Paella

Aloha Everyone,

I was introduced to the Albert family recipe of paella when J.J. and I got married. His grandmother used her mother’s recipe which she brought from Spain.

Paella, is one of the best known dishes in Spanish cuisine and its root traces back to the Valencia region. Traveling through Spain, we dined at a number of restaurants where each claimed to have  the original recipe of Paella Valencia.

Paella is basically a rice dish and its ingredients can vary from seafoods, pork, chicken, longaniza (sausages) to combinations thereof.

Today, J.J. made a paella dish primarily consisting of jumbo shrimps. It was a welcome variation and we all encourage J.J. to try out more paella dishes using mixed ingredients.

Aloha -- Cathi

Bird Drawing Class with John Muir Laws

Aloha Everyone,

I have drawn birds perched on tree branches, sitting in nests, walking on seashores but I am not very successfully when it came to birds in flight.

Today’s zoom class answered many of my questions regarding how to draw birds in flight. John chose raptors as his subject stating that small birds flutter their wings but large hawks or eagles, for example, soar in the air. Therefore they are much easier to draw in flight.

John emphasized on understanding the structure of a bird and characteristics of 3 main types of feathers: primary, secondary and covert. John also devoted a good part of the seminar on foreshortening of bird bodies, and wings importing geometric concept to his drawings.

This was one of the most helpful classes I have taken recently and I am eager to improve my drawings.

You can go to the secure website of John Muir Laws by typing his name and access his free classes.

Aloha -- Cathi

My September Breakfast Selections

Aloha Everyone,

My breakfast sets how energetic I feel and how well I function the rest of the day. Occasionally, I do treat myself to more fruits then I probably should. By keeping records with photographs is, for me, an effective method to keep myself in check.

We should always remember, “You are what you eat!” The phrase is credited to French author Anthelme Brillat Savarin and his 1826 work Physiologic du Gout de Medetation de Gastronomic Transcendante.

Aloha -- Cathi

German Words in Our Daily Conversation

Aloha Everyone,

Thanks to Arminius, who commanded an alliance of Germanic tribes at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Germany was never conquered by the Romans.

As I spend my time trying to study multiple languages, it is interesting to note that while Italian, Spanish, French share Latin root and even Greek root, German language stands alone. 

However, the English language contains numerous German words that have been adopted into our vocabulary. I believe most of us native English speakers use them without much thought about their origin.

Here is a short list for you to ponder:

• Kindergarten Kinder = children, Garten = garden
• Angst = fear
• Blitz = lightning
  Krieg = war
  War of lightning
  
• Apple strudel - Strudel = swirl
• Sauerkraut = sauer = sour
  Kraut = herb; cabbage
• Volkswagen Volk = people, nation
  Wagen = car, cart
• Gesundheit = health
  
• Iceberg = Berg = mountain
  Mountain of ice

Aloha -- Cathi

Pomegranate

Aloha Everyone,

The pomegranate, bright, ruby-reddish colored fruits with a hard shell, has been cultivated since ancient times. The pomegranate is said to have originate in the region extending from Iran to India. In the late 16th century, the fruits was introduced into Spanish America and reached California in 1769 by way of Spanish settlers.

Today, the pomegranate is cultivated throughout the world in warmer climates. India is one of the largest producers.

Using Farah’s (our cousin) technique, of soaking the entire fruit in icy water for about 20 minutes, removing the seeds was quick and easy.

There are many health benefits to pomegranate juice. Enjoy!

https://facty.com/food/nutrition/12-health-benefits-of-pomegranate-juice/9/

Aloha -- Cathi