Before I've been frustrated by money. My lack of it, mismanagement of it; everything to do with money frustrated me, except spending it. Well this confusion has led me to that dark road of debt. It's scary, let me tell you, but even with all the fear that I have I am still going to get through this and learn through my mistakes.
I've already began understanding that I don't need to fear money. Money doesn't control me, I control it. Managing money is the best way to go, not saving all or spending all. Right now I have decided that although a cell phone is a necessity in this day and age, I am unable to sustain one at the moment so I will do without. Yes people will say get a cell phone, but I don't live up to their standards. I make things work for myself. It makes no sense for me to have a cell phone and I can't eat. When I become financially stable and comfortable then I shall opt to get a new plan and be connected with the world.
This dance with money has taken a turn. I am now the leader. Money...follow.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Please, Be Selfish
I love having a blackberry, or any other phone for that matter than can play music aloud. I also love having headphones to listen to my music as I travel on the bus or walk down the road. It is a pet peeve of mine when people pass walking on the road, or are on a bus and they are playing music from their phone for the world to hear. NO! HEADPHONES WERE CREATED FOR SUCH SITUATIONS! Yes, please be selfish and keep your music to yourself. Even if I like the song, it doesn't mean that I want to hear it right now. It's even worse when you're on a bus and the bus is providing music and someone sitting on the bus decides that they don't want to listen to that music and everyone else on the bus must listen to what they want, so they start playing music from their phone while the music on the bus still runs. So as a paying customer of the bus you are forced to listen to a clash of musical notes and lyrics. Just in case you didn't get the memo...Headphones were created for situations like that. Please be selfish and keep you music to yourself. I don't want to hear it.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
It's A Baking Double Whammiiii
Time is running out on me so I decided to make my last two sets of cookies together. I owe so many people cookies that it's ridiculous lol. So I'm like those Elf cookie guys...you know the ones I'm talking about. Anyways. Here are are the recipes for the cookies made. Unfortunately, my camera is still down and my blackberry was out for a cleaning, so I was unable to take any photos of the cookies. But they came out well and tasted great. I'm having some friends over to taste 'em. I'll encourage them to go give feedback so you know.
Lemon Cookies
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups cups sugar
3/4 (6 ounces) butter, room temperatue
1 large egg
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon peel
Preparation:
In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking oda and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together 1 cup of sugar with the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, lemon juice and zest, then gradually blend in the flour mixture. Form the dough into 2 rolls about 2 inches wide and 7 inches long. Wrap the rolls in waxed paper and refridgerate until firm, about an hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Unwrap the cookie dough and cut into slices about 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle slices lightly with remaining sugar and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, about 12 minutes. Cool the cookies on a rack and store in an airtight container.
Makes about 5 to 6 dozen lemon icebox cookies.
Ginger Cookies
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2.In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Lemon Cookies
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups cups sugar
3/4 (6 ounces) butter, room temperatue
1 large egg
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon peel
Preparation:
In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking oda and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together 1 cup of sugar with the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, lemon juice and zest, then gradually blend in the flour mixture. Form the dough into 2 rolls about 2 inches wide and 7 inches long. Wrap the rolls in waxed paper and refridgerate until firm, about an hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Unwrap the cookie dough and cut into slices about 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle slices lightly with remaining sugar and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, about 12 minutes. Cool the cookies on a rack and store in an airtight container.
Makes about 5 to 6 dozen lemon icebox cookies.
Ginger Cookies
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2.In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
This Is How The World Works (pt 1)
I've trying to think how do I do this post for some time, but somehow the things I wanted to say weren't really gelling together. I think I've finally discovered how I want to express my opinion on how the world works.
