Hello all!!
...Well first I will cover the news. First I would like to congratulate my sister and bro-in-law, they are the proud new owners of there first home, You go with your super bad domestic selves... The past couple of days my super coool Mom has been visiting, our humble dwelling in J-ville. She is back at home now on the west coast. Thanks for coming Mom we had a great time. Stop on anytime ...The welcome matt gets lonely. In other news of the 656 apt., Joe is sick with a nasty sinus infection. He will be better soon between the homemade chicken soup and the antibiotics. My little sis karen is plum tuckered out from all her busy weekends as she goes hither and yon. She said she is happy to be at home this weekend where she can finally get some R and R. As far as my lovely hubby he is staying at a friends to puppy site for a very energetic black lab.As far as my self I had been hanging out with my Ma-maah. And enjoying having to days off from work. Well that's the news and I am sticking to it.

On the food front. Recently had a question from my Mom-in-Law about a reference to what vegan wine is. Since I was writing meatless recipes without thinking, I'm used to dealing with some people that cannot or do not use any animal products, or by products. It just shot right out of my hands without thinking. But to answer that question...Here it goes. Organic, Vegetarian and Vegan Wines
Aware to the needs of the vegetarian and vegan followers, many of the organic producers ensure that their wines are suitable produced to standards acceptable to this growing section of our community.

For many years the only thing used to clarify wines after fermentation came from cows, fish and chicken, however as demand for vegetarian friendly wines grows, new techniques are being used.

Egg whites and Casein are used in many vegetarian suitable wines, following their strict requirement that no animal be harmed in the production of the foods and drinks they consume.

For our vegan community, wines are either filtered but left unfinished or clarified with products such as bentonite. This is a very fine powder that attaches itself to the impurities in the wine and drops them to the bottom of the tank, allowing the wine to be racked off, leaving the sediment residue behind.

So I hope this was an interesting piece of info. So many people do not realize the extent of how far vegetarian's goes. There are some many types, and belief systems that exist that working in the food industry is much more difficult, or I like to say challenging. There are so many things that today's chef have to keep up with, to say on top of it in this diet crazy world.

Things that make me go hmmmm.

Soup for the meatless soul.

Spinach Tomato Pasta Soup #1

Ingredients:
1 med. yellow onion
1 qt. of canned tomatoes
1 qt. of tomato juice v-8 is good because it has more flavor
spices-I like sage, basil, and oregano
1/2-1 pkg. of frozen spinach (amount depends on how you like spinach, start with less then add more if needed)
pasta- I use penne
you may also need to add more tomato juice depending on how much juice you want
Directions:

In a large pot, add sliced onion to a couple tsp. olive oil. Cook onions on low heat until translucent then add together tomatoes, tomato juice, and spices. Let these cook for awhile so the spices can cook. After the soup mixture has come to a boil you can add the pasta and allow to cook to desired consistency. Add spinach it's already cooked so you need to get it hot. Or i recommend that you can precook the pasta and add when you feel the soup has cooked long enough. I have made this soup several times and I do not use a recipe. If you find a better way, or mistakes, please let me know since I am doing this out of my head.
This a yummy one..you can add chunks of vegetables like carrtos or peppers..whatever you like use your imagination..

#2Roasted Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

Choose 4 or 5 of the following vegetables to make 8 cups, chopped:
red onion
mushrooms
zucchini
celery
leek
green beans
cabbage
broccioli
cauliflower
garlic cloves
potato
tomato
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup
vegan red wine
6 cups vegetable broth
soy cream (opt)
Directions:
Choose 4-5 vegetables and chop about 8 cups worth into bite sized pieces.

In a glass ovenproof dish, place all vegetables and drizzle with the olive oil, salt & pepper.

Bake in a 450 oven for 50-55 minutes, stirring a few times

Remove pan and add white wine and enough hot vegetable broth to deglaze pan. (that means to get the good stuff that is stuck to the pan..the flavor)

Transfer to a saucepan and cover vegetables at least one inch with remaining hot broth. Bring to boil, then simmer 15 minutes. Add soy cream ( veg version of cream)if desired for a creamier texture. Salt and pepper to taste) this one is very simple

#3
Bean and Barley Soup

Ingredients:

water and or veg broth
onion, chopped, up to a cupful
15.5 oz. can of white beans
15.5 oz. can of roman beans
15.5 oz. can of chickpeas
15.5 oz. can of blackeyed peas
15.5 oz. can of lentils
1-2 cups of cooked barley, cooked according to package directions
extra-virgin olive oil
salt, or sea salt or Salt Sense
dried rosemary (sprinkle to taste)
fresh chopped or crushed garlic (to taste)
Directions:
Saute the onion, rosemary, and garlic in a fry pan, or in the bottom of your soup pot. Should have a nice aroma.

Rinse the canned beans, peas, lentils, to remove extra salt.

In a large pot or Dutch oven add equal quantities of the beans, peas, and lentils. Stir. Make sure you still have a few inches at the top -- extra beans can be reserved in the fridge, covered, for up to a week. Or make another batch right after!

Stir in the barley; stir in the onion mixture.Sprinkle generously with salt, but you may need to add more later during or after cooking. Stir in a little more oil if desired, for flavor and to prevent sticking.

Add water till an inch or two from the top. Mix thoroughly. Cover and cook over medium heat till heated thru, stirring occasionally. Lower flame to prevent boilover or burning on pot bottom if it seems imminent. Cooking for a few extra minutes (past the heated stage) on simmer will increase the flavor and the thickness, but cook it too much and the beans will fall apart. If soup seems too salty, add cut raw potato, and remove potato after cooking a few minutes. Potato should draw out salt.

Cool slightly and serve, add salt if needed. Goes well with crusty Italian bread, warmed or toasted. If the soup is extra-thick, you can spread it on the bread!

Extra soup can be frozen in individual servings and heated in the microwave. Do not add extra salt before freezing -- add more if needed when soup is reheated.

this one is also yummy!!!!!

The very beginning and meatless soups
To start a truely wonderfull meatless soup you should start off with a wonderful stock!!

Simple Vegetable Soup Stock
Ingredients:Oil - 1 teaspoon
Carrots - 2
White onions - 2
Celery stalks - 1 - 2
Parsley - 5 - 8 strands
Bay leaves - 2
Black pepper - 1 teaspoon
Salt - 1 teaspoon
Water - 6 - 8 cups

Chop the carrots, celery, and onions into 1 - 2 inch sized pieces.
Heat the oil in a stock pot to medium-high. Then add in carrots, onions, and celery.
Add in the black pepper and salt. Stir for 5 - 10 minutes.
Add in the parsley, bay leaves, and water.
Bring to a oil, and reduce the heat to low - medium, and let it simmer.
Skim off the foam every once awhile.
Let this cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Then strain the vegetable soup stock from the veggies. Gently squeeze the veggies to extract the soup stock.
Carrots, onions, and caller are the 'standard' vegetables used to making vegetarian soups stocks. However, there's a variety of vegetables that you can use to make vegetarian soup stock. Some other veggies you can try are mushrooms, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, bean sprouts, and etc...

You can use this vegetarian soups stock to cook all types of vegetarian soups.

Iron is not only good for pumping!!!!

Iron

For women, the RDA for iron is 15 milligrams per day, 5 milligrams more than the RDA for men. Women need more of this mineral because they lose an average of 15 to 20 milligrams of iron each month during menstruation. Without enough iron, iron deficiency anemia can develop and cause symptoms that include pallor, fatigue and headaches.

After menopause, body iron stores generally begin to increase. Therefore, iron deficiency in women over 50 may indicate blood loss from another source, and should be checked by a physician.

Animal products--meat, fish and poultry--are good and important sources of iron. In addition, the type of iron, known as heme iron, in these foods is well absorbed in the human intestine.

Dietary iron from plant sources, called non-heme, are found in peas and beans, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, potatoes, and whole-grain and iron-fortified cereal products. Although non-heme iron is not as well absorbed as heme iron, the amount of non-heme iron absorbed from a meal is influenced by other constituents in the diet. The addition of even relatively small amounts of meat or foods containing vitamin C substantially increases the total amount of iron absorbed from the entire meal.

Hopefully this bit of info is helpful.

On our agenda tomorrow meatless soups. The yummy kind of course!!

This does a body good

Chapter one in womans nutrition
Calcium
Both women and men need enough calcium to build maximum bone mass during their early years of life. Low calcium consuption appears to be one very important factor in the development of osteoporosis. Women have a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis.

A condition in which progressive loss of bone mass happens with aging, osteoporosis causes the bones to be more susceptible to break. If a woman has a high level of bone mass when her skeleton ages, this may change her risk of developing osteoporosis.
Particularly during adolescence and early adulthood, women should up their food sources of calcium. "The most important time to get a sufficient amount of calcium is while bone growth and consolidation are occurring, a period that continues until approximately age 30 to 35," says Marilyn Stephenson, a registered dietitian with FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "The idea is, if you can build a maximum peak of calcium deposits early on, this may delay fractures that occur later in life."

