Soy: Did you know Soy lowers cholesterol? All it takes is a little soy when it comes to blood pressure control.
Adding just 40 grams of soy protein to your diet may help lower blood pressure in people who have mild hypertension or prehypertension, a recent study suggests.
Soybeans are high in protein and low in fat, making them a great addition to your diet if you're trying to lose weight or have certain health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. Diet is an important component of blood pressure control, but you need to follow your healthcare provider's advice regarding the types of foods you should eat, as well as his or her recommendations about exercise and medication.
Medical Disclaimer: All information on this site is of a generalnature and is furnished for your knowledge and understanding only.This information is not to be taken as medical or other healthadvice pertaining to your specific health and medical condition.
More than just a color...
Green-symbolizes Balance, Harmony, Peace and Renewal
Fushsia-is the color of Happiness and Enthusiasm
Blue-soothes as it evokes the Heavens and Sea. It signifies Peace, Loyalty and Truth
Yellow-the color of Sun, Light and Optimism. Yellow stirs the soul with its luminosity
Pink-is Compassion, Romance and Purity. Pink gently touches your heart with sweetness
Purple-symbolizes Spirituality, Wisdom, Power and Passion
Aqua-symbolizes Fresness, Individualism and a Festive Spirit
Gold-illuminates and symbolizes Prosperity, Elegance and Supreme Quality
Red-symbolizes Love, Engergy, Passion...the elements that completely enriches our lives
Orange-is about spreading joy. It is the very color of Optimism, Independence and well-being
Brown-is the color of earth. It signifies Warmth, Comfort and Stability
Silver-is Ornamental. It signifies Serenity, Purity and Joy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Birthday Flowers:
January-Carnation
February-Violet
March-Jonquil
April-Sweet Pea
May-Lily of the Valley
June-Rose
July-Larkspur
August-Gladiolus
September-Aster
October-Calendula
November-Chrysanthemum
December-Narcissus
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Birthday Gems
January - Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June – Pearl
July – Ruby
August – Peridot
September – Sapphire
October - Opal
November - Topaz
December - Turquoise
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Gifts for specific Anniversary dates
Kitchen Hints: Use a hot knife blade for cutting fresh breads and a wet one for cutting soft cakes.
Try dampening a cloth with club soda to clean stainless steel appliances. This method will clean without leaving spots or streaks.
Frozen fish can be thawed in a small amount of milk in the refrigerator. This eliminates any fishy taste.
Yellowed perspiration stains can really ruin T-shirts and dress shirts. Add 4 tablespoons salt to 1 quart hot water, and sponge the fabric with the solution until stains disappear.
To freshen your laundry and prevent your iron from sticking, you'll be surprised by the improvements in ironing that a little bit of salt will make. A dash of salt in the laundry starch keeps the iron from sticking and gives linens and fine cottons a glossy, brand-new finish.
Use a strand of uncooked spaghetti to test a cake for doneness when a toothpick isn’t long enough, or if you don’t have any toothpicks in the house.
Use a hot knife blade for cutting fresh breads and a wet one for cutting soft cakes.
Try dampening a cloth with club soda to clean stainless steel appliances. This method will clean without leaving spots or streaks.
Metal cookie cutters double up nicely as unique napkin holders for special dinners. If you want, spray paint them to match the decor
Reflections:
We must lay before him what is in us, not what ought to be in us.
~ C.S. Lewis
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends. ~ John Churton Collins
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Accept the pain, cherish the joys, resolve the regrets; then can come the best of benedictions – “If I had my life to live over, I’d do it all the same.” ~ Joan McIntosh
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is at their heels. - Bertolt Brecht
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
That man is blest who does his best and leaves the rest.
~ Charles F. Deems
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.~ Nathaniel Hawthorne
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.~Unknown
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.~ Maya Angelou
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When you pray rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.~John Bunyan
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.~Raymond Lindquist
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey. ~ Thomas A. Edison
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
True happiness...is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.~Helen Keller
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict.~Anonymous.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am an old man and have known many troubles, but most of them never happened~Mark Twain
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We all have ability. The difference is how we use it~Stevie Wonder
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Do we want our homes to be happy? If we do, let them be the abiding place of prayer, thanksgiving and gratitude.- George Albert Smith
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear, and get a record of successful experiences behind you.- William Jennings Bryan
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
God give me work, till my life shall end and life, till my work is done.- Winifred Holtby
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.- Malcolm Forbes
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.- Vince Lombardi
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Do not pray by heart, but with the heart. - Anonymous
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life. - Sister Elizabeth Kenny
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Necessity is the mother of taking chances. - Mark Twain
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is at their heels. - Bertolt Brecht
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Helpful Cooking Tips:
Chopped fruit and nuts will disperse more evenly in cake batter if they're lightly floured before adding them.
