February 8th, 2011
Flowers? They die within a few days. Chocolates? In my case that would be eaten in minutes. Purses, shoes and clothing? Pleeease; that goes out of style in no time. Gold? Now we are talking; it would last a lifetime. Those were my thoughts when I read about the first gold vending machines in the U.S. Then I read that one was in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget and the other was at the Boca Town Center in Boca Raton, Florida, which is a few miles south of Delray Beach. I just could not wait to see it.
South Florida is known for its affluence; flashy cars, mansions, expensive restaurants, over the top lifestyles. You know that there is money in a community when one of the first Gold to go – ATM machines in the U.S. has been installed and is already working. The location? The Boca Town Center located on Glades Rd. It is inside the mall. I went through the Neiman Marcus store, then turn right and then right again. It was right there on the center of the hall. It looked like a gold bar.
These machines are already in about 15 locations worldwide; Germany, Spain, Italy and Abu Dhabi. In the U.S. 40 more are in the planning stages of opening up.
So, now we can add to our shopping experience the power to buy gold on the spot. You can purchase Gold Bars and Coins. The machine is by Ex Oriente Lux, which owns Gold to go; www.gold-to-go.com.
There is a money back guarantee once you have purchased gold from these ATM machines. The one in Boca is operated by PMX Gold, located in Boca. If you are not satisfied, you can return it within 10 days of purchase, with receipt and bank details. The refund will be the purchase price plus/minus the amount equivalent to the percentage change in the gold price (London PM fixing) comparing the gold price on the purchase day with the gold price the day the gold is returned to them. They will also return your mailing expenses.
The gold coins and bars at the Gold ATM weigh up to 8 ounces. The prices are updated every 10 minutes based on real time spot price of gold. It churns out 20 to 100 pieces a day depending on the traffic.
The machine located at the Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Hotel is restocked every 2 days. It is that popular.
It is worth mentioning that these machines limit the amout of gold purchased to curb money laundering.
Have a great day!!….talk to you later…..
February 7th, 2011
I came across this company at the Dover Downs Casino and Hotel in Dover, DE. I will tell you about that later. I had not heard about this company. First I asked if it was someone in the hotel making these gluten free brownies. That’s all they had; the chocolate brownies. They thought that it was the wife of an employee that had this business. I still don’t know if that was true or not.
I bought one of the brownies and took some pictures. Always thinking of a possible post for my website.
I have mentioned before that for the past couple of years, everything cooked in my house is glute- free. I guess I could say my husband was lucky to be diagnosed at this point in his life when so many people are being diagnosed and the food industry is exploding with gluten-free products; some better than others.
Sweet Christine’s is located at 132 West St., Kennett Square, PA, 19348. Website is www.sweetchristinesglutenfree.com. Hours of operation are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The thing is that once I got on Sweet Christine’s website I came to realize that this is not a small operation. After being diagnosed years ago, and eating tasteless confections, she decided to make her own. Word spread and the rest is history. Sweet Christine’s sells to retailers, and wholesalers. You can find her confections, in small shops, and in big time grocery stores.
All baked goods are 100% homemade. They are natural, gluten-free, wheat-free and nothing in them is artificial. Sweet Christine’s makes cookies, muffins, breads, cakes, and the company ships all over the United States. They can take orders for any of your celebrations; birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. For these special orders, please give them a call.
At the Delaware Beaches you can find these baked goods at Nourish, 373 Henlopen Junction, Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-6282 and at Good Earth Market, Rt. 26, a few miles west of Bethany Beach, 302-537-7100.
I would suggest you visit www.sweetchristinesglutenfree.com because besides seeing all the products this company has to offer, there is also so much information for people that have been diagnosed with a gluten allergy. Very informative and worth checking.
I have not visited Sweet Christine’s. This post came about because of the brownie I bought. After sampling the brownie, I wrote Sweet Christine’s an e-mail. I thought the brownie was so good; dense and sweet. I warmed it up before eating it. I mentioned that it would be so nice to have baked goods gluten free and sugar free. 20% of diabetics will be diagnosed with celiac disease.
P.S. I will visit Sweet Christine’s and you will be the first to know. It is a bit of a drive from the Delaware Beaches, but I think it would be worth it.
Have a great day!!
