Happy New Year!

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Stress Free Food Prep

Are you stressed about the holidays? There is a way you can have a stress free holiday season. This blog will help you be stress free in your food preparation. You can learn more at moneycrashers.

Food


While turkey is now the most common dish served during Christmas Day dinners around the world (replacing Tiny Tim’s roasted goose), fried chicken, ham, and fish remain popular. Our childhood memories of Christmases past often include aromatic, mouthwatering, belly-filling, belt-busting meals of savory meats, fresh vegetables, and sugary, meringue-topped desserts, but rarely the hours of exhaustive preparation, mounds of dirty pots and pans, and obligatory cleanup by those responsible for our repasts.


Try the following to save time in the kitchen this year:


Bake and Freeze in Advance. Rolls, coffee cakes, muffins, and breads can be made, shaped, placed in pans, and frozen up to six months before serving. Unbaked pies and cookies can be prepared up to two months before a meal. Appetizers and casseroles taste just as delicious even if they have been frozen for months. Spreading your food preparation over several weekends before the crunch of the season can help to keep you sane and rested.

Use Professionals. Many grocery stores and restaurants offer holiday specials where complete meals are delivered or can be picked up the day before Christmas, so your only duty is to pop them in the oven and serve. The ability to choose à la carte allows for a selection of not only different foods, but different caterers.

Share Cooking and Cleaning Duties. To spread the workload around, one member of the family can bring appetizers, another can supply a vegetable dish, and another can provide dessert, already agreed to beforehand to ensure everyone’s favorites will be available. Cleanup is also shared – those who eat but don’t cook must clean.

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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Holiday Party Rules

How many holiday parties do you have this year? Make sure you know what is appropriate for what kind of party with the blog below. We have gathered seven tips that will get you through this holiday party season. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.





DON'T:

1. Show up right on time.
For most people it's second nature to show up at least 15 minutes late to a big gathering, but the perpetually punctual may have trouble with this. If you find yourself arriving at party within 15 minutes of the stated start time, nip around the corner for a coffee, or hang out at a bookstore for a bit, or just sit in your car. This will give your host a little breathing room and ensure that you don't walk in on them doing frantic last minute preparations.

A few exceptions to the rule: dinner parties, where it's rude to show up more than 15 minutes late. And any party where you know the hostess very well and feel comfortable offering to help out — in that case your punctuality (or even earliness) will probably be welcomed.

2. Bring something that requires a lot of prep.
If you're bringing something to the party, good on you. But don't bring something that will require a ton of prep space or kitchen time on the party end. Chances are your host has been cooking all day and counter space in the kitchen is at a premium. If you're in there chopping things and looking for bowls and knives and whatnot, things can get chaotic.

3. ''Ghost' without saying goodbye to your host.
You don't have to make a big deal of announcing your exit to every guest at the party, but you should at least find your host and let them know that you had a lovely time but unfortunately you have to leave. This will keep them from fielding questions about what happened to so-and-so all night long.
DO:

1. RSVP.
The art of the RSVP is dead, y'all. The number one gripe I hear from friends who host parties is that people don't RSVP, or they do and then don't show up, so it's almost impossible to tell who is coming to your party and how much food you need. So if you get an invite to a party, and you think you'd like to go, click 'yes'. Really, it's not that hard.

2. Offer to bring something.
Chances are good that your host will say you don't need to bring anything at all, just yourself, but offering anyway is standard party etiquette. It's also a way to help your hostess defray the cost of the party, which sometimes can run pretty high. And if you are asked to bring something, for gosh sakes, don't take it home with you at the end of the night (unless your host specifically asks you to).

3. Talk to people you don't know.
Sure, all your friends are at the party. But these are all people you'll see again — how are you gonna meet new people if you just stick with your group all the time? Go by yourself to get food or drink — this is a pretty natural time to chat up people you don't know. Talking to new people is also a HUGE favor to your hostess, who will have to worry less about guests who don't know a lot of people at the party.

