There’s a lot of info out there on curing hangovers. Now, St. Paddy’s Day can bring out the inner par-tay girl or boy that lurks within all of us. It’s just so easy to get carried away. Isn’t it? Really the best cure for a hangover is sleep, but if calling into work with the ”Irish Flu” just isn’t an option for you, we got ya covered. Here are some hangover cures that can help take the sting out of your hangover:
- Eat a hearty breakfast — be sure to include: eggs (they help the liver break down toxins), as well as bananas and/or kiwis can replenish lost potassium.
- Get plenty to drink – but not more green beer, try water, orange juice, or a sports drink. Drink water before you go to bed and through the day to flush the alcohol from your system.
- Don’t take an aspirin– yes, that’s right, do NOT take aspirin or ibuprofen the effects can be magnified when you mix with alcohol. Try taking Alka Seltzer Morning Relief instead.
- Avoid coffee – maybe a weak cup, but only one, because the caffeine will only de-hydrate your body and you want to re-hydrate it.
- Take your vitamins – try take a multi-vitamin B (it will help your brain function better) and a vitamin C (drinking depletes your body of it).
- Take a hot shower – it will sweat out the toxins.
Have a happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day!
I don’t know about you, but the idea of corned beef and boiled cabbage isn’t my idea of a delicious meal. This Saint Patrick’s Day, we have some hearty and delectable dinner ideas for you.
Recently, I discovered my slow cooker, as known as crock pot, and I love, love, love it! It makes making dinner so easy and for some reason whatever I cook in the slow cooker becomes an instant family favorite.
Irish Beef Stew from Simply Recipes.com:
Serves: 4 to 6
Ingredients:
· 1/4 cup olive oil
· 1 1/4 pounds well-marbled chuck beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces (NOT extra-lean)
· 6 large garlic cloves, minced
· 6 cups beef stock or canned beef broth
· I cup of Guinness beer
· 1 cup of fine red wine
· 2 tablespoons tomato paste
· 1 tablespoon sugar
· 1 tablespoon dried thyme
· 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
· 2 bay leaves
· 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
· 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 7 cups)
· 1 large onion, chopped
· 2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled carrots
· Salt and Pepper
· 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Lightly salt the beef pieces. Working in batches if necessary, add the beef (do not crowd the pan, or the meat will steam and not brown) and cook, without stirring, until nicely browned on one side, then use tongs to turn the pieces over. Continue to cook in this manner until all sides are browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add beef stock, Guinness, red wine, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
2. While the meat and stock is simmering, melt butter in another large pot over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion and carrots. Sauté vegetables until golden, about 20 minutes. Set aside until the beef stew in step one has simmered for one hour.
3. Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. Transfer stew to serving bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. (Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.)
Irish Lamb Stewfrom cdkitchen.com
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
· 1 pound diced lamb
· 4 carrots sliced
· 3 stalks celery, sliced
· 2 parsnips, sliced
· 2 onions, chopped
· 8 small potatoes, quartered
· 4 cups vegetable stock
· 1 tablespoon chopped herbs, such as rosemary and oregano
· 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
1. Heat oil in sauté pan. Add lamb and herbs and cook for 15 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker.
2. Sauté carrots, celery, parsnips, and onions in olive oil and sauté for 10 minutes. Add to lamb in slow cooker with vegetable stock. Cook on low setting for 6-8 hours.
3. In last half hour of cooking, add potatoes to slow cooker. Ten minutes before serving, mix cornstarch with 1/2 cup water and stir into stew. Stir and cover. Cook on high for 10 minutes and serve.
O’Irish Stew from cdkitchen.com
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
· 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
· 3 carrots, scraped and thinly sliced
· 2 onions, thinly sliced
· 1 pound potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
· 2 pounds lamb neck pieces, trimmed
· Salt and pepper to taste
· Finely chopped parsley, for garnish
Directions:
1. Place the chicken broth into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Put all the vegetables in the crockpot; arrange the lamb on top.
