ContentsParents Who Set, Stick To Rules May Help Kids Stay Slim - Parents who set firm rules about behaviours like TV viewing, dinner time and physical activity tend to have children of healthier weights, a new Australian study finds.

Holiday Health And Safety - Another List To Be Checking Twice

Mental-Health Disorders Growing Faster Among Kids Than Adults: Study - Young people are increasingly more likely than adults to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder, according to a large new study.

Ask Martha: My Collection Of Handmade Wreaths

Terphenyls for AIDS ? - A multidisciplinary team of scientists from Spanish universities and research centres, has managed to design small synthetic molecules capable of joining to the genetic material of the AIDS virus and blocking its replication.

Amazon unveils plans for delivery drones - Amazon.com is working on a way to get customers their goods in 30 minutes or less - by drone.

PS4, Xbox 1 ‘won’t disappoint gamers’

PopNod Turns Cash Back Into Charitable Donations - For the consumer who may be looking for a way to combine online shopping with charitable giving, PopNod may be an easy solution.

Everyday Food: Fast Flavour: Broiling & Steaming

Use our go-to techniques for broiling and steaming, and have dinner served in under 30 minutes.

Accessories - Alexandra Harper Hats 2013 -Victoria Beckham Unveils Pre Autumn/Winter 2013-14 Bag Collection

Fashion - Monique Lhuillier, Spring/Summer collection 2014

You can always send us your feedback and suggestions on bloom@qimqatar.com

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Page 8MONIQUE LHUILLIER,

SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION 2014 ALEXANDRA HARPER HATS 2013

Page 7

Page 4

TERPHENYLS FOR AIDS ?

Page 5

PS4, XBOX 1 ‘WON’T DISAPPOINT GAMERS’

Issue No. 105 Thursday, 5 December 2013 Page 2 Page 3PARENTS WHO SET, STICK TO RULES MAY HELP KIDS STAY SLIM ASK MARTHA

Parents who set firm rules about behaviours like TV viewing, dinner time and physical activity tend to have children of healthier weights, a new Australian study finds.

“Children of parents who set consistent rules have a slightly lower body-mass index [BMI]; they’re thinner,” said study author Pauline Jansen.

Both mothers and fathers who enforced clear guidelines had a similar effect on their children’s weight -- regardless of their own weight -- found Jansen, an honorary off-cam-pus fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne.

The study involved more than 4,000 chil-dren and their parents who participated in a long-term study of Australian children.

Starting in 2004 when the children were 4 or 5 years old, parents reported their off-spring’s height and weight and described their parenting styles four different times every two years.

Jansen found an association between con-sistent parenting and healthy weights in chil-dren, not a cause-and-effect.

And while the effects were not great, they were only slightly less than the effects of other factors often cited as contributing to a child’s healthy weight, such as breast-feeding, said Jansen, now a researcher at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands.

This suggests programs aimed at helping get children to a healthy weight should include talk about parenting styles, she said.

Childhood obesity is a troubling public

health problem. In the United States, 17 per-cent of children aged 2 to 19 are obese, accord-ing to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, raising the risk of high blood pres-sure, high cholesterol, joint problems, diabe-tes and other conditions.

The new study is published online Nov. 25 and in the December print issue of the journal Paediatrics

What exactly is parental consistency? For the study, Jansen said, “the parenting consist-ency we assessed did not refer to lifestyle hab-its, but was more global. It reflects the degree to which parents set and ensure compliance with age-appropriate instructions, rules and expectations. We showed that this global con-sistency benefits child BMI.”

BMI is a measurement of body fat that takes height and weight into account.

Why would parenting style affect children’s weight? Jansen didn’t look at that specifically. However, she speculated that those who are consistent in parenting “may be more likely to set clear expectations around healthy behav-iours -- for example rules regarding television viewing, screen time and physical activity, bedtime routines and the timing and type of foods consumed.”

