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Two newly-promoted Area Sales Managers in the Midlands have predicted the region is set for a period of growth, both in terms of activity and house prices.
Kayleigh Perry and Paul Cookson, who have taken up the roles at estate agents Leaders, believe the second half of 2017 will be a buoyant time for the local property scene.
Kevin Shaw, National Sales Director at Leaders, says: "Kayleigh and Paul will oversee a total of 13 branches across the Midlands and are looking forward to the challenge of helping sellers get the best price for their homes and achieve a quick sale as well as supporting buyers as they look to find and secure their dream property.
"Paul and Kayleigh boast a combined 35 years' experience in the property industry. It is incredibly exciting to be able to promote two of our high performers from within the company.
Paul, Area Sales Manager for the South Midlands and Worcestershire, says: "I cannot wait to get started and to drive the business forward. I have previously run a number of estate agents in the area and I am looking forward to using that experience to train and nurture the passionate and knowledgeable staff in our local network.
"Prices are continuing to rise despite Brexit uncertainty. We are seeing more people moving home this summer and I expect this to continue through the remainder of 2017.
"One benefit of using Leaders in the Midlands is that we have extensive branch coverage in the region so we can help sellers by listing their properties in all our offices and also to our huge database of prospective buyers and investors."
Kayleigh, Area Sales Manager for the East Midlands, explains: "I am delighted to continue to help our branches in the Midlands grow and build an even stronger reputation, capitalising on a busy market.
"The most important thing for me is that our customers walk away from their moving experience happy that they've achieved their aims thanks to the work of a team that genuinely cares about them.
"I have worked through different and challenging markets and at a number of local estate agents. My aim is to bring that experience and combine it with the latest innovations to create a personalised and efficient service."
Paul and Kayleigh will oversee branches in locations including Leamington Spa, Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham, Worcester, Loughborough, Kenilworth, Mansfield, Droitwich and Redditch.
For more information on selling a property anywhere in the Midlands contact your local Leaders branch or visit leaders.co.uk..


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Digest Optimal (Alcohol-Free)
- Improves digestive secretions
- Helps reduce gas and bloating
- Soothes intestinal cramps
- Supports overall digestive health
Relieves gas and bloating, heartburn
- 90-day, money-back guarantee
- 1 Bottle = 1 oz (30 mL)
- Alcohol-free, Glycerin-based
What should you expect with our products? click herex
Quality and Results. Your health is as important to us, as it is to you. Creating a product that makes a real difference to your health and wellbeing starts with the highest quality ingredients that meet and exceed our rigorous standards. They may cost more than some other products, but the results speak for themselves.
Legal disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person
What is Digest Optimal?
Digest Optimal supports digestive function and is an excellent tonic for chronic indigestion including gas, bloating, heartburn, or a feeling of fullness from incomplete digestion. It improves digestive secretions including hydrochloric (HCl) acid from the stomach, bile and enzymes within the liver, and digestive enzymes from the pancreas. It is especially beneficial for the elderly, who often experience declining digestion with age, and subsequent decreased absorption of nutrients.
Digest Optimal contains a synergistic blend of herbs traditionally used for supporting digestion including Gentian, Fennel seed, Oregon Grape, Licorice, Ginger, Prickly Ash bark and Peppermint Spirits.
Gentian is one of the most bitter herbs known; the taste of bitter upon the tongue causes a 'reflexive release' of gastric juices throughout the digestive tract by the action of the autonomic nervous system. Gentian has traditionally been used when there are digestive problems associated with insufficient stomach acid or other digestive juices.
Oregon Grape is also a bitter herb which promotes positive effects upon digestion. Bitter herbs stimulate the production of bile which is necessary for proper emulsification of fats and provides a natural laxative action.
The aromatic oils in Fennel seed have long been used for the relaxing effect they exert upon smooth muscle in the intestines. This aids in intestinal spasms and cramps and facilitates the release of gas (carminative action).
Licorice root is one of the most important herbs in herbal medicine. It is soothing with anti-inflammatory properties and unifies the action of the herbs in the formula.
Fresh Ginger root has been used for centuries to aid digestion and relieve abdominal cramps and nausea, while Peppermint Spirits are a traditional aid for indigestion and upset stomachs.
What is Digest Optimal used for?
- Supports all aspects of digestion
- Improves digestive secretions
- Helps reduce gas and bloating, soothes intestinal cramps
- Supports overall digestive health
What is the recommended dosage?
Regular Use: Take 15 to 60 drops, two to three times per day in water or juice, a few minutes before meals.
Occasional Use: Take 30 to 60 drops in water or juice prior to meals that may cause indigestion or digestive upset.
Are there any side effects or precautions?
If you are pregnant, nursing, have any health condition or are taking any medications, consult your doctor before use.
Does it come with a guarantee?
Yes! All of our products come with a 90-day, money-back guarantee.
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- Premium Quality: Prepared from certified organic and ethically wild-harvested botanical sources.
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- It's Guaranteed: In addition to the superior quality of our products, you are also protected by our 90-day, money-back guarantee.
- Manufactured in USA.
Who makes Digest Optimal?
This product is proudly made by Natural Wellbeing Distribution Inc., founded in 2001. Our goal? To bring the natural healing power of herbs to everyone.
To fulfill our vision, we search for and use only the purest, carefully sourced ingredients. We honor the time-proven, traditional usage of herbs for health and wellbeing, and also integrate the latest scientific research into our professionally developed herbal formulas. The result? The best natural, holistic supplements available. Our customers consistently tell us that our passion for natural remedies and the formulations we've developed have helped them immeasurably.
If you'd like to learn more about our company, our customer service representatives would be happy to talk with you. You can call (800)-536-9353 with any questions:
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Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 5pm PST | 11am to 8pm EST
Please leave a message outside of business hours so we can return your call.
Active Ingredients: Certified Organic and Ethically Wild-Harvested:
- Gentian Root (Gentiana lutea)
- Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Oregon Grape Root (Mahonia aquifolium)
- Licorice Root (Glycyrrizha glabra)
- Fresh Ginger Root (Zingiber officinalis)
- Prickly Ash Bark (Zanthoxylum americanum)
- Blue Flag Root (Iris missouriensis)
- Peppermint Spirits (Mentha piperita)
Other Ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, Deionized Water, Potassium Carbonate.
Regular Use: Take 15 to 60 drops, two to three times per day in water or juice, a few minutes before meals.
Occasional Use: Take 30 to 60 drops in water or juice, prior to meals that may cause indigestion or digestive upset.
If you are pregnant, nursing, have any health condition or are taking any medications, consult your doctor before use.
If you experience any adverse symptoms after using this product, discontinue use and consult your doctor. Keep out of the reach of children.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product and information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Product Description
"Anwar is a sculptural study of kinetic energy rendered in dynamic lines of force" says Stephen Burks, the designer of the Anwar family. Quite literally, Anwar means luminous. Each structure is composed of nearly 100 rods welded one by one. It's an artisanal lamp that reminds one of traditional wicker baskets.
Different shapes and finishes can be combined, creating stunning combinations.
Steel, integrated LED
60cm DIA x 96cm H x 32cm base DIA x 6cm base H
Finishes: Graphite matte, copper matte, golden matte
More information:
Click through to supplier website for:
3D CAD models: Available
2D CAD models: Available
High res images: Available
Product catalogue: Available


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Singapore winger Faris Ramli stays at Home United in S.League for now
Singapore star winger Faris Ramli is likely to stay at Home United for the 2018 S.League season, despite having attracted interest across the Causeway.
ESPN FC understands that the 25-year-old has turned down offers from two 2017 Malaysia Super League sides to sign a one-year extension with the Protectors.
However, he has a clause in his contract that will release him from Home United should a satisfactory deal come through.
"As of now, there's nothing confirmed in the [Malaysia Super] league yet.. hence there's no confirmation of my [long-term] future," Faris told ESPN FC.
"I have been in talks with a few Malaysian clubs. I hope things will be clearer in the next few days."
Faris enjoyed a stellar 2017 with Home, during which he contributed 21 goals and as many assists across four competitions. Unlike strike partner Stipe Plazibat, who is set to sign for Thai League side Bangkok Glass, he has been persuaded by the club management to stay for another year.
Both Faris and Plazibat were recently pipped to the S.League Player of the Year crown by Kento Nagasaki of Albirex Niigata (S) at the inaugural FAS Nite.
Faris has been away from Singapore on a honeymoon trip in France.
If he does stay at Home for the 2018 season, it will be a huge boost to Home, who have qualified for a second straight AFC Cup campaign. In 2017, they enjoyed a great run in the region's second-tier club competition before losing to Philippines' Ceres-Negros FC in the ASEAN zonal final.
Coach Aidil Sharin, who is also staying despite interest from a few MSL clubs, has his work cut out in the off-season, with key departures like Plazibat, Singapore national No. 1 Hassan Sunny and Hariss Harun.
Hassan has signed for Thai League 2 side Army United while Hariss is returning to parent club Johor Darul Ta'zim after a loan spell.
Home finished third in the 2017 season -- their highest finish in four years -- but have not won the S.League title since 2003 when Steve Darby was the manager.
Kenneth Tan is a Singapore-based football writer on S.League and AFC Cup for ESPN FC and FourFourTwo. Twitter: @KennerveT
Use a Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on ESPN's media platforms. Learn more.


