Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

Good Dee’s “Just Add Water” Frosting Mixes

Good Dee’s whips up the perfect treat for health-conscious frosting lovers with an all-new, patent-pending Just Add Water collection of low-carb, deliciously simple mixes sweetened with low-calorie allulose and erythritol. Founded and led by native Texan-turned-New Yorker Deana Karim, Good Dee’s delivers a wide selection of full-flavored, low-carb baking mixes and pantry essentials. Using only the highest-quality, innovative ingredients and no added sugar, the clean-eating company proudly offers options compatible with most diets, including gluten, soy, wheat and nut. Now, enjoy the endless possibilities of all-new Just Add Water frosting mixes – including Cream Cheese Frosting, White Chocolate Frosting, and Dark Chocolate Frosting – ideal for cakes, dips, ganaches, hot chocolate, and more.

Free of gluten and maltitol, Good Dee’s Just Add Water frosting mixes are a delight for the tastebuds and a cleaner approach to baking. The Cream Cheese variety is sugar alcohol-free and sweetened with allulose, a low-glycemic alternative found naturally in dried fruit that offers a similar taste and texture to sugar. The White Chocolate and Dark Chocolate varieties are sweetened with erythritol, a naturally occurring, low-calorie sugar substitute. Simply combine Just Add Water frosting mix with 3 tablespoons of water to enjoy a creamy treat that pairs perfectly with desserts, dips, beverages, or picnic spreads, and stays just-whipped fresh for up to one week in the fridge.

Cream Cheese Frosting features just 60 calories (455 calories for the total batch) and 1g net carbs per serving, delivering a rich, unmistakable cream cheese flavor that pairs perfectly with carrot cake, sweet apples, or salty pretzels. White Chocolate Frosting features just 35 calories (420 for the total batch) and 1g net carbs, working well as a delectable whipped cream replacement alongside key lime, green apples, or sea salt caramel. Dark Chocolate Frosting features just 25 calories and 2g net carbs per serving (300 for the total batch), offering up an ideal complement to mint, fresh banana, or tart berries. Each mix offers 13 delectable servings and around 35 calories per 2 tablespoons.

Featuring nothing but real, honest ingredients, discover the full collection of delectable Good Dee’s all-in-one baking mixes (just $11.99 each) and health-conscious pantry staples at select natural food stores, supermarket chains, and independent grocery stores nationwide. Explore new Cream Cheese Frosting, White Chocolate Frosting, and Dark Chocolate Frosting Just Add Water mixes, along with tantalizing baking mixes like Blueberry Pancake and Low-Carb Chocolate Brownie, at GoodDees.com. Get inspired by innovative clean eating recipes and baking ideas to satisfy every craving on Instagram @GoodDeesMix.

About Good Dee’s:

Created and founded by native Texan-turned-New Yorker Deana Karim, Good Dee’s proves that health-conscious living and decadent indulgence really do mix. Give in to cravings guilt-free with Good Dee’s complete collection of baking mixes designed for low-carb, restricted, and special diets. The tasty solution to a lifetime of deprivation and struggle with weight gain, Good Dee’s offers innovative, full-flavor mixes free of gluten, soy, wheat, and added sugar. Also available in nut-free brownie, blondies, chocolate snack cake, and muffin mix. Learn more and shop all flavors and varieties – priced at just $11.99 each – online at GoodDees.com. Find inspirational recipes and baking ideas on Instagram @GoodDeesMix.

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Izo Sotol – a Step Between Tequila and Mezcal

A Step Between Tequila and Mezcal, Award-Winning IZO Spirits Introduces a Pure-Distilled Sotol 15 Years in the Making

Part of a sustainably-crafted collection, the earthy flavor of IZO Sotol adds a rich depth to fan-favorite cocktails and a subtle smokiness perfect for sipping

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 3rd, 2020): A step between Tequila and Mezcal, experience the rich, earthy notes of Sotol – a pure-distilled spirit 15 years in the making – from award-winning IZO Spirits. Founded by Mexico native Gaston Martinez, IZO offers premium, flavorful spirits produced sustainably right in the heart of rural Durango, according to centuries of tradition. Now, released as part of the complete IZO collection, Sotol adds a rich depth to fan-favorite cocktails and offers a subtle smokiness perfect for sipping.

