During a recent visit to a friend’s house, I stumbled upon a simple, easy and more importantly, yummy appetizer. I am a huge fan of caprese salad and anything dipped in balsamic vinegar so this recipe was just perfect! Let me introduce the caprese salad skewer. Salads are near impossible to serve as a party appetizer, but salad on a stick?! That is genius! Using skewers was super fun and really easy to clean-up. I was such a fan of this appetizer that I recreated it over the Easter holiday, the caprese skewers were the hit of the party, a simple and colorful appetizer. Try it!

<strong>Ingredients:</strong>
Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh Mozzarella Balls (small, roughly the same size as the Cherry Tomatoes)
Olive Oil (we used blood orange olive oil, but any style will due)
Fresh Basil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Pepper
Pitted Black Olives
Skewers or Long Toothpicks

1. Drizzle serving plate with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

2. Chop/Tear up the Basil into bite sized pieces

3. Skewer tomato, mozzarella, olive and piece of basil. Repeat

4. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and balsamic. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

Voila, Caprese Skewers!

Looking for the Best Thai food in the Portland area… Well it’s a bit to the north?

When you are done shopping the outlets in Freeport, Maine stop by Thai Garden located at 491 US Route 1 Freeport, ME 04032.

The family owned restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere, fun bustling energy, and quick take-out. The main draw for me is the authentic family recipes passed down from generations. Thai Garden has the best sweet and sour, dumpling, and satay peanut sauce I have ever tasted. I have tried to make my own sauces, even with my extensive culinary background, and can not even come close. 5 stars in my book!

My favorite picks are: Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls -$5.95- served with sweet and sour sauce, Tempura Vegetables – $5.75- (usually consisting of carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, acorn squash, summer squash, green bean, red and green peppers, and a huge onion ring) –served with sweet and sour sauce, Kanom Keap-$5.50- (pork and chicken mixed with green peas and water chestnuts wrapped in a wonton skin and steamed) – served with a ginger sauce, and Chicken Satay -$6.75- (chicken marinated in Thai herbs and spices with coconut milk) served with a creamy peanut sauce, Pad Thai with Vegetables -$9.25, Paad Pik-King – $9.25 – stir fried string bean, carrot, and lime leaves in a hot pik-king coconut sauce, and Lemongrass Roasted Duck -$16.95 – thinly sliced fresh lemongrass, onion, red and green peppers, and mushrooms in a spicy lemongrass sauce over roasted duck.

More of a Chinese food fan but tired of the MSG hangover?…Try the Chicken Lo Mein -$10.50 , Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice -$1195 , and Crab Rangoons – $6.50.

After completing 8 years of sampling I have concluded that Thai Garden is hands down the best Thai food in the area. They combine fresh ingredients, extensive authentic menu choices, and reasonable prices. Open Monday-Saturday 11:00Am to 9:00pm, and Sunday 4:00PM – 9:00PM, 207-865-6005 Check them out!

<img src=”{filedir_2}Carrot.jpg” alt=”” height=”250″ width=”250″ />Though cafeteria food isn’t anyone’s idea of high cuisine, Piccadilly Cafeterias throughout the south are the go-to place for great comfort food. One of Picadilly’s signature items, the infamous carrot soufflé, is loved even by people who wouldn’t eat a carrot stick to save themselves. (This describes most of my family.) It’s lightly sweet, golden brown, powdered sugar-dusted deliciousness. Everyone goes back for seconds of this casserole. (This also describes most of my family!)

My mom is acquainted a member of the family that founded Piccadilly in Baton Rouge in 1944. When the topic of the carrot soufflé recipe has come up, the lady has insisted that the original recipe is a secret. That may be the case, but this recipe is very, very close. If you’re looking for something new to serve with ham for Easter, give it a try!

<strong>Carrot Souffle</strong>

1 1/2 pounds peeled carrots (about 9 medium)
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until very soft, about 20 minutes. Drain and mash.

To the warm carrots add melted butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract and eggs, beating with an electric mixer until smooth.

Transfer the mixture to a buttered 2 quart casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour or until top is light golden brown. Sprinkle lightly with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

A QR code or “Quick Response code” is a matrix barcode similar to UPC codes scanned by cash registers. These codes are designed to provide immediate access for any type of data the designer chooses. While some see QR codes as a marketing fad I think that they have a practical place in our lives. We crave instant information and as long as QR codes meet that need I think they will be around for while.

