How To Make Twinkies At Home from thedailymeal.com
While the fate of Twinkies is up in the air after Hostess announced its closing on Nov. 16, 2012, this recipe makes it easy for you to make them at home so that you'll never have to say goodbye.
INGREDIENTS: Nonstick cooking spray 1/2 cup cake flour 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons whole milk 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 large eggs, at room temperature, separated 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 cup shortening 1/4 cup margarine 1 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS: To make the Twinkie molds, fold a piece of aluminum foil together a couple of times and then and wrap around a spice jar or something that is approximately 6 inches long to make mini molds. The piece of aluminum foil should be thick enough so that it will stand up on its own when you make the edges. Place the molds on a baking sheet and spray each of them with nonstick oil. For the batter, sift together the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter over low heat until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla. Cover to keep warm. Reserve the egg yolks in a bowl and add the whites to the stand mixer. Beat the whites on high speed until foamy. Gradually add 6 tablespoons of the sugar and the cream of tartar and continue to beat on high until the whites reach soft, moist peaks. When you get the desired consistency, transfer the egg whites to a large bowl and add the egg yolks to the stand mixer. Begin to beat the egg yolks on medium-high speed and gradually add the remaining tablespoons of the sugar. Beat the egg yolks until they become very thick and pale yellow in color, about 5 minutes. Add the egg whites back to the stand mixer but do not mix. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg whites and mix everything on low speed for just 10 seconds. Remove the bowl from the mixer, make a well in 1 side of the batter, and pour the warm milk mixture into the bowl. Fold gently with a large rubber spatula until the batter shows no trace of flour and the whites and yolks are evenly mixed. Immediately scrape the batter into the prepared molds, filling each with about ¾-inch of batter. Bake until the cake tops are light brown and feel firm and spring back when touched, about 15 minutes. While the Twinkies are cooling, make the filling. Beat together all of the ingredients for the filling until light and fluffy. Transfer to a piping bag with a ¼-inch tip. When the Twinkies are cool enough to handle, use a stick or a skewer to create three holes in the bottom of the Twinkies. Pipe the frosting into the holes of the Twinkies carefully, making sure not to overfill them and crack the cakes.
5 "Healthy" Foods That Are More Fattening Than A Twinkie from totalbeauty.com
SPAGHETTI SAUCE. There's a reason why that jar of Prego can taste as good as a home-cooked sauce from a nonna's kitchen: It has sugar in it. Loads of it. To be precise, just 1/2 cup of Prego Fresh Mushroom Italian Sauce has 11 g of sugar -- the same amount that's in a glazed Krispy Kreme donut. Eat this instead: If you read labels and compare brands, it is possible to find a sauce with no added sugar. Another alternative is to make your own spaghetti sauce from chopped canned tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and a little dried basil.
YOGURT. Yogurt might seem like the ultimate health food, but you'd be surprised by how some flavors, like the Key Lime Pie-flavored Yoplait, can be as sugar-loaded as an actual slice of pie. The Yoplait has 29 g of sugar -- that's the equivalent of 1 1/2 Twinkies! It's worth noting that about 12 grams of sugar is from lactose, the natural sugar found in milk. Naturally occurring sugars like this aren't nearly as much of a concern as added sugars because they come packaged with a bundle of nutrients. What you really want to watch out for is added sugars. And yogurt -- especially those with fruit on the bottom -- is typically loaded with added sugars. Eat this instead: Sweeten plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey and some fresh berries or sliced bananas.
SMOOTHIES. A 16-oz. White Gummy Bear at Jamba Juice contains 540 calories and depending on the size, anywhere from 40 to 110 g of sugar. Eat this instead: Make your own smoothies at home. You'll get all the nutrients of the fruits without the added sugar.
