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Tomato Soup With Shell Beans, Squid Rings And Parsley

justingirl1989 — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:53:21 -0700

Have one bowl of this soup and you'll get nearly three quarters of your daily requirement for vitamin C.

Ingredients:

4 large tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 1/2 tsp salt, plus extra for tomatoes
Parchment paper 3 tsp olive oil, divided
1 leek, thinly sliced
1/2 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 cup red wine
2 sprigs oregano
1/4 cup plus
2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 lb (1 1/2 cups) shelled beans (such as fava, lima or cranberry)
1/4 lb (3/4 cup) flat romano beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 lb squid, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
4 slices crusty bread
1 clove garlic
Directions:

Heat oven to 375˚.
Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper; roast 40 minutes.
Heat 1 1/2 tsp oil in a soup pot over low heat.
Cook leek, onion and sliced garlic 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add wine, raise heat to high and reduce 5 minutes.
Place tomatoes, oregano, 1/4 cup parsley and shelled beans in pot and add enough water to cover vegetables by 1/2 inch.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes.
Add flat beans, 1 1/2 tsp salt and cayenne; simmer until beans are tender, about 30 minutes.
Mix squid with chopped garlic and remaining 2 tbsp parsley; let stand 30 minutes.
When soup is ready, sauté squid: Heat remaining 11/2 tsp oil in a medium sauté pan over high heat until oil smokes, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add squid (oil may splatter) and sauté, stirring, until cooked through, about 2 minutes.
Sprinkle with salt.
Toast bread; rub with garlic clove.
Divide soup among 4 bowls, top each with 1/4 squid mixture and add bread.
Nutrition Facts: 224 calories per serving, 4.9 g fat (0.8 g saturated), 32.8 g carbs, 5.3 g fiber, 14.7 g protein http://www.fitceleb.com/2008/09/07/tomato-soup-with-shell-beans-squid-ri...

Ink found in Jurassic-era squid

MartiniLush — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:29:22 -0700

Palaeontologists have drawn with ink extracted from a preserved fossilised squid uncovered during a dig in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The fossil, thought to be 150 million years old, was found when a rock was cracked open, revealing the one-inch-long black ink sac.

A picture of the creature and its Latin name was drawn using its ink.

Dr Phil Wilby of the British Geological Survey said it was an ancient creature similar to the modern-day squid. "The structure is similar to ink from a modern squid so we can write with it," he said.

The find was made at a site which was first excavated in Victorian times where thousands of Jurassic fossils with preserved soft tissues were found.

Dr Wilby, who led the excavation, said: "We think that these creatures were swimming around during the Jurassic period and were turned to stone soon after death. It's called the Medusa effect."

Experts believe one possibility is that thousands of the creatures congregated in the area to mate before being poisoned by algae in the water. Remains of a different species of squid have also been found, suggesting the carcasses attracted predators to feed on them and they in turn also died.

Dr Wilby said: "They can be dissected as if they are living animals, you can see the muscle fibres and cells. "It is difficult to imagine how you can have something as soft and sloppy as an ink sac fossilised in three dimension, still black, and inside a rock that is 150 million years old."

The specimen is now in the British Geological Survey collection in Nottingham.

Part of the ink sac has been sent to Yale University in America for more in-depth chemical analysis.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/8208838....

Movie Review...The Squid and the Whale

la_clique — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 19:26:31 -0800

I did a search and didn't see any other reviews for The Squid and the Whale, so I'll throw my 2cents in.

This is the story of a family going through a separation and divorce, and all the troubles "Joint custody" cause. I am a lucky girl and my parents have been together for 35 years, but I recognized many of the situations from my friends lives.

I totally recommend this movie, it def has adult themes (nudity and sex) and bad language, so if you are offended by this stay away.

From IMDB:
The patriarch (Jeff Daniels) of an eccentric Brooklyn family claims to once have been a great novelist, but he has settled into a teaching job. When his wife (Laura Linney) discovers a writing talent of her own, jealousy divides the family, leaving two teenage sons to forge new relationships with their parents. Linney's character begins dating her younger son's tennis coach. Meanwhile, Daniels' character has an affair with the student his older son is pursuing.

