.They say this is a monkey, but it looks like a poodle to us. (Photo by rick) In the days before the Internet, if you wanted to learn how to do something, you had to actually go out and seek the tutelage of an expert. If, for example, you wanted to learn how to make balloon animals, there were two options: trial and error (which would likely leave you with a pile of popped poodles) or expert instruction. Good luck getting a clown to give up his trade secrets, though. But nowadays, thanks to online videos, just about anybody can learn how to sculpt a dog or a flower. If you happen to already be versed in the art of balloon modeling, then today is the day for you to make your annual contribution to society. "Balloons Around the World" is a global event where twisters can volunteer their services, either for free or to raise funds for charity. And the rest of us? We can support our local artists at various events. Balloon artists are certainly not relegated to inflating their creations on demand at schools and parties, however. They've touched the world of fashion and set Guinness records. Above all, twisters provide much-needed smiles and laughs to people of all ages around the world. Suggested Sites... Balloons Around the World - official site, with global events calendar. Balloon HQ - professional resources for twisters, plus balloon facts and fun. Twist & Shout Convention - all the best balloon manipulators, all in one place. Basics of Balloon Animals - instructions from About.com, with various techniques and step-by-step guides to making specific sculptures. The Balloon Animals Blog - videos about making balloon figures, including an Oscar statuette.

Directory categories: Inflatable Sculpture, Balloon Artists, Clowning, Volunteerism, Philanthropy

Archived under: Arts, Balloons, Charity, Children, Circus Arts, Clowns, Crafts, DIY, Entertainment, Hobbies, How-To, Philanthropy, Society and Culture

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The finished products -- a carnivore's delight (Photo by jessbess1) Two chefs were born on August 15, but one couldn't have reached his television stardom without the trailblazing work of the other. Last week. I celebrated the birthdays of my two favorite chefs -- Julia Child and Tom Colicchio -- by hosting a steak cook-off in my apartment using recipes from each chef. I usually don't need much excuse to eat steak, but I haven't actually ever made it myself because the smoke alarm system in my studio apartment likes to go off at any semblance of real cooking. For Tom and Julia, though, the risk of smoking out my apartment (from the amount of butter used in each recipe) was well worth it. Tom Colicchio is famed for his Craft restaurants and steakhouses, and in the past few years, he's reached heartthrob status with fans of the Bravo television show, "Top Chef." His recipe for steak with potatoes, which I actually found in the "Esquire Recipes for Men" (and don’t get me started on that questionable title), calls for hanger steak. But since there's only one hanger steak on each cow (hence driving up the price), I opted for a ribeye cut instead. Tom had me sear the steak in canola oil and baste it with butter and thyme. Think that's overkill? Never. Tom then instructs us to cook bacon in the same skillet and fry the potatoes in the delicious combination of fat. It seemed like the butter bath in Tom's steak might be hard to beat -- it gave the steak a beautiful, brown crust. But when my three tasters cut into Julia's pan-broiled steak, the decision was unanimous. Julia also had me sear the steak in a combination of butter and oil, but the crowning glory of her steak was a simple pan sauce deglazed with beef broth, white vermouth, and (what else?) unconscionable amounts of butter. The pan sauce was smooth, beefy, and luxurious. The best part was that it took only about five minutes to make the sauce. We raised our glasses to Julia and Tom -- and to the smoke alarm that miraculously stayed silent through our whole meal. If you want to have a steak-off of your own, check out Tom's and Julia's recipes for steak au poivre. In Julia's words, "Bon appetit!" Suggested Sites... Julia Child: Lessons with Master Chefs - official site for the PBS series, with videos, recipes, and cooking tips. Top Chef - from Bravo TV. Season recaps, updates, news, and blogs. How to Order a Great Steak - interview with Tom Colicchio. How to Run a Restaurant - Tom Colicchio explains. Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch - Michael Pollan discusses the influence of Julia Child.

Directory categories: Julia Child, Tom Colicchio, Steakhouses, Beef, French Recipes

Archived under: Authors, Bacon, Beef, Birthdays, Celebrities, Chefs, Coincidence, Cooking, Eating, France, Homemade, How-To, In Character, Meat, Men, Recipes, Restaurants, Steak, Women

