Cinnamon Swirl Focaccia Bread
Cinnamon Swirl Focaccia Bread
Prep Time: 15 minutes Resting Time: 45 minutes Servings: 9-inch round loaf
YOU WILL NEED :
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, extra for rolling
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 stick melted butter
- 9-inch round baking pan/tin
Filling:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon (reserve 1 tablespoon for garnish)
HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT :
In a large bowl, gently stir together the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it sit until foamy. Add the flour, salt, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
Once the dough comes together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Using 1/3 of the melted butter, lightly coat a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn it to coat with butter. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Brush the top with another ⅓ of the melted butter. Spread the filling evenly, then roll the dough into a log using your hands. Roll the log into a ball, then flatten it into a disk. Use the remaining butter to grease the pan, and place the disk into the pan. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and a towel, and let it rest for 15 minutes.
Flip the dough, and just before baking, sprinkle with the reserved filling. Using your fingers, make dimples randomly on the top of the bread.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Home & Garden: A Healthy Home is a Well Designed Home
If you missed the Wellness Expo at Celebrate St. James this past April, the presenters all talked about ways to keep folks healthy. My contribution to this day was expressing my feelings about our homes being a very important part of being well, staying well, and having a sense of peace and happiness in your life. Following is what I shared that day and what I would like to share with you:
- Our homes can enrich our lives or diminish them.
- Clutter – is the enemy of good design
- Good design makes you feel good!
Tips for a healthy home that make good sense
- Keep it dry
- Keep in clean
- Keep it safe
- Keep it well ventilated
- Keep it pest free
- Keep it contaminant free
- Keep your home maintained
- Keep it thermally controlled
A good and healthy design is environmentally friendly, but also
- Has a good space plan
- Has quality furnishings that are safe and long lasting
- Is pleasing to the eye, both yours and others
- Gives you peace of mind and control over your environment
- Make you “happy”!
Good design is not about how expensive your new look is, but about how comfortable, satisfied, and happy it makes “you feel”. Here are some suggestions for design projects that can make you feel better as well as make your home look better.
Create a place to keep your personal paperwork. Perhaps an underutilized room can be allocated as a home office as well as an occasional guest room. If that is not possible, an armoire that doubles as storage and computer space might be placed in a den or kitchen. Think about expanding your home by utilizing attics and basements as appropriate “living space” and make them cheerful and inviting.
Collect and display your prized possessions in a neat and orderly fashion. Bookshelves can do wonders for a space, especially if they have closed storage bottoms. They can be built or bought, painted or stained and generally take up little depth in a room while adding architectural interest.
Use your walls to express yourself. Artwork, needlepoint, photographs and other wall hangings can definitely accessorize and complete a room. Display talents as well – perhaps photography or watercolor. Frame them neatly and uniformly, especially if there is a large collection. Get them out of the closet (which frees up that space) and put them where you can see and enjoy them.
Put a little music in your life. Whether its audio equipment, from a single radio, to a vast array of new technology, to a piano that plays itself, your home can provide you and all who visit a sense of peace and harmony that only music creates.
Add some plants. You don’t have to have a green thumb. Good quality silks will do. Find some accessories that compliment your basic furniture. Lamps, pillows, throws, and candles – all add a psychological as well as physical warmth. Try a new area rug, either on a bare floor or on a plain carpet and see how the effect of pattern and color can immediately brighten a room.
Then perhaps a possible new paint color will emerge. There’s nothing like a coat of paint for a clean fresh look, especially since you are then forced to clean up the clutter before you put everything back.
Window treatments, custom, ready-made or made by you, if you are able, can add immeasurably to the finished look of a space. You can create warmth and still allow natural light to wash your room if you consider framing your windows rather than covering them.
Perhaps your home is a “work in progress” for lack of time, money or even interest. Perhaps it’s too big to be tackled all at once. Good intentions are a start – but a plan is the only way it will happen. Put it in place, set goals and stick with it. Sounds very much like a plan for ourselves as well, doesn’t it?
ET Recipe of the Month: Easy School Day Meals
Resisting the weeknight urge to call for takeout or order delivery starts with an approachable at-home menu with recipes you can prep in an instant. Especially during back-to-school season when schedules are jam-packed with activities, easy meals you can rely on allow you and your loved ones to ease tension in the kitchen.
