A Guide to Meat Cuts
Filet Mignon: Butter soft, boneless and best served rare to medium-rare, this tenderloin steak is considered a delicacy. From the short loin, these exceptionally tender steaks are ideal for the high-heat sear of the grill because they are best served between rare and medium in doneness for best flavor. While filet mignon is famous for its tenderness, it lacks the deep meaty flavor and richness of the rib eye and strip steak. Consider topping the steak with a dab of butter after grilling.
New York Strip: Another meaty, big-flavored grilling classic, the New York Strip is cut from the tender short loin of the cow. Less marbled than a rib eye, but with a thick band of fat around the edge, the strip steak sears beautifully using direct heat over hot coals.
Porterhouse: The Porterhouse, like its little brother, the T-Bone, is a highly prized, and highly priced, cut. One half of this steak is the New York Strip, while the small meaty bit on the other side is a filet, cut from the tenderloin. These steaks come from the extra-tender "short loin" of the cow, which is located on the steer's middle-back. The meat is highly marbled and usually quite tender. They are excellent for grilling or quickly seared over hot coals and finished slowly over indirect heat. Marinating and seasoning can vary, but just sprinkling salt and pepper on it prior to putting it on the grill can also suffice.
Rib Eye: Arguably the champion of the grill, the rib eye steak is tender, flavorful and marbled with fat. The rib eye - named as such because it is the center cut of the rib section of the cow - are extremely flavorful but benefit from a good marinade. These can come bone-in or bone-out, or with a giant bone sticking out also called a "Tomahawk." Choose the bone-in rib eye to ensure a juicy, complex flavor. Most steak lovers prefer their meat served rare to medium-rare; this cut can even stand up to extra cooking time and still be richly flavored.
Brisket: Brisket's fall-apart texture comes not from fat, but from a high proportion of connective tissue. Grill brisket very slowly over indirect heat for 4-5 hours, then thinly slice for an incredibly tender, intensely beefy taste. For the dedicated, a long, slow stand on the grill is perfect for this otherwise tough cut of meat. While this takes a bit of practice, a properly grilled brisket falls apart into tender shreds and does well with strong seasonings and sauces.
Skirt Steak: Long, flat and flavorful, skirt steak is from the "skirt" of the cow. It is a highly flavorful and adaptable cut of beef that is ideal for tacos, fajitas, or sandwiches. It can also withstand strong marinades while having a distinctly "beefy" flavor. It is easy to grill for any novice, especially, because it is ideal for well-done applications. But don't limit this delicious steak to tortillas: marinated, grilled for 3-5 minutes per side, and sliced across the grain, skirt steak (and its cousin, the less marbled and less expensive Flank Steak) makes a versatile main course for a crowd.
Tenderloin Roast: By slowly grilling the tenderloin whole, rather than cutting into quick-cooking fillet Mignon steaks, the meat picks up smokiness to amp up the flavor. A long covered rest after grilling over indirect heat produces a succulent medium-rare roast.
Tri-Tip: A West Coast favorite, this triangular cut is flavorful, fairly lean, and moderately priced. Choose a roast with a layer of fat on top, which will baste the meat as it grills to keep it juicy. Flavor with a marinade or dry rub and grill over low indirect heat for 30-40 minutes.
(AOL)
February 10, 2010
I Am Definitely Guilty Of #3 . . . . .
7 Reasons You're Still Overweight
#1. Overweight people use larger plates.
When offered two plate sizes, 98.6 percent of those with the highest BMI took the larger of the two plates to the buffet. A bigger plate tricks your eye into thinking you’re not eating as much when you stuff more food onto the surface—and into your mouth. Use a smaller plate, get a smaller belly.
Bonus tip: The same principle holds true for drinks, as we've found while researching the upcoming Drink This, Not That! The larger the cup, the bigger your gut. Check out our list of The 20 Worst Drinks in America and The 40 Best and Worst Beers for two eye-opening lineups of belt-busting beverages that'll drown your diet aspirations. (It's baffling that some drinks can pack more than 2000 calories!)
#2. Overweight people eat while looking at food.
Of those with high BMIs, 41.7 percent took seats that overlooked the buffet, instead of sitting in a booth or facing in a different direction. The sight of food tends to make our minds think we have more work to do, eating-wise. Keep your food stored in the fridge or stashed in the pantry, not out on the countertops.
#3. Overweight people eat with maximum efficiency.
While Chinese buffets offer chopsticks, 91.3 percent of obese patrons opt for forks. That just makes it easier to shovel in the food.
