Sunday, March 22, 2015
Choosing the right bread the key to a balanced diet!
Gray, white, full-grain or multigrain ...
There are a variety of breads. And thats good news, because it is the basis of a balanced diet.
Provided, of course, to make the right choice!
Bread and regime incompatible?
To begin with, tweak the neck to popular belief, the bread is not fattening.
There is no need to banish him from the outset of his power, even when you want to lose weight. The key is to not eat as an accompaniment to other starchy (rice, pasta ...) and not eating too much, knowing that a slice of bread makes between 20 and 40 kcal depending on the variety.
In fact, when well chosen, bread meets all the recommendations of dieticians in terms of nutritional composition. Indeed, it contains:
dietary fiber, which facilitate intestinal transit and cause a feeling of satiety,
complex carbohydrates (mainly starch) which, digested, turn into glucose and provide energy to the body,
of B vitamins involved in the proper cell function and nervous system and vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties,
minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorus.
White bread or wheat bread?
Without hesitation, dieticians advise to focus wholemeal bread.
Its advantage?
Its high content of dietary fiber.
Unlike white bread, wholemeal bread is made from a flour in which use complete wheat grains. And it is precisely in the bran and germ found as dietary fiber but also minerals and vitamins.
A simple rule is necessary for choosing the bread crumb is more dark, more nutritional qualities are interesting!
Bread for everyone!
It is found in bakeries dozens of different kinds of bread, it would be a shame not to enjoy.
By varying the bread you eat, you discover new flavors but will also diversify your nutrient intake. Rye, spelled, wheat ... every cereal has a nutritional feature that makes it interesting in the context of a balanced diet.
Do not forget the bread with seeds (sunflower, sesame, flax ...) they are very rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which contribute to good cardiovascular health.
Avoid, for against the bread: often been the addition of sugars and fats. In addition, this soft bread, like sandwiches, too easy to chew and delays the onset of satiety.
Often associated with the regime, rusk is, in reality, much less nutrition than it seems. Not only it has a
Juicing The Garden
Last year was my first venture into gardening. I found so much enjoyment in harvesting groceries from my own backyard and juicing my garden each morning that I went hog wild with the greens this year. And well, as you can see, my greens have gone hog wild!
Beeeee-uuuuuuu-teeeeee-ful!
No chemicals here.
No chemicals here.
Ever see an organic head of lettuce like that in your grocery store?
How much do they charge you?
Grow, baby, grow! I have BIG plans for you.
Its so hard to find good help these days.
Im keeping this guy!
Daily morning elixir: fresh greeeeen juice from the garden.
Cheers!
Cheers!
How green does your garden grow?
What have you planted this year?
Black Bean and Goat Cheese Mini Slow Cooker Recipe
Day 224.
I used my Little Dipper Slow Cooker yesterday to make a Tex-Mex inspired black bean dip, and I loved it. It was kind of spicy, but the goat cheese complimented the spice nicely with its creamy mellow flavor.
Since I used my Little Dipper, I cut the recipe down quite a bit to fit inside. Feel free to double, triple, or exponentially increase---its very good, and I wouldnt mind making a whole meal out of chips and dip one day.
very soon.
The Ingredients.
--1/2 can of refried black beans
--2 cloves garlic, chopped
--1/2 of a lime, juiced
--1 t cayenne pepper
--1 t cumin
--2 T chopped cilantro leaves
--3-5 slices of goat cheese
The Directions.
Open the can of refried black beans, and scoop out about half of the contents into the Little Dipper. Squeeze in the lime juice. Add chopped garlic, the spices, and the cilantro leaves. Stir. Top with the sliced goat cheese.
Cover and plug in. The Little Dipper doesnt have a temperature gauge. Cook for 1-2 hours, or until the goat cheese has melted and the beans are warm and gooey.
Serve with corn tortilla chips.
The Verdict.
Very tasty. I was quite pleased with the kick the dip had, and loved how the goat cheese was creamy and mellow. The cilantro gave a "freshness" that I really appreciated---it didnt just taste like a canned bean dip. The kids mostly scooped the goat cheese off the top, but did try the black bean dip enough to know that it was spicy.
I have the other half of the can in the fridge, and plan on making this for myself for lunch while I watch taped Olympics.
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P.S. Im having Feed Burner issues. I dont use a reader myself, so I dont really understand them. If anyone knows what I should do to fix whatever error is happening that makes it look like I havent updated since February, Id love to hear from you! crockpotlady AT gmail DOT com.
xoxo steph
Slow Cooker Chicken with Apricots and Dates Recipe
Dont be turned off by the name of this recipe or the list of ingredients. It sounds a bit odd, I know---
dried apricots? dried dates? with chicken?
Trust me. This tastes good.
The Ingredients.
serves 6
1 1/2 pounds chicken meat (boneless, skinless thighs are the best. If youre going to use chicken with bones, fish them out about halfway through cooking)
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried pitted dates, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
The Directions.
Put the chicken into the bottom of a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker. My chicken was frozen solid. If you are using fresh chicken, shave off about 90 minutes or so of cooking time.
Add diced onion, and spices. Sprinkle on the apricots and dates. Pour the broth and orange juice evenly over the top. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 3-5. The chicken should be quite tender and shred easily with a fork. If your chicken isnt tender enough, stir well and cook for a bit longer on low.
Serve with quinoa or brown rice with the juices----the broth is delicious!
The Verdict.
What a fantastic combination of flavors. The chicken was super tender, with just a touch of sweetness. The dried fruit softened immensely, and kind of became one with the cooking liquid (the apricots shown in the picture were placed there as a garnish).
All of us ate our dinner happily, and my grandma enjoyed the leftovers. Id make this again for sure.
The most expensive component to this dish was the dried fruit. The packages were $2.99 each at our local grocery store, and we finished it off by putting it in steel cut oatmeal.
Top 10 Slow Cooker Potluck Dishes
Were approaching a 3-Day weekend, and many of us will be attending barbecues, picnics, and family events. Dont arrive empty-handed!
