The Cereal Bowl Lamp: The coolest lamp that you will ever
own. Ingredients: cereal, touch sensor, metal spoon, bowl, 'milk'
and magic. This gives a whole new meaning to eating light. The big, 10-inch-wide bowl shines with the help of a 14-watt
fluorescent bulb. If you instinctively reach for the spoon, you're in
luck - that's what turns the lamp on! ($180 at Ideaka)
Ice Cream Lamp: Ice cream parlors always seem to be
perfect design inspiration. How about a giant lit ice cream cone that
will add a sweet touch to any room? Jumbo plastic lamp measures over
two feet high! ($48 at Fred Flare)
Egg Nightlight Collection: J Schatz's handcrafted glossy ceramic
earthenware egg is made of small holes that let light shine through
the ceramic shell of the 8-inch Star Egg Nightlight. It comes in
eight different colors.($135 at J Schatz Egg Lamps)
LED Milk Night-Light: This LED milk night-light looks just
like a real glass. The light turns off automatically when tilted or
placed upside down. ($11.95 at Amazon). This LED milk night-light also comes in color changing. The color changes automatically and
creates a neat lighting effect ($10.95 at Amazon).
Source: Food Network Magazine
National Cheesecake Day is a food holiday that falls annually on July 30th. The observance, which is part of a surprisingly large tradition of food holidays, has not been officially endorsed by any presidents, and does not have any congressional records to solidify its claim. but this certainly does not stop thousands and maybe even millions of people from across the country from celebrating the decidedly delicious holiday.
There certainly is no reason that cheesecake should not have its own holiday. Records of cheesecake date as far back as 770 BC, when the dessert, or something like it at least, was served to Olympic athletes.
Joining in the fun on National Cheesecake Day is simple. The only requirement is the hearty consumption of cheesecake. Enjoy the day with a piece of cheesecake, along with your favorite topping. If you have time, make the cheesecake yourself but, if you don't, stop into The Cheesecake Factory. They are helping patrons celebrate the event by offering slices of its creamy, delectable cheesecake for just $1.50. Note, however, that the low price is only applicable with dine-in service, and guests are also limited to one slice each.
Today, it seems as if everyone has their own take on how cheesecake should be baked. Whether New York or Philadelphia style, baked or no-baked, cheesecake is king when it comes to desserts. Cheesecake can also be flavored in a huge variety of ways, but chocolate or strawberry remain the popular national favorites followed by pumpkin cheesecake.
Cheesecakes can be broadly categorized into two basic types - baked and unbaked - and each comes in a variety of styles determined by region. In the United States, there are two big contenders for the cheesecake crown, one being New York style cheesecake, which is very heavy and rich and features cream cheese, heavy cream, and many other fattening ingredients. The other popular cheesecake is Philadelphia style cheesecake which is generally considered to be creamier and also lighter than the New York style cheesecake, but certainly does not skimp on the fattening ingredients.
Almost all modern cheesecakes in the United States use cream cheese; in Italy, cheesecakes use ricotta; Germany and Poland use quark cheese. The type of cheese not only affects texture and taste but the ability to incorporate certain types of ingredients. When cheesecake batter is too thin, many cheesecakes will not be structurally sound and fall apart at the table. One way to get around this is to use unflavored gelatin or a little cornstarch beaten with the eggs.
A common difficulty with baking cheesecakes is its tendency to "crack" when cooled. This is due to the coagulation of the beaten eggs in its batter. There are various methods to prevent this. One method is to bake the cheesecake in a hot water bath to ensure even heating. Other methods include blending a little cornstarch into the batter or baking the cheesecake at a lower temperature and slow cooling it in the oven, turned off, with the door ajar. If these methods fail, a common practice is to cover the top of the cheesecake with toppings such as fruit, whipped cream, or cookie crumbs. Despite their name, cheesecakes are technically tarts; the word 'cake' was formerly applied to a much broader category of foods than it is today.
Continue reading "Happy National Cheesecake Day! Bake a cheesecake yourself, make adorable cheesecake pops or celebrate with a bargain cheesecake slice at The Cheesecake Factory!" »
There is nothing like a beautiful pair
of heels, but what about taking a bath in a high heel shoe? These
bath tubs from Sicis - The Art Mosaic Factory resemble a woman's high heel
shoe. There are several different designs to choose from (Audrey 1
through Audrey 4). These are not just ordinary tubs: they express great personality and are for lovers of shoes and
fashionistas alike.
Source: Sicis - The Art Mosaic Factory
Wondering what the title of the movie means since obviously there aren't 500 days in summer? In this offbeat romantic comedy, Summer refers not to the season but to Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the smart, independent woman who is the product of divorce and doesn't believe in love. Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is the exact opposite of Summer. He truly believes that he is going to meet his soulmate and that they will live happily ever after. But this story is an anti-fairytale and the narrator tells us up front that this is not a love story. The movie jumps back and forth in the 500 days of the relationship between Summer and Tom and showcases a clever structure which tells the story by events rather than in a linear, chronological way.
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language
Run time: 95 minutes
Official website: (500) Days of Summer
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tom), Zooey Deschanel (Summer), Geoffrey Arend (McKenzie), Chloë Grace Moretz (Rachel), Matthew Gray Gubler (Paul), Clark Gregg (Vance), Rachel Boston (Alison) and Minka Kelly (Girl at Interview)
Directed by Marc Webb; written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber; director of photography, Eric Steelberg; edited by Alan Edward Bell; music by Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen; production designer, Laura Fox; produced by Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters and Mason Novick; released by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Continue reading "(500) Days of Summer is an enchanting and original romantic comedy" »
