tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87781688605815829842012-02-16T03:55:57.701-08:00i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-28708990360126795682008-05-03T21:52:00.000-07:002008-05-03T21:54:01.696-07:00

You might get sticker shock when you look at the price on this new mandoline from Shun. But, let me tell you, this is the Mercedes-Benz of mandolines. I saw a demo of this mandoline recently and was amazed by three things: safety, results, and styling.Safety: The clever design team at Shun deduced that the reason many people don't buy mandolines is because they're afraid. Either they've had a bad

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-33865288303283110852008-05-03T21:46:00.000-07:002008-05-03T21:49:48.756-07:00

Yesterday saw a flurry of blogging over the rumored launch of T-Mobile's long-brewing 3G network today in New York City on May Day, and speculation that the launch would be voice only--neglecting the data capability that is really central to 3G usage. Well, the 3G network did indeed launch today and Electronista is reporting that data is included: Tests in New York City's Brooklyn borough using

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-57685064772582869532008-05-03T21:40:00.000-07:002008-05-03T21:43:54.860-07:00

The other day, I volunteered to pick up some friends from the airport. Their luggage was lost on the tarmac, so I was on hold in the Cell Phone Waiting Lot for over an hour. Not a problem, because I had my 6th-generation iPod classic with me, and it features the coolest game ever: iQuiz, which comes pre-loaded on every 6th-generation iPod classic. I'm a music fanatic (1,200 CDs and 5,500 MP3s),

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-10064895983788015632008-05-03T21:36:00.000-07:002008-05-03T21:39:24.329-07:00

Just when I thought things couldn't get any cuter over at Norpro, they now have several baking pans I'm eying (and yet have no practical need for, but that's not really the point...). Check out the:Cakesicle pan Mini donut pan Mini cheesecake pan Mini popover pan (!!)As a lover of all things bundt, and the many fantastic shapes those cake pans come in these days, I'm a sucker for these novelty

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-22312981541821096572008-05-03T21:25:00.000-07:002008-05-03T21:31:58.331-07:00

Don’t get flustered by the French title, this salad (which can just be called Marinated Goat Cheese Salad, if you don’t want to sound continental. But why wouldn’t you) is from Ann Willan’s absolutely marvelous new book The Country Cooking of France. As we make the turn into spring and summer, salad becomes more and more a dining staple. To make this delish version, you’ll need to plan ahead a

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-67441332671084087042008-04-12T00:56:00.000-07:002008-04-12T01:02:23.105-07:00

Crystle Stewart is the new Miss USA.The 26-year-old Miss Texas conquered 50 other aspiring beauty queens in the pageant televised live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.Almost immediately, the contestants were narrowed down from 50 to 15. The finalists included Miss Missouri - and sister of Chace Crawford - Candice Crawford. But even her sibling’s star power was not enough to

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-53927072450617400142008-04-04T00:35:00.000-07:002008-04-04T00:42:23.329-07:00

The Third Angel: A Novel (Hardcover)This title will be released on April 8, 2008. Pre-order now!Editorial ReviewsFrom Publishers Weekly Starred Review. In this elegant and stunning novel, veteran heartstring-puller Hoffman (Here on Earth; Seventh Heaven) examines the lives of three women at different crossroads in their lives, tying their London-centered stories together in devastating retrospect

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-65568811638238805332008-02-08T20:35:00.000-08:002008-02-08T20:40:04.719-08:00

If you goofed on the Christmas shopping this year, now's your chance to make amends. Whether you're willing to spend a little or a lot, here are our top five Valentine's Day gift ideas:5. A weekend awayAnd you really don't need to go far. Simply book a room at your local hotel. Make sure to leave the kids and ozher "interruptions" behind. Check hotel Web sites and call them directly as many will

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-20623869514692345812008-02-06T20:12:00.000-08:002008-02-06T20:15:52.784-08:00

OK, the Super Bowl is over so now you have to get back to eating right. Right? Well, I’ll tell you what eating right is: a little delicacy called Bacon Peanut Brittle.It is absolutely addictive and a great thing to do with any leftover peanuts from Sunday’s game. I created this “pig candy” a few years ago for a “pork-in-every-course” class that I was teaching called Swine and Wine. The brittle

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-6963641168324679672008-02-05T22:11:00.000-08:002008-02-05T22:28:28.321-08:00

