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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Futon living

Guest post written by Scott Price

I thought that dorm room beds were bad, but that was until I found myself sleeping on a futon for months.

But I didn't just sleep on one for my own fun. When I first moved to New York, the person who lived in my apartment before had just left a futon. Money wasn't exactly flowing then so I put off buying a bed for a while and just slept on the futon. After all, it had a really thick mattress. So I got on my CLEAR wireless internet service and looked on Craigslist to se if anyone was trying to give a mattress away in the area. I had no luck for a couple of weeks but then my friend who had been living a few blocks away for about a year told me she was moving to Brooklyn so she was just going to leave her bed and mattress behind. But when I told her my situation she let me have the mattress and we recruited two other friends to help us move it the three blocks.

Needless to say, it was a relief to get to sleep in a real bed again and not pay for it.

New Paris Restaurant - PJ, Malaysia

My family back home in Malaysia eats out almost everyday. Both my parents work and ever since my grandmother (she was the one that used to cook for us everyday) passed away more 10 years ago, we have been more or less eating out every day. You can imagine the headache of trying to figure out where to go to for dinner, every evening. There are times when we don't even know where to go to anymore. However, there are a few restaurants that the whole family enjoys eating at and New Paris in SS2 is one of them. In fact, we go there so often, it's like an extension of our kitchen! :P
Paris Restaurant started off as a humble little shack, selling super yummy home cooked dishes and rice. The food was good, the price was affordable and the service was really fast. It soon became really popular and they expanded from that little shack to their current location. Hence the new name - New Paris Restaurant. New Paris today is no longer a humble little shack. In fact, it's far from that. Taking up four shop lots and I believe four stories high, they definitely have come a long way. However, a few things still remain. Their good food and really fast service. They really put a new meaning to 'fast food'. I have no idea how they do it but you can see dishes just coming out from the kitchen at lightning speed! :D Totally amazing.
One of our favorite dishes from New Paris is their Home Made Tofu (RM12 = US$3.90). It is one of their signature dishes and a favorite among their regulars. Silky home made tofu deep fried and then topped with some soy sauce and minced meat. Very very yummy. As a little girl, Ashley would only eat this, whenever we go to New Paris. It was her absolute favorite dish! I believe it is still one of her favorite dishes up til today.
The Chinese believe that in every meal, there must be a balance. A little bit of meat, a little bit of vegetable and a little bit of rice. This is the mandatory vegetable dish. Truthfully, I am not really into vegetables (I am currently trying my best to grow to like them more and more :P). However, I totally love this vegetable dish. Stir Fried Spinach with Garlic (RM9 = US$2.90). A simple but yet flavorful dish. Another family favorite.
Ahhhh another 'must order' whenever we have dinner at New Paris. Their curries totally rock! We would usually order vegetable curry but today, we ordered Fish Curry with Vegetables (RM25 = US$8) instead. Really really good. It comes piping hot in a metal bowl. Large chunks of fish with green beans, eggplant, okra and onions. I could eat this everyday, its so good. All I need is a bowl of rice and some of this curry. That would make me a very happy girl!
Now, this is the main attraction! Deep Fried Pork Knuckles (RM38 = US$12.30) with a side of plum sauce. Check out the crispy skin! It's so so sinfully good. Of course we do not order this everyday (really high in fat content and pretty unhealthy). It's so good, I only wish that we could though. Unless of course we are all looking to get a heart attack from clogged arteries in the near future, this dish is only ordered occasionally as a special treat. I highly recommend this dish and it's one of my all time favorite dishes in New Paris.
Mmmm mmmm mmmmmm, look at all the empty dishes. There are rarely any leftovers whenever we go to New Paris. It's not because their servings are small (on the contrary, actually) but it's because their food is oh so good! Our dinner for 5 people came up to a total of RM102.40 (approx US$33). Not too bad at all, considering that we had a huge serving of pork knuckle and curry fish. Oh I love new Paris, oh yes I do!


