Articles by Anthony Tripodi on ArticleSnatch.com

Exercising Your Brain

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Staying fit is a great goal that will help you lead a longer, healthier life but if your brain can't keep up, then what's the point. The brain is a muscle too and it follows the same "use it or lose it" policy as your other muscles. So how can you keep your brain fit? Brain exercise is the answer. Two of the most important factors in keeping your brain healthy are traditional exercise and nutrition. Keep your body healthy and your brain will follow suit. But after that there are other ways to exercise your mind. You've probably heard people describe one of their older relatives like this, "my Uncle Larry is a sharp as a tack, he does the New York Times Crossword puzzle everyday." Well, Uncle Larry has the right idea but his execution is a little off. You see the best way to stimulate your brain is to break free of everyday activities and challenge yourself in new and unexpected ways. By doing the crosswords everyday, he has created a familiar routine that becomes less challenging everyday. Uncle Larry, it's time to add Word Searches and Sudoku for some variety. **End Summary** Topics: Brain]]> health]]> exercise]]> anti aging]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi blogs about health, dieting, nutrition and anything else that will help him feel great at the age of 38. For more information about brain exercise as well as other health related topics at http://feelinggreatat38.blogspot.com

Chocolate Martini

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

If the return of the martini and it's recent rediscovered popularity has you feeling left out while you're making a cocktail, then it's time you tried a chocolate martini. Let's face it, if it wasn't for the vermouth, a martini is really just straight vodka. For someone who doesn't like straight vodka a martini can taste kind of harsh. The solution is try one of the many specialty martinis that are packing them in at martini bars. And one of the tastiest martinis around is the chocolate martini. There are a few different ways to make chocolate martinis and all of them are delicious. Chocolate Martinis are made with vodka. Gin and chocolate sounds like a terrible idea to me so thankfully I haven't seen a recipe like that. Most recipes call for vodka which is mixed with something chocolaty like Godiva Liqueur or Creme De Cacao. This first recipe contains both. **End Summary** Topics: chocolate]]> martini]]> chocolate martini]]> cocktail]]> recipe]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi can usually be found making interesting drinks for his family and friends. The rest of the time he's writing about making interesting drinks at http://homemixology.blogspot.com

How To Build A Garden Trellis

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Space is limited in my garden raised beds, so I have to garden vertically when I can and make use of every square inch. This year, I decided that squash and cucumbers would share a 4'x8' bed. The cucumbers would need room to grow and I needed to build a trellis. If you're looking for a fancy trellis made by a woodworker or someone who can bend and twist wrought iron to make art, then you'll have to look elsewhere. This is a quick and easy trellis made from wood and twine. The posts are 1x2's. You could use 2x4s but 1x2s are cheaper and they're strong enough to support the weight of most veggies so why not save a few dollars. You'll need two 1x2s to use as posts and one as a cross piece that goes across the top. I avoid the whole old pressure treated wood (CCA) vs. new pressure treated wood (ACQ) in the garden argument by using regular lumber. It's going to rot in a few years, but at $1.88 for an 8 foot 1x2, I'd rather replace the wood instead of worrying about chemicals leaching into the soil. Will they or won't they? **End Summary** Topics: Garden Trellis]]> how to]]> garden]]> trellis]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is a garden blogger from New Jersey and when he's not in his garden you can find him posting about Building A Garden Trellis, Composting and Growing Vegetables at http://compostbin.blogspot.com

Fondue â Non Alcoholic

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Do you want to share your love of cheese fondue with your children? Or did you just find out that one of your fondue party guests doesn’t drink alcohol? Well then it’s time to learn how to make non-alcoholic fondue. Non alcoholic fondue is great for kids and other people who for whatever their reason, have an aversion to alcohol. The white wine that provides the unique flavor to fondue can be substituted with apple cider. Apple cider will give you the great taste that you expect from fondue without the alcohol. The story of how fondue came about goes something like this. People living through long winters in the Swiss Alps had to worry about their food supply. They ate what was on hand. At the end of the cold season, usually all that was left was hard cheeses and wine. So with some experimentation and innovation, those ingredients were combined with crunchy bread to create the first fondue dinners. So take a lesson from the people of the Swiss Alps and use what you have on hand. Don’t worry about fondue lovers complaining that your fondue has no bite to it. **End Summary** Topics: Fondue]]> Non Alcoholic Fondue]]> Recipe]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com. If you're looking for a great Fondue Recipe or would like more information about fondue, then please visit http://www.gofondue.com

