IMPORTANT NEWS!

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

I've started a new blog on Hubpages.com.

Here, I post an average of three original articles discussing popular food and health topics each week.  Don't like reading? I bet you'll like these!  At the end of each hub I provide a delicious recipe topic related.  Read and then reward yourself with an Absolutely Appetizing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and/or dessert!

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Take Me to the Circus: Madagascar 3 Delivers

Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still trying to get home to their zoo in NYC, but this time hitch on with a group of amusing animals on a circus train, and find themselves in their most hilarious adventure yet.  Of course, no Madagascar movie can deliver without the witty humor from the Penguins, and this film finally makes these guys major characters instead of ones with sporadic and small appearances like in the other two films; much like Scrap does in the Ice Age movies.  Also, they take on roles like the get-away car drivers, soldiers, and captains of transportation when they pitch their clever lines, making the Skipper, Koleski, and others great additions that tickle adult humor.  Chase sequences between the animal control and the animals copy Matrix like moves that young kids will love but could get repetitive for adults; nonetheless, the bizarre character of the main villain is so crazy that’s it’s hard not to like her.  Though Maurice’s jokes often get obnoxious and annoying in the previous films, he is easily the funniest character in this film.  His love affair with the circus bear and obliviously serious one line gags amplify the silliest moments of the film.  Meanwhile, the wild colors and outrageous performances that the core four teach the fun and cute circus creatures move so quickly that you overlook their lack of sense.  Overall, Madagascar 3 is a film great for the whole family!               

Blueberry Orange Bread: Cut Me 2 Slices

Ripe fruits promise delicious freshly baked muffins at the quaint country store on bright summer mornings, but what happens when you work until 5pm, get to the store, and find all the best home baked pastries gone?  Blueberry Orange Bread offers a soothing solution to anyone craving sweet seasonal luscious fruits on bread.  It’s great for people with little time to bake, since it takes as little as ten minutes to prep and only an hour to bake; yet, the fast process prevents undervaluing its undeniably irresistible blast of berry zest.  The refreshing combination of blueberries mixed with the citrus of oranges settles the taste for a person desiring something fruity but not too sweet, and with a kick.  It also contains little fat but packs loads of antioxidants and Vitamin C, making it great for breakfast, dessert, or a scrumptious side and snack.  Top it with butter and pair it with a warm cup of coffee and you’ll have bread matching that of any at Starbucks or homey country stores, and you won’t miss the time of travel or expense you use to sacrifice to get the same motivated morning attitude and treated tummy.

Follow the directions below to fill your kitchen with a blueberry aroma better than a Yankee Candle:

Ingredients

·      2 cups all-purpose flour

·      1 cup sugar

·      1 teaspoon baking powder

·      1/2 teaspoon baking soda

·      1/2 teaspoon salt

·      1 egg

·      1/2 cup orange juice

·      1/3 cup water

·      2 tablespoons butter, melted

·      2 tablespoons grated orange peel

·      3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

 

Directions

·      In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, combine egg, orange juice, water, butter and orange peel. Add to dry ingredients just until combined. Fold in the blueberries. Pour into a greased and floured 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pan.

·      Bake at 350° for 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack. Yield: 1 loaf.

Bragging About Natalia Daly

Attached is the website address to Natalia Daly's developing page.  It advertises her astounding work and dashingly dedicated design to the freshest look in today's fashion.  If you're tired of viewing repetitive material in Vogue or Glamorous magazines, click on the attached address.  Delivering refreshingly innovative design in men and women clothing, accessories and more, Natalia creates sophisticated and fun ideas that appropriately and appreciatively compliment every shape and appease anyone shopping; from a sporty mom or classy runway artist to a stylish gentleman.  
Natalia Daly's Portfolio 

"That Movie is Masterful!