Instead, load up your slow cooker with one of the following crowd-pleasing dishes. Ive listed the recipes in countdown order--- if you have a favorite, please chime in below. Happy Labor Day!
10) Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup. This is filling, delicious, and is different enough to gain lots of attention on the buffet table. Easy to stretch by serving rice, and fixens like sliced avocado and tortilla chips.
9) Lima Bean Casserole Cassoulet. I love serving this to guests and listening to the conversation. "what type of beans are these?" "Im not sure. some sort of large pinto beans or something?" I usually wait until the pot is practically empty before coming clean that they were lima beans.
8) Honey Lentils. Delicious, nutritious, vegan vegetarian, and such a fun offering to bring to a picnic. I get the nicest emails about these lentils!
7) Pesto Spinach Lasagna. I need to run to the store to pick up the ingredients for this! You have never had a better vegetarian lasagna. So so good.
6) Hirino Psito. This is a wonderful main dish to serve to guests. Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, and beer mix together to create a savory sauce that perfectly compliments the sweet contrast of brown sugar and cranberries. Win!
5) Brie with Apricot Topping. To make this more user-friendly for guests, insert an oven-safe dish into your large slow cooker and load the ingredients into the dish. Then remove the dish (use mitts!) and serve with your favorite crackers (we like Glutino a lot). Do not add water in the crockpot around the dish.
4) Pomegranate Beef. When we host a dinner for new friends, I usually make this. This keeps picky older relatives happy, along with the kids (note to self: I need to update some of these photos!). Ive made this for television audiences, and served it at the Disneyland Food & Wine Festival, where the kitchen chefs gave rave reviews, which made me cry. This recipe was also featured on Oprah.com!
3) Cream Cheese, Sausage, and Rotel Dip (mommy crack). The ingredients are odd, the taste is not. Make this and youll be happy.
2) Potluck Beans. We cant have a potluck countdown without potluck beans, now can we? These beans have bacon. Nuff said.
1) Original Taco Soup. Feeds a bunch, easy to throw together, and everyone LOVES it. This has been our number one potluck bring along for the past 12 years.
Honorable mention: Black Beans with Cilantro. I ran out of numbers--- this is a great bean recipe.
Enjoy your long weekend!
Honey Garlic Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe
QUIET QUIET QUIET
I may go do cartwheels on the back lawn...
right after I watch a soap opera marathon while eating a box of bon-bons...
This is a quick, easy, and super-tasty chicken recipe. Id highly recommend using thighs--- they hold up better in the slow cooker and dark meat just tastes better. :-) I use boneless, skinless thighs. If your thighs have bones and skin, fish them out of the pot before serving (the chicken will separate from the bone and itll be pretty easy).
The Ingredients.
serves 4
1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (4 or one thigh per family member)
3 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 cup soy sauce (La Choy or Tamari wheat-free are gluten free)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup honey
The Directions.
Use a 4-quart slow cooker (if using a 6-quart, this will cook faster. Check after 3 hours on high, 5 hours on low).
Put the chicken into your cooker. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, then pour evenly over the top.
Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 (Id go with low---).
Serve with basmati rice and steamed or roasted vegetables.
The Verdict.
My kids adore this chicken. The ketchup and honey taste a bit like barbecue sauce, but slightly more tart. The basil gives it a different, herby flavor which I like a lot. If you are into freezer meals, this is a great candidate--- load all the ingredients into a freezer bag (raw chicken, the sauce ingredients) and then freeze. Thaw the bag overnight in the fridge, then plop the ingredients into your cooker for a fast morning plug-in.
Enjoy!
Ive been doing a GiveAway a Day for the whole month of September. Today Im giving away 5 copies of my new book, Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life. Click on over for your chance to win!
Im on a diet what are the permitted drinks
When following a diet to lose weight, it is important to drink a lot, at least 1.5 liters per day, to help the body eliminate waste. However, be careful, many beverages can affect weight loss. Little review different drinks, and preferred to avoid.
Beverages allowed during dieting
- Water is the only drink that the body needs and provides no calories. Drink tap water, the Plain water or spring water, sparkling water in nature. Attention flavored waters, some may contain significant amounts of sugar. Read labels and choose only those that are not sweet (or may not contain artificial sweeteners).
- A sugar-free fruit juice glass added (or 100% juice from concentrate) is allowed, but it is calorie and should be considered in your diet as the equivalent of a fresh fruit. However avoid fruit nectars as they undergo addition of sugar (sucrose) in addition to the natural sugar from the fruit. Also avoid fruit juice beverages (type Oasis®) because they contain only 10-25% fruit with added water, sugar and additives.
- All soft drinks (cola, lemonade, sodas and orange, and lemon extracts ...) are allowed, with the sole condition that they are "light", that is to say, sweetened with a sweetener intense (aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium) because they are so non-caloric. However, these drinks are to limit or to book some occasions because they have the disadvantage of maintaining the taste for sweetness.
- Coffee, tea and herbal tea: coffee (espresso, filter, soluble), tea and herbal teas are allowed, provided the drink without sugar or sweeten with an intense sweetener. However, it is highly recommended to get used to taste its unsweetened hot drinks. Cappuccino and chocolate with milk and sugar should be avoided.
Drinks to avoid while dieting
- Drinks with fruit juice and milk, briquettes sweet flavored milk, syrups classic ...
- Alcohol is strongly discouraged because very caloric (including cider, beer, wine ...). During a diet, it is recommended not to allow a glass of red wine occasionally (festive meal).
Enjoy The Harvest Of The Season
As the Sun enters the sign of Libra, day and night are again in perfect balance. Temperatures begin to drop, leaves begin to fall, and once again, the element of Change moves into our lives. In truth, change is the one constant in the Universe that we can rely on.
Around the time of the Summer Solstice, I set an intention to change my relationship to food. And oh, what changes have ensued.