New Paris Restaurant - PJ, Malaysia
62-64 Jalan SS2/72,
47300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: (603) 7955 9180, 7955 0186

Start Movin' with PlayStation®Move!

* This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.
I've always wanted a PlayStation system when I was growing up. Who didn't? All the cool kids had PlayStation systems in their homes. I remember the pure joy when I finally bought myself my first PlayStation when I was in college. Oh, the hours of fun I had with my friends. As I grew older, I somewhat lost interest in gaming. Yeah, I do play a few games here and there but I think the idea of sitting in front of the TV for hours without moving or getting any exercise (except my thumbs!) didn't really appeal anymore. I was really stoked when I recently heard about the new PlayStation Move. That's exactly what I have been waiting for! Looks like it's time I rekindle my love with PlayStation!


What's PlayStation Move exactly? Well, PlayStation Move is an extension of the PlayStation 3 system that redefines motion gaming with the most immersive and realistic gaming experience. It is a combination of the PlayStation®3 system, the PlayStation®Eye camera and the PlayStation®Move motion controller. The simple, ergonomically designed, easy-to-use controller captures a full range of motion giving you ultimate control over how you play the game. Sounds interesting but how does it work? The motion gaming technology is housed in the pairing of the motion controller and the eye camera. The sphere at the end of the motion controller allows the eye camera to pinpoint your every movement and position within the room. This tracking is then translated into gameplay.Cool!

It would be so awesome if we had the PlayStation Move in our household. Just imagine all the fun we would have in the evenings and weekends. Not only is it fun to play, it also helps use stay fit with all that moving. Now, who says exercise is not fun. It will also be great when we have friends over for game nights. No more boring board games for us! Being rather competitive in nature, I bet both Kevin and I would love the Sports Champions game. It allows you and your friends to physically engage in an array of competitive sporting activities as you go head to head in six events. Nice! Another game that I look forward to playing is Get Fit with Mel B. It's a comprehensive fitness and nutrition program created by Sporty Spice herself!

With Christmas being just around the corner, this would be a perfect gift for both kids as well as adults. For only $99 with the MOVE bundle package, you can bring motion gaming exclusively to your existing PlayStation 3. Go ahead, stock up before it's sold out (cos we all know that everybody would want to get one this season!). Start movin' with PlayStation Move today!


Visit my sponsor: PlayStation®Move

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Spinach Stuffed Cod with Mushroom and Feta Cheese

I had some really thick cod fillets sitting in my freezer the other day. So, I decided to try out this new recipe that I downloaded off the Internet. The recipe was actually for spinach stuffed flounder, so I made a few changes to it and made it my own. It turned out to be really yummy, so I have decided to share it with all of you.
Start off by heating some olive oil in a pan. Then, add in some minced garlic and saute until it turns to a light shade of brown. As soon as it starts to change color, add in some sliced Crimini mushrooms (also known as baby bella mushrooms). Mix the mushrooms with the minced garlic and allow it to cook.
Once the mushrooms have soften, add in a few big bunches of spinach. Be very careful when you do this. As soon as the wet spinach hits the very hot oil, it's bound to splatter! Stir fry the spinach with the mushrooms and garlic until it's wilted.
Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle some crumbled feta cheese onto the spinach mixture. Gently stir in the feta cheese and your stuffing mixture is done!
Now, it's time to prep the fish. I premarinated my cod fillets with some of Chef Paul Prudhomme's Magic Seafood Seasoning Blend a few hours before. You can pretty much use any seafood seasoning that you like or just some old fashioned salt and pepper. It is important that you use a thick fillet, so that you can butterfly the fillet in the middle. Then, place it onto a lightly greased baking pan.
Then, stuff your cod fillet with the spinach stuffing that we made earlier. Cover the stuffing with the top half of the fillet. Gently poke a few toothpicks all the way through the fillets. This is to prevent the top part of the fillet from popping up while it's in the oven. Then, squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto your fillets and it's ready to go into the oven.
Pop it into a preheated 375F oven and allow it to bake for about 25-30 mins (depending on your oven). Remember not to over cook your fillets. After 25 minutes, use a fork to check and see if it's done. If it flakes, it's done. Allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving. I served my stuffed cod with some dirty rice and steamed vegetables. Mmmm mmm mmmm, a healthy (not to mention yummy) dinner that is so easy to make!

