Author: Emily Gautreaux

Praxair Building a New Hydrogen Plant in Louisiana

The Daily Advertiser released this article stating that Praxair recently announced that they will be building a New Hydrogen Plant in Louisiana where it will be integrated with the firm’s “already extensive Louisiana production network via its Mississippi River Corridor hydrogen pipeline system.”

The exact location has not been decided yet but has plans to start up in 2021 and be among the largest hydrogen producing plants in America.  Praxair is a subsidiary of the Irish-based chemical giant Linde plc.  Once the state-of-the-art design is complete, this project will increase the U.S. Gulf Coast hydrogen capacity to more than 1.7 billion standard cubic feet per day.

Praxair, Inc. is a leading industrial gas company in North and South America and one of the largest worldwide. Praxair produces, sells and distributes gases and high-performance surface coatings. Their services are making our planet more clean and productive by bringing environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries.

Why do we need hydrogen plants?  What exactly will the plant be used to do?  

Hydrogen production has three basic industrial benefits that makes sense for companies to take advantage of.

1.    The use of hydrogen greatly reduces pollution.

When hydrogen is combined with oxygen in a fuel cell, energy in the form of electricity is produced and the only by-products are water and heat. No other pollution or greenhouse gases are produced.  This electricity can be used for anything, including powering vehicles or as a heat source.

2.    Hydrogen can be produced locally from various sources.

Companies don’t have to outsource for hydrogen.  Hydrogen gas can be produced locally from methane, gas, coal or water.

3.    If hydrogen is produced from water we have a sustainable production system.

Using renewable energy provides a sustainable system that is nonpolluting. Some of the renewable sources used are wind, hydro, and solar energy. The by products of the process are water and heat so the system can be set up as a co-generator, with the waste energy used for heating.

In order to comply with increasingly strict environmental regulations, the demand for clean fuels is growing astronomically.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new rule to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants across the country.  The proposal is called the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule.  It has established guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit GHGs at their power plants.

“The ACE Rule would restore the rule of law and empower states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide modern, reliable and affordable energy for all Americans,” said Andrew Wheeler, EPA acting administrator.

“EPA has an important role when it comes to addressing the CO2 from our nation’s power plants,” said Bill Wehrum, assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “The ACE rule would fulfill this role in a manner consistent with the structure of the Clean Air Act while being equally respectful of its bounds.”

According to the EPA, the proposal will work to reduce GHG emissions through four main missions:

1.    ACE will define the “best system of emission reduction” for existing power plants

2.    ACE provides states with a list of “candidate technologies” to utilize

3.    ACE continues to research and provide updates to further encourage efficiency improvements

4.    ACE will give states adequate time and flexibility to develop their plans.

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The Best Untapped Destinations in Europe for 2019

It turns out, after years of vacationing to different areas, that some of the best memories come from the hidden and quite locations not many people have heard of before and also happen to be the Best Untapped Destinations.  The empty white, sandy beaches. The cobblestone streets where you are the only tourist.  These experiences truly immerse you in another land and culture without the touristy traps.  Once the general public finds out about an amazing destination, it’s only natural that the large influx of travelers morph that destination in some way.  Menus begin having English captions and suddenly street vendors are selling impostor goods in an attempt to appeal to the American spender.

Thanks to Travel + Leisure, we have compiled a great list of untapped European destinations for you to advantage of before everyone finds out!  Put these Best Untapped Destinations on your bucket list and get ready to have a genuine and authentic travel experience like no other.

Best Untapped Destinations in Europe in 2019

1.    Giornico, Switzerland

The ancient but well preserved village of Italian-speaking Giornico with its stone houses, vineyards and chestnut forests, is located in the Leventina Valley (Canton Ticino) in southern Switzerland. Architecture buffs will enjoy the seven churches, including the beautiful 12th century Romanesque Church of St. Nicholas. To fully appreciate it, drive north 35 miles from the popular lake resort towns of Ascona and Locarno and find the turnoff for Giornico, a stone relic of 14th-century Europe hiding off the main road. Down in the valley and rests a trickling little river crossed by two arching stone bridges. Take a gander at the impressive views of scenic road and rail routes, rock faces and waterfalls. Grotto dei due Ponti, a family-run restaurant serves dishes like spezzatino (meat ragoût) with polenta and overlooks the river.

