Archive for October 13th, 2008

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Learn Where Martinis Came From – How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini


2008
10.13

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Posted in Drink & Smoothies | No Comments »

If you like martinis then read on and learn about both the history of the martini and about a tasty, cool cocktail called the Lemon Drop Martini.

History of the Martini

The martini is a cocktail made with gin or vodka and dry white vermouth, and is considered by many to be among the top six variations of a cocktail type drink.

It is believed that the martini originated in Martinez, which is the town where I grew up. Martinez is located on the south side of the Carquinez Strait in the San Francisco Bay Area, facing the city of Benicia. It’s the birthplace of New York Yankee baseball star Joe DiMaggio, and was the childhood home of Norv Turner, head coach of the Washington Redskins football team.

If you go to the corner of the intersection of Alhambra Avenue and Masonic Street, you will find a plaque commemorating the birth of the martini. The first known reference to the martini being invented in Martinez can be found in The Bon Vivant’s Companion: Or How to Mix Drinks (1887 edition), by “Professor” Jerry Thomas, a head bartender who worked in many well know places, including the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, California. According to George A. Zabriske, who republished the original book in 1928, Jerry Thomas had a client who took a ferry from the Occidental Hotel to Martinez, each morning. Thomas mixed him a “Martinez” to keep the morning chill off, and named the drink after his client’s destination.

The Lemon Drop Martini

One of my favorite versions of the martini is the Lemon Drop Martini. This drink is a sweet, lemony drink that became popular during the 1970′s in California. Remember the lemon drop candies you used to get at the movies when you were a kid? This drink has become a favorite on the West Coast. One account suggests that this drink originated in a bar called Henry’s Africa in San Francisco. This was a well-known singles bar and was said to develop and push “girl-drinks”. These are drinks that are made very sweet to cover the taste of alcohol.

Lemon Drop Martini Recipe

The Lemon Drop Martini has become a favorite of my guests. Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce Triple Sec

1 teaspoon superfine sugar

3/4 ounce freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice

Ice cubes

Lemon Wedge or Twist

How to Mix Lemon Drop Martini

To prepare glass, put it into the freezer until it is frosty cold. Then rub the rim of the glass with lemon and dip the glass in super fine sugar to create an edge of sugar on the glass.

Mix the vodka, Triple Sec, sugar, and lemon juice in a shaker half-filled with ice; shake well until well blended. Pour strained liquid into sugar-rimmed martini glass and garnish with lemon.

Then enjoy! Remember to be careful drinking these. They really are sweet, but potent! And remember, the next time you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, stop by a little town called Martinez and see where the martini was born.

For cocktail party tips and more, visit http://www.cocktailsandbeerandwine.com/ and plan your next cocktail party today!

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Software For Meal Planning – Technology For Healthy Eating Habits


2008
10.13

Posted in Food and Drinks | No Comments »

Software for meal planning fits right in with the discussions being had over nutrition and diet today. Not only are these topics hot on the list of things to work for in overall fitness, they seem to have a direct relation to the way we age and the way exercise affects us. The same time frame also brought about the ever popular cooking show which held a plethora of wonderful recipes you must try that are not considered to be fat free or healthy.

Technology has taken us far in respects tot he internet and the websites we can visit to learn and create new recipes. The recipes we collect need a place to be stored and utilized properly. This is where software for meal planning comes in. many packages of software for meal planning are being used today.

Software for meal planning features an easy to use interface. You can find a few with tabbed selections. If you choose, you can categorize recipes into chapters making it easy to find. They will all be listed in alphabetical order to help you find your favorites fast.

Each recipe can be entered easily. The recipes you search for and find online can be added simply by using the import feature on the software. Some of the cheaper models want manual entry of the recipes but this is fading out fast.

Software for meal planning allows you to choose the recipes you want for the week ahead and adds these same recipes tot he calendar. You can also add days for eating out or for holidays when you night be eating with family or friends. You simply have to click on the meal and choose it from the calendar and you are ready to go.

Software for meal planning helps you to manage your grocery list each week allowing only the items your need for the weeks recipes to be purchased. No more impulse buying happens with this feature to guide you along. You will also be given a list of items and the expected cost so you can stay within your budget. You take the list to the store and shop without having to guess and choose what you might not need or already have.

Many websites are available to give you recipes as well as access to the software for planning meals. Take the time to choose the best software which meets you needs better and is easy to use. It need not be expensive, it just needs to work great. You can find some nice software for meal planning for under $20 so you do not break the bank in the process of health and wellness.

Meal planning provides your family with easy and nutritious meals each night. We understand that trying to work and provide these meals for your family can be a little time consuming as well. Try software for meal planning and see if it helps you create healthier and creative meals for everyone. To include even the most finicky eater in the family.

Want to learn more about Meal Planning? Visit http://mealplanningguide.com for meal planning ideas, meal plans and recipes.

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Gory Gorilla Tonsils


2008
10.13

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Posted in Halloween | No Comments »

Gory Gorilla Tonsils Ingredients :

2 dozen Brussel sprouts

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 ounces American cheese — grated

2 tablespoons milk

10 to 12 iceberg lettuce leaves

1/4 teaspoon paprika

Ways to cook Gory Gorilla Tonsils

Wash the Brussels sprouts and remove any discolored leaves. Trim off the stem ends and cut an X into the bottom of each sprout to make sure your tonsils cook nice and tender. Place the sprouts in a pot containing about 2 inches of water and sprinkle with the salt. Cover the pot and cook over medium heat until boiling. After 8 to 10 minutes, carefully stab a few sprouts with a fork to see if they’re tender. When you can easily pierce them through to their centers, remove the pot from the heat and carefully drain the sprouts in a colander. Place the grated cheese in a small saucepan and add the milk. Simmer over low heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon until the cheese melts. Remove the saucepan from the heat as soon as the cheese melts. Arrange a bed of washed lettuce leaves on a platter. Place the gorilla tonsils – in pairs, of course – on the leaves. Drizzle the melted cheese (pus) over the tonsils. Sprinkle with paprika (blood specks) and serve.

Serving Size : 6

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Christmas spicecake


2008
10.13

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Ingredients Christmas spicecake

4 eggs,r.t.
1 1/3 c. flour
1 1/3 c. sugar
1 oz. butter, r.t.
1 oz. raisins
2 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tbsp. ground clovers
1 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tbsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. rum
1 handfull almond slivers

Cooking

Cream butter until it is light in colour, add portionwise 1 egg plus some sugar and beat well between. Then, add the flour and stirr until batter is smooth. Add all spices and stirr (not the almonds). Finally transfer batter into medium-sized greased loaf pan. Sprinkle almond slivers on top.
Bake for ~ 1 hour at 325 – 350 F (160 – 180 C)