Love, Celibacy and Celebrities

by Gabriella Leone

We live in a society that is saturated by a sex obsessed media. Advertisements use sex to sell their products, risqué scandals always make the news, and it’s hard to watch T.V without seeing at least one type of physical scene. Sometimes it may feel like everyone is having sex, that you can’t be in love without sex and that you are out of the loop. However, don’t lose faith because despite what you see there are plenty of people who are celibate, even celebrities.

Taylor Swift, 19 year old American pop-country music hit sensation finds inspiration for her music from her past relationships. If you listen to her tracks you can tell she’s singing from past experiences, but guess what, Taylor Swift is celibate. In Swifts new song Fifteen, she encourages girls to put themselves first, tread the water carefully in relationships and most importantly to Swift, to follow your dreams. Swift is successful, beautiful, kind, and she has been in a few relationships all where she didn’t engage in sexual activity.

Jordan Sparks is another successful and talented singer who is not only celibate but an avid speaker of celibacy. She recently stated in an interview that she would wait until marriage for sex. Sparks wears a purity ring that her parents gave her when she was a teenager and she says that it’s her choice to remain celibate, it makes perfect sense to her.

Another group of people that wear purity rings are the Jonas Brothers, three young, very famous pop stars. Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas are avid speakers of their celibacy; they aren’t ashamed of their faith and what they are doing. They all wear their rings as a promise to God and a promise to themselves. Miley Cyrus also wears a purity ring and is keeping it on until she is married. She has been quoted saying that she is a Christian, was raised by a Christian family and will abide by the Christian upbringing.

Two adult celebrities who were virgins till they were married were pop singer Jessica Simpson and Victoria Secret model Adriana Lima. Simpson and Lima waited until they found the right people to share themselves with. Lima, who is now pregnant with her first child, helped inspire many women to stay celibate. Lima believed if a man didn’t respect her choice to stay celibate than he didn’t respect her and didn’t deserve to be with her.

So if it’s your choice to stay celibate and you feel like there is pressure from the world to change your ways, don’t. Just think about these celebrities who are in the line of fire by the media every single day. They have all been made fun of, questioned and doubted but they stayed true to themselves and their faith.

Remember, you can be in love without making love. You can have a relationship with another person without having sex and it will be just as fulfilling. Relationships where there isn’t sex involved make it possible for a deeper spiritual emotional connection, which is more important than a physical connection.

If all else fails and you feel like you can’t even turn to your famous celebs to stay strong, turn to God. When life gets hard and when your celibacy is questioned or threatened God will be there if you believe in him.  He is always there for you and if you focus your energy and attention on him through prayer he will give you the strength you need to get by each day.

Winter Beauty Tricks

by Gabriella Leone

Winter wonderland brings a natural catastrophe for your skin, lips and hair. The harsh sting of the winter wind is just as damaging as the warm summer sun.  Your skin is never safe from damage, no matter the season.

In the spring and summer we wear SPF to protect our skins from the damaging ultra violet rays. In the winter the sun is just as strong as in the summer because it reflects off of the snow and ice onto our skin. This means that sunscreen that’s sitting in your beach bag needs to come back to work.  Before you go outside slather at least a 20 SPF sunscreen, on any exposed part of your body. Also, before you put on your makeup put a SPF face sunscreen, like Eucerin Extra Protective Moisture Lotion, SPF 30, on your nose, and cheeks. These sunscreens will protect you from the sun’s damage and a winter sunburn, which is a burning, itchy and unpleasant experience.

If you don’t already have any sunscreen I suggest La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL. Not only does it have a high SPF but it contains Mexoryl, one of the strongest chemicals to almost perfectly protect you from any sun damage. Hydraphase UV SPF 30, another sun blocking lotion also contains sodium hyaluronate, an ingredient that targets dry areas on your skin. Sunscreens that have coconut butter, herbal oils and aloe vera will help hydrate your skin.

