Best Travel Sites: Save Money On Your Next Trip

Traveling can take a toll on your wallet, so why not plan your trip through a travel site to keep your costs minimal? The more money you save in getting to your destination of choice, the more you can spend on enjoying the place’s best offerings while you’re there.  Here are some of the most useful travel sites to help you find exciting deals on airfare:

Bing Travel
This cutting edge site has a “price predictor” feature that gives you a recommendation as to whether you should purchase a ticket now or wait for a lower fare. All you have to do is enter your desired itinerary and Bing will give you a list of flight options accompanied by a “buy now” or “wait until later” suggestion. Click here to try it out: www.bing.com/travel/

WhichBudget.Com
If you’re looking to save on international travel, this is a great site for you. The WhichBudget system searches through the airlines of over 170 countries to help you build a budget-friendly overseas flight itinerary. One of the major perks of WhichBudget is that it will suggest smaller, cheaper airlines that may never have reached your radar otherwise. Click here to visit the site: www.whichbudget.com

Yapta.com
This site’s unique specialty is that it will track a flight’s price for you after you’ve purchased your ticket – an especially useful feature since, if the flight’s cost drops after you’ve purchased your ticket, most airlines will refund the difference (usually in travel credits or vouchers). Visit the site here: www.yapta.com

Kayak.com
If you’re flexible with your time and exact destination, then Kayak.com is the best site for you. It will trawl through hundreds of online sources and gather the cheapest available airfares for your purposes. The site has a popular Buzz tool that will find you the best deals on flights leaving within any length of time (you choose the length) relative to your preferred dates. Another major boon of the site: the Explore feature, which will scan a map of the world for all the locations you can reach within your specified budget. Click here for more: www.kayak.com

Planning the perfect trip – rich in adventure, cheap in cost – has never been easier than it is today with so many fantastic online resources. So sit down at your computer and start dreaming up your next vacation with the help of these top-notch travel sites. Happy trails!

Crowd Pleasing Paella!

If you’re looking for a tantalizing meal to serve your guests, then look no further. This flavorful Paella dish only takes 30 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook, yielding a lot of taste for just a little effort! The recipe serves eight.

(Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com).

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
1 pinch saffron threads
1 bay leaf
1/2 bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 quart chicken stock
2 lemons, zested
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed and crumbled
1 pound shrimp, peeled and de-veined

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.

4. Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.

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!

Check Out These Perfect Beach Reads!

Summer is the time to slow down and relax—but it’s also time to explore. How can you do both?  With a new book, of course! Here are a few engrossing companions for the beach, poolside, or wherever you find yourself in the sunshine.

A Good Year by Peter Mayle. Upon inheriting his uncle’s vineyard, city boy Max Skinner returns to rural France for the first time since childhood. A charming story about daily life in the sunshine.

Body Surfing by Anita Shreve. Sydney Potter is hired to tutor a teenage girl at her family’s summer beach house. Things heat up when she becomes the love interest of the girl’s two older brothers.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. A girl grows up to discover that she is really a man, due to a genetic mutation resulting from her grandparents’ incestuous marriage. Eugenides chronicles the lives of her immigrant family with humor and compassion.

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. Weiner spans the globe searching for the world’s happiest places. This affecting travel memoir makes you contemplate the amount of happiness you let into your own life.

Mating Rituals of the North American Wasp by Lauren Lipton. A crumbling mansion, whiskey punch, and the ruggedly handsome scion of a preppy Connecticut family lead to an unorthodox and hilarious marriage pact.

The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim.  During the Second World War, a young Korean woman defies her traditional family to pursue her destiny.

Hothouse Flower by Margot Berwin. The pursuit of the legendary nine plants of desire sends a New York divorcée on a rollicking adventure to the Yucatán.

Great Party Board Games . . . For Adults

Looking to spice up your next shindig with some heated competition? Check out these party board games for adults.

Scene It and other DVD trivia games.  Is half your grey matter devoted to arcane knowledge of 80s-era teen movies and pop songs? Pop in your favorite edition of Scene It or another DVD-based trivia game – chances are, everyone will be shouting out answers in instants.

Unleash your inner word nerd with Taboo. See if you can get your partner to guess a word or phrase without using the five most common descriptive terms listed on the card. A more challenging take on the concept of charades.

Think outside of the box with Cranium. Great for creative types, this truly unique board game requires players to do things like create clay sculptures and performing celebrity impressions.

Take boys vs. girls to the next level with Battle of the Sexes. Find out whether women or men will remain supreme with this board game that pits genders against each other and transforms lovey-dovey couples into brutal competitors.

Breaking out a board game is a great way to enliven a ho-hum party. Have several on hand in case your first choice doesn’t go over well with the crowd.

The Best Snacks for Any Movie

Movies are one of the few forms of entertainment where it’s okay to eat as much as you want. Well, sure, there’s dinner theater, but who does that anymore? One of the biggest problems that has faced mankind since the invention of the cinema is exactly what the best snacks to eat are. Here’s a rundown.