Transitioning to a raw foods lifestyle has had a significant effect on me physically. My body has let go of roughly 50 pounds; chronic heartburn, fatigue, headaches, and joint pain have vanished.
Perhaps more significant than my bodys physical changes, are the internal changes taking place. Heres a bit of what Ive learned about myself:
Around the time of the Summer Solstice, I set an intention to change my relationship to food. And oh, what changes have ensued.
Transitioning to a raw foods lifestyle has had a significant effect on me physically. My body has let go of roughly 50 pounds; chronic heartburn, fatigue, headaches, and joint pain have vanished.
Perhaps more significant than my bodys physical changes, are the internal changes taking place. Heres a bit of what Ive learned about myself:
- Certain foods trigger the phenomenon of craving for me. Before, my foods came in bags, boxes and cans. My three basic food groups were refined sugar, refined flour and trans fats. Foods falling into those three groups trigger a physical craving for me. I want more, more, more. Eliminate those foods, eliminate the craving.
- The compulsion to overeat is emotional for me. Its all related to how Im feeling. Sad, angry, lonely, tired, bored...Ill turn to food. I have a holy hunger that no amount of food can satiate, because its not a physical hunger. I have to discover ways to feed and nourish my Spirit.
- Certain behaviors can trigger unhealthy food choices for me: eating standing up at the kitchen counter; eating in front of the fridge; eating in the car; eating in front of the television. Eliminate those behaviors, eliminate the risk of making poor choices.
The contents of my kitchen and pantry sure have changed dramatically since the start of last season. Gone are the prepared and processed food items. I am so blessed to live within 20 minutes of a half dozen farmers markets. As I was gazing upon the bevy of fresh local produce I scored this weekend ~ squash, cabbage, lettuce, eggplant, cucumber, collards, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, apples, pears, grapes ~ I was overcome by the beauty and bounty of the seasons harvest. And, it got me thinking about my own experience of the harvest.
First and foremost: its hard work. We sometimes have the mistaken notion that once weve done the work of preparing the fields, planting the seeds and tending their growth, when harvest time comes, we can sit back and enjoy. But the work doesnt end ~ it just changes, and the important work of gathering in and preserving begins.
Now is the time to look back over the season, at the goal(s) we set, the work we put in, and deciding whether what manifested is what we really intended. It is time to process, to assimilate. Did it work out the way we intended? Whether it did or not, we have gained valuable information. This is stored and becomes part of us and our wisdom grows stronger.
So, we separate the wheat from the chaff ~ what nourishes us stays in the plan to strengthen us, what doesnt is kicked out to the compost pile. Those lessons will fertilize next seasons garden.
I like the fat is bad
Set food, sauces, lean meats, cheeses, pastries, desserts, fatty acids (lipids) will be all over the place there are a bad popularity: to produce an individual weight and several regarding its varieties, that block up veins.
Yet weight will be great, tender on the taste, foods fun origin.
How you can cope?
Individual junk in addition to popularity
Nothing is basic in the field of lipid!
Theyre composed of different fat linked to one another, because the balls of a diamond necklace.
Dependant upon his or her structure, there are:
saturated fat,
monounsaturated
in addition to polyunsaturated.
Theyre within almost all types of weight nevertheless with different size collected from one of foods to an alternative.
Mono in addition to polyunsaturated fatty acids, which come largely natural oils in addition to bass, have a very popularity internet marketing perfect for health and fitness, specifically the particular cardiovascular system, specially poly.
Condensed fat, that happen to be located largely with animal fatty acids (those butter, cream, cheeses, lean meats in addition to frosty cuts) include lengthy experienced the popularity opposite to the issue to be baptized "bad fatty acids inch. dropoff screen
The truth is, the particular saturated fat will not be almost all seeing that negative because you consider.
A few are usually also beneficial, including butyric p -- located largely with butter in addition to dairy -- that has a protecting effect versus colon cancer malignancy.
Moreover, any difficulty . individuals unpleasant saturated fat will not be usually crooks with all the cardiovascular system, a minimum of individuals via dairy.
Body fat isnt harmful... in excess of other ingredients
The actual rational effect anywhere there is certainly weight, there are more calories in addition to usually in a modest quantity. A good ill-fated tablespoon regarding extra virgin olive oil, brimming with great mono in addition to polyunsaturated fat, will be ninety days calories in one fell swoop!
Thats why the particular seek out weight since it has furnished in recent times a solid popularity which enables an individual weight.
Yet new scientific studies have shown that this lessening with the merely weight within the diet plan did not really impact bodyweight. And also among those which adopted rigid diet programs to lose his or her extra few pounds, individuals receiving slimmer very best experienced a lttle bit restrictive weight diet plan.
Body fat, it can be perfect for well-being
The peel regarding buttered loaf of bread nicely, it can be a lot better than some loaf of bread by itself, also whether it is very cool! Similar report with regard to mother nature or even strawberries with whipped cream or even whipped. Asparagus with mousseline spices great, it can be totally sexy, and also a dark chocolate mousse.
Body fat, it can be great, it can be nice, it can be great therefore you sense better after you take in.
Yet this is simply not the particular gustatory joy by itself that delivers that well-being. A good research with the College regarding Leuven, on non-obese females, exhibited that it had been the particular lipids on their own ended up in charge of that profit.
In a lot of them, scientists perfused weight inside the particular stomach in addition to with other saline. As well, that they exhibited these pics which may make sure they are unfortunate.
Utilizing fMRI (functional Permanent magnet Resonance Imaging), that they calculated the fact that was going on within their head and possess located that people who experienced weight within the stomach ended up a lesser amount of unfortunate when compared with people. This particular as a result of episode with the release of a hormone within the digestive tract, which then will stroll within the head in addition to tickle within the right way mental locations.
There may be thus zero problem regarding starving absolutely weight or even chance currently being unfortunate in addition to frustrated brushing!
Exactly what great doses regarding weight?
ANSES (National Wellness Stability Firm diet plan, surroundings in addition to labor) that establishes the particular recommended dietary allowances, proposes "neither an excessive amount none weak hands fat" in addition to established a variety involving thirty five in addition to 40% day-to-day calories given by these types of.
