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Creamy Meets Sweet in These 3 Tres Leches Cake Recipes

June 18, 2015 by

Whether you’re interested in the cuisine of Latin America or you’re simply searching for a unique dessert to try out, the traditional tres leches cake is a truly decadent option. Evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream fully saturate a delicious sponge cake base in this rich dish, and a fluffy whipped cream topping is the icing on the tres leches cake. Try out one of these three recipes at your next gathering.

Premium Tres Leches Cake [Betty Crocker]
This recipe from the Betty Crocker website recommends using a box of yellow cake mix to cut down on the prep time for your tres leches cake. The milk mixture is the same as the traditional recipe, which makes this the perfect choice if you want an authentic taste in a shorter amount of time.

Emeril Lagasse’s Tres Leches Cake [Food Network]
While this recipe from Emeril Lagasse takes longer to make than most cake recipes, it’s well worth the effort. The cake is made from scratch using only real ingredients, like whole milk and flavorful vanilla, and the decadent icing topping features subtle notes of mango and papaya for a tropical flavor.

Martha Stewart’s Tres Leches Cake [Martha Stewart]
This is a fairly simple, traditional tres leches cake recipe that incorporates the usual three milks to create a moist mouthful with each bite. Martha Stewart’s version also adds fresh fruit to the whipped cream topping to add a refreshing contrast to the cake’s rich flavor.

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Job Hunting? Check Out These Cover Letter Writing Tips!

May 21, 2015 by

A cover letter isn’t always required when applying for a job, but it might just be the thing that sets you apart from equally qualified candidates. Here are a few smart ways to make yourself sound capable and well rounded in your cover letter.

  1. Think of a cover letter as its own entity. A cover letter is separate from your resume, so avoid repeating the same points that you’ve already made in your resume. Instead, focus on showcasing your unique voice, expressing your interest in the field, and highlighting your talents.
  2. Be succinct. A cover letter should be no longer than three paragraphs long and should take up approximately half of a page. Anything longer than that puts you at risk of losing the reader’s interest.
  3. Address no one. You should attempt to begin your letter with “Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],” but if you don’t know the name of the person reading, simply jump right into the first paragraph to avoid sounding vague and impersonal.
  4. Include a strong closing sentence. Oftentimes, applicants find it very difficult to end a cover letter, so be sure to focus most of your energy on this part. Explain how your unique skills and experience make you a good candidate for the job, then quickly sign off to avoid rambling.

6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter [Forbes]
Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips [About Careers]
Expert Advice: 8 Tips for Writing a Standout Cover Letter [Nerd Wallet]

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Three Iron-Rich Foods You Might Not Know About

April 16, 2015 by

Consuming the right amount of iron each day prevents anemia, a condition that can lead to fatigue. This essential mineral also helps cells transport oxygen throughout the body. Adding more iron to your diet isn’t difficult when you know which foods to look for; here are three of them:

  1. Beef liver. Meat eaters have some delicious options when it comes to eating iron, with beef liver containing 5.8 milligrams per serving. Beef liver also boasts the lowest fat count in comparison to other beef products.
  2. Clams. Enjoy a tasty seafood meal while also getting your daily value of iron. Twenty small clams contain 53 milligrams.
  3. Pumpkin seeds. A great source for iron, pumpkin seeds contain 4.2 milligrams per serving. Eat them as a healthy snack in between meals.

Best Foods For Iron: 20 Foods Packed With Iron [Huffington Post]
Top 10 Iron Rich Foods [WedMD]
Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron [Healthaliciousness]
Iron Rich Foods [American Red Cross]

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What’s Your Personal Style? Take These Quizzes to Find Out!

