Brauns Law's online newsletter for November 2017
404-418-8244 November 2017 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 325, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
A Closer Look at the Thanksgiving Table
Thanksgiving is a day spent with stomachs grumbling in anticipation of what will be on the table: savory turkey, homemade gravy, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, tart cranberry sauce, creamy green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. We’ll take a moment to let you grab a napkin and wipe away the drool. But how did we end up with these culinary traditions? Many of the dishes we now consider Thanksgiving staples have roots in our early colonial history. While most use ingredients that were shared between Native Americans and settlers, how some of them came to be on our table is another story. Turkey is one of the original menu items that Native Americans and early settlers shared, as birds flocked to the area. Colonists of Plymouth Colony hunted and ate wildfowl in abundance, including wild turkey. Because of our domestication of the bird, the turkeys we eat today are lighter in color, but not all that different from the wild turkey the early settlers ate. Another bird that may have been part of their meal? Carrier pigeons. They were so abundant that settlers added them to the spread. Thankfully, that’s one tradition we don’t carry on. Cranberry sauce was also on the menu from the beginning. Native Americans introduced settlers to the idea of boiling cranberries with sugar to create the sweet and tart sauce. As a pairing for the variety of meats that early settlers ate, cranberries were a tasty and readily available addition, and obviously, our taste buds still agree. Much newer to the table, sweet potatoes weren’t introduced to the United States until later, and the most popular way to enjoy them is even more modern. Thank our European cousins and ad agencies of the 1900s for coming up with the idea to add marshmallows to the already sweet root vegetable. The French brought us marshmallows when they combined the root of the marshmallow plant (yes, it’s actually a plant) with sugar and egg whites, and
Americans took to the idea, eventually replacing the plant root with gelatin. Looking for a way to market the treat, advertisers created a cookbook that included a marshmallow recipe featuring sweet potatoes, and the dish has been a staple of the harvest holiday ever since. And for dessert … well, the early colonists didn’t get to enjoy pumpkin pie like we do. While pumpkins were definitely available and an important food for Native Americans, with no butter or flour, it would have been difficult to make a pie crust. Later, when butter and flour became available, so did pumpkin pie, and its deliciousness has earned its place at the table. The way we celebrate Thanksgiving today is a blend of traditions: a bountiful plate of food, time spent with loved ones reflecting on what we are grateful for, and a nod to all those who came before us. As Godey’s Lady’s Book (the most popular magazine of the pre-Civil War era and a primary source of Thanksgiving traditions) suggests, “It is to Thanksgiving that we must give all the honor and glory of being the day of days, when everyone rejoices that we have a land of our own and a home in which to keep good cheer.” -David Brauns
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If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But sometimes we stumble across a few hidden gems that make our lives easier. And, when it comes to cleaning house, we can all use a little “easier.” Check out these products you may have already written off and let them surprise you. Dollar Store Cleaning Products If you’ve ever ducked into the local dollar store to buy some Mylar balloons for your niece’s birthday party, you might have noticed the jugs and spray bottles plastered with the word “Awesome.” Surely, this knock-off soap can’t work as well as your brand-name products, right? You’d be surprised. Online reviewers sing Awesome’s praises, suggesting it should really be a higher price for how well it works. Just make sure you wear gloves when you use it. Detergent Pods You use too much soap in your washing machine and dishwasher. At least, that’s what the New York Times reported as the No. 1 complaint from repair people and appliance experts. Modern appliances are designed to use less water, and as soap becomes more concentrated, using too much can damage your machine. That’s what makes detergent pods so handy. They don’t look like they can clean all your dishes or an entire load of clothes, but they actually provide the perfect amount for modern machines. You save money on detergent and machine repair! 3 Cleaning ‘RIP-OFFS’ That Actually Work
Foam Cleaning Blocks Anything with “magic” in the title sounds like a scam. For this reason, you may have avoided the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and similar melamine foam products. But this is one case where the product lives up to its wild claims. Melamine foam is abrasive and can break down and remove material from fine cracks and textures, making it an effective cleaner. It can be used to whiten sneakers, clean tub scum, and remove permanent marker from your fridge. Since the snake oil salesmen in the days of old first tricked trusting folks out of their hard-earned cash, consumers have wised up and are quick to write off perceived scams. Still, every now then you get lucky, and the cheap white sponge really does make the stove look like new. But you should still think twice before you say yes to gas station sushi.
DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
Testimonials
“Amazing staff! Everyone’s very friendly, and they make the process very easy.” –N.T. Nguyen “Very professional, upfront, friendly, and fast.” –J. Briones “Very professional and personal. All of the staff were very understanding of my needs, and they were also available to answer my questions and give updates as to how my case was going.” –A. McNeal
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DROWSY DRIVING Thanksgiving is coming up, and many people are looking forward to the Thanksgiving feast. There’s nothing like a belly full of turkey to put us in prime napping condition. This year, if you feel like napping after dinner, we advise against getting behind the wheel. Most Americans report feeling tired throughout the day, so being a bit sleepy while driving might not seem like such a big deal. But in reality, drowsy driving is incredibly dangerous and could account for 30 percent of traffic accidents, according to international studies. Thanksgiving Dinner and
COULD A BELLY FULL OF TURKEY LEAD TO DANGEROUS DRIVING?
Signs of drowsy driving include: • Trouble focusing • Heavy eyelids • Yawning • Bobbing your head • Drifting from your lane • Missing your exit • Being unable to remember the last stretch of road
Research from the National Sleep Foundation found drowsy driving might be as dangerous as driving while inebriated. After being awake for 18 hours, drivers exhibit the same responses as if they had a blood-alcohol level of 0.05
WORD SEARCH November The best way to prevent drowsy driving is to get enough sleep, not drive late at night, and make sure you are not living with an undiagnosed sleep disorder. A little extra caution can help make sure you and your passengers all get home safely. When sleep starts to tug at their eyelids, many drivers roll down the window to get a blast of cold air or turn up the radio extra loud. Unfortunately, these tactics only startle a driver back into alertness for a brief moment and fail to address the dangers of drowsy driving. If you feel drowsy behind the wheel, the National Sleep Foundation recommends safely pulling over to take a 20-minute nap, drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee, or, if possible, switching drivers.
percent. Meanwhile, being awake for 24 hours, like after a sleepless night, is akin to having a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 percent. For context, a blood alcohol level of 0.08 is considered drunk.
Roasted Parmesan PESTO POTATOES
It only takes 3 ingredients to make these crispy, flavorful potatoes. They’re the perfect side dish for any meal.
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In large bowl, combine Ingredients • 2 pounds red potatoes, quartered • 2 tablespoons basil pesto
• Salt and pepper, to taste • 3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese
evenly over potatoes and put pan back in the oven. Roast for additional 10–15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and crispy. Remove from oven and serve warm.
CARVE CELEBRATE COLONIST CORNUCOPIA CRANBERRY
HARVEST HOLIDAY NOVEMBER
potatoes and pesto. Toss to coat. Transfer potatoes to large baking sheet or shallow roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast 20 minutes and remove from oven.
PILGRIM PLATTER PUMPKIN THANKSGIVING
DESSERT FARMER FEAST GATHER
TRADITION VEGETABLE
Recipe courtesy of TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 325 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
Page 1
A Closer Look at the Thanksgiving Table
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These Products Make Housework Easier!
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Client Testimonials
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Thanksgiving Dinner and Drowsy Driving
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Roasted Parmesan Pesto Potatoes
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The Secrets of Turmeric
THE TRUTH ABOUT TURMERIC THE SECRETS OF THE YELLOW SPICE
For thousands of years, sunny yellow turmeric has been a staple in curries as well as a spice renowned for its ability to treat a vast number of ailments. In recent years, this South Asian native has become a sort of “spice-of-all-trades.” Turmeric’s popularity has surged throughout North America. People are adding it to food and using it to treat everything from arthritis to heartburn. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the spice can treat just about every kind of inflammation, whether it’s joint pain or a headache. Have a stomachache or nausea? Try turmeric. Have a mild rash or burn on your skin? Try turmeric. Current studies are even looking into turmeric’s effectiveness as a treatment for diabetes and dementia. When one substance is purported to have near-magical healing powers, you have to remember to take it with an additional dose of skepticism. Can one spice really cure everything that ails you? Let’s ask science. Researchers have identified over 20 distinct compounds that work similar to NSAIDs (such as aspirin and ibuprofen). Of those compounds, six are COX-2 inhibitors. COX-2 is an enzyme that causes inflammation and pain in the body.
In short, these six compounds help block the enzymatic reaction that triggers inflammation. One of these compounds is called curcumin, which is often considered the active ingredient in turmeric. An article published in the medical journal Nutrition and Cancer found that, by weight, pure turmeric powder contains 3.14 percent curcumin. However, clinical trials of curcumin have produced less- than-stellar results. A comprehensive review of 120 studies of curcumin, published in 2017 in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, found no evidence that the compound produced positive results as an anti-inflammatory or antioxidant. In fact, researchers found curcumin to be an, “unstable, reactive, non-bioavailable compound.”
So, what does this mean for people who use turmeric for its medicinal properties?
If it works for you, continue to use it. If you’ve thought about adding it to your diet, give it a try. It’s safe to use, and studies have shown virtually no toxicity, even in high doses.
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