What are those white spots on my Velata dish?

Have you ever wondered about the white film on the Velata dish?

1. Hard water spots - these may occur based on the quality of your water and type of detergent that you may use. To combat hard water spots, we suggest either hand washing and drying your Velata dish or washing it with a 2:1 solution of distilled white vinegar to water. If using a dishwasher, try adding a detergent specifically designed to combat hard water stains.

2. Greasy White Residue - Silicone is a porous material. After extended use and heating of our chocolate, cocoa butter may seep into the pores of the dish. If not cleaned VERY thoroughly, any remaining cocoa butter will later seep out of the dish causing a greasy residue to form on the dish which may also "crystallize" over time during in storage.

In this case, we recommend washing with a grease cutting liquid dish soap and a non-abrasive scrub brush - applying light pressure as you scrub in a tight circular motion. Alternatively, you can run it through the dishwasher on a heavy duty cycle designed to cut through grease. It may require multiple washings to completely clean the dish.

In extreme cases, where the greasy residue remains, you can treat it with a paste made from baking soda and water. Gently scrub the dish with the paste and leave it on the dish for a couple of hours, allowing it to completely dry. Wash thoroughly again with soap and water to remove the paste.

 


Please be aware that the Velata dish is made with 100% pure food-grade silicone. The problems that one may encounter with our dish are not unique - they are the same problems that are encountered using other high quality silicone cookware.

Here is a link to a site with additional details on removing residue from silicone bakeware: http://www.ehow.com/how_6072028_clean-sticky-film-silicone-bakeware.html

The benefits of silicone are many - non-stick, even heat distribution, will not break, melt, warp, peel, crack, rust, stain or dent, withstands extreme hot and cold temperatures, minimal heat retention (e.g. won't burn you or your counter tops), can be molded into almost any shape and comes in almost any color, etc. At the same time - depending on your usage, water quality, dishwasher, detergent etc. it may require one of these extra little steps for care and cleaning.

 

 

To learn more about Velata or purchase Velata please visit my site at:  www.vancouverlovesfondues.ca

Motley Crue Kickstarts My Heart! - Abbotsford - April 23rd

After 32 years Motley Crue can still rock it like nobody's business!!  Ok I admit this opinion might be slightly biased as some have told me that I might have a bit of a crush on the bass player, Nikki Sixx and one of the founding members of the band.  Tommy Lee is fast after my heart these days too!!

They started with a countdown clock for the crowd.  I thought it was kinda odd but man did it work me up and get my heart pumping faster each time it counted down! 

The clock stopped at 4 seconds to the crowds surprise as they all stopped counting down.  And out came the girls, walking down the aisles carrying Motley Crue flags.  It was the perfect way to intro the first song Saints of Los Angeles, with the Lords Prayer chanting in the background.











Crue played all the crowd favorites like, Dr Feel Good, Girls Girls Girls, Shout at the Devil, Wild Side, Don't Go Away Mad.  And a new song Sex from their current album. 

Like Vince said "they played some old shit, some new shit and all the shit in between"

It certainly takes you back to the 80's.   Some people I think even wore the same clothes they wore in the 80's!!  lol 

My heart melted as the floating piano came down and Tommy Lee sat down and played the opening to Home Sweet Home.  Mick joined in on the guitar and then Tommy politely asked Nikki for some bass and before you knew it Vince came running out belting out the beginning lyrics that all of us know by heart.  











Tommy Lee who is multi-talented gave a great show on his roller coaster drum set.  Although I was highly disappointed that he didn't allow for audience participation this time for a ride!  I'm sure all the girls in the audience wore their nice bras for a chance to get on the roller coaster!  
Face it, even I would do it --- Although I'm afraid of heights and get motion sickness in the car! I would grin and bear it for Tommy!

I love how crazy songs like Kick Start My Heart makes the crowd go nuts.  Crue although older and wiser certainly still can kick some ass and bring the energy to a crowd.  The band was nice and tight and Vince hit all the notes.  The sound was awesome!  I could even feel my hair vibrating!




