Up North: Black Cherry and Pecan Ice Cream

We were a family of boaters and when I was younger we spent part of every summer on the Great Lakes, Georgian Bay and in the Little Traverse Bay area. The latter meant we saw a lot of the busy summer resort towns of Petoskey, Charlevoix and Harbour Springs. There are several restaurants and hotels in those three towns owned by Staffords and over the years we've enjoyed eating and staying at every one of them. When I go up now, I usually stay in Petoskey at Stafford's  Bay View Inn. 

A candy and ice cream company you may be familiar with named Kilwins (which has been around since the 40's) used to make a very special ice cream only for the Stafford establishments: Black Cherry. Staffords became famous for it. It was ambrosial and we always saved room for dessert when we visited any of their restaurants. Still do. As far back as I can remember, everyone in my family looked forward to a dish of that ice cream (particularly my dad).

A few years ago, when my sister and I were lunching at the Stafford's Weathervane restaurant in Charlevoix, we got into a conversation with the manager and asked why we had never been able to buy a cone of that wonderful ice cream at Kilwin's in town. He told us that Kilwin's, after many years, asked the same question; indeed, they wanted to offer it to their customers, who had been asking for it for ages. Of course, I have no idea what Stafford's contract with Kilwin's was, but we were informed by the manager that the Kilwin/Stafford black cherry ice cream arrangement was over. Staffords turned to a company in the Traverse City area and asked if they would make it for them. Perhaps Staffords owns the recipe? I have no idea. As far as I know, the Traverse City company still does the supplying. And it's every bit as fabulous as it ever was.

So, if you happen to be up north near a Staffords establishment, be sure to order their black cherry ice cream for dessert. If you're near a Kilwin's, you can now buy their version of  it, but I'm quite sure it's not the same as the black cherry Stafford's serves. Because Florida beggars can't be choosers, when Kilwin's opened in my area, I kept my fingers crossed; their black cherry was perhaps close enough to the original.....satisfaction might be at hand. Or so I thought. Guess what? They don't carry black cherry in their Florida stores at all!  Ever.  :(  

Lately I've been experimenting with different recipes and finally came up with one I really like, but trust me when I say....it's just not the same. Could it be nothing tastes as good as it does when I'm in northern Michigan? After all, we must factor memories in with that ice cream and Stafford's black cherry has many years of happy memories attached to it. At any rate, this is as good as it's going to get until I  visit the north country again.

Black Cherry Ice Cream with Toasted Pecans

Ingredients:
For the cherries:
1 pound fresh black cherries
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup sugar
a squeeze of lemon juice

For the ice cream:
1  cup half and half
2 cups heavy cream
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1 cup cherries, prepared as directed below
3/4 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped
red food coloring, optional

Method:
Stem and pit the cherries and place in a saucepan with the water and sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer for 25 minutes. Stir frequently. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice.
Cool. You can keep refrigerated for a couple weeks if you wish.
When ready to use, let the cherries drain in a sieve. (You can use the leftover syrup in drinks.) Chop the cherries.
In a bowl, whisk the creams and sweetened condensed milk well. Add the chopped cherries and pecans and, if you like your ice cream a definite pink, a drop of food gel.
Freeze according to manufacturers directions.

Friday Palladium

First off, a mistake, and this is only me. In my old age I have to be more careful. I took the bus schedules (off the Internet) for Saturday, where they should have been for Friday. But i didn't really do so bad.

I got the bus in Nanakuli after five which seemed to be a little earlier than usual but I didn't really notice. But I got to the Public Library in town at 6:10 which was just right. I asked about the 13 bus. "Just went by" Waited 20 more minutes for the next.

Got to the famous Palladium about seven pm. Not bad. Met Jim Brierly and he hasn't been feeling well and looking like he lost weight. But he is a good member of the dance community and willing to help where he can. He is one of the pillars of our dance world.

Got into Hawaii Gardenia Circle dance on the Ewa side and they were starting up nice. Good contact with many friends and I got a good photo at the reception desk.

 

Seated: Davod Mayman, Hélène Tombelaine. Standing: David Asato,

Nancy Luckie, Ivan John and Gayle Kawahakui.

Hadn't seen David Asato in years, but nice to see he can still dance. Hopefully he can contribute a few words to the blogs now and then. Not too many people at this occasion but it was nice since so many of the attendees were of the exhibition. competition type dancers that need more space to dance.

