Flour, water, yeast and salt are all that are needed to make a spectacular loaf of bread.
All About The Flour The artisan bread bakers’ pick for flour is known as Hard Red Winter
Wheat. Hard wheat is used to mill flour that is designed for making
bread. It has the protein content necessary to shape and hold together a
loaf of bread, whereas soft wheat is appropriate for making cakes and
pastries.
Red is the color of the wheat berry. Winter refers to the planting
season of the wheat; winter wheat is planted now, in the fall. It
sprouts before the frost sets in and then goes dormant during the winter
months. Winter wheat comes back to life in the spring, continues to
grow and is finally harvested in late spring. The harsh winters of the
northern United States make it difficult to grow this type of wheat, so
it is traditionally grown in the mid-U.S., where the winters are more
moderate. Spring wheat has a much shorter growing season, which means it
must be heavily fertilized in order to move the wheat to maturation
before winter arrives.
Winter wheat is the gold standard for artisan bread bakers because of
the way it is grown. Its long, slow, natural growing cycle produces a
flour that has a lower protein, or gluten, content. It sounds
contradictory. You would think that bread baking requires a lot of
strength from the gluten. But too much strength translates into a tough,
dense, overly chewy loaf of bread. While that may be great for a bagel,
most breads require a lower protein content to make a light, delicate
loaf. Also, winter wheat has a better flavor. As with any crop, the more
natural the growing conditions, the better the flavor, and wheat is no
different.
Bread bakers have accepted that buying local wheat may not be a
choice for them. But think of it like buying coffee or tea. You can’t go
to the farmers’ market and find locally grown coffee. You can, however,
buy organic and fair trade coffee that is roasted locally. You buy the
best that is available to you.
All About The Water Believe it or not, most tap water is great for bread baking. “Wouldn’t bottled water
be better for bread?” The simple truth is, no, it’s not better. Once the
minerals are filtered out of the water it makes it difficult to make
bread. Moderately hard water is better for the yeast, as these minerals
have a strengthening effect on it. Water that has been softened with a
salt system can also cause problems with the yeast. Salt naturally
controls the rate of fermentation in the yeast cells, and so too much
salt will slow the yeast down. Not accounting for the salt that is added
to softened water can have a big impact on the outcome of your bread.
All About The Yeast You’re not going to find local yeast at the farmers’ market. But you can
make your own yeast with a sourdough culture. It’s easy to start and
only takes a few minutes a day to maintain. Then you can leaven your
bread with the yeast contained in your sourdough culture. Bread that is
naturally leavened with only a sourdough culture will take longer to
ferment than those made with commercial yeast. But the flavor is well
worth the wait.
All About The Salt The best salt for bread is any that does not contain iodine, as yeast is
slowed down by it. You can use kosher or sea salts, which don’t contain
iodine and have a better flavor than table salt. You do need to pay
attention to the size of the salt crystals; large ones need to be
dissolved in the water from the formula before mixing.
All About The Sourdough Culture You will need to start this 10 days to two weeks before it is ready to
use. Or, become friends with your local bread baker and ask for a little
bit of their sourdough culture to start feeding as your own.
Day 1: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
3 ounces bread flour
1 ounce whole wheat flour
4 ounces water, 85°F
Day 2: Simply stir the mixture well, cover and leave at room temperature.
Day 3: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
3 ounces bread flour
1 ounce whole wheat flour
4 ounces of sourdough starter/mixture from yesterday
4 ounces water, 85°F
Day 4: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
3 ounces bread flour
6 ounces sourdough starter
3 ounces water, 80°F
Day 5: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
9 ounces bread flour
3 ounces sourdough starter
6 ounces water, 75°F
Days 6–11: By hand, combine the following, cover and leave at room temperature.
9 ounces bread flour
3 ounces sourdough starter
6 ounces water, 60–65°F
You may now use the sourdough culture in your bread.
To feed your sourdough culture from here, just follow the Day 6–11
feeding. It is important to feed your sourdough at the same time each
and every day. If you are only going to use your sourdough culture
sporadically, you will need to store it so that it can survive and be
useful later.
For short-term storage—no longer than a week—you can place the
sourdough starter into the refrigerator right after feeding. Then bring
the sourdough out to room temperature the day before you intend to bake
with it, feed it, and allow it to ferment for 18–24 hours. If you want
to store it for a longer period, bakers recommend dehydrating the culture and
freezing it. It’s easier than it sounds; just do the Day 6 feed but do
not add the water.
You will create something that looks like crumbs. Pack this into an
airtight plastic bag and freeze it. A day or two before you are going to
bake, take the frozen culture out of the freezer, and add the water
amount from the Day 6 feed. The water should be very warm—120°F—for this
feeding only. The warm water will help bring the culture back up to
room temperature. Continue to feed the culture daily or put it away
until you need it again.
Once you create your sourdough culture, use it instead of instant yeast and add it to your favorite bread recipe.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Full Proof Pie Dough For Thanksgiving
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons sugar
12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
(1 1/2 sticks)
1/2 cup chilled solid vegetable shortning
cut into 4 pieces
1/4 cup vodka ( cold )
1/4 cup cold water
Yield: One 9 inch Double Crust Pie
Process:
Mix 1 1/2 cups of flour, salt and sugar in a food processor until combined, with about 2 one second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until the dough starts to collect in uneven clumps, or in about 15 seconds.The dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour. Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute the dough evenly around the processor blade. Add the remaining cup of flour and pulse until the mixture is evenly distributed around the bowl and the mass of dough has been broken up with 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty the mixture into a medium bowl.
Then sprinkle vodka and water over the mixture . With a rubber spatula, using a folding motion to mix, press down on the dough until it is slightly tacky and sticks together. Then divide the dough into two even balls and flatten each one into a 4 inch disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.
2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons sugar
12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
(1 1/2 sticks)
1/2 cup chilled solid vegetable shortning
cut into 4 pieces
1/4 cup vodka ( cold )
1/4 cup cold water
Yield: One 9 inch Double Crust Pie
Since water bonds with flour to form gluten, too much makes for a tough crust. And rolling out dry dough is hard, so using vodka, which is 60% water, makes for an easy to roll crust with less gluten and no added alcohol flavor since it evaporates in the oven.
Process:
Mix 1 1/2 cups of flour, salt and sugar in a food processor until combined, with about 2 one second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until the dough starts to collect in uneven clumps, or in about 15 seconds.The dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour. Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute the dough evenly around the processor blade. Add the remaining cup of flour and pulse until the mixture is evenly distributed around the bowl and the mass of dough has been broken up with 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty the mixture into a medium bowl.
Then sprinkle vodka and water over the mixture . With a rubber spatula, using a folding motion to mix, press down on the dough until it is slightly tacky and sticks together. Then divide the dough into two even balls and flatten each one into a 4 inch disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
17 Secrets Surgeons Pray You Never Find Out
1.Although "best doctors lists" are a good starting point, don't forget to ask hospital employees about a doc you may be sizing up. Their opinions are pretty accurate. 2. Ask you doc about his or her complication rate. If they don't have one, they're hiding something or haven't operated enough to have one. Keep in mind no one is immune to complications. 3. Make sure your surgeon is board certified at www.absurgery.org If your facing a stiff jail sentence and a jury trial, you would want to make sure that your criminal lawyer was a certified trial attorney. So don't even think about using a surgeon who is not board certified in his field.
