Building A Cheese Platter On A Budget

Photo: teacuptea.com

Walmart has expert advice on how to build the perfect cheese platter just in time for the holidays. The retailer calls it a party platter, but I call it a cheese platter, since I think a great party platter consists of lots of cheese!

As it happens, I often begin a dinner party with a cheese platter since most eveyone loves cheese, and it's easy because no cooking is involved, lightening my load so I can enjoy my guests. Personally, I usually go with extra sharp cheddar, baby swiss and Brie, pairing them with saltine crackers, or slices of rye bread, or a bakery fresh baguette. What a delicious start! 

However, here is what the pros recommend:

Photo: NotesOnDesign.com

1) Choose 3 cheeses: One hard: such as sharp cheddar; one semi soft: like blue cheese, or Goulda; and one soft: like Brie, or goat.

Yikes, I dislike goat cheese, so not at my table, but many people love it. I like Havarti, a Danish semisoft cheese from cow's milk.

2) Next select 3 savory items to go on your platter: Nuts, olives, turkey or ham are examples.

3) Finally, choose 3 sweet food options: Fresh or died fruit works. Walmart suggests a pot of honey also, which I've never done.

Extra tips: Remember that cheese tastes best at room temperature, so set it out beforehand; and pick plain crackers that won't overpower the cheese. As mentioned, I like a combination of fresh bread and crisp crackers.

All excellent Walmart suggestions for hosting the ultimate "party" platter. (I have to remember not to serve chilled cheese.)  Another tip is to prop Post-it-notes on toothpicks with the names of the different cheeses. However, I think most people know the usual suspects of cheese so I'll skip the labels. I mean, I never take a bite of goat cheese by mistake. The thought alone makes me pucker.

Nonetheless, what an appetizing spread on a budget. Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! For a crowd, I like leaving the platter out for the duration of the party. 

Perfect nibbles before and after dinner washed down with some mightly fine wine!

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Homemade Antiseptic Cream

Photo: notrashproject.com

If I need to clean a cut or scrape, I usually saturate a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol, or tea tree oil and apply it directly to the wound. Than again, if it's just a small cut, I might simply wash the area with soap and water and leave it at that. All three solutions kill germs to keep the open skin from getting infected.

If I stay home I leave the wound uncovered, but if I'm out and about touching public doors and subway poles, I wear a Band-Aid. (BTW: I don't bother buying Band-Aids decorated with cartoon characters for children. I mean, if you don't start, nobody will expect it. I buy a box of 100 flexible fabric Band-Aids and a box of 100 flexible non-fabric bandages that can get wet. All sizes, everybody is covered. No reason to run back to the store anytime soon.)

It's been a while since I've nursed a boo boo worth mentioning for either myself, or a family member. If you have young children, treating mishaps is a way of life until they are grown. On such occasions, here's a fantastic homemade antiseptic cream. Relatively cheap to make, it has a shelf life of up to 5 years. Here's what goes into it:

Homemade Antiseptic Cream 

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons beeswax, grated

1 cup of coconut oil (or olive oil)
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil
Add drops of your favorite essential oils -- I like ...
20 drops of tea tree oil
15 drops of lavender oil (or Camimille oil)

10 drops of lemon oil (or 1 tablespoon of witch hazel can be substituted.)

Directions:

1. Drop the grated beeswax and coconut (or olive) oil into a sauce pan and melt over a very low heat. Stir together.

2. Remove from the heat. Add the vitamin E, tea tree oil, lavender oil and lemon oil. Mix well.

3. Pour into a small sterilized jar with a secure lid.

4. Keep in a dark, cool place.

Coconut oil makes a lovely base with a creamy consistency, but olive oil works too.

The essential oils in the cream kill germs and help heal wounds. All essential oils are anti-bacterial and anti-fugal, so you can usually substitute your favorite scent. Reportedly, lavender essential oil has the benefit of dulling pain. Vitamin E oil gives a cream its self-life and is thought to prevent scaring. Witch hazel soothes the skin.

