george hirsch blog

Plant, Nurture and Trust

Living Well: You Can Do It Day 185
Today I tended to my tomatoes, staking all six varieties of them. I see that the first flowers are now producing fruit. Only a few weeks ago I had my vision of preparing a simple pomodoro e mozzarella made from my own homegrown tomatoes. Once the seedlings were planted, it was only a matter of trust that those little plants would soon bare fruit. Today I realize there are so many things we can apply this principle of planting the seed, nurture, and watch the fruit grow; and into something so delightful.

Now I’m only two more weeks away from plating-up a simple dish of fresh pomodoro e mozzarella with a little olive oil, basil and fresh cracked black pepper. I will fill you in on the tomato growth. 

How Do You Fly Your American Flag?

For us it is simple, a vintage flag hangs from our porch at the entrance of our home. This vintage historic flag, with it's wonderful yellowed patina is a strong reminder of the great history of our nation. So whether you hang a crisp red, white and blue, fresh out of the package from your local hardware store or place a few smaller flags at the foot of the mail post box; and size of the flag does not matter, as long as you show your patriotic support for our great nation, armed services and the forefathers that sacrificed so we could have all the liberties we have today.
How to hang the American Flag.Once the flag is up, then go off and light the grill. For inspiring Fourth of July recipes.
Be well and have a safe holiday. George

Anything But Boring Fourth

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 182
This weekend will be your chance to make your salads stand out amongst the same old side-dishes at the BBQ. I have put together a good mix of savory salads for your Fourth of July summer party season. 

Go Ahead, Light-Up

Living Well: You Can Do It! Day 182
You can’t do it in restaurants and bars, it’s forbidden on planes and God forbid you tried it in Church. Besides it's no good for you! The light-up I'm talking about is the kind that makes your mouth water. Fire up the grill or BBQ pit and make smoky ribs that are finger licking good or grill up burgers; the juicy kind. Try a few different kinds of burgers. Go Ahead, I dare you.

Make It Happen

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 179
It's the start of the week, ahh clean slate. Do you have plans to make this week your best yet?  TIP, keep the focus on your dashboard and not the rear-view mirror. Be your own life driver. It doesn’t matter what transpired yesterday. All your doing power is now only in today. This makes such sense because we can not change yesterday, so focus only on today and make plans for the future. So many times as a chef I would have to live up to you are only as good as your next meal. How true that statement applies to the rest of life as well. It still reminds me everyday that the savoring life is truly in the moment. 

More than five billion little green houses have been built since 1935

Did you know? It was 1934, the height of the Great Depression, when Charles B. Darrow of Germantown, Pennsylvania, showed what he called the MONOPOLY game to the executives at Parker Brothers. What did they say to his pitch? REJECTED! But, with help from a friend who was a printer, Mr. Darrow sold 5,000 handmade sets of the MONOPOLY game to a Philadelphia department store. Response? People loved the game! But as demand for the game grew, he couldn't keep up with all the orders and came back to talk to Parker Brothers again. Did he get to say I told you so? YOU BET! The rest, as they say, is history! In its first year, 1935, the MONOPOLY game was the best-selling game in America. And over its 65-year history, an estimated 500 million people have played the game of MONOPOLY!
What's a summer family get together without a good Monopoly competition? And besides it's the easiest way to collect two hundred dollars.

Only Good Stuff

Inside summer issue of GHL.

Terms and Translations for Traveling with Humor

This should give you a laugh. Laughter is the fruit in life.
Snap taken from George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine Summer 2008

one of the best places on earth

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 174
Twelfth century hilltop castle anyone? Just follow the winding road to Castelletto Di Montebenichi.

It's Good Friday

Living Well: You Can DO IT! DAY 169
Not the high holy day, but one to be celebrated because it is the final Friday of Spring 2009. How about celebrating the extra daylight with a early evening BBQ with friends, wine and good food. I’m planning tonight's dinner- burgers are on the menu! Here are some recipes for an easy-n-quick plate up so you can put your feet up! Enjoy.

IMAGE, David Smith

The East End: Fresh Hampton's Dining

The word fresh is synonymous with Nick and Toni's restaurant in East Hampton, NY. I'll take you on a quick visit and catch up with friend & Executive Chef Joe Realmuto and show you why. 

Living Well: Got Cake?

You Can Do It! Day 135
Sure you do and it’s the perfect time of the year. Simply, take fresh strawberries with whipped cream and top over a biscuit or pound cake. Dress it up with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, a couple mint leaves and you’ve now prepared an easy dessert for any occasion. Who doesn't like strawberry shortcake? 

Living Well: Mother's Day Inspiration

You Can Do It! Day 128

Give something from the heart.

Homemade is this year's Mother's Day theme. Bake Mom some moist carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. For the recipes...

Living Well: Eating Lighter Foods

You Can Do It! Day 2

Eat fish on Fridays. This is a good way to reap the benefits of eating a lighter meal at least one day a week. How about soups? Especially this time of year, I start off the week with a soup on the menu for Mondays. Soup is very nourishing, filling and comforting.  

georgehirschlifestyle.com

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Stylemaker

Stylemaker

Back to Traditions

with Pomanders, Ribbon Wreaths, Paperwhites (Narcissus) and homemade tree garland.

Holiday making and gifting inspiration is available on pages 26 and 27 of George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine.

When is a Pie a Soup?

When it is a Chicken Pot Pie Soup. 

Are you in a rush and you do not have time to make a crust? Here is a satisfying midweek soup that offers the same great comforting flavor as a Chicken or Turkey Pot Pie.

See page 22 of the Fall Issue of George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine. Follow the recipe for Chicken Pot Pie and simply omit the crust and add four additional cups of chicken broth and you have a hearty soup. 

Enjoy!

George Hirsch Lifestyle

...all about living 

istock James Driscoll

A Homemade Present

Plan ahead and be creative this holiday season when making your gift list. A homemade present really tells a family member or friend that you really put some thought into their gift; besides using smarter spending habits this season while still staying in the spirit of giving.

My Stylemaker™ has some easy creative holiday projects on making your own holiday gifts for under $10. from GHL holiday issue's Stylemaker™ section. See page 27.  

Gifting this homemade present requires a bit of prep time. . . Read more: George Hirsch Lifestyle Holiday Issue

Also check out my holiday countdown plan for pre-Thanksgiving Monday. 

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Holiday Host Plan

georgehirschlifestyle.com

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Holiday Host Plan

To get you heading in the right direction, I have put together a quick plan for your holiday celebrations.

Feel free to make adjustments and add to Host Plan.

You may find Thanksgiving holiday recipes in  George Hirsch Lifestyle Holiday eMagazine.

Download Holiday-Plan 

Image© Michael-john Wolfe | Dreamstime.com

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Tuning In

Yefim Bronfman, the Grammy Award winning pianist shares his love for music with George Hirsch.

Video From George Hirsch TV series

Hirsch Productions | Living it UP! lifestyle television series

George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine: Reviving Holiday Traditions

George Hirsch Lifestyle Holiday Issue:

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holiday planning, the eMagazine is based on George's informative and entertaining lifestyle TV show 'George Hirsch Living It Up'. 'George Hirsch Lifestyle' is filled with George's helpful home holiday solutions, savory easy to prepare recipes, travel tips to world-class locations, shopping & gift guides, and a wide range of recreational activities. The interactive digital edition features are delivered in an engaging format for the reader's convenience and pleasure. The Hirsch Productions' Publication is available by free subscription at georgehirschliving.com.

