Chi Chi Chia

Remember the Chia Pet?   This one is definitely one of my personal favorites.  I will never forget the year my parents went to a big Halloween party and they dressed up as Mr. T and Whoopi Goldberg.  I'll spare the photo resurrection for their sake ;)

While this fun little pet might convince you of your hidden green thumb, the seeds that turn into Mr. T's Mohawk are actually very good for you!

Chia seeds are the new wave, and they might just outshine Flaxseeds....they are just as, if not easier (no grinding required), to incorporate into your daily diet.

Chia is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and both insoluble and soluble fiber.   When chia is added to a liquid, (water, milk, yogurt, soup, etc.) it expands and swells coating it with a gel like substance (which is the soluble fiber), this soluble fiber slows the conversion of carbs to sugars which is very beneficial for diabetics.  Not only will diabetics benefit from this attribute, but athletes as well, especially runners, who look to sustain their energy over time.

The soluble fiber the seed possesses is what causes is to swell in the liquid, which means that it can help lower your cholesterol, especially the LDL (the bad stuff!), as well as act as a prebiotic and help to feed the good bacteria in your digestive system.  Incorporating an adequate amount of fiber in your diet is so important because it will ensure the proper digestion of our food, and in chia's case, keep our colons good and hydrated (too much information?)

Chia is high in protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, zinc, and boron (a trace mineral that aids your body in calcium absorption, very good for strong bones!), AND, its gluten free!

I try and incorporate Chia into practically anything I can think of.  They have no taste, so its very easy to sprinkle them on anything.  My favorites are, greek yogurt, some fruit and granola for breakfast, soups, cereal and milk, I've even added them to saute pans, and baked goods.

You can find them at health food stores, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, even some of the gourmet supermarkets are now carrying them, or you can find them online here...

Sfogliatelle

Indulge!  Part of living a fulfilling and happy life is satisfying certain wants and desires (to an extreme...)  One of my favorite things to enjoy is the Italian pastry, the sfogliatelle.  While it provides absolutely no nutritional value, it makes me smile when I have one....1. Because I'm usually enjoying with a coffee 2. I'm usually biting into one shortly after a Sunday family dinner and 3. I simply just love them.  They are crunchy on the outside, and soft and sweet on the inside.

The word Sfogliatelle, in Italian means, many leaves/layers.  Sfogliatelle are made from a dough similar to phyllo cut into discs and formed into a pocket to hold an orange-flavored ricotta filling, although almond paste or candied peel of citron are also used.  The dough is sealed around the filling and the pastries baked till their characteristic ridges form as the layers of dough separate.   To me, the slight hint of the orange inside is what really separates the sfogliatelle from the rest.

The bottom line is, don't eliminate the things you love from your life, only, indulge in them with moderation.  It will make them that much more enjoyable when you do!

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfogliatelle

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Okay, listen here, this stuff is no joke....100% Organic Raw-Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, GET SOME.


Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar All Natural Drink


ACV, is so incredibly good for you, its amazing health benefits are mindblowing.  I started to feel like I was coming down with something earlier in the week, and it definitely felt like something sinus related....I turned to my ACV, drank 2 ounces in 6 ounces of water with a teaspoon of honey for the last couple of days, and felt better and better every day.  No need to let the infection happen, run to the pharmacy and turn to prescription drugs when you've got ACV!    

Honey is the perfect addition to your ACV drink not only because its so darn good but because of how great it is for you too!  Honey contains nutraceuticals, which are effective in removing free radicals from our body. As a result, our body's immunity is improved!  Looks like you're gonna be feeling better in no time!










A list of some of the amazing things ACV can do:  
(If you're plagued by any of these you might want to check out ACV, right now!)  


Blood pressure:
The potassium in ACV along with other substances makes the blood thinner and is helpful in controlling blood pressure.
Cholesterol control:
Many heart attacks are caused by high fats and cholesterol in your blood. The fiber in ACV helps to absorb fats and cholesterol by expelling them from the body as waste materials.
Diabetes:
The dietary fiber in ACV is also helpful in controlling glucose levels in the blood.
Arthritic pains:
Many suffer from this disease in the west and it is caused by the gathering of metabolic toxic waste in the tissues. In this context, ACV speeds up metabolism and excretes the toxic wastes from the tissues.
Strong Bones:
Minerals like manganese, calcium, magnesium, silicon and iron develop bone mass and make them stronger.
Chest congestion:
Apple cider vinegar is also useful in flu or chest congestion. Applying ACV with pepper on the chest can help relieve some of the congestion.
Sore Throat:
If you have a sore throat, gargle with ACV mixed with water.
Digestion:
In your digestive system hydrochloric acid and pepsin are two essential components that break down the food to be digested properly. The lack of these components can cause food poisoning. ACV has ability to enhance their functionality and help prevent food poisoning.
Nasal Congestions:
Apple cider vinegar is helpful in nasal congestion.
Apple cider vinegar and weight loss:
It helps to detoxify the liver which plays an important role in weight loss. There are historical facts that Egyptians took apple cider vinegar for weight loss. Some claim ACV speeds up the metabolism while some claim it burns the calories to reduce appetite. To lose weight just take 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, mixed in water, before every meal.
ACV is also available in tablets and capsules. According to some nutritionists the combination of apple cider with kelp, vitamin B6 and lecithin is much more effective for weight loss than ACV alone


source: http://healthrecipes.com/apple_cider_vinegar.htm

Mastering my cup of Coffee!