2.    Kotor, Montenegro

Wedged between mountains and the bay, Kotor is a medieval maze of museums, churches, cafes and Venetian palaces. This is a perfect example of why some of these are some of the Best Untapped Destinations. It’s a delightful marriage of the past and present. Children race down cobblestone roads toward centuries-old school houses. Lines of laundry flap from wrought-iron balconies. At night, Kotor’s spectacularly lit-up walls glow as the streets buzz with live music and castle-top clubbing.  The wealthy British are scrambling to scoop up real estate in Kotor. The locals (dark-haired, green-eyed people of the Black Mountains which is where Montenegro gets its name) have opened restaurants to introduce visitors to the local fare.

3.   
Kotor, Montenegro

Ancient poets, fertile countryside, draping Cypress trees, neverending vineyards and olive groves…this truly is the gem of Tuscany.  Bolgheri boasts castles straight out of a Disney tale, like the castle of the Gherardesca Counts of Bolgheri, near Piazza Santa Teresa.   The churches are majestic as they are serene, such as the church of Saints Giacomo and Cristoforo, the oldest in the area. Carducci, author of the famous and timeless Rime Nuove, wrote beautiful poetry about the lines of Cypress trees, now numbering more than 2,500 and the only local vegetation that buffalos won’t eat. Take a bike ride over through the gentle hills of the hinterland and you will see the coast and the sea. In nearby Bibbona only 5 miles away, you’ll find the Relais Sant’Elena, a 15-room estate with canopy beds and pasta-making classes.

4.    Lavenham, England

This medieval wool town has extraordinarily well-preserved Tudor buildings and is unofficially labeled the prettiest town in England.  It’s tiny – the population hasn’t ever exceeded 2,000 – yet it is the 14th-richest town in England. This is thanks to its wool making.  Lavenham has a long history of fabrics. It was at one point exporting its fabrics as far as Russia making its wool merchants so rich that in 1487 Henry VII fined some of them for being ostentatious.

After the war, the area become impoverished for over 300 years, leaving the residents unable to afford architectural upgrades to stone and wood.  After hundreds of years, the architectural style became fashionable again and is a strong draw for tourists as it feels like a step back into time.

Let us know what you think about some of the Best Untapped Destinations in Europe right now. Have you heard of them or visited any of these?

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Nicholls Students to Compete in 16th Annual Bayou Sales Challenge

Nicholls released that it will be among several universities to participate in the 16th Bayou Sales Challenge of 2019 which is an amazing opportunity for students in the southern U.S. to show and fine-tune their professional sales skills.  Among the participating schools are Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Southern University, University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Xavier University.  44 individual students will compete in high-pressure sales simulations in Nicholls’ state-of-the-art Sales and Interactive Training Lab built in 2003 with a generous donation from Northwestern Mutual.  That Fall, the very first Bayou Sales Challenge was held. ​

Once the top two students of the competition emerge, they will progress and face off head-to-head. There will also be a Team Selling challenge, a career expo and two discussion panels: one from professional salespeople and the other from judges and customers.  

Bayou Sales Challenge News at Nicholls

The Team Selling Challenge is a new addition to the event this year.  Two teammates will enter the room together to sell something to the customer. ​  This round of competition is only 15 minutes long but allows for a lot of creativity. ​​The team who scores the highest total combined points wins.

Some of the skills and attributes that will be evaluated are:

  1. Product Knowledge
  2. Strategic PRospecting Skills
  3. Rapport Building
  4. Buyer/Seller Agreement
  5. Active Listening
  6. Communication
  7. Qualification Questioning
  8. Time Management
  9. Objection Prevention
  10. Demo Skills

“The Bayou Sales Challenge provides students with an experience that instills in them the confidence that they can compete in the marketplace,” said Dr. Laura Valenti, director of the Bayou Sales Challenge and assistant professor of marketing. “The competition also gives students an opportunity to network with top businesses.”

The event is very Shark Tank-esque and is great practice and exposure for future business men and women.  As on the award-winning reality show Shark Tank, the sharks often find weaknesses and faults in an entrepreneur’s concept, product, or business model, yet some of the investors try to soften the impact of rejection.  Unlike the show though, this is a safe place to learn and grow as young business people without the fear of loss of investment or risking business assets.

