Passover is a celebration of spring, of birth and rebirth, of a journey from slavery to freedom, and of taking responsibility for yourself, the community, and the world.
For those of you who are curious, this is a thumbnail review about the significant holiday known as Passover. If you want a more indepth look at the importance of this spiritual, most celebrated Jewish holiday, there’s a link below.
You can think of Passover as celebrating the Jewish people’s “birth certificate” and “Declaration of Independence.” Or you can think of it as memorializing something that God did for the Jews 3,300 years ago.
In simple terms, it means to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that God “passed over” the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. Pesach, (PAY-sahch) known in English as Passover, is one of the most commonly observed Jewish holidays, even by otherwise non-observant Jews. According to the National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), 67% of Jews routinely hold or attend a Pesach seder, while only 46% belong to a synagogue. Basically….
Table set for Seder
The Passover Seder “order, arrangement” is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted on the evenings of the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar throughout the world, and on the 15th by Jews living outside Israel. This corresponds to late March or April in the Gregorian calendar. Passover lasts for 7 days in Israel and 8 days outside of Israel.
The Seder is a ritual performed by a community or by multiple generations of a family, involving re-telling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Every year, Jews are commanded to retell the Passover story which takes place during the Passover Seder (which is a service held at home as part of the celebration). This story is in the Book of Exodus (Shemot) in the Hebrew Bible. The Seder itself is based on the Biblical verse commanding Jews to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt: “You shall tell your child on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'” (Exodus 13:8) Traditionally, families and friends gather in the evening to read the text of the *Haggadah, an ancient work derived from the Mishnah (Pesahim 10). The *Haggadah contains the narrative of the Israelite exodus from Egypt, special blessings and rituals, commentaries from the **Talmud, and special Passover songs.
Seder customs include telling the story, discussing the story, drinking four cups of wine (Yes!), eating matza, partaking of symbolic foods placed on the Passover Seder Plate, and reclining in celebration of freedom. The Seder is performed in much the same way by Jews all over the world.
*Haggadah means “the telling” – the telling of the story of Passover. The story is told in response to four questions asked by the children: why is this night different from all other nights? The father proceeds to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt, reading from a book called “The Haggadah” and using symbols and object lessons in order to keep the attention of the little ones (and in many cases, not so-little ones too).
Haggadah
**The Talmud is a huge collection of doctrines and laws compiled and written before the 8th Century, A.D., by ancient Jewish teachers. The Talmud, which often cites the Old Testament, is the basic book of Jewish law.
Why do we eat Matzah? To remind ourselves that even before the dough of our ancestors could become leavened bread, the Holy One revealed Himself and redeemed them, as it is written: “and they baked the dough when they had brought from Egypt into matzah, because it did not rise since they were driven out of Egypt and they could not delay, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.”
What is Hametz? Hametz is a mixture of flour and water that is allowed to rise, thus becoming what we normally call ‘bread.’ The laws of hametz are very strict, and prohibit not only eating it but even owning it during Passover. Thus, during the weeks before Pesah, we dispose of our hametz. Intheory: Philo, a Greek-Jewish philosopher, described hametz as pride because leavened bread is puffed up. To remove hametz, then is to struggle with our sense of self-importance.
Cheese making (and eating) is believed to date back as far as 8000 BC.
Calling someone “THE BIG CHEESE” originally referred to the wealthiest, who could afford full wheels of cheese.
Most cheese is made from cow, sheep, or goat’s milk, but there is a farm in Sweden that makes moose cheese!
As soon as a cheese wheel is cut, the aging process stops, so the cut cheese does not get better with age. Buy only what you will consume in a few days for the freshest-tasting cheese.
While you can safely cut mould off the outside of a hard cheese, any fresh cheese with mould on it should be thrown out. An ammonia (a by-product of the cheese-making process) smell does not necessarily mean the cheese is spoiled. Taste the cheese to make sure it is still fresh.
Hard cheeses are pressed during the cheese making process to remove as much moisture as possible. For this reason they keep much longer than soft cheeses.
Fresh cheeses such as ricotta, burrata, and cottage cheese should not have much of an aroma – if they have a strong smell, they are likely spoiled. These should be kept for a maximum of 7-10 days.
Proper Storing: store soft cheese in waxed paper, and be sure to press the paper right against the runny part of the cheese (known as the “paste”). This allows moisture to evaporate, but maintains the humidity in the cheese. Then place the wrapped cheese in a loose plastic bag or in plastic wrap. Cheese is a living and breathing thing, so it needs air. Cheese paper is specifically made to maintain partial air and moisture, but waxed or parchment paper will also do the trick.
