Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category
Celebrate with Cascarones for Cinco de Mayo
By reading our post on Taco Saturday, you can see a bit of the history of Cinco de Mayo. My favorite part is not the history of the date, but rather the fun and festivities that have come from such a great date including breaking open a piñata, wearing masks, and eating authentic Spanish food. Another great tradition is breaking a cascarone (egg shells in Spanish) filled with confetti over someone’s head. It is meant to bring good luck. In the mid 1800s they usually contained perfumed powder, but it has since evolved into confetti of all types.
To make cascarones, first you need eggs. I would suggest eggs that are not too small to create about a 1/2 inch opening on top and still have room for confetti. A couple days before party time, clean the eggs. Put a hole in one end that is about 1/2 inch wide or so. Drain out the eggs, rinse the inside of the shell, and set aside to dry. Eggs can be used for cooking as they will not be needed. If you choose to dye the eggs, they do not need to be dry first. Just be sure to let eggs dry for about a day after dying them. Children love this craft because they can help decorate. Let the children decorate the eggs with crayons, markers, or paints in really bright colors traditional of Cinco de Mayo. When the eggs are dry and decorated, fill with confetti of your choosing. Use small squares of tissue paper and some glue to cover over the hole in the end of the egg. If you want to hide the tissue paper some then put more glue on the end of the egg and dip into more confetti.
Children will love the fun they have cracking the eggs over each other’s heads! Parents might suggest that kids break the eggs outdoors for easier cleanup.
Mountain Valley View Farm has a large variety of eggs available for sale to make cascarones. Chicken eggs, geese eggs, turkey eggs, and more. Eggs may be purchased at either of our two locations.
Mountain Valley View Farm, 4301 S. Chapman Road, Greenacres, Washington 99016
Spokane Public Market, Booths 48-53, 24 W. 2nd Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99201
Christmas 2011 provides a powerful opportunity for everyone wishing to live the true meaning of Christmas. Americans are some of the most generous people on earth. Citizens of Spokane, Washington have proven time and again that they are exceptionally generous. The economy this year has had a dramatic effect on the tone of the holiday in many homes. People who have always celebrated in abundance are now cutting back or going without. Not just are members of the middle class learning to tighten their belts, but the numbers of those without homes is continuing to swell. Statistics of those in need are reported regularly. Such statistics create an opportunity for the more blessed majority to make Christmas merry for themselves and the multitude less fortunate. There are plenty of people who truly need help, this year even more than last. Each member of any family who feels blessed this Christmas should make a conscious commitment to give part of what may have been given to each other, to someone or a family in greater need.
Often gifts are given because the exchange is expected. What if as a group your family did something for a needy person or other needy family? You will truly be amazed how much more fulfilling your Christmas will be. The giver and the gifted both will find Christmas more fulfilling.
The joy of Christmas season is best exemplified when Christ is kept in Christmas. I once had someone tell me how to keep joy in Christmas. I was told to think of joy as shorthand for the priorities of Christmas: Jesus first, Others second, and You third. JOY. If we all remember that order I’m sure more Christmas joy will be had by all and we will make Christmas 2011 merry.
Thanks for reading and blogging!
Dr. James G. Hood
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Come See Us at the Spokane Public Market!
We are now located on the second floor in Booth 17 at the Spokane Public Market, 24 West 2nd Ave. in Spokane, Washington. Phone: 509-624-5800
Mountain Valley View Farm has a number of things for sale this wonderful holiday season Enjoy yummy treats this holiday season. They make wonderful gifts for the food lovers in your family! We are featuring our especially moist zucchini bread and our wonderfully tangy mustard in a variety of flavors—Tangy Mustard with Garlic, Cranberry Mustard, Sweet Whole-Grain Mustard with Beer.
Free Samples at the Spokane Public Market this week are:
Zucchini Bread
Classic Granola
Tangy Mustard with Garlic
Old-Fashioned Apple Butter
Come try us out before they are all gone!
Other products you will find at the Mountain Valley View Farm booth include gift baskets, cookbooks, homemade potpourri, cookbooks, and more.
HOLIDAY COOKBOOK SPOTLIGHT!
Christmas Delights Cookbook
A Collection of Christmas Recipes
For this very merry time of year, author Karen Jean Matsko Hood presents a unique cookbook that is full of tasty and satisfying recipes designed around the themes, colors, and traditions of Christmas. Inside are page after page of mouth-watering recipes that, when prepared, will certainly be a hit with both family and guests alike during this special season. Written for the novice and the experienced cook alike, Christmas Delights Cookbook, Volume I is a valuable addition to your kitchen library, and it makes the perfect gift for the chef on your giving list.
As a poet, I found it enjoyable to color this cookbook with poetry so that readers could savor the metaphorical richness of Christmas as well as the literal flavors of the holiday recipes. Do enjoy your reading about Christmas, but most importantly, have fun with those you care about while you are cooking. Inside you will find Christmas-themed recipes, Christmas history, facts and folklore, and poetry by the author.
Christmas Delights, Vol. I – Paperback, $19.95
Rhubarb Delights Cookbook
A Collection of Rhubarb Recipes
Rhubarb is an all-time favorite vegetable that once was used for medicinal purposes, but has always tasted delicious in Mom’s homemade pie. In this cookbook, you’ll find more than just pie recipes to spark your imagination in cooking with rhubarb.