Popcorn is probably the most traditional movie snack. It’s hot, salty, a little greasy, and cheap. Unfortunately, movie theater popcorn is also hyper-laden with saturated fat, so if you’ve got heart issues, take a step back.

Candy is a popular second, with most theaters offering a wide variety of your favorite sweet treats in special oversized boxes. However, these containers come with annoying sounds of opening cellophane during the movie as well as a mighty markup brought to you specially by the theater. The sweetest treat without all the calories? Twizzlers. But if you purchase a bag, share it with a friend (or two or three).

Nachos have become a popular theater offering, but seriously. Do you really want to have a basket of molten cheese on your lap when you watch Saw 3D? You don’t.

Cooking Decoded: A Cheat Sheet for Diners and Aspiring Chefs

When reading menus it can be tough to keep all those terms straight. And if you’re cooking your way through a cookbook at home, you’re likely to run into some words you haven’t seen before. Keep this glossary on hand to guarantee a tasty, memorable meal.

Blacken. A popular Cajun cooking method in which seasoned foods are cooked over high heat in a super-heated heavy skillet until charred on the outside.

Blanch. To briefly boil a fruit or vegetable in order to loosen its skin. After 30 seconds in boiling water, the fruit or vegetable should be plunged into ice water to stop the cooking action and then the skin easily slices or peels off.

Braise. A cooking technique that requires browning meat in oil or other fat and then cooking slowly in liquid. This tenderizes the meat.

Broil. To cook directly under the heat source.

Dash. A measure approximately equal to 1/16 teaspoon.

Dice. To cut into cubes.

Julienne. To cut into ultra-thin strips.

Poach. To simmer in liquid.

Reduce. To cook liquids down so that some of the water evaporates.

Saute. To cook food quickly in a small amount of oil in a skillet or frying pan over direct heat.

Scald. Cooking a liquid such as milk to just below the point of boiling; also to loosen the skin of fruits or vegetables by dipping them in boiling water.

Sear. Sealing in a meat's juices by cooking it quickly under very high heat.

Simmer. Cooking food in a liquid at a low enough temperature so that small bubbles begin to break the surface. A very low boil.

Zest. The thin, brightly colored outer part of citrus fruit rinds. They contain volatile oils used as a flavoring.

The Truth About the Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate: Good for You, or Too Good to Be True?

An indulgent delicacy that’s delicious and offers health benefits? It’s got to be too good to be true, right?

Wrong. Dark chocolate has been treasured by dessert connoisseurs for centuries, and now scientists insist that this taste sensation has much more going for it than just its creamy, delicious flavor.

According to a slew of recent studies, dark chocolate is actually good for you when eaten in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

Researchers say that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants, a miracle compound that can help reverse high blood pressure and beat back common ailments associated with aging. The flavanoids found naturally in cocoa can help boost heart health, as well.

What’s more, this decadent treat is actually surprisingly low in sugar, carbs, and calories, particularly when compared to flour-based pastries, cakes, or cookies. A 2-inch-square serving of the most widely available brands of dark chocolate often clocks in at fewer than 100 calories.

Some people say that dark chocolate is an acquired taste, and this may be true, particularly if you are sensitive to strong flavors. Start by sampling small pieces of chocolate in the 65% to 70% cocoa range, and gradually work your way up to the bolder blends in the 80% to 90% range.

Dark chocolate can be great for baking, too. You’ll find plenty of inspiration here in this recipe collection from Better Homes and Gardens.

Travel Idea: Tour Our Nation's Capital

The nation’s capital has received a somewhat bad reputation over the last few decades, with lawless streets and a misstepping mayor not helping matters. But tourists can find lots of awesome stuff to do in the D.C. area if they take a look.

The city’s ethnic diversity is one of its strongest points—start a night with a dinner at Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant for great food and live African music. For classic D.C smoky room atmosphere, stop in to the Old Ebbitt Grill, where Congressional aides gather to shoot the breeze.

A great time of year to visit is the end of March/early April during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Each year the even takes place in Tidal Basin surrounding the Jefferson Memorial with 3,000 trees shedding their petals.

And, of course, no visit to Washington would be complete without losing yourself in the Smithsonian Museum, one of the most flabbergasting collections of art and science in the world. Also, every evening at the Kennedy Center, you can catch a free musical performance at 6 p.m. if you’re looking for a something free and fun.

Bargaining: How to Get the Best Deal

No matter your finances, it’s always a good idea to save money. Besides putting money away for a rainy day, in many situations you can bargain your way to a better deal! Retailers are desperate to move product right now, so brush up on your bargaining skills—with a little extra work you can save money on the stuff you want to buy. Here are a few tips.

First, do a little research before you shop—check out prices online, print out the lowest and bring it in. Many major retailers have price-beating guarantees. In some cases, they can be convinced to throw in service plans and/or accessories as well. If you’re shopping for something more unique at a smaller store, don’t hesitate to walk away from the sale. This is a classic tactic that still works today—the salesperson knows that they have a profit margin that they can cut into if they need to make the sale.

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