One expert said the finding is a good start-ing point.

The study “is a good first start to see the influence that both parents have” in affect-ing a child’s weight, said Dr. Gloria Riefkohl, a paediatrician at Miami Children’s Hospital.

In future research, she said, “we need to take a look at the influence of expanded families,” she said, such as the effect of grandparents. Researchers should also look at non-tradition-al families.

Parents can help encourage healthy weights in their children in a number of ways, she said. “Choose family goals, such as exercising eve-ry day and eating fruits and vegetables,” she

said. “Keep track of who meets their goals, and praise those who do. And when the whole family achieves the goals, do something fun together -- going to the zoo, park or aquarium, and so on.”

Parents should also focus on establish-ing healthy eating habits early, Riefkohl said: “What we eat is a learned process.”

(HealthDay News)

Flu shot, check. Hand soap, check. Window washer fluid, check.

Staying healthy and safe this hol-iday season requires adhering to a simple checklist, one expert says.

One way to avoid colds and flu is to wash your hands, said Dr. Samp-son Davis, an emergency medicine doctor at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, N.J.

“Hand washing goes a tremen-dous way in preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses that live and thrive in the cold weather,” Davis said in a news release. “I have es-caped many sick days with a hand wash. It is the number one most im-portant act to prevent contagious illnesses.”

For those times when a sink isn’t available, carry a small bottle of hand sanitiser, he suggests. “Also, if

sick, make sure to sneeze and cough into your arm right by your elbow. This too will help prevent the spread of germs,” he said. “And lastly, make sure to visit your physician, employ-ment health centre or local pharma-cy for your yearly flu shot.”

Eating is a big part of the holi-days, but you need to keep it under control. Overindulging can lead to weight gain and other health prob-lems.

It’s important to maintain your exercise routine over the holidays. Gaining a few ounces a day can add up to too many extra pounds by the end of the winter.

If you’re planning a car trip, mon-itor the weather and avoid snow storms. Make sure your gas tank is full, check your tires, and top off all your engine fluids, including

the window washer fluid. Be sure to have a fully charged cell phone in case you have an unexpected car problem and need to call for assis-tance, Davis advised.

You also need to manage your stress.

“The holiday season, job dead-lines and daily duties can overload the hard drive,” Davis added. “Shop early, plan ahead and manage your calendar as well as your friends and family expectations. You may not be able to attend every holiday party and that is okay.”

During the winter, some people suffer a mood problem called sea-sonal affective disorder (SAD). If you believe you have the condition, see your doctor. There are effective treatments available, Davis added.

(HealthDay News)

Mental-HealthDisorders

Growing Faster Among

Kids ThanAdults: Study

Parents Who Set, Stick To Rules May Help Kids Stay Slim

Young people are increas-ingly more likely than adults to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder, according to a large new study.

Researchers analysed data from nearly 450,000 pa-tient visits to U.S. doctors’ offices between 1995 and 2010 for the study, which was published online Nov. 27 in the journal JAMA Psy-chiatry.

Between the periods from 1995 to 1998 and 2007 to 2010, visits that led to di-agnoses of mental-health

problems increased faster for patients younger than 21 than for adults. Visits to psychiatrists also rose faster for youths than for adults, according to a jour-nal news release.

Increases in the number of prescriptions of medi-cations to manage mental health disorders were simi-lar for youths and adults.

"Over the last several years, there has been an expan-sion in mental health care to children and adolescents in office-based medical prac-tice," said Dr. Mark Olfson,

of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, and colleagues.

The researchers said this growth, which occurred along with a rise in pre-scriptions for psychiatric drugs, gives health care pro-viders new opportunities to help children and teens in distress from common psy-chiatric disorders.

"Yet it also poses risks re-lated to adverse medication effects, delivery of non-evi-dence-based care and poor-ly coordinated services," the researchers said.

