Jigsaw UK

In our world, there are some people who simply eat and drink to survive, and then there are others who find themselves on this page, wanting to know about the fine art of food pairing. On the other hand, the unenthusiastic are bound to be outraged with the big deal made out of nothingness. After all, don’t you just have to eat what you like and drink what you like?

Well, yes. But let’s consider for instance if you’ve wondered why certain wedding cakes have a distinct mulch-esque taste to it? Have you ever wondered if the champagne that you drank with it could have clashed with the cake’s flavor? Indeed it could have. Deceptive pairings like this one can assault your palate with their not-meant-to-go-together tastes. What results is an aversion to two seriously likable food and drink items, albeit not together. And this is exactly what brings us to the divine concept of food pairing, because when deliciousness is at stake, everyone stands up and takes notice.

Having said this, I must concede that subjectivity has a huge role to play when it comes to pairing food with the right drink. So, be open to experiment and go wild choosing the combination that you think is the best. Yes, we’re all aware of the basics of pairing, but a little attention to detail is what elevates a good meal to a heavenly one.

The Classic Pairs

RED WINE Beef When you have a wine that drowns your senses in the spicy, rich taste of black currants, you need an accompaniment that matches its headiness. A beef steak fits the bill almost perfectly, and so do braised short ribs. Cheese As an ode to the strong flavor of, let’s say the Cabernet Sauvignon, the best cheese would be the equally formidable brie, camembert, strong cheddar or Danish blue. Always remember to match the richness of the wine to the cheese. Turkey Very few things in this world can match the homeliness of the Thanksgiving roast turkey and a light red like the Beaujolais or even the Pinot Noir. These fruity reds compliment the herb-laden stuffing of the turkey like nothing else.

WHITE WINE Cream Sauce Pasta It really pays off well to match your food with your drink in terms of the color. Pair your creamy, melt-in-the-mouth shellfish pasta with a Chardonnay, and you’ll understand this better. Oysters Oysters make for an excellent starter, and the Pinot Blanc will bring out its taste really well. While we’re discussing starters, crab cakes are a very good option to pair with a Light Sauvignon Blanc. Caviar As far as legendary food and drink pairings go, champagne and caviar top the list. While we may not always have access to a bottle of Dom Pérignon and a serving of Beluga caviar, do remember to pick a dry champagne to go with caviar, and raise a toast to champagne wishes and caviar dreams!

BEER Pizza The beer and pizza combination might be offensively unhealthy, but it doesn’t make any difference to its royal fans. If there’s anything that makes this combination taste better, it’s a football match on ESPN. Nachos Nachos, with their cheesy, salty taste pair well with a golden ale beer and are easy to include in any party menu. As a matter of fact, the nachos can easily be replaced by anything that’s deep-fried and salty. Barbecue Barbecue and beer are perpetual summer specials when the sweltering heat of the day gives way to breezy evenings. This is one combination you can never go wrong with, though everyone has their favorite, barbecued meats taste better with pale ales.

The Cocktail Pairs

VODKATINI … .. With Shashlik One usually thinks of pairing cheese crackers with a regular martini, but since we’re speaking of its Russian variant, its appropriate partner is the shashlik. Shashlik is a Russian spin on barbecue, so it won’t be too nice to wash it down with anything except vodka.

MARGARITA … .. With Mexican Food Being Mexican, what else would they taste best with except Mexican food? So bring on the crudités, tortillas and tacos, make a pitcher full of margarita, and don’t forget the salsa dip! It’s a great way to spend an evening with friends.

NEW FASHIONED … .. With Pork Ribs The New Fashioned cocktail is whiskey-based, which tastes best with pork ribs. But make sure that the ribs are not soaked in spice-laden sauces, as that messes the taste of the whiskey. Always keep the meat simple, and relish!

The Best-loved Pairs

	Milk and Oreos
	Yes, milk’s favorite cookie also ranks high on everyone’s preferences. And how could it possibly not? A glass of cold milk, a stack of chocolaty oreo cookies; you can’t ask for a better midnight snack, especially when you’ve run out of ice cream!

Cherry Coke and Burger
What could be termed as a potential catastrophe for your arteries has to taste divine; just like this cherry coke and burger combo. Why the cherry coke, you ask? That’s because it works well for me! Feel free to pick your favorite cola to go with your favored burger.

