tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86755862426877442822024-03-13T09:49:54.971-07:00Back to the GardenGenesis 2:8-9 -- "And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food..."AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-36661549416707618232012-10-21T04:43:00.000-07:002012-10-12T07:38:23.267-07:00Three Weeks of Low-Iodine Menus<span style="font-size: small;">Good morning, everyone!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">While I was in the midst of a "get healthier" plan, my thyroid had other food plans. So as not to drive myself nutty with so many different dietary goals, let's just put the thyroid one first, shall we?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A couple of weeks ago, I underwent a total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma -- the most common type of thyroid cancer. Because the cancer spread to a nearby lymph node, I will be undergoing high radiation treatment on an inpatient basis, later on in October.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">To prepare my body for the radioactive iodine, I must starve any residual thyroid cells of iodine, so that, when they see the radioactive iodine, they suck it up quickly. In this way, any thyroid cells (good or bad) are dispatched, preventing any further shenanigans of the cancerous type.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So how do you starve yourself of iodine?</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iodine in Foods</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A major source of iodine in our diets is iodized salt. The iodine is added because many of us would not get enough </span>iodine, an important nutrient, unless we lived near the sea and ate products of the sea (salt-water fish, shellfish, kelp, etc.) on a regular basis. Other major sources of iodine are dairy products (because iodine in the cow's diet is naturally concentrated in the milk), and most processed baked goods (because dough conditioners contain iodine).</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwPWdxJvAir69wXUUTHDCjeZxCDZYmXZLOJ2TU3iYmDVcR0FWWCwoA_pr_Shg1-GbgyRpMbNVWw9AFJpZRIq2I36Y8D9mojzWSBb7E_tTHrHQJwQj7V6CgmNKLKxmu3C3QMmWD2q4DP8/s1600/September+Fun+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwPWdxJvAir69wXUUTHDCjeZxCDZYmXZLOJ2TU3iYmDVcR0FWWCwoA_pr_Shg1-GbgyRpMbNVWw9AFJpZRIq2I36Y8D9mojzWSBb7E_tTHrHQJwQj7V6CgmNKLKxmu3C3QMmWD2q4DP8/s320/September+Fun+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seafood, cheese, iodized salt ... I'll see you in a few weeks...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Because even a little bit of salt or preservative in food contains enough iodine to throw off your low-iodine regimen, finding foods that are acceptable for a low-iodine diet can be a little challenging, at first. So I wanted to share with you what I have been eating.</span><br />
<br />
Each post will have links to resources that I used to find low-iodine foods, as well as ways I adapted other recipes to make them low-iodine options.<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">The Menus, by Week</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">As I complete each day, I will post, and link to the menu, below. So come back often, and see what new things I've discovered that can be tasty and still keep your iodine low.</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Day 1 Menus</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-2.html" target="_blank">Day 2 Menus</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-3.html" target="_blank">Day 3 Menus</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-4.html" target="_blank">Day 4 Menus</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-5-how-diet-works.html#" target="_blank">Day 5 Menus</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-6-life-beyond-salt.html#" target="_blank">Day 6 Menus</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 7</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 8</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 9</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 10</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 11</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 12</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 13</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Day 14</span></li>
<li>Day 15</li>
<li>Day 16</li>
<li>Day 17</li>
<li>Day 18</li>
<li>Day 19</li>
<li>Day 20<br /><h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h3>
AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-10571268034734020662012-10-13T09:43:00.000-07:002012-10-19T19:15:58.869-07:00Low-Iodine Eating: Day 7 (Effects of a Low-Iodine Diet)This is the seventh in a <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-weeks-of-low-iodine-menus.html" target="_blank">21-day series</a> showing how I kept a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine treatment.<br />
<br />
<h2>
A Little (Innocent) Mistake...</h2>
<br />
This post is going to be a little different, and I'll tell you why...<br />
<br />
I accidentally started the low-iodine diet a week early.<br />
<br />
The amount of time you're on a low-iodine diet varies, but is usually 2-3 weeks. From what I've read, most people are on it about 2 weeks, but a lot depends on your lab work in between. You have enough thyroid hormone in your system to keep you going for about a month after your surgery, so your doctor will monitor your natural hormone levels, as she begins your replacement hormone therapy. Also, there are different replacement therapies, some fast-acting (like Cytomel), and some slow-acting (like Sythroid). If you are going to have tests that require weaning off your medication temporarily, your doctor is likely to prescribe Cytomel, so you later go off it to prepare for tests. All these reasons mean that a lot of your doctor's choices will depend on how your own body responds to various procedures and treatments.<br />
<br />
Sooooo.... my bloodwork showed the doctor that ...<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I had almost no TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) = 0.0135 </li>
<li>I had low Tg (thyroglobulin) = 3</li>
<li>I had no anti-Tg (thyroglobulin antibodies) = 0</li>
</ol>
The Tg tells us that there is no thyroid to produce Tg, and the TSH tells us that the brain is not detecting the need to stimulate the thyroid (because hormones are being provided artificially).<br />
<br />
Because I officially was to begin my low-iodine diet the next week, I gave myself a day off, went to the <a href="http://bugsandstuff.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/ten-best-things-about-going-to-a-state-fair/" target="_blank">Big E</a>, and ate fairground food.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ejWNtoTicKPgybeeyqB3nC8neSRO9UaqC7dr6ipLaTTtp95yhKyf90Ct8Hn-Ox3fjTo-a_ojdxeqlHG34Kp_7MygmcsHHMyzDnjI90eKHmPE43EeLjNP-_R4pML5S7bzIl7VTBEQg3I/s1600/cooking+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ejWNtoTicKPgybeeyqB3nC8neSRO9UaqC7dr6ipLaTTtp95yhKyf90Ct8Hn-Ox3fjTo-a_ojdxeqlHG34Kp_7MygmcsHHMyzDnjI90eKHmPE43EeLjNP-_R4pML5S7bzIl7VTBEQg3I/s320/cooking+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With some thought, you can eat a good, tasty diet, even when on a low-iodine regimen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2>
The Goal of the Treatment...</h2>
Over the next week, my doctor wants to prepare my body to make the most of the radiation treatment (scheduled for the end of the month). Here are the things that she is trying to do:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><i><b>Decrease my body's iodine levels.</b></i> We are doing this by cutting down on iodine in my diet. Iodine is required by the thyroid in order to produce thyroid hormone. By removing dietary iodine, it ensures that the only source of iodine available to any cancer cells is the radioactive iodine that I will ingest later this month.</li>
<li><b><i>Decrease any thyroid hormone in my body. </i></b>We will do this by cutting my Cytomel (synthetic thyroid hormone) from two pills per day to one pill per day. This will cause my pituitary gland (in my brain) to detect low thyroid hormones, and cause it to produce thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).</li>
<li><b><i>Increase thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in my body.</i></b> We will do this by cutting out any artificial source of thyroid hormone. This will cause any scraps of thyroid cells to fire up, to try to make up the difference.</li>
<li>Any <i><b>increase in Tg in the blood</b></i> will be a sign that there are thyroid cells (and potential tumors) remaining in the body -- it is a good tumor marker.</li>
<li><i><b>Ablate (wipe out) any remaining thyroid cells</b></i> (cancerous and normal). We will do this by providing the iodine that these cells are now craving (in their efforts to provide the body with thyroid hormone) -- but instead of dietary iodine, we will be tricking them into "eating" radioactive iodine -- a toxin to them.</li>
</ol>
Steps 1-4 will occur this week, leading up to Step 5 (the next week).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5xOUNSVgLLdno2b51NzEfZl2xoi_8ndmVlAlUeUEfCZX0-JoBNC7EcvT9z2HrgYKAiG1spxpyoOF5dx2NNrO4O_Cqyqsd4-UmbvMEqmcylDKEMMg0iPUxpp9Jk5VYGV36Xnwj8zt3YY/s1600/thycaribbon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5xOUNSVgLLdno2b51NzEfZl2xoi_8ndmVlAlUeUEfCZX0-JoBNC7EcvT9z2HrgYKAiG1spxpyoOF5dx2NNrO4O_Cqyqsd4-UmbvMEqmcylDKEMMg0iPUxpp9Jk5VYGV36Xnwj8zt3YY/s1600/thycaribbon.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Effects of the Treatment on the Body</h2>
<h3>
Effects of Low Iodine on the Body</h3>
In a person with a thyroid, low iodine effects are really the effects that having reduced iodine has on thyroid function: hypothyroid (low thyroid function), goiter, etc. We'll talk about those next. But there are some other effects of going on a low-iodine diet, as well.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><i>Weight loss. </i></b>Cutting out dairy, seafood (for the iodine), processed foods (for the salt), and processed baked goods (for the dough conditioners) cuts out a lot of calories and food choices for most of us. I have found that I have lost 6 lbs after one week of low-iodine diet (and I was very conscientious about my diet).</li>
<li><b><i>Calcium deficiency.</i></b> Since you are cutting out one of the primary sources of calcium in your diet, dairy, you will often be put on a calcium supplement while you are on a low-iodine diet. But you likely will be already on this, as your parathyroids sometimes shock after your surgery, and they control your body's calcium levels.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIGX0kFh1N0cAf637CdIb9jqw8SDcJBlhlC704XJTpCZ85ktl6QmlLfidFwajc2QH-utV8WwYuVTGLc54SSiwNTretzoDzYeocp6l5CEmAstJ95R225b8dRTpzxxmGm_lpHBZ36A0W50/s1600/salt-free+beef+broth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIGX0kFh1N0cAf637CdIb9jqw8SDcJBlhlC704XJTpCZ85ktl6QmlLfidFwajc2QH-utV8WwYuVTGLc54SSiwNTretzoDzYeocp6l5CEmAstJ95R225b8dRTpzxxmGm_lpHBZ36A0W50/s320/salt-free+beef+broth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You will become an expert at reading food labels during your treatment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Effects of Low Thyroid Hormone on the Body</h3>
While you are on the low-iodine diet, you will also likely be decreasing your thyroid medication, which will cause you to have low thyroid hormones, and symptoms of <b><i>hypothyroid</i></b>. Here are the ones listed at the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothyroidism/DS00353/DSECTION=symptoms" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic website</a>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Fatigue</li>
<li>Sluggishness</li>
<li>Increased sensitivity to cold</li>
<li>Constipation</li>
<li>Pale, dry skin</li>
<li>A puffy face</li>
<li>Hoarse voice</li>
<li>An elevated blood cholesterol level</li>
<li>Unexplained weight gain</li>
<li>Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness</li>
<li>Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints</li>
<li>Muscle weakness</li>
<li>Heavier than normal menstrual periods</li>
<li>Brittle fingernails and hair</li>
<li>Depression</li>
</ul>
Some of these will happen quickly, and others may develop over time, or not at all -- everyone is different. The one that most people comment about, and report as the most problematic, is the first one: fatigue. My doctor pointed out that the fatigue can often be enough to make driving hazardous.<br />
<br />
My doctor also said that my bone health and heart health can be impacted by all the treatments, and will be closely monitored.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ncC68sv3zeA-mkafe0kydte_5RaEXyFJTG84eYL0YmqOzpaURCEkl1kXLZxlr3qPdjplE22i6SSJMlxknYKP3KHuPPMJUI8j5Gumg25M6tcQ33Vn9T03Z8JgJcH3Gcfk_aD0F4k0BY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ncC68sv3zeA-mkafe0kydte_5RaEXyFJTG84eYL0YmqOzpaURCEkl1kXLZxlr3qPdjplE22i6SSJMlxknYKP3KHuPPMJUI8j5Gumg25M6tcQ33Vn9T03Z8JgJcH3Gcfk_aD0F4k0BY/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting others to help in household tasks will help you when you are fatigued.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Knowledge is Power</h2>
If you are fortunate, your endocrinologist will keep you very informed with your blood test results, treatment plan, any symptoms and side effects, and sources of information for help during your course of treatment. Here are some websites that I have found helpful:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thyca.org/" target="_blank">ThyCA: The Thyroid Cancer Survivor's Association, Inc.</a> Takes you from your first symptoms, through your initial diagnosis, through various treatments, and aftercare. This is the site of the Low-Iodine Cookbook, a free .pdf file you can download and print out. The recipes were developed by other thyroid cancer survivors. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/thyroid/" target="_blank">LIVESTRONG</a>, a website and organization developed by Lance Armstrong, world class cyclist and cancer survivor, has a separate section just about thyroid cancer. The site has lots of information about healthy living before, during and after cancer treatment.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid" target="_blank">National Cancer Institute</a> has a very thorough web page that is very useful for helping you understand the medical terms, types of cancers, tests and procedures. It also has a collection of links to other resources (such as the ones above) for all the questions you might have.<br />
<br />
You will likely come across lots of chats and other online communities of thyroid cancer patients. These are helpful for showing you what most people go through. Remember to always consult with your doctor before trying anything, as the folks on the chat line are not medical professionals.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.livestrong.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/15DefiningMoments_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blog.livestrong.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/15DefiningMoments_resize.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do your research, and prepare yourself for your treatment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Next Week:</h2>
<ol>
<li>Decrease Cytomel to one pill per day.</li>
<li>Continue low-iodine diet.</li>
<li>Continue taking Vitamin D and calcium supplements. </li>
<li>Prepare low-iodine meals for the second week of the diet (when I'll be hypothyroid, and too tired to prepare meals)</li>
<li>Purchase food items that other members of my family can prepare (see #3).</li>
<li>Think about where I have to drive the following week, and (perhaps) make alternative travel arrangements (see #3).</li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsKQmtVw8DE-F6QIzoMVMnvs7E7PBs2a9IQ2o21-_Y8eZpqnA6Cr8lZwEx_9LYJgV8BPAniJ6tCmQQgBhX1q0NoCkqbNKCVZOUVvhy7gD3vv6Pb6ghp_syolNd2HbPQmKK_GyungWiQ4/s1600/gratitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsKQmtVw8DE-F6QIzoMVMnvs7E7PBs2a9IQ2o21-_Y8eZpqnA6Cr8lZwEx_9LYJgV8BPAniJ6tCmQQgBhX1q0NoCkqbNKCVZOUVvhy7gD3vv6Pb6ghp_syolNd2HbPQmKK_GyungWiQ4/s320/gratitude.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br />AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-89405588929208067452012-10-12T07:36:00.007-07:002012-10-12T07:36:48.519-07:00Low-Iodine Eating: Day 6 (Life Beyond Salt)This is the sixth in a <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-weeks-of-low-iodine-menus.html" target="_blank">21-day series</a> showing how I kept a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine treatment.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Menus</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breakfast</span></span></b></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Scrambled egg whites</b></i> (see note)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apple slices</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coffee, black, no sugar</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Orange juice (no pulp, with extra calcium) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) </span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Lunch</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Nordic Winter Vegetable Soup</b></i> (see recipe) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Matzo</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Apple</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cranberry-Lime Seltzer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Afternoon meds (2:00) (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>)</span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Dinner</span></h3>
<b><i>Stir-fried Vegetables </i></b>(see note)<br />
White rice<br />
Water<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Evening meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Snacks</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Pecan halves, dried cranberries </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Popcorn, no butter, non-iodized salt </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Coffee, black, no sugar</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Recipes</span></b></h2>
<h3>
Nordic Winter Vegetable </h3>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Adapted from <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/nordic-winter-vegetable-soup" target="_blank">Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2012</a>)</span></b><br />
<br />
This recipe, as written, is perfect for a low-iodine diet, with the substitution of non-iodized salt in the seasoning. I used my own homemade chicken broth, and substituted white rice for the barley, because that's what I had, and used 2 stalks of celery in place of the celery root. It made the soup very stew-like.<br />
<br />
<div class="two-columns" id="ingredients">
<ul>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
1 large onion, thinly sliced
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
2 leeks, white and tender green parts only, thinly sliced
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
2 garlic cloves, minced
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
1 cup uncooked white rice
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
4 cups water
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
10 thyme sprigs
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
2 bay leaves
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
2 stalks of celery, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
1 pound parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
Non-iodized salt and freshly ground pepper
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span itemprop="ingredients">
1 pound baby spinach
</span>
</li>
<li><span itemprop="ingredients">
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<ol itemprop="recipeInstructions">
<li>
<span>
In a large pot, heat the oil. Add the onion, leeks and garlic and cook
over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5
minutes. Stir in the rice. Add the vegetable broth, water, thyme and
bay leaves and bring to a boil. Add the celery and parsnips and
season with salt and pepper. Simmer over moderately low heat until the rice and root vegetables are tender, about 40 minutes.
