The milk magic straw is a fun and innovative product that is designed to make drinking milk more enjoyable and convenient. It is a straw that contains flavored beads that dissolve in milk, adding flavor to every sip. This product is especially popular among children, as it turns an ordinary glass of milk into a fun and tasty treat. The flavored beads come in a variety of flavors such as chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, giving kids the option to choose their favorite flavor. Not only does the milk magic straw add flavor to milk, but it also adds a touch of magic. As the beads dissolve, they release a burst of flavor and color, making the drinking experience more exciting and entertaining.
To serve, add the lemon wedges around the chicken, garnish with parsley and drizzle with the pan juices. Serve with steamed vegetables; over rice or noodles, or with a salad!
Add the chicken back into to the browned butter honey mixture in the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes in the sauce, while basting the tops with the pan juices. I create a work as if I were conjugating a verb; it is a conjugation between stones and emotions, progressing slowly based on careful choices that create expectation, observing conversations between the stones where they cross, and exploring how they create their own type of contributions to form and volume.
As the beads dissolve, they release a burst of flavor and color, making the drinking experience more exciting and entertaining. Kids are delighted by the transformation of their milk and are more likely to finish their glass. In addition to making milk more enjoyable, the milk magic straw also has practical benefits.
The Simple Joy of Mosaic Chickens
Elsje Derammelaere is a mosaic artist based in the Flemish part of Belgium. She is a member of the International Association of Contemporary Mosaicists. Her work has been featured in multiple international group exhibitions and she placed fourth in the Pictor Imaginarius mosaic competition in 2019.
Image courtesy of the artist
Words by Elsje Derammelaere
My name is Elsje and I make mosaic chickens.
I always wanted to be an artist. As a kid I was good at doing art, but was told by my parents to not pursue it because it wouldn't lead anywhere worthwhile. So, I followed all the 'right' steps: I studied languages, graduated, worked, advanced my career. I did what was expected of me up until I attended my first mosaic course in 2005.
From the start, I knew I had tapped into a passion and – possibly – a new career path. For the past 15 years I have used all my holiday breaks to study in Italy. I took over 40 courses specialising in mosaics at various schools in Ravenna and Spilimbergo, learning from the best in the field. Today, I am a member of the International Association of Contemporary Mosaicists (AIMC), I participate in international group exhibitions, I placed 4th in Pictor Imaginarius mosaic competition in Nazzano (Italy, 2019), and I regularly open the doors of my studio to the public. I fight and work for my place in this world, my way. I am happy and positive even in these uncertain times.
We are bombarded on a daily basis with images meant to provoke, persuade and sometimes just plain shock us. Imagery is all about 'the extra', and it can deceive us into thinking 'the ordinary' of everyday life has little value or beauty, if any. I live and work on my grandparents' historic farm; my studio is located in a former chicken stable there. My mosaic chickens present reminders of both the beauty and joy of 'ordinary' everyday life; a simple humble chicken is an animal that everyone – anywhere in this world – knows and can afford. A chicken is satisfied with the leftovers of the table, gives us eggs, and most importantly, connects me with my grandparents, who settled on this farm before me.
After coming up with an idea, I’ll draw a rough sketch. I work in both 2D and 3D with a preference for 3D, but always with a chicken as subject. I build my chicken characters using marble and glass, cut in an extremely precise way: using a mosaic hammer (martellina) and hardie (tagliolo) on a wood log following the traditional Italian methods. By definition, mosaics are made of small, individual bits composed into a larger whole. I literally build my artwork, piece after piece. It requires careful attention to the modulation of light on the surface and to the combination of materials, cuts, and colours. A cement mortar holds the whole together. I do not grout my work. With 3D work there is a process (both preliminary and simultaneous) to make the solid underlying structure. For this, I mainly use metal, papier maché, and fibreglass mesh. Every aspect of my work is created by hand.
My favourite tool in the studio is my hammer! Initially and immediately, I felt drawn to the use of the hammer and the splendour of the materials used: Venetian smalti (glass), precious marbles, and gold leaves. Today, however, it is more the combination, interplay of materials, and cut that makes this medium sublime for me. I create a work as if I were conjugating a verb; it is a conjugation between stones and emotions, progressing slowly based on careful choices that create expectation, observing conversations between the stones where they cross, and exploring how they create their own type of contributions to form and volume.