Simplicity is the key to putting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less, and these Taco Salad and Taco Mac and Cheese recipes offer mealtime solutions that make cooking duty a breeze. Find more recipe ideas to simplify hectic back-to-school schedules at Culinary.net.
Taco Salad
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”. Total time: 30 minutes. Servings: 6
YOU WILL NEED :
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans
- 1 can (15 ounces) corn
- 2 cans (14 ounces each) diced tomatoes with chilies
- 1/2 cup half-and-half or milk
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons mesquite seasoning
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- salt, to taste
- 1 lime, juice only
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- Romaine lettuce
- 2-3 cups shredded cheese
- 1 tub (16 ounces) sour cream
- Crushed tortilla chips
HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT :
In pan over medium heat, brown beef until cooked through; drain. Add black beans and corn. Stir in tomatoes with juices and half-and-half. Add onion powder, garlic powder, mesquite seasoning and pepper. Season with salt, to taste. Bring to simmer.
Add lime juice; stir. Sprinkle with cilantro. Wash and chop lettuce. Place cheese and sour cream in bowls for toppings.
On plates, top crushed tortilla chips with meat sauce, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, as desired.
#17138. Source: Family Features
Taco Mac & Cheese
YOU WILL NEED :
- 1 box macaroni and cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 Red bell pepper, diced
- 1 Yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 Orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 Onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT :
Prepare boxed mac and cheese with milk and butter according to package instructions.
In skillet, brown ground turkey over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Add taco seasoning. Stir turkey mixture with mac and cheese to combine.
Fashion & Beauty: Complete the Look for Fall
Fall fashions, rich in texture and color, are always a mirror of the change from warm weather attitudes to the busy-ness of autumn. From the moment Labor Day arrives to the singing of Auld Lang Syne to signify the new year often feels like a whirlwind. Fall fashions embrace the chill and the energy in the air with their sharp turn away from summer softness and into the bold beyond. Fashion trends for fall 2024 – from clothing and shoes to accessories and makeup – all give that bold vibe we set aside for the lazy days of summer. Let’s look at some of what to expect in accessory and makeup trends.
It’s a big season for oversized accessories. Expect to see oversized eyewear, statement jewelry, extra-long, fuzzy scarves (the coziest variety), and the return of belts. While belts aren’t oversized per se, they are being worn in doubles – that’s two of a style, one above the other for a dramatic look.
Handbags are being shown as oversized and slouchy hobo styles or elongated and narrow – a comfy look versus a tailored one, depending on your style and mood. Oversized wristlets and clutches are being offered by nearly every designer. Need more room? Try a furry, fluffy unstructured style scrunched up to be worn under the arm.
Headwear is quite popular this fall with caps in solids, prints, metallics and more leading the way down the runway. Head scarves are a fan favorite this year for a fashionable throw-back to the 1960s but with a modern twist. And sleek skull caps will be seen on those wanting to have fashion forward style.
The season’s make up trends are defined by dramatic flair as much as soft, angelic looks. Creative freedom means choosing the look that’s right for you, no matter your style.
We typically wait until winter to try out dark shades of red. This year, however, will be wearing deep cranberry and crimson shades as soon as fall makes its entrance. Lush and feminine, it is a dramatic topper to one’s look.
Cool tones are the look for fall with icy, shimmery eyes. Achieve the look with either lilac, cool greys, silver or cool blue. Lashes will be an important part of your make-up – either by adding long, delicate false lashes, or create a fanlike look with mascara by using a dark black to fan out the outer corner of your lashes. Complete the look with eye liner [in graphite black] is being shown in a bold line that reaches beyond the natural end of the eye.
Wet, dewy skin is a trendy look for fall. While your makeup and its application are important to achieving this glass skin look, the key is truly an excellent serum. Some combination makeup serum products will do double the work in one item. Top your skin with a rosy, pink or burgundy rouge to give yourself cheeks that appear flushed.
Remember, you need not use all these makeup looks. Sometimes one will give you the dramatic, yet sophisticated look makeup artists are suggesting. Play up your best features and never wear more than you feel comfortable in.
Autumn is ripe with color and flair. Choose the elements that work best for your fashion sense and your lifestyle. And remember, enjoy the drama of the season.