</span>
</li>
<li>
<span>
Stir in the spinach and nutmeg and simmer for 5 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper and serve in deep bowls.
</span>
</li>
</ol>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V1-cqhxxhnbcHU07g1qWjzQkFNfIfD6niscbe7HZLLKHe5FxIIEkanwDP6eJCjVU6xjvZKWIqqj0JC_9_RF43ao4OXTqS-q4O8CG74-eAfXnS0Zgo07VXWZlP-Y4qgNlhgIzTJnhym8/s1600/Last+All+White+Affair+August+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V1-cqhxxhnbcHU07g1qWjzQkFNfIfD6niscbe7HZLLKHe5FxIIEkanwDP6eJCjVU6xjvZKWIqqj0JC_9_RF43ao4OXTqS-q4O8CG74-eAfXnS0Zgo07VXWZlP-Y4qgNlhgIzTJnhym8/s320/Last+All+White+Affair+August+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family substituted the matzo with buttermilk biscuits...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Notes on Other Menu Items</h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The Scrambled Egg Whites:</b> Scrambled egg whites are not as bad as they
sound. I scrambled two egg whites with about 1 T homemade chicken stock,
and seasoned the mixture with a little curry powder, non-iodized salt
and black pepper. I cooked them in a bit of olive oil. They were very
tasty.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The Stir-fried Vegetables:</b> Use whatever veggies you like for the stir-fry. I used my rainbow peppers from the farmer's market (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-3.html" target="_blank">Day 3</a>),
plus onions, garlic, and a handful of frozen corn. I seasoned the
vegetables with about 1 tsp of lemon-grass paste (I found it in the
produce section), a splash of balsamic vinegar and a dusting of ground
ginger.</i></span><h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h3>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Alternatives to Salt for Seasoning</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Eating a low-iodine diet means avoiding anything that contains salt, as you can't be certain that the salt is non-iodized. But that doesn't mean your food should be tasteless. Here are some options that I found helpful for replacing salt and sauces that contain them:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>non-iodized salt</b></i> (an easy switch you can make in your own kitchen)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>balsamic vinegar</i></b> (substitutes well for Worcestershire, soy sauce and teriyaki sauce)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>hot sauce</i></b> (check the label to make sure it doesn't contain salt)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">commercial <b><i>salt-free seasoning mixtures</i></b>, like Mrs. Dash</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>garlic, lemon-grass or ginger pastes</i></b> (find them in the produce section)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">lots of <b><i>fresh vegetables</i></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">all those <i><b>herbs and spices</b></i> in your cabinet -- now's the time to experiment (I like <i>garam masala</i> - a spicy herb and spice mix used in many Indian dishes)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">a splash of <b><i>lemon or lime juice</i></b> (or, for something really different, try grapefruit juice)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>beer and wine</i></b> as part of the cooking liquid</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><i>seasoned oils</i> (I have sesame oil and a spicy cayenne olive oil that I use)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">I think my new favorite seasoning has become balsamic vinegar. It's color and rich flavor are something I never took advantage of until I started preparing the recipes from the free <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-3.html" target="_blank"><i>Low-Iodine Cookbook</i></a>, from ThyCA (Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association). </span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-53822114685539038762012-10-10T20:57:00.000-07:002012-10-10T20:57:01.322-07:00Low-Iodine Eating: Day 5 (How the Diet Works)This is the fifth in a <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-weeks-of-low-iodine-menus.html" target="_blank">21-day series</a> showing how I kept a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine treatment.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Menus</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breakfast</span></span></b></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spicy Muffins (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-4.html" target="_blank">Day 4</a>)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coffee, black, no sugar</span></span><br />
Morning meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) <br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Lunch</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Peanut butter (natural, no salt added) and strawberry preserves on matzo</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cranberry-Lime Seltzer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Apple</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Kiwi </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Afternoon meds (2:00) (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>)</span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Dinner</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Homemade Chicken Tenders</b></i> (see recipe)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">White rice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Lima beans</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Water </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Evening meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Snacks</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Pecan halves, dried cranberries </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Coffee, black, no sugar</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>[NOTE: I freeze the muffins two at a time in sandwich size Ziploc baggies. That way, I can pop two out of the freezer the night before, and have them thawed and ready for breakfast the next day. This is helpful when you start decreasing your thyroid hormone (you'll be <b>hypothyroid</b>)-- you'll be tired in the morning when you get up.]</i></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsXYZ4SgZjwJt_8faWn_vyjIlrM3nHcusA5hyKnNRjLhzDJaEeOZxdPeq_HKuE-nMWIqf-pnLwAeBOaSQSpIGipdbjmUBj7Bv0RzEZkMoLN8E-_DWUqyhbbs2-QpTYj91bpgjcEPd8FA/s1600/cooking+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsXYZ4SgZjwJt_8faWn_vyjIlrM3nHcusA5hyKnNRjLhzDJaEeOZxdPeq_HKuE-nMWIqf-pnLwAeBOaSQSpIGipdbjmUBj7Bv0RzEZkMoLN8E-_DWUqyhbbs2-QpTYj91bpgjcEPd8FA/s320/cooking+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freeze individual portions of special foods, to make meal preparation easier when you're hypothyroid.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Recipes</span></b></h2>
<h3>
Homemade Chicken Tenders</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Vegetable oil for frying</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips</span></li>
<li>Non-iodized salt</li>
<li>Black pepper</li>
<li>Garlic powder</li>
<li>White flour for coating chicken (about 1 cup)</li>
</ul>
Heat oil in a heavy frying pan (I put about 1/4 in in the pan).<br />
<br />
Season chicken strips to taste with salt, pepper and garlic powder. <br />
<br />
Put flour in a gallon Ziploc bag. (NOTE: using a ratio of 3 parts of white flour to 1 part of corn flour (<i>masa harina</i>) [not corn meal] gives an extra crispiness to the chicken). Place chicken strips in the bag, and seal tightly. Shake the bag, turning to coat all the pieces evenly (when they don't stick to one another, they are floured well). Discard extra flour.<br />
<br />
Place chicken strips in hot oil. Brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The Seasonings:</b> Experiment with one of the many great non-salt herb and spice mixes available. It just so happened that all my spice mixes contained salt, so I used garlic powder -- one of our old standbys.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What Is Happening in Your Body...</span></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">A little about the science behind this special diet I have been on...</span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thyroids and Parathyroids </span></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">When you have your thyroid removed, it would seem that any chance of thyroid cancer returning is pretty, well, zero, since you no longer have a thyroid. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I learned a bizarre and fascinating fact about the thyroid and parathyroids. It seems that the parathyroids sometimes hid inside the thyroid, and they get removed by accident when you have a thyroidectomy -- this is why your report will say that they counted and found all four of your parathyroids. If they didn't, that means they've removed one.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">But fear not! If they accidentally remove one, they just make a little slit in the skin of your arm, slip that baby inside, close it in, and it's perfectly happy living there, not really attached to anything, doing its parathyroid job.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Weird, huh?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thyroid is just as strange, it seems. Because, even if a few cells are left floating around in your neck, over time, your thyroid can try to grow back. Just like the parathyroid -- not really attached to anything, but pumping out thyroid hormone.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soooo... if the normal cells can grow back, your endocrinologist worries about the abnormal ones (that don't follow rules) will also grow back. But how do you get rid of them, if you can't see them? </span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iodine, Radiation, and Your Thyroid</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your thyroid gland loves iodine. In fact, most of the iodine in your diet ends up in your thyroid. Iodine keeps the thyroid running smoothly, and the thyroid is very important in keeping the rest of your body running smoothly.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If you've ever had or known someone who had cancer treatment, you know that radiation is often used to zap any cancer cells that are still lingering around. Radiation treatment has come a long way over the past 20 years, but external beam radiation still hits body parts that don't need to be irradiated. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Did you know that there is an isotope of iodine that is radioactive? Because the thyroid loves iodine, and this particular form of iodine is radioactive, it's like sending a letter bomb to your thyroid. The letter isn't bad, in fact, it's good. But the attachment is a doosie. The thyroid takes up the iodine, but gets the radiation along with it. Much less collateral damage than external radiation. Any lonely thyroid cells floating around, waiting to re-grow, are sought out and destroyed.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">So Why the Special Diet?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">In order to get the most radioactive iodine to any remaining thyroid cells, you have to make them want it really, really bad. THEN you want to make it so the only way they get the iodine is to use the radioactive form. We do this in three steps...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Step 1: Starve the body of iodine.</i></b> This is what we're in the middle of doing, right now, with this low-iodine diet. </span><br />
<br />
<b><i>Step 2: Fire up any lingering thyroid cells at the last minute.</i></b> Right now, if there are any thyroid cells in your body, they're kind of sleeping on the job, because you are taking thyroid hormone pills. The thyroid hormone in your blood tells your pituitary gland (in your brain) - "We're good. You can turn off the thyroid gland right now." But we want the thyroid cells to wake up, so they will be hungry for the radioactive iodine. So, gradually, your doctor will lower your thyroid hormone until you aren't taking any more, at all. This will make your pituitary gland say, "Whoa! We better get some more thyroid hormone!" Which will, in turn, cause those rogue thyroid cells to wake up and try to work. They need iodine to work, so they'll be looking for it.<br />
<br />
Step 3: <b><i>Take radioactive iodine.</i></b> This will be a liquid or a pill, and the doctor will decide whether you get a low dose or a high dose. By this time, any remaining thyroid cells (cancerous or normal) will be looking for iodine, and will take up the radioactive iodine, which destroys the cells.AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-72755428019254502812012-10-10T19:56:00.001-07:002012-10-10T20:57:44.603-07:00Low-Iodine Eating: Day 4 (Cooking with Juicer Pulp)This is the fourth in a <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-weeks-of-low-iodine-menus.html" target="_blank">21-day series</a> showing how I kept a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine treatment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Menus</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breakfast</span></span></b></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Spicy Muffins</b></i> (see recipe)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coffee, black, no sugar</span></span><br />
Morning meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) <br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Lunch</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Sauteed Chicken and Peppers (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-3.html" target="_blank">Day 3</a>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">White Rice </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cranberry-Lime Seltzer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Apple</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Afternoon meds (2:00) (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>)</span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Dinner</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Pork Chops</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Asparagus</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">French Fries </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Evening meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Snacks</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Pecan halves, dried cranberries </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Coffee, black, no sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Recipes</span></b></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Spicy Muffins</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Adapted from <a href="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/?s=juicer+pulp" target="_blank">Juicer Pulp Sweet Bread</a>, <i>The Hillbilly Housewife</i>)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Items marked * are adapted to suit a low-iodine diet.</span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 c white sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 c apple cider* </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 egg whites*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
2 T vegetable oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
2 T honey</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 tsp vanilla extract </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
1 tsp ground cinnamon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
1/2 tsp ground cloves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
1 c whole wheat flour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/3 cup all-purpose flour </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
3/4 tsp baking powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
1/2 tsp baking soda</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
1/8 tsp non-iodized salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">
1 1/2 cups pulp from juicing (See <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-2.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Preheat oven to 350. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray, or line with paper cupcake liners; set aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cider, egg whites, oil, honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and cloves.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
In a large bowl, stir together the flours, baking powder, baking soda,
and salt. Add the sugar mixture, then the pulp from juicing. Stir with a
wooden spoon until combined, but do not overmix.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Spoon the batter into the muffin tin. Bake for 25 minutes or
until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan
for 10 minutes. Remove the bread from the pan and cool on a wire rack. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>NOTES: </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The Apple Cider: </b>The original recipe uses milk. Since most of the pulp was apple pulp, I figured cider would work well. You can use any juice, or even water. NOTE: Non-dairy "milks" usually have soy in them, and may have dairy-based components, so these are not part of a low-iodine diet.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The Egg Whites:</b> You can't have yolks, but you can have whites. So if the recipe calls for an egg (like this one did), substitute another white for the yolk you removed, and save the yolks for someone else in the family. </i></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></b>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The Juicer Pulp:</b> You can use whatever pulp you have. Mine usually has lots of apples, celery, and carrots, plus some other stuff. Depending on your juicer, you might have chunks that slipped by the grater, so I usually sift through the pulp with my (clean) fingers to pull out any large or hard pieces. Maybe you have a better way. I bought my juicer in the summer, and couldn't bear to throw away the pulp -- it seemed a shame to discard something that I would have eaten (although my eldest child remarked, "Mom, if you're going to squeeze out the juice and then save the apple pulp, why don't you just eat the whole apple?"). There are lots of recipes using juicer pulp, but <b>beware</b>! I think a lot of them are recipes someone invented but never tried, as I have made some awful ones. This one is not only foolproof, but it's very tasty. Experiment with your zucchini bread and carrot cake recipes to start, remembering that your juicer squeezes out most of the water (so you'll have to adjust your liquid), and a lot of the sugar is in the juice, so you'll have to check the sweetness of your product).</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span><b><i>An Interesting Variation: </i></b><i>Susanne at The Hillbilly Housewife suggests adding 1/2 c cocoa powder to the dry ingredients to create a moist, chocolate sweet bread or muffins. This sounds wonderful. You cannot have chocolate (because it contains milk products), but cocoa powder is allowable. I'll have to try that the next time. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKWS0twZvNWbMI4FZwQMDaYPnl6F2Bw7OhcY06Jv9x9XLEoDKRie9KFOZMUkT7V81WLScW-22E4HaYRxqGemDILMI-N2qIJ7TsghzmqGEkWvK3GYzYEmx7kK7QgfYy6Uu2kUNERzrNCQ/s1600/grapefruit+sorbet+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKWS0twZvNWbMI4FZwQMDaYPnl6F2Bw7OhcY06Jv9x9XLEoDKRie9KFOZMUkT7V81WLScW-22E4HaYRxqGemDILMI-N2qIJ7TsghzmqGEkWvK3GYzYEmx7kK7QgfYy6Uu2kUNERzrNCQ/s320/grapefruit+sorbet+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I freeze the pulp from my juicer in sandwich size Ziploc bags.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-19225379363776583212012-10-08T19:06:00.000-07:002012-10-10T20:58:10.950-07:00Low-Iodine Eating: Day 3 (Eat Those Fruits and Veggies!)This is the third in a <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-weeks-of-low-iodine-menus.html" target="_blank">21-day series</a> showing how I kept a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine treatment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Menus</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breakfast</span></span></b></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Mixed Fruit Smoothie</i></b></span> (see recipe)<br />
