Business mogul Donald Trump has expanded his empire to conquer yet another area of industry: the production and distribution of his own line of vodka. Aptly named Trump Super Premium Vodka, it boasts a quintuple distilling process and is produced in Holland by famed Dutch master distiller Jacques de Lat.

The Capital Region’s own Overit Media has been selected to help launch Trump Vodka by promoting “The World’s Finest Super Premium Trumptini Contest,” with the establishment of a chic, interactive website. The site boasts a narrative about the vodka, several Trump-inspired drink recipes, as well as details, instructions, and prize information pertaining to the Trumptini contest. The black and gold theme speaks not only to the sophistication of the vodka itself, but also its creator. The website personifies everything that the Donald stands for, right down to the tagline, “Success Distilled”.

Overit Media was contacted by Trump Super Premium Vodka’s parent company, Drinks Americas, whose brands Overit has worked with previously. “We are ecstatic about working with Drinks Americas again, this time to promote Trump Super Premium Vodka,” said Overit Media CEO Dan Dinsmore, “the addition of the global brand will greatly boost Overit’s growing client list.”

In addition to the launch of the Trumptini website, Overit Media has been asked to produce a host of other projects for the brand including video, print work, web and animation that will be screening in select Trump Properties such as Trump Plaza and the Taj Mahal. Though Overit Media has worked with Drinks Americas in the past on their other subsidiary brands, they consider themselves very fortunate to have been selected to promote Trump’s prestigious product. Some of their work is available on their show reel, www.overit.com/showreel.

Trump Vodka was recently given a 4 star rating from F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal, and comes highly recommended from this fastidious reviewer. Drinks Americas also plans to release Trump Premium Vodka in an assortment of flavors later this year. For more information about the Trump Super Premium Vodka, please visit www.trumptini.com.

We all have long-time friends. People we’ve known for a decade or two with whom you can share almost anything. I am fortunate enough not only to have friends like that but also to work with one of them. We get the benefit of seeing each other during our workdays and keeping each other amused during meetings.

The other morning my friend was telling me about her ideas for dinner. She told me that she had leftover chicken from Sunday dinner and wanted to do something different with it. She also had some whole grain tortillas that she wanted to use with it. As she recited her list of ingredients, I began to envision the meal. My only suggestion was to add some corn to the dish.

The next morning my friend came to work and told me that the dish was well-received by her husband. At lunch, she had a container of leftovers. Once heated, the spicy scent of her Mexican Mix emanated throughout the room. It smelled like an excellent dinner to me. I asked that she email the recipe to me, so that I could make it and add it to my blog.

When I made the meal at home, my version was slightly different than hers. My friend served it with shredded chicken, canned tomatoes, and tortilla shells. I served mine with ground turkey, fresh tomatoes, and tortilla wraps. Regardless to the way it was served, it was another great idea shared among friends.

Doris’s Mexican Mix

1 pound cooked shredded chicken, ground turkey, or ground beef

1 (16 0z.) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (16 oz.) can diced tomatoes with chile peppers*

chopped veggies, such as peppers and onions

1 cup frozen corn

1 envelope taco seasoning

1/2 - 1 cup water

garlic powder

onion powder

1 package tortillas

shredded cheddar cheese

salsa

Heat frying pan over medium high heat and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Put meat, black beans, tomatoes, veggies, and corn in pan. Saute for 5 - 10 minutes or until warm. Add seasoning, water, and spices. Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered, for another 10 - 15 minutes.

Put tortilla on a microwaveable plate and put a scoop of mix in center of tortilla. Top with cheddar cheese. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds or until cheese melts. Top with salsa, if desired.

*Fresh tomato can be used in place of the canned tomatoes.

School is back in session, which means that it is time to think of lunches that are healthy and that the kids like.  The kids aren’t so excited about peanut butter sandwiches, and even daily sandwiches made with lunchmeat tend to get boring.  So, I try to vary the lunches by sending bagels and cream cheese, cheese and crackers, a trail mix with peanuts, or banana bread. 

A lunch that works especially well for my kids is pasta salad.  I love that they enjoy this dish for many reasons.  One, I easily can make it while preparing dinner.  Two, this recipe makes enough salad for many lunches.  Three, it is full of vegies, making it a very healthy lunch.  Four, my kids never get tired of eating it.  Five, it is much quicker to pack a container of pasta salad than to make a sandwich.

Lunchbox Pasta Salad

1 lb. rotini

1 bottle balsamic salad dressing

1 yellow pepper

1/2 lb. broccoli

15 baby carrots

small can black olives

Cook rotini according to package directions.  When only two minutes of cooking time are left, add broccoli (chopped into bite-sized pieces) to the pasta.

Cut pepper into 1″ strips.  Slice baby carrots.  Drain olives. 

Drain pasta and broccoli, and place in a large salad bowl.  Add peppers, carrots, and olives.  Pour salad dressing, amount based on desired flavor, on top of all ingredients.  Mix well.  Chill for 4 or more hours.

*For additional flavors, the following can be added:  cucumber slices, feta cheese, small cubes of cheddar cheese, or cherry tomatoes.

Makes 6 or more school lunches.