Chocolate Fondue - Two Delicious Recipes

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Are you an old pro when it comes to making delicious desserts? Do your guests rave about your cakes and pies? The next time you have company over for dessert, why not try something different. Chocolate fondue has been in and out of fashion since the seventies and most people have tried it at least once. But if you want to try something new and exciting There are many different dessert fondues out there to satisfy just about anyone with a sweet tooth. Recently dark chocolate has been in the news being declared as a new heart healthy food. Dark chocolate retains more flavonoids that other varieties of chocolate such as milk chocolate, white chocolate, cocoa or chocolate syrup. New research has also determined that eating a diet high in flavonoids helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Obviously this doesn't mean that you should run to the store to buy some candy bars. But it does mean that when eaten in moderation, dark chocolate can be a healthy choice as a dessert. And whether is good for you or not, who can resist a fondue pot of hot melted chocolate just waiting for your to dip something into it. **End Summary** Topics: Chocolate Fondue]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com. For more Fondue Recipes please visit http://www.gofondue.com

Chocolate Fondue Fountain - Buying Chocolate

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Most people don't put much effort into buying chocolate for a chocolate fondue fountain. Perhaps they have a few bags of chocolate chips on hand or they'll even buy some of those brick sized chocolate bars. Sure this will work fine and the whole fountain concept will still impress your party guests. But true chocolate aficionados use gourmet chocolate in their fountains and you can definitely taste the difference. Melting regular supermarket chocolate chips is not an option in the most popular home versions of the chocolate fondue fountain. The chocolate will be too thick and if it can actually be pumped to the top of the fountain, you won't get that cascading waterfall effect that these machines are famous for. Plain chocolate will just drip if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, it will clog your fountain, leaving you with a few pounds of chocolate that needs to be melted with hot water before you can use your fountain again. When using regular chocolate, you will need to add a significant amount of vegetable oil in order for the chocolate to be fluid enough for the fountain to work. **End Summary** Topics: Chocolate Fondue Fountain]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com. For more information using a Chocolate Fondue Fountain visit http://www.gofondue.com

Worm Compost Bin

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

One of the best ways to improve your garden is to stop throwing out your garbage. That's right, your used coffee grinds and banana peels can help your tomato and cucumber plants grow larger and stronger. When that same garbage is eaten and digested by a worm it becomes a powerful plant supplement known as worm castings. Starting a worm compost bin is a great way to create a steady supply of worm castings for your flower and vegetable gardens. First thing you'll need is a bin. You can buy a commercially made worm bin but where's the fun in that. Those plastic or rubber storage bins make great worm bins. Drill a few holes in the bin so your worms get plenty of air. Just be sure to cover those holes with small pieces of window screen or something else that will keep the fruit flies out. And if you have any plumbing experience, why not add a hose spigot near the bottom of the bin to take advantage of worm tea. Worm tea is even better than compost tea for your plants. **End Summary** Topics: Worm Compost Bin]]> Vermicompost]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of WatchItRot.com. For more information about starting a Worm Composting Bin , visit http://www.watchitrot.com

Chocolate Fondue Fountain

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Do you want a attract a crowd of people at a party? You don't have to tell the best stories or tell the funniest jokes. All you need to do is stand near the chocolate fountain. Adding a chocolate fountain will liven up even the dullest parties. Most people love chocolate and what better way to serve chocolate than have it flowing out of fountain. A chocolate fondue fountain is a great addition to any party. Chocolate fondue is a great dessert to serve at small gathering but quite difficult to serve at larger parties. Now with chocolate fondue fountains, your guests can still experience the taste of chocolate covered strawberries, bananas, pineapple, pound cake or anything else they want to dunk into the delightful chocolate waterfall that flows out of the fountain. You may have enjoyed a chocolate fountain at the last wedding or graduation party that you've attended. And now chocolate fountains are becoming popular home appliances. Several companies make home versions and although the quality of these machines varies greatly, chocolate fondue fountains can now be enjoyed at your backyard gatherings or anytime you like. Most of these chocolate fondue fountains work the same way. **End Summary** Topics: Chocolate Fondue Fountains]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com. For more information about Chocolate Fondue Fountains visit http://www.gofondue.com

Espresso Martini

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

With the popularity of espresso shops and martini bars is it any wonder that the espresso martini has become popular as well? Sometimes called the espressotini, this drink is a perfect blend of caffeine and alcohol. If you’re looking for a buzz that picks you up while relaxing you at the same time, then it's time that you asked your barista or your bartender for an espresso martini. So what is an espresso martini? Well, that depends on who you ask. There are so many variations of this drink out there that there isn't a generally accepted recipe. The only consistent ingredients are espresso and vodka and even then the espresso is sometimes substituted with coffee or even instant coffee crystals. The best espresso martinis are usually made with real espresso. If you're making one at home, be sure to let it cool to room temperature before adding it to your cocktail shaker. Using ice to cool down your espresso will just give you watered down espresso. The vodka in an espresso martini is almost always of the flavored variety. The most popular option is using a vanilla vodka and adding a coffee liqueur. **End Summary** Topics: Espresso Martini]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com For more drink ideas like the Espresso Martini , please visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com