Maybe I should be more specific and say by the world I mean North America...or maybe it's just America. I was watching television and the Chef Boyardee ad comes on; you know the one with the mom who is on time out because she almost told the childern that there's a full serving of vegetables in the Chef Boyardee, and I get upset. Why is it so wrong to tell your children that what they are eating is good for them? I guess it's the same way there isn't firm enough discipline to make the children eat their vegetables and other foods that are healthy and good for them. Instead you (the parents) lie and deceive your children, raising them to not eat properly but instead take dietary suppliments like Pediasure. When these children get older now, they are trained to make poor dietary decisions, get obese, get heart disease, have high cholesterol and then they hate their bodies because it is not what they see in the magazines, on tv, or even what it should be so says their doctor. So they diet to lose weight but they take diet pills and diet drinks and diet plans like Jenny Craig and the South Beacch Diet. It's a cycle. Or maybe just a straight obvious line and people don't like straight lines.
This is how I see it: I am a parent. I have a child. My child shall eat properly, with me leading by example. There is nothing wrong with having a snack. There is nothing wrong with having a chocolate or a sweet (or candy as others say), but you eat in moderation. I teach my children that snacking is ok and I can snack on healthy foods too. Along with eating fish, greens and other vegetables, dairy, fibre etc. I take care of by body by being active. Run around and play games with the children. Have a garden and do gardening or housework or something as simple as dancing in our living room. I show my children that the one and only body I have is the one and only body I will take care of. No correction, only good habits from the beginning. After that if my child/children get obese later in life that will be their responsibility but as a parent I would know that I have brought up that child to be healthy.
This is my opinion and if you don't like it...don't read it.
Maybe I should be more specific and say by the world I mean North America...or maybe it's just America. I was watching television and the Chef Boyardee ad comes on; you know the one with the mom who is on time out because she almost told the childern that there's a full serving of vegetables in the Chef Boyardee, and I get upset. Why is it so wrong to tell your children that what they are eating is good for them? I guess it's the same way there isn't firm enough discipline to make the children eat their vegetables and other foods that are healthy and good for them. Instead you (the parents) lie and deceive your children, raising them to not eat properly but instead take dietary suppliments like Pediasure. When these children get older now, they are trained to make poor dietary decisions, get obese, get heart disease, have high cholesterol and then they hate their bodies because it is not what they see in the magazines, on tv, or even what it should be so says their doctor. So they diet to lose weight but they take diet pills and diet drinks and diet plans like Jenny Craig and the South Beacch Diet. It's a cycle. Or maybe just a straight obvious line and people don't like straight lines.
This is how I see it: I am a parent. I have a child. My child shall eat properly, with me leading by example. There is nothing wrong with having a snack. There is nothing wrong with having a chocolate or a sweet (or candy as others say), but you eat in moderation. I teach my children that snacking is ok and I can snack on healthy foods too. Along with eating fish, greens and other vegetables, dairy, fibre etc. I take care of by body by being active. Run around and play games with the children. Have a garden and do gardening or housework or something as simple as dancing in our living room. I show my children that the one and only body I have is the one and only body I will take care of. No correction, only good habits from the beginning. After that if my child/children get obese later in life that will be their responsibility but as a parent I would know that I have brought up that child to be healthy.
This is my opinion and if you don't like it...don't read it.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Lie By Omission
I am having some relationship problems with my parents this summer for some, possibly not so odd, reason. I was walking down the hill today to go home and the thought of me always considering what to tell my parents when I get home popped in my head. Do I say a lie or do I say nothing at all? Then the words "lie by omission" came to mind. I decided to really check out what that means, beacuse I remember hearing about it from church lol.
According to Wikipedia, the definition is as follows: "One lies by omission by omitting an important fact, deliberately leaving another person with a misconception. Lying by omission includes failures to correct pre-existing misconceptions. An example is when the seller of a car declares it has been serviced regularly but does not tell that a fault was reported at the last service. Propaganda is an example of lying by omission". With this information I ask myself again, am I still lying to my parents when I don't say exactly where I am going and/or what I am going to do?
