National BarBQ month

National BBQ Month occurs each year in May. While around here the weather has not been perfect for barbecuing with all the rain we squeeze it in whenever possible. The term barbecue refers to pork that has been cooked over a high smoke fuel source like wood or charcoal. However,  the term now includes other meats and foods and refers to the cooking method not a special dish.

The method of cooking barbq style is thought to have originated from the aboriginal peoples in the Caribbean and Florida. Barbecue during the mid 18th century mean "a dressed whole hog," While the two terms barbecue and grilling out are occasionally used together there is a difference. Grilling often uses more direct heat from lower smoke fuels and may even allow the flames to touch the meat. Barbecue uses a more indirect heat, and higher smoke fuels. Either way summer time is here get out and do some cooking.

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Liver and Onion #Recipe

2 lbs. Kosher calves liver or other livers can be substituted
3-4 tbsp. oil
2 large sweet onions cut in rings
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided 1/4 cup to dredge liver, 1/4 cup to cook onions later in recipe
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt to taste
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper to taste

Mix 1/4 cup flour with salt and pepper. Dredge liver slices in the flour. Set aside.
Heat oil in large skillet on medium high heat. Add onions and saute till transparent. Remove from pan. Set aside.
Lower heat to medium low. Brown liver on both sides. Do not overcook. Remove from pan. Set aside.
Put onions back in pan and add 1 tablespoon flour.and little water and stir. Scrape up any bits of meat and mix in with the gravy. Use your judgment and add up to 1/4 cup of flour, a tablespoon at a time, and up to 1/4 cup of water, a little at a time, stirring constantly, until you achieve a gravy consistency. If it looks too thick, add a little water. If too thin, add a little flour. Once you achieve desired consistency, lower heat and cook for about 5 minutes.
Then add liver back to pan and cook for about 5+ minutes. Judge if it is done by cutting into liver. Liver should look slightly pink in the center.

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National Beef Month

May is the month to recognize beef farmers, beef nutrition and beef recipes. Beef is one of the top agricultural industries for the United States as well as many places in the world. The beef industry includes those that raise beef, those that process beef and those that prepare and sell beef to the consumer. Another fact that you may not be aware of is that there are more than 94 million head of beef cattle that are produced by 1 million producers here in the United States.

Many beef producers in the United States are on family owned farm. Texas is the top producer of beef in the U.S. Following Texas are the states Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Dakota. The most popular breed of beef that are raised in the United States are Hereford, Angus, Brahman and Charolais all though there are many other breeds raised as well. In addition the basic cuts are chuck, loin, rib and round. 

The names of the cut of meat may range from area to area. One serving of beef is 3 ounces no matter the cut. One serving will provide more than half of the required protein that is needed in the day. Needed amino acids will be gained through the consumption of beef. 



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Cinco De Mayo ==== Mexican Day of Independence

Happy Cinco de Mayo. Did you know that today, May 5th, is thought to be a day of independence for Mexico and is celebrated as Cinco de Mayo. It is the day that  the Mexicans gained victory over the French who had armies stationed around Mexico in 1862. Perhaps Napoleon should have thought twice before trying to establish a permanent colony in Central America

Napoleon sent Prince Maximilian and his wife Carolota to set up a permanent residence and make it ready for others to arrive safely as well. Colonel Diaz would defend the city of Pueblo. Out numbered and facing stronger weapons Diaz would stand strong.  Thus a battle similar to David vs Goliath in the bible.

While the Mexico territory was battling the French the American Civil War was also taking place. The United States would offer a bit of help to the Mexican army by offering guns and ammunition. Many American soldiers would also help the Mexican army in battle. However, it would take a total of 5 years before the French would all together leave the area.

Cinco de Mayo is not an official holiday in the United States, although many towns observe it and have celebrations to celebrate it.

Snickerdoodle Blondies #Recipe

Snickerdoodle Blondies (Adapted from My Baking Addiction)

For the dough
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
16 tablespoons (2 sticks or 1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 cup cinnamon chips

For the topping
1 tablespoon coarse sugar (I used demerara)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
pinch fresh grated nutmeg

To prepare the dough
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing until well combined after each. Mix in vanilla. Add dry ingredients and stir just until combined - fold in cinnamon chips.
Scoop mixture into a 9" x 13" baking dish coated with cooking spray - spread the stiff dough over the bottom to form an even layer.

