premium

Fine Living: Premium Chocolates
The world of chocolate has its highs and lows, to be sure. And the solid milk-chocolate bunnies we all enjoyed as kids are fine for 7-year-olds, but your palate has evolved beyond swapping quality for quantity. While Ferrero Rocher and Godiva are fine for some, the true chocolate connoisseur knows that the best there is to offer cannot be found in any drugstore. Thankfully, gourmet chocolate is more abundant -- and more available -- in today’s market than ever before. After all, if Americans spend about $13 billion a year on chocolate, why shouldn’t we spend it on the good stuff? La Maison du Chocolat Country of origin: France Price: Truffles are around $80 per pound and boxes are as much as $200. As one of France’s finest manufacturers, there may be no other store that makes chocolate as luxurious as La Maison du Chocolat. The name says it all; it translates to The House of Chocolate. La Maison packages its chocolates in leather boxes that are fine enough for the best jewelry. ...

Player Etiquette
There are some lessons men can learn that will instantly improve their chances; here are a few techniques on Player etiquette that will show her you’re a class act. Bad habits Chewing your nails, picking your teeth, picking your nose, smoking -- it happens all the time, and I’ve seen more guys do it involuntarily than a Player should. Displaying your bad habits when you’re picking up a woman is going to instantly kill your game; your little nuances are as glaring as the skin flakes on your shirt. Really, is that appropriate? I think not. A Player has to be prudent about the little things he does. While on the surface it may seem harmless and subtle, to her it’s an obtrusive turnoff that’s going to net you a handshake good-bye rather than the desired fervent lip-lock. Be mindful of what your intuition wants you to do, and think about the consequences if you fall back into your bad habits. Then, think about what kind of benefits you’ll get from her if you suppress your otherwise ...

Cranberries
A cousin of the blueberry, this very tart, bright red berry can still be found growing wild as a shrub, but when cultivated, is grown on low trailing vines in great sandy bogs. The American cranberry, the variety most cultivated in the northern United States and southern Canada, produces a larger berry than the wild cranberry or the European variety. Cranberries have long been valued for their ability to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Now, recent studies suggest that this native American berry may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health, prevent the formation of kidney stones, lower LDL and raise HDL good cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke, and even help prevent cancer. Fresh cranberries, which contain the highest levels of beneficial nutrients, are at their peak from October through December, just in time to add their festive hue, tart tangy flavor and numerous health protective effects to your holiday meals. When cranberries short fresh season is ...

Apples
The warm scent and flavor of baking apples is a sure sign that fall is just around the corner. In the Northern Hemisphere apples are in season from late summer to early winter. However, many varieties are available year round because they have been either kept in cold storage or imported from the Southern Hemisphere. Apples are crisp, white-fleshed fruits with red, yellow or green skin. They range in taste from moderately sweet and refreshing to pleasantly tart depending on the variety. The apple is a member of the rose family, with a compartmentalized core that classifies it as a pome fruit. Food Chart This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Apples provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Apples can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Apples, ...