However in these types of, saturated weight should never surpass 12%.
Preferable to move quick on merchandise that contain a whole lot:
simply by degreasing red lean meats ahead of cooking (or leaving behind these weight within the dish)
cooking with extra virgin olive oil, not really butter,
simply by eating lean meats from time to time, certainly not day-to-day, fair helpings regarding mozzarella dairy product (40g)
but by eliminating almost all business merchandise that contain side acrylic (look labels) since it will be rich.
Easy on the weight or sweets
Many fatty acids or nice, variety dark chocolate cafes, pastries, cookies, confectionery, the rocks cream, and so on. are usually true draws in because they are speedy to help unbalance the diet program.
Certainly, in a modest quantity, that they bring a whole lot (too) calories in addition to, additionally, the particular sweets that they incorporate merely presents prefer to work with once again! Specifically that crunches at entire rate (except the rocks cream), and so, they cannot sense entire.
Experiencing these instead of take rapidly, leaving behind the particular burn within the lips, savoring quite a few tender in addition to sexy sounds they feature knowning that are usually great, it truly is particular to eat fewer and do not slip thus within the sweets trap. Merely complete the particular experience some dark chocolate being certain (e)!
New to the anti cholesterol diet!
You have too much cholesterol? The first step is to look at the side of your plate and put you on anti-cholesterol diet. Or it may not be as restrictive as it was. While it is based on limiting fats, a study suggests that the introduction of certain foods would just as effective in the fight against cholesterol.
When the anti-cholesterol diet is a must ...
People with high cholesterol levels should adopt a diet low in cholesterol to regain normal blood levels of cholesterol and thus reduce their cardiovascular risk.
Let us recall that too much cholesterol is bad for the arteries. Excess cholesterol tends to be deposited inside the artery walls, forming what are called atherosclerotic plaques. The latter reduces the diameter of the arteries and may clog, but they can also detach and migrate through the bloodstream into the brain, causing a stroke.
A support for reducing cholesterol levels is essential. If drug treatments are very effective (statins), they do not replace the anti-cholesterol diet, and are often prescribed as second line.
Relaxation of anti-cholesterol diet
The classic anti-cholesterol diet is to reduce its intake of lipids, particularly high cholesterol foods. However there are some food categories which are known to have anti-cholestérolémiantes properties. To test the effectiveness of these foods, the researchers designed a diet including regular consumption of these foods. Called Portfolio, it is to focus on the following foods:
soluble fiber (psyllium, oat ...)
plant sterols, particularly through margarine enriched with plant sterols,
soybean (soy milk, tofu, soy meat)
almonds and walnuts.
Some 300 volunteers with high cholesterol were assigned to follow either the classic anti-cholesterol diet or the Portfolio diet. Others have taken a cholesterol-lowering drug, a statin.
Their bad cholesterol (LDL) cholesterol was measured at the beginning and end of the study, 6 months later.
What result in reducing cholesterol?
We notice that the most effective diet is the Portfolio, with 13% reduction in LDL cholesterol, against 3% with the conventional system. As to the statin, it is twice as efficient as the Portfolio scheme, which also indicates that the Portfolio scheme has the effect of a half dose of statin! And that results in a theoretical 11% reduction in the risk of stroke with the Portfolio diet, while statins have demonstrated their ability to reduce mortality in many studies.
In conclusion, the "anti-cholesterol" diet should be considered in a much more comprehensive way. Limit fats and cholesterol-rich foods remains a basic setpoint, which it makes sense to integrate the consumption of foods that have the property of reducing cholesterol.
CrockPot Harvest Stew Recipe
Day 287.
Here is a cozy stew certain to warm you after a day of pumpkin-picking. Or after a day of spending $5 a pop for a corn maze, hay ride, pumpkin cannon, inflatable bouncer, pony rides, or kid-size tractors.
Or after a day watching other people pay $5 a pop for those things, and then deciding to get your pumpkins in front of the grocery store.
The Ingredients.
--1 pound lean ground turkey or chicken (I used chicken)
--1 yellow onion, chopped
--3 chopped garlic cloves
--1 can kidney beans, rinsed
--1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
--3 red potatoes, peeled and chopped
--1 acorn squash, peeled and chopped
--1 whole can tomatoes and chilies (rotel)
--4 cups chicken broth
--1/4 tsp cloves
--1/4 tsp all spice
--salt and pepper to taste
The Directions.
Use a big crockpot for this stew. I used a 6.5 quart eLume.
Guess what? I didnt brown the meat. If you are using extra lean ground turkey or chicken, there really isnt a need--the only worry about using beef or pork is the fat content. If you prefer those types of meat, or already have it on hand, brown on the stove top and drain before adding to the stew.
I used my moms microwaving-the-squash trick for cutting the acorn squash, and it worked. It worked so well, Im not scared to buy squash anymore. I microwaved it on high for 2 minutes. It sizzled and freaked me out, but it cut easily, and I used a paring knife to cut away the skin.
Peel and chop all of the vegetables, and add it to the crockpot. Break up the ground meat with your fingers and add it in. Dump in the kidney beans and the can of tomatoes and chilies. Add the broth and the seasonings. Stir well. It will look like there isnt enough liquid, but more will be made from the vegetables and meat. I promise.
Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours. I cooked ours on low for exactly 8. It was perfect.
The Verdict.
My parents and brother ate this with us (well, the kids had toquitos), and we (the grown-ups) all liked it a lot, and had 2 bowls each.
Well, maybe my brother had only one bowl because he was going out to eat.
Anyhow, it was good.
Adam suggests next time using stew meat instead of the ground meat for a more-filling meal. He was pretty hungry a few hours later.
CrockPot Caramel Apples
Day 278.
My eldest turns seven today, which makes today her birthday, and my BirthDay.
Sigh.
