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A dream 5 course meal

Tomorrow, this moment and 10 years from now are never a guarantee. Every day is a simple miracle, because you exist--- and with this existence you are rewarded with the freedom to bask in the elegance that this life offers. With that said, bust out your cloth napkins; clean off the dining room table, use the china and prepare to create a 5 course, healthy, cheap, easy meal. Gather with those you love, or spice things up with your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. Life is too short to eat every meal in front of the TV, or use paper towels as napkins. Do something different, have a new mini-adventure, and simply live it up.

Here are some simple instructions to create a world-class dinner:

Menu

1^st Anjou Pears and crumbled blue cheese with balsamic vinegar dressing

2^nd Steamed Artichokes or assorted steamed veggies

3^rd Home-made Macaroni and cheese or whole roasted chicken

4^th Salad greens with light Italian dressing

5^th Heath Bar and Hershey Chocolate Frozen Ice Cream Pie

Shopping List (4 portions)

*check your cupboards before you head to the market. You may already have some of these items.

3 Anjou Pears

5oz Blue Cheese- pre-crumbled or block

Bottle of balsamic vinegar dressing—a good one is Annie's Naturals Organic Balsamic Vinaigrette--Click here for details

2 Large Artichokes or an assortment of season veggies

Garlic

Olive oil

1 bad of mixed greens

Carrots

Italian dressing—a good one is Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix-- Click here for details

Gram crackers

4 Heath bars

1 pint of chocolate ice cream

1 pint coffee ice cream

Kahlua or Irish cream

Can of whipping cream

Hershey syrup

If you’re making the Mac & cheese:

1 bag/1 lb of Shell or Macaroni dried pasta

Milk

Flour

Butter (sticks)

4c or 12oz Gruyere cheese

3c or 8 oz Cheddar cheese

Nutmeg

Breadcrumbs

If you’re making the chicken:

Whole- chicken—found in the deli section. I would recommend getting it @ Whole Foods

Fresh Thyme and/or Rosemary

Lemon

Now remember, the fun of having a dinner like this is to take your time. Get everything prepared beforehand, and just keep an eye on the clock. Pour wine, take breathers and enjoy each other’s conversation….this is no marathon. Here are a few tips for this meal:

-Put artichokes/veggies in as soon as you begin to plate the 1^st course. (Artichoke will take 40-60 minutes)

-10 minutes before you serve the artichokes/veggies, put in the mac&cheese.

-If you’re making the chicken, put it in as soon as your guest arrive, or 1 hour 45 minutes until course # 3.

-Make ice cream pie the day before.

1^st Course Instructions:

Anjou Pears and crumbled blue cheese with balsamic vinegar dressing

- Clean and slice pears. Place small side plates in freezer before serving--- the plate will keep the food cold and shows you went out of your way....thoughtful. Crumble blue cheese over pears and drizzle dressing.

- Side note: Serving fruit as the 1^st course or on an empty stomach is helpful in digestion. It’s best for your body and will be digested more easily.

2^nd Course Instructions:

Steamed Artichokes or assorted steamed veggies

- Steamed Artichokes—Click here

- Steamed veggies—Clean and cut

o Place raw veggies on baking sheet.

o Coat with olive oil, fresh garlic and pepper. NO SALT yet.

o Bake on 350 for 30min

o Check veggies for tenderness—they may take up to 45minutes.

o When finished, remove from oven; add salt and portion out on small side plates.

3^rd Course Instructions:

Home-made Macaroni & Cheese or whole roasted chicken

Home-made Macaroni & Cheese (this can be made earlier in the day):

- Heat oven to 350

- Cook pasta normally, leaving it in between ‘a bit on the hard side’ and al dente.

- In the meantime, heat 4 cups of milk on the stove.

- In a separate pot, melt 6 T of butter.

- After butter is melted, slowly stir/wisk in ½ c of flour

- Slowly begin to stir/wisk in hot milk —making a roux

- Simmer mixture for 2 minutes.

- Turn heat off and add the following ingredients:

o 4c or 12oz Greyer cheese

o 3c or 8 oz Cheddar cheese

o ½tsp Nutmeg

o ½ tsp or more Pepper

o Salt- use your taste judgment

- When all ingredients are mixed together, pour in cooked pasta.