“This is the only IZO spirit not made from agave,” explains Martinez. “But you simply can’t have a true Mexican-inspired collection without the depth and light sweetness of traditional Sotol.”

Named for the round-shaped root of the silver-blue plant from which it is made, IZO Sotol comes from the Desert Spoon found among the high desert landscape of Northern Mexico. While agave matures at roughly eight years, flowering only once and producing around five bottles of Tequila per plant, the Desert Spoon blooms every few years of its 15-year lifespan and produces just one precious bottle of Sotol. At maturity, relying on a similar process to Mezcal, the IZO Jimadores remove the outer leaves, and extract the piña (or “heart”), which is then slow cooked in a lava lined pit, fired by hand selected local Oak. The juice is then fermented and distilled twice to produce a clean, smooth Sotol from start to finish.

Considered the official drink of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Martinez’s own home town of Durango, Sotol is best enjoyed by the sip to experience its full flavor. It can also be used in place of Tequila for a sophisticated twist on a variety of cocktails. Try it in a refreshingly simple Sotol and Sage – an upgrade on the classic summer Mojito:

● 1 oz lime juice

● ½ oz agave nectar

● 2 oz IZO Sotol

● 2-4 oz soda water

● 5-10 fresh Sage leaves

Muddle lime juice and Sage leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, the agave nectar, IZO Sotol, and soda water. Shake gently to combine, then strain over a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with a spritz of soda water, garnish with a Sage leaf and enjoy.

Explore the clean taste of traditional IZO Sotol, along with a full collection of IZO agave spirits – including Mezcal Joven, Mezcal Ensamble, Mezcal Reposado, Mezcal Añejo, and Tequila Extra Añejo Cristalino – at IZOMezcal.com. Taste the proud tradition of agave spirits sustainably distilled “from ground to glass,” ensuring consistent, perfectly-balanced flavor. Discover the rich history behind the full-bodied IZO Agave Spirits collection, along with refreshing cocktail recipes, at www.IZOMezcal.com.

About IZO Agave Spirits:

Founded by Gaston Martinez – a native of Durango, Mexico – IZO is a collection of premium, handcrafted agave spirits produced sustainably right in the heart of his rural hometown according to centuries of tradition. Made sustainably from slow-roasted, wild agave hearts harvested on local ranches, every sip of award-winning IZO Mezcal speaks to generations of Mezcaleros bringing people together around shared values of community, celebration, and savoring the reward of a job well done. Every aspect of IZO pays respect to its point of origin, from the locally-sourced Onyx featured atop the bottle to the elegant, minimalist label and bottle design that allows the flavorful spirit within to shine. The pure, sophisticated taste of IZO Mezcal tells the story of centuries’ old Mexican tradition and of one man’s vision to share it with the world.

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Both Feet on the Ground by Marshall Urich

You’re stressed out, tired of looking at the same four walls, drained by the negativity on social media, and exhausted from juggling work with homeschooling and entertaining your kids. No matter your age, location, or financial standing, there is a simple, effective therapy that is abundantly available, and it’s right outside your door.

“Get out and stay out—as often and for as long as you can,” champions Marshall Ulrich in his latest release, Both Feet on the Ground: Reflections from the Outside.

Ulrich, an ultrarunner who has also scaled the Seven Summits and competed in multi-day adventure races, shares stories of his expeditions in such far-flung places as Borneo, Tibet, and South Africa, as well as his lifelong commitment to farming his land in Colorado. Ulrich has climbed Mount Everest, run through the searing heat of the Gobi Desert, and ridden the huge waves off Morocco. But there’s no need to be an extreme athlete to reap the benefits of forming physical connections with the natural world.