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium for woman 19 to 24 is 1,200 milligrams per day. For women 25 and older, the allowance drops to 800 milligrams, but that is still a significant amount, . "There is a need for good dietary sources of calcium continues throughout life.
How do you get enough calcium without too many calories and fat? After all, the foods that top the calcium charts--milk, cheese, ice cream--aren't calorie and fat lightweights.

There are lots of lower fat choices. There's 1 percent or skim milk instead of whole milk. There's a good variety of lower fat cheeses, yogurts, and frozen yogurts, and there's a whole flock of substitutes for ice cream.

In addition to dairy foods, other good sources of calcium include salmon, tofu (soybean curd), certain vegetables (for example, broccoli), legumes (peas and beans), calcium-enriched grain products, lime-processed tortillas, seeds, and nuts.

So i hope this info on calicium is helpful. Who knew so many things have calcium in them..One of the fun things about doing these nutrition tips and what not, I get to pick my husbands brain and also get the opportunity to learn and pass it on to help other.

In honor of march...

National Nutrition Month and National Womens History Month

So far this month I have posted many healthy hints and tips. So to celebrate woman in honor of this month i'm going to talk about our special nutritional needs as woman.

Breast cancer. Osteoporosis. Iron deficiency. Weight reduction. What do these things have in common? They are either unique to women, or are more prevalent in women. And they affect current recommendations on what women should eat for optimum health.

While new information on what's good and what's bad seems to surface almost daily, some basic guidelines have taken root over the past several years.

eat a variety of foods
maintain healthy weight
choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol
choose a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, and grain products
use sugar and salt/sodium only in moderation
if you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.

That sounds simple enough. Except, what exactly is variety? Cake one day, cookies the next? What is a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol? And, finally, what parts of a healthy diet have special importance for women?

There are several vitamins and minerals essential to a healthy diet. A well-balanced diet will usually meet women's allowances for them. However, for good health, women need to pay special attention to two minerals, calcium and iron.

So in the next few days i'm going to explore calcium and iron. Akong with thoughs I'm going to throw in a few other tidbits. I feel that if we spent so much time and energy on our finances, career, and family we should invest the most into our well being. Don't get me wrong i love my mountain dew, but it's no way to fuel my body for top performance. I would never dump dirty gas in to my car... it would run like crap, if it would even run at all. We spent so much time making sure our cars run well, but how much time and energy do we put into our own well being? I am the beat investment i will ever have.

Did You Hear about this story..it supposed to be true?
No Underwear

A couple who drove their car to Wal-Mart, only to have their car break down in the parking lot. The man told his wife to carry on with the shopping while he fixed the car in the lot.

The wife returned later to see a small group of people near the car. On closer inspection, she saw a pair of male legs protruding from under the chassis. Although the man was in shorts, his lack of under-pants turned private parts into glaringly public ones.

Unable to stand the embarrassment, she dutifully stepped forward, quickly put her hand UP his shorts, and tucked everything into place.

The wife stood back up, she looked across the hood and found herself staring at her husband who was standing idly by.

The mechanic, however, had to have three stitches in his forehead.

I thought it was kind of funny..what do you think..fact or fiction??

Todays Tip:Dinner
There has always been this notion that dinner should be the biggest meal of the day. However, I think that dinner does not have to be that grand because what you do after dinner may not require as much energy as what you did during the day. But I still look forward to dinner because I get most creative for this meal. I am going to take a different approach with this section. I am going to list nutritious low-fat recipes that are fairly easy to prepare. I always say if you can read and follow directions you can cook too!! These are traditional recipes with a healthy twist...And if you have any questions or need more ideas just let me know.
Chicken Cacciatore (Serves 6 )this is a great meal to share with others...
Ingredients:
6 med chicken boobs
2 T. vegetable oil, olive oil is even better
1/2 c. flour
2 med. yellow onions thinly sliced
1/2 c. chopped green pepper or red pepper if you prefer
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 tomatoes, quartered
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
4 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 tsp. oregano, basil
Salt and peper to taste
Directions:

1. Wash chicken, pat dry; remove skin and coat chicken with flour.
2. In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat oil.
3. Brown chicken in oil; cook over medium heat for 7 to 10minutes.
4. Remove chicken from saucepan; set aside.
5. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic to saucepan; cook until tender.
6. Add remaining ingredients to saucepan; return chicken to pan.
7. Cover tightly and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes.

Try serving with hot cooked spaghetti( whole wheat would be even better), bread, milk, and fruit cocktail.
Okay that recipe was quite ambitious, but fairly simple don't you think?

Spinach-Cheese Frittata(Serves 6)
Ingredients:

1/3 c. chopped onion
1 T. olive oil
3 eggs
1 pkg. (10 1/2 oz.) chopped spinach, thawed and drained
12 oz. low-fat cottage cheese
1 T. flour
1/2 tsp. thyme(useful but not necessary ingredient)
1 tomato, sliced
1/4 c. fine bread crumbs
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a 10", ovenproof skillet, add olive oil and saute onion until limp.
2. In seperate bowl, beat eggs; then add drained spinach, cottage cheese, flour, and thyme.
3. Pour spinach mixture into skillet and stir with onions.
4. Place skillet in oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes.
5. Add sliced tomato to top, sprinkle with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
6. Turn over to broil, broil 1 to 2 minutes until brown.

Try serving with tomato soup, crackers, salad, and fruit juice.
this is a great breakfast, lunch, or dinner

Red Snapper Supreme (Serves 4)Ingredients:

4 red snapper steaks
2 T. margarine
1 T. chopped fresh parsely
1/4 tsp. basil
1/2 carrot, minced(cut really small, if you have a food processor great)
1 celery stalk, minced
1 c. white wine
1/4 tsp. pepper
Lemon slices

Directions:

1. Melt margarine in baking dish.
2. Arrange fish in dish and cover with parsley, carrots, and celery. Sprinkle basil over top and pour the wine over.
3. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Arrange snapper on hot platter and pour sauce over it. Garnish with lemon slices. Serve immediately(19).

Try serving with baked potato, salad, fresh fruit, and water.

Okay that's all the recipes (for now!) that I have for you. Enjoy!


My Mom makes dishes similar to this..she really loves her fresh herbs from the backyard
cooking should be fun and easy, the best thing that i know how to do, and now cooking healthy is easy fun and tasty. It takes just the same amount of time to cook healthy..as it does to make an unhealthy meal. And some silly person says that if its good for you it doesn't taste good..well then there just missing out!!

HMMMM...
Invisible accidents
Have you ever been driving on an interstate highway when traffic suddenly slows to a crawl? You inch along for many minutes while waiting to see the accident which must have caused the jam. At the same time you also curse the "rubberneckers" who are causing the whole problem. But then all the cars ahead of you take off at high speed. The jam is over, but no accident, no police cars, nothing. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT! A traffic jam with no cause? In the rear-view mirror you see all the poor saps behind you still stuck in the jam. But why? If all those people could just speed up at the same time, the whole traffic jam would evaporate. Why don't they ever do that? What caused the mysterious slowdown in the first place?


Todays Tip:Snacks

Snacking during the day can be dangerous because you may tend to eat many sugary sweets or sodium filled food such as potato chips. Eliminating snacking is definitely not the answer; snacking can serve as one of the many little meals you eat during the day. Here are some suggestions--that may require a bit of planning--for snack foods:


fresh blueberries

fresh fruit and nonfat milk "milk shake"

1/2 papaya filled with nonfat yogurt

1/2 cantaloupe filled with chicken salad or cottage cheese

air-popped popcorn

2 rice cakes(toasted) with a think slice of cheese

crunchy vegetables

peanut butter spread on a whole wheat bagel and topped

with raisins or banana slices

corn tortillas cut into triangles, baked until crispy, and served

with salsa

an English muffin topped with all-fruit jam

fruit-filled shredded wheat, Cheerios, and other ready-to-eat

cereals
If these seem to complicated or you are pressed for time, try snacking on the food that I mentioned above which you should carry with you at all times outside of home.

Do You Ever Wonder What this means???

More talk on ingredients.

What substances or ingredients can be listed as "natural flavor," "flavor," or "flavorings" rather than by a specific common or usual name?

Ingredients such as ginger, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, celery powder, and garlic oil may be listed as one of the three categories mentioned above. They may be designated as "natural flavors" because they are substances used chiefly for flavor. They do not make a nutritional contribution, are not derived from an animal species, and there are no health concerns linked to them.

i thought this was an interesting tid-bit.

