Sweet, Charming And Funny Cat T-Shirt

Cats are for lonely, old ladies in rockers.I think not. That claim can only be contested by a cat lover like me. My cat is named Bella. Well, she is not a replacement for a child but is a good alternative until the daughter or son comes along. Cats are very caring and sweet. Who wouldnt want one? They make great pets for they keep the mice at bay. Thanks to Bella, my house is free of rodent-infestation. The cats presence is helpful in our home in another way. It helps me communicate with my husband without words. How? With a funny cat t-shirt, of course!

Kitty and cat care has the most delightful and funny cat t-shirts. There are many designs to choose from, depending on your attitude for the day. I started wearing the shirt called Cat Attitude Beach Bum T-Shirt around the house while working out in the treadmill. The shirt features different expressions of cat faces when they are sad, happy, stressed out and the like. My husband passed by me and did a double take, reading my shirt. A few moments later a smile creased his face. He said, You are wearing the contest attitude. That made me smile too. Now, whenever I wear that comfortable and funny cat t-shirt, he would try to match my face to the ones printed on my shirt. Luckily, my face always matches the happy cat face.

When my husband and I are fighting and I am giving him the silent treatment, I would wear the Meow-Dont you understand? t-shirt or the World revolves around me t-shirt. I still get the message across without throwing a hissy fit or strong, harsh words. I will just let the funny cat t-shirts do the work for me. When Im in the mood for shopping, I wear the I love to shop shirt and bat my eyelashes at him. He usually gets a resigned look in his face when I ask him to go shopping with me. But with the funny cat t shirt, he just gives me a go signal, minus the exasperation.

When I am in the mood for alone-time because the stress of work reaches its toll, I will don the Cats Worshiped Funny Cat t- shirt and he will run me a relaxing bath. After the said bath, he would take out my Do Not Disturb sweatshirt and lay it next to a steaming mug of green tea. There are even corresponding shirts for times when I do not want to do housework or get up in the morning! The wide selection is the best around. It only means that Kitty and Cat Care has its customers in mind when crafting their t-shirts and its designs. Oh, what is my favourite style? It is the Friends Forever-Dog/Cat t0-shirt. My husband and I used to fight like cats and dogs. Back in college, it was near impossible for us to be friends. We keep on butting heads. But now, we are husband and wife, not only friends.

The funny cat t-shirts are available in different cuts and styles. The Adult T-Shirt is 100% pre-shrunk cotton with a 5.6 oz with shoulder-to-shoulder tape with a seamless collar, and double needle construction throughout. The Adult Sweatshirt is premium-weight, high quality garment made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester. The Adult Long Sleeve T-Shirt is 100% pre-shrunk cotton, 5.6 oz with shoulder-to-shoulder tape with a seamless collar, and double needle construction throughout. The Womans T-Shirt Dress is 100% pre-shrunk heavyweight cotton, 5.6oz, bound neck, 37 long, and double needle sleeve and bottom hem. Lastly, the Womans Scoop Neck T-Shirt is 5.6 oz. heavyweight 100% cotton garment, pre-shrunk to keep its good looks. This female shirt has a bound neck, double-needle sleeves and a bottom hem.

The funny cat t shirts are not only amusing, but they are uber comfortable. They can be used when working out, picking up the grocery or simply lounging around. Go ahead and get one! You do not have to try so hard in cracking jokes. All you have to do is point to your shirt and the funny cat t shirts will do it for you.

The Establishmet of Annapolis, USA

Annapolis in the USA is currently the county seat of Anne Arundel County and also the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland. According to census in July 2006 it had a population of 36,408 and is settled on the Chesapeake Bay at the source of the River Severn, about 29 miles or 47 km east of Washington DC and 26 miles or 42 km south of Baltimore. Annapolis forms a portion of the Baltimore Washington Metropolitan Area.