4. Say thanks.
Throwing parties is lots of fun, but it's also hard work. And when you work hard at something, it's nice to have somebody else say: hey, thanks. Good job. Traditional etiquette dictates that you send a mailed thank-you note to your host: in modern times, this might seem a little over the top, but thanking your hostess when you leave (and maybe even in an email or text message the next day) will always be appreciated.

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Make Your Own Vapor Rub

Vapor Rub can be pricey, but it is always a good product to have in the winter. However, there is a way you can make a homemade vapor rub. This all natural vapor rub will help you with your congestion with the chemicals. You can learn more atApartment Therapy.



If you don't already have the assortment of essential oils and coconut oil on hand, this recipe can be a little pricey. If you are the least bit interested in essential oils I highly recommend investing in these particular oils because they can all be used for other home remedies as well as aromatherapy treatments.

What You Need

Materials
30-35 drops eucalyptus essential oil
12 drops peppermint essential oil
12 drops lavender essential oil
12 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
5 TB coconut oil
2 TB cocoa butter
1 1/2 TB beeswax
Tools
Saucepan
Wooden spoon
Glass jar with a lid
Measuring spoons
Instructions

1. In a saucepan (I used my stockpot!) on low heat, melt the coconut oil and cocoa butter. Once melted, add the beeswax.

2. Once the beeswax has melted, remove the pan from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes so the heat won't spoil the essential oils.

3. Add in all the essential oils.

4. Pour the mixture into your glass and let it set up for 15-20 minutes. It might be a bit softer than what you are used to, so proceed with caution. And remember - a little goes a long way! Makes one 4 ounce jar.

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Reuse Leftover Coffee Grounds

Do you know those coffee grounds that you thought you could not use?  There are five ways that you can re-purpose spent coffee grounds.  Keep reading this blog to learn how you can use them for cleaning, compost, and other various home solutions.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.




5 Ways to Use Spent Coffee Grounds
1. Compost

The great thing about sticking to simple brew methods that use only a paper filter and coffee grounds is that both are compostable. Used coffee grounds happen to be rich in nitrogen, which makes them great for composting. (Worms love coffee almost as much as you do!) In a compost pile, aim for a ratio of one part leaves to one part fresh grass clippings to one part coffee grounds. Keep in mind that freshly brewed coffee grounds won't have the same effect on your garden; you need to be sure that they have broken down and composted first.

2. Clean dishes

Because of the rough texture of coffee grounds, they work great as an abrasive, which means you can use them to clean tough-to-wash dishes. Simply place some grounds into a cleaning rag and twist the ends with a rubber band to secure them in place. Then you have an excellent DIY coffee sponge to clean with.

3. Exfoliate

Just like coffee grounds are a good abrasive for cleaning your dishes and kitchenware, they can also serve as an exfoliant for your skin. Simply mix with equal parts olive oil and massage into your skin. The coffee grounds exfoliate, while the olive oil serves as a moisturizer.

4. Fix furniture scratches

Have a kitchen table that needs a little love? Mixed with warm water and vinegar, coffee can be rubbed into scratches to keep your furniture looking good as new.

5. Keep your refrigerator fresh

Similar to baking soda, coffee grounds can serve as a deodorizer. Simply place a bowl of grounds in your refrigerator to suck up all the bad smells.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you have a great Thanksgiving with friends and family!

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Veteran's Day Facts

Make sure to thank a veteran today for their service to our country.  There are millions of veteran's in the United States.  We want to thank them for all of their sacrifices to serve our country.  You can learn more about Veteran's Day at CNN.


There are 19.6 million veterans in the United States.

There are 1.6 million female veterans.

There are 9.3 million U.S. veterans are over the age of 65.

There are 39,890 veterans of World War II, the Korean War and theVietnam War still living.

Timeline:
November 11, 1918 - The armistice ending World War I begins at 11 am.

1919 - President Woodrow Wilson proclaims November 11 as Armistice Day.

November 11, 1921 - The first Unknown Soldier is reburied atArlington National Cemetery. The tomb has the words inscribed, "Here rests in honored glory An American Soldier Known but to God."

May 13, 1938 - Armistice Day becomes a federal holiday.

June 1, 1954 - President Eisenhower signs a bill changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to include all U.S. veterans.

