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The Holidays Have Begun

The holidays have officially begun!

Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday season, and if our Thanksgiving is any indication of how our holidays will be…we are in for a delightful holiday season! This year, we had planned to have a quiet Thanksgiving at home…just the three of us, but then the family of one of our daughter’s friends invited us to join them!

My daughter and I returned from vacation Wednesday night. After a four hour flight home, I ran a few errands and unpacked one of my two bags before watching a recorded episode of The Young and The Restless (Chance Chancellor is alive!) and crawling into bed. It’s the flight that makes me tired. I just can’t sleep on the plane, so all that time just sitting makes me weary.

But I awoke bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on Thanksgiving morning, because I got plenty of sleep. We weren’t due at the friends’ house till five in the afternoon, so I had plenty of recovery time…time to catch up with some friends and family by phone (after the vacation) and time to put together the only thing we were contributing to the meal…a buttermilk pie for dessert. (I will post the recipe at the end, if you’re interested.)

I have written before about Thanksgiving and how it’s not my favorite holiday. I have always thought it was overrated. I have several friends who say Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday (Maureen, I’m looking at you), but I’ve never felt the same way. However, after yesterday, I had a change of heart. I realized we just weren’t doing it right! Yep…I no longer think Thanksgiving is overrated, because we had a great time with our new friends! We talked, we laughed, we dined…and I even enjoyed the turkey! Just like I’ve always thought Thanksgiving is overrated, I’ve felt the same about turkey, but I must have been eating the wrong turkey, because last night, our hostess prepared a delicious turkey…and our daughter’s very favorite macaroni and cheese.

In fact, the macaroni and cheese was one of the topics of conversation. Our daughter has never eaten macaroni and cheese…no matter how hard I tried to get her to eat it over the years, she would always put her foot down and refuse. But one night, she came home from this friend’s house and declared that she loved his mom’s macaroni and cheese! A breakthrough! After that, I offered to make macaroni and cheese for dinner, and she informed me that the only mac and cheese she likes is the friend’s mom’s mac and cheese. After having it last night, I understand…the mac and cheese was divine! In fact, everything was great…especially the company!

So I no longer think Thanksgiving is overrated. At the age of 54, I have discovered that Thanksgiving is fun! I think it’s a time to bring people together. I think it’s a time we should all count our blessings…no matter how big or how small. Yes, I still believe we should all be thankful all year. I think we should spend time with people we love and make new friends all year. I think we should enjoy life all year. But Thanksgiving is a reminder…it’s a gentle reminder that life is what we make it…so make it good.

Now, let’s get these holidays underway! Let’s drag the Christmas decorations down from the attic and sing Christmas carols while we decorate! And let’s make lots of new friends!

***Buttermilk Pie Recipe***

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tblspns plain flour
  • 1 stick melted butter, slightly cooled
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tspsns real vanilla extract
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

Topping ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup seedless blackberry preserves
  • 1 tblspn Chamborde liqueur
  • OR you can use any fruit reduction

Directions: Beat eggs slightly. Mix sugar and flour well and add to eggs. Mix until creamy. Add melted butter, mixing well. Add buttermilk and flavoring. Pour into pie shell and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until custard is set.

Topping Directions: Put preserves in saucepan and warm on medium heat, stirring constantly with wire whip until smooth. Remove from heat and add Chamborde. Let cool to lukewarm and serve over warm pie.

Holiday Gifting 2021 (Part 6): Gifts for Men

Gifts for men.

Every year, I find it difficult to decide on gifts for my husband. Generally speaking, we don’t give each other big gifts, because we get what we want throughout the year. Truly, he knows I just need a few good vacations throughout the year, and I’m happy. You know what they say, “Happy wife, happy life.” Just send me on vacation, and I’m happy…so he’s happy.

But we do like to exchange gifts at Christmas. And I aim to please, but like I said, it’s not easy.

Here are a few things I’m thinking about this year…

  • Freezable Glasses. I’ve loved Rabbit Freezable Glasses for years. I have some that I’ve used for whiskey, and I just found out Rabbit makes freezable glasses for beer! Now, that’s a game changer! And unlike the standard frosty mug, these freezable glasses come with silicone grips, so your hands don’t get cold. They’re great for indoor or outdoor use, and they come in sets of two for $35 from Amazon here. Have a beer drinker in your life? He might like finding these under the tree this year! See them at Amazon here. And don’t forget Rabbit makes whiskey glasses you can find on Amazon too…two for $30 here. Add their favorite whiskey to the package if you get them the whiskey glasses, and add a 12-pack of beer, if you get the beer glasses! Voila! The perfect gift!
  • Kanga Kase Mate. Have a beer drinker on your shopping list? The Kanga Kase Mate, an iceless, insulated cooler for beer, could be the perfect gift! Even a hard seltzer drinker would like one! The Kase Mate starts at $39.95 for the 12-pack size and goes to $49.95 for the 24-pack size. You can even get one to hold a 30-pack! They come in different colors, so you can pick the color that will be right for the man on your list. But order soon, because these are low in stock and could disappear soon! I know a couple of guys on my list who would love this! See the Kanga website here. And they have some exclusive designs available here.
  • Patio Heat. My husband loves having cocktails out on the patio in the evenings. During the cold winter months, we still want to enjoy the patio, but we need to stay warm. There are ways to fix that. I love wood-burning fire pits, but the husband? He hates the smoke. He always says, “I hate going back inside smelling like I’ve smoked a pack [of Marlboro Reds].” But I found Solo Stove, a “smokeless” wood-burning fire pit. At first, he was not a believer, but after a couple of demonstrations by me (yes, me!)…showing how easy it was to get the fire going and how little smoke it produced…he was sold! He realized he didn’t go inside smelling like he’d smoked a pack! In fact, he started enjoying the Solo Stove more than he ever thought he would. See the website here. Patio heaters are also an option. If you’d rather have heaters operated on propane gas, you can purchase the heaters at Lowe’s or Home Depot. We have two that we use when we are going to be outside for less than an hour…we don’t want to leave a fire burning in the Solo Stove unattended. The heaters are great; they’re not quite as warm as the Solo Stove, but they do keep the chill off! See them at the Lowe’s website here.
  • MasterClass Pass. If the man on your list loves to learn, a MasterClass Pass could be the perfect gift. In reality, it could be a great gift or anyone who is difficult to buy for. We all know people who have everything they need and can get anything they want when they want it. It’s hard to select gifts for those people. With the MasterClass Pass, they receive access to “classes” about lots of different things. They have a huge variety of offerings. I just took a peek at the site, and I saw classes by Anna Wintour on Creativity and Leadership; Metallica teachers Being a Band; The Power of Empathy by Pharrell Williams and others; cooking classes, dog training, and more! Starting at $15/month and billed annually, MasterClass could be a great gift! See the website here.
  • CrowdCow. I was a little confused when I first heard about CrowdCow, but after reading up on it, I think it sounds great! My brother loves to cook, and he loves a good cut of meat. CrowdCow is a company that finds best-in-class meat producers and connects the consumer to them. Their meats are available through a membership or through one-time purchases. You could send a gift box or gift a membership to the man in your life. They get great reviews. To see more about CrowdCow, click here.
  • Coat. Lots of men won’t just go out and get themselves a new winter coat…they just wear the same one for years and years. There are lots of good coats out there, but here are some I like, at different price points. Duluth Trading has good quality, rugged-looking men’s coats starting at about $150. I got my husband one of their Fire Hose Coats a few years ago, and it has held up beautifully. He doesn’t worry about getting it dirty, and it keeps him warm, which is what it’s supposed to do. See Duluth Trading coats here. For quality plus style in warm jackets, it seems Barbour brand is the ticket. They’re not heavy-duty cold weather coats, but they’re great around town. Starting at about $200, their quilted jackets offer warmth and classic style. See their offerings here. At a higher price point, Canada Goose seems to be all the rage this year. Their parkas for extreme cold weather start at about $750, and while that’s a high price point, they are quality through and through. There’s a reason people are willing to shell out the big bucks for these coats…they look good and get the job done in extreme temps…without a doubt. See Canada Goose here. And if you don’t mind the price point, Canada Goose has just come out with a line of footwear.
  • Everything Duluth Trading. I know I mentioned their coats above, but frankly, I love their website. They have so many great gifts for men; you can surely find something for any man on your list: coats, loungewear, gloves, hats, accessories, sleepwear, gadgets, travel gear, tool bags…and the website it just fun. And the Angry Beaver mascot cracks me up too. Shop Duluth Trading here.
  • Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker. If the man on your list likes to entertain or just enjoys a good margarita or other frozen concoction, the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker, prices at about $230 on Amazon, gets great ratings. With a 36-ounce blending jar, it keeps the margaritas coming and blends them perfectly, according to everything I’ve read. This might be on my shopping list this year. See it at Amazon here.
  • Nic Tailor Underwear. Produced right here in North Carolina, Nic Tailor is, according to their website, the “first custom fit underwear for men.” I have friends whose husbands love the undershirts, boxer briefs, and trunks…saying the fabric is top notch, and their husbands/boyfriends love the fit. According to reviews on the website, the fabric is lightweight and “incredibly comfortable.” Prices start at about $34, and while underwear might seem like a boring gift, the man on your list will likely thank you for introducing him to Nic Tailor. See the website here.
  • Portable Charger. I know I’m always pushing the portable charger, but there’s a reason…my portable chargers have saved me and many others over the years. In fact, just last night on a flight, the gentleman sitting next to me asked if he might connect to my portable charger. Of course, I shared the charger, but I also suggested he tell his wife a charger would make a great Christmas gift. In fact, they make great gifts for anyone who has a phone and stays on the go. There are lots of great ones out there. I highly recommend any Anker PowerCore product. They can be found on Amazon here.
  • Man Crates. I discovered this company a few years ago, and I know several people (including me) who have gifted Man Crates to folks on their holiday lists. They “curate high-quality, unique, and unusual gifts for guys they’ll love, shipped in wooden crates, ammo cans, concrete bricks, puzzle boxes, and DIY project kits.” It’s a gift that’s different than the regular run-of -the-mill holiday gift. There are crates for whiskey lovers and pizza makers. They have bacon-themed, golf-themed, and hot sauce making kits. And of course, there are sports-themed crates. You have to check their website here.
  • Sports Stuff. If you have a man on your list who loves sports, you can likely find something to his liking at Fanatics. I’ve been shopping Fanatics for years. They have everything from every kind of team…jerseys, tshirts, hoodies, socks, hats, decor…if you know his favorite team, you can likely find something for him at Fanatics. See their website here. Also, don’t forget sports tickets are often the perfect gift for the man on your list. Check Ticketmaster for sporting events in his area.
  • Favorite Tastes. Perhaps the man on your list has some favorite foods he can’t get locally. I have a friend whose husband is from Wisconsin, and he finds it difficult to find good cheese curds in the Carolinas. I told her about my visit to Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a couple of years ago…and their incredible offerings of all things cheese. They even have a website for those who are missing their good Wisconsin cheese, and they will ship your order straight to you. Or perhaps the man on your list loves seafood gumbo from Commander’s Palace in New Orleans? Or lobster rolls from Maine? Or cannolis from Mike’s Pastry in Boston? Or Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding? Tamales from Texas Tamale? Small batch bacon from Bill-E’s in Fairhope, Alabama? Or fresh artichokes from California? You can order all those from Goldbelly. It’s not cheap, but if you’re craving it, they can make it happen. See Goldbelly website here. My mouth is watering just thinking about all those options.
  • On Running. Swiss-engineered running shoes make great gifts, and these are my favorite shoes ever! I should note that I am not a runner, but I wear them for travel and just plain running errands. I see them on other people all the time, and every time, I ask, “Are those your favorite shoes ever?!?!” Every single time, the answer has been a resounding, “Yes!” Personally, I like the original On Running Cloud model, because it’s lightweight and breathable. It almost feels like being barefoot with support. Sounds weird, I know, but that’s what I think. I wear mine with everything…shorts, leggings, even dresses. And when I have them on, I feel like I get a lot more done. Prices start at $129 for the original Cloud. Check the offerings from On Running here.

