A Highland Picnic

 Scotland and picnics may not seem to go together yet the Highlands are a beautiful place to enjoy the weather and scenery/. A hearty landscape requires hearty yet easy to carry foods.A dd a dream of whiskey too for a quiet buzz and to relax under sapphire skies,

A great picnic basket favorite is Scotch eggs. These weren't invented by the Scots but are much loved through the United Kingdom. it;s just hard boiling eggs and then wrapping them in layers of herb infused sausage and then bread crumbs.These are deep fried and can be eaten warn or cold. as for the herbs, try summer hetbs such as mint, thynes, rosemary and dill. You could add a tiny bit of hot sauce to give them zing.Anything cold and salmon also worked in a Scottish picnic. salmon runs throught the country and it's figures in many dishes.use a can of salmon instead of fresh for easiness.It's then mixing in mayo, chopped celery  and red onions or shallot.Add dill and lemon for more flavor and then chill.it could be served as a filling for sandwiches for a topping for water crackers. Keep in mind that you could add pasta or noodles to this. If you;re having a barbecue picnic then think salmon burgers.It's using the boneless fish mixed with lemon juice and bread crumbs along with Dijon mustard and shallots  . You do have to grind the salmon so that it forms a paste to mild into patty form. Its then grilling then on grill pan.They can't be put on a regular grill because the'll fall apart.

The Scots can turn oats into anything delicious. Think oat cakes to munch on with jam and butter along with a good thermos of tea. They only need a few ingredients such as oatmeal, butter and bicarbonate of soda. To this add a pinch of salt and hot water to bind. its' then creating a rolled out dough  and cutting out rounds with a large cookie cutter.Once cooked they can be slathered with a good homemade preserve and a rich butter. However a savory topping wouldn't go amiss. YOu could add salmon on top or even ham for a new spin on a pic nic sandwich.if you're feeling more adventurous then think of baking a loaf of oat bread.It's the same as white bread except made with oat flour and rolled oats. A fresh baked loaf is perfect for making sandwiches with ham. Another idea is store bought haggis than you can easily cook at home and bring along .It's more of a winter dish, being made at Hogmany or New Year's. Serve small bite soft it on the oat cakes. Of course shortbread is a must. You can make it or if it's too not then buy a package of Walker's it goes wonderfully with a cup of iced tea as a perfect end to the picnic. You can also make the whiskey infused white fudge called tablet too if you want.

A Highland picnic is a wonderful way to enjoy good food and nature around you. Create a good salmon salad and some oatcakes. Bring shortbread and tea .ENjoy a wonderful afternoon celebrating the best of Alba - Scotland.

Etsy's Sweet Side

Many know Etsy as that cool place to buy cool artesanal jewelry and hand crafted home design ware and clothing. Others (such as myself) use it for handmade mineral cosmetics and lotions. Yet many - incluing me -didn't know that you cn buy all sorts of home made treats. Yup, Etsy is also the coolest treat store too.

I first stumbled upon Etsy's sweet side while probably looking for homemade fudge. The food and beverage section is hard to find.It's not obvious as it is on other web sits such as Amazon or Target You have to first go to Home and then the Food And Drink . There are all sorts of categories, from soups, to herbs, spices and seasonings to baked goods to candies. There's even a section on recipes. The last can be a money maker for any home chef.A Scottish home chef is charging  almost three dollars a recipe for a kind of vanilla fudge called tablet (and as we all know we can get this free on any candy making or Scottish heritage website). Someone else  is charging for vintage cherry and strawberry recipes as well.I'd rather get the actual item than the actual recipe. Home chefs can buy ingredients such as ground capiscum and vanilla beans  along with all kinds of salts and garam masala. Here you can even find the ingredients for making gin.

Etsy also has a wide variety of ready made treats.You can try a huge flavor assortment of cupcakes at the Mississippi based The Dessert Cafe. They also have brownies , from plain to mint to a wide range of oatmeal cookies. I stumbled not on fudge- but on handmade flavored marshmallows from Sweet Jumbles in Jersey City.

These are the strawberry. I also bought the coffee as well as the peppermint (which looks like bloodied gauze) I thought about popping them all in hot cocoa bit they're huge, pillowy types.I have bought chocolate graham crackers which I may make  fancy s'mores with soon.

Etsy is the place for finding all sorts of gourmet goodies. Yes, you can get one of a kind Spanish leather bracelets and lotions that smell like spun sugar. You can also real spun sugar too.

