http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/food/keep-the-fizz-popping-candy-recipes.html http://www.articletrader.com/food/keep-the-fizz-popping-candy-recipes.html Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:14:12 -0500 Pop Rocks the 70's cult popping candy, what fun they are if used in delicious summer desserts. Here are a couple of recipes you may wish to try:

Chocolate and Candy Pops

This dessert was inspired by a pre dessert served at Les Ambassadors in Paris. It is best made using 65 per cent dark chocolate.

Ingredients

• 6 to 8 ounces dark chocolate preferably 65 per cent cocoa coursely chopped.


• 1 quarter cup heavy cream


• 3/5 packets of Pop Rocks, 3 ounces each


• 12 to 16 round biscuits or cookies (digestive or vanilla wafers) for dipping

Combine the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over a medium heat stirring frequently until the chocolate has melted and the cream has blended with the chocolate. Pour the mixture into a small bowl, cool for a few minutes until the mixture is luke-warm and has thickened slightly. To serve, place the Popping Candy in a separate small bowl. Dip the biscuits into the chocolate mix and then into the Popping Candy (the candy will begin to crackle upon direct contact with the mixture). Eat at once.

Chocolate Pudding with hidden Pop Rocks

A simple idea from an innovative restaurant in San Franscisco where the chef buries the Pop Rocks in a dark chocolate pudding with cookie crumbs and chocolate covered Pop Rocks, created by Chef Roman Petry. A tower of sugar cookies coated in chocolate hazelnut nougat topped with mashed raspberries, nuts, coconut, vanilla cream and lime. Sprinkle Pop Rocks on the top, add meringue and fire it up with a blow-torch and crown it with more Pop Rocks.

Enjoy!





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Strawberrysoup; a website design

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/organising-a-wedding-on-the-river-thames.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/organising-a-wedding-on-the-river-thames.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:16:50 -0500
Our day was even better because it was the Mayors Thames Festival and we saw the Great River Race the day before the wedding. This is quite a site as simply hundreds of small craft powered by rowers race down the river. The Mayors has fireworks similar to those at the london Eye for New Year's Eve so we finished our evening disco cruise postioned near the Royal Festival Hall and London Eye watching an amazing fireworks display in front of St Paul's Cathedral. The river Thames really is a very special place for celebrating your marriage.

I would highly recommend planning well in advance as not only do you want to ensure you can get the date you want, but there will be a lot more to organise for a wedding compared to a normal Thames Boat Charter. Make sure you view at least three different boats and compare prices, service and quality. If the boat looks scruffy and the company seem disorganised it won't be a surprise if your special day is equally disorganised and 'scruffy'! The River Thames is a place where you get what you pay for, but go with your gut feeling and don't get pushed into chartering a boat that doesn't feel right. Make sure you have spare capacity too - a boat that can carry 200 people will probably only ba able to seat 80 or so for a dinner so you need to be aware you may need to go for a larger boat than you would if you were having a disco cruise . . .

If you choose the right company you can't go wrong - they will make sure they cover all the details at the outset and ensure at least the venue is as low stress as possible!
e drink of the regatta season Pimms! The key thing to remember is there is something for everyone, every budget and every occasion.

o get friends and family together or wine and dine those important business clients.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/summer-a-perfect-time-for-thames-boat-charter.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/summer-a-perfect-time-for-thames-boat-charter.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:56:18 -0500
What's more you can step out of a cab at a Central London Pier dressed for the evening and stroll on to your elegant London Party Boat. Cruise past some of the World's most famous landmarks and sip a glass of champagne before returning and heading into the West End to while away the early hours.

There are quiet a range of different types of boats available to charter on the River Thames in London. Speed boats including big offshore RIB's and powerful jet boats balance the more classical craft such as Havengore and the Thames Sailing Barges. There are restaurant dinner cruises where you can buy tickets and dine whilst cruising the river. For larger private charters and special occasions such as birthdays and weddings you can charter your own London Party Boat. These also vary in size catering for parties of 25 - 600 people.

Summer is a great time to get out on the river. The long warm evenings make for some beautiful cruising with the sun setting over London's sky line. The warmer weather also means you can get out on deck. Many of the charter boats on the River Thames have large open upper decks to compliment their luxurious cabins, saloons and bar areas. The Erasmus and Edwardian are particularly good for summer cruises having space for almost all passengers to be inside or out depending what the British weather supplies at the time of your river Thames boat charter.