Todays Tip
Lunch

I am going to focus on "brown bag" lunches. If you do have the option to stay at home and make something, you can still use these ideas. The easiest things to make are sandwiches. All you need is bread, lettuce (tomatoes, cucumbers, sprouts, and all the other vegetable fixings you like), mustard or low-fat salad dressing, and sandwich meat, if you like. Sandwich meat today is pretty low-fat, especially the turkey sold in prepackaged boxes. Tuna is also another ingredient for yummy sandwiches. So slap those ingredients and you will end up with a nice thick sandwich. You might also think about bringing a thermos of homemade chili, stew, or soup. As for drinks, try non-fat milk, fruit juice, or water. How about some fresh fruit or yogurt for dessert?
As you can tell by the short description, I do not think there's much to say about it besides what you can bring from home. I think it might be common for people to go out for lunch, later there will be tips for eating out. Plus another advantage of brown bagging it, less expensive, no lines, no traffic, and you can have exactly what you want!!

Do you really Know what humble is???And do you want a slice??
Nanh...I skip it...

Humble Pie
Humble pie was a 17th century English dish made with the heart, liver, kidneys, etc. of a deer, baked in a crust with apples, currants and spices.

In Old English, 'numble' referred to edible animal organs (liver, kidneys, heart, etc). Originating in the 17th century, a 'numble pie' evolved into 'umble pie' and finally 'humble pie'.

Todays tip: Breakfast

Has anyone ever told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Probably, but do they ever tell you why also? I hope so because I can't emphasize enough what a bite in the morning can provide for the rest of the day, or at leats until lunchtime. Your body needs energy to start the day off and food will give your body that energy. So even if you aren't hungry in the morning, try to eat something or your body will start to take away from your muscles for energy.
Toast and jelly, fruit, cereal, bagel and cream cheese, non-fat or low-fat milk, and fruit juices are all great for breakfast. They are also your typical breakfast foods. Personally, I have often in the pastup ate leftovers from dinner for breakfast and I think there is nothing wrong with that either. It seems like that would be too heavy for the morning, but I think it is okay. However, it really depends on your preference. The important thing is to eat something.

Another funny day at the place I call work!!

Sometimes i am amazed at how gullable the new young culinarians are these days. It just makes me chuckle. Here let me give you background before i go into full detail. Fact
#1: My Boss Executive Chef L. was talking to a new Hire, he is fresh out of culinary school. #2 My boss could just about pull the wool over anyone's eyes. This is what happened:


Boss: "I've decided to give the cooks blunt knives -- they might hurt
themselves with sharp ones."
Cook: "But it will take us longer to cut all the vegetables."
Boss: "We'll just hire more cooks. And more middle managers, and chef team
leads, and Sous chefs.. And I'm writing a whole book
about How To Cut With Dull Knives. Besides, culinary schools don't bother
teaching people how to use sharp ones."
Cook: "We can teach them . . ."
Boss: "Not in time for our infeasible internal deadline for this meal!"

Ok..duh how can you fall for this one..I don't know if the new hire is just young..or stupid. He was ready to argue with the boss over this issue. Then all of a sudden my boss starts to crack up and turn a little red. He said He didn't think he would fall for it, He was just trying to get the new kid to feel a little for comfortable, And not act so serious. Because there is a time and a place for that..not in a kitchen, except when we get down to crunch time right before we serve a meal.

Pretty funny!!

Tip of today:

What Foods to Keep On Hand at All Times at Home

Life can get pretty busy and sometimes it is just so much easier to stop off at McDonald's or order a pizza for dinner. Now if your kitchen is always stocked with healthy and easy to prepare foods, you won't have to compromise your eating style because of time. The foods suggested below should provide you with several options of quick meals you could make.
Fill the cupboards with low-fat crackers( such as saltines), cans of kidney or garbanzo beans, fruits canned in their own juices, canned clams, and tuna packed in water(don't go over board with the tuna). If that's not enough, how about granola bars, low-fat spaghetti sauce(or make a big pot of sauce and freeze it in small containers), and pasta(try the whole wheat variety it's very good, we eat it 95% of the time)?

Fill the crisper with fresh fruits and vegetables and the freezer with frozen plain vegetables, fruit juice, and frozen yogurt. (have you ever had frozen grapes? athey are tasty too...

Happy Wednesday all!!A little peek into my day.
As you all know I’m writing this late on Tuesday and not early wed. morning. No I still have not become a morning person, but that is the price I have to pay for going into work around noon. It is sooo hard, ok not really! So today I enjoyed my day off from work. It wasn’t too exciting really. Did the usual stuff, starting off with waking up around 10 am. I had a cup of tea then a glass of water. Next it’s on to a small breakfast. Like cereal or fruit. It’s not the most balanced breakfast but I’m much better than I was before. I never used to eat any breakfast at all. It’s a very nasty habit to get into, trust me. i used to wake up in the middle of te night and stand over the kitchen sink and chow down on about anything. but one i started eating regular meals..that almost stopped. I also bicycle about everyday. During lent I decided not to give up this or that but to bike everyday even if my legs feel like they will fall off. They can't, can they? Hopefully I will gain better discipline. The whole idea of being disciplined is doing something even when I don’t want to!!! Lord knows i need it, not that i'm a slacker...
Today I biked about 10 miles in the morning on my stationary bike and in the afternoon my roomie Joe Bob got be to go a challenging ride around the area. I have to say my legs are fine but my behind is a little sore. Than about 8 pm we all had a lovely diner. That was earler than most nights. Remember it's not when you eat dinner but what you eat for dinner. I know you want to know what a chef eats on her day off??? I knew you would, well I'm going to tell you anyway. Today we started with a romaine salad with grape tomatoes and carrots. The dressing was Good Seasons powder Italtian mix balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Entrée was yummy,consisting seared Pork loin chops, finished in the oven with apple juice, Brown rice( if you haven’t tired this stuff it’s yummy and good for us) And our vegetable d’ jour was peas. Yep dinner was very good. But we don’t eat like this everyday or every meal. We are trying to since it is much better for us than some of that other stuff we eat.

Tip of today:What Foods to Bring with You at All Times Outside of Home

So much of the day is spent outside of the house now and so you need to be prepared for an attack of the munchies. As an alternative to candy bars, doughnuts, and other sweet temptations, try carrying low-fat foods such as apples, rice cakes, dried fruit, oranges, tomato juice, or a raisin bagel in your purse or briefcase, backpack, glove compartment, or work-desk drawer. And carry a bottle of water.

Hello All…
Sorry about the delay …but I’m back in action. I was crazy busy working the last 11 days. That’s right no rest for the weiry! And in addition to that my computer had a case of the grumpies. It was so full that it was about to pop so I had to dump some things onto discs. I thought it was an internet problem but I don’t think it was. So how everyone been? Were doing quit well thankyou!

Happy March everyone!! It’s national nutrition month. We are very excited and I hope you are too!!!

In September 1998 a group of scientists from around the world met at the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC for an International Symposium on Tea and Human Health, co-sponsored by The American Cancer Society, the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association, the American Health Foundation, and others. Dozens of new studies reaffirmed earlier work done in Europe and Asia that three or more 6 oz. cups of tea a day help fend off cancer, reduce heart disease, fight the negative effects of aging, and promote elimination of dietary fats, among other health benefits.
So in the up and coming weeks we are going to explore the benefits of drinking Tea. If you feel interested in tea you should check out this web site Near and Far Tea. And there pricing is very good!! And from my personal experience one you try the good stuff you will be hooked!!

I hope this will be an enlightning experience for all!!

Tuesday’s Tipone day late. We have been having internet problems.


Well it is Tuesday again and time for the tip. This week we are going to talk about how many calories one needs to maintain, lose, and gain weight. The first thing to remember is that every person is different and will react differently to the foods that they eat.

First step is to establish how many calories a person needs to make their body work. We can determine how much that is by a simple formula of rounding. Generally, the total number of calories needed is equal to the weight in kilograms of ideal weightⁿ multiplied by 25. So a person whose ideal weight is 85 kg then the calories needed is 2125 kCal.

This calorie amount will allow the body to function normally and in most instances maintain the current body weight. If weight loss were desired, one would decrease this amount in increments. The equivalent of a pound of weight is 3500 kCal. This divided by 7 days a week gives you 500 calories a day to lose one pound a week. But it is not recommended to lose too much at one time. If you are trying to increase weight, it is not recommended to increase calories by more than 250.

ⁿ Ideal weight in kg can be determined by the following formula: women 100 lbs for first 5 feet and then 5 lbs for each additional inch, men 106 lbs for first 5 feet and then 6 lbs for each additional inch. Divide this weight by 2.2 kg/lbs and the dividend weight in kg.

Lettuce eat!

Yummy i love this stuff...But did you Know!!!
AsparagusThis is a free excerpt from the nutrition book,
God's Banquet Table!

ASPARAGUS Available in early spring. Can be expensive due to difficulty in cultivating. Its claim to fame is the amino acid aspargagine which is destroyed by cooking. (So don't over cook, steam it just enough to eat) Aspargagine is a strong diuretic, stimulating the kidneys. Asparagus is a great blood cleanser and excellent for healthy bowel maintenance. Some find that it soothes a nervous mind. You may find your urine turning dark and develop a strong odor. This is a harmless by-product of asparagus. Asparagus contains beta-carotene, vitamins B1 and C, bioflavinoids, potassium, and vitamin C.