So I went out to LI last weekend, to see some family and friends, and to my luck, my parents were having a yard sale!  I was one lucky customer/daughter....I discovered they were selling a BRAND NEW FRENCH PRESS they didn't want!

I love coffee, and actually have a friend who's holding an extra Keurig they have for me, but I've always wanted a French Press.  Not only do I love the taste of coffee, but I love the little ritual I create with it.  It's the little things in life that get me, and this happens to be one of them.  Waking up, having some breakfast (because I don't EVER skip breakfast, always been my personal fav, most important meal of the day), and enjoying a large cup of coffee.  Now I can do that every morning without my Keurig, without my Starbucks instant packets, but with my new found French Press!

Thought I'd share some information on how I know I've finally mastered the art of brewing myself the ultimate cup of coffee.  I had a drip machine, thanks to my old roomie Meg, in our last apartment, but since we've gotten our own places, she resumed ownership of it.  Besides, I only used it a handful of times, because I was never satisfied with the way the coffee brewed.  I would always run across the street to the old standby, "The Coffee Shop" where they brewed, Segafredo Intermezzo.  MMMM Segafredo hits the spot.  The beans are imported from Italy, and is a blend of 60% Arabica and 40% Robusta beans, which gives it a rich, yet smooth flavor.  It's been said to create, "Le Dolce Vita" in your home :) 


So anyway, back to the press.......I wanted to unlock some of the potential reasons why my coffee brewing skills spiked through the roof the last couple of days with my press.  Well, turns out, that with the coffee grounds remaining in direct contact with the boiling water in the press, the coffee's flavor is more pronounced, as well as the oils from the beans.  With the traditional drip brew, you're most likely to lose some of these oils because of the paper filters. 


However, I must also include, that during my study of French Press vs. Drip coffee makers, I did learn that French Press were not ideal for those with high cholesterol.  The increase in the cholesterol from the French press coffee is believed to be caused by oils called terpenes that are found in the beans, and are not removed by the filters from the drip machine.  This, thank heaven, is not a threat to me however, since my cholesterol couldn't be better!  As long are you "health yourself" everyday, and make yourself aware of the things you're consuming, yours shouldn't be either.  Here's to good health and GREAT coffee! 

Pumpkins!

Who doesn't love this time of year?!  Pumpkins, Halloween, Scarecrows, Vineyard visits on cool sunny days with friends, Thanksgiving around the corner!  


Wanted to share with you some interesting stuff I found on a the varieties of PUMPKINS!  Last week I sat with 2 friends of mine (Jack & Lucy, 5th graders) and we carved pumpkins.  We had a blast, cleaning and gutting them, rinsing the seeds, and baking them.  It was all so much fun, and the pumpkin faces came out awesome!  I saw them again a few days later and they had a new pumpkin at their house, a grey one!  It was so neat looking that I wanted to learn more about all the different varieties....THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS!  The source I used was, http://www.hauntedbay.com/thelab/pumpkin/pumpkinvarieties.shtml  I found this site the most useful off my basic pumpkin variety search because of all the pictures they included.


Here's the scoop on the grey pumpkin they had:

Jarrahdale
(Ghirardelli)

Flattened like Cinderella but with a light blue/grey color. Deeply ribbed. This pumpkin is an Australian heirloom variety and was developed as a cross between the Blue Hubbard and the Cindarella. The flesh is golden yellow with a mild, only slightly sweet, flavor. Some say this is the best pumpkin for pumpkin pies.

I was fascinated when I read that it was the best for pumpkin pies!  Who knew?!

There's also,  WHITE pumpkins!  These include, Baby Boo, Casper, Lumina, and White Ghost.  The whites are generally not recommended for cooking, more for decoration, with the exception of the White Ghost.  The whites though are more for decorating and/or painting.  Their skin is extra thick as compared to your typical orange pumpkin so their not the ideal carvers.

Happy Fall! :D

MMmm...Garlic

So, my dad turned to me this weekend and says, Sam, did you eat something with a lot of garlic last night? No, I replied.....this is not the first time I've been asked this. My mom also asked me once.....I guess they were trying to tell me in a gentle way, that I stink like garlic! Hmmm.....practically everything I cook for myself has garlic in it, and another favorite, onions. I said, but it's so good for you! They recommended I take a few nights off of my garlic enhanced suppers, especially before date nights....(have I mentioned, now that they're empty nesters its like their ultimate goal, to see my sister and I meet somebody and marry? I don't mind the pressure, I actually find it kind of amusing and exciting at the same time, and in all honesty, it doesn't feel like pressure to me...well if it did, I'd be losing sleep over it, and thats certainly not something I want! :P

My love affair with garlic and onion will continue, I love the taste, and the health benefits! Garlic and onion are in the same family (Alliaceae). Garlic has incredible anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-oxidant value...also reducing the amount of cholesterol thats absorbed in your arteries, which in turn reduces your blood pressure (clear blood vessels), and for diabetes patients, it is considered to regulate blood sugar levels by increasing the release of insulin. These are only some of the wonderful, natural characteristics that some garlic in your sauté can include! I will not step away from the garlic! If this man is the one for me, he'll have to smell that smell for as long as we're together, so better get used to it now ! ;)