Sounds Good

2012-01-25T04:49:00.001-08:00

Wanted: Families and visitors for festival fun

Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas has been filling Port Arthur with color and beads for 20 years, and Wayne Toups will again be a headliner during festival weekend, Feb. 16-19.

Over in Nederland, the close-knit Nederland Heritage Festival community has already kicked off their season, naming Brent Weaver as Mr. Nederland. This gang always fills the festival office on Boston Avenue with supporters who know supporting fun in Nederland translates into goodwill and good dollars for the community.

Poor Wanda Hollier had to confess to big-time “lying” to keep Shannon Hemby from knowing the annual program was dedicated to her, which is a huge Nederland honor.

“Wanted: For a Good Time” is the theme in Nederland, with the big weekend set for March 16-18. But they’re not done then. A golf tournament is set for April.

Mardi Gras spirit

Jan Walker reminds revelers that Spirit of Mardi Gras is the theme for Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas and Krewe of Aurora. The focus is on traditional symbols.

They “plan on going all out this year,” she said, and hinted at prized Zulu coconuts.

Apparently, they don’t mind making New Orleans runs for research. What dedication.

Psychadelic Fantasy

Jody Holton is beside herself with excitement over Krewe Mon Ami’s Fantasy Ball and its Psychadelic Fantasy theme, set for Saturday. Wanna come?

“We do have a limited amount of tickets for sale at $50. each, contact krewemonami94@yahoo.com . It will be a far out evening of peace, love, and dancing to some very groovy tunes,” Holton said.

ddoiron@panews.com

2012-01-12T18:12:00.001-08:00

Sixth Floor Museum keeps JFK story relevant

It’s a chilling scene. A museum with an unfinished corner behind glass is made up to reflect how the Texas school book depository looked the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

The rest of the Sixth Floor Museum has a modern ‘60s look, with oversized black and white portraits and footage telling much of the Kennedy story and how the world reacted to his death. I’d visited years ago and wanted my husband to see it. We went through the exhibits with headphones, in a private way. All this happened before we were born, yet it seems as if we’d lived it in the collective conscience of America.

At end, in the gift shop, he mentioned something being the same as “before.” After all the maneuvering to get to the museum, park, pay, etc., he never mentioned he’d been before… with me, in fact. I can only sum up that the experience is so intense and personal, especially as one is listening to headphones instead of engaging with companions, that in my memory, I was all wrapped up in my thoughts “before.”

My Dallas/Plano venture on a cold, rainy winter’s weekend included a burger at Deep Ellum’s Angry Dog after a nostalgic trek through vintage shops and a quick gaze at Neiman Marcus’ $600 handbags. My rare brush with uber expensive window shopping involved “occupy” type protesters on the street.

But don’t worry, I took refuge down the street at St. Jude Chapel. The sweet women there directed me to the downtown Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe for a memorable Saturday evening Mass.

With weather too dreary for more touristy fare, eating became a big deal and I’d like to thank the Plano Hampton Inn front desk for sending me to Gloria’s and Patrizio. Gloria’s featured Salvadorian food and reminded me of the kind of restaurant featured in “CSI Miami.” There were beautiful couples in beautiful clothes in this glamorous place with hot Latin music. We feasted on foods wrapped in banana leaves and enjoyed the view.

Patrizio is Italian food that somehow fits in a glorified strip mall. I don’t know how they did it, but once inside it looks like an old house with a fireplace and rugs (and a giant bar in the corner.) We chose one eggplant dish and one lasagna, but wondered was on high stands at other tables. It was the pizza, and diners we quizzed said it was good.

I spent about 20 minutes and $6 at an ALDI market. I’d heard of these basic, money-saving stores and I consider them like a Sam’s for singles. In other words, you can save money by bringing your own sack and shipping from cardboard boxes, but you can leave with a single can of mushrooms instead of a case. For my $6 I got cans of food, pork rinds for my road trip home and an amazingly- good merlot. When I got home, my husband pointed out this bottle of Winking Owl seems slightly smaller than other brands. For a price like $2.69, I’m not complaining. I opened it and watched “Spartacus” for the first time.

My final adventure was getting gas at one of those Buc-ee’s mega stops with the beaver. I kept saying we could make it, and the day was so gray we each kind of nudged the other into committing to fill the tank in the cold. My husband told me he paid for it, and headed to the bathroom while I walked around in search of my customary lucky penny find.

Miles down the road he exclaimed “You didn’t fill it up?”

We each thought the other had done so. We headed back and guess what? They remembered him, because the paying-without-filling transaction had messed up the tank order for the next customer. Thanks Buc-ee’s for letting the Castillos get our gas and make it home to Southeast Texas.

ddoiron@panews.com

2012-01-08T14:09:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Janis

Janis Joplin and I were both January babies, and that’s one of the reasons I feel a connection to her. Hers in Jan. 19, and visiting her tribute at Museum of the Gulf Coast will be a great way to honor her.

On Sunday I caught the Carolyn Wonderland interview on National Public radio. Wonderland, an Austin singer, noted that growing up in Texas, singing Joplin’s songs was something one pretty much did in private. She’s included one of her tunes, asking “what good can drinkin’ do,” on her latest CD, but remains humble about any comparisons between her and the Texas legend.

Joplin’s musings for sale

Janis Joplin never seemed at a loss for words. Some of them will be for sale, according to an item published on the San Antonio Express News web site. The story focuses on a letter Elvis Presley wrote to a Fort Hood mentor and continues:

“Presley's letter is one of more than 700 pieces of rock memorabilia up for sale online in the Modern Music Auction Jan. 19-26. Items include Bob Dylan's harmonicas, Jimi Hendrix's guitar picks, a postcard penned by Lubbock native Buddy Holly and an eight-page letter that Janis Joplin sent to her fiancé from her hometown of Port Arthur.”

Mardi Gras 2012

I caught Linda Hebert and krewe prepping for Twelfth Night and caught my first throw of the season. Parties are everywhere: Look for them.

The Pary Krewe of Southeast Texas, which is Krewe Mon Ami, if you didn’t know, has slated its Psychadelic Fantasy Ball for Jan. 28. Get on line for info on joining in.

Costumes are not for everyone, apparently. Krewe of Outcast stages its 5^th annual Blue Bean Ball on Sat., Jan. 28, at the Commpany D Event Center at 343 North Twin City Highway. This is a $10 BYOB event for those older than 21. The magic number to call is 960-1628.

ddoiron@panews.com

2012-01-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

The sound of two wooden goblets in a toast . . .

Earl Rutherford doesn’t fill his hand-carved wooden goblets with wine, but he says it would hold. His beautiful bowls, vessels, eggs, etc. are carved from walnut, oak, hickory and ash he finds along the road. I met the artist and asked him to “toast” an empty goblet with me, to see how it would sound. The venture yielded a satisfying, muted “clack.” The next best thing was feeling how smooth he makes the wood.

The Groves native makes the wood speak to him from his Beaumont workshop. You can see it on display this January at Texas Artists Museum. Some of it is for sale, but don’t ask for the ice cream scoop with a wooden handle. He made it for his wife.

In Rutherford’s profile, he tells that he was first introduced to wood turning in his junior high wood shop class. He worked at Texaco and had a business on Twin City Highway, so he “shelved” his hobby until about 2000.

“You never know what the grain will look like until you turn the bark off and then, as you shape it, it continually reveals more hidden character and grain patterns,” he says. “And it’s quite rewarding to see the long shavings fly off as the shape evolves.”

The profile notes he’s active with Woodworkers of Southeast Texas and a group meets each fourth Monday at his Beaumont home.

And by the way, Earl says he’s not related to Verna or Cal, two of Port Arthur’s famous Rutherfords.

TAM is also hosting works by Lamar students this month.

Okra, prayer cards and Tet

Okra is African, Carolyn Thibodeaux said she learned while setting up Holidays Around the World at Port Arthur Public Library. The holidays aren’t over. Tet, Vietnamese New Year, will fall on Jan. 23 in 2012 and welcomes the Year of the Dragon. Buu Mon Buddhist Temple assembled ornaments for a holiday tree to help share their culture. Thibodeaux, who is the children’s librarian, said some cultures that don’t have a traditional Christmas tree took the tree as the American symbol to tie in their history. The display will remain up at the library, 4615 Ninth Avenue, through Jan. 10.

Thibodeaux and I admitted to each other that we sometimes learn things, forget them and relearn them. I believe I already knew that dreidels have letters to symbolize the words for “a miracle happened here.” These spinning toys where taken out so that Jewish scholars could pretend they were gambling instead of reading religious documents in public, the local display explains.

The book “Gator Gumbo” is put out in the Cajun display, where I loved finding a very old holy water bottle, and a photo book where someone had lovingly kept collected prayer cards. Fava beans from the Italian Americans, Kwanzaa candles and Mexican bingo and paper flowers help show how cultures decorate, eat and worship during the holidays.

“It’s a huge success,” Carolyn Thibodeaux said of the collection reflecting the area’s cultural diversity.

Ahsan Tariq, a native of Pakistan and a library employee, helped assemble a display that includes dolls in traditional garments. He said he hopes Holidays Around the World will promote a better understanding of people who call Port Arthur home.

Quilter alert:

Jenni Beaumont of Golden Triangle Quilt Guild has “patched” through a message that the Bi-Annual Quilt Show will be at the Beaumont Civic Center on Feb. 10-11.

“There will be over 250 quilts on display and for anyone who loves art and creativity this is a must-see show. It is like walking through an art gallery,” Beaumont said. “Our theme this year is Garden of Quilts. There will also be vendor booths, quilts for sale, a silent auction, a boutique and lots of special exhibits. We do have several members that are nationally recognized ‘Master Quilters.”

She says there are more than 200 members from Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. The website is: www.goldentrianglequiltguild.com

ddoiron@panews.com

2011-12-27T15:09:00.001-08:00

cal merchant delivers turkey; saves Christmas

Leslie Symmonds shares a story on why she likes to support local businesses, which in turn, support their loyal clients.

Symmonds, of Ace Real Estate in Port Neches, tells it like this:

“On Christmas Eve around noon, my sister, Marilyn Uptmor, picked up the order my Dad, Harry Gardiner, had placed at Billy Joe's in Port Neches. He ordered a smoked turkey, green beans, potato salad and cornbread dressing for our Christmas meal. Billy Joe's staff had everything packed very nicely. My sister took the food back to my Dad's house and put it in the spare refrigerator. On Christmas morning”

“We all panicked a little! My Dad called Garry Richards, and Garry met us at Billy Joe's on Christmas Day and gave her the turkey. He was very apologetic and we were so thankful that he was willing to meet us, and that he had a turkey available. If we had ordered it from a corporate outfit, we would have been out of luck. There's a lot to say about dealing with locally-owned businesses, and customer service is what keeps those businesses alive. Garry Richards showed us that customer service is key to his business,” Symmonds said.

“Wornout Memories”

Lubbock Aalanche-Journal had an online mention of “Wornout Memories,” by Ross McSwain, noting he references memories of early days in Port Arthur. Apparently his Uncle Ed said the area was “too thick to stir and not quite thick enough to plow.” Most of the book is set in west Texas, according to writer Glenn Dromgoole.

Recycle in Southeast Texas

Got stamps? Trinity Lutheran Church wants to get them. Fabiola Small wants your quilts and vintage jewelry, Port Arthur Beautification Commission can use seeds and supplies and Armor Shred can deal with your paper. Texas Recyclers Association, linked area recyclers in a pamphlet I picked up at the Port Arthur Public Library. TRA’s Maggie Bolden, 728-5465, can tell you more, especially about how she can use your electronic waste, from cell phones to ink cartridges.

ddoiron@panews.com

2011-12-22T03:45:00.000-08:00

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Texas books round up good reads

Port Arthur naturalist Bessie M. Reid amazed an ornithologist one morning before she even changed from her kimono and house slippers. He witnessed her trained hummingbirds eat from her hand. She used droppers to feed them a brew with honey and meat juice. One-time neighbor Ryle Adamson, who has been a source for my stories, said her yard was a jungle, designed to attract birds. Reid reportedly grew plants to attract lice to feed feathered friends and the Port Arthur News reported when she got her college degree.

These juicy tidbits are from just one of the 850-pages of “The Big Thicket Guidebook: Exploring the Backroads and History of Southeast Texas.” Lorraine G. Bonney’s writings make up the book. I promoted it here in advance after I met one of the editors, Maxine Johnstone. Now that this big-old book is in my hands, I aim to spend 2012 getting to know my area more. It could take that long to thoroughly digest this fascinating book.

True crime

A department of law men figuratively scrambled over a fresh corpse to succeed a slain man in office. Those in charge surprisingly awarded the position to the dead man’s wife, who apparently later had to promote her husband’s killer. “Written in Blood: The History of Fort Worth’s Fallen Lawmen” is Volume II, covering 1910 to 1928. Richard F. Selcer and Kevin S. Foster tell some whoppers in this University of North Texas release.

Just 750 ideas for party time

Happy New Year. A new book, “750 Best Appetizers: From Dips and Salsas to Spreads and Shooters” offers more than a year’s worth of inspiration. I just saw Anthony Bourdain reminiscing of buttered radish slices on “No Reservations.” I’d never heard of this and a week later I find it in this book. They sprinkle the bites with crunchy salt. Grind up your own salt blends with peppercorns or loose green tea. Judith Finlayson and Jordan Wagman offer luscious spreads from chorizo pizza to panko-crusted beef marrow. Here’s a twist on the usual guacamole we Southeast Texans love:

Avocado Ancho Chile Dip

1 avocado cut into chunks

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon cream cheese

1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

1 teaspoon grainy mustard

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ancho chile powder

¼ teaspoon liquid honey

In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse ingredients until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap, pressing down on surface of dip, and refrigerate for up to four hours. Wonderful with carnitas, tacos or tortilla chips.

ddoiron@panews.com

2011-12-15T03:02:00.001-08:00

‘Quotable Dolly’ fits in your stocking

You can’t imagine this, but my family claims my voice can get kind of cranky or something when I’m telling them stuff they don’t want to hear. I jokingly asked my husband if I should try to sound likes a famous actress and deliver ‘lines’ in character. My husband suggested Julia Roberts. I’m thinking, she never seems to get that mad in movies, except for “Erin Brockovich.”

I had in mind Dolly Parton as Miss Mona in “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” She had homespun advice and a heart of gold. If she asked you to wash the dishes, you’d do so gladly.

Coincidentally, I came across a tiny little book called “The Quotable Dolly,” offering “A Collection of Rich Sayings to Live, Love and Laugh by from The Country Music Legend.”

“Home is where I hang my hair,” reads one page, among photos of the glamorous singer who can poke fun at her self. Pages are adorned with butterfly drawings, representing her love for the colorful insects. She says that it takes a lot of money to make someone look cheap.

“I like to buy clothes that are two sizes too small and then take them in a little,” is one that made me laugh.

Some are pretty deep, but others make you smile. In fact, smiles are a topic she shares:
“I always thought if you see somebody without a smile, give ‘em yours!”

Do it all again

All the Camp Fire girls would pack into the back of the Scroggs’ station wagon for the trip to Camp Niwana. If you’ve spent time in a space like this, you’ll appreciate the cover of “Young Me, Now Me” a little book offering Identical Photos of Different Decades. Three grown siblings in striped shirts and tube socks recreate the expressions and poses they had when the wagon first pulled up in their driveway.

Still a messy eater, an adult woman sits bibbed and covered with sauce opposite her baby self in the same situation. Cheeseheads, super hero tots and grimacing siblings still willing to pick at each other in Ze Frank’s book that will make you want to round up the family next weekend. This book is as funny as it is touching.

A Thanksgiving catfish, daddys who pass on their love of huntin’ and fishin’, a honey-dipped venison ritual and hog stories fill the pages of “Hide, Horn, Fish, and Fowl: Texas Hunting and Fishing Lore.” If you can’t be out in the woods you love, love the book that brings it all back to mind. University of North Texas Press just released this book and Kenneth L. Untiedt, secretary-editor of the Texas Folklore Society, has edited a collection of myriad stories of adventure and victory. One that hits close to home is “Deliverance II: The Tale of a Strange Encounter in the Big Thicket” that involves a cabin fashioned from a discarded paper mill felt; surly hunters and a possible still; a surprised, possibly “paintywaisted” visitor; and a bag of burgers.

Acting your age

The sister of a good friend promotes a skin serum that my friend is never without. She was offered a trip to Hawaii and rejected because she didn’t think she could keep her beauty products properly cooled with new plane regulations. So imagine my surprise she tried Stages of Beauty (without sister’s knowledge) at the same time the company was contacting me. It’s an all-natural line with goodies such as monk’s pepper berry and is divided into lines for age groups: Radiance (20s), Harmony (30s), Elegance (40s) and Grace (50s). Each formulated to address the hormonal changes/needs of your skin at that specific age. I’m working the Elegance, when one can expect skin to be more thin, more dry and less radiant and elastic. My classmates can also look for more freckles and sunspots . . . need I go on? So this beautifully-packaged pot of Treatment Cream is offering hydration, evenness and firmness and I’m glad I’m trying it in winter. It feels good going on and my face is happy in the cold wind.

Each line includes cleanser, serum, cream and angi-aging supplement. I won’t tell if you won’t.

Softish is soothing

Chewing a Pine Bros Softish Thoat Drop is certainly easier than swabbing one’s throat with glycerin multiple times a day. Victoria Knight-McDowell says that when she sold Airborne, she started seeking products her own family could use and she brought back the softish drops created in 1870. Her company revamped packaging and recipes and is selling Wild Cherry and Honey pucks of drops through CVS. They’re more chewy than a gummi candy and don’t have that “cough drop” taste. I think they’ll catch on again.

ddoiron@panews.com

2011-12-06T18:38:00.001-08:00

Holiday happenings in Port Arthur
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, just like the song goes. Holiday Inn Park Central has a new feature in its array of Christmas scenes. An old-fashioned TV set has a tiny village with moving parts. It’s in Mrs. Claus’ bedroom, in the scene where Santa is presenting his wife with a gift, and a hot water bottle. The lobby is full of wonders.

Las Posadas/Bethlehem on the Boardwalk
Maria Block’s annual Christmas pageant is set for 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, on the boardwalk by City Hall in Port Arthur. Hundreds of luminaria will light the way as families recreate the Hispanic tradition of following the Holy Family as they prepare for the birth of Jesus. Angels will lead the search for shelter with Mary, Joseph and a donkey. Wise Men join the group and Our Lady of Guadalupe youth choir will perform.

Mission’s Attic Christmas
Mae Terro of Mission’s Attic said folks were lining up on Black Friday to shop the newly-created Christmas/holiday section of the resale shop.
“They come from a long way because there’s not another shop like this,” Terro said. The section of candles, trim, ornaments and gifts was all but cleaned out recently, but Terro said more donations arrive daily, at 3300 Twin City Highway. Mardi Gras and Easter selections go up next. Proceeds benefit United Board of Missions projects.

Port Arthur parade
I hope you’ll see me at Port Arthur’s Cultural Lighted Parade, which has been moved to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in downtown PA. It was set for Dec. 10, but Memorial High School’s football win changed things up. It’s great to reschedule events for positive news, instead of hurricanes. Bundle up and head out.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-11-29T04:10:00.001-08:00

Style and stocking stuffers
Can you be in style in time for the holidays? Even the font on the cover of “Southern Living Style” is classic, yet modern. I removed the book jacket so I could admire the cover as I slowly peruse this book with plenty of pictures of how we Southerners display our collections, prepare for parties, read and sleep. It’s no wonder other regions are so jealous.
Speaking of fonts, one designer tip is to print your monogram instead of stitching it. Consider collecting ancestral portraits (of anyone’s family) to group on the wall of any room, even the kitchen. I think I’ll mix up a mint julep and read some more.
“La Figa: Visions of Food and Form”
If I had mounds of avocado, cucumber, nori, grapes, etc. at my disposal, arranging them artistically on beautiful nudes would not be my first thought. Chef Tiberio Simone and photographer Matt Freedman thought otherwise, and have produced a breathtaking coffee table art book that is likely to take your breath away. Not the first to “play with food” or link food to sex, this tasteful book, to me, shows God’s beauty through human form and how we are fed and nourished. Nearly transparent cucumber slices resemble scales on a muscular man, spun sugar sculpts an abstract “hairdo” on a woman and a fresh-faced lovely bathes in a tub of cranberries. While many artists pick the most perfect bodies, this pair shows also highlights appreciation for plump and older-than-average models. The commentary on love of food and the making of this book are top-notch reads. This book is both fun and pensive.

Mad about it in your stocking
Mad Gab’s is already into minimal packaging, recycling, etc., in addition to quality product with beeswax, shea butter and organic extra virgin olive oil. So what’s new? The Wildy Natural line inspired by nature. A peacock feather design is on my pink lip shimmer. Lavender vanilla lip butter smells and feels heavenly and sparkly bronze lip shimmer, in a tube with a giraffe look, just makes me feel good. There’s more from “Gab,” and her do-good Maine-based company. Look them up.

Tassi has one upped the hair band.
Promising “Skin Care Without the Hair,” this stylish band is gathered so you can actually roll long hair up in the band and go about your makeup business without your locks falling in your face. Tassicompany.com will show you how to rock the look. One use and you’ll wish you’d thought of it first.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-11-20T06:38:00.001-08:00

Read up on Texas with an ice cream happy hour

Huntsville’s town square brought me a fabulous fall afternoon of antiquing, fried chocolate pie and Mexican food before I headed to The Texas Prison Museum and Big Sam. At the museum, they have T-shirts billing the city as “Huntsville, a gated community since 1849.” The city and its prison have come up in two new books.
“Steve McQueen” is Marshall Terrill’s thick read that includes filming he did with inmates. I’m about to scour the book for links to Port Arthur, where some say he spent part of his youth as a towel boy in a brothel.
“Gangster Tour of Texas” tells some crazy true stories with a twist. T. Lindsay Baker includes present-day and historical snapshots so readers can visit some key sites, such a court houses and crime scenes. In one case a woman said she was from The Beaumont Enterprise, and had traveled to a small Texas town to interview folks for a story on cotton crops. The Flapper Bandit was really trying to rob the bank. She tried that a couple of times, using different identities, and finally did it. Her lawyer lover helped get her out of the mess.
Huntsville’s prison comes up now and again in this fascinating book, which includes details on Bonnie and Clyde, a vet dealing in morphine, the Houston police dope scandal that rocked the department and a doctor who placed goat glands in his human male patients for “stamina.” He set up a huge business in Del Rio so he could broadcast from a powerful radio station in Mexico. Gambling in Galveston also gets its spotlight.

Are you happy now?
Spike, freeze and serve is the battle cry of two women whose late-night beer float became a book: “Ice Cream Happy Hour,” offering 50 ways to wet your whistle. It begins with the premise that readers like ice cream, and like spirits. Valerie Lum and Jenise Addison have done the science, so you just have to follow the directions to chocolate martini, ginger with dark rum, pink peppercorn with vodka . . . . you taste the idea. Here’s a quick garnish for pina colada:
Rum Pineapple Topping: In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine 1 pound pineapple cut into bite-size chunks, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons rum. Cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Transfer about one-third of the sauce to a blender or food processor and puree, then return the puree to the saucepan and stir to combine.

Casting call
I’d hoped to report a review straight from the setting of “Cast Iron and the Crescent City.” A trim booklet explains how intricate florals, geometric patterns and even corn stalks were “cast” in the history of New Orleans. A mini tour of buildings, accounts of architectural outlines, bios of iron works owners and “maker’s marks” are included in the Louisiana Landmarks Society publication by Ann M. Masson and Lydia M. Schmalz. This quick read made me want to head to NOLA ( New Orleans, La.) right away, but I confess I’d be there for muffaletta and seafood as much as to gaze at fences.
Instead of reading the book from Jackson Square, I studied in before dawn on a Sunday morning, then came home to Texas by switching to the newly-released Historic Homes of Jefferson Texas,” Cherly MacLennan’s loving picture book on this preserved-in-time town. Instead of iron work, these homes have Texas Historical Markers as adornment. I enjoyed my first visit to Jefferson, and I’m ready to venture back, now that MacLennan has educated me on the nuances of tall windows, central hallways, the first gas meter, etc.

Get a look at Jefferson homes
A road trip to Greek Revival homes, a sense of early Texas and the love of preservation make up Cheryl MacLennan’s picture book “Historic Homes of Jefferson, Texas.”
The author seems like a woman you’d want to know. She’s a consultant, independent contractor, photographer, docent at the Institute of Texan Cultures and a volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. She makes you feel like you already know Jefferson. I was there long ago at my first bed-and-breakfast venture and now I’m ready to pack up for more. I specifically imagine heading to The House of Seasons, with multi-colored panes of glass that glow like a rainbow.

Delicious sense
If common sense to you is pages of one-paragraph gourmet recipes, Domestic Engineer Paula Sole has it. She actually has “Common Sense,” a quick read on tips and ways for good living. She advocates a neat living space. I’m all for that. Here’s a quick dish:
Chicken Genovese: Cut up boneless chicken breast into small pieces. Saute chicken in extra-virgin olive oil until golden brown. Add three sliced onions. Stir consistently. When onions are golden, add water just to cover chicken. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 40 minutes. Serve over pasta.
Author’s note: “You’ll luv this dish!!”

Frenemies with food
“Frenemies,” in modern parlance, means you are both friends and enemies. A new book was billed as a story of a woman who considered food that way. It takes place in England, and is pitched this way:
“The new book, Clarice, tells the story of a young woman living in a world where food is both her greatest comfort and greatest enemy. Written by a retired physician, the book paints a modern-day portrait of mental illness and describes the path to recovery.”
I “realised” I may have been enjoying this book more because of British spellings, such as “colour” and phraseology that’s used “across the pond.” Clarice does binge and purge at times throughout her life, but I believe the book is most familiar with her relationships with men, married or not. She visits a psychic, and the prediction comes to pass for Clarice in a way that “got me” on the very final page.
Looking for healing
Our best friend is our little child within, and that friend can help us put our house in order. Meditate on that, Austrailian author Teresa Alexander writes in “Freedom Within: A Gift of Love.” The butterfly-on-flower book cover lets readers know this will be a touchy-feely experience. The author discusses colors of lights associated with energy and mixes short writings with poems about friendship, sharing, claiming the day, etc.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-11-13T12:09:00.001-08:00

Walking it out and dining out help “do good” for community

As a reporter I covered countless walks, but joining the Alzheimer’s support walk this past weekend on Crockett Street was different. There was music, boudain and a sea of purple T-shirts on a sunny day. Through Facebook donations, my husband raised $200 for the cause with minimal effort in one day. It wasn’t until I signed a paper to be pinned on my back that I got emotional. “I’m walking for,” the top read. I filled in Burton Doiron, and noted my dad died a year ago, Thanksgiving week. My husband walked to honor his father, who is still with us.

A hectic taste of poverty
My brush with hard luck ended with a taste of warming stew on a cold night and some of the best cornbread I ever had. It was the same meal the homeless experienced at Some Other Place in Beaumont earlier in the day. For this reward, I had to play a teacher with too many hungry, impoverished students in my class.
Leadership Beaumont, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce project, staged a poverty simulation. My husband helped put on the evening and got the role of pawn broker. Participants were assigned roles from teen mother to drug dealer and drew cards that had them in government waiting rooms, late for low-paying part-time jobs and without transportation. Sometimes families would get “home” to find overturned chairs, meaning they were evicted. They’d head to the faith-based shelter area, where my teacher character volunteered.
In one hour we all got an idea of tough times compounded by “wild cards” from flat tire expenses to having a child expelled from school. After our meal, we heard speakers who work with people in our community who need work, mental health care and food.

Toasting Taylor
Triangle Aids Network’s annual Paint the Town Red event at the Beaumont Country Club carried a Toast to Elizabeth Taylor theme and allowed guests in evening gowns to financially support a hard-working agency. The TAN office is not glamorous, but deals with sick people who need everything from a ride to the doctor to the emotional support that comes with living with AIDS. Not everyone can work daily with these patients and their families. Paint the Town Red is a chance for artists and business people to whip up beautiful things and packages auctioned off to raise funds for TAN to do their good works. I came home with something I’ve wanted since I saw them years ago, a purse made from an actual Beatles album. I also left with a sense of gratitude.

Winter Wonderland
Parents will get private shopping time and children will make memories when Texas Artists Museum hosts Winter Wonderland Workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26.
“It is for kids 6 to 12 and costs $10,” Jayne Smith of TAN said. “We will have an art lesson included with a framed work as the result. Others activities include "patchwork" pictures, wooden spoon Christmas dolls, decorations, a dove of peace, and Christmas cards. John Manuel will teach the art class.”
“It will be an interesting way for children to learn a bit about art and to enjoy doing crafts as well as give parents free time to Christmas shop,” Smith said.
Call 983-4881 to get “patch” in
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-11-08T16:13:00.001-08:00

A riot, Seahawks and tartan are in Southeast Texas news

Rhythm Riot
So I’m on the exercise bike at the Port Arthur YMCA and guess who sits next to me. It’s local singing legend Jivin’ Gene. He was reminiscing about his friend Johnny Preston, just honored with a Solid Gold tribute at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. He was also planning to head to England for Rhythm Riot, billed as “The UKs biggest and best festival of 1950s music, dancing and vintage lifestyle.” Mr. Bourgeois was modest, and said he didn’t think it was a big deal. I’ll bet his fans here do.

Team to Beat
Merchants are proudly displaying Seahawks basketball schedule cards. I got mine at the Port Arthur YMCA. This team cinched a championship this past season and Scott A. Street, athletic director at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, says they’re looking to repeat. Street said word off the court is the Seahawks are being called “The Team to Beat,” and games are designed for good, family fun. Seahawks won the National Jr. College Athletic Association title in Tyler and competed in the nationals in Kansas. Support them at home games in the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center, Lakeshore Drive, on the LSC-PA Campus. Tickets: $6 for adults and $3 for students. Home games:
Wednesday, Nov. 16, vs. Lone Star College, Tomball, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 18, vs. Baton Rouge CC, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 19, vs. Texas Southern (JV), 2 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 30, vs. San Jacinto College, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 7, vs. Lee College, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 11, vs. Angelina College, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 21, vs. Paris Jr. College, 4 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 28, vs. Navarro College, 4 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 4, vs. Trinity Valley CC, 4 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 8, vs. Kilgore College, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 15, vs. Lon Morris College, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 22, vs. Jacksonville College, 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 29, vs. Blinn College, 7:30 p.m.