Barbeques are a popular catering option and of course the staple drink of the regatta season Pimms! The key thing to remember is there is something for everyone, every budget and every occasion.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/henley-regatta-charter-your-thames-boat.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/henley-regatta-charter-your-thames-boat.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:38:29 -0500
Many of the hospitality organisers provide luxury River Thames boats to allow their guests to get up close to the action. The other advantage of a River Thames boat is that racing can be viewed on the move from different parts of the course. There are also the obvious amenities onboard including a bar, food and toilets. As well as the uninterrupted view of the rowing waiters serving strawberries and champagne add a whole other level to the experience.

The packages are surprisingly affordable too costing no more than a New Years Eve Thames Cruise and with the added advantage of warm summer weather and the races to keep everyone focused on not consuming too much food and drink!

A real must for your annual events calendar and a great excuse to get friends and family together or wine and dine those important business clients.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/travel-forecast-for-bank-holiday-weekend.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/travel-forecast-for-bank-holiday-weekend.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:42:23 -0500
The worst day on the railways is likely to be Sunday when there are 38 separate engineering work projects taking place. Train routes and companies affected include the West Coast Main Line, South West Trains, Arriva Trains Wales, First Capital Connect, Northern Rail and the Southern train company.

For those opting to to take a short break this weekend, it's worth remembering that the same rules though apply to holidays in the UK as they do elsewhere. So do make sure you are properly covered in case of emergencies. Travel insurance, for example, is not always thought of as a necessity if you take a break in the UK, being so close to home and under the safety net of the NHS should you have an accident but travel insurance covers much more than medical emergencies. Most people buy travel insurance for trips and holidays abroad but these policies do generally provide cover for travel within the UK, though do check the small print rather than assuming that this is always the case.

So is travel insurance that covers holidays in the UK worth considering? It can be very useful to have insurance should you subsequently cancel a trip, say for illness, as your holiday costs will be reimbursed subject to any excesses to pay. Your personal effects will probably be covered too, which is an important point to consider as theft and loss is not just confined to holidays on the ‘Costas' - these things happen at home too. What you will almost certainly not be covered for will be for medical expenses as the NHS is available for such instances. One final word of advice though is do check the small print as many, if not most, insurers do require you to have proof of booked accommodation, or a campsite booking in the case of camping and caravanning, for a minimum stay of normally 2 nights away for the policy to be in force so the one night weekend trip away is definitely outside this definition.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/tough-climate-for-airlines.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/tough-climate-for-airlines.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:41:24 -0500
But will this lead to further airlines going out of business? In the past 18 months around 25 airlines have gone under, including Silverjet, Maxjet, XL Airways and Oasis Hong Kong. When this happens, people who book their flights through travel agents might receive a refund but those travellers, who make direct bookings through company's website, may not be so fortunate. In this instance, the only real hope for passengers who buy flights directly is to seek cash back from their credit card company, assuming they used a credit card for the transaction, but anyone who paid using a debit card, cash or a cheque to can only hope that their holiday travel insurance provides protection against the collapse of an airline failing.

Not all travel insurance policies will offer this but some insurers offer Passenger Protection Insurance sold separately or part of a travel insurance policy but always check the small print if this is offered because these are quite often restrictive in their cover.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/do-declare-pre-existing-medical-conditions.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/do-declare-pre-existing-medical-conditions.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:40:17 -0500
The big question will always be "will I be covered if I have a medical history and what does that mean exactly?" All policies have similar interpretations but you should read the medical section of a policy before taking out that travel insurance. A medical history of heart, kidney, respiratory conditions or cancer should be always declared and this may very well be expanded to the medical history of close family members and travelling companions. The reason for this is to allow the insurance company to see what the potential risk is of you cancelling or curtailing your trip or falling ill whilst abroad. An insurance provider may well decline you insurance at this point or may offer to cover you for an additional premium or may even insure you but void any subsequent claims if related to the declared condition.

Certainly you will not be covered if you travel against the medical advice of your doctor. So do you need to declare? Yes you do, though not all declarations will result in a higher premium but, provided you have done so and the insurer has provided you cover, then it will greatly simplify the process if you ever have to make a claim.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/food/low-carb-for-summer-snacking-without-spuds.html http://www.articletrader.com/food/low-carb-for-summer-snacking-without-spuds.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:18:40 -0500
Here are some recipes that are a light, low carb accompaniment to Joseph Banks
Watercress Dip

* 25g or 8oz cottage cheese
* 60ml or 4 tbsp milk
* half a small onion, skinned and chopped
* 1 small garlic clove, skinned and crushed
* half a bunch of watercress washed and chopped
* salt and ground pepper

1. Beat the cheese with a wooden spoon and gradually add the milk until the mixture is smooth.
2. Stir the onion garlic and watercress into the cheese.
3. Leave for at least 2 hours in the fridge to allow the flavours to infuse. Season and serve with Joseph Banksvegetable chips.