Coffee, black, no sugar<br />
Morning meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) <br />
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b><span style="font-size: small;">Lunch</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Leftover potatoes and carrots from Beef Pot Roast (See <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-2.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cranberry-lime seltzer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Apple</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Afternoon meds (2:00) (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>)</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Dinner</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Sauteed Chicken and Peppers</i></b> (see recipe)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">White rice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Water</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Evening meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Snacks</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Apple Brown Betty (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Coffee, black, no sugar</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Recipes</span></b></h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mixed Fruit Smoothie </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 banana, peeled and cut into chunks</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">5 strawberries, hulls removed, quartered</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 c orange juice with added calcium</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 c carrot juice</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Place all ingredients in blender jar. Process until smooth.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>NOTE: Because a total thyroidectomy (and many other thyroid problems and treatments) can cause a calcium deficiency, I take calcium supplements and choose juices with added calcium, when available.</i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sauteed Chicken and Peppers</b></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1-2 T olive oil </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 onion, sliced thinly</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 Italian frying pepper, cut into thin strips</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 orange bell pepper, cut into thin strips<i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 black bell pepper, cut into thin strips</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 tsp minced garlic</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Non-iodized salt</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black pepper <i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Heat oil over med-high heat. Add chicken; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sautee over med-high heat until beginning to brown; remove from pan.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Add additional oil<i>, </i>if needed. Add vegetables to pan (onion, peppers, garlic), and sautee until tender. Return chicken to pan, and heat through. Adjust seasoning, if needed.</span><i> </i> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span>
<i>[NOTE: Meats, except for seafoods, are allowed, but the recommendation is to keep your daily meat intake to 1/4 lb or less, per day. Adding tasty vegetables stretches this portion and adds variety.]</i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /> </span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup_tpaCCFQuTystoaebEdCQkbIZ4YF6lg2vkn-nknBUxP1b9SKSLGWoY4Bf8q5xfy1GqwKkIxup4ZyP7VyWPc39PNQ4401OzhMd2EqQ1CgbUPWoPO_TgM8Mb0PtdMv_U3CuDJeFBw3ZI/s1600/cooking+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup_tpaCCFQuTystoaebEdCQkbIZ4YF6lg2vkn-nknBUxP1b9SKSLGWoY4Bf8q5xfy1GqwKkIxup4ZyP7VyWPc39PNQ4401OzhMd2EqQ1CgbUPWoPO_TgM8Mb0PtdMv_U3CuDJeFBw3ZI/s320/cooking+001.JPG" width="320" />.</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful peppers, onion and garlic help to stretch the meat and add flavor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></h2>
<h3>
</h3>
AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-28409306023413711252012-10-06T09:49:00.000-07:002012-10-10T20:58:32.537-07:00Low-Iodine Eating: Day 2 (Juicing for Your Health)This is the second in a <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-weeks-of-low-iodine-menus.html" target="_blank">21-day series</a> showing how I kept a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine treatment.<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Menu</h2>
<h4>
Breakfast </h4>
<ul>
<li>Instant oatmeal with chopped pecans and dried cranberries</li>
<li><i><b>Apple-Strawberry-Kiwi Juice</b></i> (see recipe) </li>
<li>Coffee, black, no sugar</li>
<li>Morning meds (see <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-1.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>)</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Lunch </h4>
<ul>
<li>Matzo, apple slice and pecan halves</li>
<li>Natural peanut butter for dipping (get one with no salt added -- peanuts only!)</li>
<li>Cranberry-lime seltzer</li>
<li>Remaining Apple-Strawberry-Kiwi Juice </li>
<li>Noon meds (see Day 1)</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Snacks (2:00)</h4>
<ul>
<li>Home-popped popcorn, no butter/margarine, non-iodized salt</li>
<li>Herb tea </li>
<li>Small apple</li>
<li>Afternoon meds (see Day 1)</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Dinner</h4>
<ul>
<li><i><b>Beef Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots</b></i> (see recipe)</li>
<li>Water</li>
<li>Red wine (1 glass) </li>
<li>Coffee, black, no sugar</li>
</ul>
<i>Notes: </i><br />
<ol>
<li><i>You can eat <b>unsalted nuts</b> -- go to the baking section to find these most easily. </i></li>
<li><i>Butter contains milk, which naturally concentrates iodine from the cow's diet. Margarine and other spreads often contain milk products (my soft spread has whey, which is the solids from milk). <b>Oils </b>of any kind are ok. I substituted vegetable oil for butter and margarine in recipes. </i> </li>
<li><i>Buy a carton of <b>non-iodized salt</b> and hide your other carton.</i></li>
<li><i><b>Wine, beer, coffee</b> and <b>tea </b>are all allowable. </i></li>
</ol>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
The Recipes</h2>
<h3>
Apple-Strawberry-Kiwi Juice</h3>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I invented this recipe, using fruits that I had in the house)</span></b></span></b></h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<ul>
<li>4 apples, cut into eighths (or size to fit in the chute of your juicer)</li>
<li>5 large strawberries, halved</li>
<li>1 kiwi fruit, halved </li>
<li>1/2 c. Green Machine juice, by Naked </li>
</ul>
Put the fruits through your juicer (I alternate harder and softer fruits, so that I get the most juice out of the softer ones. I don't peel or core them). Save the pulp (see note).<br />
<br />
Pour the juice into a quart jar, and add Green Machine to top it off.<br />
<br />
<i>Notes: </i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The Juicer Pulp:</b> I save the pulp from my juicer in sandwich-sized zip-style baggies, and keep it in the freezer. I use it to make the Spicy Muffins (in <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/low-iodine-eating-day-4.html#" target="_blank">Day 3</a> post). Alternatively, you can put the pulp in your compost pile. I just can't bear to throw it away!</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The <a href="http://nakedjuice.com/our-products/juice/green-machine" target="_blank">Green Machine</a> Juice: </b>I like to keep a bottle of one of the "amped up" juices in my refrigerator, to round out my juicer projects. Old standbys have been carrot juice or pomegranate juice, which can be added to almost anything to boost antioxidants. NOTE: If you are undergoing ionizing radiation treatment, check with your doctor. Mine had me stop taking antioxidant supplements during external beam radiation treatment -- kind of makes no sense to take antioxidants during a treatment that is oxidizing, right? Not sure about superfood juices, so best to check with your doctor. ALSO check the labels carefully for banned substances during your low-iodine diet: soy, multivitamins containing iodine, Red Dye #3, and dairy-derived products. I looked up <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/031779_spirulina_radiation.html" target="_blank">spirulina, chlorella and blue-green algae</a> in Natural News: all are freshwater (so no iodine traces). All have healing qualities for your body after you have had radiation treatment. Good stuff. Follow the links for more interesting information.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Look at how smart you're getting, taking such good care of yourself!</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DS9YBmHhUk4nlkc78twaSFR3r6HGhp9VFEUfAXkwR3-bBri9LDb3PvJ1hh2f5Nsp4w2VKOQ7o1PZe8ONxVajUUuASzg1rmwIg3x7CFJC_21kpFLkjbGbfkv8SkHUllu4nKzQZONZfQg/s1600/grapefruit+sorbet+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DS9YBmHhUk4nlkc78twaSFR3r6HGhp9VFEUfAXkwR3-bBri9LDb3PvJ1hh2f5Nsp4w2VKOQ7o1PZe8ONxVajUUuASzg1rmwIg3x7CFJC_21kpFLkjbGbfkv8SkHUllu4nKzQZONZfQg/s320/grapefruit+sorbet+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I use my juicer almost daily, here, for fresh grapefruit juice.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i> </i> <br />
<h3>
<b>Beef Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots</b></h3>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(My own adaptation...)</span></b></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Note: Items marked (*) are changes to accommodate a low-iodine diet. See notes at end of recipe for explanation</i></span></h3>
<ul>
<li>1 1/2 c salt-free beef broth*</li>
<li>2 T balsamic vinegar*</li>
<li>1/4 c red wine*</li>
<li>1 1/2 T garlic powder</li>
<li>2 tsp non-iodized salt*</li>
<li>2 T onion powder</li>
<li>1 5-lb beef pot roast</li>
<li>3 T minced garlic</li>
<li>1 T balsamic vinegar*</li>
<li>1 T red wine*</li>
<li>1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes*</li>
<li>1 12-oz can of beer*</li>
<li>1 onion, sliced thinly in rings</li>
<li>1 Italian frying pepper, sliced thinly in rings*</li>
<li>5 white potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters*</li>
<li>1/2 lb. baby carrots</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In a bowl, combine the beef broth, vinegar, wine, garlic powder, salt, and onion powder. Pour all into a gallon-sized zip-style bag. Stab roast all over with a fork, then place in bag, and zip closed. Set bag in a baking pan and marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours, turning occasionally to make sure all sides are exposed to the marinade.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The next day, preheat oven to 275 degrees. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In small bowl, combine minced garlic, vinegar, wine and pepper flakes. Pour onto the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking dish. Remove roast from bag, and place in baking dish. Pour beer over the roast in the pan. Cover roast with the onion and pepper slices.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cover tightly with aluminum foil, and place in center of oven. Bake at 275 degrees for 4 1/2 hrs. Uncover; add potatoes and carrots to pan juices around roast, cover and continue baking for an additional 1/2 hr, or until vegetables are tender.</span></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<br />
<i>Notes:</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The Beef Broth:</b> You can buy no-salt-added beef broth in a carton in the soup aisle at most grocery stores. Remember, it's not the sodium that's the problem -- it's the iodine that probably was in the salt during production. Since you can't tell from the label, you have to assume they used iodized salt.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The Balsamic Vinegar: </b>Balsamic vinegar will be your go-to condiment when you want to add rich flavor to anything. It doesn't substitute for the other sauce, but has the depth of flavor to take its place. For example, the original recipe called for liquid smoke. I didn't want that flavor, but needed something equally bold for the marinade. This was delicious.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The Red Wine:</b> The original recipe called for Worcestershire sauce -- full of tons of salt, and, potentially, iodine. Red wine worked like a gem to add bite.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>The Salt:</b> Remember, you hid your old salt carton, right?</i><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<i><b>The Red Pepper Flakes:</b> Alternatively, you can keep a bottle of no-salt herb seasoning (like Mrs. Dash) -- even my salt-loving husband will accept this instead of salt, in some things.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The Beer:</b> You can increase this to 2 cans, if you want to drink one while you cook! Beer is allowed on a low-iodine diet.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>The Peppers:</b> Just adding tasty vegetables to a dish helps boost the flavor. I bought these peppers at the orchard last week, and they were delicious.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>The Potatoes:</b> I almost left the skins on (I like roasted potatoes that way). But potato skins are a no-no on a low-iodine diet (they accumulate iodine). Peel them, and you're good to go.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7qmYkQG7DULdRkU2f5y8LWWFu3p-QUBTXPZaNU6_HdIizHpz5DRs5TsdRfyK2-v2KldXH4EUOgSczJxL0hjiEpS5ppFts9NNnyPwmC2oqpLfY7O8wR4g6JB8pOppAChSkumMaVObOD0/s1600/salt-free+beef+broth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7qmYkQG7DULdRkU2f5y8LWWFu3p-QUBTXPZaNU6_HdIizHpz5DRs5TsdRfyK2-v2KldXH4EUOgSczJxL0hjiEpS5ppFts9NNnyPwmC2oqpLfY7O8wR4g6JB8pOppAChSkumMaVObOD0/s320/salt-free+beef+broth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salt-free broth (dry and liquid) can be found in the soup aisle, or you can make and freeze your own.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<h2>
Other Notes...</h2>
It took us extra time to shop for this first week, because we read so many labels. Not all grocery stores had natural peanut butter, and many had added salt. Check the natural or organic section of the store, or go to your local natural food store, and grind your own (great fun for kids).AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-44331543984067890972012-10-04T10:12:00.000-07:002012-10-10T20:59:07.277-07:00Low-iodine Eating: Day 1 (Adjusting Your Cooking)This is the second in a <a href="http://edeninhartford.blogspot.com/2012/10/two-weeks-of-low-iodine-menus.html" target="_blank">21-day series</a> showing how I kept a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine treatment.<br />
<h2>
The Menu</h2>
<h3>
Breakfast</h3>
<ul>
<li>Coffee, black, no sugar</li>
<li><b><i>Apple Brown Betty</i></b> (see recipe)</li>
<li>Morning meds: 2000 units Vit D, Arimidex (aromatase inhibitor), Cytomel (thyroid hormone replacement) </li>
<li>Water</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Lunch</h3>
<ul>
<li><b><i>Chicken and Mixed Greens Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing</i></b> (see recipe) </li>
<li>Cranberry-lime seltzer</li>
<li>Kiwi</li>
<li>Noon meds: 500 mg calcium supplement</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Snack (2:00)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Unsalted pecan halves (from the baking section, not the snack section) and dried cranberries</li>
<li>Herb tea </li>
<li>Small apple</li>
<li>Afternoon meds: Cytomel </li>
</ul>
<h3>
Dinner</h3>
<ul>
<li>Pan-fried tilapia (breaded in cornmeal, no egg)</li>
<li>White rice
</li>
<li>Lima beans</li>
<li>Water, coffee </li>
</ul>
<i>Note: Fish and shellfish are my favorite protein sources, so "no seafood" was sad for me. Fortunately, freshwater fish does not have the iodine content of seafood, so I ate my tilapia with gusto.</i> <br />
<ul>
<!--1-->
</ul>
<h3>
Snack (evening)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Apple</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h2>
The Recipes</h2>
<h3>
Apple Brown Betty</h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Adapted from <i>Food & Wine Annual Cookbook, 2012</i>)</span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550867_3264533672689_931598276_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550867_3264533672689_931598276_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Betty you CAN eat on the left... pecan pie you CAN'T eat on the right!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Note: Items marked (*) are changes to accommodate a low-iodine diet. See notes at end of recipe for explanation.</i> </span></h3>
<ul>
<li>1 1/2 c quick oats* </li>
<li>Cooking spray </li>
<li>1 1/2 c white sugar</li>
<li>1/4 tsp ground nutmeg</li>
<li>1/2 tsp ground cinnamon</li>
<li>2 tsp grated lemon zest</li>
<li>Pinch of non-iodized salt*</li>
<li>4 lbs apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (I had Gala, Empire, Cortland and McIntosh)</li>
<li>1/2 c apple cider</li>
<li>Juice from one lemon (about 2 T)</li>
<li>2 T orange juice (mine had calcium added)</li>
<li>3 T vegetable oil*</li>
</ul>
<br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9" x 13" baking pan with cooking spray. Spread 1/3 of the oats over the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/2 of the apple slices over the oats. <br />
<br />
In a small bowl, combine sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest and salt. Spread 1/2 of the sugar mixture over the apples in the pan.<br />
<br />
In another bowl, combine cider with lemon and orange juices; drizzle over the apples. Add another layer of oats, the remaining apple slices, and the remaining sugar mixture. Cover all with remaining oats. Drizzle oil over all.<br />
<br />
Bake in the center of the oven for 1 hr. Cover with foil the last 15 min to prevent the top from getting too browned. Let cool for 30 min.<br />
<br />
<i>Adaptations: </i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The oats:</b> The original recipe called for homemade bread crumbs that you make from bread slices. If you make your own bread, you could still use bread crumbs - the recipe calls for 6 slices of bread, toasted at 350 degrees, then processed to crumbs in the food processor.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>The salt:</b> You are not on a low-salt diet, but a low-iodine diet. I put away my iodized salt carton, and replaced it with a non-iodized salt carton. Salt as you usually would. With processed foods, unfortunately, you can have no confidence that the salt was non-iodized, so if there's salt on the label, don't eat it.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>The oil:</b> The original recipe called for 3 T of butter, shaved over the top of the whole dish. Iodine from the cow's diet accumulates and concentrates in milk, naturally, so any dairy product contains lots of iodine. I didn't miss it in this recipe. </i><br />
