Smoked Mackerel Cakes

300g of smoked mackerel (this is a standard pack size)
2 good sized potatoes
1 heaped tablespoon horseradish sauce (or more or less to taste)
1 handful chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon drained capers, chopped small
squeeze of lemon juice
knob or two of butter
1 egg
plain flour for dusting

1. Peel and chop potatoes and then boil or steam. Mash with a little butter, but no milk or cream. You want a fairly solid mash.
2. Flake the fish into a bowl and mix thoroghly with the potato, horseradish, capers, lemon juice and parsley. Taste the mixture and adjust to taste - more horseradish? more lemon juice? Season with pepper and salt if needed (remember both fish and capers are pretty salty).
3. Crack the egg into a little dish and whisk briefly with a fork to combine white and yolk. Add egg to fishy mixture to help combine*.
4. Shape into fishcakes and coat with flour**. If you have time, place the cakes in the fridge for half and hour or so - they will hold their shape better upon cooking.

5. Heat a little oil and butter in a large non-stick frying pan and cook the fishcakes until crisp and golden on the outside and hot in the middle - around 7 minutes per side (longer if they are really cold from the fridge). Take care as you turn them over half way through cooking time!

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Texas Tommy #hotdog #recipe

During the 1950s housewives and greasy spoons supplied their families and customers with a grilled and split hot dog loaded with bacon and lots of cheese. Condiments were optional but who really needed them.

Make your own Texas Tommy hotdogs with this recipe from betty crocker

8 hotdogs
4 slices Cheddar cheese
8 slices bacon
8 hotdog buns, split

Heat gas or charcoal grill. Cut lengthwise slit in each hot dog, cutting almost but not quite to other side. Cut each cheese slice into 4 strips; insert strips into openings in hot dogs.
Wrap each hot dog with slice of bacon; secure with toothpicks.
Place hot dogs on grill over medium heat. Cook about 10 minutes, turning often, until bacon is cooked. Add buns, cut sides down, to grill for last 1 to 2 minutes or until toasted.
Place hot dogs in toasted buns. Serve immediately.

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Ella Fitzgerald

If Ella Fitzgerald and Darth Vader were were to wed 

and have a child it would be an elevator 

 but serious now 

Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most talented jazz singers. Known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella" she was an American jazz vocalist. 

She was born in 1917 and made her debut at the Apollo Theater in 1934. She would become the first woman to win a Grammy Award as an African American woman in 1958 In total Ella Fitzgerald would win 13 grammys and sell more than 40 million albums.  She would live to be 75+ years of age when passed in 1996. 

Take a second to listen to her beautiful voice in song 

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Sticky Sausage Casserole

Bangers and mash a.k.a sausage and mash is a traditional dish of Great Britain and Ireland. The dish is primarily served with mashed potatoes and sausages.

6 good quality thick pork sausages
4-6 shallots depending on size (mine were enormous)
1 medium carrot
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons diced pancetta or smoked bacon lardons
teaspoon juniper berries
1 wine glass red wine
1/2 glass water or stock
half tin of tomatoes
fresh herbs, chopped - I used sage, oregano and rosemary

1. Pre-heat oven to 170C. Heat oil in a non-stick casserole and brown the sausages evenly on each side. Remove with slotted spoon and set to one side.

2. Meanwhile, skin the shallots. Cover with boiling water and leave for one minute before draining. This makes skins easier to remove. Pull apart into segments and chop one shallot into small pieces. Add to pan with garlic and finely diced carrot. Add pancetta or lardons and fry until the onions are starting to soften. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the sticky sausage bits off the bottom of the pan as you go.

3. Crush juniper berries with back of knife or in pestle and mortar. Add to pan, along with the chopped fresh herbs. Stir to combine.

4. Add sausages back to pan and add wine. Heat until starting to bubble and then add the tinned tomatoes. Stir and allow to bubble for a few minutes. Add half a glass of water (or stock), season well and then place the lid on the casserole. Place in oven and cook for approx 40 minutes. Check in middle of cooking and add more water if necessary.

