Gourmet Burger ,Mayo & Salad Recipe That Will Impress Your Guests

Rolls: 6 Kaiser Rolls Mayo 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 4 cloves garlic crushed, 2 Tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp EACH of cumin, paprika, kosher salt & harissa*( * hot red pepper paste used in North African cooking-if you can't find it locally-you can make your own-click on link for recipe: www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Harissa-Sauce-107098 6 Tbsp olive oil,1 cup of mayonnaise. Combine all mayo ingredients except mayo in a food processor and process until well blended. Transfer to bowl and stir in mayo. Cover and refrigerate until assembling burgers. Carrot Salad 3 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp EACH ground cumin and kosher salt, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp EACH ground cinnamon and crushed red pepper flakes, 2 Tsp olive oil, 1 Tsp chopped flat leaf parsley, 1 tsp honey, 1 lb of carrots peeled and grated. In a bowl combine lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, paprika, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes mixing well to combine. Add remaining salad ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until assembling burgers. Burgers 1 1/2 lbs ground chuck, 1/2 lb of ground lamb, 2 oz EACH of dried apricots and pitted dried dates diced, 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro and 3 Tbsp fresh mint, 2 tsp EACH of harissa and kosher salt, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper,1 tsp of minced garlic, 1/4 tsp EACH of ground fennel, ground coriander,and cayenne. Romaine lettuce for garnish. Combine all burger ingredients in a large bowl, handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it. Form mixture into 6 equal patties to fit the rolls. Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Place patties on rack , cover, cook turning once, about 5 minutes per side for medium. During last few minutes of cooking, place rolls cut side down on the outer edges on the rack to toast slightly. Assemble Drain carrot salad and squeeze out extra moisture. Spread generous amount of mayo on the cut sides of the rolls. On each roll bottom, place shredded romaine, burger, and some carrot salad. Add roll tops and serve.

How To Surf Safely On Public Wi-Fi

FACT: Absolutely nothing is safe on open Wi-Fi. But in a coffee shop, airport, lounge or library, people routinely surf the net or read their e-mails without thinking twice. So the first thing you can do is stick to a webmail system that uses HTTPS when you log in. But after you sign in, your webmail system usually switches back to HTTP because it reduces computer strain on their servers. That means everyone who is on the same wireless network can read your e-mail content. The only exceptions to this if you were viewing your e-mail on a corporate system or using Gmail. That's right, Gmail! Right now, the default setting in Gmail detects suspicious login detection algorithms and makes Gmail a standout for secure wireless surfing. So if you've been thinking about dumping your AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo account, now is the time. If that's too much of a hassle for you, then set up a Gmail account and have ALL your e-mails from other accounts forwarded to it. Then when you read your e-mails on a wireless network, the whole world won't be watching. Also watch out for a common misconception among business travelers. Most of them think that commercial hotspots that you pay by the hour or by subscription are more secure that free Wi-Fi hotspots. That simple is not true! So if your company offer VPN or a virtual private network connection, then take advantage of it. If it doesn't, you can download a FREE program called Hotspot Shield from www.AnchorFree.Com This company offers its own VPN software that you can install on your laptop prior to using a a public Wi-Fi. Once you enable it, it encrypts all of your traffic through a tunnel to a Hotspot Shield and then out on the Internet. It works just like a corporate VPN but its 100% FREE!

Mobile Phone Security Alert

Imagine sitting in a cafe and closing an important business deal by phone. After you hang up, you get a text message from a stranger referring to the deal and asking money in exchange for silence. According to university researchers, cells phones make excellent surveillance devices. And its done through the implanting of malware. So, in general, always be suspicious of phone downloads or ringtones as they could harbor spyware. Fortunately, major antivirus software makers offer tools that protect against phone malware. But one start up company offers a FREE mobile security tool that offers a suite of mobile firewall, mobile data backup,and the ability to wipe a lost or stolen phone remotely. Go to www.MyLookOut.Com and get it now for free.

Keep Clear Of New Craig's List Scams

Check Fraud You list a used piece of furniture for $100 on Craig's List and a scammer calls you and says he will be out of town. So he mails you a check for$250. When you ask him about it, he apologizes for the mistake and asks that you wire him the over-payment. Plus he'll throw in a few bucks for your inconvenience. The fact is, the check is fake and you'll be out $150+! Employment Fraud Two common scams are asking for up-front training fees and gathering personal info under the guise of "background check"purposes. You'll either get beat for the training fees or have your identity stolen in a NY minute. So watch out for job offers that post great salaries, requiring little or no experience, or that involve fees, or telecomuting without meeting your boss or hiring without any interview. These are BIG RED FLAGS!

Why You Should Avoid Buying Chinese Garlic

In 2006, the average wholesale price of Chinese garlic was about 35 cents a pound. Then large amounts were dumped on the US market at 7 cents a pound which is below its production costs. Right now, Chinese garlic is being dumped all over the world, and right now, garlic farmers all over the world are going out of business because they cannot compete with the dirt cheap price of Chinese garlic. In California, garlic farmers cut their production from 160 million pounds of garlic in 2003 down to 95 million pounds in 2007. There are only five garlic growers left in New Zealand and Thailand's garlic production is down 20%. And in 2000, China suspended imports of South Korean cell phones in retaliation of Korea's sharp increase in garlic tariffs. So the Chinese are not dumping cheap garlic all over the world because their nice guys. The plan is to put everybody out of business, dominate the market, and then charge whatever the market will bear. And here's something you didn't know about Chinese garlic. Its not as tasty or nutritious as Garlic grown in the US. That's because the root of the garlic contains disease and pestilence that might spread in the US. So the roots are gouged out before they get here. That's why there's a concave gouge at the bottom of Chinese garlic. Plus all Chinese garlic is irradiated before it gets here so the process kills all the taste and nutrients. So make sure you avoid buying Chinese garlic whenever you can. And in light of what they're doing in the garlic market,it might be a good idea to avoid buying any kind of produce grown in China.

Here's a Clock That Will Blow Your Mind

Just click on the link: www.usdebtclock.org

Must Try Asian Grill Recipes

Baby Back RibsServes 4. Get 4 racks of true baby back ribs ( each 3/4 to 1lb) 6 cloves coarsely chopped garlic, 1 piece (2 in) fresh ginger,peeled and coarsely chopped, 1 tbs. sugar, 1 tbs. coarse salt, 2 tbs. honey, 1 tbs. soy sauce,1 tbs. Asian fish sauce or additional soy sauce. For the dipping sauce 4 tsp coarse salt, 4 tsp white pepper, and 4 juicy limes cut in half. To prepare the ribs remove the thin, papery membrane from the back of each rack or ribs. ( some stores sell them already removed). If you have a large rack of ribs, cut each rack in half. Place ribs in a non-reactive baking dish just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Place the garlic, ginger,sugar,1 tbs salt and black pepper in a motor and pound to a paste. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, puree ingredients in a food processor. Work in honey, soy sauce and fish sauce or additional soy sauce. Spread spice over the ribs on both sides and let marinate in the frig covered from 1 to 4hours. For the dipping sauce, place 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of white pepper in neat mounds side by side in each of 4 tiny bowls. Place 2 lime halves next to each bowl. Then preheat your grill to medium. When ready to cook, brush grill grate clean and apply a thin coat of olive oil to the grate. Place ribs bone side down on the hot grate until then are golden brown and cooked through about 8 to 12 minutes per side. Cook a little longer for full size ribs. When done, transfer ribs to a cutting board and cut into individual ribs. Then arrange on platter for serving. Just before eating, instruct guests to squeeze 1 to 2 tbs of lime juice into bowl of salt and white pepper and stir until mixed. Dip ribs in sauce before eating. Beef Kebabs Serves 4. You need 1.5 lbs of rib eye steak about 1/2 in thick. 3 tbs light brown sugar, 2 tbs ground coriander, 1 tbs ground turmeric , 1.5 tsp ground cumin, 1.5 tsp freshly ground pepper,3 tbs Asian fish sauce or soy sauce, &3 tbs vegetable oil. Cut steaks into 1/2 in cubes without trimming fat. In a nonreactive mixing bowl, stir in brown sugar, coriander, turmeric, cumin, pepper, fish sauce or soy sauce, and oil. Let beef marinate in frig for at least 2 hours. Then drain beef cubes and discard the marinade. Thread beef onto bamboo skewers leaving the bottom half of the skewers for a handle. Preheat grill to high. When ready to cook, brush grill grate with a thin coat of oil. Arrange skewers on hot grate with a strip of aluminum foil placed under exposed ends of skewers to keep them from burning. Grill cubes 1-2 minutes per side for medium rare, a little longer for medium. Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 F. Serve beef cubes with a tasty relish or fried garlic peanut sauce. Asian Cucumber RelishAsian Cucumber Relish Makes 1 to 1.5 Cups. Take 1 medium cucumber, cut in half lengthwise and take out seeds. Then take 1 shallot and mince to get 2-3 tbs or 1 scallion, white and green parts, trimmed and minced. Then get 1 small hot red chile, stemmed, seeded and minced. Put aside 2 tbs rice vinegar, 1 tbs sugar and coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Cut cumber into 1/4 in dices. Place cucumbers, shallot, chile, rice vinegar and sugar in a mixing bowl and toss gently to mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste. You can make this relish up to 2 hours ahead. Fried Garlic Peanut Sauce Yields 2 cups. Ingredients are 2 tbs veg oil, 5 cloves garlic , 3 thinly sliced crosswise and 2 minced, 1 shallot minced, 2 strips lemon zest 1/2 in by 2 in, 1-3 small hot chiles stemmed, seeded and minced. ( for hotter sauce leave in seeds) 3/4 cups peanut butter, 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 2 tbs sugar, 2 tbs soy sauce, 1 tsp fish sauce (optional) 1 tsp fresh lime juice, 1 tsp finely chopped cilantro, coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Heat oil in a sauce pan over medium high heat. Add sliced garlic and cook until golden brown or about 2 minutes. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon. Place on paper towels to drain. Add minced garlic, shallot, lemon zest and chiles and cook over medium high heat until fragrant and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in peanut butter,coconut milk, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce if using, , lime juice and 3/4 cup of water. Reduce heat and gently simmer until sauce is thick and pourable about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in cilantro during last 2 minutes of cooking. Just before serving, stir in fired garlic. If sauce turns thick and pasty, add 1 tbs or so of water. Add salt and pepper to taste and more sugar and lime juice if needed. Coconut Grilled Corn makes a great side dish with the ribs or beef skewers. Serves 4. You'll need 4 ears of sweet corn,husked,3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 2 tbs light brown sugar, 1-2 bay leafs, 1/4 tsp salt. Combine coconut milk, sugar, bay leaf and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Let simmer gently until sugar dissolves, 3 to 5 minutes.Taste for sweetness adding more sugar if necessary. Remove pan from heat and let mixture cool to room temperature. Preheat grill to high. When ready to cook, brush grill grate clean and apply thin coat of oil to grate. Place corn on hot grate.Start basting with coconut milk mixture after a few minutes. Baste several times until corn is nicely browned on all sides, about 2 -3 minutes per side, 8 - 12 minutes total, turning with tongs. Baste corn one final time, plate and serve.