SPORTS DRINKS. Even if it's labeled vitamin water, an energy drink, or a sports drink, it can still be loaded with empty, sugar-filled calories. For example, sports drinks like Gatorade have 28 g of sugar per 20-ounce bottle. If you want to cut calories from your diet, skipping sugary beverages is an easy way to do it. Drink this instead: Water. I know it's not as flashy as a flavored drink, but those empty grams of sugar and calories are not worth it. And no, water does not include vitamin water. A 20-ounce Glaceau Vitamin Water has 32 g of sugar.
GRANOLA BARS. When you're on a health kick and decide to spend your Saturday morning hiking instead of sleeping in, the No. 1 snack that gets tossed into your backpack is a granola bar, right? Sitting on top of that mountain with the sun shining and sweat beading off your face gets even better when you bite into that satisfying snack. Yet that "healthy" bar isn't as good for you as you might think. Eat this instead: Reach for a graham cracker with some all natural peanut butter.
1. The Enthusiastic Stranger--The enthusiastic stranger wants to chat with you so much that he or she will ask about your hobby, your occupation, the name of your pet, your parents, where you like to go on your next vacation and so on. He or she will just keep on to a point of freaking out. Best way to deal is to block them.
2. The "Everyday is Bad Day" Ranter--Don't let negative people bring you down. The ranter will always complain about everything; negativity can make your mood sour. So, avoid the ranter as much as possible. You can help them if you can but try not be affected by them in the process.
3. The Anonymous Stalker--The more advanced technology gets, the more often online stalking will be. We've heard people saying that social media means we are more open now, but you still have to keep a little bit of privacy and space for yourself.
4. The Shadow Backstabber--Hidden in the shadow of anonymity, your co-worker might wait patiently for the chance for you to air your dirty laundry and ran about work on social media. And once you do that, the backstabbing will start!
5. The "Why You Didn't Like my Posts" Dude--You won't die if people don't like your page, your posts, your tweets, your pins and updates on social media. Don't be too obsessed or addicted over the social media thingy. Move on with life!
6. The Announcer of Literally Everything--Sometimes we do get people saying these on social media: "Hi all, I am now at the barber."; "Wow, I just woke up from sleep!"; "I bought a pen! Cool right?"; "Hey friends, you know what? Lisa fell down and has a small bruise on her knees!" If the story or content is exciting, new and interesting, it's okay to tell the world. But if it's boring and uninteresting, try not to overdo it.
7. The Hard Selling "Friend"--Understand that sometimes it is difficult to reject a friend; but if the friend has the intention of profiting from you, then he or she cannot be a true friend. This is because a true friends will never hard sell anything to one another; so, just ignore these hard selling people online.
8. The Ruthless Critic--Avoid the ruthless critics. They are the dream killers who can affect your mood and advancement negatively. However, it's okay to accept constructive criticism but not unreasonable criticism which looks more like a personal attack then a kind opinion and advice from a friend.
5 Foods That Will Fight The Morning Blahs from askmen.com
Steel-cut oatmeal with egg whites
You need some fatigue-fighting food to start your day off and to make sure you have enough energy to carry you through the morning, and you really can't go wrong with some steel-cut oats and egg whites. The steel-cut oats slowly digest in the body, so they will break down over time rather than all at once. In addition to this, the egg whites will provide protein to the meal, which further reduces the release of glucose into the blood from the oatmeal.
Whole grain crackers with almond butter
As midmorning rolls around, it's important to feed your body again to carry your energy levels through the morning and into lunch. To prevent that midmorning slump, top off your tank with some fatigue-fighting foods like whole grain crackers smeared with almond butter. Whole grain crackers digest more slowly than a cereal bar would and the healthy snack provides a long-lasting form of energy.
Salmon spinach salad with an apple
Moving on to lunch, think lower carbs and higher protein. Many people overload with carbohydrates, which leads to a significant energy crash come their gym session. If you find you always come back from lunch wishing you could take a siesta, that's a sure sign you're overdoing carbohydrates. Instead, go with protein that contains omega-3 fatty acids, such as grilled salmon. Serve this over spinach, which provides a hit of iron, and you have an energy-packed plate in front of you. Since you still should take in a small amount of carbohydrates to set you up for the workout period, toss an apple in for dessert.
