Buying A Espresso Machine?

Looking for a new Espresso Machine? It isn't as easy as you may think to purchase one these days. Espresso Machines come in many sizes, colors, capabilities and prices.

The first thing to do is your homework. You will need to figure out what type of machine you need. Ask your self how many cups of cappuccino or espresso do you drink a week? Where do you normally have it? At home or from a coffee bar. After you have decided what your needs are then it's time to shop.

You can purchase a single cup serving machine or multiple. Plastic, stainless steal, copper, the lists go on as to what is available. The prices range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. So if you'r looking to make only a cup or so a week or bring out your Espresso Machines at a dinner party I recommend you purchase an inexpensive model. You will also need accessories as well such as grinder, roaster, coffee and cups.

Restaurants need a more expensive versions of Espresso Machines for their high demand of coffee from their customers. Barista's will make hundreds of Cappuccino's an hour and need a machine that will handle the demand. For example you may only need a 1 group machine. The 1 group will make one cup at a time. For larger quantities quicker you may need as a restaurant would need is at least a 3 group machine that has the capability of brewing three cups at once.

I would also recommend you purchase from a company that backs it product, has a warranty set up and has parts that can be replaced as needed.

There is nothing better than a fresh brewed cappuccino or espresso so why not get it right from your house! As always, do your homework first and you will not be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Leigh - on - Sea Sole | Jamie Oliver Recipes (UK)

Recipe of the day from Jamie Oliver! Leigh - on - Sea Sole.

Scrolling through Facebook this morning I found this link on Jamie's post. It looks great!

Let's check it out Leigh - on - Sea Sole | Jamie Oliver Recipes (UK)

Happy Cooking!

Halloween Graveyard Brownie Bite Some Mores!

Need a last minute treat for your kids class or Halloween party? Here is so easy recipe and it just takes a few minutes.

Ingredients

• Store bought brownie bites
• Graham Crackers - smashed
• Marshmallow fluff (or mini marshmallows)
• Gummy worms or bugs

Place your brownie bites on a baking sheet. Top each brownie with some smashed graham crackers.

Heat the marshmallow fluff in micro for 30 seconds. Using two spoons spoon some fluff on top of each graham cracker topped brownie. Or, top with three to four mini marshmallow's.

Place under broiler until marshmallow is toasted, turning tray if needed.

Cool. Top with gummy worms.

Enjoy!

Halloween Candy Corn Cocktail

A Friend of mine Amy Kanarios tagged me in a Face Book post. She said this one's for me! Yay! I am having a Halloween party this week and this Cocktail is on my Menu!

Candy Corn infused Vodka with Pineapple Juice! Oh, and of course Candy Corn! What a perfect fit for my party!

The recipe came from a Betty Crocker site Candy Corn Cocktail.

Ingredients:

Vodka

Candy Corn

Pineapple Juice

In a large jar with a lid add a cup of Candy Corn to vodka seal and let stand for at least four (4) hours. The longer you let stand the better :)

In a shaker add 1/2 cup Candy Corn infused Vodka and 1/4 C Pineapple Juice, ice, shake and serve, garnish with Candy Corn.

Yum...yum. Enjoy! :)

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Up Date!

Jamie Oliver's up date on his Food Revolution! Something worth keeping up with if you have kids!

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Happy Cooking!

It's Time For Wine!

Wine. With Holiday time here once again it's time for some wine. So let's talk about getting that wine.

You have several choices. The grocery store, party store, liqueur store, gourmet market, wine shop the list goes on. You probably have your favorite place to purchase wine. I do have mine and it does not all come from the same place believe it or not. I do shop around for a good bottle and the best price.

You can join wine clubs, purchase online and get great wines from around the world now at your fingertips.

For example serenatawines.com in house Sommelier will hand pick the wines for you. In this case they will pick it and ship it in a beautiful wooden box. They have every type of wine available, Chardonnay, Bordeaux, Chablis, Burgundy, Champagne, Chianti, full bodied, lighter bodied as well as Organic. You can get great Italian, French, Australian and many more from all over the world.

