Now You're Entertaining Blog

How to plan a kid friendly picnic

2010-04-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

1. Choose a location with open space where the kids can run around. Plan outdoor activities such as a scavenger hunt.
2. Prepare bite sized portions. It's a good way to get them to try new foods.

How to buy, trim, store and thaw boneless chicken breasts

2010-04-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

The convenience will cost you so stock up when they're on sale. Small breasts are usually more uniformly thick and will cook quicker and more evenly.

If they're too big, cut them. Remove the tnederloins, the small piece of meat on the underside so it cooks evenly. Press down on the top and slice horizontally through.

Free the portions right away in individual portions so they don't freeze together. Can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator for 3-6 hours.

How to Choose, Store and Cook Asparagus

2010-04-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Size isn't an indicator of quality or flavor. Thick asparagus is just more mature than the thin kind. Look for bright green or violet tinged spears with firm stems. Make sure the tips are closed and compact.

When you get it home wash it well, they're grown in a sandy soil and can be gritty. Snap the bottoms, bending an inch or so from the bottom until the woody, dry sections break off. Wrap the ends in a damp paper towel for up to 3 days. You can even treat it like fresh flowers and place in a vase, covering the tops with a plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator.

Choose one of these cooking methods:

Steamed - Pour 1 inch of water into a 12 inch skillet with a tight fitting lid. Bring the water to a boil and add the asparagus. Cover and steam until tender 4-6 minutes.

Roasted - Heat over to 425. On a baking sheet, toss asparagus with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Roast until tender 8-10 minutes.

Grilled - Toss asparagus with olive oil and salt and pepper. Place asparagus across grill in opposite directions of the grid. Grill for 3 minutes. Rotate spears until cooked 2-3 minutes.

How to Make the Perfect Salad

2010-04-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

1. Use 1 1/2 cups of lettuce per person.
2. Clean and dry your lettuce. The best way to do this is a salad spinner. Fill it with cold water, add the lettuce, and spin. Empty the water and repeat until the water is grit free and lettuce is dry.
3. Dress the salad right before serving adding a little at a time. If you dress it too soon the lettuce will wilt.
4. Add the delicate ingredients last.

How to Make your Own Salad Dressings

2010-04-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

If you're bored with the same old salad dressing. Try making your own. In general, they'll last for 5 days in the fridge.

Lemon and Shallot

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
1 shallot, chopped
salt and pepper

Balsamic Dijon

1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
salt and pepper

Parmesan

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons vinegar
salt and pepper

For each recipe whisk together all of the ingredients and enjoy

how to make your own tea

2010-03-31T19:33:00.000-07:00

combine your favorite flavors to create your own tea. use a french press to combine herbs, fruits and aromatics with your favorite teas. place the ingredients in the french press, add boiling water, and let steep for 5-10 minutes and you're done.

Here are some flavors to try:
- thyme, apple and ginger
- lemon and lemongrass
- peppermint
- tarragon and orange

What is a macrobiotic diet?

2010-03-31T19:07:00.001-07:00

Natural, whole and local ingredients are the foundation of the macrobiotic diet. It's about eating from your time, place, conditions and goals. Whole grains, seasonal vegetables, beans, and white fish are good examples. The macrobiotic diet is based on the elemental therories of east asian medicines. If it's hot outside eat cooling foods, if it's cold eat foods that are warming and unless you live in a temperate environment avoid tropical foods.

What is the Mediterranean diet?

2010-03-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

A typical meal consists of salad with olive oil, fresh grilled fish and red wine. It's very heart healthy. Eat mostly fruits and vegetables and consume only healthy fats like olive and canola oil, cut the red meat and eat lots of fish and red wine. Beans, lentils and lemons are also common elements.

12 foods to feed your sex drive

2010-02-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

Certain foods contain nutrients that heighten the amount of desire you experience. Devour a few of these every day and you'll notice the benefits within a couple of months.

Asparagus and Avocados - Vitamin E helps your body emit hormones which circulate in your blood

Bananas - Potassium is a key ingredient to muscle strength

Chocolate - Cocoa contains a stimulant that conjures subtle feelings of well being and excitement

Hot Chilies, Watermelon and Vanilla - Increases circulation and stimulates the nerve endings

Oysters - Zinc turns up the production of testosterone

Pomegranates and Red Wine - Antioxidants allow more blood to course through the blook vessels

Salmon and Walnuts - Omega 3 keeps hormones in peak

Superfood: Watermelon

2010-01-28T11:47:00.000-08:00

Looking for a simple snack? Try watermelon. It's 90% water and super low cal. One cup is just 46 calories. It's also packed with vitamins A and C and disease fighting lycopene.