That’s a wide array of gift options for the men on your holiday list. Happy shopping!

Cooking For The Family

Cooking for the family.

We have a small family…my husband, our daughter, and myself…that’s it. Yet it seems we are always going in different directions. I’m fine with that, because that means we are all still out there enjoying life. We regularly sit down together for meals, but more often than not, they’re not homecooked meals.

Go ahead. I hear it now…tsk, tsk.

I used to cook regularly, but something changed at our house. As our daughter got older, she became more picky (at least it seems that way), and my husband, well, let’s just say he doesn’t eat what I cook. It’s not that I’m a bad cook. It’s that his eating habits are different than most. And that’s OK, but I’m not preparing meals that way. If I did, I’d be preparing the same thing day after day, because that’s how he eats. Again, that’s OK, but I eat like a normal person. I eat a variety of foods. In fact, aside from organ meat, mollusks, and ocean bottom feeders, there’s very little I won’t try, and there’s very little I won’t eat. I am always trying to think of things my daughter and I will both enjoy…and I think I’m on to something.

Recently, as I browsed the produce section of the chain grocery store nearest my house, I came across something I’d never seen before, Steam It! Potatoes from Nature’s Way Farms. Yes, there’s an exclamation point there on purpose, because that’s how it appears on the front of the bag. They offer different types of potatoes you can steam in the bag in your microwave. They don’t even have to be refrigerated, so they can be stored in the pantry instead of taking up valuable refrigerator or freezer space! You can see the website for Nature’s Way Farms here.

Yesterday, I cooked a Mississippi Pot Roast in the Crockpot. If you’ve never had Mississippi Pot Roast, I highly recommend it. It’s an easy family meal that is delicious. You can see the recipe here. I know some people who add carrots and tomatoes directly to the slow cooker with their roast, but I don’t like to do that. I don’t want my potatoes to taste like meat, and I don’t want my roast to taste like potatoes. So, at mealtime, my husband had whatever he is eating this month, and I stuck the bag of red potatoes in the microwave for eight minutes and served them up with the roast for me and our daughter.

In truth, I was expecting the potatoes to be rubbery and tough, like so many things are when cooked in the microwave, but I was pleasantly surprised! They were delicious! And they were perfect with the roast, even though I think our daughter ate more of the potatoes than the roast…I’m just happy she ate something! In fact, they were so good that I could likely make a meal out of a bag of the potatoes sometime. Maybe take them out of the microwave and cut them all up, adding bacon bits, cheese, butter, maybe even some broccoli and sour cream. It would make a great meal, and it would seem like I had put forth a little effort!

I’ve already gone back to the store to purchase more of the potatoes, and this time, I got some of their steam-in-bag sweet potatoes too! I have never met a potato I didn’t like, so I’m thrilled to have found these gems! And I’m encouraging everyone I know to purchase them, so they will keep selling them in our local grocery stores!

If you’re wondering what’s for dinner at my house tonight, I don’t know what the entree will be yet, but I feel pretty sure one of the sides will be Steam It! Potatoes. Here’s a picture:

Two Friends on the Road, Part 3

Two friends on the road, part 3.

My friend, Mary Ann, and I took a road trip from Charlotte to Miami and back last week. I’ve written parts 1 and 2, and part 2 ended with our driving out of the Tequesta/Jupiter area of Florida after attempting to visit Joe Namath’s soon-to-open restaurant…and getting caught accidentally trespassing in the process. Eek!

Our next destination? West Palm Beach, where we needed to try a Cuban restaurant my friend, Linda, raved about. We left Jupiter, and in less than half hour, we were standing in front of Havana Restaurant, right on the corner of Dixie Highway (Hwy 1) and Forest Hill Blvd.

Imagine our surprise when we found the dining room closed. The takeout window facing Dixie Highway was open, so we talked with the ladies there, who told us the takeout window is open 24 hours, but the dining room was open 5pm to 11pm. It was 4pm, so we decided to order an early dinner and dine at one of the outdoor tables on the side of the building. We knew that by the time we finished our early dinner, the dining room would be open, and we could go inside for dessert. We had Tostones Milanesa, Ropa Vieja, and Arroz con Pollo. Wow! The flavors were perfect, and the portions were huge, but we still saved room for dessert…because, well, Cuban desserts.

A little after 5:00, we entered the dining room and were seated immediately. I’ve never been to Cuba, but it certainly gave me vibes I thought were Cuban. The walls featured posters and photos of Cuban singers and stars, many from a bygone era. We loved the atmosphere! Mary Ann had never had Flan, so she ordered that, and I ordered Tres Leches Cake, which I always love, and we both ordered Cafe con Leche. The coffee came first; if you enjoy a good cup of coffee, I recommend you try the coffee at Havana. But when the desserts arrived, we were absolutely overwhelmed! Mary Ann decided she loved Flan. I knew I loved Tres Leches Cake, but this one bowled me over. I can hardly wait to get back to West Palm Beach just so I can get that cake. For more information about Havana Restaurant, click here. We loved it. The servers were absolutely delightful, and the food was fantastic. Highly recommend!

Havana Restaurant’s Tres Leches Cake

We waddled back out to the car after eating too much, and decided we’d stop in Delray Beach for the night. We took the beach road, and as I drove, Mary Ann was searching online for a small, locally-owned place to stay the night. We found Atlantic Hideaway on 6th Avenue. Unfortunately, they had no rooms left for the night. Even though we didn’t get to stay there, we recommend it and will likely try it another time. To see info about Atlantic Hideaway, click here. After driving around looking for other small inns, we finally opted to book at the Courtyard…yes, I know…not a small, locally-owned place, but it was in a great location…and at that point, it was just easy. We booked on the Marriott app, where we also checked in and got a digital key. Parking was in a covered garage. We were thrilled with how large the room was…two king beds…and the whole hotel was remarkably clean and beautiful. I never thought I would call a Courtyard beautiful, but this one definitely was.

After getting our bags to the room, we went out to explore on foot. Delray Beach is a lovely town with lots of cute restaurants and shops. We didn’t need more food after Havana, but we enjoyed walking. We crossed over the drawbridge and visited the beach. Of course, we took lots of photos along the way.

We slept well, and when we got up the next morning, we spent a couple of hours checking out Delray Beach, resolving to return soon. It’s the kind of place I could live out my retirement…seriously, it could happen.

In the afternoon, we got back on A1A, driving south through Highland Beach, Deerfield Beach, and Pompano Beach. We knew Miami Beach was our southernmost destination, so we made a hotel reservation and dinner reservations while we drove…more on that later. We didn’t make any stops till we got to Pompano, and we were past due for some lunch, since we hadn’t eaten breakfast. We had just said we were feeling “lunchy” when we saw a sign for Great Indian Grill. We both love Indian food, so we took a chance and were so glad we did! The place was small…just three tables…but with only two employees, it had a friendly, personal vibe. The chef, Jay, took our orders, and offered suggestions. He suggested Chicken Tikka Masala as an appetizer and Lamb Biryani and Shrimp Curry for lunch. Yum! Everything he prepared was perfect, and we felt like he was our personal chef! In some Indian restaurants, the flavors can be overwhelming, but Jay prepared them in such a way that the flavors melded perfectly. Everything was delicious. For info on Great Indian Grill, click here. We thanked our new friend, Jay, profusely before getting on the road to Miami.

As we drove away, we remembered reading that a Goodyear Blimp Airbase is in Pompano Beach, so Mary Ann checked her phone, and we decided to make a quick drive past the hangar, in hopes a blimp would be parked outside. As we approached, we realized we were getting more than that! A blimp was outside, indeed…getting prepared for takeoff! We had no idea where it was going, but when it took off, it flew low directly above us! As it started to circle low around the base, I realized it was doing a fly by and was going to land again! What a treat to watch it take off and land! I’ve seen the Goodyear blimp countless times, but I had never seen it take off and land, so this was fun! Once we knew it wouldn’t be taking off again, we got on the road. For info on the Goodyear Blimp Airbase, click here.