Parent’s Choice Infant Formula is now on Walmart.com!

* This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I know that there are many new mommies (and daddies) and soon to be mommies and daddies out there who are frequent readers of this blog. I am not yet a mom myself but I was pretty concerned when I read about the recent Similac baby formula recall while surfing around CBS's Money Watch website earlier today. So, I figured I should share it with all of you.

For those of you who don't know, Similac's latest recall has been infuriating parents nationwide. Why the recall? Well, Abbott Laboratories warned the public that certain lots of Similac powdered baby formula may contain beetles or their larvae. Can you believe that! People pay a whole lot more money for branded formulas (as opposed to generic or store brand formula) and this is what they get? That's just outrages! Do you know that a 24 oz. can of Similac Advance is selling for $27 at a local pharmacy in New York City and you can get a store brand version for less than $16? I have always been told that we get what we pay for. Well, looks like it's not the case here. Parents who pay good money for branded formulas thinks that a name brand formula must be safer or offer their child a higher nutritional value than a generic version. That is so not true. According to the Infant Formula Act of 1980, all baby formula sold in this country must meet minimum nutrient requirements and FDA regulations. This makes all baby formulas pretty much the same. From what I see, the only reason why branded formulas are way more expensive is because they spend a whole lot more on marketing and advertising! If this is the case, then shouldn't we all switch to generic formula instead? Well, if I had a baby, I would!

If you are looking for a good formula to switch to, maybe you should check out Parent’s Choice Infant Formulas. Just like all national brands, this premium quality formula meets all FDA nutritional standards. Available in both powders as well as ready to feed formulas, it offers complete nutrition for babies from 0 – 12 months. It also comes in a range of formulas to address common feeding issues. Most parents have been buying this premium quality Parent’s Choice Infant Formulas in-stores but guess what? Now, you can find Parent’s Choice formulas on-line, ready-to-ship to home! You can purchase them in cases of 4-6 units and there is no additional charge for shipping! Sure beats having to carry all those cans of formulas home every time you go out shopping. Just head over to Walmart.com’s Baby Center and order yours today!


Visit my sponsor: Parent’s Choice Infant Formula now on Walmart.com

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Papaya Dog - Midtown West, NYC

Remember me blogging about bringing our friend Wendy to the Lindy's opposite Madison Square Garden for some NY cheesecake? After filling our tummies with those delicious cakes, we took her up to the Empire State Building Observation Deck for a bird's eye of view of Manhattan. I will blog about that later on (in our soon to be launched travel blog ;P). We spent quite a long time at the Empire State Building (lining up to get tickets, going through security...etc) and after we were done, it was time for another snack! So far, we have tried NY bagels, NY cheesecake....what's next? New York style hot dogs of course!
We initially wanted to take her to Papaya King (the original founder of NY style hot dogs) but the original branch is located all the way uptown and it's currently undergoing some renovations. Since Papaya Dog is located nearby the Empire State Building, we just decided to take her there. Here's a little bit of hot dog history. Papaya King is the original and in 1973, one of the employees of Papaya King came out and started his own hot dog company (Gray's Papaya). That was the start of the so called hot dog turf war. From Gray's Papaya, other similar hot dog companies emerged. Papaya Dog was one of them. Despite being relatively 'new' in the hot dog business, I can tell you that Papaya Dog is not lacking in the taste department. In fact, many people have commented that their dogs somewhat taste better than Papaya Kings!
Check out their menu. It consist basically of hot dogs, burgers, fries, nachos, knishes and chicken strips. Apart from food, they also offer the ever popular tropical fruit juices, sodas and water too. Just my kind of menu. Simple and delicious food that doesn't burn a hole in your pocket!
Mmm mmm mmmmm, those dogs look so yummy. The standard NY style hot dog uses Sabrett's natural casing all-beef frankfurter. Of course, they also have turkey dogs for those who do not like beef. You can also see their yummy plump corn dog to the left and toppings for the hot dog on the right.
After ordering our hot dogs, we headed over to Greeley Square Park to enjoy our food. Papaya Dog doesn't have any tables or chairs for dine in customers. Most people get their dogs to go. However, if you really want to sit down somewhere to enjoy your meal, table seating is available at Little Italy Pizza (a few doors away) for Papaya Dog customers. Since it was such a nice day, we preferred to eat our dogs out in the park instead of indoors at the pizza shop.
Wendy doesn't eat beef, so she ordered the Turkey Dog ($1.50). A NY style hot dog consist of a grilled frank served on a lightly toasted bun with sauerkraut, brown mustard and the ever popular red onion sauce that is unique to NYC dogs. I believe Wendy had her dog with everything on it.
Kevin and I shared the 2 Hot Dog Special ($3.99). We got two original beef frank hot dogs and a 16 oz Diet Coke. We didn't want any sauerkraut or brown mustard on ours, just the yummy red onion sauce! Mmm mmmm gooood! I am not exactly sure what is the secret recipe for the red onion sauce but I have been told that it's basically a concoction of onions, tomato paste, vinegar and some other secret ingredients. Whatever it is, they got it right. In my opinion, the red onion sauce is what makes the NY style hot dog the best hot dog in the whole country. So, the next time you are in the city, go pick up a hot dog or two. Ask for extra red onion sauce and trust me, that will definitely make your day! :D