I know you are told by everyone (and your mother) that kids grow up quickly and before you know it the early years will be a blur and a distant memory, but when you are in the trenches of the first few months/years of sleep deprivation and are functioning in survival mode----it just doesnt seem that way.
Now it does.
I see this kid, this real life KID, with big teeth, a big heart, and big ideas and Im shocked. How did this happen?
Wasnt it just yesterday that I was walking the shag-green carpet halls of our apartment night after night after night jostling her to Nick at Nite theme songs?
Wasnt it just yesterday that I spent way-too-many hours with a baby that just would. not. sleep. precariously balanced on my lap while I consulted Dr. Google during marathon nursing sessions?
Hug your babies. And make them caramel apples. Dont pay attention to the caramel dripped on the carpet. It will come out with a baby wipe---or scissors.
The Ingredients.
--caramel candies. This time of year in the produce section, there should be bags of soft caramel complete with popsicle stick handles.
--apples (one bag of caramel makes 4 large apples)
--nuts/sprinkles
--2 T water
The Directions.
Use a 1.5 quart or larger crockpot---I used a 4 quart.
Unwrap all of the caramel, and add them and 2 tablespoons of water to the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 1 to 2 hours, checking every 20 minutes or so. The caramel is ready when it is shiny and can be stirred easily.Put the popsicle sticks into the apples by the stems. Use a spoon to ladle the caramel over the apple, and swirl to completely cover the whole thing. Dip into chopped nuts or sprinkles if desired.
Let cool on parchment paper or Release foil.
The Verdict.
These are messy and sticky and absolutely wonderful. I am happy with the way the crockpot melts evenly, and it wasnt so hot I was scared about the kids helping.
CrockPot Vietnamese Roasted Chicken Recipe
Day 182.
We eat a LOT of chicken in our house. I grew up on boneless, skinless chicken, and we had it quite often. When I started cooking and shopping for my own family, I followed suit and make sure that we have plenty of chicken parts in the freezer.
The problem with eating a lot of chicken is that you get bored.
Really bored. And you start to hate chicken.
and maybe you begin to kind of want to gouge your eyeballs out with a fork at the idea of another boring dry chicken meal.
This is not a boring dry chicken meal. This is the opposite. This chicken is juicy, full-of-flavor, and downright adventurous.
I was inspired by reading this post at Sunday Nite Dinner. I still have fish sauce in the house from when I made the Pho, and was excited to have another use.
The Ingredients.
Adapted from Sunday Nite Dinner.
4 to 6 chicken thighs (bone-in is best, about 2 1/2 pounds)
1 1/2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce
-1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (found in condiment aisle, or in Asian cooking aisle)
1 1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 cloves chopped garlic
1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
--foil (optional)
The Directions.
I tried the foil trick of balling up pieces of aluminum foil to line the bottom of the crock in order to create a crispy skin. It didnt really work, but it was a fun experiment.I put the chicken on top of the foil balls.
Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl, and pour over the top of the chicken.
Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours. The cooking time is dependent on how thick your chicken pieces are, and if they are fresh or frozen.
The Verdict.
Make this. Eat this.
The skin didnt get crispy the way that I was hoping it might by using the foil balls. But, the chicken was moist and fell apart---the sauce is an amazing flavor that I havent had before. I will definitely make this again. Id like to try the sauce on drumettes as an appetizer.
We ate it over white rice---and practically licked the remaining sauce out of the crock.
super yummy.
Peking Pork Chops
I made these pork chops the same day that I made the Apricot-Orange chops, and packed them off to send off to my friend Stephanie, and family. That was weeks ago.
I just heard yesterday that they liked them. Since I handed off so much food, she froze these chops and reheated them for dinner the other day. I love it that these pork chops not only tasted good, they withstood being slow-cooked, frozen, and reheated. And Im thrilled that I was able to contribute to a freezer-stash, yay!
I tweaked Margos "Peking Chops," she posted in the comments of the original Pork Post to include 5-spice powder, because I love that stuff. I also upped the garlic. Because that stuff is golden.
The Ingredients.
6 pork chops
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon 5 Spice Powder
1/2 cup gluten free soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
4 cloves garlic, chopped
(there is a box of salt pictured, but I didnt use any; the soy sauce was plenty)
The Directions.
gosh its so cold in this house its hard to type.
I used a 4 quart crockpot. Put chops into the stoneware. In a small bowl, combine sugar, spices, soy sauce, ketchup, and garlic. Pour evenly over the top of chops. No need to add any other liquid. If you had an onion in the house, it might be a nice addition, but not necessary for flavor.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for about 4. If your chops are frozen they will take longer to cook. The longer you cook the meat, the more tender it will, but it might fall off the bone (which is fine in my mind, but some people really like intact meat).
Serve with rice and veggies; ladle sauce on top.
The Verdict.
Stephanie said her kids (9 and 13) really liked their dinner, and made yummy noises at the table. She also said her husband ate too much. I did sneak a bite and liked the flavor an awful lot--it was tangy with a slight ginger aftertaste. Thank you Margo!
Music and Health Benefits
In the history of humanity no race has been untouched by music. Almost every culture of the world has music as its major part, and so they say that music heals the soul they are right. Most of us are listening music daily and know its many benefits like it changes moods, raises level of consciousness, reduces stress and we feel relaxed after listening music. Many of us listen music while working and also when not working. Music also helps in meditation which has a ton of benefits. In ancient Greece music was used to heal the stress and help with sleeping pattern. Indian religions have music as their essential part as Bhajan and kirtan. It is believed that it connects to the God. In India music is a part of our civilization, seers of Vedic age used to sing Vedic mantras as given in Sam-Veda.
Music improves our verbal and visual skill.
Researchers have shown that music education at early age stimulates the child’s brain in number of ways that helps to improve his verbal, communication and visual skill. This is the reason why children learns rhythmic poems more quickly and remember it. A study shows that children taking part in extracurricular activities have developed more I.Q. than those who do not. Researchers have shown that music keeps an aging brain healthy. Music is like an exercise for brain. Hence listening or playing music can give you a better memory and mental sharpness. Even people those have faced some sort of brain damage can regain partial or full memory as music help to regain old memories or neurological pattern due to rhythm and sound of music which stay long in the core of mind. Music can make you to feel happy, exited or even sad. Listening to music that hits you in several ways causes your brain to release dopamine which is known as feel good chemical.