The city was for some time the capital of the United States from 1783 to 1784 and the place where in November 2007, the Annapolis Peace Conference was held at the United States Naval Academy. St. John’s College also exists in Annapolis.

A colonization called Providence was found on the north coast of the River Severn in 1649 by Puritan refugees from Virginia headed by William Stone. Later these settlers shifted to a better defended port on the south coast. The colony on the south bank was at first called Town at Proctor’s, later Town at the Severn, and much later Anne Arundel’s Towne, as a tribute to the wife of Lord Baltimore who expired soon afterwards. During the slave trade the city became very rich.

Soon after the dethroning of the Catholic government that belonged to lord proprietor in 1694, Sir Francis Nicholson shifted the capital of the royal colony there and changed the name of the town as Annapolis in honor of Princess Anne, the next Queen of Great Britain; it was recognized as a city in 1708.

From the middle of the 18th century to the American Revolutionary War, Annapolis was famous due to its cultivated and wealthy community. The Maryland Gazette that became a significant weekly journal was published there by Jonas Green in 1745. In 1769 a theatre was inaugurated. In this era the commerce was sufficient, but collapsed rapidly later because Baltimore, with its abyssal port was made an entry point in 1780. Water related trades like boat making, sail making and oyster packing became the city’s main industries. Annapolis these days is homing numerous of recreational boats that have mostly shifted the seafood industry of the city.

In 1783, Annapolis became the capital of the US for a short time after signing the Treaty of Paris. From 26, November 1783, to 3, June 1784, Congress was in session in the state house and it was in Annapolis on 23, December 1783, when General Washington resigned from the post of commander in chief of the Continental Army.

Myths and Misconseptions about Cholesterol Lowering Herbs

Are you interested in a more natural approach to treating high cholesterol levels? Do you want to drive down your cholesterol for a longer, healthier life?

There are several natural herbs that are known (or thought to be known) to help lower cholesterol levels. Among them are:

Flaxseed – Flaxseed Oil:

Flaxseed is the actual seed of the flax plant, and is thought to have originally come from Egypt. It grows throughout Canada and the northwestern United States. Flaxseed oil comes from compressed flaxseeds. Both flaxseed and flaxseed oil have been used in attempts at lowering high cholesterol naturally.

Whole or crushed flaxseed can be mixed with water or juice and taken by mouth. Flaxseed is also available in powder or meal form, and is often used to make breads and muffins. Flaxseed oil is available in liquid and capsule form.

According to the FDA, studies of flaxseed preparations to lower cholesterol levels report mixed results. (These studies seem promising, however, as they are still ongoing).

Garlic:

Garlic is an edible bulb and has been used as both a medicine and a spice for many years. (It is also purported to be able to keep vampires at bay!) Garlic’s most common uses as a dietary supplement are for high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Garlic cloves can be eaten raw or cooked. They may also be dried or powdered and used in tablets and capsules. Raw garlic cloves can be used to make oils and liquid extracts.

These are some good reports that imply that taking garlic can slightly lower blood cholesterol levels; studies have shown small but good effects for from 1 to 3 months of use. However, an NCCAM-funded study on the safety and effectiveness of three of the garlic preparations most commonly used (fresh garlic, dried powdered garlic tablets, and aged garlic extract tablets) for lowering blood cholesterol levels found no effect. (The jury is still out on this one.)

Grape Seed Extract:

The grape seeds used to produce grape seed extract are most often obtained from wine manufacturers – their leftovers actually. The leaves and fruit of the grape have been used medicinally since ancient times in Greece. Grape seed extract is used for several aliments related to the heart and blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Grape seed extract is available in either capsule or tablet forms. Laboratory studies have shown that grape seed contains antioxidants-substances that prevent cell damage caused by free radicals, (In a nutshell, free radicals are everywhere in our environment and diet and are responsible for quite a bit of cell damage and cell dysfunction.) However, according to the FDA, it is still unclear how grape seed might affect cholesterol levels.

Green Tea:

All types of tea (green, black, and oolong) are produced from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Fresh leaves from this plant are steamed to produce the “green teas”.

Green tea and green tea extracts have also been used for improving mental alertness, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol levels, and protecting skin from sun damage. Green tea is usually brewed and drunk as a beverage. Green tea extracts can be taken in capsules and are sometimes used in skin products.

Red Clover:

Red clover belongs to the family of plants called legumes (Pean and beans are the most well known legumes). Red clover contains phytoestrogens-very much like the female hormone, estrogen. Current uses of red clover are for menopausal symptoms, breast pain associated with menstrual cycles, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and symptoms of prostate enlargement.

The flowering tops of the red clover plant are used to prepare extracts and they are available in tablets and capsules, as well as in teas and liquid forms. According to the FDA, there is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether red clover is effective for lowering your cholesterol levels.

Soy:

Soy, a plant in the pea family, has been a common factor in Asian diets for many years. It is found in modern American diets as a food or food additive and is very often used in vegetarian diets because of it’s versatility and the easy way in which its taste can be altered.

People use soy products to prevent or treat a many health conditions, including high cholesterol levels, menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

Soy is available in a wide variety of forms such as tablets and capsules. Soy supplements may contain isoflavones or soy protein or both. Soybeans can be cooked and eaten ‘as is’ or used to make tofu, soy milk, and other types of foods. Also, soy is sometimes used as an additive in some foods, including baked goods, cheese, and pasta. According to FDA Research it is suggested that a daily intake of soy protein may slightly lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Growing Your Own Herbs

What is a herb?

Herbs are the leafy, green part of aromatic plants grown for culinary use. Herbs have become a cooking necessity. Cooks have options. Dried herbs can be purchased at your local market. In today’s world everyone is health conscious and would rather cook with fresh herbs. The beauty with herbs is that they can be grown indoors or outdoors. Where you choose to grow your plant is a personal choice. What ever your choice remember herbs need moisture and light.

Starting from seeds:

Any small container will do. Make sure there are holes at the bottom of container for drainage. Your plant needs good drainage. Add your soil. I fertilize the soil before adding the seeds. Nutrients leak out of the soil . Place the seeds about ¼ of an inch from the top soil. Water well and cover with a plastic lid or clear plastic wrap. When I see healthy sprouts I remove the plastic cover. Two of the most important things to remember is during your seedling stage keep the soil moist at all times. Secondly, place in a sunny location in your home.

If you are planting directly outside choose a place only for your herbs. It maybe alongside other vegetables or flowers but seedlings must have full sunlight. Your outdoor seedlings need regular watering as well as fertilizer. If I am planting indoors or outdoor I like to use organic compost and manure to ensure healthy and flourishing plants. Never use any fertilizer that is not labeled for use on edible plants

Planting and Growing Herbs Tips:

Annual herbs are easy to start and inexpensive.

Harvest to the plant’s full flavor

Limit pesticides to a minimum. I like to mix liquid soap and water and spray my plants for pests. If this does not kill your pests check for non-toxic pesticides or pesticides used for edibles.

Designing Ideas:

Seasoning herbs do not have to be limited for seasoning but can be used as ornamental plants
The curly variety of Parsley makes a great edging plant. Bay laurel is a tall herb and can be potted and used at central points. Tri-color sage looks great in containers.
Mint and oregano tend to spread think about a hanging plant.

Trimming:

Once herbs are grown they have to be pruned. Since your will be using the herb for cooking there should not be a problem. If the herbs are not pruned they will grow tall and lanky. For a full healthy plant trim and prune.

