tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81305899295636645692024-03-14T06:16:56.043-04:00Life in BalanceOffering recipes, holistic health information and support to make your life a happier & healthier one.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-80441597306022829292018-08-13T22:11:00.001-04:002018-08-13T22:11:48.407-04:00Meat Free Monday: Keeping Cool on a Hot Summer NightHi everyone. I'm back from my month in Maryland and am slowly readjusting to the temperatures back at home. Here in Florida it is crazy hot and humid this time of year. My husband works for a major home builder and the last thing he wants after a long day in the heat is warm food. It was also the first day of school, so after a lot of chaos, I wanted something easy. Tonight's meat free Monday meal is a different take on salad for dinner. I give you "Pizz'alad". Sounds ridiculous, but hear me out.<br />
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Just take your favorite pizza dough.... something thin & crispy tends to work best. Tonight, I did a whole wheat crust I like to make, but a store bought lavash/ flat bread or a naan works equally well for this. It can be gluten free or whatever kind you like it really doesn't matter. Fathead dough if you're doing the keto diet works great for this as well. Crisp it up in the oven and then let it cool to room temperature.<br />
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Next , I like to spread a thin layer of an herb cheese or some kind of a spread like a tasty hummus. then I load it up with some chopped salad and whatever veggies I need to use up. For example: tonight I have a mixture of thin sliced romaine lettuce, sliced red bell peppers, cucumbers, a handful of alfalfa sprouts, blanched green beans & snap peas, as well as my new favorite obsession, mini san marazano tomatoes. then I drizzle the entire thing with my dressing of choice.... tonight its an Avocado ranch that I made.<br />
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And voila. slice & eat it up. its cool, light, crunchy, refreshing and an easy dinner that doesn't add to the heat in your system from the craziness outside. on another note, if your kids are pizza fans, this is another way to get them to eat some veggies in a fun way. Hope you enjoy this easy weeknight dinner as much as we do. Stay cool!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-59016909239986422712016-08-23T14:12:00.000-04:002016-08-27T14:20:14.329-04:00My Son the Superhero and a Yummy recipeHello from Sunny Orlando, Florida! Yes, we've moved again, this time to the land of all things Disney (which I love!). We had a dream, saw an opportunity and took it. We've been here for about two months now and life is finally normalizing as much as it can for our little family. We've been pretty busy with big lifestyle changes lately, so I've been posting more on Facebook as opposed to different posts here as well. I'm trying to streamline all these accounts together so bear with me. <br />
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A few months ago our son was identified as having a neurological condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder. I had never even heard of this a few months ago and now it tends to occupy most of my time; whether I'm learning more about it, taking care of my son, or juggling speech and Occupational therapy appointments. We're dealing with a number of what most people would consider quirks in a two year old. With sensory processing disorder, funny things that my son does are not things he will outgrow, they are a part of who he is. A simplified explanation of kids with Sensory Processing Disorder, is that I like to think of them as superheroes. Absolutely every sensory kid is unique and different, as is how they feel things. These kids are amazing. They literally have super senses, which could be insanely hard and frustrating for them to cope and deal with, not just daily, but minute to minute.<br />
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In my son's case, his nerves don't feel it when he's exhausted, things such as textures or even if he's cold or overheated. His body craves stimulation and feedback. In the SPD community of parents, he is known as a "seeker". Its kind of like he has super strength because he just goes and goes. He also has insanely sensitive super hearing. People speaking loudly and crowded places with lots of background noises are completely overwhelming for him. Even things that I take for granted, such as my love of food, are extremely hard for him. Don't get me wrong, he's a great eater for a two and a half year old, but its the same things all the time because trying new foods are literally almost painful to him because he feels things so intensely. A new texture can make a favorite flavor taste disgusting to him so he spits it out. On days when his nerves are really seeking he only eats super crunchy or super smooth things. On these trying days, I end up cooking multiple meals. This is quite time consuming so I need something easy.<br />
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Here is a grilled sweet potato salad does double duty in our home. I grill a whole sweet potato for my son (so he can it eat it mashed), while I grill off slices for this yummy side dish that is ready in just a few short minutes. Its also gluten free and Vegan friendly for those of you living those kind of lifestyles or just a nice choice for a friendly potluck to share. It is a dish that is light and delicious on a hot day. I am quickly learning that this is the norm here in Florida, so we will be eating this A LOT. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.<br />
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By the way, this post is a new feature I'm running on my Facebook page, (facebook.com/lifeinbalancewellness), I'm calling
Tasty Tuesdays. Check back every week and you'll find a new recipe on
Tuesdays by lunchtime. I will also post these on my Pinterest board the
following day. Let me know what you think and if you're craving a certain type of recipe. I'll do my best to help. <br />
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<u><b>Grilled Sweet Potato Salad with Basil Viniagrette</b></u><br />
Serves 4<br />
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4 Sweet Potatoes ut in 1/2" slices<br />
1/2 cup diced red pepper<br />
1/4 cup sliced green onions<br />
1/4 cup chopped parsely<br />
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Dressing:<br />
1/4 cup red wine vinegar<br />
1/2 cup avocado oil or olive oil<br />
1 Tbsp chiffonade basil (fancy term for sliced into super thin ribbons) <br />
2 tsp balsamic vinegar<br />
salt & pepper to taste<br />
dash of dry yellow mustard <br />
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1) lightly coat sweet potatoes with some avocado oil ( i find spraying them with a misto works best)<br />
2) grill potato slices until they are tender. If you're like me, I love the smoky char taste using wood lump charcoal creates.<br />
3) cut up the potatoes into small 1" cubes and then combine them with the bell pepper, onions and parsely.<br />
4) whisk together dressing ingredients<br />
5) toss the salad mixture with the dressing while the potatoes are still warm. this can be served warm or cold.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-38333758813782779742016-01-24T20:15:00.003-05:002016-01-24T20:43:40.357-05:00A blizzard, turning forty and yummy stewApologies for delays in posts here but I've been all over the place. I never know where best to put my thoughts. I've got a facebook page, twitter and this blog. They tend to overlap and I forget which spot I place my posts and regardless, they always end up on facebook. With that being said I'll be publishing some back pieces that I've written over the last year that have remained in drafts. But before I get to those, lets live in the now. I've just spent the weekend in a blizzard. Also, I am turning forty tomorrow and I'm freaking out a bit about that. I don't feel like what my mind thought a forty year old person should be like. I think its actually a good thing though. I like my life and I think it shows through in photos, especially when I'm with my two favorite people on the planet, my husband and my little boy. The picture below, taken earlier this morning as we were digging ourselves out, is the perfect example of this. Other than the fact I was going on no sleep and didn't have basic makeup on, I really enjoy seeing myself happy and beaming in this photo. <br />
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While our family was holed up, we had what I like to call Soupapalooza. I made a different soup or stew every day. Batches of soup are great to use up leftover bits (like carcasses, bones and random leftover vegetables) and you can stock your freezer with yummy, homemade & healthy meals for when you need a lazy dinner night. <br />
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One dish that I've have had recipe requests for is my Bavarian Lentil Stew. My husband called it "rich and meaty with a hint of sweetness". To me, it reminds of one of my favorite comfort foods that I enjoy in the summer, my maternal grandmother's German potato salad. The best part of the Stew is that the meatiness comes from lentils. The only actual meat in the recipe is the bacon I rendered down at the beginning of the cooking process. The other thing I love about making a stew like this, is that it gives me the perfect excuse to break out my favorite tomato red, cast iron dutch oven. I hope you enjoy this hearty meal as much as we have and that it warms you up on a chilly night.<br />
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Ingredients</div>
<ul>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">4 oz. sliced bacon, roughly chopped</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">½ c. diced onion</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">3/4 c. diced leeks (white parts only)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">½ c. diced celery</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">2 medium carrots, unpeeled & diced</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 qt. chicken broth</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1½ c. brown lentils</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 tsp. thyme</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">2 bay leaves</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">½ tsp. black pepper</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">¼ tsp. nutmeg</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">3 medum sized, raw, yellow potatoes, unpeeled & diced</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">2 Tbsp. white vinegar</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 Tbsp. sugar</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">Salt to taste</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">2 generous splashes of red table wine (make sure its one you would drink yourself, I used "19 Crimes" </li>
</ul>
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Instructions</div>
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<ol>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Heat
a dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Cook the
bacon until the fat has rendered into the pot and the bacon is crispy.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Add the onions, leeks, celery, and carrots to the pot. Saute five minutes, or until golden.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Pour
in the wine and scrape any of the brown bits on the bottom of the pot
with a wooden spoon. Add the lentils, thyme, bay leaves, pepper, stock and
nutmeg. Cook for 30 minutes on medium, covered.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Add
the potatoes and cook an additional 15 until lentils and vegetables are
tender.At this point decide if its thick enough for you. I wanted mine extra thickso it could almost pass for a side dish as aopposed to a stew. I fixed this by adding a small amount of roux. I took 1 tablespoon of butter and melted in a pan with 2 tablespoons of flour until it is dark golden to light brown in color. then stir it into yoiur soup mixture. Stir in vinegar and sugar, then add salt to taste. Serve with
warm bread and butter.</li>
</ol>
Serves Six. Once you prep by chopping up all the veggies the actual cooking time of this rich dish is about an hour give or take a few minutes. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-80963128670248524532015-05-14T20:16:00.000-04:002016-01-24T20:17:38.273-05:00New Beginnings & Finding Home through Banana BreadI know I haven't been on my traditional blog page in months. Our family has had quite a huge period of adjustment and transformation. In order to keep things balanced for us, I had to take a bit of an internet break. Things have finally settled down... a bit so I'm getting back to doing what I love.<br />
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In mid February my husband received a job offer that was a complete surprise to us. it seems too good to pass up. As with any situation like this it had a catch. We had less than 3 weeks to pack up what we needed immediately and move to Charlottesville, VA. We have been ecstatic but also very stressed at the same time. My son had just turned one and the house was still recovering from his first birthday. All of a sudden I had to figure out what we needed to get started in a new city, pack it up by myself and take care of a toddler all at the same time. Sometime in all the chaos we also had to keep returning to Harrisburg (about a 4 our drive) to continue packing up our home and put it on the market as soon as possible.<br />
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This is a huge task for anyone and it was about to get harder. We arrived in Charlottesville excited about all the new possibilities this new city offered. After all, here is a city known not only for wonderful education like UVA, great hospitals, especially for children, lots of participation in the arts, an area with a ton of American history and a proud tradition of locavore chefs. (Guess what I was most excited about?!) When we pulled up to the apartment we had found in a hurry it all went horribly wrong. The space was not what we were told we would be living in at all. It was a dark basement apartment with moisture issues, fleas and a very funky smell..... not exactly where you want to live with a 1 year old. We unfortunately didn't have anywhere to go and had to sign the lease. <br />