Look for Holiday specials, gift ideas for both the red and white wine lover. In most cases the company will give you tasting notes, a brief history and the type of grape the wine is made from. You can actually learn a lot from poking around the websites. The best part is you can usually get a good price and have the opportunity to try something new.

This is a great idea for that hard to buy for person. Your Boss, Secretary, Father In Law the list goes on. If they like wine they will love this gift.

Shop around, do your wine homework and most of all have some fun. Happy Holidays!!

Enjoy! :)

Pillsbury's Apron Runway Challenge

Pillsbury is having their annual Pillsbury Bake Off competition in March of 2012. You as my readers can participate in voting for a apron designed for the finalists while they try to win $1 a million dollars!

You can vote here Pillsbury Bake Off Page

Althea Harper, Kara Janx and Carol Hannah Whitfield have each designed an apron to potentially be worn by the 100 finalists on the contest floor at the Pillsbury Bake-Of Contest finals which take place in March 25027, 2012 in Orlando FL.

Have fun :)

Low Calorie Cocktails From Look Better Naked!

Found this from Look Better Naked! Some cocktails that will not add on those extra pounds if you drink them in moderation of course!

Enjoy!

blue sky Kids Collection

Thank you to Blue Sky once again for sharing their wonderful products with me so I can bring them to you!

They are the one stop shop for all your uniform needs. The fun thing I just found poking around their site is the blue sky Kids Collection. For Boys, Girls and Baby, how adorable is that!

Blue Sky also carries a line of http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/ little mini scrubs for baby.

Last Halloween a Friend of mine had to make her own scrub outfit for her Daughter who wanted to dress up as a Doctor. She couldn't find anything that she liked that would fit so off to the fabric store she went to get some material and made her own. Whether it be for play dress up, costume parties or just to be like Mom or Dad your kids will have fun and look very cute wearing these from Blue Sky.

They also carry a full line of all your uniform needs from scrubs to hats. Be sure to check them out while your shopping around ;)

Happy Shopping!

Perfect Valentine's lunch date outfit

Guest post written by: Chelsea Pearce

My boyfriend and I are going to have a lunch date for Valentine's Day because he has to go on a business trip at the crack of dawn early next morning and therefore a dinner date like we had originally planed just isn't in the books for us. But I still want to look my best for the date like I would if it was for a dinner date. I'll be at work though so i need to make sure that I can wear something that's appropriate for the office.

Lucky for me, our office has a really casual dress code, which makes dressing for my date a little bit easier. I've gotten a few ideas from my satellitestarinternet.com/ as to what I'm going to wear.

I've narrowed it down to a few different dresses that I have and cardigans. I'm leaning towards a black dress and a red cardigan. Then of course I'll wear it with tights and heels. I may even curl instead of straighten my hair for the date since he likes it when I do that.

Fresh Tasting Homemade Easy No Cook BBQ Sauce

If you have a couple minutes why not make your own BBQ Sauce! This recipe is easy and you may just have all the ingredients in your pantry all ready! It takes a couple minutes and you end up with a "fresh tasting" homemade no cook BBQ Sauce!

• 1 1/2 C Ketchup
• 1/2 C Molasses
• 1 1/2 tsp Cider Vinegar
• 1 tsp Hot Sauce
• 1 tsp Liquid Smoke (it's all natural too!)
• Salt
• Pepper

Combine in a mixing bowl and whisk to incorporate flavors! No cooking needed. Go ahead and taste it! You will be surprised ;)

You can also be brave and ad you own flavors for that special touch. Rosemary, Garlic, more hot sauce the list is endless.... beer!

Have fun ;)

Enjoy!

Top Five BBQ Winners From Country Looks Magazine

For all you home Cooks that love to grill outdoors or in, here is the Top 5 BBQ Sauce Winners from Country Looks Magazine.

They have tested and tasted tons of brands to come up with a Top 5 list.

Number 1 Choice: Bulls-Eye Original - for the best sweetness & smokey taste.

Number 2: KC Masterpiece - for robust spice, smoke and smoothness.

Number 3: Sweet Baby Rays - for the sweetest of the bunch.

Number 4: Hunt's Mild - for tastes mild like ketchup, kids love it.

