Guest post by Laurelle Johnson

My daughters are allergic to anything “mom” says or tries to impose when it comes to their health. So the idea of taking vitamins, eating more fruits and veggies and laying off MY coffee in the morning is met with a resounding “NO!” Feels like the terrible two’s all over again.

Subversion is the only tool left to me to insure their continued health.

D#2 has decided not to take her asthma medicine. “Ok,” I say. “Where are your inhalers?” Why-are-you-bothering-me roll of the eyes tells me she has no clue. So I crush the pink pill and sprinkle it over a cup of “froyo,” which she eats without an ounce of suspicion.

D#1 has a great immune system. All that breast-feeding really paid off. But think she’d take calcium supplements to boost her bone strength? The eye rolling happens here too. I bought good-tasting Tums - stuck them on her computer with a note stating that her password was changed and the consuming of 2 tabs a day will keep the computer humming in her hands. Worked like a charm!

But the Hubby, he’s another issue. He’s leery of anything promoted by his wife as “good for your health.” He rarely gets sick except if he’s been on a plane. Then he is miserable with sneezing and coughing all over the house.

I shared my frustration-Husband syndrome with a friend of mine from India. Samir Doshi, of Telecomers, mentioned they use Turmeric powder as an anti-septic. “How does it taste?” I ask. My mind is busy flashing pictures of me sitting on the Husband whilst pouring this powder directly into his mouth. “Of nothing,” he replied. “It just turns the food a bit yellow.”

Yellow? I can do yellow! I rushed off to the market, bought some turmeric powder, yellow squash, tomatoes and made a ratatouille. I liberally sprinkled the Turmeric on the squash before drenching everything in garlic, caramelized onions and olive oil.

I served the dish on a decorative platter and made it look FANTASTIC, key to getting the family to eat new dishes. They ate it up and suggested we have this dish more often!

Gosh, I love subversion.

Popularity: 68% [?]

I have been ensconced in this 5-day incredible event with mind-blowing geniuses around me every day.

2 weeks ago I wrote about how distraction = inefficiency.  This was just something I had observed in my own life, and wanted to pass on the ways that I figured out to try to be as efficient as possible. Many of you thanked me for these pearls of wisdom.  Well, you’re welcome!

So, yesterday I heard Eban Pagen speak about the very same thing.  He even went on to say that distraction and interruption are the #1 priorty in business these days -  both of these things = ineffeciency.

His suggestion is to get into a routine and do the same thing every day at the same time.
Make a schedule and stick to it.  There are times to answer emails, engage in social media, do sales calls, take meetings, do interviews, talk to your friends, eat, etc…  His experience is that ritual helps you focus. It takes away the need to wonder what you should do next that’s for sure!!

Eban suggests that the morning hours are the most productive hours to get the important work done.  I totally agree.   You have way less distractions, chance is on your side that there wasn’t time for too many things to go wrong yet, and you can concentrate and give the BEST part of your brain power to the most important stuff you need to work on.

We live in a world of information overload.  Our inboxes are full all the time, the phones are ringing off the hook, and unless you make a commitment to turn it all off to concentrate on the ONE thing at hand, you are going to get distracted and in turn, generate mediocre results or maybe no results.

Let’s make a pledge to each other to have the most result oriented week ever.  Send me your pledge and I will hold you accountable.

I pledge to turn off my email and phone every time I sit down at my computer to do anything other than answer email.

I pledge to write down my tasks, hour by hour on my calendar so I know what I am doing every minute.

I pledge to wake up at least 30 minutes before my children and take some time for myself every morning.

Popularity: 77% [?]

By Sarah Shaw

As an up and coming Entreprenette you are probably wearing many hats and often feeling overwhelmed. We all hope to walk into our office (or the dining room :O)) and hope to be able to cross everything off our to-do lists each day before it gets out of control …….right? I sure wish it was like that for me!! Obviously that’s not always a reality but here are a few tips to help you get closer to wiping the board clean and make the most of your time.

1. Power Hours: Assign hours or minutes to certain projects. Get a calendar going with times on it and really schedule yourself to get in a rhythm. Maybe you spend 1 hour 2x a day answering emails, 25 minutes on Social Media 2x a day, lunch, exercise, design, meetings, 5 minutes of stretching……you get the picture. Having power hours really gets the job done. Turn off everything else during that time and ONLY work on that. You will be amazed at how fast you can work when totally dedicated.