Home Made Gelato Recipes From Florence, Italy

Plain Base First make 1 quart of plain base with 2 cups whole milk,1 cup heavy cream, 4 large egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar. 1. In a heavy bottom sauce pan, combine milk and cream. Place over medium-low heat and stir occassionally so a skin doesn't form. Keep on heat until tiny bubbles start to form and the mixture reaches 170 F.( use a candy thermometer ) 2. In a medium heat proof bowl, wisk egg yolks until smooth. Gradually wisk in sugar until the mixture is a thick, smooth pale yellow. Temper the egg yolks by slowly pouring them into the hot milk mixture while wisking continuously. Return the custard to the saucepan and place over low heat. Cook, stiring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and it reaches 185 F. DO NOT bring to boil. Poor the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl and let cool to room temperature stiring every 5 minutes or so. To cool the custard quickly, make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water and placing the custard in it. Stir the custard until cool. Cover and refrigerate until very cold for at least 4 hours or overnight. Banana Gelato This requires 2 chilled ripe bananas,1 tablespoon sugar,and 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Make your Plain Base and chill. Place the bananas, sugar and lemon juice in a blender and add half the plain base. Blend until smooth, then wisk in remaining base. Pour the mixture into the container of an ice cream machine and follow the manufacturer's directions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for a least 2 hours before serving. Lemon Poppy Seed Gelato Requires 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 reaspoons grated lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds. Make the Plain Base as directed. Then gently wisk in the lemon juice and zest into the base. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker container and follow manufactuer's dirfections. Add poppy seeds 5 minutes before the churning is completed. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Leave The Haggling To Someone Else

If you've ever bought a used car, the worst part of the process is haggling about the price. Now a new company has emerged that will do the dirty work for you and save you money which is www.Carsala.com Call or log onto their website and enter the make, model, year range etc. Carsala will then send you a report listings cars that fit your description. It also removes any damaged, wrecked or flooded vehicles from the search plus any dealers with bad business practices. You can select up to 20 cars for Carsala to negoigiate for you, including cars you found on your own. Pro hagglers take over and get you the deal in writing. Plus you get another report with all the negoiated deals and then you can take a test drive and complete the deal. Carsala charges 20% of the savings OFF the asking price which is capped at $300 for up to 20 cars. So if the asking price is 15 grand and Carsala gets you a price of $14 grand, you pay $200 or 20% of the $1,000 difference. Until Oct 1, 2010, Carsala is offering a $99 flat fee when you use the coupon code, KIPIE.

Five Ways To Avoid Or Dispute Surprise Medical Bills

1. Stay In Your Network This is the best way you can avoid extra charges. 2. Double Check Everything The first time you visit a doctor, always call to verify that he or she is in your network. Websites can sometimes be outdated and mix-ups happen. Also make sure before you're admitted to a hospital that you will be treated by doctors in your network. That way you won't be hit up for "balance bills". 3. Negotiate Everything Upfront If you know you must go out of your network, be ready to talk money before you are treated. Keep in mind that even in emergency situations, insurers only pay what they deem as "usual" and "customary" treatments in your area. So if your P.P.O pays 80% of out of network charges, that means 80% of reasonable and customary fees. If your doctor charges well above what the insurance company deems reasonable, you may be "balanced billed" for the difference. So ask the out-of-network doctor what the charges for your care will be. Than check with your insurer to see how their payouts match up. Armed with this info, you can negotiate with the doctor to accept the insurance company payment in full. If you want to use an out-of-network hospital, you'll also need to get pre-approval on surgeon's fees and other charges. 4. Negotiate Everything Afterwards Too When you get a balance bill, don't hesitate to call the doctor and ask why he or she feels the insurance payment is not sufficient and why you were not told about the extra fees ahead of time. 5. File An Appeal If you feel your insurance company is not paying its fare share, consider a formal appeal. (If you found this post helpful,why not click on the small "envelope icon" below and e-mail this post to ten of your friends or family members.)

How To Get Out Of Almost Any Service Contract Without Penalties

If you agreed to a 2 year service contract on your broadband or smartphone service ,you may be able to ditch your obligation if your provider changes the terms after you sign up. In December, one phone carrier notified its customers of a 40 cent monthly increase on all lines and a $5 increase on accounts with spending limits. That constitiued a "materially adverse change of contract" as per the carrier's terms. So if your provider alters the terms of your contract and you want to break it, just contact the company in writing ( certified mail is best ) within the time period specified in your contract. It is usually 30 to 60 days. Make it clear in your letter that you are leaving because of the "materially adverse" nature of the change. P.S. If you found this post helpful,please forward it to your family and friends.

How To Learn Something For Nothing

www.AcademicEarth.Org This site offers the courses of 10 elite universities with 130 full courses and 3,500 video lectures. www.CNX.Org Connexions hosts more than 16,000 modules that make up a collection of say an algerbra textbook or a statistics course. www.OcwConsortium.Org This consortium represents 250 universities from around the globe that want to advance free educational resources. www.ItunesU.Com is the largest entry point into all of online education with nearly 300,000 audio and video files from more than 600 colleges around the world. www.YouTube.Com/Edu currently hosts about 300 universities with 200 full courses and 60,000 videos.

10 Best Donut Shops In America

1.Doughnut Plant -NYC Best bet: Creme Brulee. 2. Zingerman's- Ann Arbor, MI Best bet: Roadhouse Donut 3. Fractured Prune-Ocean City, MD Best bet: Black Forest Donut 4.Psycho Donuts - Campbell, CA Best bet: S'mores Donut 5. Glazed Dounts-Chicago, IL Best bet: Oatmeal Chocolate Stout 6.Dynamo Donuts-San Francisco, CA Best bet: Spiced Chocolate 7. Dreesen's - Easthampton, NY Best bet: Plain 8. Top Pot Donuts-Seattle, WA Best bet: Pink Feather 9.Stan's - Westwood, CA Best bet: Peanut Butter & Fresh Banana With Chocolate Chips 10. Sweetwater's Donut Mill- Kalamazoo, MI Best bet: Grasshopper

Best Meal Deals In Paris

L'Argume, 15, rue des Fosses St.-Marcel;Phone (33-1) 43-31-86-48.Lunch 14-16 euros, Dinner 35 euros. Le Chateaubriand,129, avenue Parmentier,(33-1) 43-57-45-95. Dinner 45 euros. www.Bistrot-Jadis.Com ,208,rue de la Croix Nivert,(33-1)45-57-73-20Lunch 25 euros,dinner 32 euros. Yam'cha ,4, rue Sauval,(33-1)40-26-08-07. Lunch 30-65 euros,dinner 65 euros. www.Frenchie-Restaurant.Com , 5, rue du Nil, (33-1)40-39-96-19Lunch 21-25 euros,dinner 31-35 euros. www.LaGazzetta.Fr,29, rue de Cotte,(33-1)43-47-47-05.Lunch 16 euros, dinner 38-50 euros.