Went over to Dance Hawaii and was overwhelmed with the amount of people there. Since they are mostly social dancers, they don't need the extra room. This is a relatively new group. and of course mostly West Oahu folk. I can see this outfit rolling. Wait till we get the new Dance Pavilion at the Patsy Mink Recreation Center. That is going to be the berries. "You ain't seen nuttin' yet."

Sitting: Dianne and Bob Nishimura and Eileen Nakano. Standing:

Ana and Jim Arrowhead, and Jane Wong.

I then went back to Gardenia and tried to get another photo, but everybody wants to dance. That is perfectly understandable. I did go around testing the waters. There were at least two groups represented that will probably never be with us.

Though there were also at least two other groups represented that seem friendly enough to come back in the fold. I would welcome them very much. We are first and foremost for the dancers. If you have to have it for your club, that is your choice and you should do as you see fit.
 
Went back to Dance Hawaii and the place was jumping. Walked around and cased the joint. So many nice friends there.

 

More of our good people: Florence and Benjamin Peralta,

Lasting and Fil Bartolome, Tandy Alconcel and Manny Carrion

Went back and forth, and danced a few times. Got ready to leave and I got some ice cubes from the ice maker in the kitchen side and I tested my time solution for a good taste. Walked through the lanai and thought to get a couple of last shots.

The left photo: A banquet fit for a King (and Queen) and

the right photo: the lucky people dining "al fresco."

Nice walk back to the bus and a little tiring but I stopped to rest and take a drink on the way.  And had a few more drinks waiting for the bus. The E bus was late according to my data. But I got a nice seat and booted up my computer for music.

With a few more drinks and my nice music coming in through my new earphones, I was getting a nice buzz before getting on the freeway. I checked the time and it seemed a little late but I was beginning to feel no pain.

A breeze all the way to Waipahu Transit Center, and the time was late. However the #40 arrive almost immediately later, and I was relieved. A few minutes later I realized I had been on the Saturday schedule and this was  Friday. I am so brilliant.

Got home before ten and made myself another Rum and Coke and got on the computer. A nice meal after and conked out right after midnight.

Recommended Daily Dose of Tylenol to be Reduced

Johnson & Johnson will lower the maximum daily dose for Extra Strength Tylenol to reduce risk of overdose. McNeil Consumer Healthcare notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the new dosing instructions will appear on Extra Strength Tylenol products in the U.S. beginning fall 2011. The move from eight pills per day to six is meant to encourage the appropriate use of acetaminophen, according to a release from the consumer healthcare company. 

The company will also lower the maximum daily dose for Regular Strength Tylenol and other acetaminophen-containing products for adults starting in 2012.

Sources: msnbc.com

Dancing Swing Opinions

By Brian Kwon, Waianae
Dance instruction is not universal, and for many dances (particularly swing dances,) (and folk dancing,) it is quite common for them to be taught and described differently in various regions.

"Just take what you love doing, and do it with

enough other people to make it the future."

In Hawaii we are very fortunate to be pretty well influenced, country wide, on swing. We get many views from different parts of the country. There are some trends that tend to be generally recognized as "right", but we are lucky that we do not have a governing body over swing dance that says what is "right" or "wrong".

Swing dance generally refers to a category of dances that includes Lindy hop, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Jitterbug, and many other dances listed as swing dances. Also, keep in mind that swing dancers and ballroom dancers tend to view their dances differently. That is why we have independent Swing Dance Clubs on several Islands.

For example, while ballroom dancers usually see Lindy hop and East Coast Swing as being very different from one another, there are many credible swing dancers who consider East Coast Swing to be a subset of lindy hop that uses similar techniques rather than a completely different dance.

"Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward

Swing opinions like any other dance opinions are not limited to experts only. They should be open for anyone to speak as they please. The ones out there dancing for years know something.

We would hope that the contributing editors of any article to these blogs would include more qualified experts who could add information to articles beyond what an amateur could do. That would be a welcomed addition.

However no one has the right to say that an amateur cannot have an opinion. Besides, what constitutes an "expert" can be subjective. I've known dancers who claimed to be experts when they could not follow some of the most basic principles of swing dancing. And many of you have seen the same.
Brian

"Reunited" by Peaches & Herb
 

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

All we need is a good community center with a little bit of space.

Laminate flooring can be installed over many existing floors, including wood, tile, vinyl, and linoleum. Most laminate flooring systems are floating, which means they do not fasten directly to the plywood subfloor (or existing flooring material) with nails or glue.