4. Always get a second or third opinion since some surgeons won't mention procedures they don't know how to do. Also your primary doctor's referral to a surgeon may not always be the best . 5. Always ask your surgeon who is going to take care of you after surgery. You want to make sure that your surgeon or his assistants will see you on a regular basis until you have fully recovered. 6. Always have elective surgery early in the week since lots of doctors go away for the weekend and won't be around to make sure your ok. 7. Make sure you find out who your anesthesiologist will be since he is just as important as your surgeon. Check him out thoroughly. 8. Make sure your surgeon doesn't rely just on one pathologist. Ask him to send all your slides to a nationally recognized reference lab to get a second pathology opinion. 9. Always ask your surgeon what risk about the procedure worries him the most. 10. All surgeon residents have to learn how to operate one time or another, but just make sure it's not at the risk of your health. Verify that your surgeon will be actively involved in your surgery and not just checking in every hour. 11. Ask your surgeon how many of these operations has he done. The average number of surgeries a surgeon does during a residency is about 900.Also ask your doctor if the surgery is truly necessary , whether you can wait a while, and ask about non-surgical options. That's because they get paid 10 times more money to operate on you that to manage your illness conservatively. 12. If you have unanswered questions about your surgery after the operation, ask to read the operative note report dictated by the surgeon . 13 If you have pain in your calf after surgery, or if swells up and looks red, you may have a blood clot which is a risk of every surgery. 14.You should know that 25% of all operations are unnecessary. That's because private hospital administrators push doctors to do more procedures to generate more income. After all, hospitals don't run those expensive TV commercials with celebrity spokes people for their health. 15. The average income of a U.S. surgeon is $265,000. Some surgeons hire practice management consulltants to generate more revenue. They many want the doctor to build a surgery center to capture facility fees or get an in-office MRI machine. Also, some orthopedic surgeons make millions in soft consulting agreements with device manufacturers. So if you need a medical implant device, ask your doctor if he has a financial relationship with the vendor. If so, you may end up with a device that is more expensive or not the most appropriate. 16. If your doctor wants to give you a stent always ask him if it's better than medicine. If you're not having a heart attack or unstable angina, studies show that you will do equally well with a stent or medicine. Also keep in mind that having something permanently implanted in your body is not a risk free proposition. In addition, there is evidence that thousands of people have had stents implanted that they did not need. 17. If you have any kind of serious medical condition, always go to a university teaching hospital. You'll get doctors involved in the latest medicine and you'll have the advantage of having a resident or physician beside 24-7 and a surgeon will always be on call.
4. Always get a second or third opinion since some surgeons won't mention procedures they don't know how to do. Also your primary doctor's referral to a surgeon may not always be the best . 5. Always ask your surgeon who is going to take care of you after surgery. You want to make sure that your surgeon or his assistants will see you on a regular basis until you have fully recovered. 6. Always have elective surgery early in the week since lots of doctors go away for the weekend and won't be around to make sure your ok. 7. Make sure you find out who your anesthesiologist will be since he is just as important as your surgeon. Check him out thoroughly. 8. Make sure your surgeon doesn't rely just on one pathologist. Ask him to send all your slides to a nationally recognized reference lab to get a second pathology opinion. 9. Always ask your surgeon what risk about the procedure worries him the most. 10. All surgeon residents have to learn how to operate one time or another, but just make sure it's not at the risk of your health. Verify that your surgeon will be actively involved in your surgery and not just checking in every hour. 11. Ask your surgeon how many of these operations has he done. The average number of surgeries a surgeon does during a residency is about 900.Also ask your doctor if the surgery is truly necessary , whether you can wait a while, and ask about non-surgical options. That's because they get paid 10 times more money to operate on you that to manage your illness conservatively. 12. If you have unanswered questions about your surgery after the operation, ask to read the operative note report dictated by the surgeon . 13 If you have pain in your calf after surgery, or if swells up and looks red, you may have a blood clot which is a risk of every surgery. 14.You should know that 25% of all operations are unnecessary. That's because private hospital administrators push doctors to do more procedures to generate more income. After all, hospitals don't run those expensive TV commercials with celebrity spokes people for their health. 15. The average income of a U.S. surgeon is $265,000. Some surgeons hire practice management consulltants to generate more revenue. They many want the doctor to build a surgery center to capture facility fees or get an in-office MRI machine. Also, some orthopedic surgeons make millions in soft consulting agreements with device manufacturers. So if you need a medical implant device, ask your doctor if he has a financial relationship with the vendor. If so, you may end up with a device that is more expensive or not the most appropriate. 16. If your doctor wants to give you a stent always ask him if it's better than medicine. If you're not having a heart attack or unstable angina, studies show that you will do equally well with a stent or medicine. Also keep in mind that having something permanently implanted in your body is not a risk free proposition. In addition, there is evidence that thousands of people have had stents implanted that they did not need. 17. If you have any kind of serious medical condition, always go to a university teaching hospital. You'll get doctors involved in the latest medicine and you'll have the advantage of having a resident or physician beside 24-7 and a surgeon will always be on call.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
How To Get Out Of An Arbitration Clause In A Contract
When you're handed a contract containing an arbitration clause, write "I disavow this section of the contract" next to the clause and then initial the modification. Then make a copy. There's no guarantee that the company will accept this-or that the disavow will hold up in court. But there is little harm in trying since in some cases the tactic could increase the odds that the company will be willing to agree to an out-of-court settlement rather than risk the possibility that you could force a court case.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
How The Right Real Estate Agent Can Get You Top Dollar For Your Home
Here are five steps you need to take to find the right real estate agent to sell your home at top dollar:
1. Ask for the "relocation coordinator" when you first contact real estate agencies Sellers who call agencies typically are routed to which ever agent happens to be on phone rotation that day. In contrast, relocation coordinators can be objective because they don't sell homes themselves. Their job is to help executives who are moving in the area. The "relo guy or gal" often is willing to provide an insiders opinion about which agent is most appropriate for a particular listing given the home's location and approximate value.
If you're not certain which agencies to call, lean towards those that seem to have lots of homes for sale in your neighborhood based on yard signs or listings on www.Zillow.Com or www.Trulia.com. These agencies are likely to be active and respected since they have a strong knowledge of your area. That's because real estate is extremely local, and an agency that sells lots of homes in your neck of the woods most likely understands the nuances of home values in your area.
2. Research agents before you meet with them Experienced agents should have web pages detailing their background and recent sales usually on their agencies' website. Be wary of those who don't. Also, use the website to confirm the agent has extensive experience selling homes in your price range and area. Also confirm that the agent is full time. You should not trust your home to a part-timer. Also, do a Google search on the agent's name and agency. Choose a different agent if numerous complaints from prior clients show up.
3. Interview at least 3 to 5 agents from different agencies Interviewing three or more agents will weed out those whose opinion and the listing price diverge significantly from the consensus. Weed out these agents since your home is likely to appear mispriced or flawed to these agents if they represent buyers too.Here's a prime example: If two out of 3 agents you talk to say your house should be listed at $475,000 and that the hardwood floors should be cleaned and polished. Another agent says that it should be listed at $550,000 as is. There's a good chance that this agent is misreading the market or is telling you what he or she thinks you want to hear.
4. During interviews, ask agents about their marketing strategies and pricing recommendations Agents should be able to layout fairly detailed marketing plans that may include open houses, brochures, online marketing and other strategies. The agent should be able to explain their reasoning for the plan. The explanation as to why the strategy was selected is most telling. For instance, perhaps the agent has learned from earlier sales that placing an ad in a publication that caters to seniors is a great way to find potential buyers for your home.