Here are a few QR placements in action:

1. Rock the vote. In the 2010 presidential election about 91 million American’s voted out of a total 217,342,419 eligible voters,
while around 122 million voted for the next American Idol. Until we can text in our votes for president, Rock the vote
volunteers have outfitted themselves with t-shirts featuring a QR code. People interested in voting simply scan the shirt and
are brought to a site where they can register, adding a little life to a process that can seem like drudgery to the gen-y crowd.
http://www.psfk.com/2012/03/t-shirt-voter-registration.html
2. The Home Depot has started using QR codes in a practical way. They have started placing QR codes on items that are
commonly purchased in large quantities by commercial customers. Maintenance technicians can download the app and
scan everything from shower heads to tubes of caulking. Once scanned these items are placed in their online shopping cart
taking the time out of managing inventory and ordering.
http://hdsupplysolutions.com/shop/home

3. QR codes just can be just for fun. There is a team at Facebook that is working to paint huge QR codes on the roofs of
buildings around the US. There is nothing practical about this, just good old nerdy fun.
http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/facebook-paints-giant-useless-qr-code- roof-headquarters-139202

4. A Portuguese artist Nuno Serrao is using QR codes to accompany pieces of art. People coming to view these works can
scan the code to access a soundscape that accompanies the piece, creating a unique experience for gallery visitors.
http://mashable.com/2012/02/25/qr-codes-art-music/

5. Soon Princeton Place Apartments in Worcester MA will be placing QR codes throughout corporate furnished apartments.
These codes once scanned will bring guests to a tutorial video for the item they scanned. You’ll find them on thermostats,
TV remote, appliance, anything that residents might need a little help using.

Where have you seen noteworthy QR code placement recently?

As a hobby esthetician I LOVE trying out tons of new skincare, bodycare and makeup, but I always find myself going back to my tried and true products. Although everyone’s skin is different, and everyone’s makeup preferences are different, I have this nagging need to share my favorite products so that someone else with dry, sensitive skin and zero free time might stubble upon this and fall in love with “my” products too. So, without further ado, here it is:

• Fresh Soy Face Wash – so gentle, but gets everything off!
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle – fruit enzymes and a scrub in one step…
• Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream (the ONLY one that keeps my eyes smooth)
• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
• Guerlain Terra Cotta bronzer
• Bobby Brown Shimmer Brick highlighter
• Bare Minerals eye shadows – the widest array of colors, can be used dry or wet, last forever and are all natural…
• Dior Diorshow Blackout mascara
• Aveda Hand Relief – smells amazing, stays on through hand washing, but doesn’t feel greasy!
• Korres Guava Body Cream
• Fresh Sugar Lip Balm (keeps chapped lips at bay)

There are a couple of items I’m still up in the air about, as far as claiming them as my all-time favorites. Serums and Moisturizers tend to be a big problem for me. Currently I’m digging Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum and Aveda Green Science Firming Face Cream. What are your favorite products? Any suggestions??

So I have lived in Salem for 5 years and have eaten at Finz many times……Well the other day I came across the most fabulous appetizer ever! It is the “Far East” shrimp! Paired with one of their signature martinis like the “Seafoam” makes it even better. You have to try this restaurant and their scrumptious appetizers.

You can visit their website at www.hipfinz.com

I recently participated in my first Duathlon in Central Park, New York City. What is a Duathlon? It is a competition that is composed of running and biking. The usual format for a duathlon is run-bike-run, meaning you start with a run, then transition to the bike, then transition back to running again. My race was: 2 mile run – 12 mile bike – 2 mile run. Duathlon ‘s are suited to anyone who enjoys biking and running and, much like a triathlon, caters for all age groups. It is the perfect endurance sport for those who are less inclined to swim, as a form of cross training. I decided to challenge myself to this task in hopes of “getting in shape” but I took away much more than just fitness. It was both a physical and mental challenge. I’m sharing my experience in hopes of encouraging you to set your own challenges!

When starting to train, consider your strengths and weaknesses in running and biking. Then focus on your needs. For me, I was not a runner so I spend most of my training time focused on the run. Just a few short month’s ago I could not run 1 mile without taking a break, now I am able to run 2 miles without issue. Remember to not train at a high intensity all the time; it’s equally important to have adequate recovery time build into your schedule. Your body will tell you how much you should train and how much you must rest. Listen to it. There are many duathlons in our area, check out the <a href=”http://www.trifind.com/gs_duathlon/DuathlonRaces.html?state=ma”>Trifind website</a> for more info!