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After a few weeks of injuring myself in a kitchen that no one could cook in, cat acquiring fleas from the apartment and finding any excuse to get out to be around people & fresh air, we had had enough. We had been spending every other weekend heading back to Harrisburg to work on packing up our home and getting it market ready. My husband was settled at work and I'd been researching places to move to the entire time. Our son definitely was getting frustrated and all three of us started getting sick from the air quality in that awful living space (despite purifiers running 24/7.) We found somewhere we actually wanted to live that was available right away. The decision was made to break our lease (a very expensive move that I don't recommend unless truly necessary) and carry on. I am happy to say that 3 weeks ago we made our move and today is the first day I truly can begin feeling at home. <br />
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For me, being able to cook comfort food for my family is how I begin to feel at home. Today I am starting that process by making banana bread. We had a ton of ripe bananas from running around so much (easy to carry in bag and purses, no refrigeration needed), so I'm making a double batch. I divided the batter in half. The first half I'm turning into mini muffins for my son. They 're convenient finger food for toddlers on the go. The second half I have added chocolate chips and walnuts to bake into a loaf of bread for my husband and I. I have made a lot of different versions of banana bread over the years, here is my current favorite.<br />
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You will need:<br />
1 2/3 cups flour ( I like organic whole grain white flour for this recipe)<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
1/8 tsp cardamon<br />
1/2 cup organic cane sugar<br />
1/2 cup coconut sugar<br />
2 eggs (I prefer extra large organic)<br />
1/2 cup oil ( if you don't mind a tropical infusion I love coconut oil. It also gives the bread a beautiful rich color. Avocado oil is a great alternative to keep in your healthy fats without changing any flavors as well).<br />
3 1/2 very ripe banana, mashed<br />
2 Tbsp Organic Greek Yogurt<br />
1 tsp Vanilla<br />
2/3 cups nuts or fillers of your choosing***<br />
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Preheat the oven to 350F. Line the bottom of a loaf pan with parchment paper. If making mini muffins, I like to use silicone molds and I spray them with coconut oil. First sift together the baking soda, flour and spices. Set these aside in a bowl. Then, beat the eggs and sugar in a mixer with the whisk attachment and run for about 10 minutes, until light and fluffy. Next, drizzle in the oil and add the mashed bananas, greek yogurt and vanilla. Fold in the dry ingredients and any fillers. For the mini muffins bake about 40 minutes or if you're baking a loaf 45 minutes to an hour. Let cool a bit and enjoy! If you have any left at the end of the day, the slices of bread and mini muffins freeze well for future grab n go snacks.<br />
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***Note: a few optional fillers other than nuts that our family enjoys are raspberries, blueberries, strawberry pieces or chocolate chips. Sometimes I make a tropical version with macadam nuts, coconut chips and crushed pineapple. The batter is fairly versatile. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-51623321725680193952015-02-13T20:23:00.000-05:002016-01-24T20:27:39.702-05:00"Fight the Fear and do it Anyway"Its the second week of February and by now many of you are truly taking stock and are ready to put a lot of those New Year's resolutions into action. You've thought about how you are going to do something and what it will take for you to start..... but what is generally stopping you from an exciting new adventure? Fear.<br />
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Starting anything new is scary. A new beginning can be a big thing like a move but it can also be simpler acts such as starting a new healthy habit, meeting or talking to someone new, and even trying a new food. Fear causes stress and we naturally tend to think of stress as being a bad thing. When fear starts running our lives it can prevent us from experiencing some really awesome events and feelings. New starts and resolutions tend to get stopped before they even start when fear of change kicks in.<br />
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Change is stressful, but that can be a good thing too. I know, you think I'm speaking like a crazy person.... but hear me out. Stress is defined in the dictionary as a response to a stimulus that interferes with the normal equilibrium in the body. We constantly associate stress as a negative thing but by definition if I try a new ice cream flavor and have a positive reaction (such as being super excited about this taste explosion in my mouth), that technically is a response to stimuli that is changing the normal equilibrium in my body. I generally don't walk around giddy constantly.<br />
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So as you see, some stress can be a good thing. Change can lead to so many wonderful possibilities. If you have a job you really hate and decide to find a new one thats a big change. It is also one that can lead to your general everyday contentment if you find your dream job that fulfills you. if you dont embrace the chance to change you could be missing out. <br />
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I like to think of fear as a doorway. It is preventing us from seeing all the really great possibilities that are waiting on the other side of it. If we choose to challenge our fears and open the door an entire world of imagination exists. Our wildest dreams truly can be our reality.<br />
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My husband was just offered a new opportunity that will have huge changes for our entire family but limitless possibilities as well while we move to a new state...... with only a few weeks to do it. Am I stressed? Hell yes! My house looks like a bomb went off from my son's first birthday party and he just started walking/ getting into everything. I need to pack up our essentials by myself while my husband finishes up his last two weeks of work. This is one of the riskiest things we've ever done. Stay tuned to find out how those possibilities worked out. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-28526064613916146312014-09-01T20:26:00.000-04:002014-09-01T20:26:00.700-04:00Summer Nostalgia/ These aren't your grandma's pork chopsI don't know about you, but I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer yet. I've been so busy with clients, visiting family and chasing after the new crawler in our home that I feel like summer just blew past me and I've missed it. With this in mind I spent this holiday weekend making lots of summer favorites. Friday's dinner was really more tropical in theme, but it features two of my favorite flavors on the planet: coconut and mango. I'm making Coconut crusted pork chops with fresh mango salsa. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYa4j_gnG-f2LvDWsRo89Pg2nQbkL_sZTjUmO40RayQUAIYhfaFaGujaiBwLO57YlQJQ-07Kvy9hKr7XRjLYkcOzCZfUBeQ-tWLbfOM-v8zh4gpfnHEWeIw7htl2_Q_YKA0Qg_l1MFrkP/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYa4j_gnG-f2LvDWsRo89Pg2nQbkL_sZTjUmO40RayQUAIYhfaFaGujaiBwLO57YlQJQ-07Kvy9hKr7XRjLYkcOzCZfUBeQ-tWLbfOM-v8zh4gpfnHEWeIw7htl2_Q_YKA0Qg_l1MFrkP/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>The salsa is best if it can marinate a few hours before serving or even overnight, so we'll start with that first. Some of you may be unfamiliar with fresh mangoes because you've only bought them as a puree or already sliced and frozen. So step one is how to cut a mango. A mango has a big almond shaped pit in its center that is usually about 1/2 inch thick. Instead of cutting it directly in half where you see the spot where the vine was attached, cut down on either side of it. When you're done you will have 3 pieces: the one with the pit and the two halves. I cut the little bit of flesh around the pit and use that too because I can't stand wasting any bit of a mango. For each of the halves, score with a knife (cut into the flesh but don't go through the skin), lines across and down so you have the effect of a tic tac toe board. Then from the skin side push in the center which will cause the squares of flesh to pop away from the skin. From here, you can curt them off more easily (see the photo). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUeMHS9uHedASW2aG3xhHtTSYA_NWwFWixNWy6q0HWz_wI2hVVxsN6mZrbNyqJR0iiyBvRGFHmjszo7x583qrHq1Zzs0MZCKEW7HgDOyf2WdIusLaAFovJP5BfjHVyDp41vMPDh4TG9wu/s1600/DSC02702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUeMHS9uHedASW2aG3xhHtTSYA_NWwFWixNWy6q0HWz_wI2hVVxsN6mZrbNyqJR0iiyBvRGFHmjszo7x583qrHq1Zzs0MZCKEW7HgDOyf2WdIusLaAFovJP5BfjHVyDp41vMPDh4TG9wu/s1600/DSC02702.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a>After your mango is diced up, toss in the juice of 1 lime, some kosher salt, chopped fresh cilantro and finely diced Jalepeno. A note on jalepenos (especially if you wear contacts): When cutting them up wear rubber gloves so you don't get the heat on your hands because you will never get it off before a few days. If you take out your contacts and then go to put them in the next day without having worn gloves, you will get a nasty surprise. Also, if your guests don't like really pict food, be sure to remove all the ribs and seeds from the inside of your Jalepeno. Here's how my salsa turned out. The little red bits are actually Jalepeno... Thats what they do when you leave them on your garden vine extra long, just like a bell pepper would do. <br />
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I used thick cut pork chops tonight for my meat but chicken breasts that are split would work very well for this recipe as well. Just cut down on your cooking time. To bread the chops I used three shallow containers: 1) 1/4 cup flour- I used whole wheat flour with a 1/2 tsp of salt 2) 1 egg with a tablespoon of milk whisked together 3) 1/2 cup flour with 1 cup of coconut flakes also known as coconut powder if you're shopping in an Indian market. Dredge the chops through the containers in order (flour then egg mixture and finally coconut mixture. <br />
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Now you're ready to cook them. You can use butter to fry these up in the pan, but I prefer to use coconut oil, about 2 Tbsp. It blends with the coconut flavor and is a little healthier for you. Brown each side of the chops so they begin to get crispy. About 5 minutes total, then transfer them to the oven. I like to place them on a rack raised over the pan so they stay nice and crispy. Cover with foil and bake about another 20 minutes. I actually do this in my convection toaster oven at about 350F so you might have to adjust your time to a bit longer for your oven.<br />
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Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Then serve up with the mango salsa and enjoy! NOTE: this recipe is gluten free & pale friendly if you use coconut milk & coconut flour in place of the regular flour and milk.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-43333288668572233352014-05-16T10:45:00.000-04:002014-05-16T16:33:01.532-04:00Soups On!: Homemade stock.Happy Food Revolution Day! I'm posting every hour on my Facebook page today: Facebook.com/lifeinbalancewellness. I'm sharing recipes and cooking techniques throughout the day. As promised, first up is a basic necessity in every kitchen: Chicken stock... or for you Paleo heads out there, Chicken bone broth. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChLQevblVrH6tIJN3gYgz_JdWDNNizCf7P1cQvmvWvyw7k438WuZjtvMavTu942tV7pNXCVUguPNo4Z8fsx3RAhDdgdOzPeJv-igEKl96sI-3_WOjDv5LguEnx0vvUCO2mSQWwbL7ic3S/s1600/chickenbroth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChLQevblVrH6tIJN3gYgz_JdWDNNizCf7P1cQvmvWvyw7k438WuZjtvMavTu942tV7pNXCVUguPNo4Z8fsx3RAhDdgdOzPeJv-igEKl96sI-3_WOjDv5LguEnx0vvUCO2mSQWwbL7ic3S/s1600/chickenbroth.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Its a rainy and chilly spring morning here in PA so I think of soup on damp days like this. Not to mention, the baby has been ill a few days and now I'm feeling a tad queasy. Some homemade chicken soup is just what I need. The base for every chicken soup and a lot of other things is stock. I just can't justify paying a few bucks at the store for something I can make at home with things I have in my pantry and freezer all the time. Not to mention, who wants all the added salt and preservatives in their food? Not me.<br />
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A lot of people don't roast their own chickens fro dinner anymore. Its pretty easy to do but most don't have time so they pick up one of those rotisserie style ones for about $5 a the grocery store. I bring this up because you will need your own roasted chicken or one of the rotisserie ones for these recipes. I keep things easy by any time I do roast a chicken or a turkey I take the leftover carcass, pop it in a ziploc bag and toss it in the freezer. This same bag is a good place to pop the neck that comes in the package too (that most people never use.) <br />
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So, take the carcass from your freezer or the leftover one from your rotisserie chicken and begin letting it thaw. Next take your favorite stock pot and add your mirepoix to the bottom: thats equal parts diced carrots, celery and onion for those who don't use culinary speak. (I used 4 carrots, 4 ribs of celery and 1 large onion here.) I like to use my dutch oven when dealing with a smaller carcass. Sweat the mirepoix with a little bit of olive oil for a few minutes and then place the chicken carcass on top. Pour in cold water until the carcass is submerged. Fill a sachet, muslin bag or tea ball with a few peppercorns, a garlic clove, 2 bay leaves and some parsley stems. Drop this in the pot as well.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Cook on high heat until
you begin to see bubbles break through the surface of the liquid. Turn heat
down to medium low so that stock maintains low, gentle simmer. Skim the scum
from the stock with a spoon or fine mesh strainer every 10 to 15 minutes for the
first hour of cooking and twice each hour for the next 2 hours. Add hot water
as needed to keep bones and vegetables submerged. Simmer uncovered for 6 to 8
hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Strain stock through a