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VIDI SPACE, a streaming channel that has created a space for independent filmmakers, is hosting its first annual VIDI SPACE Film Festival (VSFF). The event will take place on February 22, 2020, in the Washington DC Metro Area.
The iconic John Carpenter Halloween movies have been around for longer than most people reading this article right now. Jamie Lee Curtis first played the role of Laurie Strode in a desperate game of cat and mouse against her brother in 1978, 41 years ago. Since that legendary original movie, there have been countless spinoffs, re-imaginings and linked tales created. Much like Michael Myers himself, it appeared that Halloween was a film franchise that would never die.
The teaser trailer for AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984, features a bunch of teens frolicking at a lake, drinking beer and swimming, until a black clad figure emerges from the water with a huge knife. Its like a cross between Friday The 13th and The Burning.
When you see the name 'Marvel' attached to a movie project, you can be reasonably sure of what you're going to get from watching it. Superheroes with larger-than-life powers are a given. There will probably be plenty of one-line jokes, action sequences that cost millions of dollars to make, cutting-edge CGI animations, and at least one or two scenes which are intended to lead onto further spin-off movies. Marvel's films might be formulaic, but we can't deny they're entertaining. They've just never been to our tastes; until perhaps now.
There hasnt exactly been a shortage of Robin Hood movies. In fact, theres a Wikipedia page on the subject, which details every TV show and movie thats ever been made on the topic. It runs to over one hundred entries, with a further three currently in production. You would expect that to mean that every conceivable take on the British fairy tale has already been done, and theres no further need to make new ones. The Russell Crowe film from 2010 is probably the best recent example; imperfect as it was; and for a lot of movie enthusiasts, nothing is going to top the supremely funny Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves from 1991, starring Kevin Costner and featuring a delightfully over-the-top performance from the late Alan Rickman. Despite all the competition, Otto Bathurst has decided to reinterpret the tale himself, with Taron Egerton in the lead role, and Ben Mendelsohn playing opposite as the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham.
LA-based writer and director Scott Jeschke has just unveiled a new horror short entitled 'It Happened on Orchard Street' and this suspenseful little film is now available to watch in full right now. Walter returns home with blood on his hands...literally. This new micro-budget horror short has plenty to get excited about and in spite of its short run time it certainly manages to build plenty of suspense and even throw in a twist along the way. It's a perfectly accomplished piece with plenty of horror influences which can be felt from beginning to end. Head below to check it out.
Fancy a fresh take on vampires? Maria The Wanted and the Legacy of The Keepers is a tale of blood, death, music, corruption, sex and hope and it's the debut vampire novel from author V. Castro. Let me introduce you to Maria. Maria is a wanted woman. Shes wanted by an Aztec trafficker, a cartel boss, the people she fights for, and now the devil she cant resist. Her journey begins as a would-be immigrant turned vampire until the injustices of the world turn her into something else. She's not just out for blood, she wants answers.
The first trailer for 'Occurrence at Mills Creek', the new horror film starring Betsy Lynn George of Billy Idol's Cradle of Love, showcases the iconic video vixen as never before and will be released on the films' Facebook page, facebook.com/occurrenceatmillscreek, on October 30th, 2018.
The problem with most games is that they claim to be terrifying, but invariably they are not. There may be a couple of jump scares here and there, but for the most part you are barely going to quiver, let alone be reaching for the nearest pillow to hide behind. Thankfully, there are some companies who managed to get the horror formula right. These are games which are not only fun to play but will have you flicking on that nearest light before you can even muster up a scream.
Betsy Lynn George, best known as Devon from the 1990 David Fincher directed music video for Billy Idol's Cradle of Love, returns to the screen after a nearly 20 year hiatus along with the film debut of her 18-year-old daughter, Ava Psoras, in 'Occurrence at Mills Creek'. Written and Directed by award-winning filmmaker Don Swanson, Occurrence at Mills Creek is a psychological horror film that examines the dynamics of strong female characters against a supernatural backdrop through failing reality.
With the Halloween season fast approaching we were lucky enough to catch writer and director Thomas Crane's new horror short film HALLOWEEN PARTY. The film stars Sean Gloria, Alanna Dawn, Tony Riha and Jorge Diaz and despite us labeling it as a short the movie itself actually clocks in at 37 minutes so it certainly feels more like a shortened feature length effort. And thankfully it still has all the qualities and impact that most full length horror features have.
This week saw the premiere of the 3rd season of YouTube horror series, "Sunny Family Cult", starring Trew Mullen and Patrick Boylan. The online show, which was produced by the Eli Roth and Blumhouse funded startup CryptTV, arrived on Monday and the season kicked off strong with episodes entitled Transcendence and Beginnings. The penultimate episode of the season looks great and you can check it below.
Supernatural thriller Whispers starring Keeley Hazell and Craig Rees is now out in the U.K. and Ireland available to buy on DVD at HMV, and through various on demand services includes Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, and VirginMedia. The film has been distributed through Pinewood Studios based company High Fliers Films and has been compared to the 2005 Jennifer connelly horror 'Dark Water'.
Thailand has produced some notable genre films, amongst them 'Shutter', 'The Eye', and the 'Art of the Devil' series. British-born director, Paul Spurrier, was attracted by the talents and skills of Thailand's film industry, and in 2005 made his own contribution to Thai horror genre with 'P', a story of possession set in Bangkok's seedy go-go bars. It marked the first time that a western director had made a filmin Thai language. 'P' screened at film festivals around the world, and earned international distribution. (It is now available on Netflix worldwide).
Shadowmoss Entertainment in association with Respiration Films today announced that Pre-Production has begun for the horror/comedy feature film, 'The Tome.' Award winning screenwriter Adrian Roman will direct the film and is also Producing along with Executive Producer Scott James and Associate Producer Abby Sensenbaugh. The screenplay is locked, and a website for the film is available for interested parties, including additional production partners and investors. Social Media is launching now.


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Steve Bradeley BSc (Hons) N.Dip. (Teacher Steve)
I work as a freelance English teacher, working from where ever I happen to be. Sometimes in Brazil, sometimes in The UK and occasionally from Australia where my family live. I am an author and write simply as a hobby.
I have a number of books available to buy from Amazon, Livraria Cultura, as well as iBooks on Apple and other online book stores. Search for Stephen W Bradeley and you will find them all. I was educated in The UK at Staffordshire University where I studied for a BSc. honors degree in Science. I was bought up as a child in Australia and returned to The UK when I was 16 years old. My interests are travel, motorcycling, camping and being married to my lovely Brazilian wife Renata.
My contact details are through Facebook, Whatsapp, +44 749 778 4789 or email, email@example.com
Please feel free to contact me and follow our trip this year (2017) on Renata;s blog at Digo Pro Mundo.
What is Patreon?
Patreon is an internet-based platform that allows content creators to build their own subscription content service. We use it to raise valuable support to supply free materials to our students. If you would like to help us just click this link or the log below. PATREON


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| Author : PSDSuite
| File Size : 279KB
| File Type : PSD
| Licence: Free download icon psd for non commercial use only.
In a world where visual representation makes or breaks a communication piece, having a correct image to present your concept becomes all the more important.
Download psd's of everything you want from this website. If you find what you're looking for, do tell it to others, too.
Enjoy psd hunting!
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Edward Perlstein, M.D., FACC
Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease
Dr. Edward Perlstein is Board Certified in Cardiovascular Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, and Internal Medicine. He completed his Fellowship, Residency in Internal Medicine, and Internship from Temple University. Before earning his Doctorate of Medicine from New Jersey College of Medicine, he graduated from Villanova University.
As a founding member of Tri-City Cardiology, over the past 25 years Dr. Perlstein has built a reputation as a top cardiologist and as a physician leader. He has been on the Board of Directors of Tri-City Cardiology and is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Chairs the Echocardiology Department.
Medical School- University of Medicine & Dentistry
Internship- Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Residency- Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship- Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix magazine's "Top Docs" in Cardiology.
- Elected by his peers for inclusion in Best Doctors in America 1996-2016.
- Press Ganey, a renowned research firm, ranks him in the top 25th percentile in the country among physicians whose patients are confident in their physician.
- 2000 to Present: SPORTIF V – An Efficacy and Safety Study of the Oral Direct Thrombin Inhibitor H 376/95 Compared with Dose-Adjusted Warfarin (Coumadin®) in the Prevention of Stroke and Systemic Embolic Events in patients with Atrial Fibrillation. Sub-Investigator.
- 1999 to Present: VALIANT Trial – Valsartan In Acute Myocardial InfarctionTrial. A multinational, double-blind, randomized, active controlled, parallel group study comparing the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with valsartan, captopril and their combination in high risk patients after myocardial infarction. Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Sub-Investigator.
- 1999 to Present: GUSTO IV AMI Trial – A Phase III Randomized, Open-Label Trial Evaluating The Efficacy And Safety Of ReoPro7 (Abciximab) In Combination With Reduced Dose Retavase7/RapilysinJ (Recombinant Plasminogen Activator, Reteplase, r-PA) For The Treatment Of Acute Myocardial Infarction. Sub-Investigator.
- Systemic Arteriovenous Fistula Simulating Severe Valvular Aortic Stenosis.E. Sergio Blesa, M.D., Thomas Kruelen, M.D., Edward Perlstein, M.D., Ellen S. Escovitz, M.D., Robert Tyson, M.D. CHEST, 70:1, July 1976.