<br />
<i>I made this recipe previous to my special diet, as originally written, and the oats adds a cakier, more breakfast-y texture to the dish -- not as pie-like, but I liked it for breakfast or dessert.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Chicken and Mixed Greens Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Adapted from the <a href="http://www.thyca.org/" target="_blank">Low-Iodine Cookbook, ThyCA</a> -- click for a free, downloadable .pdf version)</span></b></span>
<br />
<br />
<b>The Salad: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>1 1/2 c sliced strawberries (set aside enough to make 1/8 c., mashed)</li>
<li>4 c mixed greens</li>
<li>1/4 c chopped pecans</li>
<li>1 boneless chicken breast, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>The Dressing:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>1/8 c mashed strawberries </li>
<li>1/4 c olive oil</li>
<li>1 1/2 T balsamic vinegar</li>
<li>1/2 T sugar</li>
<li>Non-iodized salt & pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<br />
Mash enough berries to measure 1/8 cup. Reserve remaining berries. Whisk together oil, vinegar and sugar to blend. Stir in mashed berries. Season with salt and pepper. <i>(Note: I put everything in a jar with a lid, and shook it to mix).</i> Use as dressing for the remaining salad ingredients.<br />
<br />
Either plate individually and pour sauce on top or mix it all in a bowl and serve. Salad dressing does not keep well. Must be used right away. <i>(Note: This is delicious. I normally don't like sweet dressings, but this is fabulous. Adding the chicken made it a satisfying meal. I think you could add grape halves, as well.)</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
About the Meds</h2>
I added the meds to the meal menus, because of a mistake I made (actually, two mistakes).<br />
<br />
<i>Mistake Number 1:</i> There is a reason you take the second Cytomel at 2:00. It's because if you take it later, you will be up all night. Trust me. I wondered why I didn't sleep past midnight for three days -- I was forgetting to take the Cytomel until dinner (2:00 is not a normal pill-taking time for me).<br />
<br />
<i>Mistake Number 2:</i> I didn't realize (didn't remember, wasn't told, not sure...) that you should not take the calcium supplement within four hours of taking the cytomel. I'm not sure why. I'm wondering if this is why I was so tired at the end of the day, when I was taking the cytomel and the calcium together at breakfast.<br />
<br />
Arimidex has nothing to do with the low-iodine diet or thyroid, except that the breast cancer and thyroid cancer (for me) are related issues. You'll need to make your own meds list. Incidentally, I cut back on other vitamins and supplements, so I don't confuse myself further. Plus multi-vitamins often contain iodide as a nutrient.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-43540597004657348832012-08-25T13:11:00.000-07:002012-08-25T13:11:30.021-07:00Drinking Water: Way to Lose Weight #1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0msG-fMcUssBTK-Jxp7XAbdygngt6k8vlmuJ7T9LxU_WMyPdfpk0H-0hbQ5TGHyBREdkMEkGm-F_h8ty_xCMky9Jhd8VgKh806MtI9wXKfGgh1LK0jVC9_1XpRqL-Ov9EDTqSO9ugdUI/s1600/water+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0msG-fMcUssBTK-Jxp7XAbdygngt6k8vlmuJ7T9LxU_WMyPdfpk0H-0hbQ5TGHyBREdkMEkGm-F_h8ty_xCMky9Jhd8VgKh806MtI9wXKfGgh1LK0jVC9_1XpRqL-Ov9EDTqSO9ugdUI/s320/water+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c) 2009, eVo Photo (via Creative Commons)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
Introduction to the Challenge: Water for Weight Loss</h2>
As you read in my last entry, I am determined to make this the year of
getting back to a healthier me. I discovered this poster on Pinterest,
and it has inspired me to develop a personal plan for the next 5 months,
or so. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_683708914" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cLveiAqm4xMkOiXG6YeX6EvTLDpZXuU57VDo1yKMVTKTlEbCrn4VEYsO1kL70JeenJsXWuvcfogaxUaq3epT_ssHUgUxl1PFq1q11iM_iONrr7uKfR0jPZ7Q-aLzA8sZmPGZVfdmzIk/s320/the+skinny+rules.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ad.linksynergy.comshow/?id=Fe/lAR2NGuQ&bids=239662.9780307990150&type=2&subid=0%22%20%3E" target="_blank"><i>The Skinny Rules</i></a>, by Bob Harper<br />
($26, Barnes &Noble)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
For a larger version, click <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/152418768609704312/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
My first stop, "Rule #1: Drink a large glass of water before every meal -- no excuses!" <br />
<br />
<h2>
What the Experts Say About Water and Weight Loss</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3LY0WfkDWdtZ4wDv48s0YSslvdLJ7REktQp1hUtBef2pe3CwpSQ9hyphenhyphenbaXFcZRmfmHoTmmUPrgOnpVpYZxKs2hZMOSrQrhILIh6ygyDQETqGO2Gb2jDOdTb8geZY4t0EJfX65ov-cGbU/s1600/water+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3LY0WfkDWdtZ4wDv48s0YSslvdLJ7REktQp1hUtBef2pe3CwpSQ9hyphenhyphenbaXFcZRmfmHoTmmUPrgOnpVpYZxKs2hZMOSrQrhILIh6ygyDQETqGO2Gb2jDOdTb8geZY4t0EJfX65ov-cGbU/s320/water+.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c) 2010, Jenn Durfey (via Creative Commons)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Brenda Davy, PhD, an associate professor of <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm">nutrition</a> at Virginia Tech completed a <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20100823/water-may-be-a-secret-weapon-in-weight-loss" target="_blank">diet study</a> in 2010, comparing the weight loss of subjects who drank 2, 8-oz glasses of water before each meal with those who did not. All subjects ate a low-calorie diet throughout the study. At the end of 12 weeks, the water drinkers lost an average of 15.5 pounds, compared to the others, who lost an average of 11 pounds. Better still, they kept the weight off, and even lost an average of 1-2 additional pounds in the year following the end of the study. Not bad, for just drinking water!<br />
<br />
Our bodies are nearly 3/4 water, so water is more than just an essential part of the diet:<br />
<ol>
<li>All nutrients and oxygen are carried throughout the body, dissolved in water. </li>
<li>Water moisturized the linings of the nose, mouth, lungs and gastrointestinal tract, protecting delicate membranes from the invasion of pathogens.</li>
<li>The water in your saliva, along with chewing, is the first step in digesting all your food.</li>
<li>All processes in our vital organs depend on water.</li>
<li>Water is the biggest component, by volume, in the bloodstream, and is important for regulating blood pressure in the body.</li>
<li>Our body temperature is regulated by the ability of water to absorb and hold large amounts of heat.</li>
<li>Water flushes toxins and waste products from our systems.</li>
<li>Our joints are lubricated and protected by water.</li>
</ol>
<br />
There are many other health benefits from drinking water, besides weight loss:<br />
<ul>
<li>A headache can often be relieved by simply drinking more water.</li>
<li>Drinking water makes your skin look healthier.</li>
<li>Well-hydrated brains think better.</li>
<li>Better temperature control helps you get the maximum result from exercise.</li>
<li>Increasing your water intake fights constipation and acid indigestion.</li>
<li>Muscle cramps and joint aches can be minimized if you drink enough water before exercise.</li>
<li>Even a simple water flush or gargle can rinse harmful germs out of your mouth, throat and nose.</li>
<li>A cold glass of water refreshes and provides temporary relief from fatigue.</li>
<li>Feeling good in your body makes you feel good in your mind.</li>
<li>Toxins and harmful chemicals and drugs in the body can be flushed out with adequate water intake.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h2>
Where I Currently Stand re: Water in My Diet:</h2>
Alas, despite being a learned individual and appreciating the work of other learned individuals, I do not like to drink water. I detest carrying around a water bottle like an infant. I don't like the taste of water. I would go so far as to say that an entire day can go buy, and I realize that I've had nothing to drink but 2 cups of coffee and a glass of after-dinner wine. Not good.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvfTuMkRYc2AGowoG0fVzzU8k3uhrOWHoiwp33bngXb4gJzlS1esvTAQ1Gy9hFrN5f0a7v_m-VJLNiPwgVo8YAEJfLgIiuCDOB01HmyLCPw96s9CQfLh_dhtlTAw6aEdbPuCrmVakdxw/s1600/water+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvfTuMkRYc2AGowoG0fVzzU8k3uhrOWHoiwp33bngXb4gJzlS1esvTAQ1Gy9hFrN5f0a7v_m-VJLNiPwgVo8YAEJfLgIiuCDOB01HmyLCPw96s9CQfLh_dhtlTAw6aEdbPuCrmVakdxw/s320/water+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c) 2007, Laszlo Ilyes (via Creative Commons)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, while Rule #1 might look like a quick fix to many, it is a big hurdle for me.<br />
<br />
In May, I purposed to lose about 20 pounds. To date, through becoming more conscious of calories in my diet, I have lost 15.5 of those pounds. But I want to do more than lose weight -- I want to be healthier. So I press on.<br />
<br />
We have installed Brita filters on our faucets, which effectively takes all the taste out of the water -- you don't realize water has a taste until you filter it. It's strange.<br />
<br />
I have started drinking a can of Polar Seltzer while I cook dinner, and when I come home from work. That's not exactly what the Rule states, but I'm trying! <br />
<br />
<h2>
My Strategies: How to Get More Water in My Day</h2>
<h3>
Strategy #1. Flavored Seltzer (1)</h3>
<br />
I once had a doctor (since retired) who also was a non-water-drinker (is that a word?). He "treated" himself by buying flavored seltzer in little, returnable glass bottles at a local bottling company, <a href="http://www.dev.hosmersoda.com/" target="_blank">Hosmer Mountain Soda</a>. The seltzer comes in several flavors (regular, lemon-lime, tangerine and raspberry), and you bring the bottles back, just like in the olden days (you know, the 60's, when I grew up). They also have fun soda flavors, for the soda drinkers in the house (like "Lime Ricky," "Sasparilla," and "Cocoa Cream." If you live in the Willimantic, Connecticut area, they will deliver right to your door.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBPAXxdz1plda7PpDUkkQzxa7N1P_B_RRYQVXKrlt0wxeHJHHwW7NByEgjJC3y-j5Qyq54dFyDtBrkFlg7Z0RVNH4w5y4pJacmkJuNbRFeS82bSIrDNr9jQA3UBQrlFNI3BHNgLP6f3Q/s1600/Hosmer+Soda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBPAXxdz1plda7PpDUkkQzxa7N1P_B_RRYQVXKrlt0wxeHJHHwW7NByEgjJC3y-j5Qyq54dFyDtBrkFlg7Z0RVNH4w5y4pJacmkJuNbRFeS82bSIrDNr9jQA3UBQrlFNI3BHNgLP6f3Q/s320/Hosmer+Soda.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dev.hosmersoda.com/" target="_blank">Hosmer Mountain Soda</a> - Celebrating 100 Years!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Strategy #2. Flavored Seltzer (2)</h3>
Failing a visit to Hosmer's in Willimantic, there's always the local grocery store, where you can also get flavored seltzer. I've been buying Polar Seltzer, and I like it very well. My husband says it's cheating, but I respond that I'm at least drinking more water.<br />
<br />
According to the <a href="http://www.polarbev.com/Default.aspx?tabid=59" target="_blank">Polar website</a>, there are a bunch of different seltzer flavors -- where can I find them all? I'll mark the ones that I've tried... All are great.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span class="DNNAlignleft" id="dnn_ctr380_ContentPane">
</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Black Cherry - yes </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Blueberry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cherry Pomegranate</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cranberry Lime - yes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Georgia Peach</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Lemon - yes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Lime</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Mandarin - yes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">NEW! Orange Vanilla - yes -- and this is VERY good</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Pomegranate - yes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Raspberry Lime - yes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ruby Red Grapefruit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Original<br />
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Strawberry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Triple Berry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Vanilla</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOGZ04XHCDAkGbH_gJSNYdhJHqS8JE0jHq7higDSb1dzVM0XLD1jVHocswodEplS39yqVp5oaGi_3sJSJu5p8tWMkJTinwq7XODaXk_IkGD12hJCgGTxPhl3wl-y_rCDLZn5DG7yFVK8/s1600/PolarBev_Banner_1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOGZ04XHCDAkGbH_gJSNYdhJHqS8JE0jHq7higDSb1dzVM0XLD1jVHocswodEplS39yqVp5oaGi_3sJSJu5p8tWMkJTinwq7XODaXk_IkGD12hJCgGTxPhl3wl-y_rCDLZn5DG7yFVK8/s320/PolarBev_Banner_1.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Strategy #3. Add Tasty Things to My Water</h3>
My doctor suggested even adding a few lemon or orange slices to my water, to give it a taste. I like that idea, especially if I drink my water from a fancy glass then. (Humor me...).<br />
<br />
I saw a great pin on Pinterest, "Naturally Flavored Water," from <a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/Flavored_Water" target="_blank">A Yummy Life</a>. She provides recipes (and delicious photographs!) for the following flavored waters:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>All-Citrus Flavored Water</li>
<li>Raspberry Lime Flavored Water</li>
<li>Pineapple Mint Flavored Water</li>
<li>Blackberry Sage Flavored Water</li>
<li>Watermelon Rosemary Flavored Water</li>
</ul>
These all look so good, I can't wait to make them. This would be an easy one for me, as I don't typically drink juice at breakfast -- this could be my juice substitute.<br />
<br />
<h2>
My Goal: "8 in 8"</h2>
That's a lot of water... (and bathroom trips)... <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>3 glasses, one before each meal... (that's 3)</li>
<li>One when I first get up... (that's 4)</li>
<li>One with my morning vitamins... (that's 5)</li>
<li>One when I get home from work... (that's 6)</li>
<li>One with daily medicines after dinner... (that's 7)</li>
<li>One before bed... (that's 8).</li>
</ul>
<br />
Right now, I'm probably only at 2, so let me try for 3 before each meal by the end of this week. I'll keep you posted. <br />
<br />
<h2>
My "To-Do" List:</h2>
<ol>
<li>Stop at Hosmer's for soda & seltzer.</li>
<li>Make sure I have enough Polar seltzer.</li>
<li>Whip up some flavored water.<br />
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<iframe align="aligncenter" bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6695832.570;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000024781945;pid=185551;usg=AFHzDLtZ3r6KbolQiqBr34MY5GbtyKUa1g;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.samsclub.com%252Fsams%252Fnestle-bottled-spring-water-1-2-liter-16-9-oz-24-bottles%252F182653.ip%253Fpid%253D_DoubleClick_Affiliates%2526ci_src%253D15781033%2526ci_sku%253D185551;pubid=572764;price=%245.98;title=Nestle+-+Bottled+Spring+Water%2C+1%2F2+liter+%2816.9+oz%29+-+24+Bottles+-;merc=Sam%27s+Club;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fs7d2.scene7.com%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fsamsclub%2Fs7product%2F0007114295311_A.jpg;width=135;height=135" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
</li>
</ol>
AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-35053289828662733902012-08-09T11:15:00.000-07:002012-08-25T11:29:51.111-07:00I'm Back... With a Mission!It's been a long time! But I'm back, and determined to be better than ever!<br />
<br />
I am a list-maker, box-checker, ultra-linear person. So any major undertaking that I, well, undertake, I need a set of specific steps in order to keep myself in line.<br />
<br />
I found a great photo on Pinterest the other day, and it screamed "LIST! LIST! LIST!" to me. I want to share it with you (for a larger version, click <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/152418768609704312/" target="_blank">here</a>):<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_683708914" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cLveiAqm4xMkOiXG6YeX6EvTLDpZXuU57VDo1yKMVTKTlEbCrn4VEYsO1kL70JeenJsXWuvcfogaxUaq3epT_ssHUgUxl1PFq1q11iM_iONrr7uKfR0jPZ7Q-aLzA8sZmPGZVfdmzIk/s320/the+skinny+rules.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ad.linksynergy.comshow/?id=Fe/lAR2NGuQ&bids=239662.9780307990150&type=2&subid=0%22%20%3E" target="_blank"><i>The Skinny Rules</i></a>, by Bob Harper<br />
($26, Barnes &Noble)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have made a decision (and I'm forcing it on my family (hubby, in particular) because it's my job to keep us all healthy, and we're both now officially over 50): we are going to get fit and trim over the next 6 months. And I have a plan. Here's the reveal....<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=Fe/lAR2NGuQ&offerid=239662.9780345533128&type=2&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.barnesandnoble.com%2FThe-Skinny-Rules%2FBob-Harper%2Fe%2F9780345533128" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="new"><img border="0" src="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/179330000/179339524.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=Fe/lAR2NGuQ&offerid=239662.9780345533128&type=2&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.barnesandnoble.com%2FThe-Skinny-Rules%2FBob-Harper%2Fe%2F9780345533128%22%3EThe%20Skinny%20Rules:%20The%20Simple,%20Nonnegotiable%20Principles%20for%20Getting%20to%20Thin%3C/a%3E%3CIMG%20border=0%20width=1%20height=1%20src=%22http://ad.linksynergy.comshow?id=Fe/lAR2NGuQ&bids=239662.9780345533128&type=2&subid=0%22%20%3E" target="_blank">The Skinny Rules</a>,</i> $26 at B&N</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
20 Weeks to a Fitter Me!</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For the next twenty weeks, I will be blogging about the twenty "Skinny Rules" above, using expert advice and my own family's efforts to incorporate these rules into our lifestyle. Some of us have a longer way to go to accomplish these than others. But my hope is that, by sharing our journey with you all, we can encourage one another, one tiny, healthy step at a time.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, for the next twenty weeks, beginning this Sunday (August 12, 2012), tune in for an installment of "20 Weeks to a Fitter Me!"<br />
<br />
