Tulip Tomatoes

Greetings all!
 
Are you a fan of food art? I love looking at photos of beautiful and edible food art although I have to confess I rarely prepare those dishes myself. This recipe, however, is just begging to be made – very pretty, easy to prepare, delicious, healthy, and it makes me think of a lovely spring day!

Image and main recipe idea from https://afewshortcuts.com/tulip-tomatoes/                             

Ingredients:

• 15 large cherry tomatoes
  
• 16 stalks of chives or green onions
  
• 8 oz. cream cheese
  
• 1 cucumber
  
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
  
• salt & pepper
• leafy salad

 
Instructions:

• With stem side down, cut a cross in the top of each cherry tomato (about ¾ down the tomato).
• Use a spoon to scrape out the tomato seeds gently.
• Using a knife/grilling skewer/toothpick, make a hole where the stem currently is - this is for your chives/green onion ‘stem.’
• Make the filling:
• Note: you can use whipped feta cheese or any other cheese/savory creamy concoction.
• Finely chop or grate cucumber.
• Mix cream cheese, cucumber and basil in a bowl.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add a teaspoon of cream cheese mixture into each tomato tulip.
• Insert a chive/green onion into the hole at the bottom of each tomato.
• Prepare the tulip bouquet on a large plate or platter.
• Use the extra chive stalk to wrap around the tulip stems to complete the bouquet.
• You can also use spinach or any other leafy salad for extra leaves, as shown in the photo below

Image from https://forum.say7.info/topic9722.html

 
Bon Appetit! Let me know how you like it!

Selection of Funnies: Cattitude – Part 2

Source (and more Cattitude images!): https://pleated-jeans.com/2024/11/21/funny-single-panel-comics-about-cats-anthony-smith/

The Daily 50 Challenge

Greetings all!

I think it is time for another challenge! Watch this short VIDEO on how to accomplish Your Daily 50. No excuses - we can all start with a modified version, just follow the 75-year-old mom in the video!

• 50 pushups
• 50 squats
• 50 lunges
• 50-second wall sit
• 50-second plank

What did you think? Drop me a line! 

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jDlYcGHzVs&list=LL

Coping with the Weight of the World

Greetings all!

As I was cleaning my email inbox this Sunday, I came across a bookmarked email all the way from October-2023 with the subject “Coping with the Weight of the World.” It made me sad to realize that the weight of the world has not lessened in the past year and a half, and some might even say it got heavier.

If you feel weary and helpless, overwhelmed by fear, anxiety and grief, if you need a break from information overload, or if you just need a pause for self-care, check out these free CALM talks and practices to help navigate uncertain times.

https://www.calm.com/app/feeds/collection-coping-with-the-weight-of-the-world?utm_source=lifecycle&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=midweek_engagement_10142023 

Image from https://www.instagram.com/vinkashy/p/CRmMDkwBS9b/

• May we all be safe.
• May we all be free from harm.
• May we all find relief from suffering.

March 8 – International Women’s Day

https://bookriot.com/strong-women-quotes/

Have a great week! Be yourself, and if you want to sparkle, sparkle!

Source (and more!): https://www.instagram.com/momsbehavingbadly/

Thought of the week – The Paradox of Risk

“The paradox of risk:
 
(1) Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you lose the basket, you lose it all. 

Image from https://pxhere.com/pt/photo/818612#google_vignette 

(2) Don’t put your eggs in too many baskets. The more baskets you manage, the less energy you can put into each one. It’s risky to do things halfway.
 
Diversified, but focused.”

~James Clear, https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/april-23-2020

February 22 - National Margarita Day in the U.S.

Greetings all!

If you are looking for something to celebrate this coming Saturday, why not break out the tequila and celebrate National Margarita Day?!

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Tequila
• 1 oz. Triple Sec
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• Lime wedge to garnish – classic

Variations

• A few slices of jalapeno – make it spicy
• 1 oz. mango puree – make it sweet

Instructions

Shake all the ingredients with ice, strain and serve in a salt-rimmed glass. 

A little Bit of History:

1938 – If you were allergic to all spirits, except tequila, you were in luck! Carlos "Danny" Herrera created the first margarita in Tijuana, Mexico

1945 – "Margarita: It's more than a girl's name” was the slogan used by tequila brand Jose Cuervo

1971 – The first frozen margarita machine was invented by Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez

1982 – “We only go around two times, and then deploy a simulated Margarita before landing” was the message from the shuttle STS-8 astronauts

2008 – Margarita became the most popular cocktail  in the U.S.

2012 – National Margarita Day emerged

Bon Appetit!  

Sources:

• https://www.holidaycalendar.io/holiday/national-margarita-day
• https://nationalmargaritaday.com/ (images and recipes)