Month: April 2019

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bake

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Bake

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil, divided
  • 12 slices Italian, sourdough or rye bread (1/2 inch thick)
  • 6 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1-3/4 cups 2% milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend or part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and 1 teaspoon basil until blended; spread onto six bread slices. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining bread. Spread outsides of sandwiches with butter. Arrange in a greased 13×9-in. baking dish.
  • In a small saucepan, combine tomato paste, garlic, salt, pepper and remaining basil; cook and stir over medium heat 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
  • Whisk eggs in a large bowl; gradually whisk in a third of the milk mixture. Stir in remaining milk mixture; pour over sandwiches. Sprinkle with Italian cheese blend.
  • Bake, uncovered, 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Test Kitchen Tip When this casserole comes out of the oven it’s best to let it sit for the full 10 minutes if not a little longer. You’ll end up with a rich, creamy texture very similar to a breakfast strata or a savory bread pudding.

Nutrition Facts

1 sandwich: 485 calories, 29g fat (17g saturated fat), 137mg cholesterol, 918mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein. Originally published as Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Bake in Taste of Home February/March 2015

Tip

Place Dryer Sheets in Your Pockets

You might want to hand out dryer sheets at your next BBQ. Some say that putting these in your pockets will repel bugs. Learn how to make your own at Wellness Mama.

Poem

Rest Some

By MwsR

Can’t seem to fix it

Nothing can

It’s the spot within yourself you can’t stand.

Tried so many different ways

To stand above it

Yet silently you were sinking.

In desperate times

Truth rears it’s head

What makes a man, is constant dread.

No magical beans to help you escape

The turmoil you find when you hesitate.

There should be a trigger, a warning sign

But sadly none that controls your whole mind.

When fallen,you attempt to rise

There is no limit to your disguise

You try the truth but allow the lies.

Just one step you took so long ago into the wrong way

You can’t escape the effects , no how,no way.

Until you stop yourself from shirking your responsibilities.

Your endless torment of “what use to be’s.”

So gather up your strength, your battle scars

Things are seldom how you feel they are.

Put one foot then follow with another one

Till your back where you wanted and can rest some.

Easter~

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament of the Bible, the event is said to have occurred three days after Jesus was crucified by the Romans and died in roughly 30 A.D. The holiday concludes the “Passion of Christ,” a series of events and holidays that begins with Lent—a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and sacrifice—and ends with Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his 12 Apostles), Good Friday (on which Jesus’ crucifixion is observed), and Easter Sunday. Although a holiday of high religious significance in the Christian faith, many traditions associated with Easter date back to pre-Christian, pagan times.

When Is Easter?

Easter 2019 occurs on Sunday, April 21. However, Easter falls on a different date each year.

Easter Sunday and related celebrations, such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, are considered “moveable feasts,” although, in western Christianity, which follows the Gregorian calendar, Easter always falls on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which adheres to the Julian calendar, Easter falls on a Sunday between April 4th and May 8th each year.

In some denominations of Protestant Christianity, Easter Sunday marks the beginning of Eastertide, or the Easter Season. Eastertide ends on the 50th day after Easter, which is known as Pentecost Sunday.ADVERTISEMENTThanks for watching!

In Eastern Orthodox branches of Christianity, Easter Sunday serves as the start of the season of Pascha (Greek for “Easter”), which ends 40 days later with the holiday known as the Feast of the Ascension.

Despite its significance as a Christian holy day, many of the traditions and symbols that play a key role in Easter observances actually have roots in pagan celebrations—particularly the pagan goddess Eostre (or Ostara), the ancient Germanic goddess of spring—and in the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Religious Tradition of Easter

The resurrection of Jesus, as described in the New Testament of the Bible, is essentially the foundation upon which the Christian religions are built. Hence, Easter is a very significant date on the Christian calendar.

According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by the Roman authorities, essentially because he claimed to be the “Son of God,” although historians question this motive, with some saying that the Romans may have viewed him as a threat to the empire.

He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect in the province of Judea from 26 to 36 A.D. Jesus’ death by crucifixion, marked by the Christian holiday Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), and subsequent resurrection three days later is said, by the authors of the gospels, to prove that he was the living son of God.

In varying ways, all four of the gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) state that those who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection are given “the gift of eternal life,” meaning that those of faith will be welcomed into the “Kingdom of Heaven” upon their earthly death.