Guaranteed: no tears in your eyes when you peel onions. Just run cold water over them as you peel them.
Oversalted soup or vegetables? Add cut, raw potatoes and discard them once they have cooked and absorbed the salt.
To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
| Purchasing |
- Look for rigid spears with firm ends.
- Wrinkled stem ends mean the asparagus is old and may be tough.
- Asparagus tenderness is not related to the thickness of the stalk.
- Color signals the tenderness of the stalks -- the deeper the color the better.
|
| Storing |
- Keep fresh asparagus clean, cold, and covered.
- Trim about 1/4 inch from the stem ends and wash the spears in water several times. Pat dry and stand upright in 2 inches of cold water. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Or wrap a moist paper towel around the stem ends, place asparagus in moisture-proof wrapping, and refrigerate.
- Use within two or three days. (This helpful hint is by Better Homes and Gardens)
Roasted Lemony Asparagus Ingredients - 2 lb. asparagus spears
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt or salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. chopped preserved lemons*
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Snap off woody bases from asparagus; discard. If stems are tough, remove outer layers with a vegetable peeler. Arrange asparagus in a single layer in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Roast, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until crisp-tender. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle with chopped preserved lemons. Makes 8 to 10 servings. Grill Method: Prepare asparagus spears as above. Place in a 13x9-inch disposable foil pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Place pan directly over medium coals; grill for 10 to 15 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender, occasionally turning asparagus with tongs. Serve as above. *Test Kitchen Tip: If preserved lemon is not available, in a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons finely shredded lemon peel and 1/2 teaspoon salt; sprinkle on roasted asparagus. |
Fun Receipes:
Baby Shower Punch
INGREDIENTS:
- 8 liters of Sprite
- 1 gallon of rainbow sherbert
PREPARATION:
- Buy the ice cream in half gallon containers. Take the first half gallon out and place it in the punch bowl.
- Add a two liter container of Sprite® to the bowl and as it melts use an ice cream scoop to break off bits of the ice cream.
- Freshen up as necessary with additional ice cream and Sprite®.
For a flavorful flare consider adding fruit.
| Baby Sleeping Fruit Salad |
|
Cut a watermelon 1/2 the way down the center & 1/2 way lengthwise to resemble a carriage stroller, hollow out the watermelon,saving some. Or you can use an oval bowl. Next peel a cantaloupe, and prop it up using toothpicks,cut a small hole out for the mouth & insert a pink or blue plastic binkie (or bottle)depending on the sex of the baby..for the eyes & nose, use colored icing. Pour the fruit salad into the container as the body. Cover with whip cream & coconut. Just before everyone arrives spray whip cream to resemble a bonnet.
Orange slices make cute wheels for the carriage.
All Purpose Marinade
What you need:
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
- hot pepper sauce to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
What you do:
- In a medium bowl, blend the vinegar, orange juice, pineapple juice, olive oil, pepper, garlic powder, green onion, hot pepper sauce, and thyme.
- Place meat or fish in a shall glass dish or bowl, pierce with a fork on top a few times, and pour 1/2 of the marinade over it. Turn over and repeat. Marinate for at least 1 hour, up to 24 hours for the most flavor.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4
| 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped | | 1/4 cup bell peppers, chopped | | 1 Tbsp. green onions, sliced | | 1 Tbsp. lemon juice | | 1-1/2 tsps. cilantro or parsley, chopped | | 1 clove garlic, chopped | | 1/2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped | | 2 lbs. snow crab clusters, thawed if frozen |
|
|
Prepare grill or broiler. Combine all ingredients, except snow crab, in a blender or food processor. Season with salt and pepper to taste and process until finely chopped. Transfer to a serving bowl. Place crab on a well-oiled grill or broiler pan 5 inches from coals or heat source. Grill or broil about 3 minutes per side, or until cooked throughout. Serve with salsa verde as a dipping sauce. |
)
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Marinade Time: 8 hours
Cooking Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Serves: 6
| 1 whole chicken, about 4 lb each, halved, with backbone removed | | 1 lemon, halved | | 6 cloves garlic, crushed | | 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper | | 1 Tbsp. white pepper | | 2 Tbsps. paprika |
|
|
Wash chicken thoroughly and pat dry. Rub both sides with lemon. Combine remaining ingredients and salt to taste in a bowl. Rub mixture on both sides of chicken. Place chicken halves in a baking dish skin side up. Marinate in refrigerator 24 hours or overnight. Prepare grill. Place chicken halves about 5 inches from coals, skin side up. Cover and grill 1-1/2 hours, turning every 20 minutes. |