5. When you remove from the oven, check the sauce. It should have reduced and be quite sticky but still sauce-like. If too liquid, bubble and reduce on the hob. Taste and season to taste. Serve with a cloud of fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes and some green veg.

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Soothing a Colicky Baby

How to Soothe a Colicky Baby

A colicky baby is healthy and well fed but still cry for 3 or more hours a day. This action occurs for 3 or more days a week. The weeks add up to more than 3 weeks in a time period. But why is it that babies have colic?? If this was known I am sure that the parents of these babies would do their best to avoid dealing with the colic and crying.

Colic will normally go away in a few months. However, parents dealing with a colicky baby know that it is hard to sit there as your baby cries. So there are a few things that you can do to try to soothe the actions of colic

• Put baby in a front carrier and wear them! They’ll enjoy the warmth and rhythm of you walking.
• Go for a car ride. I can’t tell you how many times my husband drove around in the wee hours trying to calm Owen.
• Place a warm washcloth on baby’s tummy or give him a warm bath.
• Pedal baby’s legs. With your baby on his back, move his legs in a gentle pedaling motion to help release gas.
• Use a gentle hum sound like a white noise machine, a hair dryer, a vacuum, or a fan.
• swaddle the baby 
• turn the light down low and calm the noise
• gas drops can help the irritation.
• infant swing or bouncy seat that vibrates.

Hopefully if you have a colicky baby these tips will help ease the baby.

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What is Colic

Baby colic is an episode of crying for more than 3 hours, a day, for more than 3 days a week, for three weeks in an otherwise healthy baby. This time period is , take it from my experience one that makes parents feel helpless. Our first child, now 32 years old had colic for nearly the first two weeks of her life While it does not affect her life as we all know it was a time that me and her daddy will never forget.

The constant crying from colic leaves many parents frustrated, depressed and lead to excessive visits to the doctor or sadly child abuse. As for me and my husband we were blessed with many family members who would help us out. Without them I believe it would have been much worst. As it seems nothing parents do helps the crying stop. In fact the cause of colic is often unknown.

There are may be many reasons for colic:

• due to gastrointestinal discomfort like intestinal cramping.
• Diagnosis requires ruling out other possible causes.[

If the child experiences issues with a fever, poor activity or swollen abdomen then it most likely is not colic. Colic does not normally require medication or therapies However, as I stated extra support for parents may be useful. and at times a change in formula or probiotic can be useful

Colic will affect between 10 to 40% of all infants. The most common age are between 6 weeks of age ending prior to 6 months of age. At times but rarely will colic last for the entire first year. Colic affects both girls and boys evenly

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What is Acquired Brain Injury

Through my many years of caring for those with health needs I have had chance to work with several individuals who have had brain injury. Brain injuries affect how individuals think, act and feel. The way we knew the individual is not always how they are after the brain injury. However, a few things that one needs to remember when caring for those with brain injuries are:

• remember that they are a person that suffers with a brain injury not a brain injury that occurs to a person
• no two brain injuries are exactly the same
• brain injuries are all complex and are great different from person to person
• Cause, location of brain injury and severity all help determine the effects of brain injury

Every 9 seconds someone suffers from a brain injury. Brain injuries that are congenital, inherited, degenerative or caused by birth trauma are known as ABI. More than 3.5 million individuals will suffer from this type of brain injury.

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Red Cross Month

March is red cross month. The red cross is a non - profit nationwide organization that has been around for 130 years. It is the American public that is what helps make the American Rod Cross what it is. Therefore the  many life saving services and programs depends on help from volunteers.

