Celebrate Life · Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Yummy Roasted Leeks

Leeks are a great side dish and are healthy. This dish is simple and doesn’t take long to cook, the perfect dish this holiday season. Best yet, it’s Gluten-Free.

Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels.com

You will need

2 large Leeks, tough green ends trimmed

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Fresh ground black pepper

Pink Himalayan salt

How to cook

Preheat the oven to 425F

Cut the leeks in half lengthwise. Rinse them liberally under cold water, removing all the dirt and sand from them while keeping the halves intact. Pat them dry.

Place leeks cut side up in a medium baking dish. Coat them with the olive oil and season with 2 big pinches of salt and 1 big pinch of pepper.

Roast until they are tender and golden brown, 35 minutes, and serve immediately.

Serves 4

I have more recipes and DIY projects on the way. Right now I’m working on a Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.

Enjoy!

Melinda

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort

Repost

Celebrate Life · Cooking · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Overview

Nutritious vegetables and chunks of lean meat simmering in their own juices come together to create a simple yet hearty slow-cooker dish that’s perfect for chilly weather.

Ingredients

2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed

1 cup low-sodium beef stock1/2 cup red wine

One 15-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, in juice

2 russet or Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

2 celery stalks, diced

2 carrots, diced1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Tools

Measuring cups

Liquid measuring cup 

Measuring spoons 

Chef’s knife Cutting board 

Can opener Vegetable peeler 

Resealable plastic bag 

Large skillet 

Tongs

6-quart slow cooker

Wooden spoon

Directions

Working in 2 batches, combine the beef and flour in a resealable plastic bag; seal and shake until the beef is completely coated with flour. Set aside.

Heat the 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (see Cook’s Note). Working in batches and adding more oil as necessary, add the beef in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until the beef is nicely brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer the beef to a 6-quart slow cooker.

Add the stock and red wine to the skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon, and continue to boil until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Transfer the liquid to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 4 to 6 hours. The beef and vegetables should be tender. 

Cook’s Note

Alternatively, use a slow cooker that can be placed on a stovetop to sear the beef.

Yummy! Perfect cold weather meal.

Melinda

Reference:

Food Network

The link takes you the recipe.

Melinda

Reference:

Food Network

Celebrate Life · Fun · Holiday · Medical

Fun Facts That Will Amaze You

I’m so glad you are enjoying Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments! 

The wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles was watched by 750 million people worldwide in 1981; sadly, 2.5 billion watched her funeral in 1997. (bbc.com)

With 3.572 billion viewers, half the world’s population watched the 2018 FIFA World Cup of soccer (or football, as many international fans call it), which is held every four years. That number is on par with the 2016 Summer Olympics; but only a quarter of the world watched the less-popular Winter Olympics in 2018. (fifa.com)

There are no muscles in your fingers: Their function is controlled by muscles in your palms and arms. (assh.org)

The hardest working muscle in your body is your heart: It pumps more than 2,000 gallons of blood a day and beats more than 2.5 billion times in a 70-year life span. (heart.org)

 Enjoy! 

Melinda

 

Celebrate Life · Fun · Mental Health · Music

#Weekend Music Share-John Mayer, Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud – 2019 – Live in Tokyo

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

 I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.

Have a great weekend!

Melinda

Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.

Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Wordless Wednesday-Vibrant Colored Floral Arrangement

I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.

Melinda

American Indian · Celebrate Life · Family · Health and Wellbeing · History · Holiday

Let’s Remember That The First Thanksgiving Was Celebrated In 1621

Happy Thanksgiving to you. I think it’s important to look back to the first Thanksgiving to understand the Pilgrams were not the only ones celebrating the fruitful harvest. It’s interesting how our traditional Thanksgiving meal has changed over time.

The first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Wampanoag North American Indians at Plymouth Colony in 1621.

What was served on the first Thanksgiving?

“Wildfowl was there. Corn, in grain form for bread or for porridge, was there. Venison was there,” says Kathleen Wall, a foodways culinarian at Plimoth Patuxet, a living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts. “These are absolutes.”

Turkey may have been part of the holiday meal, along with venison, shellfish and corn, but pies and potatoes were decidedly not on the menu.

I pray you and your family are safe, making great memories, neighbors and not forgetting the elderly or those in need.

My ancestors were Cherokee Indians, I have 1/16 in my blood and I’m very proud. Many often forget that Native American Indians were here long before the migrants.

Melinda

Refernce:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-food-was-served-at-the-first-thanksgiving-in-1621-511554/

https://congregationallibrary.org/events/colonization-wampanoag-story

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

December Awareness Month

Every month there is a long list of awareness months, weeks and days which is why I only include a partial list. I encourage you to read the full list, and you can find it by clicking here or at the bottom of the post.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Month
National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month
National Human Rights Month
Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month
Universal Human Rights Month
Worldwide Food Service Safety Month

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/december-awareness-days-months