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Harvest Apple Stuffing

By , 25 June, 2009, No Comment

Here is a delicious recipe for apple stuffing suitable for stuffing a Thanksgiving turkey:

List of ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray.
1/2 cup of apple juice.
1 cup of carrots, shredded.
1 cup of celery, chopped.
1/2 cup of onion, chopped.
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg.
8 cups of cornbread dry cubes.
2 cups of apple, peeled and chopped.
1/2 cup of walnuts, chopped.
1/4 cup of wheat germ, toasted.
1 cup of chicken broth, defatted.

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350F.

Coat a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray.

Add the apple juice, shredded carrots, chopped celery and chopped onion; cook until tender.

Stir in the nutmeg.

Lightly coat a 3-4 quart casserole dish with nonstick coating spray.

Place the cornbread cubes, apple, walnuts and wheat germ in casserole dish and toss lightly.

Add the onion mixture.

Drizzle with enough broth to moisten and toss lightly again.

Bake for 35 minutes.

Source: Stuffing Recipes.

Choosing the Right Laser Hair Removal Clinic

By , 15 June, 2009, 1 Comment

When it comes to the laser hair removal procedure, choosing the right clinic is extremely important. Although this procedure is generally very safe, there are risks involved that need to be kept in mind. Not to mention the fact that this is a costly procedure, and you want it to be done right!

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The Health Benefits of Using a Sauna

By , 16 February, 2009, 1 Comment

There are a number of different health benefits from using a sauna. Remember that this is a factor in deciding which type of sauna you buy. While all three types of saunas (traditional, steambaths, and infrared) will provide benefits, the traditional sauna is the hottest of the three, and this higher heat may be better in some cases. Here are some of the common benefits associated with a sauna.

High heat helps relieve pain, joint aches, and muscle aches by expanding the body’s blood vessels and helping blood circulate better. This allows more oxygen to get to the aching or injured parts of your body, reducing the pain you feel and actually helping your body heal more quickly. For those with long-term muscle injuries or those needing to recover from a major accident, a sauna may help relieve a lot of pain.

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Types of Swimming Pool

By , 6 February, 2009, 3 Comments

There are many different shapes and sizes of swimming pools, as well as different types of swimming pools to choose from. If you are considering putting in a swimming pool or purchasing a professionally installed large indoor or outdoor swimming pool, you will need to first decide on what type of swimming pool will best suit you. This all depends on what you need or want the swimming pool for, what its primary function will be and what other roles it will play as part of your home. It is also important to note how much space you have in your garden or outbuilding to accommodate the swimming pool. The following are a few different examples of the types of swimming pool you can have and what they are best used for.

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Top 5 Tips For Having Your Loft Converted

By , 25 December, 2008, No Comment

Having a loft converted is no small job, but it needn’t be as complicated as you might expect. All it takes is some careful planning ahead of time, much of which you can get loft specialists to help you with. Here is a quick guide to some of the top tips when it comes to working out all aspects of your loft conversion.

1. Is your loft suitable for a conversion?

Before calling in the experts it is a great idea to do some thinking yourself as to whether your roof and loft are suitable for conversion. Some checks you can do include thinking about the shape of your roof, where modern trussed rafter roofs (built after 1965) can be more difficult to convert and can also cost more money. If you are unsure you can ask a loft conversion company to take a look – many will do this for free.

2. Hire a professional

You may be thinking of a DIY loft conversion, though it is a lot easier and safer to call in the experts. Do you really know how to make your conversion structurally sound? Can you waterproof your dormer? Do you know if your boiler needs to be upgraded for plumbing in the loft? How to install a staircase? All of these can have a huge impact on health and safety, which experts can deal with safely and more conveniently.

3. Consult an architect

An architect or surveyor will be required in order to determine the loads that will be placed in the building to make sure that your property is still structurally sounds. This is extremely important in all building and planning regulations, so will be required on top of your builder.

4. Building regulations

Not all loft conversions will need planning permission, but you will always need to check this for sure before going ahead with any work. Even if you do not need planning permission, you will still need to comply with building regulations which will include inspections. It is much easier to check regulations before starting work – which will also save you money by avoiding problems down the line.

5. Find a way to finance your conversion

There is no point dreaming and planning your conversion before analysing the costs and whether you can afford it. The first thing is to work out your budget and make sure you can stick to it. Bear in mind that conversions can cost several thousand pounds. They will add value to the home, but don’t just build them with this sole purpose in mind. You will not be making any money unless they add value to your lives for a few years.

When working out your budget this will not just include building work but will also take into account: surveying fees, fire safety, any sound insulation, heating, and plumbing/ electric if required.

Source: Loft Conversions Online.

The Legend of the Maid of Buttermere

By , 8 December, 2008, No Comment

The Fish Hotel in Buttermere is one of the oldest Inns of the Lake District, and was owned by the Robinson family in the 1790s. The small village of Buttermere was only accessible through difficult passes, but the Inn became famous not just for its trout fishing but for the Robinson’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Mary. Many travellers wrote of her beauty and came to visit her from afar.