There are a several ways to donate to the red cross:

• at Redcross.org you can donate a one time amount or set up a routine monthly amount of giving
• donate a $10 amount by texting 90999
• call and donate via credit card 1-800-733-2767
• mail checks to the American Red Cross                                                             P.O. box 4002018                                                                                             Des Moines Iowa 50340-2018

The donated money goes to help take care of human lives via

• Disaster relief victims that need to leave their homes are helped by the red cross. The red cross has helped to provide families with 290,000 overnight stays in a safe location in 2018 and provided more than 8.2 million meals and snacks. In addition blankets, bedding, batteries, pet food and other needed items were donated
• victims of home fires are also helped. In fact this is a great demand as this is a more personal area where the Red Cross cares for victims. Food, cleaning supplies and other needed items to recover from the fire are donated. The Red Cross may also need to provide shelter to those who have no where else to stay.                                                                                                                The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign helps to enable staff and volunteers to install hundreds of thousands of smoke alarms in U.S. homes. 
• The Red Cross also trains responders, many of which are volunteers. The Red Cross certifies trainees to volunteer with the Red Cross. Training in areas of First Aid and CPR are available in both online and classroom methods. 
• American U.S. armed forces are helped by the Red Cross as well. When those in the military are deployed as well as during emergencies the Red Cross is there to help provide home comforts and services Whether its a boost by visit from Red Cross Dogs , emergency communication delivery from those serving in military to those back home or helping veterans when in need

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Alport Syndrome Awareness

March is the month that the Alport syndrome community reaches out to help bring awareness to this kidney disease that many have never heard of . Alport is a rare disease and that means that the attention that is spent on diseases that affect millions of individuals will never be offered. However, there are 30,000 to 60,000 individuals that do suffer from Alport syndrome in the United States

Alport syndrome is named after a British doctor A. Cecil Alport. It was Dr. Alport that helped to first bring awareness to what at that time was an unknown disease that was demonstrated thru progressive hereditary nephritis and deafness. He noted that there was blood in the urine and that was the most common symtom. In addition he also took note that more males were affected by this disease then women were

In 1961 the disease that Dr. Alport  had researched was given the name of the Alport Syndrome. An inherited disease of the kidney that can also affect the inner ear and eye. The disease affects th IV collagen family of proteins. These type IV collagen is major part of important  tissue structures that are present in the kidney, inner ear and eyes

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Navojo and Spring Ceremonies

Spring time to native Americans is often very religious. Thousands of years ago in prehistoric times many of the Native American cultures took place. Many believe that Native Americans may have migrated from Asia across a once present but now gone land bridge that may have occupied both Alaska and Russia. However, many others believe that the indigenous Americans have always been present in North America.

No matter the origins of beginning Native Americans have for long had developed religious beliefs. Many of the early beliefs were noted by Europeans who arrived on North America during the 1600s. The observed behavior was not understood and the Native Americans did not care to share their beliefs. Thus, what was noted was written in questionable measures.

Many of the Navajo ceremonies speak of God, the Sun, Earth, Moon and Sky. The religious practices emphasize healing rituals from curing diseases to healing relationships among all living things. One spiritual ceremony is known as the nine day Mountain Chant marks the start of the transition to the season of Spring. Prior to the winds of spring the ceremony will take place

If this ceremony was held at any other time the danger of deadly lightning and snake bites are very much present. The chant that is said is part of a curing ceremony that is for those that are sick, restores order and balance in human relations. The chant tells the legend of a Navajo family eldest son.

The young man is captured by the Utes but manages to escape with help from the god. Through his return home he will come up against many hazards. Fighting thru the problems he will learn a great deal about magic and ceremonial acts. Finally he returns home to see that his family has grown into an entire tribe. Therefore it is said that the message must be told and many visitors outside of the Navajo Nation are welcomed in to hear about it.

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Good Night for Big Bowl of Chili #Recipe

 One of my all time favorite food choices that is perfect year round but one that i love to serve on snowy winter days is none other than chili.

The manner in which I make chili is different than my moms because what I often made is more closely related to that of chili con carne. The dish is often thought to have Mexican roots. While the Mexican authorities deny this there are several stories that show how this claim could be possible.

