The Complete Sous Vide Cookbook: More than 175 Recipes with Tips and Techniques

Hi gang.

I was delighted to receive a copy of this publication from the good folks at Robert Rose, Inc. Publishing.

They thought that you readers would find this of interest.  I sure do!

I've never heard of the Sous Vide cooking method, and now I'm ready to jump right in.

As Dom and I entertain quite a bit, I love the idea of preparing meals ahead of time, allowing me to socialize with our guests.... then BOOM.  Reheat dinner with the touch of a button!  Restaurant quality stuff!

This is a beautiful slick paperback with gorgeous glossy photos.  Very easy to follow recipes that I cannot wait to try.  There are more than 175 recipes, tips and techniques.  It's a large publication:  7x1x10 inches and over 400 pages.

From the publisher:

Restaurant-quality food at home with the simple press of a button.

What technique have restaurants been using for more than 30 years to get perfectly cooked food? Their secret: sous vide, a simple and foolproof technique that involves cooking at precise temperatures. Conventional methods can often result in under- or overcooked food, but with sous vide, it will always be done to tender perfection. Entertaining becomes effortless and your guests will be blown away by the sublime textures and flavors. You'll be wondering if you've really been tasting food for your whole life.

Critically acclaimed chef Chris McDonald has years of experience with using sous vide devices. He presents all his tips and techniques for preparing and cooking a variety of types of meat, poultry, fish, seafood, vegetables, eggs and desserts. More than 175 recipes highlight his experiences cooking in different parts of the world, such as Ribeye Steak with Chimichurri Sauce, Venison Loin with Savoy Cabbage and Chestnuts, Georgian Pork Shoulder Roast with Pomegranate Glaze, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Drunken Duck Ramen with Sous Vide Egg, Aloo Gobi, and Crème Brûlée. He also shares his wealth of knowledge about global ingredients, DIY butchery, food substitutions, selecting cuts of meat and types of fish, and much more. This is the book for anyone looking to cook sous vide, from the most basic beginner to the experienced home cook.

You can read more and pick up your copy here:

https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Sous-Vide-Cookbook-Techniques/dp/0778805239/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1490830623&sr=1-6&keywords=sous+vide+cookbook

Seniorlink, Inc. Announces Call for Entries to "Thank You Caregiver Nation" Contest

Family Caregivers to Receive Free Meals Monthly Throughout 2017

Contest Goal is to Spotlight the Value and Selfless Commitment of Caregivers

Seniorlink, Inc., a leading caregiver solutions company, announced a call for entries for "Thank You Caregiver Nation" - a new contest focused on raising awareness of family caregivers - the many silent heroes who provide care and comfort to a loved one.

The contest will feature twelve winners, with one winner selected for each month of 2017. Each winner will receive a credit to purchase meal options from PeachDish, a nutritious meal kit delivery company. The winners can use their PeachDish credit to order fresh, farm-to-table ingredients to cook meals for their families, and reduce the stress of food shopping and meal planning.

There are an estimated 44 million caregivers in the United States today.i They are the partners, spouses, sons, daughters, friends and loved ones who carry out a daily mission of compassion, hope and assistance. Through their commitment they provide dignity and comfort to a family member or loved one in need of care.

"Seniorlink stands alongside family caregivers as they fulfill their vital role in their loved ones lives," said Thomas P. Riley, CEO of Seniorlink, Inc. "Caregiving can take a physical, financial and emotional toll. This contest is our way of saying thank you – and showing our unwavering commitment to provide the highest quality resources, advocacy and insights for caregivers and their families."

Individuals wishing to nominate a caregiver, or themselves if they are a caregiver, have until midnight on December 31, 2016 to register at www.tycaregivers.com. All that is required is an email address and a short written entry outlining why the nominated caregiver should be recognized. Winners will be randomly selected from a pool of applicants and notified via email.


See www.tycaregivers.com for complete contest terms and conditions.

About Seniorlink, Inc.