February 6th, 2011
My mother in law, Louise, is an excellent cook. I can say that I have learned from her style of cooking; then as I usually do, I make it my own. The original celery and cabbage casserole is her recipe. If you like celery and cabbage then I think you will like this recipe. It is so easy, goes well with grilled foods or with turkey or pork. In my household I fix it, sometimes, when I want a meatless meal. Add a salad and some crusty bread. A few ways to make it your own is to add a little bit more of this or a little less of that.
I had to stop and think about these 2: celery and cabbage. I found interesting information that I would like to pass on to you. You might start liking these vegetables.
Celery comes from the same family with parsley and fennel. The leaves are high in vitamin A. The stems are full of B1, B2, B6; lots of potassium and plenty of amino acids.
A lot of vegetables lose nutrients during cooking, but not celery. Its compounds hold up well during the cooking process.
It is also said that celery lowers blood pressure but its juice helps in other conditions including cancer. Why? Apparently, it contains ant-cancer compounds. One of those compounds is acetylemic, which has been known to stop the growth of tumor cells.
I also did not know that celery is among the group of foods, headed by peanuts, that appear to cause the most allergic reactions. This allergy is found mostly in Central Europe. Here, in the U.S. the peanut allergy is more prevalent.
Cabbage is popular in Central and Eastern Europe. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, has anti-inflammatory properties and it is low in calories. It has a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and also appears to block the growth of cancer cells, among other health benefits.
The recipe is very adjustable. You can make it for a crowd or just for a few. If you like more cabbage than celery, then you know what to do, or if celery is your favorite then add more.
Celery and Cabbage Casserole
4 cups of cabbage (thin strips)
2 cups of chopped celery
1 1/2 tablespoons butter or margarine (a bit more if you like)
salt and pepper to taste
At this point, pre heat oven to 350 degrees. On a large frying pan, medium high heat, melt butter and saute celery and cabbage for a few minutes. Season it with salt and pepper, if you would like to. Do not over cook.
Place in a baking dish.
Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon flour (I use gluten free flour)
1 1/2 cups of milk (either fat free, low fat and whole; your preference)
1 small jar of chopped roasted peppers (pimentos), with juice
salt and pepper to taste, if you want to
Tabasco, a few drops
Crackers, crushed for topping (saltines, or gluten free, bread crumbs)
Paprika
In the frying pan, melt butter in a medium low heat, then add flour and whisk it into the butter. Slowly add the milk to start making the sauce. If you need more milk because it is getting too thick then, by all means, add it. It is going to be delicious, don’t worry. Then once you have the sauce going add the jar of roasted peppers (pimentos) and keep whisking it. Add the Tabasco. More kick? Then, more Tabasco. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, if desired. Pour over the celery and cabbage and mix it in. The cracker topping should be very light. Then, sprinkle the paprika to give it more color.
Place it in the oven for about 25 minutes. If you are doubling this recipe then you will have to leave it in the oven longer. Just until the topping gets nice and brown but not burned.
If you decide you like this recipe then you can add a little sprinkle of parmessan cheese; not much. The original recipe does not have cheese.
Last week I was in the mood for roasted turkey. Yes, my oven was fixed and this recipe was my side dish.
Note: Information for this post was taken from www.juicing-for-health.com .
Have a great day!!…..talk to you later…
February 5th, 2011
I am still enjoying the weather in Delra Beachy and today was just a beautiful day. Being that it is a Saturday, people are out; walking, eating, shopping and waiting for the entertainment this cool coastal town has for this week-end.
Got a little hungry so stopped for lunch at Cabana El Rey located at 105 East Atlantic Ave. I talked to one of the waiters that used to work there and is now in their newest restaurant located on Clematis St. in West Palm called Luigis. Just opened up 2 months ago. The Cabana from West Palm is still just a few blocks away in a new location. It was good to see him. Got to practice my Spanish.
Cabana’s tel. is 561-276-9090 and the website is www.cabanarestaurant.com.
I think I tried my first mojito at Cabana’s. I still think they have the best one; the original, prepared they way it should be.
My salad was a “Cesar” Salad. A classic with a Latin twist, romaine lettuce, manchego cheese and guajillo chile Caesar dressing. Guajillo is a pepper. I topped it with grilled shrimp. Light and refreshing on a hot day.
My husband ordered 2 side dishes. They never had anyone order this combination: coconut rice with morcillas. Morcillas are blood sausages. I think they go well with the “scrapple” from Delaware. The rice is particularly good; the morcillas? Well, I do love them.