Bonus tip: For simple steps to live a longer and healthier life, read through Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips Ever. His tips will dramatically improve your life.
#4. Overweight people clean their plates.
Of those patrons who were the heaviest, 94 percent cleaned their plates so there was nothing left. Ignore Mom’s advice—let a little linger, or take it to go.
#5. Overweight people chew less.
Researchers actually monitored the chewing habits of the buffet-goers and discovered that the heaviest one-third among them chewed their food an average of 11.9 times before swallowing. The middle one-third chewed an average of 14 times, and the leanest one-third chewed 14.8 times.
Bonus tip: Whatever you do, don't chew on these 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America. Some of these secret meals pack days' worth of salt, sugar, trans-fat and saturated fat! Learn exactly which ones so you can steer clear.
#6. Overweight people dive in.
The leanest people in the study typically took a lap around the buffet first, to plot out what they wanted to eat. But the more overweight group charged right in; doing so means you may fill up on some less-appealing items, then have to go back to snag that one nosh you have to have but missed the first time.
#7. Overweight people skip breakfast.
A simple habit, but missing this crucial meal raises your risk of obesity by a whopping 450 percent! Start your day with some lean protein and fiber—which will jumpstart your metabolism and keep you full. (An egg sandwich is actually a great choice.)
Bonus tip: Save calories, time, and money with the FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter. Sign up today and you’ll get the Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week for free.
(Yahoo)
#1. Overweight people use larger plates.
When offered two plate sizes, 98.6 percent of those with the highest BMI took the larger of the two plates to the buffet. A bigger plate tricks your eye into thinking you’re not eating as much when you stuff more food onto the surface—and into your mouth. Use a smaller plate, get a smaller belly.
Bonus tip: The same principle holds true for drinks, as we've found while researching the upcoming Drink This, Not That! The larger the cup, the bigger your gut. Check out our list of The 20 Worst Drinks in America and The 40 Best and Worst Beers for two eye-opening lineups of belt-busting beverages that'll drown your diet aspirations. (It's baffling that some drinks can pack more than 2000 calories!)
#2. Overweight people eat while looking at food.
Of those with high BMIs, 41.7 percent took seats that overlooked the buffet, instead of sitting in a booth or facing in a different direction. The sight of food tends to make our minds think we have more work to do, eating-wise. Keep your food stored in the fridge or stashed in the pantry, not out on the countertops.
#3. Overweight people eat with maximum efficiency.
While Chinese buffets offer chopsticks, 91.3 percent of obese patrons opt for forks. That just makes it easier to shovel in the food.
Bonus tip: For simple steps to live a longer and healthier life, read through Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips Ever. His tips will dramatically improve your life.
#4. Overweight people clean their plates.
Of those patrons who were the heaviest, 94 percent cleaned their plates so there was nothing left. Ignore Mom’s advice—let a little linger, or take it to go.
#5. Overweight people chew less.
Researchers actually monitored the chewing habits of the buffet-goers and discovered that the heaviest one-third among them chewed their food an average of 11.9 times before swallowing. The middle one-third chewed an average of 14 times, and the leanest one-third chewed 14.8 times.
Bonus tip: Whatever you do, don't chew on these 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America. Some of these secret meals pack days' worth of salt, sugar, trans-fat and saturated fat! Learn exactly which ones so you can steer clear.
#6. Overweight people dive in.
The leanest people in the study typically took a lap around the buffet first, to plot out what they wanted to eat. But the more overweight group charged right in; doing so means you may fill up on some less-appealing items, then have to go back to snag that one nosh you have to have but missed the first time.
#7. Overweight people skip breakfast.
A simple habit, but missing this crucial meal raises your risk of obesity by a whopping 450 percent! Start your day with some lean protein and fiber—which will jumpstart your metabolism and keep you full. (An egg sandwich is actually a great choice.)
Bonus tip: Save calories, time, and money with the FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter. Sign up today and you’ll get the Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week for free.
(Yahoo)
Interesting Question To Ponder Today . . . . .
Has Apple Become Microsoft?
"Here's the bigger worry. Apple may be succumbing to the seductive temptations of "network effects," in which the all-consuming goal becomes getting its mobile devices into more and more hands simply for the purpose of locking more and more users into iTunes."
(Gizmodo)
"Here's the bigger worry. Apple may be succumbing to the seductive temptations of "network effects," in which the all-consuming goal becomes getting its mobile devices into more and more hands simply for the purpose of locking more and more users into iTunes."
(Gizmodo)
The Bubbles Continue To Burst In The Music Industry Too . . . . .