Studies have shown that music strengthens heart and improve patient’s recovery time. Listening to your favorite music releases endorphin Harmon in brain which improves vascular health. Music also improves quality of sleep as it reduces stress and anxiety. In many cases music proved to be best medicine in case of insomnia. Research has shown that music is capable of reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for weakening the immune system, increasing risk of heart disease, lowering bone density, blood pressure, etc. Research found that by listening to just 50 minutes of uplifting music the levels of antibodies in the human body increases. Cancer patients those listened to music experienced reduction in anxiety. The evidence suggests that music interventions may be useful as a complementary treatment to people with cancer.
Fast music motivates people. They do their work more efficiently. Increase workout endurance. Listening to those top workout tracks can boost physical performance and increase endurance during a tough exercise session. This works partly through the power of distraction: When were focusing on a favorite album, we may not notice that we just ran an extra mile. Music also help people in eating less. One study found that playing soft music (and dimming the lights) during a meal can help people slow down while eating and ultimately consume less food in one sitting. Perhaps because slowing down helps them to be more mindful of fullness cues.
One study found that music’s effect on anxiety levels is similar to the effect of getting a massage. Here’s an idea: Treat yourself to a massage and bring your favorite chilled out tunes to play during the session. It doubles the relaxation. Listening to music can positively impact your mood while driving. So when you’re feeling sad and frustrated in the car, try cranking some of your favorite tunes.
Music has been found to help cancer patients communicate their feelings, manage stress, and ease physical pain and discomfort. It can also reduce anxiety and improve their quality of life. Researchers in Finland concluded that when stroke patients listened to music for two hours a day, their verbal memory and attention improved and they had a more positive mood compared to patients who didn’t listen to music or who listened to audio books.
Regardless of your taste in music, it’s clear that musical tunes benefit our health. The best part, now you have an excuse for playing Beethoven while your roommate is trying to study.
Music improves our verbal and visual skill.
Studies have shown that music strengthens heart and improve patient’s recovery time. Listening to your favorite music releases endorphin Harmon in brain which improves vascular health. Music also improves quality of sleep as it reduces stress and anxiety. In many cases music proved to be best medicine in case of insomnia. Research has shown that music is capable of reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for weakening the immune system, increasing risk of heart disease, lowering bone density, blood pressure, etc. Research found that by listening to just 50 minutes of uplifting music the levels of antibodies in the human body increases. Cancer patients those listened to music experienced reduction in anxiety. The evidence suggests that music interventions may be useful as a complementary treatment to people with cancer.
Fast music motivates people. They do their work more efficiently. Increase workout endurance. Listening to those top workout tracks can boost physical performance and increase endurance during a tough exercise session. This works partly through the power of distraction: When were focusing on a favorite album, we may not notice that we just ran an extra mile. Music also help people in eating less. One study found that playing soft music (and dimming the lights) during a meal can help people slow down while eating and ultimately consume less food in one sitting. Perhaps because slowing down helps them to be more mindful of fullness cues.
One study found that music’s effect on anxiety levels is similar to the effect of getting a massage. Here’s an idea: Treat yourself to a massage and bring your favorite chilled out tunes to play during the session. It doubles the relaxation. Listening to music can positively impact your mood while driving. So when you’re feeling sad and frustrated in the car, try cranking some of your favorite tunes.
Music has been found to help cancer patients communicate their feelings, manage stress, and ease physical pain and discomfort. It can also reduce anxiety and improve their quality of life. Researchers in Finland concluded that when stroke patients listened to music for two hours a day, their verbal memory and attention improved and they had a more positive mood compared to patients who didn’t listen to music or who listened to audio books.
Regardless of your taste in music, it’s clear that musical tunes benefit our health. The best part, now you have an excuse for playing Beethoven while your roommate is trying to study.
CrockPot Cowboy Stew Recipe
Day 197.
This recipe came from Headless Mom, and the second I read it I knew I needed to make it because I liked the name. I am excited to meet Headless Mom at the BlogHer conference in a few days to see if she looks in person the way that I have imagined her to. Probably not. I envision a Headless Horseman character, but instead of a pumpkin tucked under her neck, its a Donna Reed-type mom with pearls.
Now were all going to have nightmares...
but not over this stew. This stew is hearty and has a nice kick to it; real comfort food.
There are two ingredients pictures because I got a bit overwhelmed answering and reading email yesterday and forgot to put some stuff in there at first. You guys are so much fun. And a little bonkers.
The Ingredients.
--1 pound browned hamburger (can use turkey)
--2 cloves chopped garlic
--1 can tomato sauce
--1 can diced Italian seasoned tomatoes
--1 can corn, drained
--2 cans whole baby potatoes, drained (unless you can find a great big can of potatoes)
--1 can tomatoes with green chilies
--1 can Ranch Style beans (with the baked beans in the grocery store) (or see recipe below)
--1 cup water
--sliced jalapeno peppers for garnish (optional)
The Directions.
This makes a lot. Make sure that your crockpot is at least 5qts.
Brown the hamburger with the chopped garlic cloves on the stove top. Drain the fat. Let sit in the pan for a bit to cool.
Open all of you cans, and dump them into the crockpot. Drain the corn and the potatoes, but add the rest of the can liquid to the crockpot.
After adding all of the can contents, add the browned meat and a cup of water. Stir with a spoon to mix a bit.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-5. Soup and stew tastes better the longer you cook it, so opt for the longer cooking time if you can.
Garnish with sliced jalapeno peppers, if desired.
Recycle your cans!
Cant Find Ranch Beans at your grocery store? No Problem!!
simply mix together:
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans (plus the goop!)
