| December 7th, 2005 03:05 PM |
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| voodoopug |
As I know we have members of this esteemed board from Boca Raton, FL. I am pleased to announce that Boca Raton has been awarded "BEST MATZO BALL SOUP IN THE USA" see the attached article:
Matzo Ball Soup
Region: Boca Raton, Fla.
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The Story
Matzo ball soup has made its mark in Jewish food culture and beyond for being a comfort food, and many folks even refer to it as the "Jewish Penicillin." But what really makes this soup so soothing?
Basically a chicken soup with dumpling made from matzo, or unleavened bread, matzo ball soup has been a staple in the Jewish diet for centuries. To cook up a soup that would make a Bubbe proud, start with a chicken stock made from chicken, vegetables and spices. While the stock cooks, mix up some matzo balls using eggs, water, vegetable oil, salt and ground matzo meal. The matzo balls can either go directly into the soup, or be baked first and then added.
Foodie Facts
# Matzo came to be during biblical times when the Jews left Egypt. Because they had to leave in a hurry, they didn't have time for the bread they were baking to rise; they instead took the unleavened bread, or matzo.
# Matzo is a food staple for Jews during Passover.
# Though many people prefer to make their matzo balls from scratch, it's often said that the instant matzo ball mix purchased at any market is just as good.
Recipe:
Penne Pearlman's Matzo Ball Soup
Ingredients:
Whole onion
Carrots (to taste)
Celery (to taste)
Parsnip (to taste)
Whole chicken
Fresh dill
Matzo ball mix — follow instructions
Directions
Boil a large pot of water. Add one whole onion (to be removed later), carrots, celery and parsnips. When the water is boiling rapidly, add a whole chicken cut into eighths. After the soup has cooked for a while, add the matzo balls. This must also be done when the soup is rapidly boiling. Cover, let it cook and enjoy the aroma! Add some packaged mix (or you can use seasoning) and some fresh dill. After the soup cools, remove the chicken and throw away.
Mark's Wisecrack
Discussing Kosher law with Johevet Goldberg as she makes her matzo ball soup: Johevet: You have to clean the vegetables very carefully. Actually in Jewish law, you can't have any bugs in your vegetables. You can't eat bugs, so ...
Mark: It's a good law. No bugs, no bugs is a good law.
WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD.......JOEY, PLEASE RESPOND. |
| December 7th, 2005 03:36 PM |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
A cluster of calcification, when seen in association with a hypoechoic area in the testis, is a significant finding and suggests a testicular tumour or chronic testicular infarction. The distinction between focal infarction and tumour may be difficult. Infarction may be due to trauma, may develop secondary to severe epididymitis where the swollen epididymis compresses the vessels to a segment of the testis, or may be due to torsion (Figure 2). Focal infarction is usually peripheral and wedge-shaped, with linear edges containing specks of calcification representing areas of necrosis [2].
Most primary germ cell testicular tumours are well defined hypoechoic lesions with varying amounts of heterogeneity [2]. Calcification is frequently encountered but its presence and distribution does not reflect a specific cell type [3] (Figure 3). The commonest germ cell tumour, the seminoma, is more homogeneous and infrequently shows calcific foci, in contrast to embryonal, mixed germ cell tumours and teratomas, which are usually more heterogeneous and commonly contain focal areas of increased echogenicity due to necrosis or calcification [1]. Malignant teratomas may be particularly heterogeneous in appearance, with an architecture reflecting their complex origin; well differentiated squamous cysts filled with echogenic bone, cartilage, mucous glands, smooth muscle and neural tissue (Figure 4). Teratocarcinoma, the commonest mixed germ cell tumour, containing elements of both teratoma and embryonal cell carcinoma, is an aggressive tumour that often contains highly reflective focal areas of microcalcification within a mass of mixed echotexture (Figure 5). The appearance of a large calcified scar within the testis, producing an acoustic shadow termed a "burned out tumour", is a rare but recognized phenomenon (Figure 6). In patients presenting with retroperitoneal germ cell tumour and palpably normal testes, such calcific foci in the testis have been shown to contain histological evidence of a regressed testicular tumour [4].
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Figure 3. Mixed germ cell tumours. (a) Longitudinal section demonstrating a discrete mass of similar echogenicity to the testis (arrows), containing a central calcific focus. (b) A large germ cell tumour in a different patient (arrowheads), with peripheral calcification (arrow).