fine mesh strainer into another large stockpot or heatproof container
discarding the solids. Cool immediately in large cooler of ice or a sink full
of ice water to below 40 degrees. Place in refrigerator overnight. Remove
solidified fat from surface of liquid and store in container with lid in
refrigerator for 2 to 3 days or in freezer for up to 3 months. Prior to use,
bring to boil for 2 minutes. Use as a base for soups and sauces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-14865183956741683972014-05-16T10:11:00.000-04:002014-05-16T10:11:10.100-04:00Gluten free update & some meatballs <em>Note: This Post was writen back in October 2012. It never made it up until now due to computer issues.</em><br />
<br />
Sorry for the long delay between posts, been having some computer issues so I'm posting some that I actually wrote over the last several weeks and haven't uploaded yet. Hope you find them useful!<br />
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My kitchen remodel finally is done and its amazing the difference a functional layout can make. My husband and I noticed I've been cooking nonstop since it was installed. This gluten free diet is so much easier being able to finally cook again. I've had a few yummy successes this past week.<br />
<br />
First up I sautéed some andouille sausage in some olive oil & garlic. Then I added broccollini, zucchini, shrimp and tossed in some cannellini beans. This was definitely a winner. The smokiness of the sausage flavored everything else. The dish was nice and filling too. It didn't need any kind of side dish or starch accompaniment either.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9iK4GEcUrlLoC-pHlGd3i4Edgtc2at4OXJr7wXYkltIgBDW3qrlAzoZHbWncTvK5XRfj8EDn_Oria4BXVbQkgefH9jY7E_d6ADyNk9whmxseJl7DGlUEXMmmF2bnG007ukk1SaFH0U0O/s1600/29EE21C2-1384-40C4-B38A-5D8218B0196F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9iK4GEcUrlLoC-pHlGd3i4Edgtc2at4OXJr7wXYkltIgBDW3qrlAzoZHbWncTvK5XRfj8EDn_Oria4BXVbQkgefH9jY7E_d6ADyNk9whmxseJl7DGlUEXMmmF2bnG007ukk1SaFH0U0O/s200/29EE21C2-1384-40C4-B38A-5D8218B0196F.JPG" height="149" oea="true" width="200" /></a></div>
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My mom came to town and I made a paleo recipe of pork with apples slow cooked in the crockpot. Quite yummy!</div>
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<br />
The next night I was feeling lazy but still did not want to order takeout so I made meatballs. Growing up, I loved helping my mom make meatballs, especially when she'd quote that tv commercial in a funny accent and exclaim "that's a spicy meatball". The spiciest always came from loads of garlic in the meatball mix. I decided I wanted the garlic but I also had to de-gluten her recipe And wanted to make them a bit healthier. They turned out really yummy & I created a new recipe. Score!<br />
<br />
Here's what I did:<br />
I mixed 1package of ground turkey, tossed in a half package of thawed frozen spinach, 2 very large cloves of garlic minced, 1 egg and a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. I also tossed in about a cup of gluten free panko bread crumbs. Next I sautéed the meatballs in some olive oil with about 2 more cloves of garlic mixed in. As soon as the meatballs are browned on the outside I place them In a stoneware baker. I pour some of my slow roasted tomato sauce over the top and let it bake for about 30 minutes. Then enjoy!<br />
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I'm noticing the more cooking I do and the longer I go without gluten, the easier these new dietary changes are becoming. Hopefully those of you pursuing gluten free diets will have as many successes as I have had these last two weeks. Happy eating!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-80599448095716295632014-04-22T10:03:00.001-04:002014-04-22T10:03:32.423-04:00Channel Your Inner LoraxHappy Earth Day! This is a holiday that has always been an important holiday to celebrate in my household. I feel like this year, it can't be a more appropriate time with so many headlines in the news of chemical & oil spills, fracking and all the controversy surrounding what is actually in our food supply. It is so important that future generations understand how important it is to live in balance and harmony with our planet. My son may be too little to understand what we're doing today but I feel the exercise is still important, so I'll tell you about my plans for the morning and maybe it will inspire you to incorporate some of these activities into your day, week or even month. It sounds cliche but we really should live our lives as if it were Earth Day every day.<br />
<br />
We are starting our morning off by heading to a local farmers market. Not only will be getting some really yummy food from framers and local food artisans (in my neck of the woods there are a lot of Amish food crafters), but we'll also be reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our local farmers. Be sure to remember your reusable shopping bag when you go.<br />
<br />
Then we'll enjoy a nice long walk outside (weather permitting) , enjoying all the signs of spring that are finally blooming and appearing all around us. My son enjoys seeing the pops of color and hearing all the birds chirping.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZSI1UNNeE4K1vDMllZ8IDtyJWWw7t1aHazOwy9Vo7ZEkBNJ86Tf7L7-qqTxKV5rHHl3SeS39zFjrqJYPACzaTi9wH6dcWsx-jlnWmacslNkjVkpjaznFTDd17a54lbSP9sOMpWe7ouIK/s1600/butterfly+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZSI1UNNeE4K1vDMllZ8IDtyJWWw7t1aHazOwy9Vo7ZEkBNJ86Tf7L7-qqTxKV5rHHl3SeS39zFjrqJYPACzaTi9wH6dcWsx-jlnWmacslNkjVkpjaznFTDd17a54lbSP9sOMpWe7ouIK/s1600/butterfly+pot.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>Next we'll be focusing on growing things. Planting a tree is always a popular activity in celebration of Earth Day. We don't have much room for another tree in our yard so we're working on our yard instead. This is a great day and time of year to plant seeds for your summer garden. This is a perfect activity to get little ones involved and teach them where their food comes from. if you don't have a nice yard to plant in, start a container or windowsill garden. The kids can have fun painting the pots that their plants will grow in. We're making some keepsake pots like this one to give to our parents' for Mother's Day. I love the butterfly wings made from little feet. Little hands also make a great tree trunk and then the kids can paint on leaves of a tree with their fingerprints.<br />
<br />
Finally we'll wrap up the day with a nice home-cooked dinner. You can introduce the family to a new vegetarian dish or if your family are meat eaters, introduce them to some grass fed meats, often available at your local farm market. Grass fed beef is not only better for the environment but its better for you as week. Its a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids and it tastes amazing! <br />
<br />
However you decide to celebrate Earth Day, I hope you have a happy one.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-87682623384205825732014-01-14T10:41:00.001-05:002014-01-14T10:41:58.076-05:00Chia Seeds- not just for growing windowsill pets anymore<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yup! You heard me correctly, the seeds they used to grow those silly Chiapets are the same ones that natural health food stores are selling like crazy these days. I began to wonder why so I thought I'd research & try these little seeds out for myself. Here's What I found out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="txtHomeMainCopy" style="line-height: 135%; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 2px; vertical-align: top;">Chia is undergoing something of a renaissance after centuries of neglect. It was a major crop in central Mexico between 1500 and 900 B.C. and was still cultivated well into the 16th century, AD, but after the Spanish conquest, authorities banned it because of its close association with Aztec religion (Indians used the seeds as offerings in rituals). Until fairly recently, chia was produced by only a few small growers, but commercial production has resumed in Latin America, and you can now buy the seeds online and in health food stores.</span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFkDbKasZgBCbHJ6nCzl4nXybXD8-vgQo0ObumntepHqLhORm0cRFh8nkkh7GnoKMnG8HLM2udyagoSLyL8Xr2hz79Bfd6JQCy5lzQ3H1PLxXWKj0INcIblv99BheHhjT3Az3iXJf6LxE/s1600/chia+seeds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFkDbKasZgBCbHJ6nCzl4nXybXD8-vgQo0ObumntepHqLhORm0cRFh8nkkh7GnoKMnG8HLM2udyagoSLyL8Xr2hz79Bfd6JQCy5lzQ3H1PLxXWKj0INcIblv99BheHhjT3Az3iXJf6LxE/s200/chia+seeds.JPG" width="195" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">These little Chia seeds are one of many grains that provides excellent health benefits when grown in to sprouts. The difference with Chia seeds is that you don't have to sprout them to get a really good nutritional punch. They can be sprinkled on hot cereal and used in baking, for a nutritional boost comparable only to flaxseed in Omega 3 and dietary fiber content.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chia seeds are full of protein and dietary fiber. Chia seeds are also high in anti-oxidants and have been found to be <a class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_4962842_what-chia-seeds.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask#" id="itxthook2" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 100, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.075em; color: darkgreen; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 1px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook2w0" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: darkgreen; font-weight: inherit;">beneficial</span></a> to diabetics due to their ability to inhibit the speed of carbohydrates being turned into sugars. The seeds are also being used as a diet aid because they help a person feel fuller and, therefore, curb hunger.<span class="text"> There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.</span> <span class="text">They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against <b>inflammation</b>—such as <b>arthritis</b>—and <b>heart disease</b>). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!</span></span><br />
<span class="text" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Why should you should eat chia? Here's a few more facts: <b>just</b> 2 tablespoons of chia seeds has:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<ol style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 25px; padding: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Five times the amount of calcium in milk (plus boron which helps you absorb it)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Three times the amount of antioxidants in blueberries</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Three times the amount of iron in spinach</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Three times the amount of fiber in oatmeal</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two times the amount of protein of any other bean, seed or grain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two times the amount of potassium in a banana</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because chia seeds expand up to 3 times their original size when wet and have such a high fiber content (great for regularity!), they can help you eat less and stay full longer by bulking up your meals and crowding out fat, sugar and calories (great for weight loss!). Consuming chia seeds increase energy and endurance (great for runners!). They also help your body rebuild muscle after exercise and during and post pregnancy. Chia seeds have more Omega 3’s and a much longer shelf life than flax (and can be substituted in any recipe for flax).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I've been experimenting with them & discovered that they really give me a nice burst of energy when I mixed them into pudding, mixed them into my snacks and I really love them in my breakfasts. </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span>While there are countless ways to incorporate chia into your daily meals, here is one particularly delicious (and easy!) dessert that you can feel great about eating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chai Chia Pudding (Serves 6)</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ingredients:</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<ul style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 25px; padding: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/4 cup chia seeds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup unsweetened almond (or coconut) milk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5 pitted Medjool dates</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 teaspoon cinnamon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/8 teaspoon cloves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/8 teaspoon nutmeg</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1/8 teaspoon ground ginger</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div>
<span class="text" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Combine all ingredients except chia seeds in a high-speed blender and whirl on high until smooth. Whisk liquid into chia seeds in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Place in fridge for 1-2 hours, until thick or overnight. ENJOY!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chia has a nut-like flavor. You can mix seeds in water and add lime or lemon juice and sugar to make a drink known in Mexico and Central America as "chia fresca." As with ground flax seeds, you can sprinkle ground or whole chia seeds on cereal, in yogurt or salads, eat them as a snack, or grind them and mix them with flour when making muffins or other baked goods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a late work morning today and thought I'd treat myself to a yummy and power packed breakfast to help me get through my busy day. I decided on a recipe that I'd seen on the Oh She Glows Blog : <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/recipage/?recipe_id=6002072&prev_term=oats">Sweet Potato Oatmeal Breakfast Casserole</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="txtHomeMainCopy" style="line-height: 135%; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 2px; vertical-align: top;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="txtHomeMainCopy" style="line-height: 135%; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 2px; vertical-align: top;">I thought it was pretty yummy. I hope you enjoy these recipes too. Have a great week everyone!</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-3693602370528707852014-01-03T09:03:00.001-05:002014-01-03T09:03:21.495-05:00Celebrate the Small StuffIt is so important to celebrate not only the big victories in one's daily life, but the small ones as well. Case in point : we received quite a bit of snow overnight and this morning was trash day. Due to snow last week, we slept in and missed trash day entirely. I don't know about you, but the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year's are probably the most trash we put out all year... Filled an entire can (so not normal for us). Anyway, as many of you know, I'm expecting a baby in three weeks or so. <br />