How To Sell Your Home Fast In A Weak Market

1.Choose A Broker That Can Sell To find the best broker,determine which realtor dominates your market by "For Sale"signs and recommendations by neighbors. Then call the sales manager at the realty office and find out who are the top 10% agents as measured by sales. These agents generate 90% of revenues for an office. So they are most likely to sell your house at the best price. Before you commit to an agent make sure he or she has sold several homes in your neighborhood at attractive prices. Also, make sure that no more than 6 months had passed between the time the homes were listed and sold. Then make sure the agent has a marketing plan tailored to your home. 2.Get Your Marketing Right Most home buyers start their search on the internet. So make sure your agent lists your property on the seven biggest real estate sites which are Yahoo, Craigslist ,Trulia, Zillow, Homes.Com ,Realtor.Com and MLS. Only real estate agents can list homes on Homes.Com, Trulia, Realtor.Com and MLS. Ads range from free to $300+ for first page positions, slide shows and videos. 3. Use Professional Photos Market reserach proves that photos influence buyers more than any other tool. Some agents will send out a professional photographer to take photos. If yours doesn't, you can hire your own for $100 to $500 depending where you live. 4. Clean Out Your Closets Neatness implies that you take care of things. Buyers may think that a messy closet means faulty wiring or plumbing. 5. Get Rid Of Clutter Eevery piece of junk reduces your homes value because buyers can't see past it. If necessary, rent storage space for a few months. 6.Let There Be LightBuyers want a bright house above all except location. So ditch the heavy drapes, wash the windows, and move furniture away from the windows. Then trim any outdoor plants blocking the sun. Paint the walls creamy white. And if possible, piant the outside of the house yellow. If you need to re-paint or change the siding of the house, make sure it's yellow. Yellow houses have the most curb appeal and sell faster than any other color. 7.Swipe And Deploy Attend an open house at a few new developments and take note on how the model homes are decorated. Then try to apply some of these latest decorating trends to your house on the cheap. 8. Price It Right The smartest strategy is to under price your house below market value. That's because buyers are looking for value when they buy. This also might force buyers into a bidding war over your house with one another. If you price high and then go low, buyers will sense your despiration and start making low ball offers. 9.Offer Incentives Giving buyers a cash incentive will give you an unfair advantage over other sellers. Offer to pick up part or all of the closing costs. Then advertise this in advance and more people will want to see your property. 10. Hold The Paper First fo all, one-fifth of all homes sold involve partial or seller financing. Second, buyers may not be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage because they may be self-employed or can't come up with 20% down. If you don't have a mortgage to pay off, and you aren't buying another house, or if you don't need the cash, this is a win-win for you and the buyer. You can charge 5% interest or more, and the collateral is a property you know and trust. The buyer gets to skip the hassle of applying for a mortgage, and saves on closing costs. The down payment also becomes negotiable. Plus you might be able to spread any capital gains you might owe over several years. Just make sure your agent or lawyer runs a credit check on the buyer and let your lawyer draw up a formal contract. Also, make sure your contract states the if the buyer falls behind on payments just one or two months,the buyer forfeits the down payment and you can take back the property.

22 Things Restaurants Don't Want You To Know

1. Waiters are not allowed to tell a customer they don't like a dish 2.If you're looking for your waiter and another waiter tells you he's getting something out of the stock room, he's probably out back having a smoke. 3. If you order a frozen drink that's a pain to make,they'll tell you that they've run out 4.They put extra sugar in all the kids meals including the pizza dough 5. At most restuarants "specials" are things they must sell before they throw them out 6. Never order lemon with your drink since no one washes them and everyone touches them 7.If youb ask how many calories are in a drink, waiters are not allowed to tell you even if they know. They are told to say you should check online 8. In a restuarant, skim milk is almost never skim milk and 9 times out of 10. Even at the best places around, the breakfast buffet scrambled eggs are powered 9. If your food took a long time to come out, 9 times out fo 10 its the kitchen's fault. 10. If they say the desserts are homemade, they were homemade at a bakery a few miles down the road 11. A lot of places buy salad dressing on 1 gallon jars, add a few ingredients, and call it homenade 12. Afetr 8pm, all the coffee is cafinated since no one wants to clean two coffee pots 13. Don't call a place and ask to speak to the chef. If you really knew the chef, you'd have his or her cell phone number 14. If you want great service, use your waiter's name. And if you return, ask for your waiter by name even if he or she doesn't remember you 15. Never order fish on a Sunday or Monday since most fish deliveries are on Tuesday and Thursday 16. In some places, the salads are made up to 3 days in advance 17. If you don't like something, don't eat it, send it back right away and order somethin else. If you want to know if a restauarant is clean, check the bathroom. If its dirty, the kitchen is much worse 19. Watch out when the waiter comes over to fill your glass. If the pitcher touches the rim of your glass, you get to share all kinds of germs 20.If you have a problem, always ask to speak to the owner. Managers usually aren't allowed to comp meals and will take it out on the waiters 21. If you want to be known as a regular, go the restaurant on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 22. The two worst times to go out and eat is Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. Try to avoid eating out on these two days unless you like lousy service and an over priced food. To celebrate these two days, trying going out a few days before or a fews days after these two dates for a memorable meal. If you insist on eating out on these two days, then make sure the restaurant is high end and rated 5 stars. Outstanding restuarants are usually outstanding no matter what day you choose to dine.

7 Insurance Myths That Can Cost You Big Time

Myth #1-Replacement Cost-Reality: Usually, replacement cost coverage ONLY covers the depreciated value of your damaged possessions. In this case, you'll have to come up with the extra cash to buy new replacemnet items. Plus, many times you'll have to do it in 12 months from the date of the loss. What You Should Do: Check the time limit. Check with contractors and ask if they are willling to work with your insurance company to recover the full cost. For damaged contents, replace some items quickly and file a claim. Then use the insurance settlement money to replace more. Myth # 2-Insurers Only Replace The Damaged Sections-Reality: If replacing a damaged section of your home creates a visible difference between the replaced section and the old section, the insurer MUST replace the undamaged areas as well. What You Should Do: If your insurer tries to dodge responsibility to replace undamaged sections, write a letter to the adjuster stating what should be covered by the policy. Then add: " It is my understanding that in accordance with the line-of-sight-rule, I'm also entitled to replacement of the siding on the south and west side of my home as well. If you have any doubts about this, please refer to your Fire, Casualty and Surety( FC&S) Bulletins and get back to me." Most adjusters usually back off when policy holders cite this trade publication known by few outsiders in the insurance industry. Myth # 3- You Have To Live With The Work The Auto Repair Shop Mandated By Your Insurer Reality: Right after your insurer's mandated repair shop finihses its work, take the vehicle to a dealership service department and request an evaluation of the damaged area. If the vehicle was in a serious collision, request a 4 wheel alignment. These types of alignments usually uncover lingering problems with vehicles that have been in collisions. Share your findings with your insurer, and say, "You warranted these repairs, so take my car back and fix it properly." Myth #4-My Car Is Covered By Any Driver - Reality: When you lend your car out, it depends on the policy. Some insurers now provide coverage only to drivers specifically named on the policy. So before you lend your car out, check with your insurer. Myth # 5 - It's OK To Call Your Insurance Company To Inquire About Small Claims- Reality: Your insurance company wll open a claim as soon as you call the claims department even if you don't persue payment. What You Should Do: Don't call your insurance company unless its going to cost you more than your deductable. Myth # 6 - Independent Insurer Adjusters Are Fair- Reality: An adjusters job is to look out for the insurance company whether he or she works for the insurer or is independent. He or she will pretend to be your friend and try to steer you towards repairs instead of replacing the damaged areas. The only exception to this rule is when you're dealing with company adjusters from Chubb or Amica who are pro customer. What You Should Do: If you feel an adjuster is not being fair with you, hire a public adjuster. In fact, most public adjusters will tell you that you should contact them FIRST before you call your own insurance company! Reason? They can get you more money before your insurance company has a chance to downplay the claim and offer you a paltry sum! Public adjusters represent policy holders in their negociations with insurance companies. However, they are not all created equal. So when you decide on which one you will call, make sure you check out the adjuster's reputation at www.BBB.Org Public adjusters can be found in the yellow pages under "Insurance Adjusters" or "Adjusters-Public" or through the National Assocation of Public Adjusters. Call 703-433-9217 or go2: www.Napia.Com Public adjusters usually charge 10% to 25% of the total claims settlement which you should negoiate before you sign a contract.Myth # 7- You Can Cancel Your Insurance By Not Paying The Bill - Reality: Insurers usually give you a 30 day grace period before coverage is terminated. Policyholders are legally responsible for premiums charged during the grace period even if you have no intenion of continuing with the coverage. So its better to call and cancel a policy you no longer need.

How To Make 8% On Annuity Investments And Ten Questions You Should Before You Buy

1. Why Am I Buying It? People buy annuities to protect their savings from market downturns, to enjoy tax deferred growth, or to generate a guaranteed income for life or for some other fixed period of time. If you're not trying to achieve one or more of these goals, annuities may not be for you. 2. How Much Will My Annuity Pay Out? Your sales advisor should be able to tell you the guaranteed minimum it will pay each year, based on your initial investment and the date of your distribution. Note that if you are funding a varible annuity over time, that won't be the case. 3. How Much Will This Annuity Cost? You should know the mortality and expense charges that fund the annuity guarantees,any administrative fees, and in any fees for optional benefits. With a varible annuity, you should know the underlining expenses for the investment in your account. 4. What Are My Investment Option? When you a buy a varible annuity,you typically invest in a portfolio of stock and bond funds until you begin withdrawals. The end avalue of that portfolio will impact how much money you will actually receive. So you should be comfortable with the investments your varible annuity offers you. 5. Will My Heirs Get Back My Investment If I Die Prematurely? Buying an annuity without a death benefit means higher income for you. But if you don't vfeel good about the possibility that an insurance company will keep any portion of your premium that it hasn't paid out by the time you die, loook for an annuity with a death benefit. Most offer them. You can also choose a "joint and survivor" annuity that continues to pay out as as you or a designated second person like your spouse is alive. 6. Can I Get My Money Back If My Circumstances Change? Once you convert you account balance into a guranteed stream of income, you can only access the money on that schedule. If that's a concern, ask about options that permit additional withdrawals. 7. What Surrender Fees Apply? Most fixed or varible annuities impose surrender fees if you make withdrwals during the first several years of ownership. If that'sa concern, look for annuity with a "free corridor" that lets you withdraw some money each year without a fee. Just make sure to compare corridor terms from one provider to the next. 8. What Are The Tax Consequences Of Annutities? Annuities are tax deferred investments, but depending on your age and other circumstances, some withdrwals could jepardize your tax status. For instance, taking money out beofre 59 1/2 generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty. Also, any portion of your withdrawals representing investmnent earnings are taxed as oridinary income, not capital gains. 9. Can I Lose Money On This Annuity? You can lose money on any annuity that doesn't have a death benefit. But you can also lose money on a varible annuity that does not offer any minimum withdrawal or income guarantees. That's because your account valuen can go up or down based on your investment portfolio. 10. How Strong Is The Insurance Company? No matter how attractive an annuity may seem, it will prove to be a poor investment if the inssuing company isn't around to make good on its guarantees when you need them. So check out the issuer's financial strength at websites of the major rating companies. To make 8% interest on a $100,000 investment that pays $700 a month for life see www.ImmediateAnnuities.Com and www.AnnuityQuickQuote.Com

