VALENTINE'S DAY

It seems that Valentines Day dates back to Roman times and is not something relatively new at all. It would be nice to send a funny Valentine's Card to your loved one to let them know that you appreciate them. But what did they do on Valentine's Day in the Roman Times back in the 1600's. It seems that under the rule of Augustus Ceasar there were festivities in February where young men where allowed to choose their partners. At this time the Emporer Claudius outlawed marriage in fear that the men would not want to go to war and leave their wives. The young couples however, fell in love and would turn to the Catholic Archbishop Valentine who would marry them in secret.

When Claudius found out about the secret marriages Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death.While in jail Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter and the day he was to be executed he wrote her and signed it Your Valentine.

Whether this is the true origin or not it is an interesting one. And the cupid that is often depicted on the front? He is the son of Venus, the Roman god of love.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES

A study by the Harvard University has revealed that eating those colourful vegetables helps us to become more optomistic. It is not certain as to why this is so. But colorful vegetables are full of carotonoids and antioxidants and the people tested had higher levels in their body. So how many vegetables a day well looks like 7 is just the starting point the more the better. I have been trying for 10 that is 7 vegetable and 2 fruit. I don't always achieve it and have been a bit lax of late and you know what I don't feel as great as when I was eating more!! For me it is back to the big veg. So how will I do this first off fruit such as blueberries will be on the menu at breakfast again with a desertspoon of yoghurt. It is believed that a little fat is good for getting all the goodness from carrotenoids from both fruit and vegetables. I need to research this further but with a salad I always add a littl oil so that is good. And also for me back to the big salad at lunch time eg lettuce, baby spinach, red cabbage, greated carrot, greated zucchinni, chopped or baby tomatoes all tossed together with a touch of olive or avocado oil.

For Dinner at night with my meat or fish (all portion size) cooked carrots, sweet potato mashed with a touch of butter and half a cup of chopped herbs from the garden eg sage (good for the memory!) marjoram and parsley. Brussell Sprouts lightly cooked in water then halved and cooked in frypan in olive oil together with slivered almonds and one mild chilli chopped. (Don't overcook) Season with Himalayan salt and black pepper.

What are Carotenoid's

"In humans, four carotenoids (beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin) have vitamin A activity (meaning they can be converted to retinal), and these and other carotenoids can also act as antioxidants. In the eye, certain other carotenoids (lutein, astaxanthin[2] and zeaxanthin) apparently act directly to absorb damaging blue and near-ultraviolet light, in order to protect the macula of the retina, the part of the eye with the sharpest vision."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carotenoid

But for my way of thinking don't overdo things like eat heaps and heaps of carrots for example because that could be harmfull.

Happy healthy eating.

LANCE ARMSTRONG AND CHEATS

Well Lance Armstrong is all over the news since the release of his confessions to Oprah Winfrey. What a big dissapointment to cycling.
What about Rosie Ruiz Vivas who joined the the 84th Boston Marathon in 1980 a mile from the finish line and supposedly won the race in record time. She was found out because people were suspicious of her build which was not what a marathon runner was expected to look like. And then it was discovered that no one remembered her entering the race.
Then there was the Comrades Marathon in South Africa is a 56-mile (although there is some controversy about the exact distance) ultramarathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, and notoriously taxing. Sergio Motsoeneng placed ninth in tace in 1999 but he was caught out after it was discovered he and his brother had swithced places in a toilet along the way where they switched shoes. But they forgot to switch their watches and footage revealed the brother who wore the watches on different wrists. He was banned for years, and Sergio returned in 2010 only to be disqualified again for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs after running 3rd.

Truth is stranger than fiction!!

Sources http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/south-african-athlete-sergio-motsoeneng-admits-cheating-comrades-marathon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/archive/permalink/rosie_ruiz_wins_the_boston_marathon/

Spaghetti Bolognaise

I made one of my best Bolognaise Sauces last night and I would like to share it with you.

400 grams Mince

Tablespoon Peanut Oil

1 Brown onion chopped into small pieces

1 heaped Teaspoon (bottled - all natural) Garlic

1 chilli (mild heat) chopped into small pieces

Equivalent of 440 gramm Tinned tomoatoes

2 small grated Zucchinis

2 cups of beef stock (beef cube and waters)

1 Smal Tin of whole Champignon halved

2 Tablespoons Tomato Sauce

1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

1 heaped Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

1 heaped Tablespoon Pomegranate Molasses (is spelt Pomegranet on bottle)

6 Rosemary Stalks (Pick of the leaves and chop 2 stalks

6 Marjoram Stalks (mine were flowering so flowers and all) - Pick off the leaves and chop 3 stalks.

6 Stalks Thyme (leave whole)

2 Sachets Bouquet Garni

Method:

In a large Frypan heat half the Oil then brown the Mince all the while chopping through it to separate the mince and eliminate any large lumps. Remove from pan.

Add remaining Oil heat and add onions, garlic and chilli. Saute on medium heat stirring regularly - do not burn.