The winter winds suck the moisture out of the air, which leaves our skin dying for hydration. I suggest putting lotion on your skin at least three times a day; after you shower, in the middle of the day and before you sleep. A great lotion to use is Aveda Botanical, it’s made with rose, lavender and sandalwood oils which will keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Another part of your body that gets dehydrated is your lips. How many winters have you suffered from red, chapped, dry and rash like lips? I’m sure it’s been one too many winters of that! This winter buy yourself a lip balm and stay away from all those flavored ones.  They are lacking the moisture that your lips need to stay healthy. Try a lip balm like CarMax, it can be used all year round and it’s known for it’s moisture properties. However, don’t lick your lips, it will just make it worse.

Lastly how do you deal with winter hair? Split ends, dry scalp, dandruff, winter frizz and hair that is dry as straw. Well first buy some great hair products like heat protector, deep conditioners and for those that have dandruff Head n’ Shoulders works great. Try to avoid any hot heat tools, like curling irons and wash your hair every other day, but use generous amounts of conditioner. Another great idea is to wash your hair then leave a deep conditioning treatment on for 10 minutes, rinse out and towel dry your hair. These deep conditioners have a lot of vitamins in them and help restore your hair back to it’s healthy shine, texture and bounce.

So before you bundle up and head out that door to face the winter’s sting here are some quick little reminders.  Your body and hair will get used to one product after a few weeks, so make sure you alternate between two products every week. Look for lotions and hair care with antioxidants like alpha-lipocid acid, green tea, grapeseed, vitamins C and E, chamomile and ginkgo biloba. Antioxidants counteract winter sun damage and they are usually all natural. Keep an eye out for all natural products, they are healthier and they usually serve as a dual purpose, being lotions and SPF protection. Also try to steer clear from heat sources in your home like hair driers, furnaces, and curling irons. Lastly if you love to use face masks, try to find one that has hydrates and conditions your skin.

If you follow these tips this winter and buy similar products, you won’t feel washed out, dry or dead like the world outside. Instead you’ll feel great about yourself and you’ll look great too!

You Know You’re Grown Up When…

by Amy Marturana

When we were young girls, we could barely wait to grow up and put on our first coat of mascara, or wear our first pair of high heels.  We longed to finally be able to drive instead of having our parents embarrassingly drop us off at a friend’s house, and when the day finally came, we felt on top of the world.

So when did growing up become such a chore?  Sure the freedom is great, but as young adults, we sometimes wish life were as easy as it was when we were six.  No commitments, no work—not a care in the world. Even though going off to college is liberating (and of course a lot of fun), internships and final exams sound much less appealing than a game of wiffle ball or hopscotch.

Unfortunately, we can’t stay young forever.  And, as we get older, reality slowly starts to smack us around a little bit.  But how do we know when to consider ourselves grown ups?  There are many little indications and it varies for everyone, but I’ve found that these four things are sure signs.  You know you’re grown up when:

1.    There is no one to do your laundry—A lot of people start doing their laundry themselves before they go off to school, while others get a rude awakening at college.  And laundry is a time commitment!  Separating clothes, loading, washing, drying and folding.  It’s about a three-hour ordeal… and who has that kind of extra time at school?  But once you start to only have t-shirts and a pair of jeans you’ve worn the past four days, you have to find the time to get it done, you grownup you.  And as if it isn’t a big enough hassle already, you’ll probably also have to pay for your laundry—up to three bucks a pop.

2.    No one makes sure you’re up for class—Your alarm didn’t go off?  Well, mom isn’t there dragging you out of bed so you can get to class on time.  And don’t count on a roommate to be your alarm; she will be busy worrying about her own schedule.  You are a grownup when you get out bed every day with only the help of your alarm clock.  You are even more of a grownup when you miss your mandatory class and have to suffer the consequences.

3.    You have to decide what to do with your time (and you usually make the wrong decision)—Now that classes aren’t from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., using time wisely is crucial.   You know you’re all grown up when you are up until 3 a.m. writing a paper that you should have done over the weekend (but that party was oh so tempting!). Having so much freedom leaves room to use it the wrong way, and mastering time management may be something that some us will die still not understanding.

4.    You can’t afford anything—Welcome to the real world!  The money you make at your summer job now has a purpose: to buy books, or food, or something equally important.  Adulthood marks the end of babysitting money being used just to buy new clothes.  You are grown up when you are forced to put down the Free People and pick up the McGraw-Hill, a test of adulthood that leaves you heartbroken every time.

