Preparing the Perfect Hamburger – On the Air with H. Luiz
In this animated short, I show you how I Prepare the Perfect Hamburger…check it out!
Coming Soon to “On the Air with H. Luiz.”
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Posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago at 9:03 pm. 5 comments
A Lil’ Q & A with H. Luiz
Hey folks – here’s the video I’ve been promising…it has been a busy month (but in a good way!) Some questions were asked over and over again, others I would rather have YOUR medical doctors or YOUR psychologists answer, and some were too inappropriate and “too twisted for color T.V.” Please note, that I just got back from vacation when I did this a little over a week ago and for the first time in my history, I was “peeling” all over the place (gross alert.) Here are some of the questions…
To ask more questions email me at hluizpresents(at)gmail(dot)com <—this is done to protect the site from spammers, but you have the address.
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Posted 2 months, 1 week ago at 9:21 pm. 5 comments
Summer Savings & Easy Entertaining!
SAVINGS:
Especially in summer, apples and citrus fruits are less expensive in 5lb. bags as opposed to buying them individually – as much as half the price for the same exact produce. Limes (10 for $1.99) cost less than lemons (4 for a $1.99) and are way less acidic. Limes in summer cocktails, desserts, and even on pork or poultry are a sweeter alternative than lemons. Use them fast though, limes can dry out within a day or two.
Fresh fruits and cheaper than frozen fruits in the summer time. Pick your favorites (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc.,) and freeze them yourself.
Opt for frozen seafood over fresh. Vacuum-packaged salmon, flounder, and tilapia fillets and bags of frozen shrimp cost up to 40 percent less and most are flash-frozen to ensure quality (If that sounds unappetizing, consider that most “fresh” fish has been previously frozen during transport.)
When buying organic chicken, opt for wings, drumsticks or thighs in family-size packages and you’ll save big (organic chicken breasts are still so expensive.) Most of my recipes for chicken breast can be used with chicken thighs – just add a tablespoon more of liquid (water, broth, oil, whatever.) Also, if you buy boneless anything, it will cost up to 35 to 40% more than those ”with” bone (meats and poultry have full-bodied flavors with their bones still intact when cooked.)
Get use to looking at an item’s cost per unit (CPU). It’s listed on the shelf sticker next to the price. It will tell you what an item’s cost per pound or ounce is, which can keep you from getting fooled by great marketing/packaging.
Store-bought juices are high in calories because of their carbs. Shrink your wallets and your bellies by adding seltzer water to your juices (seltzer water has 0 calories) and your expensive juice will last twice as long. Experiment and make your own low-calorie fruit “sodas” and fizz-coolers. We use a half juice to half seltzer ratio, find which ratio works best for your family.
Lastly, eat less meat, fish, or poultry. We have 2 days in our week where we eat no animal flesh (Meatless Mondays and Shake-y Wedsnesdays.) I noticed a significant difference in our weekly food bill. And it’s summer, what better way to trim a few pounds?
ENTERTAINING:
A simple and easy way to entertain your family (and even friends) is to go apple picking and/or strawberry picking. It’s rather inexpensive (about $5 to $10 per person) and you’ll have fruit to make pies and pastries with. In our family’s case, we like strawberry-picking. We’d go early in the morning and come home by early afternoon to pick over the strawberries for the “best” ones. Then we make strawberry preserves (they make great gifts for family and friends.) We also make strawberry tarts and fresh strawberry sorbets and ice-cream. Then we freeze the rest for a rainy day!
When entertaining, use fruits as your dessert (aren’t we all tired of those sugar-laden desserts by the time summer hits us?) We love watermelon cubes with powdered ginger and honey – you will too! Instead of cake, why not try glasses filled with fresh cut-up fruit (not mixed fruits, but elegant individual fruits) like a glass of cubed mangoes, or a glass of slice peaches or pineapples? For adults, add a splash of sweet liqueurs. Try strawberries with balsamic vinegar or mango slices with lime juice and chili powder. How about a fruit tart? Everybody loves fresh-fruit tarts (the secret is you don’t need lots of fruit and it is quite easy to assemble.)
