Labels

Friday 30 August 2013

Joke - The Christian Bear

When bear season opened, a country preacher called his elder board and whispered over the phone that he was so sick he'd lost his voice. Then he headed to the hills with his rifle.

On a perilous twist in the trail, the pastor collided with a bear and went tumbling down the mountainside. His rifle went one way and he went the other, landing on a rock and breaking both legs.

That was the good news. The bad news was the ferocious bear had followed him over the cliff, was now charging at him from a distance, and the minister couldn't move.

"Oh Lord," the preacher prayed, "I'm so sorry for lying and skipping services today. Please forgive me and grant me just one wish.... Please make a Christian out of that bear that's coming at me. Please, Lord!"

That very instant, the bear skidded to a halt, fell to its knees, clasped its paws together and began to pray aloud right at the preacher's feet.

"Dear Lord, bless this food I am about to receive. In Jesus' name, Amen."













Wednesday 28 August 2013

10 Health Benefits Of Ginger



11 Health Benefits of Ginger
1. Prevents prostrate cancer (link)
2. Ovarian cancer treatment
3. Colon cancer prevention
4. Morning sickness relief
5. Motion sickness remedy
6. Reduces pain and inflammation
7. Heartburn relief
8. Prevention of diabetic nephropathy
9. Migraine relief
10. Menstrual cramp relief
11. Cold and flu prevention

Joke - The Remarkable Parrot

Three sons left home and built careers. Being dutiful sons, after they prospered they each gave a special gift to their rather persnickety elderly mother.

Milton, the eldest son, boasted to his brothers, "I built a big house for Mother."
      
The second son, Gerald, responded, "Well, I sent her a Mercedes, with a driver."
      
Donald, the youngest, had always been a little odd. But he looked proud of himself. "You remember how Mama enjoys reading the Bible. Now that she can't see well, I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took church elders 12 years to teach him. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse -- and the parrot recites it!"
      
In a few months the brothers got back together. The eldest brother delivered three sealed thank-you cards from their mother, one for each son.

"Milton," she wrote, "thank you for the house. But you know I can only live in one room -- and it's so huge I spend all my time cleaning it."
       
"Gerald," she wrote, "thank you for the car, although I am too old to leave the big house your brother gave me. That seems to make the driver unhappy, because all he does is sit in the kitchen and drink my coffee."

"Donald," she wrote, "you always were a bit wacky, but thank you for the little chicken you sent. It was delicious!"




   

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Limes And Health Benefits

Limes are a citrus fruit. Here are 9 health benefits of limes:

Cancer Prevention

Limes contain limonoid, a compound believed to have anti-carcinogen effects. These compounds are thought to help prevent skin, mouth, stomach, breast, lung and other types of cancer. An article published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" noted that limonin has been proven to induce cancer cell death. Limes are also a potent source of antioxidants, particularly vitamin C. Antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer by preventing free radical damage to the cells and DNA. Limes may have anti-inflammatory properties that can slow the risk of chronic inflammation, another high risk factor for developing cancer.

High In Antioxidants
Limes are a great source of vitamin C and other phytonutrients and flavonoids with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are key in neutralizing free radical activity that damages the cells and DNA and can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

High In Vitamin C
Just a quarter cup of lime juice contains over 46% the DV of vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins and antioxidants in human health. It helps boost the immune system, supports heart health, wards off sickness and disease and protects the eyes from conditions like cataracts.

Antibiotic
One of the flavonoid compounds found in limes are believed to have powerful antibiotic properties. Studies in west Africa found that the daily addition of limes into the diet of villagers helped reduce the occurrence of cholera.

Immunity Booster
The vitamin C in limes helps to boost immunity and offer long term support for the immune system. It may help to prevent the flu and the common cold as well as reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory
Vitamin C and many of the other phytonutrient compounds in limes have anti-inflammatory effects. Limes may be useful in lowering the risk of conditions related to chronic inflammation like arthritis, asthma, and heart disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevention
A study of more than 20,000 people published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that subjects who consumed more vitamin C rich foods like limes were far less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis and related arthritic conditions. Subjects who ate the least amount of foods with vitamin C were three times more likely to develop arthritis.

Heart Health
Antioxidants like vitamin C are often associated with a reduced risk of heart attack and heart disease. Foods that have potent anti-inflammatory properties are also believed to help support the cardiovascular system.

Eye Health
Vitamin C is essential to the proper function of the eyes. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to cataracts and other eye conditions. Maintaining good vitamin C levels by eating citrus like limes and lime juice is a good way to maintain proper eye health.

Monday 26 August 2013

The Chapati Miracle

A woman baked chapatti (bread) for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra chapatti on the window sill, for whosoever would take it away. Every day, a beggar came and took away the chapatti. He would express no gratitude but would muttered : “The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!” This went on, day after day. Every day, he came, picked up the chapatti and uttered the words:

“The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!” The woman felt irritated. “Not a word of gratitude,” she said to herself… “Everyday this beggar utters this jingle! What does he mean?” 