Protein shake and a banana
About half an hour before you're finished work and plan to leave for the gym, it's time to get another dose of protein with some carbohydrates. Depending on your overall diet strategy, you may want to toss in about half a cup of raw oats into the shake for a slower-digesting form of carbohydrates. Pair this with a banana for a faster source of carbohydrates to fuel your upcoming workout. Bananas are also a great source of potassium, which will also really help to get your muscles ready for exercise.
Steak with a brown-rice-stuffed pepper
For your evening meal, you don't want to entirely cut down on carbohydrates unless you didn't train that day, as you still need them to increase the muscle storage of energy. The trick is choosing carbohydrates that are more complex in nature so they don't spike and crash your blood sugar levels, leaving you feeling very fatigued throughout the later evening.
No rest for the wicked By taking the time to properly plan your daily meals you can be sure that you're eating foods that are going to deliver a steady stream of energy and keep you from feeling fatigued. The trick is to avoid processed options as much as possible and instead choose foods that are natural and that slow the digestion process.
10 Random Things Every Mother Knows from thefrisky.com
1. What to do when you’re sick. Moms spring into action the moment a tummy ache is reported or a fever detected, which is why we’re still not too proud to give our moms a call when we’re feeling crappy.
2. How to tell if you’re actually sick. That being said, they also have the uncanny ability to know if that tummy ache is legit. Whether you’re faking sick to miss a test or faking health to go to a party, moms always know what’s up and will send you to school or bed accordingly.
3. Where all the shoe sales are. Need a new pair of pumps but don’t want to pay full price? Call your mother.
4. How to touch or smell pretty much anything without getting grossed out. Poopy diapers? Slumber party flu outbreak? Dead mouse in the basement? No problem. Mom can handle it.
5. French braiding. We’re still trying to master the ponytail; meanwhile our moms were the original gangstas of french braiding.
6. What’s really bothering you. You can dance around it. You can actively evade it. But your mom will always know exactly what’s troubling you.
7. If you’re up to something. This goes for childhood mischief as well as adolescent rebellion. As sneaky as you think you are, nothing gets past Mom.
8. How to multitask like a freakin’ superhero. Folding laundry while making dinner while conducting a conference call while updating the family calendar while putting a bandage on a scraped elbow? All in a day’s work.
9. When you’re PMSing. Somehow our moms are always more aware of our cycles than we are, and they’re not afraid to point it out.
10. Everything that you do when her back is turned or whisper on the other side of the house. Moms see and hear everything. We used to pretend this was annoying, but we’ve always secretly thought it was pretty cool–just more proof that moms are magical!
I'm on to something here.....Lineatabs does work! I use it and was excited to have them on my tv show, Colorado and Company. They show a demo to show how it works, check out video below
16 Ways To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half from money talk news
1. Buy discounted meat, poultry and fish What most of us do is create a menu, then go to the store and buy the ingredients. A better way might be to plan our menus around what’s on sale. One of my local grocery stores, Publix, puts different cuts and types of meats on sale every week. Grab what’s on sale. If it’s your favorite, stock up.
2. Eliminate soda and sugary drinks Not only is this good for your health, it’s good for your wallet. Last year, a Gallup poll showed that nearly half of Americans drink soda every day. Stick to water whenever possible; it’s nearly free. Need more variety? Buy powdered drink mixes or tea and make it yourself.
3. Opt for whole instead of cut produce A container of fruit salad at my grocery store can cost $5. But when I buy the fruits separately and slice them myself, the same money will pay for a week’s worth. Slicing fruit isn’t rocket science.
4. Try Meatless Monday Monday isn’t a requirement, but consider joining the Meatless Monday movement. Less meat can mean less fat, clearer arteries and lower expenses. If you can’t imagine a meal not centered on meat, look online for recipes. There are thousands upon thousands.
5. Buy only food Do you grab home essentials at the grocery store, where laundry detergent and deodorant cost more? You’re paying extra for convenience. Stores like Walmart and Walgreens have much better deals.
