Egg Cups: The Boiled Egg’s Metamorphosis

[ad_1]

Since the European olden days, egg holders have truly brought elegance and a new way of eating a boiled egg. For many who never quite encountered kitchen egg cups would often find themselves scratching for answers as to what that particular thing is for.

An American would surely do so but a European would gladly start munching the egg out from the cup with swift elegant movement without even spilling the yolk. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this set have been used to hold eggs, specifically boiled eggs in their shells, as they await their ultimate death of being eaten by people.

The amazing to way to eat an egg out of its shell is through the use of egg cups. A single egg is placed in a cup holder which is structurally made in the form and to cater the shape of an egg. Using a sharp knife, the top is being cut off through and through. The top is taken off and with a spoon, the egg is being scoop from top to bottom.

This style keeps the yolk from not spilling and saves you a lot from embarrassment. This particular traditional usage of this kitchenware was popularly known in Europe and was traced to be practice since the olden times of kings and queen of most European countries. Now, it has travelled across America to spread its wonders and sprinkle some light of elegance and antiquity in a modern breakfast table.

This kitchenware is being sold in the market with different styles and designs. These include the vintage egg cups, white, novelty and fun egg cups all fit to entice your little angel’s attention. In terms of material for these, each one represents an epitome of title for a particular egg cup. Take for example those made of glass. A glass material is an attractive serving ware that comes with colorful silicone rests to hold the eggs safely.

The porcelain ones, on the other hand, give an aesthetic and elegant look. Some models are being sold in the market that comes along with a plate. These cups are actually hand painted to give it an exquisite finish. The egg cups set made of chrome wire usually take a spiral shape. The fun egg cups made out of melamine do come with attractive colors plus stackable bases that can be placed one above the other to mimic a tower. Last but not the least, the stainless steel cups which are quite handy as they are easily being cleaned and is proven to be durable. To ensure portion control and in creating a perfect poached egg, this material is often used.

When buying this kind of kitchenware from the market it is good to know common tips to keep you focus on the task. As you eye for that perfect porcelain kitchenware, make sure they are dishwasher, oven, freezer and microwave safe. As for handmade or hand painted cups, they are quite incredible to make as useful and lovely gifts. If you have trouble handling one egg at a time, it is practical to buy double designs. Lastly, try to select a non-slip, non-stick cup set that should ideally serve boiled eggs to your cute little children. Such egg cups are known to cater one to easily eat eggs and these cups are usually heat resistant.

If you would take some time to look at each and scrutinize their every function, you’ll certainly get to appreciate the long kept European tradition of elegance and chick way of eating an egg. But of course, adding a little American twist to your tableware is not such a bad idea at all. So, to you, ordinary and boring boiled egg, good riddance and hello to you wacky and fun egg cups of the modern century!

[ad_2]

Source by Wayne Nusbaum

Hen and Stag Nights – How To Do It In Style

[ad_1]

One of the most important things to consider when organizing a hen or stag event is how much it’s going to cost. This will obviously have a huge effect on who is able to come. Be sensible when doing the planning – the ideal situation is to plan something that everyone will enjoy but that is well within budget. After all, the majority of the hens and stags will also be attending the wedding, which is another expense.

Under €50 per person

A night on the town. Dinner and drinks followed by a nightclub. Look out for restaurants with a set menu or ask if they will do any offers for groups so that you don’t end up spending too much money on food. Equally, see whether you can get on the guest list to a club and, if the entry charge goes up after a certain time, make sure you get in there before the deadline!

A girls’ night in with take away, manicures and DVD’s. This is a guaranteed fun and inexpensive night. Rent out a few ‘chick flicks’ gather plenty of take away menus and fill the freezer with ice cream. Ask everyone to bring a sleeping bag and spend any remaining money on face packs, nail varnish and other beauty items so you can have a pamper evening. Perfect!

A paintballing or go-karting day with the guys, followed by a few beers in the pub. Outdoor activities don’t have to be hugely expensive so shop around for something that suits you perfectly. When it comes to transport, it might even be economical to hire a minibus for the weekend. After a few hours in the fresh air, you’ll enjoy nothing more than dinner and a fair few pints in the local pub. Paintballing isn’t the thing to do less than a week before the wedding – bruises don’t make a great look.

€50 – €100 per person

A night out on the town, with overnight stay in an inexpensive hotel or guesthouse. Dinner and clubbing makes for a great night out. If you have a little more money to spend, why not travel a little further and book some accommodation for the night. This doesn’t have to cost the earth – a cosy b&b can be just as lovely as a luxurious hotel and it means you get to reminisce over breakfast the next morning!

A ‘glam’ night out with cocktails and dinner at a smart restaurant. If you’re just organizing an evening and don’t need to think about overnight accommodation, you can splash out a little with this budget. Organise dinner in a great restaurant and move on to a swanky bar for cocktails afterwards. It’s amazing how much you can spend on a few Margaritas!

A camping weekend! An entire weekend away can start getting expensive and you’re unlikely to stay underneath a £100 per head budget… unless you go camping! Perhaps one of the least expensive forms of accommodation, but also one of the most fun. This is great for hens and stags alike… but only those who enjoy the great outdoors. Think camp fires, long walks and pub lunches. Perfect – but not for those who are concerned about damaging their manicure. Be open minded about this one, it could be a lot of fun!

