There are over a 1000 variety of mangoes throughout the world and they come in different sizes, shapes and colors. Mangoes sold in the United States are mostly imported from countries like Haiti, Mexico, and the Caribbean and South American countries. A ripe mango has a rich tropical flavor and a nice fruity aroma. The ripeness of mangoes can be known by either smelling or squeezing.

Fruits are not only delicious to eat but have some benefit or other to your health as well. So it’s a good idea to include them in your daily meal and wouldn’t it be great if they are delivered at your workplace so you don’t have to go out to get them. Yes this is possible. Now, you can have fresh fruits delivered at your workplace - daily, weekly, monthly deliveries or on any schedule that meets your needs. The Hi5 Corporate delivery was created for just that - to bring fresh fruit to people at their workplace. That's the goodness of Hi5 Produce's Corporate Fruit Delivery. Everyone will find something they like with Hi5's excellent variety! Every Hi5 Corporate fruit basket is packed with at least 10 different types of fruit. The staples, which are available all year round, are oranges, apples (Fuji), bananas, and pears. The rest of the basket is dependent on season, preferences, and cost. Check their online website for more information http://www.hi5produce.com/

i was in a hurry out the door so i ate that quickly at home then had some fruit at the office to supplement. i packed green grapes and a pear.

i was hoping the extra fiber from the fruit would keep me full longer but i think i need to eat it before i have any cereal for that to work. anyway, i'm already hungry and it's only been 3 hours so i'm going to eat my chili! yes, i remembered the can opener today.

The helicopters, traffic and trucks,

I know of no reason why Egyptian public service

sucks, sucks... sucks."

I left the office late yesterday, just a little before six. As we approached Tahrir Square, I couldn't help but notice a huge black smoke hovering over the Egyptian government buildings. 

Approximately thirty minutes later came the "fire trucks." Apparently they took a wrong turn... By then the Parliament building (19th century, made primarily of wood) was blazing. 

Helicopters arrived shortly after, pouring water from the nearby Nile on the scene (no joke). 

On the way to work this morning, I noticed that there was still smoke coming from the building... At 1pm, I had lunch with a friend, Mood, who had just come from Tahrir and said the Parliament building was still on fire. Apparently, everyone got tired and went home... Come on! It's not even Ramadan yet!

One firefighter missing, assumed to be dead, and about a dozen people in the hospital from inhaling the smoke.

Attack?  ...Could be, but everyone is saying it was an electrical fire.... My favorite rumour (from work) is that it was a Tibetan rebel.

digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=englishunsllc -

Emma Louise Snapp of the Universite of Nebraska did a study entitled "Proverbial Lore In Nebraska". She has done an intensive study of the phrases used by the people in her area and has compiled a list of common phrases which we all know and use, many taken from the Bible and changed to fit out personal style. But this is getting off the subject somewhat - what I wanted to talk about today was using common sense - which is what that particular phrase is all about - using enough common sense to come in out of the rain. Coincidently, at the site where I first saw this phrase was another site entitled:

0 Rules of Flat Stomach:
Cut down 9 lbs of stomach fat every 11 Days by Keeping these 10 Rules.
FatLoss4Idiots.com

Now, this may be a common sense type of eating program - in fact it is one I used many, many years ago. It probably had a name, but I can't remember it, I just remember it was a "food combining" diet which entailed eating particular foods together and not mixing those foods with others. Here is an example of what and how to eat in this program:

"The food combining diet is based on the theory that different food groups are digested optimally when eaten in the following combinations:

• Proteins (beans, nuts, seeds, meat, fish, poultry) and starches (grains, pasta, breads, cereal, rice, carrots, etc.) should be eaten at separate meals. Proteins can be eaten with vegetables and starches can be combined with vegetables.
• Fruits should be eaten alone.

Starches are thought to be absorbed best when they are eaten alone or with vegetables, because the pH of the digestive tract is alkaline. The digestion of proteins, however, requires stomach acid and if proteins and starches are combined, the digestive environment is neither acid or alkaline enough for either group to be absorbed well. Many proponents of the food combining diet believe that this can lead to health problems such as poor digestion.

I tried eating this way and remember eating only bananas for one complete meal, and trying not to eat starches and proteins at the same time. And this eating program, like all the others I tried over the years did provide me with a weight reduction, until I stopped using it - which is the case in almost every eating program that calls for something out of the norm as far as eating habits go.

