Beer is beer right?
Japanese brewer toasts 'taste-changing' beer
TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's top brewer Asahi Breweries said it had developed a beer that changes taste over time as the fermentation process continues after it is bottled.
The Asahi Super Yeast Draft changes its aroma and flavor through a second phase of fermentation after its basic taste is created in the primary fermentation at factories, Asahi said in a statement.
The secondary fermentation continues for about two to three months, if bottles are kept in rooms with temperatures between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit), Asahi said.
"After a month, its smooth taste is enhanced. In two to three months, the gorgeous aroma increases, giving the beer abundant and smooth flavor with crisp aftertaste," the company said.
The product will be introduced in eastern Japan for this winter.

Interesting to say the least

So how was your weekend?

Well here's a readers digest version of mine....
Friday...let me jump back a few days...wed: I wet into work and prepared for a lunch on thursday that was being done by the former executive chef of the white house. Chef Walter, he's a pretty cool guy to work with, and if anyone asks...he's pretty much like the rest of us chef's. He just so happened to cook for the president for ten years, and when it comes down to it cooking is cooking. I do have to mention my partner in crime Lindsay, had the pleasure of getting into a chive fight with him! Thur: We put on the lunch for about 170 or so people, then it was back to the normal grind of getting ready for friday. Fri: we did a welcome reception for our in coming guest Chefs for a charity event on sat. Lots of pretty food and all, everything went smashing of course! Well my boss ended up with tickets to the football game, and he's not into normal sports, he likes extreme sports. So i ended up with tickets.A free game is always fun when there good tickets that include rockstar parking!! Sat: I ran my but off working with one of the most awesome sushi chefs ever, and even got the honor of wearing a japanese chef coat. He told me after 4 years working with him on this event, and my hard work earned it. That event lasted all night and I didn't get home till late. Sun morning we headed off to the game and were lucky enough to meet up with my former partner in crime, Tiff, we worked together for a couple of years. I hadn't since her and her hubby Dave in over a year. They married and moved away..we tight still...But happened to be in town for the game. Pretty coolll!!! The jags did win, and so did the BUCS..a good day in football!!!So after we meet up with them and so other family and friends. Got some wings a bunch of beer and fun was had by all....boy the weekend was great...but I'm pooped, thank my lucky stars i did not have to work today (mon)...well that's the news for noe...I hope everyone had a great weekend!!!!

Not so Blogalicious!

I know the The World according to the K-C’s has not been so exciting lately. I haven’t had all the great pictures and play by play coverage that we have had in the recent past….But it’s soon to return. Currently the software is on the way from my awesome Pappa, who keeps this machine in perfect order from beyond the south. You may ask what’s “beyond the south”? Well it’s anything south of the south which really isn’t the south at all…..You know Orlando and Tampa.
So I know you wondering what’s new? Well not so much…but check this out…you will never believe this. The other day I was given a can of mountain dew at work and I could not drink it because it was to sweet!!!! I could not believe it, I have fully down graded to half strength dew… the diet kind… and I have to admit it tastes good!!! But I without the sugar it just does not pack the same punch. My suggestion to the lovely people at pepsico, double the caffeine… seems easy to me. And for thoughts people that think too much is a bad thing, they shouldn’t drink it anyway!!!! Enough of that nonsense, I tend to babble on… you all know that already….well I gotta run…not really…but I do have stuff to do….

Happy One Day Late Anniversay To the most bestest Mom and Dad in the WORLD!!!!! Sorry about the K-C's Tartiness...we do apoligize...Keep an eye out for the mail... 

We're Moved In!!!! Reporting from flat # 407

Thank goodness that's all over!!! It's too much work to move, and it's not even fun. So here's a quick update. We moved this past sat. and since then we been trying to get settled. But I'm glad to report we finally made it, we have a loveily place that is in order and ready to entertain. So come on down....

Top ten reasons moving sucks:
10) packing your life into boxes labeled saurkraut and adult diapers (think about it)
9) spilling hot coffee down your shirt
8) reading a news paper thinking it's todays, and realizing it's 4 weeks old
7) paper cuts
6) stairs (how many times can you count to 15)
5) big couches and little doors(you do the math)
4) heat rashes
3) dust bunnies
2) smashed fingers
And last but not least the # 1 reason moving sucks.......................... U haul SUCKS, we'll be right back...

That's right folks..that's all the news 4 now!!!!! Seeya next time, and don't forget water your plants!!!

This disco ball head.. offically signing off from club 656>...see you next week ...reporting from my new home...and yes the rumors are all true their making me get rid off my super cool had,,, I guesss they know what they are doing....

Moving..... so little fun and so much Dust!!!

To all my loyal fans...I have not forgot that you are still out there! We're in the process of moving and there is so much to do. I know you know what i'm talking about..we' ve all been there. So to keep it brief, because i need to get some shut soon. Everything is going well, Karen and Joe have already moved to there new place and greg ang I are not to far behind. I will try to keep everyone informed and as soon as this silly move is done I can get back to this blog... ta ta for now next up date sonner than later hopefully!!!

Happy 4th Anniversary to my sister Sarah and my brother-in-law Laszlo !!! We hope you have great day, do something nice for yourselves... It seems like you kids just got hitched. As they say time flies when your having fun, so don't close your eyes to much or you might miss the best part of the ride!!!!

There were lots of laughs....today!!!

So days are better than other, today was a better one. It's funny how you dread going to work some days.... but once you get there and around the crazy people it's hard not to have a good time. Here's a readers digest version of my day. It started out with getting up late, not over sleeping but just being lazy about getting up. I pulled into work at the usual hour in my usual spot. We got ready for the usual function at the usual time. But where the fun begins is right here!!! My partner in crime Lindsay and I had to carve on the buffet..it was for some group from georgia, and boy did they sound southern. So we decided to try to sound like them, too! I think we did pretty well, and this all stemed from the grouper wrappped in puff pastry, we decided to call it fish pie.....sounds southern to me! Well as the buffet went on we continued on and on...by the end of it all my face hurt. Today was the most fun day of all!!!!

Hello all,

I had a few e-mails from my loyal fan asking about this past weekend's social activities.

To start off i'm running a little behind in the blog world...with the holiday weekend all!!!

Here's a readers digest of activities: Friday my sis Sarah came up for the weekend. Sat night we hit up kareoke, all of us including family and friends. We had a few drinks and there was singing and dancing, and beverages. And fun was had by all. Carsten, was dancing! Proof again that you never should say never!!! Sun. we sisters, Hubby, Joe and I stopped by Gods house in the morning. Then moved on to hit in the pool and a little BBQ. Yummy!!! We played games watched a movie, and yes there were more beverages!!! Yes and I did have to work another holiday... but oh well. I went off to work and my sis headed home... that's a wrap!!

So Sarah thanks for coming up this past weekend..it was so much fun!!!! And yes every one i will get the pictures up on the blog as soon as i can!!!!

So how was everyones weekend???

Well ours went pretty darn well.... you want a readers digest version???
Work....blah...blah...went and danced the cha cha, and had some yummy philipino food, watched some kareoke, danced some more, had a few drinks ..that was sat. night. Sunday included grilling, swimming in the the pool and watching some movies. Whew..so check out the pictures from sat night...you should get a chuckle out of them!!!

Cheers!!! This is Francis that's right like the hurricane( and he says he doesn't smile for pictures!!!) Behind him is Remi jamming to some tunes....

Sat night out with my co-workers... were at a little phillapino resturant that does kareoke, and dancing on the weekends. It's ton's of fun not only is the food tasty but the beverages are a plenty. 