One day, exasperated, she decided to get rid of him forever” she said. She added poison to the chapatti she prepared for him!

As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. She realized her terrible mistake .“What is this I am doing?” she said. She threw the chapatti into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window sill. As usual, the beggar came, picked up the chapatti and muttered his daily words: “The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!”

The beggar proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of what had happened . Every day, as the woman placed the chapatti on the window sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.

That very evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, “Mom, it’s a miracle I’m here. While I was but a mile away, I felt so weak that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old beggar passed by. I begged of him for a some of food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole chapatti. As he gave it to me, he said, “This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!”

Hearing these words , the mother’s face turned pale. She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned chapatti that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life!

It was then that she realized the significance of the words: 


“The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!” 

Do good and Don’t ever stop doing good, even if it is not appreciated at that time.

Sunday 25 August 2013

Joke - Smart Husband

Husband sent a text to his wife at night,

“Hi, I will get late, please try and wash all my dirty clothes
and make sure you prepare my favorite dish before I return.”

but there is no reply…..

He sent another text,
“And I forgot to tell you that I got an increase in my salary
at the end of the month I’m getting you a new car”
This time ,
She text back, “OMG really?”

Husband replied, :
“No I just wanted to make sure you got my first message”

   

Wednesday 21 August 2013

A Cook's Tour - Anthony Bourdain In Singapore

Anthony Michael Bourdain is an American chef, author, and television personality. 

On his tour of Singapore, he tries some exotic foods like ginseng soup, cod fish with white wine, deer penis wine and deer tendons.

What he likes best is the crab bee hoon at Sin Huat Restaurant. 



Part 1 - 10 minutes.



Part 2 - 10 minutes



Friday 16 August 2013

Joke - The Amen Horse

There was a guy who had been lost in the desert for about two weeks. One hot day, he spies a shack, crawls to the doorstep and collapses. Turns out it's the home of a missionary, who nurses the traveler back to health.

After getting better, the man asks for directions to the nearest town. On his way out the backdoor, he spots the missionary's horse. "Could I borrow your horse, and return it back when I reach the town?"
      
The missionary, being a good Christian, says yes, but with a warning. "There is a special thing about this horse. You have to say 'Thank God' to make it go and 'Amen' to make it stop."
      
Not paying much attention, the man says, "Sure, okay."
      
So he gets on the horse and says, "Thank God" and the horse starts walking. Then he says, "Thank God, thank God," and the horse starts trotting. Feeling really brave, the man says, "Thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God" and the horse just takes off galloping.

Pretty soon the man realizes they're approaching a cliff! He begins to do everything he can to make the horse stop.
      
"Whoa! Stop! Hold on!"
      
Finally he remembers! "Amen!"
      
The horse stops four inches from the cliff! Then the man leans back in the saddle and says, "Thank God."

















Wednesday 14 August 2013

Silver And Gold - Hidden Secrets Of Money - 7 Stages Of Empire

In this 30 minute, Mike Maloney traces the history of money and explains the 7 stages of Empire.




Fruits And Juices Should Be Eaten Before Meals

Those days before development of medical science, research and technology, most people often eat fruits immediately after food thereafter symptoms aroused. A lot of patients had recovered since Dr. Stephen Mark, a cardiologist had treated fatal ill cancer patients by “abnormal” method. He described that his patients’ illnesses were treated by applying some kind of solar power, whereby human body has a natural ability to heal that could fight against viruses. Illnesses are caused by insufficient supply of essential elements and nutrients leading to low immune system.
Good health is to develop strong body cells, an excellent body resistance and natural healing ability which is essential for our living organism needs. Therefore, our body requires a self-management system to supply the nutrients and elements to our human body cells. Healthy body cells can only be established through proper receiving of nutrients. Nevertheless, if erroneous way of food intake is applied, our body cells will not be able to do its job well.
It is eminent to know that we should eat fruits on an empty stomach or at least one hour before meal for better absorption. By doing so would aid to detoxify our system and at the same time provide us a lot of energy and help to reduce weight.
Assuming you eat a slice of fruit immediately after you finishes your meal. Although the slice of fruit is willing to go directly into your stomach and intestines but it is not able to do so. The meal became rotten, fermented and then change into acid. The whole fruit in your stomach begins to mess up the moment the food mix with the fruit and digestive juices. Have you come across people saying that they burp each time they ate apple or orange or they wanted to go to the washroom after eating watermelon and so forth. When the fruit muddle up with other food in your stomach, it turns rotten and produces gas causing your stomach to bloat.
Why some people encounter nervous outbreak, ring beneath the eyes and bald or gray hair? This is attributed to non-consuming fruits with an empty stomach. According to Dr. Herbert Shelton who carried out a research on this matter regardless of whether they are acidic, all fruits that go into our stomach will turn alkaline. The secret of happiness, health, beauty, longevity, energy and sustainable body weight all lies beyond the right way of eating fruits.
We should eat the whole fresh fruits or drink fresh juice while our stomach is empty. Try not to drink juices from cans as they are not so fresh. A better method of drinking juice is by drinking it slowly, mixing it with our saliva before we swallow it. Moreover, never cook your fruits as the vitamins and nutrients will be destroyed by heat. If you want to own a perfect body figure, try to take fast fruit for 3 to 4 days. Not only will it help to cleanse your body but you would be amazed when someone tells you how radiant, glowing and beautiful you look! If your attempt works fine for you, why not make this a daily habit to eat fresh fruits or drink fruit juice whilst your stomach is unfilled with other food

