Recipes Mania News September 2005

Before getting into our normal routine this month I'd like to draw your attention to the plight of the people in the Gulf States of the United States who have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. I know every civilized person has included their plight in prayers and/or thoughts. But we can do more because these people need our help.

Would you please take a look at the two links below and see if you can possible give some practical help. I have picked out the Red Cross and Salvation Army because I am confident that they will channel maximum funds to those in need.

Please help the victims of Hurricane Katrina thru the Red Cross

Please help the victims of Hurricane Katrina thru the Salvation Army.

Many of you will be picturing the Hollywood version of America and taking the attitude that they are rich enough to help themselves. I ask you to accept that Hollywood does not portray the true America and rarely has throughout history. Most of the people affected by Hurricane Katrina are living from paycheck to paycheck, many are not fortunate enough to have a paycheck at all. They need the help of the world.

Let's not forget that whenever there is a catastrophe anywhere in the world the United States is one of a handful of nations who will give humanitarian and financial aid to assist the victims. Now we can take the opportunity to show the people of the USA that their kindness deserves our kindness.

Please give what you can.

Recipe of the Month

Truly worthy of a star spot in Recipes Mania News this tart is one of my all time favorites.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pound (1/2 kilo) piece of Pumpkin, peeled.

Shortcrust pastry. (I admit to using frozen pastry)

3 1/2 ounces (100 gms) sugar

¼ teaspoon of cinnamon

8 Ounce (200 grams) of 70% chocolate. (You can use your favorite chocolate if you prefer but 70% cocoa content will give best result.)

¼ cup of rum.

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 400F (200c)

Place single piece of pumpkin into the pre-heated oven on a baking tray and cook for between 60 and 90 minutes. (Until well cooked - soft enough for mashing)

Roll out short crust pastry to about ¼ inch (6mm) thick.

Flour a 9” tart pan ( Put a small handful of flour in the pan and swirl around. Discard excess flour. This will stop the pastry sticking)

Cut pastry about 1/2 inch (12mm) larger than pan (Best done by placing pan onto pastry upside down and cut approx 1/2 inch more than diameter.)

Prick the base of the pastry about 6 – 10 times with a fork.

Place a sheet of heatproof paper over the pastry and weight down with beans (or whatever you usually use.) cook at 400F (200c) for 15 minutes to form tart case.

Mix sugar, cinnamon and rum

Mash the cooked pumpkin while still hot.

Break 200 grams of chocolate into the mashed pumpkin and stir while the chocolate melts. (Note: it doesn’t matter if there are some lumps in the chocolate because they are extra tasty when you eat the tart.) Note: I usually chop the chocolate with a heavy knife - you don't want the pieces to be too big.

Heat the syrup mixture (Rum, sugar and cinnamon) but not to boiling point. Mix into the pumpkin and chocolate mixture.

Fill the tart case with the mixture, smooth over and cook at 400F (200C) for 10 minutes.

Allow to cool and serve with a large portion of fresh cream

Health Tip

I asked her why she was so "with it" at 100 when so many people have given up on life before they reach 30. She replied: It is because I refuse to be negative. I'd rather not make a comment than make a negative comment. People today forget that we only get one shot at life and it is up to each of us to achieve what we can during that life. After all, she assured me, it won't be much fun lying on your death bed thinking of all the things you didn't achieve.

With a mindset like this I wasn't surprised that she was so young at heart. - It made me think of many people that I've had the misfortune to meet who are dead in their twenties or thirties and are just waiting for somebody to come along and bury them. This lady, at 100 years young, is a lesson to us all. We all have the choice to think positively or negatively and we will all be judged by others by the way we think. What would you rather be?

I followed her into the treatment room and was speaking to the chiropractor about what a great lady she is. His comment was very interesting:

She walks everywhere, winter or summer, and this type of exercise is the best for body and mind. Walking, unlike driving, gives you time to see everything, assimilate it and form an opinion. Too many people are trying to rush through life these days.

So I guess all that's left for me to say is that I've started taking a thirty minute walk each day as form of meditation. - Think about it.

New to Recipes Mania

It is a series of short articles about cooking from starting your first kitchen to recipes for making delicious sauces that always impress your guests.

There is a link below.

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Home Safety

You should check for frayed electrical cables.

Electric sockets that spark when you plug or unplug appliances.

Loose handles on saucepans.

Trip hazards. (Loose floor coverings etc.)

Check your smoke detectors.

Check that your family know of two alternate escape routes in case of fire or emergency.

Check visibility when driving in or out of your driveway. - Do children know and understand the rules of standing where they can be seen when vehicles are being driven in or out?

When you get started you'll think of many other things to check. Each item you can identify will eventually be corrected making your home a much safer place.


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Smile For You

Smiling is Infectious; you catch it like the flu,

When someone smiled at me today I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin,

When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile then realized its worth,

A single smile, just like mine, could travel round the earth.

So if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected,

Let's start an epidemic quick - and get the world infected.

Please keep this smile going by passing it on to a friend. - Everybody needs to smile.