Household Items

Radisson is in the middle of a major overhaul of its brand: As part of a five-year, $516 million renovation project, the hotel franchise just installed more than 40,000 Select Comfort Sleep Number beds in its North America and Caribbean locations. Special interior air compartments inflate or deflate to meet individual firmness preferences--and guests can adjust each side of the mattress separately. The privilege to sleep on a Sleep Number rather than a standard bed currently costs about $5-$10 more per night, but as they roll out more of the beds, the price difference will become negligible. By the end of 2007, most Radissons will have Sleep Numbers in more than 50 percent of their rooms. Good news for your back--and your wallet. --Laura MacNeil When Westin debuted its Heavenly Bed in 1999, the hotel chain was one of the first big-name brands to bring in high-quality bedding. And while some hotels have followed its lead, the best way to assure that your bed is heavenly is to bring your own--sheets, that is. The Cocoon TravelSheet is lightweight and easily packable, and best of all, it's 100% silk. Unroll it from its soda-can-sized pouch, lay it on your bed, and climb inside (it's like a sleeping bag only much thinner). The handy coupler system also allows you to zip two single-sized sheets into one double-sized version so it'll fit pretty much any size bed. Let the heavenly slumber begin. 800/254-7258, cocoonusa.com, $80. --David LaHuta

Pamela Keech: Hello. I am Pamela Keech, author of The Curious Shopper's Guide to New York City. I don't know it all, but I hope I can answer some of your shopping questions today. _______________________ South Windsor, CT: Where is the best places to buy "knock off" pocketbooks? Pamela Keech: The best place is along Canal Street. You can wheel and deal. If you don't like the price walk away and they will always come down. _______________________ Racine, WI: What are some good places for large size women's clothing? Pamela Keech: There is a lovely store called Daphne's. It is on Amsterdam Avenue between 82-83 Streets. _______________________ Boise, ID: I'll be in NYC during the holidays. Is there a list of Christmas bazaars anywhere? Pamela Keech: There are wonderful festive Christmas bazaars at Grand Central Station, South Street Seaport, and Columbus Circle. The bazaar at Bryant Park is especially fun, a one-stop holiday treat with brilliantly lit trees and fountains, an ice skating rink, and stands to get hot chocolate and sandwiches. _______________________ Columbia, CT: I'd like to plan a trip to NY for a group of librarians to visit some independent book stores. Can you recommend some of the best, including a plan to make a day of exploring? Pamela Keech: Sadly, many independent bookstores have closed. The Strand is still alive, also Three Lives & Co on West 10th Street. All the museums have excellent book sections in their gift shops, and it is not necessary to pay admission to visit them. Especially good are MOMA, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum Visitor Center at 108 Orchard Street has a fine selection of New York related fiction and non-fiction. For a "bookish" day tour don't miss the Morgan Library with its new addition by Renzo Piano, on Madison Avenue at 36th Street. _______________________ Cleveland, OH: Do you have any tips for bargaining at flea markets? What has worked for you? Pamela Keech: When I go to a flea market I am very conscious of the work the dealer has done to buy collect their stock. If I think the asking price is more than fair, I pay it. When bargaining, I never make an offer that will offend the dealer. By being thoughtful and polite I often get terrific prices. _______________________ NYC, NY: Wher all these discount clothing outlets in lower Manhattan I hear about? Pamela Keech: Most of the discount clothing is on Orchard Street between Houston and Delancey. There are some great underwear and lingerie stores on Orchard between Delancey and Grand. A.W. Kaufmann carries European designer lingerie at discount prices. Accessories are along Canal Street. Look for scarves, handbags, watches, and perfume. _______________________ Miami, FL: Where in NYC can I find cute hat stores? Are there any inexpensive stores that sell hand-knitted beanie hats, or do you know of any stores that sell dressier hats? Thanks. Pamela Keech: There are lots of hat stores, but only one is still located in the old millinery district on West 38th Street. Manny's has been in business forever and now sells fabulous church hats and will design custom hats for weddings etc. Bonnie's, on Orchard Street near Delancey has handmade hats with a with a retro look. Also look along Fifth Avenue in the high 20s for hat and glove stores. _______________________ Pamela Keech: Thanks for all your questions, happy shopping and happy holidays. Pamela Keech _______________________