A day at a health spa. For under £100, you really can enjoy a luxurious day at a health spa, hopefully including lunch and a few treatments. Health spas are always a good idea for hen days or weekends as people can generally do what they would like to do, spend more money if they want to or less if they don’t. Look out for any offers that could give you the opportunity to stay overnight.

€100-€200 per person

A cottage weekend. This is perfect for a hen or stag weekend – but costs do tend to spiral. Many plan these weekends basing the cost on the accommodation, which can be relatively inexpensive. However, you need to think of the ‘extras’ such as money for a food and drink kitty, and at least one night out for dinner, or a lovely lunch. Be sure to ask your fellow hens and stags to bring a long a selection of games, CDs and DVDs to ensure plenty of amusement.

A day trip to France, possibly with an overnight stay. Costs can vary enormously depending on how you want to travel and where you want to stay. Remember, you’re likely to want to sample some French cuisine and a few glasses of vino! Those who can splash out a little more might take the Eurotunnel and stay in a chateaux, or even head to Paris for the day on the Eurostar. If you’re prepared to party all night, you could even forget about the hotel and come home on the morning train!

An overnight stay at a health spa. There’s nothing more luxurious than spending the night at a health spa. Just as you’ve reached a total state of relaxation, you can fall in to bed, get up in the morning and be pampered all over again.

€200-€300 per person

A city break, perhaps to Paris or Barcelona. With a little more money to spend, you can organize a long weekend abroad. Plan your destination carefully, taking in to account what you think everyone will enjoy. Prague is a very popular destination for stag weekend while Paris, Barcelona or Madrid might be just the thing for a girls weekend (plenty of glamour and lots of lovely shops!).

A package week away to a sunny destination. If you’re planning for a close group of friends, consider organizing an entire week away. This isn’t ideal for a large group that includes people who don’t know each other that well – you simply can’t expect that everyone will want to spend a whole week together. Scour the internet and travel agents for any offers where you can fly away to the sunshine and enjoy a great week. So long as it’s not excessively alcohol-fuelled, this is a great idea as you get closer to the wedding – suntans and wedding photos are a great combination!

Blow the budget

A long weekend (or a week) in Las Vegas! If the sky really is the limit and you’re organising an event for a fun bunch… head to Vegas. Accommodation is remarkably reasonable and fabulous, so you can splash out on shows and in the casino. You never know, you might even win more than you spend!

The ultimate hen day. Oh yes, it’s truly amazing what you can spend over the course of 24 hours. Arrange accommodation for your hens in a London hotel before meeting for afternoon tea at The Ritz. Spend the afternoon being pampered in your choice of hair salon or spa, before getting ready for your night out. Cocktails at The Sanderson could be a good start, perhaps followed by dinner in the chef’s kitchen at Claridges. Enjoy a few after dinner drinks at The Blue Bar at The Berkeley hotel before collapsing in to bed. And, of course, you’ll need a chauffeur!

Whatever it is you decide to do. Make the most of it!

[ad_2]

Source by Colette O’Loughlin

Educational Christmas Gifts for Kids

[ad_1]

Do you want your kids to get more out of their play time than just fun? Obviously, fun is good but if your children can continue to learn while they have fun then it’s so much the better and there are loads of educational Christmas gifts for kids available.

Educational Toys for Boys and Girls

Cooking is one of the most important skills children can learn which will enable them to feed themselves for the rest of their lives. Learning to cook at an early age means they will always love it so why not start your kids with a play kitchen. These sophisticated toys contain all the essentials; fridge/freezer, cooker, microwave and dishwasher as well as a sink, pans and spatulas. Supplement the kitchen with food from the deli set or the ice cream shop. Take the opportunity to teach the kids how to clean up after cooking as well and you may find you have the next great chef in your family.

Science toys for kids are excellent educational toys and will spark your child’s interest in science subjects from as young as five years old. There are various kits available including one which enables children to learn about the human body using hands-on experiments, games and exercises.

For older children, the crystals, rocks and minerals kit may get them interested in geology. The kit contains real rock and quartz specimens and the children can grow three different types of crystals.

There are two grades of technology and electronics kits; the first, for kids age 10 and upwards, teaches how to put together simple circuits and how to build and repair sensors. The second, for children over 12, goes into more detail of basic electronic components and provides an introduction to more advanced components. Kids will learn how to follow a circuit diagram and how to create circuits from the components provided. Budding electrical engineers will find this an invaluable grounding.

Educational Toys for Toddlers and Babies

The Busy Ball Popper is ideal for both babies and toddlers to learn colours and manual dexterity. Babies will love to watch the colourful balls running down the spiral track and popping out the top and toddlers will have even more fun chasing the balls. This toy also features fun music with 8 upbeat songs to keep the fun going.

The Endangered Species Playset teaches children to recognise and learn about seven of the world’s endangered animals with and storage pouch showing the continents. Children can learn where to place the animals on their home contents.

For three years old and upwards the Deluxe Workshop encourages hand eye coordination and includes a tool chest and storage jars to promote logical thinking and tidiness. Tools are battery driven drill with interchangeable bits, screws, nuts, hammer, saw, pliers, wrench and screwdriver. Instructions are included for 4 projects.

Play is an important part of a child’s development, teaching life skills as well as motor skills and educational toys provide interesting and inventive opportunities for play.

[ad_2]

Source by Ella McGinley