Did You Know-Parmesan Cheese – In Dianes Kitchen

We have used grated Kraft Parmesan Cheese for decades. I don’t know why, I guess convenience. We recently started buying a wedge of Parmesan Cheese and we grate it ourself. What a difference in quality and taste!!!! I decided to see why there is such a difference in quality and taste by doing a little research.

I read the back of the Kraft label and what I found was there is cellulose added to the grated cheese. What is cellulose? It usually comes from wood pulp (saw dust) or cotton lint. It can prevent caking, such as in grated parmesan cheese, but some companies fraudulently use it as a cheap filler in their “100%” grated parmesan cheese according to http://www.cspinet.org.

You will be surprised not only by the delicious taste of a wedge of Parmesan Cheese but also by how much cheese you get from that little wedge. So give it a try and see what a difference there is in the taste and then you decide for yourself.

Source: Did You Know-Parmesan Cheese

Jolly Monday Rides Again … And Again … And Again! | Filosofa’s Word

Good Monday Morning, Friends!  Cold enough out there for you?  The sun has actually shone for parts of the last two days, so even though it’s still chilly, I have no complaints.  Did you all have a great weekend?  Ready to get back to the salt mines and work hard for another week?  Well, since today is Monday, Joyful, Jolly and I are going to do our very best to try to start your week off with some humour to see you through the coming week!  Joyful has baked up some goodies to make our mouths smile, so let’s go grab a snack first …

Source: Jolly Monday Rides Again … And Again … And Again! | Filosofa’s Word

Beauty Emerges from Adversity – Kaushal Kishore

 

Within the oyster’s heaven,

disruption appears,

A bothersome presence,

at its frontier…

A brash parasite,

an uninvited guest,

Sets the stage

for nature’s crafted quest…

*

Defensive whispers echo

in the shell,

A call to arms,

dispelling the swell…

Aragonite and conchiolin

make nacre dance,

To protect the shell

from an evil glance…

*

Wrapped in layers,

the intruder shielded tight,

Nature’s grasp ensures

chaos takes its flight…

A pearl emerges,

enshrined in grace,

Born in its own case,

beauty’s embrace…

P.S.

When an irritant, like a grain of sand or a parasite, infiltrates an oyster’s shell, it initiates a natural defense mechanism. The oyster gradually secretes aragonite and conchiolin that make up its shell also. These two in turn create a material called nacre which encases the irritant to protect itself. So stress induces an oyster to secrete nacre and form pearls.

“Pearl’s beauty is made as a result of insult.”

–Julia Cameron

–Kaushal Kishore 

Source: Beauty Emerges from Adversity – Kaushal Kishore

Optimism leads to success – Silent Songs of Sonsnow

“We need to be determined to achieve positive change, and also be able to take a long view of what needs to be done. What is important is not to become demoralized. Optimism leads to success; pessimism leads to defeat. One person can be the source of inspiration for many others.”

His Holiness the great 14th Dalai Lama

Source: Optimism leads to success – Silent Songs of Sonsnow

Palau is the first nation to ratify treaty to protect high seas – Stigmatis News

Palau has become the first nation to ratify the high seas treaty, a legally binding international agreement that seeks to protect and manage ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction. Other countries, including Chile and the Maldives, are engaged in their ratification processes, pushing the treaty closer to becoming international law.

Source: Palau is the first nation to ratify treaty to protect high seas – Stigmatis News

The Soundtrack of Life 🎧 | From Behind the Pen

Image Credit: Vika_Glitter

When I listen to soundtracks by musicians and singers, I scan through selections to listen to something that connects to my mood or sets the stage to allow me to listen to something I never heard before. Often the soundtracks of our lives play music or songs of occurrences and lessons that strike a chord in our mental, emotional, or spiritual state. Whether we are happy, sad, feeling positive, or down in the dumps, there is a soundtrack playing amid our current state of mood whether we hear it or know the words to it or not.

There’s no doubt that we will go through some rhythms of life that are going to be slow, moderate, and fast-paced. We are going to run into those times where the music in our life skips a beat or continuously repeats flawed, scratches of moments that seem to stay stuck in time and are unable to move ahead.

Last week was a week of challenges I didn’t see coming when the week began. Yet at week’s end, the wrapup allowed me to say “whew” and soak in a little solitude that left me feeling grateful. There will be times when you hear the sweet sounds of a lullaby, the rushing sounds of panic, the soulful sounds of joy, and the passionate sounds of hope.

As I was writing this, I came across a message from a devotional I was reading that made me feel rejuvenated. It said, “Being grateful helps us learn to change the station away from that soundtrack of complaint and instead teaches us to focus on the many blessings God gives each day, both big and small.” It went on to say, “Gratitude doesn’t mean plastering a big smile on your face and pretending that an aggravating situation is no big deal.” WHOA, what a timely message.

While it seemed like the bottom was beginning to fall out last week, I took several breaths and exhaled the stressors and demonic toxins that were trying to snatch my moments of solitude, joy, and gratitude away. I learned that the everyday challenges of life, although it’s not an easy pill to swallow all the time, teach me to sing a new song through the soundtrack of life changes.

Source: The Soundtrack of Life 🎧 | From Behind the Pen