Cooperating with Other Creative Minds

By Christine Stoddard

There is an art school variation on the old cliché “Too many chefs spoil the broth:” Too many painters turn the Realist mural into a bad Jackson Pollock imitation. Don’t let your student art or media group splatter gratuitous proverbial colors—pink plus green plus blue plus purple equals brown, the same shade as a certain matter that toilets are designed to hold. You want gold, not that other…stuff.

As a film student in a competitive cinema program at a top art school, I am well acquainted with the emotions that cook up when several creative minds come together on a project. Whether you collaborate on a magazine, a play, a gallery show, or any other artistic endeavor, the risk of hurting feelings and tearing apart egos is astronomically high. After all, you are dealing with mostly people who are inherently passionate, moody, spontaneous, sensitive, and proud. Combining too many of them in one room for long periods of time, where their talents all rival one another’s, can be dangerous. Keep in mind that the opportunities to learn and grow as an artist and human being are potentially very great, but only if you and the rest of the group are willing to learn and grow together.

Let’s say you’re in charge of leading a creative project. This is either a very fortunate or a very unfortunate position, depending upon your natural demeanor and past experience managing people. Rely on your smarts, your organizational skills, and your compassion, though, and don’t lose confidence. If you’re lucky, you might actually have a fighting chance at getting your writers, illustrators, actors, photographers, and dancers to listen to you for a second.

Never forget your numbers. Generally, that means focusing on 1) people, and 2) money. Begin by deciding exactly how big of a group you need to complete your project. The smaller, the better, as long as everyone is comfortable with and capable of carrying their workload. Realize that anytime you propose a glamorous project, you initially gain a lot of interest. Determine early on who’s truly serious about seeing the project from start to finish, or at least understand what each person can and is willing to contribute. We have all met posers and pathological resume-builders and, likewise, even the kindest of souls have underestimated others’ talents.

Depending on how professionally oriented your project is, whether or not you are paying participants, and how many people you need, create an actual application process. You can begin with a general interest meeting where people can come ask questions and decide whether or not they can/want to be part of the project.

The next steps are much more subjective. You can ask interested parties to submit resumes, references, essays, and portfolios. Maybe you need them to come in for interviews or auditions. Obviously you don’t want to hire someone who’s never drawn more than a stick figure for your portrait artist. Whatever you do, try to see samples of their work early on and figure out how they can be serve the project as a whole. They will ultimately surprise you, for better or worse, unless you are already familiar with their capabilities and work ethic. In that case, hopefully they do as well as (or better than) you expected!

Of course you cannot lead every project, no matter how brilliant you think your ideas are. Occasionally, at least, you won’t direct the student film, you won’t write the feature article of the campus magazine, your sculpture won’t be the focus of the exhibit. But playing the part of follower every now and then has its benefits.

First off, it provides an excellent opportunity for you to observe the creative process. You can learn a lot about how to lead people by watching a natural leader in process barking at—ahem—politely instructing her group.

Secondly, you only have to worry that you are doing your best to achieve the project’s goals. You can completely dedicate yourself to your part, without dividing your attention very much. Thirdly, there’s less stress involved. You don’t have the whole future of the project riding on your spine. That doesn’t mean you should make any less of an effort, but it does mean you can feel free to relax a little. The downside of not leading is that you do have to listen to someone else’s orders. You don’t necessarily get to voice all of your opinions, because the rest of the group probably won’t value your ideas as much as the director/editor/curator’s. Sometimes that means picking up the pilgrim costume when you had crossed your fingers for that squaw role.

All in all, whether you are a leader or a follower, it is important to understand your project’s mission from the beginning and take every possible step to ensure that you meet your vision as a group. Even if there are forty of you working together, each with her own idea about to best examine an issue using your particular artistic medium, that should not matter. One interpretation and one plan must prevail in order for project to get to the stage, or the press, or the display wall one day. Save your vanity for the bathroom mirror.