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<i><u>Warning...Small side rant:</u></i> Throughout my pregnancy everyone keeps telling me, "take it easy, you're doing too much." I have to be honest. Every time I hear this, it really pisses me off. I'm pregnant, not recovering from major surgery or a mega ordeal that affected my body drastically... yet. While pregnant, I wish people could realize that I know my body and my limits. I will definitely know and feel it if I overdo things. When I need to take a break or a nap I will. I will definitely suffer for not listening to my body, so please, just trust my judgement and that of the other pregnant overachieving women in your lives. Americans tend to be one of very few cultures in the world that makes a big stink about this. I think the rest of the world is smarter in their thinking: <i>let the lady take it easy for a while after she gives birth. Its a major ordeal to recover from and she is going to need some help for a few weeks. </i> <br />
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<i><u>Back to the point: </u></i>This morning I woke up and realized I had to get the trash out. I'm in nesting mode, so needless to say I'm cleaning a ton and clutter is driving me insane. The trash needed to go away. So I chucked on my boots and picked up a shovel. Before I realized it, I had shoveled the entire driveway. I wheeled the trash out just in the nick of time, as the truck was coming around the corner. Woohoo! I felt like doing a cartwheel, except my lack of balance these days and my large protruding belly spoke to my common sense and prevented me from doing so.<br />
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Instead of celebratory gymnastics, I'll be treating myself to a good nourishing breakfast: a cinnamon raisin ezekial muffin with almond butter and a glass of green juice. I'm turning today into a "hooray for me" day, so naturally I will be relaxing in my kitchen (and maybe do a little prenatal yoga). I 'm going to make a nice loaf of banana raspberry oatmeal bread for future snacking and a yummy pot black eyed pea stew for dinner, while jamming out to some of my favorite tunes. Goal setting is so much easier when you celebrate the things you do every day. Its amazing the difference a little bit of positive reinforcement makes when you get some every day. So yes, celebrate your big accomplishments, but don't forget to reward yourself for the little ones too. It will make the week fly by and your gratitude jar will be overflowing at the end of the year.<br />
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P.S. for those of you who are curious, I will be posting the banana bread and stew recipes later in the week on my pinterest board: <i>LIB recipes. </i>You can follow me on pinterest.com/LifeinBalanceHC<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-32607350965607944162013-12-17T09:54:00.001-05:002013-12-17T09:59:44.095-05:00"Today I will Live inThe Moment, Unless Its Unpleasant...In which case I will eat a cookie"- Cookie Monster<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">Being very pregnant, getting lots of fiber in my diet is super important to me right now. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">One of my favorite ways to eat more fiber is incorporating lots of oats into my meals. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">Oats contain more soluble fiber than any other grain.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"> I use them in oatmeal, muffins, breads and is even a great binder in meatloaf to use instead of breadcrumbs. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">If you're trying to lower your cholesterol consuming 2-3 servings of oats per day day can really help. I'm not saying eating 3 servings of cookies every day will help, but the extra fiber in your diet is always a good thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">With the holiday season upon us, I've got baking on the brain...specifically cookies (as if you couldn't tell where I was going already with this post). One thing that always bugs me is why do people add regular white flour to oatmeal cookies. Why add something that doesn't really add nutritional value, when you can use the good stuff for no extra cost? I like to use all oats in my oatmeal cookies. its easy. Just take half of your oats and pulverize them in the food processor to make your own oat flour. As an added bonus, this makes these cookies naturally gluten free. </span><br />
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16oz rolled oats toasted at 375 for 20 mins</div>
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Place half of toasted oats in food processor to make a flour. Once pulverized add 1tsp cinnamon and 1tsp aluminum free baking powder and a pinch of sea salt.</div>
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In a mixer, combine your wet ingredients on high speed:</div>
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10oz unsalted room temp butter, 6oz dark brown sugar, 3.5 oz organic cane sugar, and beat together to cream until smooth ( about 3 mins)</div>
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Slow mixer to low and add 1 large egg, & 1tsp vanilla extract.</div>
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Add flour mixture slowly into wet ingredients. Next add optional ingredients such as nuts, chocolate chips or raisins. Also add the other half of the rolled oats that weren't pulverized. Bake 375 12 minutes. If you use 1 tablespoon size drops of dough, this recipe makes about 4 dozen nibbler sized cookies. </div>
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Note: if you have a gluten intolerance, make sure to buy certified Gluten Free rolled oats. Oats do not contain gluten but many brands are processed in the same plants as conventional flours/ I tend to trust Bob's Red Mill brand the most. Also, if you are vegan or have a dairy intolerance, you can substitute Earth Balance Sticks for the butter. I find they do not alter the texture.</div>
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Now the hard part is keeping my husband out of the tins through the week so we have some left for when company comes over. Hope you enjoy them! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-72140304490084885622013-10-15T06:37:00.002-04:002013-10-15T06:37:27.437-04:00Too Much Sugar + lots of fake stuff = Overstimulation!Morning! I've been experimenting on where I get the most followers from and make daily posts on my <a href="http://facebook.com/lifeinbalancewellness">Facebook</a> page regularly. So, if you feel you haven't heard from me in a while, that's where I've been. Anyway, It's still dark out as I'm writing this at 0-dark-thirty, but I can't sleep.<br />
You can already see why the title of this post fits, as I've already gone off on a tangent before making it to the 2nd sentence of this post. If you haven't kept up with me on Facebook, you may not know that I'm pregnant.... About 6 months, to be exact. I always have been a mindful eater and this month I've really been focusing (more than usual) and pledged, to spend the month of October not eating processed foods at all.<br />
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Yesterday morning, I had to have a test to see if I had gestational diabetes. I had asked my doctor in advance if I could try a more difficult way to take this test that my blood tech from my previous doctor had told me about. This phlebotamist had gotten to know me and the work that I do pretty well. She explained there's a way to take the test eating only natural foods but it was an insane amount of food and a lot of work. I was willing to try it. I asked my doctor about this and they said there was no such thing that was accurate and this was my only choice. (red flag!!, but I'll get to that later)<br />
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Basically, the normal version of this test is an insane amount of glucose & dextrose that you have to drink straight. They call it Glucola. You also can't eat anything for two hours beforehand. To make it worse, they add a ton of artificial flavors and colors to it. Most people say it's not that bad and it reminds them of drinking orange Hi-C. It was truly disgusting. For someone like me, it was a swift reminder of why I have avoided eating/ drinking chemical laden foods several years ago.<br />
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Needless to say, my body did not react well (by my standards) and here it is almost 24 hours later and I'm still feeling the effects. The first thing I noticed right away was sweating, jitters and mild shakes. The next thing I noticed while driving to the doctors was that I was in a very cranky & in a very agitated mood. When I brought up these symptoms, the staff said this was completely normal (scary). Ok, mini divergent rant: Is this why our kids have no attention span, are anxious and have behavior problems..... If you add up what most kids eat in a day now, compared to what I drank, there is not a whole lot of difference. Makes me wonder....yeah, after yesterday, not so much.<br />
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I left the docs and was given the go ahead to start eating and drinking again. I started chugging water like it was my job, but no matter how much I drank, I was still thirsty. I had to run home, finish packing an overnight bag and drive down to MD to see my family. I couldn't focus. I forgot several important things I needed. As I drove, everything was distracting me and I continued being agitated and cranky. My face had horrible red blotches on it. I looked terrible, despite a good full night's sleep.<br />
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I pulled over and stopped at a store to get some nuts and other protein hoping to regulate myself out. I couldn't take these symptoms. The protein definitely helped me to focus more on my driving. An hour and a half later, once arriving, I ate some more protein and veg. Leveled out a bit more. My mantra for the day became no sugar or carbs....only water, protein and vegetables in hopes I could even myself out. It did start to work eventually and spending some happy time with my mom and eldest nephew also helped considerably.<br />
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I was doing great until we went to dinner at a neighborhood spot and I forgot myself a moment and got a bread pudding for dessert (one of my favs). I have been tossing and turning all night, with racing thoughts and hyperactivity. I haven't felt like this since college ( not good. I was on medication to treat these symptoms back then). Just after college is when I learned the benefits of changing my diet and never had to be on meds again. The change in how much sleep I began getting, not to mention how much calmer and happier I felt was miraculous.<br />
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I am hoping getting back to my normal eating habits today, I'll continue to feel better. But this experience taught me three things<br />
1) I need to stick with my gut feelings and if something doesn't gel with what my doctor recommends I need to speak up and get other opinions/ find another solution we both agree on.... or find a different doctor.<br />
2) I will not be abandoning my eating plan again. It does too much that affects my well being and happiness<br />
3) once my son is born I will be enforcing my healthy habits because I don't want him growing up having to feel miserable and not know there is a better way<br />
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I hope my own aggravation during this experience can hopefully help some of you from having to go through the same thing. I hope all of you have a great day.... and be good to yourselves!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0Glenwood, MD, USA39.2876049 -77.028034314.425035899999997 -118.3366283 64.1501739 -35.7194403tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-42133412965517304992013-08-23T09:45:00.000-04:002013-08-23T09:45:47.331-04:00Nobody's Perfect, and I wouldn't have it any other way!<div>
Many people assume that those of us who are health coaches eat perfect all the time and are always blissfully happy. While this is true quite often, here is a newsflash: we are only human and we have bad moods too. I believe we've just learned how to turn things around by finding the smallest little postive niblet to focus on.</div>
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This morning was a prime example for me. As many of you nkow, I'm about 4 and a half months pregnant. Like many women, at this stage in my pregnancy I am frustrated with a lot of things. Some of which being that my bump is growing quickly but its at that awkward stage where I look really paunchy in the middle, I have no energy and I'm way behind on my daily to-do lists (including keeping up with this blog and my daily chores around the house). I also crave and occasionally munch things I hardly ever eat (I have an unusal fascination with birthday cake lately). These feelings also tend to put one's self esteem in the toilet, despite the fact my brain gets the logical reason for these symptoms, my heart does not understand. I have always been an over achiever and find all this beyond exasperating.</div>
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The alarm went off today and I was grumpy. I didn't want to get so early for a part time job, (that is not exactly all that challenging)... I'm behind on my laundry and since I haven't really made the switch to maternity clothes yet, my choices were limited. I grimaced as I reached for the only dress hanging in my closet. It is a cute little black linen number that I picked up on my honeymoon in Hawaii two years ago. I slipped it on thinking it would get stuck around the middle, but the most amazing thing happened. It fit and with room too!!! I wanted to let a whoop of joy but didn't want to wake up my hubby who was still asleep in bed. </div>
