Makin' Maki Sushi Round Up!

I am a big sushi lover... I'm talking BIG! I could eat sushi every.single.day if it weren't for how my body has a love/hate relationship with carbs. However, today I indulged in sushi and had friends come over to learn how to make maki rolls. For my sushi event, I prepped all the ingredients for our maki rolls. Some ingredients I offered included:

carrots, yellow pickled radish, cucumber, red & green bell pepper, mushrooms...

orange fish roe, egg omelet, broiled eel (unagi), avocado, crab sticks, cream cheese...

sashimi platter of white & red tuna, salmon, mackerel, yellow tail, & whitefish... After we made a couple rolls, we had ourselves a full Japanese meal where I served iced honey green tea, edamame, miso soup and Adzuki (sweet red bean) ice cream for dessert...

To join in the fun, my fellow bloggers have submitted their Japanese/Sushi recipes! As I do with each blogging event I host, a lucky blogger receives a giveaway related to the food theme. This event's winner is Kristin of Tiny Kitchen Cooking! Kristin will be receiving a bamboo mat and fancy chopsticks for her entry. Congratulations Kristin and thanks to all that participated in the blogging event! Read on to check out the recipes submitted by my fellow bloggers...

Kristin of Tiny Kitchen Cooking
from Massachusetts
California Rolls
Kristin joins us to share her spring rolls and california rolls for her first every blogging event! Kristin recently learned how to make maki sushi from a friend, Masako. Check out Kristin's blog for the recipes Masako shared!
Lalaine of The CookMobile
from Norwalk, CA
Sculpin Fish in Miso Broth
Lalaine joins us to share a beautiful dish of Sculpin Fish. Not familiar with this kind of fish? Check out Lalaine's blog for more info and the recipe of this tasty dish!

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Ακριβό μας Κτηματολόγιο

Τιμωρούνται οι αθώοι, μένουν ατιμώρητοι οι ένοχοι.

Της Σοφίας Βούλτεψη

Είναι γνωστό ότι με το Σύνταγμα του 2001 εξασφαλίσθηκε το ακαταδίωκτο για όλα τα σκάνδαλα πριν από τις εκλογές του 2000. Ανάμεσά τους αυτό του Χρηματιστηρίου και του Κτηματολογίου. Το γεγονός όμως ότι δεν στάθηκε δυνατόν να τιμωρηθούν οι υπεύθυνοι εκείνης της περιόδου, δεν σημαίνει ότι πρέπει να τιμωρούνται αυτοί που κατ’ εξοχήν δεν ευθύνονται.
Παραμονή Δεκαπενταύγουστου και οι εικόνες που έφθαναν στα ελληνικά σπίτια μέσω των τηλεοπτικών δεκτών, δεν ήσαν εικόνες «απο τα μπάνια του λαού» τυχαία λέτε, να αναφέρθηκε στην (επικοινωνιακή) ανάγκη σεβασμού τους ο Α. Παπανδρέου; Οι εικόνες που έφθαναν ήσαν εικόνες αφάνταστης ταλαιπωρίας σε απερίγραπτες ουρές. Όσοι συνωστίζονται στα κατά τόπους γραφεία κτηματογράφησης αγανακτούσαν. Όσοι έβλεπαν τις σκηνές από τα σπίτια τους εξοργίζονταν!
Ολοι γνωρίζουμε ότι δασολόγιο και κτηματολόγιο έπεσαν θύματα της διαφθοράς.. Τα χρήματα του Κτηματολογίου είχαν καταβληθεί στην Ελλάδα ήδη από το Β ΚΠΣ. Το πρόγραμμα ξεκίνησε το 1996, αλλά το 2002 ο αρμόδιος επίτροπος διαπίστωσε ότι έγινε το μισό πρόγραμμα με τα διπλάσια κονδύλια. Η χρηματοδότηση σταμάτησε και η Ελλάδα υποχρεώθηκε να επιστρέψει 100 εκατ. Ευρώ. Από την έκθεση του Ελεγκτικού Συνεδρίου για το 2001 , που δόθηκε στη δημοσιότητα το 2003, προέκυψε οτι χάθηκαν 24,2 δις. Δρχ που κάλυψε η τότε κυβέρνηση, χωρίς ποτέ να μάθουμε που πήγαν εκείνα τα χρήματα.
Το 2005 πληροφορηθήκαμε ότι το Εθνικό Κτηματολόγιο ξεκινούσε από την αρχή. Είχαν πάει στο βρόντο τα 200 εκατ. Ευρώ που είχαν δαπανηθεί για το 6,3% του έργου. Μετα από πολύμηνες συνεννοήσεις με την Ε.Ε., έγινε αποδεκτή η επαναχρημάτοδότησή του. Αλλά μετατράπηκε σε έργο τεχνολογίας, περιορισμένου προϋπολογισμού, ύψους 60 εκατ. Ευρώ. Ετσι οι Ελληνες πληροφορήθηκαν ότι θα πλήρωναν εξ ιδίων για ένα έργο που υπό κανονικές συνθήκες διαφάνειας θα είχε εξ ολοκλήρου χρηματοτοδοτηθεί από την Ε.Ε. και χωρίς να τιμωρηθεί κανείς!
Ολα αυτά δεν ήσαν αρκετά για να εξασφαλίσουν προσοχή και σεβασμό;
Η εταιρεία που ανέλαβε το έργο και οι ανάδοχοι της προφανώς δεν ενδιαφέρονται για κάτι τέτοιο. Σκασίλα τους αν ταλαιπωρείται ο κόσμος και προκαλείται βλάβη στη παράταξη που κυβερνά. Εντάξει, αλλά ουδείς ελέγχει;; Ουδείς προβλέπει;; Ολα τα εκ των υστέρων μέτρα και όλες οι εκ των υστέρων λύσεις δεν έπρεπε να εφαρμοστούν από την αρχή για να αποφευχθεί η ταλαιπωρία του κόσμου και η βλάβη της παράταξης;;