Passover and Easter

Notably, Easter is also associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover, as well as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, as described in the Old Testament. These links are clearly seen in the Last Supper, which occurred the night before Jesus’ arrest and the sufferings Jesus endured following his arrest.

The Last Supper was essentially a Passover feast. However, the New Testament describes it as being given new significance by Jesus: He identified the matzah (or bread) he shared with his 12 apostles as his “body” and the cup of wine they drank as his “blood.”

These rituals would come to symbolize the sacrifice he was about to make in death, and became the basis for the Christian ritual of Holy Communion, which remains a fundamental part of Christian religious services.

As Jesus’ arrest and execution were said to have occurred during the Jewish observance of Passover, the Easter holiday is often close to the former celebration on the Judeo-Christian calendar.

Easter Traditions

In western Christianity, including Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations, the period prior to Easter holds special significance.

This period of fasting and penitence is called Lent. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and lasts for 40 days (not including Sundays).

The Sunday immediately prior to Easter is called Palm Sunday, and it commemorates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, when followers laid palm leaves across the road to greet him.

Many churches begin the Easter observance in the late hours of the day before (Holy Saturday) in a religious service called the Easter Vigil.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Easter rituals start with the Great Lent, which begins on Clean Monday (40 days prior to Easter, not including Sundays). The last week of Great Lent is referred to as Palm Week, and it ends with Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which ends on Easter.

Easter Eggs

Irrespective of denomination, there are many Easter-time traditions with roots that can be traced to non-Christian and even pagan or non-religious celebrations. Many non-Christians choose to observe these traditions while essentially ignoring the religious aspects of the celebration.

Examples of non-religious Easter traditions include Easter eggs, and related games such as egg rolling and egg decorating.

It’s believed that eggs represented fertility and birth in certain pagan traditions that pre-date Christianity. Egg decorating may have become part of the Easter celebration in a nod to the religious significance of Easter, i.e., Jesus’ resurrection or re-birth.

Many people—mostly children—also participate in Easter egg “hunts,” in which decorated eggs are hidden.

Easter Bunny

In some households, a character known as the Easter Bunny delivers candy and chocolate eggs to children on Easter Sunday morning. These candies often arrive in an Easter basket.

The exact origins of the Easter Bunny tradition are unknown, although some historians believe it arrived in America with German immigrants in the 1700s. Rabbits are, in many cultures, known as enthusiastic procreators, so the arrival of baby bunnies in springtime meadows became associated with birth and renewal.

Notably, several Protestant Christian denominations, including Lutherans and Quakers, have opted to formally abandon many Easter traditions, deeming them too pagan. However, many religious observers of Easter also include them in their celebrations.

An Easter dinner of lamb also has historical roots, since a lamb was often used as a sacrificial animal in Jewish traditions, and lamb is frequently served during Passover. The phrase “lamb of God” is sometimes used to refer to Jesus and the sacrificial nature of his death.

Today, Easter is a commercial event as well as a religious holiday, marked by high sales for greeting cards, candies (such as Peeps, chocolate eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies) and other gifts.

Sources

McDougall, H. (2010). “The pagan roots of Easter.” TheGuardian.com.
Sifferlin, A. (2015). “What’s the origin of the Easter bunny?” Time.com.
Barooah, J. (2012). “Easter eggs: History, Origin, Symbolism, and tradition.” Huffington Post.
Chapman, E. and Schreiber, S. (2018). “The history behind your favorite Easter traditions.” Goodhousekeeping.com.

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-the-holidays-easter-video-video

31 Traditional Easter Foods From Around the World

Easter tables in Poland, Italy, Lithuania, Greece, and England.

  • 01 of 31 Roasted Lamb Diana Miller/Getty Images Lamb is the one food that is common in the Easter celebrations of many cultures. The roasted lamb dinner that many eat on Easter Sunday actually predates Easter—it is derived from the first Passover Seder of the Jewish people. You will find recipes featuring different flavorings and spices depending on the dishes’ origin, but this simple version uses somewhat universal ingredients, like garlic, lemon, and herbs, which are rubbed on the lamb before roasting.
  • 02 of 31 Polish Jajka Faszerowany (Polish Stuffed Eggs) Barbara Rolek In Poland, the Easter brunch buffet table is plentiful, showcasing some of the country’s best dishes. One of the staples you will find is faszerowany jajka, which are stuffed eggs that are similar to deviled eggs, except they’re broiled with a breadcrumb topping. They have a delicious filling of ham, cheese, sour cream, and mustard, making them hard to resist.
  • 03 of 31 Polish Żurek (Ryemeal Soup) KLMircea / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 The Polish Easter brunch also typically includes a ryemeal soup known as żurek. The base of the soup is żur, fermented rye flour (referred to as ryemeal sour), which is started the week leading up to the holiday. In the soup are biała kiełbasa, or Polish sausage, made from the family’s own recipe, as well as potatoes and hard-cooked eggs.
  • 04 of 31 Polish White Borscht Soup Dobromila / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-4.0,3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 A white borscht soup, called either biały barszcz or żurek wielkanocny, is also a Polish tradition. Recipes for this dish are passed down through generations, so each is unique. Typically, you will find potatoes, garlic, sour cream, kielbasa, eggs, and rye bread as the ingredients. Continue to 5 of 31 below.
  • 05 of 31 Polish Braised Red Cabbage Brian Yarvin / Getty Images Braised red cabbage may be the easiest food on the Polish dinner table. Known as czerwona kapusta zasmażana, it often accompanies the main dish, which can be almost any meat, including roast leg of lamb, roast suckling pig, baked ham, and roasted turkey. You are likely to find a potato dish and horseradish on the table as well. If you use a food processor to shred the cabbage, you can put this dish together quite quickly. The cabbage and onion are sauteed until they begin to soften, and then combined with a mixture of water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper and cooked down until soft and tender.
  • 06 of 31 Polish Chalka Leah Maroney Chałka is a braided egg bread that is very popular in Poland. It’s rather fun to make and it is slightly sweet and dotted with raisins. A yeast dough of warm milk, butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and raisins is left to rise and then divided into three pieces to be braided. The loaf rises again and then is baked until golden. Any leftovers make a great bread pudding the next day.
  • 07 of 31Polish Lamb Cake Barbara Rolek The adorable lamb cake is not just an American tradition, it is part of the Polish Easter table as well. You will need a lamb-shaped mold but can use a simple pound cake mix for this recipe to make it quick and easy. Decorate with a cream cheese frosting and use raisins for the eyes and nose. Coconut flakes died green work well as the “grass”.
  • 08 of 31 Polish Babka Wielkanocna Barbara Rolek Babka wielkanocna is a true representation of the celebration of rich foods after the Lenten fast. It is a yeasty cake made with a whopping 15 eggs, but this recipe uses only three to simplify a bit (and requires only one rise instead of two). While there are many recipes for babka enjoyed throughout Eastern European countries, you cannot go wrong with this traditional Polish recipe, studded with raisins and topped with a lemony icing if you prefer. Continue to 9 of 31 below.
  • 09 of 31 Polish Mazurek Królewski Barbara Rolek Another sweet treat for a Polish Easter dessert is Mazurek królewski. This flat pastry is relatively easy to make and it’s very delicious. It is often topped with almond paste and apricot, cherry, or raspberry preserves. You can even add dried fruit and nuts if you like.
  • 10 of 31Italian Brodetto Pasquale Harald Walker/Stocksy United Eggs and lamb are two important and symbolic foods at Easter for the Italians, and they join together—along with asparagus—in this frittata-like dish that is one of the best-known and most-loved Italian recipes. Brodetto Pasquale makes perfect use of the early spring vegetable and can be served room temperature—something to keep in mind when preparing large Easter dinner.