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I could not figure out how this was possible. I thought about it on my drive to work and then it hit me: I had a flashback to two years ago.</div>
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Just before getting married, to say I was a stressed out mess would be a serious understatement. I was working in a job with a very unhealthy environment that was also rather sedentary. Planning a wedding between two states with lots of friend and family drama did not exactly help either. I became bloated and literally sick. I had already studied Reiki, as well as other holistic health modalities, so I knew this lifestyle wasn't working for me. I needed a big change. That fall I started attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. As a health coaching and nutrition student I decided to learn by immersion about all the dietary theories we were studying in school. Please understand, I wan't on a crash diet to lose weight or working out with a trainer like crazy. All that I have done since embarking on this journey a few years ago is change my eating habits to what people now call "clean eating". Ironically enough, this is how I pretty much ate growing up, but its easy to forget because there wasn't so much processed stuff in our food supply back then..... at least not that my family ate. </div>
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The other thing I learned at IIN is to balance my work life and relationships better. What works for me is a daily goal to find mini victories each day to help me maintain my focus. Staying healthy and happy is easy once I've done that. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now, as an IIN graduate these concepts are what I help my clients learn too. Everyone needs a different approach, one that works and suits their own personal lifestyle. Your daily goals and challenges will be different than mine, but the concept is the same. No one is perfect and there is no point in beating up oneself. Especially for things that we have the power to change, even when it feels like we can't. My exciting revelation with the little black dress this morning proves that this approach works, even after a long period of time. Let me help you discover your own personal gifts and power to change your own life. Call or email me to book your free initial health consultation today. I'd love to help you find your own path to happiness. In the meantime, be good to yourselves and remember to celebrate your own daily mini victories. I think after work I'm going home to try on my wedding dress to remind myself how far I've come. Have a great weekend!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-83230505448680116252013-05-30T09:38:00.000-04:002013-05-30T09:38:17.785-04:00Warning: Contains Awesome Food Related ProfanityIts a hot early summer day here in Harrisburg. On days when I wake up sweating I usually start looking for some cool recipe inspiration for dinner first thing. In my perusal of recipes featuring lots of cold salads and grilled yumminess, I saw an article on Saveur.com about the winne rof the best new food blog and had to check it out for myself.<br />
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I know its weird..... a blog post about another blogger. This blog took me by surprise though. I'm talking about "Thug Kitchen". You've probably seen the pictures from this blog on Pinterest or floating around Facebook. I find them really funny. A lot of people find them offensive because of the profanity.<br />
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Yes, there is a lot of profanity on this blog because this guy is completely passionate about eating healthy. I know I'm not the only person who get s so frustrated seeing what other people eat sometime and find myself swearing. For me, this is usually an internal process. I like the brutal honesty and intensity of this blog. The author wrote it for entertainment purposes, but also to put some good healthy food recipes out in the universe. Bonus if you're a vegetarian because the recipes are, for the majority, plant based. (His girl friend is a vegan.)<br />
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So if you have a few minutes, and no children in the room, I suggest you check out ThugKitchen.com <br />
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I'll be back to my old every other week posting schedule shortly. Lots of big news is on its way.... and lots of new recipes too since my garden is going to explode very shortly. Hope everyone had a happy & healthy memorial day weekend!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-91282999078374872292013-03-16T08:00:00.001-04:002013-03-17T10:19:56.025-04:00"Oh, he occasionally takes an alcoholiday".- Oscar WildePlease Note: I actually wrote this post last year and forgot to publish it. Hope you find it enlightening. <br />
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St Patrick's day is one of those holidays that has become for most Americans, to drink way too much alcohol and pretend that they're Irish by wearing lots of green. Its supposed to be a celebration of Irish American culture. Unfortunately, most partyers don't even know the history of the holiday. Out of respect for the Irish I'd like to set the record a bit straighter. Here's a mini history lesson.<br />
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Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people by driving the away the snakes. Or to put it more bluntly, he was the person who got the credit for stomping the Pagan religion out of Ireland (which is another reason why I usually don't celebrate this holiday). In the centuries following Patrick's death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well known legend is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock. <br />
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March 17th is celebrates the day that died St Patrick back in the 5th century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast--on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage (not corned beef which is a collaboration that originated in New York between Jewish & Irish immigrants).<br />
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I'm all about having a good time, and love some good boot stomping Irish music, but St Patrick's Day is one day of the year you can't pay me to be in a bar. Instead of a nasty light beer dyed green, we will be enjoying some nice stouts and lagers in the comfort of our home. If you do enjoy a nice pint of stout, please do not drink it cold out of the fridge. Drink it like they do in Ireland, sip it at room temperature, all the wonderful coffee and chocolate flavors will develop and it tastes so much richer. We prefer to enjoy comfort food on chilly March evenings. Since its rainy and cooling down a bit from last week's heat wave I made up a nice batch of Guiness beef stew for the weekend (complete with local grass fed beef & organic veggies of course).<br />
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One thing I particularly admire about most Irish cuisine is that its main influence is what is locally available and seasonal. Its also usually made from simple and inexpensive ingredients.<br />
If you want to celebrate by incorporate more green in to your diet (which is always a good thing to do) here are a couple of tasty recipes (not necessarily Irish) that are good anytime of year :<br />
- <a href="http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Ricotta-Pea-Mint-Bruschetta-MIchael-Symon">Pea & mint Bruschetta</a>, a yummy appetizer & a great way to enjoy the flavors of spring<br />
-<a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/recipe-colcannon-quesadillas/">Colcannon Quesadillas</a> - a yummy vegan bar food twist on the traditional Irish dish<br />
- <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-stuffed-sweet-potatoes-with-beans-and-greens-recipes-from-the-kitchn-181845">Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with White Beans & Kale</a><br />
-<a href="http://www.fitsugar.com/Leafy-Green-Recipes-St-Patricks-Day-28438299">Some great Greens recipes from fitsugar.com</a><br />
-and don't forget your morning green smoothie!<br />
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Here's an Irish Toast to all of you:<br />
"May you always have walls for the winds,<br />
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,<br />
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,<br />
and all your heart might desire."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-63799105269055597122013-01-22T14:12:00.004-05:002013-01-22T14:12:44.526-05:00Soup's On!<br />
The high today without the windchill is about 20 degrees farenheit...brrrrrrr! My husband has the unfortunate experience of having to work outside today. This time of year I crave comfort food, and in this type of weather means a lot of soups and stews. <br />
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Last week we had several successes. First up for Meat free Monday we enjoyed a broccoli and cheddar soup, recipe courtesy of Wegman's. We had margherita pizza (fresh tomatoes with basil) to go with it. I used Udi's gluten free pizza crust. My husband actually likes these because they make a really nice thin crust pizza. </div>
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Here's the link to the soup recipe: <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=732692">http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=732692</a></div>
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Next up was a recipe I discovered on Pinterest, Octoberfest Stew. IT was pretty quick, easy and I already had all the ingredients in my fridge and pantry. <a href="http://thecozyapron.com/oktoberfest-stew-and-shiny-happy-people/">http://thecozyapron.com/oktoberfest-stew-and-shiny-happy-people/</a></div>
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I liked this recipe a lot, it was really hearty. the only thing I would change is that I'd add the cabbage in a bit later so that it wasn't so overcooked. I'd rather have some more vitamins that weren't completely cooked out of it.</div>
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Tonight I'm making up some good spicy Indian food, lentils and cauliflower in a spicy tomato curry. I figure the rich sauce and some good Naan bread will help to heat my husband up after a long & cold day.</div>
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Tomorrow is a busy day so I'll be using my crockpot to save time and make greek chicken pitas, you'll need:</div>
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<a href="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/162692605259963714_aKgYJkcN_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="200" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/162692605259963714_aKgYJkcN_c.jpg" width="150" /></a>1 medium onion, sliced </div>
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1 clove garlic, minced </div>
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1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat </div>
1½ teaspoons lemon pepper <br />
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½ teaspoon dried oregano </div>
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¼ teaspoon ground allspice </div>
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4 pita pocket breads </div>
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½ cup plain yogurt </div>
1 tomato, sliced <br />
½ cup chopped cucumber <br />
1 medium red bell pepper, sliced in thin strips <br />
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Directions<br />
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1. In slow-cooker, combine onion, garlic, chicken, lemon pepper, oregano, and allspice; mix to coat chicken with seasoning.<br />
2. Cover and cook onLOWfor 4–6 hours.<br />
3. Heat pita bread as directed on package. Meanwhile, remove chicken from slow-cooker; place on cutting board. Using two forks, shred chicken.<br />4. To serve, stir yogurt into onion mixture in slow-cooker. Spoon chicken onto warm pita bread. With slotted spoon, transfer onion mixture onto chicken; top with tomato, cucumber, and red pepper strips.<br />
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Hope these recipe ideas help keep you warm this week! For my next post I'll be giving you healthier options that will still take care of the hungriest apetities for the upcoming Superbowl celebrations. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-4296487473330961492012-12-31T14:59:00.001-05:002012-12-31T14:59:05.247-05:00Old Traditions With A New Twist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year! One year ago today, my husband and I were moving the last of our belongings from our tiny apartment into our lovely new home. We felt it was only appropriate to host New Year's Eve for our friends and mark the occasion of being settled. It won't be a big blowout, a small crowd of about 8 friends, which is personable & comfy. We like our gatherings to reflect our tastes. We both love learning about other cultures and we also like the old blended with the new (such as Victorian homes with modern interiors). And I also like to keep things healthy. There's nothing worse than leaving a holiday party feeling overstuffed and bloated. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybNXCfBFvnNZedxzWmgYTuramqVk6AbEcQBA2iwhDDa43lmhyeTqKBVmgQGbK8yPCA-22b3Lco3LfRvnK_TecdbK8tU244v_ErhRQsNoX2xJWkxmEvMX1rxQDeWiLLrnrxn_pq0gMZDHL/s1600/DSC01656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybNXCfBFvnNZedxzWmgYTuramqVk6AbEcQBA2iwhDDa43lmhyeTqKBVmgQGbK8yPCA-22b3Lco3LfRvnK_TecdbK8tU244v_ErhRQsNoX2xJWkxmEvMX1rxQDeWiLLrnrxn_pq0gMZDHL/s200/DSC01656.JPG" width="112" /></a>We decided to reflect all three of these things in our dinner menu. Our food choices are taken from how they celebrate New Year's Eve form around the world. So here's some of things we'll be eating and the symbolism behind each. </div>
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In China & Japan they have a number of food traditions. The one we chose was eating noodles. My husband loves Soba, which are buckwheat noodles from Japan. In these countries, long noodes symbolize longevity, so I made a cold sesame noodle salad. Its super easy to make:</div>
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- Cook, rinse and drain 1 package of organic buckwheat noodles</div>