2 Thursday, 5 December 2013

My Collection Of

Handmade Wreaths

Fine Living

Make a statement this holiday season and create a beautiful wreath to adorn your wall, mantel, window or door.

In 1996, a group of us at Martha Stewart Living compiled a book entitled “Great American Wreaths.” Hannah Milman, Gael Towey and I designed a wreath for every state, and we included instruc-tions and material suggestions for each of the designs. Since then we have cre-ated scores of other gorgeous wreaths to adorn walls and doors and hang over mantels. These wreaths have been made with all sorts of materials - natural ever-greens, straw, pinecones, coffee filters, Christmas ornaments, even fresh cran-berries (one of our favourite wreaths of all time!).

This year I started early. Crafts director Marcie McGoldrick and I decided to fab-ricate new wreaths using some materials that we have not included before: crys-

tals, wired ribbons, golden leaf stickers and even dried sweet-gum seed pods. The wreaths are beautiful to hang indoors or out, and they’re non-perishable, so you can use them year af-ter year.

Having the correct frames and good pins and hangers makes crafting wreaths more en-joyable and the resulting prod-ucts more lovely and professional. Not skimping on embellishments is also essential. Eve-rything appears more lavish and luxe if “more” is central to the design - more bows, more crystals. Pack them on: You will be happy

with the outcome.

The green ribbon wreath was made in multiples - one for each win-

dow in my green living room. I know I will

be using them for years to come;

they are so b e a u t i f u l . The crystal wreath was by far the most time-consuming: Each sparkly

faceted bead (we used in-

e x p e n s i v e crystals from

garlands found at a floral-supply store)

was packed and secure-ly pinned into a Styrofoam

wreath form. It was made to hang in the centre of a large mirror in my dining room.

The trio of gold leaf-sticker wreaths was made specifically to adorn a wide rectan-gular mirror hanging over the fireplace in my daughter’s house, and a generous satin ribbon bedecks the centre wreath and pools on the mantel. The nut-and-pinecone wreath, although the most traditional of the four, was made more special with an application of acorns and seed pods painted white, as well as gold and copper leaves meant for decorating ladies’ hats.

I suggest that you look at each of your rooms and decide what type of wreath would best complement the furnishings and the colour schemes. Each of these examples can be altered significantly just by changing a paint colour, a ribbon type or even the colour of the pinheads!

Pinecone WreathSupplies:

• Floral wire

• Double-rail metal wreath form

• Pinecones in various sizes

• Acorns, nutmeg and sweet-gum seed pods

• Drill and 1/32-inch bit

• Hot-glue gun

• White spray paint

• About 30 millinery or silk leaves

• Metallic craft paint and paintbrush (optional)

How-To:

1. Zigzag floral wire between rails of form to stabilise pinecones when attaching them.

2. Cut a 12-inch piece of wire and loop it around a pinecone (at the base for a shorter one, in the middle for a longer one); twist to secure. Press both ends of wire together, creating one thick tail. Wrap tail around wreath form to connect pinecone to wreath. Repeat with more pinecones until wreath is mostly covered,

placing smaller ones where needed to fill in gaps.

3. Make decorative picks: Remove an acorn cap, drill a small hole on either side of stem, thread wire through, and glue cap back onto acorn. Drill through nutmeg and thread same wire through, then thread through natural holes of sweet gum. Spray-paint white. Repeat to form as many picks as desired.

4. Optional: Cover leaves with metallic paint or gold leaf (for leafing instructions, visit marthastewart.com/gold-leaf).

5. Twist wire picks onto stems of leaves. Place leaves on wreath as desired and glue to secure.

Gold Leaf-Sticker WreathSupplies:

• Gold spray paint (optional)

• MDF wreath form, 9 or 12 inches

• Gold leaf stickers

• Hot-glue gun

• Ribbon

How-To:

1. Optional: Paint wreath form gold. Let dry.

2. Alternating leaf styles and sizes, apply stickers to wreath form in desired pat-tern.

3. Once you have the placement you like, use glue gun to further secure leaves. Let set. For more dimension, gently bend up edges of leaves.