Stay away from agents who recommend a listing price immediately upon viewing your home. A responsible agent will take time back at the office to review recent comparable sales before citing a specific listing price.
Also, avoid an agent who solicits a price based on your desires rather then on reality.
5. Ask your agent for references And finally, ask the agent for his or hers five most recent sales. Then call at least 3 sellers to confirm that they had a positive experience with the agent.
1. Ask for the "relocation coordinator" when you first contact real estate agencies Sellers who call agencies typically are routed to which ever agent happens to be on phone rotation that day. In contrast, relocation coordinators can be objective because they don't sell homes themselves. Their job is to help executives who are moving in the area. The "relo guy or gal" often is willing to provide an insiders opinion about which agent is most appropriate for a particular listing given the home's location and approximate value.
If you're not certain which agencies to call, lean towards those that seem to have lots of homes for sale in your neighborhood based on yard signs or listings on www.Zillow.Com or www.Trulia.com. These agencies are likely to be active and respected since they have a strong knowledge of your area. That's because real estate is extremely local, and an agency that sells lots of homes in your neck of the woods most likely understands the nuances of home values in your area.
2. Research agents before you meet with them Experienced agents should have web pages detailing their background and recent sales usually on their agencies' website. Be wary of those who don't. Also, use the website to confirm the agent has extensive experience selling homes in your price range and area. Also confirm that the agent is full time. You should not trust your home to a part-timer. Also, do a Google search on the agent's name and agency. Choose a different agent if numerous complaints from prior clients show up.
3. Interview at least 3 to 5 agents from different agencies Interviewing three or more agents will weed out those whose opinion and the listing price diverge significantly from the consensus. Weed out these agents since your home is likely to appear mispriced or flawed to these agents if they represent buyers too.Here's a prime example: If two out of 3 agents you talk to say your house should be listed at $475,000 and that the hardwood floors should be cleaned and polished. Another agent says that it should be listed at $550,000 as is. There's a good chance that this agent is misreading the market or is telling you what he or she thinks you want to hear.
4. During interviews, ask agents about their marketing strategies and pricing recommendations Agents should be able to layout fairly detailed marketing plans that may include open houses, brochures, online marketing and other strategies. The agent should be able to explain their reasoning for the plan. The explanation as to why the strategy was selected is most telling. For instance, perhaps the agent has learned from earlier sales that placing an ad in a publication that caters to seniors is a great way to find potential buyers for your home.
Stay away from agents who recommend a listing price immediately upon viewing your home. A responsible agent will take time back at the office to review recent comparable sales before citing a specific listing price.
Also, avoid an agent who solicits a price based on your desires rather then on reality.
5. Ask your agent for references And finally, ask the agent for his or hers five most recent sales. Then call at least 3 sellers to confirm that they had a positive experience with the agent.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Work-At-Home Jobs That Are For Real
There are 60 work from home scams on the web for each legitimate one. And interviews for online positions are conducted via phone or Skype video calls. So if you lack experience with Skype, then practice with your friends before you interview. So here are the real deal work at home jobs:
Major employers in this field include http://join.liveops.com/ ,
https://www.alpineaccess.com/careers/corporate-careers/, http://partner.arise.com/,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/jobs/ref=j_sq_btn?jobSearchKeywords=work+at+home+&category=Customer+Service&location=US, and www.RatRaceRebellion.Com . Pay is typically $9-$12 hr.
Major employers in this field include http://join.liveops.com/ ,
https://www.alpineaccess.com/careers/corporate-careers/, http://partner.arise.com/,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/jobs/ref=j_sq_btn?jobSearchKeywords=work+at+home+&category=Customer+Service&location=US, and www.RatRaceRebellion.Com . Pay is typically $9-$12 hr.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
8 Ways To Challenge A Noncompete Employment Agreement
1. Show that the new position would not violate the precise terms of your noncompete agreement. An employee discovered that his agreement barred him from working for an employer that used the same or similar technology. The new employer used a significantly different technology.
2. Show that your employer engaged in illegal or dishonest behavior towards its clients. Employers don't want former employees discussing corporate misbehavior in court. So they usually agree to waive non compete agreements when employees tactfully bring up these matters. 3. Show that your former employer lacks a legitimate business interest for enforcing the noncompete. Noncompete agreements are supposed to protect trade secrets and business relationships. If your role in the company did not give you access to trade secrets or clients, then you should be able to work for whomever you please. 4. Show the noncompete agreement is unreasonably broad in terms of time, geography or activities. If your current employer only does business in one state, then your agreement should not bar you in working in other states.Also, if your former employer is in just one market niche, your noncompete should not bar you from working in the entire sector. 5. Show that the employer tricked you into signing the noncompete by making promises that it did not live up to. Some employers make verbal promises stating that noncompetes will only be enforced if you try to join a particular competitor. If verbal promises were made to you regarding limits to the enforcement of your noncompete and/or benefits you would receive for signing it, then send an email requesting clarification . Save the email response since it could be used as evidence by you later. 6. Show that you were terminated without cause In some cases, the courts have ruled that employers cannot enforce noncompetes when employees are let go without doing anything wrong as in mass layoffs.7. Show that the noncompete agreement was never signed. If you don't recall signing an agreement, ask to see it. Also, some employees ask to consult with their lawyers before signing and then never get around to turning in the agreement. 8. Show that the employer breached the terms of your employment contract. If your employer did live up to his end of the bargain, then you likely cannot be forced to live up to your noncompete agreement. To make your case, approach your former employer to challenge your noncompete agreement before you start applying for new jobs. Begin by sending an e-mail to the decision maker using one or more of the reasons listed above to explain why you think your noncompete agreement is not valid. If the decision maker promises that the agreement will not be enforced, then save the email message to show to any potential employers who ask about prior noncompete agreements. If your former employer insists on holding you to your agreement, then hire a lawyer that specializes in employment law to send your former employer a letter. This should only take an hour or two of your attorney's time. If the employer still does not back down, you might have to go to court. But usually, employers generally prefer to negotiate before these cases get to court.
2. Show that your employer engaged in illegal or dishonest behavior towards its clients. Employers don't want former employees discussing corporate misbehavior in court. So they usually agree to waive non compete agreements when employees tactfully bring up these matters. 3. Show that your former employer lacks a legitimate business interest for enforcing the noncompete. Noncompete agreements are supposed to protect trade secrets and business relationships. If your role in the company did not give you access to trade secrets or clients, then you should be able to work for whomever you please. 4. Show the noncompete agreement is unreasonably broad in terms of time, geography or activities. If your current employer only does business in one state, then your agreement should not bar you in working in other states.Also, if your former employer is in just one market niche, your noncompete should not bar you from working in the entire sector. 5. Show that the employer tricked you into signing the noncompete by making promises that it did not live up to. Some employers make verbal promises stating that noncompetes will only be enforced if you try to join a particular competitor. If verbal promises were made to you regarding limits to the enforcement of your noncompete and/or benefits you would receive for signing it, then send an email requesting clarification . Save the email response since it could be used as evidence by you later. 6. Show that you were terminated without cause In some cases, the courts have ruled that employers cannot enforce noncompetes when employees are let go without doing anything wrong as in mass layoffs.7. Show that the noncompete agreement was never signed. If you don't recall signing an agreement, ask to see it. Also, some employees ask to consult with their lawyers before signing and then never get around to turning in the agreement. 8. Show that the employer breached the terms of your employment contract. If your employer did live up to his end of the bargain, then you likely cannot be forced to live up to your noncompete agreement. To make your case, approach your former employer to challenge your noncompete agreement before you start applying for new jobs. Begin by sending an e-mail to the decision maker using one or more of the reasons listed above to explain why you think your noncompete agreement is not valid. If the decision maker promises that the agreement will not be enforced, then save the email message to show to any potential employers who ask about prior noncompete agreements. If your former employer insists on holding you to your agreement, then hire a lawyer that specializes in employment law to send your former employer a letter. This should only take an hour or two of your attorney's time. If the employer still does not back down, you might have to go to court. But usually, employers generally prefer to negotiate before these cases get to court.
