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And you thought coffee was bad for you!
I am sure that if you are a coffee enthusiast, you have heard this, but if not let me state it here. "Coffee is good for you!"
Recent research has shown that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet. Antioxidants, are...
Best Recipes: Root Beer Float Milkshake
Make this cool, frosty Root Beer Float Milkshake for a real walk down memory lane. Did you enjoy root beer float as a kid? Maybe you drank them in high school when you went out to eat with your friends at the local burger hang out? Maybe you’ve...
Grilled Tandoori-Style Chicken with Cool Cucumber Raita
(NC)—Using a tandoori paste from a jar makes this spicy chicken dish fast and easy. Marinate the meat at the cottage in the morning, or combine the chicken and marinade and marinate overnight in the refrigerator before leaving for the cottage...
Healthy Weight for Life: The 5 stages of lifestyle change
So you’re determined you’re going to do something about your weight. But what? Losing weight is not in itself a behavior. Releasing fat pounds is an outcome of many behaviors that add up to consuming more calories than your expending. (Yes, there’s...
How To Cut Down On College Stress
Copyright 2005 Trevor Dumbleton Probably the least appreciated form of stress is college stress. This is mostly due to the fact that adults simply see a lot of college students sitting on their rear ends playing video games and drinking, instead...
It's Allergy Season: Don't Let it Ruin Your Thanksgiving
Writing this from Dallas, Texas one of the ragweed hotspots of
the nation, I'm particularly aware of "allergies" and the havoc
they can cause. Here are some facts about allergies:
More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies....
Joy of Nettle soup. Urtica Dioica
Weather-wise it was the first day of spring, with warm sun and a brisk wind from the west. Many Lesser Celandine had flowered that morning and I was the first to see them, Primroses too and just a sign of Earthnut leaves coming up. I set off in...
Michigan's Poor Children Face An Uphill Battle
MUSKEGON -- Michigan's poor are having an increasingly hard time making ends meet, according to a recently completed study, and numerous social service organizations throughout the state. According to the 2003 Market Basket Survey (which measures...
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrow...
A wedding saying..........
Something borrowed, something blue is probably what popped into your head as you read the above.
This is how your mind works!
We store complete pictures or phrases in our memory. Calling up one part thereof,...
Violence
Flashes of memory stream into my consciousness. They take me back thirty years plus. I was a boy then, a newcomer to a poor and tough neighborhood. My parents, of moderate means and daring to a fault, had decided to move there after my father had...
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May's Featured Holidays and Recipes
There are three great days in the month of May that I would like to talk about...Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day. I will share a brief history and include a couple of delectable recipes. Happy May!
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Cinco de Mayo - May 5, 2005 - Cinco de Mayo means "The 5th of May." Many people believe that it is Mexico's Independence Day. This is not true. Independence Day in Mexico is September 16. The history of Cinco de Mayo dates back to the mid 1800's. Mexico was in substantial debt with France, Spain, and England. France decided to use this to their advantage and invade Mexico. The first invasion attempt was on May 5, 1862. It is known as The Battle of Pueblain. The Mexican army was out numbered and out matched, yet, they defeated the French army and kept control of their country. Unfortunately, they lost a battle that took place about a year later and the French gained control from 1864 - 1867. Although Mexico lost out to the French in the end...they still celebrate the bravery shown at the first battle. I have included two delicious recipes to fit any Mexican celebration.
Make 'em Smile Guacamole
(read entire recipe before starting)
1 very small onion, finely chopped
1 medium-large tomato, cored and very finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and very finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
3 ripe, medium avocados, peeled, seeded, roughly mashed
1/4 cup of finely chopped leaf lettuce
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
pepper to taste
Juice of one small lime
In a medium bowl, mix the onion, tomato, garlic and cilantro. About 1/2 hour before serving, add avocado with the rest of the ingredients. Your goal is to create a thick mass of yum. Set aside for 10-15 minutes to let the flavors blend. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or Mexican dish.
Pinto Beans
4 cups water
2 cups dried pinto beans
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic
2 thick slices of bacon
1 teaspoon cumin
Mix water, beans and onion in 4-quart Dutch oven. Cover and heat to boiling; boil about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 1 hour. Add just enough water to cover beans. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until beans are very tender, approximately 2 hours. (Add water during cooking if necessary.) Drain, cover, and refrigerate beans. Use within one week.
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Mother's Day - May 8, 2005 - In the United States, about 150 years ago a Homemaker named
Anna Jarvis wanted to bring attention to the impoverished health conditions in her region. She decided to organize a special day to help her cause. She called it "Mothers Work Day." When she died in 1905 her daughter began to Lobby to create a special day to honor Mothers. Finally, in 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a bill declaring Mother's Day a national holiday. Unfortunately, she never wanted it to become a commercialized money maker. She even tried to get the holiday canceled! I have decided not to include any recipes because Mom should NOT cook on her special day! She should be taken out to a nice quiet dinner. Trust me on this one.
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Memorial Day - US - May 30, 2005 - Memorial Day is a day that the United States remembers the soldiers who lost their lives so they can live in a free country. It was first observed on May 30, 1868. However, in the beginning, not all states celebrated this holiday. It did not become nationally recognized and accepted until 1971. Unfortunately, today, the true purpose of this special day has been lost in cook outs, beer drinking, and a day off from work. Don't get me wrong...all that is great...BUT, Let's not forget the cost of our freedom.
BBQ Burgers
1-1/2 pound ground sirloin
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bottle of favorite BBQ sauce
2 tsp brown sugar
1 Tblsp mustard
1 Tblsp grill/steak seasoning
8 hamburger buns
Favorite burger toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, etc.)
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and shape into 8 burgers. Grill or fry to desired doneness.
PICNIC POTATO SALAD
7 medium-size baking potatoes
1 cup mayonnaise
1 Tblsp mustard
1 teaspoon salt
2 celery ribs, sliced
2 Tblsp onions, finely chopped
1 Tblsp fresh parsley, chopped
Pepper to taste
Garnish: 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped (if desired)
Cook potatoes in boiling water until tender; drain and cool. Peel and slice.
Combine all ingredients except potato, mix. Add potatoes and stir gently until well combined. Garnish with hard-boiled eggs, if desired. Chill 2-3 hours...or serve warm.
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Well, I hope you have enjoyed our journey...Happy Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day!!!
About the Author
My name is Lara Velez and I am the Editor-in-Chief of The Recipe Finder - Online cooking magazine - http://www.therecipefinder.com. I am also a wife and mother of two. I enjoy cooking, reading, scrapbooking, and being a wife and mom. Please feel free to email me any time. RecipeFinderMail@aol.com
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