| Mac and cheese: The gooier the better
GOOEY cheddar robes tender curls of pasta, perhaps some crunchy breadcrumbs lounge on top this is all-American fare, this is macaroni and cheese. Whether decadently rich, light and creamy or from the famous blue box, mac and cheese occupies a space in the comfort-starved hearts of many Americans. While gussied-up gourmet versions, laced with truffles or imported cheese, are hip in trendy restaurants, deep down this dish is simple, straightforward comfort food the stuff childhood is made of. Last month we asked readers for their favorite macaroni and cheese recipes. The first submission we received was from a self-proclaimed "cheeky" reader who sent us a typewritten vote for Stouffer's frozen macaroni and cheese. Well Cheeky, we admire your spirit and we have to agree, Stouffer's is pretty tasty.
An endless feast on the high seas
Greetings once again from aboard the HAL cruise ship Veendam. In seven days we have traveled more than 3,000 nautical miles of open sea since leaving the Gulf of Mexico on a course set for Sao Miguel, Azores - one of nine mid-Atlantic Portugal islands. One nautical mile is 1.15 land or statue miles. By now, the 1,200-plus guests have found their favorite activities as well as their sea legs. We have been blessed with pleasurable 60-degree-plus weather and only a day and a half of notable swells. I included "sea bands" in my luggage. They are elastic wristbands with a plastic pressure dot placed on the area of your pulse. The bands also are used to control nausea experienced by chemotherapy patients and morning sickness during pregnancy. The Veendam's executive chef advises an empty stomach should be avoided in heavy seas.
Can you have an ethical Easter?
IT'S EASTER, it's a bank holiday weekend - and best of all, it's predicted to be sunny. But celebrating Easter has a huge ethical cost, experts claim. Our insatiable demand for chocolate (we are expected to consume 80 million Easter eggs) raises serious concerns over waste levels, fairtrade and sustainability. Then there's the hundreds of thousands of Scots whose flights abroad are pumping pollution in every direction. Even the Easter dinner is under fire as the food miles clock up. Supermarkets are clambering over one another to show their green credentials, yet their Easter offerings fall short. A Sunday Herald survey found that Tesco and Sainsbury's have just one own-brand Fairtrade chocolate egg each, while Morrisons has none. Marks & Spencer has been quicker off the mark with a full range of organic children's lines, some 30 different products).
Amazon.com Launches "Go Indie" Music Store
SEATTLE April 18, 2007--Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced it has joined forces with more than 30 independent music labels to launch "Go Indie," a new section in its Indie music store designed to introduce music lovers of all genres to indie music and existing indie fans to the best independent labels and artists. "Go Indie" features a hand-picked selection of nearly 700 titles, 150 of which carry a reduced price of $9.99."There is an incredible amount of great indie music being produced that has traditionally been very difficult for music fans to find," said Peter Faricy, vice president of music at Amazon.com. "We have teamed up with indie's most prominent labels to create the 'Go Indie' store to help our customers find music and to help music find our customers."The "Go Indie" store will also feature video content from six indie artists, including the Black Keys, Air, The Shins, Sam Bush, Robyn Hitchcock and CeU.
Bring on the Carrots . Messermeister's Julienne Peeler Has Arrived!
OJAI, Calif., March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- It's not often that a kitchen gadget comes along that will heighten the art of cooking but recently Messermeister has added the Julienne Peeler to their Pro-Touch line. Joining its award winning counterpart, the Serrated Swivel Peeler, which is rated #1 by numerous cooking publications, the Julienne Peeler contains a serrated stainless steel blade with matchstick cutters that is reversible for right or left hand use. The new blade creates precise julienne shapes for numerous culinary needs. The comfortable santoprene, soft-grip handle allows you to firmly hold the gadget even if your hands are wet. Dishwasher safe and available in classic black, the Julienne Peeler has a suggested retail price of $8.00. The julienne slicing of fruits and vegetables into fine, thin 1/8" x 1/8" strips suits the requirements for all creative cuisines.
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