HEALTH AND WELLNESS

FAST FOOD FOR INSECTS Insect readily feast on quick high calorie food. A convenient source is a FLOWER HEAD. Like fast food chains, flowers advertise their presence with bright colors. Find the flowers attractive, insects alight on the flowers, where they can munch on the pollen or sip nectar. Being particularly sluggish after a cool night, these cold- blooded creations need the sun’s energy to get going. Many flowers offer the insects a complete package nutritious food and a place to bask in the sun. Let’s take a look at a familiar example. Scientists have discovered that the temperature on the surface of some flowers is several degrees warmer than the surroundings. THE OXEYE DAISY is a common flower that grows throughout much of Europe and N. America. It may not seem special, but if you take the time to inspect it, you will see a lot of activity. This oxeye daisy offers an ideal place for insects to start the day. The white petals reflect the sun’s warmth, and the yello

                        RUSSIAN BLINI                                  The French have their CREPES, the Scots their BANNOCK, and the Americans their FLAPJACKS. So it comes as no surprise that Russians have their own version of the PANCAKE –the BLIN, which is a staple with a long history. The ancient Slavs used blini for food sacrifices in their pagan rituals and saw in blini an appropriate symbol of round, warm, golden sun. Women who had recently given birth were fed blini. These were also served at weddings and at funerals, so they figured in peoples’ lives from birth to death. Russians today usually make blini with wheat flour, but other flours can also be used.                                       RECIPE FOR BUCKWHEAT BLINI INGREDIENTS 120 grams buckwheat flour 120 grams wheat flour 20 grams butter, melted 2 eggs 720 milliliters or so of milk 30 grams sugar Pinch of salt PREPARATION: Mix buckwheat flour with 240 milliliters of milk.