Number 5: Kraft Original - for best smoke.

So here are the Top 5 BBQ Sauces for any taste preference.

Click here to make your own Fresh Tasting Homemade Easy No Cook BBQ Sauce

Enjoy :)

Wine Pick Of The Day! Black Stallion Napa Valley Chardonnay

Running off to Papa Joes to grab some things for dinner and a bottle of wine I could not find my old stand by, Kendall Jackson Chardonnay!

So standing trying to decide the Sommelier asked if he could help. I explained that my usual was missing on the shelf. By that time I had already had a bottle that was on special in my hand.

Stunned, he said that they would never run out of Kendall Jackson again! He also went on to talk about Kendall Jackson and how it is a poo pooed wine by many and shouldn't be. I told him I like the smooth buttery oaky taste, not too fruity. He agreed and went on to say that Kendall Jackson has been around a very very long time and they can afford to use oak barrels, which other winery's may not have that luxury. He also went on to say that Kendall Jackson puts out some amazing fabulous wines. He isn't sure why the name may turn some off.

So okay, here were are the wine in hand, which he said was an excellent choice, is similar to my favorite so I won't be disappointed!

He was right..... LOVE it! Will purchase again. Smooth with a soft oak flavor, not too fruity.

Black Stallion Estate Winery

Napa Valley

2009 Chardonnay

$15.99

Black Stallion Estate Winery located on Silverado Trail, Napa Valley is a Boutique Winery, wonderful wines worth trying.

Happy Tasting ;)

Soak Veggies In Lemon Water To Help Wash Off Pesticides

If you cannot buy organic or do and also purchase non organic fruits and vegetables here is a tip to help remove all the pesticides.

Soak fruits and vegetables in lemon water for 20 minutes before using.

I used to just wash with soap and water so yesterday I read to soak in lemon water to help remove pesticides found on the skin.

Take a gallon container fill with water and add lemon juice, I have that big ol bottle of lemon juice that never gets used up, so I used that. I just poured in about three tablespoons or so.

While I was preparing dinner I tossed in the cucumber, yellow squash, zucchini, and my tomatoes (I also still rinsed with soap and water).

This morning I knew our grapes I bought were not organic so I soaked them before putting them in the kids lunches.

Happy Springtime :)

Wine Pick Of The Day! Domaine Chandon Vintage Brut

The review from Wine Enthusiast was on point. The hazelnut is exactly what I tasted and couldn't pin point it until I looked it up! Happy, happy!

Average cost: $15.99

Reviews of N.V. Domaine Chandon Vintage Brut

90 points, Wine Enthusiast
December 2006
On the sweet side, but so nicely acidified and delicious in fruit that you hardly notice the sugar, which just gives the wine a round softness. Beautiful hazelnut, peaches-and-cream and vanilla flavors, with a touch of raspberry zest. — S.H.

Recovering from Cheating on Your Low Carb Diet

Being on a diet is hard enough. Keeping your self esteem up during dieting is even harder. Falling off the diet pulls one down into a even deeper hole which is sometimes hard to climb out of.

Here is an interesting article for you to read.

Recovering from Cheating on Your Low Carb Diet

I have been trying to get ready for bikini season.... well not so many bikini's for me anymore at my age :/ Anyway, I have been on a low carb diet. Lot's of protein the first week, then slowly introducing carbs, the healthy ones the second week. I have found out that by cutting carbs made me hungry within about four hours. So the article mentions carrying some low carbs snacks with you which makes sense. I get so hungry I couldn't stand it. It was like I haven't eaten in days. My stomach would growl and I would race to the kitchen as soon as I walked in the door.

After I figured this out I now eat more often. No more skipping a breakfast and eat at noon like I used to be able to do when I was younger.

I have also noticed that I eat less at dinner. I get fuller faster and can push my plate aside and not sit there and continue to shovel it in.

Don't be so hard on your self. Don't weigh yourself every day. Some Dr. said once a month. Your weight fluctuates up and down with water weight and can tend to chew away at your self esteem.