Άρθρο από την εφημερίδα Απογευματινή της 19-08-2008.

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Tony Clement's Empty Autism Rhetoric

At a stop in Big River Saskatchewan alleged federal Health Minister Tony Clement took questions on federal health care initiatives including some from Carolyn Forsey the mother of an autistic child. Ms Forsey had previously written to Health Minister Clement urging the federal government to create a strategy for autism.

Minister Clement responded, as reported on Meadow Lake Progress:

Minister Clement said that there’s some initiatives the federal government have been working on, but the partnership must be created with provincial health care entities first.

“We do have national focuses, but it’s not as if we can take over what the provincial responsibility is,” he said.

“We create a table where we can share best practices, we can work on surveillance together, on human resources together. We still focus on research end of things and the provinces focus on the treatment. That’s how our tables work. It’s the way our national cancer strategy is working and our national diabetes strategy is working.”

The fact is the current federal government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Health Minister Tony Clement has done little to help autistic children and adults in Canada. Constitutional authority for health care is primarily provincial. But the federal government has substantial spending power which it is not prohibited from using in health care areas. That is how we have a Canada Health Act.

Canadians do not need the federal government to "share best practices". That is pure nonsense. Best practice information is readily available on the internet and from world sources. The "national autism symposium", rescheduled from an earlier date to avoid participation from autism parent advocates, was a sham, a "facilitated" discussion with strong parent advocates excluded, the results of which do not resemble the internationally known and respected sources such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the New York State Department of Health, the MADSEC (Maine) Autism Task Force Report and the US Surgeon General's Office.

What the federal government could do to be helpful in addressing Canada's autism crisis is exactly what is needed. It could use the federal spending power. It could loosen federal purse strings and use its spending authority to make funding available to the provinces for evidence based interventions for autism. That would be a huge step forward in ensuring that autistic Canadian children across Canada would receive the help they need - regardless of where their parents live at any given moment.

Instead of the funding help that is needed to ensure that autism interventions can be offered across Canada the alleged Health Minister, Tony Clement, prefers to do nothing. While autistic children grow older, without the help they need, federal Health Minister Tony Clement offers nothing but empty rhetoric.

autism

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Picnic Perfect Round Up!

After doing a whole year of wine events each month and focusing on both red and white varietals, this month we did a tasting of various white wines. We paired our white wines with picnic fare to round out the summer. Here are pics of the dishes my friends brought to the table along with the wines we tasted throughout the night. (Please forgive the blurry pics... too much wine... lol)

Beet, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad
shared at the event by Joelen

White Wine Fruit Salad w/Strawberries
shared at the event by Abbie
Brie & Gruyere Cheese Plate w/Pate & Sausage
shared at the event by Joelen
Cantaloupe, Cucumber & Mint Salad
shared at the event by John
Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad
shared at the event by Shirley

Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
shared at the event by Jen & Wayne
recipe HERE