4. Tie ribbon around wreath.

Crystal WreathSupplies:

• 2 lengths of large-and-small crystal garland

• 3 lengths of all-large crystal garland

• Wire cutters

• Extruded Styrofoam wreath form

• Bank pins

• Ribbon

How-To:

1. Cut apart garlands with wire cutters.

2. Attach a crystal to wreath form by press-ing a bank pin through each hole. Repeat, placing crystals as close together as you

can and using smaller ones on top to fill in gaps. (Don’t worry if they are not all flush - this creates dimension.)

3. If you plan to hang wreath against a wall or door, leave back side uncovered. If hanging in a window, cover entire form with crystals.

4. Tie ribbon around wreath.

Ribbon WreathSupplies:

• 2 spools wire-edged ribbon

• Straw wreath form

• Floral U pins

• Floral wire

How-To:

1. Wrap ribbon around wreath form until straw is completely covered. Secure ends with U pins.

2. Make bows: Cut ribbon into 40-inch piec-es (we used about 23). Fold each piece of ribbon into five 4-inch-high loops. Cinch with wire, then spread the loops down so they resemble a bow.

3. Attach bows to wreath form with U pins. (Each pin should straddle base of bow.)

Ask Martha

3Thursday, 5 December 2013Thursday, 5 December 2013

Terphenyls for AIDS ?| Vinodh K.Pisharom |

World AIDS Day is celebrated on 1 December every year to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate international solidar-ity in the face of the epidemic. The 2013 theme for World AIDS Day is “Shared Responsibility: Strengthen-ing Results for an AIDS-Free Gen-eration.” This day gives an opportu-nity for public and private partners to disseminate information about the status of the epidemic and to en-courage progress in HIV/AIDS pre-vention, treatment and care around the world, particularly in high prev-alence countries.

It is believed that more than 2 million adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years are living with HIV, and millions more are at risk of infection. Deprived of effec-tive care and support, the spread of AIDS and AIDS-related death have shown a gradual increase over the years. No wonder, WHO recommen-dations released in the run-up to World AIDS Day 2013 are the first to address the specific needs of ado-lescents, both for those living with HIV and those who are at risk of in-fection.

It is at this juncture, a multidis-ciplinary team of scientists from Spanish universities and research centres, have managed to design small synthetic molecules capable

of joining to the genetic material of the AIDS virus and blocking its rep-lication. This newly designed syn-thetic molecules inhibit the output of genetic material of the virus from the infected cell nucleus to the cyto-plasm, thus the virus replication is blocked and avoids the infection of other cells.

The genetic material of AIDS vi-rus is capable of encoding several proteins that penetrate the human cells and reproduce within them. Terphenyls, the new virus inhibi-tors, developed by this group of sci-entists, were designed by computer to reproduce the interactions of one of the proteins encoded by the virus, the viral protein Rev. Terphenyls join Rev’s receptor in the viral RNA, preventing the interaction between the protein and its RNA receptor. This interaction is necessary for the virus’ genetic material to leave the infected cell nucleus and, thus, it is essential for the survival of HIV-1. The fact that the terphenyls block the virus genetic material output of the cell prevents the infection of other cells.

The scientists at the Universitat Católica de Valencia were in charge of the computational design, who verified experimentally that the terphenyls were capable of joining the Rev receptor in the viral RNA and inhibit the interaction between this RNA and the protein. For its

part, the molecules were synthe-sised in professor Santos Fustero’s organic Chemistry laboratory in the Príncipe Felipe Research Cen-tre and the University of Valencia. Also, through experiments with cells infected by the virus, the group of José Alcamí in the Instituto de Salud Carlos III demonstrated that the inhibitors block the replication of the HIV-1 and inhibit the func-tion of the Rev protein, confirming this way the validity of the models generated by computer. This discov-ery is the result of a close collabora-

tion between three research groups throughout several years.