Really great performances from the cast, and a really believable story.

Squid and Barley Salad

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:50:50 -0800

My friend made this for our New Year's Eve dinner party: a squid and barley salad with balsamic reduction sauce. It tasted even better than it looked, which was very good.

Rihanna and Matt kemp seen leaving El Squid Roe in Cabo San Lucas

kty — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:36:59 -0800

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Mezedes & Appetizers

darktwilightrose — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:54:16 -0700

In summer, tiny tavernas throughout Greece are swamped with people-people sipping shot glasses of ouzo or long glasses of cold lager, and the same people nibbling on an array of small plates of mezedes. Mezedes is usually translated as "appetiser" or "starter"', but this translation does not do justice to the fundamental role mezethes play in Greek tradition.
History notes that Ancient Greeks made it impossible for their society to indulge in alcohol without some tasty morsel to nibble on. They knew that drinking on an empty stomach was not a sensible idea, so it became mandatory to serve mezedes wherever and whenever alcohol was offered. Since then mezedes have become an integral part of Greek social life.
Mezedes can take the form of something as humble as a few olives, a small piece of cheese and some fresh, crisp radishes all the way through to platters laden with different dips, tiny skewers of grilled lamb or pork, deep-fried squid or whitebait (smelt) and little savoury filo triangles or rolls.
Mezedes are served everywhere in Greece, throughout every season of the year, and are one of the most enjoyable features of Greek cuisine. With this in mind, these are some of the appetisers I have developed at my restaurant.

Greece - What to Eat

darktwilightrose — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:08:52 -0700

Greece is a land of vibrant cuisine. It is food that is neither spicy nor bland, but rich in the flavors of the Mediterranean. It is comfort food in the truest sense of the word. There is no arrogance or pretension associated with Greek gastronomy. Simply history and tradition.

Greek specialties have arisen from the bounty of foods that grow on the sun-kissed land, especially olives, lemons, nuts, tomatoes, and grapes.
Greek olives, of which there are many varieties, adorn salads, meat and fish dishes, and even hearty breads. Olive oil, of course, is the primary fat used in Greek cooking. Ripe lemons are used to add tang to both sweet and savory delights. Pine nuts are used particularly with pilafs, appetizers, and meats. Almonds and walnuts are used generously in desserts. Fresh tomatoes are an important part of meat and fish preparations, often used along with spinach and eggplant. Tomatoes also make perfect salads, served simply with olive oil and traditional aged red-wine vinegar. Grapes are not only used in cooking and for wine, but grape leaves are used to wrap a variety of fillings for unique appetizers.
Lamb is the principal meat in Greek cooking. It can be used ground in casserole-type dishes such as the classic Moussaka, a lamb and eggplant dish. Or cut into pieces, marinated in olive oil and lemon juice, and grilled to perfection. Fresh oregano is commonly used with skewered lamb. Rosemary is traditional with leg of lamb, which is served with avgolemono sauce made with eggs and lemon.
Other common Greek herbs are basil, parsley, mint, and dill. Garlic and onions are, of course, an integral part of Greek seasoning.
A generous harvest of fresh fish is available to most all Greek natives; no spot on Greek land is any further than 85 miles from the Mediterranean Sea! Fish are traditionally cooked whole, with the heat and tail still attached. They are often seasoned with herbs, and marinated in olive oil and lemon juice. Fish are grilled over hot fires, or baked. Shrimp, octopus, and squid are also popular.
As in other European countries, legumes are commonly used in Greek menus. Chick peas, or garbanzo beans, are probably the most common. These are often cooked, then pureed to a paste-like consistency-seasoned with garlic and sometimes lemon juice and herbs-to create first course salads. The purees are also served as spreads along with hearty breads.
Cheese is an important part of Greek cuisine. Feta cheese, made from goat's milk, is white, crumbly, and very pungent. It is used on salads, meat dishes, spread on bread, or even wrapped in grape leaves and grilled. Kefalotiri is another popular variety that is harder; it is grated and used like Parmesan.
Yogurt is important to Greek cooking. This tangy white substance adds life to desserts, sauces and soups. For some recipes like dips and spreads, the yogurt is first separated from the whey to create a thicker yogurt "cheese".
Some pasta is used in Greek cooking, particularly orzo, which has a distinct rice-grain shape. It is commonly seasoned with dill, or prepared like a pilaf with onions and nuts. Thin pastry sheets, called filo or phyllo sheets, are used for appetizers and desserts such as the distinctive nut and pastry-layered baklava.
Desserts are an important part of the Greek meal. Cakes made with yogurt, and pastries made with layers of filo dough are popular. Typically these are sweetened by a honey syrup that is poured over the prepared desserts. Custards are common, sometimes sweetened with lemon or orange. Ouzo, a strong, clear liqueur, is often used for its anise flavor. Besides nuts, apricots and pears are prevalent in desserts. Melomacarona, Finikia, and Diples are nut-rich cookies dipped in honey syrup. The Greeks love their sweets.