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Organic mezze penne rigate are made with organic durum wheat of 100% Italian origin of the Grecale, Iride, Simeto and Sargolla varieties grown with no chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which give to the pasta a brilliant colour and help elasticity also after cooking.
Mezze penne rigate are perfect both for baked casseroles and dried pasta dishes served with pork or veal meat sauces.
Our calling is to work better and better everyday to produce an Italian high quality pasta. Attilio Mastromauro - Owner
The Granoro pasta factory was founded in 1967 in Puglia, in the heart of the midday of Italy, and ever since it produces all its products with passion, care and going on research to offer an excellent and typically Italian first dish. Today the Granoro pasta factory is one of the most important Italian productive realities in the dry pasta field of durum wheat semolina.
The quality of the Granoro pasta is the fruit of passion, care and attention through all the processing steps, which harmonize the ancient pasta tradition with the modern production technologies. The result is an Italian quality pasta, with intense perfume and colour, typical of the durum wheat golden by the sun.
Shipments are FREE for orders over € 90 throughout Europe (UE Countries). For all orders of less than € 90 the shipping cost is fixed at € 15.
Our shipments are safe and guaranteed within the 48-72 hours following the order placement if all the ordered products are available on our warehouse. Indeed, our food and delivery service is subject to the availability of stocks of products on our warehouse. In case one or more products will not be available in time for the agreed delivery date to be respected I Like Italian Food would suddenly contact the customer to find a solution.
The orders received during the week-end would be processed the following Monday.
The cost of the shipment charged to the customer is fixed at euro 15,00 for shipments to all Europe. We pack our products by adopting all the necessary precautions in order to preserve the integrity of the different food and beverage products sold.
I like Italian Food products can be purchased and shipped all over the Europe (EU). Our logistic service guarantees express shipments, properly packed to ensure temperature-controlled storage conditions for up to 72-96 hours during the shipment to all European Union countries.


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This is hands down one of my favorite builds to date! I enjoyed the entire process, from the renderings(pics on my instagram) to the final assembly.
The client wanted a unique bar height table, and I stumbled across a beautiful cherrywood slab with the proper dimensions. I have always had an affinity for tusk tenon furniture, but I wanted to work metal into the design--the solution I came up with was steel legs with a wooden stretcher and zebrawood tusks.
Thank you for watching, If you would like to help, please like, comment, or share!
Tools used & products used:
Dewalt DW862 Cold Saw
Dewalt 4 1/2 Angle Grinder
Throatless Shear
Lincoln Electric 140C Mig welder
DEWALT DW734 Planer
Delta Unisaw
Freud 10" Dado stack
Dewalt XR 20V Drill
Dewalt 20V Circular saw
Dewalt 20V Jigsaw
Rockwell 14" Bandsaw
Swanson Speed Square
Finishes used:
Denatured Alcohol
Mineral Spirits
Boiled Linseed Oil
BT&C Garnet Shellac flakes
General Finishes Antique Walnut gel stain
General Finishes HP Top Coat
Track list:
1. Jahzzar - Jardins du Luxembourg
2. Doctor Turtle - Search For The Zero Inside Yourself
3. The Fucked Up Beat - Olympus Mons We Are Happy Chemtrails


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Supplement strategy overhaul needed for new mums
Immediate intervention is needed to prevent detrimental outcomes from iron deficiency anaemia among postpartum mothers in Nepal, new research has found.
In response to the significant morbidity, mortality and socio-economic burden that anaemia has on mothers in Nepal Curtin University's School of Public Health PhD candidate and lead researcher Vishnu Khanal investigated factors associated with iron-folate consumption among women in Nepal who recently gave birth.
"While nutritional status of mothers during pregnancy has gained much attention recently, none of the literatures focussed on postpartum mothers," he says.
"I believe mothers deserve more attention than this…[with a] focus on improving their recovery from childbirth and dietary intake."
The researchers analysed data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011; a cross-sectional study that captured household data across the entire country.
Maternal health information was obtained from mothers with children aged up to 59 months, and out of the 5,306 surveyed mothers, 4,148 had information on iron-folate supplementation during the postpartum period.
The World Health Organisation recommends new mothers take iron-folate supplementation for 45 days postpartum.
The participant's actual iron-folate intake was assessed through two questions: "After delivery were you given or did you buy any iron/folic acid (Iron-folate) tablets?"; and "After delivery, for how many days did you take the tablets?'"
They found that only 20.7 per cent of mothers consumed iron-folate supplements for 45 days into the postpartum period.
In addition, numerous socio-demographic and healthcare factors were found to substantially influence compliance and consumption rates.
"Compliance rate was almost four times lower for mothers with no education [12.3 per cent] compared to those who attained higher degree [48.5 per cent]," Mr Khanal says.
"There was vast difference between the mothers from lowest wealth quintile [12.1 per cent] compared to those from highest quintile [35.7 per cent]."
"The essential maternal health services such as antenatal visits and postnatal visits showed positive influence in increasing postpartum iron-folate compliance."
They found the mothers who attended four or more antenatal visits had far higher compliance rates [32.6 per cent] than those not attending [2.6 per cent], while those who attended at least one postnatal care visit had greater compliance [31.8 per cent] than those not attending [13.1 per cent].
"While changes in dietary practice is recommended for sustainable improvement, there is need to intervene immediately [as] our findings showed the current strategy is not working," he says.
Mr Khanal recommends increasing counselling; educating senior women in families; and strengthening the existing mechanism of outreach clinics and female community health volunteers to significantly increase compliance.
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Activity (Section) Definition
|ISIC Rev. 4 description of #ww88M - Professional, scientific and technical activities (activity) (Ens Dictionary).
|#tagcoding hashtag: #ww88M
Monitoring & Evaluation
In your country, what is this sector's contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets?
Participate in Voluntary Stakeholder Reporting in accordance with your role in the Social architecture:
Consider Voluntary Stakeholder Reporting as an effective way to share what you are, or could be, doing in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: Jörg Faust and Dirk Messner (2007) Organizational Challenges for an Effective Aid Architecture – Traditional Deficits, the Paris Agenda and Beyond (2007)
Contribute to the #NFUR00 - National follow up and review - #asd79.
Interaction Dictionary: Monitoring & Evaluation Realm
pico: Aid consultant, Citizen of target group, Taxpayer of donor country
micro: Implementing agency
meso: International Co-operative Alliance
macro: Recipient government, WTO, UN ECOSOC
In a project context (ref. Collaborative Planning Methodology) also: Business Change Manager, Initiative Manager, Senior Responsible Owner, Initiative Support Office; Project Team
Interaction Dictionary: Operations Realm
See Initiative management (a Wikiworx page) for some criteria that had better be met in lean and agile cross-initiative communications as various (autonomous) social actors launch initiatives.
|Initiative links
Interaction Dictionary: Change Realm
Recommendations for change
See the section on Monitoring and Evaluation.
- In countries with relatively high levels of administrative capacities and transparent and participatory institutions: Introduce a competition-oriented procedure to strengthen partner-country "ownership" and stimulate customer-oriented competition between suppliers of development services: instead of offering partner countries certain technical services and specifically project-tied financial aid, recipient countries could be provided with "vouchers" they could use to purchase development services in an international market made up of donor agencies (Faust & Messner, 2007).
- In countries with weak administrative capacities and participatory institutions: use long-term-oriented capacity-building strategies and cope with the problem of donor fragmentation (Faust & Messner, 2007).
- Create a global market for development services with comparable standards in tenders and evaluation, a high level of transparency, and truly independent evaluation.
- Strengthen (strategic) coordination & monitoring, and achieve demand-driven competition (for operational project activities) (Faust & Messner, 2007).
- Truly independent, transparent, and comparable evaluation methods will enable the management capacities of recipient governments for instance as regards knowledge concerning both effective and less successful DC interventions (Faust & Messner, 2007).
- Achieve a reduction in the number of development cooperation actors involved in the strategic coordination and shaping of country portfolios.
- Regulate actors in the operational field through the market mechanism.
- Differentiation by country.
Interaction Dictionary: Change Realm
Resources for sector development
ISIC Rev. 4 description of #ww88M - Professional, scientific and technical activities
In the media
Tag cloud
Tag cloud for economic activities
Section #ww88M - Professional, scientific and technical activities includes these classes:
- #isic6910 - Legal activities
- #isic6920 - Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy
- #isic7010 - Activities of head offices
- #isic7020 - Management consultancy activities
- #isic7110 - Architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy
- #isic7120 - Technical testing and analysis
- #isic7210 - Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
- #isic7220 - Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities
- #isic7310 - Advertising
- #isic7320 - Market research and public opinion polling
- #isic7410 - Specialized design activities
- #isic7420 - Photographic activities
- #isic7490 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.
- #isic7500 - Veterinary activities


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Rarely is any thought put into our sartorial picks for the gym when we workout. Just because you're working up a sweat, it doesn't mean that you can't rock the best menswear workout gear available. Ditch your ratty tank tops and ill-fitting shorts and replace them with these great picks to look stylish while working on your fitness. From high performance, moisture wicking materials, to sophisticated poly French terry hoodies, the following five picks are the best of the best.
Gents Purple Line Cap Hat
Nike Legend V-Neck Men's Training T-Shirt
Lululemon Precise Short
KOR ONE Hydration Vessel


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Man Arrested in NYC for Stalking Rihannaby Thomas Chau | PopCrush
A man was arrested and held without bail on Friday after allegations surfaced that he had been stalking and harassing singer Rihanna at her NYC SoHo apartment.
The New York Daily News reports that the homeless man, who they identify as Kevin Mcglynn, 53, reportedly hand-dropped off three threatening letters addressed to Rihanna at her apartment. Authorities say that he also mailed four letters to her in California as well.
In the letters, he has referred to the 26-year-old singer as a 'b—-' and threatened to "bum (rush) in her apartment."
Video surveillance at the building had spotted him in the act, but Mcglynn was only caught Thursday night after he dropped his benefits card outside of Rihanna's apartment building, which had his name and address on it .
On Friday, at his arraignment, he reportedly told the court that he felt Jay Z, Kanye West and Rihanna had ripped off "my material." The judge then ordered that he be held without bail.
See Rihanna + Other Celebrity Yearbook Photos


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It's 2015 and there really is no doubt – smoking is an incredibly harmful habit that hurts both your health and that of those around you, as well as your wallet.
Quit.ie is a great resource for those who want more information about how they can quit – tips and tricks, supports and treatments, support groups and high risk situations.
They also have a handy tool that allows you to calculate the daily cost of your habit, and what that money could get you if spent elsewhere. For example, spending €10 on cigarettes each day adds up to a fairly hefty €3,650 per year – more than enough for a decent holiday away in the sun, or a chance to reduce your debt levels.
For mobile users there's a good choice of apps to keep track of how much you've saved since you quit, such as QuitNow!


