Archive for the ‘Lifestyles’ Category
If you are still fretting over how to prepare your Easter ham, here’s a tasty idea, courtesy of the people at the National Pork Board:
Apricot-Glazed Ham
5-pound fully cooked whole boneless ham
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cup apricot nectar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Cooking Directions
Place ham on rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree F. oven for 1 1/4 hours or until meat thermometer registers 140 degrees F. (about 15-18 minutes per pound.)
For the glaze, in a small saucepan combine brown sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg and cloves. Stir in apricot nectar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, stirring constantly.
Brush ham with glaze. Continue baking 15-20 minutes more, brushing occasionally with glaze.
Serves 20
Serving SuggestionsA simple glaze over ham makes for an easy special occasion meal. Serve with green bean casserole, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and fruit salad.
Nutrition Facts
Calories 208 calories
Protein 25 grams
Fat 9 grams
Sodium 1572 milligrams
Cholesterol 64 milligrams
Saturated Fat 3 grams
Carbohydrates 6 grams
Fiber 0 grams
(photo courtesy of the National Pork Board)
Tags: Easter, easter ham, ham recipe, national pork board
Whether your Easter celebrations tend towards the religious or the secular, you’re sure to find a movie among our favorites to share with you family (in random order). Rent them at your favorite video outlet or click on the titles for a trip to Amazon.com.
1. Easter Parade (1948). This MGM classic with Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Ann Miller makes me smile everytime I see it. The timeless movie includes several Irving Berlin standards, including “Easter Parade.”
2. The Ten Commandments (1956). Though not technically about Easter, this epic with Charlton Heston and Yul Brenner tells the story of Passover, an intergral part of the Easter Story.
3. Godspell (1973). This contemporary version of the Gospel according to Matthew puts Christ and his followers in contempary New York City with a lively score, including the popular song, “Day by Day.”
4. Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition)
5. The Robe (1953). Richard Burton and Jean Simmons star in this Oscar-nominated film about the Roman tribune who wins Christ’s robe gambling and is changed forever.
6. It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1976). Though not overtly religious like “The Robe,” Charles Schultz’s Peanuts tales are all homilies about the power of friendship and acceptance. They are also fun on multiple levels, for young and “not so young.” “Easter Beagle” is no exception.
7. Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971). This animated tale is an enjoyable look at the story of the Easter Bunny.
8. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). In my view, this is the definitive movie of the Easter Story. The MGM epic, directed by David Lean, stars Max von Sydow as a very human and accessible, yet still touching, Christ.
Tags: easter movies
Today, March 19, is the day that the swallows traditionally return to the Spanish mission in the California seaside town of San Juan Capistrano, located between Los Angeles and San Diego.
The celebration of the swallows’ return began early in the 20th century when the Mission’s pastor observed that the birds arrival coincided with St. Joseph’s Day (also March 19). The Mission hosts a Swallows Day celebration each year with music and pagentry, a symbol of spring and rebirth. This year the event was held on March 15 to avoid conflicting with Holy Week, but will return to March 19 in 2009. The Mission will hold a press conference and ring the bells today to welcome the birds.
(photo © 2005 Robert A. Estremo/cc license)
Tags: march-holidays, san juan capistrano 
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Thanks again to the people at FindingDulcinea, an information and travel Web site, we offer a few things that you may not have known about Easter.
1. Most Christians celebrate Easter on the first Sunday falling after the first full moon that follows the vernal equinox (the day on which day and night are approximately equal in length) which usually occurs on March 20. The ecumenical agreement for determining the date for Easter was reached at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.
2. Orthodox Christian Churches celebrate Easter on a different day because they still follow the Julian calendar, while other Christian churches adopted the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century.
3. The word Easter originates from Estre, a Teutonic Goddess of springtime. Pascha, the Orthodox term for Easter, comes from Pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover.