Sat. Night after work party!!! From left to right: Jojo (he's our awesome banquet chef who's leaving and moving on to bigger and better things), Remi ( she's is the most awesome garde manger chick in the world, Laura ( yep that's me dancin, too!), Greg (my hubby with his back to the camera) And for all you guys that didn't think we would have fun same on you!! 

Left to right: Greg, and jeff...their doing a little duet. Isn't that special!!!! "sing us a song your the piano man".... 

We danced... and danced... until they closed down for the night... we could of went all night!!!!  

Pretty, Pretty.....Prettty

Today I had the pleasure of being paid to play with food. I know what your saying "you do it everyday, right?"....

Well I do, but today I did a photo shoot for the company's new web sight and other advertising purposes. The food looked completely amazing. And the photo's...wow! It was fun to be creative that's my thing, yes fru fru. Hopefully I can get some copies so I can show you folks some time. You will be amazed too! enough of that shop talk....

This Brings new meaning to a stick of butter....and speaking of funny things you should check these stories out......

Great Art!
In May, backhoe contractor and part-time sculptor Ricky Pearce created a 17-foot-high, 40-ton concrete figure of the legs of a reclining woman in a grassy lot between two churches in a quiet neighborhood in Henderson, N.C. The legs, bent at the knees, noticeably parted, and accompanied by landscaped foliage "strategically placed" (according to a report from WNCN-TV in Raleigh), are supposedly in tribute to Marilyn Monroe. Asked one neighbor, "Why do they (sic) just show the legs?" [WNCN-TV (Raleigh, N.C.), 5-11-05]

In May, at the annual spring auction at Christie's in New York City, Massachusetts artist Tom Friedman managed to sell a piece consisting of an ink squiggle on a 12-by-18-inch piece of white paper (described in the Christie's catalog as "starting an old dry pen on a piece of paper"). It was sold for $26,400, according to a Washington Post report. Friedman was less successful in offering a 2-foot white cube that contained, on one surface, a tiny speck of his own feces, for which he expected an opening bid of $45,000, but got no takers. [Washington Post, 5-19-05]

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT THAT IS PRETTY BIZARRE IF YOU ASK ME....SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE A LITTLE TO MUCH TIME ON THERE HANDS!!!

"HELLO ALL!!! DO YOU RECOGNIZE ME IN THIS PICTURE? THAT'S RIGHT I'M THE OFFICAL MASCOT OF CLUB 656. I HEARD SOME VERY SCARY NEWS! THE CLUB IS SPLITTING INTO 2 NEW CLUBS! I THINK THERE PLANNING TO PHASE ME OUT. THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE AWAY MY HAT...THERE'S EVEN TALK OF HANGING ME FROM SOME STRANGE NEW CEILING???? ARE THEY CRAZY!!!!! I'LL KEEP YOU ALL POSTED..ON UP AND COMING EVENTS!!!  

DO THE DEW….

My favorite soda or as some say pop has always been mountain dew. I don’t drink it as much as I want to, or would like to. It’s not good for me so it’s only for special times or when I need a serious kick in the toockus. Though I must admit that diet dew is not to bad, not the same though.
But are you aware of the long history of the almighty dew. It been around a lot longer than you think, and here’s a little history for you...

The rumors are true. Mountain Dew was born way back in the hills of Tennessee in the 1940s. The name Mountain Dew was first trademarked by two brothers, Barney and Ally Hartman, who ran a bottling plant in Knoxville. The Hartman’s Mountain Dew, however, was a lemon-lime drink used as a mixer with whiskey.

And I you want to know more and wish to pay homage…please visit the ever so cool website: mountaindew.com Man after looking at the web page I really am thirsty for a dew….

....booooooop.....is this thing on....this is a test of the emergency picture network.......if there was some thing going on we would folloow this picture with instruction.....boooooop....this is only a test....... 

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE...THE WORLD ACCORDING TO US IS GOING LIVE TODAY WITH PICTURES!!!!!

I FINALLY GOT OFF MY BUTT, I KNOW YOU SAYING "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???" WELL SINCE THE LAST TIME MY COMPUTER GOT SICK I HAD NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM THE ENABLES US TO SHARE OUR LOVILY PHOTOS WITHE THE WORLD!!!

Well, now that's taken in care of we the K-c's can share all kinds fun and frolicing with you and anyone else that happens to fall into our bizzare little blog!!!

And to celebrate the launch of our awesome new and improved blog, we thought we would share some exciting photo's that i know you have been waiting to see!!!! Check them out!!!

.....HOT OFF THE PRESS FOLKS.... THE INTERNET DEBUT OF THE K-C'S NEW MODE OF COOL TRANSPORTATION!!! TADAHH...WE HAVE NAMED IT THE ROLLER SKATE!!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK???? 

HERE'S THE K-C'S WITH THEIR SHINY NEW SILVER SCION XB!!!!! WE EVEN WASHED TODAY!!!  

I'm a slacker!!!!

I know i have not been kepting up with blogging. It's a crazy time of year...season!!!!
that's right the time of year we have a million people to feed, screaming kids every where, and folks staying out in the sun to long and passing out!!! Yes season is here offically. That's the world i'm working in right now!!!! i know what your asking what else is going on? Well truthfully...not much. if you don't know by now at this time of year...my social life is part of the all inclusive package I call work. It's crazy at this time of the year, after six 10 hour shifts you tend to get a little silly...finally i'm off today, i think it's tuesday? I sometimes get confused... all my days run together. Then wednesday back to the funny farm where I'll do four more days than off again on sunday. I can't wait to see what's in next weeks bag of surprises!!! Stop the insanity.....

Moving...Yuck!!!

Well in a couple of months we are moving. i hate it, it's always so much work. I like living in a new place, we can change stuff around, that's always fun! The hard part this time is that we are going from a very large place to somewhere that's quit a bit smaller. I guess we will have to get rid of some stuff. All i have to say about that...have you been in our bedroom closet lately? It's kinda scary. #1 it's very big and it is very full. I excercise caution when entering...it's like the bermuda triange a bit!!! The funny part about that it's not an exageration...really i'm serious. the apartment complex that we live in is doing a lot of renovations... if we could get them to pull up a dumpster...right below the balcony...??? That a great idea...stay tuned for more excitement!!!!! The world according to the k-c's is about to explode!!!!!

hello all !!!

I hope your tuning in.... I hope you didn't forget about our little blog?

Today at work one of the women i work with asked me how i new the words to so many songs. We listen to the radio as we prep food every afternoon. I thought about it for a sec. .... It funny how i forget so many important things but the silly things are right at the tip of my tongue.

The earth may spin faster on its axis due to deforestation. Just as a figure skater's rate of spin increases when the arms are brought in close to the body, the cutting of tall trees may cause our planet to spin dangerously fast... I think that's a pretty good theory... Don't U? or how ,bout this folks... Laura's law: You can't fall off the floor. I can hear you saying hmmmmm. An I respect that totally.

Well it's time for me to make with the zzzz's...

Were back from our little hiatus... from our little blog...!!!

Hopefully you all didn't forget about us????
Here's a little info on one of our families favorite candy...

Topic of the day....did you know???

When were "M&M's"® Chocolate Candies introduced?

"M&M's"® Plain Chocolate Candies were first introduced to the general public in 1941 and the candies earned a solid reputation from American GIs serving in World War II who first enjoyed the candies in their food rations. "M&M's"® Plain Chocolate Candies were an excellent choice for the military since they were a convenient snack that traveled well in any climate and were packaged in paper tubes. The packaging changed from a paper tube to the characteristic brown packaging known today. In the summer of 2000 it was decided that "M&M's"® Plain Chocolate Candies were too good to be called "Plain" and therefore the packaging name was changed to "M&M's"® Milk Chocolate Candies.