Herbs and Pairing:

Bay: Used in soups and stews. Substitute: Thyme

Basil: Vegetables great with tomatoes. Substitutes: Marjoram, Mint,

Chives: Good with salads and Cold Plates. Substitutes: Scallions & Green Onions

Cilantro: Salsa, Asian & Caribbean Foods. Substitutes: Flat-leaf Parsley Spicy Basils

Dill: Fish, Chicken, Eggs, Salads, Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Potatoes,
Pickles & Sour Cream or Yogurt Dips. Substitute: Caraway

Lemon Grass: Thai Dishes, Chicken, Beef, Curry sometimes combined with coconut milk.
Substitute: Lemon Zest

Lemon Verbana: Fish, Poultry, Marinades, Salad Dressings, Jams, Sauces, Teas
Substitute: Lemon Grass & Lemon Zest

Mint: Lamb, Eggplant, Desserts Teas, Salads, Vegetables, Fruits. Substitute: Spicy Basils

Oregano: Beef, Chicken, Pasta, Tomatoes. Substitute: Marjoram, Mint, Basil

Sage: Poultry, Beans, Stuffing, Pasta. Substitute: Thyme, Summer Savory

Tarragon: Chicken, Eggs, Fish Substitute: Anise, Fennel

 http://www.FavoriteRecipes.biz
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The Woodlands and Waverley Hotels in Windermere

The Woodlands Hotel

The Woodlands Hotel is a four-star bed & breakfast with 15 rooms in total. It is located on New Rd, Windermere, Cumbria and can be accessed by train through The Windermere, The Kendal, The Burneside and The Staveley train stations.

The Windermere Steamboats and Museums is right the next door and furthermore The Scott Park Rubin Mill, The Townend, The Homes of Football at Ambleside and The Beatrix Potter Exhibition are around for you to explore. Also you can find The Weavers Gallery and The Gatefoot Gallery Cumbria around. Lots of hotels and guest houses are within one mile radius of it such as The Coppice Guesthouse, The Coppice Guesthouse and The Millbeck Bed & Breakfast. A Wealth of restaurants is located about the area including The Firenze Restaurante, The Prince of India, The Francine’s Coffee House and The Lighthouse Restaurant. To camp and stroll there will be The Fallbarrow Park and White Cross Bay Holiday Park and Marina.

It is a non-smoking hotel and mountain bikes are there for hire. Wi-Fi access is available all through. The rooms have TV, radio, broadband internet, tea & coffee makers and hairdryer is provided in each room.

The rates for The Woodlands Hotel start around £40 per night/room which is very good for this many stars it has.

It has been rated 4.33 of 5.0 which is among the very high-scored hotels in the area and attest to the high standard of services provide at the hotel. From all the information and guest reviews it can be concluded that no one would regret spending their holiday here eve.

The Waverley Hotel

The Waverley Hotel – Guest House is a small 3-star hotel with a total of 12 rooms. It is located on College Road, Windermere, Cumbria and the nearest train stations to it are the Cumbria and Windermere, the Burneside, the Staveley and the Kendal.

It is a smoking allowed hotel and has got its own restaurant. Car parks are available. It has an 18-hole golf course and mountain bikes are there to hire. You can also try Clay Pigeon Shooting. Rooms are equipped with radio, TV, Wi-Fi internet access, tea & coffee maker and hairdryer.

On its east the Windermere Lake is located which provides a good opportunity for water related activities. For museum-goers there are Windermere Steamboats & Museum‎ and The Lakeland Motor Museum. Further more one can find The Tower Gallery of Fine Arts and The Cedar Galler. For more practical guests places like The Windermere Golf Club‎, The Royal Windermere Yacht Club‎ and Heathwaite Football Club should be suggested. Also there are Fallbarrow and the Limefitt Park. It you choose to stay at somewhere else plenty of options are at your footsteps such as the Applegarth, the Sourht View, the Graywalls and The Lake hotel. Apart from the Jerichos restaurant‎ at the hotel we can also mention the Lighthouse, the Wicked Windermere, The Cedar Manor Hotel & Restaurant and The Cook House.