  • 11 of 31 Italian Wedding Soup Sarah Bossert/Getty Images Italian wedding soup (minestra maritata)or minestra di Pasqua (a traditional Easter soup made with pork, beef, and kale) are commonly served at the holiday meal. Sweet Italian sausage and tender greens give minestra maritata a satisfying texture and delicious flavor.
  • Either soup is the perfect complement for lamb, which is almost always the main dish. It’s also common to find at least one side dish that includes artichokes.
  • 12 of 31 Neapolitan Grain Pie zzayko/Getty Images A popular Italian dessert is the Neapolitan grain pie (Pastiera Napoletana). This ricotta cake is flavored with orange-flower water (recipes will vary on the amount used) and sweet pastry cream. The cake requires presoaked grain, which you may be able to find canned at some Italian delicatessens. You can make your own, but it will take about two weeks.Continue to 13 of 31 below.
  • 13 of 31Lithuanian Vedarai (Potato Sausage) Eddie Gerald/Getty Images After church on Easter morning, Lithuanian families return home to enjoy a special breakfast along with the foods from their blessed food basket. The family either shares an egg as a sign of unity or each enjoys a hard-boiled egg to symbolize rebirth.The main meal is dinner, complete with several traditional dishes. The entree is either a roast pig, chicken, ham, or lamb and you will most certainly find vedarai, a type of sausage made of potatoes. It may either be meatless or contain bacon, depending on the family’s recipe.
  • 14 of 31Lithuanian Cepelinai (Potato Dumplings) Tobin / Flickr / CC By 2.0 An Easter dinner in Lithuania will also often include cepelinai. These delicious dumplings are also called zeppelins as they are shaped much like the famous airships. The potato dumplings are very hearty and often filled with meat or cheese. This recipe features a pork filling and creamy bacon gravy.
  • 15 of 31Lithuanian Kugelis Flickr CC 2.0 Potatoes are a big part of the Lithuanian diet and make another appearance in kugelis. This is a savory potato pudding that is a very traditional side dish and is also thought of as the national dish of the country, so few Easter dinners will be found without it. Grated potatoes are mixed with sauteed bacon and onion, eggs, milk, and farina and baked until golden brown. You’ll also find several salads and many dishes that include mushrooms alongside a kugelis.
  • 16 of 31Lithuanian Velykos Pyragas Anshu / Getty Images With dinner, Lithuanians also serve a semi-sweet yeast bread with white raisins called velykos pyragas. This may be one of the best fruit cakes you’ll ever try; it includes a variety of glaceed fruit, walnuts, and a delicious cinnamon-sugar filling.Continue to 17 of 31 below.
  • 17 of 31Lithuanian Paska Foodcollection / Getty Images Desserts abound at a Lithuanian Easter celebration. You will likely see paska, a molded cheese delicacy—it’s no ordinary cheese, either. The dry curd is sweetened, includes heavy cream and almonds, and is adorned with fruits and candies.The word paska literally means “Easter” so you will hear it often in Eastern Europe. A number of treats take on the name as well, and in Ukraine, it refers to a lovely sweet bread.
  • 18 of 31Lithuanian Aguonu Sausainiukai Foodcollection / Getty Images Another time-honored sweet in Lithuania is the traditional poppy seed cookie called aguonu sausainiukai. The recipe is as easy as any other drop cookie and includes poppy seed filling and sour cream, and they’re often dusted with confectioners’ sugar.
  • 19 of 31Greek Tsoureki Jupiterimages / Getty Images Although Greek Orthodox Easter falls on a different day than the Catholic Easter holiday, that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of delicious delicacies. The Greek Easter feast actually begins after the midnight church service, but the main event is held on Easter Sunday.On every Greek household table, you will find lamb, red eggs, and tsoureki, an orange and spice-scented bread. The dough is braided and then died red eggs are nestled on top before baking, making for a festive and unique looking bread.
  • 20 of 31Greek Tiropitas Molly Watson  While the lamb is cooking, it’s customary for Greeks to snack on a variety of cheese pastries. Tiropitas are among the favorites. These delicious treats are flaky phyllo triangles filled with four different ​types of cheese. They may take a little time to make, but are the perfect bite to tide you over, and are great for breakfast too.Continue to 21 of 31 below.
