Top 5 Washer Dryer Combo Units for Small Spaces

Last year as we traveled through Europe we decided to stay in a flat while we were in London. It wasn't big by any means, all of 444 square feet. Divided between a small living/dining area,

a comfy bedroom,

and a very modern, yet fully functioning kitchen - which I LOVED.

You wouldn't know it to look at it but in this sleek kitchen hides a full-size washer/dryer combo. Up until last year I had never seen, let alone used one. What a God-send this very modern convenience was to three cold and wet individuals. The first two days in Great Britain it rained and was unseasonably cold for June. We put our slickers on, grit our very American teeth, and showed our youngest the sights. Upon returning to our flat that first night, tired and shivering, we discovered the washer/dryer combo. Having packed either shorts or skirts, the one pair of jeans we allowed ourselves were drenched and splashed with mud from the London streets. Deciding to wash our jeans, it took Mr.P and I both to figure out how to work this wonder machine. We popped our wet and dirty clothes in before bed and awoke to clean AND blessedly DRY close the next morning. We felt ready to face another day of rain, and knowing we could wash and dry our jeans again that night we had a marvelous time! We felt so urban chic!

If Mr.P and I get lucky enough to ever rent an extended- stay apartment in NYC or Paris it will be fitted with one of these very efficient machines. I've done a little homework and check out the best of the best. Since the dryers do not use a vent it takes at least double the normal amount of time a vented dryer would. But they are more environmentally friendly because they use less power to operate and although they are required to run longer during the drying period they also use significantly less water because of the front load design. Which one would you pick for your tiny house or small space? 

LG WM3987HW

This combination washer / dryer is perfect if you don't have an external venting source, which conventional dryers require, and it runs on standard voltage electricity. Although it is a space-efficient laundry solution, ideal for locations where a separate washer and dryer wouldn't fit, the full-size tub (3.6 cu ft) means you won't be compromising on washing capacity.

DETAILS:

• 22 lb Capacity
• Ventless condensation dryer
• Uses standard 110V hook up
• Optional adapter allows you to use sink for drainage
• Optional dolly system allows you to easily roll unit around
• Dimensions: 38 11/16″ H x 27″ W x 29 3/4″ D
• Power: 12 A
• Input voltage: 120 V/60 Hz
• Front load design saves on water usage
• Weighs 201 lbs
• Delay wash feature

LG 22 lb Capacity Ventless Washer Dryer Combo


LG WM3455HW

LG's all-in-one washer and dryer combo does it all in just one machine. It's great for those who want to be able to do laundry at home but do not have an external venting source which conventional dryers require. Perfect for homes, apartments, businesses and vacation homes where space is valuable. It cycles are very quiet! This is like the WM3987HW’s little sister. It has all of the same features in a more compact size.

DETAILS:

• 15 lb wash capacity
• 9 lb dry capacity
• Ventless condensation dryer
• Uses standard 110V hook up
• Optional adapter allows you to use sink for drainage
• Optional dolly system allows you to easily roll unit around
• Dimensions: 33 1/2″ H x 24″ W x 25 1/4″ D
• Power: 12 A
• Input voltage: 120 V/60 Hz
• Front load design saves on water usage
• Weighs 159 lbs
• Delay wash feature

LG 15 lb Capacity Ventless Washer/Dryer Combo

EdgeStar CWD1510S

Revolutionary FastDry drying technology, built-in water heater, unrivaled settings customization, increased washing and drying capacity, make an impressive list of unique operation and design features. This advanced technology makes the EdgeStar 2.0 Cu. Ft. Ventless Washer Dryer Combo an exceptionally versatile and capable choice for your laundry needs - inside and out, this model is designed and built to outperform others. 