They are simply delicious....it's amazing how such a simple candy...is so good!!
How many "M&M's"® are consumed and produced each day?

As you can imagine, there are millions of "M&M's"® Chocolate Candies made every day as well as consumed by our valued consumers. There are over 400 million produced each day and "M&M's"® Chocolate Candies are made all over the world, however, in the U.S. they are made in New Jersey and Tennessee.

Here's another thought... I wonder how much of thoughs, are consumed by my family????

....I was skimming some articles online...

WEEK OF APRIL 3, 2005
LEAD STORY
Defensive back Randall Gay wore a New England Patriots jersey as a member of this year's Super Bowl-winning team, but when one of his former college professors tried to order a personalized jersey in tribute to Gay in mid-February, she was turned down. The National Football League's official online merchandiser, NFLshop.com, refused to imprint "Gay" on the back of a Patriots jersey because it was a "naughty" word, one of 1,159 the shop has banned. (Two weeks later, after the Web site Outsports.com picked up the story, the word was removed from the list.) [Times-Picayune (New Orleans), 3-3-05]

Can you believe in this day and age???? It's the dudes name...

Too much work,
and no vacation,
Deserves at least a small libation.
So hail! my friends, and raise your glasses;
Work's the curse of the drinking classes.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Hello all… I made through another rough Holiday. Easter and the the golf tournament just happened to land at the same time. The least they could do is shift the golf tournament, because you can’t move Easter. Well thank goodness it is over, so were in the middle of another lovely week. You are saying middle? That’s right. Were winding up for a busy weekend, pretty much like most weekends. And I am so excited…ok that was a little sarcasm. But enough of that silly talk about work…

A few interesting points….
Sometimes I think I have to much time on my hands..

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. (Hardly seems worth it.)

If you passed gas consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb. (Now that's more like it!)

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet. (O.M.G.!)

A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Creepy)

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour. (Do not try this at home...maybe at work.)

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. (30 minutes...can you imagine??)

The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.

Butterflies taste with their feet. (Something I never wanted to know.)

Elephants are the only animal that cannot jump. (OK, so that would be a good thing....)

A cat's urine glows under a black light. (I wonder who was paid to figure that out?)

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. (I know some people like that.)

Starfish have no brains. (I know some people like that too.)

Polar bears are left-handed. (Who knew? Who cares!)

So that my list of useless facts..I hope you enjoyed them!!!!

How you doin’ ? Step in my world for a sec….

I know I have been neglecting my blog duties. I been sucked in to the wonderful world of work. U know being a culinary genius takes a lot of energy. Not really, the food part is very easy, the creative process and all. The part that kicks my butt is running around, you know the physical labor part and all. Yuck! Oh well in my field it’s like a package deal. So all the shows on TV about how the world of professional kitchens are not very true... Or in movies when they are going through a kitchen and the chef’s are humming (la la la) and there’s classical music playing. What I think the funniest part of all that is, not one person has a bit of sauce or signs of working on there clothes. Trust me even in the world of fancy stuff… chefs get food on them. I know I do!!! Enough about work ...

Kids do you know what time it is???? Thats right time for useless food triva facts...Food trivia yes i love it I can never get enough of this stuff..

Some things are not what they seem. Did you know the following facts?

Ten gallon hats only hold about 6 pints. I guess ten gallons sounds better..i don't know?

Refried beans aren't really what they seem. Although their name seems like a reasonable translation of Spanish frijoles refritos, the fact is that these beans aren't fried twice. In Spanish, refritos literally means "well-fried," not "re-fried."

The hamburger was invented in 1900 by Louis Lassen. He ground beef, broiled it, and served it between two pieces of toast. I wonder who decided to put all the goodies on them?

The pound cake got its name from the pound of butter it contained. I thought it was if you ate to much it would make you gain a pound...

The world's costliest coffee, at $130 a pound , is called Kopi Luwak. It is in the droppings of a type of marsupial that eats only the very best coffee beans. Plantation workers track them and scoop their precious poop. They say it tastes really good..?

To determine the percentage of alcohol in a bottle of liquor divide the proof by two.

Spilling salt considered good luck in Japan. Interesting...

The most recognized smell in the world is coffee.

About 8 percent of the weight in a box of corn flakes is corn.

Well I hope you enjoyed another list of useless food info...see ya next time...

My new Boss...

So last week the new executive chef started. He's a middle aged Austrian Guy. He seems to be okay so far. In fact I'm slowly finding out about his dry sense of humor.. I have to congradulate myself...I think i was the first one to get him to crack a smile....I can hear you saying...what???? Well he's kinda of serious looking all the time. So me and my kitchen partner in crime decided the first task we were going to take on was to get the guy to smile. But who can say that i don't bring a smile to their face. I don't want to toot my own horn, but i am the queen of zany!!!

From Reuters News Service:Canada's Ottawa Citizen newspaper
recently printed a recipe for Chanterelle Lemon Pasta in its food section, calling for one cup of Chanterelle mushrooms. They even provided a helpful photograph so amateur mushroom hounds could find their own growing in the wild. Unfortunately, the photograph instead showed Destroying Angels, which are deadly when eaten.(oops that could really suck) So do yourself a favor don't go out picking mushrooms in your yard!!!)

TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY* National Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day( e-mail me if you ever ate oatmeal-nut waffles)

1791 Samuel Mulliken of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania received a patent for a machine to thresh corn and grain.

1853 Self rising flour was supposedly invented by Henry Jones of Bristol.(Dates vary, 1845, 1852 and 1853).

1903 Lawrence Welk, champagne music-maker, was born.

1947 Mark Stein of the music group 'Vanilla Fudge' was born


Question of the week: What the difference between Japanese and chinease chop stick???

I f you wanna know...well I tell later...so stay tuned..

I gotta go catch some ZZZZ's!!!!

During National Nutrition Month® 2005 and Beyond: Losing or Managing Weight Is All about Calories In, Calories Out
-->
Diet trends often focus on one food or one nutrient, promising it will be the magic bullet for losing weight and keeping it off forever. But when registered dietitians analyze a weight-loss plan, invariably it turns out that the key is reducing your intake of calories.

“There is no panacea for weight control,” says registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesperson Cathy Nonas. “It’s all about the calories you put into your body versus the calories you burn. Eat a balanced diet with mostly fruits, vegetables and whole grains as your base. Accompany this with daily physical activity to help your body burn those calories so you can maintain a healthier weight.”

Nonas adds: “Budget yourself, just like you would your finances. If you overspent in the calorie department one day, try to make up for it in the exercise department the next. Over time, if you save up calories, you are able to have that once-in-a-while splurge and not feel like you’ve blown your calorie budget.”
The American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food and Nutrition Guide provides great calorie-burning activities to do per hour by body weight:
Activity
Calories for 120 pounds
Calories for 170 pounds
Basketball
330
460
Bicycling (10 mph)
220
310
Bowling
165
230
Hiking
330
460
Horseback riding
220
310
Jogging
385
540
Mowing lawn
300
425
Running (10 mph)
880
1,230
Swimming
330
460
Walking briskly
220
310
Weight training
165
230

With nearly 70,000 members, the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition and well-being.
National Nutrition Month®, created in 1973 and celebrated each March, helps promote healthful eating and provides consumers with practical nutrition guidance.

TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY

* National Tortilla Chip Day*

Swamp Cabbage Festival
Did you Know????
The Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto) is native to the Southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean. Also known as Cabbage palm and Swamp Cabbage. This is the plant that hearts of palm are obtained from. The tender hearts of the terminal bud or young leaf shoots. Hearts of palm have many layers (similar to leeks), and are a pale ivory color, with a very mild nutty flavor. They are used mostly in salads. The state tree of South Carolina is the Cabbage palmetto, and is also on the state flag.
Enough of that serious stuff>>>>Silly thoughts to bring a chuckle to your day!!

Buffalo meat is getting more popular. I suppose soon we can expect cold cuts made from it -- possibly called "buffaloney." (okay i didn't come up with that by myself, it was an old one)

On a diet? Try a rice cake? The only way you know you're eating something is when you open your mouth to talk, stuff floats out. I think i would rather eat carrot sticks!!

Or worse yet fast food... It's called "fast" food because you're supposed to eat it really fast. Otherwide, you might actually taste it.

The big problem with "fast" food is that it slows down when it hits your stomach. And it just parks there--and lets the fat have time to get off and apply for citizenship.

I really do hate to cook, whenI wake up in the morning. For breakfast I would be happy eating a tub of Cool Whip. It even goes well with coffee. Thank goodness for my coffee, sometimes I think that without it I would rarely make it to work. If I could just move the coffee pot into the bedroom....hmmm. That's the best idea so far...today!!!

well cheeros, I gotta get to bed...so i can do it again ....

Water yourself
Water, water, everywhere - but do we have to drink it all?

Only 3% of the world's water is drinkable. The rest is either contaminated, or seawater, or both.
In terms of volume, 75% of your bone is made up of water. Water also figures large in terms of body tissue. It plays a vital role in supplying oxygen to cells, as well as temperature regulation, waste removal and the everyday running of all major organs.

You can go about four weeks without food, but only three days without water.
For maximum health, experts reckon you should drink approximately two litres of water (eight glasses) each day. Coffee and booze don't count, because both have a diuretic effect on the body. Caffeine and alcohol both serve to squeeze water from cells, which means you lose more fluid than you take on board.

If you wait until you're thirsty before you reach for that glass, then you're already dehydrated and the damage is done.

When the body is dehydrated, it often sends out signals that are misread as hunger pangs. Mild dehydration actually slows down body metabolism, so you're losing out on two counts if you let your water intake slip.

A little dehydration can leave you feeling tired as well as messing with your short-term memory. Start to feel a bit parched, and simple mental tasks could seem like a massive Jedi mind challenge.

It's advisable for pregnant women to increase their daily water intake to meet the needs of the developing foetus. Mothers who breastfeed should also keep spinning the cold tap to replace fluid used in milk production.

So drink as much water as you can. You really can't drink to much!! An on top of that your body will thank.. Cheers to happy drinking! Of coarse i'm talking about water!!

TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY*

National Chocolate Mint Day
1847
The Donner Party is rescued after being snowbound in the Sierra Nevadas. Almost half of the original 87 members died, and some of the survivors seemed to be well fed considering the ordeal they went through. Cannibalism itself is not a crime, and no charges were ever brought.

1906
Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company (W.K. Kellogg Company) was founded by Will Keith Kellogg to manufacture breakfast cereals (cornflakes).

1913 Cracker Jack began to put prizes in each box.

1985 Cherry Coke was introduced. Actually, soda fountains (remember them?) had been making them for decades.

1999
The world's largest strawberry shortcake was created in McCall Park, Plant City, Florida, the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. The city holds the Guinness record for the world's largest strawberry shortcake, over 6,000 pounds.

LOST IN THE TRANSLATION
The Dairy Association's huge success with the campaign "Got Milk?" prompted them to expand advertising to Mexico. It was soon brought to their attention the Spanish translation read "Are you lactating?"Coors put its slogan, "Turn It Loose," into Spanish, where it was read as "Suffer From Diarrhea."When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the labels of what's inside, since many people can't read.Pepsi's "Come Alive With the Pepsi Generation" translated into "Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back From the Grave" in Chinese.The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as "Kekoukela", meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax", depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent "kokou kole", translating into "happiness in the mouth."Frank Perdue's chicken slogan, "It takes a strong man to make a tender chicken" was translated into Spanish as "it takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate."

Pretty interesting stuff!!! Things that make you go hmmmm....

For Chocolate Lovers
-->-->
February 14, 2005


Aside from cupids, hearts and flowers, one thing is synonymous with Valentine’s Day. Chocolate.
Among South American tribes, chocolate was considered a food of the gods. For many people it remains just that. However, chocolate does contain fat and a number of calories.
The fat in chocolate is a combination of saturated and unsaturated fat and does not appear to increase blood cholesterol levels. A serving of chocolate contains about as much caffeine as one cup of decaffeinated coffee.
Research shows that chocolate contains antioxidants that may help prevent cholesterol from sticking to artery walls, reducing your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Chocolate also contains flavonoids, which are the same compounds that give red wine and tea their disease-preventing benefits. The darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants and flavonoids it contains.
Don’t forget the amount of chocolate you eat can make a difference in your calorie intake, so enjoy it in moderation.
Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team


Everyone have a delightful day!!!!

It's not just a dessert, it's a lifestyle...

That’s right folks were talking about:

flan - n.

1. A tart with a filling of custard, fruit, or cheese.

2. A custard that is baked in a caramel-lined mold and served chilled with the caramel side up.

(pronounced "flon" or "flawn")

For some reason at work we get the oddest food ideas. I think sometimes it’s to keep our minds off whats really going on. It’s just a minor distraction…Today is my Bosses last day so this is a little tribute to the sense of humor he brought into our kitchen. It’s been great Chef D. L. , thanks for all the practical jokes and pulling my leg. I don’t know how you did it every time…and I always fell for it…peace out!!!

Love Poem Flan Style

by Anonymous (They were probably too embarrassed to admit they wrote this)

Roses are red,

Flan is yellow

Sugar is sweet

Won't you be my fellow?

Flan

i love flan, its tastes the best,
i love it so much i have a flan fest.
flan, o flan! you are so cool,
just thinking of you makes me drool

Alternative Uses for Flan

Flan has so much potential that it is a shame it has been stereotyped as a dessert for so long. Never again! It's time to bring flan back into the mainstream. Here are a few suggestions for other ways to harness the power of flan.

Flan-iture

Move over inflatable furniture! Flan-iture is all the rage in Paris, so it can't be long before the craze hits the US. Be the first on your block to own the entire flan collection, including a sofa, loveseat, end table and rug.

---

The Sounds of Flan

Do you have trouble relaxing? Do your hard days at work make it hard to sleep at night? Your problems are solved with the Sounds of Flan. This six disc set releases your inner flan, helping you relax. The sounds on these discs are made from real flan, no imitations here. The discs include sounds of wild flan in nature, underwater flan, and performances by the Flan Symphony Orchestra.

Flantact Lenses

Do you find it hard to look at the world through your own dreary eyes? Wouldn't life be much more fun if everything looked like flan?!

Now, ladies and gentlemen, you too can step into the eyes of Señor Flan and Flanita (I would say shoes, but while the metaphor would make more sense, it would be inaccurate since these are flantact lenses, not flan sneakers). Ok, so really that made no sense, can we forget that last marketing ploy and just say that you're completely uncool if you don't have flantact lenses. Everyone is doing it!!

Okay it's true... My ideas get more bizzarre everyday!!! I'm sure if I make myself laugh or if I am totally confused???? Okay it is funny, you can't deny it... So i'm nuts..or should i sprinkle nuts on my FLAN. Hold on let me ask Senor Flan and Flanita!!!!! There looking at me like I'm crazy... just like you are thinking. I think it's past my bed time, don't you...