Papaya Dog - Midtown West, NYC
33rd and 5th
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 627-9748

Mike & Molly

Thanks to Wm Rowe

Fall is by far my absolute favorite time of the year. There are so many different things that I love about fall, including the new fall line up on television. I always look forward to the new shows previewing in September and always hope that I can find a show that is a hit. One of the new shows premiering this fall that I am really looking forward to watching is Mike & Molly. I've seen a few previews on the channels I get with my satellite tv deals in Georgia and even read some reviews online, and by all indications it looks as if this show may be a keeper. My biggest draw to the show is the dry, sarcastic humor that is apparent in the previews of the show.

Mike & Molly shows the early stages of a relationship between a schoolteacher and a cop. It will be staring Melissa McCarthy, who is one of my favorite actresses. She had previously stared in Samantha Who and I absolutely loved her on that show. The couple meets at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting and continue their courtship. The first episode seems to show a funny, self-deprecating, dry sense of humor that I really love. Between the cast and the interesting story line and character relationships, I am hoping that this show will live up to my expectations.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Guess who is goin' to the Giants game this weekend?

Kevin and I are huge football fans. Sure, we like soccer. Baseball as well as hockey is cool too. However, we looveeeee football. Seriously, nothing comes close to football. Whenever football season comes around, you know where we will be every Sunday afternoon. That's right, in front of our TV, watching the game. We have always wanted to go watch a live Steelers game but getting tickets to a Steelers game is close to impossible (unless you are willing to pay really jacked up prices). Kevin's boss asked him a couple of weeks ago if we would like tickets to go watch a Giants game with him and his girlfriend at the new Meadowlands stadium. Like doh! Of course we would. Granted, it's not a Steelers game but the idea of getting to watch a live NFL game was just out of this world.
Look what Kevin brought home today! Yup, two tickets to the Giants vs Bears game for this weekend!! They are not just any tickets. They are Touchdown Club seats tickets. This babies cost $400 a piece! It comes with access to the club level lounge as well as premium parking. Boy, we are so excited. Not only do we get to go watch a live NFL game but we scored some really awesome tickets. Section 217, row 10. I went to the Giants stadium website and checked out the location of our seats. Wanna see how close we will be to the field?
Yup, that's pretty close!! I also love how we are right at the 10 yard line, so we can see all those touchdowns up close. So so so exciting. We will be meeting Brian and Lindsay (Kevin's boss and his gf) at the game. Since they are huge fans of the Chicago Bears, I bet it will be an interesting night. Six more days to the game....ohhhh, I can't wait!!!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Annual Harbor Inspection Dinner Cruise