What do you think? Let me know. Leave your comments below :)
According to Wikipedia, the definition is as follows: "One lies by omission by omitting an important fact, deliberately leaving another person with a misconception. Lying by omission includes failures to correct pre-existing misconceptions. An example is when the seller of a car declares it has been serviced regularly but does not tell that a fault was reported at the last service. Propaganda is an example of lying by omission". With this information I ask myself again, am I still lying to my parents when I don't say exactly where I am going and/or what I am going to do?
What do you think? Let me know. Leave your comments below :)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
India Arie-Strength,Courage,& Wisdom
There is no other person in the world who has ever had this title. Jason Mraz came really close, but he's just a bit shy. India Arie is my all time FAVOURITE artiste. Nothing beats India to pick up my spirit and my soul.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sugar Cookie Party!!
I'm definitely on a roll people. First I made bakes, now I'm baking cookies!!! I don't want to discourage myself, so I'm starting off really simple and easy. I'm making Sugar Cookies. Recipe taken from
Ingredients
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2.In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3.Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
Sooo I've got a bit more practice to do with the baking, but I won't stop practicing :)
Ingredients
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2.In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3.Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
Sooo I've got a bit more practice to do with the baking, but I won't stop practicing :)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Yeast! Flour! Sugar!
Guess what people, I'm finally back in the kitchen and back cooking. I've learnt from an awesome university course that people should eat their power foods. Power foods are those foods that basically go with your body and have been in your culture for millenia. I study in Canada, but I'm born and bred in the sweet Helene of the West, St. Lucia. The moment I get to eat anything remotely similar to what I eat at home, it lifts my spirit and I feel awesome. So I'm trying to learn how to do a few things that are from home, and possibly, most likely actually, from other Caribbean Islands.
Today I'm going to make bakes. From my discussions is basically a fried bread mixture. I've also decided that I'm going to do it the "real Lucian way" and not use any measurements. I enjoy cooking that way. It makes me feel like I know what I'm doing...although half the times I don't hahahaha.
So here is what I do.
Add flour, baking powder, a little salt and some yeast to a bowl.
In a cup add sugar and dissolve with water.
Pour sugar solution into bowl and fold with spoon until dough is formed. If a bit runny, add more flour. It's easier to add more flour if it's not right (that's what I was told)
Add as much flour is needed to make the dough...doughy lol.
Let sit for a few minutes.
Knead dough.
Roll dough out into a long snake, about an incha nd a half thick and cut sections off about an inch wide.
Take the each cut part (individually) and roll it into a ball, then using a floured rolling pin roll it out to a thickness of one centimeter(ish).
To fry bakes: Add some oil to a pan, with burner on high. WHen oil heats up turn burner down to medium heat. Place a few bakes in the oil. You want them to be a golden brown colour or a little lighter, or darker depending on your taste. When ready and both sides have been cooked, remove from oil and dry on paper towel or cardboard or something to soak up the extra oil. I was told butter cannot be used in place of oil. It won't work.
Ooops...I forgot to turn down the fire lol. But they tasted good for my first try on my own :)
To make roast bakes: Use a dry frying pan, non-stick might be the best but if you don't have a non-stick just add a little flour to the pan. Place the bakes in the pan and let them cook lol. They should rise a little and start turning a bit brown. It may not be perfectly leveled so the entire thing may not start changing colour so you have to be careful. You don't want it brown brown, you want it more white with brown. Cook on both sides. Remove when done.
If you want to jazz up your bake as you take it out, cut it open and slip some cheese in there. Be careful because it will be hot. Mmmm mmmm mmmmm tastes sooo goood. Yummy.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you :) Happy cooking!
Today I'm going to make bakes. From my discussions is basically a fried bread mixture. I've also decided that I'm going to do it the "real Lucian way" and not use any measurements. I enjoy cooking that way. It makes me feel like I know what I'm doing...although half the times I don't hahahaha.
So here is what I do.
Add flour, baking powder, a little salt and some yeast to a bowl.
In a cup add sugar and dissolve with water.
