Unique & Delectable Banana Pudding

My friend, Steph Jordan, has created the most unique banana pudding I've ever come upon and it looks fabulous PLUS it is so easy to make. Watch Steph walk you step by step through the process...and...ENJOY!

Visit Steph's blog for more colorful inspiration...recipes, artwork, music and more!

**TIME IS RUNNING OUT!! Have you entered our $65 CSNstores.com Gift Card Giveaway? Also, enter our sister site's blog contest to win $40 CSNstores.com gift card too.

Fit To Drink...If You Care! - All Inclusive Beer Almanac- Summer is almost upon us!Good news for Beer Drinkers that care

After sex, there's nothing most guys think about more than-a tall, cool one. And for good reasons. That refreshing amber blend of hops and grain may be the most perfect liquid creation known to man. That s why, in celebration of lagers, ales, pilsners everywhere, here is 'The All-Inclusive Beer Almanac.'
It's a guide designed to enlighten you to all the ways your favorite-beverage can improve your life [beyond just helping you escape it for a few hours). Read, Retain & and relax. Your next round is covered.

SIX PACK ABS

BELLY UP TO THE BAR--WITHOUT THE DAMNED BEER BELLY

A love of beer and the ability to maintain washboard abs are not mutually exclusive. You can have both. And there's science to back it up. When researchers in the Czech Republic (a country known for having the greatest per capita beer consumption on the planet) studied the beer-guzzling habits of a group of men and women riving within the region, they found absolutely no evidence that drinking beer makes for flabbier abs. Within reason, of course.

The point of the study wasn't that you can drink as much beer as you want without getting fat-because you can't. Calories are calories, regardless of where they're coming from. Rather, the significance of the study is it shows that drinking beer is not a pre-requisit to accumulating fat around your abdomen. Keep your calories in check throughout the day by altering what you eat or by burning off a few hundred extra, and you should have no problem staying lean while also getting moderately smashed.
Here's how:

START THE NIGHT RIGHT

Planning on partying? A balanced meal before an evening at the bar will help fill you up-And, since food slows the absorption of alcohol, a well-timed meal can help minimize the severity of hangovers.) Aim for a good mix of protein and high-fiber carbs--a small whole-wheat sandwich plus a piece of fruit is ideal. Besides helping slightly slow down the rate at which you chug, a quick meal will also keep your hunger under control later in the evening--when your resolve is at its weakest - to avoid devouring fattening, stodgy mid-evening bar snacks or late night kebabs . Why does that matter? In a study from Denmark, researchers found that guys who sat down to all-you-can-eat meals ate significantly more when they drank beer or wine with their food than when they ate while sober.

BUDGET YOUR CALORIES

As drinkers go, beer fans have the upper hand on maintaining a lean bod. That's because, with beer, it's easy to keep tabs on the number of calories you're taking in: approximately 300 in a pint of regular beer. Sipping cocktails, on the other hand, is a much greater challenge. A booze-laden Long Island Iced Tea, for example, can set you back more than 500 calories--the equivalent of a Big Mac. And unless you make the drink yourself, it's almost impossible to know what you're getting, since the ratio of sugary mixers and alcohol can vary so much. Use that knowledge to your advantage when you hit the bar and calculate just how many calories you can afford to blow.

DRINK TWICE AS MUCH

Double-fisted drinking is never a bad thing--especially when your other drink is water or diet soda. Non-alcoholic drinks can help keep your partying in check by slowing down the speed at which you inhale your true beverage of choice. And nobody's even likely to notice what you're doing if you time your orders right. Start your evening with a bottle of water and a load of abuse from your pals with your first drink of the evening, and use it to quench your thirst. Then move on to your beer. Keep ordering both throughout the evening so you always have the ability to alternate between the two. The only rule: Don't place a new order until both your bottles are empty. That way, you can drink all night long--and end up taking in half as many calories as you normally would. Cut back just four pints of beer a week and you'll save yourself the caloric equivalent of nearly nine pounds of fat in a year.

ERASE THE EVIDENCE

Despite your best intentions, there are always going to be times when you slip up and do overindulge. But don't take the damage lying down. Fight back and hit the gym. Or head outside. We've rounded up 10 relatively quick and easy ways for an average 150-pound guy to burn away an extra 300 calories--the equivalent of two or three beers. (Heavier guys can do slightly less work and burn a bit more.)

ACTIVITY TIME

Cycling (10 mph) 50 minutes

Running/jogging (5 mph) 30 minutes

Soccer (competitive) 30 minutes

Swimming 43 minutes
(slow freestyle laps)

Walking (4.5 mph) 48 minutes

Gardening 50-55 minutes
(mowing the lawn)


Golfing (walking and 67 minutes
carrying clubs)

Boxing (punching bag) 50 minutes


21.5

Number of gallons of beer the average guy drinks each year, compared with just 2.3 gallons of wine and 1.4 gallons of alcohol spirits.

Good for What Ales You

Beer doesn't just taste good--it's also good for you. The key, however, is moderation. A few brews every night and you get the potent mix of alcohol and hops researchers have shown can help with everything from fighting disease to keeping your heart in peak condition. (Too much, of course, and you end up an alcoholic with a liver that's as hard as a pony keg.) For optimal benefits, aim for one to two pints a day--. (Although you shouldn't overdo it nightly, a few extra bevies on Fridays and Saturdays probably won't hurt.) Aside from giving you a well-deserved buzz, all that drinking should help you to...

REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR HEART ATTACK AND STROKE | Drinking beer has been shown to raise HDL cholesterol (the good kind), reduce the formation of artery-clogging blood clots, and quell the inflammation that can contribute to heart disease.

FIGHT TYPE-2 DIABETES | In a 12-year study of more than 46,000 men, researchers at Harvard found that guys who drank moderately had a 36% lower risk of diabetes than those who didn't drink at all.