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(Photo by Thomas & Dianne Jones) In these tough economic times, even the jitteriest java junkie may have to face the tough choice between putting gas in the car and fueling their need for $4 skinny half-caf lattes. If tightening the belt on your coffee budget has left you with a killer caffeine-withdrawal headache, we have good news. You can save a lot of money -- and get much tastier coffee -- by not just grinding and brewing your joe at home, but by roasting it yourself, too. Home roasting sounds daunting at first, but the process is simple -- and cheap. Green coffee beans (which can be purchased from local roasters or ordered online) cost about half as much as roasted beans. Unlike their pre-roasted compatriots, which lose flavor quickly, they can survive storage of more than a year, so there's no reason not to buy in bulk. Small batches can be roasted and used within a few days, the peak of the beans' flavor and aroma, so that each cup you brew is guaranteed fresh -- and probably much tastier than any cup you've brewed before. You can pick the beans you want by processing method and region (even down to specific estates), which will determine the ultimate flavor of your brew. Best of all, when you control the roast, you can get your beans exactly as dark or as light as you like them, and can even create your own custom blends. As for the skill required... well, can you air-pop a bowl of popcorn? Then you can roast coffee. Beans just need heat and agitation (for about 4-25 minutes, depending on your method and how dark you want your roast), then a quick cool-down, and you're in the brew business. You could buy a fancy roaster, but many home-roasters swear by basic air-poppers -- that you may be able to find secondhand for roughly the cost of one of those store-bought skinny half-caf lattes. Suggested Sites... CoffeeKid: A Home Roasting Primer - the history and revival of home roasting. Roasting Coffee With a Popcorn Popper - easy-to-follow instructions from CoffeeGeek.com. Roasting Coffee Beans in Popcorn Popper - in under five minutes, this video can teach you to be a home coffee Sweet Maria's Coffee Library - tons of information from a popular retailer of green beans and roasting equipment. HomeRoasters.org Discussion Board - a lively forum for home-roasters.

Directory categories: Coffee Roasting, Coffee, Coffee Retailers and Accessories, Coffee Roasters and Brands

Archived under: Caffeine, Coffee, Cooking, Creativity, Food and Drink, Gadgets, Homemade, How-To, Recipes

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(Photo by Playingwithbrushes) Okay, it's time to air the dirty laundry. Well, maybe this confession doesn’t count as "dirt," but here goes: I, a grown adult who has been washing and drying clothes for years, do not know what most of those little symbols on clothing labels mean. Even worse, I've barely even tried to figure them out. As a result, I wash lights with darks, delicates with permanent press, and probably perform atrocities that would make my local fluff & fold operator shiver in horror. However, in my defense, I do tend to err on the side of caution, using mostly cold water and hanging much of my laundry out to dry. This weekend, why not join me in becoming more laundry-conscious? Saturday marks the anniversary of the opening of the first Laundromat (or, back then, "washateria") in the U.S., in Fort Worth, Texas in 1934, and Sunday is National Hanging-Out Day. Washing clothes efficiently and hanging them out to dry can save energy and money. And after you read up on the great mystery of dry cleaning (the first dry cleaners used kerosene!), you may want to opt for some eco-friendly alternatives. There are some hazards, however, to hanging out your laundry. A cat in Idaho has been coming home with stolen property, prompting her owner to hang a clothesline from which neighbors can reclaim their items. Beware of cat burglars! Suggested Sites... Laundry Care Symbols - all those little icons demystified! Project Laundry List - offers reasons and resources for line-drying your laundry. Tips and Tutorials to do Laundry - lots of useful, basic advice from About.com. Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaning - find a local greener cleaner. How to Fold a Shirt - mesmerizing Japanese video demonstrating how to fold a t-shirt.

Directory categories: Laundry , Laundry Supplies and Equipment, Stain Removal

Archived under: Anniversaries, Cleaning, Clotheslines, Energy, Green Living, Home and Garden, How-To, Issues and Causes, Society and Culture

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(Photo by Jennifer Murawski) Easter is one of those holidays that brings out the creativity in people. Maybe it's just the fresh spring air that inspires us to conduct science experiments with marshmallow chicks and bunnies, or maybe Easter just naturally supplies us with the raw materials to make artistic masterpieces in the form of baskets and colored eggs. Even for the craftily-challenged, there are step-by-step instructions online for making just about anything these days. So if you're planning an extravagant egg hunt, a brunch, or a classroom activity, start looking through our many Easter-related Directory categories for crafts, games, coloring pages, eCards, graphics, poetry, recipes, prayers, egg ideas, history, and more. You’re sure to find some inspiration. Suggested Sites... Kaboose: Easter Crafts - tons of fun ideas with instructions. Martha Stewart: Easter Baskets - way beyond dime store baskets and plastic grass. FamilyFun.com: Easter Recipes - from brunch to dessert, with plenty of bunny-shaped food. About.com: Natural Easter Egg Dyes - use the veggies, juices, and spices you already have! care2.com: Easter eCards - from classic and elegant to fun, animated eCards.

Directory categories: Easter Activities & Crafts , Easter eCards, Easter Recipes, Christian Observance of Easter, Easter Around the World

Archived under: Arts, Celebrations, Crafts, Decorating, Easter, Eggs, Holidays, Homemade, How-To, Parties, Religion, Spring, Yahoo! Directory

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