Out & About: North Fork Fall Festivities
I’ve always been a fan of the quieter side of Long Island’s North Fork. My partner and I like to ride our bikes in New Suffolk along Peconic Bay and around the meadow by the golf course. He and I often pack a picnic lunch or grab a bite at Legends on First Street. Next door is an emporium called “Summer Girl” which sells clothing, jewelry, candles, and crafts by local artists. New Suffolk Beach is just down the block (park outside of the beach and walk in as it is for residents only). But before heading out to New Suffolk we might stop at Jason’s Vineyards where you can also bring your own lunch or buy cheese and crackers to enjoy with your wine and listen to music in the shade. Goodale Farms in Riverhead at 250 Main Road is also a favorite stop where we feed the goats. They also sell fresh produce.
After that we might head a few miles further east to Mattituck’s Village Cheese Shop (Mon. through Sun. 10-5), where they give out free samples and have a little cafe. Right next door is Love Lane Sweet Shoppe (Sun. 10-3, Mon. and Wed. through Sat. 10-5).
For families, there are many events such as pumpkin and apple picking, hayrides, and festivals. Gabrielsen’s Country Plant Farm at 200 Herricks Lane in Jamesport’s fall festival admission includes hay and train rides, a corn crib, pedal tractors, farm animals, bounce houses, live music, and much more (one free adult admission with purchase of 3 regular-priced admissions).
Harbes Family Farm has several locations with their Spooky Family Fun for all ages (Mattituck, Riverhead, and Jamesport; visit www.harbesfamilyfun.com). They will be reopening in October (check on Facebook). Water Drinker Family Farm Adventure has 2 locations: 4560 Sound Avenue in Riverhead which hosts a Garlic Festival on September 14th, 9am-6pm with live music, local vendors, food trucks, and family fun ($15 per person; children under 2 free; Sat. and Sun. 9-6); and Waterdrinker Manorville at 663 Wading River Road in Manorville ($20 per person; children under 2 free; Sat. and Sun. 9-6).
For those who enjoy apple picking visit Woodside Orchards at their two locations in Aquebogue (729 Route 25, 11:30-5:30, closed Wed.) and -Jamesport (116 Manor Lane, Riverhead). The Aquebogue location has a hard cider tasting room and they also sell baked goods.
Head out early for these fall festivities to avoid traffic. Pack blankets, snacks, and sunscreen and enjoy this harvest’s treasures!
Health & Wellness: End of Summer Blues
As humans, we are rattled to our core by change. It brings up emotions such as discomfort, grieving the end of something, or anticipation of the unknown. With the end of summer, many of us are sad to say good-bye to fun sun-kissed days and long summer nights. But the reality is that change supports our growth – mentally, spiritually & physically. Embracing change will benefit your life in countless ways. Supporting our bodies with nutrients is the basis for our physical body to feel good during these inevitable upcoming changes.
Going with the flow is the key to thriving. Surviving is just getting by. Instead, you want to thrive because you can build and grow from thriving. You want to ebb and flow with anything that comes your way. Fear feeds into survival mode. Excitement drives thriving mode. Watch your children. If they are constantly fearful, help them to step out of that fear into excitement. Also, look in the mirror to see if they may have learned that coping mechanism from you or someone else.
Excitement & fear are actually a response to the same thing – anticipation of a new event or situation aka change. Try to tap into excitement instead of fear while also being mindful of not getting too excited that it becomes overwhelming. If you practice this art daily, it becomes easier. Ways to be in charge of your emotional mindset is mindfulness – down time to tune in with yourself and identify what you are feeling. Ask yourself what thoughts you are associating with the upcoming change. Seek the joy in the newness and sit with that for a moment. Then, let new thoughts build from that joy.
Nutrient support during times of change is key. People can either abstain from eating and hydrating properly or overdo it by drinking and eating way too much. If the stress of change prevents you from adequate nutrition or overconsumption of the standard American diet then you are setting yourself up for failure. Your body requires all of the good macronutrients daily which means good fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Your body requires fat for brain functioning. Protein for strong muscles, joints and tissues. Carbohydrates are essential for your energy source to get through the day. Proper water consumption is relaxing for your nervous system, so don’t forget to drink quality water throughout the day.
Check your Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K levels. Vitamin D3 is so much more than simply a vitamin – it is a hormone that regulates mood and supports your gut lining which affects your absorption of nutrients. The optimal range for Vitamin D3 you should fall within is 60 – 80 via labwork. If you are below 60, then you must supplement. Vitamin K helps the absorption of Vitamin D3 plus both support bone and cardiovascular health. However, they are fat soluble so you do not want to exceed what your body requires. Get tested to be sure you are taking the correct dosage.
