The Professional Chef |

With holiday expenses running higher each year it’s good to know that printable Christmas party games can help to make an occasion festive without breaking the bank. Holiday printer paper might help to make the games even more decorative or just red and green sheets can be used. If special holiday paper is purchased it could also be used for invitations and craft projects. White paper is often easier to read and may actually be the best choice considering the graphics. Quiet games like word searches and word scrambles can help to amuse children when adult supervision is distracted to other areas of concern.

These word games can be found for free on the web. All that is needed is a simple search of the net and some very good party websites will pop up with free printable puzzles. A website called, www.PartySuppliesHut.com has 600 word puzzles pre-made and available to print out. There happen to be at least three easy to find Christmas word puzzles on this site. However it may be found that creating one’s own puzzles themed after the Christmas holidays is a better idea.

The holidays can be very exciting but with the allure of the season’s many joys comes the very likely possibility that youngsters will become over stimulated. When this happens there are many adverse consequences in terms of negative behavior. With the use of quiet activities this negative behavior can potentially be curbed and harmony can return to the home. This very affordable option can also give adults and children an opportunity to interact on a level that may be more suitable than other activities.

One of the most fun ways to network with other people who enjoy a similar hobby is to attend a convention. Scrapbooking is no exception. Every year, venues across the country hold state, national, and international conventions for scrapbookers from beginners to experts. Going to a convention can be a great way to immerse yourself in your hobby along with others who also feel passionate about the art of scrapbooking—it truly is a scrapbooker’s heaven.

A huge part of any convention is the showroom. Here, you’ll find products that are old standbys as well as stuff new on the market. Grab a bag and be prepared to purchase some supplies and tools. If you’re on a budget, go freebie hunting—many booths offer idea sheets or samples of their newest products at no cost. You also get to see these new products being demonstrated by representatives of the company. Beware—this people have been trained extensively on how to use a product, so they may be making it easier than it looks. If it’s not too crowded, don’t be shy. Ask to try the tool to see if it really is easy and effective to use.

You can also talk to companies who sponsor scrapbooking parties. There are many opportunities to become a hostess for a party, and depending on how far you are from home, you may be able to book a party during the convention. If not, they will be able to give you a phone number or website to find a local representative. You can also get information on how to start a scrapbooking business of your own. Much like Avon or Pampered Chef, scrapbooking companies train individuals to teach classes at parties, and if you have free time and want to make some extra money, this might be a good idea for you.

Another part of any large convention is classes. Here, the experts show you tricks for creating perfect pages and demonstrate new techniques or products. Sign up for classes or arrive early, because seating is often limited and classes fill fast. Some classes are taught in workshop-style. For a small fee, you receive all the supplies you need to follow along with the instructor and create a page of your own.

Scrapbooking conventions are most useful for networking purposes. You will meet many people from all walks of life who are interested in scrapbooking. By meeting some people who live in your area, you can create local clubs or discuss other scrapbooking-related issues in the community. These are good people to invite to your scrapbooking parties where the hostess can earn free products for every person invited to the party. Keep these people in mind for carpooling to more conventions in the future or for advice about new products or layout design. By attending conventions, you can make lifelong friends while learning new skills and seeing cutting-edge products being demonstrated.

THE PAMPERED CHEF

THE COMPANY

Doris Christopher founded the pampered chef in the basement of her Chicago home in 1980 she came up with the plan to offer professional quality kitchen equipment directly to the consumer through home cooking demonstrations. Pampered Chef offers high-quality kitchen tools with the purpose of easy food preparation to help you entertain with style and ease.

1980 Dorris begins with an inventory of 71 products. She created and tested recipes and began the kitchen show. In the first-year sales were $6689.78 by the years end.

1982 Sales reach $100,000.

1984 The first catalog is published and sales reached $500,000.

1985 There are now 32 consultants from four states.

1990 Sales reached $10 million.

1996 The Pampered Chef opens in Canada.

2000 Pampered chef opens in Germany.

2002 The Pampered Chef joins the Berkshire Hathaway family of businesses.

THE PRODUCT

In review, Pampered Chef has products to numerous to mention which include bakeware, stoneware, cutlery, outdoor cooking tools, cookbooks, things for entertaining, bamboo, specialty cookware, pantry items, seasonings, mixes, herbs and rubs, the list goes on and on and they’re continually adding more.

