The King Of Radishes: What To Do With Daikon

The Daikon radish has been an essential ingredient in Asian cooking for quite some time, but it’s just starting to catch on in America. Unlike the small, red radishes that's familiar to Westerners, a good-sized daikon can be as long as a man’s arm and almost as thick. The flavor is sweet and refreshing with a little bit of spiciness, which is mostly concentrated in the peel. Here are some suggestions if you’re perplexed on what to do with it.

One of the easiest and tastiest things to do with daikon is to pickle it. Make a bath of warm water, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Add a little turmeric if you want the pickles to have a yellow color. Leave thinly-sliced daikon in the liquid for at least 24 hours. These make a great addition to sandwiches.

Daikon is also great for making pan-fried cakes, sort of like corn fritters. Grate it, pat it dry, and sprinkle it with salt. Mix with garlic, onion, egg, and breadcrumbs and shape into patties. Pour vegetable oil in a skillet and fry the patties about three minutes on each side.

Fresh daikon is also a great salad ingredient. You can make a simple salad with daikon and crushed peanuts in a vinegar and sugar dressing, or go more complex and pair it with lettuce, carrots, or even strawberries.

Unplug The Cord: Five Online Cable Alternatives

In 2011 you can watch TV in more ways than ever before. Companies like Apple, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and ESPN have developed a variety of ways to watch hit TV shows, movies, and sporting events on your own schedule!

Each service has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here's a quick rundown of some ways to watch online:

1.     Hulu. By far the closest to viewing actual cable TV, many new shows are on Hulu the day after they air. The site also has an archive of classic shows to browse and watch. Many shows are free, but the paid “Hulu Plus” service adds full seasons and more. You can also watch on your TV with a modern game console.

2.     Netflix. The DVD-by-mail company has added a wide variety of streaming video to its library. You won’t find current seasons or episodes here. Only after they’ve officially hit DVD does Netflix get them. The selection is second to none, though.

3.     iTunes. Apple’s online media retailer lets you buy shows individually or by season, and the prices are reasonable. Episodes are generally available the day that they air on TV, but are usually held back until after the show screens on the West Coast. You can stream to your home entertainment center with AppleTV.

4.     Amazon. The online retailer is similar to iTunes as it lets viewers pay for individual TV shows or full seasons. Prices are about the same as iTunes, but some people prefer Amazon’s interface and selection.

5.     ESPN3. Sports fans have only one real choice, and that’s ESPN’s streaming service. The channel boasts millions of hours of available content, both live and archived, and can be watched on the Xbox 360 console as well as computers.

Welcome To Charm City!

Sure, Baltimore has a bit of a rough reputation. (Blame The Wire.) But once you’re there you can’t help but fall in love with one of America’s most idiosyncratic cities. They don’t call it “Charm City” for nothing. Here’s an itinerary for someone looking to sample some of the Baltimore’s unique offerings.

The Inner Harbor area is one of the city’s most family-friendly destinations, offering a wide range of activities. Visit the Maryland Science Center or the National Aquarium, both of which are top-notch facilities. Or take the kids to the Port Discovery Children’s Museum. For a different look at the city, take a duck boat tour out in the harbor. It’s also a great place just to people-watch or stroll.

Baltimore also has a number of the country’s most important African-American historical sites and museums. A visit to the Great Blacks In Wax Museum is a must for any visitor. This unique installation depicts some of the most famous and influential African-Americans of all time. Baltimore was also the home to many jazz legends, including Eubie Blake and Cab Calloway.

Baltimore’s culinary scene has a lot to recommend it as well. When you’re there, make sure to get some crab from one of the city’s awesome crab houses. Locals recommend L.P. Steamers in Locust Point and Obrycki’s in Fells Point!

Tea: A Cup for Every Mood

A cup of tea will warm you up, get your brain gently buzzing, cure the sniffles, and even make you healthier. Or it can calm you down, cool you off, and help you sleep. It all depends on the kind you drink! Keep these 6 types of tea on hand and you’ll be prepared for whatever the day brings:

1. Green Tea. A light, natural stress reliever, green tea is proven to strengthen heart health and your immune system.

2. White Tea. White tea is a gentle and refreshing buzz, low in caffeine and rich in healthy antioxidants.

3. Chai Tea. Full of spicy nuances, this Indian delicacy can be enjoyed straight, with cream and honey, or iced. The rich, piquant flavor is guaranteed to give you a creative boost.

4. Black Tea. Easier on your brain and stomach than coffee, black tea is perfect for a quick pick-me-up.

5. Chamomile Tea. Treat yourself to a cup of chamomile tea at the end of the day.  The delicious, slightly sweet flavor will relax you and help you sleep. Chamomile even alleviates headaches and stomach complaints.

6. Oolong Tea. Served cold, this subtle, floral concoction is great relief on a hot day.

A Great Park In the Blue Mountains: Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area

The Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area is one of Pennsylvania's newest state parks. Straddling the Blue Mountains with 1,025 acres of pristine wilderness, the park is home to many species that are ordinarily hard to find on a quick outdoors trip. From unique large trees to deep forest birds, fields of wildflowers, and seasonal gatherings of butterflies, this is a haven for nature lovers as well as anyone who wants to get back and reconnect with the quiet simplicity of the natural world. Visitors are encouraged to explore on their own, but guided tours and special focus programs offer a more in depth experience for anyone looking to learn a little along the way.

Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area
Fishing Creek Valley Road
State Road 443
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 567-9255
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/boydbigtree.aspx

Alvaro Bread and Pastry Shoppe: More Than Just Sweet Treats

If you’re looking for classic old-school Italian bread, the Alvaro family has a loaf for you. This local favorite, housed in a completely refurbished brick building, has become a hangout for eaters looking not only for baked goods but also Italian classics. Everything is made on the premises, and regulars rave about the pizzas, which are made with the perfect amount of fresh ingredients on a delicious crust. Portions are gigantic and prices are incredibly reasonable. If you’re there for dinner, make sure at least one person at your table orders from the amazing fresh pasta menu—the house-made ravioli are some of the best in town, packed with flavor and cooked to incredible tenderness. Spaghetti is also incredible, with unique thick noodles perfectly supporting a dense, flavorful sauce. For dessert, you have plenty to choose from—Alvaro’s cakes and cookies compete with incredible gelato. This place is a definite winner.

Alvaro Bread and Pastry Shoppe
236 Peffer Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 238-1999
www.alvarobread.com

5 Best Beaches To Vist in the U.S.

Tired of boardwalk rides? Sick of sharing your tiny patch of sand with a few thousand shirtless friends? Seek out these 5 dazzling, unspoiled beaches, which are off the beaten track and get top marks for water quality, beauty, and privacy.

Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii. This is a 2-mile, white-sand, crescent shaped wonder, with spectacular plant and animal life to rival anywhere in the world.

Coronado Beach, San Diego, CA. Find lush subtropical plant life, a permanently perfect Mediterranean climate, and warm, mild surf.  The landmark Hotel del Coronado overlooks the beach. Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis filmed Some Like It Hot here, and every President for 100 years has enjoyed the hotel’s stunning Victorian architecture.

Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii. Rimmed by dramatic cliffs, this was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite beach. It’s covered with fine volcanic sand, coconut palms, and gorgeous flowering vegetation.

Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, NC. This barrier island was the first U.S. National Seashore, protected from overdevelopment and environmental decay. Take your surfboard and stroll through the historic fishing villages and tall beach grass. You'll catch some monumental waves.

Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, FL. Protected by a large offshore sand bar, these emerald waters are ideal for swimming and spotting sea life.  The distant lighthouse makes for a picture-perfect scene; climb it for a breathtaking view of the whole beach.

This year, get away from the ferris wheel and the ice cream truck. Listen to the water, smell the flowers on the breeze. Try kicking back in these little bits of paradise.

Food With Good Fat to Add to Your Diet

For a long time, the argument was that to lose weight and be healthy you needed to eliminate as much fat as you could from your diet. That was, of course, in error; the human body needs fat, protein, and carbohydrates to function properly. However, some fats are significantly better than others.

Here are a few that will work for you (and your body).

Avocado. This fruit, also known as the “alligator pear,” is loaded with carotenoids, a set of chemicals that aid your immune system. However, those carotenoids require fats to make their way into your system. An avocado is the perfect delivery package for both.

Fish. Fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which are absolutely essential for good health and the body cannot make it on its own. They work to strengthen the heart, the brain and other parts of the body.

Nuts. Nuts are high in protein and fiber as well as heart-healthy fats, making them an ideal snack for any time of the day.

Out of the Box Date Ideas

Looking for something new to do with your loved one? Here are four ideas that are a little off the beaten path.

Scavenger hunt in a museum. Write up clues and leave them scattered about a museum, turning the date into a game that the two of you play with each other. This is romantic and a little bit nerdy at the same time.

Take a self-defense class together. This is a fun way to get a little physical contact going between you and your date, and we all know that breaking a sweat is a great way to bond.

Take a cooking class together. Going out to restaurants is so played. Small-scale cooking classes are taught by great chefs all over the country, and you can develop new skills, work on cooperation, and eat great food all at once.

Go to the planetarium. This is a very 1950s kind of date, but you’d be surprised at how romantic an evening under the simulated stars can be. There’s nothing like the awe and majesty of the universe to bring two lovers closer together.

Travel Idea: See if Everything Really is Bigger in (Dallas) Texas

Dallas, Texas, is famous for high-rolling oilmen with steer horns on the hoods of their Cadillacs, but visitors can find plenty to do in the third-largest city in the state.

Start your day with a cup of java at Opening Bell Coffee, a local favorite for high-test brews. And if you’re in Texas, you shouldn’t be shying away from eating meat. Locals proclaim The Grape to serve the best burger in the state, so stop in for a patty.

Dallas Fair Park is a sprawling 277-acre tract built for the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936 and boasts a staggering array of things to do, including several museums. Stop into the Texas Discovery Gardens to see the resurgent local agriculture as well.

If all this learning made you thirsty, try The Old Monk. At this famous local watering hole you can tip back a beer and chow down on some delicious pub grub before walking outside and seeing if the stars at night are really big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.

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