How To Have A Great Thanksgiving Holiday

For info on buying and fixing the turkey, sides dishes crafts and games, make sure you visit http://urbanext.illinois.edu/turkeyls For the best Bl;ack Friday deals, go2: www.black-friday.net

How To Fake Gourmet Fixings

To supercharge MAYO mix a tablepsoon of lemon juice, add a 1/3 cup of olive oil, a dash of black pepper, a dash of garlic and fresh herbs into a store bought cup of mayonnaise. To upgrade OLIVES drain a 7 oz jar of ordinary brine. Then gently crush the contents of the jar, put in a new container, add 1/4 cup of olive oil, one or two crushed cloves of garlic, and one tablespoon of thyme. Chill for 3 or 4 days, and they'll rival anything you can buy at the gourmet deli. Soup up your STOCK with a quick shot of flavor. Mix 2 or 3 chicken bouuillon cubes with a 1/2 cup of white wine, 3 tablespoons each of carrots, onions and celery. Then add two sprigs of parsley, a 1/3 of a bay leaf, and a pinch of thyme. Simmer for one half hour.

New Book Reveals Hidden Dangers Of Cell Phones,Cordless Phones,WiFi & Microwaves

A new book titled Public Health SOS, The Shadow Side Of The Wireless Revolution by Camilla Rees stated that in 2007, The American Journal of Epidemiology reported that cell phone users who spent more than 22 hours a month on their cell phones were 58% more likely to develop tumors of the salivary gland then those who didn't use cell phoneas as often. Studies funded by the cell phone industry show that cell phones are safe. However, they usually last 6 years or less which is not long enough for a tumor to develop. Plus cell phone studies define heavy use as just a few hours a week. So to be safe, use cell phones only for emergencies or to retrive messages. Return all calls on a land line phone. Also, regularly switch the cell phone from one side of the head to another to minimise one side radiation exposure. Also, turn off your cell phone when not expecting a call because cell phones send and recive signals even when you're not talking. Another good habit is don't let the cell phone tocuh your ear or body parts. When talking, hold it at least one inch away from your head or use the walkie-talkie feature. Naturally, text-messaging is safer because the phone is away from your head. Bluetooth technology uses radiation but it is less than levels generated by your cell phone. To be safe, use a pneumatic plastic tube ear piece to reduce your exposure to radiation. A company called Mercola sells these headsets. You can visit their website at http://products.mercola.com Next, don't use a cell phone in the car. In a car, it uses more power because it must continually reconnect with antennas. Plus the signal is reflected by the metal in the car which increases exposure to radiatrion. Cordless phones used in the home pose the same risks as cell phones. To be safe, you should replace all cordless phones with corded phones when practical. WIFI is also a strong source of electromagnetic radiation. So use cables to connect everything to your computer. But if you must use a wireless router, place it as close as possible to the devices it controls. Microwave Ovens leak radiation even up to 20 feet away. So your best defense is to leave the kitchen when the microwave is on. If you want to test your mircowave, put your cell phone in the microwave and close the door. ( DO NOT TURN ON THE MICROWAVE ! ) call your cell phone. If you hear it ring, then it means radiation is able to pass out of your microwave.

Natural Swine Flu Remedies

If you don't plan on getting the swine flu vaccine, or if it is not available in your area, here are some natural remedies that may protect you. If you would like to improve your immune system and take preventative steps, then you should take an Astragalus capsule once or twice a day before meals. If you start to notice the signs of swine flu symptoms, then you should take Oscillococinum (pronounced o-sill-cox-see-num)capsules which may reduce the severity and duration of the flu.Another potent remedy against swine flu are chinese herb formulas. They often have an antiviral effect and may increase your immunity. The best and purest brand of Chinese herbs is Wellness Formula by Source Naturals. Just make sure you only buy formultaions made in the USA since formulations made in China may contain toxic levels of mercury. Another great antiviral supplement is Black Elderberry. And naturally, before you take any supplement for a medical condition you should always first consult your doctor.

The Best Place To Buy Mens Suits, Shirts & Shoes

The best place to buy a men's suit is at Nordstrom. The house brands called John W. Nordstrom and Broletto sell for around $600. But these garments are equal in quality to suits selling for $1,000 or more. Nordstrom also employs skilled tailors and sales associates which will increase the odds that you will get a good fit for your body type. If you live or work near a Saks Fifth Avenue store, their Saks house brand suit at $695 is another excellent value. Just maker sure you choose a timeless style that won't go out of date and select a fabric in an 8.5 oz to 10 oz weight. This fabric can be worn year around in every season. The best place to buy high quality dress shirts with french cuffs at a fair price is at Charles Tyrwhitt in London. You can buy one shirt for $59 or 4 for $199. See: www.ctshirts.co.uk Since many people will form an impression of you based on the quality of your shoes it's a good idea to invest a few extra dollars in a quality pair of shoes. You can now wear dark brown shoes with gray or blue suits but you should wear black shoes with black suits. Just make sure you buy laced-up shoes or slip-ons and avoid shoes with tassels. They look dated. The best value in quality men's shoes from $195 is at Allen Edmonds. They are made in the USA and the company will "re-craft" your old Edmonds shoes like new starting at $30. Call 800-817-7615 or see: www.AllenEdmonds.Com

The Best Way To Find A Job

The odds of finding a job mailing out resumes is just 7%. When you respond to ads in a professional journal your odds of success are still static at 7%. Responding to job on the internet gives you a slight boost at 10%. Responding to newspaper ads gives you the lowest odds of success at 5%. But it could jump to 24% if you're looking for a minimum wage job. Working with a private employment agency only gives you a 5% success rate since employers don't feel the need to pay private search firms in a down economy. However, your odds of finding a job by networking jumps to 33% because employers love to hire people based on personal recommendations from trusted employees and cntacts. If you don't mind knocking on doors unannounced your odds of success will jump to 47%. But this tactic doesn't work well with large companies. So limit this method to companies with 50 employees or less. Calling companies out of the yellow or white pages can boost your chances of finding a job to 69%. Just ask for the owner and briefly explain your background or skills. Then ask if he or she knows anyone who would be interested in hiring someone like you. Keep in mind this won't work with large companies that have voice mail systems and operators. The best odds of finding a job jumps to 70% when you partner with others to form a job hunting group. Just put together a group of job seekers like yourself and agree to keep any eye out for each other for jobs for people in the group. You could meet once a week at a coffee house or someone's home to trade job info and strategies.

How To Eat Steak On A Hamburger Budget

The pre-cut, pre-packaged meats you see at the supermarket are grossly over priced. You can request much cheaper and equally delicious alternatives from the butcher working behind the meat counter where you shop. Instead of Rib Eye Steak at $13 lb, you can buy Chuck Eye for about $2 lb. Ask your butcher to cut a 4 inch roast off the front of a bonless chuck, peel out the chuck eye, and cut it into steaks. Instead of buying Beef Short Ribs at $5 lb, buy Flatiron at $2 lb.Wait until there is a sale on cross rib roasts which happens all the time. Then ask your butcher to carve a flatiron roast out of the cross rib. Then have him cut up the flatrion into boneless country-style ribs. Instead of buying Lean Ground Beef at $7 lb, buy Bottom Round a lean, meaty beef cut at $2 lb. Just ask your butcher to grind up a bottom round roast for you. Instead of opting for Pork Tenderloin at $6 lb, ask for Boneless Loin Roast at $2 lb. Ask the butcher to carve an entire roast or cut it into medallions fro frying, chunks for BBQ's, oe thin slices for strir-fry. Roasting Chickens or large whole frying chickens are $1.69 lb. Instead, buy pre-packaged Whole Fryers at .69 to 1.29 lb. You can also buy dark meat hindquarters at .59 lb. Instead of buying Veal at $13 lb, get Boneless Pork Sirloin at$2 lb. Its a tender cut from the backbone of the hog that has the same color and mild flavor as veal. Ask your butcher to slice it very thin and it makes a great substitute for veal in veal Parmesan and veal Scalopini. Instead of buying Italian Sausage at $4 lb, get Pork Shoulder Butt at $2 lb. Have your butcher grind it then you can easily mix it with Italian or breakfast sausage seasoning yourself. Without seasoning, its a great substitute for ground beef. If you buy organic meats, you can cut the price of organic cuts by 66% by using this tips.

How Rent Out Your House Or Apartment For $10,000 A Day

Resourceful people know that they can rent out their house or apartment for movie shoots, TV commercials, fashion shoots and other events for $1,000 to $10,000 a day. When you rent just make sure you're dealing with a reputable company. That means you should have a contract , the producer should be insured and you should be paid before the shoot. Also, anything fragile should be put away or protected. In addition, the production company must carry at least $1 million in general liability and third-party property damage. They must also supply a security deposit. For more information, contact the www.EmpireLocationCompany.Comat 646-717-4307 and www.WorldLocations.com at 310-659-0599.