Have a “signature drink” at your next party and serve them out of glass pitchers. It’s less expensive and faster too to entertain this way as oppose to buying a whole sleuth of hard liquors and a bunch of mixers (sodas, juices, etc.) Use the best-quality alcohol you can afford and make a fruit-induced cocktail. My famous “Strawberry Smacka” and “Lychee Martinis” grew from this idea (also offer an alcohol-free beverage for those who don’t/can’t drink, ginger-ale has a champagne-like fizz to it when blended with fruit juice.)
Simple is always better, especially in summer. Last summer I had a pizza party – I made individual mini pizza slices (about the size of a large Dorito) with combos such as chicken, arugula & pesto; sausage, mushrooms & peppers; and tomato & artichoke. I also made a green salad of arugula, tomato slices, and shards of fresh parmesan. I served it with 2 bottles of Merlot. Beforehand, I laid out an antipasto with store-bought imported slices of meats, cheeses, and bread sticks. Put on some opera music and you’ll have a hit on your hands too!
Let me know if you need any recipes and let me know how your summer entertaining pans out…leave a summer savings tip if you have one.
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Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago at 11:00 am. 5 comments
8 Things to do in NYC for FREE…
Yes, New York City is expensive and yes, there’s hardly anything fun worth doing these days that doesn’t require spending lots of cash. However, did you know that right here in the center of our UNIVERSE, there are fun and exciting things to do for FREE?????????????????
Here is my list for 8 Things to do in NYC for Free:
1. You can go kayaking for FREE on New York’s Hudson River. I just found out about this and do plan to try it with Henry and Jonathan. Contact the New York City Downtown Boathouse www.downtownboathouse.org and tell this fun volunteer group that H. Luiz of H. Luiz Presents sent you. Don’t have a kayak? They’ll lend you one!! They have three locations on the Hudson River: Pier 40 at Houston Street , Pier 96 at 56th Street, and 72nd Street in Riverside Park. You have until October to try this!
2. Musical concerts, theatre productions and dance performances can be seen and heard for free in New York City. Julliard in Lincoln Center routinely gives out FREE tickets!! Check out their Calendar online www.julliard.edu and they’ll show you how, when, and where you can pick up two tickets to any of the free shows. These talented students are the rising STARS of tomorrow and you will have the opportunity to say, I saw that ‘talent’ way back when!” They also have a free lunchtime concert series – a great way to enjoy a packed lunch with someone special or soak up the music by yourself.
3. If Modern and Contemporary Art is your thing, then you are fully aware of just how expensive it can be to tour the beautiful museums of NYC. However, on Fridays between 4pm and 8pm, you can see the latest exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) for FREE which ordinarily would cost $20 per adult. One thing; you have to get tickets in advance so contact www.moma.org to visit the hottest museum in New York City. The Whitney Museum is also FREE on Fridays from 6pm to 9pm. www.whitney.org
4. How about an hour long YOGA class for FREE? NYC has that too!! There are several places to try yoga free, but the one people are raving about is the Laughing Lotus classes in the park located on 10th Ave between 14th and 15th Streets. Just show up on Wednesdays from 7-8pm and bring your own mat. If you do not have a mat, they will provide one for free, but they have a limited amount. These free yoga classes end September 2nd. http://www.laughinglotus.com/pops/20090603park.html
5. You can see some of your favorite MOVIES on the large screen again (or for the first time) for FREE in NYC too. Classic titles such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s or The Sweet Smell of Success can be seen as well as Children’s favorites Madagascar 2, Free Willy, Curious George,and Chicken Run to name a few. Other free movies include monster hits such as Apollo 13, Sex and the City, and Ocean’s 11. All of these titles (and many, many, many more) can be seen in August. http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_history/movies.html
6. Workshops, such as Tai Chi, Pilates, Knitting, and Computer lessons (Intro to Microsoft, HTML Applications, Foreign Languages, etc.) are taught for free in NYC during summer months and winter. Although these workshops are free, you must register for most of them. To check them out, just Google: “free workshops NYC” to get loads of classes, seminars, and tutorials.
