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Rice Pilaf with Ginger Cookies


Rice Pilaf with Tender Vegetables
Pointe Viven - Jesse Bluma. All rights reserved.


This dish is addictive and I made it in about 30 minutes.  Terrifically served with ginger cookies for dessert!

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
1/ 2 cup orzo
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 onion, diced
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/3 cup green beans
1/3 cup corn
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground paprika
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Coarse salt
*Shrimp (Optional:  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Clean your shrimp.  Place shrimp on a baking sheet, drizzle olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix well.  Bake shrimp in oven for approximately 3 minutes on each side, turning half way through.)  

Directions

Fill a medium saucepan with water.
Bring water to a boil
Add salt, rice, and orzo. 
Cook 15 to 20 minutes. 
Drain.

Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. 
Add onion, cook until soft. 3-4 minutes.
Add diced carrot; green beans, and corn, cook until tender.  5-6 minutes.
Stir in peas, add turmeric, cumin, and paprika. 
Stir in to rice and combine. 
Season with salt and pepper to taste.


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made with excellent ingredients and 
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Photo credit:  neareast.com

The Impact of an Online Constitution Town Hall: Deserves the Cookie Award



The Impact of an Online Constitution Town Hall: 
Deserves the Cookie Award





"The Constitution is not just the domain of judges and lawyers," said Kirby Center Director Dr. David J. Bobb.  "It's the responsibility of all Americans to understand and uphold it, and our aim with this town hall is to help equip citizens to do so."

The Kirby Center cordially invited participants to an online town hall.

There were two ways to participate in this event--in person or by viewing a live video stream ("webcast").  Advance registration was required for both forms of participation.  In-person attendance was at capacity for this event.  Therefore, participants had to plan to watch the live webcast online.

Word spread to friends and family about this day-long town hall, which featured presentations and interactive Q&A sessions led by Kirby Center faculty and Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry P. Arnn.  The event will ran from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M Eastern Standard Time, and was broadcast from the offices of TVWorldwide.com in Chantilly, Virginia.

Participation via live webcast was free of charge; persons who wished to participate online will receive a link to the webcast upon registering.

In-person participation cost a nominal fee, and payment was collected at the door (checks, cash, and major credit cards accepted). Lunch was provided to those who registered to be part of the studio audience.  TVWorldwide.com is located at 4206 F Technology Ct. in Chantilly, VA, 20151.

The Kirby Center Online Constitution Town Halls were an amazing program to be a part of with my students and others in the Pointe Viven community.  Children in the United States and across the globe discovered so much about the U.S. Constitution.  The impact of the Online Constitution Town Halls was powerful.

Thank you to the hard work of the Kirby Center faculty.  Great inspiration for individuals to apply to their own lives to make, build, and host key events for others in their own communities.    




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Source: http://www.hillsdale.edu

Bundt Baked Eggs Three Ways by Jesse Bluma



Bundt Baked Eggs





Looking for a new egg recipe?  This one is sure to please.  I made these in individual size bundt pans, which now serve double duty for making perfectly shaped eggs.  I like walnuts, so I used a plentiful amount.

*Update:  El Burrito, the makers of Soyrizo, enjoyed this recipe.


Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (or 191 degrees Celsius).

Coat individual size bundt pans (4” in diameter) with cooking spray (Smart Balance).

2 large organic eggs, cracked per 4” bundt pan.

Choice of Roasted Turkey Style veggie protein slices (diced and pan cooked--Lightlife), Meatless Chorizo (pan cooked--Soyrizo), Ground Sausage veggie 
protein (pan cooked--Lightlife).

Organic green apple, washed, dried, and sliced into mini sticks.

Walnuts, chopped, and toasted in dry pan on low for approximately 5 minutes.

Paprika to taste

Salt to taste

Organic lemon, squeezed


Directions

Double check oven is preheating. 

Double check pans are coated.

Prepare your choice of protein(s).

After slicing the apple into mini sticks you may wish to squeeze lemon juice over them to prevent discoloration caused by oxidation.  

Crack eggs into 4” bundt pans that have been coated, without breaking the yolks.  

Bake approximately 10 minutes; keep a close watch.