  • 21 of 31Greek Kalitsounia Nancy Gaifyllia Kalitsounia is a sweeter cheese pastry that is enjoyed most often on the Greek island of Crete. The rolled dough made with yogurt and brandy is filled with soft mizithra cheese, cinnamon, and orange peel. No matter if you choose to bake or fry them, these pastries are beyond delicious.
  • 22 of 31Greek Tzatziki Westend61 / Getty Images Along with the pastries, Greeks enjoy several savory mezethes (appetizers). These often include olives, feta dip, and tzatziki. The tzatziki is a staple in Greece and one of the country’s most famous condiments. It is a cucumber dip made with sour cream and yogurt with a hint of garlic. Not only does it make a great dip for warm pita triangles, but it can also adorn grilled meats and vegetables on the Easter table.
  • 23 of 31Greek Dolmathakia me Kima (Stuffed Grape Leaves) The Spruce Dolmathakia me Kima is Greece’s other famous meze. These stuffed grape leaves are irresistible. The filling combines rice, dill, mint, and either beef or lamb. It’s hard to find a Greek celebration any time of year that doesn’t include them on the holiday table.
  • 24 of 31Greek Aavgolemono The Spruce In Greece, the main course can begin with avgolemono, a quintessential Greek chicken soup that you’ll also often find at restaurants. It is made with orzo and a lemon-egg mixture that is quite unique. It can also be served as a sauce for the stuffed grape leaves.Continue to 25 of 31 below.
  • 25 of 31Greek Patates sto Fourno Philip Wilkins / Getty Images Roasted potatoes just seem like a natural accompaniment to roasted lamb. A popular side dish to lamb in Greece is patates to fourno. Potatoes are tossed with a mixture of olive oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice, and chicken broth, and then roasted until nice and crispy.
  • 26 of 31Greek Spanakopita Jonathan Bielaski/Light Imaging / Getty Images Possibly the most iconic dish from Greece is spanakopita, which can be found on nearly every dinner table across the country, especially at Easter. It can be in the form of a pie or individual triangles; spinach is mixed with feta cheese and layered between flaky sheets of phyllo dough. One taste and you’ll discover why it’s so popular.
  • 27 of 31Greek Galaktoboureko Lynn Livanos Athan The Greek Easter has no shortage of dessert options, either, and galaktoboureko is a favorite addition. This delicious custard pie is made with flaky phyllo and then drenched in a citrus-flavored syrup. You do need to make this recipe the same day you plan to enjoy it, however, so make sure you plan accordingly.
  • 28 of 31Greek Koulourakia Lynn Livanos Athan Koulourakia are butter cookies with sesame seeds that are quite fun to make. You can either twist, braid, or shape them into an “S,” or make a combination of all three. You will often find them served with other desserts and strong Greek coffee as well as one of the famous Greek wines such as raki.Continue to 29 of 31 below.
  • 29 of 31British Hot Cross Buns Debby Lewis-Harrison / Getty Images It seems that almost every country celebrating Easter has its own special Easter bread or cake, and yet, hot cross buns are a favorite in many areas, especially in Britain. These individual spiced yeast buns are filled with dried fruit and drizzled with lemon icing in the form of a cross along the top. The tradition supposedly derived from ancient Anglo-Saxons who baked small wheat cakes in honor of the springtime goddess, Eostre. After converting to Christianity, the church substituted those with sweetbreads blessed by the church.
  • 30 of 31British Leg of Lamb Elaine Lemm An Easter lunch is the traditional meal in Britain and the main course typically features a delicious leg of lamb, perhaps seasoned simply with garlic and rosemary. It will often be served with a gravy as well as a fresh mint sauce.Typical British sides will feature spring vegetables such as cabbage and a recipe that utilizes the prized Jersey royal potatoes.
  • 31 of 31British Simnel Cake joy skipper/Getty Images A classic British cake for Easter is the simnel cake. It signals the end of Lent as it is filled with ingredients—spices, fruits, and marzipan—that were forbidden during the fast.As if that isn’t decadent enough, chocolate often makes an appearance in both egg-form as well as dessert treats. This can include anything from a chocolate cake to chocolate mousse.