	Afternoon Tea
	Quintessentially British, this custom deserves a mention due to its sheer elaborateness and the fact that it’s slowly disappearing out of our lives. Cucumber or smoked salmon sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, fruit cakes and finally, cream tea … ah! A taste of the good life!

Coffee and Cakes
Coffee and cakes have a charm of their own, and we need to be reminded of it as we usually tend to have our coffee on the run. In fact, the practice of takeaway coffee must be discouraged to let people meet and greet over a hot cup of coffee and a plate of cakes accompanied by some juicy gossip.

	Orange Juice and Oatmeal
	This one’s for the health freaks, and come to think of it, the sinners too. This is one combination that has the power to save you from that quadruple bypass surgery, if you’ve made a habit of consuming all the combos mentioned above with regularity, although it is sure to make your taste buds rebel.

It was Mark Twain who said, “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.” Most of the food and drinks mentioned here are categorized as sinfully unhealthy, but there are certain healthy fast food drinks out there, as are nutritious meals. All you need to do is, to reserve the ones mentioned here for special occasions and eat healthy otherwise. Bon appetit!

Sarah Hyland is only 21 years old, but she has already dealt with a life-long battle against kidney dysplasia, which is a genetic abnormality resulting in under-developed kidneys. Fortunately for Hyland, as her condition worsened, her father was found to be a suitable match. Hyland’s father donated one of his kidneys to his daughter in early April of this year, and her recovery is apparently going well.

“You know that family is going to be there for you no matter what,” Hyland said. “My Dad gave me a freakin’ kidney! But it’s also the families that you create outside your family. And you really find out what kind of people you’re friends with. It was just amazing, and it really opened my eyes to see who’s there for me and who’s not.”

News of Hyland’s kidney transplant comes in the weeks after Facebook announced a new feature intended to connect would-be organ donors with patients in need of them. Organ donation is among the most generous things that one human being can do for another, providing a quality of life that would not have been possible in the absence of a healthy organ. And while there are numerous risks involved, people make the choice every day to provide a new life to a loved one, a family member – and in many instances – perfect strangers.

In our world of fear, cynicism and me-first consumerism, organ donation is one of the areas where we can all point and feel somewhat proud that we’re members of the human race.

Miami’s Jungle Island presents a unique glimpse into the intelligence of orangutans. But rather than evidence of the animals communicating with signs and body language, in this instance the orangutans are communicating with iPads. The park in Miami is just one of several zoos experimenting with the use of such technology to better understand the reasoning, logic and communications skills of the animals. The hope is that the program will allow a greater understanding of the gap between humans and endangered apes.

Linda Jacobs oversees the program in Florida and notes, “Our young ones pick up on it. They understand it. It’s like, ‘Oh I get this.’ Our two older ones, they just are not interested. I think they just figure, ‘I’ve gotten along just fine in this world without this communication-skill here and the iPad, and I don’t need a computer.’” If that sounds a lot like humans’ take on computers – based on age – well, that’s because it is kind of similar.

In Jungle Island, keepers have already been communicating with the orangutans by sign language for a long time, so this is merely the evolution of communication between animals and humans. Noted Jacobs, “We’re able to really monitor their health on a daily basis. We can do daily checks. If somebody’s not feeling well, we know it immediately.” Jacobs would ultimately like the animals to be able to communicate with humans not versed in sign language. She says, “It would just be such a wonderful bridge to have. So that other people could really appreciate them.”

Food is necessary to fuel our bodies, but sometimes we buy too much of it at the grocery store. When your produce starts to go bad, or when you’ve kept those spices around for just a bit too long, or when you thought you’d make a recipe out of all of those ingredients but just didn’t get around to it, there are many other ways you can still use your food instead of throwing it away. Surprisingly, it doesn’t involve eating it either.

Fruits

Before throwing away old banana peels, use them to shine up metals and leathers that you have. Rub the peel against the surface and then polish it with an old cloth. Banana meat is also good for reducing wrinkles. Dab a bit on those trouble spots, let it sit for a while, and then wash it off, and your wrinkles will disappear. Lemons are great to lighten skin and hair. If you have troublesome acne scars, dab a bit of fresh lemon juice on them and leave it overnight. You’ll notice a difference in the morning. Apple slices will help ripen tomatoes quickly when the two fruits are placed together in a paper bag, and orange peels are great fire starters for your next backyard fire pit party.

