Tofu and Eggplant Hobo Bundles

These vegetarian packets with fresh herbs and Asian flavors beat out your basic meat-and-veg hobo bundles

Mascarpone French Toast with Warm Blackberry Syrup Why shouldn't your campsite breakfast be a decadent affair?

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13 key home organization tips

By the back door Hooks and bins or baskets are the easiest way to keep day-to-day essentials neat. “You can immediately hang up the stuff you grab every day,” Lufkin says. “Have a hook for keys, a hook for your purse, a bin for your purse, one for backpacks, and one for shoes.”

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9 easy summer flowers

Aster
Few plants can brighten a tired corner like these tough perennials. They thrive through summer and bloom nearly nonstop into fall if you keep the spent flowers picked.  Full article

Starting in June, you'll find the plants at nurseries, usually in 1-gallon cans (though the best selection of dahlias is available in spring, when you can plant them from tubers).
These daisylike flowers are available in lavender, pink, or white. Three varieties we like: A. cordifolius 'Cape Cod' (Sunset climate zones 1-10, 14-21), A. c. 'Little Carlow' (zones 1-10, 14-21), and A. novi-belgii 'Melody' (zones 1-24).

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Because Of Love

Sunset or sundown is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the western half of the horizon, i.e. at an azimuth greater than 180 degrees, as a result of Earth's rotation.
The time of sunset is defined in astronomy as the moment when the trailing edge of the Sun's disk disappears below the horizon. The ray path of light from the setting Sun is highly distorted near the horizon because of atmospheric refraction, making the sunset appear to occur when the Sun’s disk is already about one diameter below the horizon. Sunset is distinct from dusk, which is the time at which the sky becomes completely dark, which occurs when the Sun is approximately eighteen degrees below the horizon. The period between sunset and dusk is called twilight.
Locations north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle experience no sunset or sunrise at least one day of the year, when the polar day or the polar night persists continuously for 24 hours.
Sunset creates unique atmospheric conditions such as the often intense orange and red colors of the Sun and the surrounding sky.

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Special Buttercream Frosting

"Make perfect pizza pockets by wrapping pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni in crescent dough and baking until golden brown." — Pillsbury® Crescents 

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Unroll dough on cookie sheet and separate into 4 rectangles; press each into 6x4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal.
Spread 1 tablespoon pizza sauce on half of each rectangle to within 1 inch of edge. Sprinkle each with 3 tablespoons cheese; top with 6 slices pepperoni. Fold dough diagonally over filling; firmly press edges with fork to seal. Sprinkle each triangle with 1/4 teaspoon grated cheese. With fork, prick top of each to allow steam to escape.
Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until deep golden brown. Serve warm.

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Mexican Tortilla Lasagna

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1/2 onion
1/2 clove garlic
1 can re-fried beans
1 can diced jalapenos
1 jar salsa
5+ tortillas (enough to cover layers)
4 cups Cheddar Cheese
1 tomato chopped
2 green onions chopped
Directions
preheat oven to 375 degrees F
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef until browned. Drain.
In same pan saute onions and garlic until slightly brown. Add beef back to pan, add taco seasoning and re-fried beans. Stir. Heat until warm.
layer ingredients in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
salsa/tortillas/beef/jalapenos/cheese (repeat x2) top final tortilla layer with salsa until moistened.
Bake 35 minutes until heated through. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Top with shredded cheese, green onions and tomatoes. Serve with sour cream.

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Jimmy's Mexican Pizza

"Jimmy's specially seasoned ground beef, refried beans, salsa and cheese layered in a deep dish style. A tasty and easy Mexican-style pizza with a flour tortilla crust I whipped up because I had the stuff to make it!!" — Jimmy Simian 

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How can big companies keep the sparks of innovation?

Market of testers
Eric Reis's views have held sway with internet companies for many years.

The chief executive of Renren, one of China's largest social networking sites, thinks that an internet company is in a strong position to bring products to market fast, and adapt accordingly.

However, while they can experiment and tweak the product, he also warns of the importance of speed.

Mr Chen also believes innovation is central to an internet company's success.

"Inventive culture is always the secret recipe for a lot of technology companies," he says.

And to this end, he believes companies needs to have a structure that enables this.

Just as large companies can be too cumbersome and slow moving to be inventive, Mr Chen thinks large teams are also not as conducive to innovation.