May 30, 1958 - Unknown Soldiers from World War II and the Korean War are reburied next to the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

1968 - Congress changes the date of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October in order to give federal employees a three-day weekend. The change begins in 1971.

September 25, 1975 - President Gerald Ford changes the date of Veterans Day back to November 11. The change begins in 1978.

May 28, 1984 - An unknown soldier from the Vietnam War is reburied in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1998, he is identified through DNA tests as Michael Blassie, a 24-year-old pilot shot down in 1972 on the border of Cambodia.

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Have A Great Thanksgiving No Matter What

Travel can be expensive during the holiday season. However, you can still have a great holiday season with friends and family. Apartment Therapy has come up with eight ideas on how to have a great Thanksgiving even if you are apart from friends and family.  Keep reading to learn more!


Phone Tag: Consult with the host on when a good time to call would be— during the cocktail hour? After dinner when everyone's lounging about? Ideally, everyone could pass the phone around for a quick holiday chat, without interrupting the festivities. If your family has Skype capabilities, so much the better.

Send Photos, Low-Tech: Your parents, grandparents, and/or other loved ones would love to see recent (printed) photos of you (and your family and friends), especially if you or they are not on social media. Don't be shy— you look awesome and you're always doing cool stuff. Pro tip: if your grandparents— or any relatives— have vision trouble, consider having your photos printed larger than you normally would.

Send Photos, High-Tech: The day of, text your family photos of yourThanksgiving, so they can imagine where you are and what you're up to. One year I sent my family photos from my morning hike up San Francisco's Twin Peaks and then from our lovely post-dinner stroll around Bernal Heights.

Send a Treat: if you always bring fudge or cookies or peanut brittle to Thanksgiving, look into making some ahead of time and shipping it. You could also send mail-order pie, cinnamon-glazed pecans, or dark chocolate chickpeas, and while this might be a bit pricey, it's nothing compared to the cost of plane tickets.

Send a Soundtrack: Who wouldn't love a custom-made mix CD to play during dinner? If I'm hosting, the last thing I want to worry about is the music.

Send a Game: At every family gathering, we wish that someone had remembered to bring board games. Come to your family's rescue by sendingQwirkle ($20 on Amazon) or Bezzerwizzer ($16 on Amazon), and reap the rewards the next time you do visit.

Gather Family Recipes Ahead of Time: Nobody makes apple pie like your uncle or rolls like your mom, but you can try your damndest. Most cooks would be beyond flattered to be asked for one of their signature recipes, and you'll insure that their dish lives on in the family.

Declare Your Own Thanksgiving: Many of us have to work on Thanksgiving, leaving little-to-no time and energy left for cooking and feasting. Celebrate Thanksgiving on whatever day you do have off, and live it up.

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Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween Fun Fact: Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death. Learn more here.

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Reilly's Harvest Festival

This weekend head to Reilly's Farm in the North Hills for their annual Harvest Festival.  The event is being held every Saturday and Sunday in October from 10am-4pm.  The event has food, entertainment, games, and rides.  You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh.


Every Saturday and Sunday in October from 10am until 4pm, Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm in the North Hills holds it’s annual Harvest Festival for just $6.50 per person.

Take a hay ride to the Pumpkin Patch to pick your own pumpkin. After that, you can head to the New Boo Barn with added excitement, the Cornstalk maze, Marshmallow roast, Balloon Typhoon, Pedal Go Carts, and much, much more. Visit the website for specifics.

Wagons depart every 15-20 minutes between the hours of 10am – 4pm. Children under 1 are free, and pumpkins from the patch are extra.

Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm
1120 Roosevelt Rd
Pittsburgh, PA , 15237
412-364-8270 or 412-364-8662

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What Items Should You Stockpile?

Closet space is premium in any apartment.  However, there are certain items you should not be afraid to stock pile in your closet.  These items never go back, and they always come in handy during emergencies.  Keep reading to learn about these items, and you can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

1. Emergency supplies — Keeping a stock of water, flashlight batteries, first aid supplies and some cash will give you peace of mind that you'll be ready to handle any tough situation that may arise. That's more than worth the chunk of closet space they spend.

