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Must-Know Tips When Serving Wine

January 5, 2016 by

You may enjoy drinking wine at home, but how much do you really know about serving it to your guests? If you want to learn how to properly serve reds, whites, and even dessert wines at your next dinner party at Marquis Lofts on Sabine, check out these simple tips.

  • Invest in a good set of wine glasses. They don’t have to be expensive (many closet less than $5 a piece), but having the proper wine glasses is the first step toward serving great tasting wine. Choose tulip-shaped glasses with stems or without, and make sure that they’re made of real glass to avoid that plastic taste.
  • Clean the glasses. Before serving wine, clean your glasses thoroughly by hand using simple dish soap and hot water. Rinse thoroughly before using.
  • Serve at the proper temperature. If you’re serving light white wines or sparkling wines, keep them at a cool 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Full-bodied whites, such as chardonnays, and lighter reds should be served at 50 to 60 degrees, while red wines and ports should be served at 60 to 65 degrees.
  • Keep it at the proper temperature. Keep your wine tasting great all night by using an ice bucket for white wines. Red wines can simply sit on the counter to stay at room temperature.

25 Tips on How to Serve Wine [Bauduc Blog]
Organic Wine Serving Tips [Frey Vineyards]
How to Serve Wine 101: Tips on the Perfect Serving Temperature [Wine Spectator]

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Simple Ways to Cut Costs in the Home — and Out

December 2, 2015 by

If you’re looking for ways to cut costs on everyday items around the home and in your day-to-day life, these simple tips can help you get started.

  1. Lower your thermostat. When you leave for work for the day, turn down your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees (or switch off the air conditioner in the summer). This could lower your bill up to 15% throughout the year. Also, consider applying inexpensive shrink film to your windows during the winter for added insulation.
  2. Stop speeding. To save money on gas, drive the speed limit instead of over it. This can raise your fuel efficiency by up to 17%!
  3. Make coffee at home. This also goes for eating out, grabbing a snack, or going out for happy hour after work—limit these outings to once or twice a week instead of every day.
  4. Check the thrift store. Before you buy something new, such as an air conditioner or a winter coat, visit the thrift store or consignment shop first. You could save a great deal of money on something that’s in perfect condition!

5 big bills you can cut fast [Bankrate]
Lower Your Monthly Bills Checklist [Real Simple]
30 Ways To Cut Your Monthly Expenses [Lifehack]

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Easy and Healthy On-the-Go Snacks

November 3, 2015 by

Whether you’re going on a summer road trip or just going to the gym, there are always times in your life when you could use a healthy snack to keep you going. Rely on these simple, on-the-go snack recipes for a boost of energy — whenever you need it!

Gorp [eatingwell.com]
This unique take on trail mix includes a tasty and nutritious mix of nuts, dried fruit, and dark chocolate chips for a bit of added sweetness. Make a big batch and keep it sealed in an air-tight container at home, then scoop out just as much as you need for those days when you’re just too busy to stop and eat.

Baked Kale Chips [allrecipes.com]
Instead of grabbing a bag of fattening potato chips when you’re feeling hungry, make this crispy kale chips at home. These offer the same salty flavor and satisfying crunch as traditional chips, but with much less fat and calories.

Spiced Apple Crisps [bbcgoodfood.com]
If you frequently crave sweet treats throughout the day, replace your usual chocolaty indulgence with these spicy, sweet apple crisps. Their only ingredient is dried apples and a bit of cinnamon, but they still offer a deliciously sweet taste that is sure to satisfy.

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Apple Cake Recipes Deserving of Second Helpings

October 6, 2015 by

Apple cake is a unique alternative to apple pie that uses a soft, moist cake base instead of the usual pie crust. This cake can be made a number of different ways, but no matter how you make it, it’s always full of fall flavor. Here are three sweet apple cake recipes for your next autumn gathering.

Uncle Bob’s Fresh Apple Cake [foodnetwork.com]
Paula Deen’s down-home take on apple cake uses tart Granny Smith apples and lightly toasted walnuts to create a flavorful, hearty bundt cake. Top it with a honey glaze for a warm taste that pairs perfectly with morning coffee or a scoop of after-dinner ice cream.

Marie-Hélène's Apple Cake [epicurious.com]
If you want to create a more sophisticated apple cake, this recipe is both simple and complex. Its creator, Marie-Hélène Brunet-Lhoste, is a top Parisian restaurant critic, and she uses her French culinary expertise in every aspect of the cake. Large, thick pieces of apple take center stage, while the cake base and a hefty splash of rum accent the natural fruit flavor.

German Apple Cake [tasteofhome.com]
This traditional German dessert recipe is a bit less sweet than other versions, which makes it ideal to eat for breakfast just as much as dessert. In addition to the usual spices, orange juice offers a bit of zest to complement the tart apples.

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5 No-Bake Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

September 9, 2015 by

Sometimes you crave a sweet dessert after your evening meal, but digging out pans and preheating the oven just seems like so much work. If you want to create a tasty, creative dessert dish without messy baking, no-bake recipes are a convenient alternative.

You can make just about any type of treat with a no-bake recipe, from cookies to bars to candies. These five recipes are also perfect for last minute dinner parties or those times when the kids need a snack for school with little advance notice.

Double-Chocolate Mascarpone Raspberry Pie [Better Homes and Gardens]

Creamy Frozen Lime Pie [Recipe Lion]

No-Bake Snickers Caramel Apple Pie [Fox News]

Cookies & Crème Pudding Pops [Kraft]

Strawberry Freeze [Kraft]

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6 Indulgent Vegan Comfort Food Recipes

August 4, 2015 by

You’re dedicated to your vegan lifestyle, but it can be hard to watch people around you indulging in comfort foods and not feel a bit jealous from time to time. These simple recipes will show you how to make gooey, crusty, and even downright hearty dishes that are all completely vegan.