As cheese sits, its moisture collects at the bottom. Soft cheeses should be turned over every few days to distribute the moisture and oil content.
A TUROPHILE is a connoisseur of cheese. It can also be for a lover of cheese, therefore I am a Turophile.
Why eating certain power foods can help you avoid the disease-causing condition.
Susan Biali (a practicing GP, wellness expert and life coach) explains the connection between food and inflammation. She is also the author of Live a Life You Love: 7 steps to a Healthier, Happier, More Passionate You.
Biali first learned about this connection a decade ago when she visited a dermatologist about her acne condition at the time. This specialist was way ahead of his time: instead of prescribing medication, he asked her what she was eating. He explained that angry, red pimples are a manifestation of inflammation in the body, and that eating certain foods makes acne worse or better. When she took his advice and changed her diet, her skin changed dramatically. Of course, there are different causes for acne so food isn’t always the cure, but as a rule an anti-inflammatory diet should improve redness, inflammation and the overall look of your skin.
Sometimes chronic inflammation is obvious, as with a painful arthritic knee, but it’s typically much more subtle. Inflammation that contributes to heart disease happens at a microscopic level in your arteries. You’ll never notice it or feel it until the condition is severely advanced. The various triggers responsible for this can be stress related, depression, smoking and poor sleep.
You probably heard long ago that eating a Mediterranean-style diet reduces the risk of heart disease. What you might not know is that it’s also a textbook “anti-inflammatory diet” packed with whole foods and low in refined sugars, refined flours, trans fat and red meat – all of which are believed to lead to inflammation. Here are some of the power foods that reduce inflammation, protect you from disease and slow the aging process.
Fatty Fish – like mackerel, salmon, trout and sardines are powerfully anti-inflammatory. In addition to eating fish a couple times a week, taking a high-quality wild fish oil supplement daily is also recommended.
Fruit and Vegetables – deep red berries, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and red & orange peppers are potent anti-inflammatories.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – this is one of the cornerstones of the Mediterranean diet. Use it in salads, in cooking and for dipping whole grain breads. Don’t go overboard, though; one Tbsp. has about 119 calories and 14 grams of fat! Yes, it’s a good fat,….but can still be fattening.
High-Fibre Whole Grains – refined white flours convert quickly into sugar in your blood, which is inflammatory. Fibre, in contrast, is anti-inflammatory and digests more slowly, avoiding damaging spikes in sugar. A test: if you can easily squish a piece of bread – crusts removed – into a pea size ball, it’s not high fibre. Look for four to six grams of fibre content on the label before buying a “whole-grain” product.
Tumeric – a superstar! It’s active ingredient (this was mentioned in my beauty post) curcumin, comes in supplement form and has been shown to be as potent for easing aches and pains as OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen. I love turmeric rich curries and keep a bottle of the spice in my cupboard.
The scientific support for whole foods just keeps growing. The better you eat, the better you’ll look and feel, and the more likely you’ll enjoy a healthy, inflammation-free life.
An excellent book on the subject:
Conquer Inflammation will give you clear and concise details on exactly how inflammation is generated by your immune system or your fat cells and how it continuously creates havoc in your heart, your brain, your joints, your skin, and your soft tissues. This book will show you how you can end the inflammatory activity in your body without resorting to drugs that may have harmful side-effects. Lifestyle changes, nutritional strategies, and natural supplements can stop the inflammation process without causing more harm to your body. Available on Amazon.com
You can also try a product called “Leaf-Source”LeafSource mineral products are derived from a 100% natural, organic, prehistoric sea-bed deposit dated at about 120 million years old. Agricultural civilizations have long relied on sea beds as vital sources of fertilizer that enrich soils and provide the nutrients in our foods.
We now know that this intricate matrix of naturally occurring organic acids and alkalizing minerals can have a direct beneficial effect on the body ultimately helping the body run more efficiently. http://www.leafsource.com/
If you have other recommendations for fighting inflammation please pass them along.
Double Duty Beauty. From the oatmeal you eat for breakfast to the turmeric in your curries, these kitchen ingredients can work wonders for various skin issues.
Such as….