Pour sugar solution into bowl and fold with spoon until dough is formed. If a bit runny, add more flour. It's easier to add more flour if it's not right (that's what I was told)
Add as much flour is needed to make the dough...doughy lol.
Let sit for a few minutes.
Knead dough.
Roll dough out into a long snake, about an incha nd a half thick and cut sections off about an inch wide.
Take the each cut part (individually) and roll it into a ball, then using a floured rolling pin roll it out to a thickness of one centimeter(ish).
To fry bakes: Add some oil to a pan, with burner on high. WHen oil heats up turn burner down to medium heat. Place a few bakes in the oil. You want them to be a golden brown colour or a little lighter, or darker depending on your taste. When ready and both sides have been cooked, remove from oil and dry on paper towel or cardboard or something to soak up the extra oil. I was told butter cannot be used in place of oil. It won't work.
Ooops...I forgot to turn down the fire lol. But they tasted good for my first try on my own :)
To make roast bakes: Use a dry frying pan, non-stick might be the best but if you don't have a non-stick just add a little flour to the pan. Place the bakes in the pan and let them cook lol. They should rise a little and start turning a bit brown. It may not be perfectly leveled so the entire thing may not start changing colour so you have to be careful. You don't want it brown brown, you want it more white with brown. Cook on both sides. Remove when done.
If you want to jazz up your bake as you take it out, cut it open and slip some cheese in there. Be careful because it will be hot. Mmmm mmmm mmmmm tastes sooo goood. Yummy.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you :) Happy cooking!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Traditional Food Remedies
It's not a science to stay healthy. Treating yourself with love and respect is all you need. If you truly love and respect yourself, you will eat right and exercise/take care of your body. Eating right means eating your power foods, eating healthy foods prepared in healthy way and eating appropriate amounts of foods. Exercise is simple. You don't have to do sit ups or push ups to exercise; walk if you can instead of driving or emailing someone, cleaning your house and it's environs (I swear that's exercise, at least when I do it), playing with your children or pets for example all constitute great, easy ways to keep active. Don't just work work work, have time to play also.
My dad has this book entitled "The Top 100 Traditional Remedies: Home Remedies for Health and Well Being." I wanted to share a few with you to help you naturally boost your immune system and make positive change in your life.
Grapefruit
Originatin in Jamaica in 1814, grapefruit shares with other citrus fruits a high level of vitamin C and plenty potassium.
Properties/Actions: boots immunity, lowers cholesterol and supports digestion.
Parts used: whole fruit, peeled.
Chickpea
Chickpeas are grown from the equatorial tropics to the temperate northern latitues of Russia, and are among the most nutritious of pulses.
Properties/Actions: mimics oestrogen, antiseptic, diuretic.
Parts used: whole pulse
Oats
Oats are highly nutritious and are a traditional rememdy for soothing nervous conditions and aiding digestive complaints.
Properties/Actions: nerve tonic, eases digestive problems, anti-depressant, prevents heart disease, anti-spasmodic, emollient.
Parts used: whole grain
Rosemary
A potent, stimulating herb, rosemary is an old-fashioned rememdy for everything from colds and colic, to nervousness and eczema.
Properties/Actions: astringent, anti-spasmodic, invigorating, nervine.
Parts used: leaves
Extra tid bit: used in shampoos, rosemary is also reputed to prevent premature baldness.
Tumeric
Grown for its root, tumeric is the most common flavour and colour present in Far Eastern cooking, and the root has a host of medicinal properties.
Properties/Actions: treats liver, stimulates secretion of bile, analgesic, fights cancer, lowers cholesterol.
Parts used: root
Seaweed
Seaweed is a mrine algae, the oldest form of life on the planet, and it contains a host of health-giving properties, particularly minerals.
Properties/Actions: high in iodine, supports thyroid and metabolism, mucilaginous, clears liver stagnation, lymphatic cleanser.