SPERM WHALE

alyssa_joseph — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:49:48 -0700

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The sperm whale is a toothed whale that lives in pods. It has a huge brain that weighs about 20 pounds (9 kg); it is the largest brain of any animal. The sperm whale has a single blowhole that is s-shaped and about 20 inches long. The blowhole is located on the left side of the front if its huge head. The sperm whale has a 4-12 inch thick layer of blubber. Sperm whales produce ambergris, a dark, waxy substance (related to cholesterol) that is produced in the lower intestines, and is sometimes found containing squid beaks. Ambergris may help protect the sperm whale from the stings on the giant squid, its major food. Large lumps of ambergris may be vomited up by the sperm whale. The fictional Moby Dick was a sperm whale. SIZE Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales. Adult males grow to be about 50-60 feet (17-20 m) long, weighing about 40-50 tons (36-45 tonnes). Females are smaller, about 33-40 feet (11-13 m) long, weighing about 14-18 tons. The four-chambered heart of the average sperm whale weighs about 277 pounds (126 kg) - about as much as two average adult human beings. SKIN, SHAPE AND FINS The skin is usually dark gray to black, but is occasionally light gray. It has a distinctive, prune-like texture. Sperm whales have the largest head of any animal. It can be about 20 feet long (6 m), 10 feet high (3 m), and 7 feet (2.1 m) across, and is about one-third of the whale's body length. The head has a distinctive box-like shape. The heads are frequently covered with circular scars that are made by the suckers of the giant squid that they hunt and eat. It has 5-foot (1.5 m) long flippers that are about 3 feet (0.9 m) wide. There is no dorsal fin but there is a small hump two-thirds of the way down its back. There are also some ridges between the hump and the tail flukes. THE NAME The sperm whale was named for the valuable spermaceti oil (wax) that this whale produces in the spermaceti organ (located in its head). DIET, HUNTING, AND TEETH Sperm whales are carnivores that mostly eat giant squid that live on the ocean bottom at great depths. They also eat fish , octopus, and skate. In 1998, off the coast of Indonesia, 3 sperm whales were observed attacking a rare, filter feeding megamouth shark. An adult Sperm Whale can eat about a ton of food each day. Sperm whale teeth are uniform. The teeth in the upper jaw never erupt. The teeth in the long, thin lower jaw are conical and huge, about 7 inches (18 cm) long. These teeth weigh about 2 pounds (900 g) each. The lower jaw is about 16 feet (5 m) long and has about 50-60 teeth in it. When the whale's mouth is closed, the teeth fit into sockets in the upper jaw. SOCIAL GROUPS The bonds between the members of sperm whale pods are strong and long-lasting. The members of a pod protect the young, the sick and the injured. Groups of females with their young are common. This group structure allows a mother to dive very deeply to hunt while leaving her young calf, who is unable to dive very deeply, at the surface and protected by the pod. DIVING Sperm whales are the deepest diving whales. Although they live at the surface they dive to hunt giant squid that are bottom dwellers. They have been known to dive as deeply as 10,500 feet (3,200 m), but average dives are about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep. The Sperm whale can hold its breath for about an hour. SPOUTING-BREATHING Whales breathe air at the surface of the water through a single, s-shaped blowhole. The blowhole is located on the left side of the front if its huge head. They spout (breathe) 3-5 times per minute at rest, but the rate increases to 6-7 times per minute after a dive. The blow is a noisy, single stream that rises up to 50 feet (15 m) above the surface of the water and points forward and to the left of the whale at a 45° angle. LOGGING Logging is when a whale lies still at the surface of the