Fresh, it will be bright green and firm to the tip. Will keep a couple of days in the refrigerator. Asparagus is an expensive but delicious addition to any veggie juice drink. Excellent to juice with carrots.


Yummy... Asparagus season is just around the corner..I'm excited i hope you are to..Nutrious and delious.

Burr!! Are you sure we are still in Florida?
Howdy from Jacksonville!! Its been a little chilly Theres a possibility it could snow tonight.(by now it would have been last night) At least that is what the weather guy said on the news. I dont know about that? It defiantly cold enough, on the other whos so lucky to be 60% wrong most of the time and can keep their job. Thats right the weather man/woman. Must be nice, if I was wrong that often I would be thrown out on my keister a long time ago. I really cant complain about the weather for 2 reasons : 1) if I was up north, it would much, much colder snow and ice and all the nasty stuff that goes with it 2) Im still debating if we really live in Northern Florida or south Georgia.

What do the "experts" say? The thinner the better.
Short-term diets work.
Yo-yo dieting is terrible.
Heavy isn't so bad.
Heavy is beautiful.
Heavy is deadly.
It's all a matter of willpower.
Heavy people are lazy.
Thin people are just lucky.
Thin people work to be that way.
Here, take this pill.
Don't take that pill, it's dangerous!
Take this other pill instead.
Here, drink this drink.
Do as I say, not as I do.
Exercise, exercise, exercise!
You're programmed to be this way, don't worry. There's nothing you can do about it.
Give me lots of money and do what I tell you and you'll be beautiful.
Let's just suck out some of that ugly fat.
Walk every day.
Don't eat so much.
Don't eat so little.
You're eating at the wrong time of the day.
Eat more protein.
Eat less protein.
Count calories.
Don't count calories.
Eat bananas.
Fruit is too high in sugars.
Avoid carbohydrates.
Eat more carbohydrates.
Don't eat processed food.
Don't eat meat.
Don't eat anything.
Have your head examined.


I think the worstlosingf loseing weight for me is the mixed messages. I don't know about you bot it can be very over whelming at times. But i try to keep a level head. I just tell myself that moderation is the key. And that eating didn't make my but big, but sitting in my butt made it big.

Stay warm everyone..weather you live up north or down south...

The Mrs.

Tuesdays Tip!
How to Read Food Labels
Just about every packaged food made in the U.S. has a food label indicating serving size and other nutritional information. The "Nutrition Facts" food labels are intended to give you information about the specific packaged food in question. Measurements of fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals are calculated for a "typical portion." But, reading these labels can be confusing. Below is an example of a Nutrition Facts label, along with explanations of its components.

Serving Size. Serving sizes are based on the amount of food people typically eat, which makes them realistic and easy to compare to similar foods. This may or may not be the serving amount you normally eat. It is important that you pay attention to the serving size, including the number of servings in the package and compare it to how much you actually eat. The size of the serving on the food package influences all the nutrient amounts listed on the top part of the label. For example, if a package has 4 servings and you eat the entire package, you quadruple the calories, fat, etc. That you have eaten.

Calories and Calories From Fat. The number of calories and grams of nutrients are provided for the stated serving size. This is the part of the food label where you will find the amount of fat per serving.

Nutrients. This section lists the daily amount of each nutrient in the food package. These daily values are the reference numbers that are set by the government and are based on current nutrition recommendations. Some labels list daily values for both 2,000 and 2,500 calorie diets.

"% Daily Value" shows how a food fits into a 2,000 calorie/day diet. For diets other than 2,000 calories, divide by 2,000 to determine the % Daily Value for nutrients. For example, if you are following a 1,500 calorie diet, your % Daily Value goal will be based on 75% for each nutrient, not 100%.

For fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, choose foods with a low % Daily Value. For total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, try to reach your goal for each nutrient.
Calories Per Gram. This information shows the number of calories in a gram of fat, carbohydrate and protein.

Ingredients. Each product should list the ingredients on the label. They are listed from largest to smallest amount (by weight). This means a food contains the largest amount of the first ingredient and the smallest amount of the last ingredient.

Label Claim. Another aspect of food labeling is label claims. Some food labels make claims such as "low cholesterol"" or "low fat." These claims can only be used if a food meets strict government definitions. Here are some of the meanings.

LABEL CLAIM DEFINITION (per standard serving size)
Fat-free* or sugar-free Less than 0.5 gram (g.) of fat or sugar

Low fat 3 g. of fat or less

Reduced fat or reduced sugar At least 25% less fat or sugar

Reduced cholesterol At least 25% less cholesterol and 2 g. or less of saturated fat

Calorie free Less than 5 calories

Low calorie 40 calories or less

Light or lite 1/3 fewer calories or 50% less fat; if more than half the calories come from fat, fat content must be reduced by 50% or more.

Learn to read food labels like a pro. Don't be left out of the loop any more. We don't believe that counting every calorie or every gram of fat is necessary. But at least with the proper information we are able to watch what we are eating and have a better idea of proper portion size. This is a major issue, that is very crucial.

next on Tuesdays tip..how many calories do i need and how much food that boils down to.

Lettuce Eat!

Hello all!
I hope everyone had a lovely valentines day!! My was typical, i went to work made food for a bunch of people. In the process i ran my butt off. So happy belated V-Day.

Here's a tip from Mr. K-C. This came about because when i get off work every night I tend to be hungary. Just like everyone else, right? Time for dinner...And i complain because it's really hard because i don't like to eat late at night. because i feel guilty.

So i asked Greg this question...Aka future dietian of america" Can I eat late in the evening when dieting? I'm trying to make a life style change"
Yes. It's not when you eat - it's what and how much you eat, that counts

So, if you fancy a late snack, eat something sensible, like a big bowl of wholegrain cereal with fat-free milk.

Don't be tempted to eat a fat-bomb like a toasted cheese sandwich with slices of pepperoni and mayo!! (Death on a plate!)

I guess that makes sense to me!It's kinda weird! For thoughs of you who know my husband...that sandwich he described was something he would of ate. Now he is doing really well with eating healther and excercise.

I thought I would share it with you since you might have wondered the same thing!!

Roasting for Beginners (KitchenTips)

In the beginning, roasting was done on a turning spit over an open fire and the juices ran over the surface of the meat basting it continuously.

Nowadays most roasting takes place in the oven and offers a fast method of cooking tender portions of meat, poultry, and fish. The funny thing there are so many mixed messages when it comes to roasting. I don't know why..It seems pretty simple to me!

This is how you roast like a pro.You want to start with an oven that's preheated at a high temperature(375) to seal the meat thus preventing a loss of juices while at the same time caramelizing the surface.

After 10- 20 minutes, lower the temperature and continue roasting until done.

Some say ... meats should be basted to keep from drying out ( or that's what text books say..But I don't think it's necessary)they say some cuts of meat like pork are fatty enough and will require no basting. Basting is silly..I never do it.

Many books and many say..Sometimes it may be necessary to bard (tie pieces of fat to the surface of) what you are cooking to help with basting. This is when you slap bacon around meat while roasting. It's a very classical..old fashion idea. It's yummy but it's just another way to add unneeded fat calories..I don't do this either.

another silly thing they say..Birds can be cooked breast down to start and then finished on the other side to allow the juices and fat to flow into the breast meat. I cook my turkey right side up. The trick is to not over cook the bird in the first place. Take the bird out at 158-160 degrees. Let it rest for about 8-10 minutes. Ask any chef about this one..I beat they cook there bird right side up,too!

This point is actually a good one. Make sure you have a roasting pan that is the correct size for what you are cooking. Too big.... and the food may burn, too small and your roast may stick to the sides of the pan. Too shallow... and your oven will be a mess, too deep.....your food will steam, not roast.

Happy roasting..it's a simple easy way to prepare meat. It's very yummy too!

Oops!Yesterday I mentioned a new addition to our sidebar. I said delicious destinations...What i really meant was Delicious Decisions. It's under nutrition 101, check it out!!

On to the next Topic of the Day

Happy heart day as i would like to call or as many of us know it as Valentines Day. I don't know what you will being doing this saturday? I'll be working..what a shame you say, me too! But like any other holiday in my profession we work, oh wee. Now on to you all out there. What are you doing. i hope your doing something nice with your sweetheart. The best thing I can think of is cooking a nice home cooked dinner. This isn't just for the ladies to do, I know some of you gents out there know how to cook to. So as I like to say nothin' says lovin' like some heart healthy from the oven!!

Books, Books, Books!!!
Part of my new years resolution was to read books with more substance. So I finished one more book that was definetly doesn't count towards that. So my next book i'm going to read is going to have more substance, I even promised myself. I got a few books for christmas, maybe i will start with thoughs??? I'll let you know what i decide reading. My brain was enjoying the non- thinking reads, but i must admit that thinking could be a good thing. it's not like my profession takes a lot of brain to do succuessfully...definatly more braun than anything..