The blimp landing in the background, and a man biking through my selfie!

We rolled into Miami with Will Smith singing Miami on the car speakers, and eventually switched over to Pit Bull…just to get the vibe for the 305.

As I mentioned earlier, we had made a hotel reservation. We opted to stay at Eden Roc, because it’s in mid-beach (not South Beach!), and because they have valet parking. There were other factors too…Nobu restaurant and Malibu Farm restaurant are both at Eden Roc.

Upon arrival at Eden Roc, we were greeted warmly by the valet and bell staff. Check-in was quick and easy, and our room on the seventh floor gave us a pool view and partial ocean view. We got cleaned up and went downstairs to Malibu Farm for our cocktail reservation before moving to Nobu for our dinner. Mary Ann had never dined at Nobu, but I have dined at several, so I knew it would be a fabulous experience. It most definitely was. Nobu never disappoints. In fact, Mary Ann has called me several times since, still talking about that Nobu meal. I’d love to list everything we ordered, but we let the server decide for us, so we didn’t know the names of everything…but it was fantastic! For info on Malibu Farm, click here…and Nobu info, click here.

We went to bed happy, dreaming of the Nobu meal we’d just had!

We knew we had one day in Miami, so the next morning we picked a couple of things we wanted to do. I have no love for South Beach, so that was off the table. We knew we wanted to visit Calle Ocho…you can’t go to Miami without visiting Little Havana/Calle Ocho. We also wanted to visit the Wynwood Walls.

So after a quick drive around the Art Deco and South Beach area, we drove west, across MacArthur Causeway to Calle Ocho, where we had another great Cuban meal at Versailles. It’s a a tourist trap, but there were locals there too, and frankly, the easy parking was a factor in our decision. To see more about Versailles, click here. We left there and took a few pictures in Little Havana before going to the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum of murals by American and international artists. It’s actually blocks of murals on building and walls, but now there is a part of the area that charges for entry. It’s $10 per person, and it’s money well spent. We spent about an hour there, admiring the murals and taking photos. We loved it. And of course, at the end, I had to go into the gift shop to purchase some postcards…it’s what I do. For more about The Wynwood Walls, click here.

We left there, driving north with no idea where we would stop. More next time…in part 4 of the series.

My Food/Beverage Guilty Pleasures

My food/beverage guilty pleasures.

I don’t know if everyone has food and beverage guilty pleasures, but I definitely do. There are some things I simply cannot pass up…and some things I crave. I have some guilty pleasures that are labeled as guilty pleasures simply because of the calorie content. But I have other guilty food and beverage pleasures that are guilty pleasures because they are trashy and cheap.

When I was pregnant in 2003, I craved birthday cake. No, not expensive birthday cakes. I craved the, as we called them, “el cheapo” birthday cakes from the local grocery store. I don’t know if it was the cake part or the frosting, but I craved them…and I treated myself once a week. Actually, my husband would pick up a small birthday cake, labeled a “patty cake,” once a week when he went to the store. He was a regular at the grocery store, so we used to laugh and laugh at the conversations the employees likely had every time he walked out with another cake…they probably thought he had a whole house full of kids. Nope…just one pregnant wife.

These days, if I crave a quick and easy cake, it’s more likely to be one from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Holy smokes, those things are good! We joke at our house that they must put some secret addictive ingredient in them, because once you have one, you keep craving them. If you haven’t had one, you should. They have store locations in lots of places. We are fortunate to have a couple of different locations in the Charlotte area, and one is just a few miles from our house. We don’t go often, but when we do, we stock up! Our personal favorite? The chocolate/chocolate chip with cream cheese frosting. We also like the Raspberry/White Chocolate. Oh, who am I kidding?! We wouldn’t turn down any of them! To see the website for Nothing Bundt Cakes, click here.

But I am a little ashamed to say I crave some cakes that are even cheaper than the regular grocery store cakes. Cheaper than a grocery store cake? And more embarrassing? Yep. Here’s my embarrassing cake guilty pleasure: Hostess Birthday Cupcakes. You likely remember the Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes with the white swirls you’d see in stores as a kid…they came in packs of two. Well, Hostess also makes Birthday Cupcakes. They taste, to me, like Twinkies with cheap frosting on top…but I’m not gonna lie…I’m completely addicted to them. I think about them all the time, but I only buy them once every few months. Each little cupcake in the two-pack has 180 calories, so I must refrain on a regular basis. But sometimes…I give in and go buy some. I’m not going to tell you where I buy them locally, because well, I want to be able to find them when I want them, but you can look on the Hostess website here. In truth, when I browse the Hostess website, I see there are lots of Hostess brand treats I’d love to try. But since I only allow myself to have those treat every couple of months, it will likely be a while before I can try them all. Does anyone else remember having Honeybuns as breakfast or snacks as a kid? Hostess makes them!

My cookie guilty pleasure comes from Tiff’s Treats in Charlotte. I discovered this place when someone sent me a box of them a year or two ago. My daughter and I couldn’t stop eating them! These cookies are yummy! My favorite flavor? The M&M cookies…they take me back to my childhood when my aunt used to make them. What makes Tiff’s Treats even better? They deliver! If you join them as an “elite” member, you even get free delivery and monthly specials! And if you send them to someone, you can also send cold milk or ice cream! I highly recommend this guilty pleasure. Check them out online here.

I also have a fried food guilty pleasure. All my friends know what it is, because I order it any time we go to Ilios Noche. If you haven’t visited Ilios Noche on Providence Road in South Charlotte, it’s high time you did. And when you do, order this guilty pleasure: Zucchini and Eggplant Chips. You’ll thank me later. They are lightly breaded and fried and served with tzatziki. You’ll keep going back for them, no doubt. See the Ilios Noche website here.

Other food guilty pleasures? Chips and salsa from Paco’s Tacos and Tequila in Charlotte, The Bento Box from Cowfish in Charlotte, soufflés from a favorite restaurant, and the Hazelnut cookie from a favorite restaurant. I could tell you where they are, but then they’d likely disappear before I could ever get them…some guilty pleasures should remain a secret, I suppose.

Now I’m likely to really disgust some of you with my beverage guilty pleasure. No, it’s not Mountain Dew or any other super sugary soda. It’s not Kool Aid, Hawaiian Punch, or Hi-C. I will readily admit I loved Kool-Aid as a kid. Everyone did in the 70s…if your mother allowed you to have it. Ours definitely did. In fact, I drank so much grape Kool-Aid that…embarrassing as this is…my poop turned blue. It’s true. Yikes! But back to the topic at hand…my embarrassing guilty beverage pleasure is a drink called Verdi Sparkletini. You likely haven’t heard of it, and that’s because it’s not something you’d likely buy. It is sold in the wine aisle, but the label calls it a “malt beverage.” It’s usually less than $6 a bottle. Go ahead and laugh. I know it’s cheap and trashy. And I think you are supposed to chill the bottle and serve it. However, I was introduced to it last summer when someone I know (I won’t let her secret out) served it to me over ice. Now, I’m not a beverage snob, so I didn’t care, and I was happy to try it…lucky for me! That day, we had the watermelon flavor, but they also make a yummy raspberry flavor and a peach flavor. In all seriousness, served over ice, they taste like spritzers. I offered one to a friend last summer at the beach, and she turned her nose up at it, telling me, “That cheap stuff gives me headaches.” I begged her to try it, and after we finished the bottle, we were both really relaxed…and neither of us ever got a headache! In fact, my friend ended up liking it so much that she secretly purchases a bottle every couple of days! Check your local grocery stores in the sparkling wine aisle (even thought I’m not sure it’s really wine). And it won’t turn your poop blue!

Oh, how I love my guilty food and beverage pleasures! Did I mention Guthrie’s chicken fingers that I have to pick up and bring home in a cooler any time I drive through Opelika, Alabama? Yeah…that’s a little embarrassing…I run into the restaurant (it’s co-branded with a gas station) and order the big bucket of chicken fingers. Then while they’re getting those ready, I run over to the gas station section and purchase a bag of ice and a styrofoam cooler. I fill up the cooler with the ice and put them in my car before I run back into Guthrie’s to get the chicken fingers. I put them on ice and drive the rest of the way to Charlotte! My daughter meets me at the door for those Guthrie’s chicken fingers every time! See their website here.

Now I’m feeling the need to drive to Opelika…

Weird (or Disgusting?) Canned Foods

Weird (or disgusting?) canned foods.

Recently, a friend invited me to join a Facebook group dedicated to weird foods and recipes. Honestly, I am totally addicted to it…the page, not the weird foods…because there are so many crazy posts. Every day…heck, several times a day…I see something posted there that just blows my mind. So many times, I’ve thought, “Who would eat that?!?!”

Yesterday, I shared a picture of Sweet Sue Canned Whole Chicken on my personal Facebook page, and it got quite a reaction. Here’s the photo:

Most of the comments were right in line with my own thinking. “What the heck?!?!” “How disgusting!” “Why????” Seriously, I can’t understand why someone would want to purchase a whole cooked chicken in a can, but to each his own. If you’ve ever used one for a recipe or just eaten it straight out of the can, please let me know…blech!!!

And that made me start thinking about other canned foods. I’ve eaten some pretty disgusting canned foods…Vienna sausages would be at the top of the list. When I was little, I loved Vienna sausages. Back then, lots of southerners called them “Vi-een-a” sausages, but even with a fancy name, they’re nothing short of disgusting. Spam? You betcha. I ate it when I was a little girl. I didn’t love it then, and I can’t even imagine eating it now.

