Travel To Italy In October

The Coliseum in Rome, Italy

October is an excellent time to travel to Italy. The summer crowds have faded and the winter temperatures, especially in the Alps, have not yet kicked into freezing mode. And, with increased airline competition and Internet travel information, planning a trip to Italy is easier than ever.

Instructions

Trip Preparations

1. Apply for a passport early.

Apply for a passport if you haven't got one already. If you are planning on traveling to Italy in October, you should submit a passport application no later than early August to ensure it arrives on time without having to pay fees to expedite it. If you are traveling to Italy from outside the European Union, you will need a passport.

2. Buy a guidebook on Italy. Although there is lots of travel information on the Internet, a good guidebook is still a must for travel. There is still nothing like flipping through pages of information on activities and attractions and reviewing maps on the spot for reference. Lonely Planet Italy is recommended for budget and off-the-beaten-path travel. Frommer's Italy is a great choice if you want a more by-the-book type trip with slightly more information on the mid-range to upscale hotels and restaurants.

3. Create a budget. Decide how many nights you can spend in Italy and how much you can money you can afford to spend. As of 2010, you can expect to spend about $110 per day in Italy (based on double occupancy in a budget pensione and meals in cafes or take-away counters), according to Lonely Planet.

Planning a Trip to Italy

4. Venice, Italy

Make a list of attractions you would like to see and any special activities you would like to do. Decide which are must-dos and determine which areas you need to visit in order to see them. Italy is packed with attractions for history buffs like Rome and Pompeii, and amazing architecture and sculpture for the art fans in places like Florence. Venice is an attraction in its own right with its canal streets. Tuscany is famous for its vineyards and don't forget the dramatic scenery along the Amalfi Coast in the South.

5. Pick a couple of places to base yourself and then plan day trips to nearby attractions. For example, if you would like to visit the Tuscany region, Shakespeare's Verona and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can visit all of them as day trips from Florence. The Alps are within easy reach of Venice. Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast could probably be made as a long day trip from Rome.

6. Check local tourism websites for festival calendars. Although there are no major holidays in Italy in October; it is grape harvesting season in a typical year. This means lots of wine and harvest festivals. Individual towns or regions may also celebrate a saint day or local holiday making for colorful festivities, but increased room rates. Here is a list of a few happenings in October, but visit regional tourism websites for more information.

Tuscany has many food and wine festivals in October.

http://www.festivals-of-tuscany.com/

Il Pigio is a wine stomping competition held in the Chianti region.

http://www.pigio.net/

Truffle World Market - There are many truffle fairs in Italy in October. This is one of the biggest ones.

http://www.fieradeltartufo.org/en/

If you're a chocolate lover, check out Eurochocolate in Perugia

http://www.eurochocolate.com/en/home.html

La Sagra del Tordo is a re-enactment of a medieval competition between the village neighborhoods of Montalcino that includes pageants, parades and an archery tournament.

http://www.montalcino-tuscany.it/sagra_del_tordo.htm

The Rome Film Festival attracts big name stars.

http://www.romacinemafest.org/romacinemafest/

Barcolana Regatta - Mediterranean boat races along with music, food and wine.

http://www.barcolana.it/

7. Purchase airline tickets. The Internet is a great place to search for deals on air travel. Search Internet travel sites as well as individual airline sites. Use the flexible date option to find the best rates. Rome is the obvious choice for arrival in Italy. However, in recent years Milan has been a center for cheap airfares. Alitalia is the national carrier and has departure points around the world.

8. Make reservations for hotels in the areas you have chosen. Try Internet travel search sites but extend your research beyond that. Use the hotel names you find on search sites and find their individual websites to look for specials. You may also want to email the hotel and ask for special rates for longer stays, paying with cash or off-season travel.

Italy is known for their budget pensiones. Some charge extra for things like showers and breakfast, so be sure to get a detailed list of charges before agreeing to stay. Many hostels also offer double rooms or family rooms. For a complete list of hostels in Italy visit hostelworld.com/countries/italyhostels.html.

If you are a wine aficionado, or just looking for a unique experience, think about helping with the grape harvest. Small farms and vineyards exchange labor for room and board. Try the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms at wwoof.it/ or join a tour.

9. Purchase rail passes or make car reservations. To take advantage of Eurail passes, you must buy them before you leave home. Eurail's Flexi-pass allows you to travel a certain amount of days within a given period of time, so that you can stop an enjoy an area without wasting travel days on your ticket.

10. Don't forget the fun research. Check out movies filmed in Italy from the library. Make homemade pizza together and have an Italian night.

Packing for Italy in October

11. Check airline restrictions for checked luggage before you pack.

Pack in layers. Italy spans over 10 degrees of latitude, so predicting weather, especially during a change of seasons like October, can be difficult. Dressing in layers will help keep you prepared for any sort of weather. If you are visiting the Alps you will need a warm jacket and don't forget your bathing suit for the southern beaches.

Average Low and High Temperatures in Italy in October according to weather.com:

Rome: 50/75F

Venice: 48/64F

Florence: 50/70F

Milan: 47/64F

Naples: 52/71F

Palermo: 64/73F

Trento (Italian Alps): 41/65

12. Pack good walking shoes. Whether you are planning a fast and furious tour of Rome or leisurely strolling through the villages and vineyards of Tuscany, comfortable shoes are key to happy travelers.

13. Check with your airline on luggage restrictions. Most airlines have regulations about the size and weight of your checked luggage. To avoid airport delays and overage charges, check your airline's website for individual rules. Weigh and measure your bags at home to be sure they are within any size or weight limits.

14. Change money and get travelers checks. Bring a few traveler's checks. Although traveler's checks are not the key currency they once were--ATMs on the Star and Plus networks are all over Italy--it is still wise to carry a few hundred dollars worth. Bring some cash in dollars and change some into Euros before you leave. There are plenty of places to change money at the airport; however they charge a hefty commission. Credit cards are widely accepted, although Italians tend to use cash for most transactions, according to recent statistics released by Banca d'Italia.

Tags: Italy October, Internet travel, would like, Although there, Amalfi Coast, Apply passport

Hotels & Ski Resorts In Quebec

Check out the historic architecture in Quebec City, Quebec.

The eastern Canadian province of Quebec is a popular spot for tourism during all seasons of the year. For winter activities, Quebec features ski resorts in the Monteregian Hills in the southern area of the province and the Laurentian Mountains in the northeastern Quebec. Tourists can also find hotels in Quebec City and Montreal during the "Fall Foilage" in September and October. Summer recreation spots in Quebec include hiking in Jacques Cartier National Park.

Loews Hotel Le Concorde Quebec

Situated in Quebec City, the luxurious Loews Hotel provides amenities, such as valet parking and the concierge desk speaks English and French, which is helpful since many of the shops and restaurants in this city only speak French. The hotel's spa offers massage therapies and a fitness center. The hotel is only a five-minute taxi ride from the Old Quebec and Lower Town districts, which features architecture and roads from the 17th century, including the Notre Dame des Victoires cathedral. Walking and bicycling activities can be had at the Parc des Champs-de-Bataille along the St. Lawrence River. This park is also a nice spot to view the fall foliage.

Loews Hotel Le Concorde Quebec

1225 cours du General-De Montcalm

Quebec City, QC G1R 4W6

Canada

418-647-2222

loewshotels.com

Ski Bromont

The Ski Bromont Resort is in southern Quebec's Monteregian Hills, and it is offers 400 skiable acres on a 1,593-foot summit. Skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of the resorts 135 slopes and seven lifts that offer transportation up the mountain. The ski season runs from November through April, depending on the amount of snowfall. As of 2010, night skiing is allowed at the resort since the resort's slopes are open until 10 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays, the slopes are open until 10:45 p.m. Ski Bromont provides ski lessons from the resort's staff, and equipment rentals are available at the resort. Childcare and kids programs are also available.

Ski Bromont

150 Champlain

Bromont, QC J2L 1A2

Canada

450-534-2200

skibromont.com

Place d'Armes Hotel and Suites

The boutique Place d'Armes Hotel, located in downtown Montreal, features contemporary interior d cor in a 19th century building, and it provides amenities, such as massage therapies and body treatments at the on-site spa, Rainspa, concierge desk, valet parking and a fine dining restaurant, Aux Cuisine du Terroir, that serves local cuisine items, such duck confit and salmon steak, for lunch. The hotel is only a short walk from Montreal's downtown museums, including the Montreal Museum of History and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Families who stay at Place d'Armes are only a few minutes walking distance from the ferry ride to St. Helen's Island, which features the roller coaster rides at La Ronde amusement park.

Place d'Armes Hotel and Suites

55 Rue Saint Jacques

Montreal, QC H2Y 3X2

Canada

514-842-1887

hotelplacedarmes.com

Le Valinouet

The Le Valinouet ski area is in the Laurentian Mountains of northeastern Quebec's Saguenay-Lac-Saint Jean region, approximately an hour north of Quebec City. The ski resort is a bit smaller than other Quebec ski resorts with only 27 skiing and snowboarding slopes and four transportation lifts. The resort offers ski lessons to adults and children at its L'Ecole de Glisse ski school, and the resort has three "bunny slopes" for beginners. Cross-country and snowshoeing trails are also available. Shopping and dining establishments are provided in the resort's village, which is at the base of the mountain. The village also provides lodging accommodations with over 400 cabins with kitchens and living room areas.