Happy Spring ;)

Tip Of The Day: Cooking Chick Peas

Chick Peas are a healthy addition to your diet. Cooking them yourself vs. purchasing them in the can is much healthier, no preservatives and you control the sodium ;)

The Tip Of The Day: Don't Cook Chick Peas With Salt, It Makes Them Tough!

Soak Chick Peas over night in water. This helps them cook faster.

Add some aromatics to the water, onion quartered, and a bay leaf.

Cover with water and cook until tender. Peas are done when you can squish them.

1/2 cup green olives pitted and slice

2 garlic cloves chopped

1 lemon - zest lemon set aside, reserve juice

Salt

Fresh ground pepper

Fresh parsley

Saute garlic in olive oil for a minute or so, add chick peas and mash with potato masher, heat through, add olives, lemon zest, lemon juice from 1/2 lemon, salt, pepper and fresh parsley.

Serve.

Housewives Bethany Frankel Sells Skinny Girl Brand

Bethany Frankel Sells her Skinnygirl Brand for Millions. Former Housewive of NYC Bethaney has been very busy writing cookbooks and concocting her Skinnygirl Margarita mix that has only 100 calories per serving.

Read more from CNN Bethenny Frankel Sells Skinnygirl Brand

Happy Cooking ;)

The One Item In Your Purse Covered With Germs & Bacteria

The one item in your purse that has the most Germs and Bacteria is:

Your Car Keys!

Do not let your Baby chew on them!

Be sure to sanitize them regularly! Think about it. Where have your keys been? When was the last time they had a bath?

Happy Cooking!

Recipes with Bacon, Bacon, Bacon!

To get a wonder recipe made with everyone's favorite meat "Bacon" click here: Bacon

Happy Cooking :)

Does Eating Sugar Cause Wrinkles?

Eating Sugar does cause wrinkles! Per Dr. Oz!

Eating too much sugar causes the sugar to bind to proteins to and in turn breaks down the Elastin in your skin especially over the age of 35!

Women should only have 6 tsp per day.

Men should only have 9 tsp per day.

To learn more about Elastin: Elastin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Honey Mustard Ham Glaze

Our Friends from Lucky Leaf have sent us some wonderful recipes and Musselman's Apple Sauce to try out and pass along to my readers. We hope you enjoy these are yummy!

2 cups Musselman's Apple Sauce

1 cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 - 3 Tbsp. dijon mustard

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Prepare and cook your ham per instructions on the package.

30 minutes before the ham is done remove from oven and bush entire ham with glaze. Return to oven and glaze every 10 minutes or so until the ham is done and has reached an internal temp 0f 155F.

Happy Cooking

Maple Citrus Ham Glaze

Maple Citrus Ham Glaze

Our Friends at Lucky Leaf have sent me over some Musselman's Apple Sauce to try in this recipe. The recipe is simple and delicious so enjoy!

2 cups Musselman's Apple Sauce

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp. grated orange peel

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, while stirring, heat until butter melts.

Prepare and cook your ham per instructions on the package.

30 minutes before the ham is done, remove from oven and with a brush cover the entire ham with the Maple Citrus Ham Glaze. Continue to glaze every 10 minutes or so as the ham finishes cooking. Your ham is done when it reaches the internal temperature of 155F. You can heat and reduce slightly the remaining glaze to be used as a sauce.

Happy Cooking.

Tip Of The Day: Top 12 Fruits & Vegetables to Buy Organic

Great Tip Of The Day: When buying Organic's why not save some money!

You can purchase non-organic item's that are safe and for a lot less. Thick skinned items such as lemons, melons, bananas, cucumbers etc... are sprayed with pesticides that can be washed off with soap and water or can be peeled.

It's the soft skinned fruits and veggies that you need to buy organic if you do so. Lettuces, Greens and most of all berries!

Here is a list of the top 12 Organics you should buy from About.com Gourmet Food:

The Top Twelve Fruits & Vegetables to Buy Organic

Check it out you will be surprised!

Happy Cooking ;)

Tip Of The Day: Maintain Your Leather Furniture's Oils With Help From The Steam Team

I like to stick to the Foodie posts in my blog but sometimes we like to make room for our Sponsors. So I try to bring in some helpful tips from those Sponsors not just "an ad" to sell their product.

