Monday, January 26, 2009

Happy Chinese New Year

This is my year! The year of the Ox! Josue is a Boar but I like to say Pig cause it's funnier =)
So happy new year everyone. I wish you all of the best!
The second animal who arrived was the serious, enduring and hard-working Ox
Horoscope 2009, forecast for the 2009 year of the earth Ox The coming 2009 year of the earth Ox also called 2009 year of the Bull or Buffalo is around the corner. It looks like we've got honest, candid and open natured year ahead. As you might guess, coming 2009 year of the earth Ox is dependable, calm and modest. Sun sign horoscope for the 2009 year of the Ox like his animal sing is unshakably patient, full of hard work and tireless though need financial support to fulfill your ideas and make your desires. Yearly 2009 forecast and
horoscope 2009 for your zodiac sign.
Ox Personality The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm and modest. Like his animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in his work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint. The ox person needs peace and quiet to work through his/her ideas, and when he/she has set his/her mind on something it is hard for him/her to be convinced otherwise. The ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever he/she does, in spite of a total lack of imagination. He/she can be very stubborn, and difficult to dissuade once he/she decides on something. These people speak little, but are intelligent, and when necessary, they are both articulate and eloquent. The ox person is not extravagant, and the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes him/her nervous. The possibility of taking a serious risk could cause the ox person many sleepless nights. These people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. It would be right to mention that people born in the ox years are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome because of their honesty and patience. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the ox people are rather introverted and wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new. It is important to remember that the ox people are sociable and relaxed when they feel secure, but occasionally a dark cloud looms over such person and he/she takes on the worries of the world and tries to find solutions.

Ox Love Affairs Although practical in other ways, the ox person can be very naive about affairs of the heart. It takes time for him/her to develop intimate relationships and show his/her feelings, but once such person is committed, the partner will be totally loved and trusted. The ideal partner for the ox person is truthful and gentle but knows how to cajole and tease him/her. Of course there may be times when the ox person misinterprets light-hearted remarks or fails to see the humour in a situation, but at the same time close people will find that he/she is able to throw off his/her worries and begin to enjoy him/herself. The ideal partner for the ox person must also have the enthusiasm to introduce him/her to new interests but at the same time will not take risks that threaten the ox's security. The ox person can take as a matter of course his/her partner's weaknesses, and when there are emotional upheavals the ox will consider whether the blame lies with him/her; on the other hand such people do find it hard to forgive if they have been deceived.

Ox Career Ox people are observant; they have remarkable memories and are good at reporting on absolutely everything they observe. If you ask an Ox person if he/she remembers who were at the party 8 months ago, most likely, he/she will name them one by one to you. As a rule, the ox people approach work seriously and as long as they are not forced into the public eye they are able to think clearly and plan meticulously. They maybe not too fast when it comes to making decisions, but they are a skilled organizers and logical thinkers, and as the years pass their determination is likely to be rewarded. There are no difficulties with accepting authority arises for the ox person as long as he/she knows that the business is established on firm foundations. It is suitable for the ox to know his/her schedule or timetable and although he/she can rise to challenges and, to some extent, deal with the unpredictable; the ox would rather be well-informed and work within a fixed framework.


Ideal Job for the Ox IncludeComposer, Landlord, Doctor, Cook or Chef, Farmer, Police officer, Soldier, Teacher, Judge, Banker, Insurance broker, Gardener.

Horoscope backgroundLucky Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 12, 15, 33, 35, 51, 53 Equivalent Western Sign: Capricorn Element EARTH Color YELLOW Yin/Yang YIN and YANG Direction NORTH-NORTH-EAST

CelebritySome Famous Oxen: Warren Beatty, Jon Bon Jovi, Jeff Bridges, Richard Burton, Barbara Cartland, Charlie Chaplin, Bill Cosby, Sammy Davis Jr, Walt Disney, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Don Johnson, Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Heather Locklear, Eddie Murphy, Jessica Lange, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Rod Steiger, Peter Sellers, Sissy Spacek, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep.

Ox CompatibilityCompatible with : Snake, Rooster, Rat, DogLess Compatible with : Dragon, Monkey, Pig, Ox, TigerLeast Compatible with : Ram

Positive and Negative CapabilityPositive: The Ox can be patient, contemplative, skilful, dextrous, eloquent, confident, familiar, authoritative, industrious and sure of foot. Negative: The Ox can also be prejudice, chauvinistic, proud, tyrannical, petty, critical, eccentric, bigoted, conservative, grumpy and on occasion violent.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Healthy Fellow

Check out my Uncle's New Blog! http://www.healthyfellow.com/
It has great articles and reviews. Very helpful information if I do say so myself. Subscribe to his blog and help him get his business started! I appreciate the support!


Just take a look at this post, super helpful! Go on check it out for yourself!

Today I want to take you into the HealthyFellow.com test-kitchen. From time to time, I’d like to share some simple recipes and tips that I’ve learned from trial and error in our own home.
I’ve personally found two kitchen devices to be of great help in making healthy and simple meals. The first item is called an immersion blender, also know as a “stick blender”. The second item is a slow cooker or Crock-Pot.
One Pot, Several Meals
I usually start by going to the market and finding some good quality stewing meat. You can use beef, chicken, lamb or pork. There’s a great deal of room for personal preference here. But the great thing about slow cookers is that cheaper cuts of meat with a bit more fat and sinew work best.
I also pick up a can of organic roasted tomatoes, organic onions and garlic and any dried spices that I’d like to add to the mix. Having a nice bottle of wine on hand is always on my list as well.
Once at home, I will sometimes brown the meat prior to placing it in the slow cooker. This is optional and a matter of both taste and time considerations. If I’m lacking time, I skip the browning altogether.
I throw all of the ingredients (canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, spices and a cup or so of water) into the slow cooker and stir them up. Replacing the water with red wine imparts a rich flavor, but is also optional. Finally, I add my cut of meat, making sure to spoon some of the mixture on top as well.
As easy as all this is, the rest is even easier. Simply set your slow cooker to the appropriate setting (high, low or warm). The setting type is generally dictated by the cut of meat, it’s size and the amount of time you have to prepare your meal. If you have plenty of time on your hands, a low setting, for a longer period of time will do just fine. If you’re in more of a rush, then you can utilize the higher setting.
During the cooking process, you can periodically turn the meat to make sure it cooks evenly. But try not to lift the lid too often, otherwise the loss of heat will prolong the cooking time.
By the way, in our home, we often serve slow cooked meats on a bed of mashed cauliflower. We find that it accompanies “fall off the bone” meats very well. Trust me, you won’t miss the mashed potatoes!
More Veggies Made Simple
So now you’re probably left with some leftover stewed meat and a good amount of homemade broth. Putting the meat to use is easy (tacos anyone?). But here’s a creative use for the broth.
Pour the broth into a pot and add any vegetables that you’d like to it. I typically add some frozen organic broccoli florets or organic asparagus spears. Heat up the broth and veggies until hot. Now, break out your handy dandy immersion blender and pulse the ingredients until you have a smooth consistency or the consistency that you like. For a chunkier soup, try adding some of your leftover meat.
For some, a nice feature about this hearty soup is that you can hardly taste the vegetables at all. It’s so rich and satisfying, that a big fellow like me can enjoy the soup as a meal replacement.
There’s one other thing I want to point out about these recipes. Homemade broth, made from healthful ingredients, is actually very healthy for you. It’s much cheaper than store bought soups and broths and you control exactly what goes into it. This type of soup also freezes well, which makes it even more versatile.
There are many other applications for slow cookers and immersion blenders, as well as many, many more recipes available on the Internet. My hope is that today’s blog might help you to enjoy more vegetables and healthy, whole foods in a simple and convenient way.
Be well!
JP