Its Christmas time, its the season of giving right? Well, only if you give me something in return!

I work at Starbucks where every year a toy drive is held to help bring a little extra happiness for sick little children who have to be in hospitals instead of by a warm fire place during Christmas. I believe that it started out as a way to make it easier for busy people who wanted to give gifts to these children. All you have to do it drop the toys off on your way to get your morning coffee and we would take care of the rest, making sure that they are delivered to the children. Instead, it has turned into a bartering system that I find very upsetting.

I was working a few days ago and a man came up to the counter and set a large box full of toys on the counter. My first thought was that he was there to donate the toys and just as I was about to thank him for such a generous and thoughtful gift he opened his mouth, “I want a triple grande vanilla latte…and if you give it to me for free I will give you all these toys!” I was taken aback and thought he was joking but I realized he wasn’t when he said, “well do you want the toys!” If I could I would have told him my extremely low opinion of him right there but instead of risking my job I smiled and gave him what he asked for and he gave me the box of toys. So much for the spirit of giving!

The past few weeks I have had several customers approach me and ask that if they bring a toy will they get a free drink. Every time I have to bite my tongue, I am more saddened than angry that so many people today are so selfish that they will only do something for someone if they get something in return. When and where did we get that mentality? What happened to the days of altruistic giving, when the only reward was the joy of knowing that you had helped someone or brightened someone’s day?

All I want for Christmas is my faith in humanity renewed! If you are as upset by this miserable display of Christmas spirit as I am, then I challenge you to do one random act of kindness. It can be anything, small or big, that would bring someone happiness. I challenge you to do something for someone and not expect anything in return. It could be as simple as letting the woman behind you in line at the grocery store go in front of you, or deciding not to trample the little old lady in order to get your hands on the last thirty dollar DVD player. Or you could bring a toy to your local Starbucks and not ask for a free cup of coffee, because "That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

There are so many different types of wine that it can become overwhelming trying to remember or even figure out which wine is suited for which meal. I am nearing my 21st birthday and plan on studying up so that whenever I go out I will be able to order like a pro. Here is a little history of wine and information on a few different types of wine.

Biologists have noted that birds and primates are naturally drawn to the smell of ethanol produced by fermented fruit so the animal kingdom might have been the first to catch on to the wonderful drink we call wine. Historical records provide information on wine and wine growing areas, which began in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Today France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and many other European countries have wine histories dating back to the Romans and Celts.

An ancient Persian fable credits a lady of the court with the discovery of wine. There was a Princess who had lost favor with the King and attempted to poison herself by eating some table grapes that had spoiled in a jar. She became intoxicated and giddy and fell asleep. When she awoke, she found the stresses that had made her life unbearable were gone. Returning to the source of her relief, her subsequent conduct changed so remarkably that she regained the King's favor. The King shared his daughter's discovery with his court and so on, wine became history. The Old Testament of the Bible tells us that Noah planted a vineyard and made wine. So whether it was this Persian Princess or Noah, wine has made a lasting impression on its drinkers and history.

Winemakers throughout the world use hundreds of different grape varieties to make different kinds of wine. But what is wine? Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced through the fermentation of fruits containing sugars. Yeasts carry out fermentation converting sugars into alcohols, primarily ethanol, and other chemicals that add to the wines character. Grapes are richly flavored, sometimes colored and high in fermentable sugars making them ideal for producing wines. The types of grapes used to make a wine are probably the single most important factor in the taste of the wine. However, the flavors are also affected other factors such as soil, exposure to sunlight, climate, how the grapes are handled and fermented, types of yeast used, whether the wine is aged in wood, etc. Because of this, the same type of wine can be produced in several different regions, but various factors result in wines, which taste different! No wonder this can be so confusing.

I have found it is easiest to divide wines into three categories:

• Red wine
• White wine
• Dessert or fortified wines

Then you have your Champagne or Sparkling Wine, Kosher Wine, Rose and White Zinfandel. I have listed a few from each category.