Vegetables

A slice of cold potato over your eyes can reduce puffiness and redness on your eyelids. Sit with the potato over your eyes as you would with slices of cucumber in a spa. Garlic removes splinters with ease. If you rub garlic over a splinter, it will come right out.

Oils and Condiments

Mustard can make you feel a lot better if you are suffering from a cold. If you use it like a vapor rub and apply it to your chest under a wet towel, you’ll feel better in no time at all. Butter can help you untangle all of those knotted necklaces that are in the back of your jewelry drawer. Just slather some on, watch the necklaces slip apart, and rinse them off. That high-calorie mayonnaise in your fridge that you are trying not to eat because it will ruin your diet is great for getting crayon off of the walls. The next time your kids draw all over, don’t worry. Slather some mayo on there and wipe it all away. Olive oil is a great product for your skin, as well as to quieten creaky hinges. If your dog or cat brings home fleas, using salt is a great way to get rid of them around the house. Just pour salt into the vacuum cleaner and around the baseboards. Let it sit, then vacuum the salt up. The salt dehydrates the fleas and kills them. Be sure to throw away the vacuum bag or empty the vacuum bin immediately, or some of the fleas can crawl back out.

Beverages

Everyone knows the trick of using club soda to get dark stains out of the carpet. But did you know it also works to get pet urine out of the carpet too! Beer is a great hair lightener. If you are out of lemons, try soaking your hair in beer before going outside. Just don’t forget to wash it out afterwards. That old 2-liter bottle of pop will work wonders if you need to clear out a clogged drain. Just pour it down the drain and watch the fizzes do their job of breaking up the gunk. Milk is great for stain removal, especially if your stain is some type of ink. Just soak some into the stain and watch it loosen up.

As you can see, there are so many other uses everyday foods have around the house. So next time, before tossing any food away thinking it is of no use, stop for a moment and think about all their uses mentioned here.

In a recent letter to over ninety advertisers who are likely to buy time with America’s Got Talent, the Parents Television Council said the following: “Programs like ‘AGT’ have offered millions of American families brief respite from the otherwise-ubiquitous stream of violent, profane and sexually explicit content on primetime. NBC’s decision to add Mr. Stern to ‘AGT’ will probably result in a sharp increase in explicit content and we urge you to be mindful when considering a media buy.”

While that doesn’t openly require that advertisers refrain from buying air time with NBC, the message is clear. Of course, the Parents Television Council is probably only serving America’s Got Talent and Howard Stern by making these sorts of public overtures. Controversial, polarizing characters drive television ratings, regardless of the format. America’s Got Talent is going to remain a family show, except that now it is also going to attract a more edgy audience who wants to see Stern perform on prime time television.

And once he demonstrates the ability to navigate the confines of prime time television while maintaining his sharp wit and honesty, it’s going to be extremely difficult for advertisers to stay away. Even the promos for America’s Got Talent have an almost Disney-like quality to them. NBC has been playing up Stern’s edginess, but it will be his heartfelt honesty and everyman qualities that will win over the masses when the show premieres on May 14.

Whether Stern’s presence is enough to move the needle for AGT remains to be seen. But the potential is there for huge success and a completely new level of fame and recognition for Howard Stern.

There are many similarities between autobiographies and memoirs, and often only the most discerning reader can tell the difference between the two. Whether you were assigned the book for a class or you picked it up at the local library because it looked interesting, knowing the difference between autobiography and memoir can enhance your understanding of the text.

Autobiographies

Autobiographies are different from biographies in that the author writes an autobiography about his or her self rather than it being written about them. Autobiographies typically cover a lot of ground in the author’s life. If you are reading the entire life story of the author until he or she wrote the book, you are probably reading an autobiography. The writing in these texts tends to be a bit dry, or less interesting, because so much time has to be covered from start to finish.

Memoirs

Memoirs usually tackle a specific subject or point in a person’s life. If the author wants to tell the story of his or her divorce or illness or any other time or event when the author’s life changed, he or she is probably going to write a memoir. Because it deals with one specific problem that is usually within the author’s recent memory, the writing style in memoirs tends to be more literary and creative, making it easier to read.

