Some of my favorite sections that I have read and reread:

Antioxidants:

The National Institute of Health recommends five or six servings of fruits and vegetables in this 1995 Edition book.  Recently, I read in the news this has been increased to 9  -10 /day.   I don’t know about you, but for me this is a very high challenge.

For example, my daily routine is hot or cold cereal with half a banana, 1 glass of orange juice. On most days , I eat a green salad, consisting Mixed greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, sliced celery, walnuts.   So far, that is 6 fruit and vegetable ( vege)  items.   On some days, I think of Vitamin C rich foods, and I’ll pare and slice a whole kiwi.  The only way I eat a kiwi is sliced into little rounds. My reason is , that the first time I tasted Kiwi was a Jr Women’s club function some years back.   It was an outdoor summer party, and this young woman brought sliced kiwi.  I recall her saying, ” how come the kiwi’s are barely touched?, try it. come on. Skeptical, I tasted one. My first taste, I did not care for it.  I”ll have to admit it took some time to acquire a taste for it.  Strawberries for example, I grew up with  my mother serving them soaked for a few minutes in white granulated sugar.  This is the only way we ate strawberries at home.

While working on my health, I decided some time ago, to eat the strawberries plain, and now I don’t mind. In fact,  for my packed lunch, I wash and rinse about 5 strawberries and when I eat them, I grasp the green stem and eat the whole strawberry just like that.

Yesterday was Christmas day, and my mother came to visit.   I put on the table a plate with sliced kiwi and the whole strawberries.  My mother said, ” I can’t eat the strawberries like that, I need sugar, they are too tart.”  I said in reply, ” Ok, there is a sugar container, you can sprinkle on some sugar if you like.”  I did not tell her that the sugar I have is ” Splenda”, blended to look like the granulated white sugar, te he.  Splenda has fewer calories that regular sugar.

Four Anti oxidant eater tips:

1. your best source is whole foods.

2.  Fresh raw fruits and vegetables are more potent than frozen.

3. “The deeper the color ( orange, red, or purple, yellow, green), the higher th anitoxidant level in any food or drink.

4.  Long-cooking , non instant whole grains and dried beans deliver more antioxidants than instant or fast-cooking types.

An apple a day keeps the Dr. away.  There are now six benefits.  Apples are low in calories,80 calories each) high in water, rich in natural fruit sugars.  Apples are rich in carbohydrate food fibers including cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin plus the non-carbohydrate fiber lignin in the apple peel which lowers cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure, and prevents digestive disorders.   The cardiovascular benefit is low sodium, and provides 70 % more potassium , the mineral that enhances heart muscle function, than fresh oranges.

Carrots:

Carrots are a member of the umbelliferous family ( celery, parsnips,caraway,fennel, dill, and chervil), and a root vegetable.

The USDA rates very highly carrots for providing the most protein, calcium, iron, and Vitamins A,C, and B finishing ahead of squash, green  beans, and cauliflower, and just behind broccoli, tomatoes and corn.

A carrot a day, ( 1/2 cup of grated, or sliced or juiced to beat cancer and coronary heart disease.

Carrots block the progressive, cellular damage characteristic of cancers of the larynx, esophagus, prostate, bladder, cervix, and liver as well as premature aging and cataracts. as reported by the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Bibliography:

Author:  Frances Sheridan Goulart 1995

Suz MamaFrog

Posts: 387

Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:29 pm

Location: Laurel Valley, WV

The question originally was:

Which Math Games?

by Edwena on Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:23 pm

Mathgames Software:

My little girl that is similar to yours loves playin Sheppards Software, its free and fun games:http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm

By the Fireside     1855

How well I know what I mean to do
When the long dark Autumn evenings come,
And where, my soul, is thy pleasant hue?
With the music of all thy voices, dumb
In life’s November too!

2.

I shall be found by the fire, suppose,
O’er a great wise book as beseemeth age,
While the shutters flap as the cross-wind blows,
And I turn the page, and I turn the page,
Not verse now, only prose!

3.

Till the young ones whisper, finger on lip,
There he is at it, deep in Greek –
Now or never, then, out we slip
To cut from the hazels by the creek
A mainmast for our ship.

4.

Source Book

Men And Women

by Robert Browning

Copyright 1863
Published by Boston: Ticknor And Fields

I am reading articles on the team approach. In the near future, I may start a new blog with this theme.