Red Wine
· Cabernet Sauvignon performs well practically the world over, as long as it's not too cold, but in some areas of France, and in California's Napa Valley, it produces astonishingly rich and complex wines. The classic Cabernet flavor is one of deep, dark fruits, primarily black currant, and the best are medium- to full-bodied, intense and firm. Cabernets are almost always aged in oak for over a year, and should age several more years in the bottle. The great Cabernets of the Medoc region in France age for 15 years and more.
· Merlot is along the same lines as a Cabernet Sauvignon but it is more lush and Full-bodied with flavors of cherry, plum, and chocolate.
· Sangiovese is an important grape in some of Italy's greatest red wines; this hard-working grape from the Tuscan region is coming into its own as a stand-alone varietal. Wines from the Sangiovese can be medium to full-bodied and medium to high in tannin. They are typically characterized by cherry and spice flavors, sometimes with hints of violet, and sometimes even slightly nutty.

White Wine
· Chardonnay has become the worlds most often purchased dry white wine. Chardonnay is grown in nearly every wine producing area of the world. Usually aged in oak barrels, the wine is rich in strong flavors and aromas. The wine contains a fruity character with vanilla and buttery components.
· Riesling wines are much lighter than Chardonnay wines. The aromas generally include fresh apples. The Riesling variety expresses itself very differently depending on the district and the winemaking. Riesling should taste fresh. If they do, then they might also prove to get better with age.

Dessert Wines
· Port is different because it has above average alcohol content (most range between 19 and 22% volume). It's also special as its color and sweetness range according to the different types of Port. Port is a sweet fortified wine from the grapes growing on the deep walls of the Douro River Valley in Portugal. Port is made from up to about 40 grape varieties, most of which are red. After fermenting briefly, the grape must is poured into larger containers holding spirit, which kills the yeast and stops fermentation. The wine is then sent to the Port houses in Oporto, where it stays in barrel for a year or two. At that time a "vintage" can be declared, and the Port bottled with a vintage designation. This Port virtually demands another 15 or 20 years aging in the bottle.
· Vermouth is a fortified wine, flavored with herbs, Because of this, it is often not necessary to start out with fine wine. But some producers do use start with a good quality wine as a base. Vermouth is made in as many different styles as there are producers.

Other Wines
· White Zinfandel is a pink wine made in from early-picked Zinfandel grapes. The red grapes are quickly separated from the grape skins during the crushing and fermentation process, so that the resulting wine is very light pink. Because early-picked grapes are usually high in acidity, most White Zinfandels are made in a sweet style to balance the acidity. Sutter Home Winery was one of the first wineries to promote White Zinfandels.
· Champagne - The process called “Méthode Champenoise” produces Champagne and sparkling wines. After the grapes are pressed and fermented for the first time, they are blended, and the wine is bottled and temporarily capped, then a second fermentation. Sugar and yeast are added, and this time, the carbon dioxide is kept inside the bottle. The resulting sediment is extracted through a process of racking. The bottles are progressively turned upside down until all the sediment is collected in the neck. The necks are then frozen and the sediment is disgorged. After this phase, the winemaker may decide to add sugar to sweeten the wine. Finally the wine is corked. Some wines move through this process in a couple of months, while others are aged after the racking phase to build greater complexity and depth. True champagne comes only from France's northernmost wine-growing area, the Champagne region, just 90 miles northeast of Paris.
· Rose is rarely complex, and not to be aged. A good rose is tart and fruity. Roses are made from red wine grapes, but during fermentation there is minimal contact with the grape skin, so they don't pick up much color from the skins.

There is a lot of information to take in here. While red wines and white wines have their differences, it is the variety of wine within each group that reveals something about its taste and there are so many different combinations! I might not ever be a wine expert or order like a pro but I can guarantee that when my birthday rolls around I will be experiencing the most enjoyable part of studying up on wine, drinking it, responsibly of course!

If your Fourth of July celebrations are anything like mine, you know that it wouldn’t be the same without a Fourth of July cookout! The smell of BBQ, sizzling, juicy meat cooking on the grill and the warm summer weather is the perfect combination to celebrate the Independence of our nation. If your family is celebrating the holiday with friends and neighbors, the best way to feed the crowd is by organizing a potluck. Fresh produce is plentiful this time of year, and everyone's likely to have a favorite summer salad or casserole to share. Here are some of my favorite, very easy to prepare, Fourth of July cookout items.

