Roast Chicken and Creamy Corn Recipe

 

Easy weeknight dinners aren't just about finding recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes from start to finish. They're also not solely about cooking up huge batches of stew on the weekend so you can feed yourself the same exact meal every night of the coming week. While those two strategies work, it's helpful to also turn to a third: Use made-in-advance building blocks to whip up easy and varied dinners on-demand.

I've written about this before when describing cooking strategies during the Coronavirus quarantine, so take this recipe as yet one more example of how to put those strategies to work. And mind you—they're useful for everyday home cooking beyond the current global pandemic situation.

In this recipe, I cook sweet summer corn in butter with thyme, leek, and white pepper to make the vegetable base of the meal. This vegetable ragout can be cooked while your chicken roasts, but you could also make the corn in advance (possibly even doubling the batch to have leftovers for another meal).

In a lot of classic French cooking, white pepper is used when you don't want the little flecks of black pepper visible in a dish. I've never bought into letting appearances determine choosing one ingredient over another, especially not at home. So while it may seem like the white pepper is a good visual choice for the corn, I actually prefer it here for its complex funky flavor and aroma, which makes the sweet corn a lot more interesting and plays well with the romesco sauce.

The romesco sauce, meanwhile, pulls double duty as both a sauce, but also a hearty ingredient that adds heft and substance to the meal, thanks to all the almonds, bread, and oil that are pureed into it. It's a great accompaniment to the corn, adding earthiness from the dried peppers and nuts alongside a sweet tomato note that synchs up with the corn.

The romesco, too, can be made day-of, but it keeps well in the fridge for several days, so it's yet one more component you can make in advance and then keep at the ready. It's also a recipe you can double to ensure you have more to slather on sandwiches or serve with vegetables or some other meat during the week. Just don't make my recent mistake of trying to double the batch all at once in a standard eight-inch mortar and pestle—it will be almost impossible to manage unless you happen to have an extra-massive mortar and pestle lying around for the occasion.

If you get those components prepared ahead of time, all you have to do for dinner is pop a chicken in the oven. And if you want to eliminate the spatchcocking step and just roast the chicken whole, that's fine too—there's nothing wrong with making your life a little easier when you can.

Tips for the Best Skin

 

1. Use the correct cleanser for your skin type.

"For oily or acne-prone skin, a salicylic gel or benzoyl peroxide wash works great," says Dr. Ava Shamban, a dermatologist in Santa Monica. "For dry mature skin, use either a moisturizing glycolic or milky cleanser. For skin with brown spots or melasma, use a brightening wash, such as an alpha hydroxy acid cleanser."

2. Don’t use too many products.

Layering on multiple skincare products all at once is a big no-no, says Dr. Julia Tzu, an NYC-based dermatologist. It can be harsh on the skin, resulting in more breakouts and clogged pores.

3. Moisturize both day and night.

"The best times to moisturize are right after you get out of the shower and right before you go to bed," explained Dr. Janet Prystowsky M.D., an NYC-based dermatologist. Avoid lotions with heavy fragrances and make sure you find a moisturizer gentle enough for every day use with zero irritation.

4. Don’t touch your face.

Dr. Tzu says figuring out how to avoid touching your face is very important. It doesn't just spread bacteria and cause breakouts — it can lead to scarring, an increase in wrinkles, and even the flu or other viruses.

5. Hydrate inside and out.

Every skin expert we spoke to emphasized the importance of hydration. "A lack of water means less radiance and more sag," says Dr. Mona Gohara, a dermatologist in Connecticut. She suggests choosing products (cleansing, moisturizing, and anti-aging) that have hydrating formulas. And, of course, drink around eight glasses of water a day.

6. Avoid direct heat exposure.

Don't just watch out for the sun — getting too close to heaters and fireplaces can also wreak havoc on your skin. "It causes inflammation and collagen breakdown. I recommend staying at least ten feet away," explains Dr. Debbie Palmer, a New York dermatologist. So next time you're roasting chestnuts or s'mores over an open fire, take a step back.

7. Exfoliate a couple times per week.

"We lose 50 million skin cells a day, and without a little extra nudge, they may hang around leaving the skin looking sullen," says Dr. Gohara. To fight this, you should "choose a product that is pH neutral so it doesn't dry as it exfoliates." And don't just stop with your face — the skin on your body needs exfoliation, too.

EFFECTIVE CONTENT IDEAS

 

The skin care industry is rooted on the ability to touch, feel, smell, sample and experiment with products in store. The e-commerce revolution incorporated convenient delivery, easy returns, wider product selections, and unfiltered user reviews – making it a solid complement, if not a direct alternative, to the in-store experience.

Top brands, retailers, local sellers and even home-run businesses are opting for strong online presences as opposed to shelf space. The online market for skincare products continues to grow rapidly. So now, more than ever, it is imperative that a Skincare website is designed to gain traffic and convert this traffic into revenue.