The Director of the event, Laura Lott Valenti, released the following letter regarding the event:

Dear Students, Coaches, Sponsors, and Volunteers,

Over the last eleven years, I have had the honor of meeting most of the program’s supporters and participants, and I am excited to bring another great coopetition to you in February 2019.

The Bayou Sales Challenge is known for its strong connection to the region because of its ties to supportive, well-regarded sponsors and volunteers.  While preparing students for success in sales or related careers, top-notch coaches bring their star students to compete in our two-day role-play competition.  Celebrating the talent we see each year is something I have always looked forward to because when these major pillars convene the students benefit greatly. I am honored to carry the torch for a wonderful program that enables such a unique opportunity of impact.

The 2019 competition marks the sixteenth annual Bayou Sales Challenge, and once again you will see some subtle changes that should enhance the overall competition.  Whether your role is a sponsor or coach, you can expect to experience a well-run competition with the same great southern charm and comradery.

Students, coaches, and volunteers are the most valuable component to the Bayou Sales Challenge’s success.  I thank each of you for the inherent commitment of making a career in sales one that it worthy of recognition.

Reach out to me should you have any questions, and cheers to this amazing opportunity to make an impact with our students.

Sincerely,

Laura Lott Valenti

Both students and event creators are looking forward to seeing the new young talent and their inspiring methodology and ideas.  


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Different Instapot Options and the Perfect Beginer Recipe

The Instapot has taken over American kitchens by storm!  What used to be a kitchen appliance to fear in your grandmother’s kitchen has reemerged as one of the most useful ones in today’s kitchens.  They work by reaching temperatures that are even hotter than boiling water, building up heat and pressure under a sealed and locked lid. There are dozens of pressure cookers out on the market and they have been linked to injury because of explosions.  Visualize a high-pressure explosion of boiling contents, electricity and stainless steel shrapnel. Very dangerous, especially when those surrounding pressure cookers are typically families.

Thankfully, many of today’s pressure cookers come with tons of safety features including locks, seals and gaskets but even the safest of pressure cookers should require every safety precaution.  Make sure before each use that there are no missing or damaged parts or accessories. Ensure that you have thoroughly read all directions and are a competent user. Don’t overfill the pot with contents as this mistake has been linked to explosions.  Double check that the pot is properly sealed and locked before it builds up to pressure. Check the cord and make sure it is not broken or frayed and that the electricity source is not wet or near water.

As long as you are using your pressure cooker safely, you will find that it quickly becomes a staple for dozens of recipes, even sometimes earning a permanent spot on the counter top.  Most have several different functions including saute, warm, slow cook, steam, and even a yogurt-making function.

Here is our favorite beginner pressure cooker recipe taken from a BritCo article recently published but before we get to those, we want to suggest our very favorite pressure cookers to remove some of the guesswork for you.

1.    Instapot Duo

The Instapot Duo has a cult following who even have named themselves “Potheads”.  There are hundreds of Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest platforms just for Instapot recipes and they frequently go on sale.  They are easy to use and have several useful functions as well as lots of safety features making it one of the top ranking pots in the category of safety of use.

2.    Farberware Digital Pressure Cooker

This pot is programmable and affordable.  It offers lots of flexibility as far as functions go and can make some melt-in-your-mouth meats with its high powered pressure.

3.    Instapot Ultra

This Instapot is perfect for the more advanced and complex user.  IT includes all the bells and whistles that a more basic user would find confusing but would be completely thrilling for the more ambitious user.  It even has an LED screen.

Now for the recipes!  Let us say you’re welcome in advance for these super quick and easy weeknight staples that your family will love!

1.    INSTANT POT TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP RECIPE

Instapot white bean soup

Chop it all up and throw it all in!  That’s basically what this recipe is all about.  Considering that it is healthy and will leave you with lots of leftovers, it’s a WIN/WIN!