Snow White and the Huntsman masterfully re-imagines the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, it being the second and darker re-working of the tale this year (the other is Mirror, Mirror starring Julia Roberts).  Taking on a risky challenge of twisting a beloved fantastical story into a bloody and boisterous epic, director Rupert Sanders rises victorious with this captivating cinematic film.  Shot in the gorgeous setting of Wales and Ireland, Huntsman delivers breathtaking cinematography and excellent photography that crafts a refreshingly imaginative take on a classic.  Colleen Atwood designs astoundingly gorgeous costumes like the wicked Queen Ravenna’s gold and black gowns, and the sleek weapons like the bow the son of the duke, William, carries and the heavy clad iron sword and axe the Huntsman wields, which both majestically strike realistic visuals of the royal ages.  Skeptical about how Kristen Stewart would perform after her overly dramatic performances as Bella in the Twilight sagas, I was pleasantly impressed.  Smart story development of keeping Snow White as a fierce-spirited but less verbally assertive character (she is second to the Huntsman and the Queen, both leading the dialogue) for the first ¾ of the film allows Stewart to amplify Snow White’s brave and pure heart in a believable manner, which makes her character more heroically triumphant when she transitions into a fierce and honorable warrior that leads her deceased father’s armies against the Queen.  Though most of Ravenna’s diction is disappointingly intended for screaming commands, Charlize Theron delivers hypnotizing facial expressions that horrifyingly shift the Queen’s hedonistic and fearful thoughts from wicked to manipulatively understanding.  Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth’s performance as the rough huntsman enhances the power driving the movie: not to mention his enticing Scottish accent that makes the knees of every lady admirer buckle.  Some of the war scenes present repetitive moves that could confuse some viewers because they jump abruptly between actions, occasionally slowing the excitement of it.  Comedic relief characters, however, like the eight dwarves unmask hilarious similarities to characteristic seen in the two friendly bickering scaly-wags in Pirates of the Caribbean, which guarantees laughs that effectively break up the violent and sentimental scenes in this movie.  Centering on an interesting theme of the fairest beauty coming from within, Snow White and the Huntsman turns damsels into drivers while also masterfully combining elements like the suggestion of an acid-trip in Alice in Wonderland (with moments in the Dark Forest), one-on-one breathtaking battles between villains and rough heroes (Lord of the Rings) and magical moments with mystical creatures (Chronicles of Narnia), which all collectively harmonize the story and release a must-see film.            

Searching for a Refreshing Summer Dinner? Baked Haddock with Nectarine Salsa is the Answer!

Hot weather easily stills the appetite, which makes it hard to pick a main course that will satisfy everyone in the family.  Fruits and fresh farm veggies serve jubilantly juicy flavors, but have little sustenance for an entire dinner.  Luckily, Baked Haddock with Nectarine Salsa hits both taste and hunger targets.  Designing a personal recipe for the baked haddock and snagging a tasty nectarine salsa from the Taste of Homes website, I found this entre easy to cook yet savory and fulfilling.  The zest from the orange, basil, lemon, and pepper spice up the relatively bland white fish, and the fascinatingly flavorful juices of nectarine, kiwi, onion, vinegar and kiwi top the haddock with a luscious salsa you’ll intentionally make extra of…because you’ll probably want to serve it with crackers come your late night snack.  This entre pairs well with a smooth chardonnay or sharp red with a hint of berries and spring greens dazzled with fresh strawberries, ripe cucumber, plump carrots, and a light dressing like red-wine vinegar and lemon or zinfandel.  These additions compliment the sweet in the main meal well but keep dinner pleasantly light, which makes it an excellent course for tired troopers drained by the overwhelming humidity and heat.  Combine the variety of ingredients with the simple directions below, and your guaranteed a dinner that is good for all families, especially in the summer!

Ingredients For the Haddock:

·      Orange zest

·      Lemon juice

·      Basil

·      Black Pepper

·      1 tsp. olive oil

·      8 oz. fresh haddock

Ingredients for the Salsa:

·      1 medium nectarines, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

·      1/2 medium cucumber, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

·      1/2 medium kiwi, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

·      2 tablespoons chopped green onion

·      4-1/2 teaspoons orange juice

·      1-1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar

Directions for the Haddock:

·      Rinse and pat dry the fish before placing into a non-stick baking dish.

·      Cover the fish with the lemon juice.

·      Shave orange zest and drizzle the oil on the fish.  Sprinkle with pepper.