I'm a lucky girl. For my birthday last week, my lovely coworkers made me bacon pumpkin pie and maple bacon cookies! But what do you do if you're still craving the salty-sweet bacon combo but you haven't got the patience for a complicated recipe? Say hello to my new junk food of choice:Bacon CandyIngredients:1 lb bacon (not thick-cut)1/4 cup brown sugarDirections:1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-79704428027688529542008-02-04T21:25:00.000-08:002008-02-04T23:33:47.886-08:00

Every year, there're many special occasions when you express your love and appreciation for her - your girlfriend, your wife or your significant other. Valentine's Day is the most romantic day of the year to show your love and appreciation for her. You share the passion and excitement with her that both you and she will remember for many years to come.A gift is a token of love and affection. She

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-65558081924757342402008-02-01T20:06:00.000-08:002008-02-01T20:10:27.467-08:00

Chili is apparently a big thing on Game Day. I've gotten several emails this week from the major food websites touting their chili recipes. But, let me tell you, they are all wrong. This here is THE great chili recipe, passed down through the generations in my family. I like it best served over rice. GrandmaMaus herself prefers it over egg noodles. And it's not too shabby ladled over a hot dog

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-19814594038938510192008-01-31T20:16:00.000-08:002008-01-31T20:38:17.803-08:00

This is yummy and so cute cookie, the kid will love them and it's good idea for holiday party.Cookie SkatesINGREDIENTS :1/2 roll (16.5 oz size) refrigerated sugar cookies1/4 cup all-purpose flour1 container (1 lb) creamy white creamy ready-to-spread frosting30 small candy canesGreen decorating gelRed candy sprinklesDIRECTIONS :1. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in flour until

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-46090327880750066442008-01-31T19:48:00.000-08:002008-01-31T19:59:11.742-08:00

This sporty drink (featured in my drinking-book Good Spirits, but originally picked up from my bartending pal Joel Meister) will make you the winner no matter what the final score of the actual game. Refreshing, but with that little kick that makes it easier to handle your team losing, and more fun to celebrate your team winning, the Go Team is an ideal accompaniment for all the tasty snacks

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-75871675972323965052008-01-30T21:00:00.000-08:002008-01-30T21:12:04.917-08:00

Recently I contributed ayear's best SF/Fantasy article to Locus Online that I think will interest book-hungry Amazon readers. If you're unfamiliar with Mark Kelly's Locus Online, it is perhaps the best internet source for all things genre, and the electronic presence of the hardcopy magazine. My article includes several titles familiar to readers from the Amazon Best SF/Fantasy list posted last

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-85384820219439583412008-01-30T20:48:00.000-08:002008-01-30T20:55:16.379-08:00

We've been eating a lot of cheese in the Al Dente HQ lately. (For those of you new to Al Dente, we just conducted a Parmesan cheese taste test, which I'm putting together the finishing touches on this week.) In honor of the mound of Parmesan left over in my refrigerator, I felt inspired to share this simple recipe with you all. When these crisps cool, toss 'em in a Caesar or pasta salad, if they

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-25105740623746649482008-01-29T22:54:00.000-08:002008-01-29T22:59:06.643-08:00

What good is watching a football game without onion dip? Pointless, I say. This is simple to make, so when it dissappears during the first quarter (and it will), you can whip up another batch during a commercial break.Ingredients1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix8 ounces cream cheese1 cup mayonnaise1 tablespoon fresh parsley and/or chives, chopped1 teaspoon garlic, minced1/2 teaspoon freshly

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-88554790475792267222008-01-29T22:41:00.000-08:002008-01-29T22:54:34.606-08:00

I have to admit feeling a little like Duke, the golden retriever who tries to sell the secret family recipe to Bush's Original Baked Beans--that's because I'm going to share my mom's super-secret recipe for Swedish Meatballs. I've used this recipe many times to make a big batch of easy-to-prepare party appetizers. They're always a hit, now friends even RSVP saying, "there'd better be meatballs!"