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Figure 4. Malignant teratoma. A well defined hypoechoic mass (open arrows) with a peripheral focus of calcification (curved arrow).
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Figure 5. Teratocarcinoma. A heterogeneous mass (small arrows) containing several foci of calcification both centrally and peripherally (large arrows).
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Figure 6. "Burnt out tumour". A focal area of calcification (arrow) within the testis, representing a regressed testicular tumour.
The association of calcification with benign lesions in the testis is well documented. Benign intratesticular tumours, commonly derived from the Sertoli and Leydig cells of the seminiferous tubules, are difficult to distinguish from malignant tumours and sometimes demonstrate calcification (Figure 7). Epidermoid tumours are variable in their ultrasound appearance, some having distinguishing features such as a well demarcated hypoechoic mass with calcification in the wall (Figure 8) or a mass surrounded by concentric rings, described as an "onion ring" appearance [5]. Simple testicular cysts are usually thin walled and anechoic, but they may contain calcification within the rim (Figure 9). Granulomatous disease can also present with a hypoechoic testicular mass containing areas of calcification that may be extensive (Figure 10).
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Figure 7. Sertoli cell tumour. Large smooth curvilinear calcification (curved arrow) at the periphery of a heterogeneous mass (open arrows).
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Figure 8. Epidermoid tumour. Well demarcated hypoechoic mass with two foci of calcification (arrows) within the wall.
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Figure 9. Simple intratesticular cyst. The cyst is perfectly anechoic and has calcification within the rim.
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Figure 10. Granulomatous disease. Characteristic multiple large areas of calcification are demonstrated within the testis.
Testicular microlithiasis (TM) describes the ultrasound appearance of multiple tiny echogenic foci within the testis, measuring 1–3 mm in diameter (Figure 11). The number of calcific foci and the pattern of distribution can vary. Diffuse symmetrical distribution of foci is the characteristic pattern, but asymmetrical distribution, unilateral foci and peripheral clumping have all been described [6]. The formation of microliths is thought to result from degenerating cells in the seminiferous tubules. Acoustic shadowing is not seen, probably owing to the small size of the calcifications. Although usually an incidental finding during the investigation of testicular symptoms, TM has been found in association with benign tumours and malignant germ cell tumours of the testis (Figure 12) and with various medical conditions including infertility, cryptorchidsm, Down's syndrome and pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. The natural history of incidentally discovered TM and the possible association between TM and testicular malignancy is as yet undefined.
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Figure 11. Testicular microlithiasis. Scattered echogenic foci are seen throughout the testis.
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Figure 12. Testicular microlithiasis. In association with a seminoma (a) and an intratesticular cyst (b).
Extratesticular calcification
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Abstract
Introduction
Intratesticular calcification
Extratesticular calcification
References
Calcification within the extratesticular portion is more frequent than intratesticular calcification and usually represents benign disease [7]. The focus of calcification is often solitary and the site of calcification usually yields the diagnosis. A relatively common appearance is that of a scrotal pearl, a calcified loose body lying between the membranes of the tunica vaginalis. These are usually solitary, although occasionally they may be multiple, round and measure up to 1 cm in diameter, producing a discrete acoustic shadow (Figure 13). The aetiology of a scrotal pearl is unclear, originating either as a fibrinous deposit in the tunica vaginalis or as a remnant of a detached torsed appendix testis or appendix epididymis. Scrotal calculi are often found in association with a secondary hydrocoele, thus rendering them impalpable [8]. The tunica vaginalis may occasionally calcify more extensively, producing a linear plaque with acoustic shadowing (Figure 14). Calcification in or adjacent to the epididymis is a common finding and is usually due to chronic epididymitis (Figure 15). Granulomatous disease should always be considered in these circumstances (Figure 16). Haematoma and sperm granulomas (sperm extravasation with granuloma formation) may produce a solitary echogenic area within the epididymis (Figure 17). The appendix epididymis and appendix testis may calcify and they are recognized by their characteristic position and shape (Figure 18).
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Figure 13. Scrotal pearl (arrow).
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Figure 14. Tunical calcification. A linear plaque of calcification with acoustic shadowing (arrow).
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Figure 15. Calcification (arrow) within the epididymal head.
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Figure 16. Tuberculous granulomas (arrow) within the epididymis.
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Figure 17. Sperm granulomas demonstrated within the epididymis.
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Figure 18. Calcification of the appendix testis. This commonly occurs following a torsion of the appendix testis. |
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