Le Valinouet Ski Area

200 Route de Valinouet

Saint-David-de-Falardeau, QC G0V 1C0

Canada

866-260-8254

valinouet.qc.ca

Tags: Quebec City, Place Armes, Armes Hotel, Loews Hotel, Place Armes Hotel

Be A Housewife

Housewife, Homemaker or Domestic Engineer, YOU can be a Household DIVA!

The Oxford Dictionary of Current English defines housewife as "a woman whose main occupation is caring for her family and running the household."

In today's modern society, there are fewer domestic engineers than there were one or two generations ago. Even so, more individuals (men can do this too,) are eschewing the 9-5 job and returning to this noble profession.

Now, how one organizes and delegates the list of household duties is subject to each couple's understanding, their income level, the working spouses job demands, and the respective talents of each spouse.

Below is an overview of the general duties that a full time domestic engineer with children might face. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Lets start with food! Everyone has to eat and feeding the family is one of the main duties of the homemaker.

The first call to order is to plan the family meals for the week; that is breakfast, lunch and dinner, including snacks, and desserts.

When developing your menu, pay attention to nutrition, your family likes and dislikes, and what fresh foods are in season. Plan, too, for

"leftover" nights. They stretch the budget and save energy. Especially yours.

If you get stuck on what to plan for each day, pull out your favorite cookbook and work from it.

For variety and fun, you could have different ethnic food weeks where all the recipes you prepare are either Italian, Mexican, Greek...or whatever! Use your imagination!

Don't forget to plan on a meal out once in a while too!

2. Once you have your menu in hand, you can now do the grocery shopping. For while you are planning your menu, you are also noting the items you need to prepare all your meals.

This is also a good time to go through your food staples, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene products to see if you need to restock while you're at the store.

Be a coupon clipper and keep a file your coupons handy while you're making your shopping list.

3. Here's where you get to prepare those scrumptious, nutritious meals for your family!

Think you can't cook? Experiment with easy recipes. Enroll in a cooking class at your local community college or parks department.

Think about this too, food is central to all cultures and family life. As a homemaker you are not only taking care of your family, you are also creating traditions. Enter into this endeavor of feeding your family with the intention of not only providing nutrition for their bodies, but for their heart and souls.

4. Social Director. Yep, you get to make all the dinner plans, family outings, and other fun stuff for your family to do.

Get ideas from the weekend section of your local newspaper. Look for a local family fun book at your bookstore or library. Get online; see what's in your neighborhood that's not only fun but educational too!

5. Appointment scheduler! Doctor's appointments, (if you have kids, you'll be chauffeuring them back and forth too.)Appointments with contractors, school events, you name it, you'll be keeping track of all these details.

Be sure to have either a portable calendar, or a wall calendar on which you can write them down .

6. Small repairs around the house. Things happen, sinks and toilets clog, windows break. It's good to be somewhat handy with simple repairs. Get yourself a home repair and improvement book.

Even if you've never twisted a screwdriver before, you'll save the household budget money and yourself time, if you can learn take care of the easy stuff.

7. Mending. Basic sewing skills are a great thing to have, even if you're just sewing on a button! And with kids, there's always a button that goes missing, a tear in a favorite shirt; you can't go wrong if you know fix them. You're also their hero when you do.

Can't sew? Find those classes again!

8. Decorating the home. This is one of the more fun jobs of being a homemaker in my opinion. You get to paint, shop for furniture, make your house a home!

Basic sewing machine skills are handy for sewing up curtains in a jiffy which can save you a ton of money when you're decorating a room.

Feeling ambitious? Learn tile a counter or bathroom floor.

Remember that home repair and improvement book you bought earlier? It'll have instructions on attempt those more challenging projects.

9. Cleaning house. Not necessarily the most glamorous task for the homemaker, but definitely a requirement.

It works best to set up a schedule of chores. Monday is vacuuming day, Tuesday, you do the laundry, Wednesday is clean the bathroom, etc. By setting the chores to a rhythm and habit, they get done quickly and efficiently, so you have more time to do the things you like best.

Do make a point of cleaning with non-toxic cleaners. Toxic residues, and fumes do you and your family no good. White vinegar is an excellent all-purpose cleaner that is inexpensive and gets the job done.

10. Keeper of the household budget. This is where your bookkeeping skills come into play. You'll need to make a budget then spend accordingly. It is an art unto itself and if you're a thrifty minded person, you'll welcome the challenge.

Money saving tips:

energy - run your dishwasher, and washing machine on the shorter cycles if your wash loads are not heavily soiled. Use cold water in the washing machine too if the clothes are lightly soiled.

Clip those coupons for the grocery store.

Keep an eye on the Sunday ads for sales on just about anything you need, then cross check prices on the internet.

Buy second hand when possible.

Use your imagination. There are lots of ways to keep costs down without doing without.

11. The list of household duties can be long when you start to add clothes shopping for the family, keeping the garden and yard under control etc.

But one thing to keep in mind, is to schedule time for yourself. It's too easy to squirrel yourself away in your home, never having any social contact. When you have kids, it's easier to network socially with other parents. This is also a good thing to do because you can have backup when things go wrong and you need someone to pick up your child from school.

If you don't have children, then think about an interest you have and join a club. Take time to develop friendships so you have access to the outside world.

Homemaking is a fulfilling and worthwhile endeavor, with many an opportunity to stretch your knowledge on a variety of subjects. A can-do attitude will serve you well when you're entering unknown territory. Don't let it scare you. You'll do great.

Good luck!

Tags: your family, your menu, also good, Basic sewing, have kids

Types Of Gmos

Sheep and other animals have been genetically modified to produce human proteins.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are already a part of our lives. According to environmental website Goodplanet.info, 125 million hectares (309 million acres) were planted with genetically modified plants in 2007. Concerns about their impact on health and the environment are countered with claims of advantages such as increased production, less chemical pesticides and increased nutritional value. As the concerns and controversies continue, so does the production of GMO plants, animals, microbes and yeasts.

Plant GMOs

Plants are the most common GMO type in use today, and their modifications have been for a variety of purposes. GMO proponents claim that plants that have been modified to resist insect pests are good for the environment because they require fewer pesticides. Some plants have been modified to resist diseases that can seriously affect agricultural production, and GM farmers are quick to point out that this helps prevent food shortages and malnutrition in our over-populated world. The nutritional values of some crops have been enhanced by genetic modifications. Golden Rice, for instance, has been engineered to contain beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A.

Opposition groups such as the Institute of Science and Society (ISIS) and others concerned about the negative potential of GMO crops claim that the advantages they offer do not justify the risks inherent in their use. They point out the spread of genetically modified seeds and spores to conventional plants. They suggest that consumption of GMOs carry a risk to human health, but as yet, research has not proven any health risks.

Animal GMOs

Animal GMOs are less common, but they do exist. Mice are particularly prominent GMOs, and are used in many different areas of research. According to the Center for Genetics and Society, an actual industry has formed for the production of research mice that lack a particular set of genes. One company, Trans Genic Inc., stated in 2005 it could produce a thousand different strains of these so-called "knockout" mice in a year.

A number of animals, including cows, pigs, sheep and chickens, have been genetically modified to produce human proteins for medical purposes. In addition, fish modified to become glow-in-the-dark pets for aquariums reached the American market in 2004.

Microbial GMOs

In December, 2005, National Geographic published an article about bacteria that University of Texas students had genetically modified. E. coli bacteria were modified to react to light so as to produce a photograph. The experiment was devised for a genetic engineering contest sponsored by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and the result was intended to demonstrate the ability to genetically manipulate bacteria. Other microbial GMOs have been developed---aimed at everything from fighting dental cavities to preventing HIV.

Yeast GMOs

Wines made from yeast GMOs have been dubbed "Frankenwines."

Yeast is another type of commonly used GMO. For instance, despite objections from the Wine Institute---an advocacy group for California wineries---wine made from yeast with genes added from an African yeast and O. oeni bacteria went on the market in 2007. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast was modified at the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, to enhance the production of ethanol from biomass.

Tags: have been, genetically modified, Animal GMOs, been genetically, been genetically modified, been modified, been modified resist

About Basic Health Food

About Basic Health Food

When some people think of health food, they think "organic." Organic food is considered healthy food because it is grown without pesticides. Pesticides are carcinogenic (cancer causing), and it is for this reason that organic food products are increasing in popularity. Sometimes less is more, as is the case with organic foods (less pesticides, healthier food).

Natural Versus Processed

Foods in their natural state are healthier to eat than processed foods, because processed foods are usually refined and contain harmful chemicals added as preservatives and flavor enhancers.

Antioxidant Foods

Foods such as olive oil, green tea, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables and foods high in vitamin C have antioxidant powers.

Chlorophyll-Containing Foods

Foods high in chlorophyll content are green plant foods (parsley has an exceptionally high amount) that assist the body in dealing with infections, colds and the elimination of toxic chemicals. Chlorophyll-rich foods are a good source of vitamin K, and they help the body generate red blood cells and detoxify the liver.

Cost

Soy costs less than meat, and according to Linda Page (see References), soy is just as good a source of protein as meat, with the added benefit of amino acids, antioxidants and zero cholesterol. The cost of other basic health foods is a bit higher than conventionally grown foods.

Easier Calcium Absorption

Foods such as kale, soy, fish, nuts and seeds provide calcium that is easier for the body to absorb than foods in the dairy group due to the way dairy products are processed.

Frozen Vegetables

Frozen vegetables have been found to be more nutritious than fresh vegetables, as freezing preserves the nutritional content of vegetables, whereas storing vegetables in the refrigerator causes deterioration of nutrients over time.