2. Add boiling stock and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours on HIGH or 7 to 9 hours on LOW.
3. Sprinkle parsley over the stew and serve hot with thick, crusty bread.
So this St. Patrick’s Day ditch the boiled cabbage and pull out your slow cooker instead!
What’s the best beer for Saint Patrick’s Day? We know that’s the question on your mind with Saint Patrick’s Day 7 days and counting!
Let’s start with a St. Paddy’s Day fav Green Beer. You might think that making green beer is easy. Well, it is for the most part. But first, you’ll have to choose the right beer, for example, you can’t add food coloring to say a Guinness. You’ll want to stick with a light lager, such as Miller, Coors or Budweiser. If the beer has a strong yellow color, then you’ll want to use two to three drops of blue food coloring. Yes, blue ( remember yellow plus blue =green). Unless the beer is very light in color, then you can add green food coloring. Enjoy! But be sure to watch your teeth, depending on how much you imbibe you can turn ‘em green too!
If you like a thick, creamy, dark dry Stout, you’ll like Guinness Draught Stout, Murphy’s Stout, or Beamish Stout. These beers boast a thick head with the aroma of roasted coffee, barley and chocolate.
Or maybe a sweet stout is more to your liking? Think dry stout with a touch of sweetness, they add sugar to the beer. Yum! Right? You have that bitterness of the hops and barley is balanced against the sweetness. If you like a sweet stout, then try Watney’s Cream Stout, Martson’s Oyster Stout or Mackeson’s XXX Stout.
Another stout favorite is the Oatmeal Stout. Oatmeal is added during the brewing process which gives the beer not only a long lasting head, but smooth texture too. If you like a nice balance between a dry and sweet stout, try Goose Island Oatmeal Stout, Young’s Oatmeal Stout, or Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout.
For a complete Layman’s Guide to Stout, check out About.com’s Introduction to Stout Styles. Be sure to enjoy your Saint Patrick’s Day Stout, but don’t drink and drive.
You have all the girls gathered. You made the cute little tea sandwiches and poured the party punch. Now what? Here’s a list of some fun baby shower games to add a touch of fun to your baby shower.
How Many Baby Items Can You Name ? - Set the timer for five minutes. Then have each guest write down as many baby products as they can name ( i.e. bottle, blanket, pacifier, etc). Give the prize to the guest who names the most baby products! (Materials: pad of paper and pen for each guest).
Onesies by Design - Hand out a white onesie to each guest and ask them to draw a design on the onesie. Then have the mom-to-be vote on her favorite. The guest she picks wins a prize, and the mom-to-be gets to keep all the onesies. (Materials: white onesies for each guest, glitter glue, and fabric paint).
Advice for Years Ahead - Have a bowl with a number for as many guests starting with number 1. The number represents the age of the baby. Each guests gets a piece of pretty stationary and a matching envelope. The guests then write a letter to the baby and/or advice for the mom to receive on his/her birthday correlating to the number picked. The letters are sealed and given to the mom to open on future birthdays. (Materials: a bowl, paper, and matching envelope for each guest.)
What’s In the Baby Bag? - Take a baby bag with a bunch of baby accessories pacifier, bottles, diapers, wipes, etc. (anything you can think of that you need for a baby bag). Put the baby bag on a table or floor and take out all the things from the bag. Have the guests look at it for three minutes and put all the items back in the bag. Then ask each guest to write down what’s in the bag. The guest with the most items wins. (Materials: Diaper bag with baby supplies, pad of paper and pen for each guest).
Measure Mommy’s Baby Belly- Hand each guest ribbon and ask them to guest how big mommy’s baby belly looks. The guest cuts the ribbon and they then place it around the mommy’s stomach. The guest who is closest to the actual size wins. (Materials: Toilet paper, ribbon or yarn enough for each guest).
