Roast Chicken and Creamy Corn Recipe

 

Easy weeknight dinners aren't just about finding recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes from start to finish. They're also not solely about cooking up huge batches of stew on the weekend so you can feed yourself the same exact meal every night of the coming week. While those two strategies work, it's helpful to also turn to a third: Use made-in-advance building blocks to whip up easy and varied dinners on-demand.

I've written about this before when describing cooking strategies during the Coronavirus quarantine, so take this recipe as yet one more example of how to put those strategies to work. And mind you—they're useful for everyday home cooking beyond the current global pandemic situation.

In this recipe, I cook sweet summer corn in butter with thyme, leek, and white pepper to make the vegetable base of the meal. This vegetable ragout can be cooked while your chicken roasts, but you could also make the corn in advance (possibly even doubling the batch to have leftovers for another meal).

In a lot of classic French cooking, white pepper is used when you don't want the little flecks of black pepper visible in a dish. I've never bought into letting appearances determine choosing one ingredient over another, especially not at home. So while it may seem like the white pepper is a good visual choice for the corn, I actually prefer it here for its complex funky flavor and aroma, which makes the sweet corn a lot more interesting and plays well with the romesco sauce.

The romesco sauce, meanwhile, pulls double duty as both a sauce, but also a hearty ingredient that adds heft and substance to the meal, thanks to all the almonds, bread, and oil that are pureed into it. It's a great accompaniment to the corn, adding earthiness from the dried peppers and nuts alongside a sweet tomato note that synchs up with the corn.

The romesco, too, can be made day-of, but it keeps well in the fridge for several days, so it's yet one more component you can make in advance and then keep at the ready. It's also a recipe you can double to ensure you have more to slather on sandwiches or serve with vegetables or some other meat during the week. Just don't make my recent mistake of trying to double the batch all at once in a standard eight-inch mortar and pestle—it will be almost impossible to manage unless you happen to have an extra-massive mortar and pestle lying around for the occasion.

If you get those components prepared ahead of time, all you have to do for dinner is pop a chicken in the oven. And if you want to eliminate the spatchcocking step and just roast the chicken whole, that's fine too—there's nothing wrong with making your life a little easier when you can.

Tips for the Best Skin

 

1. Use the correct cleanser for your skin type.

"For oily or acne-prone skin, a salicylic gel or benzoyl peroxide wash works great," says Dr. Ava Shamban, a dermatologist in Santa Monica. "For dry mature skin, use either a moisturizing glycolic or milky cleanser. For skin with brown spots or melasma, use a brightening wash, such as an alpha hydroxy acid cleanser."

2. Don’t use too many products.

Layering on multiple skincare products all at once is a big no-no, says Dr. Julia Tzu, an NYC-based dermatologist. It can be harsh on the skin, resulting in more breakouts and clogged pores.

3. Moisturize both day and night.

"The best times to moisturize are right after you get out of the shower and right before you go to bed," explained Dr. Janet Prystowsky M.D., an NYC-based dermatologist. Avoid lotions with heavy fragrances and make sure you find a moisturizer gentle enough for every day use with zero irritation.

4. Don’t touch your face.

Dr. Tzu says figuring out how to avoid touching your face is very important. It doesn't just spread bacteria and cause breakouts — it can lead to scarring, an increase in wrinkles, and even the flu or other viruses.

5. Hydrate inside and out.

Every skin expert we spoke to emphasized the importance of hydration. "A lack of water means less radiance and more sag," says Dr. Mona Gohara, a dermatologist in Connecticut. She suggests choosing products (cleansing, moisturizing, and anti-aging) that have hydrating formulas. And, of course, drink around eight glasses of water a day.

6. Avoid direct heat exposure.

Don't just watch out for the sun — getting too close to heaters and fireplaces can also wreak havoc on your skin. "It causes inflammation and collagen breakdown. I recommend staying at least ten feet away," explains Dr. Debbie Palmer, a New York dermatologist. So next time you're roasting chestnuts or s'mores over an open fire, take a step back.

7. Exfoliate a couple times per week.

"We lose 50 million skin cells a day, and without a little extra nudge, they may hang around leaving the skin looking sullen," says Dr. Gohara. To fight this, you should "choose a product that is pH neutral so it doesn't dry as it exfoliates." And don't just stop with your face — the skin on your body needs exfoliation, too.

