Forget the walk-in closet and the master bath; the morning bar is one of the hottest new home amenities. The typical morning bar includes a sink and faucet, small refrigerator, drawer dishwasher and small counter to hold appliances such as a coffee maker, espresso machine or even a microwave oven.

The morning bar is part of a growing consumer phenomenon referred to as "trading up," which indicates that people are willing to pay extra for luxury items. Last year American consumers spent $400 billion on luxury items that included everything from upscale cars to lavish home accessories

The unit (don't call it a mini-kitchen!) reinforces the idea of a bedroom as a sumptuous retreat rather than only a place to sleep. The big problem for designers is fitting it into the bedroom beautifully. They come in different wood finishes with fancy hardware, a mini refrigerator, wine drawer, and dishwasher, lighting and, depending on location, a skylight can be added. See it at www.showhouse.moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN. If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. (NUI)

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2. NEW PRODUCTS –

New products were coming in fast and furiously hoping to make the holiday columns but there is only so much room so I'll introduce them little by little.

WHOLE GRAIN BAKING MIXES

From King Arthur's Flour came a batch of new products consisting of whole grain mixes. Add a few ingredients and op them in the oven or on the stove and you've got some real healthy goodies. Try the praline pumpkin seed mix, Scone mixes, the whole grain muffin

and cinnamon bun mixes and the oat meal pancake mixes in different flavors. Order up one or more of each and when you find those you like beat (if there are that are better than the others) and you'll never use white flour mixes again. Best thing is that it's all available mail order from www.bakerscatalogue.com

PROGRESSO MICROWAVE BOWLS of SOUP

Pop these readymade delicious soups in the microwave and you have a hearty full meal. The one-cup microwaveable containers are filled with thick, well-favored soups in 5 different flavors. Perfect for popping into a lunch bag and heating in the lunchroom microwave at the office.

Keep them on the pantry shelf and have them ready when you need a quick snack for the family…and each person can have his or her favorite; Chicken noodle, Minestrone, Chicken and wild rice, Italian Style Wedding, or Vegetable and Lentil. See them at www.progressosoup.com. Find them with the other prepared soups in your supermarket.

POMEGRANATE FLAVORED PEARL VODKA

If you're into Vodka's, you'll know that Pearl is one of the top brands. Now they have introduced a Pomegranate flavored vodka named Persephone. It's delicious over ice, mixed with juice or soda or as another taste for the martini aficionado. Are you wondering why it's called Persephone…it's named after the Greek goddess by the same name. The ruby-colored, temptingly sweet-tart pomegranate was central in Persephone's tragic Greek tale.

Look up both Pearl vodka to further your martini tastes and then check out Persephone to update your knowledge of Greek tales. www.pearlvodka.com (you must be of drinking age to enter the site). Enter Persephone in your browser and you'll read about this goddess of the underworld so you can stun your guests with your knowledge when you serve them their new flavored martinis.

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2. RECIPES IN SEASON

PEANUT BUTTER SQUASH SOUP

Squash soup is one of my favorites but the addition of the peanut taste makes it super yummy.

2 medium sweet potatoes
3-4 pounds of frozen or fresh cooked or frozen
4-5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 stick butter
salt and pepper to taste
sour cream (optional)
chopped peanuts (optional)

Microwave potatoes until soft; cool and remove meat from skin. In a soup pot combine potatoes and cooked squash, add stock and butter and stir until well mixed. Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes. Mix peanut butter with a cup of the hot soup in small bowl, then return the mixture to the soup pot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream and a few chopped peanuts on top. Also makes a good summer soup served cold.

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APPLESUACE RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

This recipe should be an cinch to create with raisins, applesauce and cinnamon as the main ingredients.

1 loaf (16 ounces) light style white bread

1 cup California raisins

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 cups skim milk

1 cup applesauce

8 egg whites

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cut sliced bread into 1/2-inch cubes. Toss with raisins and cinnamon in a large bowl. Beat together milk, applesauce, egg whites, sugar and vanilla. Pour mixture over bread cubes and let stand 25 minutes. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour bread mixture into prepared pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven. Let cool 15 to 20 minutes and serve.

