My Insanity

CANTALOUPES

Cantaloupes are named for the papal gardens of Cantaloupe, Italy, where some historians say this species of melon was first grown.

Cantaloupe with its refreshingly rich flavor and odour and minimum number of calories, is the most popular form of melon. Cantaloupe is also referred to as a netted melon because it has a ribless rind with a distinctive netted skin. It has evolved as an excellent source of vitamin C.

One cup of cantaloupe contains 112.5% of the daily value for this well-known antioxidant. Cantaloupe has antioxidants that help us fight heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, aging, etc. Cantaloupe is also a very good source of potassium, vitamin B6, dietary fiber and niacin (vitamin B3)

The combination of all these B complex vitamins along with the fiber found in cantaloupe make it an exceptionally good fruit for supporting energy production through good carbohydrate metabolism and blood sugar stability. Cantaloupe is fat and cholesterol free, and is a good source of Folate.

Healthy Cantaloupe Recipe

Cantaloupe Ice Popsicle

Ingredients:

• 1 small Cantaloupe
• 1/3 cup Honey
• 1 tsp. Fresh mint leaves
• 1 Lemon

Cut the cantaloupe in half, remove the seeds and peel. Puree the flesh in a food processor together with the honey. Add the finely chopped mint leaves. Squeeze the lemon and add its juice to taste. Pour the mixture into the Popsicle molds and leave in the freezer for 1 hour or until they begin to set. Arrange the Popsicle sticks in the middle and put back in the refrigerator until completely frozen. Alternatively, you can add some low fat yogurt or milk to the mixture for a more creamy texture.

 

GOOD SEASON FOR TOMATOES

I love to share this information
According to the National Cancer Institute, there is now enough data to show that people who consume large amounts of tomatoes and tomato products have a significantly decreased risk for prostate, lung, and stomach cancer. There is some evidence that people who consume a lot of tomatoes may also have a lower risk of pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal, oral, breast, and cervical cancers.
...And for those with heart problems
The tomato help to dissolve animal fat in foods such as in butter, cheese, eggs, pork, beef, and many deep-fried foods, thereby preventing hardening of the arteries.
Tomato is also useful in reducing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for coronary heart diseases and stroke.
Lycopene, present in abundance in red tomatoes, is a potent antioxidant. Recent research has demonstrated that lycopene is at least twice as effective as b-carotene in protecting blood lymphocytes from NO2 radical damage.
Potassium is very important for the kidneys. Potassium was found to reduce high blood pressure. One jumbo tomato (approximately 3 inches in diameter and weighing about 7 oz.) contains nearly 450 mg. of potassium.
Its good to know
Tomatoes contain lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C and other nutrients. Their claim to fame includes everything from lowering blood pressure to boosting immune function. So what better way to be healthy than by making homemade tomato juice? Try a spicy tomato cocktail or how about a hot tomato drink?
Other facts about tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes juice boosts sugar formation in the blood, acting as an excellent natural energizer when feeling exhausted
Contains antitoxin elements, protecting the liver and stimulating its activity.
Fights negative effects of increased fat intake, otherwise rapidly absorbed by the body
Is an excellent remedy against sunburn: tomato slices applied on burned skin for 15 minutes decrease inflammation and accelerate regeneration; lycopene protects skin against bad UVs, reducing the risk of sunburn
What have in common tomato, watermelon and pink grapefruit? Yes, all are healthy and taste good, but, more then this, all are red. Responsible for this red color is Lycopene, a carotenoid that seems to be a valuable compound for a healthy diet. Tomato contains, per gram, more lycopene then any other vegetable or fruit.
You may also want to know that:
Tomato gives you as much as 10% of daily dose of Vitamin A,13% of Vitamin C,1% of Iron and 1% Calcium.
For those of us who garden and grow tomatoes, there often comes a point in the summer tomato growing season in which the bounty greatly exceeds one's ability to consume it, in its regular tomato form. If you find yourself in this position, and you love tomato juice, V8, Bloody or Virgin Marys, I highly recommend making your own tomato juice. My dad announced the other day that he was going to make some tomato juice and I thought nothing of it. But after one taste, wow. This is how V8 should taste
HOMEMADE TOMATO JUICE RECIPE

Some tomatoes are sweeter than others, depending on their ripeness and the variety of tomato. Use the ripest tomatoes you can. Added sugar will balance the natural acidity of the tomatoes, use more or less to taste. Tabasco hot sauce is also to taste, depending on your desired level of spiciness.

What to do with the leftover tomato pulp? Try frying it up with some eggs for a tasty scramble.YUMMMMMM
INGREDIENTS
3 pounds very ripe garden tomatoes, cored, roughly chopped
1 1/4 cups chopped celery with leaves
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 Tbsp sugar (to taste)
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch black pepper
A couple shakes of Tabasco sauce, about 6-8 drops (to taste)

METHOD

1Put all ingredients into a large non-reactive pot (use stainless steel, not aluminum). Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until mixture is completely soupy, about 25 minutes.