2. Toilet paper — Yep, those mega packs do take up a lot of closet real estate but think about the alternative. Can you say "drip dry?" Worth it.

3. Your paint color — The day will come when you'll have to touch up or color match your paint job, so keeping an extra quart of your chosen color will save you tons of hassle later on.

4. Extra sheets — When you're drop-dead tired, have a last minute couch surfer or have a pet or kid accident on your hands, the last thing you want to do is a load of laundry. You'll never be mad at yourself for investing in a few extra sets of sheets.

5. A generic gift — With the holidays approaching, buying, wrapping and storing a one-size-fits-all gift will ensure that you avoid the oh, so awkward instance of a neighbor or acquaintance dropping by with a holiday gift for you when you have nothing to offer in return.

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Saffron Pulao Rice

Normal white and fried rice can get boring as side dishes. However, there is an indian dish that is perfect for that special occasion. Saffron Pulao is an specialty that includes one of the most expensive spices in the world Safron. Keep reading to learn more about the dish and how to make it! You can learn more at The Kitchn.

Saffron pulao is an elegant accompaniment to your favorite Indian dishes and is traditionally served as part of Indian festival meals. Saffron, being one of the most expensive spices in the world, adds to the mystery and fragrance of this dish. It is definitely a keeper when you want to make an everyday dinner special.

I like to serve this when I have guests coming over and I want something more special than plain steamed rice. I also add lightly toasted cashews and raisins to my pulao, and they add a delicious sweet and nutty element to the pulao.

Pulaos — or pilafs, as they are often also called — can be made with several different ingredients, like seasonal vegetables and meats, and are very regional. The difference between pulao and biriyani is that biriyani is a layered rice dish, while a pulao tends to be cooked all together. Pulaos are also traditional all over the Middle East, and not just the sub-continent.

This saffron pulao can also be turned into biriyani rice by layering it with slow cooked meats, seafood or vegetables.




Saffron Rice Pulao

Makes 4 to 5 cups

1 1/2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter) or neutral oil
5 whole green cardamom pods, lightly smashed but left whole
5 whole cloves
2-inch piece whole cassia bark, broken (or 1 cinnamon stick, left whole)
2 whole bay leaves
1 whole star anise
2 cups basmati rice (do not soak)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
3 cups boiling water
Generous pinch of saffron threads, soaked in a little warm water
Small handful toasted cashew nuts and raisins, to garnish

Warm the ghee in a heavy pot with a well fitting lid over medium heat. Add the cardamom, cloves, cassia bark or cinnamon, bay leaves and star anise and sauté for one minute, until the spices are fragrant. Add the rice and salt, and cook gently for an additional 2 minutes, until the rice is coated with the spices and is aromatic.

Pour in the boiling water and the saffron. Let the water come to a boil, then turn the heat down to just above the lowest setting. Cover the pot tightly with aluminum foil, crimping it at the edges so it forms a tight seal, and place a lid on top. Use oven mitts to do this if the pot rim is hot.

Cook, undisturbed, for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, move the pot off the heat and let it sit for an additional 5 minutes.

Uncover the rice, and fluff it up with a fork. Stir in the cashews and raisins, if using and serve.
Recipe Notes

You can make various kinds of pulao rice dishes using this method for saffron rice. Vegetables would go in just after the spices, and get cooked for a couple of minutes before adding rice. Add a teaspoon of garam masala to the vegetables, and let the spice mix cook out for an extra burst of flavor.

You can also make a sweet version of this pulao (a traditional Mangalorean/ Goan version), which goes brilliantly with spicy food. Instead of adding the salt, add 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar plus a pinch of salt to the rice. Leave out the saffron, and stir in sweet, caramelized onions, toasted cashews and lightly fried raisins at the end. Use ghee for the best flavor.

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We're Back!

Are you ready for the Pirates versus Giants Wild Card game tomorrow?  The Pirates are in the playoffs again.  Volquez will be the starting pitcher.  Will you be watching or attending the game?