- Pour mixture into 12X8 non-stick/glass baking dish.

- Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.

- Bake uncovered for 35 minutes.

Baked Chicken:

-Heat oven to 325

-Place chicken in baking dish

-Rub with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

-Squeeze ½ of a lemon on the outside of the chicken.

-Stuff the rest inside the chicken, with the thyme and garlic cloves.

-Rub additional crushed fresh garlic on the outside of the chicken.

-Bake for 1 hour and 30minutes. Plan for 1 hour and 45 minutes total (It will need time to cool)

4^th Course Instructions:

Salad greens with light Italian dressing

- Clean, peel and cut carrots. Place small side plates in freezer before serving.

- Portion salad greens & carrots on the cold plates. Drizzle with Italian dressing.

- Side note: It is best to serve a small salad at the end of the meal. It also helps with digestion and is a nice compliment to your stomach filling up.

5^th Course Instructions:

Heath Bar and Hershey Chocolate Frozen Ice Cream Pie

- Please click here

The Demise of Meaningful Relationships

I believe we can all agree, reality shows have done more for us than pure entertainment. They’ve opened our minds to unconventional lifestyles, provided personal story inspirations and have SHOCKED us all. I am no “Hater” (see term below) to any particular reality show, I’ve just noticed a reoccurring modern trend…. Ridiculousness. When did we decide that our man can make-out with 5 other chicks in the same night? Let’s just go ahead and spread Swine flu to the whole cast. When did it become cool to have some lame system, with terms & strategy to get laid? Weird. Or women that have convinced themselves that they have a “special connection” with a guy that is falling for multiple women at the same time? Delusional.

Basically my point is, “Kids Don’t Try this at Home”. Call me old-fashioned, or old but in my belief the way we treat one another will have an direct impact on if we can live our best life… or not. Let’s hope we all take ridiculous reality show moments as entertainment, and not something to idealize. It’s gross--- seriously. Yelling, calling each other names, exchanging STDs, hysterically crying about a guy you just met and being recorded on camera having sex at the Jersey Shore House--- You should be mortified but your getting paid, so it’s ok.

In case you need to get up to speed with the Jersey Shore cast terms & strategy. These are just a few, they’ve got quite the vocab.

D.T.F.: Stands for "Down To F*ck." When Pauly D says, “This girl is totally D.T.F,” he means that he’s certain she’d be easy to sleep with. However, if a cast member misjudges and brings a girl home who turns out to not be D.T.F., she will immediately be kicked out of the house, ridiculed and referred to as a "grenade."

*Apparently this term is widely known in the male community, unaware to me. Ladies, try not to give it up on the first night. Make them buy you dinner first. Who really wants the title, “D.T.F.”?

GFA/GFF: Grenade-Free America/Grenade-Free Foundation. Charitable cause/organization established by the male cast mates in season two to keep the house free of unattractive females. See also "Grenade."Grenade: 1) A large, portly woman of an unsightly nature and violent disposition. 2) A difficult, prickly (often sober) friend of a potential conquest who blocks your advances on their friend's behalf. A wing man is required at all times to "dive on the grenade" to ensure your success in the bedroom.

*I realize I’ve probably been the Grenade at some point in my life—in some shape or form. FML. However, being the Grenade means I go home alone, STD free; in non-regret and don’t have to explain why my skin is orange from the spray tan rub-off. All positives.

Hater: One who openly disapproves of the general debauchery of the Shore. Someone who looks down with disdain on the cast mates and their life choices. Not to be associated with at any cost.

Haterade: Drink invented by The Situation to be hidden under the bed of a Hater (see above). Sign of disapproval of one's world-view, and a signifying marker that one is indeed a Hater. Can be both a metaphorical and literal drink.

Give Daily Thought and Thanks.....

Maybe your having a rough day.... or maybe a delightful one. In any case, here are some very wise, useful and valuable thoughts.... These things will prove harmony.

Here's to inspiring each other!

Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

Over prepare, then go with the flow.

Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or  joyful.