For more than 16 years, Seniorlink has pioneered solutions for caregivers across the nation, helping them provide their loved ones with the highest quality care. Seniorlink's unique in-home care solution, Caregiver Homes, dedicates experienced care teams to work alongside caregivers and their families, offering coaching and support at every step. This model, known as Structured Family Caregiving, was the first home and community-based service in the nation to receive the National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA) highest level of Accreditation for Case Management.

To move from supporting thousands to millions of caregivers, Seniorlink has developed Vela, a caregiving platform that brings compassion to technology and assists caregivers as they navigate the complex and sometimes overwhelming world of caregiving. Vela transforms the caregiving experience by connecting care partners directly with caregivers to provide them with the coaching and insights they need along their journey, ultimately improving outcomes and lowering costs for their most complex, vulnerable members. To learn more, go to www.seniorlink.com and follow on Twitter @SeniorlinkInc.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.

About PeachDish

Celebrating the freshest ingredients with Southern-inspired food full of innovative flavor, PeachDish delivers a refrigerated box to your doorstep with ingredients and recipes to cook dinner at home. Customers choose from at least eight different menu options each week, including at least three vegetarian dishes. While purchasing produce at the season's peak to achieve the most flavor and nutrition, the company works directly with farmers and purveyors to source ingredients local to the Southeast, which has an especially long growing season. Boxes are priced depending on number of servings ordered, and shipping location around the U.S. Order as often as you like, with free shipping for regular subscribers.

i AAPR & Public Policy Institute (June 2015). Executive Summary: Caregiving in the U.S. Retrieved from http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2015/caregiving-in-the-united-states-2015-executive-summary-revised.pdf

ORANGE HEART FUND CAMPAIGN

VST YEAREND REPORT - ORANGE HEART FUND CAMPAIGN - CALL TO ACTION
During the past five months we have continued working with the local Veteran Organizations as well as   Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) local chapters.  There can be no question that the DVA has failed to live by its motto: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan."  This is exemplified by its malfeasance, falsifications and deceptions regarding the true impact of Agent Orange on the children of those "who have borne the battle" in Vietnam.

Let us introduce you to Gordon Lenke, a Vietnam Veteran that was exposed to Agent Orange many times and wounded while serving in Vietnam.  He has a child suffering from deformities caused by his exposure to Agent Orange.  Gordon joined VST as a volunteer and has been meeting with veteran groups and their families throughout Northern Idaho and Northeastern Washington. He has also handled the distribution of hundreds of copies of "FORGOTTEN" to our Congressional Delegation and to all VVA State Presidents.  Gordon also serves on VST's Board of Directors.

I was asked to address the September Spokane Valley VVA Town Hall meeting.  At the end of my presentation I stated that, "scientists have stated that we must get an Epidemiological Study of Vietnam Veterans completed with independent money and independent scientists because we cannot trust our Government to tell us the truth."  Many Vietnam Veteran families who attended this meeting had children harmed by their dads' exposure to Agent Orange and indicated a strong approval of this statement.

At the Spokane Valley meeting one of the veterans suggested we should start a fundraising campaign by collecting "scrap metal," an idea that was totally new to me.  Therefore, Pacific Steel & Recycling, Inc. (a large Northwest Company) was contacted.  They stated that this was not only possible but they would help us.  Pacific Steel & Recycling has 32 recycling facilities located in Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, North and South Dakota.  Most of the facilities are located in Idaho, Washington and Montana.  

The first question is; will this really work and generate revenue?

To answer this question we need to first look at the process:  

1.  Pacific Steel & Recycling (Pacific Steel) has agreed to provide the large containers in which metal scrap can be deposited.  There will be no cost for this service.  

2.  As the containers are filled, Pacific Steel will deliver new empty containers, pick up the full containers and take them back to the Spokane facility for processing.  There will be one collection location in the Coeur d'Alene area and another in Post Falls where scrap metal can be dropped off.  You will be notified of the locations in a couple of days.  The "Trading Company" has already committed for the Post Falls area. 

3.  The process is completely computerized.  As the scrap metal is processed it will be tracked as belonging to the Orange Heart Fund and revenue is transferred directly to the Orange Heart Fund Account. ($80 per ton of scrap metal, delivered.)

