OK, so you oppose growth?

[TaraMaiden]

Soyabean, roasted barley and rice-cake salad:

 

This takes a bit of prep, but once everything is done, the combination of the ingredients is revoltingly, disgustingly healthy and tasty!

First, let's begin with the

 

roasted barley:

 

You will need:

Large flat iron skillet

250g organic pearl barley

Wooden utensil (Fork, spatula, spoon…whatever!)

Large flat surface, covered in a clean cloth

 

 

Take the organic pearl barley, place in a bowl, cover well with cold water and soak for 12 – 24 hours.

Drain the barley in a sieve (discard water) and leave to drain well for 10 minutes.

Heat a good, solid, flat, cast-iron skillet (as large as you have), over a medium heat.

 

[i actually have a pan specially for this….]

 

Take a couple of handfuls of the soaked barley, and put them into the heated skillet.

Stir well with your chosen wooden utensil.

 

You’ll notice the following, happening.

The barley goes from white/opaque to translucent, and pearl-like in colour!

Keep stirring, to keep the grains from sticking together (or to the pan). Gradually, as they cook, they will turn to white again.

Keep stirring until they go a nice nutty brown colour. The same colour of hazelnut skins….

When roasted to your satisfaction (they will flow very loosely around the pan and sound “Gravel-y”) transfer them onto your flat surface, on which you’ve put a clean cloth. Spread them out to cool.

Proceed as above with the remaining barley, until it’s all roasted, and on your cooling surface.

When cold, transfer to a clean jar.

 

You can use the barley in its solid state, by putting it into soups, stews and casseroles, about 15 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Because it’s already roasted and cooked, it only needs softening and heating through.

You can also add it to salads, by soaking it in water for an hour, or even (if you’re daring!) a good quantity of salad dressing. I have, before now, soaked my barley in a mix of water and white wine. It gives a nice flavour, without being intoxicating!!!

[TaraMaiden]

next - the

Rice cake:

 

You will need good quality boil-in-the-bag basmati or jasmine rice.

The rice, when raw, should take up a third of the bag.

 

Also:

kassia or cinnamon bark (about 3" in total)

1 star anise

4 cloves

10 green cardamom pods

4 black cardamom pods

1 tsp fennugreek seeds

Good quality vegetable stock cube/powder.

 

A 8" square of muslin.

 

Place all the spices into the cloth and tie loosely. The spices will expand and swell during cooking, so don't tie the bag too tightly to begin with.

Put the bag into cold water with the stock powder.

Bring to the boil.

Place the rice bag, and stir gently to submerge it.

Now, bring back to a simmer. add a teaspoonful of salt, and allow to cook for 75 minutes.

 

yes, that's right - one and a quarter hours.

 

top the water up regularly with boiling water to keep the rice in plenty of water.

at the end, take the rice out, and leave it in the bag.

It will have swollen to something resembling a miniature plump pillow!

 

Put it on a dish, and gently balance a weight on it. A board with a large can of beans will do fine.

leave for an hour.

Still in its plastic outer, place into the fridge, and only peel the plastic off when you need the rice.

 

Consume within 3 days.

[cerridwen]

*off topic again!*

 

cerridwen, was my answer regarding the dog whisperer of any interest?

 

Are you perchance of Welsh extract....?

 

(it's the name....)

 

I have to thread jack, OP!

This is important.

 

I so appreciate your opinion on Dog Whisperer.

It was echoed by another friend who's becoming a dog trainer.

 

DW's emphasis on energy in relation to the training is very intriguing to me.

Also, his technique of mimicking pack behavior makes sense to this layperson.

 

I thought perhaps his methods are acceptable given he's dealing with aggressive dogs.

But, your points are well taken. Thank you!

 

Cerridwen/Ceridwen appeared in my life at a defining time so I use the name.

No Welsh in me...though fellas, I'm open to the opportunity *ba dum dum*

 

Did you get my PM from this AM? in response to yours? I hate that we never really know if they don't arrive.

[TaraMaiden]

I have to thread jack, OP!

This is important.

 

I so appreciate your opinion on Dog Whisperer.

It was echoed by another friend who's becoming a dog trainer.

 

DW's emphasis on energy in relation to the training is very intriguing to me.

Also, his technique of mimicking pack behavior makes sense to this layperson.

 

I thought perhaps his methods are acceptable given he's dealing with aggressive dogs.

But, your points are well taken. Thank you!

He has some good points - but if you actually watch pack animals, they very rarely actually resort to the methods he demonstrates.

if you ever watch his programme - and don't forget - you have a "bullet-point précis" of his methods: in reality, I would say he probably spends at least 3 days with a family, even before the "A week later, Caesar returns to see what progress the Schlumph family have made..." follow-up comes on.

there are methods of his addressing behaviour, that never get televised. If they did - he would be out of a job.

Which is why so many people get it hopelessly wrong.

Because they see his programme, think it's a piece of cake - and only implement half of the job.

 

He's always recommending people bring their dogs to his dog centre, where he puts the visitor dog with his animals.

I've yet to see any of his dogs biting the visitor dogs (like he does, with his 'fingers') or any of his dogs pinning another dog down.

If things ever escalate - he does that.

so you see, pack animals do not do what he demonstrates. Dogs DON'T do that.

 

And I have never, but never had to do that.

And I have had to deal with dogs with a death sentence hanging over them, because they were presumed aggressive.

 

Another thing you could look out for, while he's working with the dog, is to watch the dog's facial/body language.

I have seen this too many times for comfort.

he's got the dog on a leash, next to him.

the dog's mouth is open, lips pulled back, and the dog is panting. The ears are back, and the eyes are darting here and there.

 

The dog is not under his control.

the dog is panting - and looks like that - because it's stressed and anxious.

The dog is being forced, or compelled to comply, very often against its will.

 

Hell's bells - if you had a noose around your neck, wouldn't you think it was better to do as the guy holding the other end - wants??

 

"A man (dog) convinced against his will, is of the same opinion, still".

 

The secret is to work with the dog and get it to co-operate by offering it choices of response.

If the dog continues to behave in a particular way - then the result will not be conducive to the dog's favour.

If the dog then decided to change its response, and to differ the way it reacts - the result may well be better and to its advantage. So you give the dog the options of two choices. one gets great results, the other....well, not so great.

 

So bit by bit, it learns -

 

"O...K.... if I do *this*, I'll get praise/a treat.

But if I do *that* - then I'll get pushed down, and ignored.

Hmmmm.... I think I'll do *this*!"

 

Play upon the dog's own ability to evaluate and choose what works best.

 

The other good thing about me, is that I won't invade your home with 10 assistants, ten of my own dogs, a twelve-man camera/sound/lighting crew, and basically take your life over for a week while we get a programme in the can.

 

Dogs are descended from the wolf.

Dogs - genetically - are 96% wolf.

Yup, even that cute little Boston terrier, there....

 

Pack behaviour comes from the behaviour of the wolf.

And wolves - believe it or not - are extremely tolerant, patient and impressive animals. They're also incredibly gentle, and will do everything and anything to actually avoid aggressive confrontation.

Why?

Hell, because it's too damn risky, that's why!

Why fight, when you can reach an understanding?

 

('Reach an understanding'? Yes, dogs can - and do - reach an understanding. That's how Dog behaviourists work. By reaching an understanding with the dog.)

 

I always say:

'Training' is the cherry on the cake.

 

Behaviour - IS the cake.

Combining Dog behaviour AND dog training will give you a well balanced, stress-free happy dog. And a well-balanced, stress-free, happy home.

 

Cerridwen/Ceridwen appeared in my life at a defining time so I use the name.

No Welsh in me...though fellas, I'm open to the opportunity *ba dum dum*

:laugh:

 

Found this: nice!

 

 

Did you get my PM from this AM? in response to yours? I hate that we never really know if they don't arrive.

Yes, I'm so sorry, I should have replied - long day at work!

Edited April 23, 2011 by TaraMaiden

[cerridwen]

He has some good points - but if you actually watch pack animals, they very rarely actually resort to the methods he demonstrates.

if you ever watch his programme - and don't forget - you have a "bullet-point précis" of his methods: in reality, I would say he probably spends at least 3 days with a family, even before the "A week later, Caesar returns to see what progress the Schlumph family have made..." follow-up comes on.

there are methods of his addressing behaviour, that never get televised. If they did - he would be out of a job.

Which is why so many people get it hopelessly wrong.

Because they see his programme, think it's a piece of cake - and only implement half of the job.

 

He's always recommending people bring their dogs to his dog centre, where he puts the visitor dog with his animals.

I've yet to see any of his dogs biting the visitor dogs (like he does, with his 'fingers') or any of his dogs pinning another dog down.

If things ever escalate - he does that.

so you see, pack animals do not do what he demonstrates. Dogs DON'T do that.

 

And I have never, but never had to do that.

And I have had to deal with dogs with a death sentence hanging over them, because they were presumed aggressive.