Tags: About Basic, About Basic Health, Basic Health, Basic Health Food, Foods Foods, Foods such, good source

Start A Sandwich Shop

You are the sandwich king, at least that's the goal. What will you need to open the doors? Much depends on the extent of your menu and the anticipated number of customers expected each day. There are basic requirements for any store.

Instructions

Basics

1. Do some research. Look for a location for your store. Observe potential customers in those areas. Talk to local shop owners about their business. Talk to other sandwich shop and deli owners. Contact the Chamber of Commerce. Your research should help you understand where people--your potential customer base---are likely to go for lunch. Take note of all potential competitors near your sandwich shop location.

2. Contact the regulating authorities about permit and licensing requirements. Gather the applications required. Complete this step as soon as possible.

3. Write a business plan. Using the information gathered by your research, pay particular attention to the finance section. Understand how much money needs to be coming in and the cost of your operation. Don't be afraid to seek assistance.

4. Create your menu. It is part of the business plan. Decide on the type of sandwiches being served: i.e. hot or cold, side dishes, desserts, drinks, etc. Is your restaurant exclusively carry-out or dine-in? List all ingredients that will be required and decide what will be prepared on site and what will be contracted out (breads, for example).

5. Decide on the equipment and supplies you will need. This will be highly dependent on your menu and the nature and location of your store. Ideally, at this point you will have identified the shop location.

Equipment

6. Conduct a store walk-through. Observe the flow of customer traffic through the dining area, kitchen accessibility to all prep areas by the staff and storage available to vendors. Plan the store layout to make the most efficient use of that space. Be aware that power outlet locations and water supply may limit certain equipment placements.

7. Find equipment. Purchase only what you need to prepare the menu. At a minimum, you will need a commercial freezer, a commercial cooler, storage shelving, storage containers, preparation sink, a preparation table, refrigerated sandwich table, various serrated and chef knives, paring knives, serving and preparation utensils, various mixing bowls, measuring cups, measuring spoons, a kitchen scale, can opener, knife sharpener and cutting boards--marked or color coded to avoid cross-contamination. Have a thermometer for each cooler to strictly monitor temperature requirements.

8. For the order counter and customer service area, you will need to purchase paper wrap for take out, serving trays, a coffee maker, a refrigerator for drinks, soda pop machine, cups--hot and cold, straws, coffee stir sticks, utensils---plastic service, napkins, a cash register, plastic or paper sales bags, bottles for condiments or baskets for condiment packets, trash bins and liners and paper or plastic bags for to-go purchases.

9. Select equipment for cleaning and health. Essentials include a triple wash sink, mop, floor bucket, broom, cleaning cloths, dish and pot scrubbers, dish towels, sanitary wipes, paper towels, first aid kit, hair nets, aprons, plastic serving gloves and cleaning supply storage away from the food.

10. Plan to buy some basic office supplies to handle administrative tasks. You should purchase a locking file cabinet, pens, note pad, telephone, a printing calculator and a clock.

Additional Equipment

11. Depending on your budget and the size of the operation, additional equipment may need to be considered in order for the shop to be efficient, such as a refrigerated prep table, under-counter refrigeration, food processor, blender, mixer, blade slicer, tomato slicer, lettuce shredders and an ice machine. Purchase only what is needed in order to assure a financial return on each piece purchased.

12. Should hot sandwiches be on the menu, you may need additional prep tables, a steamer table, hot-hold cabinet, a range top, a conventional oven, a convection oven, a tabletop griddle, a meat grill, a Panini grill, a conveyor toaster, hot pads and various pots fry pans, sauce pans and mixing utensils. Have thermometers available to strictly monitor heating temperature requirements.

13. Additional items to consider include establishing a merchant account, purchasing a credit card scanner and getting a computer exclusive for business use.

14. Formulate an advertising/marketing campaign. Arrange to purchase advertising time and other supplies (i.e. flyers, handbills, ads, etc.) within planned budgets.

15. Begin to train any staff, particularly as equipment is installed. Hire an accountant or learn to manage the books for the store.

Open the Doors

16. List all food supplies needed to complete the menu. Contact vendors who can provide those items and arrange for delivery. With fresh foods, you will likely have daily deliveries or shopping trips.

17.List all non-food supplies required. Contact vendors who can provide those items and arrange for delivery.

18. Review the business plan for errors and omissions. Double check that all permits and licenses are in order, arranging any final inspections. See that all insurance requirements are met. Have an attorney check all contracts.

19. Announce the opening of your sandwich shop through local media and other channels. Invite local celebrity such as the mayor and council members.

20. With final arrangements secured and deliveries made, open on the announced day, on time. Be sure to have sufficient cash on hand to make change for the customers.

Tags: will need, business plan, your menu, arrange delivery, Contact vendors, Contact vendors provide, items arrange

Become A Sushi Chef

A sushi chef is an expert in Japanese cuisine

When most people think of sushi, they picture raw fish prepared in Japanese restaurants and considered a delicacy by many. However, a sushi chef trains to prepare not only the fermented fish but other traditional Japanese cooking specialties as well. If your heart is set on becoming a sushi chef, some cuisine study is in order.

Instructions

1. Learn the culture and history behind today’s popular Japanese cooking. In Japan, sushi chefs train for years to learn the traditional discipline but in the United States, a prospective sushi chef can enroll in courses that last 3 to 6 months before working in a sushi restaurant.

2. Focus on using Japanese ingredients in cooking and sauce making. Different kinds of fish are prepared fermented, along with clams, crab and sea urchins and a sushi chef must be knowledgeable in the preparation of all of them. In addition, you will master the use of pickled ginger, sesame, lotus roots and other ingredients used in Japanese cooking.

3. Prepare Japanese side dishes to accompany the many varieties of fermented fish. A sushi chef traditionally prepares rice, noodles and soba and he will recommend which side dish goes well with a specific entrée.

4. Know your Japanese mushroom preparation. Next in importance to the preparation of the fish, is the making of mushroom dishes, which are viewed as sacred in some traditional Japanese cooking schools.

5. Hone your flash cooking skills if you want to compete for a job in a high-end sushi restaurant. Often, sushi chefs prepare the guest’s food at the table and will chop, flash fry and serve the guests right from a table-side grill. Many sushi chefs learn to chop, dice and flip food accurately onto the guest’s plate.

6. Find a good sushi school where you can study the art of Japanese cooking in order to become a sushi chef (see Resources).

Tags: Japanese cooking, sushi chef, sushi chefs, fermented fish, fish prepared, sushi chef, sushi restaurant

Run Your Own Homemade Soup Business

Soup is appealing to a wide market.

Homemade soup is something everyone loves. And takeout-food businesses that specialize in soup seem to be popping up everywhere. If you're a business-minded person who excels at making soups, this might be the niche for you. Experiment with your own recipes and turn out soups that are tasty and health-conscious. Ask friends to contribute their own recipes. Once you have found a location, start small, watch your business grow, and eventually you'll be hiring people to work for you.

Instructions

1. Decide if you will make soup in your own kitchen or lease space. Check with your health department to see if your cooking space will need inspection. Also check into zoning restrictions. Buy a commercial stove or purchase several crockpots. You will also need a large refrigerator to hold fresh ingredients and prepared soup in containers. Lay out your kitchen area to make preparation easier.

2. Develop your recipes, paying special attention to the herbs and other flavorings.

Create one or a few stocks to use for several kinds of soups. For example, create a chicken stock for Italian soup, lentil soup and potato soup. Create a tomato base for vegetable soup, creamy tomato soup and chili. Figure out how much stock you will need for 50 small cups or 25 bowls. Gauge this by experimenting and taking notes so you won't waste a lot of soup stock.

3. Visit farmers markets, health food stores and supermarkets to figure out where to buy your ingredients. Buy vegetables when they're in season and offer soups that showcase fresh produce. If you live in a northern climate, buy produce when it's in season, freeze it and use that for soups when it's cold.

4. Print price lists and serve lunch customers close to your kitchen. Sell to beauty shops, business offices and teachers at nearby schools. Saturate your own neighborhood before branching out. Build repeat business.

Do a cost sheet to figure out your exact overhead. Determine the cost of each serving and type of soup. When you can do this, you can manage profits more predictably as you grow.

5. Serve the soup in white plastic foam bowls or cups with tight lids. Make it easy for customers to reheat the soup in a workplace microwave or later at home. Package the soup in attractive bags with a napkin and spoon. How you present the product will affect how people feel about ordering from your business. Give excellent service each day and never get sloppy. A crisp bag and service with a smile goes a long way in any takeout business.

Tags: your kitchen, soups that, will need, with your, your business, your recipes

Fragrancefree Hotels In Portland Ore

Portland is on the forefront of green living, but in this day and age it is important to know the aroma in your room in the City of Roses is natural. While there are a number of hotels that have achieved silver certifications from Green Seal, an environmental standards organization, for energy efficiency, recycling, composting and purchasing locally, only a handful of hotels offer fragrance-free rooms.

Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel

Located on the riverfront near Portland State University and several top attractions in the downtown area, the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel offers an indoor pool, whirlpool, on-site fitness center, nearby golf courses and relaxing spas. All the rooms in the hotel, which earned the Energy Star label and is Green Seal Silver Certified, are fragrance free.

Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel

1401 SW Naito Parkway

Portland, OR 97201

503-226-7600

marriott.com

Hotel Monaco Portland

Both luxurious and green, award-winning Hotel Monaco Portland is located in the heart of downtown Portland. The hotel shares its private art collection, featuring local Northwest artists, on each floor of the hotel and hosts a nightly wine hour. Hotel Monaco Portland is a recipient of the City of Portland's BlueWorks Award for recycling and sustainability, and is Green Seal Silver Certified. All rooms at Hotel Monaco are fragrance free.

Hotel Monaco Portland

506 SW Washington St.

Portland, OR 97204

866-861-9514

503-222-0001

monaco-portland.com

Doubletree Hotel

Situated blocks away from the Oregon Convention Center, the Rose Garden Arena and Memorial Coliseum, The Doubletree Hotel Portland has a stop on the Max light rail line. The Doubletree was the first hotel in the state of Oregon to receive certification from Green Seal and is Energy Star Certified. Fragrance-free rooms are available on request.

Doubletree Hotel

1000 NE Multnomah St.

Portland, OR 97232

503-281-6111

doubletreegreen.com

Hotel Vintage Plaza

The Hotel Vintage Plaza, centrally located, was recently renovated and each of its rooms is dedicated to a local winery or vineyard. The boutique hotel offers a hosted wine hour every evening and in-room spa services. The Green Seal-certified Hotel Vintage Plaza offers fragrance-free rooms on request.

Hotel Vintage Plaza

422 S.W. Broadway

Portland, OR 97205

503-228-1212

vintageplaza.com

Hilton Portland and Executive Tower

The downtown Hilton Portland and Executive Tower, which encompasses two buildings, 23 floors and 782 rooms, is the largest Green Seal-certified hotel in Portland. The hotel, located two blocks from Pioneer Courthouse Square, boasts an on-site pool and fitness center. Fragrance-free rooms are available upon request.

Hilton Portland and Executive Tower

921 SW Sixth Ave.

Portland, OR 97204

503-226-1611

hilton.com

The Heathman Hotel

The historic Heathman Hotel is located downtown in the heart of Portland's financial and cultural districts, adjacent to the Portland Center for the Performing Arts and the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The Green Seal-certified boutique hotel recently underwent a $4 million landfill-free "green" restoration. The hotel boasts the Heathman Restaurant and Bar, run by Culinary Director Philippe Boulot, a James Beard Award for Excellence winner. The Hotel's 150 guestrooms or suites are available fragrance free when requested.

The Heathman Hotel

1001 SW Broadway at Salmon

Portland, OR 97205

503-241-4100

heathmanhotel.com

Tags: Hotel Monaco, Green Seal, Hotel Monaco Portland, Hotel Vintage, Hotel Vintage Plaza

Tools & Equipment Used In Baking

Brioche requires molds to achieve its classic form.

In the culinary arts, the discipline of baking relies on accuracy, timing and precision. Baking recipes are more than sets of instructions -- they denote complex chemical reactions that use time and temperature variables to create a compound product. The equipment used by bakers and pastry chefs reflects this; these professionals commonly use ovens with precise humidity control, scales accurate to within 1/100 of a gram and bakeware designed to make only specific, regional items. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Ovens

Professional kitchens and bakeries use combi-ovens or convection ovens. Combi-ovens have three operating modes: steam, convection and combination. Convection mode uses dry, fan-circulated air, which promotes faster and more-uniform baking than conventional ovens. Steam mode essentially turns the oven into a large steamer, which has few applications in baking. However, combination mode allows the baker to maintain an oven humidity between zero and 100 percent -- useful when baking items such as croissants. Also, the baker can inject a controlled portion of steam into the oven at any time using a keypad. The home baker can replicate this moist-heat environment, albeit less accurately, by placing a container of water in the oven with her baked goods and replenishing as necessary.

Mixers

Stationary mixers, also referred to as stand mixers, save time and labor for home and professional chefs alike. Stand mixers for home use typically have a four- to five-quart capacity, whereas commercial mixers have capacities of 80 quarts and above, depending on the type of food-service operation. The versatility of stand mixers lies in their wide array of attachments, which include wire whisks, dough arms and paddle-style beaters. Other attachments include meat grinders, pasta makers and juicers.

Bakeware

Form usually follows function with bakeware. Unlike savory cooking, where single pieces of cookware facilitate several preparations, numerous bakeware items have specialty applications, such as brioche pans for French brioche, Madeleine molds for the small, shell-shaped French cakes and Kugelhopf forms for German marble cakes. Standard bakeware items include muffin tins, sheet pans, spring-form pans, baking stones and cake pans.

Scales

Successful baking relies on accurate ingredient measurements. For instance, one gram of baking soda over what an American biscuit recipe prescribes will cause the biscuits to flake and fall apart, or expand to as much as three times their intended size. Traditional and purist bakers rely on triple-beam scales -- they provide accuracy and work on a strictly mechanical-basis. However, triple-beam scales tend to prove cumbersome and slow in professional kitchens, and bulky and obtrusive in home kitchens. An alternative to the triple-beam scale is the digital scale. Digital scales are usually smaller and less-intrusive than triple-beam scales. They also offer readouts in either metric or avoirdupois units, with accuracy to within 0.001 grams or ounces.

Tags: triple-beam scales, bakeware items, baking relies, stand mixers

Care For Newborn Chickens

Newborn chickens appreciate kindness and grow quickly in the first few weeks.

Newborn chickens are delicate and require special care in order to stay healthy and grow into productive, adult birds. Because the babies can live off the nutrients from the egg yolk sac for two or three days after birth, hatcheries can ship them all over the country. Preparations taken ahead of time will help to provide your chicks with the proper environment. Given the right shelter, food and nurturing, baby chickens stay quite content.

Instructions

1. Prepare a newborn chicken brooder that has a source of heat, water and food. The small birds cannot regulate their body temperature, so they must have a heat lamp for the first few weeks of life. A basic brooder consists of a hooded, infrared heat lamp that can suspend over a cardboard box, wooden box or a commercially made wire cage for baby chickens. Make sure the heat lamp hangs over the center of the brooder, and close enough to keep the temperature between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week. Raise the lamp each week to decrease the temperature by five degrees until the baby birds reach four weeks old. They won't need the lamp after four weeks, as long as temperatures remain 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide enough space for the chicks to huddle under the light without crowding and so they can move away from the heat if necessary.

2. Spread 1 to 2 inches of sawdust, wood chips, crushed corn cob or litter over the brooder floor. Cover the bedding with plain newspaper for the first few days to prevent the chicks from eating the bedding. Proper flooring keeps the bird's legs and feet healthy, and provides a dry area. Remove the newspaper after a few days to prevent wet bedding and bacteria.

3. Purchase starter feed for baby chickens at any feed store and feed it to them until they reach 6 to 8 weeks old. Feed and water must be placed in more than one place of the brooder, away from the heat, so all of the chickens can eat and drink at the same time. You can find non-tipping, water founts at the feed store, which also keep the water constant. Shipped baby chickens need water immediately after arrival, so you will need to gently dip their beaks in the water to encourage them to drink. Sprinkle some feed on the newspaper at first and observe the chicks to make sure they find it. Keep an eye on the babies until they adjust and know the food and water locations. The right temperature will cause the chicks to move about freely, rather than huddling under the lamp constantly or staying completely away from it.

Tags: baby chickens, away from, heat lamp, away from heat, days prevent

Restaurants Near Ridge Road In West Rochester New York

Ridge Road is a lively city street in West Rochester, New York. It is close to many of Rochester's tourist attractions which include museums, theaters, festivals, music performances and sports events. A number of different restaurants are on Ridge Road and on nearby streets. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Davinci Italian Restaurant

Davinici Italian Restaurant is on West Ridge Road and released a new menu in 2010 complete with a wine list. The menu includes appetizers such as shrimp cocktail, fried calamari, escarole with beans and sausages and garlic bread. Specific to the lunch menu you can find chicken parmigiana, veal parmigiana, hot eggplant sub, Cobb salad and many pasta choices. For dinner, you will find dishes such as clams casino, variants of the aglio olio pasta and house specialties such as baked lasagna, fettuccine alfredo and manicotti. This restaurant also offers rare wines such as Antinori Cervaro della Sala Chardonnay which is a white wine from Umbria, Italy and Ruffino Ducale Gold Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, a red wine from Tuscany, Italy.

Davinci Italian Restaurant

1558 West Ridge Road

Stone Ridge Plaza

Rochester, NY 14615

585-663-3360

davincisrestaurant.com

China Buffet

This China Buffet, located on West Ridge Road, has been in business for more than 20 years. It has won the 2004, 2005, 2006 Reader's Choice Award for the best buffet in Rochester. The lunch price for Monday through Friday is $7.59, for Saturday it is $8.59 and for Sunday it is $10.59 as of October 2010. Dinner prices are $10.59 for Monday through Thursday, $12.59 for Friday and Saturday and $10.59 for Sunday. Take-out prices are either $4.59 or $5.59 per pound, depending on whether it is for lunch or dinner and depending on the day of your order. When dining in, kids under the age of 10 will receive a discount .

China Buffet

3160 W Ridge Road # 6

Rochester, NY 14626

585-697-1788

chinabuffetrochester.com

Keenan's Restaurant

Keenan's Restaurant is on East Ridge Road and serves lunch and dinner dishes in a casual atmosphere. It is possible to rent out the restaurant for events such as banquets, wedding and anniversary celebrations and business conferences as long as the guest list does not exceed 100. Catering is also available for parties up to 300 people. The menu includes a variety of food, with the most popular dishes being greens and beans with sausage, Gracie's Drunken Chicken (a combination of chicken and sausage in a white wine sauce with vegetables served over pasta), blackened portabello steak au poive, and seafood bisque, which is a soup including shrimp, scallops and surimi crab.