Flan is seriously under-represented on the world wide web. We here are trying to change that, little by little. So please, pass the magic of flan on to your friends

Today is National Bagel and Lox Day

So another fat tuesday has come and gone...so in celebration of Mardi Gras


YOU MIGHT BE A CAJUN IF...
(This was forwarded to me at chef net by Fred)

YOU MIGHT BE A CAJUN IF:.....
· Watching "Wild Kingdom" inspires you to write a cookbook.
· You won't eat a lobster because you think it's a crawfish on steroids.
· You take a bite of 5-alarm Texas chili and reach for some Tabasco.
· You pass up a chance to meet the president to go to the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge.
· Your children's favorite bedtime story begins with, "First you make a roux..."
· You're asked in school to name the four seasons and you reply, "Onyons, celery, bell peppers, and garlic."
· You think the "Fab Four" are "Paul Prudhomme, John Folse, Justin Wilson, and A.J. Smith".
· You let your black coffee cool and find it has gelled.
· You describe a complete breakfast as some deer sausage, grits and a yard of boudin.
· None of your favorite vacation spots are north of Abbeville.
· You sit down to eat boiled crawfish and someone says, "Don't eat the dead ones" and you know what they mean.
· You refer to Louisiana winters as "gumbo weather"
· You gave up Tabasco for Lent.
· You learned bourre' the hard way - holding yourself upright in the crib.
· You don't know the real names of your close friends - only their nicknames.
· You can look at a rice field and can tell how much gravy it'll take for that much rice.
· Your high school's rendition of the national anthem begins with, "Jambalaya, crawfish pie, filet gumbo..."
· You stand up when they play "Jolie Blon."
· You consider Breaux Bridge the state capitol.
· You think the Mason-Dixon line is at Bunkie.


Culinary quiz for Wed:

1) What do basil, marjoram, oregano, sage and rosemary have in common?
2) What are the only two food preferences humans are born with?
3) What are the top 3 'farmed' fish crops in the U.S.?

ANSWERS
1) They are all in the mint family.
2) Humans only have two basic food preferences that we are born with; a liking for sweet foods, and a dislike for bitter foods. All other preferences are learned, either culturally or by personal experience which may cause us to associate certain tastes or foods with unpleasant or pleasant moments. Medical disorders may also cause a craving or revulsion for certain foods.
3) Catfish is the largest 'crop', followed by crawfish and the third largest 'crop' is rainbow trout.

So I hope this has been humorous for you 'cause it has been for me..and maybe a little informative???

Update From Super game central!!!!

Can I say my feet are doing most of the talking. They are barking!!! Is it Monday yet? Another 12 hour day has gone by, thank goodness it’s one day closer to being over, woo hoo! Greg and I are beat, we been working 12- 18 hour days everyday since this past Wednesday. It’s been a long week, and it’s coming to a close after one more day! So if anyone is trying to get a hold of us, we will get back to you early next week. We didn’t forget about you…we promise. Creating food for the masses can be time consuming.

TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY* National Frozen Yogurt Day* Feast of St. Amand, patron of bartenders, brewers, vintners. (Perfect day, for superbowl Sunday, I’m sure there many people will help celebrate this one!!!)


Well, we chat more next week…..because we’re plum tuckered out right now. I’m going to hit the hey…TOODLES!!!

FEBRUARY 3 National Carrot Cake Day
Cookies Anyone???

This week the big football game is in J-ville. Greg working down at the stadium on the kitchen crew through the rest of the week, to make a little extra money. Here’s an interesting fact: they are baking 14,000 cookies a day. What’s more interesting, they are all homemade, you know from scratch. WOW!! I’m impressed. So if any one gets down to the stadium..make sure to a cookie.

The origin of Cookies: Two issues to deal with here. The word and the food. The food, originated in Rome sometime around the 3rd century B.C., and it was called 'bis coctum' meaning twice baked.
The Roman 'bis coctum' was not sweet, it had no sugar added. 'Bis coctum' is the origin of the word 'biscuit,' which is a flakey quick bread in the U.S., but in England a biscuit is what in the U.S. would be called a cookie or cracker.
Small sweet cakes that are similar to cookies probably originated around India or Persia around the 7th century, possibly because that's where sugar cultivation started.

The origin of the word:
Sugar was added by the Dutch and they called it 'koekje', meaning little cake. The Dutch took them to America in the 18th century and the word became 'cookie.'

Why is it traditional to make fork marks on Peanut Butter Cookies?
Most recipes for peanut butter cookies call the the dough to be mixed with a fork, and made into balls that are then flattened with the fork.My guess is that the practice just evolved from the nature of the dough, and that the easiest way to make the cookies was to roll the dough into balls and flatten the balls with the fork, leaving fork marks. The criss-cross would follow because it is a little creative and artistic.Also, consider that peanut allergies are fairly common, and the distinctive markings make peanut butter cookies easily identifiable, giving further reason for the tradition to be continued.

So that’s that’s the skinny on cookies!!! I bet you didn’t know all that! The marks on the peanut butter cookies, we really don’t know it’s really just a guess. So who ever invented they thanks because I love them.

So I read a book and it made the wheels in my head turn.

It’s funny sit back and think things over. Not the ha haa type of funny but more the look how far I’ve come. Or even pondering where am I’m I going and how am I going to get there. Or even where am I going? Am I doing things the right way? What is the right way? Do I believe in karma, and if so…well this what I think!!!

"IT'S MY KARMA"
One of the most messed views of karma is the idea that nothing can be done about it. No matter how terrible our situation , there is always something we can do, even if it's just dealing with it as best we can with a patient smile, a good attitude and a loving heart. (Maybe a good bit of humor ) The time will come when we will be through with this stretch of the hard road,( it may be a long road, but that’s why there is patience) and it's best to come out of it with no bitterness. Remember, no one has done this to me, it is a result of my own actions, thoughts or words. In patience I can and will overcome it and rise again to an even greater level than before. Again, keep in mind that in the worst situation often lies the greatest opportunity…



THAT'S JUST AN OPINION..BUT i THINK ITS WISE IN SOME WAYS!!

Lesson of the day read a good book and you will never know what comes to your mind.
The book I read was a Culinary/murder mystery.

So I read a book and it made the wheels in my head turn.

It’s funny sit back and think things over. Not the ha haa type of funny but more the look how far I’ve come. Or even pondering where am I’m I going and how am I going to get there. Or even where am I going? Am I doing things the right way? What is the right way? Do I believe in karma, and if so…well this what I think!!!

"IT'S MY KARMA"
One of the most messed views of karma is the idea that nothing can be done about it. No matter how terrible our situation , there is always something we can do, even if it's just dealing with it as best we can with a patient smile, a good attitude and a loving heart. (Maybe a good bit of humor ) The time will come when we will be through with this stretch of the hard road,( it may be a long road, but that’s why there is patience) and it's best to come out of it with no bitterness. Remember, no one has done this to me, it is a result of my own actions, thoughts or words. In patience I can and will overcome it and rise again to an even greater level than before. Again, keep in mind that in the worst situation often lies the greatest opportunity…



THAT'S JUST AN OPINION..BUT i THINK ITS WISE IN SOME WAYS!!

Lesson of the day read a good book and you will never know what comes to your mind.
The book I read was a Culinary/murder mystery.

TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY

* National Corn Chip Day*
UK: National Salt Awareness Day

1878 The first patent for a glass milk container was issued to George Lester.

1924 Carl R. Taylor of Cleveland, patented the first U.S. ice cream cone rolling machine.

1978 Sweden banned aerosol cans. No more Reddi-Wip!

2004 A 60 ton, 56 foot long sperm whale exploded on a busy street in Tainan, Taiwan. A buildup of gas from internal decay caused the explosion. Researchers were taking the whale by truck to the National Cheng Kung University for a necropsy. The whale had beached itself and died on January 17. No one was injured in the explosion, but blood and entrails showered cars and shops, and traffic was held up for several hours while the mess was cleaned up.

DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia

Horehound, Marrubium vulgare, is a member or the mint family native to Eurasia. A bitter, aromatic herb that has been used as a cough remedy for thousands of years, horehound is said to take its name from Horus (son of Osiris and Isis) the Egyptian god of the sun. Juice extracted from the leaves is used to flavor liqueurs, candy, cough drops and syrups, and horehound honey used to be as popular as horehound candy.

CULINARY QUIZ
1) 30 years ago large this aquatic vertebrate might sell for a penny a pound for catfood, if it sold at all. Today, that same animal will sell for up to $50 per pound (that's $50,000 for a one!), mainly due to the popularity of two Asian food specialities. Name this animal and the Asian food specialties.

2) In the early 20th century this was considered a disgusting food by the British. Escoffier, while chef at the Carlton Hotel in London, had them accepted by no other than the Price of Wales by listing them on the menu as 'cuisses de nymphes aurore', or legs of the dawn nymphs. What is the common name of this food?

3) How did the alligator pear get its name and what is the other common name for it?

4) How much feed does it take to produce a dozen eggs?

5) What country has more varieties of crabs than anywhere else in the world?

6) What herb is used in the production of imitation maple syrup, rum and butterscotch flavors?

7) What percentage of a lemon is juice?

8) How many pounds of mustard are consumed in the world each year?

9) The East Coast and West Coast of the U.S. have differing tastes in peanut butter. What are their preferences?

10) What percentage of all pumpkins are sold for food?

answers: i have to much time on my hands:
1) Atlantic bluefin tuna (250 to over 1,000 pounds). Sushi and sashimi.
2) Frog's legs.
3) Alligator pear is another name for the avocado, so named because the trees grow in areas infested with alligators, or because their skin is rough like an alligator’s. Take your pick.
4) It takes about 4 1/2 pounds of feed to produce a dozen eggs.
5) The United States.
6) Fenugreek.
7) Lemons contain 30 to 45 percent juice depending on variety, climate, maturity when harvested, and storage conditions.
8) Over 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed worldwide each year.
9) Creamy peanut butter is prefered on the East Coast, Chunky on the West Coast.
10) 99% of all pumpkins are sold for decorations, Only 1% are sold for food.

well i hope you found this stuff interesting...it was worth chewing on for me...heheh no pun intended!!!

Soooo Back to Work...ack!!!

Well today was my second day back to work after being sick last week with a sinus infection...boy did that stink (not really..I couldn't smell a thing). I really felt tired by the end of today, I hadn't worked for seven days. Then i had to come back.. and stand for 9 hours 2 days in a row.. I admit i must be feeling better. I feel a wave of silliness coming through!!!

THE STRAIGHT DOPE ON FOOD, HEALTH AND EXERCISE

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats and that's it. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable slop

Q: Is beer or wine bad for me?
A: Look, it goes to the earlier point about fruits and vegetables. As we all know, scientists divide everything in the world into three categories: animal, mineral, and vegetable. We all know that beer and wine are not animal, and they are not on the periodic table of elements, so that only leaves one thing, right? My advice: Have a burger and a beer and enjoy your liquid vegetables

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain-No Pain.

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: You're not listening. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

any questions...believe me I have some great answers for you...my advice to you is. if you want to ask me a question...be ready for a very well thought out answer...hehehehe..

Chicken soup anyone???

Yes, i've been sick this week, and last week as well. I have not been to work since last sat. , so i am getting rid of a pretty nasty sinus infection. My boss called this morning to check up on me, to see if I was still alive. I'm not the type who gets sick very often, but when i due it is pretty nasty. I was nice of my body to wait till it was slow at work, so i would really miss anything. Speaking of chicken soup makes me think of this....

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A Noodle by Any Other Name
The terms pasta, macaroni and noodles are often used interchangeably. But they are not the same thing. (Really no joke!) Who would think that such a simple dish could be so complicated? It's really not that complicated.... OK, I can’t resist saying it. It’s time to use your noodle.

Pasta is the general term for the wheat product derived from putting together semolina flour with liquid, usually water and/or eggs. Use water and you have macaroni, use eggs and you have noodles. (pretty simple!!!) Semolina flour, made from durum wheat, is the flour of choice because of its high protein content. This provides the pasta with structure so it will maintain its integrity during fabrication and cooking. It is resistant to water absorption, which renders it ideal for cooking pasta al dente, an Italian phrase translated as “to the tooth.” It means that the finished pasta will have some resistance to the bite and not be overly soft.

Oh, and by the way, Marco Polo did not introduce pasta to Italy. Historical evidence reveals that pasta was being made in Italy in the 11th century, 200 years before Marco Polo. The earliest known evidence of pasta production goes back to about 1000 B.C. in central Asia. Pasta is available in fresh and dried forms. (here's a little tid bit...china invented a ton of stuff...they been around for a really long time) While the dried, if left in a cool, dark place can last indefinitely; fresh pasta must be refrigerated and used within a few days. Fresh pasta also cooks much quicker than its dried counterpart. Some folks add oil to the pasta water, believing that it will prevent the pasta from sticking. This is an absolute waste of time. Oil and water are chemically incompatible. The oil floats to the surface, thus preventing any mingling with the pasta. Neither does salt prevent sticking. Salt is added to the water to season the pasta. What prevents sticking is placing the pasta in already boiling water, not overcrowding the pot, and stirring, particularly at the early stages of cooking.

Lastly, there is no reason to rinse your pasta after cooking. People who practice this usually harbor irrational beliefs about “starch.” Starch is nothing more than carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are not evil and rinsing the pasta will reduce them only minimally. Most of the carbohydrate is in the pasta. Simply draining it removes most of whatever carbohydrate has leeched out during cooking. Rinsing only serves to un-season your pasta. There are countless shapes and sizes of pasta and even more sauces that can accompany it. Here are is a recipe.
I perfer whole wheat pasta ...if you haven't tried it you should, a serving of pasta is 1/2 cup cooked!!! So if you plan on having a big bowl of pasta for dinner don't over do your complex carbs during the day....unless you have a physical day tomarrow

PASTA PROVENCAL
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 batch scallions, green and white parts chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped into a medium
dice4 cloves garlic,
chopped2 large button mushrooms,
chopped 4 plum tomatoes,
1 can tomato paste
2 cans or 28 ounces chicken broth
basil and parsley, chopped,
to taste salt and pepper to taste
1 lb angel hair
the oil in a large saucepan and add the scallions and mushrooms. Sauté for a few minutes and then add the squash. As soon as it softens add the garlic and sauté one or to minutes more. Add chicken broth, tomatoes and half of the tomato paste. Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. You may not need all the paste. This sauce is supposed to be light so check the consistency as it’s simmering, adding more paste if necessary. Add the herbs one minute before the sauce is done cooking. Add salt and pepper to taste. Since this is a light sauce, a delicate pasta like angel hair is best. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese. Yummy!!!

Yes there's lots of humor and tasty recipes coming your way so I hope your ready!!! I must be feeling better....

