Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Toe in the Water

Today, I took the plunge!  Of course, there are about a million others already in the pool, but this isn't really about them, it's about me - and you.  Come with me as I share my passion for cooking, and how it has made my life better.  Cook to Grow - happiness, joy, and most of all - yummyness!

Eggcellent!




Eggs are rich in choline – a nutrient receiving much attention for its proposed role in brain function and memory performance. Additionally, eggs contain lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that can preserve eye health and reduce macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness [1].

Recently, the Journal of Nutrition suggested eggs be looked at as a “package deal” – they are inexpensive, contain the highest-quality protein known to man, and are loaded with vital nutrients such as folate, riboflavin, selenium, B12, and choline. For a mere 75 calories, eggs are considered nutrient-dense, low-calorie food that can enhance any menu [1].

But of course, shopping for eggs can be as tricky as every other food product in the grocery store. Free range versus organic versus this versus that. Here’s a Chicago Tribune run-down on 12 “egg terms” to increase your knowledge of eggs and egg shopping [2].

Natural: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service defines "natural" as not containing "any artificial or synthetic ingredients, and it must be minimally processed." By this definition, almost all eggs would be considered natural.

Free range: Indicates that hens have access to the outdoors, but there are no regulations on the duration or quality of their access.

Pasteurized: Eggs that have been treated with heat to eliminate salmonella bacteria and make them safe to eat raw or undercooked.

Pasture raised: This unregulated term implies that hens are raised outdoors and moved regularly in mobile hen houses to different grassy lots on the farm. This gives them access to a variety of foods found on the ground -- bugs, grubs and other small creatures -- as well as chicken feed.

Fertile: Hens are raised in barns that also house roosters. The term is unregulated but implies that the hens are uncaged.

Food Alliance certified: According to Food Alliance, their certification requires "Healthy and humane treatment of animals, safe and fair working conditions, soil and water conservation, pest and nutrient management, protection of wildlife habitat and other agricultural concerns."

Animal Welfare Approved: Hens must be kept cage-free and allowed to perform natural behaviors such as nesting, perching and dust bathing. Outdoor access is required at all times, and forced molting and beak cutting are prohibited. Certifies mostly family farms.

American Humane Certified: Hens must be kept uncaged, but access to the outdoors is not required. Space requirements allow for natural behaviors. Forced molting is prohibited, but beak trimming is permitted in some cases. AHC has certified about 85 percent of cage-free eggs in the United States.

United Egg Producers Certified: This certification allows hens to be caged, does not require access to the outdoors and does not prohibit beak cutting or forced molting. It does require that hens have "access to clean water and are fed several times a day." The UEP literature suggests caged hens are safer and healthier than uncaged birds.

Certified Humane Raised and Handled: Hens are uncaged inside barns or warehouses and may have access to the outdoors. Includes space requirements for hens to perform natural behaviors. Forced molting is prohibited, but beak cutting is permitted.

USDA organic: Hens are kept uncaged in barns or warehouses, are allowed access to the outdoors and are fed an organic, vegetarian diet free of antibiotics and pesticides. Forced molting and beak cutting are permitted.


Do you purchase a certain type of egg? Free range? Natural? Pasture raised?

[1]. Callahan, Maureen. 5 foods that should have a place in your diet. Cooking Light; CNN Health. November 6, 2007.

[2]. Eng, Monica. Egg confusion. Chicago Tribune. September 23, 2009.

Penantian bersama Tandra




Dalam seribu bintang yang muncul malam ini, ada satu bintang redup yang terlihat jelas olehku.
Dia tidak menonjolkan diri, bahkan cenderung bersembunyi.
Namanya Tandra.
Aku yang menamainya begitu.
Jangan tebak-tebak, dari mana dan mengapa kunamai dia begitu.
Aku hanya suka saja mendengar nama Tandra.
Dia satu bintang yang menggelitik aku saat berbaring ke arah langit gelap.
Tandra.



aku memanggilnya, memerhatikannya, bahkan menantinya tiap malam tiba.
Di balik selimutku yang hangat, ada satu ruang yang aku lapangkan untuknya.
Aku begitu menyayanginya.
Aku sayang Tandra.
Sayaaaaang sekali!
Karena tandra, selalu hadir.
Meski Tandra selalu ingin bersembunyi.
Ia tahu, aku tak semestinya begini.
Dia bukan bintang pujaan, karena sinarnya redup.
Tapi aku hanya ingin Tandra.
Si bintang redup di antara ribuan bintang yang hanya mencoba bersembunyi dan berharap pagi cepat datang.
Kenapa harus Tandra??
Karena cuma Tandra yang mengerti penantianku.