"You want to break people into smaller teams and make them accountable for the particular endeavour that you engage," he says.

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Usain Bolt wins at Anniversary Games at Olympic Stadium

Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt produced a season's best to win the 100m on his return to the Olympic Stadium for the Anniversary Games.
A year on from the London 2012 opening ceremony, Bolt paid his own homage to last year's Olympics by clinching the blue riband event in 9.85 seconds.
Before a sell-out crowd, the Jamaican ran nine hundredths of a second quicker than he had previously done this year.
Britain's James Dasaolu pulled out injured before the race.

Bolt got off to a lacklustre start, but the Olympic champion overpowered his rivals in the closing stages to dip across the line three hundredths of a second ahead of America's Michael Rodgers in second.
Jamaica's Nesta Carter was third in 9.99 while Dwain Chambers, the only Briton remaining in the race following Dasaolu's withdrawal, was fifth in 10.10.

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North Korea stages armistice anniversary parade

North Korea has staged a huge parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War.

State TV showed soldiers and military hardware parading through the capital Pyongyang in a carefully choreographed display.

Troops and spectators shouted their allegiance to North Korea's young ruler, Kim Jong-un.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce although the North and South remain technically at war.

Correspondents say the lavish parade of weapons and goose-stepping soldiers is reminiscent of marches held by the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Cold War.

The TV pictures showed Kim Jong-un walking up to the podium on a red carpet with a military band playing in the background. He oversaw the parade flanked by military and ruling party leaders.

Large banners hung from gas-filled balloons and the main square in Pyongyang was filled with North Korean flags.

Over the past week North Korea has staged mass rallies and fireworks displays to commemorate the anniversary.

It comes as North and South Korea try to restore ties following a period of high tension.

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Dolphins 'call each other by name'

Research has revealed that the marine mammals use a unique whistle to identify each other.

A team from the University of St Andrews in Scotland found that when the animals hear their own call played back to them, they respond.

The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr Vincent Janik, from the university's Sea Mammal Research Unit, said: "(Dolphins) live in this three-dimensional environment, offshore without any kind of landmarks and they need to stay together as a group.

"These animals live in an environment where they need a very efficient system to stay in touch."

Signature whistles

It had been-long suspected that dolphins use distinctive whistles in much the same way that humans use names.

Previous research found that these calls were used frequently, and dolphins in the same groups were able to learn and copy the unusual sounds.

But this is the first time that the animals response to being addressed by their "name" has been studied.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

Most of the time they can't see each other, they can't use smell underwater... and they also don't tend to hang out in one spot”
Dr Vincent Janik
University of St Andrews
To investigate, researchers recorded a group of wild bottlenose dolphins, capturing each animal's signature sound.

They then played these calls back using underwater speakers.

"We played signature whistles of animals in the group, we also played other whistles in their repertoire and then signature whistles of different populations - animals they had never seen in their lives," explained Dr Janik.

The researchers found that individuals only responded to their own calls, by sounding their whistle back.

The team believes the dolphins are acting like humans: when they hear their name, they answer.

Dr Janik said this skill probably came about to help the animals to stick together in a group in their vast underwater habitat.

He said: "Most of the time they can't see each other, they can't use smell underwater, which is a very important sense in mammals for recognition, and they also don't tend to hang out in one spot, so they don't have nests or burrows that they return to."

The researchers believe this is the first time this has been seen in an animal, although other studies have suggested some species of parrot may use sounds to label others in their group.

Dr Janik said that understanding how this skill evolved in parallel in very different groups of animals could tell us more about how communication developed in humans.
more bbc.co.uk

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The arrival of women in the office

The typewriter is almost obsolete in the modern office. But it played a crucial role in women's arrival in the workplace, explains Lucy Kellaway.

In 1887, Rudyard Kipling met one of the new breed of typewriting girls while visiting San Francisco.

They aroused in him a mixture of fear and fascination, insisting that their work was enjoyable and their "natural fate" - that was until Kipling questioned further.

"Well, and after?" said I. "What happens?"
"We work for our bread."
"Till you die?"
"Ye-es, unless," said the partner in the firm audaciously, "sometimes we marry our employers - at least that's what the newspapers say."
The hand banged on half a dozen of the keys of the machine at once. "Yes, I don't care. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!"
Continue reading the main story

In offices today almost all the most boring tasks are done by women. At the photocopier, at the filing cabinet (or its digital equivalent) and on the reception desk - it's females only. So much so that when a few years ago I came across my first male PA I was almost as shocked as Kipling.