HOMEMADE LEMONADE
After helping cut the lemons, you may want to turn this recipe over to the kids--they tend to be the lemonade experts.

6 large lemons
1 cup sugar
2 qt. cold water

Slice the lemons in half and squeeze each of them into a large measuring cup. This should yield about 1 1/2 cups of juice. Remove any seeds.

In a large pitcher, combine the juice and the sugar. Stir in 2 quarts of cold water. Serve over ice. (For a nice touch, place mint leaves in the ice cube trays before freezing.) Serves 8 to 10.

AMERICAN FLAG CAKE
Mix up and bake your favorite cake mix or recipe. Let cool.
Slice 1 cup of strawberries, set aside. Halve remaining strawberries, set aside.
Top cake (in pan) with 1 cup sliced strawberries, 1 cup blueberries and all of the whipped topping. Arrange remaining strawberry halves and blueberries on whipped topping to create a flag design. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Traditionally, this isn’t the holiday to go all out and spend hours on cooking. Instead one of the key ingredients to having a relaxing Fourth of July is to keep your barbeque or picnic simple. Many Americans dine in their backyards or on the beach with their grills hot. While menus have become more exotic, reflecting America’s diversity, some dishes still come to mind when one thinks of Independence Day. As far as beverages go, beer, soda pop, lemonade, and iced tea top the list. When it comes to food, easy-to-prepare items suggest themselves. For example, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, barbeque ribs, hotdogs, barbeque chicken, Cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans, chips and dip, pies (especially apple), corn on the cob, and ice cream. So relax, put a little spark in your three day weekend with friends, family and some great food.
And for friends and family unable to celebrate with you, consider sending an American Cookie Basket from Susan’s Basket Store. Perhaps an American Glory gift basket would be appreciated. Red, white and blue is the theme of this delicious gift basket which contains Ghirardelli coffee, Monet mini gourmet crackers, Bruschetta bites, White cheddar popcorn, Sherwood wafer cookies, Venus wheat wafers, Brent and Sam’s white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, Brown & Haley’s Almond Roca, Nonni’s biscotti and Mrs. Fields milk chocolate chip cookies! This delicious gift basket will surely light up the face of your friend or loved one this July 4th weekend!

When I look back on my childhood it is a blur of memories, most of which are jumbled up and distorted by however I perceived things at the time. Sometimes these things can be quite funny and when I tell a story the way I think it happened I am always surprised to hear the real version. However there are those memories that are so clear that I can actually feel or smell what it is that I am remembering. With Father’s Day approaching I find myself having those clear memories of my father playing with my hair and singing me a song that I can still hear today, as he tucked me in for bed. The way that it felt to see him walk through the door after he had been away at work, and how he would pick me up in his arms and spin me around, will be something I’ll always cherish.


Father's Day is always the third Sunday in June. It is the day when we honor the fathers and men who play father-like roles in our lives. Father’s Day is a day to show our fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, fathers-to-be or any father-like figure how much they mean to us.

The first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in June 1910, thanks to a woman named Sonora Dodd who came up with the idea in 1909. Mrs. Dodd's mother died in childbirth and her father, William Jackson Smart, had raised her and her five siblings alone. While listening to a Mother's Day sermon at a church near her family's home in eastern Washington State, Mrs. Dodd thought about the sacrifices her father had made for his children and what a great job he had done raising them all alone. Because her father had been born in June, she decided to encourage the churches in her area to honor fathers in June.

Congress passed several resolutions over the years in support of Father's Day but it did not become an official U.S. holiday until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day and put the official stamp on a celebration that was going on for almost half a century.

In early times, wearing flowers was a traditional way of celebrating Father's Day. Mrs. Dodd favored the red rose to honor a father still living, while a white flower honored a deceased dad. J.H. Berringer, who also held Father's Day celebrations in Washington State as early as 1912, chose a white lilac as the Father's Day Flower.

So wear a flower for your dad on father’s day, have a picnic, buy him that power tool he’s been wanting, make him a card, surprise him with a gift basket from Susan’s Basket Store, or if you cant think of anything else, you cant go wrong with a big hug and an I love you.