Click on the image to the left for information on ordering your own copy of <i>The Skinny Rules </i>from Barnes & Noble.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The schedule:</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>August 12:</b></i> Goal #1 -- Drink more water</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>August 19: </i></b> Goal #2 -- Cut down on high-calorie beverages</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>August 26: </i></b> Goal #3 -- Eat protein at every meal</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>September 2:</i></b> Goal #4 -- Switch to good carbs</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>September 9:</b></i> Goal #5 -- Increase fiber intake</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>September 16:</b></i> Goal #6 -- Eat apples and berries daily</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>September 23: </b></i>Goal #7 -- Cut out carbs after lunch</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>September 30:</b></i> Goal #8 -- Read food labels</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>October 7: </b></i> Goal #9 -- Eat proper portion sizes</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>October 14</i></b>: Goal #10 -- Cut out all sweeteners</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>October 21:</b></i> Goal #11 -- Ditch white potatoes</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>October 28:</b></i> Goal #12 -- Eat one meatless meal per week</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>November 4: </b></i> Goal #13 -- No more fast and fried foods!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>November 11:</i></b> Goal #14 -- Eat a healthy breakfast</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>November 18:</b></i> Goal #15 -- Cook and eat at least 10 meals at home </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>November 25:</b></i> Goal #16 -- Cut out high-salt foods</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>December 2:</b></i> Goal #17 -- Eat more vegetables</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>December 9:</b></i> Goal #18 -- No evening snacks!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>December 16:</b></i> Goal #19 -- Get proper sleep</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>December 23:</b></i> Goal #20 -- Plan one splurge meal per week<br />
<br />
<i>Note: (8/25/2012) -- Due to unforeseen circumstances, we got started on this plan a couple of weeks late. Otherwise, all systems are go!</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That LAST one just in time for Christmas dinner !</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViP8YVfNo7RYDAOZKB1WBssOlV0RU3jzIXnnzDiLHFc08mLlzg8bijYcJwUYhArcxLBcNNQaH0OR7oNf44hiX_UUdooQ_AOE4VHevSDS_bglOb6qkejtRJ-J6nBvMSVIahwDEqYYQwHg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViP8YVfNo7RYDAOZKB1WBssOlV0RU3jzIXnnzDiLHFc08mLlzg8bijYcJwUYhArcxLBcNNQaH0OR7oNf44hiX_UUdooQ_AOE4VHevSDS_bglOb6qkejtRJ-J6nBvMSVIahwDEqYYQwHg/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Follow my Pinterest board, "<a href="https://pinterest.com/bbsoulful2/20-weeks-to-a-fitter-me/" target="_blank">20 Weeks to a Fitter Me!</a>" where I'll post all blog entries and resources we use on this project!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<i><b>Next week: </b></i> </div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Water is Your Friend...</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
</h4>
AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-44084635586182087302010-03-31T08:52:00.000-07:002010-03-31T08:52:31.245-07:00What's Really Worth My Time?<span></span><span></span><span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnzrJKiaZiU08FUQjkos1kGvm_39Lu_-pWHVVAmwWnuIAcD0uNs6gI2nfGFPVyeL87GWZ-0gJUkzMyWl59gUfpP_wWyaYTqeDQC2cqIwgpCLoUWARCJFUxbFUvESAEzkG-VMv1QPC7YQ/s1600/15_19_1---Tree--Sunrise--Northumberland_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnzrJKiaZiU08FUQjkos1kGvm_39Lu_-pWHVVAmwWnuIAcD0uNs6gI2nfGFPVyeL87GWZ-0gJUkzMyWl59gUfpP_wWyaYTqeDQC2cqIwgpCLoUWARCJFUxbFUvESAEzkG-VMv1QPC7YQ/s320/15_19_1---Tree--Sunrise--Northumberland_web.jpg" /></a></div>When my oldest son, Evan, was about 5 years old, I was in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he and his brother were in their rooms playing quietly. All of a sudden, Evan's urgent little voice cried, "Mommy, come quick! You have to see this!" I called back and inquired what was it that I needed to see, to which he simply hollered back, "Come fast!" In that way that only mothers who are hearing but aren't really listening can do, I responded, "Evan, I'm in the middle of cooking dinner. I will be there in a minute." Defeated, he said quietly, "Then you'll miss it..." Somehow, the sincere disappointment in his voice got my attention (finally!), and I walked down the hall to his room to see what was so exciting to him. <br />
<br />
Out his west-facing bedroom window was the most glorious, God-created sunset that I have ever seen. All I could do was stare with my mouth open. We both watched, hand-in-hand, as the sun slowly slid below the horizon. The full majesty of the sunset only lasted less than a minute. Evan was absolutely right -- had I put him off, I would have missed the whole thing.<br />
<br />
We all think we have so much time, that we can put off until another day the things that would bring us joy today. We "prioritize out" the things that feed the heart, but maybe not the checkbook, and call them less important. We claim that we don't have time for vacations, days off or holidays, then spend days at home, ill due to overwork. We wear what my friend, Kjell, calls the "badge of busy-ness" proudly, and miss out on the little things that matter most.<br />
__________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
In the April edition of <em>Real Simple</em>, Ingela Ratledge writes of 22 things in life that are really worth our time, according to a raft of people of all walks of life. See if you agree with any:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><strong>If you're going to stop and smell a flower, make it a gardenia. - </strong>It is one of the most fragrant ones, according to <em>Real Simple</em>'s gardening expert, Madeline Sparks.</li>
<li><strong>Read the wedding announcements in the Sunday newspaper. </strong>- According to Ellie Kemper, actress on <em>The Office, </em>the stories of regular folks meeting, falling in love and starting a family, are a source of "profound and unadulterated hope."</li>
<li><strong>Make the bed.-</strong> I must agree with author Isabel Gillies (<em>Happens Every Day: An All-True Story</em>) that sliding into a freshly made bed is a delight to my entire being. Plus she considers the physical ordering of the bed a way to order our thoughts for the day, as well.</li>
<li><strong>Let a child set the pace. </strong>- Novelist Dean Bakopoulos describes how different his daily walk became when he took his 2-year-old daughter along. It turned out to be a workout not for his body, but for his spirit. </li>
<li><strong>People-watch on public transportation. </strong>Author Teddy Wayne (<em>Kapitoil</em>) suggests getting on a train, bus, or subway without a particular destination in mind, and studying the folks as you go.</li>
<li><strong>Spring the kids from school for the day. </strong>Writer Jonathan Tropper described a fantastic day of "hooky", picking his children up in the morning, going to lunch (kids' choice), then spending the afternoon at the movie theater where the kids got to eat whatever they wanted.</li>
<li><strong>Guys, go on a "man-date". </strong>Steve Almond, author of <em>Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life</em>, talks about the importance of hanging with the guys (something my husband has been slowly trying to teach me).</li>
<li><strong>Write thank-you notes. </strong>Chicago-based author Amy Krouse Rosenthal (<em>Bedtime for Mommy</em>) says that this small (lost) gesture amounts to social capital, and makes us feel good, too.</li>
<li><strong>Spend time with your spouse.</strong> Writer Susan Schultheis equates the value of a couple's chit-chat over a glass of wine or a cup of tea to the time a parent spends on the floor playing with a child.</li>
<li><strong>Other ideas (thanks to Ingela)...</strong></li>
<ul><li><em>Re-read a favorite childhood book.</em></li>
<li><em>Call someone's supervisor to compliment a job well done.</em></li>
<li><em>Bake a cake from scratch.</em></li>
<li><em>Hold the door open for someone.</em></li>
<li><em>Eat a real breakfast, sitting down.</em></li>
<li><em>Document just one week in your life, scrapbook-style.</em></li>
<li><em>Listen to an entire album (those big, black, round things with grooves) in one sitting.</em></li>
<li><em>Toast your sandwich bread.</em></li>
<li><em>Take a road trip and stop at funky tourist sites.</em></li>
<li><em>Take a workshop that has nothing to do with work.</em></li>
<li><em>Eat something you grew yourself.</em></li>
<li><em>Watch inspirational YouTube videos.</em></li>
</ul></ul><em>_____________________________________________________________________________</em><br />
<br />
Here's a quick, real breakfast that gets my youngest son up and out of bed quickly. It takes little time, but delights a young child greatly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaPDz10iLRjl9gNsifmDuwdG-m0z-UQDi-0XBQngi2YdASuxwFL1jMUyMeogO3ryV5Hq2ewPxgSn1x80vihh7jpBizOXAuqpXu9-RnnSwwKet3YgG_S-L8T8JKvrdyFHepVAkCFydzig/s1600/eggs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaPDz10iLRjl9gNsifmDuwdG-m0z-UQDi-0XBQngi2YdASuxwFL1jMUyMeogO3ryV5Hq2ewPxgSn1x80vihh7jpBizOXAuqpXu9-RnnSwwKet3YgG_S-L8T8JKvrdyFHepVAkCFydzig/s320/eggs1.jpg" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Surprise Egg Sandwiches</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(Serves 1 or 2)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2 slices whole wheat bread</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Margarine or butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2 large eggs</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Butter one side of each slice of bread. With a juice glass or small cookie cutter, cut a circle out of the center of each slice; reserve cut circle for later.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Heat a non-stick frying pan or griddle to medium-hot. Place bread, butter-side down, in the frying pan. Crack one egg into the center hole in each bread slice (we like ours over easy, but you can pop the yolks if you prefer hard-set eggs). Replace cut circle of bread <em>butter side up</em>. Grill until bottom side of bread is toasted nicely; turn carefully.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Grill sandwich on flip side until egg and toast are desired doneness. Serve with a glass of orange juice and a chunk of cheese, for a complete meal for one or two.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">_____________________________________________________________</span><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00005R8BR&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1592853587&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1844836037&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-19612073385967871592010-02-24T11:14:00.000-08:002010-02-24T11:14:04.013-08:00The Well-Stocked Pantry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh201PDwA_bU7SrbxL943eXOwEj2_6K_aKKle3HZQHktg8FiBsHU1nfZ-Fn9bxY9efePjo0H2ZicmN0WvEPMkFpyTvK2S7MnCee8vk2a86IU2kh3F4rzLDB2Omk7sJlf5nS-wV5G0WKrVk/s1600-h/pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh201PDwA_bU7SrbxL943eXOwEj2_6K_aKKle3HZQHktg8FiBsHU1nfZ-Fn9bxY9efePjo0H2ZicmN0WvEPMkFpyTvK2S7MnCee8vk2a86IU2kh3F4rzLDB2Omk7sJlf5nS-wV5G0WKrVk/s320/pantry.jpg" /></a></div>When my oldest children were small, I used to travel far and wide to get the best deals at all the area supermarkets. I was well-known in the family as the "Coupon Queen", toting a large plastic shoebox full of neatly clipped and categorized coupons every time I went shopping. My goal was to get as close to zero dollars for my shopping trip as possible.<br />
<br />
I found that I did very well in the "dollars off" department, but my selection of items included many of those items that stores use to lure you in with their "buy one, get two free" specials, things that were tasty and convenient, but that I really didn't need, and that were really more expensive than their home-prepared counterparts: granola bars, juice boxes, snack packages of crackers, pricier boxed cereals. Don't get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with these items. It's just that they might not have given my family the biggest nutritional bang for my buck.<br />
<br />
I still love a good coupon trip, but I probably use fewer now, since I have honed my grocery list to things that mostly live in the outer circle of the store, where you don't find as many coupons and specials: bakery, produce, meats, dairy and the organic foods section, plus what Nathalie Dupree refers to as the "bomb shelter basics," food items that enable you to whip up something delightful without making that mad dash to the store for an exotic ingredient. These are usually items that can be repackaged in my flour and sugar bins, stored in the pantry, or divided into meal-size portions in my deep freeze. I tend to buy them in bulk when they are on sale and I have a lot of coupons saved up, so my cart looks odd some weeks, with eight packages of smoked sausage, but it makes my overall food bill shine when they are buy one get one free, and my coupons make them $0.50 each.<br />
_________________________________________<br />
<br />
Here is a list of nonperishable and perishable items that Nathalie insists all of us should have on hand for quick, easy, delicious cooking at the drop of a hat. The list is from <em>Nathalie Dupree Cooks Everyday Meals from a Well-Stocked Pantry.</em> I have converted it into an inventory/shopping list, also. If anyone is interested, email me and I can send you a copy to use and adapt as you need.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUMLOx__Z6S7y41MbJ8dbRQMdYYJjqfC41HI5Jm3u7pC07kuA1Hp92Jis5g6E7s98sstJvAKy34yKyfSoZDsWJGVsvIhYkXOJptlcgJ0F0EjpNIWCVscCbRB0qIrdbBqRjZCN28_NOmA/s1600-h/well+stocked+pantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUMLOx__Z6S7y41MbJ8dbRQMdYYJjqfC41HI5Jm3u7pC07kuA1Hp92Jis5g6E7s98sstJvAKy34yKyfSoZDsWJGVsvIhYkXOJptlcgJ0F0EjpNIWCVscCbRB0qIrdbBqRjZCN28_NOmA/s320/well+stocked+pantry.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Non-perishables</strong></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">bacon, ham or sausage</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">broth, stock and soup</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">canned evaporated and condensed milk</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">canned fish and seafood</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">canned or dried beans</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">canned vegetables</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">chocolate or cocoa powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">chutney, relish, salsa</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">coconut</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">cornmeal or corn muffin mix</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">crackers</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">dried fruit</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">dried or canned mushrooms</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">extracts/flavorings</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">herbs and spices</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">jam or jelly</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">mayonnaise</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">nuts and seeds</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">oats</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">oils</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">pasta</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">peanut butter</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">pickles</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">powdered milk and buttermilk</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">rice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">shortening</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">spirits and wine</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sugar and sweeteners</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">tomatoes and sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">vinegars</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">wrappers (such as tortillas)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">yeast</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">Fresh/frozen foods</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">beef (one big cut, one pound of ground beef)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">butter or margarine</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">cheese (one hard, one soft)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">fish</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">fruit and seafood</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">heavy cream</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">milk</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">onions (yellow & red)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">potatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">poultry (one whole bird, and a pound of boneless cutlets)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">vegetables (including emergency frozen veggies)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">________________________________________________</span><br />
<br />
Mardi Gras has come and gone, but here is a family favorite that reminds us of the season. All of the ingredients can be found in the well-stocked pantry described above.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dirty Rice </span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">(Serves 8)</span></em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwNMCFmpv4PWtDsY3ECOrsZDbt89m4VZpEp9MYuhIJZZSl2x2EQUFHrru-NMHUdxEcDLHDjrhof_UEXtzzTH8T6Agfqkl_MfQ6l6cf8fVHgKl8xZUFW2AiWHfkyaHZKGHiBMK7FjDeS0/s1600-h/cajun-dirty-rice-recipes_s600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwNMCFmpv4PWtDsY3ECOrsZDbt89m4VZpEp9MYuhIJZZSl2x2EQUFHrru-NMHUdxEcDLHDjrhof_UEXtzzTH8T6Agfqkl_MfQ6l6cf8fVHgKl8xZUFW2AiWHfkyaHZKGHiBMK7FjDeS0/s320/cajun-dirty-rice-recipes_s600x600.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1 pound ground beef</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1/4 c. seasoned bread crumbs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Red pepper flakes, to taste (1/8- 1/4 tsp)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1 tsp olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely diced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1 yellow onion, finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">2 cloves garlic, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Mrs. Dash <em>Fiesta Lime</em> seasoning, to taste</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1 cup white rice, uncooked</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">2 cups water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1/4 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">1/2 tsp olive oil</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Salt & pepper to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Hot sauce to taste</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">In a medium mixing bowl, combine ground beef, seasoned bread crumbs, and red pepper flakes. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over med-high heat. Add beef mixture. Brown thoroughly, breaking meat into very small crumbles. Add red and green bell peppers, onions, and garlic; continue to stir until meat is cooked thoroughly and vegetables begin to brown. Season liberally with Fiesta Lime seasoning. Remove from heat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Meanwhile, prepare rice. Place uncooked rice in a medium saucepan with the water, salt and 1/2 tsp olive oil. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice has absorbed all the liquid and grains are tender (about 15 min.).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Add cooked rice to meat mixture and return to heat, stirring all until blended and heated through. Pass hot sauce, salt and black pepper. Serve with a mixed spring greens salad and your favorite dressing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">__________________________________________________</span><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0017JIJSS&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0517597357&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00129TVCG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-87178735405911762982010-02-20T08:02:00.000-08:002010-02-20T08:02:01.051-08:00The Spirituality of Spring Cleaning<span></span><span></span><span></span><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJaoHjGcN_8c-G464utvWTg31SL61-84wAZiYVkwgs3VUvVIezUltopsh_qJWGOW1FawmtDoqi0IxKrAarlOSi49B2AqLPk57tlpiA-6lyKdhC9RyVfWFV138SWl1hQPy6J2SnR6UtDE/s1600-h/cleaning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJaoHjGcN_8c-G464utvWTg31SL61-84wAZiYVkwgs3VUvVIezUltopsh_qJWGOW1FawmtDoqi0IxKrAarlOSi49B2AqLPk57tlpiA-6lyKdhC9RyVfWFV138SWl1hQPy6J2SnR6UtDE/s320/cleaning.jpg" /></a>I love having a clean house. The problem is, while I don't mind cleaning (in fact, I really enjoy some tasks, such as laundry, mopping and rearranging accessories... a lot...), I am terrible at starting. I make task lists then actively avoid anything hard, because I don't know where to begin.</div><br />
