Our president pardoned his Turkey's this year

President Joe Biden pardoned two turkeys named Liberty and Bell on Monday, November 20, 2023. The turkeys were raised in a Minnesota barn and were selected for their outgoing personalities. 

The ceremony took place on the White House South Lawn and included jokes about Biden's age. The turkeys will retire to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences will receive them. 

The tradition of pardoning turkeys began in 1947 when President Harry Truman was presented with a National Thanksgiving Turkey by the National Turkey Federation. The first presidential pardon of a turkey was in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln spared a live turkey that was brought to the presidential residence for Christmas. 

We Understand! This is how we do it.

 

We Understand!

This is how we do it.

by Karen Gonzalez on October 16th, 23

Therese, 50

I still find Dev irresistible. I just want more of him

Dev and I have been together for three years, but it is only when he is naked and vulnerable that I am sure of his affections. I particularly love it when he orgasms, because it feels like a form of validation. For a few precious seconds Dev is all passion, and entirely focused on me – whereas outside the bedroom, he is a difficult man to reach. He is sunny and happy-go-lucky by nature, but he conceals more difficult emotions. Increasingly, I am aware that I rely on sex to establish an emotional connection between us – which is dangerous, because if Dev isn’t constantly initiating, I feel desperately hurt.

When I met Dev I was 47, and had recently separated from my husband of 20 years. My marriage was almost entirely sexless, which is why I am anxious about maintaining the erotic spark with Dev. My ex-husband was never particularly sexual and would often turn down my advances. Every time I tried to raise the issue my ex would become so defensive that sex gradually became this awful thing that neither of us dared to mention. We lived like that for 15 years.

When Dev does initiate, it’s always in bed, last thing at night – it feels like an afterthought. I’ve rebuilt some of my confidence since that relationship, but I still fear rejection. Recently I knocked on the door while Dev was showering, but that is about as overt as my initiation tactics get. We didn’t even end up having sex in the shower: I started to soap Dev’s skin but he was unresponsive, which made me feel so overwhelmed with embarrassment that I got out. Dev is aware of my sexual history, and I wish he would initiate more to take the pressure off me. I fantasize about him surprising me while I’m doing the dishes, or having sex with me on our sofa. The kind of sex I crave is slow and luxurious. But when Dev does initiate, it’s always in bed, last thing at night, which feels to me like an afterthought.

Lately, I’ve been trying to practice some reverse psychology. When Dev reaches for me in our bed I will pretend I’m not in the mood, in an effort to make him desire me more. Occasionally I will even go so far as to give him half a handjob and then tell him I’m too tired to go further, to get him really riled up. The problem is that if he starts to touch me, the game is up; it feels so delicious that I have to give in. The bottom line is that I still find Dev irresistible. I just want more of him. He always feels painfully out of my reach.

Dev, 47

In bed, all of Therese’s boldness seems to melt away

I tend to wear a mask sometimes, around other people, but Therese is uniquely upfront, and confrontational. I still find it thrilling just to gaze at her, while she is giving a virtual stranger a piece of her mind. She’s beautiful, but it’s more about the sparkiness and the clarity with which she expresses herself. Her lack of inhibition has influenced me, and we have clear lines of communication on almost everything in our relationship, with one notable exception. We can’t talk openly about sex. In bed, all of Therese’s boldness seems to melt away.

Therese will rarely actually ask me for sex, and all of her nonverbal cues are so subtle, I usually miss them. For example, she might go and run herself a bath, and then get upset that I haven’t correctly interpreted that bath as a proposition. It’s confusing, because Therese has a lot of baths, and I’m meant to intuitively know which is a sex-bath and which is not. Her subtlety just breeds anger. Often Therese won’t tell me that I’ve missed a hint until some time afterwards, and by that time she will have been quietly resenting me for days.

Therese can’t believe that I love her unless I’m having the very tender, controlled sex that she has decided signifies ‘love’

My method for initiating sex is more immediate. I find Therese deeply attractive: I like the idea of turning to her in the night and simply smelling her, and then having spontaneous, almost animalistic sex. I sometimes want it to be fast-paced and deeply passionate between us, but Therese isn’t keen on all that. She prefers extremely patient, intentional, tantric-inspired sex that revolves around foreplay. She is longing for me to slow down every single one of my movements, but I’d prefer to lose myself in the moment and speed up.

Therese has shared the story of her sexless marriage with me, and I’m in awe of the way she has pieced herself back together. Because sex was withheld from her for so long, I think she can’t believe that I love her unless I’m having the very tender, controlled sex that she has decided signifies “love”. If I try to express my passion for her on my terms, she’s not comfortable with it. She confuses my excitement for a lack of care.

