DASHingly Simple. Deliciously Consumed! - A Book Review

August 12, 2015 Thomas Collins Jr.

In a world possessing stress, randomness, and drama surrounding hypertension or high blood pressure C. K. Murray presents solutions to challenges. C. K. Murray provides healthful alternatives effectively assisting the reader to overcome frequent obstacles of locating delicious and healthy cuisine. The lifestyle changes presented to decrease hypertension or high blood pressure through slight dietary modifications through commonly found ingredients was a delightfully welcomed experience as a reader.

The introduction or removal of mainstays for many persons dining routines was of notice. C. K. Murray identifies pragmatically the realistic desire for many consumers to locate common ingredients for recipes, assisting oneself to manage concerns of the pallet. Addressing this desire to healthfully manage hypertension or high blood pressure through the versatility of the DASH diet C. K. Murray establishes a means to exact future results. The mixture of options available through the DASH diet regiment incorporates the multiple criterion of concerns men and women living with hypertension or high blood pressure encounter when seeking out healthy combinations of the four food groups. C. K. Murray's solutions or coping mechanisms brought forth demonstrates the power of commonly available ingredients to surpass the appetite of any gentle giant. The simple addition of small easily measured amounts of herbs and spices created delicious cuisine elevating the often bland through minimal preparation and lightly employed culinary skills.

The sweetened carrots attended to my personal simplicity and firmly held peripheral borders among additions to the plate. The garlic mashed potatoes a frequented second portion positioned among various beef, poultry, or seafood proved to blend seamlessly proving versatility among employable alternatives. The red potato roast was accompanied by a map of preparation, heat the oven first for time management and efficiency, and through slight of hand “Presto!” fine dining cuisine, deliciously prepared, and light upon the purse strings.

Circumspection Upon Things, Life, And Potentialities

March 17, 2015 Thomas Collins Jr.

Seasonal changes and complexities as we meander among our potentialities are frequently perceived through many lenses. Adaptation from one moment to another, pace and scheduling, and experience to the imagined and envisioned provide for conceptually internalized alterations. Concepts the communicated, observed, internalized, abstract, and indifferent appeal to the uniquenesses of the journey.

The rationales, reasonings, and exponential factors of the human condition among circumstances present potential for the differentiated paths of parallel universal outcomes or conclusions transporting from one choice or decision to another. The uncertainty of today and possibilities of the future hurl about among reality, options, and the conceptually viable.

United States Marines 239th Birthday Celebration! Almost Two And A Half Centuries Of Tradition!

November 10, 2014 Thomas Collins Jr.

Photo Circa middle 1990's, Taken By Cpl Bessel, Cpl Brown, Cpl Kelly, and too many others to list.

For close to two and a half centuries men and women of honor, courage, commitment, and esprit de corps have assembled both near and afar in various locations around the globe. This large and frequently small and lonesome gathering is to commemorate the birth of their beloved United States Marine Corps on November 10th, 1775 at Tun Tavern in Pennsylvania within the United States Of America. Those who are present, those whom are unable to attend, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the defence of a nation deeply in gratitude of personal and professional sacrifice acknowledge once annually the institution tasked with protecting the peace the United States Marine Corps.

The United States Marine Corps birthday celebration and cake cutting ceremony symbolizes the passing on of responsibility from one generation of United States Marines to the next. The cake cutting ceremony with cut pieces of cake is most often performed with a k-bar, bayonet, or officer and non-commissioned officer swords demonstrating the covenant and oath every United States Marine has taken to defend the nation, it's interests, and peace.

The first cut piece of United States Marine Corps cake is presented to the youngest United States Marine by the oldest present United States Marine signifying the experienced possessing seniority charged with the training, mentoring, leadership, and fostering of skills, character, and intelligence upon the younger generation of Marines. These assets acquired by the younger generation of United States Marines are charge with the assignment to proactively preserve traditions and fill the ranks of the United States Marine Corps for future generations of Marines.

Happy 239th United States Marine Corps Birthday! All the best for many millennia more! Stay safe and Semper Fidelis!

Ends Meat At The Table

March 4, 2014 Thomas Collins Jr.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and entree`s are meals we all partake in at one time or another. Seemingly limitless varieties of pallets and arrays of possibilities abound. The search for ways to simplify and provide adequate nourishment on the fly or for the family sit down meal can seem overwhelming and chore-like. It is difficult enough just to get to the market and then when there ascertain how many vegetables, fruits, spices, and provisions we should purchase as we schedule for meals and the children or family members who are eating you out of house and home like the hungry caterpillars on the binge before cocooning only to patiently burst into butterflies.

Expenses and conveniences of dining out and the ambiance of a new or frequented surrounding can be all too temping when time is scarce and fridge or cupboard resources don't seem to match the appetite at hand. Pulling together and gathering adequate provisions to fill the void and stave of the munchies of a couple hours later requires time and preparation many of us may not always possess. What are a few items we may be able to maintain on hand? The options may be limitless. What are the items to posses among our resources in comparison to other possible options? The just get by or dividend paying.

Lifestyle, home circumstances, and random demands lead us to a myriad of choices, decision, and viable options constantly bringing our taste buds from the Mediterranean, to China, the United Kingdom, and then back to the United States of America albeit perhaps not in that order or tour of nations. It is sometimes challenging for us to consistently pull back the refrigerator door and pear into our cupboard then pull out the perfect combination of meat, vegetables, spices, and other ingredients. Gazing eye-booger like as a child at the collection of leftovers and the combination of fresh ingredients available while wondering about the possibilities of a complete meal suitable to the whole family's mood, taste, schedule, or pallet is a matter of borderline psychosis and extrasensory perception to acquire, acknowledge, and implement. This sometimes being the situation and atmosphere, given various aspects of the human condition, may after much effort posses the somber subtle ambiance equivalent in environment to where peas or pasta is figuratively quality checked on the ceiling or walls.

In some environments and circumstances it may seem odd, foreign, or eccentric to frequent many establishments for ingredients and cooking supplies. Thinking of simple items to combine with other ingredients to provide sustaining nourishment from meal to meal can be difficult. Preparing ahead of time for simpler parts or portions of meals is not only time consuming but resource draining. Given the diversification of the population, environment, culture, and demographic for many of us our resources may be scarce and our options given locale are anywhere from limitless to minimal.