CONCLUSION

Pampered Chef is definitely not a scam, they are a big success with the best cooking and kitchen products that I have seen. As as for the business end of this one, its hopeful that you enjoy cooking. You will prepare food for people, and take it to their homes as a means of introducing your products. If you really want to do well in this business you also have to convince family and friends to have parties and/or join your business. You will have to attend seminars and spend a lot of money driving all over the place. At today’s gas prices who wants to do that? So when you analyze the full picture. There are easier ways to make a large income that are more automated. I would suggest that you keep researching.

There are as many meatloaf recipes are there are cooks. This one is my favorite, an easy meatloaf recipe that can be varied to suit your tastes. Start with the basic recipe and add seasonings from the list below to suit your family. You can vary the meats used and the seasonings.


To keep my meatloaf recipe easy, I use ground beef. Many cooks use a combination of ground beef, ground pork or ground veal. Some use sausage in their mixture. If you desire a mixture of meats, use 1/2 to 3/4 pound of pork, veal or sausage to 1 pound of beef. Using the seasoned Italian style bread crumbs seasons the meatloaf, making this recipe easy and quick to prepare. I don’t actually even measure anything. I just dump the ingredients together using a reasonable amount of each. If the mixture is too moist, add more bread crumbs. If too dry, add more ketchup. It really is an easy meatloaf recipe that is foolproof.

Basic Easy Meat Loaf Recipe


1 1/2 pounds ground chuck


3/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs


2 eggs


1 large onion, finely chopped


1 1/2 teaspoon salt


1/2 teaspoon pepper


1 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder, optional


1/4 cup catsup + more for top if desired


2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, optional but good

1. Preheat oven to to 375 degrees F.


2. In a large loaf pan or ovenproof baking dish, mix all ingredients.


3. Shape into loaf shape.


4. Bake at 375 for 1 hour or until done.


5. I like to cover the top with more catsup during the last 20 minutes of baking.

You can try additional seasonings such as diced bell pepper, chopped celery leaves, minced parsley and thyme. If using sausage, try adding finely diced apple, and eliminate the garlic, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Small diced vegetables such as potato, carrots, or peas can be added if you like. Some cooks add chopped olives or chopped pickles or hard boiled eggs. You can substitute canned soup for the catsup, pouring more over the top as it bakes. The variations are endless.If you are blessed with leftovers of this easy meatloaf recipe, this makes a delicious sandwich filling the next day, but don’t count on it. My family eats this up.

Women are using their buying-power to influence the home improvement industry. Companies are beginning to design tools for women and product lines that appeal to DIY (do-it-yourself) handy-women.

Women are the largest group to make decisions about home improvement, and women buy many of the tools and materials needed for home projects.

A recent survey from the Home Improvement Research Institute says the number of home improvement products bought by women has increased in recent years. Women account for $70 billion worth of purchases in the home improvement industry, up from just over $55 billion in 1995.

This trend is due to women owning their own homes and tackling their own home repair projects. Home improvement shows on television, and local home-and-garden events with “How-To” information let women know they can be successful with any number of projects.

Especially helpful are home improvement shows featuring women carpenters and designers. Women-teaching-women can offer a big boost in confidence. These shows demonstrate the tools needed for specific home improvement projects and how to use them.

“Tool Belt Diva” on Discovery’s Home Channel is a good example. The host, Norma Vally, tells women which tools are ‘must-haves’ for a handy woman. Vally says women need:

– 16-ounce claw hammer with a smooth head. She says this is an all-purpose hammer — not too heavy on a woman’s wrist, but heavy enough so a woman won’t be “under-gunned.”

– 25-foot tape measure. Its width allows the numbers to be read easily, and it doesn’t collapse or bend when pulled out past a few feet.

– Retractable utility knife with blade storage in the handle. This tool is useful for cutting everything from vinyl tiles to drywall. The blade is easy to replace and extra blades are stored in the handle.

– Ratcheting screwdriver with multiple bits. The different bits swap out easily, depending on if a small or large Phillips or a slotted head is needed. The ratcheting action allows you to keep a steady pressure on the head of the screw while simply twisting the handle to screw it in.

When shopping for a tool, women look for a good grip and fit in their hand. They want quality tools that help them feel independent and empowered. They want tools that are easy to handle and reliable for simple projects like painting, or more complex projects like installing a ceiling fan.

Many manufacturers involved in the home improvement industry today are offering products with women in mind. They are creating tools for women that are lightweight, have rubber grips, and are ergonomically designed without compromising the strength of the tool.

Some manufacturers are offering products such as protective gear and specialty tools for women, to help them feel comfortable and safe as they work on their home repair projects. One of the fastest growing leaders in the tool market for women is Tomboy Tools. Their tools are not sold in stores, but are directly sold to customers through “tool parties,” in which home consultants educate women on how to do their own home improvement projects with their own tools.