6. Make your own snacks Cheez-Its, Goldfish and all manner of snacks are a quick pick, but they add up when you check out. Pack lunches and after-school snacks with fresh fruit, carrots or homemade granola, and you’ll lower your calories and spending. Strung out on Goldfish? You can make them yourself.
7. Visit farmers markets Big-box grocers offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but variety doesn’t translate to inexpensive. Visit your local farmers market, which may be less expensive, or go straight to the farm.
8. Buy generic From flour to salt to pasta, you can save 30 percent or more with store brands. This works for practically everything on your grocery list. But even if you hate generics, it’s hard to argue it’s worth paying more for these seven things.
9. Make more If you’re stocking up on meat and veggies, why not cook extra? Roast a chicken with veggies at the beginning of the week and use leftovers for chicken salad, tacos or a pasta dish. Stretch your meals.
10. Make essentials yourself When it comes to staples like bread, pasta sauce, soups and stock, save by making them yourself. There won’t be any mysterious or unpronounceable ingredients, and you can create the flavors you prefer.
11. Make lists — lots of them I use Wunderlist for my grocery list, and share it with other members of my household. They can add items when we run out, and it means I don’t have to be the pantry police. I build my list from my meal plan for the week, which is based on what’s on sale and what I already have on hand.
12. Shop more often This may sound counterintuitive, especially for busy families. But buying less more often can save money in the long run. I go grocery shopping two or three times a week rather than making one big trip every other week. I buy the freshest products, which are consumed before they go bad, reducing food waste.
13. Grow your own Whether it’s on your apartment patio or in your backyard, you can grow your own herbs, vegetables and possibly fruit. See how to start your own garden.
14. Clip coupons Look through weekly circulars, grab the Sunday newspaper, and look online for coupons. Stack manufacturer’s coupons with store sales. Ask if your store will price match.
15. Clean out your kitchen Take inventory so you can see what you need and what you have on hand to work with. This is especially important for your refrigerator, where items can get lost in the back or leftovers can be forgotten.
16. Don’t waste money on organic Some shoppers swear by organic and others think it’s unnecessary. But there are two things we can all agree on: It normally costs more, and there are some items for which the potential benefit is minimal. For example, fruits with protective skins we don’t eat, like bananas and avocados, are much less likely to be affected by pesticides.
After The Boston Marathon Explosions: What parents should do first from boston.com
First of all, give your kids a hug. And your partner. Call your mother. Call anyone and everyone you love and make sure they know you love them. Don't wait another second. The world is a tenuous place, and those we love are more important than anything.
Second, shut off the television. It's hard not to stay glued to the television, especially since we are waiting or answers and are wondering how this will affect our lives in the days to come. But shut it off--it's too much, and too disturbing, for young eyes. Get your information from your laptop and smart phone instead.
Tell your children what happened. They need to hear it from you. Keep it big picture; no need for gory details.
Answer their questions honestly. Again, skip the gory details.
Reassure children that terrible things like this are very rare. Usually, Copley Square and other public places and events are safe.
Talk about all the ways that you and other people work to keep them safe. These conversations might just help you, too.
Talk about the heroes. There will be more stories in the days to come. Those are the stories to concentrate on; it can help your children, and give them inspiring and empowering role models.
In the days to come, find ways to help. Maybe it's donating to the Red Cross. Maybe it's writing condolence letters. There will be ways to show that you care, and to make a difference...look for them.
Tax Day Freebies from Dealnews.com, the Sun Sentinel and Passion For Savings (participating local restaurants only)
Arby’s is giving away value-sized curly fries or a small order of potato cakes with a printable coupon.
Cinnabon is offering two free Cinnabon Bites on April 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Schlotzsky’s is giving away the original small sandwich with the purchase of a 32-ounce drink and chips.
7-Eleven is providing a medium Slurpee for free when you text “Slurp7? to “711711? (ends April 30).
The Melting Pot is giving away a second portion of cheese fondue when you buy one portion.