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-50227160574476971292008-01-29T22:36:00.000-08:002008-01-29T22:40:51.826-08:00

If a worldwide apocalypse had forced us to live in underground bunkers just a few months ago, our diet would have consisted of dehydrated foods, canned beans, and vegans. Now, thanks to zee Germans, you can add cheeseburgers to that menu.And not just any cheeseburger--canned cheeseburger. The web detectives over at Spuch dug up this gem.I guess if survival came down to a choice between

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-28847535575780500132008-01-28T19:58:00.000-08:002008-01-28T20:22:26.939-08:00

All this week, we're going to focus on food for Sunday's big game. My culinary preference for football cuisine is easy-to-cook, man-sized finger food. And lots of it. This recipe, from Pillsbury.com, fits the bill perfectly because it's versatile and easy to make.Mini Beef and Cheese CrescentsIngredients1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls1 tablespoon Italian salad dressing2 slices (1

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-33059481054041941152008-01-27T05:01:00.001-08:002008-01-27T05:13:04.702-08:00

In recent years, the last word on the dangers of eating mercury-rich fish seemed to be the government's well-publicized 2004 advisory, which recommended against eating too much higher mercury fish like white tuna, but whose warning applied only to pregnant or nursing women, women of childbearing age and young children. Though mercury overload could damage the still-developing nervous system of a

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-60203753865312090292008-01-27T04:33:00.000-08:002008-01-27T04:40:14.004-08:00

LAS VEGAS -- Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund, a 19-year-old aspiring Broadway star, was crowned Miss America 2008 on Saturday in a live show billed as the unveiling of the 87-year-old pageant's new, hipper look.Haglund, of Farmington Hills, Mich., sang "Over the Rainbow" to clinch the title. She beat Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash, the first runner up, and Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, the

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-68261839079566378632008-01-25T20:11:00.000-08:002008-01-25T20:28:27.312-08:00

Over the holidays I went over to my friend Jill's house for the first time. When I entered her kitchen I immediately exclaimed, "You have a GRAPE KitchenAid mixer!" Yes, I may be a little bit insane, but this was one of the highlights of the holiday season for me. You see, other people go to friends' houses and secretly peek in their medicine cabinets. Me, I stroll into the kitchen and check out

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-44355166645625205482008-01-25T19:35:00.000-08:002008-01-25T19:54:42.964-08:00

A recent study by Swiss and British scientists has determined that preferences for food--specifically chocolate--could be linked to a chemical signature that's programmed into our metabolic systems. The study breaks new ground in metabolic type research, and could help to eventually design healthy diets customized to an individual's needs.Participants in the study classified themselves as "

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-87132719067949424912008-01-24T22:14:00.000-08:002008-01-24T22:23:46.779-08:00

Recently, I've rediscovered an old flame in downtown Seattle--Cutter's Smoked Salmon chowder. While this chowder is rich, creamy, and warms me to my toes on cold days, I have to admit that it's not their chowder alone that brings me into Cutter's--it's their Grey Goose Ginger Peartini.A few weekends back, Head-Chef and I went to celebrate a special event with some close friends. Despite my

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-63887264588500659732008-01-24T21:37:00.000-08:002008-01-24T21:45:55.360-08:00

The happy marketing language states: "Seventh Generation's plant-derived laundry detergents are tough on dirt but gentle on your clothes and the environment. They are non-toxic, biodegradable, and contain no phosphates, artificial fragrances or dyes."Seventh Generation Laundry Concentrate is formulated to be effective in cold water, and good for use in both High Efficiency and standard washing

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-47350792237448998732008-01-24T21:18:00.000-08:002008-01-24T21:29:46.819-08:00

I’m not going to lie to you--I could stand to lose a couple pounds. But it’s hard, even though I exercise, and try to resist the delicious amount of snacks around the Al Dente HQ. I mean, doughnuts taste good. Milkshakes taste good. Doughnuts dunked in a milkshake taste really good. If I was paid to lose those pounds though, would that be enough incentive? In the United Kingdom, some politicians

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-9846494980350504412008-01-24T20:53:00.000-08:002008-01-24T21:05:52.076-08:00

I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow down your shoddily constructed...Shoo-fly publishing's The Three Little Cowboy Builders is circulating the blogosphere as the latest casualty of eager political correctness. The digital pop-up book based on the classic story, The Three Little Pigs, was not shortlisted for the first annual (British government-backed) BETT Awards because, according to the

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-73726708272403860242008-01-23T01:01:00.000-08:002008-01-23T01:09:40.965-08:00

I wrote last week about My Revolutions, Hari Kunzru's new novel, which is my January pick for our Significant Seven. And when poking around to learn more about him and the book, I came across his bare-bones home page, which features a larger version of the lovely bookshelf photo above, filled with what must have been his research materials for My Revolutions. I'm always fascinated by the process

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-20801087809367312042008-01-23T00:39:00.000-08:002008-01-23T00:54:07.248-08:00