Eggs~ What Happens When You Eat Them?

20 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Eat Eggs

Beyond easily upping your daily protein count—each 85-calorie egg packs a solid 7 grams of the muscle-builder—egg protein also improve your health. They’re loaded with amino acids, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Don’t just reach for the whites, though; the yolks boast a fat-fighting nutrient called choline, so opting for whole eggs can actually help you trim down.

When you’re shopping for eggs, pay attention to the labels. You should opt for organic, when possible. These are certified by the USDA and are free from antibiotics, vaccines and hormones. As for color, that’s your call. The difference in color just varies based on the type of chicken—they both have the same nutritional value, says Molly Morgan, RD, a board certified sports specialist dietician based in upstate New York.

1. You’ll Boost Your Immune System

If you don’t want to play chicken with infections, viruses, and diseases, add an egg or two to your diet daily. Just one large egg contains almost a quarter (22%) of your RDA of selenium, a nutrient that helps support your immune system and regulate thyroid hormones. Kids should eat eggs, especially. If children and adolescents don’t get enough selenium, they could develop Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck disease, two conditions that can affect the heart, bones, and joints.

2. You’ll Improve Your Cholesterol Profile

There are three ideas about cholesterol that practically everyone knows: 1) High cholesterol is a bad thing; 2) There are good and bad kinds of cholesterol; 3) Eggs contain plenty of it. Doctors are generally most concerned with the ratio of “good” cholesterol (HDL) to bad cholesterol (LDL). One large egg contains 212 mg of cholesterol, but this doesn’t mean that eggs will raise the “bad” kind in the blood. The body constantly produces cholesterol on its own, and a large body of evidence indicates that eggs can actually improve your cholesterol profile. How? Eggs seem to raise HDL (good) cholesterol while increasing the size of LDL particles (which are thought to be less dangerous than small particles)

3. You’ll Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease

Not only have eggs been found to not increase risk of coronary heart disease, but they might actually decrease your risk. LDL cholesterol became known as “bad” cholesterol because LDL particles transport their fat molecules into artery walls, and drive atherosclerosis: basically, the gumming up of the arteries. (HDL particles, by contrast, can remove fat molecules from artery walls.) But not all LDL particles are made equal, and there are various subtypes that differ in size. Bigger is definitely better — manystudies have shown that people who have predominantly small, dense LDL particles have a higher risk of heart disease than people who have mostly large LDL particles. Here’s the best part: Even if eggs tend to raise LDL cholesterol in some people, studies show that the LDL particles change from small and dense to large, slashing the risk of cardiovascular problems

4. You’ll Have More Get-up-and-go

Just one egg contains about 15% of your RDA of vitamin B2, also called riboflavin. It’s just one of eight B vitamins, which all help the body to convert food into fuel, which in turn is used to produce energy. Eggs are just one of the 25 Best Foods for a Toned Body!

5. Your Skin and Hair Will Improve

B-complex vitamins are also necessary for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. (In addition to vitamin B2, eggs are also rich in B5 and B12.) They also help to ensure the proper function of the nervous system.

6. You’ll Protect Your Brain

Eggs are brain food. That’s largely because of an essential nutrient called choline. It’s a component of cell membranes and is required to synthesize acetylcholine: a neurotransmitter. Studies show that a lack of choline has been linked to neurological disorders and decreased cognitive function. Shockingly, more than 90% of Americans eat less than the daily recommended amount of choline, according to a U.S. dietary survey

7. You’ll Save Your Life

Among the lesser-known amazing things the body can do: It can make 11 essential amino acids, which are necessary to sustain life. Thing is, there are 20 essential amino acids that your body needs. Guess where the other 9 can be found? That’s right. A lack of those 9 amino acids can lead to muscle wasting, decreased immune response, weakness, fatigue, and changes to the texture of your skin and hair.

8. You’ll Have Less Stress and Anxiety

If you’re deficient in the 9 amino acids that can be found in an egg, it can have mental effects. A 2004 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences described how supplementing a population’s diet with lysine significantly reduced anxiety and stress levels, possibly by modulating serotonin in the nervous system.

9. You’ll Protect Your Peepers

Two antioxidants found in eggs — lutein and zeaxanthin — have powerful protective effects on the eyes. You won’t find them in a carton of Egg Beaters — they only exist in the yolk. The antioxidants significantly reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts, which are among the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness in the elderly. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants who ate 1.3 egg yolks per day for four-and-a-half weeks saw increased blood levels of zeaxanthin by 114-142% and lutein by 28-50%!

10. You’ll Improve Your Bones and Teeth

Eggs are one of the few natural sources of Vitamin D, which is important for the health and strength of bones and teeth. It does this primarily by aiding the absorption of calcium. (Calcium, incidentally, is important for a healthy heart, colon and metabolism.)

11. You’ll Feel Fuller and Eat Less

Eggs are such a good source of quality protein that all other sources of protein are measured against them. (Eggs get a perfect score of 100.) Many studies have demonstrated the effect of high-protein foods on appetite. Simply put, they take the edge off. You might not be surprised to learn that eggs score high on a scale called the Satiety Index: a measure of how much foods contribute to the feeling of fullness.

12. You’ll Lose Fat

Largely because of their satiating power, eggs have been linked with fat loss. A study on this produced some remarkable results: Over an eight-week period, people ate a breakfast of either two eggs or a bagel, which contained the same amount of calories. The egg group lost 65% more body weight, 16% more body fat, experienced a 61% greater reduction in BMI and saw a 34% greater reduction in waist circumference!

