Thursday, January 26, 2012

Stupid Stuff People do on the Internet



"For the love of 3rd grade English!!"

"Thank you, internet for giving us all the information at our fingertips...and what do we do with it?!  we play farmville..."

Monday, January 23, 2012

Tips for Using Spices

Tips For Using Spices

So you’ve stocked your cupboard and are eager to spice up your meals. But what to add to what? The possibilities for seasoning are endless, but to get you started here's a list with some tried and true matches. Don’t be limited by traditional uses, though — some of the most exquisite dishes come from unexpected seasonings.

Beans (dried) — cumin, cayenne, chili, parsley, pepper, sage, savory, thyme

Beef — basil, bay, chili, cilantro, curry, cumin, garlic, marjoram, mustard, oregano, parsley, pepper, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

Breads — anise, basil, caraway, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, dill, garlic, lemon peel, orange peel, oregano, poppy seeds, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme

Cheese — basil, caraway, celery seed, chervil, chili, chives, coriander, cumin, dill, garlic, horseradish, lemon peel, marjoram, mint, mustard, nutmeg, paprika, parsley, pepper, sage, tarragon, thyme

Chicken — allspice, basil, bay, cinnamon, curry, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, mustard, paprika, rosemary, saffron, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme,

Corn — chili, curry, dill, marjoram, parsley, savory, thyme

Eggs — basil, chervil, chili, chives, curry, dill, fennel, ginger, lemon peel, marjoram, oregano, paprika, parsley, pepper, sage, tarragon, thyme

Fish — anise, basil, bay, cayenne, celery seed, chives, curry, dill fennel, garlic, ginger, lemon peel, mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, saffron, sage, savory, tarragon, marjoram

Fruits — allspice, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mint

Lamb — basil, bay, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, curry, dill, garlic, marjoram, mint, mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary, savory, tarragon, thyme

Potatoes — basil, caraway, celery seed, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, marjoram, oregano, paprika, parsley, poppy seed, rosemary, tarragon, thyme

Salad Dressings — basil, celery seed, chives, dill, fennel, garlic, horseradish, marjoram, mustard, oregano, paprika, parsley, pepper, rosemary, saffron, tarragon, thyme

Salads — basil, caraway, chives, dill, garlic, lemon peel, lovage, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme

Soups — basil, bay, chervil, chili, chives, cumin, dill, fennel, garlic, marjoram, parsley, pepper, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme

Sweets — allspice, angelica, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, ginger, lemon peel, mace, nutmeg, mint, orange peel, rosemary

Tomatoes — basil, bay, celery seed, cinnamon, chili, curry, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, gumbo file, lemongrass, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, savory, tarragon, thyme
Complimentary Herbs

As a beginner, you may want to stick with herbs and spices that are known to complement each other. Common flavor families include:

Bouquet Garnis — basil, bay, oregano, parsley
Herbal — basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme
Hot — chili peppers, cilantro, cumin, garlic
Pungent — celery, chili peppers, cumin, curry, ginger, black pepper
Spicy — cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, star anise
Sweet — allspice, anise, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg

An easy method for testing herb and spice combinations is to mix them with small amounts of a mild cheese, like cream cheese. Allow them to sit for at least an hour, then sample your blends, noting which flavors you most enjoy. Be sure to label the samples so you’ll know how to duplicate or modify each to suit your taste.
For Every Thing, There is a Seasoning

If you enjoy cooking with herbs and spices, you find creative cooking opportunities everywhere. You can make your own blends (curry powder or pumpkin pie spice, for example), herb vinegars, herbal cheese, teas, jellies… But don’t neglect the endless possibilities for everyday cooking. A pinch of this, or a teaspoon of that, will make all the food you serve special.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Farm Stand Forced to Close