The basics of a healthy dinner

2010-01-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

Use this formula for cooking healthy meals:

1 lean protein + 1 healthy carb + 2 servings of vegetables

Lean proteins include skinless white meat poultry, lean beef or pork, fish or beans

Healthy carbs include whole wheat pasta or couscous, brown rice or potatoes

1 cup of veggies counts as 2 servings

Weekly Meal Planning

2010-01-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a great strategy for those of you who can only go grocery shopping on the weekends:

Monday: Make something with leftovers. Eat the meal you make tonight again on Friday. Choose something that freezes well.

Tuesday: Focus on fresh. Choose something that spoils more quickly like meat, poultry, fish or fragile vegetables.

Wednesday: Make it in the morning. Break out your slow cooker and by the time you're ready for dinner it will be ready.

Thursday: Use your pantry. Pasta is always a good choice.

Friday: Didn't we eat this on Monday? Yum.

A 7 Day Juice Fast

2010-01-08T11:49:00.000-08:00

Step 1: Pre-fast diet
5 days before fasting eat only fresh, organic, cooked and raw vegetables, soups, fruits, juices and purified or distilled water.
2 days before reduce food consumption to just raw salads, juices and water.

Step 2: Fasting (days 1-7)
If you can, fast at a spa. Also avoid driving and reduce activity and use of electronics.
4 or more 8 ounce glasses of purified water a day and 4 16 ounce glasses of diluted green juice a day are recommended.
Additionally, drink warm herbal teas, lemon juice and water.
For exercise try walking or yoga or swimming.

Step 3: Breaking the fast (days 8-10)
1 day after the fast stimulate digestion with citrus juices. Add blended raw soups and fruits and vegetables with high water content. Continue drinking green juices and plenty of water.
2 days after the fast east leafy green salads with lemon juice and olive oil. Add avocados, sprouts, fresh herbs, olives, sea vegetables, tahini and seeds. Continue drinking green juices and plenty of water.
3 days after the fast add steamed and starchy vegetables, grains and beans. High fat foods such as meat, dairy or anything deep fried and processed clog the digestive system.

Healthy food mythbusters

2010-01-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

If it says:

- Good source of whole grains: This means the food contains 8-15 grams of whole grains per serving. But what else? Make sure it's not also packed with preservatives, sugar, fat and other things you don't want.

- Organic: It may be processed without pesticides or hormones, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have tons of calories, sugar and salt.

- Sugar free: These foods may use artificial sweeteners and still can have plenty of calories.

- High fiber: May also contain maltodexrtrin, inulin, polydextros and oat fiber, which help you stay full, but won't provide the health benefits of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Beware of Granola, Yogurt, Smoothies, and Snack Bars.

Lose weight without dieting

2010-01-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

- Downsize.
Go from a 12-inch plate to a 10-inch. It may help you eat 22% less.

- Slow down.
If you eat too quickly you may eat more.

- Buddy up.
People who diet together lose weight than those who go at it alone.

- Fill in with fiber.
It will help you stay full.

- Power on the protein.
Your body uses more calories when it digests protein.

- Volumize.
Eat foods with lots of water or fiber so they take up lots of space on your plate and in your tummy.

- Sleep on it.
Lack of sleep can trigger hunger and appetite.

4 weeks to eating healthy

2010-01-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

Week 1: Add a fruit and vegetable
Work your way up to eating a fruit or vegetable at every meal for at least 5 servings a day. Start by adding fruit to your cereal and having a side salad at lunch. These foods fill you up for minimal calories and have disease fighting nutrients. Generally, the more color the more nutrient dense they are.

Week 2: Add the flavor
Try a new herb or spice at every meal. You'll need less salt, sugar and fat. They're also a source of antioxidants.

Week 3: Switch to lowfat dairy
Lowfat milk has 9 essential nutrients including calcium, vitamin d, phosphorus and protein.

Week 4: Eat for energy
Every 3 to 5 hours or 3 meals plus 2 snacks. Make sure to have a combination of proteins and carbs. This balance keeps your metabolism high so you'll burn more calories and keep you appetite in check. The right snacks have a small amount of fat and calories.