Eczema:
Worth a try: Coconut Oil
Eczema is an immunological abnormality of the barrier of the skin being deficient. Skin affected by eczema is very dry, red and itchy. Restoring moisture is key, and coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer. It acts as a shield on the epidermis. While some moisturizers and face oils contain coconut oil, you can apply the oil – which can be purchased at health food (and most grocery) stores straight to skin using your fingertips. You can also layer your regular moisturizer on top of coconut oil. Side note: a brow threader said that we can apply coconut oil to help grow the hairs back on eyebrows.
Rosacea:
Worth a try: Oatmeal
Brimming with Vitamin A and E, oatmeal is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse that helps calm irritated skin. It’s also packed with skin-soothing starches and beta-glucans which provide a protective barrier for the skin. Oatmeal that is featured in commercial redness-fighting beauty products is usually the colloidal variety (meaning it has been ground into an extremely fine powder). But you can use regular oatmeal for a homemade mask. Mix ¾ cup (175 ml) of dry oatmeal with ¼ cup (75 ml) of warm water to get a nice, thick paste, and then smooth it onto your face. The mask may not look pretty, but it should feel quite soothing. Once it dries, it will feel itchy – your cue to remove it by rinsing with cold water.
Hyperpigmentation:
Worth a try: Tumeric
Darkened areas on the skin, called hyperpigmentation, can be a sign of internal inflammation. At the root is a biomarker called NF-kappaB (according to Gaetano Morello, a Vancouver naturopathic doctor) which is produced in the body. The more NF-kappaB in your system, the more inflammatory reactions you have. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, reduces NF-kappaB when taken orally. And a recent study cited in the Australian Journal of Herbal Medicine concluded that “curcumin” has the potential to be used as a whitening agent in treating hyperpigmentation disorders. In the study, consuming curcumin was found to significantly reduce the melanin content in melanin-producing skin cells. While curcumin extracts are most effective (for instance, in the form of a capsule), there is no question that consuming turmeric – and lots of it – daily has positive benefits for those affected by hyperpigmentation. This according to Dr. Morello.
Acne:
Worth a try: Manuka Honey
I did not do my homework when I asked my sister to bring some back for me from her recent trip to Hawaii. I thought it was from there, but it’s actually derived from a plant native to New Zealand and Australia. It is thick and slightly bitter with powerful antibacterial properties. The bacterium that causes acne, (propionibacterium acne) is very sensitive to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey. Research shows that Manuka has a more powerful anti-inflammatory activity than other types of honey. Its unusual antibacterial activity can diffuse across skin and get down into the infection that is causing the acne spots, according to Peter Molan, a professor in biological sciences at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. Molan recommends soaking the pad of an adhesive dressing in the honey and placing this on a single pimple or a small area of pimples. For wide-spread acne, he recommends blending manuka honey with coconut oil (one third honey to two thirds coconut oil); for example 1/3 Tbsp (5 ml) to 2/3 T (10ml), which makes for a healing skin cream. Manuka honey can be purchased at many health food stores, and is typically more expensive than regular honey. It also tastes great on toast, in teas or in yogurt.
For the Body:
Coffee body Scrub – caffeine tightens loose skin, so this scrub acts as an instant slimmer and also helps to slough off dead skin cells to create smoother skin. Recipe: ¼ cup raw sugar, ¼ cup ground coffee, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, 1 Tbsp. sea salt. Blend all ingredients and place in an air-tight container. Keep in the fridge.
Disclaimer: Just want you to know that I don’t keep all of these food items to use only for my skin. I also enjoy eating them. The Girl Who Would be KING.
Credit for recipes: Stacey Stein for best health magazine
Nothing, except your perfume, gets as close to your skin on such a regular basis as your lingerie.
These photos are only a teaser of some very lovely additions like chemises, garters, teddys,
Sheer Desire
camisoles, babydolls, etc.SEXY LINGERIE comes in many sizes and guises but don’t forget to consult the blush sizing chart on website to find your correct sizing. Please note: more styles are being added.
TRUE BLISS CHEMISE
The sexiest part of lingerie is the way it makes you feel. You can find glamour, seductiveness & sheer delight. I hope you like these styles.
For a perfect brunch try this sophisticated, no-frills recipe that can feed a few in no time.
