sending a different body language message than I’m feeling. It’s a friendly reminder in this book, subtitled “Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others and Take Action.” Don’t fear, try little humor and remember to make eye contact are other reminders in this handy guide to speaking and presentation.
“The Power of Thinking Differently”
By Javy W. Galindo
Edgar Allan Poe paired words from a dictionary into ideas for stories and choreographer Twyla Tharp tossed coins into the air to imagine how dancers could interact. These anecdotes, along with the saga of an island where people had only pickles and doughnuts to eat and use as building materials, are designed to help readers get a new perspective on just about anything. Readers should be warned to be ready for change.
ddoiron@panews.com
Now that it’s dark so early, consider curling up with a stack of new self-improvement books that can help you deal with everything from offensive coworkers to the pushy relatives you’re about to see at Thanksgiving dinner. Get cozy with these:
“Ordinary Greatness”
By Pamela Bilbrey and Brian Jones
When an internationally-recognized violinist dressed down and set up a concert in a Washington, D.C. metro station, virtually no one noticed. Rushing people weren’t expecting greatness in their busy day. Anecdotes, including how ordinary Mother Teresa seemed to a woman in line to meet her and how Steven Spielberg sneaked of a studio tour tram to meet movie makers, authors share how business leaders can make small changes to help employees unite and grow. It seems too few people realize how much praise is worth.
“Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat”
By Michelle May, M.D.
Doc May says the latest trend in diets is not being on a diet, and eating healthy food when … drumroll … you are hungry. There’s a lot about determining when you are hungry, as opposed to just bored, and how to truly enjoy your food. Minimize distractions and concentrate on ambiance, flavors and textures are some tips. You will thank her for including recipes such as cinnamon apple pockets and basil pesto. Here’s an easy one for fruit kabobs:
Ginger Yogurt Dip
1 cup nonfat yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Stir ingredients together and chill or serve immediately.
“The Upward Spiral: Breakthroughs to Joy”
By Janet Cunningham
You may feel like you’ve been on retreat — speakers, snack table and after-presentation chatter included — when you finish this book. The meet-up, attendance and follow-up is told from three perspectives. Overweight Sally is a please-all mom with an unsupportive husband who gets fired up about making her craft hobby into a business. Pat and Nora get their say in three-separate stories that involve everything from tarot cards to cheating spouses. It’s part novel and part inspiration.
“Fulfillment Using Real Conscience: Practical Guide for Psychological and Spiritual Wellness”
By N.S. Xavier, M.D.
Jesus enjoyed several feasts and avoided arguments, and some good humor alleviates stress, the author points out. Anecdotes from the Bible, Zen masters and other cultures put life into perspective in this book. I like the one about an overflowing tea cup. It seems you have to let some (knowledge) out before you can allow more in.
“Make it Rain 101: How to Grow Your Client Base & Maximize Your Income”
By Patrick D. Kelly
It’s not all about the networking, but if you’re good at it, it pays off. Kelly explains how in easy, digestible short chapters that suit workers of any age range.
“Yes You Can”
By Stacey Hanke and Mary Steinberg
“What’s wrong?” When I get this, it’s a clue I could be sending a different body language message than I’m feeling. It’s a friendly reminder in this book, subtitled “Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others and Take Action.” Don’t fear, try little humor and remember to make eye contact are other reminders in this handy guide to speaking and presentation.
“The Power of Thinking Differently”
By Javy W. Galindo
Edgar Allan Poe paired words from a dictionary into ideas for stories and choreographer Twyla Tharp tossed coins into the air to imagine how dancers could interact. These anecdotes, along with the saga of an island where people had only pickles and doughnuts to eat and use as building materials, are designed to help readers get a new perspective on just about anything. Readers should be warned to be ready for change.
ddoiron@panews.com
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Interactive parties call for bold personalities, flavors
I’m a little shy. It’s true! But I was part of two interactive productions in one week. I knew I’d get picked on at Port Arthur Little Theatre’s production of “The Altos: Like the Sopranos, Only Lower.” I was dubbed Sally Somersault, a dancer who got out of the business. The audience truly becomes part of this show, so check your weapons, and wallflower ways, at the door. Remember to dress as your favorite gangster and save room for “just desserts” at the Courtyard Café. The production has two more weeks in Groves.
I “played” an Aztec medicine woman in a mystery game at a wonderful hostess’ party. With an amulet and basket of herbs, I shook my gourd for emphasis. Between breaks, guests headed for an elaborate fiesta designed to match the game’s Mexican theme.
Ironically, chips, the hit dish of the party, seemed to frustrate generious hostess K.G., who claimed it was so easy to make. She wanted everyone to try the food she’d spent hours preparing. Don’t worry, we got to it all.
It was the crazy kettle chips that drove everyone to distraction. It’s easy as this: spread kettle chips in a casserole dish, sprinkle on bleu cheese and brown sugar. Bake. Serve and watch guests go crazy.
Snickers salad
If you were good enough to save any Snickers from Halloween, try a snicker’s salad. The general directions are to mix cut up candy bars and apples with Cool Whip and cream cheese.
How could you go wrong?