It was easy to adore my father everyday when I was a kid but now that I am grown and the distance between us is far, it is easy to get preoccupied with work and school and forget to give him a call just to let him know that I love and appreciate him. That’s why a smart woman almost one hundred years ago decided to pick a day to single out fathers and let them know that we didn’t forget the love and care they provided us.

The story of chocolate goes back to the discovery of America. The Cacao Tree, the plant from which chocolate is derived, was worshipped by the Mayan Civilization of Central America and Southern Mexico. They believed the tree to be of divine origin. Cacao is a Mayan word meaning “God food”. Early European explorers changed the word Cacao to the more familiar Cocoa.

Chocolate is now recognized as having many qualities that are beneficial to health. Several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholesterol. Cocoa is also the highest natural source for magnesium. Chocolate is a very complex food source and scientists are just now beginning to unlock its secrets. It contains essential trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium, and potassium, and vitamins A, B1, C, D and E.

Chocolate has been found to contain substances called Phenyl ethylamine and Serotonin, both of which are mood-lifting agents. The brain naturally produces these chemicals when you fall in love. Perhaps this is why chocolate was considered an aphrodisiac by the Aztec Indians, and as such, was forbidden to women. It’s no wonder that the average American consumes almost 12 pounds of chocolate each year.

If you love chocolate, Susan’s Basket store has plenty of wonderful gifts for you or the chocolate lover in your life. Is your anniversary coming up? Surprise her with the Passion Play basket or the Sweetest Hangover basket. Whatever the occasion and whoever its for you cant go wrong with a decadent chocolate gift from Susan’s Basket store.

Passion Play

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Sweetest Hangover

Susan’s Basket Store is very aware of the statistics concerning drunk driving fatalities and would like to share this article in an effort to encourage all those consuming alcohol during the upcoming July 4th, holiday and every other occasion, to remember to drink and drive responsibly!

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It had been over 24 hours since I had seen my daughter. It was very strange, knowing that my daughter was fine, but experiencing the void of her presence after only yesterday being told that she had been killed in a car accident.

It was time to gather at the school gym for the “mock” funeral for the "Every-15-minute" victims. I was totally unprepared for the emotional road I was about to travel. Upon arriving at the school, there were other parents standing around. There seem to be some sort of comradeship between us all. I looked at them and the thought crossed my mind, what it this had really happened? It was an awful thought to think of how many lives could be affected by one drunk driving incident.

When we entered the gym, we were instructed to take our places in the 3 rows of chairs situated in the middle of the gym facing the bleachers. On each chair was a box of Kleenex, indicating to me the depth of emotional display that was about to take place. My heart sunk a bit as I thought about how I would be reading my goodbye letter to Jena in front of the school. A few minutes later, the Junior and Senior class came pouring into the gym and took their seats in the bleachers. The participating students including my daughter Jena entered the room and were in black robes carrying red roses and were sitting directly to our right. This was the first time in the two days that I had laid eyes on my daughter. Already the tears were welling up in my eyes. We exchanged a pleasant smile, almost as if to say, thank God this is “mock”.

The keynote speaker was a representative from MAD. She had experienced not one but two drunk driving devastations in her life. First she relayed how she herself as a teenager had been in an accident involving a drunk driver. She described in detail the experience of how almost every bone in her body had been broken. How she was told she would never have children and how she may never walk again. The heartbreaking story actually ended with some relief as we found out that against all odds, she did walk again and she did have children. But then she shared how years later she had been watching her little 4-year-old niece and how her sister had come to pick her up and take her home. She described how she had given her little niece a kiss goodbye and helped situate her in her car seat with her little baby brother. Her sister then drove off and it would be the last time she would ever see her little niece again. Her sister had entered an intersection on a green light when a drunk driver had slammed into the side of her vehicle. The little girl was able to crawl out of the car seat and check on her little brother who had bitten his tongue completely off. Then she crawled in the front to check on her Mommy when shortly after, the little girl curled up into a little ball and died of internal injuries. By now, the audience was in tears.

After such an emotional story, how would I bring myself to be the next speaker? It is still a blur but I managed through the tears and sniffles to read my letter….