Being near the Windermere Lake which provides a good opportunity for fishing and boating and also a very quite and green area one wouldn’t regret staying some nights at the Waverley Hotel

Anti Oxidants – Why Its a Must in your Diet

While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is also responsible for maximum damage to the human body as ‘free radicals’. Free radicals form when oxygen is metabolized or burned by the body for its functions. Free radicals are also produced through environmental pollution and cigarette smoke

Tens of thousands of them are formed everyday in the body. These free radicals travel through the body causing immense damage to the cell structures and causes chronic disease, anti aging as well as other health problems including DNA mutations leading to cancer.

Thankfully the answer to such destruction at the cellular level is anti oxidants. The body produces anti oxidants as well as they available through fruits and vegetables. Anti oxidants scavenge free radicals; convert them to harmless substance before they can cause damage to the cells and tissues of the body.

Vitamin C beta carotenes and vitamin E are rich sources of anti oxidants. While a balance diet rich in these vitamins are an ideal source of natural anti oxidants they are also available as nutritional supplements and have gained much popularity in the past decade.

The efficacy of such anti oxidants remains questionable. Studies have suggested that anti oxidants occurring naturally as in fruits and vegetables have a far more protective effect than the dietary supplements.

However what has been proven beyond doubt by research is that anti oxidant intake does stave off degenerative diseases and especially cancer. It also improves the overall health and boosts immunity.

The best bet for improving your health dramatically is a complex range of natural anti oxidants. Here is a list of anti oxidants found in foods.

Vitamin C: All types of citrus fruits, kiwi, papaya, strawberries and leafy green vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc.

Vitamin E: Hard to find sufficient quantities of vitamin E from diet alone. A good source is almonds. Take supplements derived from natural sources.

Carotenoids: Beta carotenes are found in oranges, and vegetables like carrots, apricots, beets, sweet potatoes are a good source. Most of the red and green leef vegetables would have beta carotenes.

Flavanoids: Found in whole lot of vegetables and fruits. Onions, beets, citrus fruits and berries contain flavanoids. Green tea is a good source.

Take 4 to 6 servings of these fruits and vegetables daily for getting the complete range of anti oxidants and you can be sure of keeping many of the degenerative diseases, cancer, blood pressure and heart problems at bay. The icing on the cake is you can look younger and beat the ageing of your skin and tissues.

Halong Emeraude cruise history

In 1999, the chance discovery of a postcard of a paddle steamer named Emeraude cruising in Ha Long Bay inspired a search for it origins in the vaults of the French Colonial Archives in Aix-en-Provence. From historical documents unearthed there, it was discovered that the Emeraude was part of a fleet of ships operated by the Roque family, transporting freight along the waterways of French Indochina and offering cruises in Ha Long Bay.

Letters were sent to all 1,200 people with the family name of Roque listed in France and eventually the descendants of the family of ship-owners were found. The Roque family in question kindly made the family archives available. As a result, the project to rebuild the Emeraude began in a Hai Phong shipyard in 2002.

The story of the Emeraude goes back to 1858 and three brothers, Victor, Xavier and Henry Roque, who lived in a small village in South-West France. Driven by their entrepreneurial spirit and dreams of adventure, the brothers headed to the Far East in search of their fortunes. Arriving in Manila and then moving onto Hong Kong, the brothers were soon in business supplying fresh food and provisions of all kinds to the French Army. In 1860, following the taking of Sai Gon by the troops of Admiral Rigault de Genouilly the previous year, the Roque brothers left Hong Kong to set up business in the newly colonized city.
Their business prospered and in addition to providing supplies of flour, bread, biscuits and fresh meat for the army they also now supplied timber for construction, towing services, manufactured sugar, undertook public construction work and traded in opium.

In 1872, the Roque brothers, financed by the British trading house of Jardine & Matheson, signed a contract with the French colonial administration to establish the Cochinchine Steam Lines. In exchange for an annual fee, the company provided transportation services for passengers, freight and mail between Cochinchine and neighbouring Cambodia.