Rather, they utilize an interlocking system that is held together with an adhesive. The adhesive holds the flooring material together, while allowing the subfloor below to move independently of the laminate. The adhesive also helps seal off the core material from surface moisture. Many manufacturers now offer glueless, snap-together systems that require no fasteners or adhesives.

We will get new clubs and new places to dance in the West.

Tips to Deal with Picky Eaters

Dealing with picky eaters is a very common problem for parents. You are definitely not alone on this one! Oxigen Magazine published a great article with tips to ease the process:


So make meal times fun for your kids and yourself by following some simple rules:

Step by step: Introduce only one new food at a time instead of giving a completely new meal. If you want your child to eat an unfamiliar or new food try and introduce it with something they like. For Example, instead of giving your child palak or methi as a subzi try giving them spinach dhokla.

Small to big: Use small portion sizes initially while introducing new foods. Gradually move on to bigger portions. Do not force your child to finish the entire plate in one go.

Be positive: Some children have negative associations with some food. Try to change the form and texture of that food to change the association into more positive ones. For instance some foods remind children of ′hospital food′ or ′hostel food′ and they refuse to eat them.

Make meals healthier: Try to improve the nutritive value of the food that your child enjoys. For instance if you child likes pastas or pizzas try whole wheat pasta or pizza with a lot of vegetables. Enrich some of the foods with additives. You may add tuna to sandwiches, fruit to cereal or vegetables to pasta, spinach to dosas or carrots to idlis.

Don’t bribe: Resist giving your child sweets and fried foods to encourage them to eat. You may be doing more harm than good.

Make mealtimes relaxed and fun: Avoid TV and other distractions that may lead to overeating or losing interest in food. Talk to your child about their day and share with them your experiences. Your child will look forward to meal times. NEVER use TV as an incentive to eat. This will become a habit later and your child might develop a problem of overeating later in life.  

Involve your child: involve them in buying food by taking them to the supermarket or letting them choose their own menu for one day in a week. This not only teaches them decision making but also helps them get more involved in the preparation of meals. Let your child lay the table or help you clear it and see how involved they get in mealtimes!

Cooking with your child is also a good option. Once in a while, cook interesting but healthy dishes with them. Try making interesting recipes with your kid.

Make a schedule: do not have erratic meal times and do not encourage your child to eat at odd hours. Plan this schedule according to your child’s lifestyle and convenience and involve them in the process.

Set an example: Do not talk about your dislike for food in front of your children as they might follow your example. Eat healthy and watch them do the same!

Educate your child on the benefits of healthy eating and healthy living as-and-when you-think-appropriate.

Encourage your children even when they are older: In case of older children don’t criticize their eating habits or their body type at any cost! It is important to promote a positive body image. Children may slip into eating disorders very easily.

Keep a watchful eye but stay calm: In older children if you notice an extreme desire or pressure from outside to stay thin speak to them about the hazards of eating disorders. If the problem persists do not hesitate to seek medical help.



Source: Oxigen Magazine, Shine

Why is blood pressure important?

The Facts about blood pressure

Why is blood pressure important?

Blood pressure is important because the higher your blood pressure is, the higher your risk of health problems in the future.

If your blood pressure is high, it is putting extra strain on your arteries and on your heart. Over time, this strain can cause the arteries to become to become thicker and less flexible, or to become weaker.

If your arteries become thicker and less flexible, they will become more narrow, making them more likely to become clogged up. If an artery becomes completely clogged up (known as a clot), this can lead to a heart attack, a stroke, kidney disease or dementia.

More rarely, if an artery has become weakened, the extra strain may eventually lead to the artery bursting. This may also cause a heart attack or stroke.

The good news is that there are many ways in which you can lower your blood pressure and put less strain on your arteries and heart.

Read More

Keeping Track of Food Recalls

There are so many food recalls lately, it is really hard to keep track of the most important ones. For this reason, FoodSafety.gov has an updated list at your fingertips. Just click on the link below and you'll have access to federal food safety information. Also, you can set up automatic alerts.

FoodSafety.gov - list of recent recalls 
Set up automatic alerts via e-mail or mobile phone

Hopper Ball

Another great fun way to burn kids energy is playing with a Hopper Ball. Kids love bouncing around on them! That means at least one peaceful hour for you. As a bonus, they will be tired and you may even get them to nap! Wishful thinking, huh? 
What's more, it costs less than US$11. 