How To Beat Boardwalk & Carnival Games
Balloon Dart Throw For starters, the darts are dull and much lighter than you would find in a bar. Then the balloons are underinflated which makes them harder to pop. To beat the game, don't hurl the darts straight at the balloons. Instead, loft them in an arc for a better chance at catching a balloon. The Basketball Shoot The scam here is that the rims are smaller than regulation size and they are shaped like ovals. Next, the backboards are super bouncy, the balls are overinflated, and the hoop is often higher than normal. To walk away with a big prize, make sure you shoot underhand. A ball that arcs in for a swish will slip past the crooked rim. Milk Bottle Pyramid Most people aim for the dead center of the stack. But the trouble is that the bottom bottles are weighted. So if you hit the tops of the bottles, they'll never fall over. To beat the game just aim at the base of the bottom two bottles.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Insider Secrets Financial Planners Pray You Never Find Out
Financial planners CANNOT pick winning investments to beat the market, build wealth without risk or let you in on a deal that looks to good to be true. Advisers make money either by getting a commission to sell you a financial product or charge an asset based fee which is usually 1% annually of your assets So if your assets grow, so does their fee. But there are still conflicts since it encourages the fee based planner to capture as much of your money as he can. That's why few fee based planners encourage you to pay off your mortgage. They also like to put you in products that pay them automatically each quarter. In fact, few will tell you about a higher paying CD since banks don't pay financial planners. Obviously, a planner who works on commission would want to sell you products that yield the highest commissions. Also, if you don't have more than $100,000 to invest, commission based planners are the only ones who might take your business. But the conflict of interest is particularly stark among commission only planners. They usually sell load-carrying mutual funds, hedge funds,and private investments ranging from insurance to annuities to universal life. Another compensation model is those planners who get paid by the hour. They usually charge from $180 to $240 and hour and can be found at www.GarrettPlanningNetwork.Com
How They Sell You
Planners know that the quickest way to your money is your emotions. In one hour they'll try to get you so wound up that you might sign over your entire fortune. Many follow a multi-step system that gets you to talk about your values and your goals. They'll say things like, "describe your perfect day." Then they'll tell you how much money you'll need to invest for a string of perfect days. Or they might say they can get you to your dreams of spending more time with your grand kids if you let them handle your money right now. But most of them know that if you walk out of the office without signing , you may realize how manipulative the session was and never return. And once you sign and buy some product, it make take you years to get your money back without penalties. So never sign any document on your first meeting with a planner even if he or she tells you that you can still back out. Also, stay clear of so called free"educational dinners" and ads that boast wealth without risk and high guaranteed returns. They are just bait and switch tactics to get you into the office.You should also remember that anyone can fill an office with prestigious-looking credentials and call themselves a "financial planner". On the other hand, a good financial planner can help you define your financial goals, help you build a low cost diversified portfolio,and make sure you have the lowest cost insurance coverage for your needs. They can also help make the right moves with Social Security and your pension, reduce your taxes and pass assets to your heirs.
How To Get The Best Advice From Your Financial Planner
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
7 Secrets Your Vet Won't Tell You
1. Most hospitals keep comprehensive behavior records of you and your pet. If you are agressive to the staff, you will be treated differently. 2. A lot of vets don't use painkillers for procedures they know are painful. They think dog and cats don't need it or that feeling pain after surgery is good because it keeps them from moving around too much. But research has shown that pets who are in less pain heal faster and sleep better. So if your pet needs an operation, make sure you vet assures you that your pet will get the proper sedation for the procedure. 3. Find out where your vet went to school. Vets who can't get into traditional schools because of bad grades can get into Caribbean vet schools as long as they pay the tuition. 4. When you're searching for a new vet, always check out the staff. A lot of times they'll be listed online. Look for techs who are certified and licensed. They'll have RVT, LVT, or CVT after their names. 5.One way to check if your vet is up on the latest procedures is to ask how he or she puts a pet to sleep. If they use ketamine or halothane gas, they'e using 1970's technology. Modern vets use isoflurane and sevoflurane which are a lot safer. 6. Walgreens has a list of vet medicines for $4 per one month dose. They are the same meds you would pay $20 or $30 from your vet. 7. Avoid using low cost vet clinics since they may use half doses of vaccines which are ineffective and illegal. Also, steer clear of large corporate owned vet hospitals since vets there get paid a bonus based on how much money they bring in. Fees at these places are much higher than independent vets.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
How To Find A Bargain Vacation Rental Property Online
Imagine finding a 2 bedroom luxury apartment in London for $1,000 a week. Or a furnished studio apartment in the heart of Paris for $540 a week. Or a nice apartment near the water in Miami for $273. It can be done by checking out each one of these websites: www.HomeAway.Com, www.VRBO.com, www.AirBnB.Com, www.FlipKey.Com and www.WyndhamRentals.Com, .
Eight Professions Hiring Right Now That Require No College
1. Emergency Medical Technicians earn from $24,000 to $39,000 a year. For training requirements see www.nremt.org 2. Pharmacy Technicians earn $23,000 to $34,000. For training see http://www.ptcb.org/am/template.cfm and http://www.pharmacytechniciancertificationtips.com/institute-for-certification-of-pharmacy-technicians.html 3. Private Detectives earn from $32,000 to $58,000. There are no formal training requirements. You have to contact the agency that handles licensing in your state. 4. Pest Control Workers earn $24,000 to $37,000 and most training is on the job. 5. Fitness & Aerobic Instructors earn $19,000 to $46,000 a year and no formal training is required. 6. Septic Tank Servicers earn $26,000 to $42,000 and training is provided on the job. 7. Insurance Sales Agents earn $33,000 to $71,000 a year. In most states agents must be licensed. For details see www.naic.org . 8. Athletic Coaches & Scouts earn $18,000 to $43,000 a year. No formal training or certification is required but you need a strong network of contacts in the community to get a job.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Simple Way To Tell If You Have Bad Breath
First wash your hands with an odorless soap. Then lick the back of your hand and let the saliva dry for five seconds. Then take a whiff. If you can smell sulfur compounds, then brush your teeth, tongue and the back of your mouth. If you have chronic bad breath, brush your teeth twice daily in the morning and before bed.
Also, make sure you use a tongue scrapper available from drug stores. Also, make sure you use a blue colored mouthwash that contains zinc chloride. Good brands are Smart Mouth and Pro Fresh. If bad breath persists,
ask your dentists to check for gum disease, sinus infection, chronic nasal drip or mouth breathing.