Ingredients:

1 cup diced celery

1 1/2 cups diced onion (about 1 medium onion)

2 cups chopped leek, white and light green parts only

2 cups diced carrot

1 1/2 cups diced zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini)

8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed well

1 (28-ounce) can diced San Marzano tomatoes

4 cups of vegetable or chicken stock

1 Tablespoon dried Italian seasoning herb mix

1 pound Italian sausage links, left whole (optional)

1 bunch Lacinato kale, shredded

1/2 bunch fresh Italian parsley, chopped

thinly sliced rounds of lemon, chopped

salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Combine all of the ingredients!  The celery, onion, leek, carrot, zucchini, mushrooms, garlic, beans, tomatoes, stock, dried Italian herbs, and whole Italian sausage links.

Close the Instant Pot, set for five minutes on high of the “Manual” setting.

Let pressure release naturally. Remove sausage links, and slice. Replace pieces into the soup.

Stir the shredded kale, parsley, and chopped lemon into the soup. Season to taste and serve hot.

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Unique and Fun St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day is an often-overlooked holiday.  It is the perfect opportunity to celebrate in unique ways:  go to a parade, where funky green clothes and accessories, pinch people who don’t join in the fun, and try new color-themed recipes!  Thegirlonbloor.com recently published their favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes and we narrowed it down and picked our top favorites from the list.  Read on!

1.    PISTACHIO ICE CREAM SANDWICHES WITH THIN MINT COOKIES

Mini cheesecakes, Mini muffins, Mini cinnamon rolls, Mini caramel apple bites….the options are endless!  Mini desserts have become a craze and for good reason. They are fun, delicious, and make for a great presentation.  There is just enough sweetness in a mini dessert to finish off a great meal but not so much that you leave feeling guilty.

Adding pistachios to a sweet dessert is a popular way to give a dish contrasting and complementing flavors.  And their healthy properties almost offset the sugar intake, right? Not only are pistachio nuts tasty and fun to eat, they’re also super healthy.  They are seeds of the Pistacia vera tree contain healthy fats and are a good source of protein, fiber and antioxidants. They also contain several essential nutrients and have benefits for weight loss, as well as heart and gut health. Notably, pistachios are one of the most vitamin B6-rich foods around.  Pistachios are also rich in potassium, with one ounce containing more potassium than half of a large banana.

Around 50 pistachios contain:


Calories: 156
Carbs: 8 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 6 grams
Fat: 12 grams (90% are healthy fats)
Potassium: 8% of the RDI
Phosphorus: 14% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 24% of the RDI
Thiamin: 16% of the RDI
Copper: 18% of the RDI
Manganese: 17% of the RDI

This recipe is the perfect mix of salty and sweet, indulgence and healthy, and most importantly, for St. Patrick’s Day fun …it’s GREEN!

Ingredients
4 Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies or Ritz Cracker Peppermint Cookies frozen
2 heaping tablespoons pistachio Halo Top ice cream
crushed pistachios

Instructions
Place a heaping tablespoon of ice cream on one cookie.  Top with another cookie and press together until the ice cream has spread toward the edge.  Sprinkle or roll the edge of the cookie into crushed pistachios, coating the ice cream. Repeat with the other two cookies.  Eat immediately for a messy small treat OR put the ice cream sandwiches in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes to let the ice cream set.

2.    MATCHA GREEN TEA PANCAKES

Matcha literally means “powdered tea.”  With matcha, you’re drinking the actual leaves, which have been finely powdered and made into a solution.  Because you are ingesting the entire leaf you receive 100% of the nutrients vs. the leaked nutrients from tea leaves when you boil it.  Matcha powdered green tea has 137 times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea. One cup of matcha equals 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea in terms of nutritional content.  It’s packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg.  It also boosts metabolism and burns calories as well as calms the mind and relaxes the body.  It’s become a sort of “It” ingredient that is often mixed in with coffees and teas.

St. Patrick’s Day MATCHA GREEN TEA PANCAKES

Here we see it incorporated into a classic breakfast staple and we are loving the idea! There is no better was to start out your St. Patrick’s Day than with a full stack of healthy, green pancakes!

Ingredients
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil or melted butter + extra for frying
1/4 cup coconut palm sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup flour
2 TBSP matcha powder
1 TBSP baking powder
1/8 tsp kosher salt


Toppings:
I suggest plain Greek yogurt fresh raspberries, macadamia nuts, pepitas, chia seeds and pure maple syrup but mix it up however you’d like.