By Hopper. 

Raspberry Muffins

Flour is the most divine cookbook, isn't it? I'd like to do a Julie/Julia thing with it, but I know my limitations. :) On the other hand, I often turn to Joanne Chang for ideas and inspiration.
 
Recently I was reading Food 52  (which I hope you know about and at least read if you haven't joined) and someone had made an adaptation of Chang's Raspberry Rhubarb muffins. Because I have that treasured copy of Flour I looked it up to see what changes were made. I liked both the adaptations: browning the butter can't help but improve the flavor of the muffins and the Food 52 recipe used buttermilk instead of Chang's milk. Sounded good to me. 
I've always thought Chang's use of crème fraiche in her batter was a clever idea so I didn't hesitate to combine that with the buttermilk. I didn't have any rhubarb, so I added an extra half cup of raspberries. (BTW, the Food 52 recipe is HERE.)

Not too sweet, which I like in a muffin, and they were moist and tender. Served warm with butter, you can't beat them for Sunday brunch. If you have rhubarb in your garden, use a cup of fresh raspberries and a cup of chopped fresh rhubarb. 
Chang suggests filling the muffin liners right to the top and the image displayed in the book has HUGE overflowing muffin tops. Like mushrooms. I decided to use two kinds of paper liners that are deeper than normal, so only filled mine 3/4 full. They could have taken a bit more. So if you're using regular liners, fill them almost to the top.

Joanne Chang's Raspberry Muffins

From Flour and Food 52

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk or buttermilk, room temperature
1/2 cup crème fraiche, room temperature
1 large egg, room temperature
1 egg yolk, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries

Method:
Melt the butter and allow to brown. Watch carefully, as it burns quickly after a certain point. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 350°. Line your muffin tin with paper liners.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, mix the sugar, buttermilk and crème fraiche. Add the eggs and egg yolk and mix until blended. Then add the browned butter and vanilla bean paste.
Fold in the flour mixture and add the raspberries when it is still not completely combined. Mix until all the dry ingredients are gone, but do not overmix.
Spoon into your muffin cups and bake for about 25  minutes or until a baking tester comes out clean. This recipe made 12 muffins.
Cool on a rack, if you can bear to allow them to cool!  :)

Tips for a Healthy Family

The health of both women and children can be significantly improved by spacing births at least two years apart, by avoiding pregnancies before the age of 18 and by limiting the total number of pregnancies to three or less. Some basic parenting tips are:

* To reduce the danger of childbearing, all pregnant women should go to a health worker for pre-natal care and all births should be assisted by a trained midwife.

* For the first few months of a baby's life, breast milk alone is the best possible food and drink. Infants need other foods, in addition to breast milk, when they are four to six months old.

* Children below three years have special feeding needs. They need to eat 5 to 6 times a day. Mashed vegetables and small amounts of fats or oils should be added to their food to enrich their diet.

* Diarrhoea can kill by draining too much liquid from a child's body. So the liquid lost each time the child passes a watery stool must be replaced by giving the child plenty of the right liquids to drink- breast milk, home - based fluids such as dal water, rice water, butter milk or a special drink called Oral Rehydration Suspension (ORS).

* Immunization protects against several diseases, which can cause poor growth, disability, and death. All immunization should be completed in the first year of the child's life and a booster dose should be given at one and half years.

* Most coughs and colds will get better on their own. But if a child with a cough is breathing much more rapidly than normal then the child is seriously ill and it is essential to go to a health centre quickly. A child with a cough or cold should be helped to eat and to drink plenty of liquids.

* Many illnesses are caused when germs enter the mouth. This can be prevented by using proper latrines; by washing hands with soap and water after using the latrine and before handling food; by keeping food and water clean; and by boiling drinking water if it is not from a safe piped supply.

* Parents should keep an eye on the child's activities and also have knowledge about the mechanism of all the toys with which it plays

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Bouncer Saver

If you have a very energetic kid at home, like I do, here is a life saver: a trampoline!
Sunny or rainy days, it is just perfect to burn their energy, and as a bonus kids will stop bouncing up and down on your couch and their bed. Believe me, they will bounce for hours! A little investment that goes long ways!
The 48" bouncer features 3.5" galvanized springs covered by a oversize fram pad to keep little feet safe. The handle can be set at two heights. The frame is made from rust resistant galvanized steel frame.