The Miracle Of The Instant Pot

Like toys, kitchen gadgets go through a popularity phase too, especially during the holidays. This year, it's the Instant Pot, a home chef's best friend.It is the newest must have in the kitchen arsenal .

The genius behind this is Robert Wang and the Times Monday Business section featured him. He has created the godsend of modern appliances. The Instant Pot can do everything from make chili to ferment yogurt.It is easily programmable which is why so many home chefs, especially novices, love it. The Instant Pot has many pluses. It is made completely from stainless steel so there's no  questionable plastic interiors to worry over. It traps the aroma inside the pot, promising a more flavorful creation. It has lids that are both left and right handed friendly. There are several different models, such as the duo in seven which has everything from a rice and porridge steamer to a yogurt maker and warmer. The deluxe model, the Duo Plus 9-in 1 has that and a sterilizer. It also has a choice of settings, from less, normal and more.It also has the handy Keep Warm setting  that makes sure the foods don't get cold. There's also the Ultra 10 in1 which has a setting to create soft pudding like cakes along with a saute and searing setting.What is truly fascinating is the Instant Pot with the Bluetooth which can be set from your tablet or phone. It also cooks food up to seventy per cent faster than the other pots.

The pot became an instant success thanks to Amazon. Mr. Wang was also very shrewd because the Instant Pot test units  were sent to two hundred influential chefs, cooking instructors and food bloggers (why not me???) Good reviews and recipes appear on line, drawing the attention of foodies and home chef. What is also amazing about the product is that the inventor and investors raised the money themselves. Wang was only a lapsed home cook when he created the better version of a crock pot..He tried to start his own tech company after being laid off from telecom and tech jobs. What he created to now revolutionize modern cooking. It was different from other pressure cookers because it has sensors that keep the cooker from overheating or exploding under pressure. There is even a cookbook , written by Coco Morante, who also has a blog dedicated to the Instant Pot. After seeing the website and reading the recipes, I'm kind of hooked on it myself. I'm pricing them along with figuring out that the Mini Instant Pot would be perfect in my kitchen.I could make my Mom's famous chili along with her sauce.It would be perfect making steamed butternut squash and mashed potatoes too.

Robert Wang has created a genius invention. The Instant Pot is revolutionizing  how we cook . It is more than a fad and trend. it may be hot but it is also  a modern kitchen neccesity.

The Pluses And Minuses Of Supplements

Everyone nowadays takes dietary supplements. It's a fact . Surprisingly we do need some extras despite our rich and varied diets, especially here in America. Yet what works and what doesn't.What's a come on, and what's the real deal? That's the problem every time we buy a bottle of something. guaranteed to improve our health.

Before you go out an buy the latest fad of supplement, analyze what you've been eating..Sometimes nutritional deficiencies  can be solved by adding certain foods to your diet. Iron can be had through lean red meat along with spinach, lentils and beans. Vitamin C , as we all know comes ,from the usual suspects, of limes, lemons , grapefruits and oranges. Milk and sunshine  give us Vitamin D but we usually need supplements. Another question to ask, what kind of vitamin works the best for me. Most doctors always suggest tablets which are effective  however gelcaps are better .because they are absorbed quicker into both the bloodstream and stomach. As for those gummy bear vitamins for both adults and kids, take care. Some brands are lacking when it comes to the important vitamins like the Bs, D and K. Chewables are much better for just kids. They're not as effective for anyone over the age of twelve though and teens and their elders should stick to the regular versions.

Many of us have been suckered in by other supplements, namely those that promise to suppress the appetite and boost metabolism. These don't work . I've tried them , thinking I could lose a few pounds.(Foodie Pantry can do that to you).My appetite was not tamped down. I felt even more hungrier. Luckily my pocketbook dictated I buy the less costlier one (29.00) as opposed to the more expensive ($69.00) so I wasn;t completely soaked.. I don't recommend these and any other one with fantastic promises. There are herbal supplements that also aid in health and medical conditions. I take milk thistle for my gall bladder on a daily basis and it made some improvement.. Many take flaxseed for the antioxidant properties and it can be added to foods ,Some herbal supplements or botanicals as they're also known as  do have side effects. These should be  thoroughly researched before buying. They can have negative side effects and also negate any helpful prescriptions you're on. As for those supplements that promise you a quick weight loss - the best bet is sticking to a low fat diet.

In the end ,it's a matter of being supplement savvy. Figure out what you need and what works the best for you. Stay away from any false promises or the latest thing. Stick to those that will improve your life and fulfill your needs