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Sunday, June 6, 2010
7 comments:
- Bikramjit said...
YEah very well said.. though i am 50% guilty sometimes as at lunch since at work usually its frozen food .. but generally I have freshly cooked.. and everyone knows that I dont eat other then fresh at least One meal..
frozen food can never be good in the long term
and as you say fresh is much cheaper too.. and it doesnot take that long to cook ..
- June 7, 2010 at 4:12 AM
- Uma said...
Harman, i didnt like frozen parathas at all.. didnt try anything else then.
i agree fresh food is both healthy and tasty.. and the best award is when ur family loves the food u cook :)
loved the pic :)
- June 7, 2010 at 3:57 PM
- Shahid said...
very true...fresh food is always a better option...right now i am experimenting with cooking and well even i can feel the difference!!
- June 7, 2010 at 9:58 PM
- kavita said...
You are one of the very few people living abroad who think like this...at least to me.
Nothing compares to a freshly prepared meal--in fact if you love cooking it is relaxing too.I was once served a month old daal at one of my friends' ..it looked frothy ,even though the rest of the dishes were very good ,i ate my meal in fear what if i get sick later.
Because of load shedding this practice of storing home cooked meal for so long is not possible in India.
Nice post .
- June 9, 2010 at 12:52 AM
After office cooking!!
Could you share, how many hours will you take to cook right from cleaning vessels?
- June 10, 2010 at 4:36 AM
@nikitha...its doesnt take hrs ...with dishwasher ...its twenty mins more...and if we use disposables then may be jus ten mins.which I usually use if running out of time. ...but there r end less possibilities...as far cooking is concerned ..one baked dish can be made like lasagna,pasta(par boiled) with chicken or slow cooker recipes that we can do overnight....all depends on interest...
I come home home by 6.30 and then start cooking by 7 pm ..I am done with everything by eight....
this is my daily routine...unless I am really tired or order a pizza!
- June 10, 2010 at 9:08 AM
- Yasmeen said...
leftover or frozen meals don't please me either :D
- June 14, 2010 at 12:54 PM


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Order now for Valentine's Day!
Our roses are on their way from the Dutch auctions to our pretty little shop at Tynwald Mills and they are already selling fast! So if you are planning on treating your loved one to a beautiful bouquet this Valentine's Day, whether it is traditional red roses, something pretty and vintage or a simple bunch of tulips, head on over to our website and get … Continue reading Order now for Valentine's Day!


text: Private Events For private events, both social and corporate, turn to Bridge's Social Club! We would be happy to accommodate groups of any size whether it be a birthday party, rehearsal dinner, wedding, class reunion or corporate holiday party! Our professional staff will create a dining experience you'll never forget. Call event planner Erik at (917) 833-1844 or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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by Corinna West
At Alternatives this year I went to a a youth caucus and two workshops. At the caucus, about eight youth stood up and told about their involvement with the mental health system and how they are working with the consumer movement to make things better for other young adults. The most memorable moment was when one person asked, "Well, what do you do about the youth that are involved in drugs and gangs and the justice system?"
Stephanie Lane, one of the caucus leaders said, "You're looking at them. Those are the youth that have just been talking to you. What do do with them is bring them to meetings and give them a voice and help them get involved."
The next day in the Youth N Action workshop Stephanie told the story about bringing youth to the surgeon general's meeting on young adult mental health issues. She said, "We learned a lot from that meeting. Because there just a room full of people in suits and there wasn't a spot on the agenda for us to talk. They were just talking with a lot of terminology all day long and we didn't know what they were talking about or how we could contribute. The next day the youth boycotted, and we went to the museums in Washington, D.C. That night we all sat down and the youth drafted a youth manifesto. All the people in the meeting were asking, 'Where did the youth go?' Well, they walked out because they weren't being heard. There was no space for them. Then on the last day of the meeting they came in and delivered their manifesto. The whole room went silent. Then, after a while, by himself, the surgeon general started clapping. That was the beginning of our youth movement."
Tamara Johnson, one of the young people involved with that program, told about being heard. She said, "Sometimes we just take over the agenda of meetings. We don't mean to, but when you have a lot of people talking about how to serve youth, sometimes we get up and say, 'It's not like that.' Then they have to listen. It just shuts the room down because our voice is so powerful. Because we know what it's really like, and when we start talking, people really listen."
Let's turn up the volume. Let's make this happen here in Missouri.


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There are so many factors determining your success in internet marketing, so much to think about, but as with many jobs there are some basic principles to apply to internet marketing which will substantially help you along the way. Tentunya, banyak manfaat yang diberikan atas terselenggaranya workshop internet marketing. For this purpose, many companies hire an Internet marketing firm to help them promote themselves as useful and helpful organizations. Significantly broaden your brand's reach and increase engagement with your target audience through a customized digital marketing strategy that will help you achieve each of your business goals, driving revenue and conversions both online and off.
SNHU's MBA in Internet Marketing online program places a special focus on reaching online audiences and ties the best-of-the-best web marketing techniques and strategies back to the real-life business challenges you face daily. Dengan mengikuti workshop internet marketing, para pelaku bisnis juga akan diberikan strategi untuk mengatur dan juga mengelola SEO, SMO dan SEM dengan baik dan benar agar mampu mencapai hasil yang maksimal.
Due to this, some of the niches that are marketed online are very saturated and it is hard to get into them without having the proper strategies. Some web design companies sell Internet marketing services, then outsource the work to other companies in other countries.
Click the Free Registration" button below, choose your username and password, and sign up for the Internet Marketing for Smart People course. Seminar internet marketing adalah sebuah seminar yang mengangkat tema internet marketing atau pemasaran dengan menggunakan internet.
From company web sites to custom blogs, our Minneapolis Internet marketing team can design an interactive campaign that will work for you. This course provides a survey of the legal environment of business by looking at legal issues and regulations in a business context.


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During the last two blogs, I discussed two ways to help you reach your running potential in the new year. Let's review.
- Be proactive to avoid injury. Recover from your runs, do some strength training, and stretch to reduce your susceptibility to injury.
- Rest up. Sleep is the central way that our bodies recover from training and adapt to new training stimuli. Get more sleep and get better sleep.
My third and final piece of advice is simple: mix it up. "Variety is the spice of life" might be a cliché, but avoiding behavioral ruts will help you stay engaged and improving, not merely by avoiding boredom but by varying your training stimulus.
A good reason to buy more shoes
Let's start with some easy ways to vary your running and avoid routine.
If you commonly run in the same pair of shoes for all of your runs, mix it up. Try rotating your shoes. By alternating shoes, you allow the midsole of your "resting" shoe to recover and decompress between runs. By giving your favorite pair a day-long break, the midsole will be ready when you next run to provide optimal cushioning and shock absorption.
Rotating shoes also exposes your legs to different stresses, reducing your chance of injury. A recent study from 2013 (the first of its kind) found a 39 percent lower risk of running injury among study participants who ran in multiple shoes versus those runners who always did their mileage in the same shoe. (http://www.runnersworld.com/newswire/study-backs-rotating-shoes-to-lower-injury-risk) Experienced runners have intuitively believed for a while that rotating shoes reduces the chance of injury. Now we have some evidence to support this contention.
Shoes, as we all know, are a highly individual part of the sport and we often develop deep loyalties to particular brands or "feels." The subtle differences in running shoes including the specific durometer (the hardness of a material) of the midsole foam, as well as the heel-to-toe offset contribute to variances in gait specifics, stride length, and ground reaction time that expose the lower legs to different stresses. Therefore, although we runners can be creatures of habit, research is suggesting that it's a good idea to alternate with a different shoe model and brand.
Match your shoes to the workout. Want to improve your speed? Try using a lighter, firmer shoe for speed work and tempo runs. To kick it up a notch, get a pair of racing flats. (http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-running-blog/2015/mar/11/when-should-you-wear-racing-flats) This will help your body become accustomed to faster paced running. Racing flats can also contribute to better form and a faster cadence. It is a fact that cutting weight contributes to speed. According to coach Jack Daniels, adding 100 grams to a shoe increases the aerobic demand of running by one percent. You might also find that racing flats can provide a psychological boost as you make your way to the starting line of a race. You're wearing special shoes that are going to make you fly. This isn't going to be a typical training run; this is something special that you don't do every day.
New roads, new you
In addition to mixing up your footwear, add variety to your routes. If you are running the same route every day, your body and mind tune out. If that's what you need as a stress-buster, fine –– but consistency is not the best of ideas if you're looking to improve your workouts.
Improved running depends on doing different workouts involving intervals, fartlek (speed play), tempo runs, hills, and the long run. Try different gradients and paces. If your typical route is flat, run some hills to improve strength and speed. Once you've warmed up, take a short blast down a flat road to figure out how fast you can go and to awaken your body to the possibilities of speed. Long slow runs through rolling terrain build endurance through the increase of mitochondria within muscle cells. Just be sure that you are mixing things up by doing a variety of distances, speed, and amplitudes.
Deep thoughts about surfaces
Finally, don't forget to run on a variety of surfaces. Although many runners intuitively feel that soft running surfaces are the best for preventing injury, it turns out that all surfaces have their own advantages and disadvantages.
- Grass. Grass is a soft surface that is great for people recovering from impact-related running injuries. However, it can be uneven, so caution is required.
- Trails. If you are looking for softer surfaces to recover or avoid overuse injuries, look no further than a trail. If you have struggled with overuse injuries such as runner's knee, illiotibial-band syndrome (ITBS) or shinsplints, the softer surface of a trail can provide relief.
- Tracks. Synthetic tracks, while not always readily available, are great for reducing stress on your joints. Be aware, however, that always running around in circles can stress your IT bands.
- Asphalt. A nice surface with some "give" to it –– readily available, although comes with some inherent traffic issues, so remember to stay alert. Some runners find asphalt running good for Achilles tendon issues. If you do any road races, it's a good idea to do some running on asphalt so that your body can get used to the surface, since the majority of road races do take place on that surface.
- Concrete sidewalks. Sidewalks are readily available in suburban and urban settings and offer traffic protection and flatter (hopefully well-maintained) clear surfacing. However, sidewalks are approximately ten times harder than asphalt roads, so sidewalks are generally harder on the knees.
In his discussion of running surfaces in the Runner's World Complete Book of Running (Rodale Press, 2009) Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon and editor-at-large at Runner's World, emphatically concluded: "Run on all surfaces. All the time. Deliberately. As part of your injury-prevention program." The idea, here, is that running on a variety of surfaces will expose your body to a variety of stresses, so that the same muscles, tendons, and bones don't get stressed the same way over and over again.
"Changing surfaces in an intelligent manner is a little like cross-training. It helps you prevent injuries by giving certain muscles and joints a rest while strengthening other muscles and joints." –– Amby Burfoot
Avoid nutritional ruts
We can also get into nutritional "ruts" that can undermine our ability to perform to our potential and recover from runs. Fleet Feet's resident nutritionist, Katie, will further discuss the merits of nutritional variation for runners:
Perhaps you have perfected your meals and feel good about eating healthily; but are you eating the same things everyday? Foods not only vary in calories, proteins, carbs, and fats, but they also contain beneficial phytochemical compounds that play important roles in one's health. In a healthy diet consisting of a variety of fruits and vegetables, the combination of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients are utilized by the body in such a way that supplements can not imitate. Phytochemicals' antioxidant properties are associated with different pigments. Therefore, when looking at the color variations within fruit and vegetable options, make sure your plate is colorful to ensure a more complete nutrition profile. Every once in a while it is best to switch out your banana for a peach or a kiwi. Or, instead of the go-to steamed broccoli, try a medley of roasted tomatoes, garlic and spinach as a side dish. Health benefits also come from choosing between different protein and carbohydrate sources. Instead of trying to find the "perfect" single food, look for a variety of healthy foods. Eating a variety of foods can be more enjoyable, as well as more nutritionally optimal.
What if your meals consist of fatty, sugary, and highly processed choices? A new variety of flavored potato chips are not the answer. An easy guide to eating healthily is to examine the colorfulness of your plate. By increasing the fruits and vegetables that you eat, you may see more color alongside that beige entrée (Please do not remind me of the colorful array of ketchups, they do not count!). This is not to say that beige cannot be a nutritious color. In fact, cauliflower, mushrooms, and turnips provide more than just vitamins and minerals. Remember that variety keeps the palate interested and makes meals more pleasurable. The gastrointestinal tract, however, may not agree with every new food, so it is best not to try that exotic piece of fruit the night or morning before a race. Ultimately, an easy way to get better about addressing your nutritional needs is to make sure that your plate is always colorful.
The takeaway
Make sure that you don't get trapped in routine. In a world where we often have complicated problems to solve and multiple demands on our time and energy, it's certainly tempting to switch our running to autopilot –– run the same route at the same pace as an escape. There are times in life, to be sure, where this is not only all one can manage, but also a beneficial practice. However, if you find yourself in a place where you want to reach for a higher potential, you have to refocus and consciously shake it up –– your footwear, your workouts, your surfaces, and your diet. Keep it fresh and you'll reap the rewards.