Similarities

Obviously, autobiographies and memoirs are nonfiction texts written by the author about specific events in his or her life. The biggest similarity is that the texts are all true. Many authors write autobiographical fiction, which means that the story itself is not true but is based on events that happened in his or her life. While this can be similar to autobiographies or memoirs, the fact that the latter are absolutely true in the eyes of the storyteller sets them apart. Both memoirs and autobiographies can also be very interesting to read, especially considering the events actually happened. As the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction, so reading nonfiction can entice many readers.

Differences

The differences between autobiographies and memoirs, then, are subtle. As stated above, autobiographies often cover a longer time period and, as such, are sometimes more difficult to read. If you are very interested in the history of someone’s life, you may want to pick up that person’s autobiography. If you are more interested in how someone dealt with a specific situation – maybe one you are facing in your own life – a memoir on the subject may be for you. In the same vein, memoirs often tackle tough subjects and don’t necessarily have to be written by someone who is already well known.

Deciding Which One to Write

If you are an aspiring nonfiction author and are thinking about writing about your life, deciding between writing an autobiography and a memoir can be difficult. The first thing to do is to think about the story you want to tell. If you want to tell the story of your entire life, go with an autobiography. If you can look at your life and pinpoint a situation you went through and you feel strongly that you’d like to share that experience with the world, go with a memoir.

From a sales perspective, memoirs are more likely to sell, especially if you are not a well-known celebrity. Celebrities can write successful autobiographies because people want to read their life stories from their perspectives, so they will generally sell well. Memoirs, however, apply to everyone who has been through a similar situation, making them easier to market.

The last time you were at the pet store, did you end up spending a small fortune on your furry friend? You probably went there for one or two small items, but ended up grabbing all those fun-looking, fuzzy toys on your way out, right? Well, never fear. There are plenty of ways that you can cut back on spending on your cat or dog, and the tips are a lot easier than you might think.

Toys
Cats and dogs are often like children; you buy them an expensive toy and they end up playing with the box it came in. If this is the case with your pet, go ahead and just buy him the box – metaphorically, of course. If you pay attention to your pet at play, though, you will find what makes him or her happy and what they just ignore. Some dogs, for example, really love squeaky toys but ignore ropes for tugging. Some cats love playing with ribbons but don’t like the laser lights. If your cat or dog likes a specific kind of toy, buy them a few of those but don’t buy more until they run out. If your pet likes to play with things that aren’t toys, like ribbons or socks, keep some of those handy and don’t buy toys at all.

Medication
You can save a bundle on medication for your pet by buying in bulk online. Of course, you should always see your vet before giving any medication to your furry friend, but once you get the prescription, there are a bunch of online suppliers where you can get your pet’s medication for cheap if you buy a big supply of them at a time.

Food and Treats
Food and treats for your cat or dog can be very expensive, and you usually don’t want to compromise on quality in order to save a few bucks. Lower quality pet food can be made with lots of fillers that aren’t very good for your pet’s health. Luckily, though, there are some great bargain brands. Compare the ingredient lists to price and find what works best for you and your wallet. Also, dry food is almost always cheaper – and healthier. Wet food doesn’t help your pet’s digestive tract at all, so you may want to switch to dry food if you can. There is also the option of making your pet’s food yourself. This is the healthiest way to feed your pet, after you do a little research about what is good for them to eat and what is not. However, even though this is cheaper, it can be very time-consuming.

Bedding
Bedding is a necessity, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy it from a pet store. Bedding from your local pet store can cost a lot of money, especially when you can go to your local department store and get blankets and pillows for much less. Dogs, especially, love fleece blankets, and you can always get some fleece and make your own. Similarly, you can get foam padding and make pads for crates and carriers without spending much at all.

Grooming
Grooming is a huge expense when it comes to your pet. If you feel comfortable trimming your own pet’s fur, you can absolutely do that at home. If not, there are ways to save. People usually have their pets groomed in the spring and fall, when shedding becomes intense. If you brush your pet every day, this will cut down on the number of times you have to bring him or her to the groomer.

“Observe children learning in their first few years of life, you can see that they can and do learn on their own – we leave them alone to crawl, walk, talk, and gain control over their bodies. It happens without much help from parents.” ~ Daniel Greenberg

Your baby’s first attempt to explore everything around it only means that you need to gear up and be prepared to follow it all around the house. As a rule of nature, babies need to crawl around on all four limbs before they move on to walking, running, jumping etc., as the saying goes “You need to crawl before you walk”. Long after the baby has learned to walk, you might notice they resort to crawling, if they feel insecure. Why is this phase then considered to be important for the baby’s growth and development? Before you pick your child up into your arms and cuddle it, or even resort to purchasing knee caps to protect those little knees, give a thought to what is enclosed here. By the way, crawling is important in more aspects than one.