To prepare the topping
In a small bowl, stir together coarse sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Scatter mixture evenly over the top of the dough.
Place pan into the oven and bake until the center springs back when lightly pressed, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and set pan on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting.
Makes about 24 bars.

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Happy May Day

The first day of may is also known as May Day. It is a time to celebrate spring and has been around since ancient pagan times. The Celtics observed the feast known as "Beltane" and honored the sun god by lighting bonfires as they welcomed spring back. However, the celts were not the only ones that celebrated the fact winter was over.

Ancient Romans celebrated "Floralia" or a "Festival of Flowers". The festival began six days before the end of April and ended at the beginning of May. Roman customs have been adopted by many who celebrate May Day. Among the customs are gathering flowers and weaving them into wreaths and head garlands.

Europeans continued this theme of flowers in spring by decorating their homes with the first blooming flowers and selecting a "Queen of the May" then dancing around doing the maypole dance.   This folk dance is ceremonial and performed around a tall pole dressed with greenery or flowers. In addition, some customs included women washing their face with the early morning dew on May 1st to improve their complexion and offer them eternal youthfulness

May Day took serious fact on life as well. With puritans persecuting all that celebrated the day and other politicians using the day for their benefit as well. Some socialistic and communist countries celebrate May 1st with speeches and a show of military strength. In addition, May 1st is often though of as the working mans labor day



Happy May Day!!!

customs Associated with May Day

April 30 was long a day for a group of individuals in England to express their opinions of their neighbors. The day was known as "May Birchers" and would see individuals and groups go from house to house on the eve of May Day to decorate the doors with boughs of trees or flowers. These decorations were not just plain, no they were used to express opinions of how others felt about the individual that lived in the house. NO one, no matter who you are, likes to be addressed in such a manner and the custom ended

Another custom had individuals dressing up their own homes as well as others with flowers and greenery Gong out before sunrise early May 1st to welcome the vegetation spirits that would bring good fortune.

A custom known as 'lifting' was a special time between the young ones in the village. A group of boys would choose a girl to boost high into a chair decorated with flowers. The lifting would take place on May 1st and the girl would then choose a boy on May 2nd.

A festival celebrated in Rochester England celebrates the chimney sweeps of the past. In past times the sweeps would put away their tools to have some fun on May the first. Today that festival continues with music, flowers, dancing and entertainment.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is sexual assault month. All to often we hear about this terrible crime occurring but what exactly does it include??

Sexual Abuse is considered any sexual act without consent no matter who the abuser is. 




Sexual Assault occurs when someone is forced by another person using threats or force.

Date Rape occurs when unwanted intercourse by someone the victim knows
Many times sexual assault and rape occur because the person wants to gain power over the victim.

Actions that are included under Sexual Abuse

• 
  

  Sexual Harassment includes behavior that makes your school, work, or home environment intimidating, hostile or offensive. Sexual harassment occurs when someone offers unwanted sexual remarks, behavior or touching. Both male and females can be accused of sexual harassment.

• Telling unwanted sexual stories or jokes
• Making sexual remarks about a person’s clothing & the way it fits on the person’s body
• Staring at a person’s body or body parts 
• Continuously asking a person out or sending gifts, s, or love notes after they ask you to stop
• Touching, patting, or pinching someone in a sexual way 
• Getting too close to or brushing up against someone 
• Offering something a person needs in return for sex.

If you feel you are being sexually harassed then you should tell the harasser to stop and report the harassment to someone in charge

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS ILLEGAL & YOU CAN BE PROSECUTED!

Knowing how to protect yourself from sexual abuse and violence is something we all need to know Some of the first things you can do to protect yourself are:

• Keep windows/doors locked.
• -Don’t open doors for strangers.
• -Make sure you know neighbors.
• -Don’t be out alone, night
• -Be alert.
• -If you feel threatened yell & run to people
• -Avoid hostile or disrespectful people.
• -Be careful about meeting people from the Internet.

All to often people that are sexual assaulted refuse to report the event. Some of these reasons include:

• they Know their attacker
• Want to forget it happened.
• Are embarrassed
• Feel guilty & blame themselves
• Are afraid of their attacker, family, friends, &/or partners

If you are sexually assaulted you should

• Get away from further harm.
• Call 911 & then call family &/or a friend
• Don’t change your clothes or take a shower!
• Go to a hospital or a police station before going anywhere else.
• Seek therapy or counseling.

Not reporting or reporting later can have consequences 

• You can’t seek medical care.
• If it is not reported, it can happen to someone else.
• It will be hard to prove you were assaulted.