I’ve made tuna salad with canned tuna and chicken salad with canned chicken (not the whole one, mind you), but for whatever reason, I don’t think those are disgusting…maybe because I know other people use them for salads too? As a child, I ate salmon patties made by my mother from canned salmon. Yuck. My brother ate canned sardines any time he went fishing with my uncle or grandfather. I don’t know why that seemed like a good idea, but they did it. Personally, I would have just taken a peanut butter sandwich with me if I needed protein…but they took sardines.

A year or two ago, I watched a video of a man eating a can of seal meat. I don’t remember exactly what the circumstances were…either he lost a bet or he was going to win a lot of money if he ate it without vomiting. He did it, but not without gagging. Ugh. It was disgusting and funny at the same time. Fortunately, since it was just a video, I couldn’t get the aroma from the canned seal meat, but it was clearly a bad odor.

For a less disgusting canned food option, this summer I tried canned bread. Apparently, it’s pretty common in New England, but I had never heard of it till May or June of this year. I don’t even know where I read about it, but as soon as I did, I ordered some on Amazon. The brand? B&M. Honestly, when I first saw what brand it was, I was a little taken aback. Why would anyone put a giant B with a giant M on a can? My mind went straight to “bowel movement,” but I was able to get past it. When the cans arrived, I packed them in my luggage to take to the beach, where we were meeting friends. I thought it would be a fun treat. And it was actually pretty darn good! Ours was raisin bread, and we toasted it and buttered it…if I’d had a little cinnamon sugar, I would have topped it with that too, but it wasn’t bad without it. If I were stuck somewhere and needed food, I could definitely survive on canned bread.

A friend says she grew up eating Dromedary Canned Date Nut Bread and loved it with cream cheese. I looked online to see if I could buy it, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I found several recipes, and on Vermont Country Store, I found a loaf of date nut bread. I remember the Drapers on Mad Men having it on special occasions…I definitely need to try it. I’ll be ordering from Vermont Country Store here.

There are lots of other canned foods I haven’t tried. I’ve seen canned macaroni & cheese and canned potato salad in my local grocery store. I’ll be buying them soon, just to see what it’s like. As a kid, I ate Chef Boyardee canned spaghetti and canned ravioli…both of which sound absolutely disgusting to me now. I remember seeing jars (does that count as canned?) of pickled pigs’ feet in gas stations, and I’ve heard you can buy canned bacon and canned hot dogs. Not sure I need to try either of those, but maybe I should just so I can say I’ve had the experience? I’ll be scouring the shelves of my local grocery store…and after I’ve tried them, I’ll post about them.

Till then, I’ll be trying to recover from the stomach ache I have from thinking of these various canned items. Ick.

Happy-Up the House

Happy-up the house.

Everybody’s sick of being home right now. It’s not just me. It’s not just you. It’s everybody.  I’ve said before that every day, I wake up wondering if this is all a bad dream. It’s not. It’s reality.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be terrible.

I spend a lot of time trying to think of ways to make things a little happier around here. We’re playing music throughout the house on a regular basis. We’re spending a lot of time out in the sun on the patio on warmer days. My daughter and I strung some LED lights around her bedroom doors and windows…she can change the colors with a remote…pink, blue, violet, red…all kinds of colors. We’ve been baking. I’m constantly looking online for different ideas to brighten up things around our house. What can I do to make it seem a little more festive around here?

Last week, it was Krispy Kreme doughnuts all the time. Looking for somewhere…anywhere…to go, I would leave after dark and drive to the nearest Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and my daughter would gladly go with me. The last time we went, we got a dozen of their spring mini doughnuts. Yum. That added a little happiness for a while. I’ve ordered cupcakes, cookies…you name it.

And then, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw a picture of someone’s pool, and it had floating light balls in it! Immediately, I knew I had to have them! I went straight to Amazon and typed in “floating light balls.” Wow! There were lots of them to choose from, so I set about reading every review I could possibly read in a reasonable amount of time.

Within an hour or so, I had found the solar-powered color changing floating light balls I wanted, and I placed an order for four. You can order here. What makes a swimming pool more festive at night than color-changing light balls? In placing my order, I also discovered that not only can you use them in the pool, but you can also hang them! Each ball has a loop on top, so you can hang them from trees, eaves, posts…anywhere! I could hardly wait for them to arrive! I knew my husband would think I was absolutely nuts, but when have I ever let that stop me before?

A few days later, they were delivered to our home. The next morning, I woke up, and started opening the box. My husband asked me what it was, and when I said, “You’re going to think I’m crazy. It’s something for the pool.” When I told him the box contained floating light balls,  interestingly, he didn’t think I was crazy at all! He also didn’t help me blow them up. Each one is about 15 inches in diameter, and I blew them up while we watched the morning news. He did look at me several times and say, “You’re going to get a headache.” But I didn’t. Once I had them all inflated, I hurried outside to put them in the pool. Since they are solar powered, I wanted them out there all day to absorb as much sunlight as possible so we could enjoy them in the evening.

And guess what? We’ve sat outside on the patio having cocktails every night since, and those balls of light are glorious! And happy! It adds an element of happiness to our backyard! I’m so glad I ordered them, and secretly, I think my husband is too! Our daughter loves them, and she and I agreed I need to order more to hang from the front eaves of the poolhouse, so I ordered more to hang from the eave. They should arrive in a few days, and they will add a little more happiness. And when summer is over, and we aren’t using the patio as much, maybe I will use them as Christmas decor in the trees in the front yard!

I’m still thinking about other inexpensive ways to brighten things up around here while we’re stuck at home. If you have any ideas, please send them my way!

Hanging With The Teenage Daughter (during the COVID-19 crisis)

Hanging with the teenage daughter (during the COVID-19 crisis).

I’m getting accustomed to it. I hate to admit it, but I’m getting accustomed to “sheltering in place.” If you had told me I wouldn’t be completely stir crazy after this many days at home, I never would have believed you. It’s likely there are several reasons, but I think the main one is our daughter.

Our daughter is 16, so in “normal” life, she’s rarely home. She has school Monday-Friday, like most kids, and after school, she “normally” goes straight to lacrosse practice in the spring. She doesn’t get home till around 6:00pm, and then she has to finish her homework. That leaves very little time for us to to spend together. Sure, there are weekends, but she is quite social, so she wants to hang with friends on weekends. I get it. I remember 16.

I’m not happy that people are suffering and even dying with COVID-19. We say prayers for them every day, and we are trying to observe all “shelter in place” rules. We are at home most of the time, except when we go out for “essentials.”

And while “sheltering in place” initially sounded terrible, having my daughter around more is great. She’s doing her school work online during the day Monday -Friday, but in the afternoons and evenings, we’ve been spending more time together. Our world has slowed down a little, and I’m trying to appreciate the slowdown.

Yesterday, for example, she took a break in her schoolwork to come down for lunch and asked if I would make her some avocado toast for lunch. I was thrilled to get to do that for her, but our avocados weren’t ripe enough yet, so I made her some peanut butter/banana toast. She was happy. Normally, during the week, I don’t get to sit with her for lunch, because she’s at school. Afterward, she went back to finish her studies, and later, she sat outside by the pool with me for a while…something else she wouldn’t normally be able to do on a weekday. ***I’ve since been informed that I can soften an avocado by sticking it in the microwave briefly.***

At dinnertime, we opted to go get takeout from a local favorite Mexican restaurant, something we had both been missing since all this started. We came home and had dinner as a family, and then I suggested we go for a walk around the neighborhood. I was thrilled when she said it sounded like a great idea…and off we went!

The night before, we all lay out on the patio as a family…looking at the stars and watching for satellites to identify using the SkyGuide app. Our daughter didn’t stay out as long as we did, but she seemed to enjoy it. She was much better at spotting satellites moving through the night sky, because her eyesight is better than ours, and it was obvious she was enjoying it when she would exclaim, “I see one!” She would then tell us where to look, and I would try to find it on SkyGuide to see what country launched it and how big it was. Would she have willingly gone out there for stargazing under “normal” circumstances? Probably not. She likely wouldn’t have been home or would have been doing homework.

Tonight, my daughter and I are going to start watching Tiger King, presently the #1 series on Netflix. We don’t alway agree on shows, and when I first suggested this one, she wasn’t interested. But when a teenage boy told her it was really good, she changed her tune. No, I wasn’t offended. Like I said, I remember 16. We have a few more series “on deck” to watch after we watch Tiger King. We will likely watch All-American on Netflix, Peyton’s Places on ESPN+, and a few more sports-oriented shows, since we miss our sports right now.

Additionally, she has been helping around the house…today, she will do some laundry and cook dinner for the family. She and I are going to sit down in a little while and find the perfect recipe for her to make a chicken dish for us. She loves spinach, so she will likely sauté some spinach for the side dish.

So while this COVID-19 crisis is terrible for individuals, public health, and the economy, we are using it as a time to strengthen our little family. We were a pretty tight unit anyway, but I feel like we are getting a gift of extra time with our daughter. She will be going off to college in 2022, so I’m happy to have some extra time with her. No, the reason for the extra time isn’t ideal, but I’m trying to look at the bright side. I’m making lemonade out of lemons.

We are hopeful that the pandemic will be under control sooner rather than later, but till then, we plan to enjoy this time with our daughter. Sure, we all miss sports. We all miss friends and extended family. We all miss “normal,” but we’re trying to make the best of the cards we’ve been dealt.

Till then, we’ll be hanging out with our teenage daughter.

Host a Virtual Brunch

I want to host a virtual brunch.

For the past few years, I have hosted at least one spring brunch for friends at my house, but this year will be different. No spring brunch, unless I get creative. My friends will need to be creative too, but maybe I can find a few who are willing to do a virtual spring brunch while we’re all “social distancing.” I talked to a lady at the bank (on the phone, of course) who told me she’d enjoyed a virtual cocktail hour with friends the night before, so why not a brunch?

Here’s what I’m thinking:

I’ll pick a future date (but not too distant) that might be good for a few friends. We can use the Zoom app to all “get together.” But how do we do brunch together through the app?