March 19, 2015 by

Zoning in on your personal style can make shopping easier, getting dressed in the morning faster and even make you feel more confident in everything that you wear. If you’re unsure about if you’re a laid-back tomboy or a casual chic city girl, these online quizzes will help you to discover your personal style:

What’s Your Street Style?
Take this quiz from from Marie Claire, one of the most respected fashion magazines, to find out more about your day-to-day style. This quiz will help you to create a chic, stylish look that will work from shopping at the farmers market to grabbing last-minute drinks with friends.

What’s Your Style Type?
If you want to hone in on your overall style, this smart quiz from Refinery 29 asks all the right questions. Think of your favorite fashion designer and even how you take your coffee to gain insight into your personal style.

What’s Your Style?
This quiz from SheKnows will help you to make the latest trends all your own by zeroing in on your unique style. It asks questions about your celebrity fashion icons and your go-to date night outfit in order to assign you a style that feels just right.

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How to Tell the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu

March 5, 2015 by

Getting a little cold is fairly commonplace during the colder winter months, and it doesn’t usually require much treatment other than rest and chicken noodle soup. The flu, however, is a more serious issue, and although this virus usually requires antibiotics to kick, it can be quite difficult to tell the two apart. Here are a few smart ways to tell if you have a cold or the flu—and maybe even help you to catch it early on. (Remember to seek the professional advice of your physician!)

  1. A cold usually comes with a sore throat, runny nose, and sometimes even a cough in the fourth or fifth days. These symptoms are usually fairly mild and cause more discomfort than pain and misery. If it is a cold, these symptoms will last for about a week.
  2. The flu, on the other hand, comes with similar but more severe symptoms very early on. Your throat will be sore, your head and other muscles will ache, and you’ll likely have congestion and a cough. These symptoms could last for one week or longer, but they can turn into pneumonia if left untreated.
  3. While an everyday cold doesn’t usually come with a fever, the flu often does. If your temperature reaches 100 degrees or higher, you're likely looking at a case of the flu.

Is It a Cold or The Flu? [NIAID]
Cold, Flu, & Cough Health Center [Web MD]
The Common Cold vs. The Flu… What You Need To Know [Health.com]

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Here’s How Pinterest Can Help You Practice Pilates

February 19, 2015 by

If you’re a Pinterest user you likely already know and love the site’s convenient way of helping you discover online content and save it for later. What you may not know is that Pinterest is a great way to discover fun new workouts, such as Pilates. Here are some of the best Pilates Pinterest boards that will show you how to establish a healthy workout routine!

The Inspirational Board
This Pilates board is filled with inspirational quotes that will help to motivate everyone from the novice who isn’t sure about Pilates to someone with a seasoned practice who simply needs an extra boost to squeeze in that daily workout. There are also many photos that show the positive effects that Pilates has on the body.

The Workout Board
If you’re already motivated to work out and you’re looking for great Pilates routines to do at home, this board can help. It features step-by-step instructions for how to do each pose, as well as high-quality images to help you visualize the way the poses should look. This board also incorporates yoga and barre workouts into its arsenal of Pilates routines.

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Pomegranate Is the Not-So-Secret Ingredient in These Unique Recipes

January 22, 2015 by

You’ve likely never thought of incorporating pomegranate into your savory recipes, but the addition of these tart, sweet seeds could be just what you need to add a bit of excitement to your meals. Here are a few great recipes that use pomegranate as the not-so-secret ingredient.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pomegranate and Hazelnuts [foodnetwork.com]
Brussels sprouts are certainly having a moment in the culinary world, but then again, so are pomegranates. Combine the two into one healthy, delicious side dish that is positively filled with flavor with this unexpected recipe.

Pomegranate Parfait [pomegranates.org]
Forgo the usual cake or pie for tonight’s dessert in favor of something a bit lighter and more refreshing. These pomegranate parfaits are equal parts fruity, fresh, and fluffy, and they’re topped with whipped cream and chopped pistachios for a bit of added richness and nutty flavor.

