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Archive for March 23rd, 2009

Back tracking a little bit tonight by offering a recap of one of the best, if not THE best, shows performed at the Stanley Theatre in Utica, NY. Those are strong words but in all honesty, the show by The National Acrobats of China was fantastic.  *Pictures were not allowed. The following images were from the Play Book.

Diablo Act

Diablo Act

The attendees were of all ages.  In fact, sitting next to me was a little boy, about 4 years old and he was mesmerized by every Act.  The show was two hours long! 

The Acts included:  Spinning Plates – this was amazing in that they could hold their arms up in position for as long as this was performed.   Contortion – this gave me the “hee-bee-gee-bees”.  A person’s body should not be put in those formations!  Leather straps – an act of strength.  Hoop Diving – as high as four hoops,  over 7′ in the air.  Aerial Silk – a woman performing acrobatic tricks on hanging silks.  Grand Acrobatics and Martial Arts – A myriad of balancing, tumbling, etc. Truly amazing! 

After the intermission, this highly energized group of performers went on to juggle straw hats, balance on benches, use diablos and russian bars and somersault on each others feet.  They used bicycles in AMAZING ways!  

Bicycle Act

Bicycle Act

All that made to look so easy!  Why can’t we do this at home?!!!

Monday Eats

Tonight was a salmon burger for Joanne.  Ted had a craving for pork loin so that was his project.  As for the salmon burger, here is the recipe: These are VERY tender and will fall apart easiy.

  • 6 oz Chicken of The Sea Pink Salmon
  • 1 TBS each of the following: minced onion, whole grain dijon mustard, lemon juice, chopped sundried tomatoes (packed in oil)
  • 1/8 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1/3 cup egg whites
  • 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill TVP (a whole protein, no fat)
  • 1 TBS grated cheese of choice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper

Mix salmon, onion, mustard, lemon, tomatoes, rosemary and egg whites together.

Mix TVP, cheese, salt and pepper together then add to salmon and mix well.

Heat 1 TBS olive oil in saute pan on medium high.  Scoop salmon out in a ball and put in pan, flatten.  Keep forming the patty while cooking.  Cook 4 – 5 minutes first side then CAREFULLY turn over, reduce heat to medium and finish for 4 minutes.  Serve with ZUKAY Dill Relish.

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My dinner had to be easy and quick because there was some prep work to do for tomorrow nights dinner which you will see posted on Thursday and there was some prep work to do for two cake orders due by the end of the week.  More birthdays. What fun!

Speaking of birthdays and fun, the cake that was delivered on Saturday was a sweet success. Here is the review (blowing one’s own horn…Snowflake with trumpet:11211)

This was the subject cake:

Guitar Cake

Guitar Cake

This cake was a yellow cake with cheese cake filling. That is LITERALLY, a cheese cake sandwiched between two cake layers.  The purpose is to satisfy the cheesecake lover as well as the cake lover.  Of course we have frosting lovers who will not eat the cake, sometimes go for the center but most often eat off the frosting: sides, top and, if the frosting IS in the middle, that goes too.

Here is the most wonderful compliment from one of my favorite cake loving families (they are official cake connoisseurs)…

“…..it was a HUGE hit!

We loved that the graham cracker crust was in the cake too – and Miguel loved the guitar and palm tree theme.  

Thank you SOOOO much.  Bonnie

Here, Bonnie offers a picture of the cake center showing the cheese cake center, crumb base and all:

Eating of a Cheesecake - CAKE

Eating of a Cheesecake - CAKE

That picture is terrific because when Apple Crumbles takes cake pictures, the center OBVIOUSLY cannot be shown.

On to play with decorations for cakes. Have a great night!

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POM a-licious

Thursday March 19th, a wonderful box arrived in the mail.  It was a complementary box of POM. You have heard of it. You’ve seen it. It is in those very interesting shaped bottles:  POM WONDERFUL.

POM. POM. EVERYWHERE
POM. POM. EVERYWHERE

This package of eight 8oz 100% Juice Bottles deserved some research. There had already been some background work done on this tasty beverage by this blogger because it was used in place of squeezing enough juice (about 15 pomegranates for 1 oz of juice) to make a cake in the Apple Crumbles blog of February 28th

Since eight bottles of this tasty beverage were received, it was deserving of much more attention than the two residents at this site could offer.  The following was a survey conducted recruiting six different tasters.  

5 Tasters ages 45 to 55.  1 Taster age 20 – 30.
  • 100 % liked it
  • 100% said “not too sweet”
  • 3 tasters said “I like it better than cranberry juice”
  • 1 taster said “It’s “different” tasting, but in a good way”
  • 2 tasters asked the price…”is it expensive?”
  • 1 taster said “initially it’s a little bitter, but then it has a clean, refreshing aftertaste”

In regards to the question: “is it expensive?”, we found that a local grocery chain, Hannafords Supermarkets sells it in 16 oz bottles for $3.99.  Not too bad for top quality juice.

POM feed back is also offered at a fellow blogger’s site 365HealthyEats. Danielle has found wonderful ways to enjoy her POM.
Additional Research Results
  • 100% authentic pomegranate juice. No fillers, sugars, preservatives – it’s flash pasteurized.
  • The “Wonderful” is a pomegranate variety and it is used for this juice because of its proven health benefits.
  • History has revered the pomegranate as a symbol of health, fertility and rebirth.
  • Drinking 8 oz of POM Wonderful daily offers cardiovascular health benefits, reducing arterial plaque, blood flow improvement, lower incidence of LDL oxidation (a factor in the arterial plaque buildup). It offers prostate health benefits and is a superior source of antioxidants.
  • Although it is NOT organic, it is Kosher.

Additional information found at WISEGEEK:

  • A glass of pomegranate juice offers 40% of the US Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C.
  • It has shown to work as a blood thinner and promotes blood flow to the heart.
  • Results show its ability to raise “good” levels of cholesterol and lowering bad levels.
  • Good for the skin.
  • May act as an inhibitor on enzymes responsible for damaging cartilage.

Some people have offered the following findings:

  • May have laxative effects.  But some say it cured diarrhea.
  • Good for skin, body, face.
  • A pick-me-up when tired (might not want to drink before bedtime, although at POM Wonderful they say it is great for relaxing).
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Decreased swelling experienced in ankles.
  • 15-16 pomegranates to get 1 oz of juice.

At Apple Crumbles, we had it in cake.

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We had it in protein shakes.

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We had it by the glass

 

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As a fitness enthusiast, always in search of healthy ways to compliment my diet, POM WONDERFUL has found a place on my preferred beverage list. 🙂

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