Noodle time
I was flipping through a book thinking there were enough noodle dishes to eat every day for weeks, then I remembered, the book is called “Noodles Every Day.” Corinne Trang guides noodle lovers (there are many in my family) through egg, buckwheat, wheat, rice and cellophane noodle intricacies with mouth-watering recipes. I want some of everything. Here’s a very easy starter:
Japanese Kelp Stock
2 ounces dried kelp, wiped clean
5 quarts spring or filtered water
To make kombu dashi put the package of kelp in a large glass bowl and add the spring or filtered water. Let steep for 12 to 24 hours at room temperature. The longer the kelp steeps in the water, the more concentrated the stock. Strain the stock and discard the solids.
Bio bags
I am the customer Belief Beyond Bags is appealing to on the label, “today’s environmentally conscious shopper.” Denver area women started the company, tenderly known as 3B, that makes, among other things, fine mesh nylon bags with drawstrings you take to the store for your produce. Use your bag and not the store’s plastic bag and help preserve the environment. Visit 3bbags.com to see the line’s shopping bags, and these clever mesh bags that can even hold bulk bin buys like beans. Thank you, 3B ladies.
Fashion is still important to the earth conscience, and EnV Bags has an amazing line of fold-into-a-pouch recyclable bags with eye-popping designs. The Road to Hana series of City Shoppers is the latest, with flowers, ferns, dots and stripes. The Eifel Tower model looks as good as an overnight bag as it does toting apples home from the grocer. Americans apparently use and average of 800 bags a year, so this is one handy way to look good and keep the volume down. Go green with EnV.
Brew for the kids
Natural Brew is hand crafted and the pleasure of consuming goes way beyond old-fashioned brown bottles. Ginseng Cola could be my favorite for the bubble and snap but Outrageous Ginger Ale is a close tie. My daughter has tried her share of root beer and this company’s draft version is different from the typical carbonated can. It simply tastes more sweet and natural and I can’t help drinking it without imagining little boys playing with marbles and slingshots. They use good stuff like Panax (all-healing) ginsing and bourbon vanilla. The Vanilla Crème should be reserved for dessert so that nothing else will compete for your culinary attention.
ddoiron@panews.com
I’m a little shy. It’s true! But I was part of two interactive productions in one week. I knew I’d get picked on at Port Arthur Little Theatre’s production of “The Altos: Like the Sopranos, Only Lower.” I was dubbed Sally Somersault, a dancer who got out of the business. The audience truly becomes part of this show, so check your weapons, and wallflower ways, at the door. Remember to dress as your favorite gangster and save room for “just desserts” at the Courtyard Café. The production has two more weeks in Groves.
I “played” an Aztec medicine woman in a mystery game at a wonderful hostess’ party. With an amulet and basket of herbs, I shook my gourd for emphasis. Between breaks, guests headed for an elaborate fiesta designed to match the game’s Mexican theme.
Ironically, chips, the hit dish of the party, seemed to frustrate generious hostess K.G., who claimed it was so easy to make. She wanted everyone to try the food she’d spent hours preparing. Don’t worry, we got to it all.
It was the crazy kettle chips that drove everyone to distraction. It’s easy as this: spread kettle chips in a casserole dish, sprinkle on bleu cheese and brown sugar. Bake. Serve and watch guests go crazy.
Snickers salad
If you were good enough to save any Snickers from Halloween, try a snicker’s salad. The general directions are to mix cut up candy bars and apples with Cool Whip and cream cheese.
How could you go wrong?
Noodle time
I was flipping through a book thinking there were enough noodle dishes to eat every day for weeks, then I remembered, the book is called “Noodles Every Day.” Corinne Trang guides noodle lovers (there are many in my family) through egg, buckwheat, wheat, rice and cellophane noodle intricacies with mouth-watering recipes. I want some of everything. Here’s a very easy starter:
Japanese Kelp Stock
2 ounces dried kelp, wiped clean
5 quarts spring or filtered water
To make kombu dashi put the package of kelp in a large glass bowl and add the spring or filtered water. Let steep for 12 to 24 hours at room temperature. The longer the kelp steeps in the water, the more concentrated the stock. Strain the stock and discard the solids.
Bio bags
I am the customer Belief Beyond Bags is appealing to on the label, “today’s environmentally conscious shopper.” Denver area women started the company, tenderly known as 3B, that makes, among other things, fine mesh nylon bags with drawstrings you take to the store for your produce. Use your bag and not the store’s plastic bag and help preserve the environment. Visit 3bbags.com to see the line’s shopping bags, and these clever mesh bags that can even hold bulk bin buys like beans. Thank you, 3B ladies.
Fashion is still important to the earth conscience, and EnV Bags has an amazing line of fold-into-a-pouch recyclable bags with eye-popping designs. The Road to Hana series of City Shoppers is the latest, with flowers, ferns, dots and stripes. The Eifel Tower model looks as good as an overnight bag as it does toting apples home from the grocer. Americans apparently use and average of 800 bags a year, so this is one handy way to look good and keep the volume down. Go green with EnV.
Brew for the kids
Natural Brew is hand crafted and the pleasure of consuming goes way beyond old-fashioned brown bottles. Ginseng Cola could be my favorite for the bubble and snap but Outrageous Ginger Ale is a close tie. My daughter has tried her share of root beer and this company’s draft version is different from the typical carbonated can. It simply tastes more sweet and natural and I can’t help drinking it without imagining little boys playing with marbles and slingshots. They use good stuff like Panax (all-healing) ginsing and bourbon vanilla. The Vanilla Crème should be reserved for dessert so that nothing else will compete for your culinary attention.
ddoiron@panews.com
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