Was it the nun Sister Mary of Agreda that during the early 1600s who one day had an out of body experience in which her spirit arose and traveled across the Atlantic to preach to the Indians. Upon her return she wrote the chili con carne recipe that included chili peppers, venison, onions and tomatoes.  Yet, another story tells of another chili combination created by a native from Canary Island in 1723. However, another version and the earliest written description of chili came from J.C. Clopper who lived near Houston. In 1828 Clopper wrote of how the poor families prepared a hash sort of dish made with peppers and other items that were stewed together.

No matter on where the first chili recipe the next thing to come was the places that would sell chili. One market in San Antonio set up chili stands were bowls of chili or o'red as it was known was sold. These women who sold the chili came to be known as "chili queens" Customers could get a bowl of chili, bread and glass of water for 10 cents. Thus selling of this dish was not only a perfect meal but also grew to be a tourist attraction.

At the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago the San Antonio Chili stand was a grand attraction. Like many dishes that are represented at the great fairs the chili grew in popularity. Chili joints would make their debut in Texas and begin popping up all over the west. Some joints were simply sheds or rooms with a counter and stools. Perhaps it was these little joints that helped keep many alive since the chili was cheap and the crackers were free.

This chili is often served over spaghetti and is then called chili-mac or TwoWay chili. According to Floyd Cogan, “The proper way to make chili-mac is to place cooked spaghetti (al dente) on a plate and cover it with chili, with grated Parmesan cheese on top.”

2 pounds coarsely ground chuck steak
1 quart water
1 cup chopped onions
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon powdered allspice
4 whole cloves, crushed
1 bay leaf, powdered
½ ounce unsweetened chocolate
3 tablespoons chili powder (or more for heat)
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1½ teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons flower mixed with 1/4 cup water

Combine the chuck steak and the water and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients except the flour mixed with water and simmer for 3 hours.
Add the flour mixed with water, bring to a boil, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve.
Yield: 6 servings

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Go Ahead Sleep in Public

Has the weather outside helped make you a bit more tired?? Between that and working th midnight shift at work has me more tired than normal. I sit around and often before I know it my head will start to nod as I tend to fall asleep. Thus I was very surprised when I realized that February 28th was Public sleeping day.

The day was created to allow individuals to know that it is o.k. to sleep outside in nature. The cold winter weather makes this a bit more difficult so if you decide to participate in the event then be sure to pack your sleeping bag. Perhaps you do however feel a bit tired and there is no where else to sleep then don't worry it perfectly acceptable to sleep outside today.

 

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Information Tooth Fairy

Early this month my 7 nope hold that go back he also turned 8 this month.

Lets start again (lol) The point I was trying to get at was earlier this month he had a tooth to come loose from his mouth and come out. He knew all ready about the tooth fairy that comes and trades your tooth for a bit of those green back $$. I am fairly sure you may have heard of the tooth fairy. However, where did this all get started??

The history of this little dental fairy came to be an encouragement for children to take part in good dental hygiene habits. The tooth fairy came on scene during the mid 1920's. This was a time period where fairies represented all sorts of health education from bath fairies to fresh air fairies. The fairies were all ways to get kids to recall to eat their veggies, wash behind their ears and get a good night rest.

In 1927, Esther Watkins Arnold created a small playlet for children title "The Tooth Fairy" It was the perfect time as the world was full of imagination and perfect timing to introduce a tooth fairy that would collect the lost teeth of little boys and girls in exchange for a coin or two The play introduced the character of the tooth fairy that would slipped into homes then and now. As time went on the tooth fairy character has changed in many ways

As most things do , the tooth fairy has changed a bit over the years but the theme behind the scene has remained the same. But while the thought of the tooth fairy is fairly new the Islamic culture has been celebrating lost baby teeth since the 13th century. The lost baby tooth would be tossed into the sky toward the sun as prayers for a better tooth to replace it were offered. This same concept is taken just a bit differently but still the same in Turkey, Mexico and Greece. However other countries such as Norwegian and Finnish children are warned of the "tooth troll" who watch children who do not brush or take care of their teeth.


The tooth fairy is connected to many a different rodent or animal as well. World cultures an nationalities believe that squirrels, mice, and even rats are shapes that the fairy may appear in. There are 20 baby teeth in a child's mouth so that means that 20 teeth will fall out of a child's mouth before they loose all their baby teeth.

National Tooth Fairy Day occurs two times a year. The first on February 28th and the second on August 22nd. This coincides with the fact that dentist recommend 2 checkups a year. If you choose to celebrate the gift of a lost tooth a good idea would be to promote good dental hygiene with it. After all, a good tooth is worth much more to the Tooth Fairy than a bad one is.

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Tortilla Casserole

1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1 cup organic frozen corn, thawed
3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
4 ounces baked tortilla chips, crushed
1  roasted red bell pepper, chopped
8 ounces lower-sodium green chile enchilada sauce (such as Frontera)
2.5 ounces shredded cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend (about 2/3 cup)
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.

Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 6 minutes. Add garlic and flour; cook 2 minutes. ­Gradually add milk and stock, stirring constantly; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, and cream cheese.

Spread 1/2 cup milk mixture over bottom of a broiler-safe 11 x 7-inch baking dish. Layer corn, 1 1/2 cups chicken, and 2 ounces chips. Top with 1/2 cup milk mixture. Layer 1 1/2 cups chicken, bell pepper, and 2 ounces chips; top with 1 cup milk mixture and enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with green onions.

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children self esteem

We all desire to give our children the best of all that we can. Did you know that starting them out on the right foot with a positive self image is one of the best things that we can do?? Here are some great ideas to help you bulk up your child's self esteem:

• Ensure your child does not believe that they will get everything that they want. Teach them not to be mad just because they did not get all that they wanted. Setting a good example of doing this will also help reinforce this. While it is o.k. to be upset showing deep rooted anger is not good. 
• Let children know that they are responsible for their own feelings. That they themselves can help control how they feel and others can not be responsible for their feelings. Teach them to not blame others for how they feel
• Allow whenever possible for children to settle their own disputes between siblings and friends
• allow them to see that some teasing is harmless.Teasing is sadly part of life and at times being able to ignore it will help. Teach them to use "positive self talk" 

sticks and stones 

can break my own bones 

but words can never hurt me

• Help children see their own talents and strengths. Point out things that they can do well
• Encourage good behavior and treating others as they would like to be treated 

• Teach your child that while they may have just a few really good friends to always make as many friends as possible. 
• Share with them the gift of laughter. Never take their self super serious and always enjoy life. Life is hard and if we learn to laugh during our walk through it all the better. 

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English Muffin Casserole #Recipe

Butter, softened (for pan)
4 English Muffins, split, toasted
½ pound sliced (about 10 slices) small round sliced Ham
1¼ cups shredded (5 ounces) sharp Cheddar Cheese
8 large eggs
3 cups milk
1½ tablespoons Dijon Mustard
Coarse Salt and ground pepper
¼ teaspoon Hot Sauce, such as Tabasco

Generously Butter a 2-quart shallow baking dish (oval or square); set aside.
In a baking dish, alternately arrange, cut side down, muffin halves and Ham.
Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard, ½ teaspoon salt, a pinch of pepper, and hot sauce until combined.
Pour over English muffins and ham; cover tightly with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
Place large pan over strata, place heavy pan on top. ( So all ingredients will be covered in egg mixture, soaked.)
In the morning, Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet; remove plastic wrap.
Bake until puffed and set in the center (see note below), about 1 hour and 30 minutes. (Tent loosely with foil if strata starts to brown too quickly.)
Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Let the strata chill 2 hours, and it will be nice and moist. If you leave it overnight in the refrigerator, it will be even more custardy.
To test to see if it is done, use a sharp knife and insert in center; it should not be jiggly, but should feel firm and the knife should come out clean.
Arrange the muffin halves and Ham upright for beautiful presentation and easier serving.
When cutting, you'll be able to see the layers and make sure each portion contains a few pieces of bread and ham.