7. Looking for free FOOD? Vero Wine Bar www.veronyc.com serves a FREE delicious pressed panini with the purchase of a cocktail. Crocodile Lounge www.yelp.com/biz/crocodile-lounge-new-york serves individual sized pizza with every drink purchased. Rodeo Bar www.rodeobar.com gives out cheesy nachos and hot wings with the purchase of a drink during happy hour. Port 41 www.yelp.com/biz/port-41-new-york serves inexpensive beer with free hot dogs and popcorn every day! Buy one drink at Shelly’s New York www.shellysnewyork.com and help yourself to a full FREE spread at 5PM. Yes, you must buy a drink – but the food is free!
8. Shows like the Martha Stewart Show http://www.marthastewart.com and The Late Show with David Letterman http://www.nytix.com/TVShows/Current/Letterman/tickets.html and a bunch of other TV shows all offer FREE tickets to the live tapings of their shows. Most times, you can just walk in to fill in seats. They’re called “short notice” tickets. Take advantage of them – they’re great shows.
So there you have it folks, 8 Things to do in NYC for Free. Now, do not let my research go to waste – get out there and enjoy these free things in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Do it really big, like Real Big…say, combined two, three, or four free things to do a make a full day of it. FREE COMBOS: Maybe an early movie, some yoga, quick eats, and end the day hob-knobbing with the socialites at MOMA. Or kayaking, then packing a lunch and blanket and see one of your favorite movies on a big outdoor screen. How about enjoying a performance from Julliard at Lincoln Center, take in a workshop, and then go for drinks and free eats at Shelly’s?
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Posted 1 year ago at 11:50 pm. 6 comments
10 SAFETY Travel Tips that We Should ALL Know…
1. Luggage: When entering or leaving an airport, never board public transportation with your luggage in tow. Lugging bags on buses, trains or trams, especially while traveling alone, is more dangerous than it’s worth. If a thief runs off with one of your bags, you’re left with a choice of stopping the criminal or protecting your remaining luggage. Short answer: Take the car or find a cab.
We have just decided to take public transportation to the airport (it literally is 30 minutes from our home) and we will save about $80 is airport-parking fees. However, we say this ALL THE TIME and have taken the car EVERYTIME… luxury has it’s reward, but the cost associated with that luxury is getting harder to justify. Now, my first safety tip says that I should NOT take my luggage on public transportation. Does one carry-on bag per person “count” as luggage? Well, I guess so - but I do have a child traveling with me so there’s still a “safety” issue. Does nearly 17 years old “count” as a child? OK, I guess not. Eh! I guess we’ll be taking the car again. Safety first.
2. Unsolicited car service: Never accept transportation from a person who first approaches you at the airport, grabs your bags and says they have a car waiting. If you want car service, arrange it in advance. If you rent a car, never stop for anyone who’s not wearing a uniform. A common trick among criminals along the roadside is to lure unsuspecting drivers to pull over by faking a flat tire. Don’t fall for this tactic, say experts. Keep going.
I really have to adhere to this rule. No, I’m smart enough to not accept rides from ANYONE, but I am THAT guy that stops for people who appear to have car trouble.
3. What’s the safest hotel floor? Always try to get a room on floors 3 – 8. A room on the ground floor will be more easily accessible to criminals from the outside. However, the top floors are usually the most targeted for theft. Stay in the middle.
The perception is; the higher the floor you can afford (The Penthouse, Presidential Suites, Junior Suites, etc.) the more money or things (laptops, blackberrys, jewelry, Kenneth Coles or Pradas, etc.) you have for criminals to take.
4. Instincts: Trust your instincts and don’t venture through side streets, even if it seems like a convenient shortcut. Criminals like to strike in uncrowded areas. If you stick to the well-traveled streets, you’ll be less likely to have anyone approach you with a gun or a knife.
