Mead is easy to make and you can do a one-gallon batch in an hour or two. After you are done all you have to do is let the yeast do the rest of the work of transforming honey and water into wine.

What you will need to make your mead is a 1-gallon glass jug, three pounds of unprocessed honey, 1 package of yeast (I recommend Lalvin D-47), 1 gallon of spring water, an airlock, a solid rubber stopper, a rubber stopper with a hole in it for the airlock, some nutrient for the mead, some energizer for the yeast, and a mixing bowl. All of these materials can be ordered from any quality online wine making supply shop and will cost you around fifty dollars including the honey.

Fill your glass jug about half full of water then add the three pounds of honey and mix it up vigorously so the mixture is homogenous in color. Put two cups of spring water in your mixing bowl and add two-fifths of a tablespoon of energizer and two-fifths of a tablespoon of nutrient in it, stir it well then add it to your honey water mix. Shake the bottle well so it is mixed in well

Now you need to activate your yeast by warming up two cups of spring water to between 104 and 109 degrees fahrenheit then pour one fifth of your package of yeast in it. Do not stir it yet. Just let it sit in the water for fifteen minutes then give it a gentle stir and add it to your mixture of honey and water.

Now add more water to your jug so it is full to the top. This will bring it to one gallon of liquid. Note that you will have spring water left over because the honey has taken up space in your jug. The goal is to end up with one gallon of liquid.

Put a solid rubber stopper on your jug and shake it vigorously for five full minutes. This is an important step because it aerates the honey, water, and yeast mix. The yeast needs plenty of oxygen in the mix so it will grow correctly.

Finally you should fill your airlock half full of water, put it in the rubber stopper, then put it on top of your gallon jug of mead. Then place the bottle in a cool and dark place for two to three months and it will be ready to drink.

Check on your mead on the following two days. You should see some vigorous bubbling coming out of the airlock. This means that the yeast is working well and it is transforming the honey and water into a beautiful batch of Mead.

About the Author: If you want to learn more about the amazing wine that is Mead or learn how to make your own batch of mead at very little cost visit the authors website at: The Joy of Mead

The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition is pleased to announce the release of its 2008 GENIUS Survey in partnership with Ernst & Young.  GenderPAC works to ensure that classrooms, communities and workplaces are safe for everyone to learn, grow and succeed.

The Gender Equality National Index for Universities & Schools (GENIUS), GenderPAC’s most recent effort to end discrimination and promote awareness, encourages colleges and universities to recognize the benefits of a GenderSAFE^tm campus - supportive equitable and protective for all students. Choosing to participate in GENUIS sends a strong public statement that bullying or discriminating based on the race, sex or gender of a student, faculty, or staff member is not tolerated at your institution

Fill out the survey at:  www.gpac.org/GENIUS2008survey, and make sure that we have data for as many schools as possible. Your voice will help us continue to work towards a safe and welcoming environment for every student.

While we greatly appreciate the interest taken in GENIUS by students, staff and faculty at academic institutions outside of the United States, at this time GENIUS is only able to track schools based in the United States.

Ever wondered about the red juicy vegetable that sits pretty in your refrigerator! If your answer is negative, then start appreciating the unique qualities that they store within themselves. Within its core lies the antidote for one of the most threatening of ailments, cancer and heart attacks, to name a few.

This antidote is known as lycopene, a carotenoid, which lends red color to some of the vegetables like tomatoes, watermelons, etc. Besides, lycopene fights free radicals in the body, thereby preventing the occurrence of stroke, heart attack, or exercise-induced asthma. This is, however, only an introduction to the numerous benefits that lycopene has in store for us.

Tomatoes are considered to be one of the richest sources of lycopene, apart from the very good sources in red watermelons, and pink grapefruits. Lycopene is a carotenoid, red in color, which prevents oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, consequently reducing the risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. According to a study published in October 1998, daily consumption of tomato products provides at least 40 mg of lycopene, enough to substantially reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease is basically associated with high LDL oxidation. Just two glasses of tomato juice a day is a simple solution to attain the appropriate level of lycopene in the blood. Tomato juice is a highly recommended source of lycopene on account of its easy digestibility by the human body. Tomatoes, in the form of ketchup, soups, juice, or paste makes the lycopene easily absorbable on account of chemical changes undergone due to temperature changes.

Over the years, a number of researches have been conducted to test the cancer-preventing ability of lycopene. One of the most revolutionary instances of research on lycopene (in tomatoes or watermelons) and cancer was a large Harvard study released in 1995. It closely observed the eating habits of 47,000 men for six years. Those who had at least 10 weekly servings of tomato-based foods were up to 45 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer. In an analysis published (J Natl Cancer Inst 1999 Feb17; 91(4): 317-31), Edward Giovannucci of Harvard Medical School reviewed 72 studies that looked for a link between cancer risk and tomato-rich food. In all, 57-associated tomato intake with a reduced risk, and in 35 of these, the association was strong enough to be considered statistically meaningful.

Researches have also laid rest to the erstwhile claims that lycopene is essential only for men. According to the reports released by the University of Illinois, women with greater lycopene levels have a five-fold lower risk of developing precancerous signs of cervical cancer than women with lower lycopene levels. Articles published in the American Journal of Hypertension have come up with newer benefits of lycopene, especially in tomato and red watermelon. Researches suggest that lycopene can be a possible treatment for mild hypertension. To top it all, lycopene is excellent for the skin as it provides effective resistance against the harmful UV rays of the sun. So don't just let your tomatoes or watermelons sit prettily in the refrigerator! Cook it or juice it, but make sure to consume enough of it to resist all possible ailments. With the benefits of lycopene being acclaimed worldwide, green is no more the only healthy trend among diet freaks. The 'red' is out to rule!

About the Author: Suzanne Macguire is an Internet marketing professional with expertise in content development and technical writing in a variety of industries.
Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew

Hi! So I'm new to the community, and I've been searching for one that posts up pictures of their homemade lunches, and considering that I'm an amateur cook, I didn't want to join the ones that had gourmet food posted because well, mine is simple and easy stuff. -_-' But I'm a freshmen at a community college and its my fourth week of school. I have been living on fast food and it's been tiring and fattening, so when I finally got my financial aid check, I went to Ralphs and an Asian supermarket and bought food that I could make. So the first thing me and my friend made was a fruit salad. After my friend left, I made a tuna sandwich. And then I added some pretzels to a ziploc bag and that makes my lunch. :) Below are recipes. It doesn't really take long. Well the fruit salad takes awhile, but it lasts for a couple of days. :)

my tuna sandwich, fruit salad, pretzels, with a can of iced tea


my fruit salad close up :)

current mood: happy