DETAIL

• Ventless FastDry technology
• Built-in water heater
• 15 lbs. wash capacity
• 7.71 lbs. drying capacity
• 7 Wash Cycles
• 3 Wash/Rinse temperatures
• 5 Spin Speeds
• 1200 RPM Spin Speed
• 1 year Parts and Labor
• Front LED Display
• Customizable Settings
• Large Chrome and Glass Door
• Automatic Door Lock
• Adjustable leveling feet
• Power 12 A
• 115 V / 60 Hz
• Weighs 188 lbs
• Dimensions: 33 1/6″H x 23 7/16″W x 23 1/2″D (Depth w/ door open 41 1/4″)

Edgestar 2.0 Cu. Ft. Ventless Washer/Dryer Combo Silver


EdgeStar CWD1510W

The revolutionary FastDry drying technology, built-in water heater, and unrivaled settings customization are just a few of the features that combine to make the EdgeStar 2.0 Cu. Ft. FastDry Ventless Washer Dryer Combo CWD1510W one of the most versatile and efficient combination washer/dryer units available. Inside and out, this model is designed and built to outperform others. Increased washing and drying capacity, an impressive list of unique operation and design features, and advanced technology make the EdgeStar 2.0 Cu. Ft. Ventless Washer Dryer Combo an exceptionally versatile and capable choice for your laundry needs.

DETAILS:

• Model: CWD1510W
• Ventless FastDry technology
• Built-in water heater
• 15 lbs. wash capacity
• 7.71 lbs. drying capacity
• 7 Wash Cycles
• 3 Wash/Rinse temperatures
• 5 Spin Speeds
• 1200 RPM Spin Speed
• 1 year Parts and Labor
• Front LED Display
• Customizable Settings
• Large Chrome and Glass Door
• Automatic Door Lock
• Adjustable leveling feet
• Power 12 A
• 115 V / 60 Hz
• Weighs 188 lbs
• Dimensions: 33 1/6″H x 23 7/16″W x 23 1/2″D (Depth w/ door open 41 1/4″)

Edgestar 2.0 Cu. Ft. Ventless Washer/Dryer Combo White


So that’s it for washer dryer combos but… I thought you might also like the following alternatives to conventional washer/dryers and combo units below:

WONDERSPIN 

The Laundry Alternative Mini Countertop Spin Dryer and Portable Hand Crank Washer Kit - WONDERSPIN lets you have two fully functional dryer and washer even in the smallest of compact spaces. The MINISPIN dryer is an alternative to traditional dryers which cost less energy to operate, is less harsh on clothes, and works faster by rapidly spinning clothes to pull all of the water out of them instead of heating them and damaging fabrics. Its compact design is ideal for smaller apartments, dorm rooms or RV's. The Mini Countertop dryer is lightweight for easy portability and plugs into any standard 110V plug. This portable clothes dryer features fast drying (2-3 minutes per load) and has a 2.2 lb capacity for wet laundry (about 1-2 pairs of jeans.) The included WONDERWASH hand crank portable washer is an alternative laundry method that requires no electricity. Instead, it uses a patented pressure system that forces detergent into the fabric at high speed for a quick and easy wash. This unique tumble wash system helps prevent soap residue that is often left on clothes when using larger, conventional washers. 

DETAILS:
2.2 lb wash capacity
Includes MINISPIN and WONDERWASH
Ideal for delicate garnments
Environmentally friendly
Great for campers, RVs, and compact spaces
MINISPIN: 82 watts; 110V
Works in only 2-3 minutes
MINISPIN can be used as standalone or with conventional tumble dryer
Dryer operates at 1600 RPM
No electricity needed for the WONDERWASH
Dryer Weight: 11 lbs
Washer Weight: 6 lbs
Dryer Dimensions: 13.5″ L x 13.5″ W x 15″ H
Washer Dimensions: 16″ H x 12″ W x 12″ L
Laundry Alternative Countertop Spin Dryer and Washer Kit
Laundry Alternative 


Sonya Compact Dryer

The Sonya Portable Compact Laundry Dryer is perfect for apartments, dorm rooms and businesses that have small spaces. This compact dryer is small in size, but dries quickly. The Sonya Portable Compact Laundry Dryer is energy efficient as it is 1400-watts. You can plug it into any 120-volt outlet for easy access. There is a drying time selection of twenty minutes up to two hundred minutes and four temperature selections. This compact dryer only weighs 44 pounds. The drum of the dryer is 2.8 cubic feet which adds plenty of space. An excellent dryer for small spaces.