Parts used: whole plant
Oyster
Oysters are a type of shellfish that is not only a renowed aphrodisiac, but also full of health-promoting vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
Properties/Actions: high in iodine, enhances the reproductive system, rich in zinc, high in vitamin E and omega-3 fats.
Parts used: oyster.
Extra tid bit: Oysters are bisexual, or inter-sexual, changing from males to females.
Yoghurt
A cultured milk product, yoghurt is positively brimming with "friendly" bacteria and many health-promoting nutrients.
Properties/Actions: contains "friendly" bacteria, fights infections, helps stomach ulcers, rich in calcium.
Parts used: fermented milk
Extra tid bit: Ancient Bedouins discovered that heat and movement fermented the milk to create yoghurt.
Honey
Ancient societies around the world used honey as an energy food. It has evoled as a unique and powerful remedy for a wide variety of complaints.
Properties/Actions: helps insomnia, treats fungla infections, aids healing.
Parts used: bee's honey.
Extra tid bit: In ancient Greece the alcoholic honey drink mead was regarded as the drink of the gods.
My dad has this book entitled "The Top 100 Traditional Remedies: Home Remedies for Health and Well Being." I wanted to share a few with you to help you naturally boost your immune system and make positive change in your life.
Grapefruit
Originatin in Jamaica in 1814, grapefruit shares with other citrus fruits a high level of vitamin C and plenty potassium.
Properties/Actions: boots immunity, lowers cholesterol and supports digestion.
Parts used: whole fruit, peeled.
Chickpea
Chickpeas are grown from the equatorial tropics to the temperate northern latitues of Russia, and are among the most nutritious of pulses.
Properties/Actions: mimics oestrogen, antiseptic, diuretic.
Parts used: whole pulse
Oats
Oats are highly nutritious and are a traditional rememdy for soothing nervous conditions and aiding digestive complaints.
Properties/Actions: nerve tonic, eases digestive problems, anti-depressant, prevents heart disease, anti-spasmodic, emollient.
Parts used: whole grain
Rosemary
A potent, stimulating herb, rosemary is an old-fashioned rememdy for everything from colds and colic, to nervousness and eczema.
Properties/Actions: astringent, anti-spasmodic, invigorating, nervine.
Parts used: leaves
Extra tid bit: used in shampoos, rosemary is also reputed to prevent premature baldness.
Tumeric
Grown for its root, tumeric is the most common flavour and colour present in Far Eastern cooking, and the root has a host of medicinal properties.
Properties/Actions: treats liver, stimulates secretion of bile, analgesic, fights cancer, lowers cholesterol.
Parts used: root
Seaweed
Seaweed is a mrine algae, the oldest form of life on the planet, and it contains a host of health-giving properties, particularly minerals.
Properties/Actions: high in iodine, supports thyroid and metabolism, mucilaginous, clears liver stagnation, lymphatic cleanser.
Parts used: whole plant
Oyster
Oysters are a type of shellfish that is not only a renowed aphrodisiac, but also full of health-promoting vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
Properties/Actions: high in iodine, enhances the reproductive system, rich in zinc, high in vitamin E and omega-3 fats.
Parts used: oyster.
Extra tid bit: Oysters are bisexual, or inter-sexual, changing from males to females.
Yoghurt
A cultured milk product, yoghurt is positively brimming with "friendly" bacteria and many health-promoting nutrients.
Properties/Actions: contains "friendly" bacteria, fights infections, helps stomach ulcers, rich in calcium.
Parts used: fermented milk
Extra tid bit: Ancient Bedouins discovered that heat and movement fermented the milk to create yoghurt.
Honey
Ancient societies around the world used honey as an energy food. It has evoled as a unique and powerful remedy for a wide variety of complaints.
Properties/Actions: helps insomnia, treats fungla infections, aids healing.
Parts used: bee's honey.
Extra tid bit: In ancient Greece the alcoholic honey drink mead was regarded as the drink of the gods.
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