In 1890 Victor Roque obtained a coal concession in Dong Trieu in northern Tonkin. Success breeds envy and two of the Roque brothers were kidnapped, along with others in their employ, by bandits led by the notorious Luu Ky. To pay the ransom, the Roque family was forced to sell off family assets, leaving the company weakened. Victor Roque, then 61 years-old, bankrupt and in ill-health, returned to France.
Following the departure of Victor, Henry assumed sole responsibility for the Roque family business but was soon joined by Paul Roque, son of Xavier, in Hai Phong. It was here that they had the idea to build a small fleet of ships to transport freight and offer pleasure cruises on Ha Long Bay. The construction of the four flat-bottomed paddle-steamers, to be named EMERAUDE, RUBIS, PERLE and SAPHIR, was carried out in Hong Kong. Each ship could be easily distinguished by the coloured band around the top of its funnel: green for EMERAUDE, red for RUBIS, white for PERLE and blue for SAPHIR.

By 1919 the business became a limited company known as the Société Anonyme de Chalandage et Remorquage d’Indochine, or SACRIC for short. Paul Roque returned to France in 1921 and was appointed a Vice-President for life. One of the future Presidents of the company was to be Edmond Giscard d’ Estaing, father of Valéry, who was elected President of France in 1974.

In 1937, the Emeraude sank en-route from Hai Phong to Mong Cai without loss of life With the French withdrawal from Tonkin in 1953, the Société Anonyme de Chalandage et Remorquage d’Indochine was no more. Paul Roque died in 1966.

Book this cruise at http://vietnamholidaynow.com/english/vietnam_tour_halong_Halong-Emeraude-Cruise-Low-season-discount_244_1864/index.html

Refer more at Halong cruise collection at: http://vietnamholidaynow.com/english/vietnam/tour/Halong-Bay-Cruises/244.html

How to Make Healthy Uncooked Soups

Food is devitalized when it is subject to excessive heat and chemical processing. It loses no value when it is air dried, frozen, warmed, smoked, or pickled with natural spices, organic substances, salt and water; nor when it is transported, or gathered unripe.

Take the so-called “staff of life” – bread. To begin with, the wheat has been so denatured through refining that most of its vital substances have been destroyed. Then it is baked in overheated ovens and the removal of what was left of vital substances is completed.

All the added vitamin pills cannot take the place of the natural ones that have been destroyed.

Enjoy the following soups which all are full of valuable vitamins for vibrant good health. None of these vitamins have been destroyed by cooking!

Tomato Soup

6 ripe tomatoes

1 tablespoon grated onion or scallion

2 cups water

Dash of oregano

1 basil leaf

3 tablespoons olive oil

Coarse salt and red crushed pepper, as desired

Since B vitamins are water soluble, soups are valuable reservoirs of the vegetable elements. Vitamin B tomatoes help keep the small blood vessels and gum tissue firm.

Liquefy the tomatoes in an electric mixer. Add onion and seasonings, then water. WARM, DO NOT COOK!

Vegetable Soup

3 cups liquefied tomatoes (fresh)

1 carrot grated No vitamin shortage here!

1 cup fresh green peas, or frozen peas

1/2 cup raw potato, diced

1 stalk celery leaves

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1 green pepper, diced

1 basil leaf

1 teaspoon oregano

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup raw oatmeal

1 or 2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt and red crushed pepper, as desired

Heat the liquefied tomatoes with water; add oil, vegetables, and seasonings. At the very end of warming, mix in the raw oatmeal. This provides a bit of thickening and excellent flavor. Keep stirring over heat until hot. (3 to 5 minutes)

Minestrone

6 fresh ripe tomatoes

2 scallions, chopped

1 green pepper, diced

2 stalks celery, cut up with leaves

Dash oregano

1 basil leaf

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt and

1/4 teaspoon red crushed pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 or 2 cups hot water

Spaghettini, fine noodles or

little bits of macaroni

The Italian flair in soup.