Enter my wonderful, cleaning husband. I've already told you how much he loves power yard equipment. He also loves cleaning products. The man doesn't just clean around the edges of things -- when he's done, everything looks like it was just freshly moved into the room. He is usually my jumpstarter. He will start out anywhere, and let it tell him where to go next. Once, before we rehabilitated our first floor, he went downstairs with a friend to find a tool. That led to moving boxes, which led to hauling out old furniture from previous tenants to stripping off old wallpaper. When I got home from work, the whole first floor was gutted and ready for me to prime and paint. What fortune!<br />
<br />
I love working alongside him, because his love of cleaning is so contagious. <br />
<br />
Last Sunday was our anniversary. My mom sent us money to go out for lunch (she always does that for us, and we appreciate it so!). Unfortunately, our littlest one was coming down with a cold, so we had to put the dinner plans on hold for a few days. Instead, we started our spring cleaning.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86YawD1bXUanyzaC8b41kE9WxxWCIbQTsfgMXiqK-C-KNKYmYCXkHQRJNTGpuS6lGOCDVxMi-xrwUVQ65oZ22vQ25QDU-KmTOhb32CO3_9qXkHsQSiLzlHnw8KWklMewcCPFQ8-OwlRY/s1600-h/closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86YawD1bXUanyzaC8b41kE9WxxWCIbQTsfgMXiqK-C-KNKYmYCXkHQRJNTGpuS6lGOCDVxMi-xrwUVQ65oZ22vQ25QDU-KmTOhb32CO3_9qXkHsQSiLzlHnw8KWklMewcCPFQ8-OwlRY/s320/closet.jpg" /></a>Pamela Kristen, in her book, <em>The Spirit of Getting Organized</em>, talks about the sets of skills we use when we begin to exert our presence on our chaotic surroundings. First we need to decide where to <em>begin</em> and <em>end</em>, whether the task is the pantry, our desk, or the whole basement. Then we need to look at all our "stuff" and <em>sort</em> it, set up a <em>staging</em> area for our work, <em>store</em> what we want to save for later, and <em>shed</em> the things we don't. Finally, we need to <em>sustain</em> the progress we make -- no good doing all this work just to let chaos sneak back into the mix.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>She goes on further to describe how the outward manifestation of our cleaning reflects inward changes, a spiritual shift. So while we are going through the clothes in our closet, we are <em>observing</em> the pants we have hung on hangers and <em>acknowledging </em>several pairs have not fit us in quite awhile. We begine to <em>imagine</em> how we could add two or three key accessories to pull together all those neutrals into several wonderful outfits. We <em>choose </em>which items are our "mainstays" for our wardrobe this year, and decide which ones no longer fit our authentic selves. For instance, I have a couple of very lacy dresses in my closet. Nice ones, but I am more a tie-dye, batik and Birkenstock kind of girl. It is time to choose. Finally, as we are sorting and organizing, we begin to <em>engage </em>fully with the task, connecting the mundane to deeper meaning. Sound funny? Just note what goes through your head as you look at each clothing item: "Oh, this is a pair of flipflops I took to Hawaii... sigh... [long pause as I listen to surf sounds in my head]" -- "Oh, Mommy gave this purse to me. I miss Mommy..." See what I mean?<br />
<br />
Need a practical way to start? Try this. Mark your calendar for 6 months from today. Then, turn all the hangers in your closet backward, so the bend is in the back of the closet. Each time you wear something, put it back with the hanger facing the proper way (bend toward you). At the end of six months, pull out anything that is still on a "backward" hanger, meaning you haven't worn it in six months. Get a big box, neatly fold all these items, and put them in it. Give the box to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Things that are no longer in good shape can be scavenged for spare buttons and rags. Your closet will now make you happier, as the items there will be "you". And you have practiced the sustainable practices of reduce, reuse and recycle by giving away or repurposing the items that you have discarded. Celebrate by shopping for that special clothing item that you always wanted. <br />
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<br />
Here's an economical way to purchase meat. Wait until large cuts are on sale, then have the butcher custom cut it for your needs. For example, I frequently buy a whole boneless pork loin (6-9 lbs) and have the butcher slice some into thick chops, and leave a piece as a pork roast. This is much cheaper per pound than purchasing the chops and roast separately. I also prefer leaner ground beef than can be purchased inexpensively, so I will ask the butcher to grind up roasts instead. If you have the freezer space, give this idea a try. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDxmucxgbn_LhMEQTQwYw5AwMBiL0CFahEcg2Ck8TgAILt4WjjnaKWeu3lnF1_9MvDhbeyKQyzdj94hM5Px7eNgOZiBgVqDcxPeBqeavKyoUVZMx6gQ_e52IPEycyKB_ddZefyLyePhk/s1600-h/pork_chop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDxmucxgbn_LhMEQTQwYw5AwMBiL0CFahEcg2Ck8TgAILt4WjjnaKWeu3lnF1_9MvDhbeyKQyzdj94hM5Px7eNgOZiBgVqDcxPeBqeavKyoUVZMx6gQ_e52IPEycyKB_ddZefyLyePhk/s320/pork_chop.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roast Pork Tenderloin and Vegetables with Mustard Vinaigrette</span></strong></div><strong><em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">(Adapted from the Hartford Courant, 2/18/2010)</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Serves 4</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/3 c plus 2 T olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 1/4 lbs of boneless pork chops</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/2 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Freshly ground pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 small zucchini, sliced in 1/4 in. slices</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 onion, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 cloves of garlic, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/2 cup each of red and green bell pepper strips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 T white vinegar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 T brown mustard</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 1 T of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork with 1/4 tsp of salt and pepper to taste. Cook in hot oil, turning until browned, 5-6 minutes. Transfer to 9 x 13 baking dish, and place in oven. Roast until pork is cooked through, 12-15 minutes. Let rest 5 minuts while you prepare the sauce.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Meanwhile, on a rimmed baking sheet, toss vegetables with 1 T of oil, remaining salt and pepper. Arrange in single layer on baking sheet. Roast, turning once, until tender, 12-15 min.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Whisk together vinegar, mustard and remaining 1/3 c of oil. Serve pork with vegetables; drizzle all with vinaigrette.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Serve with white rice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">____________________________________________</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span><span><span><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000C4SM72&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1859738575&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1590030249&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></span><br />
<span></span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-2308284219926569712010-02-10T13:11:00.000-08:002010-02-10T13:11:25.849-08:00The Joys of DIY<span></span><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span></span><span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgyPgMWGH1iJhvuYEOWLEDmCjykR9PavQSuvNv-YYxhXBf11ehAa2PPzSLll1sVgj-bvD_Wu0BhkCTKQLDEx53mBbB2ujKbHoLszdeLqhhgw42IMPGBN1W6VNtkIJ91m9Eo3vAZ2Uvgg/s1600-h/snowblower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgyPgMWGH1iJhvuYEOWLEDmCjykR9PavQSuvNv-YYxhXBf11ehAa2PPzSLll1sVgj-bvD_Wu0BhkCTKQLDEx53mBbB2ujKbHoLszdeLqhhgw42IMPGBN1W6VNtkIJ91m9Eo3vAZ2Uvgg/s320/snowblower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I love being part of a family that doesn't mind rolling up its collective and individual sleeves and fixing things. <br />
<br />
My mother grew up amongst farmers. When you're a farmer, you ARE the electrician, plumber, carpenter, gardener and, many times, the veterinarian. If you could hold it together with a piece of baling wire, you might get another season's use out of it. If a piece of farm equipment finally died beyond fixing, you scavenged all the parts to fix its replacement. If you didn't grow it (or aren't friends with someone who did), you didn't usually eat it. And so it has gone since the first Garden, I'm sure. My father, for his part, was famous for keeping every scrap of lumber, old doors, panes of window glass, and other construction items, and passed on this "DIY" gene to his children. I can vividly remember helping him hammer out nails to reuse for minor projects, such as the play kitchen he made for my sister and me out of old cabinets and an old radiator cover, all repainted cleverly to resemble real appliances.<br />
<br />
My husband's folks, although city dwellers, were equally frugal and resourceful. The elderly "grandpa" who lived downstairs, affectionately nicknamed "Poppy" and adopted by my husband and his siblings, had a workshop in the basement of the house where we now live. When we moved in, the place was full of all kinds of lamp bases, a Cadillac front end, coils of wire, cans of nails and other oddments that might be useful for fixing things. My mother-in-law was also a woman who was not afraid to try her hand at home fix-it projects. And when Ruth fixed things, she aimed for permanence. When we moved into the house, we found a great number of things fastened to last for eternity: phone cords superglued into phone jacks; windows puttied, plastic-covered and taped shut (to save on energy costs); and a plethora of items nailed into place. Mommy's favorite nails were more like railroad spikes.I must say, though, she was an independent woman, and I can imagine her driving that last nail into a reluctant carpet or floor tile, stating, "Well, that oughta do it."<br />
<br />
So we found ourselves today pondering an impending winter storm and our year-old snow blower, which, alas, was wintered with some gas still in the tank, and wouldn't start this season. My husband loves a good fix-it project (when I shop at Home Depot, he often emerges from an aisle to stand in front of me, with a puppy dog look, clutching a piece of power equipment to his bosom like a young child with a toy. I can rarely resist...). So he headed off to purchase Gum-Out, starter fluid, new spark plugs, oil and gasoline. Changing the spark plug led to cleaning the carburetor which led to an almost-running snowblower. Alas, even the most avid fixer reaches the point where professional help is needed. Good thing we have a shovel and salt.<br />
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This spicy chicken dish will warm up your insides on a cold, wintry day. You can adjust the spiciness by decreasing the red pepper flakes, if you wish. I served this with a salad of mixed greens to counteract the zestiness of the meat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwcrekdZ_HLoIDsnvi1G7DPBMElUjY_zxfJuniizlqz45yniKosEHcUgSp3cAjscbpkByCYvgtW0M1wE5vSefwrHsFa7uuzVdfdbmKOodo3WRKhwhFwLloADW7F1UIVJJdwlrMN7jIJU/s1600-h/soba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwcrekdZ_HLoIDsnvi1G7DPBMElUjY_zxfJuniizlqz45yniKosEHcUgSp3cAjscbpkByCYvgtW0M1wE5vSefwrHsFa7uuzVdfdbmKOodo3WRKhwhFwLloADW7F1UIVJJdwlrMN7jIJU/s320/soba.jpg" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Teriyaki Chicken Tenders</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Serves 4</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/4 c teriyaki sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 T red wine vinegar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 1/2 T canola oil, divided</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 tsp sesame oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 T honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 tsp minced garlic (1-2 cloves)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 lb boneless chicken breast tenders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 tsp cornstarch</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In a small mixing bowl, combine the teriyaki sauce, wine vinegar, 1/2 T of canola oil, sesame oil, honey, red pepper and garlic; mix well. Add chicken; stir to coat. Set to one side to marinate for 20 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In a wok or large skillet, heat the remaining canola oil over high heat. Add the chicken tenders, reserving the remaining marinade. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cook over high heat, turning frequently, until cooked through and browned on all sides.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Add cornstarch to reserved marinade; stir well. Add marinade mixture to skillet, stirring until thickened. Remove from heat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Serve with soba noodles and a mixed green salad.</span><br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0804837570&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0547248296&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000A1E690&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-67004532928979006652010-02-01T11:30:00.000-08:002010-02-01T11:30:06.886-08:00A Jarful of Summer...<span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QqR2K4UNZp_Pr5UZ4nF4EYrlRiI8zHjKCFhiE2do77xQilFuVXhJPVbL_zwesfbdXh26RRBMmXugQA-4HS1w38BwPMzhKsy4F0nx-wNvUaacly8dwLO9OfeTQAi-s9xC5NLOo3VZ6YI/s1600-h/canning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QqR2K4UNZp_Pr5UZ4nF4EYrlRiI8zHjKCFhiE2do77xQilFuVXhJPVbL_zwesfbdXh26RRBMmXugQA-4HS1w38BwPMzhKsy4F0nx-wNvUaacly8dwLO9OfeTQAi-s9xC5NLOo3VZ6YI/s320/canning.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I find this a kind of in-between time at the produce department of local grocery stores. It's well after the fall harvest here in Connecticut, and a bit before the fall harvest in the Southern Hemisphere, so the best we can hope for, produce-wise, is items that store. Unfortunately, many fruit and vegetable varieties that store (and ship) well don't taste like what we get at the farmstand during our local growing season. We can rely on traditional New England veggies, such as potatoes, onions, root crops and the like, for locally grown items, but we long for the tastes from our vegetable gardens of August.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is where canning comes into play. I love canning. I love the production of it, the gathering of bushels of veggies, the cleaning out of the kitchen to make room for all the equipment and the cooling jars, the laughter and messiness. Plus, to crack open a jar of bread and butter pickles, or dump a quart of September tomatoes into a saucepan, is like sneaking a peak back through the calendar to revisit summer days. I can almost hear the crickets chirping and sprinklers hissing when I arrange the dilly beans into a nice serving dish. And there is that feeling, when you pull those canned goods off the pantry shelf, that "I did this myself," the pride of taking time and pennies to put away enough food to feed my family through the endless New England winter. Re-using the year's pasta sauce and jelly jars makes it a very "green" venture, too.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86iMjX5GdcfhF3QknsgIuXrkob4Hx5MkiAkCJIxWp71N9Ya0fdvqFiCm3vlJRAtQWmi1QCXLKxmMGQ9pDaTVf-bm1n6ia2XHR2Iak3p8czUziWjTV2kpCd6-MEBiyyv_n8UTx_IiuFTE/s1600-h/autumn+olive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86iMjX5GdcfhF3QknsgIuXrkob4Hx5MkiAkCJIxWp71N9Ya0fdvqFiCm3vlJRAtQWmi1QCXLKxmMGQ9pDaTVf-bm1n6ia2XHR2Iak3p8czUziWjTV2kpCd6-MEBiyyv_n8UTx_IiuFTE/s200/autumn+olive.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Our oldest son, Evan, is in his own apartment, with our middle son, Christopher. Evan, like his mother, loves a good bargain at the store, and enjoys collecting wild fruits and berries to put up for later enjoyment. Last summer, he and his grandmother canned jelly that they made from Autumn-olive, an introduced species that grows unchecked along many highways and country roads. We are already planning several seasonal foraging and canning ventures to supplement our winter pantries and create some high-quality family time for ourselves.<br />
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<br />