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-in a bowl combine 10 teaspoons tamari soy sauce, 4 teaspoons of rice vinegar, 4 teaspoons of sesame oil and about 2 tablespoons of honey. Whisk the liquid all together. </div>
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-add some chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds to the noodles and toss with the dressing. </div>
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In England, and many parts of Europe dishes featuring lots of leafy greens are popular. Greens such as collards, kale and cabage are said to represent money & wealth. My husband and most of our friends don't share my love of Kale, so instead I feaured cabbage by making an Asian slaw with a miso ginger dessing. It also goes nicely with the noodle salad. <br />
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In Turkey, pomegranites are traditonally eaten. Their red color is seen to symbolize a healthy heart and fertilityas well. I don't know much about Turkish recipes so I incorporated the pomegranite seeds into waldorf salad. Egglpant dishes and hummus are also popular in this part of the world, as well as in Egypt and Lebanon. I'm serving up some eggplant tapenade and the hummus with pita chips. The way I see it, feeding my friends lots of fruit and veg is a good way to start the new year! <br />
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Next stop in our culinary world tour is Italy. I diverted the wisdom of Mario Batai & my favorite of his restarants, <a href="http://www.babbonyc.com/">Babbo</a>, on this one. This dish is one of the most traditional dishes to eat at "Cenone", the Italian traditional New Year's Eve supper. Here is a link to the recipe : <a href="http://www.altacucinasociety.com/recipes_detail.asp?id=100">http://www.altacucinasociety.com/recipes_detail.asp?id=100</a><br />
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When you eat the lentils within an hour before midnight, they are said to symbolize the wealh you will acquire in th coming year. The sausage is a special one from Modena that is difficult to find. I was able to purchase some on amazon after no luck at any of the ocal butcher shops.<br />
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Sticking with the sausage theme, pork is a lucky food throughout most of the world, unlike chicken which is apparently bad luck on his fesive night. In the Netherlands they enjoy little pigs made out of marzipan. Germany has sausages and sauerkraut. I thought this would be easy and got a nice variety of handcrafted german sausages from Wegmans. The sauerkraut is my grandmother's recipe. Her father was an immigrant from Poland and her mother one from Hungary, so she knows her pickled vegetables. Not to mention, she doesn't consider it a proper holiday celebration unless theres sauerkraut and some type of pork. <br />
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Also paying tribute to my cultural heritage, my grandfather on my father's side of the family is Greek. Normally on new year's eve you would enjoy a St. Basil's cake. I'm sill watching my gluten intake, and settled on making Spanikopita instead, with some special gluten free phyllo, of course. <br />
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In Spain and Portugal it is tradition to eat twelve grapes at midnight, one at each of the twelve "bongs" of the clock. Each chime represents a month of the year. This way you will have good luck for each of the twelve months in the coming year. I'll be serving these with our Champagne toast. <br />
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True Champagne comes from the region of Champagne France and is often made from Chardonnay grapes. My father's mother came over on theboat from France when she was a girl, so in our home drinking true champagne was a must. If its not from this region, you are technically drnking sparkling wine. Most sparkling wines sold this time of year can be pretty awful. This is the one time of year most people try champagne unfortunately so it get a bad rap. An alternative that many people enjoy is a sparkling dessert wine from Italy, called Prosecco. It is sweet and light so most people will drink this happily. <br />
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Here are a fewgood toasts that I especially liked:<br />
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<em>Be at war with your voices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. </em><br />
<em>~Benjamin Franklin</em><br />
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<em>For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ~ T.S. Eliot </em><br />
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<em>The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt</em><br />
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<br />However you celebrate tonight,I hope you do so safely. I wish each and every one of you a happy and HEALTHY 2013, full of good cheer. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0Harrisburg, PA, USA40.2737002 -76.88441790000001740.1767947 -77.045779400000015 40.3706057 -76.723056400000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-88225852918328457652012-12-19T12:50:00.000-05:002012-12-19T12:56:45.235-05:00Channeling my Inner Cookie MonsterIts been a busy and exciting last few weeks for me. For those of you whom I haven't talked to, I am finally leaving my full time job at Lowes. The best part is that I'm leaving it so I can expand my coaching practice. I'll be doing what I love full time! Not to mentino the change in schedule... first time having evenings and weekends off in quite a few years. <br />
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What prompted my decision? It struck me that I talk about evaluating quality of life issues and time management with a lot of my clients. I have been juggling this crazy Lowes schedule, not seeing my family adn definitely not getting paid enough for my efforts for way to long. My dream was to be coaching full time. I started building my business but it got to the point that my job at Lowe's was preventing me from pursuing my dreams. <br />
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So now that I am free to enjoy my family and my home more, what will I be doing? I've got some great classes and workshops I've been developping that I want to start offering. My favorite ones are using creativity using rubber stamps and papercrafting. Keep your eyes peeled for my monthly gratitude project series. Over the next 2 weeks I also plan on thoroughly enjoying the holidays by baking, handmaking my holiday cards and gift tags and baking in my newly rennovated kitchen. Tommorrow evening my husband and I will be enjoying a nice quiet dinner at home and burning of the Yule log before all the holiday hoopla starts with our families over the next week. <br />
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This time of year is one of indulgence for me. I let myself take the extra time to treat myself to a day of baking, and to enjoy the occasional treat or two. As with everything I try to stay balanced about my choices as possible, enjoying these indulgences in moderation. One of our favorite indulgences lately is the chocolate milk we get from the local farm. If you happen to live in PA and are near Strites' Orchard or see it anywhere else, the chocolate milk from the Apple Valley Creamery is amazing! Its like drinking a milk shake. <br />
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I have discovered that living a gluten free lifestyle does not mean I really have to give up my favorite holiday foods. I just get to morph the recipes a bit. I love baking cookies this time of year. Here are a few that I plan on making over the next few days during my extra fee time. <em>Note: the recipes below are gluten free, if you need to make them vegan as well, I've had a lot of luck using the earth balance buttery sticks in my cooking and baking. they're in the dairy case of the natural foods section at the grocery store. </em><br />
<a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/gluten-free-Ginger-Cookies"><img class="SolrResultThumb" height="200" src="http://www2.worldpub.net/images/saveurmag/7-cookie-advent-gf-ginger-750.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Ginger Molasses Cookies<br />
<a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/gluten-free-Ginger-Cookies">http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/gluten-free-Ginger-Cookies</a><br />
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Traditional Sugar Cookies<br />
<a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Gluten-Free-Sugar-Cookies">http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Gluten-Free-Sugar-Cookies</a><br />
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In our family its not the holidays without peanut butter cookies, occosionally topped with a chocolate kiss, luckily for me they are naturally gluten free!<br />
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<a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Gluten-Free-Peanut-Butter-Cookies">http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Gluten-Free-Peanut-Butter-Cookies</a><br />
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This was a neat dessert that I plan to take to my parents' home, Gluten free sugar Cookie blueberry cheesecake:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" id="prodImg"><img alt="Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie Cheesecake with Blueberries" class="prodImg200" height="200" jquery16202920619312310447="22" src="http://www.wegmans.com/images/recipe/200/17569.jpg" title="Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie Cheesecake with Blueberries" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=752638">http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=752638</a><br />
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Lastly, my piece de resistance I'll be making my famous Pumpkin Amaretto Chessecake for Dessert for the holiday celebration with my husband's family. I'll use the ginger cookies pictured above to make the crust so I can keep my cheesecake gluten free as well. I'll post some pictures as soon as I have some. I'm sorry to say that recipe however is top secret. I'll be posting next about the approaching new year. In the meantime, happy holidays regardless of how you celebrate them.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-67154855133837521892012-09-10T16:49:00.003-04:002012-09-10T16:49:46.284-04:00My crockpot is becoming my best friend........not because it's chilly this week either. I came home from work yesterday to discover my husband had finally demolished our kitchen so our new one can be installed. This is exciting on several levels but really scary to me for one reason: I don't want to compromise my personal food values just because I don't have a normally functioning kitchen at the moment, I'm not sure where everything has been stashed and lastly everything is covered in about a quarter inch of dust.<br />
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I teach a lot of my kitchen design clients about the need to be prepared and organized during their remodels, but much like my struggle with my new gluten free diet, talking about something and living it are two completely different things.<br />
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I decided, in advance, I was going to set up my kitchen like I do when on a camping trip. My friends at festivals joke that I'm glamping because we always have such a nice kitchen for the week. What it really boils down to is that just because I'm at a festival doesn't mean I should start suddenly eating a ton of junk food that makes me feel crappy just because it's easier. This remodel, I feel the same way except this time I have one added bonus, electricity.<br />
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On our side porch I'm setting up my camping kitchen table with bins of my basic necessities underneath. My husband was happy with having a hot dog roast over our backyard firepit, but with his brother staying with us to help with the kitchen, I had a nicer set up in mind. We have a grill, a single butane burner stove, a convection toaster oven, but most importantly a crockpot. I used to think the only things to make in a crockpot were hearty stews and overnight applesauce, boy did I have a lot to learn!<br />
<br />
One of the most surprising resources I found for crockpot cooking was Pinterest. Yes, I've filtered out a lot of recipes that contained a lot of processed junk, but I've also found some gems and learned a lot of new techniques. My most recent discovery was that you can roast an entire chicken just like you would in the oven, in a crockpot. Just place the onions, potatoes and carrots underneath the chicken like you would in a roasting pan, season it up and cook on low between 4-6 hours. This has proved invaluable to me. I come home from a long day of work to dinner that is already done. Talk about a great way to make sure I can relax and enjoy my time with my family.<br />
<br />
This week I don't have a full kitchen, and I'm on jury duty so I have the challenge of packing gluten free lunches. I am refusing to eat takeout during this remodel, (as if you hadn't guessed). The crockpot is helping me create dinners that easily can become leftovers that can be eaten the next day, without a lot of dishes or mess (especially important since I'm currently using our bathtub to clean dishes).<br />
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This week I'll be doing meat free Tuesday since I have the house to myself and I'm not entirely sure what my brother in law is and isn't willing to eat while he stays with us. Tonight we are having pulled pork barbeque, a super easy dish to make. I rubbed on a pork shoulder with my family's secret spice rub. I then placed it in the crockpot, fat side down) with some apple juice (local of course), beer works well for this also. I put the crockpot on low and left for court. 8 hours later I have wonderful pork that is juicy and falls apart that can be used Ina multitude of dishes. I shredded some of the pork and am heating it up with 1 part cider vinegar, 1 part water and 1 part homemade BBQ sauce. My husband and his brother will be having it over whole grain rolls to soak up the juices, while I will be enjoying mine plain. <br />