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Is Laser Stretch Mark Removal Surgery Worth It?
Laser treatment for stretch marks has become the latest fad in town with even beauty salons offering them at reasonable prices. Clinics are advertising laser treatments as if they are the last man standing when everything else has failed. It is obvious that laser stretch mark removal surgery is being assumed as the most effective combat against stretch marks. Before you too go down the road and spend hundreds of dollars on this, it is important that you review if this treatment is really worth it.
Skin suffers stretch marks when it undergoes rapid expansion due to a number of reasons. This expansion or stretching is so quick that it actually tears the elastic tissue in the skin. Unless and until these tears heal, there is no way that stretch marks will go away completely even though the skin shrinks back to its original size.
Laser stretch mark removal is considered a viable alternative to other treatments when it comes to removing these unwanted streaky. There are basically two types of laser treatments for stretch marks:
Pulsed-Dye Laser
When stretch marks are fresh, they appear red in color. They change their appearance with time and sometimes they remain red for months. If your stripes are still red, then pulsed-dye laser treatment can help you in fading them.
It is a common assumption that since it is a 'laser' treatment, it will be quick, painless and will give instant results. Well none of these notions are true. Typically, a pulsed-dye laser treatment requires 2-6 sittings with each sitting spaces 4-6 weeks apart. The treatment is painful, though not a lot. Most describe it as a feeling of rubber band snapping on the skin. The treatment also leaves bruises which take a week to fade away.
Results from a pulsed-dye laser stretch mark removal surgery vary between 25% effectiveness to 75% effectiveness. So irrespective of what cosmetic magazines tell you, there is no way that the treatment will erase your stretch marks completely.
Non Ablative Fractional Resurfacing
If stretch marks are old and now appear to be white in color, non ablative fractional resurfacing is opted for. As the name suggests, this laser treatment treats one fraction of the skin at a time. In this treatment, a microscopic column of skin is treated through laser. It is then given time to heal and join with the adjacent untreated area. After this fraction of skin heals, another section is picked up and so on.
Just like pulsed-dye laser treatment, fractional resurfacing takes multiple sittings. Usually 4-5 treatment sittings are required which are gapped 6-8 weeks apart. This treatment is a bit more painful than pulsed-dye laser and therefore one would require prescription-strength painkiller and topical anesthetic. The treatment itself feels sharp as if the skin is being snapped by electric zaps.
Fractional resurfacing can be effective up to 50%. Considering it is used mainly to treat old, white stretch marks, this is a great result.
All in all, laser treatment for stretch marks is definitely better than other options such as using topical creams. Even if it just reduces the appearance of stretch marks, it might be worth it for those who are suffering from acute stretch marks and obviously for those who can afford.


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This was the view from our balcony today. There must have been a boat race on Lake Zürich this afternoon as we could see tens of them sailing past.
I wanted to share with you a little collage of some of the details on the bedsheets I brought back from France last month. They are not ordinary bedsheets, they are the bedsheets my grandmother embroided and made for her dowry over 70 years ago. She must have spent many afternoons as a teenage girl with a needle and thread in her hand, embellishing bedsheets and towels.
She "signed" all of her work with her initials JB, and then VB after she married my grand-father. The sheets are 100% linen and lovely to sleep in. The bedsheets were in my auntie's attic and as none of my sisters or cousins expressed an interest in them, I took 4 back with me to Zürich.
They are a perfect match for the tea towels I already had! I wish I had so much talent as my grandmother...


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Meet Barbara Jones – former pastor and missionary; current pastoral teacher, mentor, and administrator for the Native American Pastoral Training Center.
After the Nazarene Indian Bible College in Albuquerque closed in 2006, Native American Nazarenes wishing to be trained for ministry had no easy way of covering the 24 classes needed for ordination. Without a clear path forward, Nazarene district leaders relied on retired elders to fill vacant pastorates. Leadership training was at a standstill.
When Pastor Rick prayed at a Sunday evening service not long ago, and asked God to send someone to help meet the needs of our Native American pastors, God spoke to Barbara Jones. And as she always does, she said 'Yes' to God and is now working directly with our co-ministers on the Southwest Native American District.
They've opened a new center for pastoral studies in Dilkon, AZ, and are building out the program, even with the potential of an online study component. Along with District Superintendent Dr. John Nells, Dr. Dale German, Pastor Rick Harvey, and her minister husband, Rev. Kenneth Jones, Barbara is developing a new roster of ministerial training resources. We are grateful that our Global Outreach partnership is able to come alongside Dr. Nells and the student pastors in serving this ministry.


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Strategy & Research
Semiotic analysis doesn't replace brand strategy or traditional consumer research; it complements these disciplines. When there is a disconnect between consumer perception of a brand and the brand's current code execution, the brand faces a crisis. The tools produced by our analysis — e.g., cultural and category code maps, brand identity keys, brand maps, communications guardrails, and "R-D-E" trajectories — are critically useful in pointing a way to crisis's resolution.
Typically, we work with the client and/or agency before any consumer research takes place. The output of our semiotic analysis — e.g., analysis of a specific cultural or market category; communications and/or pack design from a specific brand and/or its competitive set; or all of the above — is used to develop specific inputs into the consumer research. We then loop back in order to analyze the consumer research output.
We have conducted semiotic analysis of the following consumer research outputs, among others.
- Answers to interview questions
- Materials created during focus group exercises
- Pinterest boards and liveblogs created by forward-thinking consumers
- Photos uploaded by brand fans to social media platforms including Facebook.
Semiotic analysis complements qualitative and quantitative consumer research in the following ways:
- Creating a proprietary brand strategy.
- Developing a meaningful brand key.
- Using qualitative research to refine and develop advertising, innovation, and communication strategies based on cultural and market category codes.
- Identifying meaningful visual and verbal language which are ownable by the brand.


text: Last Night: Morrissey Isn't Any Happier In the '80s and '90s, a young Stephen Morrissey gave a generation permission to mope. Thursday, he returned to New Orleans' Saenger Theatre as your emotionally needy uncle—all bitterness and open wounds with unclear boundaries. In a black velour shirt with a broad gold V, he paced the stage of the Saenger Theatre snapping his lengthy microphone cord, sometimes singing with his arms folded as if delivering a sociology lecture for the umpteenth time. Read more about Last Night: Morrissey Isn't Any HappierAdd new comment