Also, make sure you use a tongue scrapper available from drug stores. Also, make sure you use a blue colored mouthwash that contains zinc chloride. Good brands are Smart Mouth and Pro Fresh. If bad breath persists,
ask your dentists to check for gum disease, sinus infection, chronic nasal drip or mouth breathing.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Repair Rolodex: Where Decorators, Antique Dealers & Museums Go To Get Stuff Fixed
Objects: ( marble, bronze, jade, ivory, porcelain, glass & pottery ) Alexander Tsalikhin 201-440-5456,
Bo Studio 212-759-6131, Randy Strohm 718-852-2603. Lighting: Lamp Touch 718-361-2002
Mirrors: http://www.capitolglassnyc.com/ Glass: http://www.newyorkcrystalrepair.com/ , Sorrels Glass:
http://www.sorrelsglass.com/ Frames: http://www.apfgroup.com/ Furniture: http://www.carltonhouse.net/,
Fairlough Restoration 718-418-6206, Fischer Furniture 718-418-6206, http://www.furniturejoint.com/,
http://www.jonathanburden.com/, Uptown Wood 212-694-7425, Caning: http://www.veteranscaning.com/,
Upholstery/Fabric: http://www.manzanaresfurniture.com/, DeScassio Antique Textiles 212-794-8807
Rugs/Textiles: http://www.beauvaiscarpets.com/, http://www.mannrugs.com/
Friday, January 6, 2012
Seven Ways To Get A Cheap Flight
1. Buy Tickets at 3pm EST On Tuesday Most sale fares kick in on Monday at 8pm and by Thursday 8pm the sale is over.
2. Compare Prices at least 3 months in advance and check www.Kayak.com , www.Expedia.com, www.PriceLine.com , www.Travelocity.com and www.FareCompare.com . That's because one system can traill another by 5 hours. So be sure to check the airline's site which charges slightly less than 3 rd party sites since there's no commission.
3. Forget Weekends Don't fly on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday night and Monday morning to get the best price.
4. Fly Hungry The cheapest flights take off at dawn, around lunchtime, and after 6pm.
5.Consider A Connecting Flight They're usually cheaper than non-stops especially on international routes.
6. Shop For One Seat Only If you're travelling with a group, establish the base price for one person and compare it for a price for all. That's because reservation systems are programmed to bump up groups to the next price level.
7. Book Well In Advance That's because you'll pay a premium if you book within 7 to 14 days of travel.
2. Compare Prices at least 3 months in advance and check www.Kayak.com , www.Expedia.com, www.PriceLine.com , www.Travelocity.com and www.FareCompare.com . That's because one system can traill another by 5 hours. So be sure to check the airline's site which charges slightly less than 3 rd party sites since there's no commission.
3. Forget Weekends Don't fly on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday night and Monday morning to get the best price.
4. Fly Hungry The cheapest flights take off at dawn, around lunchtime, and after 6pm.
5.Consider A Connecting Flight They're usually cheaper than non-stops especially on international routes.
6. Shop For One Seat Only If you're travelling with a group, establish the base price for one person and compare it for a price for all. That's because reservation systems are programmed to bump up groups to the next price level.
7. Book Well In Advance That's because you'll pay a premium if you book within 7 to 14 days of travel.
Monday, October 10, 2011
For Gals Only: The Biggest Beauty Dont's
Don't Layer On Mascara or else you risk getting clumpy eyelashes or raccoon eyes. Curl your lashes first and apply only a coat or two of mascara. Start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand as you brush it towards the tip. The wiggling motion is the key to deposit color evenly even on the finest shortest lash hairs.
Immediately remove gobs with an eyelash comb before mascara dries because once it dries it's no longer pliable. If you need a second coat, apply it before the mascara dries. If you're still getting raccoon eyes, then change brands or don't use it on the bottom lashes.
Don't Rush Your Blush or you can end up looking overdone. take your time and use just enough to brighten your glow and enhance your face shape but not so much its obvious. To deposit the right amount of color, dust a sheer rosy powder on cheeks and temples using a fluffy brush. Newer formulations of blush tend to be sheer, so its difficult to over do it. Switch brands or brushes if needed. If your skin is oily or streak prone, pat your face with translucent powder or oil blotting sheets before applying blush. You can also use a translucent powder to tone down too much blush.
Don't Buy Foundation That Adds Years or you might look worse than going bare faced. Foundation that's too light ages you and if it's too dark it looks "Jersey Shore". So make sure your foundation flatters your skin tone and blend it in well. Your best bet is to visit a makeup counter that custom blends foundation and have a makeup artist pick the three best shades for you or test the shades on your own. Foundation with yellow undertones is generally more flattering than pink undertones. Try it on your entire face or at least on your jawline. Places like your neck, chest or hand aren't good for judging because they are rarely the same color as you face due to more or less sun damage. Before you buy it, leave the store and check your face in sunlight and under fluorescent light. Then return the makeup that doesn't work. Most stores let you return opened products. But just to be sure, ask before you buy it and save your receipt.
Don't Use Lip Liner or else you'll end up looking clownish. Outlining is "out" because it looks fake and its the biggest beauty mistake people make. If you insist on liner, match it to your lipstick or use the the same pencil to line and fill in your lips with color. The top it off with gloss if it looks or feels dry. Line your lips precisely along the rim.
Don't Dye Your Brows Too Light or elss they won't do a good job complementing your features. Keep your eye brow color a few shades lighter than your natural shade since the slightest contrast is more flattering. Lighten your brows just a bit by switching to a brow pencil or powder one shade lighter than your brows.
Don't Over exfoliate or else you'll end up damaging your skin. Exfoliation is meant to smooth skin not irritate it. Cosmetic companies want you to think otherwise, but your skin is constantly shedding and renews itself naturally. So don't inflame it while trying to look younger. using a scrub every few days is generally safe buy scrubs can irritate sensitive skin and cause broken blood vessels. Another option is to use skin car products that contain retinols or lactic, hydroxy or glycolic acids. These act as exfoliates and speed up cell turnover. If your skin isn't overly sensitive, the use a clay facial mask, mild facial cleansing grains, or an at home microdermabrasion kit as needed but not more than once a week.
Don't Go Crazy With The Tweezers or else it will lead to over plucked brows. If your brows are pencil thin or comma shaped or if they are more or an arch than a line, put the tweezers away for a few weeks. Fill in sparse brows with a waterproof brow pencil or powder. The next time you tweeze,remove strays between your brows and above and below your natural brow line and do nothing else.
Don't Neglect Your Neck or else it might end up aging faster than your face. So treat your neck like your face and protect it with sunscreen and moisturizer. Don't buy products sold specifically for the neck. Whatever you use on your face is fine.
Don't Brush Wet Hair or else you can damage it. When hair is wet it has the ability to stretch but unlike elastic, wet hair won't stretch without breaking off. So let your wet hair dry naturally or blow dry it out before brushing it out.
Don't Wear A Tight Ponytail Or Bun Too Often or else you might end up with a receding a hairline.
Any kind of hair style that tugs your hair, even weaves and cornrows, can lead to traction alopecia. That's causes localized hair loss from constant tension on the hair roots. It can also lead to permanent hair loss or tension headaches. So gather your hair loosely in a ponytail or bun and secure it with a coated elastic band or srunchie.
Don't File The Sides Of Your Nails or else you can damage them. Just file snags as needed. The sides are braces that help the nails grow long and strong. So just keep the tips square or rounded for support. Frequent use of nail polish remover can dry out your nails. So avoid changing polish more than once a week.
