Gotta try this main dish for New Years Media Noche!!! The robust flavor of beef sweetened by onions makes this a recipe you’ll repeat 

Ingredients

4 pounds beef sirloin tip roast, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 large sweet onions, halved and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cans (10-1/2 ounces each) condensed beef consomme, undiluted
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium beef broth
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
8 slices French bread (1/2 inch thick), toasted
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, brown meat in oil in batches; drain. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.

In the same skillet, cook onions in butter over medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.

Stir in flour until blended; gradually add consomme and broth. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Pour over beef.

Cover and bake at 325° for 1 hour. Carefully stir in cream; discard bay leaves. Bake, uncovered, 25-35 minutes longer or until meat is tender. Place toast over beef mixture; sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Yield: 8 servings.

 Nutrition Facts: 1 cup beef mixture with 1 slice cheese toast equals 585 calories, 26 g fat (12 g saturated fat), 186 mg cholesterol, 1,039 mg sodium, 29 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 56 g protein.

Here are a few simple ways to enjoy the sweet treats of the holiday season without overindulging. 

Have an iced cupcake instead of a slice of frosted cake. Calories saved: 100 

Top angel food cake with fruit instead of 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup. Calories saved: 100 

Instead of a cup of eggnog during the holidays, have hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick. Calories saved: 100 

Serve ice cream in a dish instead of a waffle cone. Calories saved: 50. 

Enjoy cake — just scrap off the icing. Calories saved: at least 100. 

Pie? Have a slice of apple lattice instead of a serving of apple crumb. Calories saved: 70. 

hold the ice cream on the pie; opt for a plain piece of fruit pie instead. Calories saved: 75-100. 

When baking, if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sweetened applesauce, use unsweetened instead. Calories saved: 50. 

Share your serving of chocolate cake and buttercream icing with someone special. Calories saved: 115. 

Source: rdasia.com

FancyTran

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FancyTran is FREE and the most popular multi-engine translator for BlackBerry®. FancyTran is a First runner-up winner in Most Addictive social app using the BBM™ Social Platform Contest 2011. Currently supports Google and Bing translation engines with Text to Speech pronunciation and Speech recognition. Supports over 60 languages for translation and over 50 for pronunciation. Understands speech of 14 languages. It has special dictionary mode and providers transliteration for non latin languages. It automatically checks spelling and also support transliterated input. You can type in any language without need to install keyboard input support. Touch friendly and clean design and full BlackBerry® integration included. Translate selected text from any app in one click! Support of most major BlackBerry® devices (OS 5.0+) including latest OS 7.0 compatibility. FancyTran allows user to control connection transport settings to save on data traffic in roaming during travelling. Even more features coming soon. Follow @demon_xxi for updates and feature requests. Do not forget to leave your review and ***** stars ;)

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By Registered Dietitian Laura CaJacob 

While statistics on holiday weight gain are inconsistent, one thing is for sure: the holiday season makes normally healthy habits much more difficult. The mashed potatoes get passed one extra time around the table, and the chocolate peppermint brownies stare at you all day from your desk. More than anything, holiday eating is challenging because we are surrounded by a sea of indulgent dishes.

Just like Coach Josh says on p.164 in his book, Belly Fat Free, “You’re only setting yourself up for failure if you start an eating program that forbids you from ever eating your very favorite foods.” You don’t have to jump off the wagon over the holidays in order to enjoy your favorite foods. There are a variety of recipe substitutions that can keep you on track toward reaching your goals. Rather than skip your favorite dish entirely, why not lighten it up a little?

Before we get started, I must make a few notes as a lover of food, tradition and flavor:

• I know it can be a sin to alter an all-time favorite family recipe. Leave Aunt Jane’s famous candied yams alone, and try changing some dishes that aren’t the one thing you look forward to in December. Who knows – you may add a new recipe into the regular rotation!
• Don’t you dare try to eliminate every unhealthy ingredient in a recipe. The intention of modifying a recipe is not to create cardboard. As Coach Josh declares on p.174 of Belly Fat Free, “Remember—love the food you eat or you won’t stay on the program for long!”

Below is a list of five simple ways to adjust some holiday recipes without sacrificing flavor.

1. Substitute unsweetened applesauce for oil.

This works great in baking desserts to lower the fat content. The substitution ratio is 1:1, and the result is a moister, sweeter dish. This even works with boxed mixes.

Note: Do not try this with butter. Chocolate chip cookies turn into chocolate chip pancakes.

2. Increase vegetables.

There are so many dishes that could have more flavor, texture and color by adding some extra veggies. Try using more roasted root vegetables in a stuffing than bread. Throw leeks and mushrooms into a wild rice side dish. Generously add a variety of vegetables, and your belly will thank you.