Again, I’m not just talking out of my a**, this is what the safety experts are saying – please be careful.
5. Jewelry: Leave the fancy jewelry at home. And carry your wallet in your front pocket (experts actually advise to get a passport holder/wallet that you can wear around your neck but be sure to keep in under your shirt when you can). Be aware that people who are jostling you are potential pickpockets.
Also, clean out your wallet before you leave home. Don’t carry any more credit cards than you need – 2 should do. Make sure you leave your Social Security card behind. You should not carry your SS Card in your wallet anyway. Always have your driver’s license with you. In some countries (America included) if you do not have identification if stopped by the police, they can take you into custody “just because.”
6. Invitations: Never go with someone you just met to their hotel room or invite them to yours. Also if they want to give you a ride to another hotel or bar, get your own cab.
Now I know this is hard to do when you meet that sexy hottie on vacation, but being in a new environment tends to make us forget our inhibitions. Throw in some alcohol and drugs and you have a seductive combination of danger. Do not succumb to that temptation (thank goodness i carry along my hottie on vacation with me.)
7. Abductions by car: If someone orders you or tries to force you into a car, you must do WHATEVER you can to stay out of that vehicle. That means they are going to take you to the secondary crime scene, and nothing good ever happens at the secondary crime scene. Experts say, ”That’s where they identify the body.”
Sex-Slave Trafficking is at an all-time high and “abducting tourists” is their number one resource. Beware!
8. Gun Control: Your options when someone approaches you with a gun are pretty simple. Give the criminal your wallet – not your life… turn and run while yelling as loud as you can. Police say that the odds of that person shooting at you are 50-50 and the chances they hit you are 50-50 (that’s a 1 in 4 chance – the odds are in your favor.)
If you do not give up your wallet there’s a 3 in 4 chance that you will be shot – not great odds. Give up that wallet!
9. Drinks: Do NOT accept drinks from strangers or people you met for only 48 hours. You have no idea what she or he has put in that drink (date-rape drugs, cocaine, etc.) Also, you want to be “alert” when meeting new people. She or He may possibly be the love of your life (or at least a great hook-up) but you won’t know that if your senses are dulled.
Buy your own damn drinks, but know your limits (DO NOT GET DRUNK.) Drunks are the easiest targets. TIP: If some unbelievable hottie approaches you with a drink, and you are really interested – just say, “Oh no thank you, but we can chat for a moment.” If he/she turns and walks away, he/she understood that you were not to be “messed” with and went on to another “target.”
10. Proper research: Experts agree that the first thing any traveler should do is to prepare for any by going online at checking out the area you are vacating to.
Search the Web to find out what’s happening right now at your destination which might affect your safety during your trip. Look at us; we were going to our favorite destination place – Cancun, Mexico, but CNN reports daily of a new and powerful drug cartel (a group of people who try to control a “product” – in this scenario: drugs) that’s sweeping that beautiful country. This drug cartel is bringing alot of crime and violence in Mexico right now.
So, we’re probably off to Miami instead for some great and relaxing fun in the sun.
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Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 11:00 pm. 6 comments
The Summer Social Scene in NYC begins…
The last Friday in May usually begins the Social Scene in Manhattan then off to the Hamptons for the rest of summer…
Henry and I were invited to “The Empire Hotel Rooftop” for their new chic renovation this Friday May 29. It promises to be the new Manhattan playground for NYC’s elite…we’ll see. Some of our friends (some A-listers and socialites) and a few of Manhattan’s top business “movers and shakers” will be there (Thanks Henry – he hates that whole scene, but he’s getting better with his participation and involvement.) We weren’t going to attend (because my niece Bianca’s birthday celebration is this Saturday at the Bronx Zoo – guess who’s preparing the picnic luncheon?) but we found out that if you decline too many invitations, then they stop coming the following season. This will also give H. Luiz Presents more exposure, so we’ll be attending more functions than usual – that’s reason enough to go, plus it’s fun!
