Blueberries are good for you
Posted: 16 June 2012 Filed under: Blueberries, Uncategorized | Tags: blueberry, food_photography, Healthy_foods Leave a commentWhile blueberries are still in season, I thought I would make a post to remind us of its health benefits. They are said to:
Improve short term memory loss; Ameliorate age-related declines in neural and cognitive function; Protect against degeneration of the retina; Promote urinary tract health; Act as a potent anti-inflammatory agent and COX-2 inhibitor; Improve glucose metabolism through the activity of chologenic acid; Reduce the risk of some cancers (source and here). Read the rest of this entry »
Care for Calirachoa; they are worth it!
Posted: 11 June 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized, YARD, for gardening | Tags: gardening_flowers Leave a commentCalirachoa is known as “million bells”, because it produces many blooms during the growing season. They are similar to petunia, only more elegant and less aromatic. I love the million-colored, million bells because they make gorgeous hanging baskets, although they do quite well in garden as well. This picture, by the way, I took from an open flower market apparently run by two families “Wilson et. files/ Martino et filles”. They offer a diverse variety of annuals and vegetables with fair price, and friendly service.
Here are a few tips about Calirachoa: 1) Needs full to partial sun, well drained, fertilized pest free soil. 2) Try to keep the soil moist, but it can tolerate drought but not for long (always avoid watering the leaves thereby avoiding cultivating fungus). 3) Pinch off dead leaves and dried blossoms by hand. This keeps the plant healthy looking and nice of course, AND will encourage more blossoms.
As always, please don’t hesitate to share your experience, and Happy Gardening!
My weblog turned one year old!
Posted: 6 June 2012 Filed under: Memories & Events, Uncategorized | Tags: anniversary, my caldron 4 CommentsI started blogging sometime early June 2011 and have not stopped learning, improving, expanding and of course enjoying ever since. Over the past year mycaldron has remained fairly consistent in its theme: A place for foods, arts, gardening and politics, with 2-3 posts per week. But it has evolved in every other sense, thanks to my followers and their keen interest in what I have to share.
Most notably, about two months ago, I went from having bilingual posts in one blog to two separate blogs in Persian and English, and meanwhile changed my host –painful, but definitely worthwhile moves.
I started blogging for two reasons: Read the rest of this entry »
Soybeans: wholesome, whole green delights
Posted: 4 June 2012 Filed under: Soybeans: wholesome, whole greens, Uncategorized | Tags: booteh_recipes, food_photography, Healthy_foods, Soybeans Leave a commentI am sure everybody has heard a lot about health benefits of Soya – reduction in LDL cholesterol, preventing cancer, even reduction in risk of coronary artery disease.
The good news is that Soya products are so diverse, from flour, to candy & biscuits, to soy milk, to Tofu, to my favorite: Whole green soybeans. Boiled or steamed soybean in pods make wonderful snack, especially if you’re with friends talking, watching something while sucking the beans into your mouth. Here is how I prepare it in 5 minutes– by boiling, or in my case steam-cooking, also known as Edamame.
Growing peppers in container
Posted: 29 May 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized, YARD, for gardening | Tags: gardening, pepper_container, vegetables 2 CommentsI have tried growing tomatoes, zucchinis and cucumbers in containers without much success. But different types of pepper, jalapeño, sweet pepper and hot pepper, do fantastic in container – even better than in the ground! I have read peppers need to have a relatively warm soil to thrive and apparently a container provides that environment better than does a vegetable bed in the ground.
All you need to watch for is not to overcrowd them. Take a 30 cm. (12 inch) container; use top, draining soil; plant three seedling – not more– deep in the soil. Place them in half to full sun, depending on how hot the weather is. They like warm but not too hot. And do not over water. I use natural fertilizer (Hen Manure) for vegetables right from the start. Read the rest of this entry »
Growing Protests in Montreal: No longer about tuition fees
Posted: 27 May 2012 Filed under: COZY CORNER, Montreal related, SOCIAL-POLITICAL, Uncategorized | Tags: bill_78, civil-disobedience, Montreal_student_movement, protest, Quebec, tuition Leave a commentMontreal is witnessing “biggest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history,” according to protest organizers quoted in many local sources of News. [All pictures in this post are taken from the internet (see the text for sources)].