Cant Find Ranch Beans at your grocery store? No Problem!!
simply mix together:
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans (plus the goop!)
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vinegar (white or apple cider)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
The Verdict.
I had never before bought canned potatoes, or the Ranch Beans, which intrigued me about this recipe. Headless Mom says that if you use "real" potatoes they will disintegrate in the crockpot. I believe shes right. These stayed perfectly oval in shape, and looked like baby dinosaur eggs.
I really liked the flavor of this stew. It reminded me of taco soup, but the flavors were more subtle. I liked the texture of the broth vs. the chunky ingredients.
The kids picked out what they wanted, and didnt complain. They really liked the beans, and thought the floating potatoes were cool. We will have this for lunch for quite a few days.
Adam and I both wanted a sliced jalapeno in each bite---they gave a really nice tangy spice to the meal.
Thank you, Headless Mom! We will definitely make this again!
Next year.
How to Boil Eggs Perfectly without Cracking
A number of people struggle to boil eggs perfectly. Sometimes they remain half-boiled and sometimes they are over boiled and cracks appear in it. Is there a perfect method to boil eggs without cracking it ? Yes there is a method, and we will explain it to you so that you can make hard boiled eggs without making it crack.
Precaution: Never try to boil eggs inside microwave. It may make them explode due to steam produced inside the shell.
Follow the following tips to boil eggs perfectly:
- Never use fresh eggs to boil. Buy eggs and keep them in fridge for 7 to days and them use them for boiling.
- While boiling eggs use only a single layer of eggs in pan. More than one layer can make them crack. Cover them with one inch water.
- Let the water boil and then switch off the heat. Cover the Pan an leave it for few minutes. Time to leave the eggs in this condition depends on their size.
Extra Large Eggs: 15 Min
Normal Eggs: 12 Min
Small Eggs: 09 Min
- Now put these eggs in cold water for a minute. It will make it easier for you to remove the shell as due to cooling effect outer shell loses the internal part. You can also roll the egg between your hands to loose the shell.
- If you want to store hard boiled eggs, then dont peel them. You can keep them in refrigerator for one week.
- Once peeled, you should eat it on the same day.
Precaution: Never try to boil eggs inside microwave. It may make them explode due to steam produced inside the shell.
Home Remedies for Stretch Marks After Pregnancy
Stretch marks after pregnancy can be treated using various methods but the least painful and inexpensive method is using home remedies for stretch marks.
Pregnancy is the greatest personal boon for married woman that make her proud and feel different. However pregnancy can also come with a few beauty related problems and the most prominent of them are the stretch marks that often occur in the post natal period.
Stretch marks after pregnancy can be treated in multiple ways but many of them are painful like surgical treatments while others may be expensive like using laser treatment or stretch mark creams to address the problem. For women suffering from post-pregnancy stretch marks, home remedies for stretch marks could be a more effective yet less expensive proposition.
After all; it would not be the best of experiences for a woman to opt for the not so sexy costumes over and over again because she wants to conceal her stretch marks occurring after pregnancy. Best solution for the problem would be getting rid of the stretch marks and for immediate results one might resort to surgical, laser or other clinical treatments. Stretch marks are socially embarrassing and the victim finds no other way but to resort to immediate remedies.
What if the victim does not cherish the pains and sufferings and above all the expenses involved in traditional clinical treatment of stretch marks? The best solution for her would be home remedies for stretch marks. They may not completely remove the marks but can make them fade substantially to make them irrelevant for the onlooker.
Before you try any remedies and that includes home remedies for stretch marks, it is important to understand what these stretch marks are. Basically these stretch marks are scars on the body that appears because of cracks in the skin surface and that are extremely difficult removing.
So what are the most popular home remedies for stretch marks? Perhaps the most prominent among the home remedies are the mixture of cocoa butter and oil cream. It is a compound that is highly beneficial for the skin of human anatomy and can revive the natural flair of the skin quite conveniently. One of the reasons of cracks appearing on the skin is dehydration and this mixture hydrates the cream substantially and prevents cracks and thus stretch marks from appearing.
How to use cocoa butter and oil cream? The method is simple as the user has to combine ½ cup of the butter with a tablespoon of wheat germ oil as well as one teaspoon each of apricot kernel oil and vitamin E oil. Finally, one should add a couple of teaspoons of grated beeswax and the solution should be heated till the wax melts. Solution that is now ready should be stored in airtight container and kept at a cool and dark location for best preservation. Regular application of the compound on the skin will prevent stretch marks from appearing and the preferable time for application is after bath.
While cocoa butter and oil cream works excellently for stretch marks; there are some almost equally effective home remedies for stretch marks. One such remedy is the solution of olive oil and Aloe Vera. Olive oil is one of the most popular and indispensable ingredient for most beauty products as well as skin care applications. It is one of the best moisturizing elements and keeps the skin hydrated and thus prevents cracks and stretch marks from appearing on the skin even after pregnancy.
To prepare the mixture of olive oil and Aloe Vera one should take ½ cup of the olive oil and mix it with 1/4th cup of Aloe Vera gel. In addition the user has to mix up 4 vitamin E and 2 Vitamin A capsules as well in the mixture. A specific method needs to be followed in preparing the mixture. First of all; the liquids from all the vitamin capsules should be mixed together and then other ingredients should be added to them. On application the mixture renders double benefits. One is that it removes the ugly stretch marks that have appeared after the pregnancy and the second is that it prevents occurrences as well as recurrences of such stretch marks due to dryness of skin.
Many other home remedies for stretch marks can also be used like the potato juice, sugar and lemon mixture; and the combination of vitamin C and sugar. One of the best mediums for exfoliating skin on human body, natural white sugar with vitamin C works extremely well during showers.
User needs to crush a couple of vitamin C capsules with white sugar and apply them on skin with moisturizer of her choice, especially on the stretch marks and other parts. The result would be extremely beneficial for removal as well as prevention of stretch marks and that is why it could be termed as one of the best home remedies for stretch marks.