Sometimes I wish I could suck all of Therese’s insecurities out of her brain so that she was entirely free from worry, and then have sex with her. In the meantime, I’m trying to deliver sex on her terms.

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HeartWorks Inc.

115, SomeCity, PA, 55344

Healthy And Light Southern Classic Recipes.

                                                 HeartWorks Weekly Digest

We have a surprise!

Healthy And Light Southern Classic Recipes.

by Karen Gonzalez on October 16, 23 karen3gonzalez007@gmail.com

We cut the calories—but not the flavor—in your favorite dishes. These recipes may taste delicious and look decadent, but imagine your surprise when you learn how healthy they are. These recipes take Southern classics and lighten them up without losing any of the flavor, using healthy substitutions to keep them tasting great. Light cornbread crumbs and reduced-fat mayonnaise mean you'll be keeping our Cornbread Crab Cakes on the menu. If you prefer a comfort-food classic, you will love the recipe for meatloaf. But for truly healthy Southern recipes, you will marvel at the Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches, which will keep you devouring all the mouthwatering 'cue you want. So plan your favorite meal because these healthy Southern recipes will mean you won't have to give up a thing.

01of 23

Chicken Salad With Grapes And Pecans

WILL DICKEY

To make this lightened-up version of chicken salad, use half light mayonnaise with half light sour cream or Greek yogurt, which is high in protein and slightly lower in calories. Combined with boneless, skinless chicken breast, grapes, and pecans, this will soon be your favorite lunch staple. Serve on crisp lettuce leaves.

02of 23

Cornbread Crab Cakes

PHOTO: JENNIFER DAVICK

Enjoy a guilt-free serving of these hearty crab cakes with a dollop of cilantro-jalapeño sour cream. This recipe calls for lightly coating the crab cakes with cooking spray and browning them in a skillet. Add fresh greens to your plate for extra goodness.

03of 23

Healthy Turkey Lasagna

HECTOR SANCHEZ; STYLING: KARIN OLSEN

For a leaner version of this classic family dish, we layered saucy ground turkey with spinach, Parmesan, and low-fat cottage cheese. You'll love the savory smells of bay leaf, fennel, and oregano that waft from the kitchen. Don't worry, there's still more mozzarella that you'll sprinkle on top before serving.

04of 23

Mac And Cheese With Ham

BETH DREILING HONTZAS; STYLING: MINDI SHAPIRO LEVINE

This delicious mac and cheese uses low-fat ingredients yet still melts in your mouth. Evaporated low-fat milk and cream cheese stand in for whole cream. You can also try our vegetarian version with pimientos.

05of 23

Chocolate Pudding

JENNIFER DAVICK

This chocolate pudding is everything you dream of—chocolaty rich, silky smooth, and light on calories. Even better, the homemade pudding only requires 15 minutes of hands-on time. Once you've committed this simple dessert recipe to memory, experiment with our espresso and raspberry variations.

06of 23

Maple-Chiplotle Air Fryer Pork Chops

VICTOR PROTASIO; FOOD STYLIST: KAREN RANKING; PROP STYLIST JULIA BAYLESS

Forget deep-fat frying or suffering through dry, unchewable meat. With this recipe, your chops will be juicy and tender, spicy and flavorful. The maple and adobo sauce is sweet and tangy with just the right amount of heat.

07of 23

Sautéed Mustard Greens With Garlic And Lemon

LAUREY W. GLENN

This super fresh, garlicky, lemony mustard green recipe is quick to cook, low on fat, and high on flavor. Coated in light olive oil and sautéed with plenty of fresh flavors and seasoning, these mustard greens will complement your barbecue or any holiday meal. Try this recipe with other greens like kale, collards, or turnip greens if you prefer.

08of 23

Summer Squash Gratin

ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS

Give your vegetables a chance to shine with a healthier alternative to squash casserole. The squash is cooked simply with sweet onion, garlic, and thyme, and topped off with buttery, cheesy breadcrumbs that crisp under the broiler. After you bite into the pleasantly crisp-tender vegetables and crunchy panko topping, you may find you're never going back.

09of 23

Key "Light" Pie

PHOTO: JENNIFER DAVICK

Our Key "Light" Pie is creamy and tart as ever. Featuring egg substitute and fat-free sweetened condensed milk, you'll feel light as a beach breeze after you eat it. And the four-ingredient recipe is just as easy as the original.

10of 23

Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

HOWARD LEE PUCKETT

Smoked turkey sausage, bell peppers, and red beans come together in this easy slow-cooker version of the Louisiana staple. Serve over long-grain rice and sprinkle with red and green onions for a hearty, but not heavy, meal.

11of 23

Lightened Hummingbird Cake

If you can't get through summer without eating this banana-and-pineapple-laden cake, never fear. We lowered the fat and calories by substituting applesauce for some of the oil, using less butter, sugar, and eggs, and substituting light for regular cream cheese.

12of 23

Light King Ranch Chicken Casserole

LIGHT KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

If you think cutting calories means giving up the foods you love, think again. Loaded with peppers, chicken, and cheese, his top-rated makeover is every bit as creamy and satisfying as the full-fat original.

13of 23

Lemon-Tarragon Potato Salad

GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: RISHON HANNERS; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY

While we certainly love a classic Southern potato salad dressed in plenty of mayo, our Test Kitchen sought to develop a light and zingy potato salad recipe that still maintains a creamy texture. One-third of the potatoes are mashed to add body to the salad, while the celery gives it plenty of crunch. The salad is tossed with quick-pickled shallots and a lemon vinaigrette for refreshing flavor.

14of 23

Crispy Oven-Fried Drumsticks

RALPH ANDERSON

Who knew you could have golden brown, crunchy drumsticks without a deep fryer? Coat the chicken with a mixture of buttermilk, crushed cornflakes, Parmesan cheese, and seasoning. Bake until tender inside and crisp outside. We'd like two buckets, please.

15of 23

Banana Pudding

PHOTO: JENNIFER DAVICK

This pudding delivers a velvety rich custard, ripe banana flavor, vanilla wafers so soft they melt in your mouth, and an irresistible golden-baked meringue topping. All this, and it's lower in fat and calories than traditional versions. These make great individual party desserts, though it can be made in an 8-inch square pan.

16of 23

Air Fryer Okra

CAITLIN BENSEL

Experience the joy of crispy fried okra without all the mess. The veggies are dipped in a beaten egg and tossed in a coating made with cornmeal and flour. A touch of cooking spray ensures the air-fried okra bakes up crispy and golden brown—just like it would in a pan.

17of 23

Chicken Enchiladas

PHOTO: JENNIFER DAVICK

You'll love this flavorful take on enchiladas. Chicken is combined with a spicy mixture of low-fat cream cheese, pepper Jack, onions, and green chiles. Charring the tortillas over a flame is an optional step that adds a note of smokiness. Top with tomatillo salsa and cilantro.

18of 23

West Indies Crab Salad

VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: CLAIRE SPOLLEN; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX

This little-known dish (believed to have originated in Mobile, Alabama) is tangy-sweet and a great alternative to mayonnaise-loaded seafood salads. Dress your crabmeat in a vinaigrette balanced with a small portion of sugar. Finely chopped onion, lemon zest, and mint leaves make this a delightfully zingy light lunch.

19of 23

Air Fryer Hush Puppies

PHOTOGRAPHER: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS, PROP STYLIST:CHRISTINE KEELY FOOD STYLIST: CHELSEA ZIMMER

Here's another air fryer recipe that will allow you to indulge without any regrets. The batter for these puffy hush puppies involves a mixture of cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, chopped onions, and hot sauce. With that much flavor, you won't miss the grease at all.

20of 23

Mini Berry Cobblers

JENNIFER DAVICK

This dish proves that you can rely on fruit's natural sugars for most of the sweetness in cobbler, that must-have summertime treat. And they're just the right size for a petite pastry-and-berry bite. Make them in miniature cast-iron skillets for a Southern spin.

21of 23

Chicken Chili

HECTOR M. SANCHEZ

This tomato-based chili has all the flavor you're looking for with a lot less fat. Plus it's fairly quick to prepare using a rotisserie chicken (make sure to remove the skin before shredding). Add as much heat, light sour cream, and cilantro as you desire.

22of 23

Turkey Meatloaf

PHOTOGRAPHER: JENNIFER CAUSEY FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL PROP STYLIST: AUDREY DAVIS

The ultimate comfort food gets a low-fat makeover with ground turkey and ground turkey sausage. We include the mandatory mixture of tomato, ketchup, and Worcestershire on top. You'll be transported to childhood with every bite.

23of 23

Pork Tenderloin Sliders

We wouldn't dare stand in the way of your favorite pulled pork or smoked brisket, but these dry-rubbed sliders just might win you over. We sear lean pork tenderloin in a skillet and finish it off in the oven. Slather with a smoky barbecue sauce or try one of our flavorful condiments, like Blackberry-Honey Mustard Sauce.

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HeartWorks Inc.

115, SomeCity, PA, 55344