On another note..
i don't know if anyone noticed the addition to the side bar? Delicious destinations. Check it out.. it's definatly heart smart.

Hmmmm...
There is an Indian Belief that everyone is in a house of four rooms:
A physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room everyday, even if only to keep it aired, we are not complete.
-Rumer Godden

Tuesday's Tip

Well another week has passed and the time has come again to dispense the knowledge that you have come to know as Tuesday's Tip. As you saw yesterday there was progress made albeit small, any progress is good in the right direction. So here is the tip for this week:

Don't always lose sight of your goals by making them so large that you become frustrated with them, set attainable goals that will encourage you. There are several schools of thought when it comes to goal setting. One of them is the one mentioned before where one sets goals that can be reached in a moderate period of time and then sets a new goal of the same variety. The other school of thought involves setting long term goals and setting several smaller goals associated with each goal that will help guide the success.

We are trying a combination method. We set a goal to get more healthy. We set no real time table or method to do this we just want to be more healthy than we are now. We are taking our progress in 4 month chunks and monitoring the physical evidence that displays that progress every two weeks. We learn from each other what is working and what doesn't and we encourage each other to strive to meet our goals.

lettuce eat!

Update on: Mission Butt Shrink!!!

Well, officially it's been 2 weeks since the Mister started. His weigh in and measure day is every other Sunday. So here's his progress: 3# down, and 4.5 in. Total loss. You go with your bad self and keep up the good work.

As far as I go...I been working on my mission for about six months. I have been more maintaining than losing. At least my weight has stabilized. My progress up till now is:
12# down, and 11 in. Total loss. Mind you my bicepts have grown almost an inch.
So now I'm back for the big loss this time. I am biking farther, and lifting heavier weights. And of course cutting back on the junk food more. I don't believe in depriving myself, but a healthy balance is much easier to maintain.

How did we get started
First we bought 2 spiral notebooks to track our progress

2nd We weighed in and measured up
The body measurements needed are: Neck, Chest(bust), waist( 1 inch above navel), hips(measure at the fullest point), Arms( measure from 3 inches below arm pit), thigh(measure from around the highest point in the in side of you leg)

Remember inches are what really count the most
We recommend taking a photo and adding it into the notebook also

Thats how we started!
in our notebooks we track our excercise, diet, and most important what we are thinking in our head about how we are doing. We recommend it highly. The next item on our disscussion list will be our specific goals and our plan of action!!! And what ever else pops up as interesting!!:^D

PONDERING POINTS
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?

Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?

Question: What is green and goes to a summer camp?
Answer: A Brussels' scout.

Question????

What childhood cereals do you still enjoy?

Confessions of a Couch Potato

I’m a reformed couch potato.This is a formal goodbye to my couch lounging days! Not that I’m going to stop relaxing, because we all know that would be bad. But to do it less often, especially when I should be doing something else.

Probably you always thought that men where the only ones who deserved this description. I’m here to say that women are almost as lazy as men at times, and we deserve equal opportunity to claim the starchy vegged-out category. But I thought I would get these thoughts out of my system and maybe you could get a chuckle out of them, too!

I was not just an ordinary couch potato, but an expert at couch potato technique. There is only one thing is really necessary for being a couch potato and that is a couch. There are other things that give couch potatoes greater comfort.Any good (or should I say great) couch potato, male or female, will tell you that their most non-productive moments are spent in front of a television. It’s not essential, it does help to have the tv playing so that the couch spud at least appears to be doing something.(not that watching is really doing something any way)Accessories are also helpful in gaining the ultimate in couch potato comfort. Pillows for the neck are helpful. Naturally you do not want to use a bed pillow, as that would be false to your purpose. Little couch pillows work well. ( I recommend them highly.)A blanket is needed to stay warm and cozy.. Again, we do not want to use actual bed accessories. Afghans grandma made are perfect for this. They can be casually thrown across the arm of your couch as a decorator accent, and quickly grabbed to double as cover when the urge to nap hits and we do not want to spoil the mood.

Couches come in assorted sizes and types. The best couch potato couches are long enough to accommodate the entire body while in a horizontal position. They should be soft and wide enough that you do not feel as if you may fall off. I have spent many lazy hours catching Z’s, on my big blue couch. Creative technique is important this allows the wide arms to be used as headrest and footrest. Not complete comfort, by any means, but complete determination. One must be also willing to tolerate a minor neck ache when waking up from this position.

Why bother with all this, you say? If you’re sleepy or THAT lazy, go to bed! Obviously you do not understand the point. Years of practice are needed to prefect a couch potato technique. The point is NOT to go to bed, but to catch forty winks elsewhere.Too much time on my hands? Not at all! The best hours are those stolen when I should absolutely be doing other activities. Actually, I feel a bit drowsy right now. I think I’ll finish this column later. Would you pass me that afghan?

V-Day is just Around the corner!!

Some little-known facts about Valentine's Day:
Valentine's Day has its origins in the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia, an annual festival held on Feb. 15 to help keep dangerous wolves away from townspeople and their crops. On the eve of the festival, Feb. 14, the young women of the town would write their names on slips of paper, put them in a jar, and every young man would pick out a name at random. The pair would then be partners for the remainder of the festival.

It was 270 B.C. when St. Valentine stood up for love, after Roman Emperor Claudius II forbade Roman soldiers to get engaged or married, believing that married men would rather stay at home than go to war. The priest named Valentine, in defiance of Claudius' orders, secretly married young couples, and on Feb. 14, was punished for his "crime," thereby becoming the patron saint of lovers.

Some old beliefs:

During the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that birds chose their mates each year on Feb. 14.

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin fly overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor; if she saw a sparrow, she'd marry a poor man, and be very happy; if she saw a goldfinch, she'd marry a millionaire.

If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will know how many children you will have.

Some charming Valentine's Day Customs:

In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on Feb. 14. Heart, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations, which meant "you unlock my heart!"

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They'd wear these names on their sleeves for one week -- hence the term "to wear your heart on your sleeve."

Flowers on Valentine's Day appeared in the 17th Century. A daughter of Henry IV of France gave a party in honor of St. Valentine. Each lady received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the man chosen as her valentine.
--
Now that we got the history lesson out of the way we can move on to the fun stuff. The next few days were going to post some menu's for a heathly valintines Day. Keep an open mind. You may be surprised how delicious healthy can be!!!

Tuesdays TipOne Day Early

The K-C's are officially beginning our own personal battle of the bulge. That's right we are weighing in and getting the tape measure out of the draw. We would like to invite you into our personal journey of being healthier, happier, lighter, and more energetic. We are going to share our ups and down, and also give you all the tools you need to join in. In fact we wish everyone who wants to be a big loser to join in this as a group effort. Studies have shown the emotional support is essential to a success!!

Week one Topic:Getting Started: Losing Weight for the Long-Term

Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy. Before you get started on a weight loss program, consider the following tips. They should help you reach your goal of obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight.

Set the Right Goals

Setting effective goals is an important first step. Most people trying to lose weight focus on just that one goal. Weight loss. However, the most productive areas to focus on are the dietary and exercise changes that will lead to long-term weight control. Successful weight managers are those who select two or three goals at a time that they are willing to take on.

Keep in mind that effective goals are specific, attainable, and forgiving. For example, "exercise more" is a wonderful goal, but it's not specific. "Walk five miles everyday" is specific and measurable, but is it attainable if you 're just starting out?" Walk 30 minutes every day" is more attainable, but what happens if you're held up at work one day and there's a thunderstorm during your walking time another day? "Walk 30 minutes, five days each week" is specific, attainable, and forgiving.

Reward Success (But Not With Food!)

Rewards that you can control can be used to encourage you to attain your weight control goals, especially those that have been difficult for you to reach.

An effective reward is something that is desirable, timely, and contingent on meeting your goal. Rewards may include treating yourself to a movie or music CD or taking an afternoon off from work or just an hour of quiet time away from family. Keep in mind that numerous small rewards, delivered for meeting smaller goals, are more effective than bigger rewards, requiring a long, difficult effort.

Balance Your (Food) Checkbook

This means that you should monitor your eating behavior by observing and recording some aspect of your eating behavior, such as how many calories you eat in a day, how many servings of fruits and vegetables you eat per day, how often and for how long you exercise, etc., or an outcome of these behaviors, such as weight.

Doing this can really help you determine how you are doing and what you need to do to meet your weight control goals.

Avoid a Chain Reaction

Identify those social and environmental cues that tend to encourage you to undesired eating, and then work to change those cues. For example, you may learn that you're more likely to overeat while watching television, or whenever treats are on display by the office coffee pot.

Then work to sever the association of eating with the cue (don't eat while watching television), avoid or eliminate the cue (leave coffee room immediately after pouring coffee). In general, visible and accessible food items are often cues for unplanned eating.