<strong>24-hour countdown to race day (If your race begins at noon, this is what the preceding 24 hours should look like):</strong>
<em>24 hours to go</em>
If you can, travel to the race venue the day before to avoid any surprises. Make sure your bike is in good working order.
<em>18 hours to go</em>
Dinner the night before the race. There’s no need to try to eat your body weight in carbohydrates.
If you already eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, stick to what you are comfortable with. Try to avoid food that may take a long time to digest, such as large portions of red meat or too much fiber. Be sure you drink plenty of fluids (not beer) to stay hydrated.
<em>3 hours to go</em>
Time for breakfast, a nutritious carbohydrate breakfast is a prerequisite, (i.e. bagel, granola bar, muesli, toast and peanut butter, bananas.) Avoid fatty foods or lots of fiber.
<em>1 hour to go</em>
Arrive at transition, find your spot and sort out your kit. Check your bike is in an appropriate gear for leaving transition and starting the ride. Check that the tires are properly inflated and make sure you stay hydrated. You can also have an energy bar or similar to take in those last few preferred calories. Now is also a good time to go for a 10-min jog to warm up.
<em>20 mins to go</em>
Avoid further carbohydrates, as you will not be able to digest them prior to the run start.
<em>1 min to go</em>
Get ready, get steady… and you’re off! This is the moment you’ve trained for. Enjoy it! I certainly did.

If you’ve avoided flea markets, it’s time to take another look. As evidence, check out these tips from Casey at Princeton Green Apartments, who also writes the interior design blog <a href=”http://loftandcottage.blogspot.com/”>Loft & Cottage</a>.

If budgets are tight and you don’t mind a little hands-on work to freshen up your discoveries, there are some great finds to be had at salvage shops, flea markets, antique stores, and thrift shops.

Find Furniture
There are not many problems that paint cannot solve. Give an old piece of furniture a fresh look and feel with a few coats. Try wallpapering the drawer fronts and adding new hardware too.

Find Lighting
Look twice at thrift store lighting. Spray paint and a new shade may be all it needs.

Find Art
Old postcards in new store-bought frames make for interesting, inexpensive art. Think wide mats and skinny frames for an updated look. Rene from <a href=”http://cottageandvine.blogspot.com/”>Cottage & Vine </a> created a gorgeous art wall with Goodwill plates and some spray paint. Check her out and for more Tuesday Tips, check out Casey’s blog <a href=”http://loftandcottage.blogspot.com/”>Loft & Cottage</a>.

<img src=”{filedir_1}allergy-medication.jpg” alt=”allergy” height=”261″ width=”385″ />
Tis the season for allergies to begin for most of us. According to reports, because we had a mild Winter (not that we are complaining) it wasn’t cold enough to completely kill all of the mold. Scientist say that this may be one of the worst seasons for allergies.

Check out this link for some great tips to help alleviate common allergy symptoms!
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/10-home-remedies-for-allergies.htm

<img src=”{filedir_1}Cake_Balls.jpg” alt=”Shamrock Cake Balls” height=”217″ width=”420″ />The first time I attempted this recipe it was a disaster and I was swearing at Paula Deen for making it sound so easy. I was eager to hop on this new food trend, and red velvet cake balls coated in white chocolate seemed like such a good idea for the teachers for Valentine’s Day. It was an absolute mess. It took me a year to consider trying again, and this time with a few changes the results were fantastic! With the addition of some mint extract and green food coloring, my shamrock cake balls were a big hit for St.Patrick’s Day at my son’s school.

Here’s how to achieve the just about perfect cake ball and impress your friends the next time you need to bring a dessert to a party.

CAKE BALLS
1 cake mix, and ingredients required for preparation
4 ½ cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons shortening
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or other flavoring
2 bags candy coating wafers <em>DO NOT substitute chocolate chips. Trust me on this.</em>
Optional: sprinkles, colored sugar, chopped nuts for topping

Prepare the cake according to the package directions, reducing the oil by half. When baked, <em>and it’s better to over-bake a bit,</em> allow the cake to cool completely.

Make frosting by combining the powdered sugar, shortening, butter, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl, beating with an electric mixer until smooth. <em>You may see recipes that call for canned frosting. DON’T do it! That stuff tastes like the container it comes in and makes the dough difficult to work with.</em>

Shred the cake into the frosting, and beat until it becomes a smooth mixture. Refrigerate the dough for an hour or longer.

Form the dough into balls approximately the size of a walnut, then refrigerate for another hour.

For best results, melt the candy coating in a double boiler. It can also be melted in the microwave, though this often results in it getting too hot and clumping, or burning. <em>Yes, I had that problem the first time too!</em>

Using a toothpick, spear the cake balls and dip them in the melted candy coating. Place them on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. There will be a small hole from the toothpick. Take a bit of coating on the back of a spoon and swirl on the top to cover it. Sprinkle with topping before the coating sets, and cool in the refrigerator.