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Eat Strawberries

Strawberries arrive early spring and have been eaten and enjoyed by many cultures through the ages. Indigenous people prior to European exploration, ancient Romans not only ate them but also thought that they offered many health cures and it was the European Renaissance that brought individuals to raising strawberries to be eaten. Perhaps no other area has raised more strawberries than the United States

In 1851 James Wilson from Albany New York started patches of strawberries. By the 1880s there were more than 100,000 acres of strawberries being grown. Strawberries are currently being grown in all 50 states with over 75% of the strawberry crop coming from California. Not only are these little red berries being raised in so many places there are also lots of great ways to prepare and eat them.

Strawberries can be enjoyed plain, with cream, made in jams, in syrups or frozen. Strawberries are used to flavor ice cream, breakfast cereal and so much more. What is your favorite way to prepare and eat strawberries?? Me , I love to eat them right off the vine and we also make lots of yummy desserts with them. In addition, my daddy always celebrated his birthday in early June with a strawberry / rhubarb pie rather than cake.

This post has offered you much information about that beloved red berry that wears its seeds on the outside but just to finalize this post I am sharing just a few more little bits of trivia

• The first fruit to ripen each year has an average of  200 tiny seeds on each 
• Strawberries while considered berries are not technically. They belong on their own as many things that make a berry a berry are missing

• Strawberries are good for your muscles, brain, heart and can even help lower your blood pressure Strawberries have been show to help prevent the development of cancer and can aid in improve cognitive sense

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The Polar Bear

In and around the Arctic Circle you will find the Ursus maritimus, better known as the polar bear. The polar bear is large in size similar to the Kodiak bear. The male polar bear weighs around 775 - 1,550 lbs the female bear is smaller in size. In addition, the polar bear has many body features that help them adapt to the cold temps in their environment

Polar bears move across snow, ice and open water and dine on seals. When seals are not available because the ice caps they live on are diminished the bears live off of fat that they had previously consumed. Climate changes have helped place the polar bears on the vulnerable species. Nonetheless the great white bear continues to thrive.



Polar bears are considered marine mammals because they spend many months at sea during the year. Their large limbs and feet are powerful and allow them to cover miles on foot and run on land.  This has mystified many cultures including the native Americans

Native Americans thought of the polar bear spirit as a powerful, dangerous and potentially revengeful spirit. The shaman often used the likeness of the polar bear on belts or pendants.  The tribes did hunt polar bear. The hunt was a dangerous one with much taboo about it as well. Perhaps the most feared was the period of days following the kill when the bears soul was thought to be evil causing illness and other distress.

Following the kill the hunter must not enter their home with any outer clothing on. For an entire month the hunter that captured the kill must not eat meat or blubber of the bear



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Forked Oven Potatoes

6 pounds small Yukon Gold potatoes (1  1/2″–2″-diameter), peeled
1 tablespoon kosher salt plus  more
1/2 cup olive  oil

Preheat oven to 425°. Working in 2 batches, cook potatoes in a  large pot of boiling salted water for 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer  potatoes to a rimmed baking sheet. When cool enough to handle, firmly scrape the  tines of a fork up and down potatoes, creating a rough, grooved  surface.

Pour oil onto another rimmed baking sheet; bake (to heat oil)  for 5 minutes. Add potatoes; turn to coat. Season with 1 tablespoon salt. Roast,  turning 3 times during cooking and occasionally basting with oil, until browned  and tender, 60–70 minutes.

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Spaying and Neutering Battles Overpopulation of Animals

Every year an average of 6 to 8 million pets are placed in animal shelters with only around half of these finding homes. The next question is what happens to the rest of these precious animals?? The sad fact is that many of them are euthanized because there simply is not enough room for all of them in shelters. However, even worst than that fact is that many of these animals are not is known as "street animals" but are rather pets that were lost and never reclaimed or found.