We were fortunate enough to receive an invitation (Kevin representing APL and I, by default, since I'm his wife :P) from the Sandy Hook Pilots to their Annual Harbor Inspection Dinner Cruise on board Pilot Boat New York. The Harbor Inspection Dinner Cruise is an annual event organized by the Sandy Hook Pilots and it's a much looked forward to event among the people in the maritime industry. Since it's our first time attending this cruise, we really didn't know what to expect. We soon found out that most of the guest were pretty influential people in the maritime industry and have been in this business since forever (we were probably the youngest people on board :P). So, it was quite an honor to be invited for such an event.
We arrived at the Bayonne Passenger Terminal at around 4:30pm. Boarding starts at 4pm and they plan to set sail at 5pm. The security was rather tight. We had to show the security people our IDs and they had to copy down all our information and stuff before letting us into the terminal. This is because officially, you would need a TWIC (Transportation Workers Identification Credential) card before you are allowed inside the port. Since it was a special event, they made an exception (well, Kevin has a TWIC card, so no problems there) and allowed non TWIC card holders (other wives and myself! :P) to enter with just their regular IDs.
While waiting for all the guest to arrive, we helped ourselves to some pre dinner drinks and appetizers on the top deck. There was a rather wide selection of appetizers, from a buffet spread of cold cuts, cheese and breads to a seafood booth with extra large shrimp, clams and other seafood. There were also waiters walking around with trays of hor dourves (crab cakes, rice balls, canapes, meatballs...etc). Yummy stuff! The open bars were also stocked with top shelf liquors. Looks like they are not holding out on anything, nothing but the best :P
We were also told that we have an all access pass to anywhere on the boat. In fact, they encouraged us to explore and walk around. So, we did just that! Kevin took this picture of me from the pilot house. As you can see, we were still docked at that time.
We walked all over the boat, from the pilot house to the lowest deck, from the bow, all the way back to the stern. Here's Kevin checking out one of the rescue boats :P
The first time we went up to the pilot house, it was totally empty. When we realized that they have already pulled away from the dock, we headed up to the pilot house again. This time, we got to see all the radar and other equipment all fired up and also got to watch the crew doing their thing.
Unlike most other commercial harbor cruises, this particular cruise was a little bit different. Most of the tourist/commercial harbor dinner cruises would take you up and down the Hudson and East River, focusing mainly on the NYC skyline, Statue of Liberty and the bridges. This cruise took us around the various container terminals around the New York Harbor first and then it ended with the usual skyline/statue route. It was pretty interesting to see the terminals from a different angle, from the water. We managed to sail by Global, APM, PNCT and Maher Terminals. We also saw NYCT from a distance. Here is a picture of us sailing down Newark Bay, with PNCT Terminal on the right and Maher Terminal on the left.
By then, dinner was being served. So, we headed down below deck with the rest of the guest to the buffet line. Look at all the food! Fillet Mignon, Lamb Chops, Veal, Chicken, Fried Calamari...just to name a few. Yummy! :D
It was such a lovely evening to have dinner out in the open deck. With the beautiful sunset and cool breeze blowing, life couldn't get any better =) Check out the sun setting behind the Bayonne Bridge, with the NYCT Terminal in the background. The sunset was indeed amazing that day.
It started to get more and more chilly as the sun was setting. We decided to head down to the lounge in the lower deck to get some dessert and coffee. There were all kinds of desserts, from cannolis, cookies, cream puffs, danish pastries to brownies and tartlets. However, this cake was the main centerpiece. Check out the highlight of the night. This beautiful cake was made by Carlos, the Cake Boss himself! I was so excited when I found out about the cake. I am a super huge fan of the TV show "Cake Boss" and I have always wanted to try one of his cakes. At last, I had the opportunity to do so. It was a layer of yellow cake and a layer of chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting in the middle. What did it taste like? Well, truthfully...I was pretty disappointed. It was way too sweet and it really wasn't all that good. Oh well, at least it looked nice!
After our dessert, we headed back up to the top deck. I was glad that we did cause we could see that we were already on our way towards Manhattan. We could see the Manhattan skyline in the distance. If you look closely, you can see Lady Liberty on the far left, Jersey City, Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge on the far right.
There were also dancing and live music on the top deck. Since dancing is not really our thing, so we chose to just sit back, relax and just take in the beautiful lights and sights of Lower Manhattan. We took this picture while going up the East River. Part of the Financial District, Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building in the background. I can never get tired of the beautiful NYC skyline, no matter how many times I look at it. It's just so beautiful.
It was almost 9:30pm when we arrived back at the Bayonne Passenger Terminal. We had an awesome time on the cruise. The beautiful views, yummy food and most of all, getting the opportunity to meet some very interesting people. What a way to spend such a lovely evening. Now, let's keep our fingers crossed that they invite us again next year!!! :D

