Fun Facts Friday November 20, 2009

1. In the United States, there are more than 18 million people who own a skateboard. 85% of these individuals are less than 18 years of age. 74% of them are males.

2. The first skateboards actually had handles on them that allowed a person to move them.

3. Approximately 800,000 people are seen by medical professionals annually due to skateboarding injuries.

4. It is illegal to own a skateboard in Norway.

5. The military began using skateboards for some indoor maneuvers in 1997.

6. One of the biggest failures in marketing for Levi brand of jeans was when they tried to appeal to the style of skateboarders.

Eating Wine November 18, 2009

What an amazing room. Yummy bottles and bottles of wine from around the world for your choosing. Who can resist having dinner with friends in this room?

This bottle of wine from France is worth over 10,000USD…yes, I did say 10,000USD.

Wise Words… November 16, 2009

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Fun Facts Friday November 13, 2009

1. Mexico introduced chocolate to the world.

2. Mexico City was built on a lake.

3. Mexico is the most populous Spanish speaking country in the world.

4. In the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the Aztecs used the poinsettia leaves to dye fabric for clothing and the sap for medicinal purposes, including to help control fevers.

5. Mexico has 31 states.

6. Mexico City is sinking at a rate of 6 to 8 inches a year because it’s built on top of an underground reservoir. Wells are drawing out more and more water for the city’s growing population of more than 15 million people.

7. Mexico City is the oldest capital city in the Americas.

8. Mexico has the world’s second-highest number of Catholics after Brazil.

9. Mexico is the world’s leading producer of silver. An area called the Silver Belt—which encompasses Guanajuato and Zacatecas in the Mesa Central, Chihuahua in the Mesa del Norte and San Luis Potosi farther east—saw significant mining activity during the colonial period.

Afternoon Tea Time November 12, 2009

While I was walking around Mexico City exploring the different interesting shops that surrounded me, I came across this great-looking tea shop…and ironically it was 4:30pm so it was a perfect time for afternoon tea. This place is heavenly for us tea lovers. They had an amazing array of different types of infused teas. Their menu was a booklet of choices.

Great tip jar. Doesn’t every drink shop have a giant Buddha sitting on their counter collecting tips?

The tins in the background are not filled with paint but rather different types of teas. What a collection!!!

Each cup had a quote sketched onto it. The teas were delicious!!!

“Come, lets us have some tea and continue to talk about happy thing.” -Chalm Potok

“Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.” -Catherine Duzel

It’s All About the Lighting November 11, 2009

There is a cool restaurant called China Grill in which the lighting colors changes every few seconds. It’s a great place for a drink and appetizers as the bar serves up an interesting array of cocktails. Their calamari salad was so delicious that I had it twice. Yummy!!!

The Big Man’s Car November 10, 2009

I always wondered how Jesus’s car would look like. It’s so festive with the Christmas bells and Easter eggs…it just makes me smile.

Fun Facts Friday November 6, 2009

1. The first coffee shop opened in 15th-century Constantinople, where the Turks thought the drink was an aphrodisiac.

2. The term “Cuppa Joe” came from “G.I. Joe,” who always had his coffee.

3. Coffee is the most popular beverage worldwide with over 400 billion cups consumed each year.

4. People who drink coffee are less likely to commit suicide than people who don’t.

5. Prior to the 1600’s, the favorite breakfast drink was beer. Since then, coffee has become second only to oil as the world’s most valuable commodity.

6. We say coffee beans although they are really berries.

7. Espresso has 1/3 of the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee.

8. Caffeine is on the International Olympic Committee list of prohibited substances. Athletes who test positive for more than 12 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter of urine may be banned from the Olympic Games. This level may be reached after drinking about 5 cups of coffee.

Caramel Apple November 5, 2009

This is definitely yum yum to our tum tum. It’s an easy treat that always receives a great response. I’m already craving one as I write this. It’s so yummy!!!

INGREDIENTS
6 Granny Smith apples
1 lb caramel (caramel candy in the individual wrappers or 1lb. caramel block sold at baking supply stores, chopped into small pieces)
1 cup topping (your favorite types, I used peanuts, pecans, marshmallow, and Butterfinger candy bar, chopped)
1/2 cup chocolate, melted
7 wooden sticks

DIRECTIONS
1. Boil water in a small pot. While water is boiling, dip cleaned apples into the water for a few seconds to remove the layer of wax. Place apples on a paper towel to dry. It is important to dry the apples completely as the caramel will not stick to the apples if there is water still present.
2. Chop all toppings and place each flavor into separate small bowls.
3. Place the caramel in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until it begins to bubble. Stir the caramel until it is evenly melted.
4. Dip the apple into the bowl of caramel and swirl the apple around to get an even coat of caramel.
5. Dip the caramel apple into the topping of choice.
6. Place the apple on a lined parchment baking tray.
7. Repeat the process for the remaining five apples.
8. Once all six apples are on the baking tray, melt chocolate in the microwave. Make sure that the bowl does not have any water in it or the chocolate will not melt properly.
9. Stir the chocolate so that it is all melted. Dip wooden stick into the melted chocolate and drizzle the top of each apple.

Now you have a masterpiece on your hands. When I made this for my friends, they had thought that I bought the caramel apples at the store because it looked and tasted so delicious. It’s a great holiday gift for friends and colleagues or a special treat for yourself. Either way, it will be enjoyed tremendously.

Why So Serious??? November 3, 2009

My dearest friend Kent had his birthday this past weekend and as a surprise I decided to make him a cake. He and I are polar opposites when it comes to films…on rare occasions I will watch a movie and he is fanatical about them. So when I posted this post, he kindly commented about his love for the film The Dark Knight. So with this weekend being Halloween, it was only fitting that I make him a cake with this theme in mind. Needless to say, he was utterly surprised by the cake and along with our friends, we were able to wish him a wonderful birthday.

My two inspirations for the cake.