L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 36
December 11, 2012
December 11th, 2012
This recipe makes one of my uncle's all-time favorites. Him and my Grandpa get into these, and could eat the entire batch themselves:
Old-Time Popcorn Balls
You will need:
20 cups popped popcorn
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Keep popcorn warm in the oven, heated to 300 degrees. Butter the sides of a two-quart saucepan, and combine sugar, water, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt. Cook to 270 degrees, or soft crack stage (my mom tests this by dipping little streamers into ice water. If it gets hard it's ready). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn (take it out of the oven first; this helps) and stir in. Butter hands and prepare to be burned. Shape popcorn into balls. This stuff is hot, so be careful, and use plenty of butter on those hands, or it will stick.
This recipe was taken from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Directions were written by me, with much checking in the book for accuracy.
Old-Time Popcorn Balls
You will need:
20 cups popped popcorn
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Keep popcorn warm in the oven, heated to 300 degrees. Butter the sides of a two-quart saucepan, and combine sugar, water, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt. Cook to 270 degrees, or soft crack stage (my mom tests this by dipping little streamers into ice water. If it gets hard it's ready). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn (take it out of the oven first; this helps) and stir in. Butter hands and prepare to be burned. Shape popcorn into balls. This stuff is hot, so be careful, and use plenty of butter on those hands, or it will stick.
This recipe was taken from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Directions were written by me, with much checking in the book for accuracy.
December 10, 2012
Weekly Challenge!
Weekly Challenge:
Add three total servings of vegetables to your diet this week
Vegetables are an important part of any healthy lifestyle, and most of us aren't getting enough of them. Easy ways to do this could include having a small salad, a handful of carrot sticks instead of potato chips, or replacing that garlic bread with corn or green beans.
If you don't manage it, don't worry. You can try again next week!
Add three total servings of vegetables to your diet this week
Vegetables are an important part of any healthy lifestyle, and most of us aren't getting enough of them. Easy ways to do this could include having a small salad, a handful of carrot sticks instead of potato chips, or replacing that garlic bread with corn or green beans.
If you don't manage it, don't worry. You can try again next week!
December 9, 2012
December 09th, 2012
Lots of people view Christmas as the day of Christ's birth. It's why they celebrate it at all.
Yet, it's never been proven that He was actually born on that day, and the Bible doesn't give us a date. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that the date was unimportant in the grand scheme of things. But, it told when He died. This, I believe, is because His death was of more importance to God than His birth. Yes, it was important that He was born. Salvation couldn't have been possible without His birth. But He was born to die. If He hadn't needed to die, He wouldn't have been born. His ultimate act was His life and death, not His birth.
With that said, people are very protective of Christmas as a religious holiday. They can believe what they choose; I have no control over that. You don't have to agree with me, and I won't be angry if you don't.
For me, Christmas is just another holiday. A special one, yes, because of the time spent with friends and family, but not a religious one.
Yet, it's never been proven that He was actually born on that day, and the Bible doesn't give us a date. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that the date was unimportant in the grand scheme of things. But, it told when He died. This, I believe, is because His death was of more importance to God than His birth. Yes, it was important that He was born. Salvation couldn't have been possible without His birth. But He was born to die. If He hadn't needed to die, He wouldn't have been born. His ultimate act was His life and death, not His birth.
With that said, people are very protective of Christmas as a religious holiday. They can believe what they choose; I have no control over that. You don't have to agree with me, and I won't be angry if you don't.
For me, Christmas is just another holiday. A special one, yes, because of the time spent with friends and family, but not a religious one.
December 8, 2012
December 08th, 2012
Beenie flew as hard as she could, trying to catch up to the hedgehog, but he was waddling pretty fast, and he'd gotten a head start. Her wings were starting to ache when she ducked to avoid a branch. When she looked back up, the hedgehog was gone.
She spun around in a circle, looking for him, but couldn't see him anywhere. She sat down on a nearby branch, and rested her wings while she thought. Maybe it was better that she'd lost him; now she wouldn't get Troy in trouble. She sighed, and her wings drooped.
The sun was starting to set now, and she shivered as she realized she didn't know how to get back. She scooted backward along the branch until her back was resting against the tree trunk, and pulled her knees to her chest. She sniffed.
She spun around in a circle, looking for him, but couldn't see him anywhere. She sat down on a nearby branch, and rested her wings while she thought. Maybe it was better that she'd lost him; now she wouldn't get Troy in trouble. She sighed, and her wings drooped.
The sun was starting to set now, and she shivered as she realized she didn't know how to get back. She scooted backward along the branch until her back was resting against the tree trunk, and pulled her knees to her chest. She sniffed.