After the Empire Hotel, we’re off to the Pink Elephant (hosted by friend Sally Shan) at West 27th Street. We’re probably going to miss that one though since she’s opening at 11pm (we have a 16 year-old to get home to.)
Then on June 1st (Mon) I’m off to Lincoln Center.The School of American Ballet will be hosting its annual Workshop Performance Benefit at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater. That should be fun.
On June 5, we had to cancel plans to go to a Party, celebrating Russell Simmons new title of Ambassador, so that we can spend the evening with friends Sara & Kevin to toast them up on their upcoming nuptials. We are more than happy to cancel on their behalf because we will sadly miss their’ wedding on July 17th (same date as my in-laws Anniversary). I so wanted to see Sara in her beautiful white dress!! So, they’ll come over for some cocktails and h’ordeves @ 8pm.
June 6th, I am helping to organize and promote the Public Healthcare Option (Health Care Organizing Kickoff) in Jersey City. Barack Obama is making a live conference call to us. Get involved in your communities —-> http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hckickoff
June 19th and 20th, I’ll be at a Conference, again in NYC, organized by the Open Video Alliance of which Kaltura is a founding member. (Kaltura hosts my videos at H. Luiz Presents and Vimeo hosts my audio, such as H. Luiz Presents…Radio.) along with Big Names such as Mozilla, Wikimedia Foundation, PCF (Miro), iCommons and the Yale Information Society Project.
Also in June, Henry starts to receive many invitations from his colleagues and/or from the company he works for, which include wedding invitations, NY Movie Premiers, Workshops, and TV cast-parties. Hopefully we’ll attend a few of those as well.
June sounds booked and busy…wait until I tell you about JULY 2009…
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 3:49 pm. 5 comments
Cirque du Soleil – KOOZA this Friday!!
Henry’s birthday is this Friday and the family is going to see KOOZA!! Then we’re having a party on Saturday (please leave your shout-outs and well-wishes for him here in comments) or call him on Saturday.
Posted 1 year, 4 months ago at 11:31 am. 2 comments
We are in Cancun!!
We’ve been here a few days and I have to say that this may be the actual first time we are RELAXING.
Last year, we brought our son for his first time and we were doing nothing but tours, tours, and tours. Now, we are having lazy days by the pool and beach with a stack of novels, puzzle books, video & digital cameras, suntan lotion, hard drinks (soda for Jonathan), fantastic Mexican food (my favorite latin cusine) and smiles all-around. We’ve been even going to bed – at 10pm (that’s how tired we are by just relaxing!!!)
Stay tuned!
Posted 1 year, 6 months ago at 5:46 pm. 1 comment
WINE & CRAFT @ Emily’s Place!!
My niece BiBi (that’s Barbara to you, thank you) is en route this very moment to Lakeland, Florida.
Her good friend Emily is throwing a WINE TASTING PARTY, but it doesn’t stop there – noooooooo! She’s having her guests decorate empty wine bottles. What a wonderful keepsake of the occasion!!
BiBi (again, Barbara to you) has one of those wine bottle keepsakes already, sitting proudly in her apartment – she adores it!
They’re pairing up the wines with delectable eats, so there in for a great, late afternoon. The real fun is going to be in the “crafts,” what a great idea - EMAIL SOME PICTURES!!
Shout out to STARBUCKS & YANKEE CANDLE for employing such fun people (I recommend the CLEAN COTTON HOME FRAGRANCE OIL – used in an oil warmer for any bedroom, available at Yankee Candle.)
So Bloggers, can you share your best wine and cheese/fruit pairings for their next party? What has worked for you?
Posted 1 year, 7 months ago at 12:03 pm. 5 comments
A NEW DAY!!
Most of you had heard me talk about it, but it’s finally here – my very own website!!! Although I am due to launch in March 09, I am having a soft-launch to iron out any technical kinks that are sure to arise. I am so happy and I must thank “you all” for giving me the courage to do this very necessary site – Thank You!!