This is the sales method used by Tupperware, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, and several others.

Mary Kay has around a million demonstrators, maybe more. Pampered Chef has around 70,000 demonstrators; Gold Canyon Candles has around 20,000 demonstrators.

By comparison, with only around 1,000 active demonstrators, Tomboy Tools is looking for more women to teach and demonstrate at their home tool parties. With expected growth of over 70% in 2009, Tomboy Tools seems right now to be one of those ‘ground-floor’ opportunities. Pink tools for women are very popular.

The parties are fun and successful, and largely because of the quality of the tools. Ergonomically designed tools for women, they are colorful, smooth, and stylish, making them ‘just right’ for home improvement and DIY projects for women.

At the tool parties, women are taught how to use simple hand tools, such as pliers and ratcheting screwdrivers, and more unusual tools for women such as picture-frame-levelers.

They are also shown how to use the nearly-famous magnetic pink hammer for women. This special hammer is popular for two reasons (in addition to being a good, solid hammer):

1. A small magnet allows the hammer to hold the nail for you as you start the nail, removing the risk of hitting your thumb.

2. A portion of every hammer sale is donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

The women who own and operate Tomboy Tools are committed to helping women feel independent, inspired and empowered to do their own household repairs and home improvement projects.

They want women to save time and money while becoming better stewards of their most important financial asset – their home. And they hope more women will become demonstrators, and take advantage of the opportunity to have fun and earn money while they teach other women how to have more control over their lives.

The whole experience of dining and/or drinking at a restaurant/bar can be given a facelift with proper and adequate restaurant/bar supplies being made available. The restaurant is a place having close association with leisure and concerns the fine taste of individuals. The intimate association of the restaurant with the lifestyle of persons dining out there makes it a place that is worthy of keeping spruced up at all times. This goes a long way to make the experience of dining at the restaurant turns out to be cherished one.

The premises of the restaurant and/or bar and especially its interiors are to be made plush and cozy for diners to get a special experience. The restaurant supplies provided adequately helps in ascertaining that the activities of the restaurant are carried out well and customers are satisfactorily catered to.

The availability and proper management of restaurant supplies features alongside marketing, service standards, décor and such other factors to spell success for the restaurant/bar. Supplies ranging from ice machines to knives and bar supplies assume crucial roles in sound conducting of a restaurant’s business. The selection and stocking of such supplies go a long way to enhance business prospects of the restaurant.

There is categorization done for placing the supply items suitable under different heads to ensure their appropriate use in delivering finally a perfect dining experience. Sections devoted for preparation, preservation, storage and serving are usually set up and the supplies like processors, dishes and trays are placed under them appropriately. The restaurant supplies of food products are classified into perishable and non-perishable sections respectively and the food supplies placed accordingly.

Select items of kitchen supplies, catering supplies, restaurant furniture, bar furniture comprise the restaurant supplies which are usually procured in wholesale. There may be excess supplies purchased in which case adequate storage arrangements may need to be made to prevent spoilage. The kitchen and catering supplies perhaps have the most crucial role to play in delivering an amazing dining experience while supplies pertaining to other restaurant concerns help provide a better ambience for dining.

So, with the right restaurant supplies in place you, a prospective diner-customer, can be assured of an awesome dining experience. Herein will be the real success of the restaurateur- in ensuring that you enjoy every moment of being in the restaurant by enjoying not only the food served but also everything else that restaurant supplies make possible.

Myrtle Beach dining is one of the biggest reasons people book Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand for their vacations again and again. Myrtle Beach dining features a number of the best restaurants in the Southeast. The vast array of options allows you to try something fresh every day. With over 2000 restaurants along the Grand Strand, there is something available to satisfy anyone’s taste. Myrtle Beach dining is unforgettable with nearly 2000 restaurants to please everyone’s palette.

The Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau offers you a list of the area’s most incredible eateries – from mouthwatering seafood and steaks to scrumptious pastries and coffee. You can find seafood and country cooking including broiled and fried seafood, seasoned vegetables, and more. Sample an international feast of Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Thai, steak, and Greek delights. Whether you want soul food or seafood, it can be found on the Grand Strand. On the South end of the strand in Surfside Beach is Crabby Mike’s which features a 100 item seafood buffet complete with Alaskan king crab legs (in season). If you are not the buffet type there are still plenty of cook-to-order seafood restaurants about.