DODGE ALZHEIMER'S | Drinking doesn't just ease your stress, it could help keep you sane. When researchers at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital University compared the mental health of people who drink with that of people who don't, they found that folks who imbibed one to six drinks a week were significantly more likely to keep their marbles later in life than those who didn't.

BUILD STRONGER BONES | The hops in beer supply the body with a hefty dose of silicon--a mineral that's crucial for maintaining both density and strength of bones.

CANCEL OUT CANCER | Beer is packed with polyphenols--potent plant compounds that have been shown to help slow the growth of cancer cells and boost the body's production of cancer-fighting enzymes. The darker the brew, the more polyphenols it packs.
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BAR BEER BEHAVIOR

FIVE TIPS TO MAXIMIZE BEER ENJOYMENT AT THE BAR

* Going to break the seal? Put your napkin or coaster on top of your glass--that way, the bartender will know you're coming back and won't clear your spot.

* Tired of the coaster or napkin slicking to the bottom of your beer and then falling into your lap every time you take a chug? Sprinkle some salt on the coaster and it'll stay put.

* Want the best service? Tip as you go--and don't just drop pocket change. As little as a buck a beer will ensure your beer mug is never empty. (If you think that's too steep, consider that the average tip is I5%, 20%, and most beers are in the $4-$5 range.)

* Beer too cold? "Most U.S. draft beer is about live degrees too cold, particularly if you want to enjoy a beer with a bigger flavor profile," says Sam Adams founder and brewer. Jim Koch. His solution: Simply wrap your hands around the glass or bottle for one to two minutes.

* Too much foam? Sprinkle some salt in your beer to reduce the carbonation.

* Wondering why you always get so much head? (On your beer, that is.) It's because you dump your beer bottle into the center of the mug, which causes the carbon dioxide to release too fast. Instead, tilt your mug and slowly pour the beer down the side of the glass. By the time you hit the top, you'll have a perfect half inch of foam. If you're pouring beer from a tap, use the same technique, but be sure to pull the tap handle all the way out. Ask any bartender: The No. 1 mistake amateurs make is to pull the tap handle out halfway, which results in all head--and in this case, that's a bad thing.

STRANGE

FIVE UNUSUAL BEERS YOU GOTTA TRY

1 THE MOST POTENT: Sam Adams Utopias | At 50 proof, this brew is ranked by Guinness World Records as the world's strongest beer. With no carbonation and a malty, maple-syrup flavor that's similar to that of port wine, it's more like a fine sipping liqueur than a chuggable beer. It's currently available in select liquor stores and on eBay, but you can expect to see another release of this aged batch in the near future.

2 THE SPICIEST: Cave Creek Chili Beer I With a real chili pepper in each bottle, this Arizona brew is hot. More of a novelty beer, it will burn a hole in your stomach if you drink more than one or two. Check your local liquor stores.

3 THE MOST UN-BEERLIKE: Lindermans Kriek Cherry Lambic | This dark red, Belgian beer is almost like a cherry soda: sweet, highly carbonated, and distinctly cherry-flavored. But it still has that dry under-taste that lets you know it's a beer. You can find Lindemans in most liquor stores.

4 BEER WITH A KICK: Dogfish Head Chicory Stout I Remember when Drew Carey created Buzz beer, a mix of coffee and beer? The brewing world took note and came out with this Delaware stout. Made with roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, and licorice root, this brew is rich and spiced, with a definite coffee aftertaste and even a hint of cloves. Visit dogfish.com to find distributors in your area.

5 JUST PLAIN UNQUE: Rogue Chipotle Ale I From the home of the brewpub, this Oregon ale is made with chipotle chilies for a smoky, slightly bitter flavor. You barely taste the chipotle ... at first. Just wait-you get a nice little kick about five seconds after you swallow. Look for the brew in most liquor stores.

WE ASKED YOU: WHAT'S THE BEST CURE
FOR A HANGOVER? YOUR RESPONSES:

Time 26%
Pedialyte or Gatorade 18%
Hair of the dog (more beer) 16%
Plenty of water 14%
Diner food (cheeseburger and shake) 8%
Vitamin 5%
Tomato juice 3%
Steam room/hot shower 2%
Soup 2%
Pizza 2%
other 4%





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NEW ARTICLE Below to incorporate
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Take heed all you beer lovers. It is now a proven fact that beer -- yes, BEER -- can provide the same health benefits as wine. No matter what type of ale you prefer, studies show that drinking beer in moderation (up to 2 drinks a day for us guys) can and will reduce your chances of strokes, as well as heart and vascular disease.

It's called the French Paradox -- the link between the low rate of heart disease among the French and their fat-laden diet was a daily dosage of red wine. Well, there's no denying the results of that study. But what the public doesn't know is that the health value of beer has been known, documented and applied for centuries. But there are folks out there who don't want you to know about it (I wonder why).

wine vs. beer


According to Mr. Jim Anderson, wine connoisseur, "When you compare the raw ingredients that go into wine and beer, you'll find that wine, on one hand, is made purely from grapes, water and yeast. Grapes are a fine source of sugars, fiber and chromium, but few of those things survive the fermentation and filtering process. Yeast has loads of complex B vitamins, but again, they do not appear in the final product due to filtering."

Beer, on the other hand, is made from grains, water and yeast. Grains commonly used are barley and wheat (with cheaper, mass-produced beers relying on corn and rice), both of which are loaded with a variety of vitamins that survive the fermentation and filtering process. And the vitamin value of the yeast is conserved in the hundreds of unfiltered beers that are on the market -- both on tap and in bottles.

interesting tidbits about beer



Tidbit #1
In November of 1999, The New England Journal of Medicine stated that light to moderate beer drinkers would decrease their chances of suffering a stroke by 20%. They also stated that those who drink one beer a day compared to those who drink one beer a week experience no difference in reducing stroke risks.