By Bazoongi

Calorie Counts on Menus

A recent study shows that New York City's requirement that fast-food restaurants post calorie counts on menus led one in six customers to notice the information and buy foods with fewer calories. 
Although it sounds like a small number, it represents almost 20%! People slowly are becoming more conscious and making changes to their diets. Also, it forces restaurants to offer lower calories options.
Once again, kudos to mayor Bloomberg for passing this law in NYC!


Source: msnbc

The New Tea Dance?

In Honolulu, Saturdays and Sundays take pretty good care of themselves. Everyone goes to have a little weekend fun. Fridays are sometime included as part of the weekend and the working class really takes advantage of the Famous Happy Hour.

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back

and realize they were the big things."

Blue Monday somehow also takes care of itself and there are many venues for just such an occasion. That leaves as with the magic three, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

And no one in this entire world has ever thought of it. Actually many have thought about it but no one has actually done anything about it. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The well known dead days of the week. A place to go right after work?

But now I can see us getting closer to it. Some hotel will do it, better downtown than Waikiki because of the office workers that work in town and live in Makaha, the North Shore, or Turtle Bay. That takes several hours to get home. The lucky ones with jobs close to home say the same thing, "I coulda been home in 20 minutes."

"The Long And Winding Road" by the Beatles

The property owners in downtown Honolulu will make sure that very little is built outside of the Main drag, which is downtown Honolulu. They are doing a half way job in Kapolei, but there is Kaneohe-Kailua, third city?

Could be even better than Kapolei, with evening entertainment for the residents very easy to come by. I am not talking about tourists, that's nice, but I mean the residents. Think of the people there dancing up a storm and getting home in 20 minutes. Yes, I know, it is too much to hope for.

Yes, the Automobile companies and the Gasoline companies also do not like my views. We are talking "bottom line," and I am talking against Big Bucks.

Tooth and Teeth Disease

The History and Causes of Tooth and Teeth Disease:

Essentially, the definition of tooth and teeth disease is anything which causes teeth to be malformed or suffer increasing damage in some way, over a period of time. So tooth and teeth diseases can be caused by genes or the environment. The key to the definition is that it is a process that occurs over time.

Tooth and teeth disease has been around since ancient times. From autopsies of Egyptian mummies, we know that some of the ancient Egyptians died agonizing slow deaths because of uncontrolled tooth disease / decay. Some mummies had all their teeth and jaws infected by tooth disease.

In the 1700's and 1800's we know from published cartoons that toothache was around and was treated often by blacksmiths and, often in public, even on public stages in front of large audiences.

In the late 1800's early 1900's, America was known as having the highest rates of tooth and teeth disease anywhere in the world. The cause of the high rate of tooth and teeth disease was attributed to the highly refined foods that Americans were eating.

The refined foods introduced higher concentrations of substances into the food supply, especially acidic types, which eat away / erode the tooth enamel.

It is clear, that even in the 1800's, the importance of diet in causing tooth and teeth diseases was well known.

This knowledge of tooth and teeth diseases continues to be verified to this day. When soft drinks became widely available, tooth disease increased quite markedly. Soft drink contains both sugar and acid which can quickly breakthrough the enamel of teeth, via causing plaque and acid erosion, allowing disease to enter the teeth.

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Google's Street View cars collect locations of Wi-Fi devices

Google is back in the hot seat today following a CNET report that suggests the search giant's Street View cars collected the locations of countless Wi-Fi devices. Along with mapping Wi-Fi access points (the intended purpose), the vehicles also charted the street addresses and unique identifiers of wireless Internet devices such as laptops and smartphones -- a practice that has been confirmed by the CNIL (France's data privacy commission).

What's worse, the search giant reportedly releases that information online, and you can't opt out of it. Harvested MAC addresses and their last known coordinates are published on the company's public geolocation database for all to access. Although this isn't inherently dangerous (it's effectively just a snapshot of where your device last was, so it's not like someone can stalk you with the information), it still raises valid privacy concerns.

For instance, someone could use the data to show you were at a specific place during a specific time, and that's something you might not want to share with the world. The Internet exploded earlier this year when it was discovered that Apple's iOS devices recorded a year's worth of location data that could be mapped to show your previous whereabouts. The company later released a software update that minimized users' biggest complaints.