Get the (Fullness) Message

Changing the way you go about eating can make it easier to eat less without feeling deprived. It takes 15 or more minutes for your brain to get the message you've been fed. So slow down the rate that you eat food. That will allow satiety (fullness) signals to begin to develop by the end of the meal. Eating lots of vegetables or fruit can also make you feel fuller. Another trick is to use smaller plates so that moderate portions do not appear meager. In addition, by changing your eating schedule, or setting one, can help you reach your goal, especially if you tend to skip, or delay, meals and overeat later.

These are just a few things to keep in mind while we get geared up for the challenge!
A lot of the issues to come are not fun to discuss, but are very important. Remember today is the first day of the rest of our lives!! So let's not waste anymore time!!

Lettuce Eat,
Greg K-C

The recent Rave. Okay not this minute, but In the past few years this has become so popular. Thats right i'm talking about BALSAMIC VINEGAR. What do you know about it. Besides that it is scrum-didlie-umscious.

Modena( that's the region it comes from, when you buy balsamic try to make sure that's where it's from, this is why) Italy's balsamic vinegar is aged at least 6 to 12 years and some are aged for 50 to 100 years. As could be expected, these vinegars can be quite expensive, some costing over $200 per ounce!( if you ever get to taste an aged one, that's quite old I guarantee you will say whollly...mollllyyy!!!)

This distinctive vinegar has long been cherished: in fact, it was once considered so valuable that it was included in the dowries of young ladies of nobility and was specifically mentioned in wills. And in 1944, when reports of approaching American bombers reached the Modena area, small kegs of balsamic vinegar were packed up along with money, jewelry and other valuables.

'Balsamic' means 'like balsam' - and balsam is an aromatic resin - balsamic vinegar simply refers to the fact that it is thick (resin like) and aromatic.

Pretty interesting stuff.. If I do say myself...Just a little something from your friend the ethnofoodoligist... Yes that is a real word.. Some time we should discuss all the stuff that china invented but never gets credit for.

Yes it's superbowl time again.here's a little article i found on a foodie web site. i thought it was an interesting little morsel to chew on...no pun intended!

USA: California farmers prepare for onslaught of avocado thieves
28 Jan 2004 Source: Monica Dobie

Avocado farmers in California are securing their crops against the yearly onset of thieves who steal thousands of dollars worth of fruit every year.

With a price of US$1.20 per pound, (or two avocados), the demand is at its highest due to the Super Bowl (1 February), the most popular day of the year for guacamole. Police or “guac cops” in San Diego and Ventura counties, where 68% of the country’s avocados are grown, patrol the area tracking thieves who sell them to dubious roadside stands, restaurants or to wholesalers in Los Angeles.

In Ventura County, 29 suspected thieves were arrested last year, charged with stealing an estimated US$115,000 worth of avocados.

Nutrition Tip of The week

Does your food supply you with all the vitamin C you need?

Vitamin Alert!
Vitamin C Saves Arteries

You know how important vitamin C is for protecting you from heart disease and cancer, but does your food supply you with all the vitamin C you need? An Arizona State University East study found that if you drink orange juice within a week of buying or making it from concentrate, it has all the vitamin C it promises on the label; 2 to 4 weeks out, it has much less. Note: Packaging also matters. Prevention magazine tested freshly squeezed OJ, and here's how it compares:
How Much Vitamin C Are You Getting?

Vitamin C in orange juice When bought 4 weeks later


Reconstituted from frozen 85 mg 45 mg


Waxed paper carton, screw top 65 mg 20 mg


Waxed paper carton, nonresealable 28 mg 0 mg


Freshly squeezed 96 mg 83 mg


All samples were 8 ounces




The daily amount that we are supposed to intake is 250 mg!! Other sources besides citrus fruits are red bell pepper, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Lettuce Eat,
Another helpful hint from Greg K-C

Avoiding the tears: Yes thats right folks were talking about onions!!!

WaterWash an onion after the first cut.
Cut under cold running water.

Hot n' ColdHeat the onions before chopping.
Peel and then chill the onions in the refrigerator (1 hour) or freezer (15 minutes) before chopping.

AirCut an onion on a breezy porch or with a fan blowing away from your face.
Turn your head away while chopping (watch those fingers!!).
Breath with your mouth open exhaling through your nose.

Romantic
Light a candle near the chopping block.

TechniqueCut along the vein not across it.
Cut with a very sharp knife.
Cut near the bottom of the onion last. Where the root is

Look weird
Wear large glasses or goggles.
Hold a lemon, piece of bread or a sugar cube in your mouth, the food will absorb the gas before it reaches your eyes.

What ever works for.. personally it's all a bunch of hooey... For goodness sakes alive just buy a food processor if its that bad...he he hee.. i have been cooking professional for a while now. And i still sometimes cry..What helps you from crying?

Topic of the dayPart 1Why do onions make you cry?
Cutting into an onion will break open its' cells releasing noxious sulfur fumes. When this gas hits your eyes *KABOOM*, the tears start flowing. This is due to the mild sulfuric acid that is produced when the gas dissolves in the watery tears. You react to this eye stinging by blinking and producing even more tears which will eventually flush out the irritating acid. Please resist the urge to rub your eyes, especially if you have onion juices all over them.

Maybe after that..how to keep those onions from making you cry..

Here's the question: If i opened the first resturant on the moon Cafe Crater, what would moon cuisine be?

You tell me what you think, then later i'll tell you what i think. This is just for fun!!

Vacations...well mine is over. I'm back to work, what can i say there's a little thing know as reality. With that comes bills..if only i could get them to take a vacation too!! If I figure that out I'll let you know. So here are a few rediclous thoughts. That really don't have much to do with anything?? Maybe they do i'm not really sure.

1. Did you know you can take a trip to the moon now? Yup, it's true. I did it. It was fun -- there's all this great cheese and wine, and they have lots of great old art, and that famous tower, and everyone speaks English there. Still, I don't know if it was worth the HUGE price. Okay my imagination is a little wild.

2.I've heard of these new "earth-friendly" eco-tourism packages. They're designed to have a minimal impact on local wildlife, the proceeds go to benefit charity, and they're a great change of pace from all those the baby-seal-clubbing expeditions.

3. The thing I hate about traveler's checks is how inconvenient they are. Like, say you get robbed. It takes soooo long to sign over each and every check to the mugger.

4. The worst thing about traveling is the expense. Here's some tips to save money: instead of taking a plane or a boat, try -- your feet! Instead of eating at a lot of expensive restaurants, eat once at a cheap buffet before you go.

5. One thing about traveling, is that you should really learn the customs and culture of the local people before you get there. In Japan, it's polite to belch after a good meal(i would fit right in). In Korea, they eat dogs. And in Ohio, murder is illegal.(as well as the other states)

6. The terrible thing about the amusement parks now is how many lines there are. You wait in line to get in, then you wait in line to get tickets, then you wait to buy food. The line at the bathroom is WAY too long to wait in, so you skip that. Then the line at the pants store is just impossibly long. Then you have to wait in line at the police station, and then again at the court house. It's just gotten way out of hand.

7. A place I'd really like to visit is China. I'd really like to try the food.

i don't know if any of the above makes any sense at all??? I don't really care. Some days i feel funny. Today not one of them. it must be that silly thing called work, its getting in my way.. Hmmmm, i'll have to do someting about that.

Ponderings for the New Year

If you mixed vodka with orange juice and milk of magnesia, would you get a Philip's Screwdriver?(that's sounds extra yummy? he hee he!!)

Why do we say something is out of whack?
What is a whack?(if you have the answers to this one let us know)

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?(We know what you are saying...that was lame!)

Why do women wear evening gowns to nightclubs? Shouldn't they be wearing night gowns?(I couldn't answer that either)

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale bread to begin with.

When cheese gets it's picture taken, what does it say?(this is something that makes me go hmmm?)

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a race car not called a racist?

Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

If horrific means to make horrible, does terrific mean to make terrible?

Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?(this is one of my favorite thoughts to ponder)

"I am " is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do " is the longest sentence?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and dry cleaners depressed?( o.k. this is pretty bad too..but you must admitt it is quite humorous)

Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as "4's"?

Why is it that if someone tells you that there are 1 billion stars in the universe you will believe them, but if they tell you a wall has wet paint you will have to touch it to be sure?( that's the truth)

If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?

If people from Poland are called "Poles," why aren't people from Holland called "Holes?"

Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?