Friday, September 24, 2010

Going Hiking - Take The Cell Phone

Content by Kyle Lowe

If you share my enthusiasm about going hiking you will understand the feeling of hiking on a regular basis. Hiking is good for your physical body but it also is good to clear your head and keep your spirit in line with the life force around you.

One day I woke up and started to prepare for my hike. As I was leaving I set my home security alarm prior to going hiking. Living in New York you neve now what to expect, so I made sure to get a local Manhattan Adt security system. I clipped my cell phone on my belt and started to drive over to my friends Ken's house to pick him up. Ken always goes with me when I hike. It gives him something to do since his ex-wife took a hike on him with another man.

Just as I was getting to Ken's place my cell phone rings and it was my mother. I answered and she wanted to know if I could pick up my brother's medicine this afternoon. I said yes and hung up the phone. Ken and I drove to the store and got a few things for our hike. About half way through our hike my phone rings and I answer it. Once again it was my mother. She says to me...in her wisdom..."why do you take your cell phone with you when you hike?" So I said "Just in case you call me Mom."

Home Address Plaques, Signs and Such!

When I was growing up in Malaysia, my parents were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel quite a lot. My dad was heading the marketing department, hence his work sent him on many overseas trips. What I looked forward the most (apart form him actually being home) whenever he returned from a trip was the stuff that he would buy home. All kinds of 'new' and 'exciting' things that we have never seen before in Malaysia.

One of the things that I remembered him proudly bringing home one day was a personalized address plaque for our home. You see, back then, we didn't have many personalized items for sale in Malaysia. So yeah, it was a big thing. When we moved, I think they were pretty sad that we couldn't use those house address plaques anymore (obviously, since we now have a different address).

A few years ago, Kevin and I were in Bangkok and we saw a shop selling personalized address plaques. So, we made one for my parents. Unfortunately, the numbers started dropping off after a couple of months. I guess those were bad quality ones. I recently found a website online that offers all kinds of mailboxes, address plaques, address signs, personalized home and garden decor by Whitehall Products. Those are good high quality products and I am pretty sure they are made to last. Maybe I should make another address plague for my parents. What do you guys think?

