One lovely summer morning, I was sitting on my deck, enjoying a cup of coffee and the luxury of not having to go anywhere or do anything on this particular day. Or so I thought! Mere moments after I'd settled into my favorite hammock, listening to the birds do their morning thing and watching the horses graze, my boyfriend burst outside in a bit of a panic. What? What's going on? He asked if I'd made anything for the potluck we were to attend in an hour and why he couldn't find it in the fridge. What potluck? Did I know about this? He went on and on about how he'd told me on Tuesday and how important it was because there were to be several potential clients there and we just HAD TO go. Sheesh! So much for a leisurely day.
I promptly went to the kitchen to see what I had to whip something up and calm his frayed nerves. Sadly, I'd not been to the grocery store in the past week and supplies were a bit low. Opening the freezer, fridge and cupboards, I began surveying my options. And this is what I came up with:
Tortellini Surprise
1 pkg. fresh tortellini (I like the cheese filled, but it's your call)
1 can mandarin oranges
1 lb. fresh asparagus
1 can string beets
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts
pine nuts or sesame seeds
tarragon vinegar
olive oil
Italian seasoning
Boil the tortellini until al dente (firm). Strain and put in large bowl. Coat tortellini with a small amount of olive oil (to prevent sticking). Steam asparagus (don't overcook. it should be crunchy), cut artichoke hearts into small pieces. Drain mandarin oranges, but be sure to save the juice for dressing.
Put all ingredients into bowl with tortellini and toss.
Dressing:
Oil from artichokes
tarragon vinegar
mandarin orange juice
Italian seasoning
Use your palate to judge. I prefer a tart dressing, so I use more vinegar. But this is entirely up to you. Pour half of the dressing into bowl and toss. Save remainder to redress when you arrive at the potluck (or when you're ready to serve). Can be served hot or cold. Serves 4. (adjust quantities to accommodate your head count)
You can also add things like Genoa salami or chunks of ham. You an also substitute another green veggie (like broccoli) for the asparagus. Use your imagination! Really, you could use whatever you like. Get creative and use lots of colorful foods to make it more festive (and YUMMY!) Bon apetit!
Camille Strate is an author, critter-keeper and entrepreneur who has spent her life in search of the perfect pasture. She is a staunch believer in the "Pay It Forward" philosophy, and her business is a reflection of this belief. Marketing Personal Development products is one of her passions; she loves seeing other people empower themselves and find their true paths. Her latest book, "Whispers" will be released sometime in Spring of 2008. http://www.genuineintentions.com
¶ 11:50 PM 0 comments
California Mountain biking can offer you all the pleasure of real biking drama. You will feel the adventure from the moment you begin your ride. While riding, you will not only enjoy the scenic beauty of Californian landscapes but also taste the excitement of mountain biking.
Mountain Biking At Its Best In California
Let us find out what is so special about mountain biking in California. Biking here is wonderful especially up and down the coast. San Luis Obispo County is THE place where biking is immensely popular. You will find that the trails are not only better but also diverse and the best part is that this place is less crowded. These are just the ideal ingredients that can make your ride even more fascinating.
You will be fascinated with the uneven old roads that run deep into calm mountains and if thats not enough then you can also try your hands at some technical tracks. It is a fact that San Luis Obispo County is quite known for its diverse topography. Well, some moderately flat coastal roads, gentle climbs, and of course a mass of extinct volcanoes adds that bit of variety to the terrain.
When it comes to scenic beauty then hold your breath for the Valencia Peak out of Montana de Oro State Park that boasts awesome views of the ocean, coast, Morro Bay as well as the Chorro Valley. While riding on the Santa Lucia Mountains, you can take a loop round western town of Pozo through Navajo Canyon.
Now, you can fetch your bike here and begin mountain biking all by yourself. Setting up your own tour is one option while the other is to indulge in a customized bike tour. The tour operators make sure that their local expertise and experience can see you through your tour successfully. They may also cater a package including lodging and transportation.
Californian bike tours witness countless riders each year. It is true that having a ride along the beautiful coast here is quite irresistible. And the benevolent weather, thanks to the Mediterranean climate, the long distance ride is a thousand times more enchanting.
The rural roads here are present with no traffic at all, making it much easier for you to venture into the forests, meadows or vineyards. You can also feast your eyes at the beach towns and seaside agricultural areas while riding.