I promised my littlest one some homemade tomato soup the other day, when it was near zero outside and we needed a lunch that reminded us of summer breezes. Grilled cheese and hot chocolate completed the trifecta of comfort foods. I used store-bought canned tomatoes that I had stocked up on through coupon shopping, but your own home-canned tomatoes would make a tasty alternative. If you don't want so many seeds, you can run the homemade ones through a food mill before putting them in the soup.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fire-roasted Tomato Soup</span></strong><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(adapted from </span><a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.bettycrocker.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></span></em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 T olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 large onion, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 cloves garlic, finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 cans (15 oz each) fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 T chicken bouillon granules</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2 cups water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 T dried basil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 tsp sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/2 cup whipping cream</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1n a 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until onion is crisp-tender.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stir in tomatoes, bouillon granules, water, 1 T. of the basil, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simer 15 minutes. Remove from heat; pour mixture into a large, heatproof bowl and cool about 15 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Place half of the tomato mixture in the jar of a blender. Cover; blend until pureed. Return to saucepan. Repeat with remaining mixture. Heat over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat; stir in cream and remaining basil.</span><br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=9650060421&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0762709545&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000BWZ7QO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-2305199812740815972010-01-26T10:08:00.000-08:002010-01-26T10:08:52.925-08:00Oh, to Be in the Sunshine State!<span></span><span></span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLHaUYS8riOB5662l-2nGMMsNCuo2WxSziDH75Vzbc35LCVg_7IjjhdyNTHzhdTBxDTxrmLsG3ZMHaC50ky6TJCDD5y302HrbU7RfMqLOxQFDxZzlXwzwZgJuFaVynH6OeQ-gsQEaOS0/s1600-h/citrus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLHaUYS8riOB5662l-2nGMMsNCuo2WxSziDH75Vzbc35LCVg_7IjjhdyNTHzhdTBxDTxrmLsG3ZMHaC50ky6TJCDD5y302HrbU7RfMqLOxQFDxZzlXwzwZgJuFaVynH6OeQ-gsQEaOS0/s320/citrus.jpg" /></a>When I went to the grocery store recently, I was offered a free 5-lb bag of pink grapefruit if I bought two bottles of ruby red grapefruit juice. Since I had been thinking a lot about grapefruit lately (it's a long, long, dreary winter here in Connecticut), I said, "What fortune!" and grabbed a bag.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After deciding to really pay attention to where my food comes from, my first thought went to all the citrus that we enjoy as a family. Right now, we have pink grapefruit, clementines, navel oranges, and a few bottles of ruby red grapefruit juice in the house. I would truly miss (and not be able to replace) this wonderful source of Vitamin C, such a needed thing in the gray wintertime of New England.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I guess I can make a conscious exception to the "locally grown" when it comes to citrus, as I can't really get a good substitute for the nutrition of this food group, here in CT.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aRCoh4DRMyXu9oYxx9rlvlWswQz30r3FzCN9xJn2dzQQmncicwroJJJNXrGOYjLhvhzoT4qdnlBi3rR_hmbt4uSKluDFreeJr0rWf0lKXeTTM2tDjxibEg4Jm_IpQMQmliustRzW50I/s1600-h/playful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aRCoh4DRMyXu9oYxx9rlvlWswQz30r3FzCN9xJn2dzQQmncicwroJJJNXrGOYjLhvhzoT4qdnlBi3rR_hmbt4uSKluDFreeJr0rWf0lKXeTTM2tDjxibEg4Jm_IpQMQmliustRzW50I/s320/playful.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I must be longing for spring colors. For Christmas, my children gave me serving dishes with a red chili pepper design (of course, I've loaded one with -- you guessed it -- citrus fruit). The colors make me happy, and remind me of the colors I'll see in the garden in the spring. They also remind me of a vacation I took to Guadalajara many years ago. The terra cotta tortilla warmer I bought there makes a great vessel for storing garlic cloves, and the molcajete (used a few times) is a nice conversation starter. I plan to make paving stones for my rose arbor this summer, and decorate them with the handful of Mexican coins and tiny, terracotta mugs that I purchased in the open-air market in the city.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">________________________________________<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is a recipe that I'd love to try. It's from the February 2010 Better Homes and Gardens magazine.<br />
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<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shrimp with Peppered Citrus Fruits</span></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">(Better Homes & Gardens, February 2010 issue)</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 lb. fresh or frozen large shrimp in shells</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">3 medium clementines or seedless tangerines</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">3/4 c. water</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/3 c. sugar</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 tsp. whole black peppercorns, corarsely crushed</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 small pink grapefruit</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/2 tsp. salt</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1/4 tsp. ground cumin</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1 T. canola oil</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thaw shrimp, if frozen. For pepper-citrus sauce, remove 2 to 3 strips of the thin outer peel of one of the clementines with a vegetale peeler, taking care not to remove the bitter white pith. Place peel in small saucepan; add water, sugar and peppercorns. Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil gently, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, or until mixture is reduced to 1/3 cup, stirring occasionally.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Meanwhile, peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails intact. Peel and remove white pith from remaining clementines and grapefruit. Cut grapefruit crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Remove seeds and set slices aside. If desired, leave one clementine whole; break remaining clementines into segments.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">For shrimp, in a bowl combine salt, ground pepper, and cumin. Add shrimp; toss to coat. In large skillet cook shrimp in hot oil for 3 to 4 minutes or until opaque, turning occasionally. Add clementines and grapefruit to shrimp. Cover; cook over medium heat 1 minute, turning fruit once. Transfer to serving bowl. Pour pepper-citrus sauce over shrimp mixture and toss gently to coat.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Serves 4.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">______________________________________________</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001J3ZZ4I&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div><span></span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001UCHHAI&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1566917115&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span><span><span></span></span><br />
</div>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-2404290400613457792010-01-03T07:50:00.000-08:002010-01-03T07:50:45.109-08:00Garbage in... garbage out...<span></span><span></span><div align="right" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIA-lPev-cabOyY1TkKQvokjzMCW-iff_DqD7MUNdy1bzcr-DaZ9JRnAST5jFyxvPmxqp5I22rt8l44vR4vCOifC33gwrh-4l-sVv9Y4fRyeUQkSOZF26Q8Dah63M0VLch8B1QVr-g-k/s1600-h/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIA-lPev-cabOyY1TkKQvokjzMCW-iff_DqD7MUNdy1bzcr-DaZ9JRnAST5jFyxvPmxqp5I22rt8l44vR4vCOifC33gwrh-4l-sVv9Y4fRyeUQkSOZF26Q8Dah63M0VLch8B1QVr-g-k/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Before the holidays, I spent some time with our youngest son, Malik, as we cleaned his room in preparation for my mother to come visit us. As we cleaned, we talked about organization. We had recently converted his room from a little boy room to a big boy room, and had totally emptied the place to paint and assemble his big boy bed. When we began to redesign the space, he put his 6-yr-old sensibilities to work, and created a space that was perfect for a "big boy" -- desk for Lego creations (I thought he might also use it for homework -- what do I know); little TV and stand for his gaming system and games; storage crates for GI Joes, Hot Wheels and more Legos. All his craft and homework supplies were neatly stashed in all those desk drawers, and there was a coat rack on the back of his door for his outerwear.<br />
</div><br />
That left us with a spare room full of all the toys that USED to be in his room. When I asked him which ones he wanted to put back, he took a look at his grown up layout and stated, "None of them. I like my room the way it is. Everything I really want is already in there." He made the decision which things to store in the attic (trains and tracks, and his play kitchen items), then said to give the rest to the preschool at his after school program. We were very proud of him.<br />
<br />
As I began boxing up toys, taking time to note which ones "worked" and which missed the mark, I was struck by the assortment of miscellaneous things that he accumulated from undetermined places: toys that came in fast food meals, party favors, vending machine thingies he just had to have, dollar store bribes... In fact, most of these items were discarded within minutes of the "I just have to have it!" being uttered. And here they sit, on the Island of Misfit Toys, ready to go into the Glad Bag of Doom.<br />
<br />
How much of our home (and life) is full of these impulsive "I just have to have it!" things and moments? I think of the space and time it took to house these trinkets, and then to the energy and time it takes to harbor thoughts, feelings and moods that serve no real purpose, but eat away at our productivity and happiness. Garbage in... garbage out...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSSM5LLs9Go_8sMcon9446eGKDuxJEPlDazf9YiVGGlfD0YIgpBUGdHeDoFid7zcFV5Vh6hduQ2o9fENGHrnYnSMe_lQNwtnCcvyEK-LZ0yXppfQR_uuhztUU-i_hBoy7dz1wIpxjGE0/s1600-h/glad+bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSSM5LLs9Go_8sMcon9446eGKDuxJEPlDazf9YiVGGlfD0YIgpBUGdHeDoFid7zcFV5Vh6hduQ2o9fENGHrnYnSMe_lQNwtnCcvyEK-LZ0yXppfQR_uuhztUU-i_hBoy7dz1wIpxjGE0/s320/glad+bags.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>I was reading two stories in the Bible this morning. The first was the story of Cain and Abel. Genesis tells us that Cain grew vegetables, and Abel was a shepherd. A supeficial read makes it sound like God preferred fresh meat to veggies, but that can't be the case, as God said all was good for food. A closer read shows God counseling Cain to set his heart straight, because to harbor whatever the bad feelings he had in his heart would open him up to danger. The Spiritual Glad Bag of Doom. It doesn't go into details, but the fact that he next murdered his brother, Abel, points to some kind of rivalry, resentment and jealousy. Garbage in... garbage out...<br />
<br />
The other story I read was the story of Noah. Before Satan was evicted from the heavenly realm, he and his friends used to roam about on earth, looking for trouble. In this story, trouble was in the form of human women. So the story tells us, the offspring of these unions were giants, ruffians, and general corruptors of the planet. Bad intentions led, ultimately, to the destruction of an entire planet full of living things.<br />
<br />
As we begin 2010, trying to live a more efficient, sustainable life, let's not neglect the energy we spend on inside work. The garbage we let into our hearts can only lead to garbage in our lives. Time to take the time to clean house!<br />
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<br />
Tried my hand at some Southern cooking for the New Year. This pork sausage gravy was delicious over biscuits, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Nothing low-cal about it, but it certainly was good comfort food! I found the recipe on the Dallas News site (photo is theirs, too).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM1t5sKiav_wa00fh1-yOs_7Cd6ndCxIlGgRdVqjgRc24LxWsjaQlqYQRaymODHAPPxcGWYiMSgt1HX2RJuirRqf_QYvJViJKSmJjtp34bmilwuvcEEVJTlgmO9UJbe-vP3MI1TuGuSk/s1600-h/pork+gravy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM1t5sKiav_wa00fh1-yOs_7Cd6ndCxIlGgRdVqjgRc24LxWsjaQlqYQRaymODHAPPxcGWYiMSgt1HX2RJuirRqf_QYvJViJKSmJjtp34bmilwuvcEEVJTlgmO9UJbe-vP3MI1TuGuSk/s320/pork+gravy.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Country Style Sausage Gravy</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1/3 of a 1 lb pkg of Jimmy Dean pork sausage (we prefer spicy)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1 pkg (2.75 oz) country style gravy mix (with black pepper)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1 c chicken broth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">7/8 c water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1/2 c heavy cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1 tsp dried parsley</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1/8 tsp crushed red pepper</span><br />
<br />
1. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the sausage until fully cooked, breaking large chunks into small pieces. Drain excess grease, add the chicken broth to the skillet and bring to a simmer. <br />
<br />
<br />
2. Combine the country gravy mix with water and stir to dissolve. Slowly add to the hot skillet, stirring constantly until thickened. Add the milk or cream, parsley and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Thickness of the gravy can be altered by the amount of cream or milk added. <br />
<br />
Makes about 3 c gravy <br />
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<br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002O5M4TE&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001US29BO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0848732855&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-71734628477247185972010-01-02T07:48:00.000-08:002010-01-02T09:38:22.682-08:00New Beginnings...<span></span><span></span>Happy New Year, friends!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_Z_aNKveOyhborx-ScaF4T-ZwbhqgVafyJbOqQQEEVQICr9XQLs4FdEoBv_EMk6bSqX-14OnfApBANfReWUAtzgXORA0DNOAATKZqypQmANKVp0ARHJbWy5k-tpSn9eIputtCHKzXOw/s1600-h/john-merrill-farmhouse-view-through-grapevine-tuscany-italy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_Z_aNKveOyhborx-ScaF4T-ZwbhqgVafyJbOqQQEEVQICr9XQLs4FdEoBv_EMk6bSqX-14OnfApBANfReWUAtzgXORA0DNOAATKZqypQmANKVp0ARHJbWy5k-tpSn9eIputtCHKzXOw/s320/john-merrill-farmhouse-view-through-grapevine-tuscany-italy.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
One of the things I do to keep myself on spiritually firm ground is to read through the Bible. As I read, I make notes in the margins. I date readings, write my "aha" moments alongside important verses, and put my specific prayer requests right on the pages, next to the stories of Job, Abraham, Rahab, and Sarah. Some people keep a prayer journal. I have tried that, but I get too many things in too many places, and find it easier to keep all my "lists" right in the Word. It should be the cornerstone of the day, right?<br />
<br />
Some people are good at keeping themselves on a reading schedule. I tend to ponder, go off on study adventures, and sometimes just don't finish. But I DO get through, and when I do, I begin again. When I start over, I choose another Bible (either one I have already, or a new one). Why? Because each Bible then becomes a monument for that year -- what I've asked God for, what He's done in response, what I have learned on this "Jesus journey."<br />
<br />
This time through, I am using <em>The Everyday Life Bible</em>, with commentary by Joyce Meyer. I love Joyce Meyer. I love her strength, her personal story, her Southern accent, her larger than life presence, her no-nonsense approach to a Godly existence. I bet if she lived next door, she'd be the kind of friend that would tell me, "Baby, you look gorgeous, but please do get that spinach out of your teeth before you leave the house, hon." <br />
<br />
Today, I was reading Genesis, and a side commentary by Joyce on the keys to living a fruitful life. She mentions two areas: balance, and pruning. So how does this fit in a blog on living a sustainable lifestyle? I think it is a perfect fit. I'll tell you why.<br />
<br />
In order to have balance, Joyce says we need a mix of healthy food, rest, work (the Bible says if we don't work, we don't eat -- 2 Thess 3:10, Prov 20:13, Prov 20:4...), play, time alone with God, and time with positive relationships. While Adam sinned and was told that his work would be painful toil as a result, we have been freed of that sentence once and for all times by Jesus's sacrifice. So balance is achievable! It's all about making choices that are sustainable. We might be able to make a boatload of money by working 80 hours a week, but cannot maintain that as our health, family and spiritual life takes a major hit. Likewise, we can spend the entire winter skiing and enjoying recreation time with family and friends, until our bank account screams at us to be replenished. It's all about healthy balance.<br />
<br />
She also talks about pruning. A vintner closely examines his vines, and removes wood that is diseased, not productive or situated in the shade where it cannot bear fruit. This causes a temporary shock to the grape vine, but leads to a rechanneling of energy and resources to the more productive parts of the plant, yielding greater productivity of the whole vine. What situations, activities, and relationships are in our lives that deplete us, bring the "disease" of negative energy into our lives, or keep us from begin all we can be? Sometimes we persist in doing things or associating with people in ways that we know exhaust us -- in this New Year, how can we refocus our energy on the things that build us up and invigorate us?<br />
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<br />
My husband's family always had black-eyed peas on New Year's Day -- the tradition is supposed to usher in a prosperous New Year. Here is the recipe I prepared for my family on New Year's Day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IM2XODib1YnqktxFE5h0zmyHEeYwZXT8t3YW__Km7GRnKlTAIu6Rf_cvgQjRSHScgvZLFup1yzxT5or79p_T-EApkPg4mnKxfHUC4BZgXUQ2ZJLSliiNL5QUSxBUvXmdI_srkB3_hLA/s1600-h/black_eyed_peas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IM2XODib1YnqktxFE5h0zmyHEeYwZXT8t3YW__Km7GRnKlTAIu6Rf_cvgQjRSHScgvZLFup1yzxT5or79p_T-EApkPg4mnKxfHUC4BZgXUQ2ZJLSliiNL5QUSxBUvXmdI_srkB3_hLA/s320/black_eyed_peas1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy New Year Black-Eyed Peas</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 T olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 yellow onion, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3 cloves garlic, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 T pickled hot peppers, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/4 tsp seasoned salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/4 tsp black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 tsp dried parsley </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 c. tomato sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 tsp hot sauce</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, garlic and hot peppers; sautee until cooked but not browned.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Stir together black-eyed peas and onion mixture in saucepan. Add seasonings, tomato sauce and hot sauce; stir to blend well. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Reduce heat; simmer about 15 minutes to blend flavors. Adjust seasoning as desired.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">6 servings</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">* We like spicy foods. You can adjust the heat of this recipe by substituting 1/4 c. of chopped green bell pepper for the hot pickled peppers, and reducing the hot sauce.</span><br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000F97DWO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0446578274&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0446563595&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-51793188510350959332009-12-31T07:26:00.000-08:002009-12-31T07:57:54.811-08:00The Seed Catalogs are Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh7FuyF2ZfHrbtLXfdP-3KEN_EItRE-rYk_1AU6wxewoiVuE-A9Tnpm1LncO2M7uFqCs6XXwYGGoLiia0MY62FqsHiD5y1-AxeZqGraYEYAVKCqerZlf1eqbSpuET1GyQJaDeEdxQV7g/s1600-h/peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh7FuyF2ZfHrbtLXfdP-3KEN_EItRE-rYk_1AU6wxewoiVuE-A9Tnpm1LncO2M7uFqCs6XXwYGGoLiia0MY62FqsHiD5y1-AxeZqGraYEYAVKCqerZlf1eqbSpuET1GyQJaDeEdxQV7g/s320/peppers.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>I just finished "window shopping" in my 2010 Burpee seed catalog. Each year, I seem to buy more and more seeds. Mind you, although our urban home has a triple size yard (from back in the olden days when such things were commonplace), it is still on a city lot. That doesn't seem to stop me from buying vegetable seeds and plants. Potatoes grow great at the edge of the compost pile. And the broad space where our back hedge used to be (don't ask...) is begging for a pumpkin patch to cover the stumps. Growing food for my family makes me feel good, and I know we are eating.<br />