Tidbit #2
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (May 1999) reported that consuming moderate amounts of beer would lower one's chances of coronary heart disease by 30-40%, compared to those who don't drink at all. (Beer contains a similar amount of 'polyphenols' -- antioxidants -- as red wine and 4-5 times as many polyphenols as white wine).

Tidbit #3
Alcohol has also been attributed to increasing the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) in the bloodstream, as well as helping to decrease blood clots.

Tidbit #4
Beer contains vitamin B6, which prevents the build-up of the amino acid homocysteine, that has been linked to heart disease. Those of us who have high levels of homocysteine are usually more prone to an early onset of heart and vascular disease.

Tidbit #5
A new study performed at the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute in Utrecht indicates that those who drink beer had no increase in their homocysteine level, but those who drank wine or liquor had an increase of up to 10%.

Tidbit #6
Beer provides a 30% increase in vitamin B6 into the blood plasma -- something that neither wine nor any other liquor can do.

Tidbit #7
Beer is both fat-free and cholesterol-free.

Tidbit #8
Beer has a relaxing effect on the body thereby reducing stress and helping you sleep better.

Tidbit #9
Beer has proven to have positive effects on elderly people. It helps promote blood vessel dilation, sleep and urination.

what exactly is beer?



An average beer contains the following:


0 mg cholesterol
0 g fat
13 g carbohydrate
25 mg sodium
protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamins B, B2, and B6
alcohol

Sounds too good to be true? Not really. Considering beer was first used as a homeopathic remedy back in the good old days of the Egyptian Pharaohs thousands of years ago, things haven't changed much.

The only problem nowadays is the sad fact that several irresponsible people drink more than they should, and sobriety becomes a discarded word. Although I have listed the many good things about beer, there are also several negative aspects that I am obliged to caution you about: liver disease, obesity and alcoholism.

Of course, these adverse reactions would not occur if beer were drunk in moderation. Being responsible is always the key to having fun with friends and enjoying a nice cold glass of beer. I, for one, am going to have a beer and think that over.

New Business Partnership with 'Palace Echobet' - Helping Crystal Palace Football Club's Youth Academy

Beer Footy and Birds is pleased to announce an official new partnership with palace ECHO*BET, a way to have a punt AND benefit the Crystal Palace Youth Academy at the sametime.

In association with Echobet Ltd, who have carefully selected a number of online bookmaker affiliates, it means even if you lose your wager, you can take heart in the fact that C.P.F.C will benefit.

As part of their commitment to raise funds for the Club's developing stars Echobet are proud to be 19 year old Sean Scannell's shirt sponsor for the 2009/10 season.

A proportion of the profits earned by the Echobet affiliate scheme will be donated to Crystal Palace's Youth Academy, initially, in the form of player sponsorship for young players who have graduated - such as Sean Scannell (below).

To mark their inagural sponsorship, Echobet are putting up a signed Sean Scannell home shirt as a prize in our Winter draw. Click here to see how you can enter the competition.

Eggs...There is No Substitute

Eggs...there is no substitute. Well, that's not exactly true! Actually I use egg substitute quite often with terrific results as well as without the cholesterol. So, you may be wondering why we are talking about eggs. Eggs are a great way to help your grocery bill, that's why! Eggs are still relatively affordable and they can be used in a multitude of ways.

Eggs provides protein so you could substitute some of your expensive meat eating meals with them. Many people think of eggs as just for breakfast; however they can really be used for every meal around the clock! Omelets, fritatas, burritos, salad, scrambles, quiches, pizza, poached, fried, hard boiled and even quesadillas!

I'm not going to get into the difference between brown eggs, organic eggs, hormone filled eggs or about vegetarianism etc....we're just talking recipes here. We have personally replaced a minimum of two meals a week with eggs instead of meat with great results. We both love egg salad sandwiches so we bought a two dozen pack of eggs at Costco and quickly hard boiled half of them. Hard boiling is so simple, just make sure you store them in an air tight container unless you want everything in the fridge smelling like eggs - LOL!

Hard Boiled Eggs for Snacks or Sandwiches

Hard Boiled Eggs

Place the eggs in a pot and cover with cold water by a 1/2-inch or so. Bring to a gentle boil. Now turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for exactly seven minutes. Have a big bowl of ice water ready and when the eggs are done cooking place them in the ice bath for three minutes or so - long enough to stop the cooking. Repeat until totally cooled and then use or place into air tight container.

Fiesta Frittata

Wouldn't this Fiesta Frittata be perfect for dinner? No meat whatsoever and it's delicious!

FIESTA FRITTATA

Ingredients:
8 Eggs (or egg substitute totaling 8 eggs)
1 (8-ounce) carton low-fat cottage cheese
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese, divided
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chile peppers, slightly drained
½ cup reduced-fat sour cream, optional
½ cup chunky salsa, optional
Cilantro sprigs, optional

Beat eggs; add cottage cheese and 1 cup Mexican cheese, blend well; set aside. In a 10-inch, non-stick, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add green chilies and stir to mix. Pour egg mixture over vegetables in skillet; cook for 2-3 minutes or until mixture looks set around the rim. Keeping mixture in skillet, bake in 350ºF oven until knife inserted in center of dish comes out clean or about 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cup of cheese and place under broiler for about 1 minute to brown and melt cheese (watch carefully). Cut into wedges and serve with reduced-fat sour cream and salsa and garnish with sprigs of cilantro, if desired. Hint: To make the skillet oven-proof, wrap the handle with aluminum foil.

Pizza Eggburger

How about a Pizza Burger? My husband loves these and I think they would be a hit with kids too.

PIZZA EGGBURGER

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon butter
1 egg
1 whole wheat hamburger bun
2-3 slices of pepperoni
1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon pizza sauce

Heat butter in small skillet over medium heat. Break and slip egg into pan. Break yolk, if desired. When egg is set but still moist on tip, add slices of pepperoni. Turn egg over and sprinkle with cheese. Cook until cheese is melted. Open bun, spread with pizza sauce, and top with cooked egg.