Ulrich urges readers to simply unplug, plant their feet firmly in the earth, fill their lungs with clean air, and dream of bold and personally compelling outdoor adventures.

“Your adventures in natural places—even if, for now, it’s just sitting outside or walking around your neighborhood—can put you back in touch with who you are; how resilient, resourceful and hardy you can be,” Ulrich says.

Throughout Both Feet on the Ground, Ulrich shares valuable insights from his endeavors, along with useful findings and recommendations from other experts, all organized around themes of earth, air, fire and water. His hope is that you’ll be inspired to find new ways of engaging with these natural elements yourself to experience the healing powers of the outside world.

Author Marshall Ulrich is an extreme endurance athlete—ultrarunning icon, Seven Summits mountaineer, and adventure racer—who loves sharing his exploits to entertain and help motivate others to reach their goals. He’s raced, led expeditions, or climbed mountains in nearly 30 countries, and visited 30 more, so his stories are about more than just physical accomplishments. Cutting his teeth running across Death Valley, he’s also climbed Mount Everest, run in the jungles of Fiji, and completed a record-setting run across America. Dubbed the Endurance King, he defies the ideas of “too far,” “too old” and “not possible.” Revered among athletes, Marshall is also the author of Running on Empty. An acclaimed speaker, he’s lectured on various elite cruise lines, and given talks at businesses, schools, race expos, and professional conferences, including the Royal Geographic Society, Morgan Stanley, and Wilderness Medicine.

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Pure Fyre by KristaLyn A. Vetovich

High-vibe author and astrologist KristaLyn A. Vetovich recently published her latest New Age, fantasy novel: “Pure Fyre.” This novel is set in a high-vibe world where the characters tap into their powers by using metaphysical concepts, such as connecting with crystal energy and spirit guides. “Pure Fyre” entertains readers with a mystical, adventure tale and teaches them valuable life lessons. An essential lesson Vetovich teaches readers is finding your place in a world where you don’t feel like you fit in. Throughout the novel, Vetovich includes strong female characters to inspire female readers to find their personal strengths. Finally, Vetovich teaches readers to find their inner power.

For more information click here

Limited Edition Grill Box – Vital Choice

Vital Choice has a new Limited Edition product, the Limited Edition GrillBox, just in time to order for Father’s Day and it is the ultimate grilling gift for any grillmaster!

Summer favorites and grilling planks is, what I think, makes this the ultimate gift and, with a savings of over $40, it has everything your grill master would want for $149 (valued at $196) including:
Skin-on Wild Sockeye Salmon portions
Sockeye Salmon Burgers
Wild Mahi Mahi,
Wild Artisan Shrimp
Alder Grilling planks

For more information click here

VIRTUAL SHORT FILM SPRING MINI-FESTIVAL ONLINE

Given the current situation that requires us to maintain healthy social distancing, CortoCircuito Latino Shortfest of NY and the Instituto Cervantes of NY will celebrate the Virtual Short Film Spring Minifestival with films coming from Spain, Latin America, and Latinos in the U.S. on June 4 and 11. Each program will bring unique stories that can be attended from home and accessible to individuals in the tristate area (NY, NJ, CT). In order to access Corto Circuito’s Virtual Cinema, people must register for each program in advance at www.cortocircuito.us
Each program will be made available for 12 hours (12 pm-11:59 pm) on June 4 and June 11 respectively. All foreign-language films are subtitled in English. Following aesthetic criteria more than commercial, our selection is comprised of films that are unavailable on traditional platforms and have participated and/or received awards from some of the most important festivals in the world.

Corto Circuito was formed to showcase short films made by filmmakers from and about Latin America, Spain, and the United States. The festival is unique in its mission to promote a wider and deeper understanding of the roots, life, and diverse cultures of the Spanish and Portuguese speaking communities.