Tartan time
I know all about tartan thanks to a junior high love of the Bay City Rollers. My mother made me a top based on Woody’s yellow and black design.
Now the Scottish society of Southeast Texas is inviting supporters to get their tartan on. The group will meet Thursday, Nov. 10, in the parlor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1350 N. 23 rd St., In Beaumont. They’ll dine on a light covered dish supper at 6:30 p.m. Marilyn Manson Hayes will discuss wearing of the tartan, the Scottish clan plaids, in preparation of the annual “Kirkin” of the Tartans, at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at St. Andrew’s.
For more information, call 409-898-4986. Wear your tartan, leave your swords at home, the invite reads.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-10-30T13:47:00.001-07:00

Go “all out” in Spirit of Mardi Gras
I’ve heard it straight from Jan Walker. This next Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas is the 20th of its kind and Majestic Krewe of Aurora members report the theme will focus on traditional symbols with the title “Spirit of Mardi Gras.”
“Plan on going all out this year,” Walker, krewe communications director, said.
Dates are Feb. 16-19 of 2012.

Pecans for the season
Comanches must have loved pecans as much as we do. The Golden Triangle Sertoma Club is proud to be selling Durham-Ellis pecan halves for holiday baking. I looked up the Hill Country area distributor who reports Comanches ate plenty of pecans. I’m willing to sink my teeth into these babies, which come in perfect halves. I told my saleswoman they’re too pretty to chop up. The gorgeous nuts should top a cupcake or adorn a snack mix.
Proceeds from $11 bags have helped Children’s Miracle Network, American Cancer Society Mid and South County Relay for Life and scholarships. Get them for Thanksgiving and Christmas by contacting Linda Hebert at 963-4882, ljhebert@sbcglobal.net; or Emily Sonier at 365-7599, auntieem_28@yahoo.com.

“Troubadour Tx”
Robert Creaseman, a musician and motivational speaker, told an audience I was in we can all be Rockstars, and gave us a formula, which I won’t reveal here. Just tell me if it’s working, because I’m trying to rock. Creaseman is involved with “Troubadour Tx,” a new show that tells the story of Texas song writers, performers, etc. The web site says you can catch it round these parts at 5 p.m. Sundays on the CW. Of course, in his talk, he mentioned one of our famous musicians from the past, Janis Joplin.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-10-27T05:23:00.001-07:00

Ink it pink in October
My Sharpie love has upped a notch through the Ink it Pink promotion. It’s true that celebrities love Sharpies for autographs as much as I love them for jazzing up mundane chores. Stars have used pink Sharpies adorned with the breast cancer support ribbon and displayed them at Sharpie.com. Send yours in October and the company will donate a dollar to City of Hope, a cancer treatment, research and education center. Get on the web site to view guitarist Grace Potters video about the project, and ink away.

Catch a Rauschenberg
Texas Monthly’s October issue features a rundown on where to view some of Robert Rauschberg’s modern art paintings, collages, etc. I shouldn’t have to remind Port Arthur residents who knew “Milton” that Museum of the Gulf Coast has a gallery dedicated to the world-famous artist.

Birders on the big screen
An image of Owen Wilson from “The Big Year” shows his character armed with binoculars by a poster reading “Houston Audubon’s High Island.” This family bonding flick stars Wilson, a Texan, as an avid birder with Steve Martin, from the Waco area, as his dad.
I’ve been learning about our area’s birding activity. I don’t know if members of our own Audubon Society will like the movie, but I’ve been enjoying reading up on purple gallinule.

Silver and copper gets in your face
They had me at blue bottle. The cobalt blue spritzer holding Ancient Stones Ancient Elixir Setting Spray just looks natural. Silver and copper are on the ingredients list, but you won’t find fillers, additives, preservatives or talc. Spray some over your made-up face. This product in the line is designed to give the face a “smooth air-brushed look” and to keep your look fresh all day with no smudging or creasing, though you may have been working out or swimming. It feels good going on and feels good in place.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-10-09T16:52:00.001-07:00

Wranglers and rouge and my Nine-Cat Summer

My Nine-Cat Summer
When our neighbor, noted for growing a patch of both bluebonnets and cotton by his garage, passed away, his daughter came in to check on his home. She left me a sack of cat food and a note that there were seven kittens, two apparently Mama cats and a possible baby raccoon under the shed. I’ve spent the summer doing so and chatted with neighbors I’d never met as they all stop to look at the cats.
It made me appreciate “Cat Calls: Wonderful Stories and Practical Advice from a Veteran Cat Sitter” all the more. Jeanne Adlon and Susan Logan have some funny stories, like cats who have trained themselves to use a human toilet. Here’s just one tip for feral cats and flea control. A woman who had a farm full of them sprinkled brewer’s yeast with garlic over their food. Never use a dog product on a cat, the book advises.

Ranger wrangling
Bob Alexander offers chapter titles like “We’ll do the shooting,” “He Fell Like a Beef” and “Venison is better than no meat at all” in Rawhide Ranger Ira Aten: Enforcing the Law on the Texas Frontier.” It’s a good read and Alexander’s words paint as clear a picture as the plentiful vintage photos of this family. Aten was honest and humble and took the dreaded assignment of “detective” in an era when law men wanted to be clear on their intentions. He posed as a “cutter” and gained the trust of men who broke through fences for cattle and horses. Undercover was kind of a new deal, and Aten then worked up to other duties, each as interesting as the next. The book is a University of North Texas Press release.

Texas scandal
Bill Neal’s “Vengeance is Mine: The Scandalous Love Triangle that Triggered the Boyce-Sneed Feud is another true Texas tale from University of North Texas Press. So Lena got what she wanted, had candlelight parties for women in the day time and may have neglected to return borrowed dessert spoons. She married a wealthy Sneed, but carried on with cowboy Boyce. Her husband committed her to an asylum to save face and shot her lover’s daddy, then her lover. Established women of Amarillo packed the courtroom in furs and diamonds. Sneed was let go both times for “protecting the home.”

Nyx the night
Goddesses get all the attention. Nyx, the Greek goddess who ruled the night, paints the town red, and a huge selection of other shades, creators say. Since 1999 NYX Professional Makeup, for artistry and day wear, have rarely discontinued a shade. Red is back big time for lips this season and NYX is on the clock. A swipe from the stick comes in 22 shades and is designed to keep a matte finish all day and into the night. NYX is also bringing back cream rouge, like hip ladies of my grandmother’s era sported. Tickled is the newest of 13 shades. It sounds like summer, but I’m feeling a tinge of fall orange from the smooth rouge. Love the packaging, too.

Stocking for the sweaty
Words to Sweat By is part practical and part inspirational with stocking stuffers for the New Year’s Resolution crowd. The To Health and Happiness Package packs a blue tote with a high-quality towel adorned with thoughts such as “Healthy. Strong. Happy.” Stick a message like that a black tank top or “mantra T-shirt” and you think you’d be ready to hit the treadmill at the Port Arthur YMCA. But the package isn’t empty. There’s a wristband locker key chain and reusable snack bag. Work out, wipe down and feel good about feeling fit and fashionable. In 2012, the company will put phrases from Olympic athletes on their towels.

Softest bamboo
Gaiam has a fall catalogue on line that lets you search by color. As drawn as I am to purple, a rich, green shawl caught my eye and I’m relishing its bamboo and cotton durability. How can bamboo be so soft? It’s a good thing to have for chilly offices. Because Gaiam is into yoga wear, sustainability and “healthy stuff,” the cover-up looks great over your workout wear, or you can dress it up. The company “tag” is “Live, learn, grow.” I could go for one of everything in the catalogue. If you can’t knit one of the panchos glamming up the fall looks, get one here.

A clean car
Water rationing or wanting to avoid hauling out the hose are both motivators to try Washdrops. A bit of the non-foaming solution in one bucket of water is all you need. A pouch of the stuff will help you keep your car clean while you’re on vacation. I found this to be a product that works like it claims it does, and that’s good news for me and my neighbors. We live in an area where street construction and dusty roads have been a part of our lives for months. I’m not complaining. That’s progress, and keepin’ it clean.

Make a BiOWiSH
Garbage take-out is my daughter’s detail, but I get all the feedback if I didn’t furnish the right bags or a toss didn’t make it to its destination. I presented her with BiOWiSH Garbage Bin Wash for pride in ownership. Dissolve it in water and wash out your bin with the solution so that naturally occurring enzymes can help your bin stay odor-free for a month. There’s no flowery scent, so insects and rodents won’t be attracted. This is a winner, because Southeast Texas kitchen garbage often has the remains of our great seafood. Great to eat, not so great to smell.
ddoiron@panews

2011-10-09T15:19:00.001-07:00

The wine and cheese estate sale
It doesn’t take much prodding to get an adventure-seeking bargain hunter to a sale. Estate Sales by Vivian has a huge e-mail following. Vivian Duplant and her web master, Michael Mathews, post photos of the goodies shoppers will find inside homes, so hunters have a few days to plan. If there’s a lot of blue glass or any other sort of collectible, the photos will give the scoop.
When I saw a notice for a Nederland sale where one could meet artist Cal Gaspard and sample wine and cheese, I was so there. I think I made some new friends and hope someone went home with Gaspard’s bluebonnet paintings. I got a scarf and a cream pitcher from the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, where my parents spent their honeymoon. My bill for an hour of fun: $3.
Mathews owns The Tattered Suitcase resale shop at 2590 Calder Avenue at Tenth Street in Beaumont, and says he sometimes offers Thursday wine parties at his shop of “well-traveled finds.
He said he loves all things old and feels like I do about kitchen bowls and such found at estate sales. We both imagine how many dishes have filled the classic patterns and how many Thanksgiving tables platters have seen over the years.

What a bummer
I loved the community support Bum Phillips got when a street that spans Nederland and Port Neches was named in his honor. Local love was evident. I’m surprised to hear that someone apparently loves Bum so much, he or she had to snatch one of those road signs.
The ceremony in Nederland was on the parking lot near Bruce’s Market Basket. I ran inside later that day to confirm what I suspected. “Bum’s Favorite” Blue Ribbon Sausage, with his image on the package, was for sale in the store while the celebrity coach was just outside.

Tough women
Linda Guillory says she’s one urban cowgirl who is back in the saddle again after her breast cancer diagnosis a while back. She used black and pink bandanas to create “A Cowgirl’s Dream Bra,” her contribution to “Bra-Vo! Applause for the Cause, a Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” project. Gladys Wilson-Hollins created a pink floral called “Pearls of Love and Flowers.” Other creative supporters went “tough as nails,” gave nods to Mardi Gras or a favorite sports team and thanked family in their bra art. Visit giftoflifebmt.org for more information on this inspirational collection.

ddoiron@panews.com

2011-10-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

Meet Bates’ ‘French girls’ and pine for the pig
A picture is truly worth 1,000 words for amicable artist Delle Bates. Through his Orange studio, he sells his bold faces he’s painted in oil to clients around the world. Wall Street and Post-Rita angels in T-shirts are other themes. He said he chatted with a New York reporter for more than an hour and the “story” ended up as pretty much a sentence, that storms inspire Bates to paint angels. He’s known for it.
To meet Bates is to make a friend. He’ll tell you how this spring’s visit to France had him shuffling to two museums a day for 28 days and how he’s “starving” to paint more. Everyone there was in a scarf, and he’s painted some of that excitement into works he’ll show at Texas Artists Museum in October. A dark cadmium redhead with absinthe-green eyes is named “Lucy in the Sky.”
Jean Gunn and James Black will also show works in October. TAM, a, 3501 Cultural Center Drive, offers monthly Second Sunday programs with entertainment, often combined with artists’ receptions.

Pining for the Pig
If you miss Ralph the Swimming Pig of Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, then pop some corn and get ready for the Swine Dive. I recently caught a documentary on this grand-scale amusement park that paved the way for today’s family fun stops. I saw the underwater mermaid show as a child, so I loved this film featuring memories from former swimmers and park tenders. Bob Phillips, a tourism specialist not associated with the country reporter of the same name, made this movie. He’s one of hundreds who worked there as a youth. Get yours at www.aquarenaandralph.com.

Stable Spirit has haunted hay ride plans
As if the woods aren’t already scary. The fifth annual Haunted Hay Ride Festival, sponsored by Stable-Spirit and Tyrrell Park Stables, will be Fridays & Saturdays of Oct. 21, 22, 28, & 29, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Tyrrell Park Stables, 5595 Tyrrell Park Road, inside Tyrrell Park.

2011-09-25T05:14:00.001-07:00

Horses, haunted hay ride and more authors

Stable Spirit is playing with fire.
The local group promotes positive mental and physical health through interaction with horses. They’re working on some music and scary fun to raise funds. Food and music will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Port Neches Park Pavilion on Grigsby Avenue. Music will be from Acadian Junglists Artists
Lavish of Eunice, La., offering a “rough and tough Drum n Bass production.” “Junglist” refers to Jamacian residents. Other artists include BGenius of Eunice, with massive bass lines for the dance floor; Dj Sk8 of Beaumont and Breaks Fire Maiden From Outer Space of Tee Mamou, La. The Fire Maiden will bring Tribal Belly Dancing and Fire Poi. Sounds like a party.
For more information on this or the upcoming Haunted Hay Ride Festival, call Katie Durio at (409) 365-5277.
The fifth annual Haunted Hay Ride Festival, sponsored by Stable-Spirit and Tyrrell Park Stables, will be Fridays & Saturdays of Oct. 21, 22, 28, & 29, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Tyrrell Park Stables, 5595 Tyrrell Park Road, inside Tyrrell Park.

McBride finally did it
Mary Beth Stafford loaned me a book by someone I know to be a great writer. I actually know her personally, though when a writer shares her world with readers, it seems everyone is in on the details.
Jane McBride, longtime columnist for the Beaumont Enterprise, has compiled her works into “Grace, Gratitude and Generosity” A Family Portrait,” writings which offer personal experiences with everything from a Beatle infatuation and grandbaby love to worrying about a mother’s health. She writes short, sweet and worthy. That’s why readers can’t get enough.

Beaumont author’s got poetry
Beaumont author Dorothy Sells Clover's new book, “Cornucopia,” is dubbed “a delightful and intriguing hodge-podge of mind searching, thought provoking, and just plain whimsical poems.” Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.
Clover is a single parent residing in Beaumont and has been employed with the Beaumont Independent School District for 20 years. She has worked as a librarian for the last three years. For more information, visit dorothyclover.tateauthor.com.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-09-10T05:50:00.001-07:00

Bruno, Mission’s Attic ready for the holidays

I spotted George Bruno, Port Arthur high school football great and wine maker at The Cabana at The Grill in Beaumont. Always genial, he told me Bruno & George winery in Sour Lake is set to appear on a “Texas Country Reporter” episode near the end of the year, to highlight his holiday wines. He said when Jimmy Johnson was in town for a reunion, his gang sipped a Yellow Jacket blend from the collection.

Christmas room all set up at Attic
A flashy, lighted new “open” sign was my first notion that The Mission’s Attic got a little facelift. What may have been considered the record room, to the back left, is now full, I mean full, of Christmas goodies. When I visited, there was music and a separate check-out for this popular new section that drew two shoppers from as far as Bridge City. Mae Terro, sales director of the resale shop that benefits United Board of Missions, said she visited the Texas Hill Country and noted shops that offer Christmas all year, so volunteers thought they might as well keep a seasonal room rotating with stock, instead of having to keep it stored off season. Terro said that even if they sold out of all the Christmas stuff displayed now, they have more to fill up the place.
“It’s a little bit of all seasons, all the time,” she said.
The store is across from Jefferson City Shopping Center.

Make it to the movie; the museum
Some of my readers know I love finding pennies, so I loved the penny story I found at the Museum of the Gulf Coast. It’s part of “WWI: Final Survivors,” a collection of David DeJonge’s photographs up through Sept. 18.
The bio that goes with one photo tells how a former soldier was sitting with a French girl who asked for a souvenir. He had none, so he thought, until he found an American penny, which he gave her. She gave him a lock of her hair, which he kept until he died.
Military posters, a vintage firearm and the disc-style dog tags of the day are also on exhibit.
DeJonge worked with Survivor Quest, his years-long project to locate, identify, interview and photograph the last surviving WWI veterans. The project clocked more than 130,000 miles of travel to every corner of the U.S. and England. These survivors are the final witnesses from the United States and England that served from 1914-1919. Group tours of the exhibition are available through Sept. 16. Groups of 10 or more may tour for $2 a person by scheduling in advance. Out of towners can book Port Arthur accommodations.
The exhibition has inspired a free Veteran Appreciation Film Series on Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. There’s one more:
* Vietnam Sept. 17 – Bob Hope’s Salute to the Troops: The Vietnam Years
Film attendees may enjoy complimentary popcorn and free admission to the temporary WWI exhibition as well as the Museum’s permanent exhibits. The Museum is at 7000 Procter St. in downtown Port Arthur. For information, call 409-982-7000 or visit www.museumofthegulfcoast.org.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-09-05T08:53:00.001-07:00

Get Tray Chic at TAM
Shirley Peel McCraw’s fancy lady is called “Salute to Alphonse” and she could be serving you. Texas Artists Museum has asked businesses to support a decorated tray fund raiser called Tray Chic. Jody Domingue, board member, said patrons can vote on favorite trays at Kizmet Fine Arts Studio in Groves, at Chatzie’s and Dana’s Jewelry on Boston Avenue in Nederland. Domingue said the jewelry store blinged the provided tray with $350 worth of jewelry. See the trays at TAM Second Sunday, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at 3501 Cultural Center Drive. The Out of Control Trio will perform.

The ketchup incident
Artist Arnulfo Hernandez used to work in a ketchup factory, where boiling-hot product once splashed up to burn his ear. When he took a physical for RCA to make color TV parts, the doc asked him about the burn. Hernandez said it came from ketchup and the physician stopped him right there and proclaiming “I don’t want to know.”
Some of Hernandez’ life stories, such as a tour of Vietnam and Naval duties, are reflected in his art work, displayed at Texas Artists Museum in September.

Sandwich story
Author Bruce Branick saw my review of “Insanewiches,” a book that transform bread and fillings into fun, edible artworks, and sent in a memory:
“About 1955, I had a job as radio-electronics man at Ingall's Shipyard, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. I boarded and roomed in a huge house in Pascagoula, with about five other IBEW electricians, and the proprietor of the house was also an electrician. He and his wife were paying off the house, and we electrical people were paying for spare rooms and three meals a day.

The noon meal was a bag lunch, sandwiches. Lady of the house had the most vivid creativity I've ever seen, in my 90 years. For two and a half months, I never had the same sandwich for lunch. Believe it!

Ever had a bean sandwich? All of them were on brown or wheat bread, and all were tasty,” Branick writes.
Mr. B, I’m pretty sure my dad enjoyed some lima bean sandwiches on duty at Gulf States Utilities.

2011-08-28T14:09:00.001-07:00

Enough already!

Imagination is required for a new book designed to wean us from instant gratification. Interaction as some sort of sea foam, conversations with captive elephants and exercises asking nervous folk to hose down a room with positive light energy are in Dr. Dorothy Riddle’s new book, “Principles of Abundance for the Cosmic Citizen.” I was expecting more concrete tips, but this read is all about the journey and thinking for one’s self, while raising the question: Is more really better?

Fruit fly life
Do something like this, soon:
• Call your sister so you can hear your nephews laughing in the background.
• Play footsies with your sweetie.
• Look at old pictures while drinking a glass of chocolate milk.
• Wake up early to see a sunrise.
•

In “Live Like a Fruit Fly: The Secret You Already Know,” funny guy Gabe Berman reminds readers that fruit flies live just a short time, so they don’t accumulate the baggage we humans do. This columnist for The Miami Herald keeps it light while reminding us we’re dying every day, so we should live a little. Let’s go do it.

Hair in disguise?
What could make you feel more like a hippie chick than mud in your hair? It wasn’t actually mud, it was a good-smelling “masque” of plantain enzyme, tea tree and willow bark extract. Organic African Black Soap Purification Masque from Shea Moisture is designed for dry, itchy scalp, dandruff, eczema and psoriasis. It moisturizes the hair and gets rid of product buildup. My 30 minutes in the “mud” was actually therapeutic, and I don’t think the nine stray cats I’m feeding across the way actually noticed anything unusual in my looks when I visited with masque in my hair. I should go back now that my do is looking so good. Shea Moisture has a line of bath and body works with frankincense and myrrh that will make the rest of you feel good, too.

Back inside
Summer sun and aging is a combo that can be addressed with two jars:
Nu Skin 180 AHA Facial Peel and Neutralizer  is billed as “A Simple Two-Step Process to Target Sun Damaged and Aging Skin .”
I don’t think I’ll ever, ever get a professional chemical peel, but this product is an affordable alternative.
Imagine, at my age, I’m still using those pads like the ones that were so revolutionary for acne care. But the babies in these jars have AHAs clinically proven to “chemically exfoliate surface skin and promotes a youthful cell renewal rate while stimulating collagen production to reveal a beautiful even-toned complexion.”   Look for lactic acid to break apart dead cell buildup (my fave) and Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract to reduce topical sensitivity. Visit www.nuskinusa.com for details.

**************

Leave your sand at the beach
A 30-second commercial on the Sand-Off site says it all. Sand is fun when you’re playing at the beach, not fun down your suit and all over your car. I sent relatives to the beach to try it and they came home clean.
Sand-Off™ Dry Body Wash uses a special mitt and an all-natural powder blend to effectively remove sand without water. The price is $7.99 for a pack that lasts 30-40 uses. Visit the site (http://www.sandoff.com/) to see what all you can do with Sand-Off.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-08-21T14:05:00.001-07:00

Spirit of Mardi Gras, Sartin and Strings in the news
Jan Walker of Mardi Gras Southeast Texas reports “Spirit of Mardi Gras” is the theme for this 20th event.
“With it being the 20th Anniversary Celebration we felt like a broad theme was needed which would mean lots of different things to all who participate in the annual celebration” said Laura Childress, president of Mardi Gras Southeast Texas and Captain of Krewe of Aurora. “As a result of many discussions with Ball Captain Peggy Simon, it was agreed the theme for 2012 should be "Spirit of Mardi Gras." Knowing that Mardi Gras in Port Arthur is a special time for Krewe members and patrons of Carnival Weekend, what better way than a theme that expresses the general atmosphere of Mardi Gras in Port Arthur”!
Save the date for Feb. 16-20 in downtown Port Arthur.
Call 721-8717 or contact laura@portarthur.com for details.

Becky Ames, acting as executive director of Atria Collier Park in Beaumont, sent word that Kim Sartin, owner of Sartin's Seafood in Nederland, is serving as the new director of culinary services at Atria Collier Park, the assisted and independent living community for senior citizens.
She writes that restaurant is known for their seasoned blue crabs and relaxed atmosphere and has earned a number of.
“Most people don't think of culinary cuisine when they think of the menu at a senior living community, but Kim is using her vast culinary experience as a chef and restaurateur to bring an unexpected food experience to the local residents at Atria Collier Park,” Ames writes. “Her focus on using fresh, local ingredients to create old favorites and brain-healthy recipes is winning acclaim among the 150 plus residents, aka "food critics," that she now cooks for on a daily basis. She loves using her talents to make the residents happy and is thriving in her new position.”

Just Strings
Port Arthur got mention in the Healdsburg Patch web site of California, regarding the Just Strings Music Festival. It’s a jam session that drew Paul Soroski, whose latest project is the band Create a Monster. He brought his group from Austin. The story continues:
“We’re originally from Port Arthur, Texas,” said Soroski, “We’re the only modern rock band playing this weekend.
“Port Arthur is the home of Janis Joplin,” Soroski stated proudly, “Jason [Touchette] and I have been working together for 20 years.”
Blake Sticker, “a hotshot young guitarist, who has been making a name for himself in the Golden Triangle over the past few years,” has joined Soroski and Touchette in Create a Monster. Keith Slack rounds out the band.
“This is ZZ Top meets modern rock without the hair,” said Andrea Doyle.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-08-13T19:22:00.001-07:00

Nederland Art Guild show reflects area’s scenery
Brenda Lu is not for sale; but you can get a look at TAM
Too bad for Brenda, who tried to buy the Brenda Lu. The artist, her own husband, wouldn’t sell it.
Bobby Pastorella’s No. 2 pencil work swept the professional drawing division of the Nederland Art Guild show, up all August at Texas Artists Museum.
Pastorella drew a boat from real life, but he couldn’t pronounce the name. He christened the one in his picture “Brenda,” after his wife, and added the “Lu,” from a friend’s nickname for her. But when she offered to purchase the completed drawing, he told her it wasn’t for sale.
It’s possible Brenda may get another chance, because Pastorella says he’s sketched 38 images since February. Sounds like he’s got more in him, and he likes to capture the area.
“I try to do stuff that’s indigenous to the area. I love animated movement,” he said, adding the beach and swamps are among his favorites.
Jody Domingue earned best of show with a cypress swamp and Wanda Mitchell’s work earned best floral honor.
Doris Webb - Nederland Art Guild President, invites visitors to view the 39 works in the show, which also include western and Native American scenes.
“Our judge for the show was Roy Bares, artist and art instructor for Monsignor Kelly High School in Beaumont. Roy is an amazing artist. His work is very much in demand,” Webb said.
For information on Nederland Art Guild, call 409-728-1875. The museum is at 3501 Cultural Center Drive in Port Arthur.

Check out the Groves library
Local cabinet maker Chad Henderson gets credit for the new circulation desk at the Groves Public Library, and Deborah Harper, director, wants readers to check it out. When school starts, maybe parents can catch up on their reading and see the new look. The library is at 5600 West Washington Ave. in Groves. Find them at: http://www.groveslibrary.org.

This blood’s for you!

My phone machine frequently has messages from LifeShare asking for my blood.
Del Papa Distributing Company will host its annual “This Blood’s For
You” blood drive on Sept. 9, at three locations in the Beaumont area,
and I’ll bet donors will be lined up to give. The company recently
celebrated 100 years of service and has partnered with LifeShare
before to remember those who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Stop by its Beaumont Distribution Center at 410 Interstate 10 South, Fire Station 1 on College Street in Beaumont or the LifeShare Blood Bank on Laurel Avenue to give blood and support area hospitals.
ddoiron@panews.com.

2011-08-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

Mama Mia! Dine with the underbosses at Sertoma
Moe Green salad is on the menu at a Godfather/gangster themed Mama Mia Italian dinner to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and American Cancer Society.
A $25 ticket will help good causes and promote a good time with the Golden Triangle Sertoma Club Inc. The event will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at The Courtyard Café in Groves.
“This is so much fun,” Emily Sonier, president, said.
Debbie Neef has donated a black Coach Bag that someone will go home with. It’s valued at $268. For information, call Linda Hebert at 963-4882.

Fisher on the small screen
Frances Fisher, formerly of Orange, appears in “The Lincoln Lawyer,” a 2011 now-on-DVD selection starring Matthew McConaughey as “ a sleazy defense attorney who has a crisis of conscience when he represents a wealthy client who has a foolproof plan to beat the system.”
I can’t say any more about her role, but I did enjoy the movie, which features several other major stars.
Independent Movie Data Base has this in Fisher’s bio:
“Her father worked in oil refinery construction, so she moved regularly. She was born in England and moved about every year until she was in 7th grade, when the family settled in Orange, Texas.”

Big Thicket: Read All About It
Maxine Johnston, editor of The Big Thicket Reporter,” helped edit Lorraine G. Bonney’s “The Big Thicket Guidebook: Exploring the Backroads and History of Southeast Texas.” Look for it this fall. For more information, contact Maxine@mxjohnston.com
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-08-02T17:02:00.001-07:00

Red Hussars on parade?
I’m hearing reports that the Red Hussars are noted in an exhibit on Texas high school football at the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum in Austin.
Matthew Odam’s story in the Austin American Statesman reads “Visitors also will learn the history behind the Port  Arthur Red Hussars, the nation's first all-female drum and bugle corps, and  find out more about the legendary Gussie Nell Davis, who brought her  personal flair to the Greenville High School Flaming Flashes before starting  the Kilgore Rangerettes.”

Banker buddies
David Parsley and Terry Rozelle are two retired bankers who have gone back to working - a part time job - for Texas First Bank. It’s a new bank to Southeast Texas with a branch in Winnie, one in Fannett and a newly-opened branch in Port Arthur/Mid County.
"The bank has impressed both of us and we are pleased to be able to associate with such a quality organization" Parsley said.
He retired after 42 years in banking in Jefferson County. He and his wife Sue, who retired from Motiva, enjoy traveling and say they get to the Cayman Islands and Europe at least once a year. Terry and his wife Gwen have both been retired about a year. They say they spend more time with their families and also enjoy traveling.
Parsley and Rozelle are senior business consultants for Texas First Bank and work with the bank on business development. Also they work with the local officers on specific projects and help in packaging loans and deposit relationships.

