Yes it is that season and time of year, daylight saving time, moving our clocks one hour ahead to save more daylight. The one hour time change seems to interfere in most peoples lives, although I have learned that most people like this time change better. Especially those that work regular 8 hour days, they enjoy getting off work and having some daylight to enjoy. But not without a lot of complaining the first month or so of the change. People just don't like to be inconvenienced by much of anything even natural changes in our lives and seasons!!
A while back I decided to look up the reason why and when we started this time change and here is what I found out:
Initially Benjamin Franklin introduced the idea of daylight saving time in a 1784 essay titled and "Economic Project". But the modern concept is credited to George Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, who in 1895, proposed a two hour time shift so he'd have more afterwork hours of sunshine to go bug hunting in the summer.
The concept resurfaced during WWI as a way to save energy. The idea was that people would spend less time inside with the lights on at night and , therefore, conserve electricity. But it was only done during the summer, otherwise, famers would have to wake up and begin farming in the dark in order to be on the same schedule as everyone else. The law was passed in 1918, but then after the war is was up to the state governments to decide whether or no they wanted to continue with the time change.
The law resurfaced again during WWII, but again after the war it was left up to each star to decide whether to not they wanted to continue the change. Some states kept it and other states abandoned it. Daylight saving time didn't officially become a law until 1966. As of now states can choose to opt out of the time change, which Hawaii and Arizona have.
There have been all kinds of studies done on exactly how this time change, or not, effects people. Our species gets into a circadian rhythm and then just by a one hour time change, we can be thrown off, to then try to figure it out again for the next 6 months or so. Yes this can have an impact on us, and our environment. I am not with the majority, my body and brain work best during the regular time, with the sun setting in the evenings closer to 6:30ish, and daylight by 6:00 in the morning. I am a morning person, up with the farmers!!! I am an Indian at heart, looking to live life as the seasons choose, in rhythm with the sun and the moon, enjoying the fruits of the earth and the richness that surrounds me/us. I accept the time change without much complaint, and move through my days, long or short, as naturally as I can, finding my rhythm and flow.
May we all find our flow and the rhythm that works best for us, making the most of our days, light or dark, and the beauty of each season. Spring is on its way in, another change and another cycle. If you are not seeing signs of spring, or feeling the warmth of spring, set things around you the may help. Buy some flowers and place them in front of the window that shows nothing but snow outside, place them in locations that surround you, the color will definitely help. When the sun is out be sure to get outside and soak up some of that vitamin D, even a chilly sunny day can be invigorating. Start that garden, till the soil, decide on what you want to plant, buy the seeds and start indoors, and move outside when the time is right. Start shopping for some outdoor essentials, pillows for outdoor seating, pots for some plants or succulents to go in, anything that may brighten and add some color to your yard or patio.
Seasons can sometimes be longer than the date set for the transition, snow can still fall in April, grey skies can hang above in May, cool winds can blow in late March, record heat can exist in November...Go with it, as this time of year says to us, Spring Ahead, oh yes it is coming, be patient with it all and notice the flow from one to the next.
Orange Chicken with Broccoli
Ingredients:
1 bunch or head cut into florets
olive oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into chunks
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
kosher salt and pepper to taste
Orange sauce:
Juice of 1 orange
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce or liquid aminos
1 tbsp fresh minced ginger
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
Directions:
Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper, place he broccoli on 1/2 of the sheet, drizzle some olive oil over the top, salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle a little garlic powder as well.
Place bread crumbs and seasonings into a ziplock bag or bowl, then add the cubed chicken and mix or shake to combine and cover the chicken. Place the chicken on the other half of the baking sheet. Bake at 400 for about 10-12 minutes.
While the broccoli and chicken are cooking make the sauce. Whisk the water and cornstarch first in a sauce pan until blended, the add the other sauce ingredients. Turn stove on medium and cook the sauce ingredients until it thickens, turn the stove off.
When chicken and broccoli are done place the chicken in a bowl and pour the sauce over the top, reserve a little bit of the sauce to pour over the broccoli when you are ready to serve. Stir well to coat the chicken.
Serve with just the chicken and broccoli or over rice, garnish with green onions and the remainder of the sauce drizzled over the top.