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Thursday, September 27, 2012
Armenian Lentil Soup with Macaroni
To the fabulous readers of Mission: Food... I'm leaving on a jet plane. I will be on vacation for the next 3 weeks visiting the beautiful country of Armenia, where both of my parents were born and raised. I traveled there for the first time 3 years ago and it simply took my breath away. I can't wait for another adventure exploring the traditions of my ancestors. When I return, I definitely plan on sharing my experiences with you all, so I hope you're looking forward to it!
During my time away, I have arranged for a few of my amazing blogger friends to fill in for me. I've tasked them each with the theme of "travel" to inspire their posts. I hope you enjoy the first ever series of guest posts on Mission: Food! I'm really excited to share them with you all :)
As my sendoff, I'm sharing an Armenian soup recipe that is a favorite of my family's. It's easy to make and very satisfying. Featuring hearty lentils, macaroni, and lots of flavor from garlic, lemon juice, and cumin, it's sure to satisfy the soup-lovers in your family as well. And with that, I shall bid you adieu until my return :-D
Armenian Lentil Soup with Macaroni
Serves 6 to 8
3/4 cup small macaroni, such as ditalini, small shells, or stars (pastina)
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onions
2 cups lentils
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water (if making vegetarian soup, omit chicken broth and use 8 cups water instead)
2 T. tomato paste
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 tsp. ground cumin
Kosher salt and hot red pepper (such as cayenne)
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until almost al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened. Then add the lentils, broth, and water, cover and bring the mixture to a boil. When the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
Stir in the cooked pasta, tomato paste, garlic, lemon juice, and cumin. Season with salt and hot pepper (just a pinch or two). Serve hot.
*Note* You may be tempted to just boil the pasta directly in the soup, but doing so will absorb much of the liquid and leave the soup incredibly thick. Leftover soup may thicken up as well, as the residual liquid absorbs into the pasta, but feel free to thin it out with a little water or chicken broth when you heat it back up.
Monday, September 24, 2012
5 Star Makeover: Apple Cinnamon Bread and French Toast
For this month's 5 Star Makeover, the theme is Apples. I can't think of a better theme for September, honestly. When I think of September, I immediately think of apples. They are very versatile as well, working beautifully in both sweet and savory dishes. I knew this challenge would be a fun one!
I had been wanting to make this apple cinnamon loaf from Sarabeth's Bakery for some time. It's a yeasted bread containing apples and cinnamon as opposed to a more typical quick bread that would be more cake-like in texture and flavor. I was very intrigued by the rustic character of this bread (rolling it up with apples and then chopping it up and piling it into loaf pans), and thought it would be really fun to share for the 5 Star Makeover.
|Ready to go in the oven!
The bread was surprisingly easy to make, especially considering that it didn't require any effort to "shape" the loaf. It looks messy, but this is the correct method and it works out perfectly in the end. I'd also like to note that the recipe calls for 2 large apples, about 1 1/2 lbs, but when I weighed my apples I ended up with 4 apples for that weight. I used 4 apples and I'm happy that I did because I got plenty of apple bits in each slice of bread.
The bread had a mild apple pie flavor because of the baked apple chunks and cinnamon, but otherwise wasn't really sweet. I really liked this because it offered a nice canvas for any other flavors you'd like to include. You can eat this bread on its own, or use it for other dishes.
To make over the bread even further, I decided to use it for French toast. I know that at Sarabeth's they use this bread for that purpose so I thought it would be perfect to try that out with my own homemade bread. Honestly, this was hands-down one of the best French toasts I have ever had. Seriously. I will plan to make the bread again in the future with the ultimate purpose of making French toast with it.
The flavor of the apples added such a great characteristic to the French toast. Each bite was a cross between apple pie and French toast. I also like the mildly sweet, spiked custard for the French toast. You can definitely add more sweetness with the confectioners' sugar and maple syrup, so I believe restraint is key when it comes to sweetness up front.
I'm a lush, so added a bit of fruity booze into the mix for flavor and a little added decadence. I used apricot brandy because I had some in the liquor cabinet, but Calvados (or apple brandy from Normandy) would be the ultimate addition. Some orange liqueur would also be a nice alternative here (Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec are good possibilities).
I also thought it would be fun to use the bread to make panini filled with Brie cheese. Apple and Brie are often paired together in grilled sandwiches, so I thought with the apples in the bread it would be a fun experiment. Overall, I thought the sandwiches were yummy. The bites that contained apple were fantastic, but otherwise the flavor of the sandwich was on the mild side. A little bacon might be a nice touch in the future :)
I'm also submitting this post to YeastSpotting!
hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks!
Apple Cinnamon Loaf
Makes 2 loaves
(Adapted from Sarabeth's Bakery: From My Hands to Yours)
3 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/3 cup water (105 to 115 degrees F)
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cold water
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 cups unbleached all purpose flour, as needed
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus additional for the bowl and pans
Apple Filling:
2 large Granny Smith apples (about 1 1/2 pounds) peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes*
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
To make the dough sprinkle the yeast over the warm 1/3 cup water and stir. Wait 5 minutes for the yeast to dissolve. Pour into the mixer bowl. Add the milk, 1/3 cup cold water, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla and whisk to combine.
Fit the mixer with a paddle attachment and on low speed gradually add half of the flour, then the salt. One tablespoon at a time add the butter. Gradually add the remaining flour to form a rough dough. Replace the paddle attachment with a dough hook and knead on medium low speed adding more flour if needed until the dough cleans the bowl. Continue kneading until the dough is soft, smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead briefly to check the dough's texture. The dough will be slightly sticky. Butter a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.
When the dough has risen prepare the apple filling. Mix the cut apples, egg yolk, sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
Butter two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper and dust the sides with flour. Set aside.
Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Roll or stretch the dough into a 16-by-12-inch rectangle. Spread the filling over the dough and starting at the top begin to roll up the dough, jelly roll style.
Using a bench scraper or large knife, cut the dough into 1-inch-thick slices.
Now cut through the slices to make 1-to-1 1/2-inch pieces. It will look like quite a mess, but you're doing the right thing. Using the bench scraper, scoop up the dough-apple mixture and divide equally among the prepared loaf pans (a kitchen scale comes in handy here), distributing as evenly as possible.
Choose a warm spot in your kitchen for proofing the loaves. Place the pans on a cookie sheet. Fill a glass with very hot water. Place the pan with the loaves inside a big plastic garbage bag, place the glass of hot water in the bag, inflate the bag by waving the opening up and down, then close tightly. This will mimic a professional proofing oven (you can also just set the pans in a warm place; this worked fine for me).
Let stand until the loaves have risen to the top of the pans (mine actually puffed up much higher than the edge of the pans), about 1 hour. The dough will look lumpy.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the glass from the pan, then the pan from the bag. Bake on the center rack (on the cookie sheet) for 30 to 35 minutes. Cover the loaves loosely with foil and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and an instant read thermometer reads 210 degrees F.
Transfer the loaf pans to a wire cooling rack and let stand for 5 minutes. Unmold the loaves onto the rack. Remove the parchment paper and turn the loaves right sides up and let cool completely.
*I weighed my apples and found that 4 of them were about 1 1/2 lbs. I elected to use 4 apples instead of 2. My loaves were very full of apples and puffed up quite high because of the extra volume in the pans, but I assumed following the weight suggested would be more accurate than going by the number of apples since mine were apparently smaller. I loved the generous amount of apples in my bread and wouldn't have it any other way. You can use however many apples you feel comfortable with in your bread.
Apple Cinnamon French Toast
Serves 4 to 5
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fruity booze, such as apple or apricot brandy, or orange liqueur
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch kosher salt
1 cup milk
8 to 10 (3/4-inch-thick) slices apple cinnamon loaf, preferably stale (1 loaf of this bread should yield about 11 slices at that thickness including the ends)
Unsalted butter, as needed
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Pure maple syrup, for serving
In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, booze, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Then gently beat in the milk to combine.
Over medium heat, melt about a tablespoon of butter in a large non-stick skillet or griddle. Dip bread one slice at a time into the custard mixture and allow it to soak for about 30 seconds on each side. Place 2 or 3 slices of soaked bread onto the skillet (only as many pieces as will comfortably fit depending on the size you use), and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining slices, adding more butter as needed to the pan. French toast can be kept warm in a low oven.
Dust French toast with confectioners' sugar and serve with maple syrup on the side for drizzling. Serve hot.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Mexican Fiesta: Margarita Cupcakes
Finally, it's time for dessert! After filling up on everything from restaurant-style salsa to homemade fresh chorizo tacos, I'm ready for some sweet indulgence. While tres leches cake would have been the perfect Mexican dessert, the lush in me wanted to make these margarita cupcakes. They are moist and fluffy with a hint of lime and tequila. Brushing on extra tequila and adding more tequila and lime juice into the fluffy American-style buttercream helps round out these cupcakes as the perfect treat for any fiesta.
For the record, I'm not a huge fan of tequila. I find its prominent flavor off-putting. I thought the amount of tequila in these cupcakes was mild and the brightness of the lime definitely helped make them taste even lighter. The frosting was absolutely delicious and I sampled plenty of it while piping my cupcakes. I figure if it's not on the cupcakes yet, it's zero calories. Right?
The original recipe states that it makes a dozen, but let me assure you, there is no way on Earth that this recipe will make only a dozen cupcakes. I filled 12 liners and still had plenty of batter left. Aiming for 16 cupcakes is a lot safer if you don't want a cupcake explosion in your oven. They do rise pretty high so don't fill the cups too much, about 2/3 full is a good start.
Margarita Cupcakes
Makes 16 cupcakes
(Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
Zest and juice of 1 1/2 limes
2 tablespoons tequila