December 7, 2012
December 07th, 2012
Kym has been teaching people how to do round kicks in her martial arts classes recently. As easy as they may look, there are small things you need to do, for those kicks to be done properly. One of the most important is to pivot the foot you're standing on away from the kick. Kym has been drilling this into her students every class for three weeks. It drives her nuts when that foot doesn't pivot, and every student knows it, because she never shuts up about it.
Yesterday, however, she was watching Naruto with her cousin. Naruto is about ninjas, and they, of course, have martial arts. The character on the screen (Rock Lee) was doing round kicks. Kym didn't like this. Not because she doesn't like round kicks, but because she had to resist the urge to say 'you'll blow out your knee if you keep doing it that way! Why are you doing it that way? Why did the artists make you do it that way? Didn't they know how to do a round kick right?' It was ridiculous. Any normal person would have messed up their knees and probably needed surgery to fix it. And why on earth did they have an amazing character do something that should have messed him up so bad? I know a student that blew out their knee doing them that way! (She ranted in her head for quite a while about this.)
He wasn't pivoting his foot.
Yesterday, however, she was watching Naruto with her cousin. Naruto is about ninjas, and they, of course, have martial arts. The character on the screen (Rock Lee) was doing round kicks. Kym didn't like this. Not because she doesn't like round kicks, but because she had to resist the urge to say 'you'll blow out your knee if you keep doing it that way! Why are you doing it that way? Why did the artists make you do it that way? Didn't they know how to do a round kick right?' It was ridiculous. Any normal person would have messed up their knees and probably needed surgery to fix it. And why on earth did they have an amazing character do something that should have messed him up so bad? I know a student that blew out their knee doing them that way! (She ranted in her head for quite a while about this.)
He wasn't pivoting his foot.
December 6, 2012
December 06th, 2012
Two words: THE HOBBIT.
I am a Lord of the Rings freak. In fact, it's so bad, my family winces when I say 'You know what we should watch?' because they know the answer. I can quote parts of the movies word for word, and have read the books several times. This, of course, means that I have been waiting impatiently for The Hobbit to come out. For two months. The money for my ticket has been secreted away for most of those two months, so I wouldn't spend it by accident.
Did I mention whenever a preview comes on for it, I trip over everything in my way in my hurry to get over there to watch it? Chairs, tables, people, cats...well...maybe not the cats. The last time one came on I completely rearranged the kitchen, because it was between me and the TV.
So, yes. Tolkien is my hero. I can dream that my books are someday going to be as epic as his. And hey, while I'm dreaming, the movies made from them will be just as amazing.
I am a Lord of the Rings freak. In fact, it's so bad, my family winces when I say 'You know what we should watch?' because they know the answer. I can quote parts of the movies word for word, and have read the books several times. This, of course, means that I have been waiting impatiently for The Hobbit to come out. For two months. The money for my ticket has been secreted away for most of those two months, so I wouldn't spend it by accident.
Did I mention whenever a preview comes on for it, I trip over everything in my way in my hurry to get over there to watch it? Chairs, tables, people, cats...well...maybe not the cats. The last time one came on I completely rearranged the kitchen, because it was between me and the TV.
So, yes. Tolkien is my hero. I can dream that my books are someday going to be as epic as his. And hey, while I'm dreaming, the movies made from them will be just as amazing.
December 5, 2012
December 05th, 2012
“You can’t run a society or cope with its problems if people are not held accountable for what they do.” ~ John Leo
Accountability is something that I see lots of people lacking. I lack it myself - hopefully only on occasion, but still - and it bothers me. I may fail to hold myself accountable sometimes, but accountability is a goal that I want to strive for. I make mistakes often, and sometimes I go too far in order to try and fix them.
However horrible I might see myself at it, however, I have seen worse. Excuse-making, running from responsibility, avoiding consequences...all these and more. Whether people really believe they don't need to experience consequences or they know they do and are just delaying the inevitable, I don't think any of us like it when we see someone doing it. I think everyone should try their hardest to be responsible, accountable individuals. Your friends, families, and acquaintances will thank you for it. And they'll be more forgiving, I think, when you fall short.
Accountability is something that I see lots of people lacking. I lack it myself - hopefully only on occasion, but still - and it bothers me. I may fail to hold myself accountable sometimes, but accountability is a goal that I want to strive for. I make mistakes often, and sometimes I go too far in order to try and fix them.
However horrible I might see myself at it, however, I have seen worse. Excuse-making, running from responsibility, avoiding consequences...all these and more. Whether people really believe they don't need to experience consequences or they know they do and are just delaying the inevitable, I don't think any of us like it when we see someone doing it. I think everyone should try their hardest to be responsible, accountable individuals. Your friends, families, and acquaintances will thank you for it. And they'll be more forgiving, I think, when you fall short.
December 4, 2012
December 04th, 2012
Christmas is coming, and you know what that means: food, and lots of it. Every year, my family does goodie trays for the different places our family members work at. Every year, chocolate covered cherries are a favorite. And they aren't those funny store-bought ones that have cherry-flavored goo inside instead of a real cherry, either.