EFFECTIVE CONTENT IDEAS

  

The skin care industry is rooted on the ability to touch, feel, smell, sample and experiment with products in store. The e-commerce revolution incorporated convenient delivery, easy returns, wider product selections, and unfiltered user reviews – making it a solid complement, if not a direct alternative, to the in-store experience.

Top brands, retailers, local sellers and even home-run businesses are opting for strong online presences as opposed to shelf space. The online market for skincare products continues to grow rapidly. So now, more than ever, it is imperative that a Skincare website is designed to gain traffic and convert this traffic into revenue.

New consumers can have concerns before they purchase skincare and beauty products online since they’re unable to feel, smell and test the product before buying it.

It is imperative that the products are showcased effectively for consumers to be satisfied with just looking at the products. Photos of just the packaging might not be enough, photos showcasing the texture of these products before/after application can go a long way.  Also, celebeity endorsements can go a long way to build brand awareness and prestige.

Additionally, skincare website should be establishing the look and feel of the brand or blog – preferably with a landing page with large, bold images. Elaborate lists of products along with prices on the homepage, right from the get go, can look very unappealing to the concerned target group.

PLAY WITH YOUR VISUALS – PLAIN PHOTOS ARE BORING

It is effective to experiment with the settings for your photos, or play with illustrations on your images. Anything is better than plain photos when it comes to online engagement – especially with skin care and beauty products.

Snacks & Small Bites

 

If you, like us, are getting pretty good at stocking your household with more food and supplies than you would typically buy during your weekly shop and doing more of your purchasing online, you’ll be excited, like we were, to learn about Walmart+. Walmart just launched a membership program, and the benefits, which would look good any day, look particularly good right now.

First off, Walmart+ offers free unlimited delivery, as soon as same day. We know you’ve become an excellent meal planner by now, but if you’re feeling spontaneous or time-starved, or simply want to spend more time with family, you can choose what you want for dinner and get the ingredients delivered to your doorstep just a few hours later. With everyday low prices you love, this means anything is possible.

For anyone who has taken up bread baking or who is spending more time making homemade goodies, Walmart has a great and fully stocked baking section.

Need a slotted spoon for those poached eggs or a wand-style grater for that ginger? Through Walmart+, you can also order cooking utensils for as soon as same-day delivery. The same goes for cleaning supplies and electronics and health-care items.

Best Fitness Blogs

 

Nerd Fitness

A self-described community of “underdogs, misfits, and mutants” ready and willing to help people with every step of their fitness journey, Nerd Fitness is a comprehensive resource that’s motivating and inspiring. Sure, they’ll teach you how to work out without a gym and how to prepare a basic meal, but they also focus on helping you fix your own mindset, develop positive habits, and really change your life one step at a time.

RossTraining

Ross Enamait’s website is dedicated to high performance conditioning, strength, and athletic development. The longtime trainer and boxing coach understands that a successful fitness regimen boils down to finding what works for you. His blog is a great resource for information about different kinds of training — from fitness fundamentals to old-school workouts like jumping rope to philosophical riffs on mental endurance.

Love Sweat Fitness

Katie Dunlop’s Love Sweat Fitness community inspires women everywhere to find their own healthy, happy bodies. While the website features daily workouts, recipes, community forums, and much more, the blog is where Katie shares content like her own healthy spring morning routine, the biggest weight loss mistake you may be making, weekly workout schedules, and her latest sweat babe crush.

Breaking Muscle

Designed for fitness consumers and professionals, Breaking Muscle is a leading publisher of timely, quality information about all things fitness and nutrition. In addition to countless workouts and recipes, there’s content geared specifically to coaches and trainers. Check out podcasts and thought-provoking posts written by the blog’s coaches in residence.

Advanced Human Performance

Anyone feeling frustrated by a fitness plateau will find help from Advanced Human Performance creator Joel Seedman, PhD. He started this site to help people break through their nutritional and training barriers. He provides the most advanced, scientifically proven methods. The blog features comprehensive information relating to specialized exercises and tips for improving technique and function.

