​Want the inside scoop on how restaurants get you to come out of your pocket and at the end of your meal have you wondering, ‘What did I order?’ 


Here’s the scoop!  An article written in Excelle– a social networking site created primarily for the career-minded woman, gives 10 restaurant menu ‘illusions’ that entice and ultimately get you to come out of your pocket more generously than you may have intended.  Everything from, ‘this isn’t what it looks like in the commercial’ to why adding ‘bacon’ to a dish immediately increases its worth, is laid out for you here so you can be better equipped next time you dine out.
The article:
 http://excelle.monster.com/news/articles/4410-10-sneaky-ways-restaurant-menus-lie-to-you?page=1
Hey, make it a great tasting Friday!

Greetings & Salutations!
As I stated in my earlier post, I am on a new health kick for 2010 and beyond.  With this transition comes the research of finding low-calorie/fat/sugar healthier alternatives and lifestyles.    Well for this week I’ve researched a bit in the area of juicers.  I would love to juice up my recommended daily servings of 3 fruits and 4 vegetables in the morning and get it all in for the day!  Wouldn’t that be great!
I’ve solved the question of where and what to buy (Forest Park Farmer’s Market primarily, Dekalb County Farmer’s Market when I can get there) every weekend for the fresh goods!  And the Jack LaLanne Juicer….I think…?
I tell you, I sat down one Sunday morning and was mezmorized by this man and his wife!  Already knowing the value and importance of juicing, the infomercial really made me want to get up and get one already!  Obviously I am their target and the paid advertising spot did its job.
So my question to you, ‘Is Jack LaLanne’s juicer really the best for my buck or is there another daring enough to compete?’
The following juicers made my cut, PLEASE help me to narrow down:
– Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer
–Sharper Image® Super Juicer
-Hamilton Beach 67650 Juicer, Big Mouth Pro
-Waring Pro JEX328 Juicer, Health Juice Extractor 
Please help!  Feel free to comment also on any good juicers you don’t see listed.

​Let’s face it, most of us have trouble with dieting or, as I like to say, ‘eating right’, primarily because of what we have to cut out.  It’s like a constant smack on the hand followed by the antagonistic phrase, ‘don’t eat that’!
Well a new study is underway that may make you happy camper.  Per a ‘tweet’ from my fellow ‘twitter-er’ @susansandler, the online version of the health magazine Prevention, has consulted with  Connecticut-based dietitian Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, regarding taboo bites that are not so taboo.
Enjoy!
http://www.prevention.com/foodsnottoditch/#
Make it a great tasting day!

Great video clip on how to sneak 3 excellent sources of protein into your diet…and they're meat-free!
http://ow.ly/XSMT

​Article in New York Times describes how the food and wine industry are coming together to give to the people of Haiti.  It is a truly fabulous happening when those from all walks of life and industry can ban together in efforts to relive the suffering people of this country.
Enjoy the link….
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/dining/20bene.html?ref=dining
…or read the article below!
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
Published: January 19, 2010THE food and wine industry is helping to raise money for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
Philippe Massoud, the chef and owner of Ilili in the Flatiron District, has rallied dozens of restaurants in New York and elsewhere to donate up to 10 percent of sales on Jan. 24 or 25 (and some on both dates) to Dine Out for Haiti, an organization that will distribute the money to Doctors Without Borders, Action Against Hunger and Partners in Health. For more on the program and participating restaurants: dineout4haiti.org.
Alto, Convivio and Marea will donate 10 percent of sales on Jan. 25 to the United NationsWorld Food Program.
Starr Restaurants, which owns Morimoto and Buddakan in New York and many places in Philadelphia, will donate 10 percent of proceeds on Jan. 25 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
At Boqueria in the Flatiron district and SoHo, customers are encouraged to help raise $5,993 to buy an emergency medical kit for Doctors Without Borders.
At Astor Wines and Spirits, the proceeds from a tasting class, Elements of Wine, on Jan. 25 will be donated to Haiti Earthquake Relief, which will give the money to Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross. The class, $75, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The company is also soliciting donations on its Web site: astorwines.com.
Palate Press, an online wine publication, is collecting donated wines from individuals and wineries to sell in its online auction. All sales will benefit the Red Cross: palatepress.com.
A number of fund-raisers for Haiti have already been held. Hearth Restaurant donated 50 percent of revenues on Jan. 19. D’Agostino supermarkets collected donations, and Sprinkles Cupcakes in California donated all sales of its red velvet cupcakes, amounting to $20,000, to the Red Cross on Jan. 16. Thom Bar in SoHo held a fund-raising cocktail party on Jan. 18.
Make it a great tasting day and remember to be good to each other people!