Dear Jena,

Goodbyes are so hard for me, especially this one because I won’t be seeing you anymore. A piece of me has died today. I remember when you were a little girl, you used to fall and hurt yourself and Mommies kisses made it all better. I wish I could pick you up and kiss you and make it all ok. But I can’t do anything this time. I feel so helpless. It’s not supposed to happen this way. I’m supposed to die first. But now I’m saying goodbye to you. It seems so senseless, that due to something as stupid as alcohol, you are gone forever.

Ever since you were a little baby you have brought nothing but joy to my life. I am going to miss your sweet smile and your loving hugs. When you would walk into a room, the entire room would just light up. You were so much fun to have around. I’m going to miss the sounds from the piano as your fingers gently glide across its keys. The Christmas melodies won’t be quite the same played from some CD. What will I do with the piano? No one else knows how to play it. Maybe I’ll keep it so on all those lonely afternoons I can sit and imagine you laughing and playing the piano with your 2 year old little sister sitting next to you.

I am so sorry that this goodbye comes before you have had the chance to experience your first love, before you get to feel the joy of walking down the isle on your wedding day. Before you know the joy of pregnancy and the extreme awe of holding that tiny baby in your arms for the first time. There is so much you won’t be able to experience now. And there will be no pitter patting of tiny feet from grandchildren for me. I’ve lost you forever.

You have left behind 3 younger sisters and a little brother. Tori is only 2 1/2, she probably will lose all memories of you as she grows up. Evie is not quite 1 and I’m sure she won’t remember you. Jessica will miss you forever. I know the feeling of losing a sister. I lost my little sister in a car accident in 1990, she was pregnant at the time. As hard as that was for me, this is even harder. You are my little girl. I carried you for 9 months inside my womb. I labored with you and brought you into this wonderful world. I taught you and raised you for 17 years. You became a wonderful, giving, outgoing and beautiful young woman. Today is a very sad day. Everyone is crying and all of us miss you already so much. I’m not sure how we will go on.

All I can say is thank you for the 17 years of joy you brought to my life. Thank you for being so much fun. You may be gone forever, but I will never forget you.

At the end of the mock funeral, Jena brought me the rose and we embraced with happy tears. The entire school seemed to be crying during my speech. It was an emotional experience and although there are those that debate the value of such a program, I departed convinced that at least for me and my family and those that I saw touched by the experience, that the idea of drinking while driving or allowing others to drive under the influence became much more of a personal thing. This program allows you to experience as closely as possible the devastating affects that drinking and driving can have.

I am thankful that this was a staged event and I am thankful that my family’s eyes have been opened to the affects of alcohol, but mostly, I am thankful that my daughter is here with me today and I feel confident that this program will directly affect future decisions she makes in regards to alcohol.

Here is to the “Every 15 Minutes” program!

- Wendy Layne ©2002

Susan’s Basket Store is very aware of the statistics concerning drunk driving fatalities and would like to share this article in an effort to encourage all those consuming alcohol during the upcoming July 4th, holiday and every other occasion, to remember to drink and drive responsibly!

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I am only six days away from an event that I’m sure I will never forget an event that will bring tears as well as awareness, an event that will be undoubtedly traumatic. On many occasions over the years, my 17 year old daughter has asked me to be a participant in school related functions. From the early years, it was to bring cookies to a school party or be a driver for a field trip or to sell fund raiser chocolates at work. But this time it’s different. This time the effect on me is far greater as well as the effect on other participants.

It started one afternoon when she arrived home from school. I remember her giving me the spill initially quite bluntly. “Mom” she said, “I want to volunteer for a program called “Every 15 Minutes”. “I need your signature on this form so I can do a mock death”. Of course I was bewildered. “WHAT!” “Mock DEATH?”. It was then that she slowed down to explain the program to me. She explained how there was a program held by the school and the local police department where 17 students were selected to participate in a “mock accident/death”. Every 15 minutes of the day, one of the 17 students would be taken out of class and made up with white make-up and black robes and then returned to class to represent a person somewhere killed by a drunk driver, statistically every 15 minutes. For the parents/students that volunteer, the local Police Chaplin would visit the parent at his place of work or at home to deliver a mock death notice. That day after school, the students would not return home. The students would be taken to a hotel room where they would all work on creating a goodbye letter for their parents. As a parent of a volunteer, I’d be required to write an obituary for my daughter, and a goodbye letter that would be read at the ceremony the following day.

