Here we go again….cooking with chickpeas. Chickpeas (otherwise known as Garbanzo beans), like most legumes have long been valued for their fibercontent. Do you know that people who consume garbanzo beans on a regular basis have better blood fat regulation including lower levels of LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides?
Orecciette pasta is much easier to find nowadays (I don’t remember how many stores I went through trying to find it years ago) – it has a tiny ear-shape look to it. It really means just that: from orecchio (ear) + etto (small). There, now you can speak some Italian!
This recipe is from Everyday Food by Martha Stewart and it is a very simple but tasty dish. So very Italian!
Then it becomes more
Ingredients to Serve 4:
12 ounces Orecchiette
1 can (15.5 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
½ cup of Kalamata olives, pitted
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1 6-inch sprig of Rosemary
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
¼ tsp. red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (about 1 ½ ounces), plus more for serving
2 cups baby arugula (about 2 ounces)
Combine pasta, chickpeas, olives, tomato paste, garlic, rosemary, oil, pepper flakes, and 4 cups of water in a large straight-sided skillet. Season generously with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and liquid is reduced to a sauce that coats pasta, 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove skillet from heat, discard rosemary, and stir in arugula until just wilted and cheese to coat. Add more water only if needed to thin out sauce, a few tablespoons at a time. Divide pasta among bowls and serve immediately, drizzled with oil and sprinkled with cheese and pepper flakes.
It’s vacation time for many of you right now. You’re getting
ready to pack up.
Have a look at how travel bags have changed. If you happen to have any of the old ones still lying around or taking up space in your storage locker here are some great uses for them for anything other than traveling. They might even make you want to pick one up from a thrift shop, especially if you have cats.
SOME NEW USES FOR OLD STUFF:
Coffee Table, Plant Stand, Bed
Bye, bye old friends….you were wonderful and trustworthy although heavy & cumbersome at the same time. You won’t be missed!
As far as old cameras go…..stacked high up on a shelf is best. Sorry; I sadly can’t think of any other use for them. I now use my Samsung Galaxy for capturing images & Instagramming them (my latest passion) right away. Gone are the days of taking my film into a shop, waiting for the processing to be done (remember when they had the 1 day option for a little higher price?) and then paying for them whether they turned out or not.
It’s not unusual for me to walk into Sephora and see products that have my name written all over it…meaning that I recognize something that I think would be perfect for me. But this time I really did see something with my name written on it which of course garnered my attention. On closer observation I realized it was also my colour and the caricature of the person on the packaging looked just like me was wearing something I like and also sell. Co-incidence? I think not!
What it is:
Besides a good marketing tool, it’s a bestselling sheer, shimmering lip gloss with a tingling, plumping effect.
What it does:
A sheer, high-shine lip polish. It creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips with a refreshing tingling sensation and gentle plumping effect. Vitamins A and E help keep lips soft and protected.
What else you need to know: Dolly is a cult favorite, but if you love pinks, go with Katie and Sugar. For a plum obsession, go with Brandi or Gabby. Orange-lovers will gravitate toward Amber and Debbie. Add a splash of sparkle with Clair, Starr, and April. Leave it to them to choose names like Sugar, Brandi & Starr….I’m sure porn stars wear lipgloss too
What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates
For kisses that’ll have them coming back for more.
Available exclusively at Sephora – 100 shades that just might have your name on it.
is where the girls go barefoot and their hearts are just as free as their toesFeminine, flattering, and a far more conservative way to rock animal prints by the pool, this leopard one piece is the epitome of a necessary summer investment. For added va-va-voom appeal, don’t forget your red lipstick.
Party on a STICK! If you can slide it on a skewer, you can GRILL it. These simple KEBAB combos make them foolproof. Just match a marinade or glaze to meat and/or veggies and your barbeque just got a lot more flavourful.
Kebab Confidential: they can be tricky since different meats and veggies cook at different times. The key is to make single ingredient skewers. If combining ingredients (which I like because they look prettier) choose those with similar cooking times. It makes sense that peppers will take a bit longer than cherry tomatoes, etc.
Marinate chicken, beef, lamb, or pork 8 to 24 hours for best results. Before marinating the meat, reserve some marinade to brush over the kebabs while they cook. Discard any remaining marinade. For fish: 20 to 40 minutes is enough, since doing so for any longer could “cook” the fish kind of like a ceviche. Marinating shrimp can make them tough.
try chunks of tofu.try cut up corn-on-the-cob.