First, we all need to set a dress code. Personally, I think it should be spring luncheon dress…pretty dresses or blouses that will cheer us all up. I have a Saloni dress I got for Easter last year that would work perfectly. The fabric is bright pink, blue, orange, yellow, and green flowers on a white background. It has ruffles and looks very happy and seasonal. So I will encourage everyone to wear a happy, spring dress or blouse.

For decor, I think it will be fun to let everyone decide their own decor for their space, but make it as happy and springlike as possible! I will likely use my mother’s Desert Rose china and decorate my “space” around that…pink and green…with whatever I can find around my house. Or I have some other pretty spring china of Mother’s that’s blue and green…that could be pretty too. I’ll definitely use my sterling silverware instead of stainless…just to make it feel more special. And crystal glasses.  If I can find some pretty flowers outside in the neighborhood, I’ll use those too.

And how about the menu? Should we all have the same things? That could be tough, since we don’t all have access to the same things. But it will be interesting to see what everyone has! I know I have plenty of pimiento cheese, so I can make some finger sandwiches for my meal. I have some strawberries, so I can have those. Maybe I’ll make a Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole from the Hungry Girl website. (Click here for recipe.) I’m having to think in terms of what I actually have on hand. For my beverage of choice, I’ll go with Prosecco…I have a lot on hand. If I have any fruit juice on hand, I’ll make a froufrou drink, but if not, I’m cool with Prosecco. And for dessert, I’ll have cupcakes from Baked By Melissa (click here), because I know I have an order arriving soon. They’ll add some color!

This pandemic is certainly not fun, because these are trying times, but it’s OK to look for a little happiness where we can. We’ll say some prayers for those who are sick and their families, and we’ll pray for those who have lost jobs or businesses. A little bit of “virtual” happiness might make us feel better for a little while. I think I’ll send out some virtual invitations today!

Stay safe. Stay well. And stay hopeful.

Portion-Controlled Desserts? Yes, Please!

Portion-controlled desserts? Yes, please!

If you’re anything like me, you have difficulty knowing what a real “serving” of cake is. Big slice? Little slice? What is the perfect slice? And then…how do I keep myself from eating more than I should?

Hungry Girl to the rescue!

Everybody knows I love Hungry Girl. Not familiar with Hungry Girl? I’m happy to introduce you! When you get to the website, sign up for daily emails, click that you heard about them from a Hungry Girl Ambassador (me!), and enter my name (Kelly Mattei). I’ve loved Hungry Girl for years, and I’ve promoted Hungry Girl for years, but now they know I’m promoting them! I don’t promote anything I don’t believe in, so you can bet your sweet bippy I believe in Hungry Girl.

On to the good stuff…

One of my favorite finds on the Hungry Girl website? Portion-controlled desserts…specifically, single serving desserts in mugs and cups. Sounds awesome, right?!? That’s because they are awesome!

I’ve made a couple of them, and my teenage daughter loves them as much as I do! They are all super simple and fast!

Here are some of my favorites!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Mug. My mother used to make Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes all the time when I was growing up. There was always at least one at every family gathering, and they disappeared fast! This Hungry Girl version is simple and easy, and the recipe makes two portions, each containing 201 calories. Not bad for a yummy and beautiful dessert! It’s a favorite at our house. I’ve made it when friends have come over for coffee, and it’s always a hit! Did I mention it’s beautiful too?! Get the recipe here.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Mug

Red Hot Apple Pie in a Cup. Another “easy as pie” recipe from Hungry Girl, this one is fun for kids too! (Do not let children make this unaccompanied. The pie is HOT when it comes out of the microwave!) It has candy and graham crackers in it! ‘Nuff said! And fruit! It has fruit! At only 140 calories per serving, it makes for a great dessert the whole family will love! I think it even sounds good for a snow day. My daughter loves to have friends over for snow days, and I love to feed them! Get the recipe here.

Red Hot Apple Pie in a Cup

Chocolate Cake Mugs for Two. Who doesn’t love chocolate cake?! This one comes in at 199 calories per serving, and the serving size is not in question, because it’s cooked in the perfect portion! This is another one that sounds good for a snow day or for friends who come over for coffee. The ingredient list is short, and most of the ingredients are likely on hand all the time. Make yourself happy with a little chocolate cake! Hungry Girl tells you how this age-old treat without overdoing it! Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Cake Mugs for Two

This is just a sampling of what Hungry Girl offers in portion-controlled dessert recipes. Seriously, try them. Anyone can make them…even those “kitchen challenged” friends of mine. You can see more portion-controlled desserts from Hungry Girl here.

We are hoping for a little snow in Charlotte over the next couple of days, so I’m going to the store and stocking up on ingredients for these gems tonight! All kids who love to sled are welcome to join in the fun…and eat some yummy desserts too! Moms…come on over for coffee, and I will share desserts with you too!

*Please let me know when you try these recipes! I love to get feedback!*

***All photos courtesy of***


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Inspiration: Visualizing Slow Food

After posting recently on my Global Food Studies blog about my exploration in Italy of Slow Food International as a mission and practice, I wanted to explore the world of visualizing slow food.

This graphic by Daniel Touchet interestingly connects practices of consuming food (growing it, cooking it, and talking about it) with emotions, arguing that fast food is not only more anonymous but mindless and alone.  I don’t know if I agree with this, having enjoyed much family time at fast food restaurants over the years, but I do agree that a faster food lifestyle is more detached from the complexity of global connections that food has to offer.

Yet what are the local impacts of Slow Food?  How does it affect me living in Indiana?

Antidepressants are starting to show up in fish tissue. (Fish Pharm infographic by Oliver Uberti)

This is a really interesting infographic produced by Oliver Uberti using pills to visualize a fish.  As a warning about water quality downstream from sewage treatment plants, the pills represent the four main types and percentages of pharmaceutical drugs found in fish pulled from Chicago’s North Shore Channel. Since I take a Benadryl every night to sleep, the image really resonated with me, making me think about the potential harms of the toxins I consume.  This image implicitly advocates for slow food by illuminating the importance of knowing where you get your food, how it was grown, and what the harms are on your body and on the environment.

Douglas Gayeton, the author of Slow: Life in a Tuscan Town, has been exploring the principles of sustainability through photography, taking abstract concepts and turning them into annotated infographics—or “information art.” It’s part an ongoing series called The Lexicon of Sustainability. The images convey invisible or purposely obfuscated ideas related to food, and the concepts are explained by the experts themselves, like Elaine Ingham (above) translating soil science and microbiology for the masses.

Another favorite visualization of slow food is this series by Douglas Gayeton who combines portrait photography with an overlaying sketched mind map.  Each visual centers the slow food advocate in a graphic that aims to unpack the complexity of the food system by visualizing connections, explanations, and processes.  In this graphic Elaine Ingham translates soil science and microbiology through simple sketched graphics.

Peter Smith describes Gayeton’s informational art at as

More than a construction actually, these images are a deconstruction of ideas, reducing them to their essence, then trying to find a way to graphically represent them. Somebody once wrote that one of the interesting thing about the work is that it works the way a mind works: If I were to simply give you a piece of paper with a lot of writing on it, you might skim over it; but if I were to take a bunch of ideas and place them on an image, then you are suddenly active in the idea. You’re active in the appreciation of the idea. That activity creates a narrative and makes it easier to retain information. You have more of a deeper connection…. It’s not a passive experience. The active experience of turning the reading of something into it’s almost a game-like quality, I think it allows people to connect more intimately with the ideas and images.

These graphics are part of Gayeton’s project The Lexicon of Sustainability that has created information artworks on food and farming, water, and energy.  Here’s another graphic illustrating the 100 mile diet that’s coupled on the site with definitions and links to the farmer’s website and local resources for pursuing slow, close food.

From The Lexicon of Sustainability by Gayeton

This style of infographic would work best for me to visualize slow food, with a recipe for my grandmother’s pound cake overlaying a photograph of my family at her house during the summer months when her front porch table is covered in home grown tomatoes, her yard groomed by wandering chickens, her basement shelves full of home canned meals ready to be transported to Muncie where I live.  When I eat her jars of pork stew, orange marmalade, and fig preserves I’m transported back to her home in Hahira, Ga where the heat and humidity make life and conversations slow and happy.

My dad's photo of Cypress Pond capturing the misty swamplands of the South.
My dad’s photo of Cypress Pond capturing the misty swamplands of the South.

How do you see slow food?

Published by

American Studies scholar/historian at the University of Utah, Asia Campus and blogger of my research on urban studies, food, visuality, and social justice and the connections between them.

3 thoughts on “Inspiration: Visualizing Slow Food”

  1. Just what I was looking for. Shows the complexity of the movement. The last cartographic one is a format I’d like to replicate. Is it possible to have slow ethic food in the west? Will reference often!

    1. Tell me about it! I was just thinking today about how I should create a map of Muncie’s meth labs and small farms. You’d be surprised to learn how frequent both are – and I bet West Lafayette’s even better!

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Inspiration: Middletown Caprese Salad

Inspired by my blog post on my farm-to-table version of a caprese salad, I explored how to visualize this recipe in a number of different ways to convey a variety of ideas, including: origin, components and hierarchy, and national meaning.

First, in a Slow Food tactic of connecting with food production on a personal and meaningful level, I plotted the geographic locations of the ingredients onto the globe using Google Maps.  This representation illuminates the recipe’s transnationalism, by demonstrating the production, growth, or historical origins of each ingredient, from my backyard (basil) to the etymology of salad (Rome).  For a funny picture of an Italian chef, click here.

Constellation - Geographic Locations
Constellation – Geographic Locations

Next, I did a quick Google search for some ideas on how to represent this recipe in different ways.  Here’s what I came up with.

First, blogger Gratinee presents a visually deconstructed version of the recipe with whole ingredients, which highlights the recipe’s original components rather than the process, order, or hierarchy of the final product.