water, resting, with its tail hanging down. While floating motionless, part of the head, the dorsal fin or parts of the back are exposed at the surface. Sperm whales are often seen logging and are relatively easy to approach in this state. LOBTAILING Sperm whales also stick their tail out of the water into the air, swing it around, and then slap it on the water's surface; this is called lobtailing. It makes a very loud sound. The meaning or purpose of lobtailing is unknown, but may be done as a warning to the rest of the pod or as some other type of communication. VOCALIZATION Sperm whales use echolocation to catch their prey in the dark oceanic depths. Mothers also use it it keep track of their young calf when they are diving to hunt; a calf cannot dive very deeply because it has to breathe much more frequently than the mother does. HABITAT Sperm whales are found in many open oceans, both in tropical and cool waters. Sperm whales live at the surface of the ocean but dive very deeply to catch the giant squid. SPEED The sperm whale swims leisurely at the surface at about 3-9 mph (4.8-14.4 kph). They can sustain a faster pace, when fleeing danger, of 21-27 mph (34-43 kph) for up to an hour. REPRODUCTION Sperm whale breeding is not very dependent on the seasons. The gestation period is over 16 months and the calf is born tail first near the surface of the water. The newborn instinctively swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its first breath; it is helped by its mother. Within 30 minutes of its birth the baby whale can swim. The newborn calf is about 13 feet (4 m) long and weighs about 1 ton (0.9 tonnes). Twins are extremely rare (about 1% of births); there is almost always one calf. The interval between births is about 3-4 years. A female reaches maturity at 9-10 years (males reach maturity at 18-19 years) and lives to be about 40 years old. On average, a female will give birth to about 7-10 calves. Frequently, other whales "assist" in the birth. The baby is nurtured with its mother's milk and is weaned in about 2 years. Calves drink 45 pounds (20 kg) of milk each day. LIFE SPAN Sperm whales have a life expectancy of over 70 years. POPULATION COUNT It is estimated that there are about 200,000 sperm whales world-wide. Sperm whales are considered an endangered species. These whales (and many other large whales) were over-hunted for many years, since their meat, oil, and other body parts are very valuable. Since whale hunting has decreased in the last few decades, their populations are starting to recover. CLASSIFICATION Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are toothed whales (Suborder Odontoceti) although DNA analysis shows that the Sperm whale is actually more closely related to the baleen whales. These whales are one of 76 cetacean species and are marine mammals.

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PENGUINS

alyssa_joseph — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:46:14 -0700

EMPEROR PENGUINS Population: 200,000 pairs Location: Weddell and Ross Sea regions Size: Up to 40 inches tall Weight: 88 pounds Diet: Fish, squid, & crustaceans Nests: None MACARONI PENGUINS Population: 12 million pairs Location: Sub-antarctic islands Size: 25 inches tall Weight: 11 pounds Diet: Krill, fish, and squid Nests: Shallow scrapes in mud or gravel KING PENGUINS Population: 2 million pairs Location: Barren coasts of the sub-Antarctic islands Size: 30 inches tall Weight: 20 to 30 pounds Diet: Fish and squid Nests: None

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Black and Blue

aoitenshi — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:59:54 -0700

Black and blue are some of my favorite colors. I wore this to my nephew's seventh birthday. Black glasses: Ann Taylor Loft. Silver and blue "squid" earrings: Pixie Crafts. Long blue shirt: Black Mamba. Blue faux snakeskin bag: Follow Your Heart. Blue flower bag charm: Strings and Beads. Silver charm bracelet: Guess. Silver watch: Giordano. Black leggings: SM. Gladiator sandals: Parisian.