Egg Bundle Appetizers

These Egg Bundles would be perfect for appetizers and look fancy but are really simple to make.

DELICIOUS EGG BUNDLES

Ingredients:
1 package (16 ounces) frozen phyllo dough, thawed
¾ cup butter, melted
½ cup dry bread crumbs
1 package cream cheese, cut into cubes
12 eggs
1 cup ham, diced
1 cup shredded provolone cheese
2 tablespoons minced chives

Directions:
Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a cutting board; brush with butter. Top with another sheet of phyllo; brush with butter. Repeat three times. Cut phyllo in half lengthwise, then cut widthwise into thirds. Repeat process so you have 12 stacks.

Grease 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle bread crumbs into bottom of muffin cups. Carefully place phyllo stacks into cups. Brush edges of dough with butter. Top each with cubes of cream cheese.

Break each egg separately into a custard cup; gently pour egg over cream cheese. Sprinkle with ham, provolone cheese and chives. Pinch corners of phyllo together to seal. Bake at 400°F for 13-17 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Serves 12.

Want even more eggstraspecial recipes?

FRITATAS: http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Breakfast-and-Brunch/Egg-Dishes/Frittata/ViewAll.aspx

FARMER'S MARKET OMELET: http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/farmers-market-omelets

BACON & EGG QUESADILLAS: http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/bacon-egg-quesadillas

BAKED CUSTARD: http://www.meals.com/Recipes/Baked-Custard.aspx?recipeid=29738

VEGGIE POACHED EGGS: http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/breakfast-brunch/eggsegg-substitutes/vegetable-poached-eggs.aspx

Please share your favorite egg recipes in the comments...Happy Cooking!

Chocolate Chip Cheese Bars.....A Guest Post From Jill.

My dear Sister-in-Law posted this recipe, and I thought that all of you would enjoy it.  These Chocolate Chip Cheese Bars are to die for!  Here is a copy of her post.......

First of all, I don't usually post recipes because I am the worst at following them.  I get it from my mom- she calls it the "Football Rules of cooking- unlimited substitutions."  My mom probably gets it from her mom.  I have recipes from my grandma that actually call for a glug of milk, or a glug of oil.  I look at recipes more as suggestions or guidelines, then do my own thing.  Sometimes things turn out really good, and sometimes... not so good.  My husband likes the way I cook, so I guess that's good enough.  I discovered allrecipes.com and found that there are a lot of cooks out there like me.  It makes me laugh when I read the comments, and someone says they didn't like the recipe that much, and that they substituted rice vinegar for apple cider vinegar and left out the ginger or doubled all the spices...  BTW, I do follow baking and canning recipes.


Anyway, my sister-in-law made these yummy bars earlier this year, and passed the recipe along. 


Chocolate Chip Cheese Bars


2 cups of your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (or 1 tube refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough)
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg

Divide cookie dough in half.  For crust, press half of the dough onto the bottom of a greased 8 X 8 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth.  Spread over crust.
Crumble remaining dough over top.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.  Refrigerate leftovers.


I doubled the recipe, and cooked it in a 9 X 13 pan.  


Here's the recipe I like for Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 c white sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c butter flavored shortening (or 1/2 c shortening and 1/2 c butter)
3 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 t salt
1 t soda
3 cups flour
1 bag chocolate chips

Cream together sugars, and shortening.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Add dry ingredients then chocolate chips.  Bake at 375 for 8 minutes.






Thank you so much Jill for this yummy post!

'Quote of the Week' - Gordon Strachan

May I thank 'Mr Celtic' for a comment he made this week that was so simplistic, yet true that every walking, talking living doll that has ever been out on the lash can relate to it.
I was greatly touched that the 'Sweaty Sock' should include me (and you) when he addressed the point in question to his players and staff alike.
Cheers Gordon!

He said:- "Going out drinking doesn't help team spirit. When you drink you just tell lies and talk rubbish"

I say:- Guilty as charged.
As a consequence may I suggest this weekend that we all celebrate our inclusion into the lifestyles of the football emporium by talking nonsense whilst necking copious amounts of liquor, starting with a wee dram of finest Highland Malt Whisky in honour of Mr.Strachan, even if it does stunt your growth.
God Bless you all!

Sour Cream Banana Bread

I had some banana hanging around getting reallllllly ripe. When I was sick I sent my son to the store for me and told him to get some things for my grandsons lunch too. He came home with this huge bunch of bananas I knew we weren't going to eat. So today I decided since its cooler outside and I need to use up a few things, I'd bake. I found this recipe for what sounds like a really yummy banana bread and of course I can never leave a recipe alone so I tweaked it. I had some applesauce I wanted to use up from dinner the other nite and I found this paste vanilla from Traders Joes that I wanted to try. Its sort of syrupy and thick not like the usual extract and has bits of the vanilla in it too like when you use whole pods. Your supposed to be able to use it just like regular extract only it would be much more flavorful since you have the bits too.

So here is the recipe as I found it and changes I made will be in parentheses. The guys in this house pronounced it yummy!


BANANA SOUR CREAM BREAD MAKES 4LOAVES
1/4 c. white sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4c. butter
3 c. white sugar (I substituted 1 c. for brown sugar)
3 eggs ( I used 4 because I added applesauce too)
6 very ripe mashed bananas
1 16 oz. container sour cream
(1 c. applesauce with cinnamon)
2 tsp. vanilla ( I used that new vanilla paste)
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking soda
4 1/2c. all purpose flour
1 c. chopped walnuts (I used chopped pecans)
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease 4 7x3in. pans. (I used 8x4in. pans) In a small bowl , stir together 1/4c. sugar with the 1 tsp. cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with the mixture.
In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 c. sugar.



Mix in mashed bananas, eggs, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon.



Mix in salt, baking soda and flour.



Stir in nuts.



Divide into pans.



Bake 1hr. or till toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans and cool.

