- 10 great documentaries about women to inspire you
- Five tricks to making the best of a growing-it-out hairstyle
- Take a fashion cue from the geek-chic Mr. Rogers
- Don't let freekah freak you out . . . learn how to cook with this healthy, delicious grain
- Hot new pictures from Breaking Dawn show Bella and Edward in bed
- 10 beautifully photographed birth announcements
- 5 on-the-verge denim brands to get familiar with now
- Pleats move from pants and skirts to pillows and chairs
- See how well you can ID classic vampire movies!
- How to get your to-do list done
- A yoga sequence to put you to sleep
- Does your doggy's day care have a webcam?
- Which shimmery topcoats are really tops?
- Video: Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries kiss on the red carpet days before their wedding
Posts for August 18th 2011
The Ultimate Ice Cream Social Menu
Here's a fun idea for a party that both children and adults will enjoy: an ice cream social! This traditional gathering, which dates back to the 18th century, is a great way to get people together. It makes a delicious event during the Summer when the weather is hot, so why not throw one now before the kids head back to school? From scrumptious sauces to marvelous mix-ins, here's the perfect menu for the ultimate ice cream bar.
Marrakech in Mind: A Basic Moroccan Food Primer
We're halfway through Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Although it's a time of spiritual reflection, there's also a focus on food and Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at sundown. This is no exception in the food-centric North African country of Morocco, where nearly 99 percent of the population practices Islam.
Moroccan cuisine is distinctive and unique, thanks in part to the historical Arab, Persian, Moorish, Mediterranean, and Berber influences. It's characterized by food heavily flavored with spices such as cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, coriander, and saffron, plus herbs such as mint and parsley. Don't know how to decipher a Moroccan menu? Continue reading to get to know a few staples of this North African cuisine.
How to Remove Corn From the Cob
Although cooked corn eaten right off the cob is a classic Summer side, my favorite way to enjoy in-season corn is raw, stirred into a salad with basil and tomatoes. The kernels are slightly sweet, juicy, and have a nice light crunch. Raw corn can be mixed with everything from black beans to greens to fruit, and they are delicious in soup. If you've never had raw corn before, I suggest you give it a try. To encourage that you do, here you'll learn my easy technique for removing the corn from the cob.
Ham Chips Are Easy, Addictive Appetizer Idea
After making and enjoying salami chips, I wondered, what would ham chips taste like? The concept is simple: you take thin slices of prosciutto or jamon serrano place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake until crispy. The resulting snack is salty, crunchy, and downright delicious. Add to a cheese display or use in a sandwich, burger, salad, or crostini recipe. The method is uncomplicated; read more to learn how to make ham chips.
Ham Chips
From Katie Sweeney
Ham Chips
Ingredients
16 slices of prosciutto or jamon serrano
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cover two baking sheets with foil or parchment paper. Arrange the ham slices in a single layer.
- Bake for 12 minutes, rotating after 6 minutes. The ham should shrink in size and will be crispy.
- Let cool completely then enjoy alone, with cheese, or in a sandwich, salad, or burger!
Makes 16 ham chips.
Yummy Links: From Kim Kardashian's Cake to True Blood's Cookbook
- Kim Kardashian's reportedly getting married with a $20,000 wedding cake.
- Kim Kardashian's reportedly getting married with a $20,000 wedding cake. — Delish
- Ten flavors that could save your life. — The Daily Meal
- Cool down by cooking with mint. — FN Dish
- Points chefs should consider before taking to Twitter. — Grub Street Boston
- Explore the food at night markets in Taipei. — Huffington Post Food
- Beyond extra virgin: six more oils to try now. — Food Republic
- The proper way to season a cast-iron pan. — KitchenDaily
- True Blood is getting a cookbook this Spring. — Eater
Know Your Ingredients: Freekeh
In an attempt to explore more dishes with quinoa and other whole grains, I stumbled upon the ancient food known as freekeh.
Freekeh (pronounced "free-kah," and also known as greenwheat) is an Arab grain made of young green durum wheat that's harvested when the seeds are still immature and therefore soft and moist. They're then sun-dried, roasted, polished, and cracked. The result? A smoky-flavored wheat that's high in fiber, protein, and vitamins, but low in gluten.
Despite its silly-sounding name, freekeh can pull some serious weight around the kitchen, replacing everything from rice to couscous to even pasta. Drop the grain into soups and stews for added heft; toss into a salad as a contrast to leafy greens.
In the morning, serve it with a bit of milk, fruit, and dessert spices for a nice hot cereal, or use it in place of couscous to stuff oven-roasted tomatoes and peppers. If you're craving something a bit richer, consider it as a replacement to arborio or carnaroli rice in an Italian risotto. Have you ever eaten freekeh?
Source: Flickr User jules:stonesoup
Savory Sight: Cookies and Cream Cake
If you're crazy about cookies and cream ice cream, then Gabriela Une Vie Saine thinks you'll be bowled over by this cake, too.
A fun, easy-to-make cake that's perfect for all ages.
For the recipe, check out her blog. To upload sweet treats you've made recently, check out the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community.
Maximize Your Time at the Gym With the Nike Training Club
One of the most common fitness hurdles that women face is feeling like they’re stuck in rut with workout routines. And it’s true. Doing the same exercises over and over cannot only get monotonous, but you may also be selling yourself short at the gym. By mixing up workouts, you’re keeping yourself motivated while making sure you continue to engage different parts of your body.
That’s why we’re loving The Nike Training Club. It is your personal trainer anytime, anywhere. It’s an app you can download to your iPhone®, iPod Touch®, or iPad® and offers full-body workouts that you can do just about anywhere. By inputting your goals and fitness level, the app will give you over 70 workouts to choose from, so you’ll never be bored at the gym again. By getting lean, toned, and strong results and routines to workouts targeted just to specific body parts, you’re guaranteed to find a bevvy of workouts that will help you stay on track with your fitness goals.
Try it for yourself! Tell us your fitness goals in the comment box below, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a 64GB iPod Touch®, so you can download the Nike Training Club app. Read the rules here, and start hitting the gym!