Keenan's Restaurant

1010 East Ridge Road

Rochester, NY 14621

585-266-2691

keenansrestaurant.com

Tags: Ridge Road, China Buffet, Italian Restaurant, Keenan Restaurant, West Ridge

Making New Colors With Food Coloring

Mixing food coloring gives you more colors.

Mixing food coloring creates new colors to expand your color palette for food or craft projects. Making new colors with food coloring also provides a learning activity for kids. The Brigham Young University website shows how adding food coloring to vases of water for white flowers dyes the flowers. Food coloring kits usually come with red, yellow, green and blue. The University of Wisconsin Green Bay website features an artist's color wheel that displays the relationships between primary and secondary colors. Learning color relationships allows you to mix food coloring with confidence. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Combine an equal quantity of red and blue food coloring to make purple. Add more red to make magenta or scarlet and more blue to make a dark grape purple.

2. Mix yellow and red food coloring to make orange. For a dark, sunset or blood orange, add more red. For a lighter, pumpkin orange, use more yellow.

3. Add blue food coloring to green food coloring a drop at a time to create a new blue-green or turquoise color.

4. Add yellow food coloring a drop at a time to green food coloring to make spring green and lime green colors.

5. Create dark gray or black, depending on your food coloring, by mixing equal parts of red and blue, and then adding green drop by drop to reach the desired color.

Tags: food coloring, food coloring, coloring make, food coloring make, blue food

Write A Business Plan For A Retail Store

Write a Business Plan for a Retail Store

You have decided to become an entrepreneur and start your own retail business. Before you open your doors, you will want to write up a business plan to help you define your objectives, set goals and see potential problems. You can then correct any problems before they occur. Basically, a business plan is a plan for success.

Instructions

Business Description

1. Describe the products, services, location and facilities. List the benefits to the customer. Discuss your business objectives.

2. Prepare your business analysis. Assemble an industry analysis and do a market analysis. Research the competition and evaluate their products. Consider the advantages and disadvantages you have over other retailers.

3. Create a product development plan. Discuss customer service, quality assurance and insurance. List the vendors, including electric, phone, water and shipping.

4. Create a management plan. Decide on your business structure and create the management team. Determine your staffing needs.

5. Write an executive summary. This is a miniature version of your business plan and where you describe the business and create your mission statement. Include market potential, management team and prepare an exit strategy.

Marketing Plan

6. Establish your sales objectives and develop a marketing strategy.

7. List your promotions, advertising and publicity strategies.

8. Determine the method of distribution for your retail business.

9. Decide on pricing, discounts and incentives. You might offer discounts to regular customers.

Financial Plan

10. Focus on a financial strategy. Basically figure out the funds available and the funds required for your retail business.

11. Assemble the financial documents. This includes a profit/loss statement, cash flow analysis, balance sheet, projected income statement and break even analysis.

12. List your financial resources. Determine any additional funding needs and how you will meet them.

13. Predict sales forecasts.

14. Prepare a list of inventory.

Tags: your business, retail business, your retail, your retail business, Business Plan, business plan, Business Plan Retail

Make A Passover Kugel

Kugel is often made with noodles, but Passover kugel is usually made with potatoes or fruit.

Every year in the spring, Jewish families around the world gather together to celebrate Passover---a festival commemorating the freeing of the Jews from their Egyptian captors. The central ritual of Passover is the Seder, a symbolic meal shared by families and their guests. Popular Seder foods include matzo ball soup, slow-roasted brisket, haroset, and both sweet and savory kugel. Since leavened products (like bread, cake, noodles, etc.) are prohibited during this holiday, Passover kugel is often made from potatoes, matzo or fruit. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Make a Classic Potato Kugel

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Pour the vegetable oil into the baking dish. Set the dish aside while you prepare the potatoes and onions.

3. Grate the potatoes with a grater or food processor (a food processor is recommended since it will cut down on your preparation time). Place them into a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Then, squeeze out as much liquid as you can from the potatoes with your hands. The drier the potatoes, the better. Place the potato shreds into a large mixing bowl.

4. Chop or grate the onion until it reaches a fine texture. Add the onion to the potatoes.

5. Add the lightly beaten eggs, salt, pepper and matzo meal into the bowl with the onion and potatoes. Mix all of the ingredients together.

6. Put the baking dish with vegetable oil into the oven. Let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes or until the oil becomes very hot.

7. Take the baking dish out of the oven. Carefully, swirl the oil inside of the dish to make sure it coats all of the sides. Then add the potato mixture into the dish with a large spoon. Watch out for the splattering oil.

8. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the top of the kugel is brown and crispy.

Make an Apple Cinnamon Kugel

9. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the baking dish well with butter, margarine or cooking spray.

10. Prepare the apples. Peel the apples and then remove their cores. Chop the apples into small, thin pieces. Alternately, you may grate the apples with a grater or food processor. Set the apples aside.

11. Put the crumbled matzo crackers into a large mixing bowl. Add water to cover the crackers and let the mixture sit for two minutes. After two minutes have passed, drain off any excess water but do not squeeze the crackers.

12. Add the beaten eggs, 1/4 cup of sugar, salt, applesauce, and lemon juice with the crackers. Mix the ingredients together. Then, add the chopped apples and the dried cranberries or raisins. Mix the ingredients again. Pour the mixture into your greased casserole dish.

13. Mix the remaining sugar (1/4 cup) with the cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture over the top of your casserole for an added bite of sweetness.

14. Place the casserole dish into the oven. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the apples are soft.

Tags: baking dish, food processor, minutes until, Bake minutes, Bake minutes until

Make Solid Shampoo Bars

Make Solid Shampoo Bars

Solid shampoo bars are becoming very popular in upscale soap boutiques. They are great to use when traveling, easy to store and are a natural alternative to liquid shampoos. The best part of making your own is you can scent them with any of your favorite fragrances or use essential oils to make your own hair and scalp treatment shampoo. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Making Solid Shampoo Bars

1. Find a clean and clutter free working space to make your solid shampoo bars. A kitchen counter near the sink is your best bet, but a kitchen table will also do. Cover your work space with a plastic garbage bag and a few layers of newspaper to protect the surface from spills.

2. Next gather all your ingredients together, double checking that your have everything that you will need ready and at hand.

3. Put on your safety gear, including long sleeves and long pants, shoes, eye protection and gloves.

4. Now weigh out your lye using your scale and place the lye into a plastic container.

5. Weigh your water and place that into another plastic container.

6. Now very slowly and carefully pour the lye into the water (never the water into the lye!) and mix thoroughly until the lye is completely dissolved. Try to avoid splashes as the lye is caustic and will burn anything it comes into contact with. If your skin comes into contact with the lye mixture, immediately rinse with cool water. Surface spills should be wiped up immediately.

7. Now place the lye and water mixture aside. It will have become very warm and will need to cool to between 90 and 100 degrees before using. Place one of the thermometers in the mixture to monitor the temperature.

8. You will now be melting and mixing your oils. Weigh out your coconut, olive, caster and wheat germ oils (not the essential oils) and place them into your large pot which is placed on the stove. Heat until the coconut oil is just melted. You will want your oil mixture and your lye mixture to be the same temperature (between 90 and 100 degrees) before blending. Place the other thermometer into the oil mixture to monitor temperature. If need be you can adjust one or the other's temperature by placing them in a sink filled with cool water until the desired temperature is met.

9. While you are waiting for the two mixtures' temperatures to regulate, you can ready your essential or fragrance oils and soap molds. Weigh out your essential or fragrance oil and have it ready to go. If you are using one large wooden soap mold for your solid shampoo bars, line the mold with wax paper for easier shampoo bar removal later on. If you are using individual molds for your solid shampoo, double check that they are clean and free of any debris.

10. Once the lye mixture and oil mixture have reached the desired temperatures, slowly and very carefully pour the lye mixture into the oils, stirring continuously. Continue stirring using a wooden spoon or stick blender until the mixture has thickened (a stick blender will speed up the process) and you see "tracks" where you have just stirred. This is called reaching "trace" and you must achieve this stage before continuing with your solid shampoo bars.

11. Now that you are at the "trace" stage you can add your essential or fragrance oils and colorant. Pour in your fragrance and colorant and continue to stir thoroughly.

12. Your solid shampoo bar mixture is now ready for the mold. Carefully pour the mixture into your mold(s) and cover either with the mold's lid or wax paper and a piece of heavy cardboard.

13. Wrap your molded shampoo bars in a thick blanket and store, undisturbed, for 18 hours.

14. After the 18 hour time period is up remove the blanket and lid and allow the solid shampoo bars to sit for another 12 hours.

15. Your shampoo bars are now ready to be removed from the mold(s) and cut (if necessary). Put on rubber gloves (the soap is still somewhat caustic) and place an old towel onto your kitchen counter and carefully place the mold(s) face down on the towel. Tap gently a few times to remove the shampoo bars. If they don't come out easily, place the mold(s) in the freezer for about an hour and try again.

16. Once you have your soaps removed from the mold they are ready to be cut (if the shampoo bar is one big block). Use a sharp knife to carefully cut small, hand sized bars of the solid shampoo.