Tune in to Fernando
Fernando Ramirez, Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and man about town, is promoting a new radio program, K-PASA Southeast Texas, in Spanish it sounds like Que Pasa. It’s “what’s happening,” get it? The mainly-Spanish format will discuss activity around Port Arthur, he said. Listen Sundays at noon on 1340 AM on the dial.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-07-24T13:37:00.001-07:00

Forget bed head; get beach hair
Growing up so close to the beach, some of us may not have realized that many Americans strive for a certain “beachy” look. I once tried a cream that left me with the seaside sensation of surfboard wax and sand stuck in my hair.
Beach Wave Control Mist by Pravana is another story. Mist it in and let it dry for soft curls. It doesn’t feel sticky or even look wet. Jojoba oil, rosemary extract, keratin, wheat and silk amino acids are in this formula, so I’m setting up at this beach.
Or try a hat
If you can’t get beach hair, try a Wallaroo hat. Company creators returned to Boulder, Co. sporting the Aussie secret for sun protection, cool, crushable fabric hats. Now they’re creating their own plus updating classic styles for men and women and donating funds to support skin cancer research. With that thought, my husband is looking good on mowing duty in a Havana hat, which Wallaroo doesn’t promise will “improve your swing” on the course, but asserts it should boost a golfer’s confidence. It looks as sporty as the Berumuda, which is suggested for Sunday brunch or a walk in the park. You can still get a beach look from several Wallaroo offerings.
Mucus Management
Mucus management is big business, say creators of Boogie Wipes, a soft solution for children with runny noses. No want wants a chapped nose on top of that. Now Little Busy Bodies Inc. offers adult relief with moist Saline Soothers, packets of super-soft towelettes in Cool Menthol and fragrance-free forms. Someone asked how much I could possibly write about a wipe. How’s this: “Aaaaahhhhh.” As a nasal bidet/netti pot supporter, I think this option is amazing for travel. Look for them at Walgreens and Walmart.

A is for Argan
Fatty acids are a good thing and Aura Cacia has put them to skin care use through five new oils from around the world, certified through the USDA’s National Organic Program. Pump bottles dispense wee dabs of fragrant oils that are healing to my senses. Argan oil sounds like something from “Lord of the Rings” to me, but it’s squeezed from nuts of a native desert tree in Morocco. It’s good on skin, hair and scalp, as is Baobab from African trees and emerald-green Tamanu from South Pacific fruit trees. The new line has a natural, earthy aroma that is so natural and different from the highly-processed artificial scents found all around us. Bottles suggest pumping some into the palm and adding a few drops of this brand’s essential oils, which I also enjoy.
Mature and sun-damaged skin eats up rose hip oil from Chile.
There’s one more: Macadamia nut oil from Kenya creates a “long-lasting superior shield of emollients” and Rosehip oil from Chile has pure retinol (Vitamin A) known for replenishing and restoring skin. This one smells especially yummy.
High Maintenance
Lay on the keratin, it’s already in your nails, naturally. Dermelect’s High Maintenance Instant Nail Thickener is a clear coat of a form of keratin with protein peptide ProSina designed to thicken nails up to 50 percent in a single coat. Makers call it hands down the most innovative top coat you’ll ever need, because it also has UV absorber to protect polish from yellowing while preventing both light and dark colors from quickly fading. It’s shiny stuff that’s doing what it claims for me.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-07-19T18:16:00.001-07:00

Columnists cross paths in Houston
My friend and I were buzzing through the Montrose area of Houston when I thought I saw a familiar face in the black car next to me. I recognized him as The Examiner’s Out and About columnist, Albert Nolen. I’m 99.9 percent sure it was him. I’ve never actually met him, though I have been very close to him at some event dance floors.
My friend insisted I roll down the window and call out to him, though I insisted he wouldn’t know me. She said one columnist ought to acknowledge another when both crossed paths so far from home.
The deal is she had put on the child locks to keep her spouse from toying with her windows and we couldn’t open them as the light changed, so what Mr. Nolen saw was two grown women wildly gesturing from a locked-down car. He was friendly anyway, and gestured back.

Full of energy
Jinni Akins grew up in Nederland and says her 2-year-old son loves the Nederland Heritage Festival as much as she did and does. She’ll be in the big middle of it next season, as the new executive vice president of the Nederland Chamber of Commerce. She says she has been welcomed with open arms and says her favorite thing about the city right now is all the support she is getting.
She promised to get around to visit all the chamber members.
Sylvia Root, chamber president, said Akins is “full of energy.”
“I think everybody’s going to feed off that. She’s not shy,” Root said.

Signs of faith in Nederland
First Assembly of God’s marquis says its church is “prayer conditioned.” Down the road, the sign at Nederland Apostolic Church reports it is “Souled Out,” with “kneeling room only.”
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-07-10T15:34:00.001-07:00

A smokin’ no no about messin’ with Texas
The Don’t Mess with Texas campaign has been kickin’ 25 years and now there’s another message for visitors and residents:
“Texas is Not Your Ashtray” is the word going statewide.
“A smoldering cigarette butt tossed out a car window onto dry grass can spark a blaze that quickly spreads for miles, scorching farm and ranch lands, destroying homes, threatening lives and exhausting limited state resources to battle. With Texas suffering the worst drought in nearly half a century and cigarette butts accounting for 43 percent of the state's roadside trash,” the "Don't Mess with Texas" program reports.
A good read mentions area
My husband picked up a Rebecca Wells book for me at a garage sale, knowing how much I enjoyed “Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood.” This book, “The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder,” has been out a while. I didn’t realize one of the little girls in it, “Sukey,” claims to have lived in Beaumont, Texas, before arriving in La Luna, Louisiana. I can’t be sure about this claim, because Sukey is prone to fibbing. I read aloud a passage for my sister and mother about how Sukey meets her future best friends in a movie theater bathroom, by charging girls to see the “treasures” in her purse, including a diamond she says belonged to Elizabeth Taylor. I pictured the whole thing taking place in the Jefferson Theater’s majestic ladies room. I read this book real slow like, because I didn’t want it to end.

Art of the mow
I caught an artist mowing the Texas Artists Museum lawn. John Manuel of Port Arthur said that’s what board members there do: They serve. He promoted Art Smart, the TAM youth day camp, and also handed out cards for his exhibit of paintings, up through July 23 at the Ice House Museum in Silsbee. After I featured Manuel in the News for his late-in-life start to the arts and his using ordinary house paint and materials he’s gleaned from the side of the road, readers called up to donate supplies to his craft. He said he stayed out of trouble as long as they lasted.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-07-04T18:08:00.001-07:00

Doing the Most Good
Here’s a warning to a few of the do-gooders of Mid-County. I passed your name to Ed and Terrie Cheshire, the new couple heading the Salvation Army of Port Arthur. I had the chance to show them the sea wall, which offers a different view than their most recent home in Big Spring. Terrie says she prays for the city on her morning walks and will be asking others to lift Port Arthur up, in their prayers. Don’t be surprised if she or Ed call on you to exchange ideas on how to support our population.

“Winds Over Bolivar”
I was shopping at Act II Consignment in Beaumont when Brenda Cannon Henley’s husband came in to promote her book “Winds Over Bolivar,” about our own Hurricane Ike. I’ll bet several of us say we could write a book about it, but “Go Brenda,” you did. She’s an award-winning journalist and here’s what’s listed about her book on Amazon:
“In September 2008, Hurricane Ike wrecked havoc on the Texas Coast leaving the Bolivar Peninsula nearly decimated. Ike killed more than 100 people and caused $24.9 billion in damages, earning the awful title of the third costliest storm to ever hit America's shores. Virtually erased from the map, Bolivar was bent...but not broken. Brenda Cannon Henley artfully weaves her own tragic story of life-changing loss with the untold stories of the people of Bolivar. ‘Winds over Bolivar’ is a resounding tale of devastation, triumph, and the prevailing winds of the indomitable human spirit. “

Boomtown honor
KCENT-TV.com reports that a Port Arthur native is up for an award that also lists rapper Kanye West as a nominee. Nahala Johnson, aka Mister Boomtown, has been nominated for the third straight year by BET as music director of the year. The 1990 Lincoln High graduate and 1995 University of Houston graduate has directed videos for rapper Gucci Mane, and has also worked with Port Arthur natives Bun B and Pimp C.
Ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-28T17:09:00.001-07:00

Area actresses to appear in “Ghosties”
Beaumont actress will appear in a spooky film produced in Montgomery. It’s the kind of story I would have loved as a tween. Quantum Storm Productions, in an association with Wolfe Entertainment, began production on the pre-teen adventure “Ghosties – The Witches Spell” starring local Beaumont actresses Ashlyn Redwine and Haley Coker; Katy’s Katelyn Merricks and Emily Thompson; Spring’s Anisah Khan; Sugarlands Jessica Yanker, and actor Tanner Fontana from Dallas.
The girls sneak out of their homes to cemeteries to hunt ghosts. Most ventures end in wasted time, but one parent has ghost-encounter skills.
Director/writer David Quintana reports the film is an extension from two short movies originally filmed in New England in 2006. He is known in Houston for efforts on the Internet series “ANGELIKA5.” The studio is planning a casting call. Pre-teens wanting to try out for a role should first follow the first films progress through their facebook page at www.facebook.com/ghostiesmovie.

Branick a loose cannon
While George Washington calls Bruce Brannick’s writing’s “excruciating,” Texas Chinch Bug refers to them as “foul.” A look on the back cover of the local man’s new book lets the reader know a bit of what he or she is getting into with “Memoirs of a Loose Cannon.”

Friends forever
Do friends know us best? I was reading Lisa Verge Higgins’ “The Proper Care and Maintenance if Friendship” while experiencing some of the emotions characters were facing. In this story, Rachel has died having prepared letters to all her friends asking them to fulfill one last, seemingly uncomfortable wish for her. They think she sent the wrong letters to each other, but turns out, she knew what she was doing.
Ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-21T19:09:00.001-07:00

Will you still quilt me?
Beatles fans, wrap yourselves in memories. The Fabric Store and Sew Much More in Nederland has yards of different Beatles fabrics in the “Yellow Submarine” style. Ann Murphy, an instructor there, said women often make Beatles quilts for their husbands.

Something fishy
James Dalton Taylor, 13 of Hamshire, is such a skilled redfish, trout and bass fisherman that Ninja Angler gear is sponsoring him in tournaments, according to his proud pop, Capt. James Taylor, fishing guide. I met Taylor at Daley’s Hunt ‘N’ Fish Supply, the new sportsman’s paradise store in Port Acres. I haven’t yet met Dalton, who is headed to the 8th grade at Hamshire-Fannett Junior High in a few short weeks.

A Port Arthur Dad
The Corsicana Sun featured children sharing their fathers’ advice on Father’s Day. Babbette Samuels, a Pierce Museum docent, is the daughter of Meyer Blankfield.
“He loved music and theater and passed that onto me,” she said in the feature. “He played violin and trumpet and was in the A&M band while in college. After he married and settled, he played violin in the Scottish Rite orchestra in Port Arthur at one time.” His advice: ‘You can always ask, they’re not going to eat you.’ I lost my mother when I was 10; needless to say, I worshipped my Daddy. Sadly, I lost him two months before my 21st birthday,” she said.
If you have a Community Scoop item, send it to ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-13T17:43:00.001-07:00

Cajuns take San Antonio
San Antonio Express-News included words from Port Arthur’s own Jerry Bellot in coverage of the 40th annual Texas Folklife Festival. David Sticker, fiddle player with Jerry Bellot and Cajun Friends, noted people were dancing to their music, even though it seemed like it was 150 degrees this past weekend. Bellot said the band members had to move to make the audience move and have fun.  “We definitely brought that today,” Bellot said in the posting.

Lincoln Bees draped in memories
I got a sneak peek at purple and gold Afghans adorned with the Lincoln High School Bumblebee that Bernadine Julun-Jacobs will help pass around for the LHS Class of ’76 reunion this weekend at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center.
Look for her with a bunch of Port Arthur area National Black Nurses Association members headed to the group’s 40th anniversary celebration in Indianapolis, Ind. They’re headed to the famous speedway this summer and plan to pose with The News for a News is Everywhere photo.
Readers, don’t forget to pack The News on your summer getaway.

Community makes hurricane experiences into art
Charles Gongre snapped a photo of a half-submerged ship in a post-hurricane scenario. It’s his “Tropical (Im)Pression,” on view at Museum of the Gulf Coast. A display of images from the public shows emotional scenes of damage from Hurricanes Rita and Ike. Catch it now, it’s up through July 24, and will be gone before our current hurricane season is over.
One forward thinking photographer framed up a yellow Port Arthur News box at Lamar State College-Port Arthur filled papers bearing a forewarning headline.
Other photos include a series of how Faggard’s Store at the beach fared through Carla and Ike; Portia Levingston’s image of a barge on Texas 73; and Pet Anselmo’s row of snapped pine trees.
For more information call 409-982-7000 or visit museumofthegulfcoast.org
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

A tres leches tale for Sunday morning
Nobody stopped me from eating fish and ice cream for breakfast in San Antonio.
To be more specific, I attended a fantastic conference brunch at the Westin Riverwalk featuring lox, a favorite of mine. Representatives from Columbus, Ohio, where next year’s conference will be, flew in local waffles made with beet sugar and offered them topped with a variety of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams from their fair city. Salty caramel with an amazing cool-yet-burnt flavor was my favorite, but I also tried and enjoyed Ugandan vanilla bean and strawberry buttermilk.
This brunch featured about 15 other things, but I actually went back for more fish and ice cream. What a crazy, memorable combo. I praised the flavors to the Columbus fellow in the elevator, and he said they brought Jeni’s “tame” flavors. He mentioned a goat’s milk and fig deal and cucumber is mentioned in her press coverage.

Pass the La Crème
A little goes a long way with what’s billed as the first all-dairy, flavored creamer available nationally. Since February
LALA has been pitching this yummy natural stuff that has the goods of calcium, protein and Vitamin D. It is lactose free and contains no artificial hormones. Unlike non-dairy creamers, it contains no trans fats.
So what do you need to know? Start by asking yourself, “Will it be French or Cinnamon Vanilla today?” I’d pick hazelnut every day, but there’s original for others.

Just a little bit will make your summer fruit into a rich dessert. You can cook with this stuff, or whip up a variety of adult beverages. Here’s one that could go either way:
Shots Shaken, Not Stirred
1/2 cup cold-brewed coffee
1/2 cup French Vanilla real dairy creamer
Shaved chocolate as garnish
Place coffee and the real dairy creamer in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, and then strain the ingredients into double shot glasses. Garnish with shaved chocolate. Serves 4. For an older crowd, substitute a 1/2 cup of Kahlua for the cold-brewed coffee.

A cold one, low cal
If you order the white sauce at an Asian restaurant and appreciate subtle flavors, Artic Zero could be your go-to treat. It’s sure to be the talk of the summer as the first 150 calorie pint of all natural ice cream. Of course, that could open the door for crazy toppings, so be careful.
Mint Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla Maple, Coffee, and Cookies and Cream, Chocolate, Strawberry and Pumpkin. I tried several of these and found them very light. I think some fresh fruit would add to the experience. Makers want consumers to know you can pronounce the ingredients and the product is gluten free, lactose intolerant friendly, low sugar, low glycemic and suitable for type 2 diabetics.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-04T18:01:00.001-07:00

Babe, Port Arthur’s ‘Wonder Girl’
Everyone around here ought to know about the Olympic and golfing achievements of our Babe, and author Don Van Natta Jr. is alerting the rest of the world in his new book, “Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrickson Zaharias.”
The daughter of “penniless” Norwegian immigrants to Port Arthur became famous for what she could do and a robust personality.

Take a Chance at TAM
Jayne Smith notes the Harmony Exporters chorus will take the stage at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, for the Second Sunday program at Texas Artists Museum, Cultural Center Drive. I got a singing Valentine from these guys that I will never forget.
My duck-painting buddy Don Chance will have work on display along with wood carvings by M.E. “Bunkie” Stephens. A reception will follow the Second Sunday program, at 3:15 p.m. Cal Gaspard, who is the Foyer Featured Artist of the month.
Forms are ready for ArtSmart for children. Call -983-4881 Tuesday through Saturday for details.

Bubbly for the children
Science gets blown away thanks to the Texas Energy Museum. The Museum and the Beaumont Public Library Services Willard Branch Library will present Bubble Day from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North End Community Center, 3580 E. Lucas Drive. Children will subtly learn science as they test bubble sizes, strength and color while discovering the physics of soap bubbles. Fun will include bubble walls, making bubbles inside of bubbles and being surrounded by a bubble. It’s free and designed for up-and-blowing scientists aged 3 to 8. For more information, call the museum at 409-833-5100.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-04T10:32:00.001-07:00

Island time is everywhere

“Padre Island” Time is Trip Hunt’s 5th CD and features 22 songs recently recorded in Austin and Rockport. With thinking man’s tunes covering everything from an Irish lilt and guardian angels to a “Lonely Night in Austin” and inconvenient truths. There’s a little something called “Jamaican Me Crazy.”
I think this guy is like the Jerry Diaz of Padre.

Cayman Night in Port Arthur
Both Diaz and Hunt, mentioned above, play music that would fit right in with Cayman Night, but the Barefoot Man already has the gig.

The Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce and the International Seafarer’s Center will host the 6th annual Cayman Night in Port Arthur from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center, on Lakeshore Drive, at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, 1500 Procter St. Barefoot Man and Band of The Caymans will perform in honor of the more than 500 Caymanians living in the Port Arthur, Texas area. Go to www.caymannight.com for more details.

Gripping summer snacks
Road trips call for bags of snacks that ought to stay fresh throughout the journey. The Gripstic handles your chips as well as your frozen spinach. Run colorful plastic rods under the fold of you bag of coffee, cereal, etc., and another groove of plastic makes a tight seal. Bed Bath & Beyond and Kroger are two area stops for these goodies. They are a neat freak’s dream, because Gripstic helps bags stack up nicely in the pantry or fridge. ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-02T04:28:00.001-07:00

‘Texas Highways’ has eye for Port Arthur
A bit of boudain or a spicy Vietnamese sandwich, a juke box sampling of musical greats at Museum of the Gulf Coast and a gator sighting at Bessie Height are among journey highlights Dan Oko writes about in June’s “Texas Highways” magazine. The 10-page Texas Upper Coast spread includes Ben DeSoto’s photographs of the Gambusia Natuare Trail, The Rainbow Bridge at sunset and the splendor of Shangri La Botanical Gardens.

Tait style
Lone Star girls can wear their state on their sleeve, as it were, with Texas charms of local and state mascots, the Texas flag, cowboy boots, cowboy hat, Ranger Star, the Longhorn, etc. It’s a Zi Zi thing.
Lynn Tait, of Port Neches, was recently named the National Sales Director for ZiZi Jewelry. ZiZi Jewelry is an international company wholesaling European-style charms. The founder of the company, Bridged Lott, is an artist who recently moved to the United States from Puerto Vallarta.
Texas was the first state in the country to carry this line and by the end of June, will have 15 stores in Texas carrying the ZiZi line, Tate said.
Tait retired from Valero Refinery after almost 37 years of employment to take on this position. ZiZi Jewelry will display jewelry at the upcoming Dallas Market June 23 – June 26. Look for a new line, as well as new charm designs.

Cayman Night in Port Arthur
Feel the breeze? The Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce and the International Seafarer’s Center will host the 6th annual Cayman Night in Port Arthur from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center, on Lakeshore Drive, at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, 1500 Procter St. Barefoot Man and Band of The Caymans will perform in honor of the more than 500 Caymanians living in the Port Arthur, Texas area. www.caymannight.com, www.visitportarthurtx.com
Get your 2-D, 3-D art ready
Entries are being accepted for The Alternative Show at The Art Studio Inc., 720 Franklin St. in Beaumont. I’ve done this and it was fun. Any artist of any age can enter up to three works. 2-D work must be ready to hang from one hook. 3-D work must be stable and stand on its own. All artists must fill out entry applications, available at The Art Studio. Entries will be accepted from 2 to 5 p.m. June 1-2. The show will open from 7 to 10 p.m. June 4 and will remain on display through June 25.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-06-01T04:26:00.001-07:00

Billingsley back in books
“A Good Man is Hard to Find,” says ReShonda Tate Billingsley. It’s the title of her just-out book about an affair spiced with danger halfway around the world. The former area anchor is a prolific writer of faith-based novels, so read up. Her next one, “Say Amern, Again,” is due out this summer.

Socks
Very clever, my husband noted when he saw the words “navy,” “black,” “brown,” etc. were marked at the toe of oh-so-comfortable socks. Matching socks pre-dawn in the bedroom is a problem solved. Some try to beat the system by owning just one color, but fashion sometimes dictates variety. Kudos to Susan and Michael James, for founding Smarty Toes and solving spousal sock controversy before it starts. Now husbands and wives don’t have to argue on the sock color issue.
Good socks are a luxury men and women deserve. Blacksocks.com has an amazing assortment of high-quality wares including a “shorty” for athletes.
Ozone’s collection includes a novelty men of Southeast Texas should love. The design of the sock looks like a knife is strapped to the wearer’s calf.

Mashups
If tomorrow weren’t a holiday, you might be packing a school lunch for Monday. I woke up to find a sticky note on the bathroom mirror with one word: “Delicious.” My college-age daughter can’t get over how much she liked Organic Mashups, a squeez-out fruit and veggie smoothie from Revolution Foods that’s designed for little kids. Carroty Chop, Blueberry Blitz and Beetbox Berry has a kind of applesauce consistency and is colorfully packaged for lunch boxes so children will ask for it, instead of sugary processed stuff. My daughter is studying to be a dietician, so I follow her advice. She had a Mashups as a late-night snack. I followed up with a breakfast squeeze.

ddoiron@panews.com

2011-05-23T19:22:00.001-07:00

Zachary Breaux: A talent before his time
Doris Hayes is sending T-shirts to Australia and England and would love to outfit all of Port Arthur. The shirts promote the fourth annual Zachary Breaux Jazz Festival, June 10-11 at the Procter Street Pavilion in downtown Port Arthur. About 15 bands are lined up to pay tribute to the late Port Arthur jazz notable.
Hayes said she’s spoken to musicians on the other side of the world who sing his praise.
“They feel that Zachary was a guitarist before his time. A talent before his time. He was doing things at a young age that musicians are just doing now. That’s like what we would call an E. F. Hutton.”
She referred to the stock brokerage firm with a commercial saying that when E.F. Hutton spoke, everyone listened.
Breaux was 36 when he died in 1997, vacationing in Miami Beach, after trying to save the life of a swimmer who was caught in a riptide.
Call 982-8394 or visit zacharybreauxjazzfestival.com to get your tickets.

Courtyard's new look
Karen Theis credits Angel Contreras of Shoogz with the new look at Courtyard Cafe, This' famous eatery in downtown Groves. Black and white swirly patterns on oil cloth go with cast-iron look chairs that are surprisingly comfortable, and plastic, when you ease in. Jackets of a certain M. Brown and C. Zummo matched the tablecloths on their recent outing. Wooden flower boxes hanging from chains hold the Southeast Texas must-have of Tabasco and other condiments complete the garden feel.
If you haven't yet, try Theis' sugo sauce with meatballs.

Fong fix
Robert Fong of Port Arthur has always given a little something-something to any role he takes. I was enchanted by his opening lines, delivered before the lights come on, in “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The Beaumont Community Players production has him as a set-in-his-ways gentleman entertaining his audience by playing a record of his favorite play, which he has never actually seen. His imagination brings the cast of this mishap musical into his apartment, with entrances through a double-door refrigerator or his boudoir. The Man in Chair dances and sings with his beloved characters and shares his insights into life as the record plays. The story inside the story is a wedding day for a wealthy young man and a show girl willing to leave her showy behavior behind.
There’s one more week of this show. Call 833-4664 for details.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-05-19T18:13:00.001-07:00

The yoga pants/ pizza tour of NYC
My friend has a walking tour plans for New York City. Dressed in yoga pants and Shape-Up shoes, she plans to try every Manhattan-style pizza she can find and walk off the calories. May I suggest to her Lolly yoga pants, which, to my delight, are designed with “curvy girls” in mind. The texture is superior and the comfort is second-to-none. I don’t even do yoga, but her love of the yoga pants has convinced me that sweats are generally sloppy by comparison.

Lube for the lips
Essential Journeys will take you to the most aromatic places with products such as Soap by the Slice, Salt for the Tub and Lube for the Lips. Lotion for the body scents with chamomile and white tea extract for what I call a fine hotel quality feel. Ginger Quince soap suspends curlicue and flower shapes in a field of green. A stack of bars will upgrade your bathroom décor.

21 drops
Remember roll-on lip gloss? I remember reading in a magazine, perhaps 16 or Teen Beat, that Shaun Cassidy had kissed a girl with strawberry lip gloss. Now more mature women, and men who kiss them, can try 21 drops in a sleek roll-on with a textured case. I tried #01, Invigorate, designed to roll on wrists and stimulate circulation, motivate and energize. It’s a warming oil to help oxygenate the blood and promote blood flow. Black pepper and dried fruit oil , juniper fruit oil and rosemary leaf oil are just a few components.

ddoiron@panews.com

2011-05-17T18:31:00.001-07:00

Mid-County talent radiant in 'Hairspray'; talent kissed and made up

You can’t stop the beat of color, humor and music in “Hairspray,” a production that’s a few miles down the road, but exploding with local talent. Orange Community Players, in partnership with Lamar State College-Orange presents this madness. If you sat on the front row, you’d be knee to knee with young actors singing the story of Ample American Tracy Turnblad in ‘60s Baltimore who turned the local teen dance show upside down by integrating the races and getting the hot guy.
A double dose of Mid-County sparkle comes through Skylar Huckaby and Amber Martin, double cast as Tracy. Brook Doss, director of theater at Nederland High School, directs this crazy-fun show and her husband, Kevin, plays Tracy’s overbearing mother Edna with a fine-tuned skill.
Every actor/singer/dancer is good in this show, but be on the lookout for Nederland and Port Neches residents Huckaby, Martin, Daniel Sharpless, Britni Davis, Justin Sanders and Jessica Henderson. Choreographer Mandy Dowden, is also a Nederland native.
See this 2003 Tony Award winning musical, May 12-14, at 7:37 p.m., and May 15 at 2:37 p.m., at the Orange Community Playhouse , 708 W. Division Street. Tickets are $8 for students, and $15 for adults. For reservations, call 882-9137.

Hope you didn’t miss ‘Kiss’
"Kiss or Make Up" is a family affair, director Robert Freeman announced before curtain at the Act 1 Scene 1 production at The Courtyard Cafe. He was carrying Raggedy Ann, who he credited as co-producer. His daughter Nikolle Freeman aced the lead as Casey, whose apartment is hopping with an incognito neighbor, an engagement, former classmate/federal agent, the police and more. Roxane Gray as Morgie, who fancied making up a dead husband would get her more dates, has facial expressions that get laughs before she gives her lines. This troupe produced another winner with Joey Nortman, Benny Bryan, Cater Holland, Phillip Gray and Ann Holland filling a tiny stage with big personalities. In addition to these characters, a giant '70s-style cheese ball helping disguise a Mickey Mouse hat as a cracker dish gets attention. The cast took a bow in getups ranging from an orange bath towel and pink P.J.s to a bathroom and bed sheet toga.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-05-16T18:31:00.001-07:00

Bed of ‘nails’ the new relaxation go-to
My physics teacher at Lamar University walked on glass to demonstrate pressure distribution. I know the Indian fakir/yogi “secret” of reclining on a bed of nails, but I never imagined a mini Swedish version would be the new, hip way to peace out in your own home.
I woke up craving a 10-minute session on the “halsa wellness acupressure mat, designed for athletes, soccer moms, stressed businessmen and others who are not pregnant, hemophiliacs or on blood thinners.
Plastic discs attached to a high-quality mat form 8,820 pressure points to relieve muscle tension, backaches and headaches. Work up to 45-minute sessions on these little spikes and you may naturally stimulate release of endorphins and oxytocin, what makers call the body’s own pain relief hormones released during exercise, touch, excitement and infatuation. Sign me up.
They don’t mention that these little scratchy spikes are like those toys that have cats rolling around on their backs for a luxurious back rub. It’s euphoria. Don’t be ashamed.
I tried this mat the very week I was having back pain, possibly due to not being faithful to the YMCA. I’m hooked. First I roll out my yoga mat, so my halsa mat won’t touch the floor. It’s one of many uses I have for the yoga mat that don’t involve yoga. So now I’ve got mat-on-mat bliss that can be achieved while catching up on favorite TV shows. You can also try the halsa mat on your stomach or from a chair. There’s also a pillow version.

Oklahoma in art
I spent 20 minutes in Oklahoma, just to say I’d been there, then crossed back into Texas to attend a wedding. J. Don Cook knows what I missed. “Shooting from the Hip” is this photo journalist’s celebration of the spirit of the people. Essays help tell his story behind images so vivid you can hear wind whipping flags in a cemetery, feel the tickle of a child’s haircut and taste a cool Dr Pepper at a lunch counter. These aren’t all “happy” photos. Beauty, joy, poverty and more fill these pages in an elegantly-bound University of Oklahoma Press coffee table book.

Backyard Brew
The Sunday grill is about more than who cooks what for dinner. It’s ceremony, Man Time and a family bonding over meat. McCormick has new Grill Mates products that keep the grill exciting. I grabbed Fiery 5 Pepper Blend first and spiced up boiled eggs to stock my Barbie lunch kit. I love the “daring blend of coarsely ground ancho, chipotle, cayenne, black peppers and roasted chile peppers,” but beware, the first ingredient in this pepper blend is sea salt. By Father’s Day, I hope to have also tried Backyard Brew Marinade, Carolina Country Marinade and Cowboy Rub. Go to www.grillmates.com for more ideas.
darragh@panews.com

2011-05-13T21:06:00.001-07:00

sort of
I steal from legendary News columnist Martha “Toodlum” Ferguson in proclaiming:
Port Arthur, I love you and everyone in it.
I’m lovin’ the city in a different way, from down the road. I’ve spent 23 years covering the Port Arthur area’s people through their high times and pastimes, in sickness and in health.
I’ve left to accept a position at the Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau, promoting the area in only a slightly different way. The seawall, Larry Judice and family, Pompeiian Villa and Museum of the Gulf Coast are still some of my favorite things about the city, and now I get to help visitors from all over appreciate them, too.
Reporter Mary Meaux’s column outing us as the Odd Couple brought me emotions as well as calls and e-mails asking “what’s up?” She cited our differences in a comic sense. Our likeness is our passion to tell our readers’ stories.
I arrived at my new office in time for a tour from East Texas Tourism Association members and National Tourism Week, May 9-13, and got busy. I’m so pleased that the PACVB board and News management supported my continued columns. So I don’t have to say “farewell” just yet.
But, I have had the challenge of attempting to reduce more than two decades into a couple of plastic bins and the lid won’t close on the memories.
In piles of files I found thank you notes and tokens from people who have made impressions on me. This includes the Jesus-on-sardine-can in a frame of crochet purple yarn and a stamped cross with recognition to Hurricane Rita that sources gave me.
Readers, I’ll see you around!
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-05-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

Moms rock the day Sunday
There’s no telling the tally of flowers, candy, diamonds and dinners going around Mid-County in the name of Mother’s Day.
All I ever ask for is a clean house, and maybe some yard work, and it always seems the “free” gift is the hardest.
Families, do not underestimate the value of homemade coupons Mom can redeem for meal prep, dishwashing, foot massages and smooches-on-demand from anyone in the house. It’s probably exactly what she wants.