How to succeed in a college environment

by Katherine J.Chen

The college environment is as intimidating as it is challenging. When you arrive on campus, you may have a list of twenty or so items that need taking care of: supplies need to be bought, books need to be ordered, furniture needs to be moved, clothes need folding and ironing, posters need putting up. All of that is staring you down, and you haven’t even figured out how to work the lock on the bathroom yet. In addition to adapting to your new surroundings, it is likely that each semester, you will be taking classes in a variety of different buildings. How will you get to class? Should you walk, invest in a bike, take the shuttle, or catch the subway? And on top of everything, you have the classes themselves to worry about!
The college environment can stretch you thin to the point of emotional and physical collapse. There are activities and organizations you want to join, restaurants you want to try out, friends to make, and essays to hand in nearly every other week. How can you balance this overwhelming load of tasks? Here are some tips on how you can overcome the odds and succeed in college, doing what you love while acing those courses!

1.    Don’t sign up for every organization that catches your eye during the Activities Fair. Consider the fact that you will be taking an average of four to five classes each semester. These classes will consume the majority of your time, and while you may not attend every single lecture from the beginning of September to the end of December, you should consider the academic side of college your number one priority. This may sound like redundant advice, but you may be surprised at the number of students who accidentally fail courses each semester because they continually dismissed deadlines or forgot to study for upcoming midterms and final exams.

2.    Don’t pick activities at random. Consider seriously whether an organization will help you out later on, when you are applying to graduate school or a job. For instance, if you plan on majoring in Philosophy, joining the Future Business Leaders Society may not be such a good idea. And taking on an officer role of an organization you feel impartial to will only mean less time to figure out what you really want to do in life.

3.    Do take advantage of office hours, when you need to. If there is something you don’t understand from a lecture or a previous homework assignment, ask your professor or TA for help. Inquire about office hours and set up an appointment. Chances are your professor or TA will be extremely willing to assist you, especially if you approach him/her with the right attitude. Make sure that you don’t argue with instructors about past grades. Instead, come across as wanting to improve your grade on future assignments.

4.    Do make lists of tasks and assignments that need to be taken care of. Your list could include anything and everything, from that English essay you keep putting off to that acquaintance down the hall who you would like to get to know better. Remember that socializing in college is important too, but everything in college should have an established time and place. Allot certain times of the day or week to studying and other times to relaxing, eating, sleeping, or just organizing your schedule!

5.    Do familiarize yourself with course requirements, especially those within your major. What classes do you need to take? What classes should you go ahead and take right off the bat? If there is a language requirement which can only be satisfied by finishing two introductory-level classes back to back, perhaps you should consider completing that before moving on to what you really want to do. There will be a lot of requirements, which you may or may not agree with. Don’t waste your time trying to find a loophole. Take care of what needs to be done as soon as possible.

These suggestions are admittedly only a general overview of how you can succeed in the college environment, but they are vital to your everyday schedule. Make lists. Schedule your time well. Do what you love, but make time to do what is required. Always put your schoolwork first, as difficult as that may be given your newfound freedom away from home. Take care of your mind and body, and you are guaranteed to succeed in college no matter what obstacles you may encounter along the way.

Getting Straight A’s in College

by Katherine J. Chen

Back in high school, you were at the top of your graduating class. Getting straight A’s at the end of each term was no problem. Maybe you didn’t even study that hard. While others were floundering in British Literature, you were receiving A’s on every single paper.

Now, you are in college. Again, you find yourself in a British Literature course that others tell you shouldn’t be that challenging since it is only a 200-level class. The grade distribution is as follows: 75% for four essays, 10% on a midterm, and 15% on a final exam. The first essay is due in a few days, but you leave it to the night before.

“No sweat,” you think to yourself. Everything should be fine. You have kept up with the reading, and you have participated in class. The professor seems to like you, and in short, you have nothing to worry about. The next day, you hand your essay in on time.

A week later, you get it back with written comments and a grade. You skip all the little notes scribbled in the margins to the last page where a big fat C is circled in red pen. After hyperventilating for a few minutes, you return to your room and resolve to argue it out with your professor the next day.