Second, Drew Heffron at Need Supply Co. sought a new version of the pancake, and in doing so, offered a new way to visualize the precise components and hierarchy of the updated recipe.

While recipes are typically comprised of a list of measured components (usually in order what you mix, when), Heffron’s visualization serves more as an archive, with snapshots of the ingredients about to be mixed together in the bowl.  He states:

This recipe came about from a boring obsession with oatmeal. I was fed up with bland wheat flour based pancakes that relied on syrup for their flavor. I had a revelation: to make oat flour with oats and a coffee grinder. The banana give a natural sweetness so that syrup is not a necessity. The base recipe is below but feel free to throw in fruit, pumpkin puree, ground flax, etc. In some parts these are called pancakes, but I like using the term flapjacks because they’re made with oats.

Although he doesn’t give an explanation for his pie chart, the image demonstrates by weight the hierarchy of the top ingredients to those in the smaller slices on bottom.  Since his intention is to create flapjacks with more self-sufficient flavor, I can only assume that these more heavily weighted ingredients on top – the oats, cinnamon, banana, and vanilla – illustrate the four main flavor profiles that make up the final product of his culinary concoction.

Third, I sought two different perspectives on transnationalism.  One of the classic representations of transnational food are food flags, in which you take quintessential ingredients of a particular national food culture and display them in a way that also represents that country’s flag.  Although I’ll break this down on a later date (because I think these representations are SO AWESOME), Italy’s is just about the easiest one to do: green, white, and red.

This national combination is still apparent when ordering the Italian classic – the Margherita pizza, named for Queen Margherita in 1889 according to Italy Magazine.

As I noted in my blog post on my version of the Caprese salad (another Italian flag representation), a quick Google search will turn up more than 800,000 caprese salad recipes.  In thinking about international adaptations of recipes, as visualized in this infographic by LONO Creative, how could I also depict the transnationalism of the Caprese Salad, on my plate and in historical origin?  Is there a way to use an infographic to sort out the different varieties of caprese salad?

This fascinating graphic by LONO creative analyzes how different countries weight the components of pancakes differently, with Canada’s use of lard offering a resoundingly unique taste.

I also couldn’t resist sharing a recipe of Canada’s classic pancake version, so try it out here.

Stay tuned to see my visualization of the Middletown Caprese Salad.


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Traveling through time and space & Doing timey wimy stuff.

Given that you have the Tardis Tea Pot and Cup in your collection, then this will be a must to add to. It’s a type forty Tardis and Dalek Salt and pepper shakers… Both features a in itself a sizeable size as both are least four inches tall, in that so it holds a good hold on least a month or few weeks on end on pepper or salt..  Both are quite durable itself ceramic, and features incredible detail, detailing to the phone box panel signage…  looking at both shakers they’re quite stable in which it’ll stay put on the table…

Like to know more where you could get your Tardis and Dalek salt and peppers shakers…?

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Run Your Own Collegiate Log Rolling Tournament

  • 1 min read

It's never too early to compete in log rolling, in fact, it often happens naturally! Join Abby Delaney, world champion log roller and founder of Key Log Rolling - along with guest host Sarah Beron of Blue Ox Log Rolling - to learn how to organize and run a log rolling tournament. Whether you're setting up an informal beginner tournament, an intramural tournament, or an intercollegiate club competition, we'll provide great tips & tricks in this informational webinar.

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I know that it’s you

I know that it’s you
hiding in the dark shadows
of my restless dreams

The girls napping together
they didn’t care for what was on tv

Thank goodness for Netflix and Amazon Prime! 🙂 I tell you, it’s the best way to catch up on tv and such.

Sherlock – This is a freakin’ STELLAR show. Benedict Cumberbatch is BRILLIANT as Sherlock Holmes. And holy heck, what an AWESOME voice. I think I’m totally in love with his voice. Anyhoo, the show is GREAT. What the heck have I been missing? Utter brilliance! So yes, I would absolutely recommend it. Every ep is like a mini-movie that goes with the whole.

Other laziness… Hmmm… Oh, I haven’t done very much on my days off from work! I started reading but don’t feel enthused enough to keep going. I’ve started a couple of stories but I’m utterly uninspired! I want to do a total re-write of my NaNoWriMo novel. We’ll see how that goes!

Yesterday I had my iTunes on random for a heavy Ed Quinn playlist (ie all of his songs are part of this 22 song playlist). For at least eight songs, iTunes wouldn’t play him! WTH?! My iTunes was conspiring against me. Today it’s being kinder. 🙂 Gotta get my EQ fix!

I would love to win the lottery now. Please?

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Free Delivery ANYWHERE in Australia
Free delivery ANYWHERE in Australia

Dino Inflatable Costume

FREE Delivery Australia Wide

Original price $100.00 - Original price $100.00
Original price
$100.00 - $100.00
Current price $100.00

Tyrannosaurus Inflatable Fan-Operated Costume

It's not really a party without a Tyrannosaurus Costume. Everybody knows that. Crash the party dinosaur-style with the Adult Dinosaur T-Rex Inflatable Fan-Operated Costume. Thankfully, wearing the costume is just the opposite of lugging an actual dinosaur around, thanks to a feather-light material.

This durable, one-size-fits-all costume is constructed with terylene, an extremely lightweight polyester which will keep you cool and allow you to wear the costume while not exerting effort or feeling weighed down or sweaty. An included small fan unit keeps the costume constantly inflated, and the fan's battery pack (4 AA batteries required, not included) simply clips to your pants or belt inside the suit. You can party for several hours on fresh batteries.

Dinosaurs may be extinct, but with the Dinosaur T-Rex Inflatable Fan-Operated Costume, you'll be ready to scare up some new adventures. Order today.

Features of the Dinosaur T-Rex Inflatable Fan-Operated Costume:

  • One-size-fits-all inflatable suit
  • Battery-powered fan unit included
  • Lightweight battery pack clips onto your pants/belt
  • Several hours of fun on fresh batteries
  • Fastenings around neck, legs, and arm keep costume air-sealed
  • Cool, super-lightweight terylene (polyester) construction — won't weigh you down!
  • Requires 4 AA batteries (not included)
  • Costume folds compactly away for storage
  • Suitable for adult wearer 200 cm or less tall
  • NOTE: Do NOT iron

Package Content:

1 x Tyrannosaurus Inflatable Fan-Operated Costume

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Fast delivery and a high quality wooden kitchen. Really Happy with my purchase

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The team at answered all of my questions and helped me choose the right trampoline for the size of my backyard. It is awesome and my kids use it every day

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Wonderful cubby house, much larger than I thought it was going to be

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I think this website is great. Normal, honest people who are willing to help and offer reasonable prices which include delivery. I will definitely shop here again

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I was a bit skeptical when ordering about the free shipping. I figured there would be some type of catch as I’m in rural Qld. There was NO catch and I am wrapped with my kids new picnic table. Thanks a lot

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Highly recommend this website for good service and good delivery times

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The team at made sure that my trampoline arrived in time for my son’s birthday to ensure that his party would be a hit with his friends. They delivered (literally) and I am really thankful. Nice group of people

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2 years ago

One Study One Summary

  • Text
  • Percussion
  • Marimba
  • Psathas
by John Psathas | Marimba, Junk Percussion and Digital Audio

One Study One Summary (PE087), for Marimba, Junk Percussion and Digital Audio by John Psathas (2005, 2008) © John Psathas 2005, 2008 Published exclusively by Promethean Editions Limited First edition © 2008 Promethean Editions Limited (201604) Series Editor: Ross Hendy Editor: Alison Grant ISBN: 978-1-877218-96-5 (print) ISBN: 978-1-77660-087-8 (ebook) ISMN: 979-0-67452-111-6 Promethean Editions Limited PO Box 10-143 Wellington NEW ZEALAND No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Publisher. PE087 – ii

John Psathas (1966) John Psathas is one of New Zealand’s most frequently performed composers. With works in the repertoire of such high profile musicians as Evelyn Glennie, Michael Brecker, Pedro Carneiro, Michael Houstoun, Joshua Redman, Federico Mondelci, the Takács Quartet, the Netherlands New Blazers Ensemble, the Hallé Orchestra and others, he has established an international profile and is receiving regular commission offers from outside New Zealand. Psathas grew up in Taumaranui and then Napier, and left high school early to study composition and piano at Victoria University of Wellington. Psathas studied further with composer Jacqueline Fontyn in Belgium before returning to New Zealand, where he has since lectured in music at the New Zealand School of Music and continued to fulfil a busy schedule of commissions. Early success came in 1991 with Matre’s Dance, a maximum-energy duet for percussion and piano that has since made Psathas’ name internationally known through having been taken up and championed by percussionist Evelyn Glennie. This work and Drum Dances are now standard repertoire for percussionists throughout the world. In August 2000, the premiere of his saxophone concerto, Omnifenix, by legendary jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker in Bolgna, Italy, brought international acclaim; further prominent performances of his works have included the 2001 Klangspuren Schwaz Festival of Contemporary Music in Austria; Psyzygysm, performed by Pedro Carneiro with Strike and Stroma in the 2002 New Zealand Festival; the premiere of View From Olympus at the 2002 Royal Gala Concert in Manchester, and the premiere of Orpheus in Rarohenga in November 2002. This last, a major work for choir, soloists and orchestra, was a joint commission from poet Robert Sullivan and John Psathas by the Orpheus Choir of Wellington. In April 2004, pianist Stephen Gosling first performed Psathas’ piano concerto, Three Psalms, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, who commissioned the work for pianist Michael Houstoun. Saxophonist Federico Mondelci commissioned Psathas to write his second saxophone PE087 – iii

Score Library

Percussion Marimba Psathas


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FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE May 2013 Singapore - Arte Compass, Base Entertainment, MediaCorpVizPro and ATA All Star is pleased to announce the return of the super hit musical The Merchants of Bollywood at the MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, Grand Theatre, from 5th November to 10th November 2013. The Merchants of Bollywood is an original production from Australia with a cast and crew direct from India’s film city – MUMBAI. Hailed as the world’s first authentic Bollywood musical, it is inspired from the real life story of Vaibhavi Merchant, the shows choreographer. Producers Mark & Tony Brady, with over 40 years of experience in the industry have collaborated with the world’s most prolific film industry – Bollywood. Performed by highly regarded film and stage artists, choreographers and music directors, the show which premiered in 2005 has since been staged in over 200countries. Having performed to rave reviews and thrilled over five million audiences Worldwide with over 1000 shows in Brussels, Antwerp, Paris, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Auckland, Sydney,Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Zurich,Geneva, Berlin,Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Paris, Amsterdam,Vienna, Rome, Milan inclusive three sell out seasons on London's West End. The Merchants of Bollywood will pump up the energy on stage when it opens in Singapore. This show will reach across all cultures in this multi-racial society. It features songs and dance from smash-hit Bollywood movies like Lagaan, Devdas, Musafir, BuntyAurBabli, JhoomBarabarJhoom, Rang de Basanti, Dhoomand Dhoom 2, music from the Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, and numerous other great moments of Bollywood live on stage in a lavish production capturing the essence of India, its rich and diverse culture, and its people in a world of Technicolor brilliance. For Singapore the show is being updated to include all the latest smash hit songs inclusive;Thuh Le, Jigar Da Tukda, Haippa and the block buster Mashallah from the hit film EkTha Tiger.

