Martha A. Cheves's Blog, page 84
January 9, 2012
Healthy Foods That Can Kill You - Part 4
Mosteveryone admits that they don't eat enough fruits and vegetables, but beforeyou start trying to increase your daily intake, there are a few things youshould know—especially if you like to grow-your-own food or if you're astart-from-scratch cook. Some of the healthiest vegetables have relatives thatcould kill you.
RhubarbLeaves
If you are an adventurous gardener, be aware that rhubarb leaves are not thehealthy, bitter green you might assume. There is a reason that rhubarbsold in your grocery store is sold without its leaves. Rhubarb leaves containdangerously high levels of oxalic acid which can cause serious kidney damagepotentially leading to death. Even though a 140-pound person would need to eatabout 10 pounds of rhubarb leaves to die, a small amount still has the ability tomake a person sick. When you're making a salad with fresh greens from yourgarden, steer clear of rhubarb leaves.
January 8, 2012
Perdue Simply Smart Chicken Chucks
If you like chicken nuggets you must read my review for Perdue's Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Chunks posted on The Good, The Bad, The Maybe.
January 7, 2012
Oriental Salad Made Easy
I had a strong taste for an Oriental Salad so while rummaging through the refrigerator and cabinets here is what I came up with.
Romaine Lettuce
shredded cole slaw blend (cabbage - green & purple & carrots)
Oriental noodles
mandarin oranges
lightly breaded chicken nuggets
a slight sprinkle of cheese
and a good sweet dressing. I used Fryar's Poppy Seed Dressing. Looks good, doesn't it? Believe me, it is! The cole slaw mix gives it an added crunch, the oranges the perfect sweet/tartness and the dressing just topped it all off perfectly. Soooo good!
Brody's Christmas Cupcakes
My grandson Brody's Christmas present to me. He made cupcakes for his Gram. Isn't he precious!
January 6, 2012
Healthy Foods That Can Kill You - Part 3
Mosteveryone admits that they don't eat enough fruits and vegetables, but beforeyou start trying to increase your daily intake, there are a few things youshould know—especially if you like to grow-your-own food or if you're astart-from-scratch cook. Some of the healthiest vegetables have relatives thatcould kill you.
Raw Red Kidney Beans
Raw, uncooked, almost impossible to eat, and certainly not very tasty, redkidney beans, contain a natural toxins called lectins. With manyAmericans converting to a more unprocessed or "raw" diet, it's important forthe home cook to soak red kidney beans in water for at least five hours beforecooking. Eating as few as four or five raw beans can cause symptoms which areusually marked by extreme nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach.
January 5, 2012
Healthy Foods That Can Kill You - Part 2
Mosteveryone admits that they don't eat enough fruits and vegetables, but beforeyou start trying to increase your daily intake, there are a few things youshould know—especially if you like to grow-your-own food or if you're astart-from-scratch cook. Some of the healthiest vegetables have relatives thatcould kill you.
"Green" Potatoes
Another common toxin found in our kitchens includes potatoes that have turnedgreen. Solanine, a natural glycoalkaloid, can occur when potatoes areexposed to too much light. The green color just under the skin stronglysuggests that toxic build-up may have occurred. If you notice a slight greenlayer just under the potato skin, cut away the green portions of the potatoskin before cooking and eating. There is no need to discard your favorite tubersince the non-green portion is safe to eat. It is recommended not toconsume potatoes with a bright green layer just under the potato's skin sinceit may cause headache, nausea, fatigue and GI issues. You can avoid this problemby storing potatoes in a dark, cool, dry place.
(I've seen "Green" Potatoes but had no idea they were toxic. I thought they were just not quite ripe.)
January 4, 2012
Healthy Foods That Can Kill You - Part 1
Published January 04, 2012
A co-worker sent this to me and I found it to be important enough to share. I'm posting this in parts because I feel each one should be read and remembered. So, here is Part 1 of Healthy Foods That Can Kill You.
Most everyone admits that they don't eatenough fruits and vegetables, but before you start trying to increase yourdaily intake, there are a few things you should know—especially if you like togrow-your-own food or if you're a start-from-scratch cook. Some of thehealthiest vegetables have relatives that could kill you.
Seeds,Pits & Kernels
The unsavory seeds, pits, and kernels of some of our favorite fruits andvegetables contain a naturally occurring substance called amygdalin, which inlarge amounts can be fatal since amygdaline can turn into hydrogen cyanide.Apples, pears, mangoes, peaches, and apricots, all contain this chemical, butdon't worry: Accidental swallowing or the occasional ingestion is not dangeroussince the amount needed to induce a reaction is very high
A co-worker sent this to me and I found it to be important enough to share. I'm posting this in parts because I feel each one should be read and remembered. So, here is Part 1 of Healthy Foods That Can Kill You.
Most everyone admits that they don't eatenough fruits and vegetables, but before you start trying to increase yourdaily intake, there are a few things you should know—especially if you like togrow-your-own food or if you're a start-from-scratch cook. Some of thehealthiest vegetables have relatives that could kill you.