<br />
Last year, we had a tease of an early spring, with summer-like weather that tricked us into planting things that had no business being planted yet. Then, the real "summer" hit, although in name only. It rained twice a week, with cool, muggy weather in between. Tomatoes didn't set fruit. Tomatillos produced empty balloon husks. Anything in the melon family grew a beard of gray mildew, then collapsed and died in a brown, squishy mess. Even the heartiest of my zucchini plants succumbed, after valiantly releafing to replace their first rotten leaves. Our local pumpkin patches suffered a great loss. My hot lemon peppers loved the cool, wet weather, though, and produced a bumper crop, as did my pole beans, which produced until frost.<br />
<br />
So I flip through my Burpee catalog today, reminisce and put things in my "shopping cart" -- nearly all heirlooms, plants if I can get them (I never was good at starting plants indoors). Their names sound like music on a dreary winter day: 'Black-seeded Simpson' lettuce, 'Big Mama' paste tomato, 'Moon and Stars' watermelon, 'Fairy Tale' eggplant... I want to try them all. But I know, when the packages arrive in the spring, the space we have available will look surprisingly small, and I'll be coaxing my black-eyed Susans into scooting over for a small patch of beets or a pepper plant (or six).<br />
<br />
Our two older boys moved into their first apartment last August. Both love cooking, and gardening, and are eyeballing their tiny back yard as a potential veggie patch. Maybe I can annex their yard?<br />
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<br />
Leftover yams from Christmas found their way into a pie crust today. I adapted this recipe from one on allrecipes.com. For a change, I eliminated the white sugar and substituted vanilla eggnog for the evaporated milk. My mother-in-law taught me the trick of placing the pie plate on the oven rack and ladling the pie filling into the shell right in the oven, to prevent the filling from sloshing up onto the shell when you slide the rack back in, and then scorching in the hot oven. The things we learn from hanging around with great cooks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGnprDraL_TIub6UBVEtJ2W6nsts_-2OkJkQIZHjCvtM-W6Uke0XEVL4s7pEaU41cqMI9oUfGlUb2bgnuqBXbe603diqAjGPCnydwz8tLQ9OB0Mca4vWLXPZyeO0YYKlvbAT7sQZlaQY/s1600-h/sweet+potatoes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGnprDraL_TIub6UBVEtJ2W6nsts_-2OkJkQIZHjCvtM-W6Uke0XEVL4s7pEaU41cqMI9oUfGlUb2bgnuqBXbe603diqAjGPCnydwz8tLQ9OB0Mca4vWLXPZyeO0YYKlvbAT7sQZlaQY/s320/sweet+potatoes+2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Sweet Potato Pie</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Makes one 9-inch pie</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span id="goog_1262222365920"></span><span id="goog_1262222365922"></span>2 c mashed sweet potatoes or yams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/4 lb butter, softened</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
2 eggs<br />
1 c packed brown sugar<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
1/2 tsp ginger<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />
1/2 tsp nutmeg<br />
1/2 c evaporated milk<br />
1/4 c white sugar<br />
1 9-in unbaked pie crust<br />
<span id="goog_1262222365923"></span><span id="goog_1262222365921"></span><br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.<br />
<br />
In a blender, combine all filling ingredients. Pulse until well blended.<br />
<br />
Pour into pie shell. Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees; reduce heat and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until firm. Cool before cutting.<br />
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<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00007AZRH&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001JB57U2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-68627216769469949192009-12-30T04:32:00.000-08:002009-12-30T04:39:14.105-08:00Home-made Turkey Soup - Pennies a Bowl<div align="right" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6AwrVzQ7IVH8v_NTla51hyNBrGA3Iq8sZSZ1ll33uqSLECJRdyZ314nE8kS66PDiVJvcW5uxc2QXDXYBPOdrP1mduTeWi89DmIyNeywlBpCYgS2_oyiOAuI4rYBcuFdI-uoxYRTbzPM/s1600-h/65539335738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6AwrVzQ7IVH8v_NTla51hyNBrGA3Iq8sZSZ1ll33uqSLECJRdyZ314nE8kS66PDiVJvcW5uxc2QXDXYBPOdrP1mduTeWi89DmIyNeywlBpCYgS2_oyiOAuI4rYBcuFdI-uoxYRTbzPM/s320/65539335738.jpg" /></a>So, right after I posted yesterday, I went to do errands with my family. Went to the Post Office then Wal-Mart, and immediately began to wonder about going to large chain stores, like Wal-Mart, in light of my new resolution to live a "low-impact" life.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, one of my good friends refuses to shop at Wal-Mart. She doesn't get on a soapbox about it, just doesn't go. I looked up Wal-Mart's business practices, and found out some things that made me realize why the prices at Wal-Mart are so low. <br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=143912566X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
</div><br />
"Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town" <a href="http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html">http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html</a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's another really interesting item, a video, courtesy of my friend, Calvin, who is a big thinker. It explains why you really can't get something for nothing -- someone ends up paying.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>"The Story of Stuff", by Annie Leonard (<a href="http://www.storyofstuff.com/">http://www.storyofstuff.com/</a>)<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">__________________________________________<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Jennifer Maisel, editor of the "Eat Local Challenge" website, suggests starting with five food items that you can replace with locally grown. I decided to look at today's evening meal as a starting point, because I need something concrete like that:<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><strong>"End of the Holiday" Turkey Soup </strong><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>-- </strong>Serves 12</span></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 T olive oil</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 yellow onion, chopped</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2 stalks celery, sliced in thin slices</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">4 oz. sliced mushrooms</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2 carrots, peeled and sliced in 1/4 inch rounds</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">8 cups turkey stock</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2 cups cooked turkey, cubed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/8 tsp black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 tsp poultry seasoning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 T dried parsley flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/8 tsp garlic powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 c white rice, uncooked.</span><br />
<br />
<div><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add vegetables; cook until wilted (not browned).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. Add turkey stock; stir to blend with vegetables. Add turkey and seasonings. Bring to boil; cook a minute or two to blend flavors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. Stir in rice. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">4. Check and adjust seasonings to taste (I know I used the remainder of the turkey and stock from my enormous Thanksgiving turkey, which had already been seasoned -- if starting with a new turkey, you'll need to add more).</span><br />
<br />
<div><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">We ate this with hot rolls, a platter of assorted Christmas desserts, and a bowl of fruit. What comfort food!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">________________________________</span><br />
<br />
<div>When I look at the ingredients for my soup, I see that I used homemade turkey stock and leftovover turkey that I had stored in my freezer for a bleak mid-winter day such as yesterday. That's two points out of my five. <br />
</div><br />
As I began to look through my cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer for the first steps toward treating myself and the planet better, I looked for the following items, which are produced in almost every state of the contiguous forty-eight, and are prime beginnings as I shift toward a "greener" life:<br />
<ul><li>apples</li>
<li>root vegetables</li>
<li>lettuce</li>
<li>herbs</li>
<li>greens</li>
</ul>So I searched for some sign of the origin of the carrots, onions, celery and mushrooms that I put in the soup. Did you know there is no mandatory labeling telling us where our veggies were grown? So when there is a salmonella recall of something grown in Florida, that's great, but we can't tell, and grocers don't always know.<br />
<br />
I have the packages from the carrots, onions and celery. All they said was they were "products of the U.S.A.". Darn. However, they did indicate where they were distributed. The Stop & Shop carrots were distributed in Massachusetts, so they would qualify within my 100-mile "local" rule. The onions, also Stop & Shop, were distributed in Maryland -- no deal. The celery, Green Giant brand, was distributed in far-away California. The mushrooms, until two years ago, would have come from Franklin Mushroom Farm in North Franklin, Connecticut; alas, the facility closed and left the Northeast scrambling for locally grown mushrooms. No idea where mine came from.<br />
<br />
<div>So I scored a 3 out of 5 for "local" on my soup. Not bad for a first effort.<br />
</div><br />
<strong><em>Celery</em></strong>: 2/3 is grown in CA, most of the remainder in FL. However, there are many local farms that grow celery, as I found on Local Harvest. Here are five:<br />
<ul><li>Hidden Brook Gardens, Ledyard (<a href="http://www.hiddenbrookgardens.com/">http://www.hiddenbrookgardens.com/</a>)</li>
<li>Maple View Farm, Harwinton (<a href="http://mapleviewfarmct.com/Our%20Farm.html">http://mapleviewfarmct.com/Our%20Farm.html</a>)</li>
<li>Urban Oaks Organic Farm, New Britain (<a href="http://www.blog.urbanoaks.org/">http://www.blog.urbanoaks.org/</a>)</li>
<li>Gazy Brothers Farm, Oxford (<a href="http://www.gazybrothersfarm.net/">http://www.gazybrothersfarm.net/</a>)</li>
<li>Happy Hollow Homestead, Middle Haddam (<a href="http://www.buyctgrown.com/happyhollowhomestead">http://www.buyctgrown.com/happyhollowhomestead</a>)</li>
</ul><strong><em>Onions</em></strong>: Even more local growers grow onions than celery (why did mine have to come from Florida?). Here are five:<br />
<ul><li>Topmost Herb Farm, Coventry (<a href="http://www.topmostherbfarm.com/">http://www.topmostherbfarm.com/</a>)</li>
<li>Hidden Brook Gardens, Ledyard (<a href="http://www.hiddenbrookgardens.com/">http://www.hiddenbrookgardens.com/</a>)</li>
<li>Northfordy Farms, Northford (<a href="http://www.buyctgrown.com/northfordyfarm">http://www.buyctgrown.com/northfordyfarm</a>)</li>
<li>Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm, Moosup (<a href="http://www.ekonkhillturkeyfarm.com/">http://www.ekonkhillturkeyfarm.com/</a>)</li>
<li>GiGi's Native Produce, Enfield (<a href="http://www.gigisnativeproduce.com/directions.html">http://www.gigisnativeproduce.com/directions.html</a>)</li>
</ul>Now I know for a fact that the Willimantic Food Co-op procures its produce from a number of these farms. I'm assuming that Whole Foods does, too, but will need to inquire.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0609806440&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
Stores selling locally grown produce:<br />
<br />
Willimantic Food Co-op<br />
<a href="http://www.willimanticfood.coop/">http://www.willimanticfood.coop/</a><br />
<br />
<div>Whole Foods Market<br />
</div><a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/">http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/</a><br />
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<br />
A Connecticut farm with a year-round farm store, including vegetables currently in season or coming out of storage:<br />
<br />
George Hall Farm, Simsbury (<a href="http://www.georgehallfarm.com/">http://www.georgehallfarm.com/</a>)<br />
AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675586242687744282.post-24703459045911154652009-12-29T08:16:00.000-08:002009-12-29T09:14:21.042-08:00Time is on my side...<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1570615292&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZf4BUuG2p03kq2t_BflwTfDpAwO3FjOSkCcl_YcGgqce0PlGk-1UpPoG0iWy8aat-UR5s9topWPK1UlTzPCMVkY9uMJ9-V3bRC-i5K-QsjYLd8qtnoRMU7_yULOevE7DctRwSkB7cCo/s1600-h/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZf4BUuG2p03kq2t_BflwTfDpAwO3FjOSkCcl_YcGgqce0PlGk-1UpPoG0iWy8aat-UR5s9topWPK1UlTzPCMVkY9uMJ9-V3bRC-i5K-QsjYLd8qtnoRMU7_yULOevE7DctRwSkB7cCo/s320/IMG_0030.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Life circumstances have caused me to regroup and reconsider the balance (or lack thereof!) in my life. I'm not great at New Year's resolutions, but here is one that I think I can do, as it is important to me, now more than ever:<br />
<br />
<strong><em>I resolve to decrease the negative impact that I have on the world, and increase the positive impact that I have on my environment, my community, and my local economy. I will start small, but grow each day.</em></strong><br />
<br />
I begin this adventure with a new vocabulary word, that I just learned yesterday, as I was "googling" for salsa recipes, making a list of heirloom salsa vegetables in anticipation of another bumper crop of hot peppers from my garden next summer.<br />
<br />
<strong>What is a "locavore?"</strong><br />
<br />
A locavore is someone who considers the source of his or her food (and, by extension, goods and services), and, whenever possible, chooses to support things that are grown, produced or distributed locally.<br />
<br />
My mom, Linda, came to stay with us to help us through the Christmas holiday (third cycle of chemotherapy threatened to interfere with my holiday cheer, but we had a wonderful week). As we prepared various holiday meals in my urban home, we reminisced about fresh eggs from our chickens, home-canned summertime to last through bleak winters, and the joys of pick-your-own produce, homemade baked goods and other delectables. All product placement aside, the photo of our Christmas breakfast became the starting point of a conversation on a kinder, gentler, simpler way of living.<br />
<br />
When I first was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009, I began a mission to determine, of all the things I could not control about my diagnosis, the things that WERE within my control. Hence my studies of organic foods, sustainable living, and, most recently, the "eat locally challenge".<br />
<br />
Here are some links that I found to help me out:<br />
<br />
"10 Steps to Becoming a Locavore, " by Jennifer Maiser<br />
<a href="http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/344/locavore.html">http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/344/locavore.html</a><br />
<br />
"Eat Local Challenge," (Jennifer Maiser, editor)<br />
<a href="http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/">http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/</a><a href="http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/"></a><br />
<br />
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<br />
<strong><em>What is "local?"</em></strong><br />
<br />
Local is whatever you decide it is for you. For many, it begins with a 100-mile radius around the town where you live. Here is a handy tool that I used to determine "local" for me:<br />
<br />
"Find Your 100 Miles" (Alisa Smith & J. B. MacKinnon)<br />
<a href="http://100milediet.org/get-started/map">http://100milediet.org/get-started/map</a><a href="http://100milediet.org/get-started/map"></a><br />
<br />
For me, a 100-mile radius around Hartford, CT, extended into most New England states, as well as parts of Northern New Jersey and Eastern New York, so I decided, for the purposes of my "locality", I would look for products from all the New England states (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut), as well as New York and New Jersey.<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Folks who supply "eco-friendly" alternatives to my Christmas breakfast items:<br />
( from <a href="http://www.greenpeople.org/">http://www.greenpeople.org/</a> and my own experiences-- "Green People" will let you search your area by zipcode)<br />
<br />
<div align="left">***********************************************<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bbsoulful2&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0006V8LG8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
</div>Alchemy Juice Bar Cafe, Hartford, CT -- restaurant and grocer, organic and vegetarian foods<br />
<br />
Good Gifts, Naturally, LLC, Windsor, CT - sustainable, fair-trade foods and goods<br />
<a href="http://www.goodgiftsnaturally.com/">http://www.goodgiftsnaturally.com/</a><br />
<br />
Eagle Wood Farm, Barkhamsted, CT -- organic, sustainable beef, pork, goat and lamb<br />
<a href="http://www.eaglewoodgourmetfood.com/">http://www.eaglewoodgourmetfood.com/</a><br />
<br />
Urban Oaks Organic Farm, New Britain, CT -- specialty, organic and heirloom produce<br />
<a href="http://www.blog.urbanoaks.org/">http://www.blog.urbanoaks.org/</a><br />
<br />
Shaggyhill Farm & Feed, Bethany, CT -- organic, sustainable dairy and eggs<br />
<br />
Hosmer Mountain Soda, Willimantic, CT -- family-run, locally produced, spring-water made soda in returnable glass bottles<br />
<div align="left"><a href="http://www.hosmersoda.com/">http://www.hosmersoda.com/</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<br />
<strong><em>Tomorrow:</em></strong><br />
<ul><li>Choose 5 foods... </li>
</ul><br />
</div>AllKidsCanLearnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076899893012518463noreply@blogger.com0