Pharmaceutical companies have traditionally focused on develop-ing medicines that act on target proteins. But the new synthetic chemical entity, capable of join-ing RNA target and have a relevant pharmacological effect, has opened new ways to approach this epidemic. Resistance to the current antiretro-viral therapies and the lack of an effective vaccine highlight the ne-cessity of identifying the new medi-cines that act on other virus targets.

Rev protein constitutes one of this alternative targets, but so far it has not been possible to develop antivi-ral agents based in their inhibition.

The emergence of the results of this research have been the objec-tives of a patent application, and the three laboratories involved in the research keep their collabora-tion with the objective of improving the pharmacological properties of new Rev inhibitors. Let us hope that such researches bring forth effective treatment for AIDS in the immedi-ate future.

What is HIV?• H – Human – only human beings are infected by

this particular virus.

• I – Immunodeficiency – HIV weakens your im-mune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. A “deficient” immune system leaves you unprotected.

• V – Virus – A virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host.

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like oth-er viruses, including those that cause the “flu” or the common cold. But there is an important dif-ference – over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn’t the case with HIV – the human immune system can’t seem to get rid of it. Scientists are still trying to figure out why.

• We know that HIV can hide for long periods of time in the cells of your body and that it attacks a key part of your immune system – your T-cells or CD4 cells. Your body has to have these cells to fight infec-tions and disease, but HIV invades them, uses them to make more copies of itself, and then destroys them.

• Over time, HIV can destroy so many of your CD4 cells that your body can’t fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS.

What is AIDS?To understand what AIDS is, let’s break it down:• A – Acquired – AIDS is not something you inherit from your

parents. You acquire AIDS after birth.• I – Immuno – Your body’s immune system includes all the

organs and cells that work to fight off infection or disease.

• D – Deficiency – You get AIDS when your im-mune system is “deficient,” or isn’t working the way it should.• S – Syndrome – A syndrome is a collection of symptoms and signs of disease. AIDS is a syn-drome, rather than a single disease, because it is a complex illness with a wide range of complications and symptoms.• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the final stage of HIV infection. People at this stage of HIV disease have badly damaged immune sys-tems, which put them at risk for opportunistic in-fections (OIs).• You will be diagnosed with AIDS if you have one or more specific OIs, certain cancers, or a very low number of CD4 cells. If you have AIDS, you will need medical intervention and treatment to prevent death.

Where Did HIV Come From?

Scientists believe HIV came from a particular kind of chim-panzee in Western Africa. Humans probably came in contact with HIV when they hunted and ate infected animals. Recent studies indicate that HIV may have jumped from monkeys to humans as far back as the late 1800s.

4 Thursday, 5 December 2013

Technology

Amazon unveils plans for delivery drones

PS4, Xbox 1 ‘won’t disappoint gamers’

The world’s largest e-commerce company said it was working on the so-called Prime Air unmanned aircraft project in its research and development labs. But Amazon said it would take years to advance the technology and for the Federal Aviation Administration to create the necessary rules and regulations.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a primetime interview while the octocopters looked like something out of science fiction, there was no reason they could not be used as delivery vehicles.

Bezos said the drones could carry packages that weighed up to 2.3 kilograms, which covers about 86% of the items Amazon delivers. The current generation of drones the company is testing has a range of about

16km, which Bezos noted could cover a significant portion of the population in urban areas.

While it was tough to say exactly how long it could take the project to get off the ground, Bezos told “60 Minutes” he thought it could happen in four or five years.

Besides regulatory approval, Amazon’s biggest challenge will be to develop a collision avoidance system, said Darryl Jenkins, a consultant who has given up on the commercial airline industry and now focuses on drones.

Who was to blame, Jenkins asked, if the drone hit a bird or crashed into a building? Who is going to insure the deliveries?