Valentine's Day Recipes

Linzer Heart Cookies Preparation Time: 1 hour plus chilling Bake Time: 10 to 12 minutes Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Confectioners’ sugar 1/2 cup raspberry jam, strained 1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy; beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture until combined. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill 1 to 2 hours or overnight. 2. Preheat the oven to 350F. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough to an 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2 1/4-inch heart cutter, cut out heart shapes, rerolling scraps as needed. Repeat with the remaining dough. 3. Place the heart shapes 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using a small heart cutter, cut out centers from half of the hearts; remove the centers with a small spatula. 4. Bake the cookies until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and cool completely. 5. Set the racks, with cookies still on them, over waxed paper. Sift confectioners’ sugar over the heart frames. Lightly spread about 1/2 teaspoon of the strained jam over the large uncut hearts. Place the heart frames on top of jam-topped cookies. Tip: Baking Times The heart frame cookies will take less time to bake than the uncut hearts. Check the cookies after just 8 or 9 minutes and remove any cookies that are done. Variations Instead of raspberry jam, you can use strawberry—or whatever flavor strikes your fancy. For chocolate lovers, replace the jam center with melted semisweet chocolate. When set, drizzle more melted chocolate on top of the confectioners’ sugar. Brownie Heart Tartlets Preparation Time: 45 minutes Bake Time: 15 minutes Makes about 3 dozen tartlets Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 egg Confectioners’ sugar Mini candy hearts 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a food processor, combine the flour, granulated sugar and cocoa and process until blended. Add the butter and process until the mixture is crumbly. Add 2 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla; process until a dough forms. 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter or a glass with a 2 1/2-inch diameter, cut out rounds of dough. Reroll scraps as needed. 3. Carefully press the rounds into the cups of heart-shaped mini muffin pans. Trim off excess dough by gently pressing a dull knife along the tops. 4. In a medium bowl, combine the melted chocolate, melted butter, brown sugar, egg, remaining 1 tablespoon milk and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of the filling into the dough shells in each heart cup. 5. Bake the tarts until the filling has set, about 15 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool slightly. Carefully remove tarts from the pans; cool completely. Decorate the cooled tarts with confectioners’ sugar and candy hearts. Tip If the rounds of dough tear, don’t panic! Just press the pieces together when placing the dough into the muffin cups. Variation Dress up these tarts even more by piping whipped cream along the edges and topping with a cherry. Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Makes 9 berries Ingredients: 2 ounces semisweet chocolate 1 tablespoon butter 9 large strawberries with caps or stems 1/4 cup cognac or orange juice 2 tablespoons honey 1 cup sour cream 1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Heat the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, stirring, until melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Let cool slightly. 2. Holding the strawberries by the cap or stem, dip one at a time into the chocolate mixture, coating halfway. Gently place the berries on the lined baking sheet; let coating set. 3. Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce. In a small pan, simmer the cognac and honey until reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Cool briefly, then fold the mixture into the sour cream in a small bowl. When the chocolate is set, arrange the strawberries on a serving plate. Serve with the dip. Tip Don’t refrigerate the dipped berries or the coating will “sweat” and become mushy. Molten Chocolate Cakes Preparation Time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 15 minutes Makes 12 individual cakes Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) butter 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips 4 medium eggs 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 12 caramel candies 4 tablespoons evaporated milk 1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease 12 muffin cups. 2. Combine the butter and chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly, until the chocolate is melted. Let stand to cool slightly. 3. In a large bowl with a mixer set at medium, beat the eggs and sugar until thickened, about 5 minutes. Gradually add the flour, beating at low speed. Add the chocolate mixture and beat until thick and glossy, about 3 minutes. 4. Fill the prepared muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake the cakes for 5 minutes. 5. Meanwhile, combine the caramels and 2 tablespoons evaporated milk in the double boiler. Cook, stirring constantly, until the caramels are melted. 6. After baking the cakes for 5 minutes, spoon 2 teaspoons of the caramel mixture into each muffin cup. Bake for 8 minutes longer. Invert cakes onto individual serving plates. 7. Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons evaporated milk into the remaining caramel mixture. Serve the sauce with the warm cakes. Tip: Microwave Option To melt the chocolate chips and butter in a microwave oven, use the Defrost setting and microwave, stirring the mixture occasionally, for about 4 minutes.

How To Avoid Eating Food Made In China

If you are like us, you don't want to buy food "Made In China ". But unfortunately, the great majority of everything we find in a store is just that... " Made in China ". Just look at the labels. It will surprise you. Especially your FOOD, Meat, Canned Fruit, Seafood and many other items. Why are we buying MADE IN CHINA when the USA produces (or used to produce) the best and the most food in the world? Is everything we have being OUTSOURCED? With 'Melamine' and 'Rat Poison' laced foods flooding the market.......You need to read this article... and print out the list and carry it with you when you shop. Food Bar Codes Maybe this will be of interest to those who care where their goods come from, especially baby food and pet food. The whole world is scared of Chinese 'black-hearted goods'. Can you differentiate which one is made in the USA , Philippines , Taiwan or China? For your Information, the first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code wherein the product was made. Sample: All barcodes that start with 690 up to 695 are MADE IN CHINA. 471 is Made in Taiwan This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore, we have to INFORM ourselves. Nowadays,Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products 'Made in China', so they don't show in which country it is made. However, you may now refer to the barcode. Remember, if the first 3 digits are 690 to 695, then it is Made in China . 00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA 30 ~ 37 FRANCE 40 ~ 44 GERMANY 49 ~ JAPAN 50 ~ UK 57 ~ Denmark 64 ~ Finland 76 ~ Switzerland and Liechtenstein 471 ~Taiwan 480 - 489 ~ Philippines 628 ~ Saudi-Arabia 629 ~ United Arab Emirates 690 -695~China 740 ~ 745 - Central America

Best Seafood Restaurant Value In Venice

In Laguna da Toni, Toni Zotartel will pick you up in his boat and give you a 25 minute ride to his restuarant , which is on stilts, from the nearest mainland point, Portegrandi . Then Toni will check his fishing net on the side of his eatery and cook the the catch of day just for you. The seven course dinner is just $58 US which includes coffee, desert, all the grappa you can drink and the round trip boat ride from the mainland. The place is closed in January. For reservations call 39-338-821-1229. A minimum of 14 reservations are required for Toni to come and and pick you up.

Spread Holiday Cheer With These Easy Recipes

Puff Pastry Wreath Preparation Time: 30 minutes Bake Time: 15 to 18 minutes Serves 12. Ingredients 1 box (17 ounces) frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed 1 large egg, beaten 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 cup cheese spread (8 ounces), any flavor Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish Fresh cranberries for garnish. 1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Place the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured work surface. Cut out twenty-four 3- to 4-inch leaf shapes using a cookie cutter. 2. Arrange the pastry leaves in a slightly overlapping circle on a baking sheet to form a wreath. Brush the wreath with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the rosemary. 3. Bake until golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool the wreath on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then slide gently onto a serving plate. 4. Spoon the cheese spread into a decorative 1-cup crock or custard cup. Place in the center of wreath. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and cranberries. Tip: Make Ahead The wreath can be made up to three days before serving. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. To serve, unwrap and let come to room temperature. If you like, crisp the thawed wreath in a 400F oven for a few minutes. Holiday Cheese Ball Preparation Time: 10 minutes, plus chilling Cook Time: None Serves 12. Ingredients 1 (4-ounce) package cream cheese 1/4 cup milk 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 6 tablespoons chopped pecans 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (white part only) 1/2 (2-ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 teaspoons poppy seeds 1. Beat the cream cheese and milk in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on low until well blended. Add the Cheddar, Monterey Jack and blue cheese. Beat at medium speed until well combined. Add half of the bacon, 3 tablespoons of the pecans, the green onions and pimientos to the cheese mixture. Blend on medium speed until well mixed. 2. Transfer the mixture to a large piece of plastic wrap and form into a ball. Wrap tightly. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. 3. Combine the remaining bacon and remaining pecans with the parsley and poppy seeds in a pie plate or large dinner plate. Remove the plastic wrap from the ball. Roll in the bacon mixture until well coated. Wrap tightly again in plastic and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 24 hours. Tip: Double the Recipe Expecting a crowd? You can easily double this recipe and make two cheese balls. Minty Cranberry Relish Ingredients 1 medium apple 1 (12-ounce) package fresh or thawed frozen cranberries 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/3 cup orange marmalade 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/3 cup golden or dark raisins 1. Peel and core the apple; cut into 8 pieces. 2. Combine the apple, cranberries and mint in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a medium bowl. 3. Combine the brown sugar, marmalade, lemon juice, and mustard in a small bowl. Stir until well blended. Add to the cranberry mixture and stir until well blended. Gently stir in the raisins. Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. Tip: Freezing Cranberries Since fresh cranberries are readily available for only four months, September through December, buy a few extra bags when they are available and put the extra in the freezer. Throughout the year, you’ll have cranberries just waiting to be used in quick breads and pies—and this relish. Tip: Gift from Your Kitchen Pack the relish into jars and tie with festive ribbon for thoughtful gifts for family and friends. (Just be sure to remind your recipients to refrigerate the relish promptly.) Festive Mincemeat Squares Preparation Time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 30 to 35 minutes Makes 2 dozen squares Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1 1/3 cups (2 2/3 sticks) butter 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups rum-flavored mincemeat 1 cup shredded coconut 1/2 cup dried red cherries 1/3 cup chopped walnuts 13x9-inch baking pan. 2. Combine the flour and confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Cut in 1 cup of the butter with a pastry blender until crumbly. Pat the crumb mixture over the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. 3. Combine the remaining 1/3 cup butter and the brown sugar in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat until blended. Stir in the mincemeat, coconut, cherries and walnuts. 4. Spread the mixture evenly over the baked layer. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares and serve. Tip: Lemon Glaze A lemony glaze makes these good cookies even better: Sift 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar into a medium bowl and add 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; stir until smooth. Drizzle over the squares while they are still warm. Stained Glass Star Cookies Preparation Time: 30 minutes plus chilling Bake Time: 8 to 10 minutes Makes 2 dozen cookies Ingredients 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 large egg yolk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 rolls ring-shaped hard candies (such as Lifesavers), lightly crushed 1. Combine the butter, granulated sugar, confectioners' sugar and salt in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour, egg yolk and vanilla; beat on medium speed until a smooth dough forms. Shape into a disk and wrap well in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill at least 1 hour or overnight. 2. Preheat the oven to 375F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. 3. Roll one-third of the dough at a time on a lightly floured surface to an 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a large star-shaped cookie cutter. Place on the prepared baking sheets. Cut out the centers of the cookies using a small star-shaped cookie cutter. 4. Place a single color crushed candy into each cutout in cookies to fill space completely. Bake until the cookies are light golden around the edges and the candy is melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool cookies completely on baking sheets on wire racks. Tip Crush candies by placing them in resealable plastic bags and then tapping lightly with a rolling pin until they're broken into small pieces. Don’t crush different colored candies at the same time; you want to keep the colors separate. Christmas Tree Cakes Preparation Time: 15 minutes, plus assembly Bake Time: 15 minutes Serves 4 Ingredients Cakes 1 1/2 cups egg whites (from 10 to 12 large eggs) 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup granulated sugar Frosting and Decoration Confectioners’ sugar 1/4 cup prepared vanilla frosting or whipped cream Green or silver dragees 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a large bowl, let the egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, sift together the confectioners’ sugar and flour two times and set aside. 2. Add the cream of tartar and vanilla to the egg whites. With an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. 3. Sift one-fourth of the flour mixture over the egg-white mixture, then gently fold in. Continue sifting and folding in the remaining flour mixture, one-fourth at a time. Spoon the batter into an ungreased 17x11-inch jelly-roll pan. 4. Bake the cake until the top springs back when pressed, about 15 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Assembling and Decorating the Cake 1. Cut out 4 stars from the cake with a 4-inch star-shaped cookie cutter. Repeat with 3 1/4-inch, 2 1/2-inch and 1 3/4-inch star cutters for a total of 16 cake stars. Transfer the stars to a wire rack. 2. With kitchen scissors, cut four 3/4-inch squares from the cake scraps left in the pan. Trim the corners to make rounds. Transfer the rounds to the rack. Using a fine mesh sieve, dust the cakes with confectioners’ sugar, then dust 4 serving plates. 3. Holding the cakes by the edges, make a stack of stars on each prepared plate, using 1 cake star of each size and stacking from largest to smallest. Top each cake stack with a cake round. 4. Spoon the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip; pipe a dot at each point of each star. Immediately place a dragee on each dot of frosting. Variations To create pine trees, add green food coloring to the cake batter (the confectioners’ sugar will resemble freshly fallen snow). Or for a different flavor and striking color contrast, sift 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder into the flour. Instead of the dragees, use decorating gels in different colors to pipe Christmas balls, candy canes or holly berries and leaves onto your tree cakes. Tip: Easy Option If you like, you can use any prepared cake mix for the cakes. Yellow, white, dark chocolate and strawberry mixes all make lovely trees.

Banning USB Flash Drives From The Workplace

Banning USB Flash Drives From The Workplace The last few years we have seen an increase in sales of the fancy looking USB flash drives. They have been made as small as a keychain figurine or a tie clip. Yes, USB flash drives to wear on your tie. Now that these flash drives have made their way to everyone because of the affordable pricing, many workplaces are banning them from the office. It is one of the best ways to steal company information without anyone knowing about it. Many companies have as far as disabling the USB ports on employee’s computers. This may seem a little extreme, but companies have to protect their information. Although some businesses give these little units to their employees for advertising purposes, they are not allowed to use them in the workplace. They are basically given as an advertisement with the company logo on them for others to see. There are so many harmful affects that these flash drives can have on a business. Because of their different shapes and designs, businesses have decided to pull the plug on the USB ports. You might look at someone’s keychain and think that little gadget they have is cute, but that cute little gadget could ruin your business. This type of theft and the creation of the USB flash drives brought concern from many businesses and individuals alike. What if you are individual that carries around a USB flash drive in their purse or on a keychain would lose the unit? All information would be loss and open to anyone who finds the flash drive. This causes concern for concern for how to properly store the flash drives that have sensitive information recorded. Carrying around a flash drive is just like carrying around your credit card. If you lose it, you are vulnerable to fraud. For the most part, flash drives have allowed people to download music, pictures and files and free up room on the laptop or the desktop computer. These are also valuable in the event you would lose information on your computer due to a hacker or a virus. In this case, the USB flash drives are extremely necessary. You can buy different size flash drives to hold different amounts of information. If you download a huge amount of music, you may want a USB flash drive that can accommodate all the files or more than one. New technology has enhanced the use of the computer for more than one reason. People can now use flash drives for file storage and businesses can storage vital information on these drives in order to keep it safe from potential security leaks. Although businesses ban the use of the flash drives from employee’s, the company themselves do use these as way’s to conduct business during travels. They can make presentations and instead of carrying a laptop along on their travels, they just take the flash drive. Today, with the higher security in airports, it is always important to check with new security rules before attempting to take a flash drive on the airplane to make sure it will be accepted. In most cases, you will fid that they are allowed. Other business concerns the flash drives are a valuable and handy little piece of technology that will help secure important files and information.

How To Keep Your Spices Tasting Fresh

Do A Color Check Spices should be bright and colorful. The more faded and grey they look, the less flavorful they'll taste. Sniff It Out A strong aroma is a sign that your herbs are still in their prime. Take a small amount of herbs from the bottle and crush them in the palm of your hand with your finger. If the herbs don't smell strong, you probably won't be able to taste them either. Handle With Care Moisture will shorten the shelf life of your spices, so don't shake a container over a steaming pot. Always measure your spices with a dry measuring spoon, away from the steam. Keep your spices tightly capped and store in a cool dry place when you're not using them.

Great Thanksgiving Recipes & Top Wine Picks

Holiday Roasted TurkeyPreparation Time: 50 minutes Roast Time: 4 hours Serves 15, plus leftovers You’ll love the crisp skin and tender drumsticks of this big, juicy bird. Ingredients 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 1 1/4 cups sliced mushrooms 1 cup chopped onion 1/2 teaspoon dried savory 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 cups chopped cooked broccoli 1 (14-ounce) package herb stuffing mix 1 (14-ounce) can chicken broth 1 cup cooked wild rice 1 (14- to 16-pound) turkey, packets removed 1. Preheat the oven to 325F. 2. Melt the butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, onion, savory and nutmeg and sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the broccoli, stuffing mix, broth and wild rice and mix well. 3. Fill the cavities of the turkey loosely with the stuffing, reserving the remaining stuffing. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. 4. Spoon the reserved stuffing into an 8 by 8-inch baking pan. Chill, covered, until time to bake. 5. Roast the turkey, basting occasionally with pan drippings, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in an inner thigh and in the stuffing registers 180F, about 4 hours. Place the uncovered reserved stuffing in the oven during the last 40 minutes of turkey baking time, until browned on the top and heated through. Sweet Potato SurprisePreparation Time: 25 minutes Bake Time: 25 minutes Serves 12 The addition of crunchy pecans and slightly chewy dried apricots is the surprise in this special holiday side dish. Ingredients 12 medium sweet potatoes 3 cups (about 1 1/3 pounds) firmly packed light brown sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch 2 teaspoons grated orange zest 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 2 cups apricot nectar 2 (15 1/4-ounce) cans sliced apricots, drained 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 1 cup chopped pecans Orange zest strips, optional for garnish 1. Combine the sweet potatoes with enough water to cover in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 20 minutes; drain well. Cool until easily handled. 2. Preheat the oven to 375F. 3. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange in two 2-quart round baking dishes. 4. Combine the brown sugar, cornstarch, grated orange zest and cinnamon in a large saucepan and mix well. Stir in the apricot nectar. Cook over medium heat, stirring continually, until thickened. Stir in the apricots. Pour over the sweet potatoes in the baking dishes. 5. Dot the potatoes with the butter and sprinkle with pecans. Place the two baking dishes in the oven and bake until the sauce is bubbly, about 25 minutes. Garnish with orange zest strips, if desired. Tip: Smaller Batch If you’re not serving a crowd, simply halve the amounts of the ingredients and bake the potatoes in one baking dish. Green Bean Casserole Preparation Time: 10 minutes Bake Time: 25 minutes Serves 10 to 12 This flavorful casserole has been a favorite for more than half a century! Thanksgiving just wouldn't be complete without it. Ingredients 2 (10 3/4-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup 1 cup milk 2 (4-ounce) cans sliced mushrooms, drained 2 (3-ounce) cans French-fried onions 1/4 cup pimientos 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 4 (9-ounce) packages frozen French-cut green beans, thawed 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. 2. Combine the soup, milk, mushrooms, half the fried onions, the pimientos and black pepper in a large bowl and mix well. 3. Combine the green beans and half the soup mixture in a separate large bowl and mix well. Divide the mixture between two 1 1/2-quart baking dishes. Top with remaining soup mixture. 4. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining fried onions on the tops. Bake until browned, about 5 minutes. Tip: Smaller Batch If you’re not serving a crowd, simply halve the amounts of the ingredients and bake the casserole in one baking dish. Nutty Pumpkin Bread Preparation Time: 10 minutes Bake Time: 55 to 60 minutes Makes 2 large loaves Serve this moist spiced bread with sweet butter at Thanksgiving, or spread with cream cheese and serve with tea or coffee for a special breakfast. Ingredients 1 3/4 cups sugar 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, at room temperature 4 eggs 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree 3/4 cup milk 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Coat two 4 1/4 by 8 3/4-inch loaf pans with cooking spray. 2. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until smooth. Add the eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Stir in the pumpkin puree and milk. 3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, walnuts, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add to the pumpkin mixture and stir just until the flour is moistened. 4. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in the pans. Turn onto wire racks and cool completely. Tip If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can use 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Maple Spice Cake Preparation Time: 20 minutes Bake Time: 20 to 25 minutes Serves 15 It’s always nice to offer a not-too-sweet alternative to pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Leftovers make a delicious after-school snack. Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, plus more for garnish 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or shortening, softened 3 large eggs, separated 1/2 cup half-and-half 1/4 cup maple syrup Whipped cream, for serving 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 13 by 9-inch cake pan. 2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Combine the brown sugar and butter in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set at high speed until creamy. Add the egg yolks and beat until blended. Add the flour mixture alternately with the half-and-half and maple syrup, beating well after each addition. 3. Place the egg whites in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set at high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the batter. 4. Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. 5. Cut the cake into squares. Top each serving with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Tip: Separating Eggs To easily separate eggs, crack an egg into your very clean hand held over a clean bowl. Let the egg white run through your fingers into the bowl, leaving the yolk in your hand. Praline Pumpkin Pie Preparation Time: 20 minutes Bake Time: 55 to 70 minutes Serves 8 Partially baking the crust before adding the filling helps to keep the bottom of this pie from becoming soggy. Ingredients 1 refrigerated piecrust 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon cold butter 1/4 cup chopped pecans 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree 1 cup half-and-half 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Fit the pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Flute the edges, pressing the pastry to the side of the plate. Bake until lightly golden, about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 350F. 2. To make the praline mixture, combine 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar and the flour in a small bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form. Stir in the pecans. Set aside. 3. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, the granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the pumpkin puree. Add the half-and-half and eggs and beat until smooth. 4. Pour the filling into the prepared piecrust. Sprinkle the praline mixture around the edge of the pie. Bake until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Tip If the piecrust becomes too dark during baking, cover the edge with strips of foil. Four Great Wines To Go With Your Dinner Reds 1. Benson Ferry Old Vine Zifandel 2006 $11 2. Lamborghini Trescone 2004 from Umbria $16 Whites 3. Cameron Hughes | Lot 58 2006 Chardonnay 4. Yering Station 2004 Chardonnay We hope you enjoy our Thanksgiving recipes and wine selections and we wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.

How To Safeguard Your Cash

Savers get around the new FDIC $250,000 insurance limit on bank accounts by speading their money across mutiple institutions. It's safe but it's also a big hassle. Now people are turning to other means to safeguard their cash. One is use a joint account owned by two or more people. Each account holder listed is insured for $250,000. Another technique that works is to set up a POD or "payable upon death" account at your bank. To set up a POD, a depositor must name a beneficiary or beneficiaries who will receive money if the primary account holder dies. Keep in mind that only certain relatives count as qualified benefciaries and a POD may disrupt a will or an estate plan. For a more formal type of POD, you may want to consult an estate attorney to form a Revocable Trust. Under this strategy, the owner assigns bneficiaries but retains control of the assets during his or her lifetime. The FDIC will insure the interests of each beneficiary for up to $250,000 For each qualified beneficiary, the FDIC will insure each beneficiary for up to $250,000. Another way to insure more than $250,000 per account is to buy multiple CDS through a stock brokerage firm. It's a fast way to spread money across different banks without the hassle of physically going to each bank. If you have $1,000,000 in cash to insure, just tell your broker to buy 4 different CDS from 4 different FDIC insured banks at $250,000 each. With a broker, you get access to numerous high yield CDS with one transaction. If you have even more money to insure, say up to 50 million dolars, you can obtain CDARS which stands for Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service. CDARS disperse individual CDS up to $50 million dollars. CDARS are available from the Promontory Interfinancial Network. You can contact them at www.promnetwork.com or call them at 1-866-776-6426. With CDARS, you have one account with one interest rate, one bank statement and one 1099 tax form. Also, you should know that money deposited in IRAs,Roth IRAs and certain other types of of retirement plans are insured up to $250,000. If you still feel that you need to do more to safeguard your cash, then see our June 08 blog post on how to open a swiss bank account. You could covert some of your dollars to Swiss francs. The Swiss franc is the safest currency in the world and it is the ONLY currency that's back by 56% gold!

The Best Chinese Dining In NYC Is In Flushing, New York

Nan Shian Dumpling House , 38-12 Prince St, 718-321-3838. Imperial Palace, 136-13 37th Ave, 718-939-3501. Xiao La Jiao, 133-48 Roosevelt Ave, 718-939-7788. Happy Beef Noodle House , 38-16 Prince St, 718-661-3969.

Three Great Spanish Rose' Wines Under $10

1. 2007 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Rosado $10 2. 2007 Bodegas Borsao Rose' 3. 2007 Marco Real Garnacha Rosado

How To Make The World's Best Grapefruit Sorbet

To make the sorbet, you'll first have to make sugar syrup. This will take about 5 minutes. For 6 2/3 cups of sugar syrup you'll need 5 cups of granulated sugar and 4 1/4 cups of water. The measurements of sugar and water have to be exact! Place the water and sugar in a large saucepan. Then cook over high heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar had dissolved. Continue heating the syrup until the syrup comes to a full boil. Then immediately remove the sauce pan from the heat and pour the syrup into a large bowl or in a jar where you wish to store it. Let it completely cool before you use it. Once the syrup has cooled to room temperature, it can be stored in a refrigerator where it will keep for months until you need it. The graprefriut sorbet will take about 10 minutes to make. For one quart of sherbet you'll need 3 large grapefruits and 1 1/2 cups of cold sugar syrup. Cut each grapefruit in half and squeeze out all the juice. Measure the juice to make sure you have 2 1/2 cups to make the sherbert. Strain the juice through a seive into a bowl mix in the sugar syrup, and pour it into your ice cream maker. Then freeze and serve. For a fabulous touch, serve the sorbet in the hollowed out skins of the fruit. When you squeeze the juice, be careful not to damage the skins. Remove the thin membrane that fills the center of the skins and rub the inside of each skin with a sugar cube. Place the hollowed out sugared skins in the freezer for a least an hour before filling them with sorbet. Once your dinner guests taste this sorbet they will judge all sorbets and sherbets against this incredible recipe.

How To Make The World's Best Belgium French Fries

First, you'll need 5 large russet potatoes, 2 tablespoons of salt,2 tablespoons of sugar, and 2 quarts of vegetable oil. Peel the potatoes and trim each into a rectangle. Cut them the long way, into broad slices 1/4" thick. Then cut them into french fries 1/4" wide. Keep in mind that it's important for the size to be correct for the cooking process. Keep the cut potatoes in a bowl of cool water until your're ready to use them. Now, place 3 quarts of water, 2 tablespoons of salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a large pot and bring it to a boil. Add your cut fries to the boiling water and let the water return to a boil. Then reduce the heat until the water comes to a gentle boil and cook the potatoes fro 7 minutes or until then are soft but still holding together. Remove them with a wide slotted spider spoon and place them on paper towels until they reach room temperature. Then heat the oil in a pan or deep fryer to 250 F degrees. Then slowly lower the potatoes into the oil and cook them for 2 minutes until they are just blanched with very little color. Place on paper towels. Repeat this process until all the potatoes until they've had this first fry. Then heat the oil to 350F degrees and re-cook all the fries for 3 minutues or until they are golden brown. Put them on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. You can hold the first batch or two in a 350 F degree oven until ready to serve. Once your dinner guests taste these fries they will never set foot into a fast food restuarant as long as they live.

How To Make No-Bake Bluberry Cheesecake

To start off, you'll need 16 graham cracker squares which is 8 whole crackers crushed. Then 1/4 cup of ground pecans or walnuts, 3 tbsp of melted butter, one 8oz package of crem cheese at room temperature, 1 cup of ricotta cheese, 2 tbsp of honey, rind of a lemon freshly grated, a pinch of salt and 1 1/2 cups of bluberries. Combine the crushed graham crackers,nuts and melted butter. Press evenly into the bottom of an 8 or 9 inch square pan to form a crust about 1/4 inch thick. Put in the frig until ready to use. Using a standing or hand mixer or a whisk, combine the creme cheese, ricotta, honey, lemon rind, and salt in bowl. Spread the cheese mixture carefully and evenly over the crust, using a spatula or butter knife. Cover with fresh bluberries or other fresh fruit and chill for a least an hour or until set. Cut into square or bars and serve. Serves 8 to 12.