2. Realize your potential: Before you assign yourself a task, think about if you are the best person to do it or if it is something you can outsource. Even when the money is tight, sometimes outsourcing can free you up to do the things you really excel at and is a much better use of your time. Outsourcing is a great option if you really don’t enjoy the task or are just really bad at it.

3. Don’t assume; ask questions: When speaking to a prospective or current client, try to really understand what they are asking of you. Sometimes we just want to please and take on more that we can chew. You will waste a lot of time back tracking or trying to reinvent the wheel rather than just having listened well the first time and offering what was within your means or area of expertise.

4. Know when to go: Get off the phone as soon as possible. When a caller keeps you on the phone longer than necessary, gently prompt her to end the call. You could tell them that you have another call, that you are on a tight deadline or, if they have requested something, tell them that you want to get started on it immediately.

4a. Know when to listen: Get a voicemail ONLY system so you don’t have to answer the phone and can just check the messages a few times a day. You can always give special customers your cell number. I use Voicemail Depot for this myself and it works wonders for me and my team.

5. The desk makeover: Make your environment conducive to working. Organize your workstation to minimize wasted time searching for lost papers or files etc…This covers two areas: your actual work space and the area surrounding it. Take the time to clear your desk of any distractions - Think about the things you use on a regular basis and have those at the ready – everything else can go on a shelf waiting for its moment in time. You may want to find some storage type bins and or baskets you can use to help you be more organized and have easy access to the things you need to do your job.

6. Flex your muscles: Organize your files so you can find what you need quickly. I like to have files near my desk of things I am currently working on……Everything else is either on my laptop or in a filing cabinet.

7. Find your sweet spot: In retail they say, “Location, location, location.” The same is true in a home office. A desk located in a high-traffic area is as welcome as a marching band in a library. Try to find a quiet place to work so you can concentrate and be as efficient as possible. If this means on your bed then so be it….

8. Conserve gas: If you are in production mode or just have to travel a lot to visit with clients, stores or whatever else….try to plan out your week and group areas together to maximize your time. Most people are accustomed to waiting to be called upon, and will not feel like a day or two is neglectful of you. I think you will find you are more pleasant and happier to be there when you are not so rushed and trying to get more places than possible.

Popularity: 77% [?]

I learn so much watching my twins explore life. I got to thinking today as I watched Maddie pouring water down her arm over and over again today while playing in the pool, and how she marveled each time as it poured down under her arm like it was the very first time.  I started to question where that feeling of discovery and wonder goes as we get older.

How do we get back to that marveling phase?
How do we get back that feeling of experiencing something for the first time?
Is it even possible?

Children are so happy-go-lucky.  They don’t have an agenda.  Children are as honest as it gets. They just do as they feel inclined when the feeling hits them; run, jump, laugh, dance, cry, play, take, give, and kiss.  Their inhibitions are their greatest asset and they don’t even know it.  Children see the world in all of its glory and splendor.

As adults we are so overwhelmed with “adult responsibilities” that we mostly forget to wonder.  Life just happens around us and we get caught up in our daily routine, our jobs, and our families.  We don’t often let go and just start dancing when we feel like it, run around laughing, throw a fit, or just cry.

Launching a business and running one are more like a child’s life than you think.

• You are constantly worrying about the business and if you are doing things correctly.
• You have a HUGE to do list.
• You gave up honesty to create a story about yourself that sounds more interesting to the press and general public.
• Often you are experiencing something for the first time, but being a jaded adult, you are probably finding it annoying and just want to get through it.
• There are many reasons to jump for joy, laugh, and dance but you are probably so fixated on the next task that you just smile for a second and move on.
• We all know there are many opportunities to cry but usually it involves your manufacturer and you can’t let him see you cry or you might appear weak.
• You do take and give, but as a grownup it’s elevated to the status of advice and since you always take it, you aren’t sure any more what you give besides dinner.
• You still want to kiss but you’re working so hard your love life is suffering.

This week is about finding and rekindling the joy in your business.  Let’s get back to the wonder in our lives and try to look with fresh eyes at the tasks at hand.

• Try to notice and celebrate the good things that happen to you this week.
• They may not even be work related, just try to be receptive to what it feels like to accept the feeling of celebration.
• They may be small like a lovely email or a call from a friend.
• Or big like a lead on a sample maker or that you received a grant.
• All are reasons to celebrate.
• Try to make friends with the disappointments as well.
• You didn’t close the sale but you are going to implement some of Cindy’s techniques from Own the Room and try again.
• Your sample didn’t come out as well as you hoped, but it sparked a new idea.