Black Bean, Pomegranate and Avocado Salsa [twopeasandtheirpod.com]
Serve this fun and festive salsa at your next party or gathering. It’s just as flavorful as a traditional salsa, but instead of using the usual tomatoes, it incorporates savory black beans with the cool taste of avocado and pomegranate seeds. Serve it with tortilla chips, pitas, or even as a garnish for a fish or chicken dish.

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How to Clean and Disinfect Smartphones, Tablets and Other Gadgets

December 18, 2014 by

By now, most people have heard all of the frightening statistics about the number of germs on your cell phone, your computer keyboard, and even on your brand new tablet. If all of this information is starting to make you wary of your electronic devices, these simple tips will help you to keep them clean and germ-free.

  1. Computer mouse. You touch your computer mouse all day long while working or browsing the web, so every now and then you should run a pre-moistened disinfecting cloth over the entire surface of the mouse.
  2. Touch-screen phone or tablet. While touch screens may seem difficult to clean, all it takes is a dry cloth and a scratch-free cleaning wipe designed for electronics to get them looking (and feeling) spotless.
  3. Computer keyboard. Because your computer keyboard contains so many nooks and crannies, you’ll want to clean it using the hose or other tube-like attachment on your household vacuum. Next, gently swab the surface of the keys and the keyboard’s outer edges with a pre-moistened disinfecting wipe (well-wrung, if the wipe is particularly wet). Be sure to disconnect the keyboard before beginning to clean it.
  4. Remote control. If you’ve ever seen a young child put a remote control in his or her mouth, you’ll understand why it’s so important to wipe yours with a disinfecting wipe at least once per week.

How to Clean and Disinfect a Keyboard, Smartphone, Remote Control, etc. [Moms Against Cooties]
How to Safely Disinfect and Clean Your Gadgets [Lifehacker]
How to Clean Your PC, Smartphone and Tablet [TechAdvisor]

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Easy Ways Be More Productive at Work

December 4, 2014 by

Even the most model of employees is susceptible to the 3 p.m. slump. But that doesn't necessarily mean productivity has to suffer. Check out these three tips for improving your workflow at the office.

1) Let your body dictate the day.
It's likely that your energy levels take a nosedive at certain times during the workday, while other times you feel lively and awake. Take mental note of these ebbs and flows in energy, and plan your day's tasks around them. Schedule routine tasks for when your energy dips, and plan tasks requiring more brain power during the hours when you're feeling more lively.

2) Don't multitask.
If you get everything done at once, you'll have more time to complete other tasks, right? Not really. It's impossible for your brain to devote equal attention to multiple tasks being performed simultaneously; you'll be more apt to make mistakes, which will cost you valuable minutes somewhere down the line.

3) Take a break.
You probably feel pressure to soldier on through your lunch break, but staying chained to your desk is actually counterproductive. Instead, aim to take five minute breaks every two hours. Walk around, stretch, and get outdoors, if you can. This will improve blood flow and help you feel more energized.

10 Easy Ways To Be More Productive At Work [Forbes]
11 Ways To Be More Productive At Work [AskMen]
10 Ways to be More Productive at Work [U.S. News]

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Test Your Knowledge About the Moon With These Fun Facts

November 20, 2014 by

You see the moon on a daily basis, but how knowledgeable are you about Earth's only natural satellite? NASA's Common Moon Misconceptions page is setting the record straight about the moon. Here are a few common moon misconceptions:

False: The moon makes its own light.
True: The moon simply reflects light from the sun.

False: The moon travels around Earth every 24 hours.
True: It takes the moon 27.3 days to complete a revolution around our planet. It completes a full rotation on its axis in the same amount of time.

False: One side of the moon never sees light.
True: Because the moon constantly rotates, there is no "dark side" of the moon; there is simply a side we cannot see. It's more accurately referred to as the moon's "far side."

False: There's no gravity on the moon.
True: The moon does have gravity, but it's less than we're used to on Earth: about 1/6 of Earth's gravity!

Learn more about the moon on NASA's website.

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