Over breeding and unplanned litters also help with the issue of overpopulation. Some animals that are not euthanized may face starvation, disease, freezing weather or being killed in traffic. You, can help by offering a shelter animal a forever home. I believe that all animals deserve a loving home and family. Perhaps you are looking for a new four legged animal to add to the family, why not check the animal shelter first??

The issue of spaying and neutering is important and offer their own benefits:

• no need to worry about unexpected pregnancies 
• female pets need not worry about mammary tumors, uterine infections or uterus or ovarian tumors when spaded. 
• neutered male dogs are often less territorial
• neutered males are less likely to experience prostate tumors and infections, testicular tumors and perineal hernias

Spaying and neutering can help fight the war on pet overpopulation as well as keep our pets healthier

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Pistachip Gelato #Recipe

Pistachio Gelato

About 3 cups (3/4 liter)
2 cups (1/2 liter) whole milk
1/3 cup (65g) sugar
2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch, also known as corn flour
7 ounces (200g) Bronte pistachio paste (see Note)
a few drops of lemon or orange juice

1. Make a slurry by mixing the 1/4 cup of the milk with the cornstarch, mixing until the starch is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
2. Heat the rest of the milk in a medium-sized saucepan with the sugar.
3. When it almost starts to boil, stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook at gentle simmer for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Remove from heat, scrape into a bowl, and chill thoroughly, preferably overnight.
5. Once chilled, whisk in the pistachio paste and just a few drops of citrus juice until smooth.
6. Freeze the gelato in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

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Pistachios Ice Box Cake

It's a nutty sort of day on this 26th day of February. Today, is the day that is known as World Pistachio day. It is a day to share some great reasons that pistachios should be added to the daily diet plan of many. Some of these great health benefits include:

• rich source of protein
• full of fiber
• packed with vitamin B
• having pistachios in the daily diet may help reduce the risk of heart disease

The pistachio is known as the happy nut in China and the smiling nut in Iran. A native plant to the middle east and central Asia the pistachio plant would go on a journey traveling with Alexander the Great army from Greece. Traders would find commodity with the pistachio nut and share it through out the European continent. Thus introducing a new food to the crowds that would easily be added to baked goods.

Eventually the pistachio would reach the United States. Middle Eastern immigrants would bring the nuts with them during the late 19th century. Today, the United States, Iran, Turkey and Syria are all top growers of the nut. When the pistachio originated as a commercial product the shells of the nuts were dyed red or green by the growers. The color dye helped hide the marks and dents that were made on the shells during harvest. The harvesting procedure has changed and there is no longer any reason to dye the shells.

18 Graham Crackers
2 packages 3.4 oz Instant Pistachio Pudding
2 1/4 cups cold milk
8 oz whipped topping
Chopped pistachios for decorating optional

Line an 8×8 pan with foil and set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together milk & pudding mixes for 1 minute. Refrigerate 5 minutes.
Remove 1 heaping cup of whipped topping and set aside. Fold remaining topping into pudding until combined.
Layer 6 crackers in prepared pan. Top with half of pistachio mixture. Repeat layers ending withy crackers. Top with reserved whipped topping.
Refrigerate overnight, cut into squares and serve.

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Potato Salad with Bacon

quarts good quality chicken broth
3 lbs Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch squares
12 oz thick cut Applewood smoked bacon, cooked and chopped, reserving 2 tbsp.
¼ cup bacon drippings (reserved from the cooked bacon)
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
¼ cup chopped red onion
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
In a large pot, boil the potatoes in the chicken broth until done, yet firm. Drain.
Whisk together bacon drippings, vinegar, and Dijon mustard, and toss with the potatoes while still warm. Allow potatoes to cool completely before proceeding.
Fold in the mayonnaise, then the bacon, peas, and onion.
Add salt and pepper--between the mayo and bacon, you can probably go light on the salt.
Garnish with parsley and reserved bacon.

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