Team Leadership Tips – 7 Top Tips For Leading Teams

By Duncan Brodie

Now take a positive step to becoming an even better leader by taking advantage of my free audio e-course available at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/ Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements (G&A) works with individuals, teams and organisations to develop their management and leadership capability. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duncan_Brodie

Search EzineArticles.com:

Valli of ” More Than Burnt Toast” blog has an Italian food recipe challenge inspired by the upcoming movie release of EAT,PRAY,LOVE on August 13, 2010.

You can find her post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com.
If you would like to join Valli  simply prepare an Italian dish from antipasti, primo, secondo, contorno to dolce and send the link with photo to eatchallenge(at)gmail(DOT)com before the opening of the movie ,  August 13, 2010.

Eat , Pray,Love is Elizabeth Gilbert’s wonderfully crafted book about life changing experiences when she trades in her previously perfect life to travel the world “to find herself. ” After a heart wrenching divorce she spends a year traveling in Italy, India and Indonesia. Each word in the title Eat, Pray, Love is expanded by her experiences in three countries.

She writes:

Eating in Italy is a main event and the descriptions provided to the reader of Eat, Pray, Love and the food consumed were absolutely mouth watering and ultimately inspired this challenge. The EAT part of the book highlights Elizabeth’s gastronomical indulgences and creates vivid and beautiful imagery of all things Italian.

To begin her  journey she will begin with the antipasti. L’antipasto is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal, which literally means “before the meal.” The antipasti is the appetizer or hors d’oeuvre course.

“More often, , antipasti refers to a number of traditional Italian appetizers, which can be categorized into four different groups… meats, olives, vegetables, and cheeses. Even such offerings as crostini, bruschetta, and mozzarella in carrozza.  Antipasto is served at the table and signifies the beginning of the Italian meal.”

Over the centuries the English language has assimilated phrases and words from other foreign languages. Here are some examples.

A cappella, Italian, sung without instrumental accompaniment (literally “in chapel style”)

Ad hoc, Latin, made or done for a particular purpose (lit. “to this”)

Agent provocateur, French, a person who tempts a suspected criminal to commit a crime so that they can be caught and convicted (lit. “provocative agent”)

Al dente, Italian, (of food) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten (lit. “to the tooth”)

Alfresco, Italian, in the open air (lit. “in the fresh”)

Bête noir, French, a person or thing one particularly dislikes (lit. “black beast”)

Blitzkrieg, German, an intense, violent military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory (lit. “lightning war”)

Carte blanche, French, complete freedom to act as one wishes (lit. “blank paper”)

Caveat emptor, Latin, the buyer is responsible for checking the quality of goods before purchasing them (lit. “let the buyer beware”)

Al dente, Italian, (of food) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten (lit. “to the tooth”)

Alfresco, Italian, in the open air (lit. “in the fresh”)

Bête noir, French, a person or thing one particularly dislikes (lit. “black beast”)

Blitzkrieg, German, an intense, violent military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory (lit. “lightning war”)

Carte blanche, French, complete freedom to act as one wishes (lit. “blank paper”)

Caveat emptor, Latin, the buyer is responsible for checking the quality of goods before purchasing them (lit. “let the buyer beware”

C’est la guerre, French, used as an expression of resigned acceptance (lit. “that’s war”)

Chacon à son goût, French, everyone to their own taste

Chef-d’oeuvre, French, a masterpiece (lit. “chief work”)

Coup de foudre, French, love at first sight (lit. “stroke of lightning”)

De facto, Latin, in fact, whether by right or not

Déjà vu, French, the sense of having experienced the present situation before (lit. “already seen”)

Dernier cri, French, the very latest fashion (lit. “the last cry”)

Deus ex machina, Latin, an unexpected event that saves an apparently hopeless situation (lit. “god from the machinery”)

Dolce far niente, Italian, pleasant idleness (lit. “sweet doing nothing”)

Doppelgänger, German, an apparition or double of a living person (lit. a “double-goer”)

Double entendre, French, a word or phrase with two possible interpretations (from obsolete French, “double understanding”)

Eminence grise, French, a person who has power or influence without holding an official position (lit. “grey eminence”)

Enfant terrible, French, a person whose behaviour is unconventional or controversial (lit. “terrible child”)

Esprit de corps, French, a feeling of pride and loyalty uniting the members of a group (lit. “spirit of body”)

Fait accompli, French, a thing that has been done or decided and cannot now be altered (lit. “accomplished fact”)

Femme fatale, French, a seductive woman (lit. “disastrous woman”)

Haute couture, French, designing and making of clothes by fashion houses (lit.“high dressmaking”)

In camera, Latin, in private (lit. “in the chamber”)