This was all very heavy stuff. I was partly in shock because I didn’t understand what the school was intending to accomplish. To me it seemed like a ridiculous show of emotion and I didn’t believe that it would have any affect on the people it should, namely the drunk drivers themselves. It seemed like a program designed to bring pain and suffering on the “innocent” potential victims. My daughter was persistent. She explained with tears in her eyes how she knows kids that think nothing of drinking and driving. She expressed her belief in the program, how she felt she could affect someone and possibly get through to those teens who think drinking and driving is no big deal. I wasn’t convinced but her commitment and enthusiasm for the program prompted me to sign the form. It was even better news when I heard that there were many students applying and only 17 would be chosen. I was secretly hoping that she would not be chosen.

Within a few weeks my daughter and I attended a meeting held at the high school to describe in detail the program and answer any questions we might have. I was ready to arrive and explain my feelings about how this program couldn’t be beneficial. The director of the program laid out the plan and mentioned statistics. The local Chaplin for the Police Dept. gave his speech about how often he’d had to contact parents about their teenage drivers being involved in an accident. I decided I had to put my 2 cents in. I was calm and collected when I raised my hand. I started to explain how I had been through a real life event when my pregnant sister and her husband were killed in an auto accident in 1990. Before I could get very far, I started to choke up. Eventually, while fighting back tears, I was able to ask the question that concerned me most. How would this help anyone? After the meeting, to my surprise I was convinced that if this program could raise awareness about drunk driving and possibly prevent just one person in the audience or one student from getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol that it was something I was willing to do. Perhaps that one person saved would be my own child.

So here I am, only 6 days from the event. I’ve written my goodbye letter to my daughter. I haven’t read it since I wrote it a month ago. It was hard enough writing the first time, I can’t bear to read it again unless I have to. I’ve submitted her obituary to the director of the program. I’ve informed my employer that on the the 26th of February, the police department and Chaplin will be visiting my place of business to deliver the mock death notice. I’m as prepared as I can be, which in itself is a little ironic since you can never prepare yourself for the loss of a child. It’s the thought of reading my goodbye letter to her at the ceremony the following day that scares me.

I’m not sure how this will all pan out, but I know that it will be a stressful 2 days. Although it’s an event that I hope that others remember for a lifetime, especially the students attending the high school, I’m thinking it’s an event that I’ll be happy to put behind me. I’m looking forward to giving my daughter a hug when it’s all over and getting on with the rest of our lives, and most of all being thankful that she still has her life to live.

Check back soon and I’ll post part II of “Every 15 Minutes”, so you’ll find out how everything went.

- Wendy Layne ©2002

Reports continue to tie expanding waistlines with ballooning restaurant and fast food portion sizes. Along with growing portion sizes, there continues to be a rise in the number of overweight and obese Americans. Although obesity is a complex disease and there are many factors that can contribute to the condition, it is likely that one of those factors is the dramatic rise in food portion size in the market. A common market strategy to get customers returning seems to be larger portions or more items in a combination meal. By increasing the portion size of food, consumers are given more for their money and it is a very small expense for the business therefore a large payoff. But a large payoff for the business can result in a large weight gain for the consumer. Studies show that the larger the container that is purchased the more that is consumed.

Everywhere you turn there are subtle suggestions to get you to purchase larger portions or more food. Marketing schemes include bigger candy bars; super sizing your fries and double meat, double cheese for the price of a single meat burger. Our desire to get more for the money causes us to be susceptible to these simple messages. Most fast food chains train the employees to remind you of the bargain in case you don’t notice. “Would you like to super size that for just .30 cents more?” These same marketing schemes also work in the grocery store. Studies show that people buy more, in fact twice as much when there is a numerical “limit” sign for the food product you are purchasing.