17.Your solid shampoo bars now need to cure for a minimum of two weeks before using. Place the shampoo bars on a drying rack or in a large box, making sure the soaps do not touch one another.

18. After two weeks your solid shampoo bars are ready to be used, but leaving them longer will make them milder and harder (which means they will last longer).

19. Store your solid shampoo bars in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

Choosing Essential Oils for Your Shampoo Bars

20. You have the choice of using essential or fragrance oils when scenting your shampoo bars. Fragrance oils offer a wide variety of scents and can be fun to experiment with. If you are looking to make your solid shampoo bar as hair friendly as possible, you may want to use an essential oil. Essential oils are natural oils derived from plants and possessing beneficial properties.

21. Use peppermint essential oil in your shampoo bars for a invigorating and eye opening experience. This oil will cause your scalp to tingle as it promotes blood flow to the scalp. If you have very sensitive skin you may want to avoid this one as the tingling sensation may be irritating.

22. Rosemary essential oils is an excellent choice for your shampoo bars. It helps alleviate dandruff and promotes healthy hair.

23. Tea Tree essential oil is used in professional dandruff shampoos. It helps eliminate dandruff and an oily scalp while promoting good blood flow. It can cause irritation to those with sensitive skin. If your scalp is sensitive use another essential oil, or lessen the amount you use in your recipe.

24. Lavender is a popular, tried and true essential oil. Not only does it smell wonderful, it is great for irritated and problem scalps. Lavender is also good for putting people in an uplifted mood, so if you really hate getting up in the morning, try adding this to your shampoo bars and maybe those morning showers won't be so rotten.

Tags: shampoo bars, solid shampoo, your solid, essential fragrance, shampoo bars, essential fragrance oils, make your

Create Compost From Garden And Kitchen Scraps

Use yard and food scraps to make compost for your garden.

Learning create your own compost is equivalent to earning a "graduate degree" in organic gardening. Instead of raking garden materials into a bag for the garbage truck, you can use many materials to create your own compost. Table scraps from last night's supper and this morning's breakfast can go into a compost container instead of a garbage can. By creating your own compost, Mother Earth will thank you, and your wallet will thank you, and your plantings will thank you for feeding them with rich, organic nutrients to help them grow and thrive. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. An outdoor pile or frame is easy to turn and tend.

Choose how you will create your outdoor compost bin. This can be as simple as using a metal or plastic garbage can and designating it as your compost pile. On the other hand, you can create an area in your backyard garden space for a compost pile. In that case, you can simply make a pile for compost in the yard or create a wood frame. Both have advantages in that you can easily turn the pile with a pitchfork or shovel to help process natural materials into compost.

2. Designate an indoor garbage can for kitchen scraps to add to the compost pile.

Designate a separate garbage container indoors for kitchen scraps. Use kitchen items such as fish, green vegetables and grainy foods, such as rice and coffee. If you'd like to take the extra step, you can grind foods in a blender, although this step is optional. Avoid greasy foods and those coated and fried, or try rinsing them off. Grease and cooking oils are not organic and degradable and could pose harm to the soil and plantings.

3. Select an outdoor spot for your compost bin. Whether you are using a garbage can or an outdoor frame or pile, make sure that it is located in a spot that will receive as much sunlight as possible. The sun makes the materials decompose, "cook" and transform into compost. A 3-foot-by-3-foot space will suffice for an outdoor bin, according to the Purdue University Extension.

4. Start the first layer for the compost with items from your garden. This can be comprised of leaves from trees, dead or spent flowers and foliage and twigs and branches. Make a base of 3 to 4 inches.

5. Add table and kitchen scraps to the pile. Chop the compost base by using a pitchfork to separate, break and mix the pile. Repeat layering of yard and kitchen scraps to start your compost pile.

6. Water the pile with just enough to moisten the pile. Do not create a sludge or mushy and overwatered pile. Water helps to start the composting process. If you are making the pile in a frame or pile, cover it with black plastic after giving it a slight watering.

7. Turn, chop and mix the base on the second day after you started the pile. Continue chopping and turning every three days. You can also continue adding organic matter to the pile.

8. Include sources of nitrogen to the pile. This is what microorganisms use to break down plant materials. Yard materials that contain high levels of nitrogen include grass clippings and dead leaves. Kitchen scraps include coffee grounds, fruit -- including peels and rinds. You can also sprinkle and mix in commercial fertilizers, bone meal and blood meal. These materials serve as an activator to help supply nitrogen and to advance the composting process. You can also consider purchasing and recruiting earthworms to add to the pile to help with the decomposition process.

9. Your compost will be a blessing for flowers, vegetables and all your plantings.

Examine the pile for signs that it's "cooked" and ready to use. A finished pile will look similar to rich, organic soil. It will be dark, crumbly and you will not be able to distinguish any of the original matter that you used. The actual amount of time the process will take is dependent on weather conditions and Mother Nature's timetable to complete her work of turning your garden and kitchen scraps into compost for your plantings.

Tags: your compost, compost pile, into compost, kitchen scraps, create your, will thank, your garden

Mavala Ingredients

A daily skin regiment is essential for healthy skin and appearance.

Founded in 1958 by Mrs. Madeleine Van Landeghem, Mavala Switzerland is a health and beauty company that produces products for nail, hand, face and eye products. All product ingredients can be found on their packaging, in descending order of concentration within the product. All ingredients are listed in order to aid people who may have sensitivities to certain ingredients or components of added fragrances.

Nail Products

Nails are functional, but value of appearance is increasing in society.

Mavala Scientifique is used to harden nails. It's ingredients are water, formaldehyde, sodium laureth sulfate, chamomile extract, garlic extract, cocamide DEA, pine oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, FD&C blue #1.

Mavaderma stimulates nail growth. The ingredients are isopropyl myristate, triticum vulgare, olea europaea, prunus dulcis, parfum, BHT.

Mavala Stop helps discourage you from biting your nails. The ingredients include ethyl acetate, alcohol denat, PVM/MA copolymer, phthalic, anhydride/trimellitic anhydride/glycols copolymer, butyl acetate, acetyl tributyl, citrate, sucrose octaacetate, denatonium benzoate, isopropyl alchohol, bezophenone-1, D&C violet No.2.

Nailactan aids brittle and damaged nails. Its ingredients include water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, cetearyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, sorbitol, oleyl alcohol, ethyl linoleate, octyldodecanol, panthenyl tricetate, imidazolidinyl urea, fragrance, hydrolyzed collagen, phospholipids, retinyl palmitate, serum protein, tocopheryl acetate, propylparaben, pyridoxine HCL, ascorbyl palmitate, calcium pantothenate, cholesterol, methylparaben, yeast extract, Arachidyl Propionate, Linoleic Acid,Linolenic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone.

Barrier-Base is a protective screen for delicate nails. Its ingredients include water, acrylates copolymer, disodium cystinyl disuccinate, hydrolyzed silk, saccharide isomerate, calcium pantothenate, sodium methylparaben, sodium dehydroacetate.

Products for the Face

Your skin rejuvenates at night, so wash your face before bed.

The Cleansing Foam for clear skin is gentle, all-purpose cleanser. The ingredients of this product include Water (Aqua), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Glycerin, PEG-40 Glyceryl Cocoate, Alcohol Denta., Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Coceth Sulfate, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Caccinum Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Saccharum Officinarium (Sugar Cane) Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharinum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Mehylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Methylisothiazolinone, Blue 1 (CI 42090), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Fragranc (Parfum), Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol.

The Comfort Cleansing Milk is used for removing make-up gently. The ingredients are Water (Aqua), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Lanolin Alcohol, Glycerin, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sucrose Cocoate, PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Simethicone, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Butylparaben, Fragrance (Parfum), 3-Methyl-4-(2,6,6-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexenyl)-3-Buten-2-one, Geraniol, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamaldehyde, Coumarin, Evernia Furfuracea (Treemoss) Extract.

Specific Toning Lotion completes the cleansing process and stimulates healthy skin growth. Ingredients include Water (Aqua), Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Allantoin, Mallow (Malva Sylvestris) Extract, Camphor, Menthol, Simethicone, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Guaiazulene, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylbaraben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, FD&C Blue No. 1 (CI 42090).

The Hydro-Active Night Cream allows the skin to regenerate overnight while adding moisture. Ingredients are Water (Aqua), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-40 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Honey Extract, Soluble Collagen, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Shea (Butyrospermum Parkii) Butter, Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Germ Oil, Dextrin Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Isostearyl, Isostearate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Linseed (Linum Usitatissimum) Oil, Sorbitan Tristearate, Ubiquinone, Squalane, Allantoin, Calcium Pantothenate, Whey Protein, Alcohol Denat, Pathenyl Triacetate, Althea Officinalis Extract, Dimethicone, Retinyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcius) Oil, Xanthum Gum, Magnesium Ascoebyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine HCL, Mallow (Malva Sylvestris) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Fragrance (Parfum).

Matifying Cream is protective of the skin. Ingredients are sodium PCA for an ideal moisture balance, and renewed elasticity and suppleness of the epidermis; microspheres as a long-lasting absorbing agent of sebum excess and astringent mallow; vitamin E and UVA and UVB filters for a better protection and beautified skin. This light cream gives a matifying and protecting veil, while smoothing your complexion and refining your skin's texture.

The Smooth Exfoliating Cream removes dead tissues. Ingredients are Water (Aqua), Octyl Palmitate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Steareth-21, Diatomaceous Earth (Solum Diatomeae), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Citrus Medica Limonium (Lemon) Oil, Allantoin, Silica, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Jojoba Esters, PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Phenocyethanol, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben.