DETAILS:

• 8.8 lbs capacity
• Uses 120V outlet
• Weighs 44 lbs
• Stainless Steel Drum
• 4 Settings
• 1-Year Warranty
• 27.5″x23.8″x17.2″
• Model: SYD-40E
• Wall mount bracket included
• Lint filter
• Will take longer to dry than most dryers

Sonya Compact Laundry Dryer 

Panda Mini Portable/Compact Washing Machine

This portable washing machine goes anywhere. The Panda Mini Portable/Compact Washing Machine is ideal for small loads and delicates, such as lingerie, t-shirts and dresses. It's easy to operate, and powerful. Just fill with water and set the timer. This portable washer is perfect for apartments, dorms, camping, or your second washer at home.

DETAILS:

• Completely portable
• Perfect for small loads
• 5.5 lbs capacity
• Easy to use
• You just fill with water and set timer
• Great for apartments, dorms, traveling, and tiny houses
• Weighs 14 lbs
• 24.2″ x 17″ x 16.1″
• Model Number: XPB25-28A

Panda Portable Compact Washing Machine

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Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

I’m a huge breakfast fan. I can eat scrambled eggs or pancakes anytime of day - or night. A few weeks ago when E was home, I made her and Mr.P's favorite, Apple Cinnamon Pancakes. These pancakes are a really quick and easy fix, making them ideal for a week night meal. I use the 'souped-up' recipe from the back of the Bisquick box. Out-and-out, they are by far my favorite pancake. Turning out delicious and fluffy flapjacks every time. Once the batter is mixed it can be held in the refrigerator for several hours. After pouring the batter onto a hot griddle, simply top the un-cooked pancake with any number of ingredients, making a variety of pancakes to please everyone around your table. Being foolproof, whipping up a stack takes only a matter of minutes, I’m sure glad I did! Find your perfect version and bring a smile to someone's face! Even if it's your own!

These are my families faves.... we NEVER have any leftovers! 

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 cups Bisquick mix
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 tablespoons Sugar
• 1 cup Milk
• 2 large Eggs
• 1 large Apple, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup Chopped Pecans
• Cinnamon

WHAT TO DO

• Mix all ingredients until JUST mixed. Don't over mix, you want lumps. They help leaven the batter while cooking resulting in fluffier pancakes. At this point you can refrigerate batter; cover with plastic wrap.
• If you are using an electric griddle, heat to 375 degrees. If you're using a skillet, use medium heat. You know it's ready when a few drops of water sprinkled on it sizzle and disappear.
• Pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle or non-stick skillet. I use a good 1/2 of batter, just our preference. 
• Sprinkle with chopped apples, pecans and cinnamon.
• Cook until edges are dry and bubbles start to form on top. Turn; cook until golden brown and cooked through.
• Serve with butter and syrup!

Tip: I like to oil my griddle with a combination of butter and Pam. Butter adds a really nice flavor to the pancakes, but butter by itself will burn too easily. Adding a bit of cooking oil spray will prevent burnt pancakes.

Notice Mr.P and E don't wait for a stack. These pancakes get eaten up as fast as I take them off of the stove. All they needed was ice cold milk and syrup. I could have gotten fancy by topping them with Apple Butter and whipped cream, but as you can see, it was not needed!

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Confessions of A College Student's Mom: Tips To Finding the Best College Tutor

I am the mother of a college student. Having been through this process before, I know how to let go. I know how to furnish a dorm room. I know to expect the phone call notifying me of the fender-bender. I know how to embrace the texts informing me money is needed. 

However, I was not expecting THIS particular college student/child to give up so easily. Mr.P and I have been completely blindsided with our daughter's surrender to defeat. It is SO not our daughter. She was the child that would pester us over the smallest of details, not just during high school, but her entire life. Yes, it was nerve racking. 

The cracks in her 'college student-I'm an adult-I can do it on my own' amour began to appear last Fall. We would ask about grades, she would clam up. We encouraged her to study, she became defensive. And on a few occasions, she just broke down and cried. And for a Mom, that's heartbreaking. But what doesn't break my heart is the clear fact that now she has settled into a warm and comfortable apathetic easy chair. Completely given up, I can't even sort that out in my brain! 