Subway’s deal: Buy one 6-inch sandwich before 9 a.m., get a second one for free (ends April 30).
Chili’s is giving you a free appetizer or dessert when you “like” its Facebook page.
AMC Theaters is giving away popcorn from Friday, April 12, through Monday, April 15.
Great American Cookies is offering a free birthday cake cookie.
Pinkberry is giving away Pinkberrygreek yogurt from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday until April 24.
Panda Express is giving away a free Samurai surf & turf entree on April 17, the Wednesday after tax day,
HydroMassage will give you a free massage (even if you come a little after tax day).
Office Depot will give you a black and white copy of your tax return and shred five pounds of your incriminating documents for free.
Chik Fil A: Make a purchase on 4/15, bring your receipt back on 5/13 to get a full refund. (Participating locations only, call ahead)
Sonic: 1/2 Price Drinks all day on April 15th
Bruegger’s Bagels: Get a Big Bagel Bundle for $10.50 (Valid 4/12 – 4/15) You’ll find the coupon on Bruegger’s Facebook page starting on April 12.
Taco Bell: $1 Grillers, Drinks, Sparklers and Freezes anytime from 2-5 PM
Bonefish Grill: $5 Bang Bang Shrimp from 4 p.m. to closing on Monday.
Boston Market: Tax Day "Rib-Bate" offers two rib meals for $10.40 on Monday. No coupon is necessary. Plus, enter to win one of 1,040 free rib dinners and get $1-off coupon.
Hallmark: Send a free, personalized and animated Tax Day e-card.
McDonald's: Buy one Big Mac and get another for a penny at participating South Florida restaurants on Monday.
Outback Steakhouse: Free Bloomin' Onion on Monday when you mention Ryan Newman, who placed in Saturday's NASCAR race.
Olympia Beer is offering 1,000,000 to anyone who can prove Big Foot exists, do you think my video is good enough? Link below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzEsHWnzxZY
Oysters Raw oysters are the richest dietary source of zinc, which not only improves blood flow but also fuels testosterone production. When testosterone levels drop, so do your performance and your libido
Watermelon The summer fruit is high in citrulline, which—like that little blue pill—stimulates nitric-oxide production and increases blood flow to your man junk.
Dark Chocolate This treat is loaded with flavonoids that dilate your arteries. Eat about 1.6 ounces of dark chocolate (about the size of a regular Hershey's bar) daily—that's the amount researchers at the University of California found improved blood-vessel dilation by more than 10 percent.
Cherries Studies show that flavonoids in red, blue, and purple berries cleanse free radicals from arteries, relaxing them and improving blood flow.
Garlic This allium vegetable boosts blood flow to the penis by increasing nitric-oxide production and relaxing blood vessels.
10 Crazy Tax Deductions the IRS Allows from Fox News
Pet food ... Cat food was allowed as a tax deduction after the felines helped to clean up a junkyard by eliminating snakes and rats, which in turn made the place of business safer. As a result, the IRS lawyers allowed the cost of cat food to be deducted for that family.
Moving the family pet ... Moving to a new home as the result of a job change can afford you some tax liberties, specifically when it comes to the cost of moving a family pet. TurboTax says "your pet — be it a Pekingese or a python — is treated the same as your other personal effects."
A trip to Bermuda ... TurboTax also says that business trips to conventions held in Bermuda are deductible. Even more, people claiming that deduction do not have to show that there was a special reason for the meeting to be held there, according to TurboTax. Additionally, the TurboTax blog says similar tax benefits apply in Barbados, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. "Meetings held in Canada, Mexico and all U.S. possessions also receive this favorable tax treatment," TurboTax says. "Attend a convention in Paris, Rome or Beijing, though, and there's no deduction unless you can show it made as much sense to travel abroad as to head to Pittsburgh."
Body oil ... The tax court also ruled that a professional bodybuilder could deduct the costs of the body oil he used in competitions to make his muscles glisten, but deductions for buffalo meat and special vitamin supplements were denied.