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
To Brush the Cupcakes:
1 to 2 tablespoons tequila
Tequila-Lime Frosting:
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons tequila
Pinch of coarse salt
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 standard muffin tins with 16 paper liners and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until pale, light, and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
Reduce the mixer speed and add the eggs one at at time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the lime zest, lime juice, vanilla extract and tequila. Mix until combined. The mixture may start to look curdled at this point, but don't worry, it will all come back together.
Add the dry ingredients in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk in two batches. Mix only until just incorporated, using a rubber spatula to give it one last mix by hand.
Divide the batter between the muffin cups, filling about 2/3 of the way. Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until just slightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean, rotating the pans halfway through baking.
Allow cupcakes to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, and then remove to a cooling rack. Brush the tops of the cupcakes with the 1 to 2 tablespoons of tequila. Set the cupcakes aside to cool completely before frosting them.
To make the frosting, beat the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 5 minutes. Reduce the speed and gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing and scraping the sides of the bowl until all is incorporated. Add the lime juice, tequila and salt. Mix until incorporated and fluffy (it will increase in volume as air is whipped into it). If the frosting appears a bit too soft, add some additional sugar or refrigerate briefly to firm up. Frost cupcakes and garnish, if desired, with lime zest, an additional sprinkling of salt and/or a lime wedge.
*Note* If you would prefer to not use liquor in these cupcakes, you can omit it from both the cupcakes and the frosting with no problem.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Mexican Fiesta: Braised Beef Short Rib Tacos
The second taco filling I made for my football-themed Mexican fiesta featured braised beef short ribs. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth braised short ribs are the Holy Grail of braised meats in my opinion. They are irresistible on restaurant menus, easy to make, and feature a relatively cheap cut of meat compared to others. Although there is definite waste (the bone and excess fat/cartilage) it's worth the hours it can take to taste the final result.
These short ribs braise in a seriously aromatic liquid comprised of Mexican beer, blackened tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, chipotle chiles, tamarind paste, garlic, orange zest, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and thyme. The aroma is intoxicating. Although the original recipe doesn't call for this, I think a nice final touch is to strain and reduce some of the braising liquid and mix it with the shredded short ribs to add back some flavor and moisture. It's a customary step when completing a braise and I think it's suited for these tacos. Which taco filling are you most anxious to try? The braised beef short ribs or the homemade fresh chorizo I shared yesterday?
Braised Beef Short Rib Tacos
Makes 8 tacos
(Adapted from Tacos)
2 1/4 pounds meaty bone-in beef short ribs*
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
12 ounces dark beer or India pale ale (I used an amber Dos Equis to keep it Mexican... stay thirsty, my friends)
5 small tomatoes, blackened under the broiler or on a grill, and chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 canned chipotle chiles
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
3 cloves roasted garlic
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 1/2 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 stick cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 sprig fresh thyme
2 cups low-sodium beef stock or broth
8 corn tortillas, for serving
Season the meat evenly on both sides with salt and pepper. In a braising pan with high sides, heat the oil over high heat. Add the ribs to the pan and sear on all sides until browned, about 1 minute per side.
Pour in the beer and add the tomatoes to deglaze the pan. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, chiles, tamarind paste, garlic, orange zest, brown sugar, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, allspice, thyme, and beef stock.
When the mixture starts to bubble, decrease the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer, occasionally skimming the fat from the surface, until the meat can easily be pulled from the bone with your fingers, about 3 1/2 hours or longer, as needed. Don't overcook the ribs, or the meat will be mushy.
Shred the meat, removing any excess fat or cartilage. Strain the braising liquid and measure about 1 1/2 cups. Add that back to the empty pan and cook over medium-high heat to reduce by half. Mix this glaze with the shredded meat and serve immediately or keep warm in the pan until ready to serve. To make ahead, refrigerate the meat and glaze separately (so the meat doesn't absorb all the glaze up front) and then reheat the them together on the stove top over medium heat.
Serve with warm corn tortillas and your choice of garnishes.
*Note* Be sure to purchase the meatiest short ribs available, without too much fat. They should be thick-cut, 1-or-2-bone size, about 4-inches long, and almost 2 1/2-inches thick.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Mexican Fiesta: Homemade Fresh Chorizo Tacos
I'm just loving all these authentic Mexican recipes from my football-themed fiesta, aren't you? The next recipe is for one of the two taco fillings I made for the party. This homemade fresh chorizo is spicy, smoky, and garlicky. The mixture only requires a few ingredients and comes together very easily. It's not much more effort than making a generic ground beef filling, so why not kick it up a notch and try this instead?
I loved topping my fresh chorizo tacos with some pickled onions and sour cream to balance out the spiciness. You could top it with anything you like, of course. Some queso fresco would be nice, as would pico de gallo or guacamole. The fun of hosting a party like this is that it gives your guests the ability to customize their food to their liking, and who doesn't like that? What are your favorite fillings for authentic Mexican tacos?
Homemade Fresh Chorizo Tacos
Makes about 16 to 20 tacos
(Adapted from Bon Appetit)
6 dried ancho chiles
8 garlic cloves, chopped
3 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds ground pork
Corn tortillas, for serving
Using kitchen scissors and working over a medium bowl, cut chiles into 1" rings, reserving seeds and discarding stems (if you want it a bit less spicy, discard some of the seeds). Cover with 1/2 cup hot water; let soak, stirring occasionally, until chiles are soft and pliable, about 10 minutes.
Transfer chiles with seeds and soaking liquid to a blender. Add garlic, paprika, salt and pepper; pulse until a paste forms. Add more water as needed to allow the mixture to blend properly.
Combine pork and chile paste in a large bowl. Gently mix until just blended (do not overwork the meat).
Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, cook chorizo until cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes. (Be sure to let meat brown before turning and breaking it up into small pieces with a spoon or spatula.) Season with salt. Serve with corn tortillas.
Chorizo can be made 1 day ahead, covered and chilled. Rewarm before serving.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Mexican Fiesta: Homemade Corn Tortillas and Pickled Red Onions
Yesterday, I shared the menu and the first few recipes from my football-themed Mexican fiesta. Today I'm sharing a couple more! First, a recipe for homemade corn tortillas. If you've never had a homemade corn tortilla, I highly suggest you do. It will change your perspective on Mexican food forever. Believe it or not, many Mexican restaurants do not necessarily feature fresh corn tortillas. Their enchiladas are made with store-bought corn tortillas and their soft tacos utilize flour tortillas. My first explicit memory of homemade corn tortillas was a Loteria, a small chain of amazing authentic Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles. I enjoyed a sampler of mini tacos, all on tiny homemade corn tortillas and topped with extremely authentic toppings--from nopales to carnitas. The tortillas were outstanding and memorable.
I decided it was time to pay some respect and make my own corn tortillas from scratch. I purchased a cast-iron tortilla press. With its brand name (the same as mine) "Victoria" emblazoned across the top, it seemed like a match made in Heaven :) The masa dough was super easy to make. I kneaded it easily by hand in just a few minutes. Pressing and cooking the individual tortillas took a bit more time because I couldn't cook too many at once. It quickly occurred to me that I should have started a lot earlier (I multiplied the recipe with intentions of making 30 tortillas)! Regardless of my poor timing, these tortillas were outstanding. They made all others posing as corn tortillas pale in comparison. From the flavor to the aroma and texture, they made this a true fiesta!
Additionally, I also threw together some pickled red onions as a possible garnish for the tacos. I remembered pickled red onion as one of the many authentic garnishes from my meal at Loteria and I thought it would be a really nice touch for our spread. While the original recipe I adapted used a lot more water than vinegar, I opted to stick with a stronger pickling solution and not dilute it with water. The pickled onions turned out great! They retained a nice texture and had a great sour-sweet element that helped cut through richness and spice from our taco fillings.
Homemade Corn Tortillas
Makes 16 (5 1/2-to-6-inch) tortillas
2 cups masa harina
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups water
Mix together the masa harina and kosher salt. Add the water and knead together until you form a smooth, firm dough, similar to Play-Doh. If it's too dry and crumbly, add a bit more water; too wet, add a little masa. You can do this step in an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook or by hand.
Cover the masa dough with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The masa will continue to absorb the water during this time. Divide the dough into 16 equal portions (about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 ounces each), and form them into balls. Keep the balls of masa covered with a damp towel until you cook them.
To prepare the tortilla press, line it with plastic so the masa won't stick. Take a quart-size heavy-duty freezer bag and cut the sides (but not the bottom) so it opens like a book. Place one half of the plastic bag inside the tortilla press.
Place a ball of masa in the center of the tortilla press, pressing it gently with your hand into a disc. Then fold over the other half of the plastic sheet. Press down on the tortilla press to flatten the dough into a thin circle. It should be about 1/8-inch thick and about 5 1/2-to-6-inches in diameter. Open the press and carefully peel the plastic away from both sides of the tortilla. If the edges of the tortilla crack, the mixture is dry. Return the masa balls to a bowl and knead in more water before proceeding.
To cook the tortillas, preheat a dry skillet (preferably cast-iron...this process actually stained the stainless steel pan I used with black spots, requiring extensive cleaning) over medium heat. Place a tortilla on the pan and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, until the bottom is charred in spots and the edges start to curl. Flip over and cook another 15 to 30 seconds. Transfer to a basket lined with a kitchen towel and cover with the towel to keep warm. The tortillas will soften and become more pliable from the residual heat from the other tortillas in the stack. Repeat, in batches, with the remaining dough. Serve immediately.
Pickled Red Onions
Makes about 1 cup
(Adapted from Bon Appetit)
