On My Mind Today

We all love the traditional salads like potato, macaroni or pasta for our summer gatherings. Every now and then it's nice to mix in something new for your guests. Below is a great find from Food Network magazine. If you love black beans and corn, you are sure to enjoy this! Black Bean and Corn Salad   1/4 cup olive oil 2 teaspoons honey Juice of 3 limes 2 - 15 ounce cans of black beans (rinsed) 1 cup thawed frozen corn 1 diced bell pepper 1 bunch chopped scallions 1/2 cup chopped cilantro salt & pepper to taste 1 diced avocado   Whisk olive oil, honey and lime juice. Toss with black beans, corn, diced pepper scallions, cilantro and salt and pepper. Add diced avocado.   

Although a large percentage of people do value education, there are far too many who don't. The time and attention that should be given to ensure children are getting a great education is being spent doing other things. If we don't impress upon children how important it is to educate themselves, then they will be lost and left behind in the adult world. There are thousands of great teachers working hard every day to help children succeed. My sister is one of them who has gone above and beyond for many years to try and educate children and prepare them for the "real" world. These teachers battle federal and sate mandates, and parents who either don't care, or blame teachers and schools if their child is failing. The Federal No Child Left Behind Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills. In order to receive federal school funding, states must give assessments to all students at select grade levels, but the Act does not have any national achievem...

Father's Day - a time to honor and recognize our fathers, or those who are like a father in our lives. A time to thank them for their contribution in shaping who we are as we grow into adulthood. Fathers should never underestimate how important a role they play. Every day their interaction with their children leaves a life long impression. Daughters receive their self-esteem from their fathers. Even if a mother tells them how smart or beautiful they are, it will never have the same impact as when it comes from their father. How a daughter sees her father treat their mother plays a big role in the kind of man she will choose when she grows up. She will gravitate to someone who respects her if this is the behavior she has been exposed to. She needs to be taught that she is valued as a woman. Sons learn from their fathers as they watch how they live their life. What kind of man they become has much to do with who their father is. If he is a kind, honest and hard working man then t...

If you like quiche then you will love this crustless veggie and feta pie. A nice addition to any brunch and it can be served in wedges or cut into small bite-size pieces for easy serving. Bon appetite'! Spinach, Swiss Chard and Feta Cheese Pie   2 tablespoons olive oil 2 lb. fresh spinach, rinsed and stemmed  1 lb. Swiss chard, rinsed and stemmed 6 large eggs 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Ground black pepper 2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts, chopped     Preheat oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a 2 quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.   1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. add the spinach and Swiss chard and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Drain and let cool. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible and coarsely chop. 2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the feta, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, and pepper to taste. Stir in the spinach, Swiss char...

The pollen this spring has lasted longer, and been more overwhelming than any other time in my life. The season may have arrived slowly but once here it assaulted the senses and didn't want to let go. I am fortunate not to have allergies so am not physically effected. My heart goes out to those who have had weeks and weeks with no relief. I can only imagine how they have suffered with watery eyes, runny noses and sneezing throughout this long pollen season. I'm sure any trip outside seemed daunting to them. What also has been difficult to deal with is the heavy coat of yellow covering everything in site. Forget washing your car - as soon as it was done the pollen appeared again in a matter of minutes. I realized just how bad it has been when I washed windows today. Over the last several weeks the pollen mixed with the rain showers and became stuck like glue to the windows. Not an easy task to remove it all, but amazing how clean the windows look now. I'm glad to have ...

Each spring I await the arrival of the flower bed's first blossoms. Seeing the bright colors emerge awakens my spirit after a long winter. By June there are an abundance of flowers not only there, but also in my vegetable garden. The flowering sage and multitude of purple balls on the chives can brighten even a cloudy day. Enjoying these blossoms even more than I do are the bees. Each year they arrive as soon as the first flower appears. Going from one to another gathering pollen to bring back to their hives. Hearing the buzzing of the bees has a calming effect on me. As they go about their business, I will do my weeding right beside them. I am often told that I am going to get stung, but I always say we have an agreement. I won't bother them if they don't bother me. So far we each have kept out word. I often think that it would be nice if this same mutual understanding could apply to humans. Even if our beliefs may be different, we should be able to occupy the same s...

Warmer weather brings the desire for desserts that are light and cool. You can never go wrong with pudding, berries and whipped topping. Make these quick and easy tarts in advance and store in the refrigerator. Delicious and sure to impress your family and friends. Mini Fruit and Pudding Tarts   1 cup cold milk 2 tablespoons orange flavored liqueur or orange juice 1 package (4-serving size) French Vanilla instant pudding and pie filling 1 cup thawed whipped topping 1 cup chopped strawberries Fresh raspberries, blueberries and kiwi slices for topping 6 prepared graham cracker tart shells   1. Pour milk and liqueur into a large bowl. Add pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 1 to 2 minutes. 2. Stir in whipped topping and strawberries. Spoon into tart shells. 3. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve. Garnish with additional whipped topping and fruit.        

With the advancements in technology and the ability to be connected at all times, we have forgotten the value of totally turning ourselves off. This inability to disconnect is not healthy for us or for our family. When we are continually stimulating our brain and not giving it down time - it is no wonder that people are exhausted. And it isn't just excessive bombardment form our techie gadgets. The constant running from work or school to a multitude of social commitments is enough to break you down physically as well. We are wearing ourselves out, and in the process teaching our children that daily life is constantly filled with activities which include either physical or mental stimulation. With no down time to recharge our bodies it's no wonder everyone is short tempered or unable to focus on one another. People are no longer communicating with each other in healthy ways. When your attention is being pulled in several directions you are not fully listening to your fami...