Even though you are bombarded with marketing tricks, there are a few ways that you can curb the urge to eat more. One thing to remember is to try and eat a salad with a light dressing before you begin your meal. The salad will provide you with a portion of your fruits and vegetables for the day and help to fill your stomach so you are not so hungry when the main course arrives. When you cook at home, remember to cook smaller portions as the less food that you prepare, the less tempted you will be to eat. Chances are with the smaller portion you will be satisfied and there will not be seconds available. You can use measuring cups to serve portions, as this will help you to be aware of how much you are eating. It’s also helpful to serve food on smaller plates so the portions appear larger. When dining at a restaurant, try ordering an appetizer as a meal instead of the larger sized meals. And remember to choose quality over quantity! A small piece of delicious rich gourmet chocolate can be entirely more satisfying than a cheaper but larger bowl of plain vanilla ice cream.

Remember that sedentary women and most older adults only need approximately 1600 calories per day which calories amounts to approximately 2 servings of lean meat, six of grains, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and a small amount of fat and sugar. Although in America we have been groomed with the clean-your-plate mentality, it doesn’t have to be the cause of perpetuating the trend towards obesity in our country. After all, the French are happy with smaller serving sizes and if Americans would try, they would probably be satisfied as well.

Earlier on in the worlds history, back before America was established, and even hundreds of years before the new world was discovered, cocoa trees were being cultivated by the Maya Indians, the Incas of Peru and the Aztecs of Mexico. Chocolate was the national drink of the Aztecs. The Emperor, Montezuma, liked his flavored with vanilla, but many of the people added different kinds of spices to it.

When Cortez conquered Mexico in 1519 chocolate was introduced to Spain and was a huge hit, it soon became a favorite drink in Spain. As a result, this popular drink soon spread to most of Europe. Chocolate was considered to be a gourmet drink, and was extremely expensive, costing fifteen shillings a pound, which was quite a lot in those days. However it costs a lot for a good reason. Cocoa trees only grow on the equator and ten degrees north or south. Also each tree only grows a few pods, making the annual yield only about one pound of cocoa powder per tree. Because of the high cost of chocolate, when the first chocolate drinking house was opened in London, England in 1657, it was mostly visited by the very wealthy and upper-class people.

The drinking chocolate that was very popular in those days is quite different from the drinking chocolate we buy in stores today. It was very thick and very rich, it was either spiced or sweet, and was made from whole bean with its full butter content. As far as eating chocolate goes, it was usually sold by the block. Eating chocolate was also made very different in those days then it is created today. The old way was to balance the cocoa butter with farinaceous additives such as arrowroot, and was made in blocks so that the desired amount could be scraped into a saucepan.

In1828, Van Houten of Holland introduced a method of pressing the cocoa butter out of the cocoa bean, which was the first time anything resembling modern day chocolate could be produced. When Cadbury’s brought out their cocoa essence in 1866, pure cocoa was available for the first time. Even after van Houten introduced his new method, most manufactures still followed the old way of adding in arrowroot to counter the fattiness of the cocoa butter.

The now world-famous Cadbury Brothers started from a young man named John Cadbury who started a tea and coffee shop. He began to experiment with cocoa beans and eventually started selling his own chocolate. He was so successful that he rented a small factory to enlarge his manufacturing capacity and took his brother into partnership and founded he world famous Cadbury Brothers.
Throughout history, chocolate has risen in popularity and continues today as it is often used in gourmet dishes or simply as a casual snack.

Tyler F.

We have all heard the famous saying, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. Well, if I wrote this saying, I’d say, “The way to a man or woman’s heart”, because being a woman; I know that women are at least as food-oriented as men, if not more. For me eating food can be extremely pleasurable. In fact, eating is one of my favorite things to do. I am not crazy about fast food, but I love anything gourmet. I seem to have expensive tastes or taste buds is more like it. And one of my favorite surprises is an invitation to dinner! I’d rather have a nice box of chocolates than a bottle of fancy perfume.

Giving the gift of food has always been popular, from greeting the new neighbor with a basket of cookies, to bringing chicken soup to your sick friend. Even throughout history, food has been a common gift. In ancient Rome, food was often given for the New Years celebration and continuing to our day elaborate feasts are often provided for the same occasion. Whether chocolate at Valentines Day, or Christmas cookies, whatever the occasion, food has a way of comforting the soul.