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 red onion, thinly sliced
Whisk the first 3 ingredients until the sugar and salt dissolve. Place onion in a jar; pour vinegar mixture over. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Cover and chill. This can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. Drain onions before using.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Mexican Fiesta: Restaurant-Style Salsa, Gronk-amole, and Blue Margaritas
First and foremost, yesterday was football Sunday. I'm a Patriots fan through and through, making every effort I can to catch the weekly games. There's something about eating and drinking that just goes hand-in-hand with watching football.
Maybe it's the fact that most games are on Sundays, making it socially acceptable to drink heavy amounts of alcohol in front of the television in the middle of the day. Maybe it's watching heavily padded men plow into each other that makes you want to eat as much as they do. Regardless of why snacking/drinking and watching football are a perfect match, I decided this Sunday I would create a bit of a football feast for viewing the game... specifically a Mexican-themed feast as I was craving authentic tacos.
|Gronking my tortilla chip!
Coincidentally, it also turned out that yesterday was Mexican Independence Day. This unplanned overlap of events made my plans for an authentic Mexican feast even more perfect for football Sunday. It was truly meant to be! I decided that I would make just about every single component from scratch because, let's face it, I'm a bit of an overachiever. Everything from the salsa to the corn tortillas and margarita mix would be homemade. This is how I roll, and quite frankly, my Patriots deserve the very best (even if they occasionally let me down)!! Here is my menu:
Football Fiesta
Restaurant-Style Salsa
Gronk-amole (Guacamole)
Tortilla Chips
Touchdown Pass
Homemade Corn Tortillas
Homemade Fresh Chorizo Tacos
Braised Short Rib Tacos
Pickled Red Onions
Sour Cream
Sour Cream
Blue Margaritas
Margarita Cupcakes
Yeah, I know... a pretty amazing spread, if I may say so myself. Since there were so many items on the menu, I knew I couldn't share them all in one post, so I will spread them out over the span of this week. Today I will share the recipe for the Restaurant-Style Salsa, the Gronk-amole (my sister came up with the amazing name... so clever!), and the Blue Margaritas!
First up is the salsa!! Tremendously easy to make, it really mimics what one comes to expect when eating at an authentic Mexican restaurant. It's less thick and chunky than the jarred stuff, but it fully surpasses its counterparts on flavor and authenticity. It warms up your palate with a good amount of lingering spice, but isn't unbearable by any means. I used San Marzano tomatoes (in my opinion the best canned tomatoes out there), and a few other simple ingredients. The quantity this makes is plenty for a big gathering!
The Gronk-amole is my take on guacamole! My favorite method for guac-making is to dice up the avocado and then slightly mash it as I mix it together with the other ingredients. This gives a somewhat homogenized texture with lots of chunks as well. I prefer it over a totally chunky or totally smooth guacamole. I have been known to replace the jalepeño occasionally with crushed chili flakes when I didn't have the fresh pepper on hand, and that works great as well. Perhaps less authentic, but I've never had any complaints! In fact, I'm often told that my guacamole is better than most! Leave a couple of the avocado pits in the mixture to help prevent the mixture from browning. It may be slightly unsightly but it works beautifully! You can always remove them right before company arrives if you want to be all prim and proper, but come on, this is football!
The Blue Margaritas were also incredibly easy to make! I wanted a recipe where I could literally throw together a pitcher and then serve over ice as needed. This recipe can easily be multiplied for bigger crowds, and can be cut down for individual drinks as well. The only difference between Blue Margaritas and regular ones is the addition of Blue Curacao as opposed to another orange liqueur, typically triple sec. Blue Curacao is orange flavored but blue in color. The flavor shouldn't be too different than if you used triple sec but the color is that of the Patriots and so I made my margaritas blue :)
Restaurant-Style Salsa
Makes about 6 cups
(Adapted from The Pioneer Woman)
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes (peeled) with juice
2 (10-ounce) cans Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 jalepeño, quartered and sliced thin
1/2 cup cilantro
Juice from 1/2 a lime
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Add all ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until you get desired consistency. Refrigerate for at least one hour, and then serve with your favorite tortilla chips.
*Note* This makes a large quantity so use at least an 11-or-12-cup food processor, or work in batches.
Gronk-amole (Guacamole)
Makes about 3 cups
5 ripe Haas avocados, peeled and diced, a couple pits reserved
1 to 2 limes, juiced (depending on their size)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 jalepeño (or more if you desire), stem and seeds removed, finely diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
Kosher salt
Mix together all of the ingredients, gently mashing up some of the avocado as you stir to achieve a mixture of both creamy and chunky avocado. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Blue Margaritas
Makes 4 (6-ounce) drinks
(Adapted from Confessions of a Foodie Bride)
Homemade Margarita Mix:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 8 to 12 limes)
Blue Margaritas:
1 recipe homemade margarita mix
3/4 cup (6 oz) tequila
1/2 cup (4 oz) Blue Curacao
Coarse salt, for rim (optional)
Lime wedges/slices, for garnish (optional)
Heat water and sugar in a small sauce pan until completely dissolved and the water is clear. Let cool. Pour into a pitcher with lime juice. Leftovers will keep 7 to 10 days in a jar in the fridge.
To the margarita mix, add the tequila and Blue Curacao. If you'd like salt on the rim of your glasses, rub some lime along the rim of each glass and then invert the glass onto a dish of coarse salt. It will stick to the rim. Add ice to the glasses and pour margarita mixture into each glass, garnishing with lime slices, if desired.
To make a single margarita, add 1/2 cup margarita mix, 1.5 oz (3 tablespoons) tequila, and 1 oz (2 tablespoons Blue Curacao) to a small glass of ice and serve.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Buttermilk Bread
A "fast bread" will never have the complex flavor and crumb structure of an artisan bread that spends hours rising and developing character. It will, however, give you fresh bread on your table in a fraction of the time. This bread is crazy easy to make. You don't even have to shape it. You literally just spread it into the pan and let it proof (briefly) before baking it and filling your house with the sweet smell of yeast.
Buttermilk is one of those ingredients that you often purchase for a recipe and then have lying around in your refrigerator for a while afterward, looking for some love. I have explicitly created a tag for recipes that use buttermilk on Mission: Food to give you great ideas of how to use some of your leftover buttermilk. I'm thinking this is the key to a happier and less wasteful life in the kitchen :)
This bread is a great way to use some of your leftover buttermilk. Making bread in a short period of time robs it of a chance to slowly develop flavor intensity. Using buttermilk with its characteristic sour flavor imparts something that would otherwise be missing in such a short rise.
A little butter and egg into the mix also adds flavor and richness. The crust on this bread is buttery and crumbly, while the crumb is firm and springy. It holds its shape well and is excellent for sandwiches. It would make great toast, French toast, and bread pudding as well.
I elected to use my bread to make a variation of Caprese sandwiches using local Narragansett Creamery mozzarella, juicy ruby red tomatoes from my dad's garden, and a little olive tapenade for a briny and salty note. The bread held up really well with all of the juiciness of the tomatoes and the wetness of the tapenade.
It had a mildly buttery flavor that added a touch of richness to this otherwise fresh and light-tasting sandwich. I was very happy with the result of both the buttermilk bread and the sandwiches I created with it. Although I enjoy a deeply flavorful and chewy artisan bread, this buttermilk bread is just the ticket when time is short and you're craving the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread in your home.
Buttermilk Bread
Makes 1 loaf
(From Fast Breads)
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold or room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan
3 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon wheat bran (optional)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 1/4 teaspoons (a 1/4-ounce packet) instant yeast
1 large egg
2 teaspoons melted butter for brushing the loaf
Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-in loaf pan.
In a small saucepan, heat the buttermilk and butter over medium heat until it registers about 130ºF (54°C) on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from the heat.
In a stand mixer fit with the paddle attachment, mix together 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the sugar, wheat bran (if using), salt, and yeast on low speed just until combined. Add the warm buttermilk mixture and mix until all the ingredients are smooth and combined. Add the egg and continue beating for 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 3/4 cups flour and continue mixing for 5 minutes. The dough will be sticky and will not come away from the sides of the bowl. Scrape the dough into the prepared pan and brush the top with the melted butter.
Cover the pan loosely with waxed paper and let the dough rise to within 1 inch of the top of the pan, about 25 to 30 minutes. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375ºF (190°C).
Bake the loaf until the top feels firm and is lightly browned, about 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto the rack and let cool completely before slicing into roughly hewn hunks or slender sandwich slices.
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Voodoo Lounge
INSANITY under the STARS…
…….Rooftop HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY!
October 31, 2014
One week left until Felici Event's annual Halloween Costume Dance Party at the Canary Rooftop.
- Buy your tickets via Nightout.com using this link to experience "Insanity Under the Stars"!
- $45 pre-sale, based on availability.
- Pre-purchase your ticket and receive $5 off by typing FIVEOFF in the promo code bar (based on availability, not available at the door)
- Like our Voodoo Lounge Facebook Page for a chance to win free tickets!!
DJ Scott Topper is sure to get everyone's booty moving to the rooftop and then the dance floor! Find ideas for your Halloween Costume here, get your dancing shoes on, and come join us in all the fun.
Kelsey Crews Photography will be taking pictures of you and your friends in costumes!
- Kappa Pisco's shot ghouls are serving up some witch's brew, pisco tastings and gifting schwag and promotional items.
- $$$$ Costume Contest $$$$ 250 cash prize for the winner and Dinner for 2 at Finch and Fork Restaurant for the second place
- Haunted Action Photo Booth
- Voodoo Altar
- Dancing Zombies Welcome!
- Go-go dancers
- Surprise Entertainment
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Canary Hotel 31 W Carrillo St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101 Friday, October 31, 2014 9:00pm to 1:00am PDT
*MUST BE 21 OR OLDER TO ATTEND. Any ticket holder unable to present valid identification indicating that they are at least 21 years of age will not be admitted to this event and will not be eligible for a refund. Rain or Shine. Tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE. No Ins & Outs
Enjoy this video of Felici Events' Halloween Dance Rooftop Party from last year - created by Kelsey Crews Photography