“Triorities”
Prizes and doodads are motivational rewards for meeting goals, Rich Hatfield writes in “Triorities,” but make sure you read his “crazy talk” chapter on Give-Aways. “Hold on to your checkbook,” is his opening for an area of discussion on the good of good deeds. Use your annual bonus to buy your child braces, is one example. Going undercover to help a church member get a car is another. Large or small, the idea is to share from your abundance. The book cover features a brass scale with three measuring areas, representing a balance of God, family and work.

Remember cassettes?
chicBoom and RockBoom Cassette speakers for iPod are groovy little deals that aren’t what they seem. They look like old-fashioned cassette tapes, but are portable speakers that can pump out the volume. Makers offer it with a warning that these cool deals may cause others to stare. It’s the kind of attention you’ll want. As soon as my daughter saw the chicBoom, it was never again in my hands. Listen to this tagline:
“Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand but loud enough to get the party started.”
Then listen to your tunes. Connect to any listening device with a standard 3.5 mm stero jack. Built in rechargeable battery for up to two hours of distortion free sound. Stereo cable and USB cable included. This’ll set you back about $20. Visit www.chicbuds.com to learn more.

Easter oil Viewing “The Ten Commandments” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” are two Easter rituals in my family and I’ve flavored the season with the Bib

2011-04-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Viewing “The Ten Commandments” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” are two Easter rituals in my family and I’ve flavored the season with the Biblical flavor of a Chilean olive oil with the personality of a good wine. Bread to dip in the oil is an upgrade from popcorn for these movies.
Atlanta-based Foster Fine Foods LLC is the first to import and distribute Las Doscientas, Premium Single Varietal, Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Chile, in America. If you’re lucky, you can look for it at the National Association for the Specialy Food Trade’s 57th Summer Fancy Food Show, in booth in Washington, D.C., from July 10 - 12. You can go online and try it in your home. Huerto Azul jams and chutneys will be there, too, and the photos look enticing.
Makers say Las Doscientas means "The 200" in Spanish. It represents the 200 plots of farm land that were joined together to make the current Las Doscientas estate in the Maule Valley in Chile. The olives are estate grown, handpicked and then, for maximum freshness, first cold pressed literally within minutes of harvest. The oils are then packaged in a uniquely shaped glass bottle with a wooden, drip-free pour spout, and are available in two single varietals: Arbequina and Picual. I enjoyed Arbequina, which is fruity and smooth for salads, vegetables, poultry and fish. Picual is intense and peppery and best used for roasted meats and stews.

Purple passion
I was like a raccoon distracted by a shiny object this week when our ad man Ed Kestler brought a purple Swarovski Crystal pen, filled with 160 crystals, to be photographed for an ad. Gladys Wojcik, owner of Nederland Jewelers, figured news of this perfect gift for Port Neches-Groves High School grads ought to go in the Port Neches RiverFest section. The pen looked like a glittery wand, or a rainbow contained or something to call unicorns.
“People just love it. They love the look, the love the color, they love the price,” Wojcik said.
At $35, shoppers can get blue, black, pink or white crystal pens to match their bags, she said.
Ordinary ball-point refills keep your pen in blue or black ink, she said.

Tape just got better
Scotch Magic Tape is hitting the big 50 and celebrating by making my favorite tape even better. Look for Scotch Magic Eco-Friendly Tape this month with a refillable dispenser and tape made from more than 75 percent renewable or recycled materials. A plant-based adhesive makes it “magic” and it’s still photo-safe and can be written on with pen, pencil or marker.
Confession: I know few people more cheap (I prefer the term frugal) than myself, but life is too short to get stuck on lesser tape. Scotch Tape makes for a happy desk and a more productive lifestyle, in my summation.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-04-18T06:24:00.001-07:00

Book it with Yats, bliss and hairy business

Less than a year ago I heard that some New Orleans folks are called “yats” based on the phrase “Where y’at?” Yvonne Spear Perret grew up a “yat” and didn’t know it, but she sure was taking in all the Mardi Gras etiquette, methods of proper beignet eating and jargon of her town as she grew up. In “Yat Wit: Chicken Gumbo for the New Orleans Soul,” this funny lady covers everything from the Tooth Fairy leaving doubloons instead of cash and newcomers alarmed that they’ll arrive at a crawfish boil with their dinner still alive to the nuances of catching the best beads and living with roaches. I love this book and I love that town. I’m NOLA bound as soon as possible.

“Bliss Every Day”
This book, dubbed a practical guide to find peace and happiness, reminds us that our lives can change completely over time, so we might as well imagine a more positive outcome. Deborah Fairfull wants us to do things that make our soul sing. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone we deal with was singing and we could form a choir? Little exercises help form her bliss lessons. Here are a few:
• Write down all the things that you are grateful for in terms of life lessons. What did you see as difficult and painful at the time, but now you understand the deeper meaning and appreciate the growth it brought you?
• Write an optimistic story about your future, covering all levels of your life, such as relationships, career, finance, spirituality and health.
• Write down things you love about someone else and give it to them.
• Do kind things for others and learn to love people as they are.

The book on hair
Curlies, straights and wavy girls can wear it well with ideas from a full-of-photos book called “Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls’ Hair: The Cutest Cuts and Sweetest Hairstyles to Do at Home.” Order this book and organize a slumber party, because little girls in your life will want to braid, clip and flower one another’s hair all night long. Readers can learn about caring for each hair type and there’s more fun in store. Guests can make crafts at this party. Tips from the “Cool Ways to Keep Clips” list includes painting bread storage or tackle boxes, clip them on a decorated ribbon or make a fold-out hanging cosmetic bag all fancy.

Tubes, bottles and jars
Bazillions of dollars are made making women smell good, but I’m often asked “What stinks?” by my loving spouse who claims to be allergic to fake flowers. As soon as he’s gone I burn incense, but I do try to keep his zone as fragrance free as possible. Enter John Masters Organics Bare, a line with organic goods and natural extracts that do the lotion/shampoo/detangler/body wash jobs in a subtle way, offering luxury and confidence from discreet, white bottles. Scan labels for ingredients such as vanilla and coconut oil, but smell them not. This way, we’re both in luck.
Gehwol Med Salve for cracked skin is a trusted German favorite in a tube with healing power from chamomile, labeled suitable for diabetics. As sandal season approaches, this lanolin product with zinc oxide and eucalyptus oil will make Americans and Europeans beach ready. Gehwol’s “classic” packaging reminds me of creams found in my grandmother’s cigar box alongside medieval-looking hair clips. To me, that’s another indication that it works.
Epoch’s Sole Solution foot treatment comes in a bronze-colored tube noting its crushed allspice berry is what indigenous Central Americans grab for persistent dryness and cracking. Ice Dancer Invigorating Leg Gel glides out of a silver tube. As promised, the mint (favored by Southwestern Native American Tribes) blends with menthol, eucalyptus and Horse Chestnut in a fast-absorbing gel. I’d have loved this in my waitress days. There’s a clear warning to avoid eye contact but I confess I dabbed some at my temples to alleviate a headache. Those buying Epoch’s NuSkin Baobab Body Butter will enjoy knowing a tree will be planted to reforest Malawi. Their skin’s hydration can help the environment.

Sounds Good: Inhale spring from allergy to luxury

2011-04-06T06:45:00.001-07:00

Inhale spring: From allergy to luxury
I wouldn’t suggest you experience some fabulous bath product the way I’ve been doing it, but I don’t actually have a bath. I tried SheaMoisture’s Organic Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Bath as a scrub, and it felt cool and invigorating, until I got to my face. Burn notice! But the unlikely combo of healing shea butter and detoxifying, mineral-rich dead sea salts is a hit with peppermint, rosemary, thyme and eucalyptus. Please, use as directed, and you’ll probably love it as much as I do. Egyptian Musk goes into the actual body scrub, and I wonder if Cleopatra had product so luxurious. I’m also finding a big bar of this line’s sage soap to look very Biblical resting on the shower ledge.

Aromatherapy
Aura Cacia’s Soothing Organic Milk & Oat Bath with relaxing essential oil is a packet of luxury designed for the bath. I have a shower only, so I just rub it into the skin and breathe. It’s like inviting spring into the bath.

Bag of summer
Unlike women of leisure who can’t get enough designer handbags, my bag love is for the everyday functional, like Reisenthel’s sturdy polyester and aluminum foil loop shopper that lets you pack up 26 pounds of food, beach staples, Bible school prep or craft work in ultimate style. Oval handles padded with something akin to garden hose are the star, because they make the bag stay propped open, without pesky loops to flop over and get in the way. Even my husband was impressed with the “nubbins” underneath to keep your shopper elevated from the germy ground. Sling it over the shoulder or carry it by hand. Go for classic colors or patterns of colordots, marigold, I.love and birds. Reisenthel Accessories of Germany has a catalogue full of colorful totes for every haul. They’re new to me, but have been bagging it for 40 years.

Give ‘em 16 weeks
The paperwork talks a good game of science, but I love that it comes from nature. A foamy wash of aloe, rose, chamomile, rosemary and cucumber has been beginning and ending my day. Exuviance Age Reverse asks for 16 weeks to let its Bio-active wash, day and night lifts and eye contour deal with uneven pigment, deep lines and crow’s feet and produce firmer, younger looking skin and lighter age spots. I wish I’d had this wash, said to stimulate cell renewal, in high school. I’ve been waiting for it ever since. I admit it, I feel firmer, too.

Taking a shine
Microsponge technology comes in a tube from Paula’s Choice, with shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish you can take a shine to. This is how I plan to go from a YMCA workout or walking the seawall to some important news-breaking meeting while looking as good as I can in my fast-paced life of journalism. Doesn’t that sound exciting. Now on “slow” days in my real life, I can still keep the oil slick down on my face while I flit from laundry basket to weeding the back yard on my days off.
ddoiron@panews.com

Sounds Good: Advice from Nurse Noni; what women dread

2011-04-06T06:43:00.001-07:00

Advice from Nurse Noni and what women dread
New stuff to share this week includes “suckers” for the hung over and new ways to help with an old problem, the hair women do not want on their heads. Gosh, I love writing these columns:

Listen to Nurse Noni
Nurse Noni asks that you drink responsibly. If you are reading this on a Sunday morning and have overindulged, she hopes that her lozenges, dubbed Hangover Sucks, will make you feel better. She’s mixed in Vitamins B and C with essential oils of ginger, raspberry or lime with other natural stuff designed to help ease an upset stomach and dry mouth. The box says all this, and that’s about all, so I’ll stop here, too. Except to say, they taste really good, even if you don’t “need” them for the intended purpose.

Slique
My sister, who has ties to India, mentioned threading as a hair removal technique long before you could get it done at Central Mall. Slique is a clever, handy tool that allows you to thread up a scissors-like tool and thread yourself. I feel countless women across the globe have left me behind, because I can’t seem to get the results used in the demo, but I will gladly ask my sister to pass Slique on to her daughter, who will likely use it with optimum results.

Smooth
I yelped loudly enough for readers to hear me when I tried a new product (for y’all) Confession: I hadn’t read the directions, which tamed the pain. Twist-n-Roll Tweezers is called a hair threading tool, but the threads are a metal spring that roll off tiny hairs. Just a few twists of practice made me an expert with this clever tool for “peach fuzz” or “coarse” hairs. Catch the demo at Facialwork.com.

Frankincense and Myrrh
Argan oil sounds like a “Lord of the Rings” beauty agent to me, but this rare stuff is collected from the nut seeds of desert trees around Morocco. Mix it with sea kelp, and resins frankincense and myrrh as components of healing shea butter and your hair styling and bath experience can become way more exotic than your vacation plans. Vitamins and fatty acids are what you want to treat eczema, psoriasis and stretch marks and Shea Moisture blends up the hard-working and good-smelling Raw Shea Butter Collection that includes body wash, lotion, soap and hair treatments that would have made Cleopatra jealous.

Gently, please
Papaya extract and aloe vera keep Envie De Neuf’s Gentle Exfoliating Gel a texture that’s new to me. It still feels soft as it “mildly dissolves lackluster dead skin cells, pore-clogging impurities and gobbles them up with no irritating friction.” I have heard women discuss their sensitive skin and imagine they could get results they like from this luxurious gel that comes in a tube with an eye-catching oval cap. It’s what I’d call fancy.
ddoiron@panews.com

2011-03-30T07:33:00.001-07:00

Will Bella replace my old friend for tea?
I was just looking at the trusty silver tea kettle I’ve kept on the stove since I bought it to help sterilize Jasmine’s baby bottles. It’s old, and I love it. It made me think of who would get it when I’m gone.
Less than a week later, Bella came into my life. She is a round, flirty red Copco kettle with a perky rounded handle. You don’t whistle at this hot little number, she whistles at you when your water is boiling. This cute young thing is now a neighbor of the bigger, grandfatherly silver kettle on my stove. Is it frivolous to keep two kettles? I’ve decided not, since Target stocks a variety of Copco products that are in the $20 range. Besides, Jasmine will apparently leave the nest someday, and I guess I do want her to be in hot water.

South meets New York for hot stuff
It’s cold at my desk, no matter the season. When I finally got a bottle of Tabasco’s new Buffalo Style Hot Sauce, I poured over my spinach/tomato/cheese pasta so I could warm up. I loved it, as expected. I’ve never met a Tabasco I didn’t like, and this tastes just like you think it will. I’m drawn to hot stuff in any season, so I’ll be trying this stuff on chicken wings no matter how the summer heats up.

Farmer’s Harvest
Organic sea salt, no preservatives and whole grain pasta are the proudly listed perks of new selections in Stouffer’s Farmer’s Harvest line. My daughter and I switched off bites of Roasted Chicken & Bowtie Pasta with a vegetable medley and lasagna. We each decided our favorite of the two was what was more featured on the other’s plate. (Hey, I really liked the Stouffer’s lasagna, and that’s saying a lot since my chef nephew had just brought a whole pan over featuring lemon peel in his cheese sauce.)
For breakfast, we tried some of the feeds-five family pack of macaroni and cheese with real cheddar. I realize mac & cheese is a topic many of you feel dearly about, but it passed my test. I’m glad to see more “real” food going into boxes these days.

Oil’s well
When my sister visits she always asks “Don’t you have any canola oil?” I use olive for everything. This time I’ll hand her Better Body Canola Oil which is a “rare expeller-pressed canola oil lower in saturated fat than all cooking oils yet higher in Vitamin E,D, K and Omega’s 3 and 6, which are essential fatty acids that can reduce the risk of heart disease and heart passage inflammation,” makers say. Okay, so now there’s two healthy oils in my kitchen. Any others will have to pass rigorous testing, or I don’t want to bother with it. Better Body has passed my health test, too. Pour it on.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-07-07T06:52:00.001-07:00

‘Garlic is to health what fragrance is to a rose’

Chef Marie-Annick Courtier puts honey in chili and kidney beans in a Mexican mock lasagna. An orange salad and carrot and orange soup sound intriguing, but one thing is constant in her book “Garlic.” It is of course, a love of garlic.
“Garlic is to health what fragrance is to a rose,” is a French proverb in this thin book full of hearty ideas. A bit of garlic folklore helps explain why I love it sooooo much and she even has tips on growing and braiding garlic.
Garlic lovers:
Cilantro Pesto
1 clove garlic
1 cup cilantro leaves
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
In a food processor, fitted with a metal chopping blade, with motor running, drop 1 clove garlic through feed tube to finely chop. Add 1 cup packed cilantro leaves, 1/4 cup each chopped walnuts and grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Process 45 to 50 seconds or until smooth, scrape down sides of bowl. With motor running, slowly add 1/4 cup olive oil and process until well blended. Cover and refrigerate several hours.

Argentinean barbecue trend
Argentinean barbecue is the rage this summer. Don’t worry if you’ve only read about it in magazines. I haven’t been invited to one either. The “asado” style goes with chimichurri sauce, blended with chopped parsley, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, onion, paprika and olive oil, or a tomato and onion in vinegar sauce.
Wineries are the swing of the trend, and are offering pairings to mesh with these flavors. Catena Malbec, High Note Malbec and Tilia Malbec are among some amazing offerings I’m still researching, so stay tuned Culinary fans. This will get you started on any kind of party:
• Tilia Torrontes is named for the Linden, a tree from which the Argentine vineyard workers gather flowers for a relaxing after-work tea. Florals, ripe citrus and apricot are evident in this aperitif that also matches with light seafood dishes.
• Root: 1 sauvignon blanc of chile has a distinctive bottle with the image of a fine root “growing” into the lettering explaining the company’s mission, accomplished in a snappy summer-ripe version of “the original ungrafted.”
• Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec 2009 — How nice that some areas remember years in vintages, not hurricanes. This Mendoza Argentina red is featured in a brochure so beautiful I want to live in it. Los Cardos means “thistle” and the colorful, thorny flower is featured on the label with explanation that its presence signals a good terrain. I loved the black fruit and “cigar box” flavors from this screw-top so much I got truly annoyed that I “wasted” a few drops that spilled onto my blouse. Then I had another sip and became relaxed again.

Riddle me camu camu
What has 30 to 60 times more vitamin C than an orange? The Rainforest superfuit so nice they named it twice, camu camu. Navitas Naturals encourages consumers to “Eat Your Way to Health” with a range of powders, and this sweet and sour taste is something that I blended into a banana smoothie for a power breakfast. Beta-carotene, potassium and amino acids are part of the mix. This company has an amazing catalogue.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-07-07T06:51:00.001-07:00

Spare Soles, aromatic baths, essentials make life sweeter

Oils just got better
I got a little emotional when my college-aged daughter came to me with a headache, and asked me to apply tea tree essential oils for relief, like I did when she was little.
Pungent herbal oils in little bottles calm me when I open the lid, and now Aura Cacia oils got even better, by launching the first-ever line of USDA-certified organic essential oils. Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and tea tree are leaders in the line of 25. I’ve tried my beloved tea tree in this format, as well as the Ylang Ylang III.
Makers say they are involved in the process from ‘the crop to the drop,’ to assure no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or processing agents are used. I’ve put them in cleaning solutions, mister bottles of water, massage oils and bath salts and used them as air fresheners. Find blending ideas at www.auracacia.com.

Spare Soles
I spotted “emergency shoes” in a gift shop, then I got to experience a couple of Spare Soles for myself. Stylish flip flops and ballet flats fold into handy wristlets so you can subtly ease out of “killer heels” and let your feet enjoy summer. How handy is that? The new bejeweled flip flops are billed as perfect for the beach, spa, or a day of shopping with durable thick soles for all day walking comfort and a waterproof, skid-resistant sole for pool side. Find their online catalogue and you can imagine how bridal parties could benefit from these products. They’d be awfully handy to keep under your desk at work.

Bubalina scents and soothes
Aside from appealing trademark art of lovely ladies in their bath, Bubalina is spa-quality scent that epitomizes luxury. They tout the organics of aloe vera, sunflower oil, coconut oil and more for stressed summer skin. Butters, lotions, gels, massage oils are part of the mix. I just sent myself down memory lane with an orange-vanilla body sugar scrub that offers the experience of a frozen orange treat on a stick. It’s no surprise that this watercolor Bubalina Girl is emerging from just such a refreshment. Indulge.

Other skin
Living in the heat of Southeast Texas, we hardly know about itchy sweaters, but there are plenty more reasons to go “Autrepeau.” These "other skin" undershirts, camisoles, and pant liners seem to be made of some mythical fairy tale silk. I’m enjoying a scoop tank that’s so light to the touch. I keep imagining how many I could fit in an airline carry on bag. I’ve heard Oprah say foundation garments can change your life. I’m figuring out she’s right. The company outlines these perks:
• Lightweight, whisper-thin, form-fitting fabric adds no bulk under clothing
• Serves as a clothing "liner" so you can dry clean and launder less
• Catches embarrassing perspiration
• Long in length, stays tucked in and hides the muffin top! Also, great for maternity
• Made in the USA

Blistering news in sunscreen
I’ve used more protective sunscreen this summer than I ever have in my life, thanks to new spray brands. I’ve come to realize I was lazy before, because applying a cream seemed tedious. Mission Skincare All-Sport Premium Sunscreen goes on clear, you don’t need to rub it, it dries fast and the bottle reads that the world’s greatest athletes have developed it. So, with antioxidants like acai, goji, pomegranate and cranberry, this sweatproof stuff is protecting me on my summer walks. I guess I qualify to be an athlete. I’m doing six-milers on weekends. I’d wager Mission’s other products, from refreshing foot therapy and fast-acting muscle rub to lip glosses are also of high quality.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-07-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

2010-06-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

Trapped in pants: We pulled it off
I became trapped in my own pants this weekend, saved by prayer, patience and help from my husband. I’d like to say, Perfect Fit Button, as seen on TV, really does work. The pin looks like a button and you can move it to tighten or loosen your pants, and save money.
Now I’d like to say, you must follow directions that sound comical: “For best results and for safety, it is recommended that you don’t wear the pants while removing the Perfect Fit Button.” I did not, and, while attempting the squeeze and pull detachment on pants that didn’t actually have a button hole, I began thinking how tough it would be to get it off in a hurry, if you had to use the bathroom. Panic attack ensued, but we eventually pulled it off, literally.
The button pins, that match brown, black, tan pants and jeans, actually serve as promised, even though I had a tough time removing the backs. Just use them like they’re meant to be used. I still say this product has a “leg up.”
My daughter and I wondered if HeelTastic works like it does on TV. I found it a rich blend of anti-bacterial oils, moisturizers and nutrients that make heels look better instantly. The best part is the easy stick application. It’s very handy to apply when you’re ready for sandals.
For information, visit www.telebrands.com.

Sock concierge
I have shoes that cost less than a new pair of Smart Wool walking socks I purchased in Austin. A young man I call the sock concierge knew everything about each sock sold in his store, and I heeded his advice much to my walking pleasure. Now I’ve set my husband up with a pair of Italian pill-resistant dress socks from Blacksocks.com. Foot coverings of all manner are available through the Swiss e-tailer with this recently-relaunched website. I would trade all the socks in his drawer for this new, luxurious pair.
As my sock concierge pointed out to me, socks purchased in a bundle from mass retailers give out in the elastic area quite soon. The when-shoes-eat-socks situation is what sent me sock shopping in the first place.

Babies!
Diaper bags could be getting smaller, because manufacturers are so clever. I admired a keychain type device that holds dozens of plastic bags to help you dispose of dirty diapers with grace. Now Baby Magic offers Patty Cake, a dustless baby powder in a compact. A click-open holder for flat rounds of flat cotton pads is housed under a cake of soft, white powder to dab on baby’s bottom. Of course, it packs that amazing fresh baby smell, but the talc-free formula won’t make a mess. It must be magic after all.

Adults!
Years ago I succumbed to almond and honey bath products and have been looking to recreate that heavenly aroma ever since. Tree Hut has blessed me with creation of body wash and shea body butter that make you smell like a no-calorie dessert. Experts and ashy-skinned consumers agree that Shea is the stuff for long-lasting moisturizing. Readers know I consider sugar scrub a gateway bath product, and this line puts shea in that as well as a hydrating body splash and lotion that could be your summer highlight. Go, get sweaty, and shower off with this stuff.

Henna Hipster
Catalogues arrive at my Aunt’s house daily offering goods I never knew existed, for things like underwear that stays put. That’s not how I found ISIS active wear for women, but I’m glad I did. The Henna Hipster is billed as Clothing for Women by Women and comes with a Goddess Guarantee, but I’m not giving these nylon/spandex wonders back. They’re “Chafe-free seamless” and come in with a swirly design on a sort of lovely jade green. Simply said, they stay put. The company makes bras, active wear and something that sounds as good as it looks online, the Scenic Route jacket. Sounds like a day trip or a bike ride to me. Visit www.isisforwomen.com to get henna hip.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-06-23T08:36:00.001-07:00

Giant limas run amok in columnist’s kitchen

I met my first Giant Peruvian Lima Bean on a salad bar at Whole Foods in Austin.
Salad was sold by weight, so I got just a few because they were compelling in size. I’d put one in my mouth at a time to savor the experience. I then found them in the bulk beans and bought less than $3 worth to make for my dad’s prerequisite lima bean and rice Father’s Day dinner. The big pot full fed us all for days.
Giant limas are big raw, and expand to about quarter size when cooked. My Googling revealed that these beans are named for Lima, capital of Peru, and are also called butter, curry, Madagascar, lab, Cape Pea or pole beans.
They were my best beans, ever, cooked with Cajun seasoning. So creamy, I’m planning to get my hands on more and whip them into a spread for bread or crackers. I haven’t yet looked for them in local stores.

Too hot for gumbo?
I’d just taken a walk along the seawall at high noon and felt baked, when I saw that Diana LaBorde in our advertising department had brought gumbo. Her samplings, no matter if she or her husband cooked it, is something to be relished. I couldn’t seem to wait for the microwave, so I enjoyed a chunk of chicken from my mug, and ended up eating the whole serving at room temperature. It was that good.
So you see, it’s never too hot for gumbo.

SooFoo
Even though SooFoo takes about an hour to cook, I still consider it fast food. Put it in the pot and tend to something else until it’s time for a healthy serving of delicious. Brown rice and lentils, wheat berries, oats, buckwheat and more make a solid meal for any time, according to creator Maurice Kanbar. I cooked a purple onion into mine for lunch, but he suggests adding cinnamon for a breakfast booster. He says SooFoo is Super Good Food and I agree. I loved the flavor, the health aspect and the colors and textures in my blend. I served it over home-grown bean sprouts to give crunch to the creamy feel.
Visit www.soofoo.com for more details.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-06-16T06:19:00.001-07:00

WWDB: What would Dad barbecue?
If your Pops is usually behind the grilling apron, you may want to role play and fire up the grill, or the stove, for him on Father’s Day, which is this Sunday.
The folks who make Tabasco and Hunter Public Relations offer this hot tribute to dads on Father’s Day:
Spicy Barbecued Pork Loin
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon original Tabasco® brand pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 (2-pound) boneless pork loin, about 6-inches long
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Heat oil in small 2-quart saucepan over medium heat; add onion; cook about 5 minutes or until softened. Add ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Tabasco sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside 1/2 cup sauce.
Rub outside of pork roast with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place in roasting pan; top with sauce mixture to cover completely. Cover pan tightly with foil and cook 1 hour.
Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium. Place pork on grill; cook, covered 30 minutes, turning frequently, and brushing with reserved sauce until meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees.
Serves 8.
Serving Suggestion: Sautéed green beans and sliced red onion; toss with cooked, crumbled bacon.
Leftover Suggestion: Slice leftover pork; place on rye bread; top with deli sliced ham, sliced Swiss cheese, pickle slices, mustard and rye bread slice. Press in a pannini machine until sandwich is golden and cheese is melted.

My kind of roast
Even though it makes me sneeze, I keep flipping the sleek, black lids on the new McCormick Gourmet Collection roasted spices and whiffing Roasted Ground Ginger and Roasted Ground Cumin. Eggs, potatoes and onions have received their exotic flavorings in my kitchen. The company has also roasted cinnamon and coriander for our ease. Makers suggest:
• Add Distinct Depth: Give dimension to Southwestern, Indian, and Moroccan dishes with Roasted Ground Cumin – one of the featured spices in the McCormick® Flavor Forecast™ 2010. Enjoy its full, earthy notes in recipes like Roasted Cumin-Crusted Grilled Steaks with Tomato Relish.
• Enhance Sweetness: Similar to the taste of red-hot candies, roasting cinnamon brings out a pleasantly strong and sweet flavor in desserts like Banana, Cherry and Roasted Cinnamon Bread Pudding. Roasted Saigon Cinnamon is also a great addition to mole recipes, spice rubs and dishes that do not require cooking, such as fresh fruit and yogurt.
• Savor Warmth: Roasting ground ginger balances the spice’s sharp notes for a warmer, rounder flavor in recipes like Roasted Ginger Vegetable Stir-Fry. Highlighted in the on-trend flavor pairings in the McCormick® Flavor Forecast™ 2010, Roasted Ground Ginger is incredibly versatile, and brings a mellow sweet heat to barbecue sauces, chutneys and marinades.
• Awaken Aromatics: The spice’s light, lemony notes are deeply intensified in Roasted Ground Coriander. Great in Indian and Middle Eastern recipes, roasted coriander is a flavorful addition to dishes like Roasted Coriander, Chickpea and Lime Rice.
Visit www.mccormickgourmet.com for more information about McCormick Gourmet Collection, as well as more delicious usage ideas and recipes.