Nature's medicine. Treat abrasions as needed. And of course, serious cuts, burns and animal bites should be examined by a doctor.

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Carine Roitfeld For Uniqlo

The Women Carine Silk Stole available at Uniqlo is a fabulous accessory for the changing weather. Normally, $29, I bought the black with white polka dots color on promotion for $19, which is a steal for premium natural silk. A super cute and classic design. 

But note: Unqlo's description is a little misleading as the square of silk is a scarf, not a stole. So it's smaller than a stole. Still the scarf is a good deal for a quality product, and if you know it's a scarf before ordering, you won't be disappointed upon unfolding it.

Designed by Carine Roitfeld (Paris' fashion icon), the scarf feels smooth, sleek and substantial. Not only can you tie it around your neck, it is big enough to fold in half to cover your head to protect yourself on a nippy, breezy evening. You will look Audrey Hepburn esque!

Wearing a silk scarf is ideal during the spring and fall seasons before it's cold enough to pull out wool hats and scarves. Sometimes you need something to keep warm, but would be too warm in a winter scarf. Silk is just right. Somehow, it's both warm and light.

If you want to treat yourself to something stylish and practical, le voilà!

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Thoughts Before Thanksgiving

Photo: A. Hickman Design Interior

Especially this year, I'm thankful to live in a peaceful country that values freedom and human life over ideology. I don't understand the type of hate and fanaticism our world must worry about now. I am truly shocked by what a group of indoctrinated thugs are doing to even their own people, their neighbors: raping and enslaving innocent girls, beheading young men who shave their beards, or refuse to join them in their brutality and destroying their own civilization.

I am aware, but I do not live in fear, and I am thankful to not have to live in fear. We should strive for the same tolerance, freedom and security for all people of all nationalities, of all religions all over the world.

I sympathize with the people of Paris ... mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who won't be coming home. Long live France!

stayathomedaughter.com

Restoring peace will be a long and complicated process. I am grateful to have leaders who are much smarter then I am to tackle the job.

President Obama is criticized for his calm demeanor, but I am thankful for his intelligent, measured approach. He does not get the credit he deserves for his leadership. And the affordable health care act, which Obama spearheaded is working, domestically, according to published reports. It's a start in the right direction.

easythanksgivingrecipes.org

This year I am thankful for good doctors. Since being hit by a speeding bicyclist in Central Park, I've visited a team of specialists like no other year before. I'm grateful for the excellent care I've received.

As always I'm forever thankful for family and friends.

And I'm grateful for YOU, awesome readers and fellow bloggers. Thanks for stopping by ... this year in greater numbers! Let me know if there are any subjects you wish to know more about.

nausetfarms.com

Let's count our many blessings! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Introducing The Hair Bungee

surgebeauty.com

Unlike ordinary hair elastics that are shaped like a ring, a hair bungee is a single piece of silicone with hooks on both ends. Hook one end of the cord into your hair, wrap around the ponytail as snug as you like, then fasten with the other hook.

This new hair tie, designed by a hairstylist in Australia to meet the professional demands of high fashion, has taken runway shows around the world by storm. 

A hair bungee is perfect for creating smooth ponytails, polished up-dos and "controlling thick, curly or unruly hair,'' says the manufacturer. The cord is easy to put in and remove. With tension, the silicone material locks the hair in place. The tie will not slip out, and it will not pull or tug the hair.

The first hair bungees were made in three colors for blond, brown and black hair. Now they also come in bright rainbow colors.

A ponytail that stays pulled up all day, plus wrapping and unwrapping hair without damaging it is fantastic. Let the hair bungee hook you!

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Oatmeal Muffins For Breakfast

Photo: Popsugar Australia

Recently, as I pulled a box of Krasdale oats out of my cupboard, a recipe for oatmeal muffins on its label caught my eye. Hmm ... easy and whole grainy, so I made a batch for breakfast. I like to reduce the fat and sugar if I can get away with it without sacrificing texture and favor. Still they are sweet enough.

Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups Old Fashion Oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour 
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar (white or brown)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda

Photo: damndelicious.net

1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup chopped nuts (whatever you have.)
3 tablespoons olive oil

Optional: 1/3 cup of raisins and/ or a handful of coconut flakes; a tablespoon of flax seeds. At another time, you can add 1/3 cup of chocolate chips, if you like.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with 12 paper cup cake holders. (I have a muffin pan that makes big muffins, so I get 6 big muffins.)

2. In a mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, sugar, baking soda/baking powder, salt, cinnamon and olive oil.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together the egg and buttermilk.

4. Add the dry to the wet ingredients and stir just until moistened. Don't over mix.

5. Fold in the chopped nuts and optional ingredient (chocolate chips or raisins or coconut flakes).

6. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.

7. I like to sprinkle an extra teaspoon of oats on each muffin top. Looks so wholesome!

8. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Extra tips: You can substitute regular milk for buttermilk, but then use 3 teaspoons baking powder. Baking soda only works as a leavening agent when used with buttermilk, chocolate, vinegar or lemon juice.

Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to one cup of regular milk and let it sit for 20 minutes to curdle, if you perfer buttermilk, but are out of it.

Oatmeal muffins will satisfy your pastry craving along with offering some health benefits. Serve with coffee, or tea and milk. A smear of peanut butter on your muffin is tasty too. Enjoy!


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The Sneaker Flat

Tory Burch Miles Metallic Perforated Sneaker

When I was a child my mom never wore sneakers. Like Mad Men's Betty Draper, she changed from house slippers into a little heel to begin her day. If she attended a fancy shindig, she slipped from one-inch heels into 2 1/2 inch heels.

Thank goodness those days are gone! We are more casual today, dressing for comfort. However, less formal doesn't have to mean less fashionable.

If you jog or play sports you'll still want to wear Nike's or Adias, especially made for the sport to prevent injuries, but for walking on pavement and running around town, there are a slew of posh sneaker flats on the market. 

They come in a variety of styles, colors and price points. Many are designed to cushion heels and provide arch support minus the chunky appearance of a traditional sneaker.

Recently I noticed that my mom had discovered the sneaker flat! Nonetheless, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Even without a heel, mom always looks polished. These days, there is never a reason to schlep around in ugly footwear ... or a high heel. Nonetheless, she still wears the smaller heel!

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Laundry Stain Removers

Photo: Andy Crawford/Getty Images

Truthfully, I don't want to purchase a zillion different products to do the laundry. Doing laundry should be simple not complicated. I stock an all purpose laundry detergent, bleach (for whites, though I use it sparsely) and Woolite (for hand washing delicates). Sometimes I also add a cup of white vinegar along with laundry detergent to the wash. I buy everything in big sizes, so I don't have to return to the store too soon to restock.

Furthermore, you can save time and money by making some of your own spot removers, as well as, fabric softener.

Quick Spot Remover: If you act fast, you can get most stains out of a shirt, like a spot of tomato sauce or cranberry juice with a dab of dish washing soap and water; or a splash of seltzer water. Get up from the table immediately and run to a sink before the stain has a chance to dry.

If you need to soak a garment overnight to remove a tough stain, such as wine, blood or grass that has already set in, I like this DIY solution --

Heavy duty stain remover:

Photo: PopSugar

Ingredients: 

1/4 cup of baking soda
1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup of hot water
(I sometimes add a bit of liquid soap to the mix for good measure.)

Directions:

1) Mix together; 2) rub into the stain; 3) let set overnight; 4) laundry the next day.

Extra tip: Blood is a protein stain, so if you have meat tenderizer in your spice rack, sprinkle it on the stain to help remove it. Always use cold, not hot water on blood stains.

After reading that clothes get cleaner without fabric softener, I stopped using it. Reportedly, fabric softer builds up on clothing, then later dirt clings to it. However, for die hard fabric softener users, there's no need to buy it. Your hair conditioner does the job. Add 2-3 capfuls of any brand of hair conditioner to the raise cycle; or to a sock and throw into the dryer, as you would softener dryer sheets. 