So what's a Mom to do? How are parents to cope with this kind of problem? We certainly can't swoop in and fix this. Wouldn't that be lovely? No, it's got to come from her. But as parents, we can definitely be helpful. We pray for her daily, encourage, love and support her, hopefully helping her to keep the goal in view, and we are at the ready to send assistance in any form that's needed. 

Mr.P and I have  been tossing around the idea of a college tutor. Someone that's been sitting right where she is, understands, and has come out victorious on the other side. They could be a tremendous asset to E, giving her that boost to get over this slump she finds herself in. I've thought a lot about this and finding the right college tutor can be challenging. This is what I've come up with so far; three practical steps to hiring the best tutor:

Only hire tutors that have been vetted by others and experienced. This can mean your school has approved them to tutor and/or they have testimonials reviewing their effectiveness. Always ask tutors for references and then make sure to follow up to get unedited testimonials from students and parents. Don't waste your students time or your money with a tutor that has a lack luster track record.

Only hire tutors that received an A or A- in the exact class your student is taking. For challenging subjects and classes, E is struggling with Micro-Bio and Lab, it’s important the tutor has taken that class, with the same professor teaching the class, and received a high grade themselves to be the most effective at tutoring your student. Don’t be afraid to ask the tutor to provide proof he/she has taken the class and done well. You may have to pay a premium for the best tutors in a given class/subject, but good tutors not only help students understand material in less time, they can save money in the long term by teaching good study skills and helping a student avoid having to re-take a class. 

Establish clear goals, methods of payment and expectations - for both student and tutor, and refund policies at the onset so everyone is clear. Ensure you can get a refund after the first hour if your student doesn’t click with their tutor. Sometimes tutor-student interactions never get off on the right foot. Students have different learning styles and tutors have different teaching styles.

My college student looking slightly bewildered above and in less stressful times below. 

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Baja Grilled Chicken Salad with Spicy Pineapple Vinaigrette

I came across a version of this recipe a few months back in an ancient Cooking Light magazine. I decided to give it a try, for two reasons: one I love salad and two Mr.P is a nut about pineapple. I won't bore you right now with the 'discussions' Mr.P and I have about the pros and cons of pineapple on pizza. I'll just say this, It's just wrong! So out of love for my husband, and a show of goodwill on my part, I made this salad. And I'm so glad I did. This is a fabulous recipe, one that will be made again in our home. The dressing is the real star of the show in this substantial mealtime salad – tangy, spicy and sweet. It feels like a very Baja California sort of meal, with the combination of pineapple, jalapeno and cilantro in the dressing, the chili dusting on the chicken and the buttery slices of avocado. It’s refreshing and light, cooks up super-fast, and is packed with a ton of flavor. If you have any left overs, try it with grilled shrimp or pork for a different, yet equally delicious, variation. Hope you enjoy as well!

Baja Grilled Chicken Salad 

with Spicy Pineapple Vinaigrette

MAKES 2 BIG SALADS

INGREDIENTS
SALAD 

• 2 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts
• 2 tsp. Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1 cup fresh Pineapple, peeled, cored and sliced into spears; I bought mine pre-cut at the market
• 8 cups fresh salad greens; I used spinach and romaine
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
• 1/2 cup cubed Gruyere or Swiss cheese
• Quarter of a Red Onion, thinly sliced
• Spicy Pineapple Vinaigrette

SPICY PINEAPPLE VINAIGRETTE

• 3/4 cup chopped fresh Pineapple, cut into 1″ cubes
• 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh Cilantro
• 2 Tablespoons fresh Orange Juice
• 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/2 Jalapeno Pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 clove Garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup Olive Oil, I used vegetable oil
• pinch of salt and black pepper, optional

WHAT TO DO
To Make The Salad:

• Brush the chicken on both sides with olive oil, then season generously with chili powder, salt and pepper.
• Preheat your outdoor grill to medium-high, or heat an indoor grill pan over med-high heat. Place pineapple slices and chicken breasts on the grill. 
• Cook for about 5 minutes per side or until the chicken is cooked through, and no longer pink on the inside. Remove pineapple and chicken and let cool for at least 10 minutes. Then slice chicken into strips, and cut pineapple into chunks.
• In a large bowl, toss together your choice of salad greens, cheese, red onion, pineapple and chicken until combined. 
• Drizzle or toss with salad dressing, and serve immediately.