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For a side dish: zucchini corn salad, fresh from our garden. Simply toss corn kernels and diced zucchini with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice. Season with salt and pepper and toss with some fresh chiffonade basil from the garden. Let the flavors marinate about a half hour before serving. It's a simple dinner that is full of flavor and does not take a lot of time to make. Once the kitchen is finished I'll be posting about how my homemade tomato sauce is coming along as our harvest should be just about ready as well as my first attempts at making catsup. In the meantime, be well and treat yourself to all the wonderful flavors this season has to offer.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-46693112788035018662012-09-04T09:34:00.003-04:002012-09-04T09:34:52.140-04:00Gluten Free... Not by ChoiceThe latest health craze for a lot of people is going gluten free. With books out like "The Wheat Belly Diet", wheat in our food supply had become the next food enemy number one. Whole grains are a wonderful thing, when they truly are whole grain. The problem with the latest media blaze against wheat is that the media is not recognizing the difference between the wheat our ancestors ate and the stuff that is mass produced and put in almost all of our food supply. <br />
<br />
I've tried the occasional gluten-free cookie and have even developed recipes for my clients, but these were infrequent meals. What happens when you are forced to eat gluten free all the time? I am about to find out. I was diagnosed with a very unhappy thyroid this past week. My doctor was ready to prescribe me a pill that I would have to take for the rest of my life. I knew there had to be another option and it would involve my diet. I talked with my doctor and presented her with testimonies and studies from experts in the nutrition field and professors from my schooling at the Institute for Integrative nutrition, such as Andrea Beaman. These people have shown that through nutrition therapy it is possible to reverse some thyroid conditions if caught early on. We made a deal, if after one month some of my symptom haven't lessened in severity I try the pill. I may be creating a lot of extra work for myself but I'm willing to try it. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-Eb4Le3WamjCBqmJg-6F18BPNLB17PN2G_Tf3CrLSWmnzU3l43eHv19__OEcnrBfQGk1hIvi77NrAatU7cihctNi2Qfjx7Z7CBMINGPMd1Sf5yAp3HpK7LY6_-oHmkBN41IQT9-gKi7X/s1600/gluten+free+breads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-Eb4Le3WamjCBqmJg-6F18BPNLB17PN2G_Tf3CrLSWmnzU3l43eHv19__OEcnrBfQGk1hIvi77NrAatU7cihctNi2Qfjx7Z7CBMINGPMd1Sf5yAp3HpK7LY6_-oHmkBN41IQT9-gKi7X/s200/gluten+free+breads.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
Let me start by saying I am not allergic to gluten, but it, as well as soy, happen to be things that make a inflamed thyroid grumpy so I have to give them up. This is a bit brutal for me, having grownup in a heavily French influenced family, where my father did not consider dinner to be ready or even sit down unless the bread was crusty, warm and ready on the table. And I admittedly really LOVE bread. I don't even like anything on it because I love tasting the complexities of the crust. I love baking it even more. <br />
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Its the beginning of day three for me and I'm learning that I can't do this cold turkey. Yesterday's provided labor day lunch at work was a real wake up call. Staring at macaroni and pasta salads, cookies, cupcakes and a whole slew of food and not being able to have any of it was not an easy feat. I was able to eat a plain hot dog, no bun....That was literally the only thing in the spread that I was able to eat by my nutrition plan guidelines. <br />
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I can't be superwoman in the kitchen every day, I work too much for that, so I headed to the natural food section of the store. I don't like buying pre-made food of any kind, but drastic times call for drastic measures.I bought some gluten free bagels and English muffins to try to make my hectic mornings a bit easier, not to mention the transition to go a bit more smoothly. <br />
<br />
The flavor of these breads is actually pretty good and they look normal enough, but the texture is the main difference I notice. They are <i>Very</i> crumbly, not exactly the best choice to eat on the go unless you want everyone at work to know what you had for breakfast, because your clothes are covered in it.(learned that the hard way) SO in a nutshell some of these products are pretty good but I definitely will be experimenting with baking some of my own when I have a bit more time on my hands. In the meantime, I am developing an entirely new level of respect for my friends struggling with Celiac disease. I will definitely be sharing my experiences on this journey, as well as the recipes I develop while on it. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The english muffin looked and tasted pretty good but it fell apart when I spread my almond butter & homemade fig jam on it. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-2759482363815857772012-08-17T06:00:00.000-04:002012-08-17T06:00:12.703-04:00A Little IndulgenceI love food and especially food that is whole and natural. I have found a lot of substitutions for foods I used to eat that were bad for me that taste pretty much the same. Every once in a blue moon though, I come across something that I just can't substitute. A dish that just tastes like comfort and smiles. Today is my one weekend off a month. When my husband and I get time off together we love enjoying a lazy morning and a yummy breakfast.<br />
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About every six months or so I give in to the power of sugar and make our favorite breakfast sandwich. It happened by accident a few years ago and has become a symbol of a mini vacation for us. Not to mention I can reward my hubby for being so open to trying so many new healthy alternatives and sticking with me on the journey. It doesn't have a name, we just call it yummy. Here's what you need for two of these addictive sandwiches:<br />
<ul>
<li>3 eggs</li>
<li>2 slices cheddar cheese</li>
<li>4 slices bacon</li>
<li>2 Panera Cinnamon Crunch bagels</li>
<li>3 tablespoons of organic milk </li>
</ul>
Cook the bacon to your desired level of crispiness. Toast the bagels. We like to put the bottom hal fin the toaster oven first with the slice of cheddar cheese so it gets melty. Meanwhile scramble the eggs with the milk. Divide the eggs in half and place on the bagel bottoms. Top each sandwich with 2 slices of bacon. Place the top halves of the bagel in the toaster oven. Then place on top of the assembled sandwich. Enjoy!<br />
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The crispy sweetness of the cinnamon sugar crunchies goes great with the saltiness of the bacon and cheese. Sure its definitely not a very healthy breakfast, but we can't all be Mary Poppins every day. Moderation for me is the key and when I do eat something this out of the ordinary I'm sure to savor the experience. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-65477995329021239982012-08-10T12:15:00.001-04:002012-08-10T12:15:15.123-04:00Hakuna Fritatta & a cup of JoHappy Friday all! Sorry I've been a bit more absent than I like lately but all this rain has me working over time in my garden. I had no idea a garden would be so much work. I am happy to say that I am finally reaping a bunch of rewards. We have a had a ton of rain this summer in Central Pennsylvania and my plants have gotten huge. There has also been twice as many weeds to pull. I was feeling a bit frustrated because as big as the plants are, I haven't been seeing any veggies yet, but the plants have had a ton of flowers.<br />
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A few weeks ago I talked to a fellow backyard gardener and she explained when you see lots of flowers but aren't getting any fruit there is usually a mineral or nutrient deficiency. I have been determined to keep my heirloom vegetables 100% organic, gmo and chemical free so I hopped online to do some research and was surprised at the solution I found.<br />
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There is one thing that almost every home across the country has and surprisingly enough we consider it trash: coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are approximately 1.45% nitrogen. They also contain magnesium, calcium, potassium, and other trace minerals. They are great to add to your compost bin to create some really great fertilizer. You can also give your plants the benefits by simply sprinkling the used coffee grounds around the base of your plants before watering or it rains. Tomatoes and roses especially like this method.<br />
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You can also use the grounds to create a slug and snail barrier. Coffee grounds are both abrasive and
acidic, so a barrier of grounds placed near slug-prone plants may just
save them from these garden pests <br />
<br />
I gave it a try and the garden exploded, especially the zucchini and cucumbers. Ironically enough, Wednesday was National <i>Leave a Zucchini on Your Neighbors Porch</i> day. I understand why, because there are is only so much zucchini you can eat at a time when your garden decides to let loose. I spent yesterday baking zucchini bread and a few other yummy treats to portion and keep in the freezer. After all of that work I wanted an easy dinner (and I still had more zucchini to use up), so I made a frittata.<br />
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A frittata traditionally is an open faced omelette that the ingredients are added into the raw egg mixture before it is cooked (instead of being added after the eggs are fried and folded into the middle). THey typically are cooked over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, although I prefer to make mine in my convection toaster oven. Here's what I did:<br />
First off, I beat 4 eggs in a glass bowl with a whisk & added in about 2 tablespoons of flour. Then I folded in 1 1/2 cups grated zucchini, about a 1/2 cup grated carrot and about 1/2 cup shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works nicely) to the mixture. <br />
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I lined my stoneware baker with a piece of parchment that had been greased and poured the mixture into it. I then baked it at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. When it was done I lifted the parchment out of the baker and cut it into wedges. Add a nice glass of pinot grigio, a side salad and you've got one quick & easy dinner.<br />
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Today the garden harvest madness continues with making tons of pickles and oven roasted tomato sauce. I'll talk about the cucumbers next week. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying all the wonderful produce this summer has to offer!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-89920351577754189292012-07-23T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-23T07:00:06.626-04:00Breathe Easier at home with VOC free paintI talk about the importance of eating whole food free of chemicals, dyes
and toxins in about 90% of my posts. Food is not the only place toxins
come from, they are all around us and especially in our homes. Many of you have asked about the progress we are making on our new home, that we moved into over the winter. Until very recently my answer was not much. We've spent a ton of time cleaning everything and also reclaiming the yard to get our organic garden growing in time. Other than unpacking, not much progress had been made indoors. Until my home is very bright and colorful it just doesn't feel finished to me yet. We had to delay painting when we first moved back in December because it posed two main problems:<br />
1) if you paint when its too cold the paint get air bubbles trapped in it<br />
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2) you can't open a window for fresh air in so yo get all fuzzy headed from the fumes and feel like you need a gas mask. <br />
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We got some basic painting done with the use of some extra space heaters. Now that the warm weather is here, we're painting like crazy. As far as the euphoria & nausea created by fresh paint fumes, we had none because we discovered VOC free paint.<br />
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VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, a fancy term to describe chemicals that leak out of solids and liquids in the form of a gas. When you hear articles in the media about carpets or paints off-gassing, the VOC's are the primary culprits they are talking about. The most common places you find it in our home are in new wallcoverings, furniture such as matresses, carpeting and most predominately in your wall paint.<br />
<br />
In extreme cases exposure to too many toxic VOC's can lead to symptoms such as sensory irritation of the
eyes, nose, throat; neurotoxic or general health problems; skin
irritation; nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions; and odor and taste
sensations. This is known as sick building syndrome. People with allergy concerns, especially those suffering from asthma tend to be the most affected. <br />
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The way I see it, being surrounded by too many toxic chemicals is never a good thing so I choose to use VOC free paint. I 've tried several and Olympic brand is very inexpensive compared to its competition and i like the selection of colors too. It actually makes painting much more pleasant, there is no strong paint smell hanging in the air for days, actually not even while you're painting. You an start combating indoor air pollution by making sure there are plenty of nature's air filters, plants, in your home and good ventilation. You can also help reduce VOC's in your home with a few easy practices, courtesy of Gaiam. com: <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds are guests that have worn out their welcome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Our
indoor environment is often far from pristine places. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) estimates people spend as much as 90 percent of
their time inside, mostly in their homes. You work hard to create a
sense of comfort and peace in your everyday spaces. Shouldn't you also
decorate with health and quality of life in mind?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Eliminating
the hazardous chemicals found in traditional household cleaners is a
great start. But you and your family may also be cozying up to hidden
toxins lurking on walls, under the couch cushions and beneath your feet.