PROGRAM #1 – THURSDAY, JUNE 4 from 12 pm to 11:30 pm

NIÑOS DE MI TIERRA / THE KIDS FROM MY LAND
María Fernanda Jiménez | Colombia | Documentary | 2018 | 11 min
Lady (11) is a young indigenous expert in the cultivation of the papachina, who belongs to the Wounaan Docordó Reserve, Unión Balsalito. Her father is a teacher at the community school and her mother weaves baskets with Palma de Werrengue. Children of the Colombian Pacific have the chance to engage with Lady and ask her questions, learning through the exchange of their culture, ancestral knowledge, and games.

ASÍ SON LAS COSAS/ THE WAY THINGS ARE
Juan Pablo Zaramella / Argentina / Animation / 2018 / 7 min
Everyday elements have life and personality; They open to the viewer a new universe that is very similar to the one they know.

11:40
Claudia Ruiz | Argentina | Fiction | 2018 | 12 min
Damián (10) and his little brother Matias (7) begin to attend a school located next to a jail. Damián looks at the watch he just received for his birthday and waits, anxiously, for it to strike 11:40.

UN MINUTITO / A MINUTE
Javier Macipe| Spain | Fiction | 2016 | 8 min
Maria spends her days trying to collect signatures against a law she considers unfair, but nobody has time to listen to her. When she starts getting desperate, she meets Alejandro, who has a present for her.

PROGRAM #2 – JUNE 11 from 12 pm to 10:30 pm

PORQUE ME QUIEREN / BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME
Poll Andrium Landazuri | Colombia | Documentary | 2019 | 9 min
Poll, who feels neither male nor female, and who has expressed their lesbianism openly from an early age, gathers their large family, residents of the Siloé neighborhood in Cali, to ask them a simple and at the same time profound question: Why do you love me?

THE FOURTH KINGDOM / EL CUARTO REINO
Alex Lora, Adán Aliaga | U.S.A-Spain | Documentary | 2016 | 13 min
The Fourth Kingdom is the kingdom of plastics, a redemption center in NY for immigrants and underdogs where the American Dream becomes a possibility. Through the stories of Mexican immigrant Rene, African-American Pier, disabled Eugene and the mysterious Walter from El Salvador we revisit this particular planet and their inner worlds.

IRMA
Alejo Schettini – Germán Tejeira | Uruguay | Animation | 2017 | 6 min
In a city besieged by the wind and the cold, Irma, an old dressmaker living in a building where the heating has broken, will take the initiative to do something for all her neighbors.

EL ESCARABAJO AL FINAL DE LA CALLE / THE BEETLE AT THE END OF THE STREET
Joan Vives | Spain | Fiction | 2017 | 18 min
Amadeo is a good person. He lives in a small village of Valencia, and since his wife died, he sacrifices himself in taking care of his father-in-law, Agustín, who is disabled. Due to this, he doesn’t participate much in social life in the village. One day Lolín, the fishmonger, has a magic foresight while decapitating an eel: Amadeo has only seven days to live. This fact will develop a series of events that will change his life completely.

LOS ÁNGELES 1991
Zacarias & Macgregor | U.S | Fiction | 2015 | 10 min
Los Angeles, 1991. The streets have become a hotbed of racial tension and hate about to burst… Today is an important day for Eladio: he is going to avenge the death of his older brother. Within minutes he will find out that he is not the only one who has reasons to kill someone.

For more information click here

Why Aren’t You Listening to Me? by Teresa Lodato

Conscious leadership and relationship coach Teresa Lodato, CPCC, recently released: “Why Aren’t You Listening to Me?: Elevate Your Emotional Intelligence and Connect with Your Team.” This self-awareness guidebook encourages readers, especially those who are in high-stress business roles, to develop a healthy relationship with their bodies and connect with their inner wisdom to thrive. People tend to blame others for stress in their lives but Lodato teaches the importance of shifting the focus back to themselves and healing their own lives. She encourages readers to practice autonomy from the people in their surroundings since it is beneficial for the individual to focus on their internal power. With this book, Lodato hopes readers will find their true, authentic selves by using the techniques outlined and dig further to who they are at the core of their being.