New consumers can have concerns before they purchase skincare and beauty products online since they’re unable to feel, smell and test the product before buying it.

It is imperative that the products are showcased effectively for consumers to be satisfied with just looking at the products. Photos of just the packaging might not be enough, photos showcasing the texture of these products before/after application can go a long way.  Also, celebeity endorsements can go a long way to build brand awareness and prestige.

Additionally, skincare website should be establishing the look and feel of the brand or blog – preferably with a landing page with large, bold images. Elaborate lists of products along with prices on the homepage, right from the get go, can look very unappealing to the concerned target group.

PLAY WITH YOUR VISUALS – PLAIN PHOTOS ARE BORING

It is effective to experiment with the settings for your photos, or play with illustrations on your images. Anything is better than plain photos when it comes to online engagement – especially with skin care and beauty products.

SMARTPHONE BUYING GUIDE

 

There are a few things you need to keep in mind while buying the right smartphone for yourself.

You must identify what do you use your smartphone for.

This guide takes you through the complete process of selecting the best mobile phone.

Smartphones have snaked their way into almost every living moment of our technologically-fueled lives. More people are buying smartphones, and the number of options is also increasing. Choosing a smartphone from such an overwhelming list of options might get confusing, so we made a guide that helps you pick the best smartphone for your needs.

SMARTPHONE PERFORMANCE: PROCESSOR AND RAM

Your smartphone processor, also known as the chipset or the SoC, is the component that is responsible for just about everything functioning on your smartphone. It is essentially the brain of the system, and most of these processors also come equipped with AI capabilities that essentially make your smartphone as ‘smart’ it is today.

CHOICE OF OPERATING SYSTEM

It boils down to two options - Android or iOS. The choice is actually more complicated than you imagine since both operating systems have a sizable list of pros and cons. If you’re someone who enjoys tinkering around with your device and customising it to your heart’s content, you’re Team Android. If you like a simple, powerful OS which gets constant software updates and is supported for a more extended period, you’re Team iOS. 

A GOOD DISPLAY

Smartphone display sizes seem to be ever-increasing and are continually pushing the boundary of what we’d expect a smartphone display size to be. They’ve reached the ‘phablet’ realm with displays even reaching up to 6.9-inches!

Snacks & Small Bites

If you, like us, are getting pretty good at stocking your household with more food and supplies than you would typically buy during your weekly shop and doing more of your purchasing online, you’ll be excited, like we were, to learn about Walmart+. Walmart just launched a membership program, and the benefits, which would look good any day, look particularly good right now.

First off, Walmart+ offers free unlimited delivery, as soon as same day. We know you’ve become an excellent meal planner by now, but if you’re feeling spontaneous or time-starved, or simply want to spend more time with family, you can choose what you want for dinner and get the ingredients delivered to your doorstep just a few hours later. With everyday low prices you love, this means anything is possible.

For anyone who has taken up bread baking or who is spending more time making homemade goodies, Walmart has a great and fully stocked baking section.

Need a slotted spoon for those poached eggs or a wand-style grater for that ginger? Through Walmart+, you can also order cooking utensils for as soon as same-day delivery. The same goes for cleaning supplies and electronics and health-care items.

Best Fitness Blogs

 

Nerd Fitness

A self-described community of “underdogs, misfits, and mutants” ready and willing to help people with every step of their fitness journey, Nerd Fitness is a comprehensive resource that’s motivating and inspiring. Sure, they’ll teach you how to work out without a gym and how to prepare a basic meal, but they also focus on helping you fix your own mindset, develop positive habits, and really change your life one step at a time.

RossTraining

Ross Enamait’s website is dedicated to high performance conditioning, strength, and athletic development. The longtime trainer and boxing coach understands that a successful fitness regimen boils down to finding what works for you. His blog is a great resource for information about different kinds of training — from fitness fundamentals to old-school workouts like jumping rope to philosophical riffs on mental endurance.

Love Sweat Fitness

Katie Dunlop’s Love Sweat Fitness community inspires women everywhere to find their own healthy, happy bodies. While the website features daily workouts, recipes, community forums, and much more, the blog is where Katie shares content like her own healthy spring morning routine, the biggest weight loss mistake you may be making, weekly workout schedules, and her latest sweat babe crush.

Breaking Muscle

Designed for fitness consumers and professionals, Breaking Muscle is a leading publisher of timely, quality information about all things fitness and nutrition. In addition to countless workouts and recipes, there’s content geared specifically to coaches and trainers. Check out podcasts and thought-provoking posts written by the blog’s coaches in residence.