Just a few thought to ponder.. Feel free to comment. I always have ssomething to say about everything. You do too! You can't hide from the dynamic duo. aka The k-C's

A quick run down on our cruise adventure!!!!
Sun 1/4 We boarded the boat oops, I mean ship, in the early afternoon. This trip included the in-laws( this trip was a 30th anniversary celebration), my bro-in-law Roy and my husband and I. This day was spent checking out all the stuff on board and having a simple dinner.
Mon 1/5 First full day on board, we were at sea. These days are very relaxing. Sitting by the pool getting some tan.. ok a little sun burn. Hot top and that night was our first formal night for dinner so we cleaned up good a dinner. The food was quite excellent consider trying to feed 1500 people 3 meals a day plus snacks. I give those chefs and cooks a round of applause.
Tues 1/6 Dominican republic, Nice in the tourist areas, the other parts , so so. Good place to kayak( I enjoyed it throughly) and shop.
Wed 1/7 Off to San Juan Puerto Rico, this is an excellent place. We went to the rain forest which is a good hour and half drive from the port but it was so amazing. If you get the time we highly recommend it. Also an awesome place to buy good cheep duty free booze.
Thurs 1/8 US Virgin island of St Thomas. This place was so clean, the water super blue..just like in the commercials. Here we did the tourist thing and did some light shopping. I would give this island another visit if opportunity knocks.
Fri 1/9 Another relaxing day at sea…Yeah!!!!
Sat 1/10 Nassau, Bahamas… Dirty, annoying pushy natives, so we took a water taxi to Paradise Island where the Atlantis Resort is. It is quite lovely. Someday I would mind being a guest in the bridge suite. Also know as the Michael Jackson Suite. He was the first person to stay in it. 10,000 per night with a week minimum.
Sun 1/11 Back to land.. All in all it was a most excellent vacation. I applaud the whole crew of the celebrity Millennium. Well that’s the readers digest version!!!!
Stay tuned for the up and coming silliness. My batteries are re charged and ready.

Update ...this week at the request of our loyal audience...we will have a special how to start the new year healthly...as far as nuitrition is concerned. And what we plan to do!!! So stay tuned...so about the delay folks...vacations happen.

Hellol everybody were back!
Yes...i don't know where to begin...I wanted to keep everyone up to date on our travels. But The blog went crazy when we were out and about.

Here's a few reasons why to take a cruise.. we recommend it highly!!There are cruises available for any budget.

From 3 to 100 days, cruises fit your schedule. (I can't even fathom 100)

At a hotel you check in. On a cruise you check-out! (we you try you'll agree)

One thing you'll never see on the menu is the price. (Except if they have a specialty resturant)

Cruising allows quality time with your family.

Visit 4 countries in a week.

The awe-inspiring view from the deck of a cruise ship is included. (excellent sunsets)

Get trim in state-of-the-art fitness centers. ( Walking around the top deck is the best excercise with a great view)

No packing-unpacking-packing-unpacking-packing.

Travel to over 1800 ports around the world.

The world is 2/3 water. Until you go on a cruise, you really haven't visited earth.

Rejuvenate mind, body and spirit in the shipboard spa. ( it can be expensive but if you have the money go for it)

For the health conscious, low calorie, low sodium and heart-healthy meals are available. ( We ate from the spa menu and it was pretty good)

A resort just sits there, but a cruise will move you.

Listen to interesting lectures by world-renowned experts. (Blah..if thats your thing)

On some cruise ships, kids sail free, and they'll love you for it. ( but ships with small # of kids is even better)

On a cruise ship, your luggage arrives in your room before you do. (depends how large the ship is)

You don't need to make dinner reservations.

Live entertainment. Casinos. Spas. All within a short stroll.

No cover charge, ever. ( but plenty of gratuity.. they deserve it they work there butts of)

Experience other cultures. (Buy duty free booze!!!!

Do everything, or nothing at all.

The next days excerpt will include a readers digest of our little trip. Hopefully this week I can get so pics one the web..
Until tomorrow...tahtah.

This was what should have posted
How U Doin'

Well today were at sea and it's loverly...
here's an idea how to relax
Apple spice bath
This bath smells wonderful and feels great especially in cold climates or if you have the chills.

Use two - three cups of dried chamomile flowers. Mix in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of grated ginger root. Place in a muslin bag and hang in really hot bath water. Let steep in the water for about 10 min or until your water is to the temperature you like. Remove the bag and soak your body no longer than 15 - 20 minutes! The apple/ginger scent is wonderful. The ginger will bring the blood to your skins surface making it warm and tingly.

have a lovely day!!!

HELLO ALL.... IF YOUR CHECKING THIS IN THE MORNING WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO PORT EVERGLADES, FORT LAUDERDALE FL.
WERE SAILING AROUND THE CARIBBEAN ABOARD THE MILLENNIUN. OUR SAILING TIME IS 4:30PM... WOOOHOOOO!!


check it out... this is where we are today.

Well todays going wonderful. Currently in St. Thomas.

Feelin fine all the time.
were poets and didn't even know it. heheheh

the k_C's

Today were in San Juan... thats right Puerto.

were still relaxing!!!!

Have a wonderful day

The Tanned K-C's.

We are on a cruise. Do you know where The K-C's are?

Today we are in Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic



That's right relaxing and never mind We don't want to rub it in...

Have a wonderful day!!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!! AND ALL THAT JAZZ

i HOPE EVERYONE'S NEW YEAR HAS BEEN GREAT SO FAR... SO REMEMBER TO KEEP UP THOSE RESOULUTIONS... YOU HAVE TO AT LEAST TRY TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR WITHOUT CHEATING OR QUITTING. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE ONE YET WELL YOU BEST GET STARTED!!!!

IN THE UP COMING WEEK I WILL BE ON VACATION ....SO THE K-C'S WILL BE SAILING AROUND THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN... BON VOYAGE...TO US....

HAVE A GOOD WEEK I HOPE YOU DON'T MISS US TOO MUCH. i KNOW WE HAVE BEEN SLACKING DURING THE HOLIDAY MONTHS BUT VERY SOON WE WILL BE BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS!!!!!!

It's almost Another New Year...

...but for what reason?
"Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way. But the day celebrated as New Year's Day in modern America was not always January 1.
ANCIENT NEW YEARS
The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical or agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

Interesting...? Thank gooodness our celebration is in one night. Imagine the hangoovers we would have?

"New" Year's Resolutions
I resolve to let my jokes stand on their own.


I resolve to see at least one movie a week, even if the only new movie out is "Gigli " or something. Okay maybe not that one.

I resolve to stop being such a jerk. What good does it do me to be a jerk? No good, that's what. Even if I don't like someone, why be a jerk to them? Right now, the answer is "because it's a habit". Being curt is easier for me, but I should stop. Plus, I've noticed that when I smile at people, they smile back. Winking doesn't help, though.

I resolve to either drink less Coke or quit obsessing about how much Coke I drink. Sometimes I quit for a couple of weeks nad then relapse, so all I get is fourteen days of a headache. On the other hand, I occasionally get headaches anyway, since, like I say, I drink so much Coke.

I resolve to floss. I mean everyday

I resolve to convince other people to read good books and watch good movies; and I resolve to read good books( too many trashy romance novels) and watch good movies that other people tell me to watch. You know how you see an obscure movie and then spend the rest of the movie's short run trying in vain to get all your friends to see it and they don't? And then a month later, one of your friends won't shut up about some great movie they've seen?

I resolve to juggle five balls by the end of the year.


I resolve to dramatically improve this web page, in both look and infrastructure( previous word was a Greg K-C..you know when i can't think of th right one).. And how hard can that be? My Dad's really gret at this stuff.


I resolve to stop ending sentences with "but still". It was funny for awhile, but I have to rotate it out in favor of new lines.

Speaking of which, I resolve not to use any punchlines that come from television commercials. I don't care whether it's funny in the commercial ("Great Googly-Moogly!") or if I'd just be doing it to get a cheap pop-culture reference laugh ("Whassup?!" or "What are YOU doing?"), I believe I can do better. I don't mind other people doing it (unless they have a late-night talk show), but I resolve to abstain. I'll still laugh if it's funny, though.


Finally, I resolve to get a sock monkey. I can't explain exactly why, but I just feel that my life would be better with a sock monkey around.


I think that's just about it unless i think of something else i will let you all know!!

It"s beeen a while since I've made fun of Her, sometimes I can't help mysef!!!
Dear Santa:

I rarely ask for much. This year is no exception. I don't need diamond earrings, handy slicer-dicers or comfy slippers ( oK I would love the slippers). I only want one little thing, and I want it deeply.
I want to slap Martha Stewart.

Now, hear me out, Santa. I won't scar her or draw blood or anything. Just one good smack, right across her little cheek. I get all cozy inside just thinking about it. Don't grant this wish just for me, do it for thousands of women across the country. Through sheer satisfaction, you'll be giving a gift to us all. Those of us leading average, garden variety lives aren't concerned with fancy living.

We feel pretty good about ourselves if our paper plates match when we stack them on the counter, buffet-style for dinner. We're tired of Martha showing us how to make centerpieces from whose Knows what dipped in 18-carat gold. We're plumb out of liquid gold. Unless it's of the furniture polish variety. We can whip up Martha's creamy holiday sauce, spiced with turmeric. But we really don't want to.

I have discovered that not only does Martha avoid take-out pizza (she's only ordered it once), she refuses to eat it cold (No cold pizza? Is Martha Stewart living?) When it was pointed out that she could microwave it, she replied, "I don't have a microwave."

Well, lah-dee-dah. Imagine that, Santa!