Often times the term “gift” is used synonymously with “present” However, It has been said, that a gift is something you give to someone because you want him or her to have it, but a present is something you give someone that you know they want. Do you know what foods your loved ones enjoy? Pay careful attention to what they say about food while eating. When you give food as a gift, consider choosing one that is specially suited to the recipient. This makes the gift become more of a present. For instance, if you guy is a beer fanatic, show him you care about what he likes by giving a Belgium, Beer & Chocolates gift. For the wine lover, consider A Perfect Pairing of Wine & Cheese. Both are available at Susan’s Basket Store.

Sometimes, it’s the presentation of the food delivery that sets the mood for the occasion. A beautifully wrapped basket filled with European cheeses, delectable chocolates, and a bottle of Le Brut de Charmis sparkling wine delivered as a wonderful surprise gift for your special someone is almost sure to provide a romantic conclusion to your evening.

Whatever your occasion, Susan’s Basket Store has a wide variety of food gifts that can be the perfect avenue to your lovers heart. From Gourmet Gift Baskets to sweet Cookie Bouquets, you will find an abundance of mouth-watering treats; perfect for that special someone in your life.

Birthday parties are so much fun but at the same time can be so much work, and when you have 5 children, it's 5 times the work, 5 times a year. Even still, I love to have lots of baked goodies for my kid's parties. I guess I just want to make sure that when they grow up they remember more than lots of gifts to open. I want them to remember all the special treats that Mom made for their birthday. Somehow, I know that it's an unrealistic expectation. That is probably why each birthday celebration I photograph the table full of goodies and include the picture in the scrapbook memories I create.

Sometimes I go all out and make my own special creations. Being an artist, looking at a frosted sheet cake is like looking at a blank canvas. There is so much room for creativity. I can pick up writable frosting from the grocery store or if I'm feeling lucky try my hand at whipping up my own. There are so many cute plastic toys to choose from that can fit any of the kids interests and work perfect as cake toppers. For my oldest, it was always trying to find musical instruments or creating music notes on the cake, as she is the singer in the family. Then there are my two dancing daughters ballerina's, dancing princesses or any girly theme will do. With my son, it's easy, as long as it has to do with electronic gaming.

My latest creation I stole from a woman's magazine. For my daughters 20th birthday, I decided to go with a scrabble theme since our last match she won "again" and was very quick to make sure that we all knew that she is the best there is at scrabble and can't be beat. I baked a large sheet of brownies only 1 inch thick and cut them into cubes. I then frosted each brownie with dark chocolate frosting and used the writing frosting in white to put letters on each of the cubes to spell out the words "Happy, Birthday, Jena" and the word "Twenty". Since they were arranged as if you were playing scrabble, some of the letters were used for more than one word. Lucky for me, it took exactly 20 letters convenient for 20 candles.

It seems that as the kids get older and there are more and more schedules to keep up with, from dance classes, sporting events, competitions, teachers conference's not to mention my own hectic schedule of events, I seem to have less and less time to plan for those special parties. Although I still love to try and have at least one special food that was created especially by me, I'm very thankful that there are places I can buy already prepared cakes and cookies. The best thing is that even though I'm giving in a bit by not preparing gourmet dishes I don't have to give up the gourmet, only the preparation.

At Susan's Basket Store, you can find all kinds of gourmet gift baskets for special occasions, including birthday parties. Try the "Birthday Party Box" which includes a choice of the Miss Grace Lemon Cake or the Mrs. Beasley's Chocolate Chip Fudge Cake as well as 2 party hats, 2 blowers, 12 candles and 2 balloons. What an exciting birthday gift for birthday kids from ages 1 to 99. Ok, maybe you'll need to add a few candles for those beyond the age of 12 but hey, the delicious homemade cake will be sure to put a smile on the recipients face. If you are as swamped as I am with family routine, try ordering the "Birthday Party Box" for your own child's birthday and instead of slaving in the kitchen, spend the time you save reading to your child or even better, taking a relaxing bubble bath.