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting. Everywhere.

The best is yet to come...

You Scream for Ice Cream!

This pie is delectable. If you need a little ego boost when it comes to your cooking skills, make this. It is sweet, soft, crunchy and simply a real treat. Great for a bday cake. Make sure you give it enough time in the freezer--- plan to make the day before you serve.

Indulge yourself. Not all the time. But with this pie.

Heath Bar and Hershey Chocolate Frozen Ice Cream Pie

Crust
2c crushed gram crackers
1/2c crushed Heath bars (1 1/2 Heath bars)
4Tbsp melted butter

Filling
1 pint of chocolate ice cream, softened
1 pint coffee ice cream, softened
1/4c Kahlua or Irish cream
3/4c Crushed Heath bar (2 Heath bars)

Topping
Whipping cream
3/4c Hershey syrup

Making Crust:

Crush graham crackers, making 2 cups. The easiest way to crush the Heath bars is to take a hammer to it. Sounds a bit much, but you got to get the job done. Unwrap the bars, lay them on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap. Hammer away. Crush up 1 1/2 bars and mix with graham crackers. Drizzle 4Tbsp. of melted butter into the crushed mix-- stir. Press into 8-9inch pie dish (I like using tin, so the pie stays colder).

Making Filling:

Fold in all filling ingredients. Add half of the ice cream filling on to the crust. Drizzle Hershey syrup. Add the remaining ice cream mixture and top again with Hershey syrup.

Freeze pie overnight for best results or allow at least 6-8 hours. Allow to sit out in room temperature for 15 minutes before serving. Top with whipped cream and a slight decor of chocolate syrup.

The Golden Globes, Red Carpet, and what you missed.

Just in case you missed the awards show last night, I’ll give you the skinny to get caught up. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) is a group of 90 individuals, who represent 55 countries--- these members are international journalist and ultimately nominate ballot contenders and vote on category winners. The HFPA hosts the annual Golden Globe awards to recognize achievements in both film and television, which is followed by a glitzy evening of Beverly Hills after-parties.

Evening highlights….

Angelina and Brad we’re as always, breathtakingly beautiful--- camera caught them cuddling in their seats and Miss Jolie fixing Brad’s bow-tie. Seriously, can you be any more damn perfect…. Barf. Neither took home any awards but Angelina was up for work on the Tourist.

Halle Berry is hot. Take a look at that dress. That’s, that.

Eva Longoria’s dress was stunning. Black, cap sleeves, plunging neck line, open back, and perfectly fitted. She looked gorgeous, even though she attended stag. Take that Tony--- looking beautiful, confident and available is the best revenge.

Glee’s Chris Colfer, who plays an openly gay high school student, received the Supporting Actor in a Series award. His speech was the most inspiring, thanking fellow cast members and the kids who tune in each week---- His comment went something like this, “Thank you to all those kids who, watch the show. To the kids that our show celebrates…..who are constantly told no..by bullies…. That they can’t be who they are…. Well screw that kids! (Holding the Golden Globe up).”

Let that be a reminder to all, acceptance is the way to happiness.

Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 nabbed the Best Animated Film. They always seem to win, but the win is always well deserved. I would say the same for Toy Story 3, it made me tear up--- which proves it’s got life…. heart. Like Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrick noted on his acceptance speech—Thank you to those who embraced an animated movie, that beats with a human heart.

And the BIG win of the night was The Social Network. It won for Best Motion Picture-Drama, Best Director- Motion Picture and Best Screenplay- Motion Picture. The writing in this film was phenomenal, the story itself was risky, the acting was rich and the morals are relatable. See it. Bravo!

Take Care of that Body!

Someone once told me.....

Eating fruit plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and daily activity. Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal-- it will digest better.

If you have mastered eating the correct amount of fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight.

Only drink fresh fruit juice, NOT the concentrated juice from the cans. Don't drink juice or fruit that has been heated-- the nutrients cook out, leaving you with the taste, but not the benefit.

Facts on your favorite fruits:

KIWI: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange!

AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

EATING 2 - 4 ORANGES a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C and Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes.

Got anything to contribute? Can you relate?