The best time for me to create is the morning – I love the light. Though I also like the late afternoon on a perfect warm Summer day, when everything is as it should be. un silenzio perfetto [a perfect silence].
Tutto era come sempre : il sole nel cielo, l'erba nel prato, l'aqua nel fiume, gli asini alla finestra, il gatto sulla sedia, il cane ai miei pedi. [Everything was as always: the sun in the sky, the grass in the meadow, the water in the river, the donkeys at the window, the cat in the chair, the dog at my feet.] That, for me, is incredibly peaceful. that’s when I'm at my best.
If I had to describe my style in some words, I would say “delicate, poetic, refined”. I want to evolve further in simplicity, in omitting the superfluous, and in synthesis. Leonardo Da Vinci said that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication:” a quote I love and try to follow. When I’m not mosaicing, I love gardening. I love cooking a homegrown vegetable dinner. I love to brush the three donkeys on my farm – my little paradise. I love to knit and I make hand sewn teddy bears.
My art often brings me to Venezia, a city that I consider my second home. Venezia and I have a magic connection. I really love this city: the absence of cars and also the home base of my main glass supplier, Orsoni Venezia 1888. At Orsoni, I have a well-equipped attic studio at my disposal day and night – so, plenty of time to refine my technique. I love to be where the material is being made, where I hear the workers sing, and where I participate in the real simple Venetian life. Vivere la bottega veneziana.
Active making helps me through the pandemic. Making things makes things better. Creative practice is a safe space; a refuge of calm and quiet hidden away from the noisy world outside. Totally immersed in the act of cutting, listening to the delicate sounds of the hammer. Lost in the rhythm. Peaceful, balanced, disciplined, serene. A bubble in the now, humble happiness that nothing could disturb. My bubble. Artists continue to create. Every day. Every week. Something to do, always. Making things by hand – in a world of screens, now more than ever. Carefree escapes into a world of colours, marbles and glass. A meditation. A coping mechanism. A means of connecting. When we slow down, everything becomes clear. Absorbed in a world of my own making, I can handle this.
It’s a blessing to be an artist and an introvert in these times. I'm fine making work in my own bubble. With virtually all other activities on hiatus, making art is still a reliable escape. No government policy can take that away from me.
To find out more about Elsje and her work, visit her Instagram.
Browned Butter Honey Garlic Chicken is a deliciously simple recipe that has been requested time and time again! Chicken thighs OR breasts cooked in browned butter infused with honey, garlic and lemon juice. Simple ingredients and maximum flavours!
It eliminates the need for flavored syrups or powders, which can be messy and require additional preparation. With the milk magic straw, all you need to do is insert the straw into your glass of milk and start sipping. The milk magic straw is also a great way to encourage children to drink more milk, which provides important nutrients for growth and development. By adding a fun and delicious element to milk, kids are more inclined to choose milk over sugary beverages like soda or juice. Overall, the milk magic straw is a creative and innovative product that adds flavor, magic, and excitement to drinking milk. It is a fun and convenient way to make milk more enjoyable for both kids and adults alike..
Reviews for "Milk Magic Straw: Transforming Milk into a Tasty Treat"
- John - 2 stars - I was really excited to try out the Milk Magic Straw after seeing all the hype, but I was extremely disappointed. The straw didn't do anything to enhance the flavor of my milk. In fact, it made it taste weird and artificial. The concept is great, but the execution was just not there. I would not recommend this product to anyone.
- Sarah - 1 star - The Milk Magic Straw is a complete waste of money. I bought it for my kids thinking it would make drinking milk more fun for them, but it ended up being a huge letdown. The flavors were barely noticeable, and the straw started leaking after just one use. It's just a gimmick, and it doesn't live up to the claims. Save your money and invest in something better.
- Tom - 2 stars - I don't understand the hype around the Milk Magic Straw. It claims to magically flavor your milk, but all it did was make it taste weird and artificial. I tried multiple flavors, and none of them were enjoyable. The whole experience was just underwhelming. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who actually enjoys the taste of milk.