Reviews can help you sort through the myriad of options. With so many choices of restaurants in Myrtle Beach and the greater Grand Strand area, internet restaurant reviews may be helpful to narrow your choices, and we encourage you to read several reviews before deciding where to dine.

You can also locate where to eat by area, such as Murrells Inlet, North Myrtle Beach, Broadway at the Beach, Surfside Beach, Little River, and other coastal areas of the Grand Strand. All of these locations offer casual fine dining at it best. For truly scrumptious fine dining, try Thoroughbreds. Rivaled only by the Library, Thoroughbreds is one of the few places along the Grand Strand that truly specializes in fine dining.

When the sun goes down, take your pick from various types of Entertainment. Nightclubs, such as 2001 Nightclub, Studebaker’s, Crocodile Rocks with dueling pianos await you with outstanding music, dancing and entertainment.

The Myrtle Beach dining and entertainment experience is sure to satisfy the taste of its most selective visitors and guests.

Whether you’re a dieter or a diabetic, your days of waving away the dessert tray are over, thanks to Xylitol, a natural sweetener that can be used as a stand-in for sugar in virtually any recipe that satisfies your sweet tooth. 

In 2003, nutritionist Karen Edwards wrote an entire Xylitol cookbook — “Sweeten Your Life the Xylitol Way” — and three years later unveiled an expanded version containing more than 100 recipes for cookies, cakes, pies, even ice cream and condensed milk, adapted to suit the tastes of those who crave carbohydrates but have concerns about sugar content.

Xylitol, a sweetener that occurs naturally in plants and in small amounts in human tissue, is sold in granulated form and has the sweetness of sugar, but contains roughly 40 percent fewer calories and produces neither the insulin spike of sugar nor the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners like Splenda and aspartame.

Because Xylitol and sugar react similarly to heat, Xylitol can substitute for sugar in cooking and baking on essentially a one-to-one ratio. But experts recommend starting with a smaller amount of Xylitol and adjusting to taste. In recipes calling for white flour, a good rule of thumb is to use a half-cup of Xylitol where you would normally use one cup of sugar and gradually add more until the batter is sweet enough.

Yeast bread is the exception to the rule, however. The same chemical compound that inhibits the production of harmful microorganisms in the mouth has the same effect on the microorganisms in yeast, making Xylitol unsuitable for use in baking yeast-based breads.

Just as we cannot blame others for destroying the environment, so we cannot look to others to protect the environment. Responsibility for both begins at home. ~Paul Griss, The Daily Planet



Step 1: Find out what is recycled in your area. Most places will recycle glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, and plastic. Contact your local City Hall to find out what is available or at least be pointed in the right direction. Your city may also have a website with all the information you need.

Step 2: Decide how many containers you will need. This is directly related to the information you find in Step 1 and what will be easiest for you. For example, will you need/want to separate the #1 and #2 plastics?

Step 3: Find containers. You may already have containers that will work. If you have been clearing the clutter, you may find extra storage bins ready for a new purpose! : Your city may also provide bins specifically for their recycling program. Baskets also work nicely in the kitchen and office. So, just take a look around and see what you find.

Step 4: Make labels. Take all the guess work out of what can and can’t be recycled by placing labels on each bin. The easiest way to make labels is to use a 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper. Write the needed info and insert into a page protector. Tape the page protector to the bin with packing tape. This protects the label from weather if you leave it outside and it keeps the label from falling off.

Step 5: Create the space. The best place is typically the garage, but be open to see where that place is for you and your family. Make it as easy as possible to sort, take to the drop-off center, or haul to your curb. You will also want a space in the kitchen and office to initially collect items. This prevents recycling from taking over your kitchen counter as well as multiple trips to the main containers.

If this step seems overwhelming or intimidating, I suggest a couple of things. You can start with one or two recycle bins based on what you acquire most. You can also create more space by listing things on www.Freecycle.org. (You will read more about this in Step 8.)

Step 6: Establish a routine. As with everything, your routine has to be SIMPLE or it may not stick!

Here is my routine: I have a bin in my kitchen that catches 95% of all the recycling materials. I don’t sort them here–they just get dumped in after they are rinsed and flattened. When it gets full, I take it to the garage and sort each item into the appropriate bins. (This is where the labels come in handy!) I do the same with my office basket which is typically paper, so it can normally be dumped into the Paper and Cardboard bin.

I also suggest writing the recycling pick-up or drop-off days in your calendar. Maybe you can designate each Friday as recycling day and take the items from the house to the garage. Or, you can make it the day before recycling is picked up. Once you get into a rhythm, it will naturally become part of your life.

Step 7: Be mindful when making future purchases.