13. You’ll Protect Your Liver

B-vitamins aren’t the only ovular micronutrients that contribute to eggs’ beneficial effects on liver health. Eggs are also rich in the nutrient choline. (One large egg contains between 117 and 147 milligrams of the nutrient, depending on your cooking method of choice). A review explained that choline deficiency is linked to the accumulation of hepatic lipid, which can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Luckily, a Journal of Nutrition study found that a higher dietary choline intake may be associated with a lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver in women.

14. You’ll Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Another side effect of choline deficiency and the subsequent accumulation of hepatic lipid is an increase in your risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

15. You’ll Lower Inflammation

Eggs are a major source of dietary phospholipids: bioactive compounds which studies show have widespread effects on inflammation. A review published in the journal Nutrients connected dietary intake of egg phospholipids and choline with a reduction in countless biomarkers of inflammation. Lowering inflammation has widespread health benefits that range from lowering risk of cardiovascular disease to improving the body’s ability to break down fat.

16. You’ll Grow Stronger Nails

Are your nails brittle and break off easily? Consider incorporating more eggs into your diet. Why? They’re an excellent source of biotin, a type of B vitamin which research suggests can help strengthen nails. The yolks have the largest concentration of biotin, so don’t skimp on the yellow center!

17. You’ll Boost Your Brain Health

There are approximately 225 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids in each egg. Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most important healthy fats to have in your diet because they help prevent heart disease, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Research has also shown that omega-3s are beneficial for protecting against Alzheimer’s disease and improving cognitive function.19/21 SLIDES© Shutterstock

18. You’ll Raise Your HDL Cholesterol

Eating eggs is one of the best ways to increase your HDL “good” cholesterol levels. People with higher levels of HDL cholesterol have a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, and other health conditions. According to a 2008 study in the Journal of Nutrition, increasing your intake of dietary cholesterol from eggs can also help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

19. You’ll Maintain Good Sight

Aside from omega-3s and vitamin D, eggs are an excellent source of vitamin A and carotenoids, which has been shown to help prevent macular degeneration, the main cause of blindness in older adults. Vitamin A is also essential for boosting your immune system, promoting healthy hair and skin, and supporting a healthy gut.

20. You’ll Build Lean Muscle

When you work out, your body needs protein to repair the tears in your muscle tissue from exercising. Eggs are a great post-workout snack or meal because just one has about six grams of the muscle-building macro. Whisk two into a scramble or an omelet with some veggies, and you have the perfect dish for getting lean and toned.20 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Eat Eggs Beyond easily upping your daily protein count—each 85-calorie egg packs a solid 7 grams of the muscle-builder—egg protein also improve your health. They’re loaded with amino acids, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Don’t just reach for the whites, though; the yolks boast a fat-fighting nutrient called choline, so opting for whole eggs can actually help you trim down.
When you’re shopping for eggs, pay attention to the labels. You should opt for organic, when possible. These are certified by the USDA and are free from antibiotics, vaccines and hormones.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/20-things-that-happen-to-your-body-when-you-eat-eggs/ss-AAtmMai?ocid=spartanntp&fullscreen=true#image=1

April Fools Day~ Did You Know

If you have a reputation of a prank master among your friends and you think that you haven’t pulled the best one yet, roll your sleeve up for Sunday is the April Fool’s Day.

Sometimes referred to as All Fools’ Day, April 1 may not be a national holiday, but it is widely recognized as the day when people pull pranks on their friends, co-workers and even at times on strangers, and thanks to this odd tradition, no one takes it to his heart. While playing a little ruse on others always gives you fun, ever wondered how and why did it get started?

According to some people, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in 1392 holds the earliest recorded association to the April Fool’s Day. However, some other credit Pope Gregory XIII, who in the 1500s gave the world the Gregorian calendar.

In 1562, the Gregorian calendar went through a reformation, according to which the first day of the year was moved from April 1 to January 1. But many people remained unaware of the change and continued to celebrate New Year on April 1. Thus, they became the April fools, promptly made fun of by those in the know. Here’s a video that gives more explanation on The History of April Fool’s Day: SKIP AD

Starting from historical facts to odd hoaxes, the Fool’s Day has many fascinating things associated with it. Here’re some very interesting ones you might not be aware of.