In college, the academic standards will be inevitably higher. Quite frankly, you can’t expect to receive the same grades as you did in high school without putting in a considerable amount of work. The following tips are aimed at getting you to think in the right way about what kind of work you should be putting in to start securing those elusive A’s.

1.    In college, effort doesn’t really count the same way it did in high school. No matter how many times you visit your professor during office hours to discuss how your essay can be improved, the only thing that will matter in the end is the paper that sits on his desk. He won’t consider how many days you spent wracking your brain for a strong thesis. The only object of interest to him is the content of the paper and the quality of those five or six pages. What can you do in such a case? Have others read your paper and share their thoughts. A strong paper is, at the end of the day, a strong paper. Your professor may not agree with you, but if you support your conclusions, he will have to give you credit where it is due. Be conscious of what you are handing in, and make sure that every single paper you submit is your best work.

2.    Manage your time well. A’s don’t just appear out of thin air. Actively participate in class. Don’t reserve all of your questions to private office hours. The classroom is meant for collaboration among students, and participation will usually count for at least a percentage of your final grade. Why be the one sulking in the corner of the room when you could be an active force in the classroom?

3.    Attend as many lectures as possible. This point really can’t be stressed enough. If you have lecture three times a week, go to every single one. Lectures form the basis of a course. Even if you complete all three hundred pages of reading each week, that won’t replace the lessons being taught by your instructors during lecture.

The most important point to take away from all of this is that effort counts in a different way on the college level than in high school. Standards are continually being raised, especially with grade deflation now being instituted at a number of highly respected universities. The focus should be on the product, not on the hard work and the hours spent staring into an empty Word document. An essay can earn an A+, if it has the right concept and all the appropriate supporting material. But some things are still the same: Go to class, attend lectures, listen and participate in the classroom, and your hard work is sure to pay off in the end.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Tips on Earning the Respect We Desire

By Laura Blythe

As young college students beginning to find our way in the world, it is only natural that we crave the respect of the adults in our lives that we look up to. But how do we go about earning their respect? And how do we keep their respect once we’ve earned it? To find out, I sat down with Pastor Michael Burt, Lead Pastor of Grace Bible Church in Columbia, Missouri. For the past 24 years he has been working at a church with a significant college population, and as such Pastor Burt has learned what is and is not respectable about college students, and people in general—and he was willing to share with me.

Pastor Burt was able to sum up what he finds respectable with a Bible verse from Philippians. In chapter two, verse three, Paul commands believers to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” This sort of attitude is what Pastor Burt finds respectable: not being self-serving, not focusing on your needs, but rather that you care more about others and “demonstrate a life that is not consumed” with yourself.

Pastor Burt also believes that “to show respect is to expect respect.” If you’re not showing respect towards those whose respect you desire, it is unfair and unrealistic to expect them to return your disrespect with their respect. It’s as simple as the Golden Rule: treat others as you wish to be treated. Just as it is often difficult to respect someone who shows you disrespect, it is equally difficult to disrespect someone who treats you with respect.

Another key point Pastor Burt emphasized is the role that maturity plays in our respectability. He believes that it is just not possible to respect someone who is consistently immature. Does this mean that you can’t, on occasion, embrace your inner third-grader and whip out a coloring book? Of course not. But it is imperative that you know when such behaviors are appropriate, and when they need to be restrained. This also relates with his view on selfishness: he believes that being self-absorbed is a mark of immaturity, and that neither will earn you the respect of others.

Pastor Burt encourages us college students to “seek the opportunity to earn respect.” If people do not know you, they are not going to be able to respect you. Make a conscience effort to interact with those whose respect you desire and earn it—through your attitude and your action.

When it comes to respect, it’s really all about attitude. Focus on others. Place them above yourself. Learn what appropriate behavior in different situations is and act accordingly. Finally, make sure that you’re respecting others. It will always remain true that you reap what you sow.

Growing through the roommate experience

by Maggie Malach

Living with other people is never easy, especially when it’s a first time experience. While it can be amazing to have a best friend sharing a living space with you, it is also a situation that needs to be approached with a little bit of caution.