The musical with a cast and crew of over 40truly depicts India’s rich traditions and values. While Indians will proudly feel the affinity towards this musical, for the non – Indians it will truly be a feast for the eye, heart and soul – representing the rich heritage across the length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent. This music and dance spectacular is performed by internationally renowned dancers and stage performers to high energy music set by the famous Bollywood duo: Salim&Sulaiman Merchant. Vaibhavi Merchant, regarded as one of India’s very renowned young choreographers is famous for her creativity that brings loads of vigour and life to all her spectacular shows. She has beautifully choreographed this production combining the ancient traditions of Indian Classical Dance with the contemporary and western dance forms in Bollywood’s true glamorous style.

SYNOPSIS The Merchants of Bollywood reveals the workings of the World’s largest film industry – Bollywood and the part it plays in the heart and soul of Indian society. The show is written and directed by Toby Gough, who is famous for his creations that cross conventions, cultures and continents. In an extraordinary evening of music and dance spectacular lies a touching story of a young girl, her grandfather and their love of dance. The story set in the desserts of Rajasthan showcases the rich traditional culture, colourful costumes and vibrant music. This splendid theatrical piece is a heartfelt story about the Merchant family dynasty: a young girl, Ayesha; her grandfather, Shantilal and their love for dance, music & Bollywood. The merchant family holds the responsibility of upholding the ancient tradition of Kathak, the dance of gods. Shantilal, a choreographer in India’s film industry had faith in cinema to heal wounds in the minds of people, but eventually left the industry due to the lawlessness and commercialization. Ayesha left home against his wishes to make a career and became the reigning queen of choreography in Bollywood films. Her belief that cinema helps people escape from reality to a world of fantasy differed in opinion, causing irreparable damage to their relationship. Thus, tears are shed, wounds healed and conflicts reconciled in a powerful journey to the sacred heart of dance. The finale showcases a healing bond between old and new; in a fusion of Folk, Classical, Modern, Western and Indian dance forms. Their electrifying energy, lively rhythm and enchanting dance steps, undoubtedly makes this the most exciting musical of the year!! This visual treat with over 8 performances ONLY is all set to spellbound Singapore audiences.

LEAD CAST: Carol Furtado started from humble beginnings of school plays and local charities before going on to establishing her career as a professional dancer. She has hosted TV shows being aired in the US and UK, taken up modelling for various fashion houses like Tony & Guy and Levis and also been designing costumes for a US based dance company Naach. Carol has performed with world-class artistes like AR Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan, SadhnaSargam, Slash of Guns & Roses, ShwetaShetty, Baba Sehgal, AshaBhonsle, FalguniPathak, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Stereo Nation, Kumar Sanu, Colonial Cousins and many more. Carol is one of the original cast members and has performed well over 900 shows for MOB, ArifZakariastarted his career on television as early as 1988. He has played lead roles in popular serials and acted in various movies like 1947 Earth, The Hero, Thriller, Home Delivery, The Dressing Room, KahaniGudiya Ki, Refugee, DeewarandDance Like a Man. He also played lead role in the film Sab GolmaalHai. Arif is also an original and was actually on stage for the shows very first performance in Sydney, Australia 2005. Arif has performed well over 850 shows of MOB. SatwinderJaspalNick-named Romi, his unique brand of physical comedy is well known in the theatre circles of Mumbai. Romi’s hilarious performances are in great demand. He has completed a diploma in acting from Prof.RoshanTanejas school of Acting. Romi has performed in plays with many prominent theatre personalities in Mumbai such as SANJANA KAPOOR, PT. SATYADEV DUBEY, SUNIL SHANBAGH, and appeared in plays such as Curfew, Seagull, The Magic Pill, Combat, Cyclewalla and Grey Elephants in Denmark. Romi has also appeared in prominent roles in TV serials such as Kitty Party, Insaaf, Sukanya and Khushi,Waqt. He has worked in a classical feature film "THE LEGEND OF BHAGAT SINGH" in which A R RAHMAN scored the music. He also had the honour of working with legendary directors of Bollywood such as RAJ KUMAR SANTOSHI, SRIRAM RAGHVAN, SHIVAM NAIR, and SHIV SUBRAMANIUM. Romiplays the narrator and director in MOB and as an original has performed over 1000 shows World Wide.

Jayna Tidaisa British Indian actress from the United Kingdom.Whilst studying for her MBBS degree at Kings College London University she realised her dream to be a Bollywood movie star. Jayna is a trained Kathak, classical fusion and contemporary dancer and whilst studying she formed the popular fusion dance troupe Dhoon XY which debuted their performance at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.She knew this wasn't an easy path breaking away from the norms.So she decided to complete her BSc at Kings and then set off for Mumbai to pursue her dream career.Obtaining a BSc in Medical Physiology now she was set to follow the path to becoming an Indian film actress.Having grown up watching Indian movies she knew to make it in the big league she had to be a perfectionist in every way. Jayna was crowned Miss India UK Talent in 2006.The journey hasn't been the easiest one but the city was beginning to feel like home and the passing only grew with time. Jayna has been the face of many commercial brands like Honda City, Clearasil, Frankfinn, Capri soap, Pizza Hut, HP laptops, MTV, Ponds, Sony Cybershot, DaburVatika and Airtel.She feels she was born to act and dance and iswilling to give her entire life to that moment that will stir the audience’s soul.She is recently in the process of signing her first Bollywood Film. Joy Fernandeshas over 20 years of experience on stage. Before Merchants of Bollywood, he was part of Tim Supple's critically acclaimed production of William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', where he played the comic lead, Nick Bottom. The play had several successful shows in India, UK, USA, Australia, Canada and Verona. In India, Joy has acted, written, directed and produced many plays that have performed extensively in Mumbai and other parts of the country. Joy has co-authored a book for children. He conducts theatre & corporate training workshops for every age and personality profile. Joy has acted in Bollywood movies like JajantaramMamantaram, One two ka four, Dasvidanya, Agyaat, No Smoking, Paanch, Pagalpan etc. He has acted in and scripted for television shows and ad films. Joy conceives, writes, directs and hosts events and shows. What is salient about most of Joy's work is his flair and love for Comedy!

SushantPujari is a 29 year old from Mumbai. He has been performing since he was a teenager in various stage shows and awards nights.He has been able to fulfil his love of dancing and acting by appearing in Bollywood movie songs, Blackberry Boys TVC, LUX television commercial with KareenaKapoor and many more.Sushant also played the lead in a show on the TallinkSilja Line European Cruise tour. He is proud of his association with Remo d’Souza in assisting him with many shows and appearing in the upcoming ABCD (Anybody Can Dance), the first dance film in India in 3D. PRESS & CELEBRITY TALK! “Their energy is electrifying, their movements suffused with a rush of joy and yet ruthlessly precise and their frenetic flow onstage activity is almost non-stop. It’s a high octane pleasure to warm up the coldest winter night.” The Times, London “Dazzle, shimmer and sparkle… slick and sexy” The London Metro “The most exhilarating musical seen this year” The Manchester Evening News “Enthralling dance steps, lively rhythms and bold sound… splendid, colourful costumes…indulgence for all the senses” tz, Munich “One can’t get enough of this artistic, spectacular” Berliner Morgenpost

“Uplifting show… a real dazzler” The Birmingham Post “One big, brilliant finale right from the first forty dance numbers” Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitung “Musical rekindles China’s Bollywood love affair” The Hindu “ …. Such a lot of enthusiasm; such a lot of energy’ – Amitabh Bachan (Bollywood Legend) “….Beautifully stunning looking show” –Priyanka Chopra (Bollywood Actor & Miss World 2000) “The show is extremely interesting as it showcases the ability to amalgamate two different styles of dance classical Indian and Western funk," - AbhishekBachan(Bollywood Actor)