http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/jones-family-farm-stand.htm
"According to a press release the couple issued on November 18th:
Compliance would cost us tens of thousands of dollars, as well as consuming vast amounts of time.  However, neither Mr. Laws (the code enforcement officer) nor Mr. Geniuch (the building official) is willing to tell us what exactly we need to do in order to comply before we submit a permit and commit to carrying out all required improvements.   Our elected officials inform us that they have no capacity to protect us from these officials.  We have neither the financial ability nor the desire to write a blank check to conform to pointless standards.
So, on November 30th, the Jones Family Farm was open to the public for the last time.
The farm stand was a quaint, 200-square foot building located near the road, a self-service facility selling pasture-based meats and freshly caught seafood on the honor system. For nearly two and a half years, the system worked smoothly and made neighbors feel welcome.
This is not the first time the farm has faced harassment by local officials.
The Jones' report:
We have been criminally prosecuted for having livestock escape (finally dropped after 10 lost work days and $2000 in lawyer fees), informed by Paul Turner, deputy fire marshal that we need to mow standing grass to avoid "fire risk" (standing grass is otherwise known as cow food, and as such is an economic asset for us), turned in for placing a travel trailer on our own property (not, actually against the law), we are continually harassed by Betsy Wingren, the county health inspector, mostly with pointless, time consuming demands to replicate and triplicate documentation we already provide to state and federal health authorities (Ms. Wingren provided the complaint to the planning department that has resulted in our farm-stand closing), just as a sampling."

Monday, January 2, 2012

Alton Brown Diet

Alton Brown on Dr Oz
video

List 1: Foods to Eat Daily
  • Dark leafy greens
  • Nuts
  • Carrots
  • Green tea
  • Whole grains (toast oats B4 cooking = nutty flavor)
  • Fruits
These foods should be a part of your daily diet. Whole grains, like oats, are rich in fiber so they fill you up and keep you satiated for longer. Also, soluble fiber keeps your cholesterol levels in check and lowers your risk of heart disease. And fruits, especially purple ones like blueberries, blackberries and Concord grapes are rich in antioxidants and resveratrol, known to promote longevity. To get these foods in every day, Brown freezes the berries into pre-portioned packets and either uses them in smoothies or just eats them as is. Additionally, nuts are a good source of protein and you can fit them in easily every day by eating a handful about 15 minutes before a big meal to help curb overeating.

List 2: Foods to Eat Three Times a Week
  • Yogurt
  • Cauliflower
  • Broccoli
  • Sweet potato
  • Avocado
  • Oily fish
  • Tofu
These foods are healthy for you in moderation. For example, sardines are high in protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are very good for your heart; plus, the tiny bones contain calcium. Additionally, tofu makes a great low-calorie meat substitute that actually has more protein per calorie than ground beef. Brown frequently uses tofu in pasta sauces, tacos and stir-fry dishes. Cauliflower and broccoli are cruciferous vegetables that have been praised for their cancer-fighting properties, like antioxidants that help rid your body of toxins that might damage cells.

List 3: Foods to Eat Once a Week
  • Red meat
  • White starch
  • Desserts
  • Alcohol
These are foods you should only indulge in every once in a while.So choose a drink or dessert you really enjoy and savor it, rather than going for something that you might drink more of, but not like as much.

List 4: Foods to Never Eat / Foods to Avoid at All Times
  • Soda
  • Processed meals
  • Canned soups
  • “Diet” anything
These are foods you should cut out completely. Brown found that when he drank diet soda or ate processed foods, he would crave and eat sweet and processed things more often, contributing to his weight gain. And artificial sweeteners may be to blame. Studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can be addictive and put taste receptors into overdrive, causing the body to release more insulin – a hormone instrumental in storing body fat. So, instead, he stopped incorporating these foods into his diet altogether.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Soy Myths Exposed



Good Fermented Soy: Nato (vitamin K2), Misso, & Tempe.
Bad GMO Soy: Tofu, Isolated Soy Protein, Soy Milk, Soy Formula (far worse than conventional formula - 20x higher hormones than birth control pills, have high levels of aluminum and manganese).

It affects your thyroid and is worst for the next generation.

Babies Share Body

Twins born with two heads and one body

I couldn't imagine being their mom. To know most people would consider her children a freak show.

I also wonder how their body functions with two brains. Do they both have control of their limbs and who wins when they want to do different things? Are there two entries into their stomach and lungs? Was the mother and father completely healthy when they conceived? Is it genetic?