3. Replace mild cheese with half the amount of strong cheese.

You flat out can’t eat as much blue cheese or parmesan as you can mozzarella or mild cheddar. By using less of stronger cheeses, you can drastically reduce fat and calories while actually increasing flavor. This works great for cheese plates, salads and melting cheese on vegetables.

4. Substitute pureed vegetables for cream.

Zucchini, squash and cauliflower are excellent choices for thickening soups without changing the flavor. Simply peel and roast the veggies then blend until you have a “creamy” puree. Add as a thickener until you get your desired consistency.

Note: Be mindful of the color vegetable you chose as this can really affect the soup’s appearance. We eat with our eyes first, and nobody wants to eat green cream of corn soup.

5. Reduce sugar by 25%.

There is usually so much sugar called for in most recipes that nobody will notice the 25% that goes missing.  If your recipe calls for 1 cup sugar and you use ¾ cup, you cut out 200 calories just like that. Consider this when using syrups, honey, or jams as well.

I challenge you to try some of these recipe modifications. I wouldn’t be surprised if you like the healthier version better than the original.

P.S. I never even considered tip #3 and #4… did you? 

Source: Belly Fat Free by Coach Josh

Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (196 mi) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards numerous times. Boracay was awarded in the "Travelers' Choice 2011" by TripAdvisor as the second best beach (out of 25) in the world.[2] Boracay made a debut appearance on the Top 10 Islands list in the Travel + Leisure travel magazine World's Best Awards 2011, ranking fourth.[3][4][5]

The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality ofMalay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.

Learn more about Boracay's history, geography, climate, tourism, and more here

Android Christmas Funny Facts With Christmas Facts you'll find lots of interesting facts about Christmas! How much do you know about the history of Christmas? Do you now how “Rudolph” was created? Do you know where X-Mas comes from? Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second travelling 650 miles a second. And many more .. KW: sleeps, countdown, Christmas, holiday, winter, snow, holy night, minutes, seconds, hours, days, event, timer, calendar, xmas, christmas songs, christmas tree, christmas cards, christmas lyrics, christmas lights, christmas ideas, christmas gifts, gifts for christmas, christmas ornament, christmas decoration, christmas games, christmas parties, christmas pictures, christmas tree shop, christmas gift idea, christmas shop, christmas movies, christmas greetings,christmas poems dinner list cookies stockings artificial christmas trees christmas traditions christmas wishes jokes holidays stories lights backgrounds events what is christmas christmas party games christmas dress quotes, lovely quotes, quotes of love facebook youtube games craigslist myspace ebay yahoo mapquest radio AOL free music video Recent changes: + new facts added + new quotes and facts added + interface improvements + quotes section added + famous quotes + UI improvements + several bug fixes + several interface improvements + added new Funny Christmas facts + Xmas Quotes + Did you know that Santa Claus travels at 650 miles p

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Here are some tips to spread DIY epicurean cheer to your loved ones this festive season 

One of the biggest problems my wife and I face during the festive season is picking out Christmas gifts for friends and family members who seem to always already have every other fancy toy, sexy bag and en vogue accessory out there. The solution we’ve come to depend on over the years is creating food-related gifts that we know our friends will appreciate – and perhaps most importantly – not be able to pick up at any regular mall.

Five or six years back, we assembled some DIY molten chocolate cake kits, each of which contained the popular dessert recipe, metal moulds, chocolate and other dry ingredients, and distributed these as Christmas goodie packs to friends and family. Then three years ago, we compiled several of our favourite simple recipes into a small cookbook, which we self-printed using Lulu.com and gave to our close friends as gifts.

Other great foodie gifts that your loved ones will appreciate can range from simple things such as homemade jars of vanilla sugar or preserved lemons (both really easy to whip up), to more complex creations such as gingerbread houses with self-decorating kits, even homemade duck prosciutto (idea courtesy of a friend who recently generously bestowed it upon us).

The trick we’ve learnt to making these presents really special? Take time to package them beautifully. A pretty handwritten label or gorgeous box can really go a long way in transforming your homemade goodies into an artisanal creation.