Shopping for Baby: Top Tips

Do your research

When it comes to buying gear that comes with a wide range of bells and whistles and price tags to match (think baby monitors), read up on products before you buy to find the model that's right for you. Wondering if you should hold out for the high-tech model or can live with the low-tech one? Besides comparison shopping, tap into your new mom (and dad) network — ask them to give you their pros and cons on their favorite products (no info is more valuable than one from a parent who’s been there).

Do a safety check on used baby gear

Sure, hand-me-downs are hands down a great way for new moms to save, but do a quick check before you accept any donated items (like that stationary activity center your neighbor swears kept her little one amused for hours). Yes, the gear is probably safe, but your peace of mind is key when shopping for your baby. Search for items on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make sure they're up to today’s safety standards. This government-run Web site posts all recalls for more than 15,000 products, including most baby goods.

Opt for easy-on, easy-off outfits

Your little one isn't clamoring for designer duds just yet — which is for the best, since simpler is better when it comes to those cute clothes (especially during those first few fumble-fingered months of parenthood). Instead, look for one-piece outfits that snap or zip up. You’ll probably find those zippers will save you (or your partner) the frustration of lining up all those little snaps when you’re sleep-deprived or in a rush. And don't overstock on onesies — chances are you'll get plenty at your baby shower.

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Put the bouncy seat at the top of your list

There are gadgets and gizmos aplenty for new parents, but a baby bouncer is a definite must-have for on-the-move moms. What’s the draw of these cushiony flexible seats? If you live in a house with more than one floor, consider borrowing a second seat (or, if you’ve stashed away enough cash, buying an extra). That way, you can leave one in the family room and another in your bedroom, saving yourself (and your back!) from lugging the baby and the bouncy seat up and down the stairs. Don't have the funds? That's what baby shower registries are for!

4 Things That Make Online Grocery Stores Score Over Local Stores

 

With the internet being omnipresent, it is quite common to shop online for electronics, books and a number of other items. But buying grocery, beverages, and personal care items online is gradually becoming the next big thing, mainly due to the convenience involved. How do these online stores score over the local market? Let’s get to know.

1. Increased Variety

An online grocery store is similar to any other ecommerce business, since it also has a wider variety of products in comparison to what you will come across at your local store. In fact, there are a range of collections from several brands available, so it is much more convenient to find the product you are looking for. Also, you can go through the special deals available in a single platform.

2. Several Delivery Options

Everything will be delivered to you at your doorstep. While most stores provide same day delivery for groceries, there are highly efficient ones who will offer you delivery within a few hours of order placement or even within one hour. In addition to this, you can also choose a particular time slot for delivery in line with your schedule.

3. Convenient Returns

You might feel that when you are buying grocery online, you are at a disadvantage because the products you are purchasing cannot be tangibly checked. This is no doubt a serious concern when you purchase perishable items. But rest assured that a reputed online grocery store will always stock the freshest of products, and in the rarest case, if a product is found defective; there are flexible return policies for which you simply need to consult customer care.

4. Faster Price Comparisons

If you need price comparisons at the local supermarket, you need to hop from store to store. But comparing prices online for similar products can be done in a jiffy, just by the click of a mouse.

An online store can do what the local store cannot. So, try out the most reputed grocery service online and experience the best!

Top 10 clothing brands

 

The clothing industry is one of the most ancient industries. However, today very few companies in the field of clothing manufacturing earned the top positions globally.

The world saw the emergence of new trends and new fabrics in the clothing industry. Very few brands got famous all over the world and are still amongst the global best sellers.

The key is in the quality, perfection and setting trends.

Here is a list of Top 10 Bestselling, Popular Clothing Brands In The World, with a sneak peek into their bios

10. ARMANI

The Brand Value of this famous company is about $3.1 billion. 

Armani provides impeccable tailoring, glamour and amazing dressing.

Hollywood stars are most loyal costumers of this brand.

Armani brand has expertise in the making suits. Their clothing will be of luxurious fabric condition.

Armani, Emporio, Exchange is the most expensive clothing under this brand. They even produce perfumes, leather bags and belts, glasses, shoes and other materials. Thus they stand in the tenth position in the list.

9. FENDI

The total brand value of this company is about $3.5 billion.

Paola Fendi was the founder of this company.

The Company was launched in the year 1925.