Much to the convenience of the Mountain bikers, Mammoth Mountain in California's Eastern Sierras is one of the many ski resorts here. You will find extensive trail network that is well maintained. And how about, the water coolers, restrooms and phones made available at most points.
Its about time that you realize your dreams in California. If mountain biking is your passion then California is the right place to be in. What you get is more than what is told here.
Robert Sheehan is a freelance writer and co-owner of
http://www.bicycles-are-us.com Visit Robert And
read more about bicycles at
http://www.bicycles-are-us.com/Mountain-Bikes.html
¶ 7:24 PM 0 comments
"Immature love says - 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says: 'I need you because I love you.'" - Erich Fromm
These days, this quote on love and need has been really centrifuging my mind. Don't know about love being mature or immature in the above quote, yet what is very significantly seen is that whenever it comes to human love, be it mature or immature, the "need" factor always complements or supplements it.
The need for another person, the need of a lover for one's beloved, as man is a social animal, so the need to find a partner for settling in life. This need is what makes relationships thrive and also go astray. The moment you don't need a person in your life, he/she loses his/her significance for you.
That's why break-offs, separations and divorces take place because the need for that all important specific person is replaced by the need for another person who now holds your interest and that's why people enter into re-partnerships and re-marriages.
But of course, living alone is next to impossible as Man is a Social Animal and therefore relationships by virtue of being in a single, committed marital contract or by way of a string of affairs - is what people indulge in...as falling in love and being in love always warrants a need for another person to share one's life.
And I think that God up above might be also lonely and needy like us, and when we talk of human love being need-based, sometimes I feel that God also needs us to remember Him...to feel HIS need in our lives and that's why in our day-to-day living amongst all mundane and routine activities, there are some very precious moments of exuberant jubilation He bestows on us by way of special events like personal or social achievements, and we feel the need to thank Him for his benevolence, to remember Him more in those very happy times, thus fulfilling His need as well - His need to be loved, acknowledged and appreciated by his children on Earth.
And also amongst such diurnal routines, HE sometimes drowns us in abject misery with unthinkable exigencies or failures, because in those very depressing times, we remember God more often and seek His mercy, thus again reiterating this mutual symbiotic need of give and take between God and His subjects - we as humans, seek God in our most trying times and may be, God also makes us endure such times so that we feel His need in our lives.
God gives us the happiest and saddest of our life's moments and we take it all in...
Similarly, in those very positive and very negative times, we reiterate our need of God and our faith in His Godliness, thanking Him in our good times and seeking deliverance in our turmoil - thus we give ourselves unto Him, our belief in His supernatural powers, and He accepts our devotion and prayers, thus His Need to be wanted by His children on Earth is Fulfilled.
A form of Symbiosis - Give and Take.
So I think that the "need" factor is not just limited to the Human Form of Love - we needing to be with the persons we love.
The "need" factor is also very much a part of Divine Love. God's need for us - His devotees and our need for HIM - He the eternal Guru and we His eternal Shishyas (disciples).
Seems like a very holistic form of "Ashram" where in this world, we are born to live and seek refuge in God's Shelter, be it happy times or sad.
Human Love or Divine Love - both exist with similar packages of high and low moments, of pain and pleasure, of exultation and depression, of suffering and deliverance...
And of course, the similarities in seeking and sharing...In our moments of joy and jubilation, we not only feel close to God but also seek our loved ones, our closest allies, be they our parents, friends, partners or children, people who mean the most to us in our lives, and share with them our moments of heightened pleasure. Like the saying goes : Joy shared is Doubled.
On the other end of the continuum, when we are down and out, we not only seek God for some personal solace but also become more dependent and needy of our loved ones, sharing our woes with them, crying on their shoulders, trying to seek some sort of loving comfort in their unconditional support for us. It may be with our partners, our bosom friends or even with our parents and grown-up children, depending on the depth of rapport we share with the pivotal persons in our life. A heart that truly loves can understand a heart in pain...
Yet the one marked difference is the Object of Love - the very visible, "touchable" Man / Woman in your Life as regards Human Love and the always invisible, elusive God Almighty who becomes the ultimate object of your Divine Love - for He annoys and appeases us in His own "special" ways and you feel there is this Uniqueness in HIM that makes him so very surreal and yet so real in our world of Blind Beliefs.
¶ 11:58 AM 0 comments