Sear very quickly the scallions, green pepper, and celery leaves in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Combine all of these vegetables with the noodles, seasonings, oil, and hot water. Heat until hot, careful not to cook. May be served with grated cheese, Parmesan type. Soak the noodles in hot water with salt for about five minutes.

Chicken Soup

4 cups chicken soup stock, or chicken powder or bouillon

1 carrot, grated

1 onion, grated

1 stalk celery leaves, minced

1 bay leaf

1 basil leaf

1 sprig of parsley

Coarse salt and pepper, as desired

Mineral values here and the added vegetables combine to make this rich in vitamins A, B and C. Both body and energy building. A treat for the palate.

Make chicken stock out of wings, neck, and entrails by simmering together with onions and celery for about 5 minutes. Strain the liquid stock and add to the raw chopped or liquefied vegetables. Throw away the chicken and the vegetables that have been simmered. Warm the chicken stock and add the raw vegetables when about to serve.

Green Pea Soup

2 cups fresh peas in season, or fresh frozen

3 cups water

1 scallion, chopped fine

2 slices Canadian bacon

2 tablespoons olive oil

Coarse salt and red crushed pepper, as desired

Phosphorus here, good for bones. Fresh peas are high in Vitamins A, B and C.

Liquefy the green peas with a little water in an electric mixer. Warm in a pan the Canadian bacon. Mix the bacon and its own fat with the olive oil and the scallion and heat the entire mixture with the liquefied peas. Add water until you reach desired thickness. Add seasonings to taste.

Enjoy these soups both as a taste treat and as something beneficial to your health.

2009 Best Tournaments

9. 3M Championship. How sensational was Bernhard Langer’s chip-in for eagle on the final hole of this Champions tour event in Minneapolis? After his hard-rolling ball hit the back of the cup, popped several inches into the air and dropped in, the normally stoic German unleashed an uncharacteristic barrage of emotional fist pumps and finger points. Langer shot 65 and won by a shot over Andy Bean.

8. HSBC Champions. Phil Mickelson outplayed a star-studded leaderboard in the World Golf Championship event in Shanghai. Mickelson started the final round with a two-shot edge over Tiger Woods, who faded, and made an adventurous par on the finishing hole to edge Ernie Els by one stroke.

7. Frys.com Open. Troy Matteson shot back-to-back 61s at Grayhawk but still needed a playoff to outlast a pair of young guns, ex-college stars Jamie Lovemark and Rickie Fowler, who both played on sponsor’s exemptions. On the first extra hole, Lovemark magically bounced an errant approach shot out of the lake by the 18th green to save par, but it wasn’t enough. Matteson stiffed a long approach shot for the victory on the second playoff hole.

6. Barclays. Heath Slocum took on the popular role of Cinderella in the FedEx Cup playoffs when he drained a clutch 20-footer for birdie on the final hole in this event’s first playing at scenic but mostly unloved Liberty National.

5. NCAA Championship. Texas A&M’s Bronson Burgoon put his 120-yard approach shot to within inches on the final hole at Inverness. His birdie won the Aggies a national championship.

4. Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Michelle Wie hit a long bunker shot to inches for the birdie that clinched her first win as a pro, not to mention her first win anywhere since she captured the 2003 Women’s Amateur Public Links championship at age 13. It’s a promise of better days ahead for the struggling LPGA.

3. Arnold Palmer Invitational. Was this a replay or something? Tiger drained another birdie putt on Bay Hill’s 18th green for the victory. This time, he came from five shots back and recovered from a 71st-hole bogey to victimize Sean O’Hair.

2. Memorial Tournament. Tiger removed any remaining doubt about whether he was back, closing with 65 on a tough Muirfield Village setup. He birdied three of the final four holes, including a 7-iron staked to one foot on the 72nd hole. He also hit every fairway in the final round — take that, critics.