Its darker than what you expect for banana bread because of the brown sugar. I added that because I didnt have enough white sugar here. The bread is very moist tho. I do not see much point in dusting the pans with cinnamon sugar. I can only taste a bit on the edges not enough to me to warrent added extra sugar to a dish with quite a bit of it in already. Next time I think Ill skip it, considering theres plenty of cinnamon in it already. I also think I would add double the amt. of nuts in it as I dont think there is enough for 4 loaves for my taste. The men in this house just loved it tho and one took a whole loaf to share with the guys at work.

End of Harvest Casserole (also vegan)

I used to work at a Health food store. I took over for the chef in their deli when she moved. I learned alot about many things including things I never thought Id like. I found out Gardenburgers are awesome and I didnt even miss the meat. I found out whole grains are pretty tasty. And I found out you need surprisingly little oil when making a salad to make it taste good. One thing tho I never thought Id ever eat or like is tofu or soy cheese.

I used to make all kinds of things for this place, muffins, salads, sandwiches and these were things that were already on their menu. But in time I got to play and added cakes, breakfast cookies and this particular dish. We used to serve take out foods for vegans. I was always looking for things and since Im not vegan I wasnt sure what anyone would like. I do know its hard to find good vegan recipes. I love veggies and have grown them for yrs. but I dont eat only that. So when I stumbled on this recipe I had to give it a try. The owner of the shop encouraged me to include products in the store so others would taste things I made and buy those things too.

I decided to make this dish with smoked soy or tofu cheddar cheese.....and omg ....it was delicious and you would never know its soy. This dish became a popular one in our shop for take out.


END OF HARVEST CASSEROLE Serves 8-10

1/2c. chopped fresh parsley
2 tb. chopped fresh thyme
1 tb. chopped fresh rosemary
Salt and pepper
1c. thinly sliced potatoes
1c. broccoli or cauliflower flowerettes
1c. thinly sliced celery
1c. thinly sliced onion
1c. thinly sliced zucchini or summer squash
1c. shredded cabbage
2-3 tomatoes, sliced
1/2c. chicken stock (you might need a bit more)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2c. grated cheddar cheese

Any vegetables in this recipe can be replaced by an equal amt. of whatever vegetable you may have growing in your garden.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a sm. bowl, mix the salt and pepper, parsley, thyme, and rosemary. In a 3qt. casserole , arrange a layer of each vegetable, starting with the potatoes, (They cook the longest so need to be closer to the heat source and in the broth), broccoli, celery, onions, or other slow cooking veggies and ending with the tomatoes, sprinkling herb mixture between each layer and over the tomatoes. Pour the chicken stock over the casserole and scatter the garlic and cheese on top. Cook, covered, till the veggies are tender and the cheese is melted, about 45min. to 1hr. Serve at room temperature.

You can substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock to make it vegan and I topped this with smoked soy cheddar cheese. I like the smoke flavor better on this dish and no one would ever know you used it , it is that good.

I would use the best vine ripe tomatoes you can find on this. Sometimes the potatoes take a bit longer to cook I found. I dont know if it was the little oven I had to use in the store or what so thats why I said it might need more broth or it might need to cook a little longer. Test at the suggested time and see if they are done.

'Lass of the Week' - A Brit of Alright!

Pop babe Britney Spears was certainly looking a real 'Brit' of all right in the tabloid newspapers this week.

With a new barnet and oozing sex appeal, she was seen out in Manhattan only hours after news broke that she had dumped her hubby............by text message!
Why is it that ex-girlfriends and/or wives always up their game the moment you’re no longer joined at the hip?

How often have you bumped into an old flame when out & about. Fine, but have you noticed how it only seems to happen on days when your look like you have spent most of it shovelling s**t, in tandem with an alcohol infused spotty teenage boat race.
As you lurch to one side, exchanging 'unpleasant' pleasantries you find yourself staring in amazement at the body of a goddess, that was once your ex.......except that when you were dating her all you seem to recall was somebody resembling Reggie Perrin's mother-in-law!

My dosh is on her next hubby being one of her current bodyguards!

Some Seriously Smokin' Sizzling Sexy Sirens Of Sport !

Top Centre:
Natalie Anne Gulbis, born 7th January 1983 in Sacramento, California is an American professional golfer who plays on the U.S-based LPGA Tour. She played in her first LPGA tour event as an amateur at the age of 14 and turned professional at 18. Gulbis finished sixth on the LPGA money list in 2005 with over $1 million (U.S.)in earnings, and played on the winning United States Solheim Cup team. Gulbis' first professional win came in 2007 at the Evian Masters where she defeated Jeong Jang in a playoff to claim the winner's share of the $3,000,000 purse.
She is considered to be a golfing sex symbol by the LPGA. Gulbis posed for the November 2004 issue of the magazine FHM. She released a 2005 calendar, which featured her not only playing golf, but also in striking poses in swimwear. Gulbis has said that she likes the attention she gets, even if it is for her appearance.
In November 2005, a reality television show, The Natalie Gulbis Show, made its debut on The Golf Channel. Gulbis has also appeared on the 2007 version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour by EA Sports.

Middle Left:
Rachel Unitt, born 5th June 1982 in Walsall, England is an English football player. She currently plays as a left-back for England Women and Everton Ladies.
She signed for Everton Ladies in 2000/01 season, before moving on to Fulham L.F.C. the following season. After a spell at Fulham, she returned to Everton in 2004. Her achievements to date include winning the domestic treble with Fulham in the 2002/03 season and being named the Nationwide International Player of the Year at the 2004 FA Women's Football Awards. She was awarded the England Women's Player of the Year 2006, voted for by the fans on the FA website.
Unitt first played for England in 2000, and now has 69 International caps to her name, scoring 4 goals.