PROMOTER’Sand THEATRE PROFILE: Arte Compass, launched in 2003 aims at promoting unique and quality entertainment for the artistic and cultural Singaporean. Reaching out to a multi ethnic community, our goal is to bring together people to enjoyand appreciating art. Our first endeavour was a fusion music concert, “Shraddha” by Shankar Mahadevan, U Srinivas, Sivamani and Loy Mendosa. Since then, we have organized various other successful events like: “Mumbai Masti” & “Madras Masala” in 2004 with Shankar Ehsaan& Loy; “Kaleidoscope of Rhythms” with Tabla maestro Zakir Hussein, “DusBahaneDhoomMachale with Sunidhi& KK” in 2006; The Merchants of Bollywood in 2010, “DhoomMachale with Pritam&MohitChauhan” in 2011, Dance musical “Ballet Revolucion” with Cuban artists in 2012, “Anhad” with KailashKher&ShafqatAmanat Ali in 2013 & many more to come. About BASE Entertainment BASE Entertainment specializes in the development, production, programming and management of live entertainment properties and theatre operations. BASE develops, produces and manages intellectual properties which reach audiences through various platforms, including live, digital, broadcast and licensing. BASE Entertainment founders include Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger, who have 45 years combined experience in the live entertainment industry. The company has offices in Singapore, New York, Las Vegas, and Houston. Since their Asia office opened in Singapore in 2010 Base Entertainment has brought a wide array of live entertainment to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands’ two theatres, including Disney’s The Lion King, Riverdance, A R Rahman, Thriller Live, Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cirque EloizeiD, Bar at Buena Vista, and The Imperial Ice Stars productions of Swan Lake on Ice, WICKED and more recently presented Jersey Boys and Cirque Le Noir. Media contacts Amanda Osborne

(+65) 9046 7009 / [email protected]

About Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd Marina Bay Sands is the leading business, leisure and entertainment destination in Asia. It features large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities, 2,560 hotel rooms and suites, the rooftop Sands SkyPark, the best shopping mall in Asia, world-class celebrity chef restaurants and an outdoor event plaza. Its two theatres showcase a range of leading entertainment performances including world-renowned Broadway shows. Completing the line-up of attractions is ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands which plays host to permanent and marquee exhibitions. For more information, please visit For Media Enquiries SarinaPushkarna GayathriRamasamy

(+65) 6688 0013 / [email protected] (+65)6688 1407 / [email protected]

Ticket Price: Tuesday – Sunday $168/ $138/ $98/ $68/ $48 (Includes $3 booking fee) Discount Packages: MasterCard Presale 15% Applicable to A - C Res Not applicable to Fri & Sat 8pm performances Valid between 8 - 14 May Early Bird Discounts

15% Applicable to A - C Res Not applicable to Fri & Sat 8pm performances Valid between 15 May - 9 June

Genre: Asian Musical Dance Spectacular Country: India / Australia Date: 5-10 Nov 2013 Showtime: Tuesday – Sunday: 7.30 pm Saturday – Sunday: 2:00 pm Venue: MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, Grand Theatre, Singapore.

FOR TICKET BOOKINGS: THROUGH INTERNET: www.BASEentertainmentasia.comor BY PHONE: +65 6688 8826 BOOK IN PERSON AT: Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 and 3 Lobby). For more information please log onto - For VIP, Hotel and Dining Packages visit Corporate and Group Bookings are available via Showbiz. Email: [email protected] call 6688 1029 SISTIC: SISTIC hotline 65-63485555 &SISTIC authorized agents worldwide. PUBLIC ONSALE – 15 May 2013 For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Chandni Gandhi at 6578 7191 or email at [email protected]

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182 Thames St for Lease

High Traffic Retail on Thames

Property Description

Retail space available for lease at 182 Thames Street in Downtown Newport, RI. Set up shop in one of the highest foot and vehicular traffic areas of town, located directly across from the Brick Market. Lovely display windows, space for storage and easy access from Mary Street Parking lot.

Property Details

Address: 182 Thames St, Newport, Rhode Island
Lease Price: $2,200/ Month
Bathrooms: Common bathroom for retail spaces
Available Space: 740 SqFt
Taxes: $250/Month Fixed for Three years
Number of Units: 1
Location: Downtown- Across from Brick Market
Term: 3 Year Minimum
Deposit: Equivalent of two month's rent
Parking: Property is adjacent to the Mary Street public lot
Electric: Tenant responsible
Heat / Air: Tenant responsible
Internet: Tenant responsible
Available Date: Immediately
Financial: Must prove financial strength
Trash: Tenant responsible
Insurance: $1M Public Liability Naming Landlord as Co-Insured

182 Thames St, Newport, Rhode Island,
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2020 Cabrinha Switchblade Kite

2020 Cabrinha Switchblade Kite

*Now with even strong material for 2020!

What the team at Kiteboarding Closeouts thinks: We've been providing great kite info and reviews for the past 13 years and are excited to tell you about the Cabrinha's new 2020 options.

The 2020 Switchblades continues the tradition of the ultimate control and ultimate all-around, does-it-all, go-to kite. If you're torn about which kite get, you won't be disappointed with the Switchblade. It boosts great with great control, feels really stable, relaunches easily, stays in the sky and now has even stronger materials.

Whether you like to play in the surf or prefer to kite in the buttery smooth shallows, the Cabrinha Switchblade inflatable kite can create the perfect power for any type of board you ride (twin tip, directional, foil boards). Its unique design fits all riding styles (freestyle, freeride, big air).

This kite has a flexible design and can be used with previous generation bars.

This kite has continuously been the go to kite for our instructors. It is simple and easy to fly and control upon launch and landing. After the lessons, you will see them boosting (nearly out of the bindings) to the moon on them. Got a question about the 2020 switchblade kite? Feel free to contact us about Cabrinha kites. You can reach us at [email protected]

Need more info on packages, options or spare parts? We can help!

2020 Cabrinha Switchblade PERFORMANCE FREERIDE / BIG AIR

Switchblade Kite Info:

Sizes available: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14

3 strut, Moderate aspect ratio hybrid design, Reactive wing tip, Fast, lean and efficient profiles

For riders who appreciate versatile, predictable kite performance, for any type of riding in a wide range of conditions.

Not sure if the Switchblade is for you? The Moto kite from Cabrinha smashes all conventional thinking. This versatile Freeride / Crossover kite is light to the touch and provides a precise and linear power delivery. The lighter weight and quick response is made possible with its 3 strut hybrid plan form.

Design Info:

5 strut, Hybrid design, Fusion wing tip shape, Draft forward profile

The discerning rider who values unrivaled predictability and uncompromising high end performance. For those that want style, power, performance and craftsmanship. If there is one kite that completely defines the essence of kiteboarding... it’s the Switchblade. The Switchblade’s reputation for being the world’s highest performance freeride kite not only comes from the thousands of customers who hail its praise, but from its long heritage of competition wins and records broken. But what’s most amazing about the Switchblade is that all this performance comes in one of the easiest to use packages. Its balance and power delivery make this kite light to the touch and simple to fly. Whether you are working on your freestyle game or testing your limits in getting incredible air, the Switchblade will deliver with a class of predictability and reliability that can not be found anywhere else.

2020 cabrinha switchblade FEATURES & BENEFITS

• NEW Nano Ripstop canopy, the new bench mark in durability, stability & responsiveness • NEW Optimized Dacron layout for reduced weight & improved handling characteristics • Pure Arc Segments - Increased LE segments for smooth high definition aerodynamic arc • Pure profile panels for efficient aerodynamics
• Strategic canopy reinforcements in the high stress areas
• High Tenacity Dacron for enhanced arc stability
• Most versatile kite in the range
• Excellent for your style: freeride, surf, freestyle and foiling
• No pulley bridle for a more direct steering input and feedback
• Light bar pressure and fast steering
• 3 strut lightweight design

2020 Switchblade Attributes

• NEW Nano Ripstop canopy, the new bench mark in durability, stability & responsiveness • NEW Optimized Dacron layout for reduced weight & improved handling characteristics • High Tenacity Dacron for enhanced arc stability
• Strategic canopy reinforcements in the high stress areas
• Pure Profile Panels for efficient aerodynamics
• Ultimate performance in the widest range of conditions and variety of riding styles
• Ridiculously high hang times
• Large sweet spot and smooth on demand power control
• Excellent upwind performance
• Swept leading edge for effortless relaunch
• IKA Registered for sizes 7, 9 & 11

2020 Switchblade Range Diagram

Product Code: K0KOSWTCH

Need more help? Reach out to us about virtually anything: reviews, boards, foil only concerns, etc.

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Cabrinha Kites

Cabrinha Kiteboarding

kites -  Cabrinha Boards, Cabrinha foils & surf

Whether you are looking for the new Cabrinha Moto Kite or popular kites like the Cabrinha Switchblade, Contra, Kiteboarding Closeouts can help you get your complete quiver together and get you out on the water. Set up a user name and password with us to start shopping for state-of-the-art Cabrinha gear.

We carry all of the latest Cabrinha products. Follow us on Instagram to see the latest sales, trends, and promotions.

From beginner rider to advanced improve your sesh with Cabrinha's product lineup. For more information stop by our shop or call us. We even provide instructions (in English). Explore FX, bow kite, canopy material, nano, Cabrinha news regarding conditions, wind range, proper sizing, control, pull, holding an edge, boosting, types of gear, kiteboard alternatives, wings, and everything from videos, bar and lines, kite stability, various options/offers available in stock, and more.

Join us at an event demo to try out the latest in Cabrinha kites. Meet the Cabrinha team riders, get insights about the latest in the sport. Level up your sessions.

We love our customers. Phone, email or message us for more info.

We offer FREE shipping on most Cabrinha kites, kiteboards, foils, surf, spreader bars, chicken loops, and accessories (some minimum quantities apply). You can also choose local pick up. Use the navigation below to find the products you are looking for quickly and easily.

Cabrinha leads the industry in safety and performance. Since 2000, Cabrinha, a subsidiary of the Pryde Group, has climbed the ranks to take the position as the leading kitesurfing brand, selling in over 40 countries worldwide. Inspired and driven by Maui waterman, Pete Cabrinha, the company produces everything from kites to boards to accessories and sponsors the top athletes in the sport.

The Cabrinha approach to kiteboarding has evolved very much from the same philosophy that Pete has applied to his many years of surfing.

By keeping an open mind to all styles of riding and embracing new technologies, Cabrinha has been able to lead kitesurfing into a new era of performance.

Kite Size

4m, 5m, 6m, 7m, 8m, 9m, 10m, 11m, 12m, 14m

2020 Switchblade Kites   2020 Switchblade Kites