EMI's Downfall: Will the Hits Keep Coming?
"Given that finances are so tight, it is hardly surprising that EMI executives aggressively reminded journalists that the Grammy party did not cost the company a penny, thanks to sponsorship deals with the likes of Samsung and Xbox. The concern is an indication of how far EMI has fallen since the days when the Spice Girls topped the charts. The world's fourth largest record company, which also has the Beatles and Coldplay on its books, can't afford — or rather can't be seen as being able to afford — its own party.
EMI's financial problem is simple. When Hands bought the 113-year-old British company in August 2007 — just before the credit crunch hit — both he and Citigroup expected he'd be able to finance the $4.2 billion in debt he'd taken on to close the deal. Hands also believed he could quickly turn around EMI's long-struggling record division.
Since then, the company's finances have improved marginally. The record division made nearly $250 million in underlying profit in the fiscal year 2009, while the company's music-publishing arm, which oversees songwriters, generated $208 million. Both profits, though, were wiped out by massive write-downs, which created a largely paper loss of $2.4 billion. "With that level of debt in the business, the reality is that EMI is now almost worthless," says Simon Dyson, editor of the London-based industry newsletter Music & Copyright."
(TIME)
"Given that finances are so tight, it is hardly surprising that EMI executives aggressively reminded journalists that the Grammy party did not cost the company a penny, thanks to sponsorship deals with the likes of Samsung and Xbox. The concern is an indication of how far EMI has fallen since the days when the Spice Girls topped the charts. The world's fourth largest record company, which also has the Beatles and Coldplay on its books, can't afford — or rather can't be seen as being able to afford — its own party.
EMI's financial problem is simple. When Hands bought the 113-year-old British company in August 2007 — just before the credit crunch hit — both he and Citigroup expected he'd be able to finance the $4.2 billion in debt he'd taken on to close the deal. Hands also believed he could quickly turn around EMI's long-struggling record division.
Since then, the company's finances have improved marginally. The record division made nearly $250 million in underlying profit in the fiscal year 2009, while the company's music-publishing arm, which oversees songwriters, generated $208 million. Both profits, though, were wiped out by massive write-downs, which created a largely paper loss of $2.4 billion. "With that level of debt in the business, the reality is that EMI is now almost worthless," says Simon Dyson, editor of the London-based industry newsletter Music & Copyright."
(TIME)
A New Place To Grab Some Grub In Costa Mesa . . . . .
Sausage bar opens in Costa Mesa
Valhalla Table, which boasts that its house-made sausages are fit for a Viking feast, recently opened at The CAMP in Costa Mesa.
The lowdown: The bar/eatery features a variety of free range and organic homemade sausages, pretzels, Belgian-style French fries, dips and a handpicked selection of craft and organic brews on tap.
“We want to become a community dining place where people can eat and drink their favorite food and beer while also get to know their neighbors,” said owner Liz Karnaga.
She and her sister, Ehrline, also own Layer Cake Bakery in Irvine.
Menu prices: Sausages cost $6-$7. The German-style, house-made pretzel cost $3. Soups (split pea, gumbo, beer cheddar) range in price from $4.75 to $6.50. Sliders are $6.50. (More menu details)
Address: 2981 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa
(OCRegister)
Valhalla Table, which boasts that its house-made sausages are fit for a Viking feast, recently opened at The CAMP in Costa Mesa.
The lowdown: The bar/eatery features a variety of free range and organic homemade sausages, pretzels, Belgian-style French fries, dips and a handpicked selection of craft and organic brews on tap.
“We want to become a community dining place where people can eat and drink their favorite food and beer while also get to know their neighbors,” said owner Liz Karnaga.
She and her sister, Ehrline, also own Layer Cake Bakery in Irvine.
Menu prices: Sausages cost $6-$7. The German-style, house-made pretzel cost $3. Soups (split pea, gumbo, beer cheddar) range in price from $4.75 to $6.50. Sliders are $6.50. (More menu details)
Address: 2981 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa
(OCRegister)
R.I.P. - Captain Harris . . . . .
'Deadliest Catch' Captain Phil Harris Dies
"Phil Harris, the fishing boat captain from television's wildly popular reality series 'The Deadliest Catch' has died.
The deep-sea fisherman, 53, suffered a stroke on Jan. 29 while in an Alaskan port off-loading a catch. He was flown to Anchorage for surgery and showed signs of recovery through the days following, but ultimately succumbed to the trauma.
"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris," his sons Jake and Josh Harris said in a statement posted on the Discovery Channel Web site. "Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down."