While the eggs are baking you may wish to toast the walnuts in a pan on the stove (this could be done prior to baking the eggs).  

Remove bundt pans from oven with oven mitts.  

Place bundt pans on wire wracks to cool for 2-5 minutes.

Place a serving dish on top of one bundt pan at a time, then flip to release the baked eggs.

Top the baked eggs with your choice of protein, green apple sticks, toasted walnuts, paprika, and salt.  


Bundt Baked Eggs with Turkey

Bundt Baked Eggs with Sausage



Pumpkin Cupcakes with Brown Butter Icing



Pumpkin Cupcakes with Brown Butter Icing





These cupcakes are a perfect nibble on a fall night.  Or any night for that matter.  Made with fresh nutmeg and butter, there is no way to go wrong.  Eat them warm and enjoy the fall leaves and crisp air out your window.  

Order online or contact me for catering.





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The Significance of the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund



The Significance of the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund





"Employing the Lutheran Village concept of building communities and economic stability through home ownership and small business development, each location is set to feature a chapel, orphanage, clinic, school, and business office and will employ a project manager, business manager, and site manager.  Local Haitian Lutherans, LCMS volunteers, hired Haitian craftsmen, and the future home owner will provide the labor."



 Those of us who have traveled to Haiti know firsthand the great need in the country.  Especially after natural disasters such as a quake and aftershocks.  The Haitians continue to be in need of a hand up for some time.  

World Relief and Human Care is a great organization on the ground in Haiti.  World Relief and Human Care is working to provide relief to Haitians who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.

Thank you to the hard work of volunteers and donors.  We can all take inspiration to keep the flame of generosity going. 





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Image credit: iStock

Seasonal Foods for January by Jesse Bluma



Seasonal Foods for January





Inspiration for your everyday table or holiday gathering.
Print, shop, cook what's in season!







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Photo Credit: flagstaffotos

New Year's Bread Recipe



New Year's Bread Recipe





My journey through Vefa's Kitchen continues.  On New Year's Day I baked another of her recipes, New Year's Bread, and dropped some off to a friend.  My version of this recipe is a slight "reconstruction" of Vefa's.

1 1/2 cups butter, chilled, diced, plus extra for greasing
6 cups all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting (I used organic wheat.)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons brandy (I used rum.)
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
5 Tablespoons of non-fat milk
1 1/2 cups superfine sugar (I used 1 cup superfine sugar + 1/2 cup honey.)
1 egg yolk (I saved the white for another recipe that day.)
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract




Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit (176.667° Celsius).
Line baking pan with parchment and grease with butter.
Sift flour, add butter, mix with fingers into coarse crumbs.
Combine baking soda, tartar, brandy.
Beat together with milk, vanilla, eggs, and sugar, and honey in another bowl.
Pour into flour, with brandy or rum mixture, knead into soft dough.
Press dough into baking pan.
Beat egg yolk with 1 teaspoon water in a bowl.
Brush dough with egg mixture.
Bake 30-35 minutes, until golden brown.
Transfer to baking rack and let cool. 
(Vefa's Kitchen 523)


I included homemade organic honey butter for my friend to dip the bread into to eat.
Happy New Year!







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Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Succulents or Space Creatures?



Succulents or Space Creatures?





I received a succulent display as a gift.  Succulents are a great weekend project, are interesting to learn about, and make a thoughtful present.  Their interesting shapes make them look like space aliens on Earth.  These plants come in unusual shapes and shades of green, with some flowering.  Succulents are a good choice for those with limited time for gardening, bachelors, and those in planting zones 3-9.

You can begin your succulent pot from cuttings, using one species or a variety of species.  If you take clippings from a plant, ensure that the tools are sharp and sterile, plant disease can easily spread.  A good professional gardener or arboretum, such as the Fullerton Arboretumcan help you make the most of your propagating.




It is essential to utilize the proper soil for you plants, such as Organic Soil Mix.  Succulents, palms, cacti, and citrus require a certain moisture level, good drainage, and nutrients.  Organic material, nothing synthetic, is also beneficial to providing the proper medium for plant growth.







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Credit: Image courtesy of [Vitolef] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net,
Image courtesy of Eloisa Conti at FreeDigitalPhotos.net,
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Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.