For the original Crue fans its always epic to hear songs from the early days.  I love that they play the oldies like Live Wire, Get a Piece of your Action, & Too Fast for Love.  It was cool listening to Nikki tell us how Live Wire was the first song they ever played together.  It reminds me of my younger days when my friend first told me about this amazing "new" band that I had to hear!  I don't remember the name of my friend but I do remember when I first heard the guitar riff of Mick Mars at the opening of Too Fast for Love I was instantly hooked.

I need to try and dig out those old albums, probably have to hunt down my nephews for those!

Motley Crue always promises a great show.  And that indeed it was!  They seemed to be playing and playing.  I didn't want it to ever end! 

There are girls, girls, girls there for my husband to drool over so definitely a well rounded show  with lots of eye candy for everyone!!  The girls are fantastic with their Cirque de Soleil style acrobatics hanging from the ceiling.  Plus they sang and they danced.  It was very entertaining.

We had a blast and even though I have seen Motley Crue several times, every time I see them, I fall in love with them more and more.  Each show is different and brings back different memories for me. 

The reviews this morning were not very warming to the boys. Well Bahumbug on them!!!  I gotta tell you I think that if your going to write a review you should at least do the research on the band so you can get the names of the band members correct and not look like a dork.  Ooops was that a bit harsh? Obviously not a Crue fan but find out what the band is about and what their fans are about. Isn't that what reporters do? It's called RESEARCH honey.

Anyone who is a true Crue fan knows that being up front you often get spit on by Nikki or get the occasional booger thrown your way or even soaked with buckets of Gatorade.  It's all part of the show.  If you ever get seats in the front and don't want to get soaked or are worried of some water, call me I'd glady switch places with you! I would have loved to been that close!  Back in the day Nikki would spew fake blood at people and it was AWESOME!!!  It's all in fun and in the name of Rock and Roll.  It's not distasteful or disrespectful.  Its part of Motley Crue and who they are.  Lighten up its a F**** rock concert!

 Here are some pics.  I can't figure out how to upload them all at once so please visit my facebook page for more pictures.  Yes there are tons of Nikki.  I wish I could have gotten more tho!  Sucks being short sometimes:)

My Facebook Page

My Velata Cheese Review (Cheddar, Fiesta Queso & Smoked Gouda)

I was so excited that Velata finally released cheese!!  My order arrived on Friday.  I told Matt to not make any plans for dinner as we were going to try the new cheese!!!

The first one we tried was "Cheddar".  

We used the following food for dippers:

-  hot dogs (pre-cooked)

- mushrooms

- apples (sliced)

- tostitos

- broccoli & cauliflower (lightly blanched)

- potatoes (pre-baked in oven, we used new potatoes sliced thin)

- cherry tomatoes

Rating:  Good

We did find that the cheese was a bit thicker than what we preferred.  I put some milk in it and it seemed to make the consistency less thick.  I personally thought it was a bit on the salty side.  The hot dogs were too salty for me but the veggies were fantastic dipped in the Cheddar.  My husband and I quite enjoyed it with a nice bottle of Chardonnay.  I love the ease of the product.  I heated the tub in the microwave for 30 seconds, stirred it and heated it again for another 10 seconds before putting it into my Velata warmer.  I did preheat the Velata warmer on high prior to putting in the cheese.  As a meal the full tub of cheese was good for the two of us.  Clean up is such a breeze too.  I just used warm soap and water to clean out the Velata silicone dish.  Pretty easy!!! 

The next day a good friend of ours came over.  We were sitting around catching up and enjoying a bottle of wine.  Pinot Gris was the flavour of the day.  Seemed like a good idea to try the "Fiesta Queso".  



Rating:  Very Good

The Fiesta Queso was perfect with Tostitos Scoops and some salsa.  It was the perfect combination of cheese and spice.  I personally love things the spicier, the better!  However to me it was very mild.  But Matt said it he thought it had a good kick to it!  

I added milk to it as well.  We didn't heat the whole tub this time, as it was just an appetizer and snack.  I put the rest of the tub in the fridge so we can use it later.

