Archive for ‘Healthy Living’

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July 12, 2012

Recipe: Megan’s Grilled Zucchini

It’s July, it’s hot and it’s zucchini time.  Once you’ve made zucchini bread, zucchini muffins, sautéed zucchini and zucchini and dip, then what?  What do you do with an abundance of zucchini?  Now you will make Megan’s Grilled Zucchini and love it!

The other night my dear friend Megan, author of the food blog Woo-hoo Tofu!, invited my family to join her family for dinner.  Everything she made was wonderful, we had brats and homemade kale chips and grilled sweet potato fries and broccoli salad, but one thing really stood out: the zucchini.  In a word, it was amazing!

Now, the thing you need to know is that while I like zucchini, I don’t love it. That was, until now.  This recipe is so good that I even talked Megan out of some zucchini from our friend’s garden today so I could make it again for dinner tonight. (She’s taking care of our friends garden while they are on vacation.)  You see, since I only liked zucchini before I haven’t planted it in my own garden for years.  Now I’m kicking myself.  I will definitely add that to my plan for next year!

Okay, so enough of my chatter. Onto the recipe…

Megan’s Grilled Zucchini

Megan’s Grilled Zucchini

3 medium zucchini
1 – 2 T olive oil
2 – 3 T spearmint, chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt & Pepper

Slice zucchini in half lengthwise, then cut into 2 – 3 inch pieces. Brush zucchini with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Grill zucchini for 7 – 10 minutes over high heat, flipping half-way through.

Remove from grill and place in medium-sized bowl. Toss with mint and fresh lemon juice.

Serves 4.

Note: We used a grill pan to prevent some of the smaller pieces from falling through the grates, but zucchini could be put directly on grates as well. (That’s how Megan did it and the grill marks were quite pretty too.)

Enjoy!

Kate

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May 30, 2012

4 Weeks to A Better You Summer Smack Down Starts June 3rd – Who’s with me?

After an insane spring, the good habits I developed during the 8 Weeks to a Better You! mini-challenge back in February started slipping.  I’ve been trying to give myself another kick to get going, but continue to lose focus and lose steam.  I’ve been hoping and praying for something to give me some motivation to get back into the swing of things so I don’t lose all of the momentum I had going earlier in the year.

Tonight I checked in with my friends at 8 Weeks to a Better You! and wouldn’t you know it, my prayers have been answered!  They are doing another 4 Week challenge for the month of June.  In fact, June 3rd starts the 4 Weeks to a Better You Summer Smack Down and I’m super excited to participate.  I had great results physically, mentally and emotionally with the first one and I hope to do at least as well if not better this time.

A number of you (you know who you are) talked to me last time and said you weren’t quite ready to commit, but wanted me to let you know when the next challenge came around.  Well, guess what?  It’s here!

The rules are the same, the cost is $13 to sign-up.  You have nothing to lose and lots of good stuff to gain!

Here’s the challenge:
Physically Better Yourself

1. Exercise at least 45 minutes a day!
2. Get AT LEAST 7 hours of sleep a night (if you are short a little just squeeze a nap in to make up for it)
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
4. No Sugar
5. No Soda, Fast Food, or Junk Food
6. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables
7. No eating after 8 p.m. (unless it’s your dinner-but try really hard to get dinner in earlier)

Emotionally/Spiritually Better Yourself
8. Write in your journal EVERY DAY.
9. Complete at least 15 minutes of uplifting reading or scripture study.
10. Complete an act of service or random act of kindness.  Whether it be a small one or a big one, do something kind for someone else that is out of your normal routine.

So without further adieu – I would like to formally invite you to join me in this next 4 week challenge to make a better YOU!  To register go to 8 Weeks to a Better You website and register on the right hand side.

Who’s with me?

Kate

p.s. – I need recommendations for another book which would provide 15 minutes of uplifting reading each day.  (Last time I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, which I really enjoyed.)

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May 25, 2012

Where are you on the jerk-o-meter?

By now most of you have probably heard the report that those of us who eat are exposed to organic food are jerks.  That’s right, a study just published online in Social Psychological and Personality Science has now proven that once exposed to organic food you will become all “judgey”.

Okay, so I mock.  As with any study, I’m sure there is truth to it in whatever capacity it was taken. But I can’t take this study seriously.   Seriously!  Part of what I find humorous about it though is how fast it spread.  Even Leno was talking about it tonight.

But I have to be honest, when I first heard this report I thought, “Organic food make you “judgey”? Ha, whatever! Oh, wait, ew… Did that sound harsh?  Was that judgey?”  Then I read the part where those who eat organic food volunteer less.   Holy smokes!  If that’s true I don’t know what to think.  I just spent the past 3 months volunteering so many hours to my son’s school I’ve literally lost count.  Just imagine what I could have done if I’d only looked at a brownie instead of looking at a picture of organic food!

By the way, did you notice the word “exposed” earlier?  Yes, the study “exposed” people to a picture or organic food versus a picture of a brownie.  Again, really?  Oh, my!  What would have happened if they had actually eaten the organic food (God forbid)?  I can’t bear to think about it!

More humor, the Abstract of the study reads:

Recent research has revealed that specific tastes can influence moral processing, with sweet tastes inducing prosocial behavior and disgusting tastes harshening moral judgments.  Do similar effects apply to different food types (comfort foods, organic foods, etc.)?

Really?  The equivalent study is sweet vs. “disgusting”?  In other words suggesting that comfort foods, like a brownie are sweet (and good) and organic food is disgusting (and bad).  Nice study!  Who wrote this?  My second grade son?  I’m sorry, but I had to laugh.  (And I had to keep checking to make sure I wasn’t reading The Onion.)

I’m sure some aren’t finding humor in this report or my comments, but I honestly have to say that if someone has the time and the money to spend on such a study to find out if looking at organic food makes people judgey then all the power to them.

In the mean time, I’m going to go eat some, shhhh…. (organic) food, then quit volunteering and go judge all my neighbors.  And watch out!  I sure hope you don’t need anything today because I’ll have already done my good deed for the day by looking at my organic food before I ate it.

However, you might get lucky.  After all,  I was thinking about a brownie while I was writing this.  Do you think that can un-do the organic apple I ate?   Nevermind.  I did see organic salad in the fridge on my way to get the apple.   Oh, and the organic milk while I was closing the door…

Yep.  You’re out of luck.  If you run into problems, definitely ask the person with chocolate brownie stuck in their teeth for help, because I’d just let you sit there and rot.

Kate

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May 17, 2012

What hairstyle does your yard have?

Maybe it’s the lack of sleep that makes me think these things, but have you ever noticed that yards have hairstyles?

The other day I read something that said everyone’s yard has a style, even if you don’t know what it is, your neighbors do.  That got me thinking, okay, traditional, cottage, natural.   Okay, sure, makes sense but kind of boring and obvious, isn’t it?   Then my mind started to wander off and I realized that I don’t think that’s true.  I couldn’t put my yard in just one bucket.  Why?  Because my yard has a Mullet.  That’s when I realized yards are more than just a style, they have a hairstyle!

So think about your yard for a moment.  What kind of style does it have?  Does it have one?  And furthermore, what kind of hairstyle does it have?

Here are a few hairstyles I’ve come up with for yards.  Take a gander and see if any of them fit you?

The Mullet

If you lived through the 70s and 80s, then you remember the mullet.  Business in the front, party in the back.  The mullet was predominantly worn by men, although I do remember some women with them too.  They kept the front of their hair short and the back of their hair long.

The same goes for yards.  Take mine for example.  I try to keep the landscaping neat and clean in the front and try to keep the lawn mowed on a regular basis for curb appeal.  Although I let my personal style come through a little in my choice of plantings and bedlines, I don’t get too adventurous.  I save that…. for the back!  The back is where I let it all hang out.  That’s where I conduct most of my plant experiments and I’m not overly concerned if it’s not looking neat.  That’s also where the patio is, the veggie garden, etc.  It’s relaxed, messy at times and fun.  See?  Mullet.

The Bob

The bob has been around for decades in various forms.  Typically worn by women with straight hair it has also been modified for curly hair.  In general, it’s a very simple, neat and clean style.  The stylist needs to know what they are doing because in this style flaws are very obvious.

Yards, again, can have the bob.  Very clean and simple.  Everything has its place and there is a consistent flow of uniformly shaped plants regardless of whether you’re in the front, the back or the side.  Rarely do you see a plant out-of-place or a weed in sight.

The Hippie

Okay, technically I don’t think the hippie is the name of a hairstyle, but if I say the word “hippie” what do you envision?  I envision, glasses and long hair that hasn’t been trimmed in years. Think au naturel.

The Hippie yard… you’re catching on now aren’t you?  The Hippie yard is well, just there.  Not much in the way of maintenance, an occasional mowing of the lawn and trees and shrubs haven’t been pruned in years.  And naturally, you’ll see weeds because the owner of the hippie hairstyle would never harm a fly.

The Crew Cut

Simply put, the crew cut is short and simple.  A little on top.  Not much on the sides and back.

The Crew Cut yard?  Pretty basic.  A few basic shrubs or foundation plants in the front and nothing but lawn on the sides and in the back.

Shaved/Bald

Pretty self-explanatory style is it not?

Yard?  Yes, sadly, I’ve seen this.  No plants.  None.  And lawn?  Well, I didn’t even realize mower blades could be set that low.

Well, that about wraps it up.  What do you think?  Do any of these hairstyle fit your yard? Let me know! Or if you think of a style I’ve forgotten, please share!  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Kate

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