A private airplane ... One couple was able to write off the costs for their private plane because it was used to check on their rental condo. However, the court stipulated that the plane , including the cost of fuel and depreciation, could be deducted only for trips related to flights to their condo for the portion of time used for business-related purposes.
Breast augmentation ... A stripper named "Chesty Love" was able to deduct the cost of her breast augmentation surgery since the tax court judge ruled that the cost of her operation could be claimed as a business expense.
Landscaping costs ... Business owners who operate out of a home office are allowed to deduct a portion of the costs for landscaping and some home repairs, including driveway repairs, according to TurboTax.
Free beer ... One gas station owner was able to deduct the cost of beer as a business expense after he gave free beer instead of trading stamps for a promotion.
Swimming pool ... A person was allowed to deduct the cost of his pool due to the fact the patient had been told by a doctor to develop an exercise regiment to help his emphysema. "The Tax Court allowed him to deduct the cost of the pool (to the extent that the cost exceeded its added value to the property) as a medical expense because its primary purpose was for medical care," TurboTax said. "Also, the cost of heating the pool, pool chemicals and a proportionate part of insuring the pool area were treated as medical expenses."
A girlfriend .. One person who owned several rental properties was able to deduct his live-in girlfriend who managed the properties. "The Tax Court let him deduct $2,500 of the $9,000 he paid her. The disallowed portion was considered to be for nondeductible personal services," TurboTax says.
10 Weird Easter Traditions From Around The World from www.Mirror.co.uk
1. Surely the strangest Easter custom takes places in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, where there is a tradition of spanking or whipping women on Easter Monday. Males throw water at females and spank them with handmade whips made of willow and decorated with ribbons at the end. The spanking is supposed to be symbolic and according to legend, females should be spanked in order to keep their health and beauty during the next year. It doesn’t sound too fun for the women!
2. In Finland, children dress up and go begging in the streets with sooty faces, carrying broomsticks. Sounds a bit like Halloween? In some parts of Western Finland they even burn bonfires on Easter Sunday. But there is no sign of Guy Fawkes. This tradition takes place to ward off witches flying around between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
3. On Maundy Thursday in Verges, in Spain, a traditional “death dance” is performed which involves a parade down the streets of the medieval town. Everyone involved is dressed in costumes and the procession ends with frightening skeletons carrying boxes of ashes. The scary dance begins at midnight and continues for three hours into the early morning.
4. If the man of the house in Poland takes part in preparing the traditional Easter bread, custom has it that his moustache will turn grey and the dough will fail. So the lucky man of the house is banned from helping out.
5. More than 4,500 eggs are used to cook up a giant omelette on the streets of Haux in France. The meal must feed up to 1,000 people and is prepared in the main square in time for lunch.
6. In Switzerland, villages turn their fountains into Easter Wells, using paper streamers, flowers and painted eggs to decorate them. The tradition takes place to celebrate the symbol of water, and its importance to the dry areas of the Alps.
7. In Germany the tradition is to create an Easter fire out of used Christmas trees from the winter. The fire is seen as a symbol of the victory for the beautiful and sunny spring over the cold days of winter. Perhaps we should start this tradition in freezing Britain!
8. In Latvia, the traditional Easter game played by the children is similar to conkers – but with eggs. Players pair off and use hard-boiled colored eggs joined together with string. Competitors bang the ends of the eggs together until one player’s egg breaks. The winner is the player with the stronger egg. It sounds a bit messy to us.
9. The Easter bunny is the most popular symbol of Easter thanks to the Americans, but over in Australia they prefer to use their native marsupial, the Bilby. This is due to the fact that the rabbit has destoyed their land, crops and vegetation. No wonder they don’t like the bunny!
10. Britain actually does have some unusual traditions of its own. At the Hocktide festival in Hungerford, the town’s new police constable blows his horn to call all the men to the Hocktide Court in the town hall. Two men are then elected and parade through the streets giving women oranges in return for kisses. We wonder how they decide which men get to do that!