Simple ways to get more produce in your diet

2010-01-04T09:27:00.000-08:00

- Add the marinara sauce (1/2 cup counts as a full serving of vegetables)
- Put out a plate of fruit or vegetables as a pre-dinner appetizer.
- Serve soup or salad before the meal or as a side dish.

4 weeks to losing weight

2010-01-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

Week 1: Cut portions
Read serving sizes on labels and learn what a proper portion looks like.

Week 2: Have a healthy breakfast
People who lose the most weight eat breakfast.

Week 3: Stop eating after dinner
Engage yourself in another way by calling someone, playing a game or taking a bath.

Week 4: Curb the cravings
Eat a small low cal snack late afternoon to lessen your dinnertime appetite.

drinking on a diet

2010-01-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

High caloric drinks include the more tropical drinks -- margaritas, pina coladas, mai tais, and the dessert drinks, instead try white wine, a light beer, or a straight martini. A 6 ounce margarita has 400 calories whereas a 12 ounce light beer only 100.

how to host a cookie exchange

2009-12-09T19:53:00.000-08:00

Invite a group of friends over and have each person make a dozen of one kind of cookie to share.

Assign recipes well before hand and print copies for each guest. By assigning recipes you won't end up with too many of the same kind, such as 12 versions of the classic chocolate chip.

Offer an assortment of decorative plates for guests to display their cookies. Next to each plate include a tent card with the name of the cookie.

Ask guests to help supply the packagine materials such as cardboard boxes, tags, ribbon, tissue, and so on. Keep everything within a single color palette so guests can mix and match.

Quintessential bar tools

2009-12-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

Bottle openers - for wine and beer

Measured shot glasses - a measuring cup will do as well

Zester - for making fancy twists of garnish

Long handled bar spoon - used to stir cocktails that contain only spirits. creates a smoother drink than shaking.

Shaker - for spirit juice combos.

Hawthorne strainer - secures over a shaker. when pouring place index finger over tab to stop pieces from falling out of shaker.

Julep strainer - has multiple holes and rests inside glass. used for strainng stirred drinks.

Muddler - pestlelike tool used to crush.

Cutting board / pairing knife - for chopping frits and making twists.

Pour spouts - stoppers that fit into liquor bottles helping you measure.

Ice bucket / tongs / ice - the colder and bigger the cubes the snappier the cocktail.

Ice bin - to chill wine / beer.

Glass pitchers - for mixing in advance.

Napkins / stirrers / straws

The quintessential stocked bar

2009-12-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

Here's a comprehensive list of how to stock the bar for your next party:

Beer - Ales and stouts are good for winter, lagers for the summer. Have both light and dark options. Store unopened bottles at room tempand chill before serving. Once its chilled it needs to be consumed before it warms up or the flavor will be spoiled.

Wine - Store on its side at below 70 degrees.

Vodka - Store at room temperature below 80 degrees. Use open bottles in a year.

Whiskey - Bourbons and lighter rye-based are best for sippng and mixing.

Gin, Scotch, Rum, Tequila, Cognac, Brandy, Juices, Club Soda and Tonic Water

spirit party calculator

2009-12-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

Can't figure out how much libations to buy for your next party. Use these general tips:

Wine - 1 bottle per 2 people per hour
Beer - 2 beers per person per hour
Spirits - 1 bottle per 5 people per hour
Mixers - 3 bottles for each bottle of alcohol
Ice - At least 1 pound per person per hour

Hosting a multigenerational thanksgiving

2009-11-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

Consider having a separate table for the kids, especially if your tables are small or you plan on using your find china. If that doesn't work for you you can make one end grown ups and the other end children. For the kids use unbreakable plates and cups. You can line the table with paper to catch any spills. To keep kids busy have them present a thanksgiving show at the end of the meal. It will be a memory that everyone will remember.

turkey shaped sandwich for kids

2009-11-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Turkey plays a duel role in this creative sandwich developed by parents magazine.

Use a glass to cut circles out of 2 pieces of bread. Make a sandwich with turkey and cheese. Insert strips of bell peppers under the top round of the sandwich so they stick out like feathers. Cut a small rectangle piece of bread and attach with mayo vertically in the center of the sandwich. Use chopped raisins for eyes.