In loco parentis, Latin, in the place of a parent

Inter alia, Latin, among other things

Jeunesse dorée, French, wealthy, fashionable young people (lit. “gilded youth”)

Katzenjammer, German, a hangover or severe headache accompanying a hangover (lit. “cats’ wailing”)

Laissez-faire, French, a non-interventionist policy (lit. “allow to do”)

Magnum opus, Latin, the most important work of an artist, writer etc (lit. “great work”)

Manqué, French, having failed to become what one might have been (lit. from manquer “to lack”)

Memento mori, Latin, something kept as a reminder that death is inevitable (lit. “remember (that you have) to die”)

Ménage à trois, French, an arrangement in which a married couple and the lover of one of them live together (lit. “way of living”)

Mot juste, French, the most appropriate word or expression

Ne plus ultra, Latin, the best example of something (lit. “not further beyond”)

Non sequitur, Latin, a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous statement (lit. “it does not follow”)

Nouveau riche, French, people who have recently become rich and who display their wealth ostentatiously (lit. “new rich”)

Papabile, Italian, worthy or eligible to be elected pope

Pied-à-terre, French, a small flat or house kept for occasional use (lit. “foot to earth”)

Prima facie, Latin, accepted as so until proved otherwise (lit. “at first face”)

Quid pro quo, Latin, a favour or advantage given in return for something (lit. “something for something”)

Raison d’être, French, the most important reason for someone or something’s existence (lit. “reason for being”)

Reductio ad absurdam, Latin, a method of disproving a premise by showing that its logical conclusion is absurd (lit. “reduction to the absurd”)

Sangfroid, French, the ability to stay calm in difficult circumstances (lit. “cold blood”)

Soi-disant, French, self-styled; so-called (lit. “self-saying”)

Sui generis, Latin, unique (lit. “of its own kind”)

Tant mieux, French, so much the better

Tête-à-tête, French, a private conversation (“head to head”)

Vox populi, Latin, public opinion (lit. “the voice of the people”)

Zeitgeist, German, the characteristic spirit or mood of a particular historical period (lit. “time spirit”)

— © Oxford University Press 2007

Extracted from The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus (ed. Maurice Waite, 2007)
Buy the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus (RRP £30) for the offer price of £25.50 (inc p&p) from BooksFirst on 0870 1608080 or timesonline.co.uk/booksfirst

// Tant Mieux,   French,   so much the better

Tete a Tete -French, private conversation

These are the recollections of both my mother who grew up during the Depression and me.

My perspective is through the eyes of a seven-year old.

My father grew up in NYC, the Bronx , my grandmother always insisted in living in the best of neighborhoods.

After WW II was over , my father used the money that he saved during his time in the military to buy land in Old Bridge so his parents could move from NYC to the country.  He wanted them to have something in their own name, so I’m told that he said to leave off his name.

This explains why my father grew two gardens, one in Old Bridge, N.J. and one at our house in Somerset County, N.J.

1. Every Sunday, my sister and I and my father  would go to church in our hometown. We wore  matching dresses and our father wore a long sleeve white dress shirt that had to be starched and ironed by my mother, before permanent press shirts.   My mother would stay home  to cook  the Sunday dinner which we ate at lunch time.   My father liked a “big meal” of Roast Beef on Sundays along with homemade mashed potatoes and a vegetable.

   After Sunday dinner was finished, we would set out for the 45 minute drive to our paternal grandparents home which my Connecticut cousins’ recently relayed to me that they called the property,… “the farm”.

My mother stated that she, “had to cook fast and also pack a change of clothes.”  My paternal grandmother wanted everybody dressed up on Sundays when they came to visit,  the men in white dress shirts and tie and the women wore dresses.

On arrival to my grandparents home, upon getting out of the car, my grandfather would greet us with a big, squeezing hug and a kiss and utter the words ” hello …chicks” in broken English.  I remember that at eight years old, I was about  the same height as my paternal grandmother.

I was named after my paternal grandmother.  My sister was named after my paternal grandfather, though his nickname.

Upon entering the house, all of us would go into the kitchen and sit around the large round table for coffee and dessert, Italian cookies from a bakery.  The coffee was Italian style, very strong.

Afterwards , my father change  to work clothes and walk down the sandy paths, past my grandfather’s many rows of already growing vegetables to the  back of the property behind the old chicken building , (coop) to tend to the garden of tomatoes and potatoes, green peppers.   There was an old rusty water pump ( you couldn’t drink from it), with which he watered the plants by carrying  bucketfuls of water back and forth.   As kids we kept my father company while we played there in our “Ked” sneakers.