And of course, isn't the first time Google's Street View cars have been caught gathering more information than intended. The company faced worldwide investigations, raids and even a $143,000 fine from France after it was discovered that the company "accidentally" collected private information from Wi-Fi networks, including emails, fragments of visited websites and passwords. The US FTC dropped its Wi-Fi sniffing investigation last October.

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Blood Pressure Chart

What is Normal Blood Pressure?

Buy and use an automatic blood pressure monitor. Compare your BP reading with the numbers on the chart above. Draw a line from your systolic pressure to your diastolic pressure. Is the slope of the line about the same as shown on the chart? Where do YOU fit in? What are your risk factors?

Are your blood pressure readings within the normal blood pressure range?
Should you take anti-hypertension medication to lower your blood pressure?

Normal human daily Blood Pressure Range can vary widely, so any single blood pressure monitor reading is not reliable. BP monitor readings must be taken at different times of day, to determine AVERAGE blood pressure levels over time.

What is important is your AVERAGE BP, or MAP (Mean Arterial Pressure) over time.
Or, where are those numbers sitting MOST of the time?
Normal MAP is about 93 mm of mercury.

Read More

Nutrition for Healthy Eyes

Research suggests that antioxidants and other important nutrients may reduce your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Specific antioxidants can have additional benefits as well; for example, vitamin A protects against blindness, and vitamin C may play a role in preventing or alleviating glaucoma.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids appear to help the eye in a variety of ways, from alleviating symptoms of dry eye syndrome to guarding against macular damage.
Eye Benefits of Vitamins and Micronutrients

The following vitamins, minerals and other nutrients have been shown to be essential for good vision and may protect your eyes from sight-robbing conditions and diseases.

Incorporating the following foods in your diet will help you get the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of these important eye nutrients. Established by the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences), the RDA is the average daily dietary intake level of a nutrient sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all healthy individuals in a specific life stage and gender group.

While the RDA is a useful reference, some eye care practitioners recommend higher daily intakes of certain nutrients for people at risk for eye problems. In the following list, mg = milligram; mcg = microgram (1/1000 of a mg) and IU = International Unit.

Beta-carotene

* Eye benefits of beta-carotene: May protect against night blindness and dry eyes.

* Food sources: Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, butternut squash.

* RDA: None (Most supplements contain 5,000 to 25,000 IU).

Bioflavonoids (Flavonoids)

* Eye benefits of bioflavonoids: May protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.

* Food sources: tea, red wine, citrus fruits, bilberries, blueberries, cherries, legumes, soy products.

* RDA: None.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

* Eye benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin: May prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.

* Food sources: Spinach, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, squash.

* RDA: None.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

* Eye benefits of omega-3 fatty acids: May help prevent macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eyes.

* Food sources: Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring; flaxseed oil and fish oil; ground flaxseeds and walnuts.

* RDA: None. (For cardiovascular benefits, the American Heart Association recommends approximately 1,000 mg daily.)

Selenium

* Eye benefits of selenium: When combined with carotenoids and vitamins C and E, may reduce risk of advanced AMD.

* Food sources: Seafood (shrimp, crab, salmon, halibut); Brazil nuts; enriched noodles; brown rice.

* RDA: 55 mcg for teens and adults (60 mcg for women during pregnancy and 70 mcg when breast-feeding).

Vitamin A

* Eye benefits of vitamin A: May protect against night blindness and dry eyes.

* Food sources: Beef or chicken liver, cod liver oil, eggs, butter, milk.

* RDA: 3,000 IU for men; 2,333 IU for women (2,567 IU during pregnancy and 4,333 IU when breast-feeding).

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Honey Bread with Dark Chocolate (Beets and Carrots!)

Honey Bread with Dark Chocolate topping is a tradition in some Latin American countries. Considered a comfort food, locals can find it in almost all bakeries, and serve it throughout the year. Our version has a veggie twist: beets and carrots! Very delicious, healthy and decadent! Here is the recipe:

Honey Bread with Dark Chocolate Topping

Servings: Makes a 9x12 inches pan

- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole whet flour
- 1/2 cup beets, shredded finely
- 1/2 cup carrots, shredded finely
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tbs cocoa powder
- 1 cup honey
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 3 tbs butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Pour into a greased 9 x 12 inch (22 x 30 cm) baking pan and bake in a preheated 325F (160C) oven for about 20 minutes, or until done (test with a toothpick).
When cool, cut into 2 inch (5 cm) squares and cover with the chocolate.