There are also technical questions. Who will recharge

the drone batteries? How many deliveries can the machines make before needing service?

“Jeff Bezos might be the single person in the universe who could make something like this happen,” Jenkins said. “For what it is worth, this is a guy who’s totally changed retailing.”

The biggest losers could be package delivery services like the US Postal Service, FedEx and UPS.

FedEx spokesman Jess Bunn said in an email: “While we can’t speculate about this particular technology, I can say that making every customer experience outstanding is our priority, and anything we do from a technology standpoint will be with that in mind.”

(Source: AP)

Millions of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners are getting their first taste of what to expect from this new generation of high-powered video games. PS4 recently hits the shelves in New Zealand following Xbox One’s launch last week.

Perhaps you aren’t one of those eager fans who wait in line at midnight to get first crack at the new consoles. Perhaps there’s a gamer in your family who would love to unwrap a shiny new machine on Christmas morning. So you’re wondering: Which console to buy?

Our verdict, after playing with both devices for a couple of weeks: Either way, you can’t lose.

Both are first-rate game players that bring cutting-edge computer graphics to your living room. Both come with plenty of games to choose from. Both hold the promise of delivering state-of-the-art entertainment for years.

But there are differences. The obvious distinction is price: Sony’s PlayStation 4 retails for $US400 ($491), $US100 ($122) less than Microsoft’s Xbox One.

The primary reason for that price difference is the Kinect camera and microphone that comes with every Xbox One. Microsoft wants it to be the centre of everything you do in your media room, not just games where you wave your arms around a lot. The device, an update of the Kinect that was sold separately for the Xbox 360, now understands a wide range of verbal commands, so you can change cable channels, launch Skype calls and find movies and music without ever touching a controller.

It’s a nifty chunk of technology, but it’s not for everyone. In this age of surveillance, people might be uncomfortable with having a camera pointed at them all the time -

though Microsoft assures us that it won’t be snooping.

The PlayStation 4 is less ambitious. First and foremost, it’s a game player, and you operate it the old-fashioned way: by pressing buttons on a controller you hold in your hands.

That said, the PS4 doesn’t skimp on non-gaming activities. You can also use it to watch movies from such services as Netflix and Hulu Plus or to listen to tunes from Sony’s Music Unlimited.

Although both can do much more, the PS4 and the Xbox One are ultimately video-game consoles, with the emphasis on games. The current Xbox One line-up is slightly more impressive, thanks to the presence of the stellar racing game “Forza Motorsport 5.” But many games are available for both systems, including the latest entries in the popular “Call of Duty,” ‘’Madden NFL” and “Assassin’s Creed” franchises.

In a way, choosing a console now is like placing a bet on the future, especially as neither device can play software created for older systems - namely, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Sony has already announced new “Uncharted” and “InFamous” games for the PS4. Microsoft is expected to continue the “Halo” epic on the Xbox One. Microsoft also has a potential blockbuster exclusive with “Titanfall,” a robot battle game from the creators of the landmark “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.”

But most games from outside publishers, including Activision,

Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, will be

available on both systems. Whatever “Grand Theft Auto V” publisher Rockstar Games

comes up with next, you can be sure it will want to make it available to as wide an audience as possible. So you’ll be fine with either the PS4 or the Xbox One.

What about the Wii U, you ask? Nintendo’s console beat both PS4 and Xbox One to the market, but it has stumbled through its first year. It’s not a bad machine, but it doesn’t deliver the visual razzle-dazzle of the PS4 or Xbox One. Its graphics are closer to what the PS3 and Xbox 360 delivered several years ago.

The Wii U’s biggest drawback is its relatively scrawny software line-up, with most of 2013’s best games available only on Sony or Microsoft consoles.

In the past, Nintendo has made up the difference with its roster of home-grown icons - the likes of Mario, Zelda and Metroid. But in 2013, the company delivered just two marquee-worthy Wii U games, “Super Mario 3D World” and “Pikmin 3.”