Never say “Baby” - Each guest places the necklace with the baby safety pins or ribbons around her neck when she arrives. Whenever a guest says the word “baby” during the shower, any guest who calls it out gets a pin from the other guest who said the word. At the end of the baby shower, the woman with the most pins wins a prize. (Materials: a necklace of baby safety pins or another type of baby object you can place on a string for each guest).
If you are looking for baby shower favors or baby shower door prizes, be sure to check out Moments of Elegance Baby Shower Favors for ideas.
17 days and counting to St. Patrick’s Day!!! Although it may seem the only reason we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is to wear green and drink copious amounts of green beer, St. Patrick is actually the patron saint of Ireland. Why March 17th? It’s believed that was the day he died.
Here’s a St. Patrick’s Day joke for you:
The local District Judge had given the defendant a lecture on the evils of drink. But in view of the fact that this was the first time the man had been drunk and incapable, the case was dismissed on payment of ten shillings costs.
“Now don’t let me ever see your face again,” said the Justice sternly as the defendant turned to go.
“I’m afraid I can’t promise that, sir,” said the released man.
“And why not?”
Because I’m the barman at your regular pub!
Need some help planning your St. Paddy’s Day Celebration? We have the “links” for you:
The Chicago River is dyed green in honor of St. Paddy's Day
Want more St. Paddy’s Day info? Then be sure to visit St-Patrick’s-Day.com. And may the luck of the Irish be with you!
This year Passover is from March 30-April 6, and if planning Passover has you fermisht. We’ve complied a list of web sites to help you.
Lemon Mint Braised Artichokes
Here’s a Passover recipe for Lemon Mint Braised Artichokes from Epicurious.com:
yield: Makes 8 (first course) servings
active time: 1 hr
total time: 2 hr
As a harbinger of spring, artichokes have a special place on the Passover table and in our hearts. One of Roberts’s favorite ways to enjoy them is this elegant Roman preparation. (Rome is home to the oldest Jewish community in the Western world?the first Jews arrived in 161 b.c.e. as ambassadors from Judah Maccabee in Jerusalem.) The trimmed artichokes are braised in a lemony broth zinging with garlic and mint, which is later reduced to a satiny sauce.
ingredients:
- 2 lemons, halved
- 8 large artichokes with long stems
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 cups water
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 tablespoons chopped mint, divided
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
directions:
Squeeze 2 lemon halves into a large bowl of cold water.
Cut off top inch of 1 artichoke and bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base (keep stem attached). Discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves.
Cut off remaining leaves 1/2 inch above top of artichoke base using a sharp knife, then pull out purple leaves and scoop out fuzzy choke with a melon-ball cutter. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and side of artichoke.
Trim a thin slice from stem end, then trim side of stem down to pale green inner core. Rub cut surfaces with lemon halves, then put artichokes in lemon water.
Trim remaining artichokes in same manner.
Combine lemon juice, water (3 cups), oil, 3 tablespoons mint, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt in a 4-to 5-quarts heavy pot (wide enough to hold artichokes in 1 layer with stems pointing upward) and bring to a simmer.
Stand artichokes, stem ends up, in liquid and cover with a round of parchment paper. Simmer, covered with parchment and lid, until just tender when artichoke bottom is pierced with a knife, 25 to 30 minutes.
Transfer artichokes with a slotted spoon to a shallow serving dish. Boil cooking liquid until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. During last 2 minutes of boiling, whisk liquid until it emulsifies. Pour over artichokes and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons mint.
What to drink:
Yarden Galilee
Cabernet Sauvignon ‘05
From Gourmet Magazine.
Read more about this recipe.
Here are some of our favs that will make your event blossom:
“Butterfuly” Silver-Metal Bookmark (as low as $1.40) — With its stunning, polished-metal openwork, this “Butterfly” Silver-Metal Bookmark rises a step above elegance. The pure-white silk tassel simply adds to the remarkable beauty of a gift your guests will use and treasure always.
“Meant to Bee” Ceramic Honey Pot with Wooden Dipper ($2.90) — Can anything “bee” sweeter than your love? Surely not, and the buzz says Moments of Elegance’s “Meant to Bee” Ceramic Honey Pot is deliciously sweet inside and out, so it’s a splendid complement to your affair!