The Steam Team in Austin is a cleaning service. I have been reviewing their site and came across some helpful information new to me and want to pass along to my readers.

The page I came across was leather furniture cleaning tips from their leather furniture cleaning service austin site. I have a few leather pieces as well as my Fathers old leather chair that is very sentimental to me. I did not know that dyed leather furniture has been treated with special oils to protect and moisturize the leather which it is no longer able to do on it's own. And that it needs to be redone every fews years! The oils need to be removed and then replaced???? Really!

This prevents fading, smells and discoloration and needs to be redone every so often. That is why leather furniture cleaning service austin also offers this service in their business. It is up to the owner of the leather furniture to know this! And for what ever reason the furniture store that you purchase it from really does not tell you! They just want to sell you their line of Scotch Guard or some other product to up their sales.

So go online and read about maintaining your valuable pieces of furniture!

Spring Time Uniform Shopping With Bluesky

Wandering around the house waiting for Spring time to arrive I know I am big time! So why not go shopping. I don't leave the house if I don't have to. After dropping of the kids at school, laundry, dishes who has the time?

We are in need of some bright Spring colors to cheer and warm our hearts. Blue Sky Scrubs can help in that department. Bouncing around their site they have some really fun Spring colors of every kind of scrubs and lab coats.

Gone are days when you go to Dr. and see the nurse in those stark white uniforms. Almost giving you a strange sterile feeling. Just like in Fashion the work place has evolved and moved forward. Blue Sky Scrubs has been leading the pack in the nursing uniform department.

Scrub hats are now in many trendy colors and are available more and more. One place Blue Sky is the place to buy nursing uniforms check them out. Don't be left out.

20 Worst Drinks In America

20 WORST DRINKS

From Tend Setter:

The photomentary 20 Worst Drinks In America is a shockingly real way to create initiative among people to change their current diet.

You know you have a problem when the drink you are consuming has as much sugar as eight donuts, and you have several of them a day. When viewing the ‘20 Worst Drinks in America’ you may find yourself thinking, “No wonder we are all getting fat,” to yourself—at least, I did.

Cooking Humor: Why did the Chef get arrested?

Why did the Chef get arrested?

Because he was caught beating an egg!

NFL Superbowl Worthy Sloppy Joe's Made Easy!

These Sloppy Joe's will e a huge hit with the Men watching the Superbowl game as well as the kids. This easy recipe can be made any time as well as being made ahead and reheated.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups onion chopped
• 3 lbs. ground beef or ground chicken or ground turkey
• 2 cups Open Pit Barbecue sauce
• 1 cup yellow prepared mustard
• 1/2 Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• slices of cheddar or American cheese (optional)
• 24 slider buns or 12 hamburger buns

Heat 1 1/2 tbsp oil in large pot. Saute the chopped onions 3 to 4 minutes until just tender.

Add the ground beef, cook until browned stirring often. Drain.

Add the cooked ground beef back to the pot and add the barbecue sauce, mustard, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer about 15 minutes. Spoon onto buns, top with cheese and serve.

You can also set up a Sloppy Joe Bar, in small bowls have several toppings for your guests to create their own version of a Sloppy Joe some toppings are:

• jalapeno peppers
• hot sauce
• cole slaw
• cooked bacon chopped
• shredded lettuce
• sliced tomato's

You can keep the Sloppy Joe's warm in a crock pot on the buffet and have everyone self serve them selves.

Go Team!

Robin's Cheesy Shredded Hashbrown Potato Casserole

My Family loves "Company Potatoes" however, I don't make them very often. They take so many different ingredients every time I think I can make the recipe I am missing an item!

My Friend Robin made these Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes for New Years Eve and my Family LOVED them! I have to say they move the Company Potatoes to the back of the line. The best part, they are SO EASY!

Ingredients:

• 1 - 2 lb bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns (remove from freezer to slightly defrost)
• 1 - 1 lb package of low fat (or regular) Velvetta Cheese
• 1 medium onion chopped small
• 1 cup of mayo (olive oil mayo is healthier)
• 1 cup of milk
• salt/pepper
• 4 slices of raw bacon chopped (or you could use bacon bits)

Preheat oven to 350, rack in the middle.