My paternal grandfather spent his time after retirement all day outdoors in the yard planting and taking care of his garden.  He sold the vegetables for a small income to regular customers and friends.  My grandfather as well as my grandmother were  members of St. Thomas the Apostle church in Old Bridge.

There was a grape arbor  behind the house on the right side of the property.  He was making homemade  wine , I can picture the wooden barrel that he kept it in during the process.     He was proud of this and I recall him offering a taste of the red wine to my father.

My grandmother whom I was named after, did not go out in the garden portion.   She stayed indoors “always sewing’, making her own clothes and aprons she wore  while cooking Italian meals of chicken and pasta with meatballs and sausage.  She had worked as a seamstress  while she was raising my father and two sisters in the Bronx section of New York.  When my sister and I were ready to make our First Holy Communion, grandma hand sewed our dresses with white eyelet material and a white organza short sleeve jackets to match.

When we arrived, we would sometimes see grandma sitting on a chair in the shade next to the garage waiting for our arrival.  There were cats and their kittens walking around outside, their cat food on an old tin pie plate for a dish.  My Aunt Rose and her three children, Eddie, Maureen, and Debbie ( the closest to our age) would have spent the whole weekend there and eventually moved in to live there.-

We would spend only the afternoon there and then leave at supper time; I only recall having dinner there once when  more  relatives were visiting. Because there wasn’t room at the table in the kitchen, I clearly remember we sat at a table in the basement.  The interesting thing about the basement was that my oldest cousin, Eddie had a train set with railroad tracks displayed which  included a handmade mountain or volcano.

First Holy Communion dresses hand-sewn by Paternal grandmother Grace

This is from one of David Lebovitz’s  cookbooks on desserts.

The Easiest Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe…Ever

The Easiest Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe…Ever

83 comments – 11.27.2007

This dessert is the result of a happy accident.

But soon after, I got to work and discovered something—the world’s easiest Chocolate Ice Cream…with no machine required!

Unfortunately I didn’t write anything down—how could I?—and once I hit the rock-bottom of that container in my freezer, I had a personal melt-down: it was all gone. But I really wanted to share the recipe here, so I decided to re-work recipe to re-create what I did.

Happily, I discovered that this all-new ice cream doesn’t require an ice cream-maker at all. Yes, really. So if you don’t have a machine, fear not: it’s simply blended up, poured in a container, and left to chill on its own in the freezer. And after four hours (no stirring required!), I dug my spoon into the most luscious, creamier ice cream imaginable. Again.

Chocolate and Banana Ice Cream

Four to six scoops
From Ready for Dessert (Ten Speed) by David Lebovitz
This is the world’s easiest ice cream. It takes literally a minute to put together—since it’s winter, I simply set the bowl of chocolate and milk on the radiator, and while I leisurely and lovingly take the time to peel the banana, the chocolate melts and is soon ready to use.
You can easily increase this recipe to make more than it calls for. I haven’t tried it with any other liquor, but for those of you who want to experiment, you do need to include a similar amount and percentage of alcohol to prevent the ice cream from freezing too hard. The banana gives the ice cream a smooth, creamy consistency and provides the sweetness, so use a nice, ripe one.
I found that this keeps for weeks in the freezer and maintains it’s absolutely perfect consistency. Cheers!
2 ounces (55 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

6 tablespoons (80 ml) milk, whole or low-fat

6 tablespoons (80 ml) Baileys liquor

1 medium-sized ripe banana, peeled*, and cut into chunks

1 tablespoon (15 ml) dark rum
1. In a small bowl set over a pan of simmering water (or in the microwave), melt the chocolate with the milk.
2. Blend the melted chocolate the Baileys, the banana, and rum until smooth.
3. Pour into a plastic or metal container, cover, and freeze for at least 4 hours.

This recipe is from a blog writer in Alabama, called Southern Plate that looks too good to forget.

Treasure Found: Granny Jordan’s Chicken Casserole / Salad

Granny Jordan’s Chicken Casserole/Salad

• 1 cooked, cut up chicken
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 boiled eggs, cut up
• 3/4 cup celery, diced
• onion, diced (I used half of an onion)
• 1/3 cup cracker crumbs (I omitted these)
• Potato Chips
• Ritz crackers
• Lettuce

Mix chicken, mayo, soup, eggs, celery, onion,  and cracker crumbs in a bowl. Spread into an 8×8 pan. Top with crushed potato chips. Bake at 350 for twenty minutes. Serve hot or cold. If cold, serve over bed of lettuce with Ritz crackers.