70% Dark Chocolate Topping:


- 70% dark chocolate bars or chips for baking.

Place coarsely chopped 70% dark chocolate, or dark chocolate chips for baking, in a microwave-safe container and microwave at MEDIUM (50 percent power) for 1 1/2 to 4 minutes, until the chocolate turns shiny. Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely melted.
Cover the bread with the chocolate paste while still warm.

Israeli Couscous with Olives and Roasted Tomatoes

Israeli couscous is also known as ptitim. It was invented during the austerity period in Israel, when rice was scarce. (I was surprised to read it's mainly a children's dish in Israel. Certainly not the case here, where it's considered a "gourmet" item.) It's made of semolina pellets about the size of peppercorns. The little balls are much chewier than the smallest (Moroccan) couscous and holds up better to sauces- even in a cold salad—there's no mush. I read a quote recently comparing Israeli couscous to Moroccan couscous: " It's akin to the difference between steel-cut oats and quick-cook oatmeal, but maybe even more extreme." 

I had seen this recipe using Israeli couscous in Gourmet magazine, cut it out and then it languished in my file. When I recently walked into Williams Sonoma and saw a display of all three kinds of couscous, I remembered the recipe, bought the Israeli couscous and gave it a try.
 
The tomato vinaigrette was marvelous. Roasting tomatoes always gives them such a wonderful depth of flavor. I've done it many times to make my caprese salad, but it never occurred to me to make a vinaigrette with them. As it happened, I took this dish to a pot luck lunch. Nobody had ever eaten anything like it, everyone loved it and asked where to buy the couscous. They'd only made dishes with the Moroccan type. This was such a success, I'm going to try the Lebanese couscous next. Any favorite recipes out there?

Israeli Couscous with Olives and Roasted Tomatoes
Gourmet, September 2002

Ingredients:

For roasted tomatoes and dressing:
2 pints red grape or cherry tomatoes (1 1/2 lb)
3 large garlic cloves, left unpeeled
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For couscous:
2 and 3/4 cups chicken broth
2 and 1/4 cups Israeli couscous
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup Kalamata or other brine-cured black olives, pitted and chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Method:

To roast tomatoes and make dressing: 
Preheat oven to 250°F. 
Halve tomatoes through stem ends and arrange, cut sides up, in 1 layer in a large shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pan. Add garlic to pan and roast in middle of oven until tomatoes are slightly shriveled around edges, about 1 hour. Cool in pan on a rack 30 minutes. 
Peel garlic and puree with oil, water, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the roasted tomatoes (reserve the rest) in a blender until dressing is very smooth. 

Make the couscous: 
Bring broth to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan and stir in couscous, then simmer, uncovered, 6 minutes. Cover pan and remove from heat. Let stand 10 minutes. Spread couscous in 1 layer on a baking sheet and cool 15 minutes. 

Put it all together:
Transfer couscous to a bowl and stir in the olives, parsley,  mint and thyme, the dressing, the reserved roasted tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Serves 6.

Do ahead: Roasted tomatoes, dressing, and couscous can be made 1 day ahead and kept separately, covered and chilled. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.

Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression has a variety of symptoms, but the most common are a deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Other symptoms include:

• Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains unrelated to dieting

• Insomnia or oversleeping

• Loss of energy or increased fatigue

• Restlessness or irritability

• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions

• Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide

Depression is common. It affects nearly one in 10 adults each year—nearly twice as many women as men. It’s also important to note that depression can strike at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Depression is also common in older adults. Fortunately, depression is very treatable.

How Depression and Sadness Are Different

The death of a loved one, loss of a job, or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such stressful situations. Those experiencing trying times often might describe themselves as being “depressed.” But sadness and depression are not the same. While feelings of sadness will lessen with time, the disorder of depression can continue for months, even years. Patients who have experienced depression note marked differences between normal sadness and the disabling weight of clinical depression.

Causes

Depression can affect anyone—even a person who appears to live in relatively ideal circumstances. But several factors can play a role in the onset of depression:

Biochemistry

Abnormalities in two chemicals in the brain, serotonin and norepinephrine, might contribute to symptoms of depression, including anxiety, irritability and fatigue. Other brain networks undoubtedly are involved as well; scientists are actively seeking new knowledge in this area.
Genetics

Depression can run in families.

Personality

People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be vulnerable to depression.
Environmental factors

Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make people who are already susceptible to depression all the more vulnerable to the illness. Also, a medical condition (e.g., a brain tumor or vitamin deficiency) can cause depression, so it is important to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or other physician to rule out general medical causes.