You would be amazed at what top notch resturants do with microwaves, okay we don't like to admit it. But I can't live without one. How do you think a well done steak is cooked in 15 minuates?

I have also learned learned that Martha has 40 sets of dishes adorning an entire wall in her home. Forty sets. Can you spell "overkill"? And neatly put away, no less. If my dishes make it to the dishwasher that qualifies as "put away" in my house!

The proof of Martha's influence: after she bought white-fleshed peaches in the supermarket, Martha says, "People saw me buy them. In an instant, they were all gone." I hope Martha never decides to jump off a bridge.

A guest in Martha's home told the public how Martha gets up early to rollerblade with her dogs to pick fresh wild blackberries for breakfast.

This confirms what I've suspected about Martha all along: She's obviously got too much time on her hands. Teaching the dogs to rollerblade. What a show off.

There you have it, Santa. If there was ever someone who deserved a good smack, it's Martha Stewart. But I bet I won't get my gift this year.

You probably want to smack her yourself.

On a side note i feel much better now
Feel free to comment!!!

On a more serious note
WAYS TO TRIM
YOUR HOLIDAY WASTELINE

Are you a waste-wise warrior or merely a waste-wise wannabe? Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time of year. The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week.


THE YULETIDE PARTY GUIDE

‘Tis the season of parties and festivities, food and fun. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s we like nothing more than to eat, drink and be merry, so we need successful strategies to cut down on the waste we create from our amplified entertaining.

[ 1 ] Turn down the heat before the guests arrive. You’ll save energy while the extra body heat of your guests will warm up the room.
[ 2 ] For formal affairs, consider renting seldom worn party clothes or buying them from consignment shops.
[ 3 ] You can also rent dishes and glassware, making your party more elegant and eliminating the need to buy special holiday china.
[ 4 ] Walk to neighborhood parties, or carpool (with a designated driver!) with friends if it’s too far to walk.
[ 5 ] After the party, don’t throw away the leftovers! Put them in plastic containers or bags and send them home with guests, or donate to food banks.
[ 6 ] Plan meals wisely and practice portion control to minimize waste in the first place:

FOOD/DRINK PORTION PER PERSON
Eggnog 1/2 cup
Turkey 12-14 pounds (up to 10 people)
Stuffing 1/4 pound
Sweet Potato Casserole 1/4 pound
Green Beans 1/4 pound
Cranberry relish 3 tablespoons
Pumpkin Pie 1/8 of a 9" pie


Did you know...at least 28 billion pounds of edible food are wasted each year – or over 100 pounds per person. Putting one less cookie on Santa’s plate will reduce his snacking by about 2 million pounds.

LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION

[ 7 ] Get outdoor light strands that are wired in parallel. These have separate circuitry so that if one bulb blows out the rest will keep shining; all you have to do is replace the bulb. Those strands sold with series wiring stand or fall together, making it almost impossible to find and replace a single blown-out bulb.
[ 8 ] Bring your own camera instead of using disposable cameras to capture holiday memories.
[ 9 ] Faster film speeds, such as 400 or 800, reduce the use of flash and extend battery life.

Did you know...by purchasing rolls of 36 instead of 12 exposures, you’ll reduce waste by 67%, saving about $4, or 40% in cost?

Just a few ideas to save you time and money!!! As the holidays approch don't loose sight of the real meaning of the holidays. And remember you cn't find it in the mall.

Your friends,
The K-C's

Tuesday's Tip

Yet another tuesday has come and it is time for the tip of the week.

There are some things in life that are completely avoidable as long as a proper diet is eaten. Well not especially proper just healthy choices and moderation. By following the food guide pyramid and the food guidelines you can ensure that you can lessen the chances of developing a condition. Even some birth defects can be prevented by eating a healthy complete diet.

So your mother was right, eat your vegetables and all of the other foods in the pyramid.

Lettuce eat!

Here's a little laugh for you all....

You might be a bad cook if...

1)you call your mother to ask how long to boil cabbage to make cole slaw.
2)you look in a cookbook to find out how to boil water.
3)the smoke alarm beeps if you even walk near the stove.
4)your family buys Pepto and Tums in bulk.
5)you open your dishwasher after living in your house for two years and the plastic is still in it.
6)the last time you tried to make toast the kitchen caught on fire.
7)your apple pie bubbled over and ate the enamel off the bottom of the oven.
8)you make tuna noodle broccoli surprise for your roommate and the surprise is that it glows in the dark!
9)you can use your overcooked cooked as a weapon
10) dog goes to the neighbors' to eat.
11)you cook the leftover cut-outs of a jack-o-lantern.
12) leftover crumbs make a great replacement for kitty litter
13) three boxes of scouring pads, a bottle of Drano and a crowbar, but that macaroni and cheese still won't let go of the pan! you've ever burned through the bottom of a pan while cooking.
14) forget and leave a gallon of your homemade ice cream on the porch overnight during a record busting heat wave and the next afternoon, not only is it still solid, but it tastes better.
15) refer to flour weveils as a little extra protein


This is a little list I put together for fun..work has been insane this past week and a half. My creative brain waves are starting to buzzzzz... So you can expect more craziness to come..I know you have probably missed it because i know i have. And to all our loyal readers please stay tuned......hahahahaha!!!!

A Christmas Tradition

Well for the 27th (or 28th depending on the point of view) we watched the Charlie Brown Christmas, being that we will be busy when it is broadcast we watched it on tape.

Now there are other traditions that we have like staying up and going to Midnight Mass or working on Christmas (Food industry) and evenwaking up at the butt crack of dawn to open presents if we can wait that long. What we really want is to hear about your traditions. Either send us e-mails or post on comments the traditions that you have for Christmas, Channukah, Kwanza, New Years or (insert holiday) and let us know. We think it will be fun to see what everyone else does.

posted by Greg K-C

Tuesday's Tip

Well just one more semester until graduation and I can't wait. So in honor of this joyous occasion we will have a fun tip for you today. There is a diet that can cure just about any problem that you have. It was originally designed to treat patients that were salt sensitive hypertensive. It is called the DASH diet. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Now I know that this does not sound fun yet but give me a chance. The diet itself is based on the Mediterranean Diet which focuses on Fruits and Vegetables rather than meats and starches of the American Diet.

These are the guidelines for it:
Starches (whole grain breads and pastas, rices) 6-8 servings/day
Vegetables (as raw as you can take it or steamed) 4-5 servings/day
Fruits (mainly high in Vit C) 4-5 servings/day
Lean meats (all are ok but concentrate on fish) 2, 3 oz. portions/day
Low fat dairy (milks and yogurts) 2- 2 1/2 servings/day
Fats (Mono and poly unsaturated fats i.e. olive oil, fish oil) 2 portions/day
Beans/Nuts/Seeds 5 servings/week
Low fat Sweets (syrup, honey, Jello,etc.) 5 servings/week

I know this sounds strict but it works very well and is quite easy to follow. The diet has a nickname the "cure all" diet. It is used for people who have heart disease of all kinds and is very effective for people with GI problems and diabetes both types and helps build up antioxidants for people who are immunocompromised. Now all of this technical jargon might be too much but it is important to remember to become more healthy.
Lettuce Eat!

School's out for winter

Well it is sort of out for the winter, I have just a few classes left until I can sing and dance in the apartment. yea!!! Well it certainly has been an interesting semester as far as the things that I learned and the things that I look forward to in my last semester at school. Well unfortunately that is about all that I can say right now so we will write more later.

Were Back!!!!Sorry about the delays…The holiday was a little crazy between cooking for 1000, and have family up visiting in Jax. The weekend was a blast. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. I hope you didn’t miss me to much. I’m sure your over it by know. As you can see an e-mail us feature has been added thanx to my Dad. In the near future We will have pictures and who knows what else will pop up. So if you have a burning question..or a nutritional topic you would like to discuss let us know. We are open minded.

Tuesday’s TipYes! Tuesdays tip is back in full swing.
Why is sleep so important to you????
Most people have trouble waking up in the morning. I known my wife does, how about you? The whole problem begins with not getting enough sleep. On average, most people get an hour too little sleep on average.
In addition to diet and exercise, sleep is on of the most important components of a long healthful life. If you get to little sleep, you eat more just to stay awake. Plus, studies show that lack of sleep also can and will slow your metabolism, preventing your body from using glucose effectively. Were talking about your blood sugar.
Lack of sleep also affects the level of leptin. Your may be wondering what this is? It’s a very important hormone that makes you feel full. When levels are low, you crave sweets such as candy, desserts, and other unhealthy starches.
The worst effects of sleep deprivation have to do with growth hormone levels. Growth hormone levels affect your body’s proportion of fat to muscle as well as repairs muscles while you sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep at night, your daily exercise session will feel harder than it should. You will have a harder time building muscle and keeping fat at bay.
You have to promise yourself that you will start going to bed earlier. It will help you wake up earlier and lose weight faster. It’s that important to you.
Lettuce Eat,
Written by the Mr. K-C