Here’s how far Edinson Volquez has come in one year: Last season he posted a 5.71 ERA and allowed the most earned runs in the league. This season the Pirates just chose him to start the Wild Card playoff game Wednesday against the Giants … and it’s not even a crazy decision.

Pittsburgh going with Gerrit Cole in Game 162 of the regular season rather than holding him back was worth debating, but once that decision was made Volquez is a deserving choice after throwing 193 innings with a 3.04 ERA. Not a bad return for a one-year, $5 million investment.

However, his secondary numbers weren’t nearly as good as his ERA and, as always with Volquez, control is a huge issue with 3.3 walks per nine innings, 14 hit batters, and a league-high 15 wild pitches.

You can learn more here.

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Harvest Moon Wine Festival

This weekend make sure to head to Millvale for the Harvest Moon Wine Festival.  The festival is this Saturday from 5pm-8pm.  There will be live entertainment, food, wine, and more.  You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh.

Event: Harvest Moon Wine Festival (Enter ticket giveaway below!)
Location: Millvale Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15209
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2014
Time: 5pm until 8 pm
Cost: $40 and $20 for food only
Description: The Borough of Millvale and The Millvale Borough Development Corporation will host the fifth annual Harvest Moon wine festival on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Millvale Riverfront Park. The event will feature a single session; 5-8 PM.

Tickets include wine, live entertainment by Etta Cox Band, fresh locally grown food, honey, tea, coffee, chocolates, desserts, specialty beers, and a bottomless souvenir logo tasting glass. Ticket cost is $40; designated drivers can purchase a food ticket for $20. Bike or kayak to the festival and receive a free gift. The Harvest Moon Wine Festival will be held at the Millvale Riverfront Park on the shore of the Allegheny River.

Western Pennsylvania wines will be featured along with live jazz, fresh prepared local food grown in Millvale and great wine pairings from our friends and partners. Wine by the bottle and case, merchandise and other sundries are offered by various vendors on a pay-per-item basis.

Monies raised will help the Nonprofit Millvale Borough Development Corporation stabilize, revitalize and rejuvenate Millvale’s neighborhoods, through the development of housing, and businesses. This is a 21 and over event.

Enter to win a pair of tickets by emailing us at info@livingpittsburgh.com. Subject title the email Harvest Moon. In the body, include your first and last name, contact email, and phone number. Winners will be selected and notified on Monday, September 22. You must reply to the email to claim tickets.

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Apple Monkey Bread

Are you ready for some fall recipes on your dinner table?  Apple desserts are some of our favorite treats for fall.  We have found a new creative recipe that you probably have never made.  Try this recipe out this weekend and let us know how it goes.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.

These little monkey breads are designed for eating on the go a little more easily than the full-sized traditional monkey bread that needs to be picked apart piece by piece. They are baked in muffin cups, and they come out all gooey and crisp from the butter. They get a lovely lemony glaze, creamy and touched by honey.

And yet they're not too sweet. That's the beauty of using pizza dough here — it's not too rich, and not sweet at all. So you have chunks of dough, yeasty and tender, encased and baked in a buttery, cinnamon glaze, and tumbled together with chopped apples, raisins, and (if you like!) dried cranberries.

All together these are a marvelous breakfast treat — warm and sweet from the oven, and good for eating on the go, or at a leisurely breakfast with family.

And one last note: For anyone who has ever had the cobblestone at Panera Bread, that muffin-shaped monkey bread of cinnamon, raisins, and citrus glaze, these are really an attempt to get them at home. I like these much better — they have all the right flavors, but they're not so teeth-achingly sweet.

Apple Cinnamon Mini Monkey Breads
Makes 12 mini monkey breads

1 1/2 pounds prepared pizza dough OR 1 batch dough (below)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup mixed dried fruit, such a mix of raisins, currants, and cranberries
2 small or 1 large apple, about 1/2 pound
1 lemon, zested
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
Flour, for dusting the dough

For the glaze:
1 tablespoon cream or milk
2 teaspoons honey
Juice of 1 lemon, about 3 tablespoons
3/4 to 1 cup powdered sugar

Lightly mist a large piece of parchment or baking sheet with baking spray. Lay the dough out on it and pat into a roughly 2-inch-thick rectangle. Use a knife or bench scraper to cut it into 4 roughly equal pieces. Cut each of these into 12 lumps, for a total of about 48 dough lumps about the size of your thumb. Sprinkle flour over top of the dough pieces, cover with towel, and set aside while you prepare the monkey bread filling.