The tea is part of the cure
The tea lover gets a range of summer flavors and the medical community gets relief. Sip for the Cure helps Republic of Tea support the Susan G.Komen for the Cure’s breast cancer project. Awesome pink-lidded tins house trademark round tea bags filled with pink Lady Apple, Pink Lemonade, Pink Grapefruit,, Red Cherry White and Pomegranate Vanilla flavors that are delicate and refreshing. The aroma alone is uplifting, and the flowery labels look great on a shelf.
Call 1-877 GO KOMEN for details.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-06-14T13:59:00.001-07:00

A fighting wine …
It’s an Aussie wine with a Mexican back story, and one of those collectible labels you just can’t resist.
Luchador Shiraz combines two words I already love to say, and now I love to sip this spunky, screw-top red. A masked wrestler stares out from the label of a wine that comes with an introduction, or warning:
“Sometime soon you may hear a loud pounding on your door, the roar of a crowd, then a snicker, and a smile. Best of all, you’re about to have your palate body-slammed.”
I got body slammed on my front lawn, with plastic flamingoes guarding me. Want to know more, visit www.gratefulpalateimports.com.

Sweet stuff
I’m hooked on air-popped corn, but someone gave me a box of the microwaved stuff and I couldn’t help augmenting. I added cayenne pepper and honey for a southwestern twist.

Frozen bananas
If you didn’t believe me this past summer, try it this time around. I keep frozen discs of banana slices in the freezer and it feels like little bites of ice cream. They’re a healthy treat for hot months.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-06-14T13:46:00.001-07:00

Take a krill pill

I’ve been consuming the same thing as baleen whales, manta rays, but I’ll bet my skin looks better. I’ve been calling these sleek, black capsules my shrimp pills, but they’re actually made with krill oil, from a shrimp-like invertebrate crustaceans. GliSODin makers say krill oil is like fish oil, a “super food” of a beauty product.
The dietary supplement appears to giving my skin a boost with hydration and a glow with a “pigment which offers photo-protection and carotenoid benefits.” The Japanese, apparently, have been on to the krill for a while. Advanced Daily Formula by GliSODin Skin Nutrients is billed as a Nutricosmetic beauty food, and my skin seems to be eating it up.
Here’s word on more goodies for your skin’s beauty and health:

Sanitzing wand
If germophobe made a science fiction movie, she might include a fantasy item to eliminate and control dust mites, E. Coli, Rotavirus and bacteria. The CleanWave is real, and it’s way cool. The UUV-C Sanitizing Portable Wand for $29.95 is a mini version of the full sizer that you can tuck in your baggage to hit hotel beds, etc. At home you can wave it over toilet flush handles, phones, computer keybords and countertops. 4 AA batteries will enable the light to keep your area a better place for allergy sufferers to live. It’s modern and sounds like a miracle worker, but be aware there’s some time involved. A toilet seat gets two wand minutes, a faucet gets one and a light switch ought to be clean in 20 seconds.
Visit www.verilux.com for details on this and the CleanWave UV-C Sanitizing Furniture & Bed Vac.

Let the sun shine in … but wear sunscreen
A relative who just had a skin cancer removed said “we didn’t know any better back then.” She recalled parents dressing little ones in sun suits and releasing them to go play in the sun. Now parents are aware that burns early in life can lead to health problems later.
It’s a good day at work if I need sunscreen. It should mean I’m headed to cover something outdoors and fun. Coppertone Sport now has replenishing antioxidants with improved formulas that “fortify the skin’s natural antioxidant defenses, which can be depleted during sun exposure, especially during physical activity.” In lotions and incredibly convenient clear continuous sprays, it comes with a range of spf, including “ultra sweatproof,” which I’d better start using on my walks. These go on well and smell like a day at the beach. Look for them in blue bottles.
Zinc is the word from Elemental Herbs. Makers of Sunscreen Sport say zinc oxide is” one of the only single sunscreen ingredients to protect against both UVA and UVB rays and it offers the broadest UV protective spectrum, plus, it’s natural.”
Caroline Duell, president and founder of Elemental Herbs, says “Chemical-free zinc sunscreen is a natural alternative to the harsh ingredients found in other sunscreens. Rather than converting UV energy into cancer causing free radicals, zinc oxide turns it into undisruptive heat. It’s safer for both children and adults and it doesn’t destroy coral reefs, which is a devastating global problem.”
I liked the texture, aroma and philosophy of this product. The SPF 22 tinted variety went on thick and pink and I rubbed it in and had a fabulous noon walk. I especially enjoyed a cool application of their All Good Lips balm with comphrey, calendula, lavender and yarrow. The company suggests: “For the best protection against the sun, use a sunscreen with 20-25 percent zinc oxide and be sure to re-apply every two hours.”

Fashion do
I’ve had some men tell me they enjoy my columns, but skip the “lady stuff.”
They can quit reading now.
I’m telling the women about MySkins, the most barely-there underpants in 20 different shades of flesh toned bras and panties. My “true nude” is parfait and you can get your match at www.MySkins.com. The panties just end, with no bulky seams, and the color is to allow women to wear white pants, like the investigators do on “CSI Miami,” and look flawless. These are by no means granny panties, but grannies may like the way the look and feel.

Firm mamas
Women with or without infants should indulge with a new Tree Hut offering: Mother with Child Collection. Shae and vitamin E in a stretch mark firming lotion, smoothing belly butter and, my favorite, warming massage oil, smell amazing and skin seems to just drink it up. When I was in need of such belly butter, it was a novel concept and hard to find. Tee Hut is making it easy for moms-to-be and anyone else who’s gotten a bit stretchy.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-06-14T07:20:00.001-07:00

Home of the slimmy chimmy-changa
I’m usually not a big fan of cutsie recipe titles, but I’m loving where Susan Irby, The Bikini Chef, is going with titles like No Pot Belly Here Chicken Potpie.
In “Substitute Yourself Skinny” she demonstrates simple substations aren’t scrimping in the flavor department. Ham it Down Breakfast Casserole uses extra egg whites, New You England Clam Chowder cuts fat with turkey bacon and Tune Up Tuna Salad pumps up flavor with curry powder and lemon juice.
Wait, one more: I’m Not Stuffed Tomato Salad uses high-flavor Parmesan and non-fat mayo. These pages offer 175 super-slimming recipes that the people of average households will enjoy. Some of the residents won’t even have to know they are more healthy than the previous versions.
“For my whole life I have strived to find a balance between staying slim and healthy and enjoying the fattening foods I love. People think that because I am The Bikini Chef being thin comes easy for me. It doesn’t,” the author says. “A few years ago I was stress eating and not exercising. I gained more weight than I ever have. So I made the commitment to get back on track. It wasn’t easy and it didn’t come quickly but I stayed with it and learned I could still eat my favorite foods but just make them ‘skinny.’”
Skinny Secret boxes include tips like pureeing potatoes for a less chunky, more creamy clam chowder. Here are her basic “skinny” pantry items to keep stock and replace high-calorie and high-fat options:
Canned diced tomatoes
Tomato paste
Dijon mustard
Fresh lemons and oranges
Lean turkey meat
Low-carb flour and whole-wheat tortillas
Salsa
Unsweetened applesauce
Sugar Substitutes
Nonfat milk products

Crispy Mango
What’s better than a 100-calorie pack? Crispy Green uses science, or magic, to freeze dry sweet crisps of real fruit. This time they’ve done mango, at 4 calories a convenient pack. They suggest sprinkling this on yogurt, but once you open that bag, those mangos won’t take long to disappear with their 8 grams of carbs and is a fun and delicious way to add more fruit to your family’s diet. You’ll love the sweet crunch.

How to hemp
Our Canadian neighbors at Manitoba Harvest know how to handle hemp foods, and I believe their newest product has helped me to perfect the quest as well. New organic Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Hemp Protein Powders are rich smoothie additions.
Cold-processed raw whole food powders feature organic palm sugar with caramel and butterscotch flavor notes. Coconut palm sugar is a low glycemic index, high nutrition content and eco-friendly choice high in potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron, and is also a good source vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C.
The chocolate powder, a banana and ice blended a satisfying breakfast drink that fueled me through press releases and interviews. I like this taste better than any other hemp product I’ve tried, thought the company’s shelled hemp seeds are another favorite for their soft chewing sensation and delicate flavor. A coworker thinks these are the seeds that should top pretzels. “Best match ever,” he said when making a pretzel snack with hemp seed chaser.
Makers suggest tossing mint leaves in a chocolate blend and peaches in the vanilla mix. I’m there.

Like-a-Lot
Just say ‘no’ to empty calories. Vega’s new Shake & Go Smoothies are billed as Smoothies on the Move, offering a quick way to get a daily dose of essential protein, fiber and greens. I’m keeping Choc-a-Lot in the pantry, but I’ve yet to try Bodacious Berry, Vanilla Almondilla and Tropical Tango, offering low-calorie smoothies with two servings of veggies, 11 grams of complete protein, Omega 3-6-9 and a day’s worth of probiotics. These kinds of health drinks used to be pretty yucky. I don’t consider this an acquired taste. I took to it right away. Vega is a blast.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-05-26T06:21:00.002-07:00

Get more nutritional bang for the grocery buck

Eating better, as in getting more nutritional bang for your grocery store buck is what “Cooking Light What to Eat” is all about. I think any one of any age can learn from this little book with eye-catching magazine-spread worthy photos designed to teach a lot in a glance. The book walks readers down every store aisle from bread to dairy, seafood to meat and snack to ready-to-go cook products with info on serving sizes and better choices. Look for answers to questions like these:
• Does peeling an apple negate the health benefits?
• What should I look for in a granola bar? Fiber? Sugar?
• When should I buy organic?
Here’s some answers I learned:
Fat-free balsamic vinaigrette and fat-free Italian are top healthy dressing choices, honey mustard is in the mid range and French, ranch and blue cheese are on the low rung of the nutritional ladder.
A few good oatmeal add ins:
• 1/2 slice crumbled bacon
• 1 1/2 tablespoons shredded cheese
• 1 1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons diced apple
• 1 tablespoon chopped cashews
• 1 tablespoon strawberry jam
From the Believe it or Not boxes:
One cup of frozen spinach has four times more potassium than raw.

On the frontier of cinnamon
I currently have more cinnamon in my pantry than I have eaten in a lifetime. But I’m challenging myself to use, and enjoy, new shipments for Frontier Natural Products Cinnamon, some fair trade certified good stuff. Ceylon, “true cinnamon,” is so pungent I want to mix it with dusting powder and walk around smelling like a giant gingerbread woman. I’m also working from a big, foil pouch of the line’s premium Vietnamese blend that’s good and powerful. I know folks match cinnamon with Christmas months, but it’s got a summer-patio-grill bite going on, too.

2010-05-26T06:21:00.001-07:00

2010-05-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Eat and look good
Figs, avocados, olive oil, crab and curry are a few ingredients Celia Westberry uses in “Eat Yourself Younger Effortlessley: The Easy Way to Slow Aging, Feel Great and Look Good.” The author has ties to Trinidad and tells how she lost her father when she was 5. She learned about diabetes and how health can related to what people put in their mouths. This is a simple book with great flavor, and I can’t imagine anyone who is advised to eat in a more healthy manner to feel anything but energized about her recipes. Here is a very easy one:

Parley Pesto
2 cups closely packed fresh parsley leaves
3 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons pine nuts, pecans or walnuts
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Dash of hot sauce, water or chicken stock for smooth blending
Place parsley, garlic, lemon juice and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Process until pureed.
Add 2 tablespoons oil, nuts and cheeses and continue to puree.
Transfer to a glass jar.
Cover top with remaining olive oil. Refrigerated in the coldest part of the refrigerator.

My Rosemary secret
Rosemary does pretty well in my garden, but I’ve also liked the smell more than the little needles in my food. I ground rosemary into powder and it dissolved nicey into recipes.
Along comes Dry Spice: The Flavor Savor, a canister of drying agent that draws moisture from containers of spices. It’s like the kind one finds in medicine bottles. I can’t wait to grind my oregano, too. I’m sharing these with other spicy gardeners I know.

I’ll bet lumberjacks love it
So I’m listening to Monty Python while enjoying some Malbec on my front porch. I’m sure everyone does that, right? I happen to glance at the Redwood Creek Wines bottle at the same time their “Lumberjack” song said “Redwood.” What fun. As the sun set and the chiminea crackled with fragrant magnolia leaves, I sipped this 2009 Argentinean Malbec from Redwood Creek, now boating a portfolio of nine, “attractively priced and food-friendly wines.” I was friendly with the vintage, I served with served with pork-stuffed grape leaves, cherry tomatoes and dates.
The makers say Malbec is generally associated with the Mendoza region of Argentina, at the cusp of the Andes Mountains, an area reminiscent of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. Makers traveled there to develop their California blend, offering flavors of black cherry, blueberry and dark blackberry fruit, with hints of brown spice and maple after notes.
Enter Blaze a Better Barbecue recipe contest by July 31 by visiting RedwoodCreekWine.com to submit an original grilling recipe using one of Redwood Creek’s nine, food-friendly wines as an ingredient. Barbecue authority Steven Raichlen, host of Primal Grill® on Public Television, shares some of his signature dishes on the website, including Grilled Clams with Sauvignon Blanc, Brats in a Chardonnay “Hot Tub” and Beef Ribs with Pinot Noir Barbecue Sauce.
Enter to win the ultimate grilling vacation – an all-expenses-paid trip to Steven Raichlen’s Barbecue University® in 2011 featuring Redwood Creek wine.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-05-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Salt pipe a hit with allergy sufferer
If you have not heard me go on and on about the nasal bidet/netti pot, you just haven’t sneezed around me. After Dr. Oz showed the world, via Oprah, about this little teapot contraption used to drain salt water through your nostrils, I was among thousands who rushed out to get one. It took some time to learn the technique, but I’m hooked on natural, drug-free sinus relief.
Now I’m on the salt pipe, which I understand Doc Oz likes as well. Colored crystals of Himalayan salt go into this oddly-shaped device and the breather, that would be me, inhales the benefits from the minerals in through the mouth and out through the nose. It feels amazing, and my family is making fun of me only because they are jealous they don’t have their own Solay Wellness Inc. salt pipe. There’s nothing more to explain how good it feels in the lungs and nose, but I will tell you Solay has lines of Himalayan salts to eat, coffees, teas, chocolate, etc., and mineral bath and body products.
I’m hooked on the salt pipe and want others to follow me.

More on breathing
Redd Remedies cites the National Center for Health Statistics’ report that 84 percent of all colds in America occur among children under age 17, and are thought to be related to developing immune systems and exposure to other infected children while attending school or day care.
I know I’m loving the hand sanitizer about now.
Redd Remedies, natural dietary supplement and aromatherapy provider, has introduced Children’s Sinus Support and the Seasonal Sinus Support Aromatherapy Inhaler. I tried really tasty chewables designed to promote natural histamine response and healthy sinus cavities as well as supporting a healthy immune function.
I’m tickles and relieved from the inhaler, which is a milder form of me rubbing essential oil under my nostrils. The device looks like a tube of lip balm with an opening for the fragrant vapors to get out.

Paper, plastic or bamboo?
I’ve been green before it was hip. I prefer the term frugal over cheap. I find it difficult to throw away some things that are meant to be disposable. Core Bamboo's new disposable line of biodegradable, environmentally-friendly serve ware is forcing me to make decisions. Luxeware comes in three sizes of plates that put one in the mind of the tropics. Bamboo cutlery, even adorable, tiny sporks, look like fancy wooden products. The company calls it a “100 percent guilt-free, visually-appealing, and hassle-free option for the eco-conscious picnic and outdoor party set.”
I’m keeping fruit on my plates and using them as centerpieces. Look for it at major retailers, or visit www.CoreBamboo.com.

All pink, all fun
I’m guilty of flash forwarding when I spy a beautiful product. Twinkle Toes is a pink, glittery powder to sprinkle in “ballet slippers, dance bags and all over your body before slipping into your tu-tus,” Herban Renewal suggests. The pink stuff flies out of what looks like an over-sized Victorian salt shaker. The silver-topped shaker allowed the powder to flow so freely I made a little surprised sound. Then, as much as I’m enjoying the powder, I imagined filling that shaker with cayenne pepper and seasoning up all the air around me.
Urban Renewal’s kid and adult line includes Shoo Monster (anti-boogeyman) dusts and Fish’n and Hunt’n Lather. Fun stuff.

Bamboo and pine
It’s almost easy to imagine little German gnomes collect ingredients for Gehwol’s Fusskraft line. I get a “kick” out of their foot care products and am truly impressed with a bamboo scrub that’s soft and fragrant. Essential oils in a spray-on herbal lotion cool with the scent of rosemary, mountain pine and lavender. This one, which puts me in the mind of German forest tales, is a strong product that means business. I think these gnomes never get tired, because their feet are feeling so fit. I’m sure humans at the company love the product, too.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-05-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

Grocery gardening fits the flavor bill, budget
Imagine the freshest rosemary for a black bean dish, sugar snaps for your pasta and goat cheese and fresh grapes for dessert. “Grocery Gardening” is just right for Southeast Texas. Jean Ann Van Krevelen never even met the three other contributors to this book in person, but they’ve created a picturesque, practical guide for getting the best bang for your garden buck. Make trellis, pot and window plantings and you’ll have something growing every season. The recipes here are easy and fresh. I already love the following. In fact, this blend finally made me realize I like cucumbers. Try the salad and try this book:

Asian Cucumbers
3 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded, sliced lengthwise and then sliced crosswise in thin slices
1 tablespoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon hot, red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted in a skillet until golden brown
Toss the cucumbers with the sea salt and place in a colander in the skink. Place an ice-filled bag on the cucumbers to drain for 45 minutes to 1 hour. (The ice bag will weight the cucumbers to help their liquid drain.) Whisk the vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and hot pepper flakes until blended and the sugar is dissolved. Rise the cucumbers and pat them dry with paper towels Toss the cucumbers with the dressing. Top the sesame seeds and serve immediately.

Grape leaves
The above book got me onto grape leaves, which I found on vines taking over my mother’s back yard. I plucked some perfect ones and arranged them on a plate, like a charger. Then I plopped down a sort of black-eyed-pea “hummus” I made, and ground up additional leaves into that blend. I also wrapped pork bites in additional leaves.
My daughter says I’m addicted. I’ve learned how to blanch and store them, and I aim to grow my own vines at home.

The right pinch
Potatoes were my testing ground for new McCormick blends, but first let me clarify. I recently sent readers to learn more about the Perfect Pinch line by sending them to perfect.pinch, and the company ask that I make a correction, by sending readers to www.pefectpinch.com for the right address. Goodness knows what kind of pinching the other place could be discussing.
Cinnamon and coffee is my pick of intrigue in the McCormick Flavor Forecast 2010 grilling edition, but let it be known that spice folks have new ready-to-use blends on the market, including Lowry’s Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ and Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato marinades and Grill Mates Brown Sugar Bourbon and Mexican Fiesta Marinades, Applewood Rub and Smokehouse Maple Seasoning Blend. I couldn’t wait to fire up the grill and fried up some potatoes in olive oil and some of these blends for a flavorful dinner.

Do you have Paula Deen in a box?
We let her out for Mother’s Day, preparing Southern-Style Buttery Beer Bread, Homestyle Moist Yellow Cake Mix and Homestyle Sugar Cookie Mix. I ordinarily pass on sugar cookies, but the family seemed to concur these were the best ever. My mom voted the cookies as her favorite even before she tried the cake, but she also loved the cake’s texture and flavor. No one could have a problem with this beer bread. Designed to go quickly to the table, the Paula Deen line ranges from $.69 to $2.49, which makers say appeals to the increasingly cost-sensitive consumers today and still offers them a quality brand.
The roll outs also include Homestyle White and Chocolate Cake Mix; Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix; Blueberry, Corn and Raspberry Muffin Mix; and the spice grinders and shakers I shared with you earlier.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-05-10T06:29:00.001-07:00

2010-05-05T07:41:00.001-07:00

What a crock: Slow cookers do all the work

Slow cookers, as crock pots prefer to be called now, go beyond cheese dip, but it’s hard to resist the variety of dips that open “Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook,” Phyllis Pellman Good’s revised and updated offering of 700 recipes.
You don’t have to get fancy to get supper on the table. If you can stock Velveeta, cream of mushroom soup and cans of beans, you are on your way to slow cooker heaven. Some cooks who share theirs recipes and tips say they keep a couple going for various stages of meals. They must host a lot of parties.
I thought Ham ‘n’ Cola would be an easy one to share. You rub a cooked ham with a mixture of brown sugar, dry mustard, prepared horseradish and cola-flavored soda , then cook for 2 to 10 hours.
A few pages down I found something even more easy, which can go with mashed potatoes and applesauce or cranberry sauce:
Chops and Kraut
1 pound bag fresh sauerkraut,
2 large Vidalia onions, sliced
6 pork chops
1. Make 3 layers in well-greased cooker; kraut, onions and chops.
2. Cover. Cook on low 6 hours.

Deen is doin’ it
Ground cinnamon is the only ingredient in Paula Deen Collection spice bottle, and it smells remarkable. Why does it sound so clever that sea salt is featured in the Cajun seasoning? Louisiana is on the coast, and we are flavoring entrees fished out of the water. Her smiling face is also on the label for black pepper corn and sea salt grinders. Aromas from both are memorable. I know because I opened the lid to snatch crystal chunks of salt for the new salty and sweet trend. I was going for the sensation of crunchy salt atop a gourmet chocolate cupcake, but made do just as well by topping part of a doughnut I found in the break room.

Nori nirvana
I wonder if harvesting nori is as easy as collecting the algae that rolls in with the sea. I do feel abundantly healthy when enjoying a sheet of nor, made from the sea veggie, tucking a sushi roll together. I don’t know if I’ve eaten a whole lot of seaweed in my life, but I am feeling that Navitas Naturals has packaged the best raw nori sheets I’ve ever kept in my home. I could actually crave this stuff that packs an “umami” punch. Read the label to know it’s good for you, too. I also have Navitas Naturals wakame flakes to serve with rice.

Glazed over
Feeling trendy or healthy? Either way, there’s a fruit with your name on it. I’ve been telling readers about AgroLabs’ Naturally Pomegranate, a juice with amazing flavor and color that provides what makers call a healthy, flavorful and anti-oxidant-rich addition to any meal. I’ve made it an addition to mixed drinks and desserts. Bananas and ice cubes thank me.
One ounce of AgroLabs Naturally Pomegranate has the antioxidant equivalent of eating 15 whole pomegranates. Another version packs Resveratrol. This bottle keeps in the pantry and you don’t even have to peel the fruit. This recipe has something of everything I like: Something sweet, tart and hot:

Maple-Pomegranate Glaze
1/4 cup Naturally Pomegranate™
5 tablespoons pure maple syrup
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 medium apple, peeled, cored, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Breathe it in
Aura Cacia has gone beyond Relaxing Lavender in its air freshening spritz line to offer Uplifting Bergamot & Orange, Refreshing Lime & Grapefruit and Comforting Spices & Clove. Made with 100 percent pure essential oils, these don’t smell artificial or give me a headache. Remember, they’re not to eat: keep them handy to make linen closet, car or sick room more palatable. This is a brand you’ll love, if you don’t already.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-05-05T07:40:00.001-07:00

2010-05-05T06:21:00.001-07:00

Going green, bags and bling

I recently told a clerk I’d let her keep the bag, meaning to recycle it for another customer. She took my purchase out, wadded up the bag and tossed it.
In the ‘70s, kids like me were learning to go green. I’d have thought a teen like here would be all into the amazing “green” bags out these days. I can’t get enough of them and I hope I’m reducing landfill accumulation while being so stylish.
I’m already a Bazura Bag supporter. The company has new styles that are helping the Women’s Cooperative of Manila get life back to normal after September’s Typhoon Ondoy. Crazy cool new styles of bags woven from pre-consumer waste include silvery foil evening bags and lipstick cases, bowler bags and messenger bags fashioned from colorful juice box and rice bag durable material. I love, love, love a rice-doy tote featuring some crazy goldfish and Fruit Chum juice labels. An inside pocket holds coupons and the sturdy bag will hold most all the groceries you’d want to deal with in one shopping trip (me, anyways). You’ll feel very international toting this line.
Earth Day is every day. Read more to find your bag, baby:

Bamboo, abounds
Bamboo takes over Southeast gardens. That’s a good thing for green people out to better the earth while looking fashionable. Mad by Design wholesale handbags is basement-to-big-deal business offering bags you wouldn’t believe are from bamboo. Visit www.twisteorchid.com to see what they also do with shells, animal friendly leather. Bamboo can look like that sofa pattern we all know, like a happy sunflower or like a fine wall of brown weave. I’m toting a round-handled number that reminds me, in all the best ways, of bags my mother’s trendy friends carried in the ‘70s. You can shop from their Facebook page. See for yourselves and love it.

b. happybags
If the name doesn’t get you, the patterns will. b. happybags are billed as bags for the planet. They’re simple cloth bags designed to get your groceries, wine, yoga goodies and dry cleaning from one place to the other and are made in the United States of domestic materials and they reduce plastic bag waste. I’m toting one blooming with big ‘70s-style flowers that remind me of my favorite bed sheets from my youth. Another flowery one looks like my sister would love it for her knitting. Fold up your soft bags in styles of stars and stripes, dots, paisley, etc. and be informed, be smart, be green, be responsible and be happy, makers ask. I think I will.

Sign of the times
I recently spent big chunks of time perusing various bags people tote to airports and I think a new Yak Pack TerraCycle Billboard Bag is a green winner. They’re like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates … you never know what you’re going to get. I can’t guess what my round-bottom bag once advertised, but there’s what looks like a moon on one side and the letters “ent” on a blue digital background on the flip side. I love that it appears to look cooler the more you use it, like favorite blue jeans, and that the “nearly indestructible material” offers resourceful totes, messenger bags, backpacks, laptop sleeves, MP3 cases and wallets.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-04-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Enjoy RiverFest foods, then head for the veggies
Even if you indulge in this weekend’s Port Neches RiverFest goodies, you can still consider ways to get your greens, and reds and yellows.
Go veggies, says natural chef Patty James, author of “More Vegetables, Please! Easy Ways To Add More Veggies To Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.”
She reminds that a vegetable-rich diet reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers as well as lowering pressure and the risk of eye and digestive problems. Try her tips to eat more veggies:
Breakfast:
• In a bit of olive oil, sauté onions, peppers, zucchini and garlic for a few minutes and then add eggs or tofu and spinach leaves for a healthier scramble.
• Add a handful of leafy greens to your morning smoothie.
• Add shredded zucchini to your next muffin recipe.
• Add pureed pumpkin or other squash to pancake batter in lieu of some fat.
Lunch:
• On your next sandwich or wrap, add some grated carrots and zucchini, sprouts and lettuce.
• Add pureed peas to your next guacamole recipe.
• Steam the stems of the broccoli, puree and add to hummus to guacamole.
• Add grated carrots and slices of cooked butternut squash to your next grilled-cheese sandwich.
• Add minced red peppers, celery, red onion and shredded carrots to your next tuna salad recipe.
• Add some spinach leaves to your homemade hummus or place store-bought hummus in your blender and add spinach leaves yourself.

Dinner:
• Marinara sauce used for pasta or pizza is an easy way to add more veggies …shredded zucchini, finely chopped broccoli, chopped spinach leaves, red peppers, onions and garlic.
• Add peas, chopped broccoli, and grated carrots to your next macaroni and cheese recipe.
• A meat loaf is an easy way to add more veggies to your life. Finely chop and add red pepper, onions, celery, carrots and any other favorite veggie.

Sweet deal for ice cream lovers
An ice cream trip to Baskin-Robbins was a big deal in my youth. I still remember the 31 flavors school book covers. A 31 Cent Scoop Night will be from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28, at all Baskin-Robbins locations nationwide. The business will make a $100,000 donation to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Baskin-Robbins at 4030 Dowlen Road in Beaumont has invited Beaumont Fire & Rescue to collect donations for the State of Texas Fire Fighter Memorial. The firefighters will be scooping. All donors giving more than $5 to the firefighter tip jar will receive a free music download card while they last. Look for new flavors such as Carmel Praline Cheesecake and Cotton Candy. Look for a new store with drive through scoops at 775 South 11th Street in Beaumont near Gateway Shopping Center.

Get grilling
Don’t you feel ahead of the curve when Culinary Thrill Seeking reports McCormick Flavor Forecasts? This time, they’ve gone grilling and predict these trends:
• Fired Up Fruit - Grilled fruits are being skewered alongside meats, pureed to make tenderizing marinades, and chopped for salsas and relishes.
• Ethnic Sizzle - Nearly every cuisine around the globe claims a place on the grill – especially current favorites like Caribbean, Latin, Thai, Vietnamese and Indian.
• Cilantro & Lime – Cutting across the diverse cuisines, this bright and zingy pair is a refreshing taste of summertime.
TRY IT: Tequila-Lime Skirt Steak with Avocado Chopped Salad
• Rosemary & Fig – Figs are an unexpected and regionally inspired match for aromatic rosemary.
TRY IT: Tuscan Grilled Lamb Chops with Warm White Beans Provençal
• Chipotle & Maple – This culinary comingling delivers an updated take on smoky, spicy and sweet.
TRY IT: Grilled Chipotle-Maple Salmon with Wilted Spinach
• Brown Sugar & Bourbon – A versatile duo that brings a delicious dose of Southern charm to the patio.
TRY IT: Brown Sugar Bourbon Pork Tenderloin with Grilled Cornbread and Peaches
• Cinnamon & Coffee – Bold and confident – with just the right edge of bitterness.
TRY IT: Cinnamon Mocha Ice Cream Sandwiches with Grilled Strawberries
• Red Chili Sauce & Mango –The unmistakable flavor of mango takes hot or sweet red chili sauce far beyond mere “condiment status.”
TRY IT: Thai Grilled Flatbread with Mango & Sweet Chili Sauce
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-04-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

That’ll wake you up
There’s a reason I put Tabasco in my smoothie. I love a recipe I saw years ago for a yogurt-poppyseed fruit salad dressing with a drop or two of Tabasco. I didn’t think it a stretch to add ginger and a few drops to my banana blender breakfast. It was a bit much, but tolerable. If you want to play with that, an after-dinner patio drink may work better.