Remember – whatever you look for, you will find. Choose excitement and joy so you can thrive!
Food & Drink: Farm to table right at Home
I equate joy to a summer farm stand. Plump tomatoes, juicy stone fruit, sweet local corn – the list goes on and on. There’s nothing quite like cooking with seasonal ingredients, notably June through September. I tend to overbuy, simply because there are so many good ingredients to choose from. At my core, I cherish preparing meals for the people around me. I often make it a spectacle, complete with unique tablescapes, and custom menus printed and placed on thrifted China.
In the summer months the ingredients are the star of the show, adorning the table in bright shades of yellow and green. What better way to celebrate the season than a dinner party? When designing a menu my first stop is the farm stand. I source ingredients locally, from trusted farmers. This time around I was inspired by end of summer stone fruit, corn, blueberries, basil and mint. I also found some standout heirloom tomatoes that will lend to the perfect starter. After visiting my local fish monger and grocer, I’m excited to piece together a menu leaning into summer’s best.
My table will be draped in fresh summer wildflowers and a vintage linen tablecloth that I thrifted. I typically add candlesticks and tea candles (unscented always). The menus will be custom watercolor (thank you, Etsy), featuring the starter, entree and dessert. I’ll put out a nibble board for my guests to enjoy with their bubbles, as I prep the meal. Today we’ll enjoy a mix of semi-soft cheeses, curry roasted cashews, figs and homemade preserves.
To start our meal together, a simply seasoned heirloom tomato salad with fresh herbs and good quality olive oil. I cut my tomatoes in wedges rather than slices, and give them a good sprinkling of Maldon salt and cracked pepper. Finish the dish with a hefty pour of your favorite olive oil (mine is Frankie’s 457), and enjoy with crusty bread. I’ll serve a good French Sauvignon Blanc and bubbles with this meal.
For our entree, we’ll enjoy fresh pasta dressed in a simple corn and butter sauce. I find that people are intimidated by the idea of making pasta from scratch, but I truly can’t recommend it enough. Good quality flour (I use King Arthur), and pasture raised eggs will lend to perfect pasta every time. (I prefer pastured eggs because they have a beautiful golden yolk, and this really shines through in color and flavor). This quick summer sauce cooks down to a creamy, savory, sweet dressing for our homemade pasta. Top with thinly chopped basil, and cracked pepper. If you prefer a protein, consider lobster or shrimp. (I opted for butter poached lobster!)
For dessert, stone fruit. I combine imperfectly quartered nectarines and plums, a heaping handful of blueberries, a little lemon juice and brown sugar. You can use this mixture within a pie, a galette, a crumble, a cobbler – the choice is yours! I go with mini crumbles for the cute factor (plus, they’re easy to assemble and bake). Fill ramekins with fruit filling, and top with crumble (flour, brown sugar, vanilla paste, good quality butter). Add an extra sprinkle of textured sugar for the crunch factor. Bake until golden and bubbling, serve with vanilla bean gelato and thinly sliced mint. Simple, and incredibly delicious.
Head to your local farm stand, get inspired by the ingredients around you, and enjoy them over dinner with friends and family. There’s nothing better than a summer meal!
Career Development: Your Resume – What You Write Could Change Your Life
In 2019, a couple of job seekers applied to Goggle. Well, that is not exactly on point. It turns out that a “couple” was 9,000 resumes per day. (Source: Carrus-How to Land a Job at Google).
And, while few companies get deluged like Google, in today’s ultra-competitive job market getting noticed for your dream job requires a resume that stands out. If you want a new and better chapter in your career history, one that could change your life, you need to write and format your resume so that your phone rings. Here are some actions that will help.
Get Them Hooked From The First Glance
By writing a compelling professional summary at the beginning of your resume, the reader’s interest is captured. Use words that start the process of communicating that you are a doer and difference maker. For example, instead of saying you have a strong work ethic, write something like this: “Able to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced environment.”
First Present The Impact-Then Explain How
A “let me call this candidate” resume goes far beyond statements that state the duties you were assigned to perform or your qualifications. It educates everyone involved in the hiring process about the potential impact you could have in helping their team and the organization meet their goals.
Wherever possible showcase the impact first and then show the talent you used to achieve it. As you will see below, each of these shows both results and skills.