Prepare a 12-cup muffin pan by lightly greasing the wells or lining with paper muffin cups.

To make the filling, melt the butter in a saucepan or the microwave. Stir in the vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and salt and set aside to cool completely.

Roughly chop the dried fruit and place in a large bowl. Peel and core the apples, and grate them into the bowl with the dried fruit. Stir in the lemon zest as well as the brown sugar. Sprinkle the dough pieces again lightly with flour, to help keep them from sticking to each other, then toss them with the dried fruit, apples, and brown sugar. Pour the completely cooled melted butter into the bowl and stir to coat the pieces of dough.

Quickly scoop up handfuls of the dough and fruit mixture and place them in muffin cups (about 4 pieces to each cup). If there is any leftover butter in the bowl, pour this evenly over the monkey breads.
At this point the monkey breads can be covered lightly and refrigerated overnight. When ready to bake, take out of the fridge and let them rise for 1 hour before baking.

Set aside in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.

Heat the oven to 400°F and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until browned on top and the insides register about 190°F on an instant read thermometer.

While they are baking, make the glaze. Warm the cream and honey in the microwave or in a small saucepan until the honey is dissolved. Whisk together with the lemon juice and powdered sugar until it forms a thick, creamy glaze.

Remove the monkey breads from the oven and drizzle the glaze over the tops. Serve warm.

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Oktoberfest

Just a few minutes from the city you can celebrate Oktoberfest in Greentree.  Music, food, and activities start this Saturday at Greentree Park!  You can learn more below and at the Greentree borough website!

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Half Priced Pizza Deals

Pizza is a staple no matter how old you are. However, that does not mean you need to pay a lot for a good pizza. Pittsburgh has some great half priced pizza deals throughout the week. You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh.





1/2 Priced Pizza Time!


If you’re looking for half-priced pizzas in Pittsburgh then look no further because we’ve started (yes, just started) our list of local half priced pies. Of course we always love to add to our lists, so if you know of other great half priced pizza deals, please send them our way at info@livingpittsburgh.com.

Joe Mamas – half priced pizzas daily from 4-5pm, dine in only
3716 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 621-7282

Fuel & Fuddle – half priced pizzas from 11pm until 1am every day
212 Oakland Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 682-3473

Lupi’s Famous Pizza – BOGO pizzas (even the toppings)
2311 Babcock Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(412) 931-0666



Juliano’s – half priced pizzas on Mondays. Dine in only. Excludes gourmet pizzas
5476 Steubenville Pike
Robinson Township, PA 15136
(412) 787-2959

Bites and Brews – half priced small pies Monday through Friday from 5pm until 7pm
5750 Ellsworth Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 361-4425

Sharp Edge Beer Emporium - half priced 9 inch pizzas from 5pm until 7pm Monday through Friday. Dine in only.
302 S. St. Clair Street
Pittsburgh PA 15206
(412) 664-3537

Elements Contemporary Cuisine - half priced pizza during happy hour M-F 4pm until 6pm. Dine in only.
444 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 251-0168

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Strip District World Festival

In just two weeks, the annual Strip District World Festival will begin.  Have you attended the festival held in Pittsburgh every year.  This event includes music, entertainment, and food from around the world.   This event has something for all ages, and it is a must see for every resident of Pittsburgh.  You can learn more here.

The Festival

Join us for food, fun and music from around the world as the Strip District World Festival celebrates the cultures of Pittsburgh’s melting pot. In 2013 the top-notch entertainment included everything from reggae, Irish and Italian music to a Chinese lion dance and Bruce Springsteen and Rolling Stones tribute acts. Ethnic food as well as festival favorites ensure that no one goes home hungry. Stay tuned for this year’s entertainment schedule.