The Balancing Mask is Sebo-regulating. The ingredients are Water (Aqua), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethylmethycrylate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Nylon-12, Steareth-2, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentaerythitryl Tetaisostearate, Butylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Phenyl Trimethicone, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Allantoin, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Simethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Methlparaben, Chlorphensin, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene-Linolool, Geraniol, Citronellol.

The Energizing Gel is refreshing and firming. Ingredients are Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Methyl Lactate, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow Extract), Hydrolyzed Silk, Aloe Barbadensis (Leaf Extract), Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber Extract), PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Hydrolized Wheat Fluten, Ceratonia Silqua Gum, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Fragrance (Parfum), Red 4 (CI 14700).

Hand Products

Apply moisturizer to your hands to prevent aging.

The Revitalizing Hand Milk is a softening treatment. Ingredients are Water, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Aloe Extract, Cucumber Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Lanolin Oil, Witch Hazel Distillate, Allantoin, Benzophenone-3, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Glkycoproteins, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

The Active Hand Gel is a refreshing protectant. Ingredients are Water, Witch Hazel Distillate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Aloe Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydroethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone Copolyol, Nonoxynol-14, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, FD&C Blue No. 1 (CI 42090), FD&C Red No. 4 (CI 14700).

The Cleansing Mask for Hands is a youthful treatment. Ingredients are Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Kaolin, Talc, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Mallow Extract, Aloe Extract, Balm Mint Extract, Gnaphalium Leontopodium Extract, Cucumber Extract, Cellulose Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Allantoin, Fragrance, Ceramide 2, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben.

The Repairing Night Cream for Hands is a 30-minute, intensive treatment to cure damaged hands. Ingredients are Water, Mineral Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Yeast Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Lanolin Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Shea Butter, PEG-40 Stearate, Hydrolyzed Silk, Lanolin Alcohol, Sorbitan Tristearate, Allantoin, Imisdazolidinyl Urea, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Glycoprotiens, Sodium Hyaluro-nate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

The Anti-Blemish Cream creates smooth and young hands. Ingredients include Water (Aqua), Ethylhexyl Methocynnamate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch, Octensylsuccinate, Cetyl Ethylhaxanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Malic Acid, DEA-Cethyl Phosphate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Pottasium Hydroxide, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein, Simethicone, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum), Linalool, 3-Methyl-4-(2,6,6-Trimethyl-2 Cyclohexenyl)-3-Buten-2-one, Hexyl Cinnmaldehyde, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxymethylpentylcyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Coumarin, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Geraniol, Evernia Furfuracea( Treemoss) Extract, Cinnamyl Alcohol.

The MAVA + Hand Cream is for extreme treatments. Ingredients include Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Bisabolol, Calcium Pantothenate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Helianthus Anuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Allantoin, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Simethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTAm Ethylparaben [F929/1].

The MAVA-CLEAR purifies skin. Ingredients are Alcohol Denat, Water, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-C30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citral, Limonene. [F725/1]

Eye Products

Eye cream can minimize wrinkles.

Double-Lash provides nutrients for your lashes. Ingredients are Water, Magnesium, Aluminum Silicate, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Xanthan Gum, Lactococcus Ferment, Glycosaminoglycans, Proline, Riboflavin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Hexamidine Diisethionate, 2-Bromo-2Nitropropane-1, 3-Diol.

The Eye Contour Double Cream is a moisturizing and revitalizing cream for your eyes' contours. Ingredients are Water (Aqua), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Isopropyl Palmitate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Lanolin Oil (Lanolin Liquida), Aloe (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract, Shea (Butyrospermum Parkii) Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sorbitan Tristearate, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazlinone.

The Eye Make-Up Remover removes make-up gently. Ingredients are Water (Aqua) Butylene Glycol, MIPA-Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Linoleamide DEA, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Cellulose Gum, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Eye Base is intended as a base for your eye make-up. Ingredients are Water (Aqua), Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-2. Steareth-21, Benzophenone-3, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Borate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben.

The Eye Contour Gel is a moisturizing eye make-up base for the daytime. Ingredients are Water (Aqua), Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Acrylates/C10-C30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid, Blue 1 (CI 42090).

Tags: Water Aqua, Ingredients Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Malva Sylvestris, Phenoxyethanol Methylparaben

Foods To Eat If You Have Low Iron

Iron-rich foods

You need iron to produce red blood cells with hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout your body. If your iron is insufficient, you can develop iron-deficiency anemia and may be weak, tired and pale. Iron deficiency usually results from bleeding (such as internal bleeding or heavy periods), poor nutrition (lack of adequate meat or vegetable sources of iron) or disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease) that prevents adequate absorption of iron from the intestines into the blood. If you have low iron, you need a diet high in iron-rich foods.

Eat Meat or Fish

Animal protein contains 40 percent heme iron and 60 percent non-heme iron, so eating meat, poultry, or fish is the most efficient way to increase iron intake as heme iron occurs only in animal protein and is absorbed more readily than non-heme iron. Lean red meats, such as beef and lamb, and organ meats, such as liver, are very good sources of iron. Dark poultry meat is higher in iron than white meat. Fish, especially shellfish (mussels, shrimp, oysters, clams), salmon, and tuna contain good amounts of iron. Egg yolks are another good source. Tofu and tempeh, also high in iron, may be used as meat substitutes if you are a vegetarian.

Eat Legumes and Green Leafy Vegetables

Dried legumes, such as soybeans, lima beans, lentils and kidney beans, are high in non-heme iron. Because non-heme iron is not absorbed as well as heme iron, if you are vegetarian or vegan, you need to increase your iron intake to compensate. Green leafy vegetables are another good source of iron. These include spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, beet greens, and brussels sprouts. Vitamin C markedly increases absorption of non-heme, so you should be sure to include vitamin C in your meal if you do not eat meat. Broccoli and bok choy are high in both iron and vitamin C, so they are good choices.

Eat Nuts and Whole Grains

Nuts, such as cashews and almonds, are high in non-heme iron and other nutrients, but they are also high in fat, so they are good to include in the diet in small amounts. Whole grains, especially quinoa, and fortified cereals, such as oatmeal and Cream of Wheat, are good sources of iron. You should always check the label when buying cereal to make sure it is fortified with iron.

Avoid Coffee, Tea, Cola, and Calcium Supplements

Some chemicals (phytic acid, tannic acid) found in coffee, tea, and cola as well as calcium bind to iron and prevent its absorption; so you should avoid drinking these liquids with your meal and avoid taking calcium supplements within an hour of meals. Tannic acid is also found in chocolate, and phytic acid is found in rye bread and some other grains.

Tags: non-heme iron, heme iron, sources iron, acid found, also high, another good

Corn Gluten Meal For Lawns

Corn gluten meal is steadily becoming more popular with savvy homeowners.

Most synthetic lawn fertilizer or herbicide bags have large blocks of fine print dedicated to warnings, cautions and dangers. Corn gluten meal, on the other hand, is safe for people, pets and plants, but is lethal to burgeoning lawn weeds. Does this Spark an idea?

History

Iowa State University turf disease researchers used corn gluten meal as a medium for a fungal disease study. They applied infected corn gluten meal and normal corn gluten meal to seeded plots, leaving other seeded areas untreated as experimental controls. When plots with corn gluten meal showed drastically reduced growth, whether or not the fungus was present, the researchers realized corn gluten meal was an effective, natural pre-emergent herbicide.

Function

Corn gluten meal is high in protein. When lightly sprayed with water, the proteins spread into a thin, root-inhibiting layer on the soil. When spring temperatures rise, seeds on the soil's surface germinate but are unable to produce roots, quickly succumbing to dry conditions. Corn gluten meal is also 10 percent nitrogen by weight, making it a valuable slow-release lawn fertilizer.

Use

Corn gluten meal only affects young, hair-like roots on the soil's surface and does not kill growing weeds. Spread corn gluten meal over your lawn three to five weeks before soil temperatures reach 55 degrees F, using 12 to 20 lbs. per 1,000 square feet, or according to the manufacturer's directions. Spray the area lightly with water to achieve a naturally weed-free lawn.

Tags: gluten meal, corn gluten meal, Corn gluten, corn gluten, gluten meal, lawn fertilizer, soil surface

Greek Restaurants In Portland Maine

Authentic Greek Cooking

Portland, Maine's capital city, sits along a peninsula in Casco Bay. The city itself is a vibrant mix of traditional architecture and contemporary technology. Portland's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean affords residents and visitors alike the unique opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood on a regular basis. If you are a lover of Greek inspired culinary dishes, then you are in luck in Portland. Portland boasts a number of traditional Greek restaurants that serve meals and wines from the Mediterranean. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Emilitsa Greek Restaurant

Emilitsa, located in the arts district of Portland, considers its fare to be "rustic Greek." With a contemporary but casual atmosphere, Emilitsa's serves an ever changing variety of fresh seafood dishes along with traditional Greek favorites. As of 2010, Emilitsa is open for dinner Monday through Saturday and is moderately priced.

Emilitsa Greek Restaurant

547 Congress St.

Portland, ME 40101

207-221-0245

emilitsa.com

Street and Co.

Located just steps from the water, Street & Co. has been in business since 1989. Mediterranean appetizers, soups and salads are served along with fresh local seafood prepared in the Greek tradition over an open flame. Weather permitting, outside dining is available. Reservations are accepted. Street & Co. is open for dinner Monday through Saturday, as of 2010.