Perfect Pinch
Many of you Culinary Thrill Seeking readers told me you were finding internet meal inspiration long before I got into it. All y’all, go to www.perfect.pinch.com for a spin at McCormick’s latest concept, a personalized dinner plan to fit your mood. Categories range from Little Bit of Kick and Watch the Salt to Good for Guests and Surprise Me. The menu math calls for Lemon & Pepper Seasoning with fish, Salt Free Savory All Purpose seasoning with pork chops and Salad Supreme for a grilled chicken dish. I’ve enjoyed those three seasonings on a variety of grilled onions, omelet and salad.

Cereal stuff
Nothing against them, but I can count on my hands the number of times I’ve had Cheerios. A handful of the new Chocolate Cheerios, made with real cocoa, changed the course of my cereal path. I found them a great healthy dry snacking option with a sweet crunch.
The new Wheaties Fuel boxes make an impression on store shelves. Black and orange boxes with the artistic face of baseball champ Albert Pujols staring at passersby give a sleek, masculine feel. Sweet whole wheat flakes and crisp rice with real honey and cinnamon is the new breakfast of champions. Count me in.

2010-04-19T09:42:00.001-07:00

Sounds Good: New stuff energizes, glamorizes

BaBoom!
First it sprays on you; it might grown on you. BaBoom! Energy Spray provides the boost, without the calories. If you like energy drinks, look for this at 7-Eleven. Spray one to five times and get as much as you want without having to buy a big can of energy drinks. Generex Biotechnology has a clever idea. One of my tasters likened the flavor to orange-flavored baby medicine. Others made a “face” at the taste, but I have to say, the second time was a charm, and I finished my work on time. It’s designed so that the energy solution is quickly absorbed through the inner lining of the mouth, so the consumer achieves the desired "boost" at a faster rate. It should last you through the summer.

Why frown?
“Frownies” asks wearers to “Feel the magic” of polypeptides and phenols in a concentrated micro-emulsion to maintain pH. The anti-wrinkle therapy label reads that it works immediately to relive the signs of stress, and who doesn’t have that. I enjoy squeezing what looks like liquid mud out of the tube and watching it sink into my skin. Why, just the motions of that could reduce stress. Tell me next time you see me if it’s working.

Mineral concept
I’m on board with the mineral makeup boom, but surprised to hear what Christopher Drummond Beauty has to say about it. The former model and makeup artist’s line goes all-natural, vegan and organic because he says most mineral makeup contains potentially toxic ingredients titanium dioxide, bismuth oxychloride and zink oxide, that could irritate skin. He reminds us that skin is our largest organ. I’ve read rave reviews and have a few of my own regarding the smoothness and colors. Eye and lip colors feel light and rich at the same time and some even sparkle.

Herban Renewal
From Twinkle Toes natural, pink, glittery powder to sprinkle into dance shoes and Shoo! Monster anti-boogeyman dust to herbal soaps, salts, etc., Herban Renewal is making folks feel fresh and contributing to disabled and homeless in its Abilene home area. I’m sharing goodies from the Livi.LuLu “tween” line of skin nourishment. A clear bag suitable for a birthday gift includes Fab & Fruity fun with sparkling lotion, shower gel, lip balm and some lavender polish I covet. There’s even flip flops, stickers and spiky balls in there. The tag says WOW and I agree. Big girls like goodies, too.

2010-04-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

I was the Hot Mama during ‘Zombieland’

I thought a bloody-red cocktail would be the perfect refreshment for viewing a “Zombieland,” as I am not the Twinkie fan level to the character Woody Harrelson plays in the movie.
I was pleasantly on fire after mixing a Hot Mama from Sobieski vodka. I had followed the recipe with much less modification than usual. Well, I did substitute wasabi powder for cilantro I didn’t have. On my second sip, I remembered the reason for the fire in my belly. I followed instructions to rim the glass with pepper. I had cayenne powder in the corners of my mouth.
Yesssss!!!
Here’s the Hot Mama instructions:
Sobieski Vodka
Tomato juice
Fresh lemon juice
Fresh ginger and cilantro
Soy sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Muddle cilantro and ginger. Add remaining ingredients, shake with ice and strain into martini glass rimmed with pepper and chili.
Visit www.truthinvodka.com for specs on the reasonably priced Sobieski Cytron Polish vodka, or the regular and vanilla versions. Here are some other sporting blends:
Sobieski Safety
1 ounce Sobieski Vodka
1/2 ounce Sour Apple Schnapps
Serve in a shot glass.

Time Out Shot
1 ounce Sobieski Vodka
1/2 once chilled beef bouillon
Dash Worcestershire, Tabasco, salt & pepper, celery salt, soy sauce
Shake with ice and pour into a shot glass.

Going barefoot
What’s up with sandals? I went to a party and the hostess had a thing for flip flop decor. I suggested she pose her mannequin feet sticking out from under a long curtain, like some partygoer was stationed behind them. I understand her love for the casual attitude, and suggest going even more barefoot. A $7 bottle of Barefoot Moscato is the sweet stuff of spring with ripe pear and lemon flavors that can go with a meal or, makers say, fruit salad and cake.
This white gave my favorite meal plan a punch. I served it with a tray of “whatever I have picnic” on the coffee table, which this time included tortilla with herbed olive oil, dates and cherry tomatoes. I was, of course, barefoot.

21 new beers
Del Papa Distributing Company of Beaumont has announced it is adding 21 beer brands. The company has acquired distribution rights for the brands from Duff and Neches Valley Distributing Companies. Look for:
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Big Bear Stout
Pete's Brown Ale
Hop Rod Rye
Racer 5 IPA
Red Rocket
XP Pale Ale

Cave Creek Brewing Co.
Chili Beer

Flensburger Brewering Co.
Dunkel
Gold
HefeWeisen
Pilsner

Indian Wells Brewing Co.
Lobotomy Bock
Amnesia IPA

Dixie Brewing Co.
Lager
Blackened Voodoo

Carslow Brewing Co.
O’Hara’s Irish Red
O’Hara’s Irish Stout

Southern Star Brewing Co.
Bombshell Blonde
Pine Belt Ale
Buried Hatchet

Cerveceria Costa Rica
Imperial
For more information on Del Papa Distributing, visit www.delpapabud.com or call 1.800.770.6046.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-04-07T10:56:00.001-07:00

Presidential fare cookbook offers a taste of the past

Ralph Burch of Port Arthur loaned me a 1917 copy of “Presidential Cookbook: Adapted from the White House Cook Book” that crumbled a little with every page turned. The reader had made some pencil notes, now faded, and marked pages with Jell-O recipes dated much later than the book.
Aside from canning and stewing information, there are etiquette tips on how to hold one’s glass and how many berries to take. Here’s a recipe that surprised me:
Fried cucumbers
Pare them and cut lengthwise in very thick slices; wipe them dry with a cloth; sprinkle with salt and pepper, dredge with flour, and fry in lard and butter, a tablespoon of each, mixed. Brown both sides and serve warm.

Fish fun
Gorton’s has a new resealable bag for beer batter fish fillets. I added to what the label calls “Crispy Pub Taste” with a dousing of malt vinegar. But my favorite news is of the newest product, which you may have sampled during Lent: Lemon Peppercorn Tilapia, which makers offers with some Weight Watcher-approved recipes. Get on their website for ideas. Gorton’s is working with cookbook author Aviva Goldfarb, founder of the “Six O’Clock Scramble,” who has a new cookbook coming out this spring. I’ve also recently enjoyed what was a seemingly-decadent breakfast of fish nachos, with Gorton’s Grilled Tilapia with roasted garlic butter. It was actually what Weight Watchers fans call “point friendly.”
Grilled Shrimp with Tropical Fruit Salsa
8 points per serving
2 servings
16-19 Gorton’s Scampi Grilled Shrimp
1/2 cup pineapple, diced
1/2 cup mango, diced
1/2 cup cucumber, peeled & diced
1/2 cup red pepper, diced
3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
4 teaspoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of pepper
2 cups brown rice, prepared
Prepare Gorton’s Scampi Grilled Shrimp according to package instructions.
Combine pineapple, mango, cucumber, red pepper, cilantro, lime juice salt and pepper, place on top of rice with cooked shrimp and serve immediately.

On the border of too good
My fish nacho breakfast was also inspired by another shelf newbie, On the Border Monterey Jack, Asadero and Smooth Blanco cheese dip in a jar, that is not over-the-top calorie wise when you enjoy it in the proper serving size. I served that Gorton’s fish over shredded cabbage and On the Border’s chips, salsa and new dip to rave reviews.

Spicy inspiration
There’s one fewer excuse for people who claim they can’t or don’t have time to cook. McCormick Recipe Inspirations packets feature six pre-measured, no-waste spices and herbs with a perforated, plastic-coated recipe card on the back you can file. How does garlic lime chicken fajitas, rosemary roasted chicken with potatoes or quesadilla casserole sound? These cards, which make great gifts, take just a little bit of prep and cook time, and come with the trusted flavor of McCormick products.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-04-05T08:01:00.001-07:00

The lobster/chocolate breakfast
My friend Claire’s birthday had my family enjoying remnants of a 6-pound Papadeaux lobster and Lir Irish chocolates for breakfast. She wasn’t even there, but we toasted her.
It’s always a long story with Claire. I fast-foward to the part where she’s generous with the leftovers, so they don’t tempt her later. We ate large on our spring break but to our credit, we walked or tried The Bar exercise routine daily.
And I was looking fierce, with a spa-day facial massage, make up application and sassy hairdo by Beth, Michelle and Daphne, the Ladies of Beau Visage in Nederland. They did amazing things to me and I looked great for the fair, a seder meal and Le Grand Bal.
Readers, you may not have missed me, because I left columns to run during my week off. I missed you, so here’s more on what I did:
Ate
Panda has a new raspberry licorice with all natural ingredients, like carrot juice, that is so superior to what we are used to. It’s how they like it in Finland. The regular flavor looks a bit like road material, but is soft and subtle molasses flavor.

Treated my feet
Gehwol has been the stuff for feet since 1882, when the Westphalia family couldn’t have imagined the sexy foot wear women would be wearing in 2010. Eucalyptus, rosemary, mint, wheat, lavender and avocado are some of the “real” goods in the various creams and remedies in this line. Active ingredients such as camphor, ginger and oat extract and menthol are in there, too. The foot salve for cracked skin feels amazing and the hand cream simply feels different, somehow better, when it goes on. I have seen two people recently with heels so cracked they seemed a different color and I read a novel of a girl in a snowy clime whose mother rubbed her hands daily to prevent bleeding. I’d love to hand these folks a tube. The company has a bamboo and sugar scrub that sounds transforming. Hand cream with tapioca starch, of all things, reads Gerlan on the label.

Decorated myself
Orna Lalo’s face is partially obscured by a cucumber eye mask in her PR shot, but her beauty is seen in Lalo Treasures, flora and fauna inspired jewelry that has never made resin look so good. The very breath of spring is molded, by Bulgarian family women, into coral blooms, statement rings and hair décor that looks as though something flittery has just landed on your locks. I love her version of bangles that resemble India’s glass bangles. Mine come in orange and magenta dot and floral patterns that also put me in the mind of ‘70s pop art my sister sported.

Read up
• I turned directly to the art department of “College in a Nutskull,” a funny spiral filled with Professor Anders Henriksson’s findings of what students have actually turned in on essays and exams. Funny, funny stuff for teachers and others. Here’s the artistic answers:
Fresco was a popular snack food supplied by the church.
Degas specialized in belly dancers.
Too Loose Latreck could be found at work in cafes and brassieres throughout Paris.
Diego Rivera lived with Frito the Mexican Lady

• Blaine Loomer describes work personalities you may deal with using terms such as The Rooster, who sits on the fence and crows about himself and The Point Shaver. You always owe him one. I don’t want to say the name of the book here. I’ll call it “Corporate BS,” though Loomer spells out, and sorts out, the BS. I agree that there are a lot of negative people out in workplaces who can make everyone miserable. I’m sticking with the suggestion of having a positive attitude and hoping it rubs off on others.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-04-01T06:28:00.001-07:00

Lift your cup and glass to support Haiti, Chile
The earth has moved in Haiti and Chile and it’s possible that we, a world away, can support a return to prosperity through drinking coffee and wine.
Oscar attendees always seem to rally around a political cause, and I toasted my own while viewing the awards by helping support a product of Chile.
While there’s concern over the country’s future fruit crops after the Earthquake, Root: 1 has done the work for this batch of wine already. Makers say Carmenere is known as Chile’s signature varietal, producing a deep colored, full-bodied wine that offers the charm of Merlot and the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon.
I was charmed by the story of this “lost” grape of Bordeaux, rediscovered in Chile in 1994 and doing just fine, thank you, in Chile’s long, dry growing season.
Viña Ventisquero, in partnership with Click Wine Group, bring us Root: 1, cultivated on original, ungrafted roots, at about $12.99 a bottle. Collectors will love the bottle marked with a grape vine and long root, trailing through wording. Pair it with grilled meats, pastas and spicy entrees. At my party, it got Best-Wine award as I enjoyed it with steak bites and cherry tomatoes.

Haitian coffee “all about the bean”
Coffee and chocolate from Irving Farm Coffee Co. in Millerton, N.Y. are flavorful products, without question. The company has been working to do some good in Haiti long before recent tragedies. As part of the Haitian Relief Effort, Irving Farm Coffee Company will donate 100 percent of the profit from their new Reserve Select Haitian Highland Pic Macaya coffee to Konbit Sante, a Maine-based volunteer partnership working to save lives and improve healthcare in Haiti.
The blend is a limited supply "in season" coffee grown by small landowners in the Pic Macaya National Forest, one of only two national forests in Haiti. Taste it for hints of almond, chocolate and ripe fruit. Visit www.irvingfarm.com.

In support of Ireland
Bushmills Irish Whiskey is too good to color green. I’m not, however, above blending it into a chocolate, banana smoothie. It’s to get my fruit servings in. Think St. Patrick would approve?

In support of the cook
Redwood Creek Wine costs about $8 a bottle, and I dare you to get all wine snobbish about that. So called grilling guru Steven Raichlen has some ideas I’ve tried, though I almost hate to “waste” a nice wine by cooking with it. I know people do, so I tried this, and can say, it’s good stuff:
Grilled Skirt Steak with Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce (courtesy of Chef Steven Raichlen)
Ingredients:
3 cups Redwood Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
1 cup beef stock (preferably homemade)
2 shallots, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 pounds skirt steak, trimmed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Make the sauce. In a heavy saucepan, bring the wine, stock, and shallots to a boil over high heat. Boil until reduced to 1 cup. Whisk in the butter, 2 tablespoons parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. The sauce should be highly seasoned. Keep the sauce warm.
Rub the steaks on both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to high.
Grill the steaks for 3 minutes per side for medium-rare, or to taste. Transfer to a platter or plates. Spoon the sauce over the steaks and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley. Serves 4.

Rosemary Grilled Shrimp with Sauvignon Blanc (courtesy of Chef Steven Raichlen)
Ingredients:
1 bunch rosemary (branches should be stiff)
1-1/2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground or cracked black peppercorns
Hot pepper flakes (optional)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup Redwood Creek Sauvignon Blanc or other white wine in a spray bottle
Grill shield or sheet of aluminum foil folded in thirds like a business letter.
Strip the leaves off the bottom half to two-thirds of the rosemary sprigs and finely chop. You’ll need about 1/4 cup.
Skewer the shrimp on the rosemary skewers (or use classic bamboo skewers) so that it passes through both the head and tail of each shrimp. Align the shrimp so all face the same way — this looks more professional. Place the shrimp in a baking dish.
Lightly brush each shrimp kebab on each side with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, hot pepper flakes (if using), chopped garlic and chopped rosemary. Let marinate in the refrigerator while you set up your grill and preheat to high. Brush and oil the grill grate.
Arrange the kebabs on the grill and grill until the shrimp is handsomely browned and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Spray the shrimp with wine as they grill (Set the nozzle so the wine comes out in a mist). If the exposed parts of the rosemary start to burn, slide the grill shield or foil under them.
Serve immediately. Serves 4.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-03-31T07:00:00.001-07:00

Get rid of kitchen clutter by Easter
I organized my mom’s spice cabinet on the very day I read Barbara Tako’s dismay at finding five 5-spice jars in her own rack. In “Clutter Clearing Choices,” she explains how she came to alphabetize her seasonings after thinking that was just nuts, and how it helped her a lot.
At Mom’s, I found a few bottles marked Shwegmann’s, her favorite grocery store to visit when my sister lived in Baton Rouge, more than a decade ago. She was surprised to find extra dill and celery powder, and happily shared with me. I took a bunch of jars with tiny bits of green stuff and morphed them into a new mix I labeled Italian. I’m willing to make a sauce with this, because it was free to me, but I know Mom and Tako are right … fresher spices make a better meal.
Tako takes on other rooms in this book, and I already subscribe to her thoughts that items should flow through our lives, instead of park there and rot. One of her anecdotes is about a woman with beautiful, dusty candles sitting out. The friend won’t burn them because she’s afraid of starting a fire, but dusty candles aren’t attractive. They need to get out of her life.

Give him a foot . . .
Mel Bartholomew is my fantasy neighbor. In “All New Square Foot Gardening Cookbook” he tells you how to get the most from a tiny space, offers both gourmet and “classic” recipes from your yield and even has games and lessons for the children. Fresh Pepper Lentil Salad, Zucchini Parmesan Pancakes and Asian Cucumber Salad are some temptations. Here’s another:

Sweet Peanut Carrot Spread
_ cup crunch peanut butter
1 to 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
1 large or 3 small carrots, shredded or grated
2 tablespoons raisins
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Use the mixture to fill sandwiches or spread it on crackers. Makes enough for four sandwiches.

Deliver a switch
Although this pizza box doesn’t have cheese and sausage inside, it is by no means empty. Makers of World Famous Chocolate Pizza from EdibleGiftsPlus.com suggest watching Dad’s face when he opens a gift of a “pizza” of Belgian milk chocolate blended with puffed crispies to make an extra large 14-inch sweet and crunchy “crust.” White chocolate drizzles make the “cheese,” and toppings include yummies in shapes of mushrooms, pepperoni and pepperoni. The supreme comes with complete with chocolate mugs of beer and remote control. Now that spells “Dad.”
Can I get some of these for April Fool’s Day? Who doesn’t like fun you can eat?
http://www.ediblegiftsplus.com/World_Famous_Chocolate_Pizza_p/sp-lgpizza.htm
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-03-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Oh nuts … foodie crosses over to the healthy side

I may have crossed over.
I could be one of those health food nuts. In fact, nuts … maybe almonds … sound good about now. I’m also craving some brown rice with … how about a hemp oil dressing?
Processed, salty boxes of just-add water foods are not tempting to me now that I’m making sure to get my vegetables and whole grains in. I work a little olive oil into my daily diet, but this week I’m trying Manitoba Harvest Hemp Oil in everything.
I baked it into chocolate bread and folks seemed to enjoy the “grassy, nutty” flavor. I’ve also drizzled it on popcorn, couscous and fruit salad. My bottle is emptying fast. I’ll have to contact Canada for more. Hemp Pro Fiber powder comes in regular, dark chocolate and vanilla flavors that when blended, with a banana if possible, keep me really full until lunch.
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils has improved packaging on the omega-rich oil with a no-drip spout. Makers suggest it on salad dressings, soups, sauces, juices and smoothies: You can substitute hemp oil for other oils in recipes that are not heated above 350 degrees, or drizzle it on cooked food. Hemp oil comes with a list of benefits so long that I’ll advise you to look it up yourself, so I can have space for this recipe:
Hempini Dressing
(Makes: 1 1/2 cups; Prep Time: 5 min.)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Hemp Seed Butter
1/2 Cup Hemp Oil
1/4 Cup Tamari
1/4 Cup Maple Syrup

Directions:
Combine Hemp Oil and Hemp Seed Butter in a bowl. Stir until creamy and smooth. Add tamari and maple syrup. Mix well. Will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days in a sealed container. This is a high protein dressing that is ideal for salads, rice or veggies.

Still snacking like astronauts
Co-workers ate all the new Frutzio varieties of freeze dried fruits in peach and apricot. At just 40 calories a serving, I suggest these as croutons for a fruit salad. You’ve got the crunch with 0 grams of fat.

La Linda
The year 2008 brought us Hurricane Ike. For Bodega Luigi Bosca, Argentina's leading family-owned premium wine producer, it produced Finca La Landa Malbec, a $10.99 bottle of wine that can lead you into the Easter/Passover season. It’s my favorite time of year to have a glass of red, but I’ve already consumed most of this bottle.
The makers have just shipped new vintage releases from its Finca La Linda portfolio with new take-note packaging. The 2008 La Linda Malbec, 2008 La Linda Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 La Linda Viognier and 2009 La Linda Chardonnay represent the initial introductions, with more to come.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-03-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick, are you ready for raw?
Looking for green food this St. Patrick’s Day? You can get much greener than the way some people are choosing to eat. I learned so much from meeting area raw foods enthusiasts. They all said that they gained a lot of energy from eating real food over processed junk. That sentiment is echoed by people in a new book.
“Raw food: A Complete Guide for Every Meal of the Day” by Erica Palmcratz and Irmela Lilja is filled with beautiful pictures of food and people. They aren’t all young model-quality beautiful. They’re real people of all ages who eat this stuff up. They make vegetable lasagna, and marinated salads look amazing, and who could go hungry with soaked buckwheat and fruit snacks and smoothies. I think people have forgotten what real food is and these authors are ready to make us healthy with wakame burritos, stuffed peppers and parsley tabbouleh.
I’m ready for summer where I could enjoy one of these recipes a day in the back yard.
Raw foodist heat food only up to about 104 degrees to make the most of nutritional value. They prepare — not cook — foods via soaking, grinding and sprouting. I’m starting with the following recipes, providing my lemongrass bush didn’t freeze.

Avocado Lemongrass Dip
A guacamole variation, good as a side dish, but equally yummy as a dip for carrots, cucumber slices and celery sticks.
1 avocado
1 lemongrass stalk
1/4 red chili pepper
Pinch of chili flakes
2 apricots, soaked
1 or 2 tablespoons of the soaking water from the apricots
1 teaspoon tamari
Put all ingredients in a food processor. Start by adding a little bit of the chili pepper if you don’t want too much spice.
Remove any remaining large pieces that have not mixed in well.

Sweet Breakfast Porridge
1 banana, chopped into large pieces
1 apple, chopped into large pieces
1 pear, chopped in to large pieces
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon flax seeds, ground
First put the pear into the blender, then add the banana and then the apple. Blending the fruit in this order prevents the mixture from getting too sticky.
Sprinkle the cinnamon and flaxseed over the mixture.

Raspberry Coconut smoothie
1/4 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen
1 banana
1 cup apple juice
Fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon coconut flakes
Blend the raspberries, banana and apple juice in the blender.
Garnish with mint leaves and coconut flakes.

Green reverse
I’m thinking of my grandmother’s day as a young homemaker. After a quest to collect crystal-like glasses from deterrent boxes, could she have imagined an era where people would spend money for a cup that only looks disposable?
Copco makes a clear, reusable To Go Cup that holds your cold drinks and helps keep an average of 312 cups a person out of the landfills, makers say. I say this 24-ouncer has been my smoothie savior, because the straw has stirring paddles on the bottom and the non-slip grip feels so good with its BPA-free self. Look for it at Bed, Bath & Beyond stores for $7.99.

Asian popcorn
I started my Oscar party the night before the ceremony, just to play popcorn. Black Sesame Mustard Popcorn is a perfectly good recipe from The Popcorn Board, but I was out of mustard powder, so I used wasabi powder instead. I used less butter than called for, and got flavor from the dark sesame oil, kosher salt and black sesame seeds. Results are attractive, and the photo shows some black-seeded popcorn in fancy glasses, as though they’re set out for a party. I just held my biggest mixing bowl in my lap and gobbled it all up.

Wine Wand
Glass jewels sound like their summoning fairies as they slide in the glass Philip Stein Wine Wand, a tool to aerate fine red wine in 2 to 3 minutes, saving the connoisseur hours of waiting. Just set the wand in the poured glass and let it do its stuff. The wand, a beauty even denuded from its leather case, replicates natural frequencies of air and oxygen, infusing them into the wine, which, makers remind, is “alive.” It sounds crazy, but I could tell the difference between the taste of a glass that had been wanded and one that had not. Another bit of wonder: the test glasses should be several feet apart on non-conductive surfaces (not glass or metal). I’ll bet you didn’t realize your wine was so reactive.
The wine wand is a perfect gift for your favorite onephile.

Perky Jerky
Everyone who got a taste of my Perky Jerky loved the flavor, the texture and just saying the name of it. It’s flavorful and juicy and so tender it didn’t even hurt my teeth. Billed as the world's first all-natural performance enhancing meat snack, the extra dose of energy comes from guarana’s caffeine for a “jerky experience you won’t find anywhere else.” I suppose it will keep you alert in the deer blind.
Development behind this fine product is told in the story, “Two Jerks in a Ski Lodge.” To shorten it, they spilled their energy drink on their peppered beef jerky and found it pretty good. We agree.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-03-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

I prefer the term ‘frugal’ over ‘cheap’

My dinnertime topics often include a bit of a boast about how inexpensively I made such wonderful fare. But I’ve never written a whole cookbook about it.
Erin Chase dishes up kid-pleasing fare in “The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook” with 200 tempting recipes. They’re not all pasta, rice and lentils, but she does a great job with those basics, as well.
Barbecue lentils, blueberry wild rice and green pepper soup may be adventurous in your book, but cranberry pork chops, sloppy chicken joes and beef tacos sound like something the kids would try. I love her ideas and will probably make her whole wheat pizza dough often. I’ll pass on making my own hot dog buns, but hey, it’s there for you.
Chase lived abroad, where there was only one toothpaste brand to choose from. Now back in America, she found her food budget shrinking as she began to buy more and more from her vast selections. Now couponing and healthy choices for her family has her back on track, and she wants to help readers budget their money and calories as well.
Here’s a Lenten idea: Make a shrimp marinade for about 40 cents with two crushed garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons of butter and salt and pepper.
She calculates her pizza sauce can be made for 84 cents:
Homemade Pizza Sauce
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
In a small saucepan or skillet, whisk the tomato sauce with the spices and olive oil. Simmer for 2 to 8 minutes. Makes 2 cups.

Ginger Salmon Marinade (estimated cost, 35 cents)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons canola oil
Salt and pepper
In a small bottle or plastic container, shake the soy sauce, ground ginger, oil and salt and pepper. Pour over four salmon fillets. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before grilling.

Link to your drink
We’re handed Sharpies with cups and my friend’s house, so no one loses their drinks. Drinkmarx customizable beverage markers take it up a notch with plastic collars you can snap on to cups, bottles and cans. Stickers spell out my name on a pink link and stickers with chocolate cake, the Eiffel Tower and a glass of wine symbolize things Darragh might like. I’m thinking creating your “marx” is part of the party fun. Hey wait, that Sharpie could come in handy by creating your own artistic designs on this cool tool. It’s fun, and prevents the spread of germs.

Beemster
Beemster sounds like a European car, but it’s an awesome Dutch cheese, which could help the good people of Nederland celebrate the Nederland Heritage Festival. I find the original so compelling it’s like a cheese candy. I’ve now enjoyed BeemsterLite Matured, which uses only grade-A milk from cows that have grazed freely on lush, pesiticide-free grasses of the Dutch Beemster Polder in North Holland.
People, the food pyramid says we’re supposed to have dairy daily, so we ought to enjoy it as much as we can. A serving of this is like a dessert that you’ll look forward to all day.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-03-03T06:34:00.001-08:00

Cook this, have fun, get full
Eating great food is a priority for me. If I can make it more healthy and save money doing it, that’s icing on the cake, so to speak. It’s an exciting mission to me, but those who thought it would be boring need only pick up “Cook This, Not That!”
Authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding have sassy commentary and eye-popping photos comparing dollars and calories saved recreating versions of popular restaurant foods. Try one restaurant’s baby back ribs for 3,021 calories, or make Dr. Pepper Ribs for 400 calories on your plate. Cornmeal catfish, teriyaki scallops, butternut ravioli, loaded pizza and turkey meat loaf mimic what you could get out. This is a good guy cookbook, it’s easy to read and it could just be the motivation you need to be good to your gut.
Here’s some quickie goodies from just two pages of this useful book:
• Mix a can of tuna with chopped pickles, minced onion, and equal parts Dijon and olive oil mayo. Stuff into a whole wheat pita.
• Mix together a bit of mayo with grated horseradish. Spread on toasted rye or wheat bread, then top with roast beef, sharp Cheddar, sliced cucumbers, pickled onions and arugula.
• Slice an avocado and remove the pit. Fill the round cavities with canned tuna and a squeeze of lemon, plus salt and pepper. Eat with Triscuits.
• Mix equal parts of cooked brown rice and drained canned black beans. Top with leftover chicken or steak (or deli turkey), salsa and guacamole. Eat with a small stack of tortilla chips.

Do you know Hungry Girl?
This real lady has a cool avitar kind of character that appears on healthy stuff. If you’re not familiar, get to know her, because Hungry Girl can point you in good directions, like toward Mann Packing Co. clean and cut-up packaged products. She’s on packages of cut up sweet potato, courage musquee (butternut squash) and other natural goodies you see right in front of you in the produce section, but may not be trying.
Snacks on the Go come in a party pack with the best celery I’ve ever tasted. That sounds funny, but it’s true.
Sweet potato slices tumbled out of a bag ready to be baked in olive oil. I actually blackened some (on purpose). Sprinkled with cinnamon, baked sweet potato spears also made a fabulous breakfast, paired with my famous special sauce of ketchup and Taco Bell packets, seasoned with chipotle dust.
Nothing could be easier than mixing olive oil, red wine vinegar and dijon mustard into their slaw mix, unless it would be putting the mix directly on a sandwich. Try something new.