Alternatively, regular or wool dryer balls will prevent static cling, as will a safety pin pinned to a sock or wash cloth. (BTW, synthetic fibers (polyester, rayon, acrylic) produce static cling, not natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool); therefore a fabric softener does nothing for a load of cottons.)

Here are several more household cleaners you can make yourself cheaply with greener ingredients you probably already have at home. Keep the process and products simple, so you're not always running to the store!

Photo: Cleanipedia.com

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The Pendleton Collection

Yikes, Christmas and Hanukkah are only seven weeks away! I don't know about you, but I'd rather get one quality gift, than lots of lesser or impractical ones. So in the coming weeks, I'll try to feature a few retailers to consider.

Pendleton, the celebrated Oregon weaver of fine wool blankets and classic American clothing, is offering some lovely gifts for him, her and the entire family. Operating since 1863, the textile manufacturer is known for its stellar craftsmanship and attention to details -- finishing "every blanket by hand, cutting them to size, sewing edges and carefully inspecting each one," says the website.

The apparel and home collection are not cheap, but affordable. The polar opposite of trendy, they are investment pieces. Whether a Beaumont shirt, signature coat, or eco-wise wool blanket, the goods will hold up to last a lifetime.

The selection of possible holiday gifts is immense -- everything from Pueblo Crossroads jewelry, brass-studded-wingtip-boots and frontier shirts to a Chevron mirror, patterned-handcrafted-rugs and virgin-wool-sofas-with pewter-nailhead-trims-and hardwood-legs.

There are even blanket inspired coats to keep Fido warm and happy, either at home or while traveling.

Cute stuff! If you can't afford the full price of a wool blanket or parka, a $20, etc. gift certificate is very thoughtful. Gifts of merit for all your family, friends or pets.

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10 Tastes Of Autumn

Photo by Bernadette Durham in The New York Times

Continuing on the subject of Autumn: Wow ... isn't the above photo, which recently appeared in the New York Times gorgeous? According to the paper, it was taken in Bedford, New York by Bernadette Durham. It makes me want to take a walk in the park.

Once Autumn arrives I can't get enough of certain foods. They scream HARVEST TIME ... THE FALL SEASON is upon us. Get your appetites ready for:

1) apples - My favorite apple variety is probably the tangy McIntosh. I also love a sour Granny Smith, or Empire, or Cortland ... there's no good reason not to mix it up!

2) butternut squash - So simple to cook too: Slit a few holes in the squash with a knife, then microwave until tender - about 8-10 minutes.

3) sweet potatoes - Either oven bake wrapped in foil (about 30 minutes at 350 degrees F), or microwave, rolled in a paper towel (about 8 minutes) until tender. At one time, I thought oven baked potatoes ruled, but I've gotten used to microwaved "baked" potatoes too.

4) pears - Softer than a crisp apple, but plump, sweet, juicy and scrumptious!

5) popcorn - A bowl of popcorn is so munchable!

6) peanut butter cookies - 3 ingredients: Mix 2 cups peanut butter; 2 eggs; 1 cup sugar in a bowl. Form the cookies, score the tops with a fork; bake on an oiled cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes. Easy!

7) cabbage - savory, boiled and eaten with white potatoes; or made into kimchi, the spicy, pickled, national dish of Korea; or prepared as cabbage-tofu soup. Voilà! One head of cabbage, 3 ways to eat it.

8) soups: pea, bean, lentil, egg thread, vegetable beef or miso. Soups are warm and soothing after strong winds blow you to pieces.

9) cornbread - Several years ago, I bought a 10 inch cast iron skillet just to make pans of cornbread, but the skillet is versatile for most baking and stove top cooking. Meatloaf bakes golden brown in a cast iron skillet. Mmm, follow up with gravy.

10) real apple cider -- As an adult, I discovered alcoholic apple cider in a neighborhood British pub. Up until then, I only drank an apple-juice-like-apple-cider. I didn't know what I was missing. Real apple cider is very refreshing! 

Ten tastes that ... well, um ... taste amazing at this time of year! Simple, inexpensive and healthy too. What would you add to this list?

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