“Sweetwater Park” Bird Bath Place Card Holder Set of Four (as low as $1.20) — You can almost hear the sweet song of Momments of Elegance’s feathered friend perched on this enchanting birdbath favor, so perfect for a garden wedding or a spring baby shower. Inspired by the tranquility of a serene, flower-filled courtyard, the designers have created a favor that reminds guest to celebrate the delights of every day.
Spring showers bring your special event many flowers! Spring represents beauty and rebirth, what a wonderful time of year for a wedding and starting a new life together. Happy spring!!!
“Our wedding was many years ago.
The celebration continues to this day.”
~Gene Perret
Anniversary gifts can be tricky. It’s sorta tough to remember what gifts go with what year. Every year of marriage is an important milestone, whether it’s your first or twenty-first! So be sure to celebrate each and everyone of ‘em!!!
Wedding Anniversary (Traditional) Gifts by Year:
Year One: Paper
Year Two: Cotton
Year Three: Leather
Year Four: Flowers
Year Five: Wood
Year Six: Candy
Year Seven: Copper
Year Eight: Bronze
Year Nine: Pottery
Year Ten: Tin
Year Eleven: Steel
Year Twelve: Silk
Year Thirteen: Lace
Year Fourteen: Ivory
Year Fifteen: Crystal
Year Sixteen: Silver Holloware
Year Seventeen: Furniture
Year Eighteen: Porcelain
Year Nineteen: Bronze
Year Twenty: China
Once you hit twenty, then you only get gifts every five years.
25th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Silver
30th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Pearl
35th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Coral
40th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Ruby
For more info on anniversary gifts, check out About.com.
Planning a wedding can be a wee bit stressful, can’t it? How many people should you invite? How much should you budget for flowers? And likewise, planning any event, a birthday party, holiday gathering, baby shower, wedding shower, anniversary party, you name it, and it’s tricky. Well, never fear Moment of Elegance is here! Here to help you answer any party planning or entertaining questions you may have.
Need to know how many bottles of wine you’ll need for your next party? No prob. Here’s the wine bottle equation, figure one bottle of wine yields four glasses. Next figure that you’ll need a half of bottle of wine, per guest, (that’s two glasses per person). If you have 20 guests coming to your party you’ll need ten bottles. Or for you math savvy peops, 20 people x 2 glasses = 40 glasses of wine. 40 glasses/4 = 10 bottles.
If you have party or wedding planning questions, that you need answered ASAP, here’s what you need to do, just post your answer below in the comments section and our party planning expert will respond.
Want to sign up for special offers and coupons? You do! Great! It’s so easy. Just enter your email address in that little box over there to the right of the post. See it? Perfect.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas unless…you are planning a Vegas inspired wedding or event. Then you’ll want to remember and share every little detail. Moments of Elegance will help you bring the glamour and sparkle of Las Vegas to your event, whether you are looking for Las Vegas wedding favors, you are planning a LasVegas themed wedding or planning a Las Vegas themed party.
Check out their Las Vegas Favors Catalogue. Here are some of our favorites:
Wedding Sparklers (.25) — Wedding Sparklers As featured in
Martha Stewart Weddings and
Elegant Bride…. Add some sparkle to your wedding reception by giving all your guests a wedding sparkler!
Personalized Wedding Poker Chip Favors ($1.00) – Celebrate your wedding day with the newest and most popular Vegas themed wedding favor, the Personalized Poker Chip Wedding Favor.
Las Vegas Themed Place Card Holders (as low as $1.44) — You’ll make your guests feel like they’ve entered Fabulous LasVegas when they arrive at your event and find their seating assignments dazzlingly displayed in these fun place card holders.
No need to roll the dice and count on lady luck to find the perfect Las Vegas favors. Just check out Moments of Elegance Las Vegas Favors Catalogue instead.
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