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Simple Salisbury Steak

Both Kevin and I have always liked eating Salisbury Steak. In fact, it's one of my favorite dishes to order whenever we go to a diner. However, I have never gotten around to making it at home (should have tried it a long time ago!). I had some minced meat sitting around in my fridge a while ago, so I decided to search for it's recipe online. To my surprise, it turned out to be so easy to make! I changed the recipe around a bit (based on what I had in my pantry at that moment) and it turned out to be awesome! Here's how I make my version of the Salisbury Steak.
Start off by adding one extra large egg to a lbs of ground beef. Stir in the egg with the meat until it's evenly mixed.
Then, add in about 1/4 cups of milk. You can add in a little bit more, depending on how wet/dry the mixture is. I would usually just eyeball, when it comes to stuff like that.
After that, add in some Worcestershire sauce. I just love the taste of Worcestershire sauce. I pretty much use it for everything...burgers, steaks, chicken....etc :P Mix all the ingredients together.
Now, it's time to add in the dry ingredients. Mix in a packet of onion soup mix followed by some Italian breadcrumbs. If you do not have Italian breadcrumbs, regular ones will work too.
Once you have mixed all the ingredients together, it's time to get your hands dirty. Using your hands, just make sure that all the ingredients are nicely and evenly mixed. Then, separate the minced meat into 6 portions and form 6 large patties (there are only 4 patties in the picture cos I can't fit 6 into a plate :P). Remember to compact the meat together tightly, so that it doesn't break apart during cooking. You can sprinkle some breadcrumbs at the bottom of the plate to prevent the meat from sticking, if you like. Cover it with some plastic wrap and allow it to sit in the fridge for about an hour.
Now it's time to give our Salisbury Steak some color. Heat some oil in a pan on high heat. Then, add in the patties. I only cooked two (since it's only the two of us) patties and saved the other 4 patties for another day. I just had to put them between some wax paper, place them into a freezer bag and pop them into the freezer. So, you can pretty much make a large batch and keep the patties in the freezer for quite a long time. The purpose of pan frying the patties is just to give it color. You do not have to cook the meat all the way through. Once it's nicely browned on both sides, remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Using the same pan, we shall now make the sauce. Add in some chopped portobello mushrooms into the pan. Mix it around and make sure that you scrap off all the nice leftover brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
Once the mushrooms have soften a little, add in some brown gravy. I made the gravy by mixing some water with a packet of instant brown gravy mix. You can also use brown gravy that comes in a bottle or if you really really want to, you can make it from scratch. Mix it all together and all ow it to simmer.
Once the sauce have reduced a little, it is done. Arrange the meat patties on a lightly greased baking pan and then pour the sauce over. Cover it with aluminium foil and it's ready for baking.
Pop the baking pan into a preheated 375F oven and allow it to cook for about 35-45 minutes (depending on your oven). As you can see, I also had some baked potatoes in the oven. I placed the potatoes in the oven when I started making the sauce earlier. This way, both the Salisbury Steak and Baked Potatoes will be done at almost the same time. After about 40 minutes or so, the Salisbury Steak is done! I then sprinkled some fried onions on top and served it with a side of baked potato and some sweet corn. Another simple and uber yummy dinner!! :D

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Soft & Comfortable Worsted Wool Apparel

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rambler's Way Farm. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ah, today is officially the beginning of fall. Soon, the leaves will change it's color and it will be cold once again. This also means that it's time to pack away my summer clothes and bring out my warm clothing. As much as I love the cold weather, there is one thing I really dislike about it. Having to wear wool. Yes, they keep you warm but they are also really heavy, hot and sometimes itchy too. I really hate how it rubs against my skin. I was surfing the Internet, trying to look for an alternative to wool when I chanced upon Rambler's Way's website.

Looks like I stumbled into something that will change my perception of wool forever! You see, Rambler's Way makes comfortable next-to-skin soft worsted wool apparel. Unlike regular wool, their worsted wool garments are soft and lightweight. Not only that, they are also natural, non-synthetic, and chemical-free! It comes pre washed and enzyme-treated for shrinkage. The best part about it is that warms and cools equally. This means that I can wear it all year round! Rambler's Way apparel are 100% American, from getting the wool from sheep farms all across America to designing and manufacturing the garments in New England and The Carolinas. They are definitely not those cheap "Made in China" products.

I was looking through their products and saw the Women's Next-to-Skin Cross Neck Long Sleeve Top. It looks so comfortable and soft! I just have to get it. I love how the 'S' curve seems provide a sleek and flattering fit. You can wear it as a top, over other garments or under other garments. It is also really versatile. Since it's light, comfortable and natural, it's a perfect garment for exercising. Throw on a casual cardigan or sweater and you are ready to hit the malls. Want to look good for that all important meeting with a big client? Just put it on with your power suit and you are set to go! It's great! They also made apparel for men. I bet Kevin would love the Cross Neck Short Sleeve Shirt as well as the Boxer Briefs. You should go check out Rambler's Way and pick out a few garments for yourself!



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