Friday September 12 – 6pm-9pm
Saturday September 13 – 12pm-9pm
Sunday September 14 – 12pm-7pm

What to Expect

• Great music & entertainment
• Ethnic food booths
• Games & activities for kids
• Sponsor booths and giveaways
• Sidewalk sales
• Plus much more!

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Little Italy Days in Bloomfield

We love Italian food!  This weekend in Bloomfield you can check out the annual Little Italy Days.  This event starts Thursday and lasts until Sunday.  There will be free parking at this event along with food, games, and family activities. Keep reading and check out Living Pittsburgh for more information.

Event: Bloomfield Little Italy Days
Location: Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh, PA
Date:Thursday, August 21 through Sunday, August 24, 2014
Time: Thursday 6-10pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm-10pm, Sunday 12pm – 7pm
Cost: Free to attend (food & games additional)
Description: Bloomfield Little Italy Days is that time of the year when Bloomfield wears its rich Italian heritage proudly and loudly on its sleeve. Complete with all the bocce & cannoli you can possibly play & eat, the lively three-day festival culminates with a spectacular and dazzling Madonna della Civita procession along Bloomfield’s Liberty Avenue commercial district.

The family-friendly celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture features live music, children’s activities, contests, dancing, and of course Bloomfield’s signature cornucopia of tasty food offerings.

For event-goers traveling to Bloomfield, Little Italy Days features free parking in all metered lots and spaces. Please visit the Little Italy Days website for a complete schedule of events and additional information.

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Great New Items at Heinz Field

Will you be attending the first home game of the season this weekend? The Steelers take on the Bills and a new team is not the only thing new at Heinz Field. There are many new amenities that fans will get to enjoy this season. You can learn more here.



A new scoreboard, wifi, and new hamburger choices highlight the list of new features.


It’s not going to take Steelers fans long to notice what is new at Heinz Field for 2014, as the bright new scoreboard in the Northwest corner of the stadium is a beacon for diehard fans and hard for anyone to miss.

The Steelers installed the 35-foot by 73-foot high-definition scoreboard this offseason and it will thoroughly enhance the game day experience for fans, showing game highlights, statistics and scores from around the league, and visible to those who can’t easily see the scoreboard in the South Plaza.

The Heinz Field grass field looked lush and green, ready for football, and will be re-

sod midway through the 2014 season and after the WPIAL Championship games.

But that isn’t all that’s new this year, and fans will be able to enjoy all of it when the Steelers host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 16 for their first home game of the year.

Additions to the Heinz Field food menu always get fan’s taste buds going and this year they will be able to enjoy incredible burgers on a stick and gourmet artesian sausages in the clubs and concourses, my favorite the carved turkey and pasta-stuffed meatballs in the clubs all prepared by Aramark and Burgatory sliders and milkshakes in the suites.

The highlight of the new menu is Aramark’s Emperor (Chuck Noll) Gourmet Burger on the main concourse, named for the legendary Steelers’ coach that passed away this offseason. And it got rave reviews from those who tasted it during the “What’s New at Heinz Field” tour on Tuesday. Fans will also be able to enjoy personal pan pizzas from Fox’s Pizza on the main concourse and the D-Line Burger in the club, and you might want to bring a defensive lineman along with you to finish it.

“Every year we sit down and look at items we eat every day and think how can we make it in the stadium and get it to the guests the way it would be on your dining room table,” said Aramark Executive Chef John DiMartini. “We’re trying to make this fun food, different ways to do things, fun novelty ideas. Once the season is over we start talking about ideas for the next year.”


While fans are enjoying the latest culinary delights they can follow the Steelers on the mobile app, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram thanks to Wifi that is now available in the FedEx Great Hall and West Main Concourse. Clubs and suites also have free Wifi, and customer service reps will be stationed throughout Heinz Field to deal with issues.

Another feature this season is the Bud Light Deck, located under the Northwest Scoreboard. The deck is a private area and tickets will be distributed by Bud Light through retail activations, customer events, contests and promotions.

Heinz Field will also host the Joe Greene jersey retirement on Sunday, Nov. 2 when the Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens.

Other highlights for 2014 include:
- The Steeline Drum Line will entertain fans from the field level this season.
- Digital menu boards have been added to the club level, in both the East and West Clubs, to enhance the ordering process.