Tonite, I thought for the "Smoked Gouda" I would try something completely different than just the regular cheese fondue.  Let's face it smoked Gouda is gonna be great no matter what you do to it right???

Tonite for dinner we are having Chicken breasts wrapped in bacon with Velata Smoked Gouda.   Here's what you will need:

4 boneless chicken breasts
4 slices bacon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
- Combine, cayenne, garlic powder, paprika and pepper.
- Flatten chicken breasts to approx 1/4" thickness.
- Season both sides of chicken with the cayenne mixture.
- Wrap each breast with a bacon slice and then brown over medium heat until bacon just begins to crisp.

Bake in a 350 oven for 20 minutes.

Melt the Smoked Gouda according to the instructions.  Add a bit of milk to it to get the right liquid consistency and pour over top of each chicken breast.

Rating:  Totally AWESOME! 

What an easy recipe and a simple way to punch up a meal!   The Smoked Gouda was very tasty and had just the right amount of smoke.  It left such a wonderful taste in my mouth.  Combined with the bacon it was the perfect combination.
Ok I admit some of the cheese sauce may have wandered over towards my steamed veggies and oven roasted potatoes!  It was a fabulous meal!  Where is my wine???!! LOL

Overall the Smoked Gouda has been our favorite.  We have yet to try the Bacon & Cheddar and will probably test that out next week!  I am completely sold on the Gouda and will be testing it out on other foods and recipes!

For a complete ingredients list and FAQ of Velata cheese please click here

To learn more about Velata or to purchase please visit my site www.vancouverlovesfondues.ca we deliver anywhere in Canada or the USA.

What necklace style should you wear?

Some necklaces go with some necklines, but not with others???? How are you supposed to keep track of all these rules??! Here is something that might help you out!

To purchase your Grace Adele necklace please my website at:  www.ilovehandbags.ca

Speaking at the May 14th Valley Women's Network (Evening Chapter) Meeting

I was recently asked by my friend, Cristine Trischuk (Valley Women's Network, Evening Chapter Coordinator) to be one of the speakers at the next meeting. 

The Valley Women's Network is a great group of ladies that I happened to just find one day when I was surfing the net.  I was looking for new and creative ways to promote my Scentsy business.  I thought it was a great idea to get out and meet new people and expand my network.  I figured it couldn't hurt to check it out.  I immediately was hooked.  Let's face it, its still tough being a woman in today's business industry.  Although its 2013 and women are allowed the same rights as a man, it still sometimes seems like an "Old Boys" network at times.  Old Boys Network is used as an idiom, a metaphor to describe an informal interrelation of men. Believe it or not it was an actual club that was formed in the early 1900's of men that just wanted to network.

Now, don't get me wrong I am in no way a feminist. But I have been told by many of my male coworkers that women don't get ahead in business as much as men do because they are way too competitive with each other and just don't support one another as a man does.  Women are often seen as gossiping in the work place and trying to undermine one another by stabbing each other in the back.  Really???  come one its 2013 are we still doing that? Well at least we are still seen that way by (some) both men and women. 

Organizations like VWN prove that theory wrong.  That is purely nothing more than a stereotype and not every woman can be painted with that brush.  These are a great group of ladies and I'm honoured to be asked to be one of the speakers and happy to be a member of this group.  We are a network of  business women who are smart, driven and want to succeed. 

I am excited to speak but yet nervous.  Although I am used to public speaking and to have done many presentations I am still getting butterflies on this one. 

If you are in the Vancouver Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley area and would like to join me at the VWN meeting please come out.  Guests are always welcomed! 

For more information about the VWN and the event, please visit the website by clicking on this link

The VWN was founded in 1980.  It's purpose is "to bring together women of all walks of life for personal and professional growth, to initiate contact between women, to provide a comfortable environment for sharing common career and social concerns, and to offer self-development opportunities. Women have come to our Network to meet other women, to make business contacts and to make friends. The Valley Women’s Network is a non-partisan, non-religious, non-affiliated group and does not have any particular single focus interest. It does not lobby for any cause or idea."