Newsletter, March 27, 2002

Welcome to your next issue of "The Eclectic Cooking Newsletter".
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Lydia Jensen, Editor: Lydiajj@get2netdk
Lars Jensen, Webmaster/Publisher: Lars@Eclecticcooking.com

For this week's edition, you may visit:
www.eclecticcooking.com/CookingRecipes.htm


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=> Article; What's with the Easter Egg?
=> New Recipes of the Week
=> Hot Tip
=> Fruit/vegetable in focus
=> Joke/Story of the Week
=> Next week's Issue
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Writer
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information

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Article

What's with the Easter Egg?
Lydia L. Jensen

>From earliest childhood I can remember coloring Easter eggs. We were five 
children who grew up with wonderful Easter traditions which we fondly remember. 
When we were young, our mother cooked and decorated the Easter eggs. As we 
grew older, we all participated in the activity. We always had Easter eggs and 
new clothes to wear on Easter Sunday. I do not remember much about any 
traditional meals we might have had over Easter - probably warm German potato 
salad, ham and a variety of vegetables followed by apple strudel. We seemed to 
have that menu for most celebrations. I do remember the Easter baskets filled 
with colorful eggs and all kinds of sweets. We had many Easter egg hunts at both 
the church and at home. I did not know what the Easter egg symbolized when I 
was a child, I just enjoyed the colorful eggs and we always looked forward to 
receiving them. It wasn't until much later, that I realize that the Easter egg 
symbolizes fertility and new life. 

In most cultures the customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated 
with Easter for centuries. Originally Easter eggs were brightly colored and often 
decorated or painted to represent spring. Eggs were given as gifts and used in fun 
egg contests. In western culture crimson colored eggs represent the blood of 
Christ, and in other cultures people decorate their eggs in patterns of gold and 
silver.

Years ago in the Catholic Church and after the reformation, it was traditional to 
give the digestive system a rest. These are the first records of fasting. Food was 
brought to the church to be blessed by the priests, who then kept a portion of the 
food for themselves. In northern Europe the people brought food, eggs, seeds and
grains to the church, in southern Europe the people brought colored eggs.

In the 16th century it was common to eat soft-boiled eggs and a porridge at Easter. 
People believed that eating these eggs during Easter would protect them from 
sickness and disease during the year. Like Valentine¹s gifts, when someone 
received a colored or decorated egg at Easter, it was a sign of affection and/or 
love. Popular colors for eggs were red, yellow or blue, had various forms of 
decoration painted on them and often had the names of the recipients inscribed on 
the eggs. No one seems to know why decorated eggs were given at Easter. Historians 
conclude that it was simply to celebrate the end of fasting. 

Whatever your family traditions are, we hope you enjoy this Easter. If you feel 
like trying something unusual, why not prepare and enjoy our egg or lamb recipes 
followed by the apple dessert and a special coffee. Happy Easter!

This first recipe is not a lot of work. Only the sauce takes a little effort.


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New Recipes/article of the Week


Article: What's with the Easter Egg?

Recipes: 
Anchovy Eggs Mornay
Leg of Lamb with Vegetables
Caramelized Apples with Marscarpone Cream
Long Drink of Coffee and Rum


For this week's edition, you may visit:
www.eclecticcooking.com/CookingRecipes.htm

This week's recipes:
http://www.eclecticcooking.com/whatnew.htm

You may also submit your recipes or articles directly on to our site here:
http://eclecticcooking.community.everyone.net



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(Health) Cooking Tip

Hot Tip

One of my favorite and healthy afternoon energizers is a combination of seedless 
raisins and/ or sultanas, almonds, and hazel nuts or walnuts, or any combination 
of nuts and raisins you like. Keep these in an airtight container in a drawer and 
when you have a cup of coffee or just need something to much on, take a couple 
handfuls of these healthy sweets. 

The raisins give you the iron you need and the natural sugar which is good for you.
Iron deficiency is quite high among women in the western world. Women tend 
to eat less beef, which has a very high iron content, so you need to find other
ways to compensate for this deficiency. Experts tell us that women should take 
in about 18 mg of iron each day. The raisins (mixed with the nuts) are one way 
of attaining the required amount of iron.


Some Health and Nutrition links:
http://eclectic-healthy-cooking.subportal.com/health/


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Fruit/vegetable in focus

Red Grapefruit - Citrus Paradisi

The red grapefruit, as the name suggests, has a red meat color. The taste is a little
sweeter than the yellow grapefruit. Grapefruits can be peeled, cut up, sautéed and 
served with duck, pork, chicken or shrimp. Grapefruits can be used in salads, desserts 
and used in marinades instead of using oranges or pineapple. The red grapefruit can 
last for two weeks in a cold place in a plastic bag. At room temperature it can last 
5 days. Are available all year round.

From www.online-cooking-recipes.com

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Jokes and Stories - 

What do ducks have for lunch?
Soup and quackers! 

What do you call ten rabbits marching backwards?
A receding hareline.

What do you call rabbits that marched in a long sweltering Easter parade?
Hot, cross bunnies.

What did the rabbit say to the carrot?
It's been nice gnawing at you.


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Next Week's Edition, April 3, 2002

Article: 
Dinner Ideas
by Chef, Richard Lipton

Recipes: 
Veal Scallopine Florentine
Angel Hair and Red Cabbage
Snickerdoodles
Oatmeal Crispies


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Please feel free to pass along/email this newsletter to family or a friend.
They are also welcome to subscribe at: update@Eclecticcooking.com

Recipes and articles can be Emailed to Lydia Jensen, editor: Lydiajj@get2net.dk
or posted on our site under "community".
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What do you think of our newsletter? Do you have any comments about the
article, recipes, jokes, etc.?

(For advertising please contact, Lars@eclecticcooking.com

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Copyright 2002 Eclectic Cooking