4 Great Whites Under $10

1. 2007 White Truck Chardonnay 2. 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris 3. 2007 Francis Ford Coppola Presents Pinot Grigio Blanco 4. 2007 Torres Sangre de Toro Blanco

How To Save Thousands On Printer Ink

If you use a laser or inkjet printer on a regular basis you know that printers routinely demand that their ink or toner cartridges be replaced when pages come out dark and crisp. That's because printer makers make more money on selling you ink than selling you a printer. On most printers, there is a way to overide the software so the ink or toner cartridge prints until it's actually empty. To find out how your printer work, go to Google, and type in the following search terms: "how to override the low ink sensor on printers". This search will produce a number of sites that will help you override your printer's software. Also, never buy original ink cartriges no mater what the manufacturer says. Our Epson printer uses $21 cartridges that we routinely buy on line for $3 ea. Since you have to order online, at $3 each, you can afford to stockpile the cartridge you need according to how many you use a month. One good source for cheap ink is: www.Megatoners.Com Keep in mind some sites are cheaper than others for your particular printer. So do a Google search like "cheapest ink for (your printers name & number)" will give you tons of hits. Make sure you look at least 20 sites to get the cheapest price. Do not buy from sites that do not list a physical address, that do not have a phone number and that do not offer a 100% money-back guarantee on their remanufactured inks.

Websites Match TopTravel Agents To Your Needs

www.Zicasso.com , www.Tripology.com , www.Compete4YourSeat.com , and last there is www.AdventureLink.com

L.A.'s Best Prix Fixe Meal Deals

Tracht's 111 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Bch, CA 562-499-2533. Three course menu for $30 from 6-10pm Sun-Wed +25% off wine! Chicken Itza 2501 W. Sixth St, LA 213-380-0051. Seven course tasting meal for $35 on Saturdays. All' Angelo 7166 Melrose Ave, LA 323-933-8540.Four course menu Mon-Thurs for $38. Tender Greens 9523 Cluver Blvd, Culver City, CA 310-842-8300. Sunday pot roast dinner for $10.

How To Get In A Locked Out Car With Keyless Entry

Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot >From your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

How To Disable A Stolen Mobile Phone

To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This n umber is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM car d, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

How To Sell Your House Fast In A Buyers Market

1. Don't Wait Out The Market List your house as soon as you can since it may take up to 180 days to sell your house. 2.Clean It And Fix it In life, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So don't spend a lot of money for big renovations. Just make sure everything is in good repair. Make sure the door bell works, the carpets and floors are clean, and there are no offensive pet odors. For info on how to choose and outstanding carpet and floor cleaner visit www.AllstateCleaning.com . Then get rid of the clutter. Rent a storage facility and put out only enough furniture out to make it look livable. 3. Price It Right Forget what you think your house was worth three years ago or today. House prices are down anywhere from 14% to 25% all across the nation. Smart buyers will be looking for bargains. So price your house below comparable nearby properties. Keep in mind that renting is still a better deal right now than buying. 4. Hire A Top Gun Realtor Forget the discount brokers, your cousin or the part time realtor down the street. No matter what broker you choose, demand that your house be listed only with the top agent in that office. Interview several agents and ask that they present a marketing plan that goes beyond beyond an internet page, an open house or a yard sign. Also,offer the agent a bonus if he or she sells your house in 30 days at your asking price. Plus make sure your house is listed on website like www.Trulia.com , www.Zillow.com ,www.Cyberhomes.com ,www.Eppraisal.com and www.Realtor.com .Also, list the house on www.Ebay.com and www.Craigslist.org . Think out of the box. Try listing your house in a corporate newsletter or contacting re-location firms in your area and letting them know about your house. 5. Hold The Paper If your house is paid off, consider offering the buyer full or partial financing.This will be in your favor in a tight credit market. Just make sure you use a top real estate lawyer to draw up the papers. If the buyer defaults, the worst that can happen is you take the house back and sell it again. Also to sweeten the pot, you should have your house inspected and market it as a "certified house" like a certifed car. If the inspection reveals problems, you can have them corrected before anybody finds out. To find a certified house inspector, visit www.Ashi.Org and www.Nahi.Org To make your home even more attractive in a buyer's market, you should also offer a home warranty for a $300 to $400 cost. Home warranties are available at www.HomeServiceContract.Org

How To Avoid Foreclosure

If you're one of the millions of Americans who was sold a high risk mortage without full disclosure you'll find help at www.LoanSafe.Org. There, you'll find links to firms that offer loan modification and document reviews that protect your rights. You'll also find a helpful forum to find help with your particular loan issues.

Top Chow Spots In Jersey

Continental www.ratsrestaurant.org/ratsrestaurant.php?page=1&sub=1 16 Fairgrounds Rd, Hamilton, NJ 609-584-7800 Seafood Library II, 306 Rout 73, Voorhees, NJ 08043, www.MilfordOysterHouse.com, 922 Rt 591, Milford, NJ 908-995-9411, Jackson Mountain Cafe, 400 Washington Blvd, Cape May, NJ 609-884-5648 American www.daviddrakes.com,1449 Irving St, Rahway, NJ 07065 732-388-6677, www.55main.com ,55 Main St, Flemington, NJ 908-284-1551, Italian www.scalinifedeli.com, 63 Main St, Chatham, NJ 973-701-9200, www.panicosrestaurant.com ,103 Church St, New Brunswick, NJ 732-545-6100, French www.restaurantpassionne.com,77 Walnut St, Montclair, NJ 07042 973-233-1006, Indian-New Age www.piquantfoods.com 349A George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732-246-2468, Thai www.thaitida.com 236 N. Union St, Lambertville, NJ 609-397-6901,

How To Avoid Carpet Cleaning Scams

As soon as the economy takes a downturn, it’s guaranteed to happen. They promise to clean all the carpets in your house for $59.00. Sound too good to be true? It probably is. To make matters worse, they finally show up–three hours late-in a beat up pick-up truck with no company name, and hop out in torn jeans and a soiled tee-shirt. Then you realize it: you’ve been the victim of a bait -and -switch campaign. What is bait and switch? Bait and switch scams work like this: a company advertises cleaning a roomful of carpet of carpet for a ridiculously low price. When they arrive, they inform you the price they quoted is only for the traffic lanes and doesn’t include any cleaning chemicals.” That’s like taking a bath with no soap,” says textile inspector Rodney Mortillaro at AllstateCleaning.Com. So you agree to pay extra for the chemicals because you are thankful someone showed up. In the end, the final bill ends up costing you hundreds of dollars. Another typical scam is hearing that a company will clean a set amount of rooms for a very low price ( like 5 rooms for $49.00). After they begin, you discover a linen closet, hallway, foyer, or regular closet counts as a room, and you wind up paying a lot more than you thought you would. Bait-and-switch scams are especially targeted at the elderly. Seniors are more likely to be intimidated by high pressure tactics and by someone who ”promises" to give them a good deal. Professional carpet cleaning technicians will arrive in a company vehicle with company identification on the side. They may also be uniformed, should be well groomed, and should provide some sort of business or certification card. If they are more like person described at the beginning of this story, then don’t let them in. So how can you avoid a bait-and-switch scam? The best protection against bait-and-switch is to ask some pointed questions before the cleaner arrives at your home. Call several local cleaning companies. If the company cannot answer simple questions, move on to another company. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here are 11 tough questions you should ask: 1." Is your company part of a national building supply store, department store or franchise?" Big national department stores, discount building supply stores and franchise cleaners have big employee turn over problems. The technician on your home route will probably change several times a year. So calling a large carpet cleaning franchise is usually a "roll of the dice" when it comes to getting a good carpet cleaning tech. More than likely you'll get a "green" rookie with one day of "training" who will be learning at your expense. Plus they book lots of jobs back to back so most of the time no more than 30 minutes is ever spent cleaning your carpets. Then they pray that their employees will do a good job for you. Some of these large companies even advertise that they are "family owned" but in reality, they may have 100 trucks or more. So to them, you're just a number. And their office may be up to 2 or 3 hours away from your home. But many use toll free numbers so you have no way of knowing that you're not calling a local company. So your chances of getting an owner or a family member to clean your carpets are slim to none. 2. " Are you certified in carpet cleaning? If not, what type of formal training do you have?" Hardly any of the franchise and bait-and-switch cleaners are certified by the Institute Of Inspection, Cleaning Restoration and Certification. In fact, only the top 10% of all cleaners in the nation are IICRC certified. 3. "How many years has your company been in business?" ( the longer, the better) 4. "Can you provide a list of references I can call?" 5. " Is your company drug, alcohol and criminal free?" Many national chains and independent owners do not do background checks and drug testing on their employees. This puts you and your family at great risk. So to be on the safe side, DO NOT deal with companies who fail to pre-screen their employees. 6. " Can you provide proof of insurance and a business license?" 7. " What steps will be included in your cleaning process? Is your company 100% green?" Besides using cheap cleaning solutions that cause rapid re-soling, many chain, franchise and bait and switch cleaners use detergents that may be harmful to you, your family and your pets. Make sure the firm you choose can prove that they use cleaning solutions that are safe for you and the environment. 8. "Does your company sell carpet?" In most cases, you should never have your carpets cleaned by carpet retailers. Reason? Its a lot more profitable and easier for carpet retailers to sell you new carpet than to restore it like new. Plus it's easier for them to tell you that your carpets need to be replaced when it's simply not true. This rule also applies to firms that re-upholster and clean furniture. 9. "How long will it take for the carpet to dry?" 10. " Do you offer free, no-obligation, on-site written quotations?" 11. " Do you offer a written, satisfaction or money back guarantee?" After your questions have been answered, you also may what to check the firm’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org . You can also check the consumer affairs department of your state’s attorney general’s office. “You’d be shocked at the number of companies that have lousy reputations when it comes to addressing consumer complaints”, says Mortillaro. When you have decided on a cleaner, make sure you pay your bill with a major credit card. Sometimes it’s difficult getting a cleaner to come back to fix a problem after you’ve paid the bill. Paying by credit card will give you an option to dispute the bill if the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction. For a free report on how to select a carpet cleaner see, How To Select A Professional Carpet Cleaning Company and the Oriental Rug Guide at www.AllstateCleaning.Com

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