Posted by the camelot on 8:57 AM
Are you in a time crunch between all of your priorities? Check out these ten great meals that you can make in under ten minutes. You can learn more about quick easy meals at
The Kitchn.
1. Quick and Easy Fried Rice: Fried rice can come together even faster than 10 minutes if you happen to have a good selection of leftovers floating around. It's the end-all recipe to using up leftover rice and is tasty enough to eat for any meal of the day — yes even breakfast.
2. Apple-Arugula Salad Wraps: Although wraps seem more like a lunch food, for a quick dinner they can contain actual food groups and even do away with dishes if needs be. Perfect, no clean up!
3. Thai Crab Salad with Chili, Ginger, and Coconut: Since this meal merely needs to be chopped and tossed, it's quick to throw together and has big bold flavors that will satisfy without a laundry list of ingredients.
4. Miso Soup: Miso soup is perfect for those worried about over cooking tofu as it simply warms in this rich broth and suddenly, dinner is served! Check out this version with a poached egg — extra tasty!
5.The BEST Pancakes Ever: Pancakes might traditionally be breakfast food, but they're perfect for any meal in fact... we want some right now!
6. Egyptian Tomato Soup: This recipe just barely passes the 10 minute mark, but it can be made entirely from your pantry so there's minimal chopping or prep — making it a winner in our book!
7. Friday Night Slow-Cooked Brisket and Onions: So technically speaking this meal takes 5-8 hours to make, but there's really only 10 minutes of prep work involved. Make it before you head out the door to work and when you return dinner is already done for you!
8. Spicy Grilled Shrimp: These shrimp get a quick brine before hitting the grill, but since they cook up so quick, we're willing to overlook the extra brining time (only 30 minutes). Just make sure to drop them in the brine the second you come home from work or possibly lessen the salt and brine them while you're away (so they don't get too salty) to make things extra easy.
9. Thai-Style Omelet (Kai Jeow): This recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes which might even leave you time to walk the dog or check your email before dinner!
10. Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Corn, Goat Cheese, and Oven-Roasted Tomatoes: This meal is labeled as a 10 minute dish and mixes up with many things that you probably already have on hand.
What are your favorite no-time, extra-quick weeknight meals?
Posted by the camelot on 10:39 AM
Posted by the camelot on 8:50 AM
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Posted by the camelot on 8:13 AM
Do you love sugar cookies? Perfecting the best recipe might be a challenge for you. Here is a great sugar cookie cut out recipe that will produce beautiful and tasty sugar cookies. You can learn more at The Kitchn.
Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
2 to 3 dozen cookies, depending on size
1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar. Beat for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl then gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.
At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight then proceed with the recipe.
To bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment or a Silpat. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack.
Cool completely before icing or decorating, and store in a tightly covered container.
Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (Large Batch) 8 to 12 dozen, depending on size
3 cups unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons lemon zest
9 cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar. Beat for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl then gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.
At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight then proceed with the recipe.
To bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment or a Silpat. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack.
Cool completely before icing or decorating, and store in a tightly covered container.
Posted by the camelot on 10:46 AM
Are you starting to prepare for the season? Do not get stuck with a wine stain on your couch. Here is the perfect emergency kit to remove any stains or spills you may encounter hosting a party. You can learn more at
Apartment Therapy.
It's hosting season and you know what that means: your home will soon be getting a workout. Be it parties or houseguests, lots of traffic means lots of messes. Since you know spills are inevitable, do yourself a favor this year and put together an emergency cleaning kit so you'll be prepared to act fast when someone slips up.
Having this quick kit on hand has two benefits. Firstly, it'll help you deal with those messes quickly (and therefore more effectively) and more importantly, it lets you avoid the drama and embarrassment that can go along with an accident. Keeping these key things close means there's no need to frantically empty everything from under the sink in the middle of a party or family dinner (and make the spiller feel worse then they already do!).
