Culture: Filipino Dessert

Photo Credit: Deckchua Photo

Halo-Halo

Halo-halo (pronounced: hollow-hollow) is a traditional summer dessert from the Philippines. It's packed with exotic fruit (baby coconut, jack fruit, & papaya), yams , sweet beans, shaved ice and sometimes topped with ice cream.

Try Halo-halo at home or have a treat if you find yourself in SF; Mitchell's Ice Cream in San Francisco features it seasonally and ships the exotic fruit straight from the Philippines to prepare the summertime treat.

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Recipe:

Halo-Halo

2 tablespoons jackfruit
2 tablespoons soft coconut
2 tablespoons sweetened kidney beans
2 tablespoons sweetened garbanzo beans
2 tablespoons sweetened plantains
2 tablespoons yam
crushed/shaved ice to fill glass
2/3 evaporated milk
a scoop of ice cream on top

Layer all the ingredients to your liking into a tall glass 3/4 full with layered items. Fill the rest of the glass with shaved ice and pour evaporated milk over the shaved ice. Top with a scoop of ice cream and you're ready to eat the dessert with a spoon.

~Tricia Zenone

New Subculture: Boomerangers

In this fragile economic time the new subculture called Boomerangers may actually be the smart and savvy ones!

boomeranger

(BOO.muh.rang.ur) n. An adult child who returns home to live with his or her baby-boomer parents.


Quoted from Wise Geek:

The proverbial 'empty nest' may not stay empty for long if a new subculture called boomerangers can help it. The term boomerangers refers to post-graduation adults who choose to return home to their parents instead of seeking their fortunes elsewhere. According to the most recent census figures, over 18 million young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 currently live in their childhood homes. As that number continues to grow, sociologists and other interested parties are trying to make sense of it all.

Boomerangers are not necessarily unemployed or unmotivated, but many of them are simply underfinanced. The starting salaries for many entry-level jobs is often so low that young adults cannot afford to pay off their student loans and credit cards while simultaneously managing an independent household. The answer for boomerangers is painfully obvious -- return home temporarily until their incoming wages outweigh their outgoing expenses. The idea of becoming an independent adult may have to take a backseat to the realities of life.

Some parents embrace the concept of boomerangers, even if it means reliving a role they thought they had abandoned forever. Having an able-bodied adult in their home means more security and less dependence on others for routine chores and errands. Some boomerangers find themselves taking on the role of caregiver for aging parents, which can mean a significant savings compared to assisted living facilities. Boomerangers often pay their fair share of rent and utilities, although this practice may not be as universal as some parents may hope.

The controversy surrounding boomerangers is often more social than financial. Society in general favors a traditional progression from dependent child to independent young adult to responsible married couple. Parents who have successfully raised their children should have the right to enjoy their later lives without the responsibility of parenthood. The phenomenon of boomerangers definitely throws a monkey wrench in this traditional machinery. In a world in which entry-level jobs have been outsourced to other countries, more and more adult children may feel the need to regroup and rethink at home.

Experts suggest that parents dealing with boomerangers set definite boundaries and expectations. Rent and other financial responsibilities should be clearly defined and put in writing. The arrangement should be seen as temporary, in order to avoid a sense of entitlement or laxity on the part of the adult child. Boomerangers shouldn't necessarily be treated as freeloaders, but neither should they be encouraged to abuse the privilege of free room and board. Once the boomerangers have reached a point at which their outstanding expenses are manageable and their income is sufficient for independent living, they should recognize the need to leave the nest once again.

Example Citation:

Though many students only stay for a few months, others linger at home even after they are on their feet financially. They are attracted by a room of their own, disposable income, and eager-to-help baby-boomer parents who are welcoming their "boomerangers" — as they are being called — back to the nest.
—Kim Campbell, "More graduates opt to live with mom and dad," The Christian Science Monitor, July 9, 2001

~Tricia Zenone

Recipe: Mulled Wine

Mulled Wine Recipe

Spice Up Cheap Wine!