Middle Right:
Victoria Pendleton MBE, born 24th September 1980 in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England, is a British Olympic and World Champion track cyclist.
Pendleton won one bronze and three silver medals in the British National Track Championships in 2001, while still a student. In 2002, she qualified for the England Commonwealth Games team. At the 2005 World Championships, Pendleton won her first major medal with gold in the women's sprint. She became only the third British woman to become a cycling world champion in 40 years.
At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, she won silver in the 500m time trial and gold in the sprint. At the 2007 UCI Track World Championships, she won the team sprint with Shanaze Reade, the individual gold in the women's sprint, and a third gold in the women's Keirin. She crowned the year by being named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year for 2007, becoming the first cyclist to win the award in its 20-year history. Pendleton was also voted Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain's Sportswoman of the Year for 2007.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Pendleton won the gold medal in the Women's Individual Sprint Event.
Pendleton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.

Bottom Left:
Allison Stokke, born 22nd March 1989 in Norwalk, California is an American pole vaulter. She vaulted to stardom thanks mainly to her looks, rather than her natural pole vaulting ability. However in 2004 Stokke did win a California State Championship, and broke several national records in her age division. As a senior at Newport Harbor High School, she set the second best mark in the nation for that calender year with a 13' 7" vault. In the CIF State Championship Finals she finished fourth.
Stokke's rose to 'Internet Fame' when a picture of her aged 17 at a track meet was posted on the internet. Soon more pictures would surface, millions of new fans emerged, and this future California Bear Field Star, would find unexpected, and unwanted fame as one of the few internet stars to have kept their clothes on.
Stokke now vaults for the University of California at Berkeley.

Bottom Right:
Daniela Hantuchová, born 23rd April 1983 in Poprad, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) is a Slovak professional tennis player.
She turned professional in 1999, and had her breakthrough year in 2002, when she won her first WTA singles tournament, the Pacific Life Open, and ended the year in the World's Top Ten. She has won two other WTA singles tournaments and been runner-up in a further seven tournaments so far in her career. She is currently ranked Number 24 in the world.
Hantuchová's biggest successes have so far come in mixed doubles. In this event, she won the 2001 Wimbledon Championships with Leoš Friedl, the 2002 Australian Open with Kevin Ullyett, the 2005 French Open with Fabrice Santoro, and 2005 US Open with Mahesh Bhupathi.
Hantuchová's other achievements include winning eight women's doubles titles, as well as reaching the final of the Australian Open in 2002 with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and the French Open Final in 2006 with Ai Sugiyama,
Hantuchová speaks six languages and was trained as a classical pianist. She qualified for university in Slovakia but deferred it to pursue tennis.

SEA'S HAM GLAZE

One more recipe for the spring time.......since its the time of the year we tend to have ham for easter.
SEA'S HAM GLAZE makes enough for about a 10-12lb ham
Whole cloves to stud the ham with
4tb. Dijon mustard
1 lg. clove garlic, mashed
1/2c. Chinese duck sauce
Dash of orange juice
1/2 c. brown sugar
Heat oven to 400 degrees. With a sharp knife score the top of the ham in a diamond pattern. Stud with cloves at every intersection. Combine mustard, garlic, and duck sauce with enought orange juice to make a syrupy mixture. Spread evenly over top and sides of ham. Sprinkle surface with brown sugar and bake 90min. Serve hot or cold.
I baste the ham with this as its baking as it tends to slide off the ham. As you do it makes a nice glaze and its delish! I use the Chinese duck sauce you buy back east, the kind thats orange looking made with apricot and plums. I cant get it here so I get mom to send it. But Im sure you could use any Chinese fruit type sauce you find or even apricot jam.

EQ Smart Energy Drink Lemon Lime Review

I finally found the time to continue with the EQ Smart Energy Drink line-up. Today's tablet is lemon lime flavoured and this time I poured less than 8 oz of water to see what it will do for the flavour.

Taste

The result has the recognizable lemon lime aroma, but the taste is still very mild. You should expect this from a tablet that promises only 5 calories. A squirt of concentrated lemon juice will improve the taste significantly, but unfortunately I did not have any on hand. Though there is barely any lemon or lime in the taste, it is sweet, just like the other tablets and because it is not carbonated, it goes down really fast. Overall the flavour is very similar to the other ones with only subtle differences in the aroma and taste.

Energy

You will find the same energy blend in here as well - 1,680.7 mg. Because I used less water, I drank the energy mixture faster and thus I felt the results earlier - around the 10 minute mark. It wasn't for another 20 or so that I felt fully energized and ready to go. The feeling lasted for quite a while but it wasn't as intense as some energy drinks on the market. It was more melow and easy going and like the other EQ tablets, I did not experience a crash at the end.

Energy Blend (1,680.7 mg):

• L-Taurine
• d-Glucoronolactone
• Caffeine
• Ginkgo Biloba

Other Ingredients: citric acid, inulin, maltodextrin, natural and artificial flavours, polyethylene glycol, sucralose, canola oil

Scores:
Cost - $1.00 for a tab from the King of Caffeine
Taste - 5.8/10
Energy - 8/10

Overall - 13.8/20...good energy kick, but a bland flavour

'Babes Of The Month' - Which Trophy Has 'Championship Babe' Written All Over It!

5-hour Energy Extra Strength Berry Flavour Review

I am not a big fan of the 5-hour energy shots mostly because they don't like to list the caffeine content of the label. The only statement included is the amount of "energy blend" added to the shot. How is the Extra Strength any different from the regular shots? It just has more of the energy blend. I paid $3.39 for the shot at 7-11, which also makes it one of the more expensive ones. I do like the solid black packaging.

This shot actually smells like berries, which is always a good start. The taste, however, is not as good as the aroma coming being given off. It is sweet and sour as well as a bit soapy. The sourness attacks the tongue right away and I felt like I was licking a lemon. There is some berry taste, but it's lost among the sweetness and sourness of the shot. The first sip is also bitter, but once the sour taste attacks the tongue, most of the bitterness goes away. The aftertaste is both sour and sweet with notes of artificial berry flavouring and some bitter soapiness. There is something rough in the shot as each sip felt like was grinding my throat. It's as if I was drinking some bourbon.