Common sense will tell you that if you eat too much food you will gain weight, and if you cut back on food you will reduce your weight. Common sense will also tell you that if you try to drastically change your eating patterns, you will not succeed in a long term weight reduction plan - unless you are totally dedicated to the change. Well, dedication to change is necessary to change you eating habits, but you needn't change the way you eat your foods, or when you eat them. you just need to know that when you truly desire to reach your goal weight and maintain that weight you must form a perfectly clear picture in your mind of your "perfect body", listen to your body and stop eating when it tells you that you are satisfied, and enjoy the peace and tranquility of knowing that you will reach your goal weight without changing a thing except your entire image of your body, your food and yourself. I know each and every one reading this has enough "sense to come in out of the rain" and find themselves within themselves.

Think Thin Thoughts!

Adinear

Hmmm.

Well. Before you get too alarmed, Dr. Abdul Mohsen Al-Obaikan said "nothing in Islam prevents non-Muslims from donating their organs to Muslims because the Almighty Allah created organs clean and pure so that they can be transplanted in Muslims."

Phew!

So this afternoon I was just sitting in the office, getting through some Yemen assignment... and pop! Google Blog Alert! 

I click and the alert is for a blog post called "Cairo's Candies." Interesting I thought... right, even more interesting because it was MY post on someone ELSE's blog... without mentioning me. Thanks a lot.

http://www.sakhalintimes.com/cairos-candies/

Bananas have a high amount of potassium and carbohydrates. This is the reason it is used as a quick pick me up for energy and is also the preferred fruit of many athletes. The fruit is best for consumption when it reaches a nice color according to its variety for example a solid yellow for the yellow banana with some brown spots. If you see green tips that means they haven’t ripened fully. Most have a soft texture when ripe but when they are overripe they have a strong odor.

Include bananas in your diet and enjoy full health benefits. Wouldn’t you like it if fresh fruits were delivered at the doorstep at your workplace - daily, weekly, monthly deliveries or on any schedule that meets your needs? The Hi5 Corporate delivery was created for just that - to bring fresh fruit to you right at your workplace. That's the goodness of Hi5 Produce's Corporate Fruit Delivery where everyone will find something they like with Hi5's excellent variety! Every Hi5 Corporate fruit basket is packed with at least 10 different types of fruit. The staples, which are available all year round, are oranges, apples (Fuji), bananas, and pears. The rest of the basket is dependent on season, preferences, and cost. Check their online website for more information http://www.hi5produce.com/

i was worried that wouldn't be enough breakfast to keep me going until noon so i had 1/2c. of h2h with a drizzle of almond milk to supplement.

as it turned out, i started to feel the first hunger pangs around 11. so i snacked on some peanut crunches.

lunch is supposed to be amy's chili but i forgot to bring my can opener so i don't know what i'm going to do.

"A cellphone ringtone that chants "condom, condom!" has been launched in India to promote safe sex and tackle the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. The "condom a cappella" has been designed to break down Indians' reluctance to discuss condom use and to make wearing a condom more acceptable. Organisers of the campaign, funded by the foundation set up by Microsoft mogul Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, hope the ringtone will become a craze among young Indians." Read more here. And catch the tune here.

Thanks again, Buzzfeed.

On the day that I buy them, and maybe even for the next day or two, we eat them fresh.

• whole for breakfast or a snack
• sliced on cereal
• sliced with strawberries and whipped cream for dessert
• smooshed up in pancakes
• sliced in yogurt
• smooshed up in homemade banana ice cream - YUM

After the first day or two I peel them, break them into about three pieces, and freeze them in containers. They keep their fresh "color" unless they are allowed to thaw. That's when they turn brown and liquidy and perfect for baking! Here's what we do with our frozen bananas:

• My baby (can I still call a girl who now runs and climbs onto my table a baby?!?) loves frozen bananas in bite-size chunks
• My older daughter also likes to eat them straight out of the freezer.
• Smoothies -- frozen bananas give us much thicker smoothies. We like that!
• Muffins
• Bread
• Grandma's banana cake with brown sugar icing... my favorite!

Bananas are such a versatile fruit. I use them nearly every day, and since I'm purchasing them for 39 cents per pound I'm getting a lot of banana for my buck! And wouldn't I love to be Teresa... she gets her ripe bananas for TEN CENTS a pound. WOW!