When Royals Lie

Royal family and courtiers under the Joseon dynasty of Korea were permitted to lie and fool each other on the first snowy day of the year, regardless of their hierarchy. They used to send snow-stuffed bowls to others and the recipient of the snow was thought to be the victim of the prank. Being the looser in the game, the victim had to grant a wish of the sender.

Danes and Swedes Have Double Fun

In Denmark, May 1 is known as Maj-kat, meaning May-cat, and is also a joking day. Sweden celebrates May 1 as an alternative joking day. When someone is fooled in Sweden on May 1, people say the rhyme, Maj maj måne, jag kan lura dig till Skåne (May May moon, I can fool you into Scania).

April Fool – A Spy?

April Fool was the codename for a spy, who allegedly played a key role in the downfall of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

According to General Tommy Franks, the commander of the US military in the 2003 Iraq conflict, April Fool was an American officer working undercover as a diplomat. He was approached by an Iraqi intelligence agent to whom he sold false top secret invasion plans provided by Franks’ team. Getting misled by the trickery, the Iraqi military deployed major forces in Northern and Western Iraq, anticipating attacks via Turkey or Jordan, which never took place.

This greatly affected the defensive capacity in the rest of Iraq, making it an easy prey to the actual attacks via Kuwait and the Persian Gulf in the southeast. Consequently, Baghdad fell to the US within a few weeks and Saddam Hussein’s government came to an end.

Pigasus Award

The Pigasus Award is the name of an annual tongue-in-cheek award presented by well-known skeptic James Randi. The award seeks to expose parapsychological, paranormal or psychic frauds that Randi has noted over the previous year. Randi makes his announcements of the awards from the previous year April 1.

Jafr alien invasion

On April 1, 2010, Jordanian newspaper Al-Ghad published an article titled Jafr alien invasion and claimed that UFOs had landed in a desert close to the town of Jafr. The article even described the pilots as 3m (10ft) creatures and reported that all communications went down due to the effect generated by the objects.

The editors later said that the story was nothing but an April Fool’s Day joke. However, the story did anger the then Jordan mayor Mohammed Mleihan as it caused much public panic.

Google Fooled Us, But Not Always

Google comes out with some healthy pranks on every April Fool’s Day. So expect the search engine giant to have something in store this time too.

Yes, Google has fooled us many times, but it has chosen April Fool’s Day and the day before it to announce some of its actual products.

Remember when Gmail was launched? It was shortly before midnight on March 31, 2004. With free web-based e-mail with one gigabyte of storage, the service was first thought to be a hoax. Six years later on the same day (March 31, 2010), YouTube implemented its new video page design.

On April 1, 2010, Google Street View received a new feature to toggle anaglyph 3D images.

Flying Penguins

Can penguins fly? A BBC video footage on April 1, 2008 tried to make viewers believe they can. BBC announced that camera crews filming near the Antarctic for its natural history series Miracles of Evolution had captured footage of Adélie penguins flying. In the video, presenter Terry Jones explained that these penguins flew thousands of miles to the rainforests of South America where they spend the winter basking in the tropical sun. The BBC later said that it was a joke and offered another video explaining how the special effects made the penguins fly.

Edible Book Day

Edible Book Day, also known as The International Edible Book Festival is held on or around April 1. It’s celebrated in various parts of the world where edible books are created, displayed and then consumed.

According to the official Web site www.books2eat.com, the International Edible Book Festival is held to commemorate the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826).  April fools’ day is also the perfect day to eat your words and play with them as the books are consumed on the day of the event, says the Web site.

Did You Know?

Fungus Could Wipe Out Amphibians

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/science/amphibians-face-mass-extinction-as-fungus-spreads-across-the-world/vi-BBVm09Q?ocid=spartanntp

Meteor Spotted in Sky In Florida

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/science/meteor-seen-over-gainesville-florida/vi-BBVtc6b?ocid=spartanntp

Georgia Pollen Is Immense

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/helicopter-shows-georgia-pollen-is-on-another-level/vi-BBVnDmp?ocid=spartanntp

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Summer time Tip

Use Cinnamon to Deter Pests

Cinnamon not only tastes good but it will keep the bugs away. Sprinkle a line of cinnamon where bugs are invading. They won’t cross it. You can even use this to keep bugs out of the sandbox.