At $US300 ($368), the Wii U is the cheapest of the three major consoles. But don’t be tempted. Sure, there’s a chance that Nintendo will turn around its momentum and get back to publishing good games on a regular schedule. Until then, an awful lot of Wii Us are going to be gathering dust.

If you or someone on your holiday shopping list just wants to play state-of-the-art games, the PS4 is a fine choice. If you buy into Microsoft’s vision of controlling your entire entertainment system with just the sound of your voice, the Xbox One is worth the extra $US100. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

(Lou Kesten-Associated Press)

Amazon.com is working on a way to get customers their goods in 30 minutes or less - by drone.

PopNod Turns Cash Back Into

Charitable Donations

App Name: PopNodAvailable Platforms: DesktopPrice: FreeWhat does this app do?: For the consumer who may be looking for a way to combine online shopping with charitable giving, PopNod may be an easy solution. The site provides shoppers with access to a variety of popular stores, including big brands like Nordstrom as well as small boutiques, while facilitating the donation process. Designed to make giving back a simple, seamless process, PopNod is a crowd funding site that provides shoppers with a chance to turn cash back savings into donations to over 93 of charitable organisations. Once you sign up on the site, select a store, start shopping, and PopNod will reward you with cash back. Users can then donate all or a portion of their cash back rewards to a cause of their choice.

Typically, users see cash back credits within a few days, according to PopNod’s website, and the company automatically sends payments through Paypal or an Amazon eCertificate every three months once those credits exceed $10.

Is it easy to install?: Yes, simply sign up on the website, select the “Shop” tab to browse stores, and click the “Support a Cause” button to view the charitable organisations to which you can make a donation.

Should I try it?: Popnod’s goal is to make donating automatic and routine allowing users to make smaller contributions that add up over time, according to its website. Working with over 250 stores and 93 charitable organisations, PopNod creates an effortless way in which to give.

(Mary Godfrey- abcnews.go.com)

5Thursday, 5 December 2013

Everyday Food: Fast Flavour: Broiling & Steaming

Steak & Pear Salad

Use our go-to techniques for broiling and steaming, and have dinner served in under 30 minutes.

Life Style

Ingredients:• 1 flank steak (1 1/2 pounds)• coarse salt and ground pepper• 1 tablespoon olive oil• 1/2 cup buttermilk• 6 tablespoons mayonnaise• 2 teaspoons cider vinegar• 1 head romaine lettuce, torn (about 4

cups)• 1 bunch arugula, torn (about 4 cups)• 2 Bosc pears, sliced• 1/2 cup toasted pecans, coarsely

chopped

Directions:• Heat broiler, with rack 6 inches from

heat. Pat steak dry with paper towels, season with salt and pepper and rub with oil. Place on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil 6 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board; tent loosely with foil and let rest 10 minutes.

• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk buttermilk, mayonnaise and vinegar. Season. Thinly slice steak against the grain. In a bowl, toss greens with steak, pears, pecans and dressing.

Salmon With White Beans

Ingredients:• 3 tablespoons olive oil• 2 cans (15.5 ounces each) cannellini

beans, rinsed and drained• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon

zest (from 1 lemon), plus wedges for serving

• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary• 1/2 cup chicken broth• 4 skinless salmon fillets (4 to 6 ounces

each)• coarse salt and ground pepper

• 1/2 cup fresh parsley

Directions:• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium.

Add beans, zest and rosemary and

sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.

• Add broth and salmon to skillet and

season with salt and pepper. Cover

and cook until salmon is opaque,

about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with

parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Active time: 10 minutes. Total

time: 20 minutes. (Serves 4)

Start out sautéing the beans and

rosemary. They create a bed for the

salmon, acting as a steamer basket within the lidded

skillet.

BroilingThink of a broiler as a grill in reverse, with the heat coming from above. Small cuts of meat, fish fillets, tofu and chicken breasts work best with this method.