Street & Co.

33 Wharf St.

Portland, ME 04101

207-775-0887

streetandcompany.net

Dimitri's Dining

Just a short 10-minute drive to the outskirts of Portland you will find Dimitri's Dining. Dimitri's has brought the sights, sounds and flavors of the Mediterranean to Maine. Greek food cooked over a traditional wood-burning stove complement the extensive selection of Greek wines. As of 2010, Dimitri's is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for lunch Monday through Saturday.

Dimitri's Restaurant

185 U.S. Route 1

Scarboough, ME 04074

207-883-9800

dimitrisdining.com

Tags: through Saturday, Monday through, Monday through Saturday, open dinner, along with

Start An Herb Garden Business

If you enjoy growing plants and don't mind getting a little dirty, perhaps an herb garden business is right for you. The best thing about it is, you can do it all at your own home and at your own pace. Starting an herb garden business doesn't take a large amount of money and you won't need a huge space to do it in. Here some tips to get you started.

Instructions

Creating Your Growing Area

1. Educate yourself about herbs. Read books about them. You can't have too much knowledge when it comes to growing any type of plant successfully. Know each herb's specific requirements so you'll be able to meet them.

2. Set up a growing area. Do this before you buy plants, seedlings, or seeds. You might need some shelving to put plants on, but if that's not feasible at the start, improvise.

A small tarp on the ground will keep your plants safe from insects and weeds that may infiltrate them if they are placed directly on the dirt. Place your pots on top of the tarp. Make sure your area gets the light needed for each plant.

3. Choose the herbs you'd like to grow. You can buy herb seeds at gardening stores, other stores or on line. It can sometimes take several months from the sprouting stage to full grown, ready-to-sell plants. Plant nurseries sell inexpensive herb starter plants. The less money you have to invest in your plants, the more profit for you.

4. Set your area up to look as if it's specially designed to grow herbs in. Once you make some cash, you can invest in building a small shade/growing area if you desire. If you plan on getting a nursery license, the inspector will want to see that your area is designated specifically for growing herbs. It doesn't have to be fancy. Call your local licensing facility to find out exactly what inspectors will expect to see in your growing area. With a nursery license, you will be able to purchase plants and materials at wholesale prices.

5. Purchase any materials you might need for your plants. These include fertilizer, soil products and pots or other containers. If your plans are to plant herb gardens for clients, you'll need basic gardening tools such as shovels, rakes and smaller hand tools. Check with local nurseries to get discarded pots for little money or for free.

Getting Business

6. Make some business cards. Hand your business cards out at every opportunity. List your contact information and a brief blurb about your services. Friends and family are great sources to help you obtain business.

7. Go to craft shows or local festivals and display your herbs. Many times the entry fee is relatively cheap. Once your herbs are fully grown, you'll be able to sell them separately, display several in a dish garden or make hanging baskets. Some people find success selling herb starter plants. Let people know if you are willing to come to their homes and plant an herb garden for them. Attach a business card to every pot you sell. Get your name out there.

8. Visit local plant nurseries who might purchase herbs or sell them on commission. Many smaller nurseries don't have a vast selection of herbs. You might be able to make an instant business deal to supply them with herbs as they need them. Once the herbs start selling, the nursery will more than likely call back for more. Let them know that you will also plant herbs, if needed.

9. Talk to restaurants that might be interested in purchasing your herbs. You might even be able to display your herbs in the restaurant for patrons to purchase. Be sure to leave your business cards with the restaurant, as well as attach one to each plant or dish garden you are trying to sell.

10. Visit local tea shops, herb stores, flower shops, health food stores or other places that might be interested in herbs. Many times the business owner will allow you to place some plants in the store for sale. Offer the business owner a small commission on each sale.

11. Advertise and promote your business. Place an ad in your local newspapers advertising your herbs and your gardening services. It may take a little time for people to become aware of your business, but don't give up. Growing herbs and creating herb gardens, can be fun and financially rewarding. It will just take a little time and patience.

Tags: your herbs, your business, business cards, your area, your plants, about your, business owner

Science Projects That Use Microwave Popcorn

Popcorn is not just a treat.

Science projects utilizing everyday items, including popcorn, keep students interested in science. As an added bonus, popcorn is inexpensive. Many classroom projects can be modified for the individual.

Counting Kernels

How many?

Determining which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels is a science project for students. First, pick out three to four brands of popcorn with each bag having the same weight and flavor of popcorn. Pop them individually in the microwave for the same amount of time on the same power. Instruct the students to count the number of popped kernels in each bag, wearing gloves if they plan on eating the popcorn after the activity.

After counting the popped kernels, ask the students to record these values in a table. Repeat the complete process at least five times. Next, tell the students to find the average number of popped kernels for each brand and then create a bar graph using these averages. Post the graphs around the room so students can compare results.

Sprouting Kernels

Will microwave popcorn sprout?

Popcorn kernels are seeds from corn plants. Most seeds will sprout under the right conditions. Ask the question which will sprout more quickly, microwave popcorn kernels or regular bagged kernels?

Divide students into groups of three. Give each group 10 small pots, enough soil to fill each pot, 10 kernels of plain microwave popcorn, 10 kernels of bagged popcorn and water. Instruct students to fill each pot with soil, to press down the soil, and to push two seeds into each pot to a depth of about twice the seed's diameter. Each of five pots should have regular popcorn and the other five should have microwave popcorn. Label each pot with the type of kernel and a letter designation. Once potted, water until evenly damp, and place in a sunlit area.

Tell students to check daily on the progress of their kernels, watering them as needed to maintain moisture levels. Instruct them to record their watering schedule and the number of days until each seed sprouts for 14 days. Record this information on a bar graph. Combine class data and create a class graph.

Students could repeat this project with various flavors or types of popcorn as a continuing class project.

Microwave Popcorn and Air Poppers

Another project answers the question, "Can microwave popcorn be popped in an air popper?" Before students begin testing this question, instruct them to research popcorn and microwave popcorn.

Next have the students, in groups, create posters with the results of their research. Finally, ask students to write a hypothesis: a statement arguing whether or not they think microwave popcorn will pop in an air popper.

In order to test their hypotheses, instruct students to cut open popcorn bags and following the air popper directions, begin popping. Afterward ask students to record whether or not their hypotheses were correct. As a group, share results.

Tags: microwave popcorn, popped kernels, each with, fill each, kernels each, microwave popcorn

About Turkey Stuffing

Turkey stuffing represents one of the main side dishes in a Thanksgiving meal. There are many turkey stuffing recipes. Each one is unique and often handed down through families. Stuffing, also called "dressing," is a mixture of bread, rice or potatoes that is either cooked separate from the turkey or stuffed into the turkey before baking. Stuffing is typically served as a side dish with the turkey. Add this to my Recipe Box.

History

Stuffing first made its debut in the 2nd century BC with the Romans. The first documented recipe of stuffing showed up in a Roman anthology of thousands of recipes called Apicius. It is likely they weren't stuffing a turkey, but rather a chicken. The French have also made great use of stuffing through the centuries. Stuffing was labeled "farce" in France. In Victorian England, the word stuffing was changed to "dressing" to reflect a more cultured way of explaining stuffing the empty cavity of an animal with a breaded concoction.

Significance

Turkey stuffing holds a place very near and dear in the hearts of Americans. It's a mainstay to the American Thanksgiving meal and, frankly, very few Americans stuff anything other than their turkey at Thanksgiving. While there is no concrete proof, there doesn't appear to be any evidence that the pilgrims served stuffing at the original Thanksgiving meal. However, these days turkey stuffing remains a much-loved addition.

Types

Recipes for turkey stuffing range far and wide. However, there are a few base ingredients that are always used in recipes. Cooks typically use dried bread, rice or potatoes as the base for their stuffing. Then additional ingredients are thrown into the mix to add flavor, based on the preferences of the cook. In many ways, the base of the recipe depends on where the recipe is being cooked in the world. Americans tend to use bread in their dressing recipes, while Germans tend to use potatoes.

Features

As stated above, turkey stuffing always has a base. Cooks then add whatever they prefer to the mix to spice it up and add flavor. The many ingredients that can be added include cherries, sausage, ground beef, nuts, vegetables and tropical fruit. Herbs and spices, such as sage and poultry seasoning, are used to add flavor. The wonderful thing about turkey stuffing is that so many things can be added to make each recipe individual.

Potatoes or rice that are added to stuffing are always cooked beforehand. In general, nothing is added to stuffing mix unless it is cooked. Raw meat is never put into the stuffing mix; it is always cooked first. Prepared stuffing mixes are available at the grocery store. However, many people choose to simply dry out their own bread by placing it on cookie sheets in the oven at 275 degrees for 15 minutes. The bread is then broken into small pieces.

Considerations

Turkey stuffing requires some thought and planning. Food-borne illnesses are a major concern when stuffing a turkey. Cooks should always stuff the turkey with dressing right before placing the bird in the oven.

When stuffing a turkey with dressing, a general rule for volume is 3/4 cup per 1lb of turkey. The stuffing shouldn't be crammed into the turkey but rather placed loosely in the bird to allow heat to cook it thoroughly. Some cooks choose to cook turkey stuffing completely separate from the bird to avoid any possibility of contamination.

Tags: stuffing always, stuffing turkey, Thanksgiving meal, turkey stuffing, turkey stuffing, added stuffing, always cooked