·      Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Bake haddock for 15-18 minutes.  Watch carefully so as to overcook.

·      Combine nectarine, cucumber, kiwi, onion, orange juice, and vinegar for salsa. Cover. Chill until ready to serve.

·      Place haddock over fresh greens and top with salsa for finish. 

         

Praise for Pound Puppies

The second season of Hasbro Studio’s Pound Puppies, an animated TV series for young kids, premiers on The Hub TV network this Saturday, June 2 at 9am.  Following a team of fearless dogs from Shelter 17 that determinedly search for places of residence to house lonely puppies, Pound Puppies is an inspirationally innovative show that gives kids an adventure via teaching them important morals like teamwork and brainstorming.  The smart, cool and brave mutt, Lucky, leads members of the Shelter 17 Gang on their investigations.  He also acts as great role model children admire; always putting himself in the way of danger first and letting his friends grow and learn from their mistakes.  Other members of the gang encourage and engage diverse characteristics from dogs like Cookie, Lucky’s tough and loyal but softhearted right-paw dog, to Rebound, a too-enthusiastic and too-friendly pup whose non-stop jib-jab sometimes drives the gang up a wall (but tugs at the heartstrings of potential humans looking to adopt).  Aside the dog heroes, some human characters like grumpy but oblivious Shelter 17 owner McLeish and the loveable but bumbling Shelter 17 security guard, Olaf, drive edge in the show’s episodes.  Three new puppies including Rebound, Cupcake and Patches will appear in this second season, and a special guest voice appearance from Fairly Oddparent’s Tara Strong in the show’s premiere episode (as a puppy named Zipper) gives families an even greater reason to view it.  Starring other voice talents of Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Betty White (Hot in Cleveland), Michael Rapaport (Prison Break), John DiMaggio (Futurama, Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters) and Alanna Ubach (Legally Blonde), Pound Puppies dishes a show parents will love watching with their wildly captivated kids! 

     

Baking Butterflies

Children can’t wait to get out of school, but parents and babysitters dread the “I’m bored” complaints kids spout on those not-so-sunny summer days.  A great activity to dodge these dreadful comments is baking a fun and easy recipe like Butterfly Cupcakes!  Kids love the fun shape of a butterfly designing this simple (and not to mention delicious) treat.  Focusing on a more bland cake flavor for a base, these cupcakes serve as great desserts for the picky person that is hesitant of trying something unfamiliar but also craving something sweet.  Most of the flavor comes from the pie filing that glues the wings of the cupcake butterfly to the body.  The recipe provided below suggests a lemon filling mainly because it lacks lumps that can make it harder for the wings to stick to the body; however, any pie filling works.  Personally, I used a cherry pie filling and replaced the licorice antennas with blue frosting.  This resulted in fun patriotic painted butterflies that I could serve at approaching USA parties for Memorial Day and the 4^th of July.  The fun shapes presenting these cupcakes pulls the hungry investigator to the table, but the delicious blend of fruity and basic tastes get them grabbing seconds.  Good for any occasion ranging from a desperately needed activity that can distract rambunctious children to a sophisticated adult gathering enjoying a summer’s day at the lake, Butterfly Cupcakes guarantees zest and brings beauty to all tables! 

Follow this quick recipe below to whip of these savory snacks: 

     

Ingredients

·      3/4 cup butter, softened

·      3/4 cup sugar

·      3 eggs

·      1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·      2 cups self-rising flour

·      1/2 cup milk

·      1 can (15-3/4 ounces) lemon pie filling

·      40 pieces red and/or black shoestring licorice (2 inches)

Directions

·      In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Add flour to cream mixture alternately with milk.

·      Fill greased muffin cups half full. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

·      Cut off the top fourth of each cupcake; cut the slices in half. Spoon 1tablespoon pie filling onto each cupcake. Place two halves upside down on top of filling for wings. Insert two pieces of licorice for antennae. Yield: 20 cupcakes.

Editor's Note: As a substitute for each cup of self-rising flour, place 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a measuring cup. Add all-purpose flour to measure 1 cup.

Forget Dinosaurs, Fire Breathing Dragons are Alive and Astounding!