4. TRAVEL- JOIN US ON A PRINCESS CRUISE this summer

Now that the holidays are over, it's time to think of summer vacations. We're scheduled for a 14 day Mediterranean Cruise on the Princess Line for next August 19^th. I will be lecturing on art and sculpture at the various sites including Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Florence and other stops. This "Mediterranean Medley" cruise leaves from Southampton, England and makes a great circle over to Italy and back to Southampton.

This will be our 4^th Princess Cruise…obviously we like them, and many of the people who have been attending the popular lectures have kept in touch with us. Check out the Mediterranean Medley for next Aug. 19^th. We'd love to have you sail with us. www.princesscruises.com

For anyone going overseas, be sure to check your passport for updates and renewals. The Princess site will direct you to the US Passport office.

AND speaking of travel…As a proud mother I'd sending you to this article of an incredible trek up Macchu Picchu taken and written up by my daughter and published in the Albuquerque Journal.

Susan's Seligman's travel article.

Subject: My Hiking the Inca Trail article from the Abq. Journal...photos at the end

Click here: Mountains Majesty

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5. OLLA PODRIDA

FROM WHENCE DOES "BARTENDER" COME?

The Zagat Surveys offer this update on semantics thanks to fancy restaurants opening around the world. The word 'bartender' was coined in 1836, but given Mixology's growing mystique, it may soon be supplanted by the much tonier term 'bar chef.' The idea has been incubating for some time, spurred by the rise of the celebrity chef – not to mention the rise of the price of a martini. Discriminating drinkers began to realize that for that kind of money, they should be getting something more than a swank setting and eye-candy servers.

Enter the bar chef. NYC's Dale DeGroff, considered by many to be the granddaddy of the movement, started out pouring well-crafted cocktails at the Rainbow Room and soon influenced a new generation of cocktail shakers around Manhattan and it spread to San Francisco and who knows where else. At Harry Denton's Starlight Room in San Francisco, Jacques Bezuidenhout pours 'million-dollar cocktails' (actually more modestly priced at $80 to $650 a pop). What all of these bar stylists have in common is a preference for exotic ingredients, freshly squeezed juices and a decided penchant for gin over vodka – all you have to be is ready to pay for it. Certainly, it's out of the Cowboy Cocktail genre.

6. BOOKS by Dona Z. Meilach for Yourself - For Gifts

Dona's Kitchen Kapers is an associate of Amazon Books. Using the link provided to one book, will take you to others when you request it by title or author. You will be returned to this page after checking their listings. There's a 20% to 30% saving per book for the following books or those mentioned in book reviews.

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1558672095/donaskitchenkapeA/

THE BEST 50 PUDDINGS & SOUFFLES $5.95

THE BEST 50 MARGARITAS $5.95

THE BEST 50 BAR DRINKS $5.95

WRAPS AND ROLL-UPS $8.95

THE BEST 50 BRUSCHETTA $5.95

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES $8.95

THE BEST BAGELS ARE MADE AT HOME $8.95

THE BEST 50 MARINADES $5.95

THE BEST 50 HOMEMADE LIQUEURS $5.95

And…

TEAPOTS: MAKERS & COLLECTORS $49.95

WOOD ART TODAY $59.95

ART JEWELRY TODAY $49.95

ARCHITECTURAL IRONWORK $49.95

The CONTEMPORARY BLACKSMITH 255 pages, 550 photos, $49.95

DECORATIVE & SCULPTURAL IRONWORK 2^nd edition. 300 pages, 700 photos. $34.95

DIRECT METAL SCULPTURE – Revised Edition. Over 350 pages, 425 photos. $39.95

CONTEMPORARY STONE SCULPTURE 2^nd Edition.. 224 page, over 350 photos. $24.95

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