These chemical concoctions off-gas for years into indoor air,
potentially impacting your long-term health.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Find Formaldehyde-Free Furniture</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Most
people don't think of their furniture when assessing their indoor air
quality, but if yours is made from treated wood or particle board, it
probably contains formaldehyde, the same chemical used in funeral homes
as a preserving agent. A study by the California Environmental
Protection Agency says indoor levels of formaldehyde are typically
several times higher than outdoor levels.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Formaldehyde
was recently classified a human carcinogen by the International Agency
for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization. And
according to the American Lung Association, short-term effects of
exposure to formaldehyde vapors include eye, nose and throat irritation
as well as coughing, skin rashes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting
and nosebleeds.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you're planning to remodel your
kitchen, choose cabinets made from solid, untreated wood. And phase out
your particle-board furniture, such as shelving and office desks, with
pieces made of natural materials such as hardwood, rattan and iron.</span></div>
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<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Stop Sleeping with Chemicals</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You've heard that you spend approximately a third of your life in bed. That's roughly 25 years in this one room in your house.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Most
mattresses contain considerable amounts of synthetic and chemical-based
foams, plastics and artificial fibers, and most box springs are made
with chemically treated wood and chemical adhesives. Next time you buy a
mattress consider one made from more health-conscious materials, such
as natural fibers and untreated wood. In the meantime, a mattress cover
made of barrier cloth can help isolate a chemical-laden mattress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Also
consider that most bed sheets are made from cotton, a crop that takes
25 percent of the world's pesticides to grow by today's common
agricultural methods. And most conventional sheets have a
formaldehyde-resin finish to make them "easy care" and/or
water-resistant, and to reduce shrinkage. Use <a href="http://www.gaiam.com/category/eco-home-outdoor/bedroom/sheets-bedding.do?SID=WG117SPRTAPEMACS&extcmp=life_prod" target="_blank">organic sheets</a> made from natural fibers — <a href="http://www.gaiam.com/category/eco-home-outdoor/bedroom.do?SID=WG117SPRTAPEMACS&extcmp=life_prod" target="_blank">organic cotton</a> is readily available in a wide range of styles and colors from low-impact dyes. </span><br />
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Change Your Paint Color Along with VOC Levels</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You
know that new paint smell? It usually has something to do with the
chemicals added to paint to improve spreadability and durability. These <a href="http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/4WaystoReduceVOCsInYourHome.html">volatile organic compounds (VOCs)</a>
evaporate at room temperature and can damage the kidneys, liver and
central nervous system, according to the EPA. While the paint is drying,
VOC levels can be up to 1,000 times outdoor levels, and VOCs will
continue to off-gas at much lower levels after the paint dries.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When shopping for paint, look for one that contains VOC levels of 150 grams per liter or lower, advises</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"> Mother Earth News</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> magazine. Or, better yet, choose from the growing selection of no-VOC paints.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Walk Away from Synthetic Carpets</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">VOCs
don't just come from your walls; they can also come from your
wall-to-wall carpeting. The American Lung Association says new carpet —
as well as the adhesives and padding used during installation — can be a
source of VOC emissions and act as a "sponge" for chemical and
biological pollutants. For example, pesticides used on lawns can be
tracked inside your home and remain inside the carpet fibers.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Leave
your shoes at the door and opt for natural flooring such as sustainably
harvested hardwood, bamboo, cork or tile, and no-emission carpeting of
natural fibers such as sisal or wool.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All of these
simple changes improve the quality of your indoor environment — as well
as the environment outside. Sustainably harvested natural materials are
gentler to the planet and can actually help promote healthier
ecosystems, so you'll help clean your surroundings outside your home,
too.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130589929563664569.post-67842135824323032982012-07-10T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-10T07:00:08.011-04:00Beat the Heat a Little More NaturallyThe heatwave beating down on most of the country has gotten me thinking. I have had a number of friends and family that were without power for over a week. Someone at my muggle job had mentioned the other day that all terrorists would really have to do to take over our country is wipe out the power grid. It makes me very sad to think he may be right. We as a society have gotten way too comfortable. People on this planet have dealt with the heat of summer for centuries before air conditioning existed. Its time we learn how to take back the summer a bit and enjoy it more.<br />
<br />
I am now the proud owner of a new home, without air conditioning. I am also happy to report that I haven't shriveled up and died, even when temperatures reached 100 degrees last week. Here are a few tips I've learned to help keep cool without an air conditioner and helped me save a bit of money by keeping my energy costs down:<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmSd2nj_MhcLPdfaoUe1v1sV-_oczAos0f0e0h_e0TDRVc_Jve_nyIbuqZABaEaCUFgScLB_iDTyt_-NxF9NlDWu_lkeaB1hsKmF9HoRbPMLGG7iZ0Bvov9KJsYdO81Ku5wiW_CddkDLx/s1600/feet+in+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmSd2nj_MhcLPdfaoUe1v1sV-_oczAos0f0e0h_e0TDRVc_Jve_nyIbuqZABaEaCUFgScLB_iDTyt_-NxF9NlDWu_lkeaB1hsKmF9HoRbPMLGG7iZ0Bvov9KJsYdO81Ku5wiW_CddkDLx/s200/feet+in+pool.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>1) window screens are wonderful</b> they keep the bugs out and if opened to create airflow across a house, really do help you keep cool, especially if you have a whole house attic fan like we do. <br />
<b>2) running cold water on your the pulse points of your wrists</b> will really make you feel much cooler. A similar trick is to soak your feet in a tub cool water for about 20-30 minutes. If you're outside this works with lounge chairs and your feet in the kiddie pool.<br />
<b>3) unplug as many small appliances and chargers in the house as possible</b> when not in use. They not only raise your electric bill, but those tiny little clock timers also generate heat, which may not be much but put all those appliances together and that is extra heat you don't need in your home.<br />
<b>4) Run your big appliances like the dishwasher and laundry machines after the sun has gone down</b> and things cool off a bit. <br />
<b>5) take a lukewarm shower just before bed</b>. It will help you sleep easier. Do not take a freezing cold shower. IT may feel better initially but afterward your body will work to raise its temperature and will make you more uncomfortable in the long run.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Wmry_MtGNCQgS9znfRX2m6DBBKfbjAAa6icpghw_srSdHWfcO4GQvX9X_6QKKPiuhFNosLYXmE3YKRgvd1KNlFO5JvCAc4Aar5TdXFvucKHbZ2jLZPNhcJKwt0Pqmr0HKjktjn8uqj4P/s1600/cooling+fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Wmry_MtGNCQgS9znfRX2m6DBBKfbjAAa6icpghw_srSdHWfcO4GQvX9X_6QKKPiuhFNosLYXmE3YKRgvd1KNlFO5JvCAc4Aar5TdXFvucKHbZ2jLZPNhcJKwt0Pqmr0HKjktjn8uqj4P/s200/cooling+fruit.jpg" width="174" /></a><b>6)</b> speaking of sleep, <b>ditch the comforter and just use a light breathable cotton sheet</b>. If you have a hammock or a floating type bed where air can circulate under you (as opposed to a heavy latex matreess) you will feel cooler. Also switch to all cotton breathable pillows instead of the typical foam ones until the heat is a bit more manageable. You can also put your pillowcases in ziploc bags in the freezer during the day and then put them on your bed just before its time to go to sleep. <br />
<b>7)Eat lots of cooling foods like fruits and vegetables</b>, they will also keep you hydrated. There is a reason why watermelon and gazpacho soup taste extra amazing on a hot day. Stay away from heavy meat dishes. It may seem to hot to eat, but spicy food is also your friend, it will help you sweat. Sweat is the body's natural air conditioning. <br />
<b>8) Stay Hydrated.</b> I cannot stress this enough. Not a huge fan of plain water? Make a pitcher of cold water in the fridge and add some herbs and fruit to it. Let it marinate for about a day... do not add sugar. We currently are enjoying pineapple mint water. Strawberry basil is another favorite.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTDB7fVSzImaA_bT7fX2Gi46dYUIQ5zwX5N_j-0g6LbZOU0O8c-F0hpyj1vIfNG_66daR6vbxNfaUEoI41qjdASi0ToNb3i_JEsY76RGW8yiaTMDNOaU9rBHH6MJE1qo1GyG3QhuJsHJB/s1600/flavored+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTDB7fVSzImaA_bT7fX2Gi46dYUIQ5zwX5N_j-0g6LbZOU0O8c-F0hpyj1vIfNG_66daR6vbxNfaUEoI41qjdASi0ToNb3i_JEsY76RGW8yiaTMDNOaU9rBHH6MJE1qo1GyG3QhuJsHJB/s200/flavored+water.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
<br />
These tips won't make your house feel like the north pole by any means, but at least they make what can be a very uncomfortable time of year a bit more bearable and productive. We're off to the eastern shore of Maryland to catch up with my family for a few days. I'll be posting about some great yoga classes I'm taking there once I get back. Hope you're enjoying the summer!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05136496786043371447noreply@blogger.com0