Don't Skip Your Nightly face Washing Routine or else you can end up with clogged pores and skin and eye problems. Taking off your makeup and washing your face before bed is just as important as wearing sunblock. Your makeup traps in all sorts of dirt and pollution through out the day. So if you're not good at washing up at night, then store no-rinse make up remover towelettes by your bedside and use them before you turn out the lights.
Don't Apply Sunless Tanner Without Prepping Your Skin or else you'll look blotchy. That's because the active ingredient in sunless tanner reacts more strongly with skin that is rougher, thicker or scaly. So prep your body by sloughing off dead skin and smoothing rough spots using a grainy body scrub or mesh sponge or body wash in the shower. Pay special attention to the elbows, knees, ankles and feet. Or use a daily use sunless tanner.
Immediately remove gobs with an eyelash comb before mascara dries because once it dries it's no longer pliable. If you need a second coat, apply it before the mascara dries. If you're still getting raccoon eyes, then change brands or don't use it on the bottom lashes.
Don't Rush Your Blush or you can end up looking overdone. take your time and use just enough to brighten your glow and enhance your face shape but not so much its obvious. To deposit the right amount of color, dust a sheer rosy powder on cheeks and temples using a fluffy brush. Newer formulations of blush tend to be sheer, so its difficult to over do it. Switch brands or brushes if needed. If your skin is oily or streak prone, pat your face with translucent powder or oil blotting sheets before applying blush. You can also use a translucent powder to tone down too much blush.
Don't Buy Foundation That Adds Years or you might look worse than going bare faced. Foundation that's too light ages you and if it's too dark it looks "Jersey Shore". So make sure your foundation flatters your skin tone and blend it in well. Your best bet is to visit a makeup counter that custom blends foundation and have a makeup artist pick the three best shades for you or test the shades on your own. Foundation with yellow undertones is generally more flattering than pink undertones. Try it on your entire face or at least on your jawline. Places like your neck, chest or hand aren't good for judging because they are rarely the same color as you face due to more or less sun damage. Before you buy it, leave the store and check your face in sunlight and under fluorescent light. Then return the makeup that doesn't work. Most stores let you return opened products. But just to be sure, ask before you buy it and save your receipt.
Don't Use Lip Liner or else you'll end up looking clownish. Outlining is "out" because it looks fake and its the biggest beauty mistake people make. If you insist on liner, match it to your lipstick or use the the same pencil to line and fill in your lips with color. The top it off with gloss if it looks or feels dry. Line your lips precisely along the rim.
Don't Dye Your Brows Too Light or elss they won't do a good job complementing your features. Keep your eye brow color a few shades lighter than your natural shade since the slightest contrast is more flattering. Lighten your brows just a bit by switching to a brow pencil or powder one shade lighter than your brows.
Don't Over exfoliate or else you'll end up damaging your skin. Exfoliation is meant to smooth skin not irritate it. Cosmetic companies want you to think otherwise, but your skin is constantly shedding and renews itself naturally. So don't inflame it while trying to look younger. using a scrub every few days is generally safe buy scrubs can irritate sensitive skin and cause broken blood vessels. Another option is to use skin car products that contain retinols or lactic, hydroxy or glycolic acids. These act as exfoliates and speed up cell turnover. If your skin isn't overly sensitive, the use a clay facial mask, mild facial cleansing grains, or an at home microdermabrasion kit as needed but not more than once a week.
Don't Go Crazy With The Tweezers or else it will lead to over plucked brows. If your brows are pencil thin or comma shaped or if they are more or an arch than a line, put the tweezers away for a few weeks. Fill in sparse brows with a waterproof brow pencil or powder. The next time you tweeze,remove strays between your brows and above and below your natural brow line and do nothing else.
Don't Neglect Your Neck or else it might end up aging faster than your face. So treat your neck like your face and protect it with sunscreen and moisturizer. Don't buy products sold specifically for the neck. Whatever you use on your face is fine.
Don't Brush Wet Hair or else you can damage it. When hair is wet it has the ability to stretch but unlike elastic, wet hair won't stretch without breaking off. So let your wet hair dry naturally or blow dry it out before brushing it out.
Don't Wear A Tight Ponytail Or Bun Too Often or else you might end up with a receding a hairline.
Any kind of hair style that tugs your hair, even weaves and cornrows, can lead to traction alopecia. That's causes localized hair loss from constant tension on the hair roots. It can also lead to permanent hair loss or tension headaches. So gather your hair loosely in a ponytail or bun and secure it with a coated elastic band or srunchie.
Don't File The Sides Of Your Nails or else you can damage them. Just file snags as needed. The sides are braces that help the nails grow long and strong. So just keep the tips square or rounded for support. Frequent use of nail polish remover can dry out your nails. So avoid changing polish more than once a week.
Don't Skip Your Nightly face Washing Routine or else you can end up with clogged pores and skin and eye problems. Taking off your makeup and washing your face before bed is just as important as wearing sunblock. Your makeup traps in all sorts of dirt and pollution through out the day. So if you're not good at washing up at night, then store no-rinse make up remover towelettes by your bedside and use them before you turn out the lights.
Don't Apply Sunless Tanner Without Prepping Your Skin or else you'll look blotchy. That's because the active ingredient in sunless tanner reacts more strongly with skin that is rougher, thicker or scaly. So prep your body by sloughing off dead skin and smoothing rough spots using a grainy body scrub or mesh sponge or body wash in the shower. Pay special attention to the elbows, knees, ankles and feet. Or use a daily use sunless tanner.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Two Incredible Italian No Cook No Fuss Desserts Not Well Known In The US
Macedonia Invernale -Here's a terrific no cook, no-fuss dessert that popular with Italian home cooks. You just mix your favorite fruits with chopped nuts, chopped chocolate and any left over candy. Add some organe juice and a splash of liqueur and pass the spoons. Here are the ingredients:
2 handfuls of assorted dried fruit chopped
2 handfuls of assorted chopped nuts
1 handful of assorted leftover candy bars chopped
1 handful of dark chocolate chopped
1 handful of milk chocolate chopped
10 amaretti ( crisp almond cookies ) or other cookies coarsely chopped
A little candied orange peel minced
Freshly squeezed orange juice
Itlain liqueur such as limocello or amaretto
Mascarpone cheese or whipped cream
In a resealable plastic bag or container with a lid, combine the dreid fruit, nuts, candy, dark and light chocolates, cookies and candied orange peel. Seal and set aside for up to 3 months. One hour before serving add enough orange juice to moisten thr fruit mixture. Just before serving add the liqueur to taste.
Serve in wine glasses with a dollop of Mascarpone or whipped cream. Serves 10 to 12.
Dolce Torino or Instant Chocolate Cake
This no bake recipe comes from an Italian Piedmont cookbook written in 1891. Here's what's inside:
7 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1/2 cup fo confectioners sugar
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate at least 70% cacao
2 tablesppons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon puree vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sugar plus more to taste
4 tablespoons of sweet liqueur such as alchermes
12 savvoiardi ( lady fingers )
2 tablespoons of crush pistachios or hazelnuts
In a large bowl, using a wisk or electric mixer, beat the butter, confectioner's sugar and egg yolk until very smooth and creamy. Set aside. Then put the chocolate and cream in a smaill bowl and melt the chocolate either in a microwave or over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Let the chocolate mixture cool to room temperature, then stit it and the vanilla into the butter mixture. Set aside. Next combine 5 tablespoons of warm water with the granulated sugar in a shallow bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the liqueur adding more sugar to taste. Dip 4 of the lady fingers one at a time, into the liquid. Be sure to moisten them well on all sides. Arrange the 4 liqueur dipped lady fingers in a row, close together on a serving plate. Spread one third of the chcolate mixture on top and around the stacked lady fingers. Spinkle top layer with pistachio or hazelnuts. Repeat the dipping and layering to make 2 more layers, spreading the last layer of chocolate mixture on top and around the lady fingers. Sprinkle to the top layer with pistachio or hazelnuts. Rerigerate for 3 hours until firm. Serve cold. Serves 4 to 6.