Penantian.
Ya, aku menanti-nanti.
Menimbang-nimbang semua kemungkinan.
Seseorang bilang padaku, bahwa Tuhan akan mengabulkan semua permintaan yang sungguh-sungguh.
Aku ingin!
Aku ingin Tuhan mengabulkan permintaanku.
Aku ingin Tuhan menyudahi penantianku.
Aku menanti...
Dan terus menanti dengan sabar.
Sangat sabar.
Ketika detik terus berdenting.
Menit terus menua.
Dan ketika hari telah berganti, berganti, berganti lagi, berganti lagi lagi, lagi, lagi, dan lagi.





Aku menanti seseorang yang timbul tenggelam dalam benak.
Tapi, tak pernah hilang biar sekejap.
Kadang kuat rasa tegang menanti, kadang buatku gusar dalam tenang.
Aku sedang menanti...
Penantian yang tak kunjung berakhir.
Seseorang yang entahlah siapa bagaimana, aku merahasiakannya.
Ini sebuah rahasia sebenarnya, tapi aku tak tahan.
Aku bosan terus menanti.
Tapi aku tetap menanti.
Menanti ini bagai memeluk angin menderu.
Dan Tandra yang paham.
Hanya Tandra.




Kenapa?
Kenapa Tandra?
Kenapa Tandra paham?
Karena, Tandra yang melindungi seseorang yang terus kunanti siang dan malam.
Tandra yang tahu persis.
Dan ia bungkam, dia hanya hadir menemaniku.
Tapi ia paham. Sungguh!
Tandra paling mengerti, aku terus menanti.
Meski aku terlalu lama larut dalam penantian.
Dan Tandra enggan berangkuh diri, juga enggan berhangat diri.
Karena Tandra yang melindungi seseorang yang selalu kunanti.



Dan aku tetap menanti...
Biar ada lagi waktu yang berkalkulasi.
Biar...
Aku tetap disini, memandangi waktu.
Dan aku akan tetap menanti.
Sepanjang masa yang aku bisa.
Menanti seseorang yang tak pernah bisa tertebak, tidak seperti Tandra.
Dan aku tahu, selama aku menanti, Tandra akan menemani.

Ode to Shiseido (and looking foward the spirng/summer collection)

About one year ago I bought this marvel of the cosmetics, and now I cannot live without it.

I mena, I had never used this type of product before i had this one; I was awful doing my eyeline with liquid eyeliner... but when I tried this eyeliner, it was as if my whole life had been using it.

I seriously recommend it, is an affordable, comfortable, practical and easy to use.



I discovered this product through the wonderful tutorials made by Amy B, which, if you not have seen, I recommend! Ask me Make up

By the way, I've been browsing the runways of Fashion Week in New York and London ... I am preparing a small article with the highlight for me ... but I loved many of the collections I've seen.


Luella

Anna Sui
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Betsey Johnson (yaw!)
Ralph Lauren (more yaw!)
Chanel *dies*
Louis Vuitton *dies more*

I'm glad to see that the sailor style still rules, and those masculine jackets and pants with t-strap shoes... yaw...

And finally, one thing more!! Sweet laia from Let me feel like a doll has given me a lovely award; I must say that it's the most beautiful that I've ever seen!

Thank you so much!



Here are the rules!


1. You have to put a song that makes you happy :)
2. You can tag as many people as you want, there is no limit :)
3. Say at least one thing about each blog you tag, that will make them smile, something nice about their blog that makes you smile when you read it! :)

So my happy song is this:



I really Love Emilie Simon, and this song is so cute (and the video too!)

So... I tag:

Misangela from Mudos Pensamientos, because she's my little lovely Japan freak and I love her so much; her post always makes me smile, because she's always talking about what's in her head and Japanese doramas, hahaha!

Daria & Willow from Pigtails and Blushing Cheeks; because they both has got a lovely style that makes me sigh, your posts are very useful, since they have DIY, inspiration and dreams... chek them out if you don't know them!

And finally, Carmen from Carmen's blog; because she's so cute and her post are so fresh, her entries always steals me a smile, and I love to read about her life.

So... that's it!!

Have a nice day and remember... smile!!