Inside this holiday issue

A few of the recipes George creates for the family's holiday dinner table are Apple Brined Roast Turkey and Herb Gravy, Cranberry Relish, Candied Sweet Potato & Apples, Savory Biscuits, Pumpkin and Chocolate Pecan Filo Pie. The relaxing Holiday Brunch Menu includes Steamy Waffles along with Caramel Hot Chocolate offering aspiring home chefs easy recipes to carry them through New Year's Day.

Other highlights of this issue include:

- Meal Solutions™: Interactive Guide to Turkey Roasting & Carving Tips 
- Top Ten Festive Holiday Activities in New York City 
- Stylemaker™ Unique Crafts & Decorating
- Good Stuff: Traditional Gift Suggestions
- Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's: Baking & Brunch 
- Living Well Inspiration: Dropping the New Ball & Look Ahead to 2009

George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine Holiday Issue

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Hot and Spicy Weekend

Plan ahead. Use the slow cooker for a great tasting meal this weekend. It's time saving and easy to do.

8AM: Get your pork in the slow cooker.

Enjoy all-day Saturday 

5PM: Time to eat.

It will be ready before you are feeling the first pains of hunger.

Get George Hirsch's Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe featured in the fall issue of George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine 

georgehirschlifestyle.com

all about living well

George Hirsch Living Well: Tip of the Day

Stop and Smell the Roses

Excerpt from George Hirsch Living it UP, recipes for a healthy active life.

Available at georgehirschlifestyle.com

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned was not from a textbook or in a school classroom. It was from my father who said to me during all the hustle of my life back in the 1990’s, “George, you must stop and smell the roses.” Sounds simple, right? Well let me tell you –it is more difficult than it appears. It requires time, patience, and interpretation. Today’s hectic lifestyle makes it even more difficult to appreciate the little things-those things we tend to take for granted, like the sweet scent of a rose.

During trying times, it is even more important to keep a proper eating plan and fitness routine. Instead of sitting there and tearing yourself up over something you cannot change, take action and head for the gym or even just for a long walk. You will be amazed to find, that once you step back, that the difficulty you faced was not all that big.

The next time you walk by a garden or flower stand, stop and smell the roses. You will notice others stopping and smelling them with you-it’s contagious! 

Excerpt from George Hirsch Living it UP, recipes for a healthy active life.

Available at georgehirschlifestyle.com

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Solutions for Living Well

Harvesting Culinary Herbs How-To

georgehirschlifestyle.com

Keep enjoying the benefits of your summer garden yield through out the winter months by drying herbs. It is easy and rewarding.

1. Cut back basil, oregano, rosemary, mint, thyme and dill.
2. Make sure they are fully washed and fully dried (trapped moisture will breed mold)
3. Cut away any unhealthy looking leaves.
4. Butcher twine stalks together, like bouquets. Grouped herbs will dry at different lengths of time, according to moisture content of the plant. 
5. Find a dry and well-ventilated room in your home to hang your tied bouquets. Shaker peg racks are great for this or dedicate a drying rack if room permits.
6. Once dried (this will depend upon the conditions of the herbs and the atmosphere in the room) take away branches and separate leaves. 
7. Best results if stored in air-tight glass jars. 
8. Label and date.  
9. Use before one year of date.

  
georgehirschlifestyle.com

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Fall Check List

I am reminded once a year as good practice, when we turn the clocks back, to review a few important to do items on your at-home list for the approaching winter season. 

Like my dad always said,"Safety First."

• Make sure furnace gets a checkup, air filter change.
• Replace batteries in all smoke detectors.
• Have chimney inspected and cleaned if necessary.
• Disconnect outdoor hoses and put in storage til spring.
• Have gutters cleaned.  

  all about living well...
  GeorgeHirschlifestyle.com
     

George Hirsch Lifestyle: Warm UP! Soup Recipe

WarmUP! with the Fall issue of GHL.

Cook this soup tonight: 

George Hirsch Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe see page 28 in GHL

TIP: Make a double batch, it tastes even better as a leftover.

George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine