SURPRISING INSIGHTS INTO BENJAMIN’S BRILLIANCE This month, I dedicate this section of the newsletter to a true Renaissance guy: Benjamin Franklin. I’ve always liked him because he was such an odd fellow. His many quirks, contributions to our nation’s history, and revolutionary life hacks are the stuff of legend (and too voluminous to include in full here). In celebration of Benjamin Franklin Day on Jan. 17, here are some little- known facts about this unforgettable figure. He starved himself in his quest for knowledge. It’s common for people today to save up funds or secure loans to get an education, but very few of us would ever consistently forgo meals to afford books. However, that was the only way young Benjamin could broaden his knowledge after he ended his formal education after just two years to work at his family’s soap- and candle-making business and, later, his brother’s printing shop. Despite his absence from the classroom, he continued to be an avid independent reader. When his funds were short, he spent his meal money on reading material. The sacrifice paid off, as he sharpened his literary skills by rewriting excerpts from the books entirely from memory. His will supports students to this day. Before he died in 1790, Benjamin conceived a way to ensure his commitment to education would last for centuries. He willed £1,000 each to the cities of Boston (his birthplace) and Philadelphia (his eventual home). He stipulated that the money would be held in a trust for 100 years, with a portion used solely to support local businesses. His will specified that the remaining funds be held for another 100 years, after which the cities were encouraged to use them as they deemed necessary. By 1990, the remaining trust was worth more than $6 million. This astronomical amount helped fund Boston’s Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology and Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute. He was born twice (sort of). Today’s history books say that Benjamin was born on Jan. 17, 1706, but that’s not entirely accurate. In 1752, British and American colonies decided to time-travel (literally) by switching from the traditional Julian calendar (in use since 46 B.C.) to the Gregorian calendar (still used in the majority of the world today). The reasons behind the change could make an article of their own, but the result was an 11-day jump in time-keeping. That’s right, one of America’s most celebrated people was born on Jan. 6 and Jan. 17.
SUDOKU
KOREAN GROUND BEEF
INGREDIENTS
Sauce • 1/4 cup reduced- sodium soy sauce • 1 tbsp honey, or a liquid sugar-free sweetener • 1 tsp cornstarch • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Stir Fry • 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 1 lb lean ground beef, 85/15 • 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced • 1 tbsp fresh ginger root, minced Finishing Touches • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil • 1/4 cup green onions, thinly sliced
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Set aside. 2. In a large skillet, heat avocado oil over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook, stirring, until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles as you cook, about 5 minutes. 3. Drain the beef and return it to the skillet. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 4. Stir sauce into the beef, then cook for 2 more minutes, until heated through and the sauce thickens. 5. Off heat, drizzle the dish with sesame oil, sprinkle with sliced green onions, and serve over white rice (if desired).
–Kevin Mottley
Inspired by HealthyRecipesBlogs.com
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