For more information click here

The Future of Instagram-Worthy Treats is the Hawaiian Mochi Donut

2013: The Year of the Cronut
2014: The Year of the Cookie Shot
2015: The Year of the Mega Milkshakes
2020: The Year of the Hawaiian Mochi Donut
The past decade has seen a variety of unique, fun dessert trends (not all of which were started by Dominique Ansel) take over different food scenes across the country. Not only have all of these desserts become massively popular food items, causing eager patrons to stand in line for a fleeting taste of these stunning and tasty treats, they’ve also become internet sensations, leaping off the screen with bright colors and visible textures.

Now, it’s time for the Hawaiian Mochi Donut to shine.
Get to know this unique treat:

Mochi Foods Hawaiian Mochi Donuts are made with a glutinous rice flour that gives an extra chewiness to each bite. The Hawaiian Mochi Donut is made with a premixed powder that was created through tireless efforts to find the perfect rice flour. The flour was chosen based on taste and that wonderful chewy texture on the inside and crispy exterior that produces a truly toothsome treat. All of the Mochi Foods Hawaii products have a unique mochi taste and Q texture that were developed by an acclaimed Taiwanese food scientist team. The “Q” factor is Taiwan’s version of the Italian “al dente,” representing the perfectly calibrated “mouth feel,” sought after and craved by savvy chefs and diners alike. The flavor? Well, that’s where you come in; there are nearly unlimited options when it comes to adding flavors and other textures to your Hawaiian Mochi Donuts by Mochi Foods.

When restaurants and bakeries become part of the Mochi Foods ‘ohana (family), they don’t just receive a bag of premix; they receive support, ideas, and collaboration — a true partnership, with Mochi Foods owner Pei Wu. In addition to this quality product she provides product knowledge and consulting services to help create the perfect products for your customers, as well as assistance with selecting and ordering any necessary equipment, and more.

“I really like to work with chefs to create different ideas. The most fun part of this whole business is supporting chefs as they get the spark to create their own donuts; the sky’s the limit with our premixes,” Wu said.
Here’s something to chew on…

According to Candy & Snack Today, a trade publication by the National Confectioners Association, there are a variety of food trends for 2020 that Hawaiian Mochi Donuts hit the mark on:

“Other” flours: “Seasoned and amateur bakers are looking for creative ingredients and an array of interesting flours…to entice the adventurous.” Our rice flour may not seem exotic, but the way that we use it certainly is.

Texture is also coming into focus for diners. The trade report mentions that “Innova reports 45 percent of US and U.K. consumers are influenced by texture when making purchases, while 68 percent are of the opinion that texture contributes to a more interesting experience.” When customers bite into a Hawaiian Mochi Donut, they get both crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Because the premix is highly customizable, individual restaurants and bakers can also add their own flare, opening up the product to incorporate other trending ingredients. Items mentioned in the report that would go great with Hawaiian Mochi Donuts include Kona coffee (another wonderful Hawaiian product), unusual butters (made with pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds, etc), and complex sugars that rely on natural sweetness (think glazes made from sweet potatoes).

Mochi Foods premixes can be used to make a wide variety of products including: bread, donuts, waffles, pancakes, hamburger buns, churros, and so much more. They make great additions to bakeries, restaurants, and food trucks. They’re wonderful as desserts and snacks and make a fun addition to any brunch service.

You’re only limited by how far your imagination… and Hawaiian Mochi Donut dough… will stretch.