4. The 40 days of Lent is symbolic of Jesus’ sojourn in the wilderness of Judea, preparing for his public ministry while being tempted by Satan. There are actually 47 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, but the seven Sundays are traditionally considered days to feast in celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
5. Eggs have long been associated with Easter. For a time, they were forbidden during Lent, and then presented at the Easter table, painted red to symbolize joy. Some Christians view eggs as symbolic of the tomb that Jesus left empty. But the concept of eggs as symbols of new life is probably rooted in pagan springtime traditions.
6. A popular tradition in Mexico and other Latin cultures is to hold a passion play, or recreation of Good Friday. For Mexican men, it is an honor and a challenge to take part in the passion plays. Preparations last an entire year and the man chosen to play Jesus must carry a cross weighing 200 pounds.
7. On the day after Easter, in Poland and in Polish-American neighborhoods in Buffalo, New York and in South Bend, Indiana, people engage in a public, all-day water fight. The day is known as Smigus Dyngus.
8. During the Middle Ages, Christians across Europe would meet on hilltops to watch the sun rise on Easter morning. They rang bells, fired cannons and sang hymns. A similar tradition still exists in Austria.
Tags: Easter
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
In addition to our St. Patrick’s Day articles, the writers at b5 Media have been busy writing about the holiday where everyone is Irish at least for March 17. Here is just a sampling:
- From “Career and Kids,” St. Patrick’s Day potluck recipes
- From “Chocolate Bytes,” a recipe for Green Chocolate Dip
- From “Foodie Obsessed,” a recipe for Beef and Guinness Pie
- From “Kettle and Cup,” ideas on hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Tea, Victorian style
- From “Mother Earth’s Garden,” How to care for shamrock plants
- From “Quilting and Patchwork,” Quilting with a St. Patrick’s Day influence
- From “She Knows Parties,” Ideas for St. Patrick’s Day party games
- From “Brew-ha-ha,” Thoughts on St. Patrick’s Day and beer
Today is Palm Sunday, the Sunday preceding Easter, is marks the anniversary of Christ’s return to Jerusalem before the events leading up to the cruxifiction and resurrection. In most Christian countries the day is celebrated with the waving of palm fronds and re-enactments of Jesus, seated on a donkey, greeting the crowds. Below is one such event in Peru.
Tags: Easter, palm sunday, peru
There’s been a lot of talk this week about whether St. Patrick’s Day should be celebrated on March 15 instead of March 17, since the holiday falls during Holy Week for Christians and Catholics around the world. Since there is no official word on the Vatican Web site (and no one mentioned it at church last week), I called the Cleveland (where I live) Catholic Diocese office to get their word on the situation.
According to diocesan spokesman, Bob Tayek there will be no liturgical services for St. Patrick this year, but parishioners are left to decide for themselves when to celebrate the non-secular holiday. Says Tayek, “I think that you need to separate the civic celebration or ethnic celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and really what St. Patrick’s Day means for the church.”
That said, I’m not so sure that eating corned beef is appropriate during Holy Week. Maybe a nice order of fish and chips will have to do.
Tags: St. Patrick's Day
The ides was an ancient Roman calendar term, indictating the middle of the month. It corresponded with March, May, July, and October 15th and the 13th of all other months.
The term entered into common English usage via Williams Shakespeare’s play, “Julius Caesar.” In the play, Caesar is warned by a soothsayer to not go out on the 15th, lest he be killed. He tells him to “Beware the Ides of March.”
Caesar did go out, both in fact and in the play, and was stabbed to death by a group of Roman senators, in AD 44.
Tags: ides of march, julius caesar, william shakespeare
March 14 is White Day in many Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Celebrated a month after Valentine’s Day, it is a day when men repay the attention and generousity shown them by women on February 14 (traditionally a day when women give men presents) by giving chocolate and other gifts of affection.
White Day began in 1978 in Japan and is gradually becoming popular throughout Asia.
(photo © Livvy/cc license)
Tags: japanese holidays, korean holidays, march-holidays, white day