​Please do what you can to help those affected by the horrific earthquake in Haiti last Tuesday on 1/12/10.  Here in Atlanta, Georgia, Hosea Feed The Hungry (HFTH) is taking donations in efforts to send food to the people of Haiti.  Although we see in the news and have read in the papers and on the net where food and clothing are obviously in great need, monetary donations are the quickest way to generate the most needed items to this suffering country.  So please see below the various ways to donate/contribute to these people, our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and friends of our great human race.  PLEASE HELP!
– Text ‘Haiti’ to 90999 and $10 will be donated and billed to your phone bill.
– Text ‘Yele’ to 501 and $5 will be donated and billed to your phone bill.
– Text ‘CARE’ to 25383 and $10 will be donated towards Haiti disaster relief
-Unicef- https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6680&6680.donation=form1
Click here to see these and many other ways to give.  http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/
Please also click here to be directed to Wyclef Jean’s official blog for official updates and information:  http://yele.org
If you have any other VALID/OFFICIAL  resources that you would like to share, please do so by leaving a comment, thanks!


Let’s do our part and be good to each other.

​I am an extreme fan of beans!  As a nursing mother however, not sure if my son appreciates my fanatics though :-). 
With the recent winter freeze storm here in Atlanta, GA, I started getting that warm and fuzzy feeling for comfort food.  So in addition to working from home Friday, I decided to let my crockpot work from home as well. 
So here’s what I did:
– Red (October) beans- along the lines of a pinto bean
– Black beans
– Bay scallops
– Abstract Spice (avoid bouillon cubes, they are loaded with MSG)
– Cream
– Dash of Cajun spice or cayenne
I filled half the pot with water. Poured in 1/2 cup black beans and 1/2 cup red beans.  I added 2 tbsps of my season all and Cajun spice.  Turned the crockpot on high and walked away for about 8 hours.  I then mixed approximately  1/2 cup cream and turned the crockpot down to low.  Last, I added the scallops allowing them to slow cook releasing all their sweetness to the soup, yum!
Garlic bread or hot water cornbread are perfect sides!

If Americans cut their salt intake by just half a teaspoon per day, it would produce public health benefits by far! 
Check it out:
http://news.health.com/2010/01/20/salt-reduction/
Ways to ADD flavor when REMOVING salt:
– fresh herbs
– dried herbs
– lemon or lime juice
– FRESH cracked pepper
– balsamic vinegar
– vinegarette (1 part vinegar/2 parts extra virgin olive oil)
Still can’t let it go? Consider using kosher or sea salt.  They’re better alternatives and you don’t have to use as much!
Hey!  Make it a great tasting day!

​A delicious holiday gift!  My hubby’s aunt sent us these as a holiday gift.  Surprisingly enough, the masters of summer sausages have elegantly produced some of the tastiest little cakes I’ve had in a long time.  Unfortunately they seem to be sold out for the season, but be sure to add them to your holiday gift list for this year!
http://www.hickoryfarms.com/products~sku~004704~c~300206.asp

​Greetings!
I’ve been giving serious thought to my past and current eating habits.  It’s not that I eat terribly bad, but my consumption could be so much better.  I am well aware of good healthy eating tactics, eating right for your blood type, include this, exclude that.  But I think it wasn’t until the recent birth of my first son where I realized I needed to focus a bit more and become more personal about what I eat.  Milk for instance- I LOVE MILK!!  Both my husband and I would consume 2 gallons in a week!  However, I recently got a hold of a Johns Hopkins study stating the large amounts of mucus milk produces in the body.  My heart sank- I would drink water like I breathed air!  So I tried the soy substitute.  It was OK, but then I read about the estrogen levels in that!  So I gave into a girlfriend of mine who swears by almond milk, and it is safe to say…I AM HOOKED!  I’ve only had the vanilla flavored Blue Diamond brand, but to my surprise it has all the nutritional value and more of milk with only 2 grams more of sugar. 
With that said, I have officially adopted the state of mind to take personal what I eat.  If it only tastes really good because perservatives, additives, MSG, and transfat, then it’s really only cheating your tongue!   I’ve decided to consume more fresh veggies, fish/seafood, and fruit and carbs to a certain extent due to their high sugar content.
Now, my plan in sticking to this is seeking out venues and ways to make such items more attainable.  Isn’t that the whole issue sumed up anyway?  If there were more variety and places to attain such wholesome vittles (at a reasonable $), more people would eat healthier, right?  Well that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it!  I’ve plotted out at least 3 spots where I know I can somewhat conveniently pick up healthy items with not so woefully a financial sticker. 
The least amount of cooking heat the better!  I want to get back to actually savoring a foods natural good taste and not slather it with excess dressings.
Lastly- water, water, water, will be the beverage of choice.  Herbal teas with no more than a teaspoon of honey.  No diet ‘light’ beverages either.  I might as well get the real thing with all the artificial load-up found in these supposed ‘weight-watching’ liquids….YUCK! 
 I think I’m off to a great start with my healthy perspective for 2010!
Diet-schmiet!  Who’s with me?!?!