Let’s Celebrate Thanksgiving with ideas and recipes to comfort and inspire us!
INGREDIENTS for SKILLET CORNBREAD
For the Honey Butter
1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan 2 tbsp. pure honey
Kosher salt
For the Cornbread
1 c. fine cornmeal 1 c. all-purpose flour spooned and leveled 1/4 c. sugar 1 tbsp. baking powder 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 c. whole milk 2 large eggs 6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
DIRECTIONS
1. Make honey butter: Use a fork to smash and stir together butter, honey, and salt in a bowl until well combined. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
2. Make cornbread: Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or 8-inch square baking dish. Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a second bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and butter. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
3. Bake until top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Serve warm with honey butter alongside.
Please share your finished cornbread on Facebook here
With so many people working at home, some with small children doing lessons in the other room, employers are worried about the creative resources that people have while working.
Computer screens burn our eyes with bright digital colors–oftentimes tiring them and us in the process! But new research reports that just seeing works of art, and taking just a moment or two to reflect on them, will enhance our creative energy!
Appreciating art inspires our creative minds to look at things differently. In South Korea they did a study of how bringing art into the work space could enhance employee
creative abilities. And creative energy is important because it is the foundation of innovation. Who doesn’t want to have an innovative workforce?
In the Journal of Business Research, these scholars brought art into the workplace, or rather, the workspace, and wanted to see who felt more inspired in daily lives. Inspiration is what allows us to perform tasks more creatively, and ultimately better!
The key is look at the art and spend a moment really enjoying its colors, pondering where it was painted, what is happening and how the artist might have given us a different perspective.
I share some of most favorite art works that people have brought into their workplace–be it home or office. Take a moment and wonder. How creative could you be?
3 1/2 cups canned OR soaked and cooked chickpeas/garbanzo beans
1 tbsp baking soda (optional – to help skin the chickpeas, then rinsed away – see instructions below)
1/3 cup tahini paste
8 roasted garlic cloves , or more to taste (you may substitute 1-3 fresh garlic cloves if you prefer a stronger sharper flavor)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice , or more to taste
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil , plus more for garnish
3/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt , or more to taste
Pinch cayenne pepper
Paprika and fresh minced parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
If using canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them first. Drain the beans after cooking and let them return to room temperature.
To make this hummus ultra creamy, you should peel the cooked chickpeas. While this step is optional, I do recommend it for creamy results. To peel and remove the chickpea skins easily, place them in a skillet with 1 tbsp baking soda and stir, coating all the beans thoroughly with baking soda. Heat up the skillet over medium, stirring the beans constantly, for 2-3 minutes until the beans are completely heated throughout and the skins begin to separate from the beans
Pour the hot beans into a large mixing bowl, then immerse them in 3-4 changes of cold water, agitating the beans with your hands to release the skins. Loose skins should float to the surface where they can easily be discarded with each batch of cold water. When most of the skins are gone, proceed with the recipe.
Another way of skinning the chickpeas (which takes a lot longer) is to take each chickpea and gently squeeze to remove the skin, then discard the skins before processing. While this step is not completely necessary, it will ensure that your hummus turns out very smooth and creamy.
Reserve about 15-20 whole chickpeas for garnish. Outfit your food processor with a blade attachment. Place chickpeas, tahini paste, roasted garlic, lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper into the processor. Process the mixture until it becomes a smooth, creamy hummus.
Taste the mixture and add more salt, lemon juice, or garlic to taste. Process again to blend any additional ingredients. If the texture seems too thick, add lukewarm water and continue to process until desired consistency is reached.
Transfer hummus to a shallow bowl and create a well in the center with a spoon. Garnish with reserved chickpeas, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of paprika and minced fresh parsley. Serve with pita, crackers, or fresh vegetables for dipping.
A dedicated work space in your home helps you set aside household distractions and focus on work. This is a tough thing to do in recent weeks but we have just the inspiration you need to create a space that is bright, colorful, and keeps you working productively.
Why add art to your home office? Because art in the workplace can reduce stress and improve productivity, according to results from a new study from Home Beautiful Magazine.
Commissioned by leading art experts, the study found that 50% of people who work at home have no artwork! But almost a third of the people (29 %t) believe that artwork should be installed in workplaces to improve productivity! (and this came ahead of sleep pods, ping pong tables or beanbag chairs).
Today, we need more than productivity. In this study, 27% of those with art in their office said it makes them feel happy, and another 21% said it makes them feel peaceful.
Is it time to rethink your home office space? Here is some inspiration!
Brighten Up Your Home
The Value of Community
Jigsaw Puzzles Improve Your Memory! Solving puzzles helps reinforce existing connections between our brain cells.It also increases the generation of new relationships. This, in turn, improves mental speed and thought processes. Jigsaw puzzles are especially good for improving short-term memory.
So clear off the table and exercise your brain!
United In Faith Jigsaw Puzzle by P Buckley Moss
History Repeats Itself
Over 100 Years Ago: The United States was dealing with a similar flu pandemic. Masks, sheltering in place, school and business closures–they were real then and now! I think it is is good to look at history so that the present can have some perspective. As I find new images I will share them here.
COMFORT FOOD
BEEF STEW
Ingredients
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 lb. beef chuck stew meat, cubed into 1″ pieces
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and cut into rounds
2 stalks celery, chopped
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. tomato paste
6 c. low-sodium beef broth
1 c. red wine
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. dried or fresh thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
1 lb. baby potatoes, halved
1 c. frozen peas
Instructions
In a large dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add beef and cook until seared on all sides, 10 minutes, working in batches if necessary. Transfer beef to a plate.
In the same pot, cook onion, carrots, and celery until soft, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add garlic and tomato paste and cook until garlic is fragrant and tomato paste has darkened, 2 minutes.
Add beef back to dutch oven then add broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves.
Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and let simmer until beef is tender, 30 minutes.
Add potatoes and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 15 minutes.
Remove bay leaves. Stir in peas and cook until warmed through, 2 minutes. Garnish with parsley beforE serving.
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