Treatment

For many people, depression cannot always be controlled for any length of time simply by exercise, changing diet, or taking a vacation. It is, however, among the most treatable of mental disorders; the majority of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

Before a specific treatment is recommended, a psychiatrist should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, consisting of an interview and possibly a physical examination. The purpose of the evaluation is to reveal specific symptoms, medical and family history, cultural settings and environmental factors to arrive at a proper diagnosis and to determine the best treatment.

Medication

Antidepressants may be prescribed to correct imbalances in the levels of chemicals in the brain. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers” or tranquilizers. Neither are they habit-forming. Generally antidepressant medications have no stimulating effect on those not experiencing depression.

Antidepressants may produce some improvement within the first week or two of treatment. Full benefits may not be realized for two to three months. If a patient feels little or no improvement after several weeks, his or her psychiatrist will alter the dose of the medication or will add or substitute another antidepressant.

Psychiatrists usually recommend that patients continue to take medication for six or more months after symptoms have improved. After two or three episodes of major depression, long-term maintenance treatment may be suggested to decrease the risk of future episodes.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, it is often used in combination with antidepressant medications. Psychotherapy may involve only the individual patient, but it can include others. For example, family or couples therapy can help address specific issues arising within these close relationships. Group therapy involves people with similar illnesses. Depending on the severity of the depression, treatment can take a few weeks or substantially longer. However, in many cases, significant improvement can be made in 10 to 15 sessions.

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From Da Spin Doctor Direct

First, thank you so much for taking the time and trouble you endured to come to the Elks.  Wow!  Second, thank you for all the publicity on your Blog.  Third, thank you for taking the photos!  I simply can't thank you enough and to tell you how appreciative we are!

"Do you see difficulty in every opportunity, or

do you see an opportunity in every difficulty."

Candy and Husband

Yes, please do whatever you feel is appropriate for your blog.  I have to be a bit careful to not have more than thirty "guests" because the Elks is very sensitive to the room capacity being about fifty people - but that is without any dance floor.  We had about 30 folks total on Tuesday, and that seemed to work out just about right.  But, we also had 10 "no shows" who signed up but didn't come.

So, I think we can handle about 5 to ten more folks.  If you could mention again that anyone who wants to come should email me at spindoctordj@aol.com, not telephone.  I am pretty busy with our regular clients and I can't jam up our phone too much without losing business to my competitors.

Again, thank you for all the kind words on your blog.

"I Can Dream, Can' I?" by the Andrews Sisters

I am doing this strictly for fun. At most of our shows the playlist is dictated by the clients. I wanted to do a show where I could select my own music and also take requests and dedications from the dancers. What I have envisioned is something like the old Dick Clark "American Bandstand" show, or an old school sock hop.

There are at least 25 mobile DJs on Oahu, but none are specializing in oldies. Most DJs play hateful cop killer rap and hip hop with filthy lyrics, which I refuse to do. Call me "old school" but I like music that makes me feel good, not violent or mean.

And, sometimes I actually like to affectionately touch (not grind) my dance partner. So, we have a very unique and specific audience. Our music is from the 1940's to 1970's and ends around the disco era. Our audience is similar to those who love Tom Moffitt's Saturday morning shows.

"Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" by Perry Como

We are usually heavily booked most weekends, so I can only do this during the weekdays. If this is a "hit" then I intend to approach the St. Louis Alum club, and maybe a few other appropriate venues that have free parking and a good dance floor with lots of room. I am searching for venues that have a nice (not "industrial") atmosphere. A place like Honey's in Kailua would be ideal.

Of course I can't afford to continue to do this for free, but first things first - we must develop a large loyal following. While we have several repeat party customers, people don't get married too frequently, so it's difficult to develop a following from weddings, which is the bulk of our bookings.

"Music, Music, Music" by Theresa Brewer

Also, we just purchased a KILLER sound system from Bose professional, and I would like to host a few more free events where I can showcase this fabulous sound system and some of our new tech lighting to potential paying clients.

Mahalo, and Aloha!
Professor Bob, Da Spin Doctor
http://www.daspindoctor.vpweb.com/
808-271-4493

Pub's Note: And the first real Tea Dance on the Island of Oahu is closer and may be within striking distance soon. Yes, I can hear it. "Nevah gonna happen."