Then The Great Lawn at the School House Square is getting for a very interesting night. It is called Chill Lounge Night. This whole square will be converted into one big party. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. It is for a good cause; the Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. Please check www.chilloungenight.com because their schedule is up and after Delray there are many other cities where you will find one spectacular party.
For the moment, that’s all. Talk to you later…..You know I will…
February 5th, 2011
Different events happened in my life in 2010. One of them was a kitchen fire in my place in Delray Beach. We were lucky that nobody was hurt. All of a sudden companies were knocking on our doors to ‘help us” get our place back together. I could not believe it. It was like they were attached to a radio, following fire and flood disasters.
Since my place of residence is Delaware, I do have a Property Manager in Delray Beach. I have written about him in the past. His name is Michael Keegan and his company is Beach House Managemenht, LLC. It is located at 777 E. Atlantic Ave., Suite Z-307, Delray Beach, FL 33483. Tel. 561-376-4329. Beach House Management is also one of my advertisers. So, visit the website by just clicking on it on the right hand side of this site. In it you will learn about the company, the services they provide, links, and other important information.
I have known Michael for years and I am not ashame to say that I could not live without him. He has been a constant since we first purchased in Delray. My family has certainly kept his property management services busy. And it does not stop there. He has also helped my children while in Delray so many times.
Having a property manager means to me peace of mind; it is not a luxury, but a necessity. He is always there; just a phone call away. That’s exactly what happened back on April, 2010 when there was a kitchen fire. Michael was at our place on that moment’s notice already contacting the people that were important at that time.
He introduced us to Dan Palmer. He owns J. Palmer, Inc., located at 3805 Investment Lane, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Tel. 561-848-7114, toll free 800-824-4997. They are General Contractors, specializing in insurance restoration and remodeling. Also involved in general property repairs and maintenance.
Dan was incredible. The fire happened in April and I probably met Dan in late June. But, every Monday he called us with the updates. Yes, our conversations were all handled through the telephone. He took care of emptying the contents of our place. He had everything cleaned. He dealt with the insurance company. That is his specialty. I trusted him so much that he picked my appliances, tiles, kitchen faucet and gave me directions on how to get through something like this without falling apart. Easy, one day at a time. He is cool, calm and collected.
The place has turned out so nice, so here are the results, after kitchen replaced, floors replaced, furniture and clothing cleaned, painting, replacing curtains (he brought the fabric samples). It really was definitely a lot of work for Dan, but he got it done.
I even had him put a cabinet, countertop and sink in a half bath that was not part of the restoration.
But wait, I am not finished. There was water damaged upstairs and another claim had to be filed and floors replaced. He took care of it all.
If you find yourself in this type of situation, please do not hesitate to call Dan Palmer. You have the telephone numbers. He has been extremely professional; I cannot say enough. I recommend his company fully, just like I recommend Beach House Management, as well.
Have a great week-end….talk to you later…..
February 4th, 2011
After not seeing too much color due to the fact that snow only comes in white, I am taking it all in. Such was the case this morning when I took a walk on A1A and the Beach. Walkers; all ages, bikers, runners, pets were all taking advantage of a beautiful morning in Delray Beach.
Delray is the perfect place for outdoor activities; the Beach being one of many. It is amazing to see an unobstructed beach for over 1 mile long. Then I saw the marker, south of Atlantic Avenue and A1A. The marker is from the Delray Beach Historical Society and the Robert Neff Family.
“In 1899, Sara Gleason, Belle G. Dimick Reese and Ella M. Dimick Potter dedicated the Beach to the public.”
In 1895 Sara Gleason and her husband, W. H. Hunt, sold a parcel of land containing the beach area to William S. Linton for about $10,000 an acre, except for a small portion then occupied by the Orange Grove House of Refuge. A mortgage from William Linton, U.S. Congressman from Michigan, who was promoting a town here called Linton, secured $3,000 of the purchase price.
At the end of 1895, civil engineer, H. Burslem Thomson drew a plat describing the Town of Linton. The plat, filed by William Linton and the Model Land Company during 1896, contained the first dedication for public use of what is now this mile long municipal beach. When William Linton defaulted, the mortgage was foreclosed half to Sara Gleason and half to the heirs of W. H. Hunt, his granddaughters, Belle Reese, and Ella Potter.