Seeds,Pits & Kernels
The unsavory seeds, pits, and kernels of some of our favorite fruits andvegetables contain a naturally occurring substance called amygdalin, which inlarge amounts can be fatal since amygdaline can turn into hydrogen cyanide.Apples, pears, mangoes, peaches, and apricots, all contain this chemical, butdon't worry: Accidental swallowing or the occasional ingestion is not dangeroussince the amount needed to induce a reaction is very high
January 1, 2012
History of the Black Eyed Pea Tradition
Supplied by Mark Couch, the "owner" of EZ Cooking
Not these -
But these - 
"The Real Story is much more interesting and has gone untold in fear that feelings would be hurt. It's a story of war, the most brutal and bloody war, military might and power pushed upon civilians, women, children and elderly. Never seen as a war crime, this was the policy of the greatest nation on earth trying to maintain that status at all costs. An unhealed wound remains in the hearts of some people of the southern states even today; on the other hand, the policy of slavery has been an open wound that has also been slow to heal but is okay to talk about.
The story of THE BLACK EYED PEA being considered good luck relates directly back to Sherman's Bloody March to the Sea in late 1864. It was called The Savannah Campaign and was lead by Major General William T. Sherman. The Civil War campaign began on 11/15/64 when Sherman 's troops marched from the captured city of Atlanta, Georgia, and ended at the port of Savannah on 12/22/1864.
When the smoke cleared, the southerners who had survived the onslaught came out of hiding. They found that the blue belly aggressors that had looted and stolen everything of value and everything you could eat including all livestock, death and destruction were everywhere. While in hiding, few had enough to eat, and starvation was now upon the survivors.
There was no international aid, no Red Cross meal trucks. The Northern army had taken everything they could carry and eaten everything they could eat. But they couldn't take it all. The devastated people of the south found for some unknown reason that Sherman's bloodthirsty troops had left silos full of black eyed peas.
At the time in the north, the lowly black eyed pea was only used to feed stock. The northern troops saw it as the thing of least value. Taking grain for their horses and livestock and other crops to feed themselves, they just couldn't take everything. So they left the black eyed peas in great quantities assuming it would be of no use to the survivors, since all the livestock it could feed had either been taken or eaten.
Southerners awoke to face a new year in this devastation and were facing massive starvation if not for the good luck of having the black eyed peas to eat. From New Years Day 1866 forward, the tradition grew to eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck."
Not these -
But these - "The Real Story is much more interesting and has gone untold in fear that feelings would be hurt. It's a story of war, the most brutal and bloody war, military might and power pushed upon civilians, women, children and elderly. Never seen as a war crime, this was the policy of the greatest nation on earth trying to maintain that status at all costs. An unhealed wound remains in the hearts of some people of the southern states even today; on the other hand, the policy of slavery has been an open wound that has also been slow to heal but is okay to talk about.
The story of THE BLACK EYED PEA being considered good luck relates directly back to Sherman's Bloody March to the Sea in late 1864. It was called The Savannah Campaign and was lead by Major General William T. Sherman. The Civil War campaign began on 11/15/64 when Sherman 's troops marched from the captured city of Atlanta, Georgia, and ended at the port of Savannah on 12/22/1864.
When the smoke cleared, the southerners who had survived the onslaught came out of hiding. They found that the blue belly aggressors that had looted and stolen everything of value and everything you could eat including all livestock, death and destruction were everywhere. While in hiding, few had enough to eat, and starvation was now upon the survivors.
There was no international aid, no Red Cross meal trucks. The Northern army had taken everything they could carry and eaten everything they could eat. But they couldn't take it all. The devastated people of the south found for some unknown reason that Sherman's bloodthirsty troops had left silos full of black eyed peas.
At the time in the north, the lowly black eyed pea was only used to feed stock. The northern troops saw it as the thing of least value. Taking grain for their horses and livestock and other crops to feed themselves, they just couldn't take everything. So they left the black eyed peas in great quantities assuming it would be of no use to the survivors, since all the livestock it could feed had either been taken or eaten.
Southerners awoke to face a new year in this devastation and were facing massive starvation if not for the good luck of having the black eyed peas to eat. From New Years Day 1866 forward, the tradition grew to eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck."
December 29, 2011
Sad News in the Writing World
A lot of you keep up with my site A Book and A Dish where I post reviews I read for books I read as well as the author's favorite recipes. Today I received some disturbing news regarding one of the authors I've not only met several times but also done reviews for. Her name is L. C. Evans. I've read her books Jobless Recovery, Talented Horsewoman, and We Interrupt This Date. Her writings have humor, tension, and lots of love. Today I learned that she has cancer and has already reached the stage of Hospice. I'm asking that all of you please keep Linda as well as her family in your prayers. She is a beautiful, sweet lady whose writings will truly be missed.
December 28, 2011
Eggs Are Awesome!
One of my followers sent more egg info that I want to share with you. The site has some truly interesting facts about eggs and most of them are new to me. Go to this site and check your egg knowledge. Eggs Are Awesome!