Here are some of our top picks for the most wanted additions to the tech lover’s holiday gift wishlist 

It’s that time of year again. The invariable waiting and hoping for shiny new gadgets, and then perhaps the disappointment, when the big day comes and you open that promising looking gift-wrapped box to reveal, yet again, the dreaded pair of socks/mug/towel set. But hope springs eternal, and whether you’re dreaming up a list to hint to a loved one, or if you’re thinking of playing Tech Santa this year, these are the current most coveted items on any self-respecting tech lover’s wishlist: 

Nikon J1
This camera might just be the perfect gift for your trigger-happy loved ones. Part of the new Nikon 1 System, the Nikon J1 features a compact, portable design in a range of stylish colours. Even though Nikon has developed new imaging sensors and technology for fast and powerful autofocus, the J1 also allows the option of interchangeable lenses when greater flexibility and control are wanted. It can also capture HD video and photos simultaneously, for times when you simply must have both. 

Sony PlayStation Vita
Gamers have been drooling in anticipation since Sony’s new handheld game console was officially unveiled this past summer. The PS Vita packs a punch with its innovative user interface, featuring a beautiful front 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen and, along with traditional controls, a multi-touch pad on the back, which offers a new immersive style of play that allows users to interact directly with games in 3D-like motion. Online connectivity is baked into the PS Vita through Wi-Fi and optional 3G, while social features allow gamers to connect with one another to play the latest next-generation game titles. 

Amazon Kindle Fire
Although they didn’t start the fire, so to speak, Amazon has released a 7-inch slate to enter the tablet wars. It offers a zippy dual-core processor, full-colour touchscreen and a fast, cloud-enhanced web browser called Amazon Silk. The key strength of the Kindle Fire though is perhaps Amazon itself, with a vast library of streaming movies, songs, apps, games, books, magazines and other digital content readily available at your fingertips. In fact, like the regular Kindle, the Fire comes synced with your Amazon account, so that anything you’ve previously bought and have in your collection would be instantly accessible. 

iPhone 4S
This list would be incomplete without the highly awaited Apple iPhone 4S, which was announced in early October. In design, it’s not much different from its predecessor. Instead, the main differences lie within the svelte handset: a faster processor, 8-megapixel HD-capable camera, and a voice-activated virtual assistant called Siri, which can understand naturally spoken questions to set up reminders, find information and assist with other tasks. With the new iPhone, Apple also launched the iOS 5, the latest significant update of its mobile operating system offering many new refinements, as well as the iCloud, which allows for content such as documents and music to be synced and accessed effortlessly across multiple Apple devices.

Source: rdasia 

Chicken breasts stuffed with a delicious spinach and mushroom filling, served with pasta 

Ingredients for Spinach mushroom chicken pockets

1½–2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large portobello or flat mushroom, coarsely chopped
4 spring onions, sliced
5 cups baby English spinach leaves, about 250 g, coarsely chopped
1½ tablespoons dry low-GI breadcrumbs
1½ tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
freshly ground black pepper
4 skinless chicken breast fillets or thigh fillets, each about 175 g
½ cup reduced-salt chicken stock, hot pasta, such as spaghettini or spaghetti, and fresh salad greens with an olive oil and vinegar dressing, to serve.

Preparation method for Spinach mushroom chicken pockets

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, deep frying pan, cook mushroom and spring onions over a medium heat for 5 minutes until mushroom is tender. Stir in spinach and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, until wilted.

Transfer to a large bowl, using a slotted spoon to drain off any excess moisture from the spinach. Add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and pepper and toss well.

Flatten chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap. Spread 2 tablespoons of spinach filling onto each piece of chicken, to about 1 cm from the edges. Start at a narrow end, roll up and secure each pocket with cocktail sticks or kitchen string.

Clean frying pan, add remaining oil and set the pan over a high heat. Add the pockets, seam side down first, and cook for 6 minutes, or until browned all over.

Place the pockets in a shallow ovenproof dish and pour in the hot stock. Cover and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

To serve, remove cocktail sticks or string from pockets and cut chicken diagonally into 1-cm slices. Serve hot, drizzled with cooking juices on pasta with salad greens.

Tips:Cooking the pockets seam side down first seals them closed and prevents the filling from falling out.

Serves: 4
Yield: 4 chicken breasts
Ready in: 45 mins (15 mins prep - 30 mins cook)

The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting, and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust 

Ingredients

17 chocolate cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon sugar

FILLING:
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
2 teaspoons Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 bottle (1 ounce) red food coloring

FROSTING:
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract

Directions

Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan.

In a small bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, butter and sugar. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the sour cream, buttermilk, cocoa and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in food coloring. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan.

Bake at 325° for 60-70 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan.

For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost top of cheesecake. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 16 servings.

Serves: 16 Prep: 30 min. Bake: 1 hour + chilling

Nutrition Facts: 1 slice equals 463 calories, 29 g fat (17 g saturated fat), 131 mg cholesterol, 276 mg sodium, 46 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 7 g protein.

Source: rdasia.com