This feminisation of office work happened incredibly fast. Until the late 19th Century there were no women in offices at all. In 1870, there were barely a thousand of them. By 1911 there were 125,000 and by 1961 there were 1.8 million, in 2001 there were 2.5 million female clerks.

readmore bbc.co.uk

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Shrimp Potato Salad

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 lbs potatoes, boiled and diced
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup green onion, sliced thin
5 -6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
2 tablespoons pickles, dill (optional) or 2 tablespoons sweet pickles (optional)
1 cup celery, chopped fine
1 lb shrimp, cooked and diced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
paprika
Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, mustard and lemon juice; set aside.
2. Combine all remaining ingredients, being careful not to mash.
3. Carefully stir in mayonnaise mixture until well blended.
4. Garnish with a dusting of paprika.

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Shanghai Noodles

papergoddess's Note: Wonderful oriental side-dish. So quick and easy! I serve this with chicken or pork tenderloin marinated in Teriyaki sauce (recipe 44750). Or you can add meat to the dish for a one-dish meal.

3 tablespoons oil
1 -2 tablespoon sesame oil
2 cups shredded cabbage (or Chinese cabbage)
1/2 cup chopped green onion
8 ounces angel hair pasta
2 -4 tablespoons soy sauce (to taste)
4 ounces sliced cooked chicken breasts (optional)
1 can bean sprouts, drained (optional)
Directions:

1
Cook pasta according to package directions;drain.
2
Heat oil and sesame oil in skillet.
3
Saute cabbage and green onion for about 5 minutes.
4
Add pasta and soy sauce (also chicken and/or bean sprouts if desired) and heat through.

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S'mores Ice Cream Cake

Don't spend National Ice Cream Month chasing after the ice cream truck. From homemade cakes and shakes to deep-fried delights, we've got a fun, easy ice cream treat to try every day this July.

"This is a delicious variation on an old favorite. The suggestion to dip the pan briefly in hot water to unmold it worked very well."

flower7's Note: This recipe is from Cook's Illustrated and sounded like a fabulous summer dessert. Cook time is freeze time

4 whole graham crackers
2 cups marshmallow cream
1 pint chocolate ice cream, softened**
1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened**
2 cups hot fudge
Directions:

1
Line a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, letting the ends of the plastic wrap overhang the pan by 6 inches. Break one of the crackers into 4 pieces along the dotted lines.
2
Spread one side of 1 whole graham cracker and 1 graham piece with 1/2 cup of the marshmallow cream and lay in the loaf pan, cream side up. Spoon the softened chocolate ice cream over the crackers and smooth the top.
3
Coat both sides of another whole cracker and 1 piece using 1 more cup marshmallow cream and lay over the chocolate ice cream. Spoon the softened vanilla ice cream over the crackers and smooth the top.
4
Spread the remaining whole cracker and 1 more piece with the remaining 1/2 cup marshmallow cream. Lay the crackers over the vanilla ice cream, marshmallow side down. Wrap the pan tightly with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 6 hours.
5
To serve, unwrap and gently tug at the overhanging plastic wrap to remove the loaf from the pan. (If necessary, dip the bottom of the pan into hot water.) Using the plastic wrap to handle the loaf, invert it onto a serving platter. Peel away and discard the plastic wrap. Allow the cake to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing. Serve with the hot fudge sauce.
6
**Note: To soften ice cream, scoop ice cream into a large mixing bowl. Use a large rubber spatula or wooden spoon to break up the ice cream. Stir and fold to create a smooth consistency.

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Orange Chicken Restaurant Style

Put down the takeout menu and step away from the phone. You can make your favorite dishes even better at home. Coming from family kitchens or inspired by top restaurant picks, these Chinese recipes are so good, so authentic, you'll never have to venture out to Chinatown or the local chop suey shop again.

Vseward (Chef~V)'s Note:

I have been playing with this recipe for ages. I think this comes pretty close to the orange chicken that I enjoy at my favorite chinese restaurant. Served over steamed rice or fried rice makes it a one-dish meal. I sprinkle chopped green onions on mine. Yum.

Sauce

1 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
Chicken
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Read more: Food.com

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