Thursday, December 27, 2018


Pine Nut Toffee Tart with Orange and Rosemary The combination of slightly resinous pine nuts, sweet citrus and savoury rosemary suspended in a thick toffee filling is intense and addictive.  It’s darkly rich, gooey and sweet, but somehow you can’t stop at just one slice.  Find recipe serving 10 at https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/pine-nut-toffee-tart-with-orange-and-rosemary   Recipe excerpted with permission from SUQAR by Greg and Lucy Malouf, published by Hardie Grant Books November 2018

The tax rate in the original 1935 Social Security law was 1% each on the employer and the employee, on the first $3,000 of earnings.  This rate was increased on a regular schedule in four steps so that by 1949 the rate would be 3% each on the first $3,000.  https://www.ssa.gov/history/InternetMyths.html  The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983.  These amendments passed the Congress in 1983 on an overwhelmingly bi-partisan vote.  https://www.ssa.gov/history/InternetMyths2.html

 “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens  'It's Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.'  This is attributed to both Keith Baines and W.T. Ellis.  It is reprinted on posters, card, towels and also has been adopted by companies in advertisements.

Lupini beans or lupin beans (Turmus in Arabic) are legume seeds.  They are popular in the Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Italy, and they’re also very well known in the Middle East in countries like Jordan and Egypt.  They’re usually served as snacks on their own or as antipasti, and a popular street food in the Middle East.  In Italy, lupini beans are mixed with olives to be served as snacks at Christmas time.  They are also added to hot and cold salads.  There are two kinds of dried turmus:  (1) bitter variety that needs to be soaked for several days in water, and water needs to be changed every few hours. Then the beans need to be cooked, and if still bitter then soaked again in water and (2) sweet--these beans are not literally sweet but they’re not bitter either.  In the Middle East, you will see many street vendors selling these lovely beans that are perfectly cooked, then seasoned with cumin, salt and lots of lemon juice.  Diana and Natalia, two sisters  Read more and see pictures and recipes at https://littlesunnykitchen.com/lupini-beans/
           
Lupini beans are considered to be native to Italy, and their cultivation spread gradually over the Mediterranean region several thousands years ago.  The evidence of this is that several beans were found in the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh, who lived in the 22nd century BC.  Several varieties of lupine beans also originated from South America.  Nowadays, these beans are cultivated in the south of Europe, South America and in Near East.   https://foodtolive.com/healthy-blog/lupini-beans-health-benefits-ways-consuming/

Lupini beans look like large flat fava beans or slightly-uneven coins.  They are members of the pea family.  Lupini beans are yellowish-brown in colour, with a small hole at one end.  Lupini beans are used as a snack in Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Lebanon, Spain and Portugal.  In Portugal, as a snack they are called “tremocos.”  https://www.cooksinfo.com/lupini-beans

May 29, 2018  Away from the ice, Zach Hyman, the Toronto Maple Leafs winger, writes children’s books.  And his message is simple:  "Believe and you can achieve."  His latest title, "The Magician’s Secret," is Hyman’s third.  Lovingly illustrated by Joe Bluhm, it’s a paean to the power of imagination—the story of a young boy who is enchanted by his grandfather’s stories which transport him though history.  "When you’re a kid, sometimes you get told ‘Oh no, you can’t do this or you can’t do that.’  But really the whole world is ahead of you and you can do whatever you want," Hyman said in an interview.  "And that’s a really important message that I think sometimes gets lost in translation for kids.  But that’s definitely something that I believe in and try to inspire kids (with) when I go talk to them or read the book."  "Hockey Hero," his first book, came out of a Grade 7 short story.  He started "The Bambino and Me" in high school.  Both were polished in the years to follow.  Writing a children’s book is exacting, with the author having to get the story across in a limited number of words. "Hockey Hero" depicts a shy young boy bullied for stuttering who—with the help of his grandfather—takes a leap of faith.  "The Bambino and Me" is the story of a boy who gets to hear Babe Ruth’s wisdom firsthand after a visit to the ballpark with his dad.  Hyman, a history major at the University of Michigan, uses the baseball star’s own words—"It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up"—to get his message across.  "My interpretation of it is take chances, because if you don’t take chances, you never know what can happen," Hyman said.  "And if you fall you can always pick yourself back up and swing big again.  And eventually you’re going to hit that home run."  It’s a theme that runs through his books—and likely his blossoming hockey career.

Boxing Day is the 26th December and is a national holiday in the UK and Ireland.  Boxing Day is a time to spend with family or friends, usually those not seen on Christmas Day itself.  In recent times, the day has become synonymous with many sports.  Horse racing is particularly popular with meets all over the country. Many top football teams also play on Boxing Day.  Boxing Day is also a time when the British show their eccentricity by taking part in all kinds of silly activities.  These include bizarre traditions including swimming the icy cold English Channel, fun runs, and charity events.  Until 2004, Boxing Day hunts were a traditional part of the day, but the ban on fox hunting has put an end to this in its usual sense.  Hunters will still gather dressed resplendently in red hunting coats to the sound of the hunting horn.  But, since it is now forbidden to chase the fox with dogs, they now follow artificially laid trails.  https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-boxing-day-435060

http://librariansmuse.blogspot.com  December 27, 2018  Issue 2011  361st day of the year

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