Living in the heart of Washington brings great appreciation for the rhubarb season. Washington State has the ideal climate for growing fresh rhubarb, and is the leading rhubarb producer in the United States, boasting 824 acres of farm land dedicated exclusively to growing rhubarb.
Most people wonder whether rhubarb is a vegetable or a fruit. Rhubarb is often mistaken to be a fruit, but it is actually a close relative of garden sorrel and is a member of the vegetable family. Rhubarb has a unique taste that makes it a favorite in many pies and desserts.
Rhubarb has an interesting history of facts and folklore. Some of this folklore is included in this book. As a poet, I found it enjoyable to color this cookbook with poetry so that readers could savor the metaphorical richness of rhubarb as well as its literal flavor. Also included in this Rhubarb Delights Cookbook are some articles on history, cultivation, and botanical information, along with some interesting trivia and tidbits.
The cookbook is organized in convenient alphabetical sections to assist you in finding recipes related to the type of cooking you need: appetizers and dips; beverages; breads and rolls; breakfasts; cakes; candies; cookies; desserts; dressings, sauces, and condiments; jams, jellies, and syrups; main dishes; pies; preserving; salads; side dishes; soups; and wines and spirits.
Rhubarb Delights Cookbook
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Mountain Valley View Farm, Inc.
Your Source for Northwest Farm Fresh Foods Shipped Worldwide
4301 South Chapman Road
Greenacres, Washington 99016-8732 USA
Phone (509) 928-1800 | Fax (509) 922-9949
Email: sales@mountainvalleyviewfarm.com
Website: www.mountainvalleyviewfarm.com
Online Store: www.mountainvalleyviewfarmstore.com
Blog with us at www.mountainvalleyviewfarmblog.com
Mountain Valley View Farm Hours:
Monday – Saturday
8:00 a.m. – Noon; 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Closed Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Other farm hours by advance appointment only.
Please call (509) 928-1800 to schedule an appointment.
Getaway Studio Dining Room
& Bed and Breakfast
Phone (509) 928-8900
Directions to Mountain Valley View Farm, Inc.
From I-90 East or West
Take the Sullivan Exit (291B) – South for about 3 miles
Turn left on Saltese (east), and continue for .5 mile
Turn right on South Chapman Road (south), and proceed .9 mile
The farm will be on the left-hand side of the road – 4301 South Chapman Road
Holidays and Dental Health
WOW! The Christmas holiday is rapidly approaching, which catches people off guard on how quickly 2011 ends and 2012 is upon us.
In the hustle-bustle of the hectic holiday season, many may forget about oral health maintenance. Dental insurance usually is contracted yearly, from January 1st through December 31st. Therefore, if you have dental insurance coverage that you or your employer has paid for, it needs to be taken advantage of before December 31st. Use it or lose it.
Many people think, “I’ll do the dental treatment I need in January, after things settle down.” Well … if you see your dentist and have dental treatment done before year’s end, you could have the insurance benefit of 2 years (one before Dec 31st and one after Dec 31st). Either way, you or your employer have paid for your dental insurance (if you’re lucky enough to have dental insurance), so you surely want to take full advantage of your benefits.
Whether or not you have dental insurance, maintenance is always cheaper than repair. As the conclusion of 2011 approaches, be diligent in assuring that you’ve followed the old adage: Brush your teeth twice a day, and see your dentist twice a year.
Dental health is more than just a dazzling smile. Good oral health can help minimize the effect of diabetes, heart disease, respiratory diseases, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Enjoy the holiday season. Be aware of all the things that you can do to improve your overall health. We are all exposed to excessive amounts of good and not so good foods during this festive season. Be careful how you fuel your systems and understand that oral health is a most significant part of maintaining overall health.
On a final note, Christmas is a season to reflect on how many blessings we have. But in the interest of keeping Christ in Christmas, it is a time to generously be Christian. With our present economy, more people than ever are in need. Generously help someone in need. Perform random acts of kindness. Go out of your way to put smiles on faces of people you may not even know.
Sharing a joyful holiday season,
James G. Hood, DDS, MA
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Thanksgiving, a Truly American Holiday
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Again, in 2011, the Thanksgiving holiday has come upon us quickly. The Christmas tree lot lights are set up and snow and ice greet us on our morning commutes.
A truly American holiday, Thanksgiving is a national day for us to express our gratitude for all the freedoms with which we have been gifted. This is a time to reflect on the many liberties we often take for granted.
Thank You to our service men and women who make our republic safe. Thank You to our forefathers with the vision to create a Constitution protecting our freedoms. Every person has the right to do what they wish with their life. Work hard and get ahead. Thank You for the Declaration of Independence which says all men are created equal, with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thank You.
Our country is a religious country with freedom for everyone to practice whatever religion they wish. And appreciative Americans pray often the shortest prayer on earth: Thank You. But, Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday. Americans are naturally thankful. Religious or not, Americans realize how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful country, rich in natural resources, with religious and civil freedoms for all. Thank You is a tremendously American expression.
And if there be anyone who wishes to know how to have a Happy Thanksgiving, merely analyze the expression. It is by giving thanks that we make ourselves and others happy. There are plenty of people that have less than “we,” no matter who “we” are. Therefore, to have a truly Happy Thanksgiving, simply give thanks by doing something for someone who has less than “we” do. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the least brothers of mine you did for me.” Find someone who needs anything and be the provider of that need. Such giving can be anonymous, which can be most rewarding. Give thanks often.
Share a smile!
James G. Hood, DDS, MA
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
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