2Force mixture through a sieve, chinoise, or food mill. Cool completely.

Store covered and chilled. Will lasts for about 1 week in the refrigerator.

Makes about 1 quart.

So when I saw this recipe I jumped on the hay ride
I'm seriously cannot wait for the weather to get cold so I can enjoy some pumpkin cooking.
I have some pumpkin recipes, ...and here I go straight to the cooking board. Let me start with the soup, its so wonderful to come home to a hearty hot bowl of soup specially when the weather out side is direful.
Black beans and pumpkin soup MMMMMMMMM!

Ingredients:
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tsp cumin seed
2 cups vegetable broth, or fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
15 oz pumpkin
1/4 tsp cilantro, finely chopped
1 ancho pepper
1 cup water
Cooking Directions:

Heat ancho pepper in dry skillet over medium heat until softened; remove chili and discard veins and seeds. Add cumin seeds to skillet; cook until toasted, about 30 seconds (watch carefully and do not burn). Process ancho chili, cumin seeds, black beans, onions, garlic, broth, and water at high speed in blender until smooth. Transfer bean mixture to saucepan; stir in pumpkin and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 5 minutes; season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls; sprinkle with cilantro. This soup can also be served chilled. You can make this soup 2-3 days in advance; it can be frozen up to 2 months. Courtesy American Dry Bean Board.
try it and let me know the results

If that one do not push the taste but How about his one?

Pumpkin with Oregano Tomatoes Oh yeah!

Ingredients:
1-1/2 lb pumpkin, peeled, seeded and cut into 1 in. cubes
1/2 tsp oregano, or 2 tsp fresh, chopped
1/8 tsp white pepper
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
1/3 cup water or chicken stock
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
Cooking Directions:
Heat oil in a heavy nonstick pan over medium high heat. Add garlic and onions and reduce heat to medium. Cook 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion begins to turn golden. Stir in remaining ingredients and salt to taste. Increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cover pan and reduce heat to low. Simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally or until pumpkin is tender.

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Imagine (1971)

John Lennon (October 9, 1940-December 8, 1980)
Lennon would have turned 70 years old today

It is true that there are foolish individuals who have
never properly examined the fundamentals of the Divine
religions, who have taken as their criterion the behavior
of a few religious hypocrites and measured all religious
persons by that yardstick, and have on this account
concluded that religions are an obstacle to progress, a
divisive factor and a cause of malevolence and enmity
among peoples. They have not even observed this much,
that the principles of the Divine religions can hardly
be evaluated by the acts of those who only claim to follow
them. For every excellent thing, peerless though it may
be, can still be diverted to the wrong ends. A lighted
lamp in the hands of an ignorant child or of the blind
will not dispel the surrounding darkness nor light up the
house -- it will set both the bearer and the house on
fire. Can we, in such an instance, blame the lamp? No,
by the Lord God! To the seeing, a lamp is a guide and will
show him his path; but it is a disaster to the blind.

~ Abdu'l-Baha,
The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 71

How will our children know who they are, if they don't know where they came from

Nostalgia

Days pass seasons.... moths melt into years, and we stand looking back at our lives-

Childhood memories, existing moments, crisis and turning points.

In January we think of new beginning, in February of our first kiss, that first date or the first love.

Would ever June pass without thinking of Weddings. Summer days at Grandma's house, days of sandals, sun glasses, beaches and suntan. November and December bring in mind those families tradition, we hold on tights in our hearts.

Memories are like ivy on the garden trellis inescapably entwining our lives.

No matters how old you are, memories and reminiscence open a richer, fuller, understanding of who we are, remembering will draw you closer to those people in your life.

 

"For all of us,

Today's experience are

Tomorrow's memories"

by Barbara Johnson 

 

 

 

The problem with "mistakes" is that in today religious societies they are often equated with moral failure, rather than simply operational failure. This makes it not merely inconvenient or unfortunate to have made a mistake, but sinful. In certain religious or morality-based cultures, normal human error can be considered an offense against God -- punishable by severe and disproportionate sanctions or suffering.

My purpose is to evolve, not to condemn; to grow, not to die; to experience, not to fail to experience. My purpose is to Be, not to cease to Be.

what is important in your life is what you decide is important -- and this decision will indelibly create who you are. Make good decision

All things move cyclically. There is a natural rhythm to life, and everything moves to that rhythm; everything goes with that flow. Thus it is written: "For everything there is a season; and a time for every Purpose under Heaven."
Wise is the one who understands this. Clever is the one who uses it