“Quick & Easy Tips to Lose Weight”
Drink water, make juice, ditch stress and eat real food, Georgia Salgado Chavez asks readers in this slim little book. You may have heard it all before, but have you listened? The author keeps things short and simple, like this:
Simple recipes:
Smoothie: Orange, pineapple, coconut
Milkshake: 1 cup of milk, 1 banana, 1 spoon of honey
Juice: Carrots, parsley, cucumber, celery, beets and grapes
Fruit water: 1 cup of water, 1 spoon of raw sugar (honey) 1 slice of melon
Tea: Sage
Meals: Fish, steam it with some spices; lemon adds great taste to fish.
Seafood combo: add chopped tomato, cilantro, serrano pepper, onion (don’t add salt). Add lemon juice, mix it, and eat it with crackers.

Hippie Chips
You’ve gotta just love saying “Hippie Chips.” The baked potato chips come in fun flavors like White Room Cheddar, Woodstock Ranch and Memphis Blues BBQ. I’m hooked on the goods and groovy labels from Rock-n-Roll Gourmet, launched by a rocker couple. I think you’ll love eating and saying Hippie Chips, too.
“Don’t Worry, Be Hippie!” and “Peace, Love and Gluten Free” is how the all-natural snack is billed.
Rock & Pop Jalapeno Korn and Kettle Korn bags feature a suited keyboardist in a fedora and a rocker girl guitarist in black. This line puts me in an ‘80s feel.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-03-01T06:29:00.001-08:00

Aromatherapy is real

If you don’t believe me, watch me spray it into the newsroom. People raise their heads and perk up. One reporter gets visibly relaxed. Aura Cacia, a favorite brand of mine, suggests a bottle or two of its latest offerings is an economical bargain, considering it gives you a spa feeling at home. The popular Lavender Harvest line has opened the door for peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree.
Multitasking Harvest Collection scents come in aromatherapy mineral bath; bath, body and massage oil; and mist for room and body.
Peppermint Harvest promises “refreshing” and lavender, a favorite of my next-desk neighbor Mary Meaux, promotes “calming.” I love that my daughter got a whiff of “purifying” Tea Tree Harvest and it gave her memories of my pampering her through childhood aches. Eucalyptus has an “awakening” label.
I don’t worry that I don’t have a bathtub. I can use that packet of bath grains for a grainy rub down and foot soak. Wouldn’t that have been nice after my sprint down Procter Street to catch up with the News Mardi Gras float?
These goods are free of synthetic fragrances, colors or preservatives.
In other smelly-good news: Vermont Soap Organics has made my happy list again with a new collection of certified organic and USDA approved moisturizing shower gels in Sweet Orange, Country Lavender and Sweetgrass Shea. Besides the aroma and feel, I love the extra-large pump head ideal for folks who shower without benefit of their glasses or contacts. They’re proud that it’s a “shake first” product, because it helps keep everything natural. It leaves the entire bathroom smelling like a spa.
CleanWell wants to promote that it’s free of controversial triclosan, a known endocrine disrupter and synthetic chemical that mimics or blocks hormones. Well, I’d never heard of them, but I’m glad to know this stuff does more than kill germs and smell amazing. Look for the sprays at Target in original kid-safe and the invigorating new orange vanilla that leaves hands soft. It really does clean well.

Hairs to lookin’ good
I’m a sucker for fancy bottles, but even more of a fan of stuff that works. HerCut comes in slightly more sexy versions of some hair coloring squeeze bottles that my chemistry teacher’s wife saved for our lab chemicals. What memories.
I’m squeezing out shampoo and conditioner for The Shag. The line is designed for special needs of styles from the blunt, bob and pixie to long layers. The science of the shag formula comes from patent-pending Ionic Polymer Technology that creates separation and weight dispersion through negatively charged macromolecules that repel each other and create controlled separation. Whew. I actually do feel a positive difference in my hair, especially with the HerCut catalyst.
It also notes women with a shag (curls really, in my case) are rebels who rock, roll and never fall flat. Yep, that’s me.

2010-02-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

Creative eaters unite!

Don’t say June Lay is on a diet. Just try her book for inspiration, recipes and motivation. “It’s Not a Diet, It’s Creative Eating!”
Trust me, Lay can make healthy eating an adventure, and that’s just how I think about it already. Her salad-a-day section includes enough variation to make me want every one, including Tuna Avacado, Lobster Mango, Heart of Palm Red and:
Shrimp and Bean Salad
1/2 cup diagonally sliced green beans
6 large shrimp, cooked and peeled, chilled
1/2 cups cubed seeded cucumber
1/4 cup chopped tomato
1/2 tablespoon thinly choped fresh basil
1/3 teaspoon vinegar to taste
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Dash of salt
Dash of fresh black pepper
Dash of hot sauce
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1 cup gourmet mixed salad greens
Steam the beans, covered, until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain well. Combine beans, shrimp, tomatoes and cucumber with all spices/herbs/condiments. Place shrimp, beans, etc., on a plate on top of salad greens and add dressing. Enjoy and of course, add your own variation. This recipe can be made with lobster meat instead of shrimp, which is lower in cholesterol despite rumor to the contrary.

Turning to wine and chocolate
There doesn’t seem to by any way for a wine and chocolate pairing to meet with anything but blissfull success, yet Turning Leaf Winemaker’s, Nicole Hitchcock has sweet ideas for matchy-matchy fullfillment. I loved the rich red and dark chocolate combination so much I could hardly speak. While experts may not consider white chocolate a true chocolate, please consider it fine with this wine: Turning Leaf Chardonnay is a true find.
Get your glasses and friends and try these suggestions from the company:
Dark Chocolate, paired with Turning Leaf’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
• The richest of all the reds, this wine boasts notes of vanilla and brown that perfectly complement the bitterness in darker chocolates.
Milk Chocolate, paired with Turning Leaf’s 2008 Merlot
• The fruitier character in this Merlot brings out the natural, bright flavors in classic milk chocolate.
White Chocolate, paired with Turning Leaf’s 2008 Chardonnay
• A twist on the common red wine and chocolate pairing, the acidity level in drier whites, such as Chardonnay, cuts through the sweetness of white chocolate making for a more balanced bite.

Whee! Tea!
I didn’t realize hibiscus is the new superflower, but I do love to pluck them off bushes and stick them in my hair.
Republic of Tea is blooming with five new versions of caffeine-free herbal bouquets of premium African hibiscus, which makers call a “Superflower that brews a rich, full-bodied cup and features remarkable health benefits,” and is said to lower blood pressure. It makes a beautiful ruby red tea with layers of cranberry/citrus and gentle hints of rhubarb and raspberry. I’m enjoying the pineapple lychee variety as I write this. Lovely canisters also hold a natural, unflavored pure hibiscus, anther with blueberry, a vinilla apple and … get ready … a hibiscus key lime.
If you missed the baby tiger at Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, check out the adorable one on the tin of Year of the Tiger Tea, a limited edition chocolate orange rooibos Republic of Tea offering. The oranges are a traditional Chinese symbol of wealth, and you may feel pretty rich enjoying this filling blend. For every tin sold, the company will contribute $1 to Room to Read (roomtoread.org), a group that benefits children of the developing world.

Persian Superfood
Pomegranates whole are sexy. Luscious, tempting red fruits are even a table decor. The powdered stuff may seem less glamorous, but it sure is practical. Navitas Naturals has released a version that’s designed for pinking and perking up your smoothes, yogurt and desserts with potassium, polyphenols and iron. I’m mixing it into tap water and will soon experiment with a more potent liquid to see if I can get a pomegranate cocktail mixing. I blended some powder with banana and froze it in a bowl for a fabulous evening treat. A table spoon of fancy coffe creamer topped it off.

2010-02-23T07:01:00.001-08:00

Taste of the Triangle draws food lovers to sample specialties

BEAUMONT — Taste of the Triangle has moved to Ford Park in Beaumont, and the venue is still packed with food lovers lined up for what area restaurants are dishing out. Fans of gumbo, bread pudding and wine were in luck. There was abundant flow of each of these.
As for our Mid-County contributions, Sanderson’s delivered chicken Pontchartrain as promised and Geo Burrito made countless mini versions of their giant wraps and Stingray employees asked “pecan or raisin” as they moved hundreds through their line.
The Sabine Area Restaurant Association raises scholarship funds at this event and this year, honored the Young Men’s Business League.
The Grill won best restaurant with Goodfellows second runner-up and best decorated and Moncla’s first runner-up.
Savor of Ford Park won best associate with Lamar Institute of Technology as second runner up.
The next chance to feast like that:
The Rotary Club of Port Arthur will present the 23rd annual Taste of Gumbo, Etc. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center, along Texas 73.
Restaurants and other groups will provided tastes of their specialties. There will be a silent auction. Tickets will be $8.

Poor, healthy potato
Mourn the poor potato, forced to carry all that extra fat, dietitian Susan Burke March tells readers.
“Oh, the poor potato — never did any harm, just sitting there, waiting to be eaten for its delicious flavor, in its own lovely bare skin, without all that added fat,” she laments in “Making Weight Control Second Nature: Living Thin Naturally.”
I hear her. I used to think a baked potato was my healthy option, without realizing I was piling on several servings of cheese, sour cream and butter. Now I pretty much enjoy the flavor of the actual potato, like she does, by splitting baked potatoes, brushing them with olive oil and broiling them until toasty.
Fitness and diet charts help readers track their progress as they read through this thick book and learn about portion control and alternative food picks and healthy habits. The author used to weigh a whole lot more than she does now, and takes a bit of offense when folks give her the old “You don’t have to worry, you’re naturally thin” bit. She wants everyone to know fitness is a commitment you have to work at, and it can be a fun and healthy deal for you and your loved ones.

Open It
Statistics are, you have someone in your life who could use Open It!, if not now, then soon. My mother was thrilled to try out a set of three red tools that have all you need to open tricky medicine bottles. OPENRX1 is bulbous, for pushing and turning, and has a slide-out magnifier for reading labels. OPENRXFT slides over push and turn bottles and has a blade for opening foil packets. OPENRXST is like a thick band for squeeze and turn lids. I was amazed by them all and she called them invaluable. Look for them at CVS or at EnjoyZibra.com.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-02-18T06:38:00.000-08:00

Pickle peppers, pig’s ears or blue berries

Pickled peppers, pig’s ears, blueberries, flowers, mangoes and more await those who like to spice it up. I have succumbed to “The Joy of Pickling: 250 Flavor-Packed Recipes for Vegetables and More from Garden or Market,” Linda Ziedrich’s revised edition of a very resourceful, readable book. I am usually on the receiving end of such goodies. Armed with little more than sugar, vinegar and pickling salt, I can create such wonders as pickled peaches, pickled plums with red wine, honeyed jalapeno rings, and zydeco beans. The author likes to experiment, so novice though I am, I played around with seasonings to make spiced oranges and kumquats. It was a winner. This one’s next on my list:

Thai Pickled Carrots
1/2 pound carrots, thinly sliced, diagonally, then slivered
2 teaspoons pickling salt
1 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 to 2 small fresh hot peppers, such as serrano, seeded, if you like, and minced
In a bowl, mix the carrots with the salt. Let the carrots stand for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, bring the remaining ingredients to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let the liquid cool
Drain the carrots. Return them to the bowl, pour the pickling liquid over them and toss them. Let them rest at room temperature for 1 hour. If you don’t eat them right away, store them tightly covered in the refrigerator. They will keep at least a week but are best eaten sooner. Drain them just before serving.

Small plate club
I love and faithfully use a Fiber One health tip: use smaller plates and your healthy portions won’t look so small. I have faithfully enjoyed the new Fiber One blueberry muffins you keep in the fridge. With a sweet flavor and 28 percent of daily fiber value, they fill me up until lunch time, where I meet my small plate again.

It’s the tops
Bottle Top is the answer to a question you may not have been asking. These colored plastic lids convert beverage cans into a reclosable “bottle” to prevent spillage, keep your drink fresh and identify which drink is yours. Bottle Top allows you to snap your can of drink closed so a bee won’t sneak in and sting your mouth when you drink it.
How often does that happen? I just received a Christmas newsletter announcing the dad of the family suffered just such a sting. OUCH! Talk about an ounce of prevention. Look for these at Walgreens; Wal-Mart; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Target; and CVS.

Mavea
Maybe you’re vain and only interested in Mavea’s sleek design. Maybe you’re vain and hoping that drinking better filtered water will improve your looks as well as your health. No matter, this pitcher with a “Smart Meter,” and one-of-a-kind recycling program is designed to empowers consumers to send back used filters at Mavea’s expense, where they reuse each component in commercial grade products.
If you like movies where parched travelers squeeze the last drops from their canteen into their dry throats, you may feel particularly hydrated after learning about Mavea’s micro-screen that eliminates black particles from ending up in the water the European design with a pour-through and neoprene handle and feet to prevent sliding and scratching and the reduction in chlorine taste, odor, and other unwanted elements. I love the feature of a “silverized” filter to inhibit the risk of bacteria growth. Drink up: Mavea looks great on the counter and it’s all BPA-free.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-02-15T07:16:00.001-08:00

Bourbon renewal: books looks at rousing recipes in time for Mardi Gras
The stories, the recipes, the photos and the anticipation make Fred Thompson’s book a treasure. “Bourbon: 50 Rousing Recipes for a Classic American Spirit” puts a light spin on the spirit Americans take so seriously.
Enjoy the elixir in concoctions such as hot chocolate nog and beach punch or in a mint julep sorbet or turkey brine. Here are two that seem designed for Mardi Gras/Valentine’s Day:

Southern Love
Ice Cubes
1 ounce bourbon
1 ounce amaretto
6 ounces cola
Fill an oversized cocktail or old-fashioned glass with ice cubes. Let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes to chill the glass.
Holding the e ice so it doesn’t fall out, discard any melted water. Pour in the bourbon and amaretto and top with the cola. Stir and serve immediately.

Cajun Comfort
Ice cubes
1 1/2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce Southern Comfort
2 tablespoons honey
4 or 5 dashes hot sauce
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the bourbon, Southern Comfort, honey and hot sauce. Shake slowly, allowing the honey to incorporate, until the shaker is frosted.
Pour the mixture, ice and all, into an old-fashioned glass. Serve immediately.

Honey, come here
Just saying the name Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur, or seeing it in print, puts me in a by-the-fire mood. An Eastern Prussian bear trap company introduced “bear hunter” in the 15th century as sweet stuff to lure bears from their dwellings. Remember this Valentine’s Day that honey is considered an aphrodisiacs, derived from the Greek goddess of sensuality, Aphrodite. Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc. is doing the reminding that many medicines in Egyptian times were based on honey, including cures for sterility and impotence. Medieval seducers plied their partners with mead, a fermented drink made from honey. Lovers on their "Honeymoon" drank mead and it was thought to "sweeten" the marriage. I have tried and enjoyed this honey liquor and the silver topped Jacques Cardin Cognac VSOP in Jasmine (my daughter’s name). It’s enough to make me want to try their regular and apple cognacs. Watch out bottle collectors: You’ll love the woven basket wrap and hive lid on the honey liqueur. I fancy the following would be warm drinks for cheering your Olympic favorites in snowy Vancouver:

Hot Honey Crisp
1 Packet Apple Cider Mix
2 1/2 Cups Hot Water
3 ounces Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur
2 ounces Jacques Cardin Apple Cognac
Garnish w/ Cinnamon Stick and Whipped Cream
Makes 2

Frisky Whisky
1 part Michael Collins
1 part Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur
1 part fresh orange juice
1/4 part simple syrup
2 Dashes angostura bitters

Between The Sheets
2 parts JC Jasmin VSOP
1/2 part Cointreau
1/2 part Tommy Bamaha White Sand Rum
Freshly squeezed lemon Juice
Garnish with an orange twist in a chilled martini glass

Hire a CADDi
Beverage CADDi is a holster collar with strings designed for people like me, who lug purses, cases, bags, coats and books to the car, with a steaming, hot cup cradled in the recesses of spare elbow room. These necks, adorned with black beans, quotes, stripes, gumdrops or a deco pattern that makes me long for the ‘80s, allow coffee lovers to manhandle all their gear and swing that coffee from a pinkie while opening doors, texting, etc. It’s so cool, you’ll wish you’d thought of it, but you have to go to getthecaddi.com for yours.

Snuggling old school style
For centuries, robes have warmed young and old, rich and modestly-meaned people. You slip them on, close them in front and don’t have to wear a backwards blanket with sleeves, Cypress reminds these creatures of comfort. The brand supplies spas and hotels and has an affordable line of plush pastel and shawl robes and poolside cover ups. I plenty snug in a lightweight short robe in a bright Mardi Gras/lime/green color. My mother jokes this is a morning robe, because that color sure perks up the spirits. It’s as bright as the orange juice and sunny-side-up eggs. Check out Cypress online or at Belk department stores. I’ve been to one Belk in my life, during Hurricane Ike evacuation to Sherman.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-02-10T06:16:00.001-08:00

My bubbly Valentine: Try Kiss from a Rose

Sunday is a Mardi Gras date, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. I’ll have to spread jambalaya, noodles and chocolate throughout the day.
I’ve already tried one of the best casual champaigns I’ve ever experienced, the playful Barefoot Bubbly Rosé Cuvée, a slightly sweet sparkling wine, with hints of strawberry and citrus, designed to pair with sweet treats and such. At $10, it could cost less than a box of chocolates. I inhaled the bubbles while viewing actors whip up French cuisine dreams in “Julie & Julia.” Try the drink alone, or like this:
Barefoot Bubbly's Kiss from a Rosé
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
1/2 oz créme de cassis
4 oz Barefoot Bubbly Rosé Cuvée
1 raspberry, 1 blackberry
Combine the raspberry liqueur, crème de cassis and berries in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into champagne flute. Top of with Barefoot Rosé Cuvée. Or, simply add the liqueurs in a champagne flute and top with Barefoot.

Chinese long bean
To celebrate the Year of the Tiger, you could eat long, uncut noodles to symbolize longevity. Frieda’s produce company can help you go one better. I tried their long beans, measuring 12- to 20-inches each, over chow mein noodles. They overflowed the bowl, resembling writhing, geen snakes. Sooooo good.
Eat up: The 15-day celebration begins on the first day of the first lunar month according to the Chinese calendar – Feb. 14, and ends on Feb. 28.
Southeast Texas is full of kumquat trees, and the little golden fruits symbolize wealth as “kum” means “gold” in Cantonese. If you can’t find a stash, Frieda’s sells them for recipes like this:
Duck Salad with Kumquat Dressing
1/2 cup red or white wine vinegar
1/2 cup Frieda’s Kumquats, chopped
1/3 cup salad oil
2 tablespoons honey
Romaine lettuce leaves
1 head Frieda’s Belgian Endive
1 1/2 cups cooked, chilled julienne slices of duck breast meat or chicken breast
2/3 cup green or red seedless grapes
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts or slivered almonds
Frieda’s Alfalfa Sprouts as garnish
For dressing, in blender or food processor bowl with blade, place the vinegar, kumquats, oil, and honey. Cover and process until nearly smooth. Chill. To assemble salad, line a large serving platter or individual plates with romaine leaves. Arrange Belgian endive, duck or chicken pieces, grapes, and nuts on leaves. Garnish with alfalfa sprouts if desired. Pass dressing with salads. Makes 2 servings.

Brewing goodness
We’re enjoying Good Earth Black Tea Tropical Peach here in the office and someone wanted milk, which normally don’t do. Then I started imagining a heavy dose of cream in a warm teacup and imagined it measuring up to a serving of peach cobbler. I can’t wait to get home and try it.
Through Feb. 28, the Good Earth Cares project will donate half of its after-tax profit to charity. Voters can visit the website to cast their vote once a day GoodEarthCares.com. Some of the options include: Wildlife Forever; Scholarship America; Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation; Cancer Research Inst.; and American Forests.
That feels as good as it tastes. I think I’ll plan for some hot tea on Chinese New Year.

Chia, now in chocolate
I’m of the opinion that chocolate makes everything taste better. I’m sure there’s not enough chocolate in the world to get some people to try Chia Goodness, a gluten-free raw blend of chia seeds, buckwheat, shelled hemp seed, organic cocoa, cocoa nibs, dates, almonds, cane juice and Celtic sea salt.
I say, try it. It sure is a conversation piece. Cody on the copy desk did, but he’ll try almost anything. A tiny, nutrient-dense spoonful expands with hot or cold water, or you can mix it in oatmeal, yogurt, etc. That having been said, I can’t imaging craving a bowl full, but I really love this stuff baked into bread. It’s one of those things you can haul out at a party and guests think they’ve had an experience.

Pick me
I love the idea of being prepared for a life of parties and intimate get-togethers that just spring up. Visit pickmepapers.com for really colorful pretty little gift tags ready to adorn a hostess gift. String images like a starfish, scooter or flamingo up with your own ribbon in seasonal colors. Keep them in the pantry and you’ll smile ever time they catch your eye.

Zero is delicious
Tricky waters sneak in calories. Zero is good, Ayala’s Herbal Water says. Take zero calories and preservatives and add flavors such as lavender mint, ginger lemon peel and cinnamon orange peel and you get a tall drink of refreshing. I’d never have thought to spice up water with clovs, cardamon and cinnamon. Love it.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-02-08T06:14:00.001-08:00

Troika: prepare for tri-celebration next Sunday
Mark your calendars for … everything … on Feb. 14.
We used to look forward to this day for little paper hearts in our mailboxes at school. This year, we can also take our Valentine to Mardi Gras, and celebrate Chinese New Year.
My mother says the Russian word Troika, for three of a kind, sums up the situation. In this column, I’ll begin with a guy’s version of Valentine treatment, and also share something purple, green and gold.

“Sweeping Her Off Her Feet With Food: The Ultimate Guide to Romance & Seduction in the Kitchen”
By Eric S. Lee
Lee used to own restaurants. Once you read his book, he could own your heart. He gives guys simple, valuable advice on what makes a woman feel special. It doesn’t cost much to dress nice, send some sweet messages about the date. Try a scavenger hunt, and lead her right back to your house for a home-cooked meal, like this:
Salmon with Fresh Mango Salsa
2 Six – eight ounce Salmon filets (do not get steaks!)
1 Fresh mango peeled and cut into 1/2inch cubes (some grocers carry fresh
Mango already skinned in jars—produce dept)
1 Jalapeño seeded and diced (1/8 inch)
1/2 Red bell pepper diced (1/4 inch)(save the rest for roasting)
1/4 cup diced red onion (1/4 inch)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/3 cup oil (preferably olive oil)
lime
salt & pepper

Mango Salsa
Cut lime in half and squeeze the juice from both halves into a midsized mixing bowl whisk in half of the oil. Add the rest of the ingredients except salmon, remaining oil, salt and pepper in a midsized bowl and gently toss until well mixed. Be sure and stir using a large (wooden if possible) serving spoon, from bottom using your spoon in an upward, over and down folding motion to get all of the juice from the bottom mixed in with the rest of the ingredients. Add a dash of salt and pepper and gently mix again. Cover and refrigerate. Can be made one-day ahead.

Grilled Salmon
Turn outside grill on to medium high to heat up the grates. Place the salmon filets on a platter skin side down and rub remaining oil onto the meat until completely covered. Try and get some of the oil onto the skin. Feel free to use a bar-b-que sauce brush for this. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
When grill is hot place filets on the grill, flesh side down and let cook for 5-7 minutes. Turn over and let cook another 3-4 minutes until salmon is just cooked through. Some like their salmon medium rare. If this is you cook a little less. If you need to check for doneness, though I try to avoid this, take a knife and gently slice into the top of the fish to ensure it is cooked to your preference. If it “flakes” all the way through but is still moist it is done. Since you will be topping it with the beautiful salsa you’ve made it won’t matter if you have “butchered” it a little.
Optionally, when salmon is done, take a metal spatula and insert it into the crease between the skin and the flesh and slide it all the way through until the skin is removed. Place each filet on top of a bed of sautéed spinach (page 39) on a beautiful plate.
Top with Mango Salsa and serve.

Suggested Wine - Chardonnay / Pinot Noir

Purple mat is really green
I’d have never guessed a yoga mat could bring me such peace, since I don’t practice yoga. But, I’ve been rolling up this new purple Manduka mat and tucking it under the coffee table after I’m done with various floor exercise. I used to spread a towel out and wonder what all the mat fuss was about. Now I love the padding and the way this environmentally-friendly mat made with “closed-cell rubber and comfortable sea grass texture” keeps me and the stability ball in place, so I can watch TV and exercise. It doesn’t move around like the towel, so I believe I do stay centered. Imagine what a real yoga fan could do with it. So here’s the cool part. You can mail your tired, old eKO and eKO Lite natural Manduka mats back and they’ll become shoes, rubber flooring and even new yoga products for others, instead of muck in a landfill. Look for the company’s organic mat wash, recycled mat slings and bolsters.

Gold Bond
Years ago, when hand sanitizer was still novel, I was talking to a friend in health care about loving that clean feeling in emergencies. She scrunched up her face and said she had a love-hate relationship with the stuff, because repeated use mader her hands dry.
Times have changed. The product is now common, not something you hide for fear of looking like a germ freak, and now Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Santizer Moisturizer offers a tube that kills 99.9 percent of germs in a non-drying formula that actually feels good going on. More stats: it has seven hydrating moisturizers and five essential vitamins. Take yours to Mardi Gras. You never know where all those beads have been.

2010-02-05T07:27:00.001-08:00

Make uber crunch, salty-sweet part of your Super Bowl snacking
Doctor Kracker (didn’t he used to play with that Muppet band?) reports that studies show the average American consumes more than 1,200 calories during the Super Bowl — a full days worth.
Doctor Kracker is a brand of “artisan baked nutritious, satisfying and organic flatbreads and crackers.” My tasters have been crazy for the flavors in these beautiful, thick, seed-dusted crackers: Apple Crisps, Cherry Semolina, Fire Roasted Crisps, Hummus Maximus, Klassic 3 Seed, Pumpkin Cheddar, Seeded Spelt, Seedlander and Sunflower Cheddar. Billed as “home of the uber crunch,” they urge you to “ Stick that in your dip and eat it.”

Sweeeet and more
“Salty Sweets: Delectable Desserts and Tempting Treats with a Sublime Kiss of Salt”
By Christie Matheson
Salt — fine or course sea salt, sel gris, fleur de sel or Hawaiian pink — can seriously amp up your sweets, the author recounts in this fun-to-read book. Her treats include salted caramels, perfectly imperfect pecan pralines, dark chocolate and sea salt crostini, coconut rice pudding and cornmeal peach crisp.
I know we’re supposed to watch our sugar and salt intake, but the author points out that a little bit of the good stuff goes a long way and keeps you from mindlessly munching flavorless cookies. Makes sense to me. Now you tell me if these two selections don’t sound fantastic for Mardi Gras hedonism:

Drunken Sauce
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons dark rum
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the brown sugar and salt and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved and the sauce is smooth, about 5 minutes.
Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the rum and vanilla. Serve immediately.

Toffee Sauce
This is for sticky toffee pudding, vanilla or almond ice cream. The author might also add, anything that begs for toffee.
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
2/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Melt the butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the brown sugar, water and salt. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring to a boil; stir occasionally, cooking until the sauce is thickened slightly and reduce to about 2 1/2 cups. Keep the sauce warm over very low heat until ready to use it.

Fiber fan
Here’s an endorsed-by-Darragh snack: Fiber One is introducing Fiber One® 90 Calorie Chewy Bars in chocolate and chocolate peanut butter. It’s a little bit crispy, a little bit sweet, and the chewey-gooey sensation of it all helps keep you satisfied. Love ‘em.

Texmati
I’m so proud of my husband, who used to shun most things healthy. I nearly wept when he mentioned he hadn’t had brown rice in almost a week. RiceSelect’s new Texmati offerings in the boxy jars have him spoiled. Six newbys are: Vegetable Medley, Pilaf Medley, Mushroom Medley, Original Pearl Couscous, Tri-color Pearl Couscous and Whole Wheat Pearl Couscous. Pearls are fun and take 10 minutes to prepare. Try it with kids in the kitchen.
You will be full; you will feel healthy.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-02-01T06:45:00.001-08:00

Texas savvy and Valentine finds
I recently shared an exciting glow-in-the-dark Texas star guide from Waterford Press. Other water-repellent pocket Texas guides help you find a funeral duskywing butterfly, beardtongue flower, yellow-rumped warbler and bark scorpion. Wildflowers, moths and butterflies, wildlife, seashore life and birds are the categories. Maybe now visitors and residents can realize those long-legged pink birds in our skies are not flamingos, they’re roseate spoonbills.
Armed with these guides I can tell you I’d rather run into a botta’s pocket gopher than a Norway rat. Next time I go to the beach I can enjoy the now-obvious distinctions between the Southern quahong and turkey wing shells. Boy, do I feel smarter.

Valentine finds
Ladies, my lips are feelin’ fine with Mint Glaze FX and I think I could be snacking less because of it. Cover FX Fortifying Lip Treat Mint Primer SPF 15 will keep your lips fit for the Mardi Gras seawall. The minty flavor of peppermint oil makes me think I just had a candy, and there’s no way I’m going to ruin the look with chip crumbs. The liquid is clear and paints on with a velvety tip promising to smooth, soften and provide time-relese hydration and the look of fuller, smoother lips. That’s a big promise, but Mint Glaze can handle it. You get to shop at one of those amazing Sephora stores in Houston, or Nordstroms, to pick up a tube.
It’s probably no accident the shiny lid on Relastin Ultra Emollient makes it look like a pot of gold. Revance Therapeutics Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., distributes this cream with zinc firming complex to promote elastin formation. I’m not sure how to measure improvements, but I can tell you that after smoothing on this stuff, I’m done with winter blahs.