My first year of college started off like any other freshman’s—I was excited, scared, and just in general a little apprehensive about being away from home for the first time.  Luckily, my roommate was super nice.  We instantly bonded over our inability to find anything on campus, as well as our tendency to wreak havoc around the dorm.

Sometime in late autumn, however, things changed.

My roommate started going out with one of our friends, and all of a sudden we grew apart. When I say “grew,” I mean a kind of growth spurt.  It was fast and it came out of nowhere and then, all of a sudden, we stopped talking.  Sadly, this more or less continued through the end of the year, a lifestyle I definitely do not recommend.

Sophomore year was definitely easier—I lived with five girls who were absolutely amazing.  This year, my junior year, things continue to go well, but I have definitely learned a few lessons.

The first rule for living with people is a big one for all relationships: communicate.  Talking is essential because it is the only way to ensure that all parties are on the same page.  I learned this lesson the hard way freshman year when my roommate and I all but stopped talking.  Each of us was too stubborn to confront the other, and I think it’s a shame that my memories of our relationship are less than stellar because of it.

The second rule is compromise.  Be aware going into the situation that things are not always going to go your way and that you will not always be happy.  Having willingness to compromise not only shows your roommate that you are looking out for her, but will set the standard of respect for your year together.

The third rule is probably the most obvious, yet it is sometimes the hardest to follow: Do not expect to be best friends with your roommate.  Yes, there are some roommates who meet their first day on campus and are inseparable even beyond graduation.  However, you should not expect to be one of them.   I have found that some of the best relationships work when two roommates get along, but do not necessarily spend every waking moment of every day together.  Like every other relationship, it is all about balance.

The most important thing to remember as you go through your freshman year, and even the years beyond that, is that people change.  College is a time for growth, and the person who introduces herself as your roommate on that epic first day might not be the person who hugs you goodbye as you move out in the spring.  You are guaranteed to grow as a person too, and hopefully, with some effort, you and your roommate can grow to peacefully cohabitate together.

Diva Dinners: Fuss Free Thanksgiving Dinner

By Nicholette von Reiche
Photography by Louis Hiemstra

Being South African, I am not accustomed to celebrating Thanksgiving. I am however looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my in-laws this year.  I know enough about this holiday to understand that great tasting food is at the order of the day, but spending as little time as possible in the kitchen and as much time as possible with your loved ones is the main objective. I have decided to let you in on what I will be preparing this year and am thrilled that this menu will have dinner on the table in less than an hour.  I doubt there will be any leftovers for you to worry about and if you clean as you go your kitchen will never let on that you have put together a scrumptious 5-course meal in just one hour.

Enjoy and happy thanksgiving.
Nicholette

Thanksgiving dinner menu
This menu is simple yet sophisticated and will leave a lasting impression with your loved ones.

Nibbles:
Breadsticks, crudités and dips
Starter:
Blue cheese and grape salad
Main:
Roast turkey with orange and grape fruit segments
and pistachio praline
Side:
Peas with mint and lemon zest
Dessert:
Chocolate torte with fresh berries

Planning ahead
For effortless entertaining, no matter how big the menu or number of guests see what can be done ahead of time and plan ahead. Here is a quick guide to show how the evening can be easy and run effortlessly.

Day before
-Prepare the chocolate torte the day before.

Do ahead
-Have your table set up before the guests arrive.
-Prepare individualized nibble plates with name cards prior to guest’s arrival.
-Prepare the praline and store in a plastic container with a tight fitting lid.
-Segment the oranges and grapefruits, capturing all of it’s juices, cover with plastic and
refrigerate.

On the night
-Prepare and get the turkey in the oven first.
-Prepare the starter and serve.
-Assemble your side dish whilst the turkey is resting and serve warm in the centre of the table.
-Serve the turkey warm, cut into slices, interlaced with the praline and scatter with the segments.
-Serve the pan juices with the turkey so guests can help themselves.
-For dessert, simply remove the torte from the fridge, unmold and serve on a beautiful serving
platter scattered with fresh berries and shaved chocolate if desired. Serve with good quality coffee.