However, by the beginning of the 1800s she was married to a gentleman who stayed at the Inn, calling himself ‘Colonel Alexander Hope’. Mary’s beauty had led to the story being published in London papers, who soon discovered that the Colonel was nothing more than an imposter who was already married. His real name was John Hatfield, an undischarged bankrupt. He was eventually punished by death for the crimes of bigamy and of false pretences.

Read more about Lake District ghosts at GrasmereCumbria.co.uk.

Who Are Stair Lifts Suitable For?

By , 5 December, 2008, No Comment

Stair lifts are devices that are built around staircases to help people who have difficulty walking on the stairs, or those who are confined to wheelchairs due to a disability. These machines can range in size from smaller mobile seats that are attached to the staircase wall to larger, separate devices that are better equipped for moving people confined to wheelchairs.

These stair lifts can be used by any disabled or immobile person to assist them in moving about from floor to floor and can be installed in private residences as well as public buildings. The most common form of stair lift is a straight model with an attached seat which can be put onto a traditional staircase; however, there are those that can be put on spiral staircases if required. There are even stair lift models that are designed to be placed on outdoor areas that do not have easy lift or ramp access. The stair lifts can even be used in outdoor historical sites in order to allow people who would not normally be able to get up and down the large numbers of stairs to be able to visit these interesting sites. One example of this being done is the curved stair lift system that has been installed in Caernarfon Castle in North Wales.

Read the full article at Stair Lifts Online.

Recipe for Chicken and Oyster Gumbo

By , 21 October, 2008, No Comment

Here is the recipe for 12 servings of this meal:

List of ingredients:

12 cups of water.
One (4 lb) chicken.
1/3 cup of shortening.
1/2 cup of all-purpose flour.
1 large onion, chopped.
Salt, black and red pepper.
1/2 cup of chopped green onion tops.
1/3 cup of parsley, chopped.
36 oysters.
1 tablespoon of file powder.
Cooked rice.

Directions:

Pour the water into a large pot.

Cut chicken into serving size pieces, and brown in hot shortening.

Once browned, put in the pot with the water, then add the flour to the shortening and brown very slowly.

Add the chopped onion and cook until slightly brown and clear, then add to the chicken and seasonings.

Cook very slowly until the chicken is tender, stirring frequently.

Add green onion tops and parsley.

Cook for 10 minutes, then add the oysters and cook until they curl.

Remove from heat, add the file powder, and stir.

Serve immediately with cooked rice.

Source: Oyster Recipes.

Eating Patterns – following your baby’s needs

By , 8 October, 2008, No Comment

My experience of increasing gaps between feeds, the amount taken and the effect on sleep patterns for a formula fed baby of 5 weeks.

I try to never let my babydrain a bottle – if he does finish one off, the next feed I make an extra ounce… he usually then takes half an ounce or so more than the last feed and stops.  I then continue to make this amount each feed until he drains the bottle again and then I add another ounce.

This is how I have progressed with him eating more.

I was worried last week that he might be eating too much,

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Dim Sum – Traditional Chinese Snackfood

By , 2 October, 2008, No Comment

Dim sum has it’s origin in the Chinese social tea tradition of Yum Cha. Yum cha, which translates literally to mean “tea drinking”, takes place in the mornings and early afternoons in various regions throughout China, although Canton, a province in Southern China, is more widely associated with Dim sum and Yum Cha.

During Yum Cha people socialize over tea and partake of a variety of snack foods. This variety of snack foods is what is referred to as Dim sum. Dim sum refers to the collective dishes partaken of during the tea-drinking tradition of Yum Cha.

In today’s hectic world people don’t always have time for traditional social gatherings like Yum Cha. Recognizing the need to keep up with changing times and the demand for instant foods, some food manufacturers in China and other regions have developed packaged dim sum products. These products can usually be found in grocery stores in many areas of the world. They can be prepared at home in a microwave on a stovetop and enjoyed at any time desired.

Here is an example of a dim sum recipe, pork dim sum:

Ingredients:

14 oz of ground pork.
2 scallions, chopped.
1 3/4 oz of canned bamboo shoots, chopped.
1 tablespoon of light soy sauce.
1 tablespoon of dry sherry.
2 teaspoons of sesame oil.
2 teaspoons of superfine sugar.
1 medium egg white, lightly beaten.
4 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch.
24 wonton wrappers.

Directions:

In a bowl, mix together the ground pork, chopped scallions, bamboo shoots, light soy sauce, dry sherry, sesame oil, superfine sugar, and beaten egg until well combined.

Stir in the cornstarch, mixing thoroughly.

Spread out the wonton wrappers on a counter.

Place a spoonful of the mixture in the center of each wonton wrapper and lightly brush the edges of the wrappers with water.

Bring the sides of the wrappers together in the center of the filling, pinching firmly together.

Line a steamer with a clean damp dish cloth and arrange the wontons inside.

Cover and steam for 6 minutes or until cooked through, then serve.

Source: Dim Sum Recipes.

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