On My Mind Today

Always nice to serve something different from traditional salads for gatherings with family and friends. Summer allows us to take advantage of the fresh vegetables available this time of year, and this recipe from  prouditaliancook.com  is the perfect way to use them. This is easy to make and doesn't use mayonnaise so it can sit out for a longer period of time.  Filled with great flavor and sure to be a big hit at your cookout. Plus, it makes a large salad so there was plenty left to enjoy the next day. Summer Chopped Veggie Salad 1/2-pound green beans, cut into 1/4-inch pieces 1/2-pound yellow wax beans, cut into 1/4-inch pieces 1/2 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed 1 cucumber, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch pieces 2 ears fresh corn (I used 1-/2 cups frozen corn, thawed and well drained) 1 yellow pepper, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch pieces 1 red pepper, seeded and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces 1 small red onion cut into 1/4-inch dice 4 or 5 tomatoes, seeded and diced into 1/4-in

Watching and working alongside the bees is a joy. Each year I look forward to my time with them in the garden and flower bed. As they buzz from flower to flower, we work in unison; each of us creating beauty and bounty. It would be not only heartbreaking, but detrimental to our food source, if they were to become extinct. WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THEM: Pollination is essential to ecological survival. The human race and all of earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive without pollinators. Of the 1,400 crop plants grown around the world that produce all of our food and plant-based industrial products, almost 80% require pollination by animals. When bees and other pollinators visit, the result is larger, more flavorful fruits and higher crop yields. WHO ARE THE POLLINATORS? Although birds, bats, and other creatures are also pollinators, insects do the bulk of the pollination that affects our daily lives. The familiar pollinators are bees and butterflies, but you might be surprised by

 Si·lence [ˈsīləns] - NOUN - quietness · quiet · quietude · still · stillness · hush · tranquility · Silence is not easy to find today. We are constantly bombarded with noise at home, work or out in public. At home even if we are not watching we will have the television on with the constant noise in the background, or a radio playing. If we aren't listening to these things we will be looking at the computer and perhaps watching videos. At work there may be other people talking around us, or even machinery running depending on where we work. When out in public there will be noise from traffic, chatter all around in a restaurant or even in the stores we frequent. Noise can lead to high blood pressure, anxiety and stress, and has a marked physical effect on the brain. It's no wonder we may feel we are losing our minds some days. We never have an escape from the constant din swirling around us. As a society we are starved for silence and solitude. Some may not even know this and ar

We love a recipe remix! For this recipe, we took the flavors of a classic deli Reuben sandwich and layered them into a quesadilla. You can turn just about any sandwich into a quesadilla — a Cuban or turkey club would all work well — just don’t put cold or fresh ingredients inside the tortilla. Use them as toppings instead. Reuben Quesadillas 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 onion, sliced Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 4 ounces thick-sliced corned beef, sliced into thin strips 3 tablespoons finely diced dill pickle (from about 1/2 pickle), plus more pickles for serving 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup ketchup 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 5 teaspoons spicy brown mustard 4 large (burrito-size) flour tortillas 1/2 pound sauerkraut, drained 6 ounces shredded Swiss cheese Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until tender and golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the corned beef

As I get older, I have become more aware of what effect the breakdown of the family unit has on our children, and society as a whole. Divorce, a more mobile society, and the struggle to make a living all have had an impact. Hard to keep a solid family bond with all of these changes. Fifty plus years ago, family members were more likely to remain in the communities they grew up in which kept them connected. Divorce was on the rise, but still not at the level of today, and the economy was good enough, so people did not work 6-7 days a week. I am divorced and the one thing I do regret is the break-up of the family unit. Even if the divorce is somewhat amicable, children are impacted in some way. Their sense of security and self-esteem all take a hit, and they may look to others to fill these needs. They may get the attention they need from others, but it is not the same as the deep feeling of belonging that family gives. The ability to move so easily from one part of the country to anothe

Self-Respect: Pride and confidence in oneself. Dignity: the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. Modesty: behavior, manner or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency. Morality/Morals: principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. A person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. Social media, television, movies, restaurants, stores and the beach; everywhere you look there appears to be a lack of self-respect and decency. Many people are exhibiting behavior void of modesty and dignity, setting a bad example for children who observe them. I am not a prude, and feel I've been open to changes that have occurred over the last several decades. As a young woman I was one to follow whatever fads came along, and at times wore clothing that exposed a bit more of my body than I would consider showing today. The folly of youth, and the I don't care what anyone thi

This Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake recipe comes from Melissa Griffiths at www.barbarabakes.com . It is a very tender and moist lemon coffee cake, loaded with blueberries and topped with a crunchy, sweet crumb topping, and finished off with a tart lemon glaze. Absolutely delicious and sure to be a big hit for either your family dessert, breakfast or brunch with friends. Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake Prep Time: 10 minutes - Cook Time: 45 minutes - 12 Servings Crumb Topping: ½ cup granulated sugar  ¼ cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons butter, melted Cake Batter: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter softened, 1 stick 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs large 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup whole milk 4 ounces 1 tablespoon lemon zest 2 cups blueberries fresh or frozen Icing: 1 cup powdered sugar 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice Instructions: Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray with flour. Prepare crumb

It's very easy to get comfortable with the people who love us, which is both a good and bad thing. It's good to be close enough that you can let your guard down and be yourself. The bad thing is that because you are so comfortable, you sometimes forget to treat them the way they should be treated. The longer you are with someone the more you see the habits that can drive you crazy, rather than the things that make you love them. For some reason you always see those little things that can annoy you. Perhaps because it is easier - at least easier than taking the time to remind yourself of the good things. When this path is taken too often, you will find yourself treating acquaintances with more kindness and respect than the one who loves you. When somebody loves you, they take you not only when you are at your best, but also when you are at your worst. They accept all of your qualities and habits. They listen when you are happy, sad or angry; they bear your burdens with you and s