2 handfuls of assorted dried fruit chopped
2 handfuls of assorted chopped nuts
1 handful of assorted leftover candy bars chopped
1 handful of dark chocolate chopped
1 handful of milk chocolate chopped
10 amaretti ( crisp almond cookies ) or other cookies coarsely chopped
A little candied orange peel minced
Freshly squeezed orange juice
Itlain liqueur such as limocello or amaretto
Mascarpone cheese or whipped cream
In a resealable plastic bag or container with a lid, combine the dreid fruit, nuts, candy, dark and light chocolates, cookies and candied orange peel. Seal and set aside for up to 3 months. One hour before serving add enough orange juice to moisten thr fruit mixture. Just before serving add the liqueur to taste.
Serve in wine glasses with a dollop of Mascarpone or whipped cream. Serves 10 to 12.
Dolce Torino or Instant Chocolate Cake
This no bake recipe comes from an Italian Piedmont cookbook written in 1891. Here's what's inside:
7 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1/2 cup fo confectioners sugar
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate at least 70% cacao
2 tablesppons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon puree vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sugar plus more to taste
4 tablespoons of sweet liqueur such as alchermes
12 savvoiardi ( lady fingers )
2 tablespoons of crush pistachios or hazelnuts
In a large bowl, using a wisk or electric mixer, beat the butter, confectioner's sugar and egg yolk until very smooth and creamy. Set aside. Then put the chocolate and cream in a smaill bowl and melt the chocolate either in a microwave or over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Let the chocolate mixture cool to room temperature, then stit it and the vanilla into the butter mixture. Set aside. Next combine 5 tablespoons of warm water with the granulated sugar in a shallow bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the liqueur adding more sugar to taste. Dip 4 of the lady fingers one at a time, into the liquid. Be sure to moisten them well on all sides. Arrange the 4 liqueur dipped lady fingers in a row, close together on a serving plate. Spread one third of the chcolate mixture on top and around the stacked lady fingers. Spinkle top layer with pistachio or hazelnuts. Repeat the dipping and layering to make 2 more layers, spreading the last layer of chocolate mixture on top and around the lady fingers. Sprinkle to the top layer with pistachio or hazelnuts. Rerigerate for 3 hours until firm. Serve cold. Serves 4 to 6.
Four Sensational Leaf Peeping Spots Just A 3 Hour Drive From Mercer County
Here are four scenic getaways that don't require a trek to the airport or long hours behind the wheel
1.Clinton, NJ Located in Hunterdon County, this town looks like a Norman Rockwell pianting came to life. For more info see http://www.clintonnj.gov/ ( 1 hour by car)
2. Kent, CT Named the top New England foliage destination by Yankee Magazine, Kent is situated near two state parks for plenty of leaf viewing. For more info on Kent, see http://www.ct.gov/ ( 3hours by car)
3. Millbrook, NY This town is filled with rolling hills, beautiful gardens, and Millbrook Vineyards (845) 677-8383. Just 10 minutes away from the winery is Innisfree Garden which occupies 150 acres on part of a lake. The public garden features streams, waterfalls and terraces. Call 845-677-8000 for more details.
( 3hours by car)
4. Hunter, NY Get your adrenaline fix with a trip to Hunter Mountin and take a Skyrider Tour. It's North America's longest highest and fastest zipline course. It sends riders flying at speeds of 50 mph on lines that extend 3,000 feet and more than 600 feet in the air. The entire course covers more than 4.6 miles of forest giving thrill seekers a stunnung aerial view of the Catskills. For more info visit http://www.huntermtn.com/ or call 800-HunterMtn. ( 3 hours by car)
1.Clinton, NJ Located in Hunterdon County, this town looks like a Norman Rockwell pianting came to life. For more info see http://www.clintonnj.gov/ ( 1 hour by car)
2. Kent, CT Named the top New England foliage destination by Yankee Magazine, Kent is situated near two state parks for plenty of leaf viewing. For more info on Kent, see http://www.ct.gov/ ( 3hours by car)
3. Millbrook, NY This town is filled with rolling hills, beautiful gardens, and Millbrook Vineyards (845) 677-8383. Just 10 minutes away from the winery is Innisfree Garden which occupies 150 acres on part of a lake. The public garden features streams, waterfalls and terraces. Call 845-677-8000 for more details.
( 3hours by car)
4. Hunter, NY Get your adrenaline fix with a trip to Hunter Mountin and take a Skyrider Tour. It's North America's longest highest and fastest zipline course. It sends riders flying at speeds of 50 mph on lines that extend 3,000 feet and more than 600 feet in the air. The entire course covers more than 4.6 miles of forest giving thrill seekers a stunnung aerial view of the Catskills. For more info visit http://www.huntermtn.com/ or call 800-HunterMtn. ( 3 hours by car)
Friday, September 23, 2011
12 Ways To Outfox Bill Collectors
1.If they threaten to have you arrested, use profanity or call before 8am or after 9pm, then they are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. So report then to your state attorney general at http://www.naag.org/ and the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov/
2. When they leave a message on your phone, its just a message from a made up person. When you call back and ask for him or her, they will say they are out to lunch and offer to help you instead.
3. When a bill collector makes unreasonable demands, never ask for a manager since he or she won't help you. Just call back and get another collector on the line.
4. Bill collectors love to call you at work because it puts extra pressure on you. However, if you specifically ask them not to call you at work, by law they have to stop.
5. If you decide to settle, collectors are trained to "take your application" in a bored voice. They'll the ask for your spouse's work phone, and other personal information. But it's they're way of getting more info out of you in case the debtor rejects your settlement. So if you want to settle, don't give them an more info to harass you.
6. Always check whether your debt has passed the statute of limitations. You can check for info about your state at http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-state-statute-limitations-1282.php
If your debt has passed the statute of limitations, they can't sue you or put it on your credit report. But if you make any kind of payment or even acknowledge the debt, then that starts the clock ticking all over again !
7. Debt collectors always lie when negotiating and say they have to get a manger involved. Then the other collector becomes the "bad cop". The theory is that just having another voice on the phone may get you to open your wallet.
8. A lot of collection agencies buy debt for pennies on the dollar. So when you negotiate, start low at about 25 cents on the dollar. Then say, "I have $200 I can apply towards this debt.. Will you accept that as payment in full?" If the collector says "no", then ask what they will accept. When you reach a deal always make them put it in writing. Then pay the bill.
9. Collectors won't tell you , but most accounts have a one time settlement fee of 15% to 35% that's pre-approved. This is especially true with credit card debt. So always negotiate hard.
10. The more money a collector can get out of you, the bigger bonus he or she will get. Top collectors routinely get bonus checks of $10,000 or more each month. So always negotiate your debt down to pennies on the dollar.
11. All collectors have heard every tale of woe in existence. They may seem sympathetic when they talk to you, but they just don't care. So make sure you always negotiate your debt down.