Simple Vegan Tofu Lasagna [Whole Foods]
Versatile tofu miraculously transforms into ground “beef” in this classic dinner staple that’s covered in melted vegan cheese.

Baked Eggplant with Nutty Bulgur Stuffing [Whole Foods]
In this vegan dish that’s similar to stuffed peppers, baked eggplant is topped with a bulgur and nut blend that’s rich and flavorful.

BBQ Peanut Veggie Burgers [Lunch Box Bunch]
A burger is the ultimate comfort food, and this recipe adds a zesty barbecue peanut sauce for a unique flavor.

Black Beans with Mexican Beer [Chow]
This recipe cooks tasty black beans in beer to create one of the most indulgent comfort food dishes you could imagine—and it's entirely vegan.

Father’s Day Breakfast Casserole [PETA]
Though it was originally created for Father’s Day, this recipe is good any day of the year. It combines a vegan egg mixture with mock sausage and potatoes to create a truly hearty breakfast casserole.

Vegetable-Barley Pot Pies [PETA]
Try this vegan take on chicken pot pie that's just like Mom used to make.

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4 Health Benefits of Cardio Workouts

July 7, 2015 by

People need cardio workouts in order to improve your heart’s function and keep it strong and healthy, and lucky for you, it’s actually much easier to squeeze in a cardio workout than you might expect. Here are just four great health benefits of cardio exercise.

1) It improves your heart’s health.
The most important benefit of cardiovascular exercise is the positive effect that it has on your heart. Things like running or biking make your heart pump blood at a faster rate than normal, and because your heart is one big muscle, this strengthens it even after you stop exercising.

2) It improves your mood.
Because cardiovascular exercise releases hormones that fight off stress and promote a sense of well being, you might feel happier and more energetic after working out.

3) It increases your metabolic function.
The more intense the cardio exercise, the faster it makes your metabolism function. This helps to maintain your weight or even promote weight loss.

4) It decreases recovery time.
If you hate cardio and love strength training, you might want to reconsider. Jogging or walking after performing another workout is known to quicken your recovery time, making the day after a long workout much more comfortable on your body.

5 Great Benefits Of Cardiovascular Exercise! [BodyBuilding.com]
The Brain-Boosting Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise [Women’s Health]
Aerobic Exercise: Top 10 Reasons to Get Physical [Mayo Clinic]

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Rethink Pie Crust in These Savory Recipes

June 2, 2015 by

While pie has a seemingly endless number of different variations, the savory pie is often overlooked. For those whose taste buds skew toward the savory, there are a lot of reasons to love these savory pie recipes.

Lucinda’s Spinach and Ham Pie [marthastewart.com]
Equal parts salty and flaky, this Italian-style pie is everything that a savory pie should be. Eat it for breakfast, with a salad as a light lunch, or even as a dinnertime side dish—the possibilities are endless with such a uniquely versatile dish.

Mushroom Pie [allrecipes.com]
Mushroom lovers will simply adore this dense, flavorful pie that is filled with fresh mushrooms. Swiss cheese and heavy cream give it a deliciously rich taste, while bacon acts as a surprise ingredient to offset the earthy taste of the mushrooms.

Leek and Bacon Pie [huffingtonpost.com]
Although this dish technically looks like a pie, it doesn’t have the usual pastry crust. Instead, a savory custard layer acts as the base for all of the delicious bacon and leeks inside, and a crumbly top gives it just the right amount of extra crunch. It may seem complicated, but this pie includes only seven ingredients and takes just 45 minutes in the oven.

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Add These Two Foods to Your Diet for a Boost of Iron

April 7, 2015 by

Consuming iron-rich foods helps your cells transport oxygen throughout our body, preventing fatigue and supplying energy. So getting enough iron each day is important, and it can be very easy if you know which foods to look for. Incorporate these two iron-rich foods into your diet if you're lacking in the mineral:

  1. Dark chocolate. Treat yourself and do something good for your body by indulging in a piece of dark chocolate every now and again. Just one serving of 80% dark chocolate contains 4.1 milligrams of iron, so dessert can be an integral part of your healthy diet.
  2. Red meat. While you do want to be careful not to over-consume red meat, it is one of the most iron-rich foods. So you can select a package of lean ground beef to meet your daily needs.

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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Primp and Polish With These DIY Body Scrubs

March 3, 2015 by

If your skin is feeling dry and tired but you don’t want to splurge on a pricey spa treatment, there are quite a few ways to get the same pampering effects at home. Here are a few recipes for DIY body scrubs that promise to slough off dead skin and leave you feeling rejuvenated.

DIY Coffee Body Scrub [saltworks.us]
Just like coffee acts as a pick-me-up for your tired mind, it works just as well at refreshing your tired skin. This quick and easy DIY body scrub uses coconut oil and olive oil to moisturize the skin while the coarse coffee grounds gently buff away dead skin cells.

Luxurious Sugar Scrub [wellnessmama.com]
Just like its name implies, this homemade scrub promises to feel just as luxurious as any that you’ll find at a fancy spa. It uses sweet, all-natural sugar to slough away dead skin cells, while added essential oils will leave you smelling great.

Homemade Salt & Lemon Body Scrub [doctoroz.com]
With large grains of Epsom salt to reduce muscles and soften skin, this DIY body scrub might be one of the very best. It also includes invigorating lemon juice to minimize dark spots and natural olive oil to moisten skin without making it too oily.

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