These 3 women filed a replat dedicating the are east of the ocean beach lots and “Ocean Road” to the public in 1899.
If they could only see how many visitors and residents enjoy this scenery.
On this beach front walk there are benches and kiosks where you can rest or just taking in the views.
A Village by the Sea, certainly a lot of fun and preserved by those that know what a gem it is!!
Have a great Day!!!…talk to you later….
February 3rd, 2011
To plunge or not to plunge? I have never done it. This is an event that brings so many people to our beaches. It is for a worthy cause; The Special Olympics Delaware. The whole week-end will be filled with activities starting tomorrow, Friday, and then end with the much awaited culmination of the Polar Bear Plunge in the frigid waters of the Atlantic.
Besides the Polar Bear Plunge Festival, there are other activities in town, as well. If you are visiting the Delaware beaches this week end, you will be surprised as to how crowded our beaches are getting during the week-ends. It is almost like everyone is so sick of the snow that they have to get out of town. We are happy to have you. Come on down!!
Friday, February 4th – Sunday, February 6th – Dirty Blonde at the Clear Space Theatre Company located at 20 Baltimore Ave. Friday and Saturday shows will start at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday’s show will start at 3:00 p.m. Tickets? On line at www.clearspacetheatre.org , or by phone 302-227-2270, or, just visit the Box Office Friday from 9 until 5 p.m.
Dirty Blonde intertwines 2 stories – Mae West’s life and a contemporary love story between two die-hard Mae West fans.
Saturday, February 5th – 2nd Run to the Plunge 5K Run/Walk – at 1:00 p.m. Whether you are a serious runner, casual jogger or would just enjoy a brisk walk for a good cause the Run to the Plunge is the perfect way to warm up. If you want an application just go to www.seashorestriders.com. In the website you will find everything you need to know about the Run to the Plunge.
Registration will be available on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s registration will be open from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Atlantic Sands Hotel. On Saturday, registration will open at Noon until race time in the 40 x 40 tent on Rehoboth Avenue next to the Bandstand.
The course will be the same for runners and for walkers. Really, go on the website mentioned for more info. You can also contact Tim@seashorestrider.com. Tim Bamforth can also tell you how to join the club.
This organization, Seashore Strider Running Club started in 1988. It pretty much serves Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, Delaware. Because we are in a resort community, for visitors from Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and beyond Seashore Strider Running Club offers its activities to all of our visitors that share a common interest in running and fitness.
Please check their website and most of all their calendar. They offer so many running events throughout the year. You might want to come to the beach just to participate in one of them.
Getting back to the “coolest” event of the year in more ways than one I can tell you that I don’t know if I could jump in. You see, my ideal water temperature in more like 75 degrees. Last year there were 2,683 Bears that plunged in water temperatures of 42 degrees. The air temperature was 48 degrees. And over $500,000 were raised for Special Olympics Delaware.
 No Polar Bear Plunging in the warm waters of Delray Beach, Florida For all the festivities concerning the Polar Bear Plunge please go to http://www.plungede.org. This event is actually called the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge. It is just that they plunge in Rehoboth Beach. This year they are celebrating 20 years and they will keep plunging away as long as all of us participate.
The official Lewes Polar Bear Plunge will be Sunday, February 6th at 1 p.m. but on Saturday, February 5th from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. is the Polar Bear Cake Off. This particular event will take place at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center right in town. Again, I urge you to visit the website to get all the particulars. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun plus it is free and the spectators will be able to vote for their choice of Best Polar Bear Cake. Cake Boss: Next Great Baker contestants are coming to Rehoboth to plunge. I am telling you, check the website.
All of it is for a great cause, Special Olympics Delaware. They have been changing the lives of people with intelectual disabilities. “Through sports training and competition in 20 sports, over 3,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities have proven that, given the chance, no disability is too great to overcome.” For more information on Special Olympics Delaware, their history, how you can help, please visit www.sode.org. Questions? Please e-mail info@sode.org or 302-831-4653.
Note: Money raise from the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge has made such a dramatic difference. They have tripled the number of athletes in the past 7 years from 1,100 to 3,500. From 9 events to 35 events.
There are 17 states the hold Polar Bear Plunges to benefit their own programs. Delaware’s Plunge remains one of the most successful.
Have a wonderful week-end….I will talk to you later…
|
3 Comments