Prepare a 9 x 13 baking dish with non stick spray.

Break up the Velvetta cheese into a large micro proof mixing bowl, heat in microwave until melted, stirring occasionally.

Combine the melted Velvetta cheese, onion, mayo, milk and dash of salt and pepper. Stir.

Add the shredded hasbrowns mixing to combine well. Pour hashbrown mixture into prepared pan.

Top with chopped bacon.

Cover with tented foil and bake for 1/2 hour. Remove foil and continue to cook for an additional 40 minutes.

We served these wonderful potatoes with my Valentines Veal Chops Made Easy! and with the Wine Pick Of The Day! Guenoc Meritage Red Wine 2006!

Serves 6 - 8, reheats in oven nicely the next day!

Enjoy!

Wine Pick Of The Day! Guenoc Meritage Red Wine 2006

Wine Pick Of The Day: Guenoc Mertiage Red Wine 2006 from Lake County, California.

We served this with the Valentines Veal Chops Made Easy! It's a lovely wine that went great with our dinner.

Made with Bordeaux style varieties of grape from the estate acquired in 1888 by Lilie Langtry a famed Victorian actress and vintner. We found it smooth and layered. Even from the first sip!

Definitely a thumbs up and do recommend for your next dinner.

Enjoy ;)

Valentines Veal Chops Made Easy!

Valentine Veal Chops made easy!

Why not treat your someone special to something a bit special. Try Veal Chops!

Go to your local Butcher and get a fresh cut Veal Chop (one per person). There was some in the case but I asked if they had some in the back and they said yes and they would be cut fresh ;)

The color will be bright pink and will have no smell.

Season with salt, fresh cracked black pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Let sit and bring to room temperature.

Preheat your grill or grill pan to med high heat.

Here I used a cast iron well seasoned grill pan.

When the grill is good and hot place your Veal Chop on the grill cook for three to four minutes on each side depending on how well done you would like your meat. To keep from serving "cold" meat in the center, make sure you bring the meat to room temp prior to cooking.

Remove from heat add a dab of butter, cover and let the meat rest for about five minutes before serving.

Serve with Cheesy Hash Browns and Wine Pick Of The Day! Guenoc Meritage Red Wine 2006

Enjoy!

Superbowl Football Game Day Bratwurst Simmered With Beer, Peppers and Onions!

Get ready for some Football!

Superbowl Football Game Day is a big event and why not make a big splash with some great half time food. Here is a simple way to have some great Bratwurst or even Italian Sausage that will be a crowd pleaser for everyone.... even those who don't like peppers!

To make a pan full of Sausage or Brats you will need a disposable 1/2 sheet pan size deep aluminum pan. A grill if you have one.

1 to 2 Brats or Sausages per person

3 Large Bell Peppers (1 green, 1 red, 1 yellow) sliced

1 Large Sweet Onion, sliced

2 Tablespoons Dried Oregano

1 Tablespoon Dried Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

3 Bottles of Beer

Salt/Pepper

Grill your Bratwurst on the grill like shown above, do not over cook, cover and set aside.

Bring a large skillet to med high heat with about 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil. Add the sliced peppers and onions, season with Oregano, Salt and Pepper.

Cook just until onions are tender.

Combine the beer, onion and peppers mixture into 1/2 sheet pan. Keep on grill on low heat or stove. Add the Bratwurst or Sausages and simmer until all the flavors combine and the Brats are heated through.

Pile on large Hoagie buns with plenty of Deli Mustard! The Brats will stay juicy and have tons of flavor. Even those who don't like to eat peppers can just grab the onions. Even the little ones like this recipe and everyone keeps coming back for more.

Happy Superbowl Game Day!

Different Wine Glasses for Different Occasions with Michael Green at Ack...

Do you know what correct wine glass to use while drinking your fav glass of vino? Are you having a dinner party and "need" to know now? Well here you go.

Directly from my Friend Michael Green a how to video on wine glass etiquette:

I learned a few new tips from Michael watching this did you? Leave a comment, let us know what you learned :)

Happy Winter ;)