To Make The Vinaigrette:

• In a blender or food processor, combine pineapple, cilantro, orange juice, vinegar, jalapeno and garlic. Process until smooth. 
• With the blender still running, slowly pour in the oil in a thin stream, and process until emulsified and smooth.

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My In-Flight Travel Essentials

I am sharing my top 20 in-flight travel essentials, including all of the items I like to have with me on any given plane trip no matter how long or short the duration. Traveling can be a stressful experience and I like to have certain things with me that aid in my comfort. As much as I appreciate the convenience of air travel, I am not particularly fond of being on an airplane. Anything I can do to help myself feel even the slightest bit more comfortable during a flight is well worth toting around a few extra items. Of course, everyone’s needs, when it comes to personal comfort, are different. I am sharing my own In-Flight Travel Essentials here, with easy to follow links, but it’s important to decide for yourself what your needs are for travel before packing. Happy trails to you.......

1. Paisley Pashmina Wrap in Teal; This pashmina is perfect for a cold car or airplane as well as an outfit boost. Completely reversible, this comfortable wrap is stylish no matter how or why you wear it. You never know when you might find yourself standing outside of a cathedral in shorts and a tank top and need to cover up to gain entrance. $9.95, Peach Couture.

2. Hearos Ear Plugs Xtreme Protection; I take these EVERY WHERE! They're also great for when you need to sleep on the plane and cancel out all that noise. $9.99,  Amazon.

3. FIJI Bottled Water, 500 mL; Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate - the first cardinal rule for airplane travel. Once you pass the security checks, stop by the newsstand for a large bottle of water, you'll be glad you did. $1.99.

4. EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere - Sweet Mint; Flying can be a very drying experience - be prepared. EOS Lip Balm is the best. Making not only your lips moist bust your breath smell fresh and it's inexpensive too. $2.99, Target.

5. Colgate Wisp Peppermint Mini Toothbrushes; I can't sing these mini brushes praises enough — I LOVE THEM. They're small, handy and a must have for travel. Giving you that just brushed feeling anytime and anywhere. Throw a couple in your bag and you're ready to go. $4.99, Target.

6. 'Butterfly' Eau de Toilette Rollerball; For post-flight freshness, this floral-fruit-wood blend is highly sought after and has a huge fan base. It can take you from the luggage carousel to late night. $20.00, Nordstroms.

7. Dream Essentials® Escape TM Luxury Sleep Mask; This is no ordinary sleep mask, it is a luxury class with eye cavities so your eyes do not touch the fabric. Ensuring that the mask completely blocks out all light. $19.95, Amazon.

8. Bath & Body Works Pocketbac Sanitizing Hand Gel; With over 40 different fragrances to choose from you can keep yourself germ-free and smelling fresh during travel. $1.75, Bath & Body Works.

9. Travel Journal and Pen; A travel journal accompanies me on every trip, writing about the things we've done/seen together is a passion of mine. It's mostly little notes and bullet points of places or moments that I don't want to forget.  I love this leather bound beauty from Celery Street. It's embossed with a world map and the words, 'Miles to go....'. You may not keep notes and highlights from your travels but do yourself a favor and tuck, at the very least, a pad of paper and pen inside your bag. As you are flying into a country there are forms you must fill out and digging for a pen at the last minute is no fun! $24.95, Celery Street.

10. Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes; To avoid that wilted feeling after a long flight, and giving yourself that fresh-off-the-plane look, keep these hydrating cleansing towelettes — which are made with cucumbers, green tea, broccoli and spinach — in your bag to refresh your face on the go. $4.79, Drugstore.

11. Divided Pill Box; I don't go anywhere with out a pill box! Aleve, Advil, Dramamine and some sort of antihistamine pack very nicely into this convenient carry on. $1.00, The Container Store.

12. Dramamine® Less Drowsy; Take this miracle drug with you whether you're flying, driving or sailing. You never know when motion sickness will hit you and most countries overseas require a prescription from a doctor for this simple medication! $3.97, Walmart.