 

Another thing you could look out for, while he's working with the dog, is to watch the dog's facial/body language.

I have seen this too many times for comfort.

he's got the dog on a leash, next to him.

the dog's mouth is open, lips pulled back, and the dog is panting. The ears are back, and the eyes are darting here and there.

 

The dog is not under his control.

the dog is panting - and looks like that - because it's stressed and anxious.

The dog is being forced, or compelled to comply, very often against its will.

 

Hell's bells - if you had a noose around your neck, wouldn't you think it was better to do as the guy holding the other end - wants??

 

"A man (dog) convinced against his will, is of the same opinion, still".

 

The secret is to work with the dog and get it to co-operate by offering it choices of response.

If the dog continues to behave in a particular way - then the result will not be conducive to the dog's favour.

If the dog then decided to change its response, and to differ the way it reacts - the result may well be better and to its advantage. So you give the dog the options of two choices. one gets great results, the other....well, not so great.

 

So bit by bit, it learns -

 

"O...K.... if I do *this*, I'll get praise/a treat.

But if I do *that* - then I'll get pushed down, and ignored.

Hmmmm.... I think I'll do *this*!"

 

Play upon the dog's own ability to evaluate and choose what works best.

 

The other good thing about me, is that I won't invade your home with 10 assistants, ten of my own dogs, a twelve-man camera/sound/lighting crew, and basically take your life over for a week while we get a programme in the can.

 

Dogs are descended from the wolf.

Dogs - genetically - are 96% wolf.

Yup, even that cute little Boston terrier, there....

 

Pack behaviour comes from the behaviour of the wolf.

And wolves - believe it or not - are extremely tolerant, patient and impressive animals. They're also incredibly gentle, and will do everything and anything to actually avoid aggressive confrontation.

Why?

Hell, because it's too damn risky, that's why!

Why fight, when you can reach an understanding?

 

('Reach an understanding'? Yes, dogs can - and do - reach an understanding. That's how Dog behaviourists work. By reaching an understanding with the dog.)

 

I always say:

'Training' is the cherry on the cake.

 

Behaviour - IS the cake.

Combining Dog behaviour AND dog training will give you a well balanced, stress-free happy dog. And a well-balanced, stress-free, happy home.

 

 

:laugh:

 

Found this: nice!

 

 

 

Yes, I'm so sorry, I should have replied - long day at work!

 

BRILLIANT TM! Thank you!

I don't think I'll be watching his show any longer.

What you've described disturbs me, greatly.

 

I love that picture of Cerridwen!

When I couldn't leave an abusive relationship, a friend read my cards on a lark.

Cerridwen kept coming up.

That she represented rebirth and transformation inspired me enough to leave. I've never looked back.

 

Oh no! Don't worry about not replying! Just wanted to make sure.

[Cerpin_Taxt]

I used to watch the dog whisperer when I first got my dog. I tried his techniques, to the best of my ability, and found them to be more harmful that beneficial. He does come off as overly aggressive with the dogs. I've earned my dogs trust and respect through training and lots of walks.

 

I found the most important part that DW preaches is the exercise bit. If your dog is misbehaving then it probably needs exercise. And then some training.

 

I always get people who marvel at how good my dog behaves. I usually tell them that I had no idea how I did it and just probably got lucky. Truth is I just don't ask a lot of her, but when I do I expect it to be followed. I don't expect her to never bark, jump up some, dig holes, or get on the furniture. I do expect her to stop any of those things when I tell her to.

 

And I always make her do something before she gets any kind of food. Even for treats.

[cerridwen]

Interesting CT.

 

I've switched shows and am now watching "It's Me or the Dog!"

TaraMaiden's post was illuminating.

[Cerpin_Taxt]

Interesting CT.

 

I've switched shows and am now watching "It's Me or the Dog!"

TaraMaiden's post was illuminating.

 

Oooh I hate that show. Not the techinques or anything, just the lady. She drives me nuts. She's like some evil english nanny robot.

[TaraMaiden]

Oooh I hate that show. Not the techinques or anything, just the lady. She drives me nuts. She's like some evil english nanny robot.

It's her voice. It gets on my nerves. She needs the squeaker taking out.

And her skin-tight sexy leggings.

And her carefully cupid-bowed scarlet pouty lips.

 

Her methods are better, but it makes you think that everything can be cured or trained with food.

The way she's going, the dogs will have no choice but to behave, because they're gonna be so fat, their big bellies won't let their feet touch the ground....!