Romantic hair
When is it okay to appear “loose” on Valentine’s Day?
Loose curls sweeping waves and long-flowing hair are perfect for this holiday’s hairstyles, says Philip Pelusi, celebrity hairstylist, product expert/developer and owner of Tela Design Studio in New York City’s Meatpacking District.
Pelusi’s step-by-step tips for achieving the look involve his own products. I just had a birthday, so I was already feeling old when I tried Longevity. Now my curls are more spry. Here’s the artist’s tips:
• Shampoo and condition - Use a strengthening and weightless moisturizing formula to leave hair in top condition but full of body. Try P2 Longevity Shampoo and Longevity Conditioner to strengthen, detangle and condition hair.
• Apply a volume and curl boosting product (like P2® by Philip Pelusi Recurl) - Comb through with a wide tooth comb. If you have natural waves and curls, gently push them into place and either air dry or blow dry with a diffuser. If hair is straight, follow the same instructions but gently scrunch hair with your fingers while diffusing.
• Curl - The trick to keeping this look sexy and romantic is to curl the hair in opposite directions. Roll some curls going forward and others going back, and tousle the curls with fingers using a product that gives that “just from the beach sexy hair texture.” The line’s BeachComber does it with a citrus scent.

Put Grandma in your nightlight
Seriously…Light Affection takes you photographs then “sculpts” it into an amazing 3D work of lighting art. If you’re an even semi-decent photographer, and you have even the most average-looking of relatives, you will still get an amazing piece of art that inspires memories and double takes. I’m imagining a child enjoying having his photo or a grandparents’ photo in the light. Visit www.lightaffection.com for details.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-27T06:03:00.001-08:00

Food police, you have met your match
I’m not with the “splattered microwave” police at my office, but I am on the “get your moldy food out of the fridge” force.
Pyrex has something new to please patrols at any office or home: Pyrex® No-Leak Lids™, a new storage line of round and rectangular dishes with leak-proof, air-tight sealing lids for storing liquid and dry foods. It’s just the right size to pack a lunch. I tested it with brown rice and cherry tomatoes, notorious for popping into a hot mess. I released the snap vent to reveal a tiny steam hole and was soon enjoying my hot meal.
I didn’t have to stop and clean the microwave. Now I wish everyone had these instead of leaving a crusty residue for someone else to find.
Neat freaks can rest assured that the bowls nest and the metallic gray lids are engineered of BPA-free plastic with “embossed, oversized and easy-to-read cup capacities for quick identification — plus lid tabs for easy opening and closing of the air-tight covers. The No-Leak Lids are conveniently top-rack, dishwasher safe. The eco-friendly, non-degradable, reusable storage dishes, like all Pyrex glassware, are made in the U.S.A. and are oven, microwave, refrigerator and freezer safe.” They don’t absorb food odors, flavors or stains and wash up well, the company says.

Babies!
I’ve heard that in some countries, people associate the photo on the label with what is in the jar or can, so they’re not impressed by little jars of baby food with smiling infant faces. I’m thinking of this as I view tiny Innobaby containers with baby illustrations on them. The buyer should have images of these sweet, stackable containers full of dry cereal, home-pureed vegetables or even breast milk. These are the coolest products, and also good for adults who would like to transport snacks, salad dressing, etc. to work. I noticed that four tabs lock the lids in place, then figured out the reason: You can hold a squirmy baby in one arm and, by steadying a container on a table top, open it with the free hand. If you have a baby to feed, I’m volunteering.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

How was your Healthy Weight Week?
I don’t know who deems these weeks, but we’ve just wrapped up Healthy Weight Week, where the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us Texans that some 28 percent of us are considered obese.
This next week doesn’t have a name to it, but can you still commit to the New Year’s Resolutions you so happily made just a few days ago? The Galleria Tennis & Athletic Club shares these tips:
• Just Move Something! Spending just 30-60 minutes a day on physical activities can make a big difference.
• Pick a cardio activity that you enjoy, whether it’s tennis, running, walking, swimming, etc. Finding something you enjoy will make exercise a lot easier, and a life-long habit.
• Make it a social hour. Invite friends to the gym or schedule a tennis date or morning walk with neighbors. They’ll help you stick to it, and make exercising fun.
• Combine healthy eating with a consistent exercise routine to get the most effective results. Doing just one or the other will only get you halfway there. Once you grasp one component you can then focus on the other.
• Tell everyone you know about your fitness goals — even blog, tweet and update your Facebook status about it. Friends and family will/could serve as great sources of support, and the accountability will keep you motivated.
• A personal trainer serves as a great support structure as well. It is much easier to commit to and achieve your fitness goals when you know that you have someone in your corner 100 percent of the time, with positive reinforcement.
• Be realistic with your goals and keep true to yourself.

Here’s some more on lookin’ good:
Super hero shirt
Equmen sells super hero shirts that don’t even have an “S” on them. Instead there’s a Helix-Mapping System embedded in T-shirts snug, slimming, moisture-wicking shirts that form to a fella’s body and instantly make him stand up straight and take notice of his own muscles. Go ahead and call it what it is … shape wear for men. It’s amazing, and women have been taking advantage of this for years. I fully expected my husband to balk, but he tried it and liked it, quite a bit. Results are immediate. The line has several shirt styles and underpants, too. These are apparently the rage in the UK and I think American men will take right to them.

Makin’ up not hard to do
Valentine’s Day falls on our Mardi Gras weekend, and the Jessica Red Alert Manicure Kit is the way to go if you’re flashing colors other than purple, gold and green. A base and top coat flank a black nail polish with two reds, each one competing for more brilliance. I like the one that reminds me of a boat’s candy apple gloss, but my daughter asked for alternating nails of red and black. I told her she looked like a deck of cards and she began planning for a viewing party on the upcoming Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp.
Jessica also makes three romantic pink glosses — Kiss me in the Rain, Prelude to a Kiss and It’s in His Kiss — in pastels to merit a second glance.
OleHenrikson’s new sugar glow face scrub is hands down the most aromatic scrub I’ve ever enjoyed. African red tea, pomegranate seeds, pumpkin and sweet honey are just a few ingredients to “awaken” the skin. Mine had been asleep all winter.
I’m aiming to try Cover FX Fortifying Lip Treat Mint Primer SPF 15, a pout primer, just because it has such a cool name.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

Mom cautions daughter against ‘hot stuff’
I almost named my daughter Cayenne, because I love hot peppers so much.
I respect the advice against salting and peppering food before tasting it. Some say they could hire or not hire a person at a luncheon job interview because someone “assumed” the food needed seasonings without tasting first. This could be a sign of rash decision making.
But my daughter and I had to laugh when my mother chastised me for adding a generous sprinkle of crushed red pepper to my greens. “Oh, you have to taste it first,” she cried.
Jasmine (coulda-been-Cayenne) and I defended “But it’s salad,” in unison.
I assured her I meant to do that, figuring I was getting the metabolism boost experts say red pepper provides.

Try this:
Inspired by an infomercial, I tried something with what I had. I made an “ice cream” by blending banana with hot cocoa mix and a drop of imitation rum flavoring. Then I stuck it in the freezer for a few hours.
That was a delicious, healthy alternative to the real deal, and I gilded the lily by topping it with peanuts and cocoa nibs.

Brown rice and seaweed
I had a hunch these two things would work together and was just going to make some, but I thought I’d do a web search. I found plenty of ideas, and a blog by someone chastising a TV chef for pairing the flavors. The writer considered it so gross that wearing larger clothes and eating less healthy foods was preferable. I want to say this: If I could convince my husband to choose brown rice, anyone can change. It’s now something we both crave. We love the flavor and the health benefits.
So blogger, you should have tried my RiceSelect Texmati Brown Rice with Navitas Naturals Wakame Flakes. You might have liked it. We loved it.
Texmati comes in those boxy plastic jars that look so good in the pantry. I’ve got a new cooker with a brown rice setting that hasn’t failed me yet and I love this grown-in-the-USA product.
Texmati offers six new products, including pearl and whole wheat couscous, which I aim to share with you soon.
Wakame, grown in “pristine ocean waters of Tasmania and Patagonia,” is full of nutrition. The flakes are too hard to eat dry, but quickly soften into salty antioxidants to season soups, salads and Asian-inspired dishes. It’s great to keep in the pantry.

Goji goods
I’m still introducing people to little red goji berries from Ningxia Province, China. Apparently Asians have used them in herbal medicine for 5,000 years, but you know how we Americans are. Navitas Naturals sells them in a resealable packet so you can snack away wherever you are. The berries have a slightly sweet taste that’s subtle and refreshing. Goji makes a great tea, too.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-18T09:21:00.001-08:00

Glam 101: clean up, look cute
This very week I noted a Port Arthur mover and shaker’s fabulous red pumps and she confided they were a tres reasonably priced Sears find.
We commented on the notion that if a woman consistently looks put together, she can start a trend with a 50 cent bauble. Admirers may never guess the trinket wasn’t expensive, though it’s often more fun to share news of a bargain.
This same budget advice is found in “101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle.” Dawn Del Russo’s thoughts are called a “cheeky book with tidbits of advice for a glamorous lifestyle” and comes with Barbara Ann Scarrillo’s adorable illustrations.
While we can’t all keep our stylist on call or splurge on a real pair of designer pumps, lots of these glam girl tips are absolutely free. I already walk out stress and clean out closets to make room for “incoming.” Her best advice is to make life special and love yourself.
Here’s some more fun stuff:
* Wear diamond studs. A little sparkle peeking through will grab just the right attention.
* Sit up straight. Great posture is important. You will instantly look fabulous.
• Pick up a book. Knowledge is power and power is chic.
• Drink water. You have heard it over and over. Hydrate yourself.
• Stock up on white tanks. They can be worn with almost anything dressed up or dressed down and still look chic.
• Love yourself. I mean, really, if you don’t who will?
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

Feeling backwards? Want to know everything?
Some “resolution reading” for the new year could include books on improving your thought process, or at least your crossword puzzle skills. Here’s some of what I’ve been reading:

“BackWords: A Backwards Word List for Gamers”
By CHerie K. Miller
I love hearing puzzle master Will Shortz on NPR every Sunday morning and I love a good game of Scrabble. My family loves the Scrabble dictionary for tight spots and Cherie K. Miller has an equally handy new book for big points. It reveals words like xis, zill to crossword and other puzzlers, and is fun for people who just love learning new words. You look up the final letter in the word you may seek.
Skep is a round farm basket of wicker or wood; titi is a kind of monkey or shrub; and vexil relates to a Roman military flag. This book is just a word list. You get to look up the definitions and learn more on your own. Warning: The list of words ending in Q is as short as you’d imagine, but there are plenty that end in X.

“How to Be Right About Everything”
Nash Mourad
I still have a few more pages to go, so I’ll let you know when I know it all. What’s funny, is this is Volume I. What you believe comes true for you, the author writes. We can choose abundance over scarcity. Boredom, he supports, is “thinking you know everything.” Several people I know may find this a challenge, but the author suggests that by admitting you don’t know everything, the simple awareness will shift your mind.

‘The Affordability Factor”
By Nathaniel J. Williams
“We can only afford what we are willing to sacrifice,” Nathaniel J. Williams writes in his new release that’s sort of a quick-read workbook on change and living better. “The Affordability Factor” focuses on releasing oneself from a “challenging life event.” Who doesn’t have one of those going on? We have to own our decisions, he writes, then we reframe our events. This “Affordibility” is about more than money.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-13T07:53:00.001-08:00

McCormick Trends
I started sharing McCormick flavor parings with readers as soon as I found them. They’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Flavor Forecast. Though running their list shortens space for things I wanted to tell you, It’s good stuff.
Kevan Vetter, the company’s executive chef, says the year will be heavily influenced by bitter, warm and earthy notes and stronger flavors.
McCormick® Flavor Forecas 2010 Top 10 Flavor Pairings:
1. Roasted Ginger & Rhubarb
Exciting layers of spicy and sour, with warming notes and a powerful tang
2. Thai Basil & Watermelon
A colorful study in contrasts offers a sweet, refreshing balance
3. Caraway & Bitter Greens
An unmistakable spice tames the bitter bite of bold greens
4. Bay Leaves & Preserved Lemon
Slowly coaxed flavor worth the wait, an aromatic mix of bitter, salty-tart and bright
5. Almond & Ale
The bittersweet character of both ingredients makes a congenial, cozy and hearty match
6. Turmeric & Vine-Ripened Tomatoes
Earthy and naturally sweet, this colorful, healthful blend is always in season
7. Pumpkin Pie Spice & Coconut Milk
This lush, warm pairing reconnects with its tropical roots
8. Roasted Cumin & Chickpeas
This globetrotting Mediterranean duet delivers warm, earthy flavor harmonies
9. Creole Mustard & Shellfish
A vibrant pair that brings Gulf Coast gusto to any part of the country
10. Chives & Fish Sauce
Savory fusion of French and Asian cuisines

Leading trends in the McCormick Flavor Forecast 2010 include:
• In is the New Out — Big flavors and new definitions of “dinner party” bring the best of restaurant meals home
• Always In Season — Preserving the peak of ripeness for year-round enjoyment, fresh at the ready
• Meatless on the Menu — Mixing up the center of the plate
• Ethnic Sizzle — Tastes of the global grill, appearing in a backyard near you
• New Comfort Cuisine – A renewed appreciation for the integrity of ingredients and cooking techniques

The new chopping block
Remember how expensive food processors were in Julia Child’s heyday? Check out what GE and Walmart have for you now at $49. There’s a line of sleek, stylish GE appliances and a big o’l processor in black chopped my New Year’s cabbage egg rolls in a wink. At 15 cents a pound, I still have several heads stored up for slaw, salads and stir fry. Suction cups as powerful as the motor keep it in place; a satisfying whirring sound and a monster-sized food pusher lets you know GE means business. I liked it. It’s suitable for Duggar-sized families, and even handles dough, if you were going that way.
Perks include: 3-Speed countdown timer; the extra-large chute that reduces pre-chopping (my favorite); electronic “intuitive” controls; chopping, slicing, shredding and dough blades; 14-cup capacity; a “food stopper” that directs food toward the place to catch the smallest pieces; cord storage; and a two-year warranty.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-07T06:31:00.001-08:00

Resolve to try new things in 2010
I enjoyed every bite I had over the holidays and am already feeling better about it by drinking lots of water and eating healthy grains and vegetables. I’m with all the other New Year’s Resolution folks I see walking around the neighborhoods. It feels good.
My friend Brenda provided the black-eyed-peas for my Jan. 1 meal. She baked them into a casserole with collard greens and ham, then topped it with cornbread.
I lucked into cabbage at Market Basket for 15 cents a pound and shredded the lot of it for the traditional Castillo egg rolls. The day began with a “pate/hummus” blend I concocted from black-eyed peas.

Mangosteens & Pomegranate
My tasters up front deemed Naturally Thai Mangosteen an appealing shot and seem disappointed AgroLabs product was meant to serve 16. Jennifer could have downed the whole bottle. You’re supposed to relish the zanthones and other good stuff from this fruit that looks like it’s having babies. Pineapple, pear and more go into the mix. I recently shared word on the company’s Naturally Pomegranate, which I enjoyed mixed in ginger ale and alone. A little bird says the following sauce is “amazing with mahi mahi.”
Pomegranate-Lime Dressing
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup Naturally Pomegranate
1 tablespoon low-fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon canola oil
Salt
Combine the first six ingredients in a large bowl. Add canola oil and whisk to blend. Season with salt to taste. Makes 4 servings at 52 calories each.

X marks the sweet spot
Oh, think of the things you can do with Xagave Premium Raw Agave Nectar. Wait, you don’t have to think too hard: Stephen Richards has already written a cookbook with goodies as diverse as Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Kansas City Jambalaya to Beer Beef Marinade and Pomegranate Tequilini.
Xagave is a sweet, amber liquid that puts tasters in the mind of honey, but there’s no “getting used to it” factor. It’s good straight up.
I think I’ll save some to try this interesting breakfast drink with oatmeal:
Chocolate Protein Oat Shake
4 to 6 ounces low fat milk
1 to 2 ice cubes
1 to 2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1 1/2 tablespoons Xagave
1 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoons rolled oats
Blend all ingredients together on high or liquefy.
ddoiron@panews.com

2010-01-05T06:32:00.001-08:00

Hunting, Super Bowl part of party season
I’ve never been hunting, but I’d consider it if it was the kind of party I recently read about. And I love a good party even if its made up of buds sitting on coolers in the garage. But if someone invited me to a blini bar, I’d be there with bells on. Two books help readers put on some memorable parties suitable for the holidays and beyond. Here are some of the authors’ ideas:

Hot and hot
Memory cuisine is serious stuff for authors of the “Hot and Hot Fish Club.” I love how they recall a pivotal evening: “It was autumn, and fresh porcinis were abundant at the farmer’s market, along with a colorful array of root vegetables.” Chris and Idie Hastings developed the restaurant of the same name as their new book in Birmingham, Alabama. I’ll leave you to discover the name’s Civil War-era meaning, but I’ll share that a Blonde Mary is their drink with yellow tomatoes and a BLT soft shell crab is something I aspire to consume in my lifetime. They get all Southern with shrimp and grits and lots of new ways to enjoy okra. I love the story of a woodcock hunting trip where hunters were awakened to a choir singing “Bonny Blue Flag.” Here’s their after-the-hunt refreshment:
Bog Sucker
3 cups gin
1/2 cup dry sherry
5 green olives, each skewered with a hawthorn or toothpick for garnish.
Combine the gin and sherry in a Mason jar and freeze until well-chilled, at least 4 hours. Pour the chilled liquor into five old fashioned glasses filled with ice and garnish each with an olive-skewered hawthorn. Sere immediately.

That’s Entertainment
How about a blini bar for a Russian cocktail party or dumpling and spring roll stalls to represent an Asian street market? Just how in-depth is your party planning? If you want to travel beyond cheese dip and chips, curl up with Denise Vivaldo’s “The Entertaining Encyclopedia.” She covers it all from invites to thank-you notes and includes tons of recipes to boot. Favor ideas include: potpourri bags for a ladies’ night out theme; potted herbs that serve as centerpiece; orchid corsages for Mother’s Day; and charms and note cards for a book club gathering. She also covers topics like linens, glassware and how much food to order. Here’s just a simple offering from the gourmet book that ought to fit right into a New Year’s even a Super Bowl party:

Hot Mustard Dipping Sauce
(For ginger shrimp pot stickers)
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1teaspoons hot pepper sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, sour cream, soy sauce and hot pepper sauce until smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
ddoiron@panews.com

2009-12-30T07:28:00.001-08:00

Go Asian with your New Year’s spread
Eric Akis thinks like I do: He thinks of Asian food for New Year’s Day. But believe me, he thinks of way more amazing things than I have experienced. Akis can convince readers they can do amazing things for themselves and their guests in “Everyone Can Cook For Celebrations: Seasonal Recipes for Festive Occasions.” If you want something new for the new year, try The Emperor’s Fried Rice, Mandarin Cranberry Tarts with Ganache, No-Fuss Yorkshire Puddings or this easy one I aim to try:
Emerald and White Jade Soup
7 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
To taste, freshly ground black pepper
2 10-ounce packages soft tofu, cut into _- inch squares
4 cups baby spinach, stems removes, leaves thickly sliced
Place the stock, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and pepper in a pot and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Divide the tofu among eight heated, shallow soup bowls. Swirl the spinach into the simmering stock and cook for 1 minute, until just wilted but still vibrant green. Ladle the soup into the bowls; serve immediately.

Beer parings
Beer and cheese is the new wine and cheese, according to Del Papa Distributing Company. They have a Beer Gourmet Program and make these suggestions:
• Bud Light with Triple-Cream Brie Cheese
• Budweiser with Aged Cheddar Cheese
• Budweiser with Aged Gouda Cheese
• Michelob ULTRA Amber with Smoked Baby Swiss and Lavasch Crackers
• Michelob AmberBock with Gorgonzola Bruschetta
• Michelob Lager with Red and Yellow Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and anchovies drizzled with balsamic vinegar
• Michelob ULTRA with fresh melon wrapped in prosciutto ham
• Michelob Light with cheddar and jalapeno summer sausage and red grapes

Limited edition chips
I hope that folks who live far away from the South get a chance to taste Zapp’s Potato Chips of Grammercy, La. Folks in these parts love their thick, crispy flavors. VooDoo Gumbo is a limited edition kettle recipe that makers claim was an accident born when a pallet of spices dropped and made a new mix.
ddoiron@panews.com

2009-12-28T08:48:00.001-08:00

Plan ahead, and take time to yourself this new year
I’m always planning, even when I’m relaxing. This final week of 2009 I’m sharing ideas for a few goodies to pamper/organize yourself (to me it’s the same thing) and a few book ideas to stimulate the mind.
News fans, thanks for reading!

Wonder Hanger
While I loooovvveee hand-me-downs, I have something of a wonder going on in my closet. Almost all of the clothes in there are those I picked myself. I thank Weight Watchers for helping me slim down and I’ve been thrilled to donate my larger sizes to Missions’ Attic.
Imagine the extra closet space I have. But I’m not stopping there. My nerd, OCD obsession with order has brought me to Wonder Hanger, as seen on TV, that promises to triple closet space. Plastic spacers enable you to loop five coat hangers onto a rack that swings out when you need it. It really, really works. I love it. Now all my T-shirts and button downs can live together in color-coded harmony.
You can get 20 pounds of jackets, purses, etc. on Wonder Hanger, no matter if you use plastic or wire hangers. No matter what Joan Crawford says, my mother is sticking to wire hangers.
I’m also checking out Twin Draft Guard, a strip of the same foam used to insulate pipes in Northern Canada, that can insulate a door or window and also block fumes and noise. You’ll love this: it’s machine washable. The hanger and guard should cost you about $9.99 each at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and Walgreens.

The Paraguay bath
I was thrilled to get a big block of chocolate that is actually a soap bar. The square chunk of Snow Cleansing Blend made me sing the “White Christmas” song about washing my hair and face with snow. Wembè Amazon Soul is named for the “monster fruit” of the Southern Atlantic rain forest and was born from a mother’s fascination with soap making developed through a trip to Europe. She went home and cooked up bars from local products, including mango, yerba mate, black clay, avocado, passionfruit, seaweed and coconut. She and her son expanded the business to America so we can bathe Paraguay style with exotic scents and textures. Give yourself a New Year’s treat by sampling the 16 varieties in the 2010 collection of soap bars so interesting, even your kids will beg to take a bath.

Yak Pak
Just because the Yak Pak catalogue shows hip college students dashing about town with their cool messenger, bowler and cross body bags doesn’t mean all ages can’t move their goodies around in one. In fact, the Megu is all about the Mardi Gras, even if the designers didn’t know it. It’s a Japanese word meaning blessing, and this cotton twill hobo has enough purple and green to say “let the good times roll” to Southeast Texans. Tote your throws in this hobo or go with pop florals sure to take you back to the ‘70s. I think there’s a lot of good pocket, zipper and snap detail inside.

“Fly-Fishing Secrets of the Ancients: A Celebration of Five Centuries of Lore and Wisdom”
By Paul Schullery
I sit by Mary Meaux, reporter/fisherwoman. I’ve never even been fishing, but I’ve come to recognize a “good fishing day” by the weather. This University of New Mexico Press book shares “provocative theories” and such he dug up and “current angling dogma.”
The book shows an illustration from a German publication in the ‘20s of women soaking and washing small fleece sheets upon which cultivated silkworms had laid their eggs. Eggs would then be “awakened,” warmed and hatched so new silkworms could be raised and harvested.

“Celebrating 100 Years of the Texas Folklore Society”
Organized history buffs know where to look for the stories. Get them all together and they get to talking … or writing. In this new University of North Texas release, fans send up their famous group in collections of anecdotes and columns.
“Do we brag? You bet,” Scott Hill Bumgardner. “The stories of our diverse peoples have been derived from Vietnamese boat people, Mexican peons, healers, oilmen and more. But for me, the addition began with the society’s editor, J. Frank Dobie. Dobie brought the history and lore of Texas to life.”

“Grace” and “Roseborough”
By Jane Roberts Wood
I haven’t yet read these, but I can’t wait to tell you about them. The author lives in Argyle and set “Grace” in the east Texas town of Cold Spring in 1944, a the community waits for war to end. The other novel features a recent widow whose teen takes off and who finds her job at the Dairy Queen “grounding.” Sounds like Texas to me. The University of North Texas Press books are No. 3 and 4 in the Evelyn Oppenheimer Series.
ddoiron@panews.com

2009-12-28T06:26:00.000-08:00

Toast
I saved my Ten Fidy Imperial Stout for a good rye bread and deli meat sandwich and was not disappointed. Oskar Blues Brewery of Lyons, Colorado, is part of the new trend of making you laugh. The can marks itself as half-baked, fully-roasted ale that is cross-eyed, cyclopean and canupiscent. I looked up that last word and found concupiscent, meaning lustful or sensual. So I laughed and learned a new word indicating that maybe beer does make you smarter (It made Bud weiser). But I do want to share that it was rich and fragrant and satisfying, too. All the Ten Fidy products are thought-provoking.

Give to Caesar
I usually feel bad for folks who routinely dine from cardboard boxes. I tried a very satisfying line of gluten and wheat free Italian meals from Caesar’s, but I still urge consumers to put it on a plate, please. Seriously, you can imagine you’re in a restaurant with manicotti or stuffed shells with cheese in marinara sauce, or various lasagnas. Creamy ricotta cheese and rice flour noodles are in spicy sauces. It felt very filling on a cold winter’s day. May I suggest, you also use your good silver and a crystal goblet for a change.
ddoiron@panews.com

2009-12-16T09:02:00.001-08:00

Got $10 bucks? Make “caviar.”
Being a budget gourmet is sort of my hobby. It’s a challenge that brings poached orange scallops with mint, peppered sirloin with cranberry reduction and wasabi burgers with green pepper and parmesan into your life.
In “The $10 Gourmet: Restaurant-Quality Meals That Won’t Break Your Budget,” Canadian celebrity chef Ken Kostick offers chicken gumbo with white wine and sun-dried tomato that looks like a bowl of jambalaya, with no liquid in sight. His jambalaya with chorizo and mussels acknowledges rice is the dish’s constant and as for flavors, anything goes.
They may not be traditional, but they do look amazing. I’ve long tried to convince co-workers that being broke doesn’t mean overpriced frozen food, instant noodles and unhealthy fast food. Photos in this book could convince them. Kostic starts with a $50 pantry and inspires diners to shop fresh and seek sales for basics and accents such as this:

Mushrooms & Apple Caviar
2 cups chopped button mushrooms
1 small red onion, chopped
1 small apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup apple juice
1 cup vegetable stock
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
_ teaspoon dried basil
_ teaspoon oregano
Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook the mixture on low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced by half. Serve over pasta, rice or grilled foods.

Log on
My coworkers still remember the mushroom log I had at my desk in the old building. For one memorable week, the dark, damp log produced mushrooms you could snap off and eat.
I got the second log of my life from Gourmet & Mushroom Products of Graton, Calif, the people making fungus fun. This log produced some big ol’ shrooms that flavored a satisfying rice dish, but the best part is just watching them grow. It’s a conversation starter. Just keep your log wet and watch the little guys form. You can chop up the log for composting. Gotta love nature.

Go barefoot
While slinky silver sandals are holiday standards, revelers can go informal with Barefoot Wine’s moscato for about $8. It’s sweet with pear and lemon flavors that makers suggest can aide in your holiday cooking. Try two tablespoons in your pumpkin pie recipe. The wine, paired with fruit and cheese, could be one of the lower calorie meals of the season that feels like a splurge. Here’s a colorful one designed to brighten the holiday.

Cos-Moscato
Ingredients
4 ounces (1/2 cup) Barefoot Moscato
2 ounces (1/4 cup) cranberry juice
2 ounces (1/4 cup) orange liquor
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice
2 slices lime

Preparation
Shake all ingredients with ice.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with lime peel. Serves 2.
ddoiron@panews.com

2009-12-15T06:48:00.001-08:00

The stars at night are big and bright
Dark December nights make for the best star viewing deep in the heart of Texas. I finally understood constellations in just one night, thanks to “The Night Sky,” a glow-in-the-dark guide you take outside to help you find the sparkle in the sky. Power it up with your flashlight, then head out to view Orion, Canis Major and Andromeda. I’ve had lots of overworked guides that have just confused me, but this one is simple and just right. I’ll be flipping it over in no time for the summer sky view. Waterford Pocket Guides open a new world of science, nature, travel and language.

“Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things That Changed the World”
By Wilson Casey
Instant coffee may have been around since 1771, but Nestle produced Coffee-Mate, the first nondairy instant creamer, in 1961. Have a cup while you ponder other tidbits from this conversation-starter of a book:
• Leonardo da Vinci described and sketched the first ideas for contact lenses in 1508.
• Ancient Egyptians used henna to darken gray hair, nails and lips.
• A Chinese treatment of gum disease in 2700 B.C.E. suggested rinsing the mouth with urine.

“Personal Finance for Dummies”
By Eric Tyson
Overdrawn from the holidays?
“This book has some great tips,” my test reader told me. “There’s tips throughout the book, which make it easy to read.”
Icons point out issues of concern. Here’s some quick tips:
Use your credit card only for convenience, not for carrying debt.
Don’t buy consumer items with credit — like cars, clothes, vacations — that lose value over time.
Invest at least 5 to 10 percent of your income for retirement.
Research before you buy, especially when it comes to investments.

Libations for a toast
This New Year’s, pair potatoes with Maine blueberries. You get Cold River Vodka in flavors your guests will remember. It’s got a cool 3-D bottle that you could transform into some sort of snow globe if you were crafty, like people tend to get after New Year’s parties. Please drink responsibly.
Sobieski Truth Serum is a festive-looking drink made with Poland’s No. 1 premium vodka and cranberry tea. Cytron and vanilla are the company’s two new flavors, made with Dankowski Rye with natural vanilla and citrus flavor, which I recently tried all by themselves. It was as refreshing as our recent snow. Sobieski makers are proud of a brand that’s authentic and affordable and I’d have never thought of this recipe using the “original” flavor:
Green Concept
Sobieski Vodka
Triple Sec (Marie Brizard)
Cucumber wheels
Fresh lime juice
Lemon-lime soda
Muddle cucumber slices with lime juice in an old-fashioned glass. Add ice, vodka, triple sec and top with soda.
ddoiron@panews.com