I met Heath Ledger in March 2001 when he was promoting A Knight's Tale during the round of publicity junkets in Los Angeles. The room smelled like smoke, probably because he was putting out one about every half hour, and he was squirming in a chair like a little kid who'd been scolded at daycare. Possibly because he was irritated at the prying questions all day about Heather Graham (whom he was

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-6682464236720182412008-01-21T19:08:00.000-08:002008-01-21T19:15:43.294-08:00

Your reading queue may already be waist-high now (I know mine is) with all the Best Ofs and award winners that have been rolling in, but who can resist the siren songs of this year's Edgar hopefuls? I mean, really. From Benjamin Black's Christine Falls to debut favorite (and favorite of ours) In the Woods and Michael Chabon's genre-bending The Yiddish Policeman's Union--not to mention the

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-27673436049987754002008-01-21T19:01:00.000-08:002008-01-21T19:07:37.172-08:00

If you didn't know, Lindsay Lohan film a movie called I Know Who Killed Me, in which she played a small-town girl who may also have been a stripper named Dakota. That film led the Golden Raspberry Award nominations, which (dis)honor the worst flicks of the year. Eddie Murphy set a new record with five nominations in a single year (for all the characters he played in Norbit. Here's the complete

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-69793794757164395002008-01-21T02:01:00.000-08:002008-01-21T02:34:00.789-08:00

The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America has announced the long list for the prestigious Nebula Awards, from which the finalists will be chosen by SFWA members. It's quite a hodge podge of types and authors, plenty for everyone to choose from. I'm not sure who my money would be on--newcomers like Tobias Buckell, Hal Duncan, and Jay Lake, "famous outsiders" like Michael Chabon or J.K

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-90492289661259171292008-01-18T19:50:00.001-08:002008-01-18T19:59:53.678-08:00

Ever wanted to know how much energy that fridge in your garage from 1989 is sucking up? Pick up the Kill-a-Watt and find out. You just might want to replace that bad-boy.At the time of this writing there are 187 customer reviews on this product with a lifetime average 4.5 star rating.Illustrative review:+++++Very satisfied with my purchase, January 7, 2008"I wanted to know how much electricity my

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-17105036404782671262008-01-18T00:58:00.000-08:002008-01-18T01:47:47.390-08:00

A recent article reports that German researchers just announced that drinking beer promotes good health. How could this lovely dream be possible? They say that, “preliminary studies indicate xanthohumol, a compound found in hops, inhibits a family of enzymes which trigger cancer, as well as help the body detoxify carcinogens.” While I can’t pronounce “xanthohumol” even after a number of drinks, I

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-45747931310405265652008-01-18T00:41:00.000-08:002008-01-18T00:51:37.891-08:00

Feeding our kids should be simple, right? We've been feeding ourselves for years. How hard can it be to whip up some oatmeal and crush a banana? But everywhere you turn, there's an edict on what they can eat and when (yogurt and cheese at nine months, but no milk until one year--huh?), or how they should drink water (regular cup vs. sippie-cup), or how we need to make sure meal time is enjoyable

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-81301611249195866462008-01-13T20:07:00.000-08:002008-01-18T00:54:13.993-08:00

Everyone golf-claps for Atonement, the winner of the Best Motion Picture Drama Award, the final Golden Globe handed out this evening, and it ends — just like that. It has to be one of the most anti-climactic moments in the history of entertainment. A congratulations is in order for Joe Wright though, whose film may now become a frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar.So here we are to run you

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-40257446311258071592008-01-13T01:18:00.000-08:002008-01-13T01:52:38.185-08:00

In our home, we read political blogs compulsively (from smart liberals *and* smart conservatives) and we haven't been able to stop listening to streaming local radio from Iowa, New Hampshire, and now Nevada, all while watching the latest results tallied on Politico.So how do we incorporate our kid into the action? At nine months, about the only way Silas gets involved is by laughing when we cheer

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778168860581582984.post-61113012348603645792008-01-13T00:06:00.000-08:002008-01-13T01:12:38.000-08:00

I was just over on Epicurious checking out their featured section on comfort foods, and came upon this recipe for pork simmered in a fragrant broth of cinnamon and anise. It sounds so good--and easy--that I think I'll make it this weekend. It looks just perfect for a rainy Seattle Saturday at home! The recipe comes from the December 2007 issue of Gourmet and serves 4 to 6.Pork Noodle Soup with

i-cophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146848384428762812noreply@blogger.com0