You have heard of the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Notice Recycle is the last one mentioned. With mindful purchases you can focus on reducing the items needing recycled. So, on your future shopping trips, consider what products you are buying and how they are packaged. Go for bulk items you use on a regular basis. Another idea is to create a plan to take your own canvas bags to the store to reduce the need for paper and plastic bags.



Most of us are familiar with recycling and reusing, but how often do we think of the third R – REDUCE? ‘Reduce’ is probably the most important of the three Rs because, if we reduced, it would limit the need to recycle and reuse.(~Catherine Pulsifer, from The “Reduce” of Recycle and Reuse



Step 8: Use Freecycle.org. I love Freecycle! So far I have been able to find new homes for a broken guitar, wireless computer card, 2 toilets, a HUGE wall cabinet, blue tiles from our shower, and a cracked Pampered Chef baking stone. (Even with the crack someone wanted it!) If you haven’t checked out www.Freecycle.org, you are missing out. This is fabulous for creating more space in your life and less waste in our landfills!

Happy Recycling!

In a recent article I outlined two alternative and somewhat adventurous ways that small business owners are bring cash into their businesses, even in this cash-poor economy: factoring and creating multiple streams of income.

Factoring is a way for small businesses to generate cash by selling their accounts receivables for up-front cash. Creating multiple streams can take many forms, including creating educational webinars, websites, and DVDs. Each of these options has pros and cons, and each of these can increase a small business’ cash flow if implemented right.

Now I’m going to introduce a third option that is enticing many small business owners as a viable new income stream: MLM, also known as multi-level marketing or network marketing.

Why MLM and Why Now?
Many small business owners who had previously shunned the MLM industry are now joining in significant numbers. The question is, why now? Small business owners are habitually busy, so it doesn’t make sense that they would add another business to their already overloaded schedule. Yet they are, and for good reason.

1. MLM is Supported by Capitalist Big Wigs
Did you know that investing guru Warren Buffett owns several MLM companies, including Pampered Chef? Did you know that best-selling authors and well-known businessmen Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump wrote a book supporting this industry? In fact, Donald Trump believes in it so much he recently launched his own MLM company. The MLM industry, formerly the king of scams and schemes, has grown up and become a solid business proposition.

2. When Cash is Tight, MLM is Inexpensive
In this cash-poor economy, an MLM business has one of the lowest startup costs and overhead of any business. Rather than buying a franchise or investing in other companies, many small business owners are joining MLMs and operating these businesses in their homes, which keeps the overhead low and increases their tax advantages. On average, small business owners are spending $350 to $500 to start their businesses, and roughly $200 to $400 per month the run it. Although it may not produce income right away, most who consistently work their business earn a passive income, over and above their expenses, within 6 months to 2 years.

In this economy every penny counts so even a small income stream will pay off. Did you know that last year 91% of foreclosures could have been prevented with $500 additional income per month? Plus, according to Dun and Bradstreet, 95% of all businesses close because of lack of cash. Many small business owners are realizing that investing in an MLM business is a smart investment for the near future.

3. MLM Helps You Claim Additional Tax Advantages
Sometimes cash comes not in the form of greenbacks, but in the form of taxes that you or your business don’t have to pay. Most small business owners are in a catch-22 when it comes to taxes. They are damned if they make a profit, and damned if they don’t. For instance, one shopkeeper earned a good profit one year, but ended up paying huge taxes on her take-home pay to the IIRS. To prevent that, the next year she increased her business expenses by hiring an employee to mind her store while she took more time off. Her net after-tax income was the same in both years. It doesn’t seem fair, does it?

Many small business owners are caught in the same situation, but they can change that by starting an MLM business in their homes. When a small business owner owns and operates an MLM out of her home, she can hire her children (7 years or older) to work in her MLM, and claim that child’s wages (translation: allowance) as a tax deduction. She can claim additional square footage in her house for office use and deduct that from her taxes. She can deduct her commuting miles between home and business round trip. She vastly increases her ability to deduct certain kinds of expenses, which ultimately means her take-home paycheck, after taxes, is much larger. Now isn’t that a creative way to generate dollars?

The Conversation is Just Beginning
There are a lot more advantages than can be listed here for small business owners to start their own MLM businesses. This is just the start of the conversation. MLM isn’t the same scammy industry it used to be, just as the economy isn’t the goldmine that it used to be.

If you own a small business and you are looking for a way to create a new stream of income, consider MLM. These days, an open mind can lead to a healthier checkbook. It might be time to reconsider your options for creating multiple streams of income.