Calling it a show “That is really for the child of the 21^st century” (Herald Sun), How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular dazzles its audience with digital technology analogous to 3D movies.  Inspired by the fun of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon cinematic feature, director Nigel Jamieson takes this show filled with flying acrobats and cutting-edge puppetry outside of Melbourne and on its global tour.  The acrobats portraying the beloved characters in DreamWork’s film give a dazzling performance matching that of Cirque du Soliel, but its real mastery burns from the 3D projections of the dragons (from Fishlegs, Ruffnuts, Tuffnuts, and Snoutlouts to the unmatchable Nightfury) created and designed by Dan Potra.  These projections impress people with a realistic performance parallel to that of the Dinosaur ride in Animal Kingdom or the Walking with Dinosaurs production, especially when they come to life in battles with enemies or interactions with characters including events like Hiccup riding Toothless!  As if the life-size projections aren’t enough, the vivid and breathtaking scenery landscaping familiar and fantastical Scotland regions (that once housed many Viking villages) will certainly blow audiences away.  Hollywood actor Riley Miner leads the US version of this production as Hiccup in the show traveling across country this year (2012).  He follows the performance of Rarmian Newton, who stars as Hiccup in the original Australian adventure shown in Melbourne.  Actress Gemma Nguyen (in USA) also delivers an unforgettable acrobatic performance as Astrid, the most skilled dragon fighter amongst the Viking teenage trainees, when she literally flies across stage.  According to the Herald Sun, this show sacrifices story and clear diction of dialogue for visual appeal; nonetheless, it provides a magical performance touching the greatest and wildest dreams of the future viewer hoping to personally witness the next level of Broadway.  Rated 4 stars and spicing the stage with larger-than-life digital dragons, How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular unveils a theatrical production nobody can afford to miss!             

Attend the Avengers for Action, Attitude and Amusement

The Avengers drives a story with the perfect amount of action that simply gets it’s a super hero film and doesn’t need to hype up action more than what it needs.  Filled with sophisticated and witty dialogue spoken by heroes as they mock one another while working together, it unveils a theme inspiring people of all ages but entertaining an adult audience attending the outing.  Most superheroes saving the world in this movie possess little ridiculously abnormal powers of superhero aliens like Superman, which makes their abilities even more fascinating and impressive because they created or learned their skills.  Cohesively joining the super intelligence of Tony Hark and Dr. Bruce Banner intelligently explains the problem of a realistic scientific force corrupting the world but also pairs it with a fascinating fanciful foe, and Captain America’s straightforward demand for their need to “speak English please” further humorously interprets the extreme dangers of the villains to a level the audience can follow and enjoy.  Extreme assassins like the kick-butt Black Widow and dashing agent The Hawk fight enemies with skills acquired from years of training, and their discipline makes them characters cool not because they’re so different from people but because they’re naturally similar to typical people…they’ve just undergone years of demanding and strenuous training.  Perhaps the most pleasantly exciting element of this movie is the Hulk’s character and contribution to the story.  Following serious cinematic Hulk flops from previous years, Mark Ruffalo finally gives a spectacularly prime performance during Dr. Banner’s calm states until transforming into the Hulk’s monstrous stage, which reveals a character filling the film with favorite comedic moments like punching Thor with a happy-go-lucky grin on his face after smashing up obnoxious bad guys.  The crazy chemistry of team Avengers fueled by constant bickering conversations entertains the audience with a captivating tennis match rhythm, especially when Iron Man and Captain America verbally joust with each other until C.A. finally influences Iron Man to drop his self-centered (though brilliant) attitude and make sacrifices defining a true hero, which epically pounds the heart gluing the quality of the film.  Though lasting a long two and a half hours, “The Avengers” promises a picture easily making people desire rewinding and playing it again.  Combining the sarcasm scoffing at overly dramatic moments, the heart of a good hero, and enough action making this movie exciting but not overplayed and unrealistic (unlike the latest 2011 Transformers), The Avengers delivers a movie worth spending $14 bucks for 3D glasses and a couple extra for a bag of butter popcorn and a small RB.