Q: Could you share some memories of cooking with your family and how you became interested in cooking? A: Cooking and food have always been a major part of my family and upbringing, and also play a major role in Indian culture. My mom cooked a lot and we also had a cook at home. Hanging out in the kitchen to help the cook would ensure that I always got a tasty morsel before or in between meals. My mom would plan the meals daily with the cook, and would also get more involved with the meals when we were entertaining. I became familiar with cooking at a young age--I'd watch and help, and smell and taste all the flavors. My earliest memories were making my Sunday souffle omelets with roasted tomatoes when I was about 11. I also have fond memories of helping the cook clean shrimp, cut green mango, and saute the onions for the Goan stew sorpatel. I used to be the kid in the neighborhood who organized and cooked the monthly barbecues. When I was around 11 or 12 years old, during summers, all the kids in the neighborhood would each bring a potato and roast it over a wood fire and eat it with sea salt from the Arabian Sea. My love for food and cooking subconsciously were guiding me to my current destination. Q: What role do spices play in Indian culture? A: Besides being flavor enhancers, spices have many health benefits. Certain spices are used in different seasons because of their effect on our bodies--some increase body temperature, other keep us cool. Spices also play an important role in digestion. Growing up, I remember spice infusions that were given for various ailments such as a cold, stomach virus, or flu. Additionally, due to the various seasons and how difficult it used to be to transport fresh ingredients across the country (India), spices played an important role in preserving ingredients in pickles and chutneys for use in leaner times, i.e., in growing seasons when ingredients could not be transported across the country or were not available. Q: What are some easy ways to give Western dishes Indian flair? A: Adding one or two spices in a stew is an easy way to give a western dish an Indian flair. Adding coriander to meat dishes, cumin to vegetable dishes, and a combination of cumin and coriander to fish dishes are easy ways to do this as well. In One Spice, Two Spice, I offer many recipes. It can be really simple and is a great way to add tons of flavor. Q: Which basic Indian spices should be in every kitchen? A: In my new cookbook, One Spice, Two Spice, I outline levels of spices for home cooks. First, I suggest that people have some basics--bay leaf, black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. For those who want to add great flavor to their home cooking, Level One includes a selection of versatile spices that work well with most ingredients: Coriander seed, cumin, turmeric and mustard. I have three more levels as one gets more experienced with these spices. But really, it can be easy and is great fun to experiment with spices. Q: Which spices go into making a classic Indian curry? A: There are no standard spices in a curry. Depending on the region and season, the combinations change. A classic curry, though, is any sauce with spice, be it one, two, or more spices. Q: What is the best way to store spices? A: Buy them whole, keep them away from heat and light, and store them in an air tight container. In order to maintain freshness, buy spices in one- to two-ounce portions. Q: How should you buy spices? A: Always whole, never ground (except turmeric, cayenne, chat masala, and paprika). Ground spices tend to loose the essential oils which give the spices their flavor and health benefits. It's ideal to buy spices from ethnic markets, as you never know how long they have been on the shelf in big grocery stores. High turnover is a sure sign of freshness. Q: Are there any online resources for buying or learning about spices that you recommend? A: Sinha Trading ships everywhere, but you have to visit or call: 121 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016, 212/683-4419. There's also Penzeys, 19300 W. Janacek Ct., Brookfield, Wis., 800/243-7227, penzeys.com; and Kalustyans, 123 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016, 212/685-3451, kalustyans.com.

Every traveler has a strategy for what to pack and how to pack it. But some techniques are smarter than others. We all know we should pack less, but how? One way is to go with one or two color schemes when picking what clothes to bring. Then you can mix and match to create several different outfits. Dry-cleaning bags are great for keeping clothes from wrinkling. Slide each item into a plastic bag, then lay them on top of each other and carefully put them all into your suitcase. Trust me, this works wonders! If you're going somewhere that's especially warm and humid, stick a fabric softener in your luggage. It'll absorb odors and dampness and keep clothing fresh. Plastic travel soap dishes are great for keeping tiny breakable items safe. Old film canisters will also do the trick. Pack an empty duffel bag inside your main piece of luggage. That way, if you're over the airline's weight limit, you can take out your duffel and check it as a second bag. the extra bag will also come in handy for storing dirty clothes--or as a place for all those great souvenirs you just can't resist.