Coffee Beans - How To Grind

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Air is the enemy of all coffee drinkers. Once air comes in contact with your coffee grinds, they begin to lose their flavor. Coffee manufacturers vacuum seal their grinds to keep them fresh while they sit on the shelves at the supermarket but once you break that seal, it’s all downhill from there. Buying whole coffee beans and grinding them yourself is a great way to ensure that your coffee remains as flavorful as possible. But do you know how to grind your coffee beans properly? Different types of coffee calls for different types of grinds. So you’ll need to learn to use your coffee grinder properly if you want to make the freshest best tasting coffee possible. If you plan on brewing your coffee with a percolator or a French Press coffee maker then you’ll need a coarser grind. Place the coffee beans in your coffee grinder and tap the grind button a few times as you would use the pulse feature on your food processor. The goal is to break the beans up so that they look like tiny pieces of coffee bean. **End Summary** Topics: Coffee Beans]]> Coffee Grinder]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com For more information about How To Grind Coffee Beans , please visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com

Mongolian Hot Pot - More Uses For Your Fondue Pot

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

As much as you love your fondue pot, you can’t dunk bread cubes into hot melted cheese every night. On those nights when you need a break from cheese fondue, why not use the fondue pot for something else. Mongolian Hot Pot is a great meal that can be cooked in an electric fondue pot. It is said that Mongolian Hot Pot was originated by the ancient Mongols who would cook their food in boiling water. They would season the water with the dry spices that they carried along with them on their many journeys and battles. Those Mongols probably would not recognize this Mongolian Hot Pot recipe but it's easy to make and delicious. To make Mongolian Hot Pot you'll need a to fill your fondue pot with broth. Usually beef broth is used but you can substitute chicken or other broths for variety. Using your fondue forks you skewer meats and vegetables and cook them right at the table. Like fondue, this is a great meal for small dinner parties. All the of preparations such as cleaning and cutting the vegetables and meat into bite sized pieces, can be done before hand. **End Summary** Topics: Mongolian Hot Pot]]> fondue]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com For more information about Mongolian Hot Pot and other fondue recipes, please visit http://www.gofondue.com

Coffee Maker - Cleaning

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Your coffee maker could be killing you. Well it is if your morning cup of coffee is a matter of life and death and you have a filthy coffee maker. When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your coffee maker? Washing the pot is important but getting the internal components of a coffee maker clean is a task that shouldn’t be skipped. Did you even know that you were supposed to clean it? A clean coffee maker can be the difference between a good cup of coffee and a nasty cup of sludge. A clean coffee maker really makes a big difference in how your coffee tastes. Left over coffee oils can accumulate inside your coffee maker. Also mineral deposits can form especially in areas with hard water. These deposits are called “scale”. There are two kinds of scale, lime scale and mineral scale and you don’t want either one. Scale can affect the heating unit and the water flow of your coffee maker and reduce it’s efficiency. How quickly scale forms depends on the quality of your drinking water. **End Summary** Topics: coffee]]> coffee maker]]> clean coffee maker]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com - The Guide To Coffee. For more information about How To Clean A Coffee Maker , visit http://www.EndlessCoffeeBreak.com

Compost Tea â Tea Time For Your Garden

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400

If you would like a nice garden, you’ll need a bucket of water and some garbage. That simple recipe is all you need to grow healthy, beautiful plants all summer long. But before you start floating a tin can in a some water, you need to know that there is a catch. The trick to this recipe is that you have to compost your garbage first. Compost and water are the only ingredients you need to create a powerful plant supplement known as compost tea. Compost in the garden will improve your soil which in turn will reward you with strong plants that are better able to fend off droughts and diseases. Compost improves soil structure and drainage. It can also be used as a fertilizer or a mulch and it enhances the soil’s ability to absorb water. Compost tea provides the same benefits to a plant as compost but it doesn't stop there. Not only can compost tea can applied to the soil around plants like regular compost, but it can also be sprayed on the leaves. When sprayed directly on the leaves, it increases the amount of nutrients available to the plant and helps fight foliar diseases. **End Summary** Topics: compost tea]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of WatchItRot.com. For more information about Compost Tea , visit http://www.watchitrot.com

French Press - Making Great Coffee

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

If you want a good cup a coffee, you will need to add some oil. Coffee oil is very flavorful and improves the taste of coffee, but it is lost during the normal filtered brewing process. Coffee made with a French press doesn't pass through a filter so you don’t lose those natural aromatic coffee oils. Most coffee lover’s agree that a French press makes a superior cup of coffee. A French press (sometimes called a coffee press) is usually a glass cylinder with a plumber like device inside. You place your coffee grinds inside and pour hot water into it. The water should not be boiling or you will scald your grinds, which will affect the taste. 200 degree water is the optimum temperature for a fine cup of coffee. If you’re using a kettle to heat your water, remove it from the heat before if starts whistling. Either that or you can let the water boil but let it sit for a few minutes before pouring it into your coffee press. Remember to leave at least an inch of space when filling up the French press. Coffee beans that are ground too finely will clog the filter. **End Summary** Topics: french press coffee]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com - The Guide To Coffee. For more information about French Press Coffee , visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com

Do You Have Enough Hobbies To Ensure An Enjoyable Retirement?