Here is where I usually say how much caffeine the product contains, but all I can say is that this shot contains 1,360 mg of the 5-hour energy blend, the ingredients of which are listed below. I started to wake up around 15 minutes after consuming the shot and I did not experience any jitters...well, not at first. A few minutes later I began to calm down and focus on the tasks I was doing. I love shots like this one, ones that help you calm and focus until the caffeine kicks in fully. This feeling lasted for about 20 minutes when the caffeine started to work its magic and I started to feel a bit jittery. The jitters didn't last long and made way for the clean energy, which was rather odd. It came and went like waves for several hours. At the end I wasn't tired, but I just didn't feel all that focused or energized. The shot worked OK, but it definitely did no provide 5 hours of energy.

Medicinal Ingredients:

• Phenylalanine
• Niacin - 40 mg
• Vitamin B6 - 40 mg
• Folic Acid - 400 mcg
• Vitamin B12 - 500 mcg
• Sodium - 18 mg
• Energy Blend - 1,360 mg (Citicoline, Glucuronolactone, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, Taurine, Malic Acid, Caffeine)

Non-Medicinal Ingredients: purified water, natural & artificial flavours, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and EDTA, sucralose.

Scores:
Cost - $3.39 CAD for a 60 mL shot
Taste - 5.9/10
Energy - 8/10

Overall - 13.9/20...needs more of the energy blend

Snickerdoodle cookies

Yesterday J and I made Snickerdoodles. We tripled the recipe cuz J wanted to make some for her dad for Christmas as a gift. The recipe says it makes 24 if you make 1 in. balls. They lie! We ended up with about 9 dozen! So J took quite a few and wrapped them all up for her dad. And I have 4 1/2 dozen here and she took the rest home with her to take to her church last nite. She was going to something at the youth group, a huge cookie and cocoa party.

I had 4 baking pans going all afternoon that held about a dozen each pan. I remembered that last yr. I made some Vanilla sugar so for the topping we mixed the Vanilla sugar and cinnamon. I thought it would add an extra flavor boost. They are yummy!

I know most of you probably have a good Snickerdoodle recipe but Ill post the one I used here anyway.

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies

* 1 cup butter
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 2 3/4 cups flour
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 3 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs thoroughly in a large bowl. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Blend dry ingredients into butter mixture. Chill dough, and chill an ungreased cookie sheet for about 10-15 minutes in the fridge. Meanwhile, mix 3 tablespoons sugar, and 3 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl.

Scoop 1 inch globs of dough into the sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Coat by gently rolling balls of dough in the sugar mixture. Place on chilled ungreased cookie sheet, and bake 10 minutes. Remove from pan immediately. Makes 24

'Best Bet' - Championship Betting Tips with Betfair

Hi, my name is Tom Mallows, online sports writer with Betfair.
I am guest writing on this blog where I shall be previewing all the weekend games in The Championship along with a selection of Premier League fixtures

In addition, I will also be looking in detail at some of the weekend's LIVE TV games.

Every fortnight, I will bring you all the latest odds, preview the biggest matches, and hopefully try and win you some cash with my 'best bet' football tips.

This weekend sees seven fixtures in the Championship and six tasty looking fixtures in the FA Cup Fifth Round involving Championship sides. Here's my pick of the action:


Watford v Chelsea
Saturday 14th February KO 17:30 LIVE ON SETANTA

Both these sides have had their troubles recently. 1984 finalists Watford, in the Premier League just two years ago, now find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the Championship. Manager Brendan Rogers will be facing the side he left earlier in the season to take over at Vicarage Road.

Chelsea meanwhile have endured a mini-crisis of their own, slipping behind in the title race and sacking boss Luis Felipe Scolari this week after just five months in the job. Guus Hiddink is widely tipped to take temporary charge – but not in time for Saturday.

Current Match odds:

Watford 9-1 Draw 4/1 Chelsea 5/2

Scorecast:
Watford 1-0 24/1 2-0 84/1 3-0 319/1

Chelsea 0-1 13/2 0-2 6/1 0-3 10/1

Draw 0-0 14/1 1-1 10/1 2-2 26/1


My ‘best bet’ prediction:

Chelsea may have their troubles, but I think they will have too much quality for Watford. It won’t be easy through, so my football betting advice would be to back a low scoring away win.
2-0 Chelsea win @ 6-1.


Swansea v Fulham
Saturday 14th February KO 12.45 LIVE ON ITV1

This has all the ingredients for a cup upset. The Premier League side who struggle on the road travel to a lower division side high in confidence and fresh from knocking out Premier League Opposition in the last round.
Roberto Martinez has done a great job with Swansea. Not only has he guided them to the FA Cup 5th round but his side look well set for a late promotion charge, couple this with their attractive attacking brand of football, they are a tough proposition for anyone at the moment.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has invested wisely to help the club into mid-table following last seasons last-gasp relegation escape. But the team still has a poor away record and that could count against them on Saturday.

Current Match odds:

Swansea 7/4 Draw 5/2 Fulham 15/8

Scorecast:
Swansea 1-0 8/1 2-0 14/1 3-0 35/1 2-1 11/1

Fulham 0-1 8/1 0-2 17/1 0-3 47/1 1-2 11/1

Draw 0-0 6/1 1-1 10/1 2-2 18/1


My 'best bet' prediction:

I smell an upset here, and an opportunity to make some cash. A 2-0 home win carries some decent looking odds.
Swansea 2-0 Fulham @ 14/1.

The best of the rest:
Fancy a sections list this weekend?
A multiple bet can win you some 'serious' cash.