Recipes

Bread sticks, crudités and dips
Your guests will salivate at the mere smell of what’s cooking in the kitchen, surprise them with these light nibbles to prepare their palates for what is to follow.

Serves: 4-6
Preparation: 5-10 minutes

Bread sticks or crackers
Raw or lightly steamed vegetables of choice*
Two dips of choice*

Prepare an individualized plate for each of your guests.
Tie a name card and ribbon around a small pile of breadsticks or simply make a place card for each guest. In addition place some vegetables and a sample of both of the dips on each plate.

Notes:
Vegetables options: asparagus, baby carrots, celery sticks, peppers, sliced cucumber
Dip options: tapenade, hummus, tzatziki, roast red pepper or egg plant dip and beetroot hummus

Blue cheese and grape salad

Serves: 4-6
Preparation: 10-15 minutes

9oz  (250g) watercress or mixed greens
9oz (250g) seedless red grapes, halved
9oz (250g) blue cheese, sliced
1.8 oz (50g) walnuts, roughly chopped

Dressing:
6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp wholegrain mustard
1 tsp honey
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and ground black pepper

Prepare the dressing by placing all of the ingredients in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and whisk to combine.
Arrange the watercress or mixed greens and grapes on serving plates. Lay over slices of the blue cheese and scatter with walnuts.
Drizzle with the dressing or serve on the side.

Notes:
If figs are in season toss through some balsamic grilled fig wedges.

Roasted turkey with orange and grapefruit segments and pistachio praline

I love this dish! The flavors work together beautifully and I like how the praline served together with the warm turkey starts to melt after a while.

Serves: 4-6
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking: 30 – 35 minutes

5oz (150g) butter, softened
Zest of 2 lemons
2 Tbsp thyme leaves
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 x 42oz (1.2 kg) turkey breast *
2 Tbsp olive oil
Juice of 2 lemons
Salt and ground black pepper

2 oranges
2 grapefruits

For the praline
1 cup sugar
3.5oz (100g) pistachios, roughly chopped

Prepare the turkey:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Combine the butter, lemon zest, thyme and garlic in a bowl.
Place the turkey on a baking dish. Spread all over and on both sides with the lemon and thyme butter. Secure the breast with kitchen string, if not already done.
Pour the lemon juice and olive oil over the turkey, season with salt and pepper and bake covered with foil for 15 minutes.
Remove the foil and roast, basting with the pan juices every 10 minutes for an additional 20-25 minutes or until the skin is golden and the juices run clear when tested with a skewer.
Reserve the pan juices and allow the turkey to rest for 5-10 minutes before carving.

Prepare the orange and grapefruit segments:
Segment the oranges and the grapefruit over the same bowl, ensuring that you capture all of the juices.

Make the praline:
Melt the sugar in a saucepan over a low heat, do not stir and stay close by to make sure it does not burn. Once the sugar starts to turn golden brown, remove from the heat.
Layout a sheet of tinfoil on a baking sheet and lightly coat with oil.
Sprinkle the pistachios over the foil and drizzle the warm syrup over.
Allow to cool and harden. Once set, remove the praline from the foil and break into shards.

Serve the carved turkey warm, with orange and grapefruit segments and pistachio praline.
Drizzle with a little of the remaining pan juices and some of the orange and grapefruit juice if desired.

Notes:
* To save time, buy a turkey breast that has already been secured with kitchen string.

Peas with mint and lemon

Serves: 4-6
Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: 5 minutes

1 Tbsp butter
1 red onion, sliced
2 cloves of garlic, sliced
12 oz (350g) frozen or fresh peas
zest of 1 lemon
1 cup mint leaves, shredded
salt and ground black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil (optional)

Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion has softened, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the peas and lemon zest and cook until tender, about 1-2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add the shredded mint leaves, salt and pepper and drizzle with a little extra olive oil if desired.

Notes:
This side dish is also delicious served with dollops of ricotta cheese.

Chocolate torte
This decadent cake is effortless but needs chilling time, so make it a day in advance.