Crawling: A Developmental Milestone Crawling: Crawling, in simple words, is movement caused due to synchronized movement of the feet (knees) and hands. Babies begin to crawl when they are around 6 – 10 months, and specifically, when they are able to lift themselves on their limbs. Crawling is defined by Wikipedia as “the mode of locomotion involving the arms and legs. It is the first gait learned by most humans”. Variations in Crawling Styles: Rocking back and forth/jerking ahead while in the crawling position is common among most babies. Some babies cross crawl, similar to the normal walking style (left arm – right leg and vice versa), while some use the coordinated style (right hand – right leg). Among other styles are the bum scoot (moving forward while sitting upright) and the crab crawl (using both arms and a leg). Some prefer moving around on their tummy using just their hands (Commando crawl) to pull themselves ahead while others employ the leapfrog crawl, which is leaping rather than crawling. The Importance of Crawling: Famous child psychologists have evidence to prove the fact that, crawling is indeed beneficial for your baby. Crawling is considered as one of the milestones in a child’s development, as it not only helps develop the strength of the baby, but also develops the baby’s sense of balance and equilibrium. Apart from the importance of crawling mentioned above, it also helps in the gross motor skill and fine motor skill development of the infant; it is also helpful in developing the visual and sensory perception of the baby. Now that we have a brief idea of the importance of crawling for a child’s development, there is no harm dwelling into the detailed description of the effect on the overall development of the baby. Your Role as a Parent: As a parent, you should be ready to get on your knees and crawl around the house with the baby. As a ritual, keep your baby’s toys at some distance, rather than scatter them around him/her. This will boost him/her to move forward and grasp the toys. As far as possible, keep your baby on its tummy; this will motivate it to raise itself on its limbs to move forward. Initially, you might have to lie down in front of your baby, just so he/she can see your face and be encouraged to move ahead. Keep away all sharp and fragile objects that might harm your baby.

Benefits of Crawling Development of Gross Motor Skills: Gross motor movement involves movement of large muscle groups like the limbs and the body. When the baby crawls, it makes use of its limbs to move forward, which, in turn, helps develop the trunk and the limb muscles. Crawling helps strengthen the muscles and also provides with balance and stability for the baby’s young limbs. Development of Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor skills encompass the refinement of hand-eye coordination, which is essential for control over the small muscles of the body. Fine motor skills lead to manual dexterity. Besides helping the child to grasp things while crawling, it will help the child in future when he/she has to make use of fine motor skills like writing, reading and sewing. Spine Alignment: When the baby begins to crawl, it learns to lift itself upon its limbs, which helps develop and strengthen the spine; which later eliminates problems related to the posture of the child. As a parent, you would be well-versed with the problems that a good and straight spine cuts down. Visual Development: The baby, when crawling, employs a technique called ‘binocular vision’, which involves the constant movement of eye from the floor to the direction in which it is traveling. Constant adjustment in the range of vision works as a training ground for future skills of reading and writing. Development of the Vestibular System: Crawling is said to stimulate the development of the vestibular system, which is related to the overall balance of the child. The inner ear is stimulated with the head movements made while crawling, which improves the baby’s equilibrium and balance. Brain Development: It’s a known fact that the right hemisphere controls the left half of the body, while the left hemisphere controls the right half of the body. Crawling employs movement of either limbs in tandem, which is the cross-lateral integration that requires the right and left side of the brain to work in cooperation. When the baby crawls, motor nerve impulses are interchanged between the two hemispheres of the brain at an incredible rate. This helps develop the neurological routes of the child, which helps perform complicated tasks like taking notes while paying attention to a lecture, crossing hurdle races and driving in traffic, later in life.

A bit of advice: keep the walker away; your baby doesn’t really need a walker or any sort of help to walk. What it needs is a lot of encouragement and love from your end. Your baby will want to explore the world at his/her level, not hoisted onto a walker much before it is time for him/her to walk around. Have fun watching your baby grow in the natural way.