Adding vegetables – skewer them all in the same direction so that they cook evenly. Brush marinade or glaze on while cooking: don’t marinate them.
All grilled: heirloom tomatoes (feta was grilled on tinfoil) on crusty french bread. Delish!
Bread – I’m talking about hearty, crusty bread (not sandwich style) …it toasts beautifully on the Barbie. As with veggies, brush marinade/glaze on while grilling. You can add cubes to your skewers too.
A few good Marinades:
In a liquid measuring cup, combine ingredients. Reserve ¼ cup and pour remaining marinade into a zip-lock bag. Add 1 ½ pounds of meat (for 4 people) and toss to coat. Refrigerate. Use reserve to brush over meat and vegetables while grilling.
Buttermilk-Dill: great for chicken or lamb. Combine ¾ cup buttermilk, 3 garlic cloves (crushed with a press), ¼ cup chopped fresh dill, 1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp. pepper.
Balsamic-Rosemary: great for beef, lamb or chicken. Combine ½ cup balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup olive oil, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary, 1 tsp. salt and 2 tsp. pepper.
Lemon-Oregano: great for chicken or fish. Combine ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup lemon juice, 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano, 1 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. pepper.
Orange-Coriander: great for pork, beef or chicken. Combine 1 Tbsp. finely grated orange zest plus ½ cup juice, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 Tbsp. toasted coriander seed, coarsely crushed: I Tbsp. toasted fennel seed, coarsely crushed: 1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp. pepper.
Quick & Easy BBQ GLAZE:
In a small bowl combine all ingredients. Liberally brush on meat and veggies throughout grilling.
Combine ½ cup ketchup, 3 Tbsp. cider vinegar, 2 Tbsp. each brown sugar & Worcestershire sauce. 1 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. pepper. Add a dash of hot sauce & garlic if you like.
I almost forgot – prevent your wooden sticks from catching fire or burning by soaking them in water for half an hour before grilling.
If you could…..wouldn’t you prefer to improve the health and longevity of your pets? After all, they are family members and deserve the best that life has to offer. At least we think so!
KIRA now
Debbie & Jia Jia
Both dogs in the photos are 11 years young, still playful with several more good
Jia Jia models a ‘Yoda’ Star Wars baseball cap.
years ahead of them. Both dogs have been taking daily drops of Rejeneril FP® – which is the first Patented Anti-Aging Dietary Supplement for pets.
With animals aging at a much faster rate than us humans, we lose them way too quickly as is. And unfortunately, many of our pets experience degenerative conditions at younger ages, which greatly impacts the quality of their lives in later years. But, it doesn’t have to be this way!
Rejeneril FP® is comprised of a unique and patented antioxidant molecule along with minerals, vitamins and amino acids which are crucial to the health and longevity of one’s pet. The synergy of these nutrients is highly beneficial for all stages of a pet’s life.
Rejeneril FP® can help:
Younger pets build a strong immune system and set the foundation for a disease free life.
Adult pets recover quicker, maintain youthful energy levels and remain healthier for longer.
Senior pets rejuvenate and slow and/or reverse the negative effects associated with aging.
Rejeneril FP® works in three targeted ways to help keep your pet younger longer. Find out more at: http://www.myultimatepet.com/
What to do, what to do…… when you want a natural TAN. We know that we need to protect ourselves from the powerful UVA/UVB rays but at the same time we want that radiant sun-kissed colour too. If we over-protect we don’t get it.
I think it’s fairly safe to use a lesser SPF for body when you’re just out strolling around but still getting sun. Lying full out in the sun is bad enough but I’m surprised to see tons of people still doing it and also going to tanning salons especially using the beds.
whatever you do, try not to get Burned!
There’s lots of lotions out there but for the longest time my favourite has been Australian Gold spray – the one with the natural caramel bronzer that protects you but at the same time it gives you an instant bronzed glow. And it smells delicious – just the right amount of coconut so you feel like you’re already at the beach. It has:
Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection
Exotic oils to soften and moisturize skin for beautiful color
Aloe Vera to provide natural soothing and skin conditioning
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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