1.Tour Championship. A brief dream-come-true moment for PGA Tour execs as Phil Mickelson, back in form with his putter, rolled to an exciting victory at East Lake, beating Tiger Woods by three shots. Phil was at the winner’s ceremony to accept the tournament trophy, and Tiger was there, too, to accept the FedEx Cup trophy and its $10 million prize. Tiger and Phil on the same stage? Sweet.

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Discover The Best Argentinean Recipe for Grilling Salmon

If at one point you may have eaten ‘salmon’ that has been grilled in either a restaurant or from home, and may have commented “Now, this here is the ‘best’ grilled-salmon ever!” It may taste really great, but wait until you try this recipe and prove that wrong, because the grilled fish recipe below will truly leave you with wonderment and create explosions within your taste-buds.

While staying in ‘Buenos Aires, Argentina’ for a couple of years, one friend taught me to prepare the ultimately delicious and most tasty grilled fish that I’ve ever tasted. It was cooked using a carbon-grill.

The big salmon I caught was about 22 lbs and was called “el dorado”. I just so happened to have luckily caught it so I then invited about 20 guests over for a light lunch; we definitely enjoyed an afternoon feast. I was able to use the exact same grilled fish recipe and it generated a lot of compliments from the samplers.

So here goes. I cook the salmon using my ‘George Foreman’ Grill, although any regular carbonated or gas-grill should work. The key here is determining if your fish is actually ready for serving. So here are bits of tips in determining if it’s ready. You may also opt to bake the salmon if there is no grill available.

Ingredients:

Suggested fish: Salmon (fresh)

Spices needed: salt, black pepper & “Old Bay” Garlic & Herb

Citrus Juices: I prefer limes (key limes) they’re that small & juicy lines usually green in color or perhaps regular yellow limes would be fine

Some vegetables: white-onions, red & yellow, green, peppers, zucchini

Butter: use this brand (I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-Not-Butter!)

Salad: lettuce (Romaine); avocadoes that are ripe and tomatoes

Some ideas for desserts: ‘French chocolate chiffon-pie’, key-lime pie, mouth watering Haagen Dazs ‘Mango Ice-Cream’

Buy those fresh salmon slabs (approximately 2 or 3 pieces it would depend on how many guests would arrive.). About a seven inch slab is good enough for about two people, but if you’re having over more guests ask your friendly fish grocer for suggestions.

Preparation:

Get salmon out from your fridge, then arrange it in one large-plate. Squeeze your citrus ingredients directly to the fish fillets (about 3 pieces of limes should do). Then generously spread butter on your fish but be careful not to overdo it.

Then, sprinkle some salt, some ‘Old Bay’ and other seasonings you like and freshly ground up peppercorns making sure that all of the fish is seasoned well.

Preheat grill and place a sheet of aluminum-foil over your griller then place fish onto the foil. During cooking, what I usually do is simply put an extra piece of lime-juice or lemon then sprinkle some spices onto your fish to create that added zing.

Grilling fish tends to get a little tricky. Your cook time would be 15-35 mins. Cooking time would depend on what kind of fish you’re grilling & the type of grill as well. But in order to determine if it’s been cooked perfectly, just tap fish meat and try to ascertain if flesh is already firm. If it’s firm then your grilled fish is already done.

Another alternative in checking if it’s ready is simply cutting a little bit of the end your fish using a clean knife; the result should produce a flaky fish consistency. Then, taste your fish & if your fish has that flaky consistency all throughout then its already done. To further ensure doneness, cut your fish in half to check for doneness as well.

Finishing Touch Ups:

Cut your vegetables into strips then stir fry them in your pan using some olive oil and serve this together with your fish.

For your wine choice, feel free to decide which wine you’d prefer, but personally I prefer ‘Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay’ since it’s my all time favorite. Set the mood with some background soothing music also.

Enjoy the night away!

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