- Saved $500,000 through assertive negotiations with vendors
- Increased customer retention by identifying and satisfying their needs
- Ensured 100% compliance with company and regulatory requirements through accurate record keeping
Each statement helps convey a “here’s what I can do for your company” message. And should a big leap in the accuracy of record keeping be a “must have” for the position, you just significantly upped your cases for an interview.
Purposeful Sequencing
As you review what you wrote for a job you hold, or held, take the time to format the sequence so that the first entry captures interest and that the next one to two builds upon it. Oftentimes, we lead-off and follow up with what we feel most comfortable talking about. While this is not a big blunder, the objective is to grab the reader’s attention and begin getting them to envision you in the job.
Less is More
Hunker down when it comes to editing your resume and making yes/no decisions about what to include. Remove redundant entries and those that do not solidly contribute to the case for hiring you.Yes, the fact that you volunteer tells readers that you are a person who likes to give back. But it is doubtful you will get hired because you do!
There is much more than just these items in terms of what it takes to create a door opening resume. Feel free to contact me at donaldbenenson@yahoo.com for my Resume Tip Sheet.
For a free no obligation chat about your job search, feel free to contact me at 631.428.5877.
Good luck in your search efforts.
Upclose: Cabo Fresh California Mexican Grill
Locations:
Commack | 631-543-2226
5026 Jericho Tpke. TJ Maxx Plaza
Smithtown | 631-360-2226
79 NY-111 Uncle Giuseppe’s Center
Stony Brook | 631-751-2226
2182 Nesconset Hwy. Loew’s Movie Theater Center
Centereach | 631-580-2226
759 Middle Country Rd. Unit M
Website: CaboFreshMex.com
In 2011, James DiVilio Founder and Executive Chairman of Emerging Hospitality Group established Cabo Fresh California Mexican Grill as a fast-casual Cal-Mex themed healthy eatery, inspired by the vibrant flavors of California cuisine. As Mr. DiVilio tells me, “our goal has always been to prioritize real fresh food that’s both flavorful and quickly served, making the dining experience healthy, easy, accessible, and affordable for everyone. We have created a menu that sets us apart from the crowded fast casual Mexican segment”. Cabo Fresh offers many choices with a variety of proteins that include seared rock shrimp, ahi tuna, and vegan chorizo. They also offer real fruit smoothies which are sweetened with organic blue agave. Some of their most popular items include the Cabo Classic Chicken Burrito, Birria Tacos and Korean BBQ tacos with house made pickled onions. Cabo Fresh’s incredible catering has options that will transform your next event into a full blown FIESTA that your guests will rave about.”
Four decades as a serial entrepreneur, James acquired a keen sense of how to operate multi-unit, multi-concept restaurants. However, with a high sense of pride, Mr. DiVillo makes it clear, that the success of the Cabo Fresh brand could never have become a reality without incredible dedication, hard work and tireless perseverance of his wife Diana and two sons Anthony and Jim, all who have many years mastering every aspect of the restaurant industry. According to Mr. DiVillo, “we operate as a team and each of us possess a unique skill set that covers every aspect of the operation. This combination of vision, talent and dedication is what continues to move this company forward. It is our mission to continuously refine this concept, making it better every day and inevitably become a national brand.”
“We are blessed to have amazing managers and crew that are top in the industry”. The DiVilio family has nurtured a culture that has established a set of guiding principles, central to the success of the Cabo Fresh brand. These principles ensure that Cabo Fresh consistently delivers an outstanding dining experience that has established a standard of excellence in everything they do.
Cabo Fresh takes pride in preparing their dishes from scratch every single day, featuring all-natural ingredients and recipes. During our interview, as I passed through the kitchen, the alluring aroma of freshly marinated chicken thighs hitting the grill clearly exemplifies the “Fresh” in Cabo.
As Mr. DiVillio explains, “The secret to our exceptional food lies in what we intentionally avoid. By preparing our dishes fresh daily, we season our meats, seafood, and vegetables lightly. Everything we serve is cooked shortly before being delivered, which allows the inherent freshness of our ingredients to stand out.” Furthermore, a manager proudly shared that even their corn tortilla chips and taco shells are made fresh throughout the day on-site.”
The DiVillio family and their Cabo Fresh restaurants believe in the power of people and have made it their mission to remain connected with their team, suppliers, customers, and local communities to create a positive impact.
Cabo Fresh is more than just a restaurant, it’s a philosophy that ensures a rewarding growth experience for every team member that reflects directly upon the thousands of customers that have become loyalists to the Cabo Fresh movement.
20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000.