Directions

In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together the egg, milk, vegetable oil (or melted butter), sugar and vanilla extract.
Add the flour, matcha powder, baking powder and salt. Whisk until combined and the batter comes together. It will be thick and very green.
Heat a cast-iron skillet over moderate heat.
Brush with vegetable oil or butter.
Using a 1/4 cup measure, transfer small mounds of pancake batter onto skillet. Use a spatula to help even out the circle if need be.
Once bubbles appear and pop on the surface of the pancake, carefully flip the pancakes and cook for another minute or so.
Stack the pancakes and serve hot with butter, maple syrup and whatever other toppings you desire.

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Number One Affordable New Orleans Excursion

Whether you planned a trip to the Big Easy with your group of girlfriends, are heading down with your company for a work conference, or planning a weekend getaway with your family, you will want and need to know all the details about this number one Affordable New Orleans Excursion. Classic Louisiana delicacies such as oysters, po-boys, crawfish, and beignets are at the top of any New Orleans itinerary, but there’s much more to the city than eating and indulgence.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a born-and-raised local, there is always something new to do in New Orleans, from palm-readings in the French Quarter to one-of-a-kind museums and historical jazz joints (between meals at some of the world’s best restaurants, of course). One thing’s for sure: You’ll be ready to collapse into bed at one of the best hotels in New Orleans by the end of the day.

New Orleans is a city that never sleeps and is never dull, but paying for all of that activity can add up.  Luckily, there are tons of inexpensive (even FREE!) things to do in New Orleans to help lift the financial burden that excursions can add. Recently, Louisianatravel.com published their Top 10 list of affordable New Orleans attractions. The following is our Top affordable NOLA excursion!

The French Quarter stretches along the Mississippi River from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue and inland to North Rampart Street. It equals an area of 78 square blocks and has an elevation of 1 foot.  The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré (“Old Square”), is the oldest section of the City of New Orleans. Founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, New Orleans developed around the Vieux Carré, the city’s central square. Today, the district is referred to as “the Quarter.”

Affordable New Orleans Excursion - Here is a view of The New Orleans French Quarter at dusk

There are lots of attractions in the Quarter and you could spend an entire day there just adventuring around and taking in the sights that you happen upon.  You will see plenty of street performers. They may be extravagantly painted jokesters that at first glance look like a statue, or young boys with bottle caps nailed to the bottoms of their shoes.  New Orleans isn’t short on raw talent. You will see tons of artists using various mediums and propping their art up in various places, some even doing commissioned representations of Quarter visitors who have the time.  There will be palm readers, street preachers, and tons of tourists from all over the world. It’s a place bustling with color and life.

Several tours are available in the Quarter.  Some cheap, some free. One popular option is a Literary Self-Guided Walking Tour.  See where some of New Orleans’ most renowned authors lived such as Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Truman Capote, Thornton Wilder, Walker Percy and Anne Rice.  Click here for our favorite Literary Quarter Tour.

When your tummy starts rumbling, pop in any one of the iconic Quarter restaurants, not for a meal, but for an experience.  Have Oysters Rockefeller & Cafe Brulot at Antoine’s Restaurant, Shrimp remoulade and pompano with crab meat from Galatoire’s, Barbecue Shrimp at Mr. B’s, Killer Po-boys in Erin Rose, or a Late Night Burger at Clover Grill.

When you’ve seen all there is to see and you are ready to retire for the night, there are plenty of lodging options available, depending on what you prefer.  Whether you are looking for a quaint, tucked away inn or a hotel right in the middle of the bustling French Quarter, you’ll find the perfect accommodations in this quintessential New Orleans neighborhood.  If you want something right smack in the middle of things, book your room at Four Points by Sheraton.  It is located in the heart of the French Quarter on the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse; you can’t get much more central than that. Many rooms offer balconies overlooking the street below or the courtyard/pool and it is in walking distance to all French Quarter attractions.  If you want to remain within walking distance but don’t want to be too much in the mix, try the Astor Tower whose renovation was just completed in 2016.  This AAA Four Diamond hotel is located at the edge of the French Quarter at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal Street.  Wherever you stay, just know that you will sleep hard and well- New Orleans has a funny way of wearing you out!

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