Fresh grapes & raspberries w/Artisanal Goat Cheese
from the Green City Market
shared at the event by Linda
Antipasto Pasta Salad
shared at the event by Michele
Orzo Pasta Salad
shared at the event by Christy
Japanese Cucumber Salad
shared at the event by Teresa

Beer & Mustard Bratwurst
w/ caramelized onions & mushrooms on the side
shared at the event by Joelen
Chilled Wine Poached Salmon Steaks
shared at the event by Howard

Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake
purchased and shared by Christy

Coffee Toffee Brownies
shared at the event by Susan

After a fabulous picnic dinner spread, we played a new boardgame i got from my friend stephanie! (Thank you Stephanie - I love it!!) The game is called Winerd and can be found wherever boardgames are sold or online. If you're looking to brush up on your wine trivia or play a non-college frat party "drinking game," then this is a game you'll want to check out!

To join in the fun, my fellow bloggers have submitted their favorite picnic recipes and recipes using white wine! As I do with each blogging event I host, a lucky blogger receives a giveaway related to the food theme. This event's winner is Kate of Paved With Good Intentions ! Kate will be receiving a Spring/Summer 2008 Season's Best cookbook, compliments of Pampered Chef. Congratulations Kate and thanks to all that participated in the blogging event! Read on to check out the recipes submitted by my fellow bloggers...

Stina of Eat Something!
from Tennessee
Peach Melba Gelatin
What's fruity and jiggles when it's drunk? Kudos if you guessed a fruity gelatin dish made with wine! (Haha!) Stina captures the flavors of peach & raspberry with a hint of white wine in her entry to the picnic party. To see how she makes it, check out her blog!

Laura of Laura's Home Cookin'
from Minnesota
Pollo all Fiorentina and Pomodoro e Basilico
Laura joins us to share two of her favorite Italian dishes. Her Chicken Cutlets with Spinach and Tomato Basil Sauce are not only quick to make but I really like how they use white wine ! These are recipes I want to make soon. Check out her blog for the recipes so you can make them too!
Kate of Paved With Good Intentions
from California
The Engineer's Favorite Lemon Squares
Kate shares her recipe for lemon squares even though she's not a fan of lemons. She made these treats for someone special and decided to share them with us too! To find out who she made these for and why, check out her blog and the recipe!
Karen of Loves To Eat Weblog
from Tampa, FL
Fish in Lemon Wine Sauce
Karen joins us with a dish that prepares fish in a refreshing way. I'm a big fan of fish and seafood so I'm looking forward to trying this recipe soon. For the recipe, check out Karen's blog!

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Beet, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad

The following recipe was made for my Picnic Wine event. You can read more about it and get additional recipes HERE.

Beet, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad
shared at the event by Joelen
recipe HERE

6 small beets, trimmed (about 18 ounces)
6 tablespoons olive oil (preferably extra-virgin)
3 tablespoons Sherry wine vinegar
1 large garlic clove, pressed
Pinch of sugar
12 cups mixed baby greens
2 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (about 2 1/2 ounces)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (about 2 ounces)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap beets in foil, enclosing completely. Bake until beets are tender when pierced with fork, about 1 hour. Cool slightly. Peel and slice beets. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Whisk olive oil, Sherry wine vinegar, garlic and sugar in medium bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

Combine mixed greens, sliced green onions and beets in large bowl. Pour dressing over and toss to coat. Divide salad among 6 plates. Sprinkle with Gorgonzola cheese and toasted walnuts and serve.

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White Wine Fruit Salad w/Strawberries

The following recipe was made for my Picnic Wine event. You can read more about it and get additional recipes HERE.

White Wine Fruit Salad w/Strawberries
shared at the event by Abbie
recipe HERE

2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 cups honeydew melon balls or cubes
4 cups cantaloupe balls or cubes
1 cup seedless grapes
2 cups sliced strawberries

In a shallow serving bowl, dissolve sugar in a mixture of wine, lemon rind, and lemon juice, stirring constantly. Gently add fruit. Chill two hours, tossing occasionally. Drain and serve on a bed of lettuce.

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Cantaloupe, Cucumber & Mint Salad

The following recipe was made for my Picnic Wine event. You can read more about it and get additional recipes HERE.

Cantaloupe, Cucumber & Mint Salad

shared at the event by John

recipe HERE

1/2 cup yogurt, vanilla
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 cantaloupe, cut into bite-size pieces

2 kirby cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint- optional
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted- optional

Combine, toss & serve

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