Belgian Endive in Ham

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Belgian Endive in Ham

Not many people are familiar with Belgian endive and even less know how to prepare it. It’s no big mystery really and you certainly don’t need to be a kitchen princess to prepare this dish. All you need are these step by step instructions and you’ll be ready to surprise your family with a unique European dish.

Ingredients for four people

4 sticks of Belgian endive

4 big slices of cooked ham

Flour

Butter

Cheese

Breadcrumbs

Salt

Water

Preparation

Wash the Belgian endive under cold running water. Don’t cut off the stems. The stem is what keeps the endive leaves from falling off during the cooking process. Place the endive in a pot, add plenty of water and a flat teaspoon of salt.

When the water boils, turn down the heat and let the endive simmer until soft by the stem. To test, insert knifepoint near the stem of the endive.

When soft, scoop the endive out of the pot with a fork and place them in a strainer.

Prepare the sauce

Melt a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and add four tablespoons of flour over moderate heat. Stir with a whisk. Add the water in which the Belgian endive was cooked until the mixture is thick and smooth. Add a generous helping of cheese. If the sauce is too thick, a little bit of the endive water.

Prepare the Belgian endive

Roll each stick of Belgian endive in a slice of ham and secure the ham with a toothpick.

Place the endive in an oven dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the endive in ham. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

Grill in the oven until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.

For those who are in a hurry, white sauce or cheese sauce from a packet works just as well.

How to Help Your Kids Understand the Family Financial Budget

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How to Help Your Kids Understand the Family Financial Budget

Very few children know the value of money.  They see that their friends have the latest electronic gadgets, designer clothing or fashionable jewelry and they want it too.  They have no idea how much those items cost or whether or not Mom and Dad can afford them.  If you’ve ever wondered how to help your kids understand the family financial budget, the following tips might help.

As soon as children are old enough, tell them how much you earn and show them what kind of bills have to be paid on a monthly basis.  Talk to them about the mortgage/rent, the hydro bill, phone bill, credit card and anything else that needs paying.  Write all payments down, add them up and deduct them off your income.  Seeing how much is left will make them understand what a family budget is.

Let children accompany you on grocery shopping trips and let them see the bill.  While shopping, individually priced items may not make much of an impression on them, but seeing it added up might open their eyes just how expensive groceries are.  If you are paying with a credit card, show them the statement at the end of the month.  For a lot of children a credit card is a magical card that pays bills, but they don’t take into account that that card has to be paid too.

Teach your children about shopping around and practice what you preach.  The next time you need shoes, a sweater or washing liquid, take the kids along and show them that shopping around might help them save a significant amount of dollars. When they see how much you save by visiting more than one store, chances are they will do the same.

Introduce your children to earning their own money.  Don’t just give them an allowance, but give them tasks to do and pay them accordingly.  They will soon find out that it takes time and effort to get a particular sum together.  If you want them to learn the value of money, let them get a part-time job when they are old enough.  Nothing teaches kids more effectively about money than having to work for it.

It might also be a good idea to let them have their own savings account.  Not just a piggy bank in which they save a few coins, but a proper bank account that pays them interest and with which they can see their savings grow.  With a growing savings account they might prefer to put money aside instead of spending it.

www.connymanero.weebly.com

Are Humans Superior to Animals

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Are Humans Superior to Animals

Take A Look at the Facts

Humans like to consider themselves superior to animals, but are they? The following comparison is certainly food for thought.

While circling in the air, eagles and falcons can spot a small animal from 2 miles (3.2 km) away. While their flying speed is about 30 mph (49 km) while diving for their prey they reach up to 100 mph (160 km). If you think that’s fast, the peregrine falcon puts them both to shame. This bird clocks a diving speed of 242 mph (389 km). Can you see that well or move that fast?

When observing the cheetah in the wild, this large cat has somewhat of a lazy walk. That is until he’s hungry and spots his prey. In hot pursuit of an animal, he reaches up to 68 mph (120 km). Once again, humans fail in comparison.