SteamingThis gentle method yields tender results while cooking food over simmering liquid or in parchment. It’s perfect for fish, shellfish, chicken or hardy vegetables.

Soy-Maple

Broiled Tofu

With Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 1 large head broccoli, stems peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick, florets separated (about 4 1/2 cups)

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• coarse salt and ground pepper

• 1 cup chicken broth

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon corn-starch

• 1 pound firm tofu, cut into 4 3/4-inch slices

• cooked rice, for serving

Directions:• Heat broiler, with rack 4 inches from

heat. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss broccoli with oil and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and spread in an even layer. Broil until tender, stirring once, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine broth, soy sauce, syrup and corn-starch.

• Add tofu to sheet, on top of broccoli. Drizzle with half the broth mixture. Broil until tofu is dark brown in spots and sauce is thickened, about 6 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat remaining broth mixture over medium until thickened, about 6 minutes. Serve broccoli and tofu over rice with sauce.

Active time: 10 minutes.

Total time: 30 minutes.

(Serves 4)

Halibut In

Parchment

Ingredients:• 1/2 small head Napa cabbage, cored

and thinly sliced• 1 medium carrot, shaved with a

vegetable peeler• 4 skinless firm white fish fillets, such

as halibut or bass (1 1/2 pounds total)• 1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves• 4 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh

ginger• coarse salt• 8 teaspoons toasted sesame oil• 4 teaspoons seasoned rice vinegar

Directions:• Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Fahrenheit. Divide cabbage and

carrot among four 16-inch-long pieces of parchment. Top with fish, cilantro and ginger and season with salt. Drizzle with oil and vinegar.

• Bring long ends of paper together and fold 3 times to make a seam. Tuck short ends under to secure.

• Place packets on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until puffed and fish is opaque, about 13 to 15 minutes. Transfer packets to plates, gently pull open and serve immediately.

Active time: 15 minutes.

Total time: 30 minutes.

(Serves 4).

Active time: 15 minutes. Total time: 30 minutes. (Serves 4)

6 Thursday, 5 December 2013

London-based milliner Alexandra Harper designs and produces statement hats and headpieces. Blending expert knowledge of classic millinery with innovative techniques, superior craftsmanship and a directional vision, Alexandra’s luxury headwear exudes pioneering style and individuality. All Alexandra Harper creations are one-offs, made by hand with the finest quality materials in her London studio.

Hat lovers in the UK are absolutely not afraid to embrace something different and new. Here’s our selection of Harper’s hats.

Victoria Beckham has unveiled her new Pre Autumn/Winter 2013-14 bag collection, and it does not disappoint. The collection symbolises all that we have come to know, and love of Victoria Beckham’s designs. Each bag is beautifully designed and representative

Alexandra Harper

Hats 2013

Victoria Beckham Unveils

Pre Autumn/ Winter 2013-14

Bag Collection

of acute attention to detail. The collection is undeniably sleek and elegant.

The collection features a number of different hues, from very trendy oxblood to deep scarlet and stylish black; with such a variety of shapes and tones.

7Thursday, 5 December 2013

MONIQUE LHUILLIER, SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION 2014

This spring is about sheer elegance; “I wanted it to feel light and stripped down,” said Monique Lhuillier at a preview of her collection. The first group out - organza looks in the lightest of pastels with metallic threading - was the most beautiful, the theme best demonstrated with a bandeau top, sleeveless top and matching midi skirt. Next came looks in lace; highlights here were the vibrant combos such as the long-sleeve shirt in a deep orange with detachable jeweled collar paired with a below-the-knee skirt in a rich red.

Most chic was Lhuillier’s eveningwear, especially the bandeau-and-ball skirt combos in silk gazar.

Send your feedback and suggestions to bloom@qimqatar.com • Tel : 44666810, Fax : 44654975

8 Thursday, 5 December 2013