You will need:
60 maraschino cherries with stems
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 pound dipping chocolate or confectioner's coating
Dran cherries on paper towels (juice will stain cloth, and is very sticky). Combine butter and corn syrup. Stir in powdered sugar. You may need to wash hands and mix it that way. Knead until smooth (if you have lumps you will despise them later). If it's too soft, you should chill it in the refrigerator. (Too soft and you'll have difficulties.)
Shape the white stuff around one cherry at a time. This can be tricky, especially if cherries are still damp. You are supposed to use ONE TEASPOON of the white mixture to mold around each cherry, but that's rarely enough. Chill. This is VERY IMPORTANT. They will fall apart if you do not do this.
Melt your chocolate in a bowl. Dip cherries in chocolate by holding onto the stem, making sure all the white is covered. Set on wax paper until chocolate is hard, then transfer into a covered container. Let sit and ripen in fridge for one to two weeks.
This recipe was taken from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Directions were written by me, with lots of checking in said book for accuracy.
You will need:
60 maraschino cherries with stems
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 pound dipping chocolate or confectioner's coating
Dran cherries on paper towels (juice will stain cloth, and is very sticky). Combine butter and corn syrup. Stir in powdered sugar. You may need to wash hands and mix it that way. Knead until smooth (if you have lumps you will despise them later). If it's too soft, you should chill it in the refrigerator. (Too soft and you'll have difficulties.)
Shape the white stuff around one cherry at a time. This can be tricky, especially if cherries are still damp. You are supposed to use ONE TEASPOON of the white mixture to mold around each cherry, but that's rarely enough. Chill. This is VERY IMPORTANT. They will fall apart if you do not do this.
Melt your chocolate in a bowl. Dip cherries in chocolate by holding onto the stem, making sure all the white is covered. Set on wax paper until chocolate is hard, then transfer into a covered container. Let sit and ripen in fridge for one to two weeks.
This recipe was taken from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Directions were written by me, with lots of checking in said book for accuracy.
December 3, 2012
December 03rd, 2012
I haven't been too thrilled with my Monday posts recently. So I'm trying something new! As a martial arts student for many years, I found a way to lose weight. I've lost more than thirty pounds - without going on a diet. I'm also looking into going to college for a degree in fitness and nutrition. So what does that mean for you folks?
It means I'm designing a simple health program for those of you who have a hard time with exercise or eating healthy. The goal isn't necessarily to lose weight, but to help you alter your lifestyle on your way to becoming more healthy.
Since this is the first Monday of the month, I've decided to start today. I will, of course, put up a thread explaining everything in the forums for those of you who want more info (that may take some time). But if you want something super-simple, all you have to do is read the Monday post each week.
The Monday Challenge Begins!
Each week on Monday I'll post a simple challenge. For example, this week's challenge is to do a minimum of five pushups three days this week. If you don't do it all, no sweat. Don't worry about it. You can try again next week, with a new challenge.
This Week's Challenge:
Do a minimum of five pushups three days this week
(Hint, hint: if you want to compare how well you've done with others, y'all can head to the forums and start a thread for it!)
It means I'm designing a simple health program for those of you who have a hard time with exercise or eating healthy. The goal isn't necessarily to lose weight, but to help you alter your lifestyle on your way to becoming more healthy.
Since this is the first Monday of the month, I've decided to start today. I will, of course, put up a thread explaining everything in the forums for those of you who want more info (that may take some time). But if you want something super-simple, all you have to do is read the Monday post each week.
The Monday Challenge Begins!
Each week on Monday I'll post a simple challenge. For example, this week's challenge is to do a minimum of five pushups three days this week. If you don't do it all, no sweat. Don't worry about it. You can try again next week, with a new challenge.
This Week's Challenge:
Do a minimum of five pushups three days this week
(Hint, hint: if you want to compare how well you've done with others, y'all can head to the forums and start a thread for it!)
December 2, 2012
December 02nd, 2012
In America we have lots of blessings. We can believe what we choose, and we're free from a rigid caste system. We can work hard and make a better life for ourselves than our parents or grandparents had, instead of being stuck in the same place all our lives.
The lives we have are much better than the lives some others have. Most of us have enough to eat and drink, and enough to waste. I read recently that Americans throw away enough turkey on Thanksgiving to feed millions of people.
Has our life of plenty blinded us to the blessings we have? Are we so wrapped up in the 'more' concept that we've forgotten to really be thankful for what we have?
The lives we have are much better than the lives some others have. Most of us have enough to eat and drink, and enough to waste. I read recently that Americans throw away enough turkey on Thanksgiving to feed millions of people.
Has our life of plenty blinded us to the blessings we have? Are we so wrapped up in the 'more' concept that we've forgotten to really be thankful for what we have?