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Joke - A Man's Complaint About His Wife

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through --

So he prayed:

"Dear Lord:
I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home.
I want her to know what I go through.
So, please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen!"

God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.

The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman.



He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids,
set out their school clothes,
fed them breakfast,
packed their lunches,
drove them to school,
came home and picked up the dry cleaning,
took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit,
went grocery shopping,
then drove home to put away the groceries,
paid the bills and balanced the check book.
He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog.
Then, it was already 1 P.M.

And he hurried to make the beds,
do the laundry, vacuum,
dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor.
Ran to the school to pick up the kids
and got into an argument with them on the way home.
Set out milk and cookies
and got the kids organized to do their homework.
Then, set up the ironing board
and watched TV while he did the ironing.
At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes
and washing vegetables for salad,
breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper.

After supper,
he cleaned the kitchen,
ran the dishwasher,
folded laundry,
bathed the kids,
and put them to bed.
at 09 P.M .

He was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished,
he went to bed where he was expected to make love,
which he managed to get through without complaint.

The next morning,
he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said: -
'Lord, I don't know what I was thinking.
I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day.
Please, oh! oh! Please, let us trade back. Amen!'

The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied:
'My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were.
But You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night.'



   

Monday 5 August 2013

Anti-Cancer Vegetables

A landmark study pitted 34 common vegetables against 8 different lines of cancer cells.

Some vegetables are good at stopping certain types of cancer cells but are not good at stopping others. So it is best to eat a variety of vegetables daily.

This 3 minute video explains that veggies are better than grains in stopping cancer.



This 9 minute video explains that inclusion of allium and cruciferous vegetables are essential in preventing cancer.

Allium vegetables are garlic, onions, chives and leek while cruciferous vegetables are cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, bok choy and others.



Thursday 1 August 2013

Recipe - Char Siew Chicken (Chinese BBQ Chicken)

This char siew chicken or bbq chicken is the chicken version of the char siew pork. It is sweet and savoury. It is also easy to prepare.

The best part of the chicken is probably the legs. That's because they are the most active part of the chicken.

For this recipe, I use 2 boneless and skinless legs. I got the boneless legs from the supermarket and remove the skin myself.

Before marinating the skinless and boneless legs, I blanched them in boiling water for a minute to get rid of any surface fat and also to get rid of the chicken smell.

Then I use the sharp end of a knife to poke some holes into the meat. This will help the marinade to penetrate into the meat and absorb the flavour.

Ingredients

2 skinless and boneless chicken legs (about 600 grams)

Seasoning

2 tbs sugar
1 tbs hoisin sauce or char siew sauce
char siew sauce
2 tbs of dark soya sauce
1 tsp grated ginger (for extra flavour)
1 tsp grated garlic (for extra flavour)
1 tsp of salt
Juice from 1 lime

Method

Give the skinless and boneless legs a quick blanch in boiling water.
Poke some holes in the legs with a knife.

In a bowl, put all the seasoning ingredients and give them a good mix.
hoisin sauce
Add in the chicken.
Make sure the chicken is well coated.
Marinate for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight)

Roasting

Remove chicken from the fridge and leave at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Lay aluminium foil on the basement tray.
Add half a cup of water. This helps to keep the meat moist.
The foil will also capture the dripping sauce.

Place the chicken legs on the roasting rack.
Roast at 180 degrees C for about 15 minutes on top heat.
The top part of the chicken should start to char.
Turn over the chicken legs and roast the other side for about 10 minutes.

The chicken legs should be done after a total of about 25 minutes.
Remove and set aside on serving plate.

The basement tray will have some dripped sauce from the roasting process.
Combine this dripped sauce with the excess marinade and heat over low heat in a sauce pan.
Stir constantly till the sauce becomes thick.
Spoon this sauce over the chicken legs and serve.
(Note: I usually cut the legs into strips before serving)

Enjoy.
   



This 7 minute video is for char siew pork. Bella uses sherry, hoisin sauce, dark soy and sugar for the marinade.




Pailin added 5 spice powder to make char siu pork.