Fendi expertise is in the production of world-class dressing and also bags and other accessories.

The handbag series was introduced in 1997 which is called as Baguette.

This company also owns its atelier.

Fendi keeps up its standards by making their creations up to date in the world of fashion.

LVMH owns this company. Thus this is 9th in the list.

8. HOUSE OF VERSACE

The total brand value of this company is about $5.5 billion.

Versace’s current revenue is about $1 billion. 

This is an Italian company.

Versace was established in 1978.

Gianni Versace established this company.

House of Versace is one of the most profitable lifestyle brands in the world.

Versace is known for their intrigued embellishments, vivid print, cocktail and iconic gowns are amazing. Versace introduced many types of clothing. Thus they are in the 8th position.

7. BURBERRY

This company has a total brand value of about $5.87 billion.

The company gets revenue of about $4 billion.

Burberry is a British company.

Audrey Hepburn is one of the most iconic figures associated with the Burberry brand.

This company is famous for its innovations.

Burberry has even obtained a royal warrant.

This company even launched an exclusive and expensive skincare range. Thus this is one of the expensive and also exclusive company. It is in the seventh position.

6. RALPH LAUREN

This company has a total brand value of about $6.6 billion.

The revenue obtained by this company is about $7.1 billion.  

Ralph Lauren entirely focuses on luxury and strives to provide all sort of dress materials for you to live your desired life. The Ralph Lauren clothes are worn by many famous personalities in the world.

Polo is also one of the renowned brands under Ralph Lauren. Thus this company stands in 6th position.

5. CHANEL

The brand value of this company is about $6.8 billion.

The revenue collection by this company is $5.4 billion.

Coco Chanel founded this company. The brand is very well known for women’s clothing.

The company strives to make sure that women are comfortable in their clothes and they should feel proud.

Timeless little black dress was introduced by the Chanel brand.

Chanel is one of the most expensive brands in the world. Thus this company is in the 5th position in the top ten list.

4. PRADA

This company has a brand value of about $7.3 billion.

The revenue of this company is about $3.7 Billion.

Prada was established by an Italian leather manufacturer named Mario Prada in 1913.

The Prada brand is one of the most expensive brands and every girl would love to have this one.

The brand offers clothes with amazing design, style, and colour and makes every girl feel special. Thus this is in the top 4th position.

3. HERMES

This company has s brand value of about $10.6 billion.

The revenue of this company is about $5.3 billion.

Hermes brand was established in the year 1837 by Thierry Hermes.

Throughout the journey of all these 176 years, the company had been very successful.

Hermes is famous for its Kelly bag and also silk scarves.

They are experts in the production of belts, men’s and women’s sportswear riding gloves etc.

2. GUCCI

The brand value of this company is about $12.4 billion.

The revenue of this company is about $4.5 billion. The company aims at providing quality clothing.

Gucci is known to produce clothes which are worth wearing for a red carpet event.

The Gucci company was started in the year 1921.

The founder of this company is Guccio Gucci.

Gucci is one of the most expensive brands, and also they are known to produce rich and luxury clothing, thus they are in the 2nd position.

1. LOUIS VUITTON

World’s most expensive brand is Louis Vuitton.

The brand value of this company has reached about $28.1 Billion.

The revenue collection of this brand is about $10.1 billion.

Louis Vuitton is very well known for its use of leather, excellent tailoring of trench coats, ready to wear dresses, shoes, accessories, watches, sunglasses, jewellery, books and many other accessories, and deservingly have taken the 1st position in the list.

Online shopping and trends

 

Tips for shopping at Superstore

It's no secret that I do 99% of my grocery shopping at Superstore and love it.  Why do I love Superstore?

• First and foremost, their prices are very competitive
• They have a wide selection of products. (ie. food, personal care, clothing, housewares)
• They have quality store brand products
•  Their awesome reward points system 

Superstore sometimes gets a bad rap for it's long lines, crazy shoppers, and sometimes confusing layout.  But don't let these minor points deter you!  There are many treasures and deals to find if you can work around these negative points.  With these tips you will be cruising through Superstore finding what you need fast and saving money!