For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy's Recipes. I'd love to hear what you do with your bananas!

i have found five bananas!

i added two bananas to the guide!

and i will add the third when my blog hits become 11,000

-chaparal

1. Pistachios with shut shells
2. Those online ads that show the silouettes of people dancing
3. People who litter
4. Rubbery sushi
5. People who don't wipe their sweat from gym equipment
6. Slow internet
7. How easily bananas bruise
8. Cigarette smoke
9. How my Motorola cell phone has the worst battery life ever
10. How I can never seem to get the lenses of my glasses 100% clean

happy monday's breakfast oats had double water because i ran out of soymilk but they still had a banana because i stole one from mom's house last night, even in my painful partially blind stupor. i topped this last-of-my-oats bowl with the rest of my pecans (i have GOT to shop for food today, it's down to the wire worse than ever before) and a soy-yo maple icing. i made it good today because i didn't feel like gagging when i tasted it. it also added the creamy element that was missing from lack of soymilk.

delicious. happy monday's lunch was the rest of the leftover amy's lentil vegetable soup. i wasn't going to eat this at all because i so thoroughly dis-enjoyed it last time but i added parmesan cheese (one of the only things left in the fridge) and half an avocado (more contraband from mom's house). it was pretty tasty after the additives, i think i even liked it.

on the side i had 4 saltines and water. it was all i needed, this bowl filled me right up.

but then i remembered the snapea crisps so i had the rest to polish off lunch.

i had originally planned on working out as usual (today it would be spin) but my mom just called to invite me to happy hour to celebrate her birthday today! of course i'd rather go to that. suddenly i'm very happy i dragged myself out of bed yesterday to squeeze in an atypical sunday workout...

rating: 7

http://tinyurl.com/yhwjjg

This was my second idea for "detach"; my first was sending my kids off on their first days of school. However, as I was getting started, I overheard my six-year-old son repeating lines from a political ad for a man I am not particularly fond of. It was an "attack" ad that is constantly played during the Olympics. Hearing the negative words from my sons mouth - with the same intonation as the voice-over - got me to this political circus. So, can I - SHOULD I - detach myself from the circus? See no "evil"? Speak no "evil"? Hear no "evil"? hmmm.

Anyway...I had a half a bunch of overripe bananas sitting on my counter screaming not to meet a trash can demise, and I happened along my friend Amanda's Blog and there sat the answer to my deliemma - Banana Caramel Cupcakes! She tweaked the orginal recipe and I tweaked her tweak, but only on the icing....they came out great!

Caramel Banana Cupcakes
adapted from: Everyday with Rachael Ray

cupcakes:

1 stick butter, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 cup mashed bananas

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk

3 large egg whites

Icing:

1 stick softened butter

1/2 c. shortening

1/4 c. marshmallow creme

5.5 ounces bag soft caramels

2 cups powdered sugar

1 block cream cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 cups of 2 standard 12-cup muffin pans with baking liners. In a large bowl, beat 1 stick butter with 1 cup sugar until fluffy.  Add 3/4 cup bananas, the baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Beat until smooth. Still in 1 cup flour. Mix in 6 tablespoons milk and the remaining 3/4 cup flour until smooth.

Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually mix in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar at high speed until stiff and glossy. Fold the egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each 3/4 of the way. Cut 9 caramels in half and submerge half a piece into each muffin cup of batter. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, cook the remaining caramels, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup banana, and 1/4 teaspoon salt over medium heat, stirring, until the caramels are melted.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until combined. Add in caramel mixture. Add half of the powdered sugar slowly until completely mixed in. Refrigerate until cool. Add shortening, additional powered sugar and marshmallow creme and beat until smooth. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.

i had a z bar pre-workout and my workout was good. it was real good, i'm still sore. lots of awesome guided strength training. after working out i headed home to freshen up and pack my bag for the night so i could sleep at my parent's house since the wine bar i was going to is closer to their place. i stopped over there to eat dinner with them before i went to meet the girls for wine. i snacked on a small handful of honey wheat pretzels before dinner was ready. then i had a small serving of the chicken and vegetables with black beans my sister made for everyone. at the bar i started with a glass of white, an Argentinian Torrontes. then we ordered some bruschetta, of which i had two halves. one of prosciutto, brie and fig and one of salami, manchego and pesto. i washed that down with a Malbec Rose. and then we shared a tuxedo chocolate cake for dessert. the girls really wanted to be on my blog so they posed for me :)

this morning i wasn't hungry before my workout so i jazzercised without a snack. i got back to my place and made banana oats the same way as yesterday to fuel me for yoga. then i went to yoga!

after yoga i had pb&j on wasa crackers. and the rest of my h2h with soy yogurt and agave nectar with almond slivers. and just now i had the rest of my cucumber, sliced, with tomato quarters and lemon-yogurt hummus. and that's all i've eaten since my last post...

pics!