13. iPad; For those long haul flights, the iPad lets you listen to music, watch movies, play games, read and work. It's incredibly small, slim, light and has an amazing screen. So ditch your heavy books, iPod and laptop and make travel easier with an iPad. $314.99, Amazon.

14. Neutrogena® Fast Absorbing Hand Cream; This hand cream instantly delivers the moisture your hands need while traveling without any greasy after feel. This lightweight formula helps repair skin's moisture barrier to keep hands softer and smoother, longer. $5.99, Neutrogena.

15. Spring Valley Timed Release Melatonin Sleep Support 10mg; I have a hard time sleeping on an airplane. My mind is racing about all that must be remembered, whether it's flight connections or securing land transportation when we land, my mind usually doesn't settle down to rest. Melatonin gets the job done for me and it's also one of those drugs you can't pick up overseas - so take it from home and sleep well my friends! $8.99, Walmart.

16. Jonathan Adler Travel Neck Pillows; Banish on-flight discomfort at once, and while you’re at it, banish all the ugly travel pillows. Rest your head instead on one of these very stylish neck pillows. It’ll support your neck, take the pressure off your shoulders, and deliver you peacefully to your destination. $25.00, Jonathan Adler.

17. Dr. Dre Studio Beats Headphones; Powerful enough to block out a jet engine, the noise cancellation feature amplifies music as it blocks out all hubbub of the airplane, giving you consistently powerful and intense sound. Super plush and covered with ultra-soft breathable materials, you'll be cool and comfortable and the logo over the ear is a mute button allowing you to keep them on as you talk. $279.99, Walmart.

18. Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens; Formulated for all skin types, these high quality linens are infused with soothing green tea extract to absorb excess oil, reduce shine and irritation without disturbing makeup. $10.00, Sephora.

19. Crafting for Road Trips or Long Flights; This is for our daughter, Elizabeth. I asked her what she would choose to take with her to pass time while traveling. As any teenager will likely tell you, she resoundingly said, 'smart phone, headphones and snacks'. She also added a good book and a crochet project. She's an avid reader and is a fierce crocheting addict! Last year as we were traveling through Europe she crocheted several animal pillows for her new dorm room. When you're on a 12 to 13 hour flight from Dallas to Rome, movies, reading and sleeping are going to get you only so far. Break it up with something fun you enjoy doing to relax. Surprisingly, she was allowed through every security check from DFW to London to Rome and everywhere in between with a crochet needle - go figure!

20. Planters Digestive Health Mix Nut-Rition; I've learned that flying can cause tummy trouble, which I hate. I always try to take something with me to keep these problems under control. This yummy blend of pistachios, almonds, tart cranberries, crunchy granola clusters and sweet cherries is my new favorite thing! It's not only an excellent source of dietary fiber, which helps promote digestive health, but delicious as well - how many things can you say that about? $5.94, Walmart.

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Looking For Mr. Goodbar

SOURCE

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is made from tropical cacao beans, which are transformed by machines into a bitter, brown paste of cocoa butter and cocoa solids.  When this unsweetened chocolate is combined with sugar, vanilla, and other ingredients, the result, of course, is heavenly. All chocolate comes from the tropical cocoa plant, but it's the way the beans are processed that determines the type. Each manufacturer makes chocolate with different proportions of cocoa and sugar, so it can be a fun taste-filled research to find your favorite variety. Here's what you need to know to cook, bake, or simply rip open that package and eat!

MILK CHOCOLATE

SOURCE

Mild and sweet due to the addition of dried milk solids, sugar, and cocoa butter giving it a mellow flavor. It's not a good choice for baking, though, since it's sweeter and not as chocolatey as other chocolates. Despite this, many cooks prefer to use milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips in their cookies. Be very careful if melting milk chocolate, it scorches very easily. It's most often used in commercial candy bars - think Hershey! 

DARK CHOCOLATE

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Dark chocolate contains no milk solids. This refers to sweetened chocolate other than milk or white chocolate. Unsweetened, bitter, bittersweet, sweet dark, semisweet, and German are all forms of dark chocolate that contain various amounts of sugar and flavorings.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE

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This is a sweetened chocolate that's heavy on the cocoa solids and light on the sugar, giving it a rich, intense chocolate flavor.  Many pastry chefs prefer bittersweet to semi-sweet or sweet chocolate, but the three can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The amount of coca depends on the manufacturer, but all contain sugar and vanilla flavoring. The best contain at least 50% cocoa solids. I love eating it all by itself!