These too are cause for celebration.  Think of disappointments as an opportunity to learn and improve your skills.  I have learned all my most savvy secrets from my mistakes along the way.
Have fun celebrating,

When in doubt, take the next step,

Popularity: 73% [?]

There are so many people out there that want to help you if you are just willing to ask. I mean REALLY ask, put yourself on the line and ask the questions that you are afraid to ask. The worst thing that can happen is that you are disappointed in their answer.  Go ahead, what are you dying to ask someone?

OK, so let’s be honest - “Do you like my idea?” - is the #1 burning question for most Entreprenettes.

The first thing to ask yourself is WHY do you care if they like it or not?

People ask me all the time if I like their idea. Luckily most of the time I do, but sometimes, while I think it’s a great idea, it’s just not something I’d personally want.  And not everyone is going to want your idea right?  I mean there are tons of cool things out there that I can appreciate and just don’t need or want - and sometimes WISH I wanted just because they are so nifty or clever.

The most important thing is that YOU like your idea and are passionate about it. It’s like a new boyfriend; you think about them all the time, can hardly sleep, keep touching them, want to call them every second, can’t stand to be apart, your stomach flutters when you see him……all those “just new” feelings about your product are the same…..just don’t tell your new BF.

A good passionate relationship with your product is essential to get it to blossom and grow, if not you loose interest, just like with the guy.

Part of growing is asking the painful and hard questions that we all shy away from.  This time, instead of asking the guy where the relationship is going, ask yourself where your product is going. Take a hard look at what you want.

• Do you want to manufacture it yourself?
• Do you prefer to find a licensee?
• Do you want to go at it alone?
• Do you want a partner?
• What is your revenue model?
• Do you even know what that is?
• Do you plan to wholesale?
• Or just retail it on your website?

These are JUST questions that you need to ask.  They are not the end - but the beginning of a long journey ahead of making fun and not so fun decisions. This is the joy of being an Entreprenette - you get to revel in the up moments and burn rubber looking for new ideas in the down moments.  Life is never dull and you are thankful for that.

Just like meeting the BF’s family and hoping you will fit in and feel comfortable, you have to look at your business and see how it fits YOU. How does it feel when you wrap yourself in it? How does it feel when you wrap your arms around it?

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life, (Steve Jobs)

When in doubt, take the next step,

Popularity: 71% [?]

There’s No Time like Now
By Sarah Shaw

I hosted a Tele-call with Mike Michalowicz, Author of the The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, this past week and it really got me thinking about how much we put off in the hopes that we can do it better if we wait for our “circumstances” to improve.

What does this mean exactly?

• Are we waiting for the economy to improve?
• Are we waiting to learn some more “stuff” before we get going?
• Are we trying to find money to fund our project?
• Are we hoping to get someone’s “approval” to begin?
• Are we just scared?
• Are we waiting until our kids are toilet trained?
• Are we hoping it will all be perfect the first time?

How did we get to this point and what can we do about it?

First of all, as Entreprenettes trying to launch in general, we work harder than anyone else we know, usually logging in 16 hour days to get it all done.  We sweat over the smallest detail, worry about every penny and try to read as much as possible to get it done as close to right the first time.

Is this going to change if any of the above “circumstances” change?
NO WAY JOSE
None of those things on your list make a difference in when you decide to get your rear-end in gear.

As Mike reminded us all, it’s time to think outside of outside the box.

LET’S KICK THE EXCUSES TO THE CURB SHALL WE?

• The economy will improve and if you are ready to take advantage of it then you will come out on top.
• As you DO, you will learn more.
• Try to figure out how to get things for free.  An example is to go to a local college and try to get the business school to take on your business as a project.
• If you can’t find someone who likes your idea then it might not be a good one.
• Entreprenettes are scared all the time but keep going.
• No kid ever went to college in a diaper.
• You will probably want to update your idea from time to time so don’t worry about it being perfect now. It will probably never be perfect to you.

Here are some suggestions for taking just ONE step this week towards
making your “big idea” a reality.

• Make one call you have been putting off.
• Ask one question you need to know to move forward.
• Research one thing on line.
• Ask one person if they like your idea.
• Be thankful that you have an idea worth pursuing.