Here are my tips for this weekend’s matches:

Home Wins:

Birmingham v. Notts Forest
Bristol City v. Southampton
Preston v. Norwich
Arsenal v. Cardiff

Away Wins:

Doncaster v. Sheff Wed
Derby v. Man Utd
Charlton v. Plymouth

Draws:

Burnley v. Wolves
Ipswich v. Blackpool
Sheff Utd v. Hull

My Tip Of The Weekend:

I fancy Chris Coleman's Coventry to spring a FA Cup surprise against Blackburn at Ewood Park. Sam Allarydce's side are deep in a Premier League relegation battle and may take their eye off the ball on Saturday.
Blackburn 1-2 Coventry @ 20/1.

Go to Betfair for all the latest football betting for this weekend’s FA Cup games, plus all the latest Cheltenham odds for the Festival in March.

Sausage Minestrone Soup

I wasn't sure what to make for dinner today. It was supposed to rain but it never did. They do say tomorrow, but who knows. CA. weather is weird. I'm reading a book about cooking thru a year in Tuscany and came across a general recipe for the minestrone the woman made. It got me thinking about it. So I searched online for some recipes because I know that you can add just about anything to this. But most add cabbage and I hate cabbage in soup, so does my bf.

So after reading a bit and trying to figure out what I would like in a Minestrone I came up with this. Originally I was going to make tiny bite sized meatballs. But when I opened the freezer to take out some beef, I found a package of Vino and Fromaggio Sausage that I put in there. I just loveeeeeeeeee this sausage and no longer buy regular Italian sweet sausage. I use this instead. Now I realize not everyone can get this so feel free to use whatever Italian sausages you can find around your area.

I will say this is a rich, luscious soup and one I will definitely make again.

Sausage Minestrone 4-6 servings

Olive oil ( I use extra virgin)
4 Italian sausage ( I use Vino &Fromaggio from our local store)
4 stalks celery sliced thin or a nice small celery heart chopped up with leaves too
3 carrots, peeled and sliced maybe 1/4in. thick
1 sm. red onion , chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped fine
32 oz. chicken stock
1 can beef broth plus one can water
1 can 15oz. chopped tomatoes
1 can 15oz. white cannellini beans (or small white beans)
About 4oz fresh string beans, cut in about 1 in. pieces
About 4oz. frozen spinach
s & p
A handful of chopped fresh parsley
A small piece of cheese rind (I always have romano here so I used that.......parmesan would be excellent too)
1/2 c. small pasta
Crusty bread, sliced
Provolone cheese sliced

Take sausage from casings and break up in about 1/4c. olive oil. While that's browning chop veggies....add the celery and carrots and cook about 5min. Then add onion and garlic and saute 5 more min. or till onion is getting soft.

Add both stocks, and tomatoes. Drain and rinse beans, then put in pot. Cut up string beans and add. Toss in Spinach and chopped parsley. Add a bit of S & P. Bring to a boil then lower to a simmer. Add cheese rind. Cook till beans are falling apart and thickening the soup. About a half hr. before you think the beans will be done, add pasta and cook till tender. Serve with a nice piece of crusty Italian bread in a bowl, topped with provolone cheese. Pour soup over all and serve.

***You can also speed up the process by mashing the beans a bit before you put them in the pot.

DIET is a four-letter word!

Since this is the first post of the New Year it came to mind that most people reading this have either started a diet, contemplating a diet or are wanting to watch what they eat. The word DIET is a nasty four-letter word in my opinion as the diet industry has become big business with low rates of success. If you have dieted, lost weight AND kept it off then congratulations! To the rest of the 95% of us that gained back the weight...or more weight than we lost - never fear, there is hope. I'll be discussing Super Foods in upcoming posts, which may help you in your journey towards a healthier lifestyle (notice, I didn't say a diet which may help you!)


You may be wondering what gives me any authority on losing weight or eating healthier. I won't go into all the details; however I have been overweight for more years in my life, than not. While growing up I was an athlete and could eat just about anything I wanted. I married right out of high school, quickly had a baby and have never been thin again since. As life stresses hit me over the years my weight escalated higher and higher.

In 2007, I lost 89 pounds by simply writing down everything that I ate, adding up the calories each day to keep within 1600 to 1800 calories a day plus ate lots of Super Foods while doing so. I've also been a carb junkie my entire life; but the most important thing was WHY I was a (bad) carb junkie. I truly believe that the reason the majority of overweight people are overweight is because we eat instead of dealing with life. I am a Food Addict and use food to soothe myself when I'm sad, mad, glad, have PMS or bored. I have fond memories of my mother and I going to the local bakery, buying a dozen raised glazed donuts and eating half of them on the way home...it even makes my mouth water just writing about it - plus provides a happy memory of my mother.

You may be able to relate to this, you may not, depending on your circumstances or where you are in your journey to being honest with yourself. If you consider yourself overweight and only have 5, 10, 20 pounds to lose then I can't relate and you probably can't relate to this article.

In March of 2008, life started a toward spiral with two family deaths, long term illness, empty nest syndrome, a job loss, husband's work injury, moving AND I gained back most of those unnecessary 89 pounds. It is hard to accept that I failed yet a great friend basically told me to let go of my self-loathing and failure to move forward. This statement was just what I needed to get started in a forward direction again. I began adding back Super Foods into my life and I'm feeling better (less depression, less aches, better mood, hugely reduced bad cholesterol level).

If you have never written down everything you eat, I highly suggest it! Just eat the way you normally do while writing down the calories for one week (there are many free online calorie calculators). Let me know what you discover about the things you eat.

I'd also love to hear about your experiences with the Super Foods which we will be discussing during the week...first post coming shortly.

Family Fun With Gingerbread

Every year we let the kids decorate gingerbread cookies to hang on the Christmas tree. Here are the creations for this year's tree. Along with the cookies, the kids also make paper chains, and popcorn strings to decorate with. This is one tradition the kids will never forget. The kids are proud of their home made decorations!

Ashley's Castle

A beautiful castle for a beautiful little princess. Both the 10 inch and 6 inch layers were made with a strawberry cake, because Ashley's favorite color is pink. The filling was a strawberry mousse, and it was topped with buttercream frosting. It was quite delicious!