BITTER CHOCOLATE

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Also called unsweetened chocolate or baking chocolate. It contains no sugar or other added ingredients. Some call it chocolate liquor when it's melted. It is preferred by cooks in the know because you can control the sweetness and flavorings of this form of chocolate. You can substitute one ounce unsweetened chocolate with 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter.

COCOA POWDER

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Cocoa powder is similar to unsweetened cocoa, only it's in a powder form and contains less cocoa butter. Dried cocoa beans are finely ground and sifted into a soft powder. Dutch Process varieties are alkalinized, making them darker and less acidic, and sometimes more flavorful. Cook's like cocoa powder because it allows them to make low-fat goodies, or to use fats other than cocoa butter. Cocoa's also used to dust candies and cakes.  

WHITE CHOCOLATE

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Like milk chocolate, this is made of cocoa butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla.  The only difference is that white chocolate doesn't have any cocoa solids. This ivory-colored delight is used by many bakers in a variety of ways. White chocolate scorches easily, so cook it gently. Bars and wafers usually taste better than chips. Avoid white chocolate that's made with vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter. It's cheaper but not nearly as good. 

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FAMILY-STYLE CHICKEN SPINACH MANICOTTI

This is for Kristin, my niece. Chicken Manicotti is one of her favorite dishes and when she asked me the other day for my recipe I couldn't believe that I had neglected to post it. It is one of our family's favorites, and quite easy to make once you get past handling HOT manicotti noodles.

I think I have asbestos hands.

Manicotti shells stuffed with a mixture of chicken, cheese, spinach, breadcrumbs and Italian spices, for me it just doesn't get any better. I'm giving you the 'down and dirty' version of this recipe — you could spend all day in the kitchen stewing chicken and making homemade sauce — but why would you?? This recipe is simplistic in nature using, frozen chicken, spinach, pre-grated cheese and Rao's Tomato Basil Sauce — you know I'm a huge fan!

I'm not going to lie.

Rao's sauce is not inexpensive, costing about $7.00 a jar, so feel free to use your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce. Also, forgive the fact that a few of the photos below are blurry. Trying to take clear pictures of hot noodles in boiling water was not the easiest task for me — the steam kept getting in the way. All the steam and hot noodles aside, this Chicken Manicotti is delicious and decadent, bringing smiles to the faces of the ones I love. Hope you and your family enjoy as well!

Chicken Spinach Manicotti

Pass up time-consuming and go straight to delicious with this Shortcut Chicken Manicotti recipe!

SERVES 6 to 8

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (8-ounce) package manicotti shells
• 4 cups finely chopped cooked chicken
• 2 (8-ounce) containers Kraft chive-and-onion cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 2 (8-ounces) packages Kraft Natural Shredded Italian Five Cheese Blend; divided
• 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian spices
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (24-ounce) jars Rao's Tomato Basil Sauce
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Garnish: chopped fresh basil or parsley, optional

WHAT TO DO

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Stir together chicken and next 8 ingredients; using only 1 package of grated Italian cheese.
• Taking pasta shells out of water, cut lengthwise. Spoon about 1/2 cup chicken mixture into each shell, gently pressing cut sides together. 
• Mix pasta sauce and cream together. Pour two cups of sauce in the bottom of 2 lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dishes, 1 cup in each dish.
• Place stuffed manicotti shells, cut sides down, on top of sauce in baking dishes. Pour remaining sauce evenly over shells. Top with remaining package of grated cheese.
• Bake, covered, at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly. Garnish, if desired.

TIP FOR A QUICK WEEKNIGHT MEAL:

Prepare and stuff manicotti shells. Wrap tightly with wax paper; freeze individually and keep in a freezer bag until ready to serve. Let thaw in the refrigerator during the day. Unwrap and place in a baking dish; top with your favorite pasta sauce, and bake as directed. Quick and easy, using only the amount of shells you need. It's really an effective time-saver and conserves money as well.

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