When in doubt, take the next step.

Popularity: 84% [?]

The Top 5 Ways to Save When Launching
By Sarah Shaw

Office staff: There is a time when office staff makes sense but at the launch phase it is a waste of money.  I know wearing all the hats can be exhausting and keep you from the part you really love but hang in there – you will get there!  The first thing we all want to hire is an accountant, bookkeeper and an assistant…..but do we really need them all right now?  Learning to do all aspects of your business is a must in my opinion.  You don’t have to continue to do them, but knowledge is key. Hard to give direction when you don’t know how to do it yourself, or at least have some understanding of the job. Having a great accountant is a MUST for me (and honestly I’d be a goner without mine) so spend the money there to keep yourself on track.  Try outsourcing to a VA or hiring a part time bookkeeper to start if those are areas you really can’t manage on your own.  It gets better I promise!

An office: Will anyone take my calls if they know I am in my Pj’s and haven’t showered yet? Let’s be straight here – unless you are talking to them on skype, they don’t know if you are naked or calling from a penthouse office. Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that WE will feel more important and that we have a REAL job if we have an office. If you really believe in yourself it doesn’t matter if your office is your dining room table.  Spending precious dollars on an office to impress our selves is silly. We know we are fabulous already right? If the amount of inventory is the main issue because of space, then investigate a 3rd party shipping warehouse as that is often more economical than an office and a shipping clerk (means workman’s comp insurance = $$$$$$$).

Fancy catalogs and stationery: I never made a sale because I had a glossy tri-fold catalog or line-sheet.  Please don’t spend money on these.  Instead, use your money to pay a graphic designer to develop a killer logo instead.  Make an effort to learn photoshop so you can set up your own line-sheets or at least edit them going forward if you pay someone to do it for you.  Photoshop is fairly simple when just making small edits like line-sheets – trust me – if I can learn it so can you.  You want to be sure your line-sheet is clear, legible and gives all the pertinent information for your collection.  That’s what is going to get you the sale – not the paper it’s printed on or the fancy stationery and preprinted envelope. Trust me on this one!

Advertising: Paid advertising (in the big sense) is for very mature companies with big bank.  The ROI (return on investment) is very small and is usually used more for brand awareness than to sell a particular item. It takes a lot of investigative market research to find your target demographic and make sure you will make the most of paid ads.  In general, a company should plan to spend at about 10% of gross receipts on marketing and PR. While you are growing, I suggest using all the FREE, or very inexpensive, marketing tools out there. A Facebook Fan Page for one can be a great marketing tool if used correctly. It’s not enough to just get it up and hope for the best. You need to work it and come up with a marketing plan that has legs and can build your fan base and hopefully your pocket too. Post contests, poll your fans, make them post photos of themselves doing something with your product……get them to interact on your page.   Once you have a small fan base of about 200, you can cull the FREE data from FB and generate a targeted ad for a few dollars a day. If you need help with this then I suggest spending a few of your marketing dollars with Socialbees to get a great FB page and learn some strategic planning from their savvy owner Hazel Grace. I did and am learning a lot and building my fan base.  I am sure a lot of you use Twitter already but it’s not enough to tweet that you got ice cream – You need to send information that your followers will find interesting enough to Retweet and help build your brand awareness.  And lastly, I know everyone is sick of hearing these, but blogging and writing articles to post on line is a great way to become an expert and gain some momentum. We are all experts at what we do.  If you design shoes then write about the latest shoe trends and why they are so great (or not)….see where I am going with this?  Any links that you can post on line that trackback to your website will help increase your on-line visibility and hopefully sales will follow.  All this is FREE…… or a tiny investment in your future.

A DYI attitude: You all know I am a BIG advocate of knowing how to do it all yourself, but that is not what I am talking about here. What I mean is that everyone needs a mentor or a coach to help them SAVE MONEY and TIME on the learning curve. I sure wish I’d had it.  I am not talking about dumping your life savings into a coach – but if you won’t invest in your future and learn the steps to make things happen faster, or save you from mistakes, or just teach you the ropes – what does that say about you?  Admitting what you don’t know is a sign of greatness.  We all want to save where we can of course - but knowing where you need help, and sometimes learning what you don’t even know you need to know is one of the keys to success. No one ever got there all by them selves.  Ask for advice, pay for advice, GET advice to save yourself a bigger loss of time and money down the road.