Mochi-based desserts and pastries are not over-the-top or hard to prepare (unless you want them to be). They are highly customizable and appeal to a wide variety of people. Americans aren’t unfamiliar with desserts and snacks with Asian ingredients and techniques. The Hong Kong-style egg waffle and Thai rolled ice cream have both had their moments in the past few years.

“The Hawaiian Mochi Donut is a treat that visitors and locals alike have developed a passion for. Hawaii is the place in the middle of the Pacific where East meets West. It’s easy for lots of different people to fall in love with the food that comes from Hawaii, and Hawaiian Mochi Donuts are no exception,” Wu said.

Use Mochi Foods products to:

Breathe new life into an aging menu

Appeal to new customers by offering the next big thing

Be inclusive of customers with dietary restrictions

Create visually stunning treats that not only taste good, but create excitement and demand

Mochi Foods Hawaiian Mochi Donuts are currently being served at locations in 13 states in the US, as well as some international locations. Stores are popping up to serve their own versions of the treat, snacks that are both sweet and savory. At Mochill in San Francisco they’re topping donuts with Fruity Pebbles and Kinako (a soybean powder popular in Japan). At King’s Hawaiian in Torrance, CA they’re serving up a traditional Hawaiian loco moco using a mochi donut to replace the rice. At Fat Straws Bubble Tea Co. in Richardson, TX their “Chewy Puff Donuts” include cookies and cream and strawberry flavors. At Liliha Bakery in Honolulu their poi donuts are just as popular as their famous coco puffs.

Mochi Foods has premixes available for donuts, waffles, bread, and pancakes. In addition, there is a gluten-free option that won the Monde Select Gold Award in 2019.

For more information click here

Neft Vodka

NEFT Vodka, an ultra-premium vodka with a taste as memorable as its container – a portable, unbreakable barrel – that keeps NEFT cold for up to 6 hours.

Crafted in the Alps of Austria for its oxygen-rich spring water, NEFT combines four different types of non-GMO ancient rye grains – Rapidly, Amato, Pollino, and Askari – and is distilled three times in a copper-pot still using carbon layer filtering. NEFT has received a 98 point rating from the Tasting Panel, a 92 point rating and Gold Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute, was just named one of the “Top 20 Vodka Brands of 2020” by VinePair, and is a two-time Double gold medal winner as well as Best Vodka winner at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

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I, PASTAFARI

A Film By:
Michael Arthur

Synopsis:
With millions of believers worldwide, The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the world’s fastest growing religion. I, PASTAFARI follows a few brave members of the church, the Pastafarians, as they fight for their religious freedom to access privileges and exceptions in law granted to other religions. Along the way, the Pastafarians force skeptics to answer the question, “what is a real religion anyway?”

Filmmaker Statement:
“Too many people seem convinced that science is just another system of belief, and that fact and opinion are equivalent arguments. They are not. This is what drew me to Pastafarianism,” states filmmaker Michael Arthur. “ Instead of preaching, the Pastafarians use other methods to entice people to critically think for themselves. In a time of flat-earthers, anti-vaxxers, fake news, and alternative facts, the Pastafarians may be the savior the world has been waiting for.”

For more information click here

Practice With Love Pop Up Yoga at the U.S. Botanic Garden

Saturday, May 30 at 10:30 AM
Online via Zoom

Join us for our weekly community yoga class, brought to you by the United States Botanic Garden. While we typically gather in the USBG Conservatory or outdoor gardens, the Garden is supporting this virtual yoga program to continue the program for community health and well-being. During the Coronavirus pandemic we urge everyone to follow CDC guidelines to stay home and self-isolate.

We will be guiding you through a one hour meditation and yoga practice via Zoom call. Space is still first-come, first-serve, only the first 100 yogis to log in will be able to practice!

Grab a mat and a quiet space. Make sure you have a water bottle close by and maybe light a candle and turn off the lights. Perhaps open the window or practice outside on your porch.

We hope that by sharing this practice, separate but together, we can see still feel the love and support of this greater community in this time of uncertainty.

For more information click here