Ducks, geese, and swans are just three birds that can fly, swim and walk. While all abled-bodied humans can walk, not all can swim, and certainly, none can fly.

The whale song can be heard by other whales between 1,000 and 10,000 miles (1,609 km — 16,093 km) away. When the breeding time comes around, whales will travel 3,100 miles (5,000 km) to find their perfect mate. Some humans can’t be bothered to travel to the next town.

Where it comes to building, the beaver is considered the king of architecture. He’s not the only talented builder though. Spiders curl leaves to protect their young, termites not only build mounds but add air-conditioning, while birds build nests with only their beaks. If humans want to build a house, a bridge or a dam, they need computers, architects, engineers and a team of construction workers.

As for the common snails, these creatures carry their entire house on their back, while ants can carry ten times their own weight. You trying doing that.

Penguins on the south pole live happily in freezing temperatures. In summer the average temperature is -18 deg F (-28.2 C) while in winter the temperature reaches -76 deg F (-60 deg C). If humans were exposed to these weather conditions they would need a padded coat, a scarf, a hat or gloves.

Apart from their amazing abilities, animals are more beautiful than humans. Have a look at a sunset moth, a kingfisher, a tiger, an owl, and especially a peacock. Even the most stunning beauty queen can’t compete with them.

Now tell me, are humans really superior to animals?

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The Cost of Alcoholism

TV commercials, magazine ads, and billboards make drinking alcoholic beverages seem so cool. Gorgeous women and handsome men are shown getting together, having a wonderful time. Whether they are drinking beer, wine or spirits, they are laughing, they are relaxing and love never seems to be far away.

Reality paints a different picture. The cost of alcoholism to the economy is in the region of 134 billion dollars each year. Domestic violence, road accidents, alcohol-related illness and job loss all weigh heavy on the economy. Yet less than half of the expenses are born by the alcohol drinkers, the government and private insurance companies pay the bills.

Some men and women who indulge in too much alcohol are known for violence against their spouses. Some spouses suffer so badly they have to see a doctor or worse, be hospitalized. Every bed taken by an alcohol abuse victim is one bed less for a patient who may need that space for a non-alcohol related illness or accident.

Although many warnings are giving about driving under the influence of alcohol, some people still get behind the wheel of their car. In 2008 there were no less than 37,261 fatalities of which 13,846 were alcohol-related. Not all accidents are fatal though, some cause major or minor injuries, putting innocent victims in hospital, keeping them away from their jobs or putting them on disability.

The cost calculated for the treatment of medical consequences of alcohol is estimated at some 6.3 billion dollars, with an additional 500 million for the training of medical staff. Consequences include injuries of abuse, psychological treatment, and treatment for liver cancer.

In addition, there is the cost of research. Research why homes in areas with easier access to alcohol suffer more domestic abuse; what drives employees to excessive drinking; treatment for alcohol-related cancer; the effect of alcohol on unborn babies; and early death due to alcohol.

The cost of alcoholism to the economy is also felt in the criminal justice system. Some 10.5 billion is spent on alcohol-related court cases and imprisoned alcohol abusers. In turn, the rise in alcohol-related car accidents has an effect on insurance companies and higher cost premiums.

To fight the cost of alcoholism to the economy, environmental prevention has been proven to work. By reducing access to alcohol, banning alcohol promotion ads and stricter laws on alcohol abuse billions of dollars can be saved.

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/economic-2000/

http://www.marininstitute.org/alcohol_industry/secondhand_impacts.htm

http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.html

Day 100: How to Answer Interview Questions About Strengths and Weaknesses

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Day 100: How to Answer Interview Questions About Strengths and Weaknesses

You know it’s coming.  The question ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses’ has become part of every interview. Some dread the question, because they don’t feel comfortable blowing their own horn and admitting to their faults; others welcome the question as it gives them the time to shine and can even turn their weaknesses to their advantage.

Find out how to answer this interview question intelligently at: https://medium.com/@conny.manero/how-to-answer-interview-questions-about-strengths-and-weaknesses-edb80b3d69b6

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