1. Get in on the PC Points!

I know what your thinking "Great another card to cram into my wallet. *eye roll*", "Why bother when I'll never get enough points to qualify for any rewards?".  If you can stick with me on this one I promise it will be beneficial to you!  First off, you don't need a card!  You can have a card if you like but I prefer to download the PC Points app.  No card in my wallet and I always have it with me, because who leaves the house without their phone? 

What do you get with your PC Points!  Free groceries, that's what!  For every 10,000 points you get $10 in free groceries.  Now I know 10,000 points seems like a lot and that it would take a long time to earn them.  Quite often I will find products that give me 700 points for buying 1 of them.  For example, if orange juice is 500 points and you buy 2, you get 1,000 points.

Points are assigned to various products in the store and are posted in the flyer.  You don't earn points of your overall purchase (which is a bit of a bummed) but you do receive your own personalized offers.  Each week on the app you receive PC Points deals that are based on your past purchases.  If you buy a lot of peppers you will often find peppers have a points value attached to them.  They also throw in a few new products each week, which I enjoy because sometimes it's a product that I wanted to try and the points give me the incentive to do so.  You can also earn points on gas if you fill up at a Superstore gas station.

2. Check your PC Points offers and flyer before heading to the store.

I like to check my PC Points offers and the flyer when I'm making my meal plan.  This was I can shop the sales and take advantage of as many points as possible.  Each week the flyer will have some sort of extra deal included in it.  When you spend a certain amount of money (usually $100-$250 before taxes and deposits) in store you earn the deal.  This varies from a $25 gift card for the store to 20,000 PC Points.  That's $20 in free products!!  If I don't like the deal for the week I will often try to stretch what we already in the house to see if the next deal is something I want to take advantage of.

3. Make a list and add items in order you encounter them in the store.

Maybe I'm just a creature of habit but I always shop Superstore in the same order.  Making your list to correspond to your path will save you time and headache.  No more running back and forth across the store because you skipped over an item.  This will take a few trips to get just right as you perfect your path through the store.  Knowing the layout of the store will also help if you remember half way through your trip that you forgot an item on your list and need to find it fast.

4. Shop weekday mornings!

I know this isn't possible for everyone, but if you can, hit Superstore first thing in the morning during the week!  I love to shop at this time because there are very few people in the store.  Usually I'm lucky if I see 5-6 customers in the entire store, which means great parking spots, no cluttered isles and walking right up to the till to pay.  The fresh produce is usually being put out at this time as well so you get the freshest of the fresh.  The only down side is the rotisserie chickens don't come out until noon!  I guess you can't have everything though...

If you absolutely can't make it to Superstore during this heavenly hour, Superstore has recently announced a guarantee that all tills will be open from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm every Saturday & Sunday!.  Now this won't cut down on the number of people in the parking lot or isles, but at least you won't have to stand in line at the tills for an hour!

5. Buy the Green Bins!

$15 per bin may seem like a lot of money for a bucket to put your groceries in.  I promise this is an investment you will never regret!  These bins are surprisingly large and can fit a ton of items since they are much sturdier than a plastic or fabric bag.  Plus you won't have to pay 5 cents per plastic bag.  We have 3 bins and I have no problem fitting $250 worth of groceries into them, minus big items like milk and kitty litter.  Now this is the part that is going to blow your mind!  These bins hook onto the bottom of the cart giving you extra room for your groceries!  My Mom and I discovered this while shopping one day when we saw a woman hook them on.  Not only does this give you more room for food, but if you're hopping with kids, it allows you to get up to 3 kids into the cart (two in the seats and a bucket seat in the top) and still be able to fit all your groceries!  I personally wouldn't want to shop with 3 kids but sometimes it has to be done!  *NOTE: I'm aware that you aren't supposed to put bucket seats in the carts but sometimes it's the only way to get the shopping done.  Just make sure that seat is secure and won't tip or fall out and you should be fine!

Packing your own groceries is definitely one of the things that used to drive me nuts about Superstore, especially with Roman.  How am I supposed to fill bags, keep Roman entertained, and not hold the line up?  Maybe I just over think this whole business but I swear I can feel peoples eyes beating down on me as I scramble to pack up my groceries and get out of the way.  Tell me I'm not alone?  Green bins to the rescue!  They make loading your groceries back into the cart extremely easy, and I can usually have 85% of my groceries loaded by the time the cashier is done scanning them.