The next and key question is;  How can this possibly generate enough money to get the Vietnam Veteran Epidemiological Study completed, which is the first step in fixing the problems related to our children being deformed and ill due to the exposure of their fathers to Agent Orange?

Here is the answer.  210 of you called or e-mailed us regarding the Agent Orange Survey.  But for various reasons only 124 of you (3.54% of the Vietnam Veterans in our area) actually took the Agent Orange Survey.  If the 200 of you who called in could get other veterans and friends to join you and contribute up to 1 ton for each of you over the 7 day test period, we would generate $16,800.  Underscore this with the fact that the Coeur d'Alene Press may be publishing an article about our Scrap Metal Program ("Program") during the seven day test period.  We will also be advertizing.  

Now, multiply these dollar amounts by the 32 Pacific Steel locations and assume that the same 6.2% of Vietnam Veterans at each location agree to participate.  The amount generated increases to approximately $537,600 for the 32 seven (7) day periods.  Following the introduction program, metal scrap containers will continue to be placed and picked up around towns throughout Pacific Steel's market areas.

Is this possible?  You bet it is, and with only the small percentage of Vietnam Veterans that  responded to the CDA Press articles that introduced the Agent Orange Survey.  Has this ever been done before?  NO!  According to Steve Ball, Manager of the Pacific Steel & Recycling plant in Spokane, this is a first and it can work.  Can you imagine what would happen if we got 10% or 20% of just our own Vietnam Veterans to step forward and help raise the money to get the required Vietnam Veteran Agent Orange Epidemiological Study completed?  It would be a resounding notification that we are proud of the service we were called to perform.  It also tells our Government and the DVA that we have not faded away and that our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren will continue to grow.   

YES, it is possible.  Consequently, VST has established the "ORANGE HEART FUND" to receive the proceeds from the Scrap Metal Program.  A new logo has been created specifically for this campaign.  The Logo and Banner are attached (the Banner is six feet long).  The 7 day test Program will be launched in Northern Idaho and the Spokane area on January 20th with help from the Coeur d'Alene Press.  Based on the results, we will expand the Program throughout the Pacific Steel Northwest locations, then Nationwide.  If 6.2% of our 3,700,000 Nationwide Vietnam Veterans generate 1 ton each, that equals $18,352,000.

The success of this Program will depend entirely on the number of Vietnam Veterans that are willing to help with physical and verbal support.  That means we need YOU. We must have your help NOW in getting your neighbors and friends to contribute their scrap metal to the Program.  We need volunteers to help at the Container locations - three teams of 4 to man 4-hour shifts.  We also need to develop a "Pickup brigade" to help people bring their scrap to the Container locations.  We can take old washers, dryers, stoves, barbeques, car parts, hardware, all types of scrap metal.   If you know any farmers, ask them to donate.  They frequently have lots of scrap metal lying around.  Large amounts will be scheduled for pickup by Pacific Steel.

In the Spokane area donations can be delivered directly to Pacific Steel & Recycling located at 1114 North Ralph.  Take Freya North to Trent.  Turn Left (West) on Trent, then in two short blocks turn Right (North) on Ralph.  At the entrance simply state that your scrap metal load is for the Orange Heart Fund.  You will receive an "Orange Heart Fund Card" confirming your donation.  We also need a Spokane "Pickup Brigade."

We have waited over 45 years for our Government and the DVA to get the job done and they have failed, time and time again.  We can get the job done ourselves.  Raise the money needed, hire highly qualified Epidemiological and DNA scientists to complete the research and develop the programs needed to help care for our children deformed by their fathers' exposure to Agent Orange.  

Please let us know that you, and possibly your family, can help.  We need all of you if we are to succeed in getting the care needed for our hurting children.  Call 208-457-1305 to volunteer.

Let's not wait any longer for our Government and the DVA to keep their promises.  Let's get the job done without them.  NOW!  

Richard E Phenneger
Veteran Services Transparency, Inc. 
 rep@VSTNow.org
208-457-8382

Gordon Lenke 
Veteran Services Transparency, Inc.               
208-457-1305