Cast Iron is perfect for making this
Courtesy of Sarabeth Levine, the jam-making pastry chef, and restauranteur behind N.Y.C.’s beloved Sarabeth’s Kitchen, who swears by this one. “Always aim for a dish that’s easy to serve,” “Cold scrambled eggs are never acceptable, but a frittata can be warm or room temperature and still be delish.” I’ve tried her recipe which makes 4 to 6 servings and can attest that it is indeed a winner! It’s a bonus that Gruyère & Goat happen to be two of my favorite cheeses. A side salad will round out this meal beautifully.
Two-Cheese Frittata with Arugula
12 large eggs, beaten (this is why you want at least 4 people)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter or olive oil, divided
1 cup packed arugula
3 oz. Gruyère cheese, coarsely grated
3 oz. goat cheese, broken into small pieces.
Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350F.
In a large bowl, whisk eggs. In a 10-inch nonstick ovenproof skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. butter over medium heat. Add arugula; cook for 1 minute. Add remaining butter and eggs; immediately reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook for 8-10 minutes until bottom sets and top is partially set. Sprinkle on cheeses; let edges set (1-2 minutes). It should look shiny and uncooked on top, with cheeses still unmelted.
just like this
Bake in oven for 8 minutes, until cheeses melts and frittata puffs slightly.
Cut frittata into wedges, serve with side salad which we suggest sprinkling with toasted sunflower seeds. EAT.
Check back here Sunday to find out some interesting facts about Cheese in the “words” post. For instance, I found out that I’m a TUROPHILE. It sounds like a bad thing but it’s really not.
Ellsworth Kelly (American, born 1923) is a painter and sculptor who established his own style amidst the pervasive influence of the Abstract Expressionist and Pop Art movements.
“I have worked to free shape from its ground, and then to work the shape so that it has a definite relationship to the space around it; so that it has a clarity and a measure within itself of its parts (angles, curves, edges and mass); and so that, with color and tonality, the shape finds its own space and always demands its freedom and separateness.” – Ellsworth Kelly
MOMA
Maintaining a focus on the dynamic relationships between shape, form and color – Kelly was one of the first artists to create irregularly shaped canvases. His subsequent layered reliefs, flat sculptures, and line drawings further challenged viewers’ conceptions of space. While not adhering to any one artistic movement, Kelly virtually influenced the development of Minimalist, Hard-edge painting color field and Pop Art.
Kelly intends for viewers to experience his artwork with instinctive, physical responses to the work’s structure, color, and surrounding space rather than with contextual or interpretive analysis. He encourages a kind of silent encounter, or bodily participation by the viewer with the artwork, chiefly by presenting bold and contrasting colors free of gestural brushstrokes or recognizable imagery, panels protruding gracefully from the wall, and irregular forms inhabiting space as confidently as the viewer before them.
More Samplings
Background info:The Artist
Born in New York City, Kelly admired the works of Naturalist John James Audobon (American, 1785–1851) as a child and loved to draw, even though his parents only reluctantly permitted him to study at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. After serving during World War II for two years as a camouflage artist, Kelly was able to study on the GI Bill at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston, MA, and then at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Separated from the American art world while in Europe, Kelly developed his distinctive method of painting. These works echo Kelly’s desire to separate himself from the traditional roles of composition and the artist’s hand. Kelly only returned to the US when he believed that the enthusiasm for Abstract Expressionism had died down enough to allow his work to get some visibility. By the end of the 1950s, he was internationally recognized for his monochromatic canvases, which began to take the shape of non-rectangular forms such as ovals and curves. Kelly also began to create sculptures similar to his paintings, featuring simple two-dimensional forms. In 1970, the artist moved to upstate New York, where he shifted his focus to create large outdoor sculptures concerned more with color than form. Many of his public works are now on display around the world. Kelly now lives and works in Spencertown, NY.
Sources: Artnet.com + theartstory.org
From the Lawren Harris exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery 03/30/14
If there is a particular artist that you’d like to see featured on this blog please let us know.
Even though it’s home to ice cream and many other convenience foods, don’t race past the frozen-food section thinking it’s filled with only unhealthy foods. Frozen fruit and vegetables are a great alternative to fresh. If they’re flash-frozen at their peak, they retain their nutrients. A neighbour picked fresh wild blueberries last summer and we quickly froze them at their peak and have used them regularly throughout the winter in smoothies & desserts like winter fruit crumble.
Wild caught frozen fish and shrimp are alright too if sodium levels are low and they haven’t been breaded.
As for frozen pizzas, yes, they are quick, but usually one sixth of this kind of pizza contains 40 percent of your daily sodium, and 20 percent of your fat! How many of us can eat just one sixth of this pizza? Instead, buy fresh or frozen whole-wheat crusts or dough, and add your own healthy toppings. That way, you control the amount of cheese and meats you use.