Advanced Human Performance

Anyone feeling frustrated by a fitness plateau will find help from Advanced Human Performance creator Joel Seedman, PhD. He started this site to help people break through their nutritional and training barriers. He provides the most advanced, scientifically proven methods. The blog features comprehensive information relating to specialized exercises and tips for improving technique and function.

Difference Between Grocery, Supermarket, & Hypermarket

 

The grocery industry can be a lucrative one, if you properly analyze your target market, assess the needs of your locality, and understand the difference between a grocery store, supermarket, and hypermarket. While your future customers might use these terms interchangeably, industry experts offer more specific guidelines about different types of food merchandisers. It’s not just about the difference between a grocery store or supermarket, however, it’s also about answering the question: what’s the difference between supermarket and superstore?

Grocery Store Elements

Although consumers believe that there’s no distinction between a grocery store or supermarket, the industry disagrees. A grocery store is an establishment that exclusively sells food and drink items to patrons. It’s designed to satisfy a customer’s basic needs for dry food, canned food, spices, fruits, and vegetables. The grocery store concept in the U.S. dates back to the 1940s in middle-class neighborhoods where the only place that locals could buy food was that corner store.

Modern Supermarket Elements

When comparing a grocery store or supermarket, it’s important to understand that supermarkets evolved from grocery stores as customers became more mobile and were no longer confined to their local area. As consumer tastes in the U.S. evolved after World War II, entrepreneurs created supermarkets to cater to these wants and needs. 

Modern Hypermarket Elements

Hypermarkets are the answer to the question of what’s the difference between supermarket and superstore. Hypermarkets are another name for superstores, and they are a combination of a supermarket and a department store. Customers can buy food, clothing, hardware, and electronic devices at hypermarkets because they specialize in carrying a full range of merchandise to satisfy every want and need. 

Grocery Store, Supermarket, and Hypermarket Differences

Having explained what’s the difference between supermarket and superstore, it’s important to differentiate grocery stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets. When it comes to inventory, grocery stores order based on demand, whereas supermarkets and hypermarkets order inventory in bulk to ensure that they are always overstocked. In terms of size, grocery stores tend to be small and contained, and typically don’t offer much beyond food and drink. When it comes to supermarket vs. hypermarket, the main difference is that a hypermarket is a supermarket that also offers big-ticket items such as appliances, and is also much bigger. Supermarkets are large, hypermarkets are massive. In fact, size isn’t just relevant in the supermarket vs. hypermarket discussion, it’s also important when making comparisons to grocery stores because hypermarkets are typically three to four times larger than grocery stores. Another difference is that supermarkets and hypermarkets are typically part of a large chain, and as a result profit margins tend to be lower because of low prices. Grocery stores are typically independent and tend to have higher prices since they do less of a volume business. One final distinction in the supermarket vs. hypermarket discussion is décor. Many hypermarkets, such as Costco, resemble large warehouses that are impersonal. Supermarkets, on the other hand, are typically decorated to be warm and inviting, so they can attract more customers.

Shopping for Baby: Top Tips

Do your research

When it comes to buying gear that comes with a wide range of bells and whistles and price tags to match (think baby monitors), read up on products before you buy to find the model that's right for you. Wondering if you should hold out for the high-tech model or can live with the low-tech one? Besides comparison shopping, tap into your new mom (and dad) network — ask them to give you their pros and cons on their favorite products (no info is more valuable than one from a parent who’s been there).

Do a safety check on used baby gear

Sure, hand-me-downs are hands down a great way for new moms to save, but do a quick check before you accept any donated items (like that stationary activity center your neighbor swears kept her little one amused for hours). Yes, the gear is probably safe, but your peace of mind is key when shopping for your baby. Search for items on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make sure they're up to today’s safety standards. This government-run Web site posts all recalls for more than 15,000 products, including most baby goods.

Opt for easy-on, easy-off outfits

Your little one isn't clamoring for designer duds just yet — which is for the best, since simpler is better when it comes to those cute clothes (especially during those first few fumble-fingered months of parenthood). Instead, look for one-piece outfits that snap or zip up. You’ll probably find those zippers will save you (or your partner) the frustration of lining up all those little snaps when you’re sleep-deprived or in a rush. And don't overstock on onesies — chances are you'll get plenty at your baby shower.

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Put the bouncy seat at the top of your list

There are gadgets and gizmos aplenty for new parents, but a baby bouncer is a definite must-have for on-the-move moms. What’s the draw of these cushiony flexible seats? If you live in a house with more than one floor, consider borrowing a second seat (or, if you’ve stashed away enough cash, buying an extra). That way, you can leave one in the family room and another in your bedroom, saving yourself (and your back!) from lugging the baby and the bouncy seat up and down the stairs. Don't have the funds? That's what baby shower registries are for!