Problems After Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the greatest personal boon for married woman that make her proud and feel different. However pregnancy can also come with a few beauty related problems and the most prominent of them are the stretch marks that often occur in the post natal period.
Easy and Affordable Solution
Stretch marks after pregnancy can be treated in multiple ways but many of them are painful like surgical treatments while others may be expensive like using laser treatment or stretch mark creams to address the problem. For women suffering from post-pregnancy stretch marks, home remedies for stretch marks could be a more effective yet less expensive proposition.
Stretch Marks Could be Socially Embarrassing
After all; it would not be the best of experiences for a woman to opt for the not so sexy costumes over and over again because she wants to conceal her stretch marks occurring after pregnancy. Best solution for the problem would be getting rid of the stretch marks and for immediate results one might resort to surgical, laser or other clinical treatments. Stretch marks are socially embarrassing and the victim finds no other way but to resort to immediate remedies.
Painless and Inexpensive Alternative
What if the victim does not cherish the pains and sufferings and above all the expenses involved in traditional clinical treatment of stretch marks? The best solution for her would be home remedies for stretch marks. They may not completely remove the marks but can make them fade substantially to make them irrelevant for the onlooker.
Understanding Stretch Marks
Before you try any remedies and that includes home remedies for stretch marks, it is important to understand what these stretch marks are. Basically these stretch marks are scars on the body that appears because of cracks in the skin surface and that are extremely difficult removing.
Most Popular Home Remedies
So what are the most popular home remedies for stretch marks? Perhaps the most prominent among the home remedies are the mixture of cocoa butter and oil cream. It is a compound that is highly beneficial for the skin of human anatomy and can revive the natural flair of the skin quite conveniently. One of the reasons of cracks appearing on the skin is dehydration and this mixture hydrates the cream substantially and prevents cracks and thus stretch marks from appearing.
Use of Cocoa Butter and Oil Cream
How to use cocoa butter and oil cream? The method is simple as the user has to combine ½ cup of the butter with a tablespoon of wheat germ oil as well as one teaspoon each of apricot kernel oil and vitamin E oil. Finally, one should add a couple of teaspoons of grated beeswax and the solution should be heated till the wax melts. Solution that is now ready should be stored in airtight container and kept at a cool and dark location for best preservation. Regular application of the compound on the skin will prevent stretch marks from appearing and the preferable time for application is after bath.
Equally Effective Home Remedy
While cocoa butter and oil cream works excellently for stretch marks; there are some almost equally effective home remedies for stretch marks. One such remedy is the solution of olive oil and Aloe Vera. Olive oil is one of the most popular and indispensable ingredient for most beauty products as well as skin care applications. It is one of the best moisturizing elements and keeps the skin hydrated and thus prevents cracks and stretch marks from appearing on the skin even after pregnancy.
Use of Olive Oil Aloe Vera Solution
To prepare the mixture of olive oil and Aloe Vera one should take ½ cup of the olive oil and mix it with 1/4th cup of Aloe Vera gel. In addition the user has to mix up 4 vitamin E and 2 Vitamin A capsules as well in the mixture. A specific method needs to be followed in preparing the mixture. First of all; the liquids from all the vitamin capsules should be mixed together and then other ingredients should be added to them. On application the mixture renders double benefits. One is that it removes the ugly stretch marks that have appeared after the pregnancy and the second is that it prevents occurrences as well as recurrences of such stretch marks due to dryness of skin.
Other Home Remedies
Many other home remedies for stretch marks can also be used like the potato juice, sugar and lemon mixture; and the combination of vitamin C and sugar. One of the best mediums for exfoliating skin on human body, natural white sugar with vitamin C works extremely well during showers.
User needs to crush a couple of vitamin C capsules with white sugar and apply them on skin with moisturizer of her choice, especially on the stretch marks and other parts. The result would be extremely beneficial for removal as well as prevention of stretch marks and that is why it could be termed as one of the best home remedies for stretch marks.
How to Maintain Good Health Facts for a Healthy Body
How to Maintain Good Health
Not much is known when a man felt the necessity of possessing good health. But since he got concerned about it, he has been struggling hard to observe the rules related with maintaining good health. In spite of that many modern educated men are not fully aware about the management of their health. The primary awareness for preserving one’s good health is to remember the sufferings of old age which is unavoidable and inevitable. A man in young age often commits harmful activities for which he has to pay at his old age. So he should restrict himself from doing such excesses. For ensuring good health, staple food, physical exercise, change of life style, cheerful mind, hopeful attitude and, taking long breath in fresh air are the important factors for maintaining good health. Following are a few factors that you should concentrate on to maintain Good Health.Stress
Men often suffer in mental stress. The stress may be good or bad. Good stress increases the performance of an individual or a group at work but bad stress causes poor performance. Some people may not do well when they are under bad stress but under good stress they may behave in different ways. Thus one should determine the source of stress what is good for him and what increases his performance at work, on the field, in the class room or in debating competition. Physical exercise helps to keep one’s mind free from stress.
Change of life style
Change of life style is important for keeping good health. Every one should be careful about the diet he takes, dress he wears,time he sleeps and exercise he does. If any of these habits seem harmful he should change his style little bit. How ever no change should be made suddenly. The changes should be made in such a way that if necessary he can go back to his previous practice. It may happen that one change may be regarded useful for health but in practice may not be good. So, proper decision should be taken through one’s experience.
State of Mind
Jealousy, fear, anger and anxiety are harmful for good health. Thus by avoiding these traits cautiously one can enjoy good health. When a man enjoys a good health he is quite able to cure himself through diet and exercise. During sickness he should think about how he can regain good health. If necessary he can consult two doctors for his own satisfaction.
Obesity
Being overweight is the primary reason for a number of diseases like blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes and many more. Sometimes obesity comes with age. So one should always be concerned about his / her weight. You can easily control your weight by controlling your eating habits and regular workout. Daily walking or jogging may be the most helpful exercise for people over 40 or those having a office / sitting job.
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