It’s hard to eat healthy all the time because people work and everyone has a different schedule. It is possible though if you go for lean meats, and buy organic or free-range if you can afford it. Boost the flavour of lean meats with rubs and marinades. “Free-range” means they have had room to move around, as opposed to factory animals kept in closed conditions. Organic means they haven’t been treated with antibiotics or hormones.
Carefully reading through labels in the frozen food section will help you choose what you need, and as long as you’re not eating from this section all the time, you should be just fine. A bit of frozen (like peas, for instance) is totally acceptable. Remember, balance is key.
some frozen sauces & soups are very good
How many of us have succumbed to trying the new & improved selection of frozen pizzas? Guilty!
Not only because I never went to Woodstock, but because this sounds soooo much better. People and Pooches in the Florida Keys…………..a true Dog Day Afternoon.
A Day of Peace Paws & Music – try topping that!
Islamorada (CBSMiami) – Thousands of dog lovers, many with their pooches, enjoyed a day of peace, paws and music during the weekend Woofstock Music Fair in the Florida Keys .
Singers, songwriters and musical groups kept the groove moving for the Saturday festival’s nearly 1,000 four-legged friends and more than 5,000 two-legged attendees. The event was staged at Islamorada’s Founders Park.
Dogs up for adoption showed off their swag and wag during the Rescue Me Mutt Strut with hopes of landing a “fur-ever” home from Florida Keys shelters and breed-specific animal rescue groups of South Florida.
Other canines showed off agility and dock-jumping skills to woo crowds.
Woofstock was organized by Key Largo’s MarrVelous Pet Rescues & Adoptions. The free event is one of the Keys’ largest pet-friendly festivals devoted to pet fostering, adoption, education and wellness, underscored by outdoor family fun and live music in the island community.
Right on!
The Florida Keys News Bureau contributed to this report.
Ahhh…I loved the Keys before – I love it now even more.
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in CanotierNARS sheer lipsitck in Cruising
It has always been difficult to find the perfect shade of nude lipstick, maybe even more so than searching for the perfect Red. I like a nude lip that doesn’t completely wash you out, still looks natural & closely resembles the color of your skin tone – only slightly enhanced. I don’t mean plain old beige either, they come in a variety of shades to pick from. Personally, I find ones that have a lot of pigment are the best – like those from *NARS.
Samplings of some Makeup Artist Favourites are found on this page.
Dior Rouge Lip Color in Beige Indecise
What to look for: Two shades up from your natural skintone is a good start.Fair skins look best wearing shades with more pigment like a peachy/pink and darker skin, with more brown. Use some makeup artist wizardry and dab on some concealer to tone down a naturally pink lip (Angelina Jolie uses this trick all the time), fill in your lips with a nude lip pencil (like Mac Spice) first or use Benefit Lip Plump (which is like a foundation for your lips) before applying lipstick. Don’t go too matte.
Tom Ford Lip Color in Sable Smoke
Be VEIN: A key to understanding undertones is essential to finding a nude lipstick that won’t wash the rest of you out. A quick and easy way to figure it out is to look at the veins that show through the thin skin on the inside of your wrist: if they look blue, you have cool undertones and if they take on a slightly greenish hue, you’re warm. Not sure which way you go? You most likely have neutral undertones. I believe mine to be blue/green.
Choosing a color for your skin tone:
For fair or pale skin: With lighter skin tones, avoid beige lipsticks, which will wash you out. Instead, look to soft pinks and peaches or pale apricot as your base shade.
For the golden girls: If you have lots of golden undertones in your skin, go for creamy, caramel-toned nudes and warm beiges. Avoid anything too cool, like grays or silver-toned shades.
For olive tones: If you have olive skin, you’re a lucky gal. Just about any nude shade will look great on you from beige to bronze to pinks. I love olives but I hate olive girls.
Tom Ford Lip Color in Blush Nude
For skin with yellow undertones: Think light, creamy-toned beiges like latte or mocha.
For dark-toned skin: Go for chocolate tones such as rich golden browns and coffees.
For the rest of your FACE – a pop of pink or peach blush plus bronzer keeps the face vibrant.
On another note: *I found “the best” toned-down earthy/muted brick red lipstick (goes on smooth & a bit sheer) from NARS – called Gipsy.
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