The Emergency Kit
Sponge or microfiber cloth
Small handheld broom and dustbin
Countertop cleaner
Soda water (to dilute a stain but it's also handy to have on hand in case you run out during your party)
Salt (combine with soda water as an effective natural stain remover)
Laundry stain stick or wipes for clothing spills
Masking tape for picking up those final, invisible shards of a broken glass
Put these things in a caddy and get ready to be the graceful host who can dispatch spills and get back to the party that much quicker.
Posted by the camelot on 8:37 AM
We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving with their loved ones!
Posted by the camelot on 9:01 AM
We want to thank all of the veterans that have served our country. We can not thank you enough for the sacrifices you have made. Here are some facts about Veteran's Day that you may not know. You can learn more
here.
Fun Fact #1:
Veterans Day was once known as Armistice Day. The term comes from an armistice between Germany and the Allied Nations on November 11, 1918 (Also known the armistice ending on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). World War I actually ended on June 28, 1919, during the Treaty of Versailles. The first Armistice Day was acknowledged on November 11, 1919.
Fun Fact #2:
November 11 is both a State and Federal Holiday. (And yes, we’re still open.)
Fun Fact #3:
The original idea behind the celebrations for this holiday was parades and public meetings and also a brief suspension of businesses at 11:00 AM. This is true to this day as a number of parades are held across America as well as speeches are given.
Fun Fact #4:
On June 1, 1954, Armistice Day had its named changed to Veterans Day. This was due to a change in an act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, which made the 11th of November a legal holiday, known as “Armistice Day”. The primary purpose was to honor the veterans of World War I, but in World War II, there was a great immobilization of Veterans, thus changing its name of “Armistice” to “Veterans”.
Fun Fact #5:
Disney made films for during World War II, for each branch of the United States government.
Fun Fact #6:
Approximately 90% of Disney employees worked in the making of propaganda and training videos during World War II.
Fun Fact #7:
Today, there exists about 1.6 million female veterans.
Fun Fact #8:
Between 1971 and 1977, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. It was changed back to its original date, on November 11, 1978 due to a General R. Ford’s signing of Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479).
Fun Fact #9:
Arlington National Cemetery has ceremony on Veterans Day every year to honor those who died during times of war. The ceremonies are held around the Tomb of the Unknowns and at 11:00 AM, on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb.
Fun Fact #10:
Veterans Day falls on the same day as Remembrance Day and Armistice Day in other countries.
Fun Fact #11:
There is not supposed to be an apostrophe in Veterans Day. Still some spell it Veteran’s Day or Veterans’ Day.
Fun Fact #12:
Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran came up with the idea to honor all veterans on November 11, not just the ones who died in World War I.
Fun Fact #13:
On November 11, 1921, an American soldier was buried at the national cemetery in Arlington. His identity was unknown (and his grave site is what we know as today as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier). Every year on November 11, the president or a high-ranking member of the government lays a wreath on his grave.
Fun Fact #14:
In a 2009 report, there were estimated to be 21.9 million veterans.
Fun Fact #15:
The median income for veterans in 2009 was approximately $35,000 a year.
Fun Fact #16:
Many people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. Memorial Day is primarily remembered for those died during their service to our country, particularly ones who died as a result of battle. Veterans Day is to acknowledge primarily all those served in the military, either during wartime or peacetime.
Fun Fact #17:
Some schools close on Veterans Day and some stay open. There is no legal requirement for a school to close or to stay open, as individual schools districts or states are free to establish their own policies.
Fun Fact #18:
The word veteran comes from the nomenclature of the old English language, meaning old, experienced soldier.
Fun Fact #19:
The first use of the word, veteran came to use in 1789, in the English language when referring a former member of the armed forces or an ex-serviceman. The extended meaning of the word goes back to someone who has served a longtime in any position.
Fun Fact #20:
California has more U.S. military veterans than any other state.
I hoped you enjoyed these fun facts about Veterans Day and for all those veterans out there, living or dead, we proudly support you.