The reality show, which has filmed five seasons, has been one of the Discovery Channel's most popular. Harris was a central figure for this drama featuring the ageless tale of man taking on the elements. It depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska."
(AOL)
"Phil Harris, the fishing boat captain from television's wildly popular reality series 'The Deadliest Catch' has died.
The deep-sea fisherman, 53, suffered a stroke on Jan. 29 while in an Alaskan port off-loading a catch. He was flown to Anchorage for surgery and showed signs of recovery through the days following, but ultimately succumbed to the trauma.
"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris," his sons Jake and Josh Harris said in a statement posted on the Discovery Channel Web site. "Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down."
The reality show, which has filmed five seasons, has been one of the Discovery Channel's most popular. Harris was a central figure for this drama featuring the ageless tale of man taking on the elements. It depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska."
(AOL)
Hockey Comedy . . . . .
Wit and Wisdom of Hockey
Jacques Plante
"Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you?"
Gil Perreault
"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck."
Harry Sinden
"The only way you can check Gretzky is to hit him when he is standing still singing the national anthem."
More here (SI)
Jacques Plante
"Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you?"
Gil Perreault
"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck."
Harry Sinden
"The only way you can check Gretzky is to hit him when he is standing still singing the national anthem."
More here (SI)
Dumb Luck = Huge Payoff . . . . .
6 Global Corporations Started by Their Founder's Shitty Luck
#1. An Oil Crisis Creates A Titty Magazine
The Company:
Larry Flynt Publications
In the Beginning:
Larry Flynt was newly discharged Naval radio operator, fresh off the USS Enterprise (the one that picked up John Glenn, not the one that picked up green space-babes). In 1965, taking what money he had saved up, Flynt purchased his mother's bar, renovated it and was soon making a sizable amount of cash. So sizable, in fact, that he was able to open two more bars.
Just as the Sharp guy saw a future in radio and Mr. Nintendo saw electronic gaming on the horizon, Larry Flynt had a revelation about the Next Big Thing:
Titties.
Eureka!
He opened his first topless bar and named it the Hustler Club--which would soon become a chain. With the help of a newsletter to advertise them and the allure of boobies in the face, Flynt's clubs were making anywhere between $260,000 to $520,000 annually, back when that kind of money meant something.
The Disaster:
As with Nintendo and the cultural shift away from playing cards, Flynt saw himself blindsided by an event far outside his control: the 1973 Oil Crisis.
Complete list here (Cracked)
#1. An Oil Crisis Creates A Titty Magazine
The Company:
Larry Flynt Publications
In the Beginning:
Larry Flynt was newly discharged Naval radio operator, fresh off the USS Enterprise (the one that picked up John Glenn, not the one that picked up green space-babes). In 1965, taking what money he had saved up, Flynt purchased his mother's bar, renovated it and was soon making a sizable amount of cash. So sizable, in fact, that he was able to open two more bars.
Just as the Sharp guy saw a future in radio and Mr. Nintendo saw electronic gaming on the horizon, Larry Flynt had a revelation about the Next Big Thing:
Titties.
Eureka!
He opened his first topless bar and named it the Hustler Club--which would soon become a chain. With the help of a newsletter to advertise them and the allure of boobies in the face, Flynt's clubs were making anywhere between $260,000 to $520,000 annually, back when that kind of money meant something.
The Disaster:
As with Nintendo and the cultural shift away from playing cards, Flynt saw himself blindsided by an event far outside his control: the 1973 Oil Crisis.
Complete list here (Cracked)
What An Appropriate Magazine Title . . . . .
Splat Magazine Girls
Splat Magazine has figured out that hot girls and paintball go hand in hand
More pictures here (BugeHoobs)
Splat Magazine has figured out that hot girls and paintball go hand in hand
More pictures here (BugeHoobs)
Damn Pimp How Do You Do It . . . . .
The 7 Actual Women In Your Life
So you saw Avatar together, and made out behind that 7-11, but it's really nothing- Oh God, she found your office. And she's carrying flowers, a box of chocolates, and a fuzzy sea otter with your name on it. At least the thank you note you scrawl on a Starbucks napkin will prove you're a quirky slacker who's not looking to get serious, but doesn't want sex completely off the table. It will, right?
You don't really talk per se, but there's definitely an unspoken Jim/Pam thing going on. Luckily, your gift of flowers, chocolates and a plush sea otter with your name on it will finally crack all that seething romantic tension wide open. A few awkward sentences later, you quickly downgrade from "crack tension" to "explain you're not the guy who delivers her mail everyday." You should have kept the damn chocolates.