Those that are sexually assaulted say that in many ways their lives are never the same. Often they have been through a very physical and emotional event full of trauma Because of the event they may also suffered injuries, bruises, cuts and / or broken bones. The fear of a possible pregnancy or STD is also a major concern. In the end many that suffer through a sexual assault will later be classified as having PSD.


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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare both was born and died in the month of April. The English poet, playwright and actor is often refereed to as "Bard of Avon" His work consist of 39 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 long narrative poems, and a few other verses. Have you ever imagine what life would have been like in the days of William Shakespeare?? In those days and times:

• Most children both rich and poor would leave home to train for their futures
• clothing in those days was determined by law so that you could tell at once if the individual was rich or poor
• women and actors wore makeup made up of chalk, lead and powdered mouse bones
• A few recipes from the Shakespearean days

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Healthy Avocado Salad

2 whole Avocados
4 whole Hard Boiled Eggs
6 whole Hard Boiled Egg Whites
1 whole Lemon, Juiced
½ cups Red Onion, Diced
½ cups Cherry Tomatoes, Diced
3 Tablespoons Capers
¼ cups Fresh Dill

In a large bowl, use the back of a fork to mash the avocado. Chop hard boiled eggs and hard boiled egg whites.
Add eggs, lemon, red onion, tomatoes, capers and dill into the bowl with the avocado and mix to combine.
Eat by itself, in a wrap, with crackers or on a sandwich for a delicious healthy avocado egg salad.

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apple and fennel salad

Salad
1 Granny Smith apple
1 Pink Lady apple
1 bulb fennel (fronds reserved)
Korean Licorice Mint leaves (optional)
Pecans (candied or not)

Dressing
2 Tbsp White Balsamic vinegar
4 Tbsps Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
Sea salt
Pepper

Core apples and slice to 1/8th an inch thick.
Shave fennel as thinly as possible. You can do this with a knife or using a vegetable peeler.
Add shaved fennel to bowl, top with apple slices, pecans, a scattering of fennel fronds and Korean Licorice Mint.
Dress salad and eat.

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Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree

One tradition in America that dates back to the Civil War era was wearing a yellow ribbon in your hair to let others know you were "taken" by a man who was absent due to their service in the U.S. army cavalry. The song by Tony Orlando titled "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" written in the same thought in place topped U.S. song charts April of 1973. Not only was the song a top hit in the United States but also in the United Kingdom.



The song tells the story of a man who upon returning home after being gone in prison for 3 years and eagerly awaits that his love would be welcoming him home by tying a yellow ribbon around a tree. In 1981 a tradition had begun of yellow ribbons being tied to welcome home the Iranian hostages.


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Cool Snack #Recipe

2 cups strawberries, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
4 plain yogurt (your favorite flavor)
1 cup cashews
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine strawberries, water and sugar in a small pot, and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes. Allow to cool.
Divide the yogurt into 4 cups. Pour some of the preparation over, add cashews and finish with chocolate chips.

Serve immediately.

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A Variety of Uses of Hemp

Cannabis has been a crop grown by civilizations for thousands of years. The Egyptians, Chinese, Persians, British and even early settlers to the United States have grown the crop. While Hemp and Marijuana are both from the cannabis genus when the plant Cannabis was outlawed so was the use of hemp. However, the use of hemp continued in many other places

Many confuse hemp with the marijuana plant. They are closely related but hemp is taller than the marijuana plant. The marijuana plant requires more care than the hemp plant. In addition the hemp plant grows quicker and easier and has a great variety of uses.

Hemp can be cultivated for industrial purposes for many years. China and the Middle East have used hemp in a variety of ways since 8000 BC. Hemp plant fiber and seeds are used in a wide range of textiles such as canvas, boat sails, clothes, paper, twine, fish nets and more.

Are you aware that hemp can be eaten and is used in many different recipes. Hemp seed can be snacked on like common nuts or added to cake batter to produce baked goods. Hemp offers essential fatty acids and amino acids that our bodies need. Likewise, hemp seeds can be used to make oils and / or flour.

Not only is the hemp plant edible and useful in human food it can also be used to make pet food. Hemp helps makes cats coats shiny and healthy. Dogs, cows and horses are offered added dietary supplement in hemp. Perhaps you have smaller animals like guinea pigs or other rodent, use the seeds as pet bedding.