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Even if you’ve been saving your money since you were in grade school, that may not be enough to have an enjoyable retirement. Of course having enough money put away is the number one factor as to whether or not you’ll maintain your desired lifestyle once you stop working. But don’t overlook the small stuff. Does sitting in front of the TV sound like a fulfilling way to live, day in and day out? You’ll need something engaging to do with your free time and remember you will probably have more free time than you’ve ever had in your adult life. Having several interesting hobbies is a great way to get the most out of your retirement. You probably started thinking about your retirement savings a long time ago. Well you should start thinking about how you plan on spending your time too. A satisfying hobby or a way to spend you time really is required for your happiness. Perhaps you’ve decided to spend more time with your family and just enjoy life. That’s all well and good but you’ll need something more. Choosing a fun hobby is easy. Most hobbies are fun, that’s why they’re hobbies. **End Summary** Topics: retirement planning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi has created the ReadyForRetirement blog to document how heâs preparing for his own retirement. To read his entrees and learn more about retirement planning , visit http://readyforretirement.blogspot.com

Why You Need A Compost Tumbler For Your Garden

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

If you’re looking to turn your garbage into gardener’s gold and do it in a hurry, then you should try a compost tumbler. If you have a compost bin then you know how great it is to add compost to your flower beds and vegetable garden. But making compost takes time and it’s usually in short supply. A compost tumbler is a great time saver when making compost. Some gardeners believe that compost is better than fertilizer because it doesn’t just feed your plants, it also improves your soil. Improving your soil keeps your plants healthier so they grow stronger and more capable of fighting off diseases or beating droughts. Compost is decomposed organic matter and is high in nutrients that plants love. Bacteria and other micro organisms help break down that decomposing organic matter and their short life cycles become part of the process itself. When they reproduce their offspring continue the process while the parents bodies break down and add to the organic matter. It’s nature’s way of recycling. Creating compost will usually take a couple of months. **End Summary** Topics: compost tumbler]]> compost]]> composting]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of WatchItRot.com - The Compost Guide. For more information about Compost Tumblers and all of your composting and gardening needs, please visit WatchItRot.com

How To Enjoy A Good Cup Of Gourmet Coffee

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Are you tired of your regular Joe life and your regular Joe cup of coffee that you start your day with? Then it’s time to reward yourself with something different. Why not jazz up your morning ritual with cup of rich gourmet coffee. The dictionary defines gourmet food like this, “Gourmet food is that which is of the highest quality, perfectly prepared and artfully presented.” If you want the highest quality food you go to a top notch restaurant but if you want the highest quality coffee, you can do that at home yourself. That gourmet meal is probably going to stay at the restaurant unless you invite a chef over but gourmet coffee can be made in the comfort of your own home with just a little practice. Gourmet coffee is more expensive than say, supermarket brands but the taste is also much richer. Unless money is no object, why not save the gourmet cup of coffee for the weekends. Make it an end of the week tradition. Stick with the supermarket coffee for when you’re rushing off to work. To make your own gourmet coffee start with the beans. **End Summary** Topics: Gourmet Coffee]]> Kona Coffee]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com - The Guide To Coffee. For more info about coffee including speciality coffee drink recipes, visit EndlessCoffeeBreak.com

Articles by Anthony Tripodi on ArticleSnatch.com

Exercising Your Brain

Chocolate Martini

How To Build A Garden Trellis

Fondue â Non Alcoholic

Chocolate Fondue - Two Delicious Recipes

Chocolate Fondue Fountain - Buying Chocolate

Worm Compost Bin

Chocolate Fondue Fountain

Espresso Martini

Coffee Beans - How To Grind

Mongolian Hot Pot - More Uses For Your Fondue Pot

Coffee Maker - Cleaning

Compost Tea â Tea Time For Your Garden

French Press - Making Great Coffee

Do You Have Enough Hobbies To Ensure An Enjoyable Retirement?

Why You Need A Compost Tumbler For Your Garden

How To Enjoy A Good Cup Of Gourmet Coffee

Fondue â Non Alcoholic

Compost Tea â Tea Time For Your Garden