Damnit, you're the non-committal loner. It takes half the fun out of it when she also feels she could do better. Still, since basic algebra dictates that apathetic sex > zero sex, you let her know (via text message, anyway) that nothing should keep you apart on this special day. ("Nothing" = An above-average 30 Rock, her meeting someone with better abs then you, eating a burrito, forgetfulness, either of you not getting drunk enough to go through with it.)
She shows she loves you by sending a tin of homemade cookies. She shows she cares by hiding a six-month gift certificate to Match.com at the bottom. You show your love with a phone call, telling her how funny it was when your roommates found that gift certificate before you did. You show you care by extending your secret plan to deprive her of grandchildren for another five years.
When does break-up sex stop? It's been months, but you're not about to give up your one reliable source for fuck-the-world, no-strings-attached, love-is-dead boot knockin'. (You compare it to sex in a burning building with a panther that hates the way you dress.) At least, it was always reliable, until it met a doctor who didn't major in Star Wars trivia. Now it just wants its Blu-ray player back.
Four beers plus one mass text message wishing you (and everyone else in her Blackberry) a happy Valentine's Day, and suddenly you're on the phone, reminding her of that time in 7th grade you played MASH together. That was fun, right? So who the fuck is that tall, handsome guy in all her Facebook photos? Sure, you see her relationship status, but six months ago she was married to Boston Market's Macaroni and Cheese. How the hell are you supposed to know it's for real this time?
Sometimes, you decide, Valentine's Day puts too much emphasis on love and not enough on high-speed Internet access. Whether it's obviously Photoshopped celebrity nudity or your disturbingly sexualized mythical creature of choice, she's there for you, faithful, giving, non-judgmental. Reward her with your undivided attention for the rest of the evening, or until you find someone cute on Facebook chat. Oh, crap. Who the hell showed your Mom Facebook chat?
(CollegeHumor)
So you saw Avatar together, and made out behind that 7-11, but it's really nothing- Oh God, she found your office. And she's carrying flowers, a box of chocolates, and a fuzzy sea otter with your name on it. At least the thank you note you scrawl on a Starbucks napkin will prove you're a quirky slacker who's not looking to get serious, but doesn't want sex completely off the table. It will, right?
You don't really talk per se, but there's definitely an unspoken Jim/Pam thing going on. Luckily, your gift of flowers, chocolates and a plush sea otter with your name on it will finally crack all that seething romantic tension wide open. A few awkward sentences later, you quickly downgrade from "crack tension" to "explain you're not the guy who delivers her mail everyday." You should have kept the damn chocolates.
Damnit, you're the non-committal loner. It takes half the fun out of it when she also feels she could do better. Still, since basic algebra dictates that apathetic sex > zero sex, you let her know (via text message, anyway) that nothing should keep you apart on this special day. ("Nothing" = An above-average 30 Rock, her meeting someone with better abs then you, eating a burrito, forgetfulness, either of you not getting drunk enough to go through with it.)
She shows she loves you by sending a tin of homemade cookies. She shows she cares by hiding a six-month gift certificate to Match.com at the bottom. You show your love with a phone call, telling her how funny it was when your roommates found that gift certificate before you did. You show you care by extending your secret plan to deprive her of grandchildren for another five years.
When does break-up sex stop? It's been months, but you're not about to give up your one reliable source for fuck-the-world, no-strings-attached, love-is-dead boot knockin'. (You compare it to sex in a burning building with a panther that hates the way you dress.) At least, it was always reliable, until it met a doctor who didn't major in Star Wars trivia. Now it just wants its Blu-ray player back.
Four beers plus one mass text message wishing you (and everyone else in her Blackberry) a happy Valentine's Day, and suddenly you're on the phone, reminding her of that time in 7th grade you played MASH together. That was fun, right? So who the fuck is that tall, handsome guy in all her Facebook photos? Sure, you see her relationship status, but six months ago she was married to Boston Market's Macaroni and Cheese. How the hell are you supposed to know it's for real this time?
Sometimes, you decide, Valentine's Day puts too much emphasis on love and not enough on high-speed Internet access. Whether it's obviously Photoshopped celebrity nudity or your disturbingly sexualized mythical creature of choice, she's there for you, faithful, giving, non-judgmental. Reward her with your undivided attention for the rest of the evening, or until you find someone cute on Facebook chat. Oh, crap. Who the hell showed your Mom Facebook chat?
(CollegeHumor)
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