There are many recipes for mulled wine. It is essentially a combination of citrus (1 lemon or orange) and spices.

Favorite spices to use are cinnamon (6 sticks), cloves (12 whole), nutmeg (1/4 tsp), ginger (1/8 tsp), and allspice (1/8 tsp).

Combine the spices and citrus in a dry red wine, such as Burgundy. Add 1/4 cup sugar. Heat this through for at least 15 minutes, but don't boil. A clean, large coffee pot is a great method for heating the wine.

Use an inexpensive wine for this recipe. Don't get something that tastes absolutely horrible, but this is the time to look at the bottom wine shelf at the grocery store.

Useful Tool: TweetDeck

TweetDeck is a must-have tool for social networking.

Blurb taken straight from the TweetDeck site:

"TweetDeck is your personal browser for staying in touch with what’s happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Facebook and more.

TweetDeck shows you everything you want to see at once, so you can stay organized and up to date."

~Tricia Zenone

Motivation: Keith Harrell

I completed Keith Harrell's audio book today titled Attitude if Everything. He's a motivational speaker who teaches people how to achieve their personal best in business and life.

I highly recommend listening to his audio book.

http://keithharrell.com/about.html

Great pointers taken from Keith's 'Attitude Tune-Up Newsletter: (February 2009):

Maintaining S.P.I.R.I.T. for a More Successful You

At the beginning of a new year, there always seems to be a sense of a new lease on life. We get to start all over again, so it seems. We make New Year’s resolutions some that may have been broken by now.

As I looked over our past Attitude Tune-Ups, I discovered that we received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from the Maintaining S.P.I.R.I.T. Tune-Up. So I decided to do a repeat performance. If you’ve read this one before, it will be a great refresher and an opportunity to pass it on to others. As for everyone else, hereÕs to never breaking this one resolution—and that is to always maintain a positive attitude.

You see, no matter how good your attitude is you will always have opportunities to grow.

Maintaining a super-fantastic attitude is a life-long journey. There will always be obstacles that try to get us off track. To help you stay on course, I’ve come up with an acronym that encompasses six key attitudes. These attitudes create what I call S.P.I.R.I.T. And by maintaining S.P.I.R.I.T., your attitude will always propel you toward a successful future-no matter what you encounter.

S stands for Self-awareness
Having clarity about who you are, what you want and why you want it, empowers you to consciously and actively make those wants a reality. Through self-awareness you can discover exactly where you are in life and whatÕs necessary to move forward.

P stands for Purpose and Passion
Life takes on new meaning when you passionately pursue your purpose...and a positive attitude is what gets you through the hard times.

I stands for Initiative
By proactively taking the initiative to meet challenges with a positive attitude, you will be the one who controls your situation instead of your circumstances controlling you.

R stands for Relationships and Respect
Respect is something everybody wants. Treating people with respect can transform a bad situation. As you lay aside judgment, you open the door for understanding and harmony to develop.

I stands for Insight
Insight is something we all need to strive for. It’s the ability to discern the true meaning of a situation. However, it’s something that requires an open mind and heart so you can see the big picture.

T stands for Trust
Trust is the attitude that unites people. Without it your work life and personal relationships will lack development. Trust enables you to share your ideas, as well as consider the opinions of others.

Your attitude is your most priceless possession. It’s what steers you toward success or failure. Make the commitment to never allow anything rob you of a super-fantastic attitude in 2009!

Have a Super-Fantastic Day!

~ Tricia Zenone

For Your Brain: Learn a New Hobby!

Laurie teaching Tricia the art of stained glass
[photo credit: Forrest Zenone]

Studies show that one of the best ways to keep your brain sharp is to learn a new hobby.

If you have a few crafts or activities that you'd like to try on for size, then now is the time! No excuses.

If you're not sure what hobbies to choose from then here's a website to help you along your path...

Discover a Hobby

Cheers to good brain neurobics!

~ Tricia Zenone

Quote: People Are Like Stained Glass Windows

[Photo Credit: Steve Zenone]

People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross