Wednesday, August 16, 2023

10+ Easy Vegetarian Dinner Casserole Recipes - EatingWell

Serve one of these casseroles as your meatless main for dinner tonight. With only three steps or less, these vegetarian dishes are easy to make. Recipes like our Cheesy Sweet Potato & Black Bean Casserole and Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole are delicious and satisfying choices for dinner. A cozy, cheesy casserole is classic comfort food. We amped up the nutrition by including plenty of nourishing veggies. Black beans provide powerful plant-based protein while the sweet potatoes offer up a healthy dose of vitamin A, an antioxidant important for vision and immunity. This easy egg casserole is filled with spring green vegetables and rustic whole-grain bread. It's perfect for a healthy vegetarian dinner or a springtime brunch. You can assemble it the night before and bake it in the morning when you're ready. This broccoli-quinoa casserole makes a hearty vegetarian main dish. As the quinoa absorbs water and cooks, it creates the perfect amount of steam for cooking the broccoli. The broccoli is crisp-tender and adds texture to contrast with the creamy, cheesy quinoa. Swap in tricolor quinoa, if you prefer. Tomatoes and briny feta cheese form the base of the sauce that coats the pasta in this easy one-pan meal. Enjoy on its own as a vegetarian dinner or top with grilled chicken for some extra protein. This cauliflower casserole is inspired by nachos and stuffed with tender roasted cauliflower, sweet red pepper and brown rice. Salsa helps bind the ingredients together, along with melted cheese. Crushed tortilla chips on top add crunch. Serve with the suggested garnishes, or add your own favorite toppings to complete the dish. This one-pan recipe is the casserole version of spanakopita! It's hearty enough to enjoy as a vegetarian lunch or dinner, yet versatile enough to serve alongside just about any protein. To make it extra creamy, top each serving with a dollop of sour cream. Think of this vegetarian enchilada casserole as a veggie-packed Mexican-inspired lasagna with corn tortillas standing in for the noodles! If your peppers are mild and you like heat, opt for spicy pico de gallo. This easy vegetarian dinner recipe is sure to become a new family favorite. This is the macaroni and cheese recipe that would have been made in the kitchens at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Jefferson first became familiar the creamy, cheesy baked dish of macaroni from his time in Paris and it was enslaved cooks, James Hemings, Peter Hemings, Edith Hern Fossett and Frances Gillette Hern, who prepared this favorite dish over the years. The popularization of this iconic American dish can be traced to Black cooks, like Peter Fossett (the freed son of Edith Hern Fossett), Rufus Estes and Freda De Knight, who helped spread the dish throughout the United States. Learn more about Macaroni and Cheese at Monticello. This ooey-gooey dish has baked-pasta vibes but features protein-packed beans instead of noodles. Look for dried corona beans, a larger, creamy white bean, at natural-foods stores or online. Cannellini are a good substitute. Serve with a green salad and toasted baguette. This cheesy tortellini bake is a dish the whole family will love--it's filled with sweet-tasting marinara, mushrooms and spinach and topped with melted cheese. Complete the meal, plus get in another vegetable serving, by adding a side of broccoli or a small green salad. Cherry tomatoes and mushrooms bake along with goat cheese to form the base of the sauce that cooks the pasta right in the baking dish—no stovetop required. source https://4awesome.streamstorecloud.com/10-easy-vegetarian-dinner-casserole-recipes-eatingwell/?feed_id=38281&_unique_id=64dd4801c24e0

Friday, August 11, 2023

The Ever-expanding Industry of Certified Organics - USDA.gov

An official website of the United States government Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Blog Archives Last month, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the results of the 2021 Certified Organic Survey. The data showed a continued upward trend in the organic industry since 2008, when organic data collection first began. In 2008, the value of sales from organically produced commodities was $3.2 billion across the United States. In comparison, the 2021 data shows that California alone had $3.6 billion in total value of sales. California also accounted for 31% of the total U.S. value of organic production of $11.2 billion. Another great comparison is in farms and land. In 2008, there were 14,540 certified organic or exempt farms that totaled 4.1 million acres. In 2021, the U.S. had 17,445 farms operating a total of 4.9 million certified organic acres. If you compare just a two-year period, you will find the sale of organic crops increased by 5%, growing from $5.8 billion in 2019 to $6.1 billion in 2021. At this same time, the sales of livestock and poultry products (i.e., milk, eggs) increased by 16% to $2.9 billion from the 2019 total of $2.5 billion. Additionally, livestock and poultry sales increased by 29% to $2.2 billion from the $1.7 billion totals of 2019. Data from the Certified Organic Survey helps determine the economic impact of organic production at the national and state levels. It helps growers, the industry, stakeholders, government, and others make informed, data-driven decisions affecting organic production in the U.S. For more organic data that highlights the growth of the industry, please visit the USDA NASS website. source https://4awesome.streamstorecloud.com/the-ever-expanding-industry-of-certified-organics-usda-gov/?feed_id=38253&_unique_id=64d6d30985106

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Leonard M. Minus, electronics entrepreneur, church leader, teacher, and mentor, has died at 75 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

He owned and operated Jay Bee Radio on Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia for 34 years and served as a church leader at Unity Temple Worship Center and Restoration Station Christian Fellowship. Leonard M. Minus, 75, of Philadelphia, prominent business owner for more than three decades, church leader, teacher, and mentor, died Monday, Dec. 12, of pulmonary hypertension and heart failure at Lankenau Medical Center. The owner and operator of Jay Bee Radio on Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia from 1985 to 2019, Mr. Minus, affectionately called JayBee by friends and fellow business owners, was a mainstay on the busy 4400 block of Lancaster Avenue. He not only sold, installed, and repaired TVs, sound systems, car radios, computers, and other electronics for 34 years, he collaborated with other entrepreneurs regarding neighborhood development and employed many young people in the city’s summer work program. His affable personality, open-door policy regarding business opportunities, and dedication to his church and community made him popular in whichever circle he was moving. “I’ll always hold onto those conversations you would have with me about life and love,” a friend said in a Facebook tribute. He advocated integrity and personal independence, and his motto was: “Be your own boss, and you can make your own rules.” His daughter Arlene Minus-Johnson said: “He wanted people to figure things out for themselves. Get a book. Go online. Do it yourself.” Mr. Minus first worked for Jack Broad, the founder of Jay Bee Radio, as an 18-year-old in 1965. He bought the business when Broad retired in 1985 and later purchased two more properties on the block that operated over the years as a restaurant, water ice store, gift shop, computer store, and other enterprises. Drawn to young people and anyone who wanted to improve, he also worked as a computer and electronics instructor at Lincoln Technical Institute and elsewhere. “He encouraged everyone to be at the table and be a leader,” said his daughter Tracy Wilcox. “He was a problem solver who also wanted to make it happen for someone else.” Minus-Johnson said: “He wanted to impart the importance of working hard.” Mr. Minus joined Unity Temple Worship Center in 1993 and served as deacon, trustee, and on the board of directors. He became a member of Restoration Station Christian Fellowship in 2011 and was a deacon and building manager, and involved with several committees and the youth fellowship. “Plain and simple, Deacon Minus was one of a kind,” one of his pastors at Restoration Station said in a tribute. Another pastor said: “You were so humble, hardworking, and willing to show up. … You had so much wisdom and advice for me, and I appreciate the small talk and the laughs.” Born March 5, 1947, Leonard Monroe Minus grew up in North Philadelphia and graduated from Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School. He later earned an associate degree at Community College of Philadelphia and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Temple University’s night school. He grew up next door to Doris Louis, and they married in 1965, lived in West Oak Lane, and had daughters Arlene and Tracy and son Leonard II. He also had son Keith Thompson. A tireless volunteer, Mr. Minus served holiday meals at local nursing homes and directed Easter egg hunts and other activities for neighborhood children. He liked to host big dinners on Thanksgiving, and his family always expected something to be overcooked as he tended to doze off during preparations before they arrived. He was a championship bowler and longtime member of a citizens band radio club. He liked jazz music and line dancing, traveled nearly every year to visit family in North Carolina and South Carolina, and enjoyed getaway trips to Las Vegas and Atlantic City. He was robbed and shot at his store in 1997 but refused to abandon his customers and fellow business owners. He finally retired and sold his properties in 2019. In a tribute, his family said: “Leonard always imparted life lessons to all he met.” In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Minus is survived by eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three brothers, a sister, and other relatives. Three brothers and a sister died earlier. A celebration of his life was held Dec. 21. Donations in his name may be made to Restoration Station Christian Fellowship, 4313 Route 130 S., Park Plaza, Suite A-6, Edgewater Park, N.J. 08010. source https://4awesome.streamstorecloud.com/leonard-m-minus-electronics-entrepreneur-church-leader-teacher-and-mentor-has-died-at-75-the-philadelphia-inquirer/?feed_id=38246&_unique_id=64d57c2c99821

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Where are Chinese travelers heading now that borders have reopened? - CNN

source https://4awesome.streamstorecloud.com/where-are-chinese-travelers-heading-now-that-borders-have-reopened-cnn/?feed_id=38221&_unique_id=64d2d8fba2ff4

Tips for Choosing Decorative Outdoor Lighting

[ad_1] If you were to drive around any neighborhood while paying close attention to decorative lighting, you would begin to notice a pattern of gorgeous homes with lighting systems that are too small or cheap in appearance. On the other hand, you would begin to see smaller homes where homeowners had installed oversized lighting systems. In other words, while everyone loves the ambience that decorative outdoor lighting provides, and the enhanced safety of illumination, many people simply do not make the right choices. As a result, the home and lighting system are off-balanced, which distracts from the beauty of the property. The goal when buying decorative outdoor lighting is to have a plan, which would include the size and style of home. From there, you would find it much easier to purchase a lighting system that would enhance and complement the home rather than create an awkward appearance. One of the next steps is to determine the appropriate size of outdoor lighting for your needs. Keep in mind that no hard rules exist as to size, walk outside, and standing at roadside look at the home. Try to focus on any architectural features that stand out such as a lamp post, statue, pillars, etc. Using good visual judgment, determine the size of decorative outdoor lighting that would create balance. Another important aspect of choosing decorative outdoor lighting has to do with illumination. Typically, you want the exterior to be lit up for security reasons but you also want to avoid harsh glares. Therefore, we recommend you again look for decorative outdoor lighting that provides balance. After all, this type of lighting should be fully functional. If you plan to place light fixtures along a driveway or up stairs leading to the front door, illumination should be bright enough to make walking safe while at the same time not so bright that illumination is actually distracting. If you need brightness, then it would be better to illuminate a broad area so the light is not so concentrated. Most decorative outdoor lighting systems come with a minimum of 100-watt capacity, whether as a single light or multiple lights. For creating light outside, this is plenty. In addition to size and illumination, you want to consider the material of the decorative outdoor lighting fixture. Today, the five most popular choices include iron, brass, copper, cast aluminum, and composites. Although there are other options, these are used because they can withstand the elements and remain beautiful and functional. The hardest material to find is cast iron but something hand-forged would be gorgeous. Just be sure the metal parts of the system are zinc coated to eliminate rust from developing. Brass is a popular choice simply because it has an elegant look. However, decorative options made from brass also ensures a long lasting system that can handle all types of environments. The only exception is that brass does not handle extreme heat but choosing fixtures that have powder coating would eliminate any concern. It would also be worth spending a little more for solid brass. No matter the choice, brass does go through a unique oxidation process whereby the surface color changes but for decorative outdoor lighting, it adds to the charm. Even if you were on a tight budget but desperately want new outdoor lighting, remember that companies have sales all the time but you could also make your purchase directly from a manufacturer. In addition, we suggest you look at options for decorative outdoor lighting online. Because companies that sell only via the internet do not have the same high overhead as brick and mortar companies, it is possible for them to pass incredible savings on to the customer. [ad_2] Source by Lydia Quinn https://4awesome.streamstorecloud.com/tips-for-choosing-decorative-outdoor-lighting/?feed_id=38213&_unique_id=64d2d3c3eb180