Did someone say soup???

It’s still chilli out side (no pun intended) , and will be for some time. The other day I was talking to my Mom on the the phone. And she mentioned that that she had black bean soup the other day and it was quite delicious. She wanted to know if I had a recipe, of course I do!!!! Let me search my file…it’s between my ears you know? I have a couple of choices so get your printer warmed up and your soup pot ready..

Black Bean and Salsa Soup (vegeheads) no meat
(this is so easy for a quick last minute dinner)


INGREDIENTS:
· 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
· 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
· 1 cup chunky salsa
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 4 tablespoons sour cream
· 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion ( or chives or een diced white onion)

DIRECTIONS:
1. In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth salsa and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
2. Heat the bean mixture in a medium saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated. To serve, ladle soup into 4 individual bowls and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream, and 1/2 teaspoon green onion.

Black BeanMeaty 'Cuban

INGREDIENTS:
· 2 cans black beans
· 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch strips
· 4 (3.5 ounce) links sweet Italian sausage, or spicy
· 4 bay leaves
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 2 onions, chopped
· 3 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 tablespoon sherry or dry red wine, or white
· 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large pot over med heat, combine the beans, chicken, sausage, bay leaves, cumin, onion, garlic and sherry. Add enough water to cover all ingredients.
2. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. . Add tomato paste to soup and stir until dissolved. Salt and pepper to tasteCover and simmer .about 30 min. salt always at the end!!! it reduces and may become to salty.


Black Bean Vegetable Soup with bacon

Half of the black beans in this spicy soup are pureed with tomatoes, the other half are simmered with carrots, onion and kernels of corn." Original recipe yield: 6 - 8 servings

INGREDIENTS:
· 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
· 1 onion, chopped
2-3 slices of bacon chopped, or a ham bone
· 1 clove garlic, minced
· 2 carrots, chopped
· 2 teaspoons chili powder
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 4 cups vegetable stock ( or chicken stock)
· 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
· 1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel corn
· 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
· 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
DIRECTIONS:
1.In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook bacon, onion, garlic, and carrots, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until onion is softened. Add chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add stock, 1 can of the beans, corn, and pepper; bring to boil.
2. Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, puree together tomatoes and remaining can of beans; add to pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

So try them out...the recipes are so easy a yummy, you won't be disappointed. It winter so warm yourself and your family with a hot bowl of soup. I think up and coming days I talk about the traditions of soup and high light a few of my favorite soup recipes as we wonder through our winter wonder land. And yes it's been cold here in jax...Karen, joe, and greg have a had to scrape the ice off there windshields quite a few times this year already. Well that's all I know..until next time...

What have I been up to???

Well today I had the day off…thank goodness. I have been a little bit under the weather. And working in a refridgerated kitchen is not my idea of fun…on top of that we had a super nasty nor easter blow in. But I woke up today feeling much better!!!

My bro-in-law to be’s family is in town, so we been enjoying there company. This afternoon the ladies took a little trip to world golf village and went a bridal show. It was fun, and very informative to meet some of the local vendors. We saw some good ideas and we also so some pretty ugly ones too!!! Sis Karen won a few good prizes, and it was well worth the admission. Surprise to me, there were quite a few guys there and boy did they look like fish out of water!!! So guys out there…just go fishing instead…trust me!!! We saw so dresses, and most were quit unattractive. After all that we headed back home and went to grab some dinner. So that’s a wrap folks ….have a lovely day.

A Clean kitchen is a Happy Kitchen!!!

I returned to work today after my little time off. Went in and prepared for a small party, then cleaned. It’s odd to say that there’s no better feeling than walking into a spotless kitchen where the stainless steel is sparking after being polished. It’s relaxing not to have to run around to serve a bunch of people. So people at work gripe about our after holiday deep cleaning, but I don’t mind. Maybe it will teach them to be a little less messy?? There’s always hope.

What’s cool about JANUARY 7
National Tempura Day---Yummy !!!if you don't know what tempura is i'll explain later.
1896 The Fannie Farmer Cookbook is published.1901 Alfred Packer is released from prison. He served 18 years for cannibalism after being stranded in the Rocky Mountains. (Actually he was convicted of murder, since cannibalism was not against the law).Gross!!!1958 Ant Farms go on sale. Milton Levine had the idea at a July 4th family picnic. I wonder if he had dreams of fencing them in so they would not bother him at picnics?

DUMB FOOD LAWS
Arizona: It is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water.
Illinois: A law forbids eating in a place that is on fire.
Kentucky: By law, anyone who has been drinking is "sober" until he or she "cannot hold onto the ground."
Washington: All lollipops are banned.
Florida: It is illegal to sell peanuts after sundown on Wednesday.
Alabama: Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death.

As you can see i have to much time on my hands, and i'm up to late as usual. The internet is like a time warp. I sit dow at 12 and the next time i look up at the clock it's way later.
Well that’s all folks…and have shiny happy kitchen kind of DAY!!!

I’m Back in Jax

That’s right folks!!! If you didn’t know already I went on holiday (that’s what the Europeans call vacation) I’m sure you already knew that. I took a little trip to the west coast, and it was lovely. Thanks for all the fun we had the last couple of days, it just wasn’t long enough. It seems like no matter how long or short my vacation is I’m never ready to go back to the old grind…oh well

Mom thanks for not taking down the Christmas tree and decorations, I really enjoyed seeing them since it’s been a number of years since I have been home around the holidays!!!

TODAY’S QUOTE“Good cooking does not depend on whether the dish is large or small, expensive or economical. If one has the art, then a piece of celery or salted cabbage can be made into a marvelous delicacy; whereas if one has not the art, not all the greatest delicacies and rarities of land, sea or sky are of any avail.”Yuan Mei

Check this out below!!!

USA: KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell offering gym membership

05 Jan 2005

Source: just-food.com


Fastfood subsidiaries of Yum! Brands are offering free gym membership to customers who request it during the next four weeks.

Fastfood establishments have for some time been under pressure to show that they can be part of the solution to the obesity time bomb and not only part of the problem. The most conventional response has been to increase the number of better-for-you options on the menu, although some companies have also taken measures to encourage customers to take exercise. McDonald’s, for example, gave away pedometers in its UK restaurants to customers who purchased the Go Active! adult Happy Meals.

Visitors to Yum! Brands subsidiaries Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken will get a four-week membership of a health club. They will be able to choose between 400 health clubs operated by Bally Total Fitness.

Launched at a time of year when many people resolve to get fit and shed the excess pounds piled on during the festive season, the offer could meet a warm reception.
Yum! Brands said in a statement on its website: “The holiday fitness gift is aimed at helping individuals lead a balanced lifestyle including: placing "Keep it Balanced" lifestyle posters in restaurants along with nutritional brochures, posting downloadable nutritional information on-line including an activity calculator and providing menu options.”

Are they admitting that there food makes you Fat?????

Ladies Lunch Out....

Had a fun Day with My Mom, Mom-in-law, And the grandma's ( mine and my husbands). We meet for a late lunch which was tasty , then continued the afternoon with a game of cards. There was sure some tough competition with these card sharks. Remember all is fare in love and cards!!! And you have to play the cards you were dealt. That keep us busy for the better part of the afternoon.

Speaking of games...if you ever need to find a game for anyone you should check out this site: boardgames.com , if you can't find it there it may not exist.

I also found another interesting site while surfing ...have you ever though of what your phone number could spell??? Check ot this site Phone Spell . My home phone doesn't spell anything cool , niether does my cell phone. Maybe your digits are cooler than mine!!

And on a final note:
laura has ruled the universe since Tue Jan 04 23:32:21 2005 (Central)
check it out so can you.......

Happy New Year to all..... reporting live from my Mom and Pops!!!

That's right folks...!!!! We had an exciting weekend at our Flat, that included all the major fun groups. Oh...I know what your saying, "huh?" Okay you can stop scratching your head know. I will explain so the confusion can end. The groups include really fun people, ( alll of you who were there know who I'm talking about), yummy food, A few glasses of the following beer, wine, or even punch, a good game, and last but not least some cool music. If you put that all together you get one heck of a humdinger of a good time. So we had the chance to ring in the new year with some get family and friends!!!

Then yesterday...that would be Sunday...i got up hung out with those cool people some more. Later that afternoon I hoped in my car and carivaned southwest with those fine folks that visited us up in jax.

I have to make a quick little rant. On the back to the west coast we decided to stop and get something to eat. So we pulled off 75 at the wildwood exit at this gas station that had a sub place, a pizza joint, a fried chicken place, and one other place that was a little fake corporate family resturant. I have to say we picked the wrong
place. It was so bad that the server admitted our food was pretty bad looking. I have never been given such slop in my whole life. We had enough of this crap, we saw our food and walked out. that place sucked with a capital S. So we ended up at the sub joint, And that was fast and yummy, and the service came with a smile.

I'll be down here visiting my folks and Grandma for a few days. So if you need me...unless it's fun related activies..I'm busy!!!

Christmas at Club 6*6

We cheated. Not really but we still like to think so. We celebrated out christmas early as Karen and Joe are not going to be here on 1225. So we made the big dinner and Santa came (Nice enough to stop by during his busy season) and we did presents. If santa turns up again while Karen and Joe are gone we will gladly accept their booty in their absentia. Yes absentia, this is the mister, can't you tell? expect more words like magmanious or cacaphony when ever i write. Laura makes fun of my SAT words, but if you don't know them get a dictionary. so since i'm writing, did you miss me and my plethera of nutritional information and galacial vocabulary. (hehehe) couldn't help myself. back to more pressing matters. We hope that you all enjoy your christmas/hannukah/kwanza season and expect to hear from all of you in the new year

Toodles

THE KC'S
PS if you see joe, ask what "bananaflage" is!

Brrrrr…it’s chilly here in the South!!! Its clear and 32 degrees!
I guess I have to put away the scadals this week...

So winter has arrived just in time for the Christmas holiday.

"Cold" is a relative term. Use the handy list below to overcome the confusion.
Degrees (Fahrenheit)
65 - Hawaiians declare a two-blanket night
60 - Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one)
50 - Miami residents turn on the heat
40 - You can see your breath
- Californians shiver uncontrollably
- Minnesotans go swimming
32 - Water freezes
25 - Floridians weep pitiably
- Minnesotans eat ice cream
20 - Miami residents plan vacation further South
0 - Alaskans put on T-shirts
-10 - Eyes freeze shut when you blink
-15 - Miami residents cease to exist
-20 - Cat insists on sleeping in pajamas with you
- Politicians actually do something about the homeless
- Minnesotans shovel snow off roof

So How's your holiday seson treating You!!!
Well my is crazy!!!
Running around for a bazillion people making sure they get feed. Have you ever seen what turkey for 750 people looks like? Can you imagine the amount of cranberry sauce?? To put it simply I think I have overdosed on turkey. The smell of stuffing makes me want to gag. You think that’s crazy, I know you do. I think if I see one more five gallon bucket of turkey gravy I might begin to lose my mind. But that's the life of me..enough complaining and on to the fun part of the holidays.

I was in the grocery store the other day. And here an example of why I think people in Jax aren’t the brightest!!
A lady was pawing through the frozen turkeys at the , but couldn't find one big enough to feed her large family. I wonder why she just didn’t get two, was her family that big. She was bitchin’ and all that stuff that makes a person look hind of scary. This the part where the story gets really funny.Annoyed, she asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"The startled stock boy replied, "Heck no, ma'am, they're all dead." Well duh!!! Sometimes you just have to hold back…from bursting into laughter. I high taled it down another isle, so I could let out a huge laugh. I can only imagine the end of that conversation. But that was the best thing that happened to me that day. So lesson of the day is laughter is the best cure for all. I know it’s not nice to laugh at others, but if your that stupid..I can’t help myself.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst...for they are sticking to their diet!

Today's Tips:

What's your nutrition IQ?

Nutrition information comes from all types of sources. A lot of the information is true, some isn’t.
How does your nutrition knowledge measure up?
Choose whether the following statements are true or false:

· If I eliminate all visible fat from meat and discard the skin from poultry, I’ll get rid of most of the cholesterol

· Meat labeled 85 percent lean is a healthy choice·

.Ounce for ounce, green peppers have as much vitamin C as oranges

· Tomatoes and carrots provide more nutritional value eaten raw

If you answered false on all four, consider yourself nutritionally well-informed. If you missed one or more, don’t worry! A dietetics professional can help give you the straight facts on nutrition and develop a personalized eating plan that is right for your and your family.


Fight Back with Phytonutrients

December 9, 2004
Phytonutrients are bioactive compounds in food that promote your health by helping to slow the aging process or reducing the risk for many diseases. Phytonutrients may protect against some cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and other chronic health conditions. In addition, they might work to enhance immunity, detoxify carcinogens and serve as antioxidants.
Research shows that most fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients. Plants produce these substances naturally to protect themselves against viruses, bacteria and fungi. They also provide color, aroma and flavor to food.
Some have a remarkable variety; one orange contains over 170 different phytonutrients! These substances work together with other nutrients and fiber for good health.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

What a Great birthday !!!!!!

I had an awesome birthday celebration, not just one day but, a whole weekend. It really started last wednesday night. After getting off of work I jumped down to St. Augustine to have dinner With maw-in-law Linda, Greg, And the newly engaged Karen and Joe. After dinner we shared yummy chocolate cake, it was a combo birthday/ engagement cake. Then Friday my folks came up from tampa to continue with the celebration. Sat we hung out and played all kinds of games. All kinds of chit-chat, snacks and all that fun stuff. Later we partook in a fun dinner at the japenese resturant. It always fun to watch them flip there knives and spatula around, along with much of the food. And our Grill Chef was pretty funny too! Then later we had apple pie a la mode. Yummy! Then presents...yes they let me open them earily ..Sun...we did Church and lunch. Thanks for coming up it was great fun!!!! Oh.. i know what your saying..sounds like fun...Then mon. my real birthday.. I went out to lunch with my very pregnant friend, Bridget, looks like thursday with be the big day! Then I took a nap...then Karen and Greg came home and made cake and dinner. Then presents. And think I heard about a dozen happy birthday songs, from all over via the good all phone. So I want to thank every one for all the goodies, and birthday spirirt!!!! We do that again next year!!!


Birthday History...anyone???
The earliest birthday parties were held because people believed evil spirits were particuarly attracted to people on their birthdays. At first it was only kings who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration. To protect them from harm, friends and family would to come be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. As time went by, children became included in birthday celebrations. The first children's birthday parties occurred in Germany and were called Kinderfeste.

What's up with that cake?
One theory about the origin of the birthday cake is that is originated with the Greeks, who baked round cakes representing the full moon for their moon goddess, Artemis. They placed candles on the cake to make it glow, like the moon. The Germans are also credited with the first cakes and candles. They used a sweet, layered cake and they put a large candle in the center of the cake to represent "the light of life." Some people believe the smoke from extinguished candles carries their birthday wishes up to heaven.