Return meat to the Frypan and add the Tomatoes. (I used fresh tomatoes from the garden and chopped them all the same size. As some where small I did not peel them first but removed the skins during the cooking as they peeled away. Using a fork and the wooden stirrer). Add the stock, champigons, Tomato Sauce, Soy Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce and Pomegranate Molasses. Stir Well.

Add the stalks of Rosemary, Marjoram and Thyme. Reserve the chopped herbs and 2 stalks of Thyme until later. Push the stalks into the frypan whole. Add the sachets of Bouquet Garni. Cook in frypan on a low heat for about an hour until the sauce is cooked, reduced and thickened. During the cooking process if using fresh tomatoes that have not been peeled remove the skins. It is not difficult. Stir regularly And after half and hour add the remaining herbs.

When cooked removed the stalks and sachets of Bouquet Garni making sure to squeeze out all the juice from the sachet. Serve with Spaghetti cooked as instructed on the packet. Add olives and top with grated Parmesen Cheese.

I find this amount is enough for 4 servings. I often use any the leftover as an accompaniment to poached or fried eggs and mushrooms for breakfast or lunch. I keep any leftover in the refrigerator for 2 days and then freeze.

Enjoy.

2013 The Year of the Snake

According to the Chinese 2013 is the Year of the Snake. The dates for the Chinese New Year vary does not fall on the same day each year. This year it falls on 10 February. And because this year relates to Water or Black it is known as The Water Snake or The Black Snake.This 2013 year of Snake is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. "Focus and discipline will be necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create.

The snake is a studious creature. Preferring quiet predictability to ruckus and mayhem. Peaceful solitude is also a Saturn preference. It's not surprising that Saturn has such a strong influence during the year of the Snake.

There is no need to put yourself out there. Consider this 2013 year to focus within. You won't be drawn to social situations as you are more interested in serious progress not superficial chit chat. Allow yourself withdrawal as it is necessary to self reflect and ponder situations.

Celebrate the 2013 year of the black Snake with dark colored clothing. Honor this transformative beginning with a day positive thoughts. It is tradition to place a pine twig out to represent the Snake. In mythology the Snake often represented healing of the physical body while shifting to a more spiritual outlook. Expect a true release of past blockages this 2013 year. A great deal of quite progress can be made in the 2013 year of the Snake with the help of the planetary energy. Slow and steady wins the race in 2013 year of Snake."

According to Chinese Astrology, the Year of the Snake person is a smart person.

They think of clever schemes in a cold calculating manner.

"Strengths

They often have a good temper and a skill at communicating but say little. They possess gracious morality and great wisdom. They are usually financially secure and do not have to worry about money. They have tremendous sympathy for others and would like to take actions to help ther fellow human beings. They are determined to accomplished their goals hate to fail. Although they look calm on the surface, they are intense and passionate. They have a rich source of inspiration and understand themselves well. They are people of great perception. Women under the sign of the snake do well in housework but are irritable.

Weaknesses

They are likely to be jealous and suspicious. They should be cautious about what they discuss with others, as it might cause them to lose friendship and opportunities. They tend to overdo things. They prefer to rely on themselves and have doubts about other people's judgment. They are courteous with polite manners, but they can be headstrong. They are fickle and usually have problems in relationships or marriage problems."

Famous people born this year are Darwin, Edgar Allen Poe, and Abraham Lincoln, Dick Cheney, Bob Dylan, John F. Kennedy, James Joyce, Pablo Picasso, Martha Stewart, Kanye West, andOprah Winfrey.

Years of the Snake according to Chinese Astrology(If you were born between the following dates you are a Snake)

01/23/1917-02/10/1918 ** 02/10/1929-01/29/1930

01/27/1941-02/14/1942 ** 02/14/1953-02/02/1954

02/02/1965-01/20/1966 ** 02/18/1977-02/06/1978

02/06/1989-01/26/1990 ** 01/24/2001-02/11/2002

02/10/2013-01/30/2014

Sources:

http://www.gotohoroscope.com/2013-yearly-horoscope.html

http://www.about-sichuan-china.com/year-of-the-snake-2013.html

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/snake.htm

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/apr99/calendar/dog.htm http://www.chiff.com/a/chinese-horoscopes.htm

Shopping Etiquette

This is not the first time that this thought has occurred to me and that is to write about shopping etiquette. Is there such a thing well I am not sure but surely people need to be more respectfull of other shoppers especially during the silly season. I had a lady stop in the aisle after paying for her goods to wait for some assistance instead of going out of the ailse and waiting at the end of the checkout. The queue was growing and I could not use the eftpos as she was in the way. The shop assistant who obviously knew her did not help either. Grrr. Then walking to a shop via a walk way we had a couple in front of us and gave no consideration to us and just dawled along. Then got to the doorway and blocked our path there also. Then there are the couples who shop together and leave their trolleys in the middle of the aisle so that no one else can pass. I know gripe after gripe after gripe but I mean how inconsiderate what is wrong with people today.

Shopping Ettique

+ Get Out of The Way

+ Stay out of the middle of the aisle

+ Don't leave your trolley where others can trip over it

+ Show consideration to others when entering and exiting a shop

+ Don't clog up extry or exit doorways

+ When walking along the mall leave room for others to pass