12. Debt collectors are trained to believe that all debtors are compulsive liars. So no matter what you tell them , they are trained to keep pushing. So they ask you if you can borrow from friends, your 401k or another credit card. Don't do it. If the collector won't negotiate the debt down, hang up.
2. When they leave a message on your phone, its just a message from a made up person. When you call back and ask for him or her, they will say they are out to lunch and offer to help you instead.
3. When a bill collector makes unreasonable demands, never ask for a manager since he or she won't help you. Just call back and get another collector on the line.
4. Bill collectors love to call you at work because it puts extra pressure on you. However, if you specifically ask them not to call you at work, by law they have to stop.
5. If you decide to settle, collectors are trained to "take your application" in a bored voice. They'll the ask for your spouse's work phone, and other personal information. But it's they're way of getting more info out of you in case the debtor rejects your settlement. So if you want to settle, don't give them an more info to harass you.
6. Always check whether your debt has passed the statute of limitations. You can check for info about your state at http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-state-statute-limitations-1282.php
If your debt has passed the statute of limitations, they can't sue you or put it on your credit report. But if you make any kind of payment or even acknowledge the debt, then that starts the clock ticking all over again !
7. Debt collectors always lie when negotiating and say they have to get a manger involved. Then the other collector becomes the "bad cop". The theory is that just having another voice on the phone may get you to open your wallet.
8. A lot of collection agencies buy debt for pennies on the dollar. So when you negotiate, start low at about 25 cents on the dollar. Then say, "I have $200 I can apply towards this debt.. Will you accept that as payment in full?" If the collector says "no", then ask what they will accept. When you reach a deal always make them put it in writing. Then pay the bill.
9. Collectors won't tell you , but most accounts have a one time settlement fee of 15% to 35% that's pre-approved. This is especially true with credit card debt. So always negotiate hard.
10. The more money a collector can get out of you, the bigger bonus he or she will get. Top collectors routinely get bonus checks of $10,000 or more each month. So always negotiate your debt down to pennies on the dollar.
11. All collectors have heard every tale of woe in existence. They may seem sympathetic when they talk to you, but they just don't care. So make sure you always negotiate your debt down.
12. Debt collectors are trained to believe that all debtors are compulsive liars. So no matter what you tell them , they are trained to keep pushing. So they ask you if you can borrow from friends, your 401k or another credit card. Don't do it. If the collector won't negotiate the debt down, hang up.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sensational Sunday Italian Meat Ball Recipe
Meat Mix:
1lb ground beef ( 80% lean/20% fat )
1lb ground veal
1lb pancetta or thick-sliced smokey bacon, finely minced
2 whole eggs
1/3 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
8 garlic cloves minced
Herb Mix:
1/4 cup fine dry unseasoned bread crumbs
4oz. (1/2 cup) whole milk
1 tsp coarse salt
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Slowly add milk to bread crumbs, stirring until the mixture has the consistency of wet sand. Then add to the meat mixture, season with salt and pepper and mix well. To taste for seasoning heat a small amount of canola oil in a small pan. When it's hot, it will ripple in the pan. Pinch off a bit of meat, and fry it in the oil. Remove with a spoon, taste, and correct seasoning, adding more salt if necessary. Refrigerate meat for about 30 minutes.
Next you'll need:
canola oil for browning
12 cups of good quality tomato sauce kept warm over low heat ( see recipe below )
finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for serving
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Shape meatballs using an ice cream scoop. Firmly pack the meat into the scoop, pressing down on the flat side with your palm. Then use the spring trigger to release it, and roll it between your flattened palms into a ball. In a large skillet, heat about 1/4 inch of canola oil until very hot.Working in batches, brown all sides of each meatball. As they finish, transfer browned meatballs to a deep, ovenproof casserole. Cover meatballs with tomato sauce and make sure they are totally submerged. Place in oven and bake until well done, or about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. When done, they should feel firm to the touch, or an instant read meat thermometer should read 160 degrees.
To Serve:
Spoon sauce over meatballs ( 2or 3 per person) and top with grated cheese. Makes 25 to 30 meatballs. Serve 8 to 10 as an entree.
Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
San marzano tomatoes, oilive oil, garlic cloves, basil leavesight
1.Get eight (8) 28 oz cans of whole San Marzano tomatoes.
2. Empty in a huge bowl and crush by hand or with a potato masher. .
3. Place an 8 to 10 qt stockpot over moderate heat.
4. Add 1/2 cup olive oil and 8 crushed garlic cloves, and cook until the garlic starts to sizzle, about 3 or 4 minutes. ( Don't burn it. That will ruin the whole sauce )
5. Add tomaotoes in four portions, waiting until each comes to a simmer before adding the next. ( This speeds up cooking time)
6. Lower heat, add a few ripped basil leaves, and simmer until foam subsides and the sauce looks a little oily. Probaly about 45 minutes.
7. Let cool and store until ready to use. Makes about 16 cups so you'll have leftovers.
1lb ground beef ( 80% lean/20% fat )
1lb ground veal
1lb pancetta or thick-sliced smokey bacon, finely minced
2 whole eggs
1/3 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
8 garlic cloves minced
Herb Mix:
1/4 cup fine dry unseasoned bread crumbs
4oz. (1/2 cup) whole milk
1 tsp coarse salt
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Slowly add milk to bread crumbs, stirring until the mixture has the consistency of wet sand. Then add to the meat mixture, season with salt and pepper and mix well. To taste for seasoning heat a small amount of canola oil in a small pan. When it's hot, it will ripple in the pan. Pinch off a bit of meat, and fry it in the oil. Remove with a spoon, taste, and correct seasoning, adding more salt if necessary. Refrigerate meat for about 30 minutes.
Next you'll need:
canola oil for browning
12 cups of good quality tomato sauce kept warm over low heat ( see recipe below )
finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for serving
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Shape meatballs using an ice cream scoop. Firmly pack the meat into the scoop, pressing down on the flat side with your palm. Then use the spring trigger to release it, and roll it between your flattened palms into a ball. In a large skillet, heat about 1/4 inch of canola oil until very hot.Working in batches, brown all sides of each meatball. As they finish, transfer browned meatballs to a deep, ovenproof casserole. Cover meatballs with tomato sauce and make sure they are totally submerged. Place in oven and bake until well done, or about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. When done, they should feel firm to the touch, or an instant read meat thermometer should read 160 degrees.
To Serve:
Spoon sauce over meatballs ( 2or 3 per person) and top with grated cheese. Makes 25 to 30 meatballs. Serve 8 to 10 as an entree.
Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
San marzano tomatoes, oilive oil, garlic cloves, basil leavesight
1.Get eight (8) 28 oz cans of whole San Marzano tomatoes.
2. Empty in a huge bowl and crush by hand or with a potato masher. .
3. Place an 8 to 10 qt stockpot over moderate heat.
4. Add 1/2 cup olive oil and 8 crushed garlic cloves, and cook until the garlic starts to sizzle, about 3 or 4 minutes. ( Don't burn it. That will ruin the whole sauce )
5. Add tomaotoes in four portions, waiting until each comes to a simmer before adding the next. ( This speeds up cooking time)
6. Lower heat, add a few ripped basil leaves, and simmer until foam subsides and the sauce looks a little oily. Probaly about 45 minutes.
7. Let cool and store until ready to use. Makes about 16 cups so you'll have leftovers.
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