Serves: 6 generous portions
Preparation: 15 minutes
Chilling: 2 hours or over night

7oz (200g) chocolate and mint cookies
2oz (50g) butter, melted
2 large egg whites
3oz (85g) castor sugar
9oz (250g) good quality plain chocolate
1 cup double cream
2 Tbsp chocolate or coffee liqueur (optional)

To serve
Chocolate curls
Fresh berries

Crush the biscuits into fine crumbs using a food processor or simply place the biscuits in a large plastic bag and crush into crumbs with a rolling pin.
Stir the biscuit crumbs into the melted butter and press the crumbs into the base of an 8-inch (20cm) spring-form cake tin. Chill whilst preparing the filling.
Place the egg whites and castor sugar in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water (double boiler). Use a hand held whisk and whisk until soft peaks form, about 10 minutes (use a small pan or pot if necessary to ensure that no steam escapes and burns you).
Melt the chocolate over a double boiler or over a medium to low heat in the microwave.
Whip the cream and gently fold the melted chocolate, followed by the cream and liqueur into the egg white mixture.
Pour the mixture into the cake tin, smooth the surface and chill for 2 hours or preferably overnight.
Serve your torte unmolded on a beautiful serving plate, sprinkled with chocolate curls and fresh berries.

Notes:
You can use a loose-based cake tin if you do not have a spring form tin.  To un-mold simply balance the torte on a 14oz (400g) tin, loosen the sides with a small palette knife and gently pull the sides of the tin down. Use a palette knife to carefully slide the torte onto your serving plate.

This cake can be stored for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.

Coconut Records tells how to “Nightime”

by Maggie Malach

Even with the summer months behind, you can still experience those carefree days through Nighttiming.
Coconut Records’ debut album, which was released in 2007, is composed of 12 poppy yet mellow tracks.  The band is a side project of actor and former Phantom Planet drummer Jason Schwartzman.

Known for his performances in Wes Anderson films such as Rushmore and The Darjeeling Limited, Schwartzman chose to turn his focus to music.  Formed in 2006, this is Schwartzman’s second musical effort and is extremely influenced by his California upbringing.

Easily one of the most heartfelt songs on the album is “West Coast.”  An ode to coming home, Schwartzman sings, “And I miss you, I’m going back home to the west coast. I wish you would put yourself in my suitcase. I love you, standing all alone in a black coat.”

Another standout track is the album’s title track, the rhythmic “Nightttiming.”  The most upbeat song in the collection, “Nighttiming” is a perky request to the girl he likes to settle down and finally commit to a relationship with him.

In contrast to the jam-worthy “Nighttiming” is the languid “Summer Day.”  Although very simple, it encompasses the feeling of a peaceful day lying in the sun.

Another mellow track is the ballad “Easy Girl,” in which Schwartzman croons about a girl who is impossibly easy to love, and with whom he wants to grow old, “An easy girl to love, an easy girl to kiss, an easy girl to miss when you’re gone.”  The piano provides a happy-go-lucky mood that encompasses the theme of the album.

One interesting aspect of this album is the guest vocalist Schwartzman recruited.  Actresses Zooey Deschanel and Kirsten Dunst are featured on numerous tracks, lending an airy soprano to Schwartzman’s deeper vocals.  Also dueting with Schwartzman on one track is his younger brother and lead singer of the band Rooney, Robert Schwartzman, as well as with Incubus’ Brandon Boyd.

One theme repeated throughout the course of the album is Schwartzman’s affectionate requests to a mystery love.  Like “West Coast,” the track “Back to You” is a promise to an unspecified love that he will return to her, eventually, “I will wait, as long as it, will take me to, get back to you.”

Another reoccurring theme woven into the tracks is Schwartzman’s need to return home.  This is exemplified in his “Minding My Own Business.”  In this song Schwartzman once again talks to his mysterious love, telling her, “So you gotta get me home, and get me on my feet again, love.  Cause I’m minding my own business for a change.”  The catchy rhythm promises to have you tapping your toes to the beat.

No matter what time of year it is, Coconut Records will instill in your ears the sounds of summer.  The soft melodies and Schwartzman’s soothing voice promise to keep your spirit warm all year round, and fan who enjoy this album can look for the band’s sophomore release Davy, which hit stores in January 2009.

Next Page »