Hemp offers content that aids in regeneration of cracked and dry skin. It is also a great moisturizer. The oil in hemp can be used in a variety of items like candles, lanterns and paint. In addition, when added to paint the paint job will last a lot longer and there is not need to worry about toxins or harming the environment as hemp is a natural product

Other uses of hemp include making clothes such as jeans, sports wear and lingerie. Clothes made with hemp have a longer use life. Some labels that have been known to use hemp fiber in their clothing include Ralph Lauren, Armani and Calvin Klein. Another great use for hemp is in plastics as hemp is biodegradable and can help with the over filling landfills.

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Bulldogs are Beautiful Day

Each year on April 21st Bulldogs are flattered with the day of Bulldogs are Beautiful day. This celebrates the bulldog and all they have to offer including those droops and wrinkles. Bulldogs have saggy skin and an incredible under bite that makes them appear to have frowns all the time. In addition this day challenges individuals to offer a message of acceptance of the bulldog.

The bulldogs stout bodies often make them look stern. The drooling and slobbering of these dogs also make them appear a bit gross.Many sport teams, universities,military institutions and other organizations including the United Kingdom use the bulldog as their mascot. Perhaps you should also know I am a bit partial to bulldogs as they are our local school mascot.

Before I close some fun facts about bulldogs:

• Bulldogs are in the same family as ancient Asiatic Mastiffs that were very intelligent with strong jaws that were used to defend man and livestock
• There is a great variety of bulldogs including () english bulldog () bull mastiff () bull terrier ()Straffordshire Bull Terrier () American bulldog () American Pit Bull 
• Both President Franklin Roosevelt and Helen Keller both owned Pit Bulls
• A bulldog named Sergeant Stubby was honored as a WWII hero

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Move Over Slow Down

This year there has all ready been 2 deaths due to careless drivers on the roads. The deaths were caused by crashes into stopped squad cars on Illinois roadways. These wrecks could have been avoided if drivers would slow down and move over for emergency vehicles. In addition, Scott's Law created when a trooper was struck and killed while responding to a car crash is currently only an act but state officials are urging congress to pass it.

For those that break Scott's Law tougher punishes are being created. The bill if passed will slap drivers with a misdemeanor charge for any crashes that lead to injury or death. However, the law only allows violators to face up to 10,000 dollar fine and loss of their license

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National Park Service Week

We are lucky enough here in Southern Illinois to have a National Park close by.

The third week of April is set aside to celebrate National Park Week. Through out the country there will be programs and events to get more people out to visit the National Park There are many lessons that we can all learn from the land and park rangers that have vast knowledge as well. Perhaps no one quite knew how large the National Park service would be when the first Yellowstone National Park was created

Yellowstone National Park was first admitted in 1872. It was the world's first true national park and was made up of 2 million plus acres of land from the territories of Montana and Wyoming. The Secretary of the Interior was given the responsibility of preserving all timber, mineral deposits and other resources in the park. Now, there are 417 national parks, each with their own tale to tell. '

Some ways to enjoy national parks include:

• Have a night sky party and enjoy looking at the stars in the sky
• check out the variety of birds
• see what National monuments and Historic Shrines are located in the parks
• check out the variety of festivals hosted by the parks
• try something new , many parks host events you may never have seen before

The National Park Service was established in 1916. National parks, monuments, and hot springs and reservations were placed under the management of Congress.

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Italian Anise Cookies #Recipe

For the Anise Cookies
3 c. All Purpose Flour
3 tsp. Baking Powder
3/4 c. Granulated Sugar
3 large Eggs
1/2 c. Butter, melted
1 tsp. Anise Extract
Nonpareils, for decoration
For the Icing
1 c. Confectioners Sugar
1 tsp. Anise Extract
2 tbsp. Milk

For the Anise Cookies
Preheat oven to  350 degrees F.

Start by adding all ingredients to your mixer; then slowly blend until the dough forms.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat mat and drop 1 tbsp. of the dough onto the pan. (The cookie won't spread much so you can place them about 2" apart.)
Bake for about 10 minutes or until the bottoms turn a light brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cookies have cooled, dip the top of the cookie into the sugar mixture, place back on the wire rack; then sprinkle with nonpareils. (I like to dip about three to four cookies; then sprinkle because you want to make sure the sugar is still wet so the nonpareils will adhere.)

For the Icing
Combine the confectioners sugar, anise extract and milk in a small bowl and mix until the sugar is smooth.

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Calories in Common Easter Candy

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Alll Because of His Love

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