How to Use Jewelry Exhibition Opportunities

Being an artist isn’t easy, not only do you need to make work but then you also have to sell it. How do you stand out in the competitive jewelry space? Read Bella Neyman's advice on using jewelry exhibitions as a strategy for getting exposure for your brand.

Look for New Jewelry Exhibition Options

Raleigh-based artist Tara Locklear travels extensively around the country participating in craft shows, museum fundraisers, and has built relationships with galleries like Pistachios in Chicago and Ombre gallery in Cincinnati. Locklear says that she is constantly searching for new exhibition opportunities. "It is part of my work schedule yearly planning. In particular, I look for new types of events in cities that the work has not been shown in before, to continually grow the audience for my work." She also uses websites, such as callforentry.org, zapplication.org, or artfaircalendar.com to find new projects. "I do find that doing craft shows also lead to other opportunities such as group exhibitions or possible museum collaborative work pop-ups. I believe that 'showing up' at all of my work events aide in multiple connections for growing my business in multiple facets beyond just sales."

Some artists have begun to create opportunities for other artists. Kat Cole and Laura Wood founded Jewelry Edition (JE) in 2012 out of a "desire to find new methods of sharing work without relying on preexisting template." Cole and Wood told me that "in the beginning our focus was to seek new opportunities for early career artists and it has evolved to provide support for artists in the various stages of an art practice." JE puts out an annual call for work, their last one for JE5, recently closed.

The project also pushes artists to think about their practice a bit differently, "Jewelry Edition has provided a challenge for some artists to build out a collection featuring limited edition production in addition to one-of-a-kind work and has also been a launching point for artists to see the impact of avant-garde work with unexpected clients." Cole and Wood wear many hats themselves but they have really carved out a much needed space for JE. "The feedback from JE participants has been exceptionally positive: increased interest in work from a larger audience, new gallery representation, and a sense of community."

Branch Out From the Traditional Location

Finding venues for JE exhibitions is also a good lesson for other artist's who want to be more independent and needs ideas on how to do it. "We have secured venues in a variety of ways: through existing gallery relationships we both have from our individual practices, cold calls to spaces we see as exciting opportunities, and making relationships at conferences and large gatherings where these conversations happen naturally. We also include one or two experimental spaces each year. For example, we teamed up with a culinary artist in Atlanta to share clients lists and an event space for an evening of jewelry, music and hors d'oeuvres. We welcome any ideas or collaborative opportunities and we stay open-minded about how each year will develop. Jewelry Edition is an extension of our creative practices and so we are continually re-examining how it can evolve."

In the end, Cole and Wood agree that "the landscape of being an independent artist is challenging and working together and with our network of artists and collaborators has allowed us to be creative."

6 Easy Craft Ideas for Easter At Home

1. Paint, Print and Reuse

Got a few empty toilet paper rolls lying around? These recycled toilet roll Easter bunnies are an excellent way to encourage creativity this weekend, as well as reusing and recycling. Using paint, turn the toilet roll into a stamp to create your own little bunnies and decorate them any way you like! This activity is quick, simple and fun for kids of all ages. What other creative recycling ideas do you have? 

2. Make Egg-Shell Succulents

If you have some succulents on hand (or easily accessible, for example in your garden or a friend’s garden) you could take some cuttings to propagate. Crack the top of your eggs (saving the contents in a container) and re-plant the succulents inside. This is a great way to get your little ones outdoors AND decorate your kitchen. Why not use a black marker to add some funny faces to the shells?

3. Eggs-ert Their Energy

This activity is a great way to exert all that pent-up chocolate-induced energy. Use some reusable hollow eggs and add a fun instruction or exercise to each. This game is sure to bring a lot of laughs among your little ones and lasts for years to come! 

Why not try some other fun ways to hunt for eggs? If your kids tend to argue over their chocolate, try colour-coding their baskets to their eggs, so one child collects red and another collects blue. It’s so easy to organise and adds an extra challenge for your little chocoholics!

4. Build A Backyard Bunny

For this activity, all you need is a bunny template either printed out or drawn on a piece of paper. Take your little ones to the backyard and let their imaginations go wild! Find leaves, flowers, twigs and other garden goodies and glue them down to create a nature bunny. What else could they use from the backyard to build their masterpieces?

5. Make Magical Bunny Food 

Leave the Easter bunny more than a carrot this year! Most children love getting out into nature, so why not take them into the backyard and go exploring for ingredients? Think grass, flowers, leaves and mix them all up to make a nutritious, nature-inspired bowl of bunny food. This activity is so easy and encourages your little ones to go exploring and get creative with nature. What other garden goodies could satisfy the Easter bunny’s appetite?

6. Footprint Fun

This activity is a fun way for even your littlest one to get involved. All you need is some painted footprints, a paper plate and some decorative craft supplies and embellishments. You can get all kinds of creative with these Easter projects.