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Take a Cooking Class on Vacation

Do you want to learn how to cook from various cultures around the world?  Have you ever thought about taking a cooking class on your vacation?  We have some great tips on how to find and take a cooking class on vacation.   You can learn more at The Kitchn.



1. Research, research, research.

The more you search beforehand, the better prepared you'll be. My favorite sites for research are Tripadvisorand Yelp — they provide plenty of feedback from people who have actually taken the classes and even photos of the food they cooked.


Learning how to make nyonya laksa at Food Playground in Singapore

2. Look local.

Many large cities have professional culinary schools that offer classes to travelers. However, my best experiences have been with small cooking classes at restaurants and peoples' homes. Look for native cooks if you're interested in learning home cooking and professional schools for honing techniques.


Expert spring roll preparation at Food Playground cooking class in Singapore

3. Decide how hands-on you want to be.

Are you looking for an interactive experience behind the cutting board, or do you want sit back and watch dinner being prepared as you sip a glass of wine? This distinction can make or break the experience, so be sure to ask if you'll be preparing the food or observing.

4. Book early.

Book early, especially if you're planning on trying out a small class, as peak travel time slots fill up quickly. You don't want to be left without a spot just because you put off making a call to Switzerland to get more details, for example. And don't fret if your favorite class is already filled up — try reaching out and they most likely can squeeze in another seat.


Making ricotta basil tortelloni outside of Lake Como, Italy

5. Think post-vacation.

If you're like me, my favorite part of taking a cooking class away from home is coming back to cook those dishes in my own kitchen. This can be tricky if you took a class with local ingredients that you're unable to find back home (pandan leaves, I'm looking at you!). Prepare for this by asking to take home the recipes and asking for any suggestions on where to find or how to substitute these special ingredients closer to home.

Do you take cooking classes on vacation? What tips do you have for finding a good one?

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Extra Storage

It does not matter how big your apartment is, everyone can always use a little more storage.  Squeezing storage out of small spaces is something Apartment Therapy is great at teaching renters about..  Keep reading this blog, and check out Apartment Therapy to learn how to gain storage in any kind of apartment.

One of the biggest challenges of small space living is... where does all the stuff go? If you feel like you've maxed out all your storage but you still have things that need a home, this post is for you. Here are ten often-overlooked spots where you can squeeze a little extra storage out of a small space.

Above: Hang a set of wall-mounted shelves above a radiator. Spotted on VT Wonen.

The space above your door is the perfect place to mount a shelf to store books and other sundries, as spotted in the New York home of Ashlina Kaposta of The Decorista.

→ Small Space Storage Solution: Look Above the Door

What about above the bed? If you mount the shelf high enough, you won't have to worry about bumping your head when you wake up. Photo from Share Design.

→ More Space-Saving Solutions for Small Bedrooms

Use the space above your kitchen cabinets to store cookbooks, as in John's Sunlit Studio (from out 2013 Small Cool Contest).

Or try this: put baskets above the cabinets for lesser-used kitchen items, as in this home from Better Homes & Gardens.

Mount the lid of a mason jar under the bottom of your cabinets. Then use the jar to store little things that you want to be in easy reach. Spotted on House to Home.

→ More Smart Solutions for Small Kitchens

Make the most of the space in your home with a long, low console that goes under a window. Spotted on My World Apart.

→ Small Space Secrets: Swap Your Bookcases for Wall Mounted Shelving

Park a catch-all basket under a console table, as spotted in Jessica & Scott's East Coast Nest.

Another place to squeeze out a little extra storage is the back of the door to your medicine cabinet. These stick on pods are great for organizing makeup, or, if your medicine cabinet is made of metal, you can add magnets to the smaller things you use the most (lipstick, mascara, etc) and attach them to the inside of the door.

→ 10 Small Space Storage Solutions for the Bathroom

And don't forget about the inside of your cabinet doors. You can hang small hooks there for things like measuring spoons that you use often and want to be in easy reach. 'Baking Pantry in a Cabinet' DIY from Jenny Steffens.

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