Gregg Soup

What types of cigar boxes are there? Cigar boxes come in many varieties. Some are old school boxes and some are new. Some humidors come with their own humidification system, while others are simply made of plastic. The classic cigar box can be made of anything from brass to glass to even cardboard. What are a few of the most popular box designs to choose from?

Nailed wood boxes are common and have the most dignified appearance. They are made with a few pieces of wood, small nails and a box hinge. They also have fabric, decorative paper and stickers for branding. They are associated with box-pressed cigars, which are two-layer sets that so tightly fit in cigars, they eventually change their circular shapes into squares.

Another common type of cigar box today is called cabinet or slide lid boxes. Cigars packaged in this type of box are usually meant to be stored for some time. This is so they can age and mature into a truly a delicious smoke. These boxes are usually very plain and have a lid that slides out as opposed to hinged. Others known as 8-9-8 and 13-topper are also popular and get their names from the configuration of the cigars inside. The 8-9-8 variety has eight cigars on the bottom, nine cigars in the middle and eight cigars on the top, while the 13-topper is only two layers with 13 resting on top and 12 making up the bottom.

A cigar box not often seen today is the Cuban chest, which is made of cedar or a strong type of wood. These cigar boxes are carved and highly decorated and tend to be very expensive. Other older varieties include highly decorated tin boxes, upright tin boxes, as well as lunchbox varieties that featured a metal handle and lock. There are also glass cigar boxes, jars and chests that hold the cigars upright.

There is a wide variety of cigar boxes available today, depending on how much you want to spend and what personally appeals to you. Many cigar collectors collect these boxes and cases for nostalgic purposes. Remember that smoke from 1978? That was a good one! Part of the hobby is truly experiencing the smoke, every nuance of it. Learning all you can about cigars and cigar boxes will help you enjoy the hobby all the more so. Puff away and collect a box that truly tells the story.

How to prepare best Chicken Soup recipes from scratch. This not-too-thick soup makes a warming but not super filling first course, with the rice, meat, and vegetables supporting actors rather than major players. Makes about 4 servings. Preparation time is 30 minutes. Ingredients and directions;

BEST CHICKEN SOUP RECIPES FROM SCRATCH

INGREDIENTS :

6 cups chicken stock
½ cup white rice
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
1 cup raw or cooked chopped boneless, skinless chicken, or more
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, dill, or cilantro leaves for garnish

DIRECTIONS :

Put the stock in a large, deep pot over medium high heat. When it is just about boiling, turn the heat down so that it bubbles, but not too vigorously. Stir in the rice, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are all tender, about 20 minutes.
Stir in the chicken. If it is raw, cook until it is cooked through, another 5 to 8 minutes. If it is cooked, cook 2 or 3 minutes, until it is hot. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Garnish with the herbs and serve.

Other Ways to prepare Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup with Vegetables Recipe

Omit the rice, if you like, and add up to 1 ½ cups mixed ¼ inch diced vegetables, like carrots, celery, onion, turnip, parsnip, zucchini or yellow squash, or potato; sliced mushrooms; peas or corn kernels; thinly shredded cabbage, bok choy, or greens.

Add the vegetables to the stock by cooking times, starting with the harder, longer cooking vegetables like carrots or potato.

Chicken Soup with Rice, Mexican Style Recipe

Omit the carrot and celery, if you like. Add 1 cup diced tomatoes along with the chicken. Then add ½ cup minced raw white onion, ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice, or to taste, ½ cup roughly chopped cilantro, or more to taste, and minced fresh jalapenos or other chiles to taste (optional) just before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Chicken Soup with Rice, Chinese Style Recipe

Add 1 teaspoon each minced fresh ginger and garlic with the chicken. A cup or so green peas (frozen are fine; add at the last minute) or chopped mushrooms are a nice addition (added during the last few minutes of cooking). Season with a couple tablespoons soy sauce and a lot of black pepper and stir in 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil if you like.

Chipotle Chicken Soup Recipe

Add 4 to 6 dried chipotle chiles, cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano. Soak the chiles in just-boiled water to cover until soft, about 20 minutes; drain and use a knife to slice open and scrape out all the seeds and remove the stems. Put the chiles, garlic, tomato paste, and oregano in a blender or food processor and purée; add only enough chicken stock from the soup to get the purée going. Add the chipotle paste to taste to the soup or pass it with the soup servings.

Follow the step by step directions very carefully and you will be surprised how good this soup recipe really is. Enjoy the soup and Bon Apetit.

Throughout the history of humans on earth, there have been many sacred healing systems that have brought us healing, peace and comfort. From the earliest herbalists, indigenous medicine people, those who used light, energy and sound, to those who practice physical manipulation techniques, humankind has been blessed with a wealth of knowledge by which we can heal ourselves. And the canon of healing techniques is by no means full, because there is still so much more to learn and discover. The healing star system of healing known as Rising Star healing, is one of the newer techniques that has been channeled for use in healing.

Some people seek out new forms of healing because they have entered a crisis or unhealthy state, while others who are already on their healing path are open to and embracing new ways of being and healing while continually seeking to upgrade their state of being and striving to achieve greater health on all levels. Physical health, mental health, emotional health, and spiritual health are all individual components of and also parts of the same whole. No one part can be out of balance without affecting the others. And so in healing, it is necessary to care for and heal all parts of oneself to be truly healthy. One of the benefits of healing systems that address the whole self on an energetic level is that it helps to heal oneself on all levels. Often, people undertake such healing having no idea how interconnected all the issues or symptoms they have been experiencing really are. In these cases, people are surprised at the healing that takes place on different levels, making hindsight may 20/20. Another one of the benefits of this type of healing system is that one need not have psychological insights or understanding in order to heal, one need only be open to allow for the healing to happen.

Being open to and allowing healing might sound to many like an easy proposition, but yet many cling to their dis-ease, or their thought and behavior patterns that have caused their symptoms and/or illness. Sometimes, these are beliefs that developed in childhood and are firmly rooted in a person’s way of thinking and being. It can be very frightening to let go of these beliefs, not because they are the preferred way of thinking, but because somewhere along the line, value was attached to them; they became part of one’s perceived means of survival. The key to ridding oneself of those beliefs that are detrimental to the good health and balance of the individual, is to not stop at simply identifying and disowning those beliefs, but to also adopt a new set of beliefs that are specifically and consciously chosen to replace the less than healthy ones.