Garlic Dip

* l medium onion, skinned and finely chopped.
* 1 small garlic clove, skinned and crushed.
* 142ml or 5 fl.oz soured cream.

1. Combine the onion with the crushed garlic and soured cream
2. Serve with Joseph Banks vegetable chips.

Salsa Dip

* Ripe tomatoes
* l onion
* garlic clove

1. Finely chop tomatoes, onion and garlic clove, Combine the ingredients and chill in the fridge.
2. Enjoy with Joseph Banks vegetable chips.


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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/good-delivery-bars.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/good-delivery-bars.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:14:00 -0500
The gold industry relies greatly on refiners whose gold bars are accepted by associations and exchanges as “good delivery” for the settlement of transactions.
The reason for this is that each association and exchange normally requires the specified good delivery bars, and the refiners operating from approved refineries, to meet a broad range of criteria.

The procedure also generates confidence in the relevant market that accredited refiners range of other bars and products would also be manufactured to the same high standard.

The most important list of refiners for the international gold bar market is that published by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).

Known as “The Good Delivery List of Acceptable Refiners: Gold” for the settlement of transactions on the London Bullion Market, it records the name of the major refiners around the world that have met its stringent criteria for accreditation.
Europe LBMA London Bullion Market Association
Americas COMEX New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) COMEX Division
BM&F Brazilian Mercantile& Futures Exchange Sao Paulo
Middle East DMCC Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
IGE Istanbul Gold Exchange
Far East TOCOM Tokyo Commodity Exchange
SGE Shanghai Gold Exchange
SHFE Shanghai Futures Exchange
CG&SES The Chinese Gold &Silver Exchange Society Hong Kong

Each Association and Exchange specifies its own weight and purity. For LMBA the fineness is 995+. The LMBA publishes a list of Acceptable Refiners whose gold bars which weigh approximately 400oz (12.5g) are accepted as London Good Delivery. It also lists Former Melters and Assayers of Good Gold Delivery Bars.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/technology/what-is-unified-communications-and-why-is-it-important.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/what-is-unified-communications-and-why-is-it-important.html Mon, 11 May 2009 06:36:42 -0500
Most people in business use more than one form of communication, be that telephone, email, voicemail, chat or fax. The concept of unified communications is that all forms of communications are more converged. For example enabling voicemails to be opened and listened to in mailboxes and vice versa.

The key drivers of this technology are the Telephone System manufacturers who are working closely with Microsoft and other software developers to ensure common protocols are used which encourage interoperability.

Telephone systems used to be PBX systems that would have digital or analogue end points, but in recent years telephone system manufactures such as Avaya have realised that connecting to a companies IP network meant that software to support and compliment handsets could be produced and that this would provide them with a USP.

Over time other manufacturers have caught up with Avaya and each has their own suit of supporting software. Although each manufacturer has their own ‘flavour’ of software the concepts are similar allowing users to see real time if another user is available and on what device. In other words it enables all the systems that a person might use to work together real time.
How will this benefit my business?

A key benefit of unified communications is reduced latency. Messages are delivered quicker and therefore actioned quicker. By using a unified communications enabled Telephone System in environments where workers are often on the road or not at their office desk it allows other users to see where a user is working and if they are available.
What’s the future of unified communications?

As data connections including broadband get faster and more reliable, more applications and uses will be added to the unified communications theatre. Video technology is the latest newcomer and is already being rolled out in larger organisations as a standard feature. Both Avaya and Cisco have made large investments in video technology believing this is where the future of communications lies. It is only a matter of time before this technology becomes a more common feature in the software sets available to smaller organisations and home users.
Where can I get this technology?

Telephone system manufacturers tend to sell their equipment and software through value added resellers who can offer line and call packages as well as training and peripheral products. Manufacturers differ in their options for unified communications products and in their ability to integrate with 3rd party software and equipment. Avaya, Cisco, Mitel, Alcatel and Shoretel have the best options and Panasonic, NEC, Siemens and LG have very limited options.

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South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>