A year and a half ago, the Quebec’s government decided to increase tuition up by 75 percent over five years. In response to student efforts to negotiate the deal, in February 2012 the government finally revised the increase up to 82 percent over seven years. The alternative was described an insult by students’ leaders. On February, student groups launched what they expected to be a short strike, but instead it turned to a limitless, open-ended one. In the coming days and weeks “strike turned into a rolling, day-and-night demonstration, while protesters were surrounded by heavy presence of riot police and met with tear gas, sound grenades and rubber bullets.” Village Voice
Macaroni mix, Iranian Style
Posted: 25 May 2012 Filed under: Macaroni mix, Iranian Style, Uncategorized | Tags: booteh_recipes, food_photogaphy, macaroni, Persian cuisine 2 CommentsIn Iran the most common type of pasta dish is made by steam-cooking macaroni, mixed with a thick meaty sauce. The method is basically the same as cooking mixed rice, or polow. Back in Shiraz, my mom, my sisters, and later myself used to make “macaroni” at least once a week for dinner, and I used to love it.
For some reason, thought, I quite cooking it once I learned to cook pasta varieties served with sauce on the side. Just a couple of nights ago, I made a nostalgic “trip” and cooked Iranian style macaroni after what seems like ages! It turned so good that I thought it is worth sharing. Read the rest of this entry »
Moment photography22
Posted: 20 May 2012 Filed under: Photography, Uncategorized | Tags: cat, moment_photography Leave a comment
Neighbor’s cat
Story of Dutch Princess and Canadian Tulip Festival
Posted: 18 May 2012 Filed under: Montreal related, Uncategorized | Tags: canada, Ottawa, princess_Juliana, the Netherlands, Tulip_Festival Leave a comment
Have you ever visited Ottawa’s Annual Tulip Festival held in May? If you have, chances are you already know the fairy-like story behind it. If not, I strongly urge you to visit if you’re around, and meanwhile I am going to brief you on the story anyway:)
During WW II, when The Netherland was occupied by Nazis, Princess Juliana and her family fled to great Britain. One month later, the Princess and her two daughters sought exile in Ottawa, Canada, while her husband Prince Bernhard stayed behind to join resistance forces. On January 19, 1943, Princess Juliana gave birth to a girl in Ottawa Civic Hospital, who was named Margriet after a type of daisy that was worn by the members of the Dutch resistance at the time. Read the rest of this entry »
Jeweled yogurt mix
Posted: 15 May 2012 Filed under: Appetizers, Sides and Salads, Jeweled yogurt mix, Uncategorized | Tags: beat-the-heat, booteh_recipes, easy and fast, food-photography, persion_cuisine, Yogurt Leave a commentA few years ago, sometime in June-July, I was hosting my oldest buddy girlfriend for a month, seeing her after some ten years! That was the happiest reunion ever as we both felt we still had SO much in common!
Catching up with each other’s lives, plus doing stuff together (from gardening to shopping, to driving around) would not leave us too much time to cook elaborate foods every single day, although we did constantly feel hungry and eat! This nutritious, delicious yogurt-based cold soup was my friend’s solution (and ‘invention’, mind you) for the evenings that we felt too worn out to cook and too creative and energetic to go with a canned, delivered or fast food – a quick and refreshing fix indeed!
Ingredients (for 2): Plain yogurt (2% fat) 400 grams. Flat water, half a cup or about 150 ml. Cucumbers, 2 medium, peeled and grated. Onion (optional), ½ small, peeled and grated. Dried seedless raisin, rinsed, 3 tbsp. Dried walnuts, rinsed and chopped, 3 tbsp. (always good to soak walnuts, change water a few times before using them for this or any other recipe). Powdered dried mint, ½ tbsp. Fresh tarragon (or if you don’t have access to it, any scented herb of your choice), washed and coarsely chopped, a fistful. A few fresh mint and basil leaves. Dried rose flower, a pinch. Salt and black pepper, to taste. For variations you would need: one large Pitta bread, cut in small pieces and mildly toasted. A few ice cubes. Read the rest of this entry »
My Caldron 