Popularity: 83% [?]

Started by a shrink and a stylist, Retail Therapy provides the latest in “feel good” apparel & accessories.  Their motto “take care of yourself, take care of the world” inspires us all to be organic, recycled, and earth-friendly in our products.

My twins have these tees and we just planted the hangtags in the garden.  I am so excited to see the flowers grow!

A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR COOL TEE SHIRTS…
• Tees made of organic cotton, recycled polyester & naturally occurring rayon
•  Tees made of 100% organic cotton
• Even our RT logo tag is organic cotton!
• “Feel good” shirts with positive messages
• Silk screened with non-toxic water based inks
• Prewashed so they are super soft & won’t shrink
• Individually rubbed with rocks to get that funky worn look
• Hang tags made of 100% post-consumer waste & embedded with flower seeds
• When tags are planted, wildflowers will grow… really, we’re not kidding!
• Hang tag string made from handmade recycled paper & tinted with vegetable dyes
• We donate a percentage of profits to charity
• Retail Therapy tees have already been seen on TV & are worn by celebs!

Popularity: 76% [?]

July Fourth Picnic
Guest post by Author and Cookbook Writer Sally Sampson

It’s hard to imagine that after signing The Declaration of Independence, the fifty six lawyers, jurists, merchants, plantation owners, teachers, musicians and printers sat down together and polished off a homespun picnic.  No, instead they went back to their homes, their wives and their children and, in some cases, lost all that they owned, having risked their lives and fortunes to the cause of liberty.

But like most American holidays, time has turned this event into an eating extravaganza. For most Americans July Fourth is about fireworks, barbecues and sales.

At least they didn’t sign in February, when outdoor activities like watching parades, participating in bike, motorcycle and drag races, listening to music and eating fabulous, carefree food in backyards and beaches would not be so appealing. Independence Day comes at the time of year when local produce is abundant and cooking mostly means chopping and assembling.

All three of the following salads can be made the night before, leaving you more time to enjoy your guests!
All of these recipes come from Warehouse to Your House.

Curried Chicken Salad
Yield: about 4 ½ cups

¼ cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons mango chutney
1-tablespoon curry powder
1-½ pounds poached or grilled chicken, torn into shreds or diced
2 celery ribs, diced or sliced
1 apple, peach or mango, diced
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro and/or basil leaves, plus additional for garnish

Place the mayonnaise, chutney and curry powder in a medium size bowl and mix well.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour and up to overnight.

Annette’s Corn Salad
Yield: about 5- 6 cups

For the salad:
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1 15.5 oz can red kidney or black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped seeded plum tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

For the dressing:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 large garlic cloves, crushed or minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
½- 1 teaspoon kosher salt

To make the salad: Place all the ingredients in a medium size bowl.

To make the dressing: Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well.  Add to corn mixture, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Mustard Potato Salad
Serves 6- 8

3 pounds new potatoes, cut in quarters or halves, depending on size and desire
¼ cup plain low or full fat yogurt
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ cup sour cream
3- 4 celery stalks, julienned
3- 4 carrots, julienned
4 scallions, including greens, chopped
1 cup finely chopped Italian flat leaf parsley leaves
Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Place the potatoes in a large stockpot and cover with cold water.  Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15- 20 minutes.  Drain and transfer to a large bowl to cool to room temperature.

While the potatoes are cooking, place the yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard and sour cream in a small bowl and mix well. When the potatoes have cooled, add the yogurt mixture and the remaining ingredients and gently mix. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to overnight.

Popularity: 39% [?]

Guest post by Sally Sampson - Author, Cookbook Writer, Mother

Father’s Day arrived just a few weeks after my husband and I separated. I wasn’t quite ready to cut the strings as far as my children were concerned so I invited him over for a Father’s Day dinner with his favorite foods. I planned on grilling and as luck would have it, there was a torrential downpour. I schlepped the extra grill, a small Smokey Joe, to the floor of the covered front porch and squatted down so that I was at grill level, turning the ribs just so and brushing them just so and all of a sudden I started to laugh and laugh at what I was doing: my soon-to-be ex inside, dry and warm, surrounded by our cute and adoring children, who were handing him chips coated with guacamole and me outside, alone, listening to the pelting rain, working so hard. Although I cared that the meal was delicious- and it was- my chief concern was that our children didn’t have to deal with the fallout from our problems but instead got to honor, pamper and love their father, which is, after all, the point of Fathers Day. 

One of the nicest things about this menu, other than pure deliciousness, is that the ingredients can all be purchased and prepped 3- 5 days ahead: let the avocadoes ripen, make the Slaw dressing, the rib glaze and the pie dough. Bake the ribs 2 days ahead and make the pie the day before. Viola! Father’s Day will be the breeze you need it to be……………
Guacamole (adapted from From Warehouse to Your House, Simon and Schuster, 2007)

The most important element in great guacamole is the avocadoes, which must be perfectly ripe: they should be supple and yield just slightly when you touch them. Since it’s rare to find them in this condition be sure to buy avocadoes at least 3- 5 days before the big day. To accelerate the ripening process, place the avocado in a paper bag with an apple. If it’s already ripe enough, simply refrigerate it; it won’t continue to ripen in the fridge.

Guacamole can be made a few hours ahead: cover tightly with plastic wrap, making sure the plastic comes in contact with the guacamole. This will prevent it from turning brown.

Yield: about 2 ½-cups

3 perfectly ripe avocadoes, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
1 small beefsteak tomato, coarsely chopped
3- 4 scallions, washed, roots and tops trimmed, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, plus additional for garnish
1/2-teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ -teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
¼- ½ jalapeno pepper or chipotle chile, finely minced (optional)
Tortilla chips

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and toss gently to mix. Do not over-mix, the guacamole should be somewhat chunky.

Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately or place plastic wrap directly on top and refrigerate up to eight hours. Serve garnished with the cilantro sprigs and Tortilla Chips.

Glazed Baby Back Ribs (adapted from The Fifty Dollar Dinner Party, Simon and Schuster, 1998)

Serves 6

For the glaze:
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon five spice powder (optional)
1 teaspoon chopped gingerroot
½- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup hoisin sauce
¼ cup plum sauce
¼ cup oyster sauce
3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup sherry vinegar

3 racks baby back ribs (about 2 – 2 ½ pounds each)

1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ bunch scallions, chopped, for garnish
¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves, for garnish

To make the glaze: Place the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Set aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.

Place the ribs in a large baking pan, transfer to the oven and bake 1 ½ hours. Drain off the fat and coat with the glaze. Cover and refrigerate at least overnight and up to three days.

To cook the ribs: Prepare a grill.
Place the ribs on the grill, sprinkle with the salt and pepper and cook, brushing with glaze from time to time, until deeply browned on both sides, 10- 15 minutes. Cut into 6 slabs, transfer to a platter and serve immediately, garnished with the scallions and cilantro.

Asian Slaw (Also from the $50 Dinner Party)
This crunchy, colorful coleslaw is a delicious change from the mayonnaise-laden American version.

Serves 6

For the dressing:
6 tablespoon seasoned rice wine vinegar
6 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 head red cabbage, shredded
2 carrots, cut into julienne
8 scallions, finely sliced

¼ cup lightly toasted sliced almonds
¼ cup lightly toasted sesame seeds

To make the dressing: Place the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
To make the slaw: Place the cabbage, carrots and scallions in a medium size bowl, toss, add the dressing and toss again. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour and up to 4. Add the almonds and sesame seeds just prior to serving.

Fresh Blueberry Pie (adapted from The BakeSale Cookbook, Simon and Schuster, 2000)

Some people will insist that this be served with vanilla ice cream but for me, this is perfect as is.

For the crust:
3 cups all purpose flour
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
1-2 tablespoons sugar
½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled or frozen, cut into small bits
4-6 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:
2 ½- 3 pints fresh blueberries, well washed
2/3 cup sugar
¼ cup all purpose flour or 3 tablespoons cornstarch
½- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

To make the crust: Place the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor and process until combined. Add the butter, bit by bit, and process until it has the consistency of coarse cornmeal. Gradually add the water and process until the dough pulls away from the sides. Divide in half and form into balls. Press down to form discs. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour and up to 1 day.

Roll out each disc into a 12 inch circle and gently place one in a 9- 9 1/2 inch pie pan.

To make the filling: Place the blueberries, sugar, flour and lemon zest, if using, in a large bowl and toss well. Place the mixture in the unbaked pie shell and cover with the top crust.

Transfer the pie to the lowest shelf in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. Lower the heat to 350 degrees and cook until the fruit starts to bubble and the crust is golden brown, about an additional 30- 45 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Popularity: 54% [?]