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Celebrate September with Food

September 16, 2021

Now that we’ve gotten past the almost official end of summer, Labor Day weekend, thoughts of pumpkins and turkeys begin to dance in our heads.

Not. So. Fast.

For fun, I checked out some rather whimsical holidays and observances happening the rest of this month, that have to do with food.

The mention of these may give you a snack or meal idea in order to celebrate. You may discover an impromptu theme for a casual dinner with friends. Or you might simply enjoy the frivolity of reading the list.

Here goes:

Sept. 16- National Guacamole Day (Good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.)

Sept. 17- National Apple Dumpling Day, National Monte Cristo Day

Sept. 18- National Cheeseburger Day, Rice Krispies Treats Day

Sept. 19- National Butterscotch Pudding Day

Sept. 20- National Pepperoni Pizza Day, National String Cheese Day

Sept. 22- National Ice Cream Cone Day, National White Chocolate Day

Sept. 23- National Great American Pot Pie Day

Sept. 24- National Cherries Jubilee Day

Sept. 25- National Cooking Day (Good one. This covers pretty much everything.)

Sept. 26- National Dumpling Day, National Pancake Day (I LOVE pancakes. Who’s with me?)

Sept. 27- National Chocolate Milk Day (This one’s for you A.B. and T.L.)

Sept. 29- National Coffee Day (This one’s for more of you than I can name in this blog. Enjoy!)

Sept. 30- National Hot Mulled Cider Day

September is also:

Better Breakfast Month
National Fruit & Veggies Month
National Italian Cheese Month
National Potato Month
National Rice Month
Whole Grains Month

As you consider ways to celebrate with food, perhaps you could improve your breakfast and make it just a little bit healthier.

Ideas: add some protein; decrease the sugar or sweetener in your coffee by a small amount; begin eating breakfast if you skip it altogether.

Other ways to celebrate September in line with the observances:

Try a new-to-you fruit or vegetable.

How about a grilled Italian cheese sandwich on whole grain bread, accompanied by fresh tomatoes and a crisp apple?

Make a rice that you’ve been meaning to try. There are many varieties to choose from. Check out my blog about rice if you missed it.

For a real treat, make some Hasselback potatoes. Click here for the recipe.

Eating well in a way that serves your health doesn’t have to be boring. Have fun trying new foods and make every day a cause for celebration.

Much love,
Health Coach Carol

“Our time on this earth is sacred, and we should celebrate every moment.”—Paulo Coelho

celebrate holidays observances Paulo Coelho September

Pinky, the Ice Cream Truck

September 9, 2021

Family, Food, Fun

Last Sunday I was outside and heard the familiar sound of an ice cream truck in the neighborhood. I hadn’t seen one of these in…well, quite a long time.

I was so amused and delighted when I heard the music, that I decided I had to track it down. I also wondered if the kids were as excited about catching up to it as I was.

The sound came closer. When I saw a line of children and parents forming, I knew it was only a matter of time.

Patience.

I felt like I was 8 years old again.

Not that I wanted any ice cream. I really didn’t. I simply had this overwhelming desire to see the truck. I was caught up in the memory and filled with inexplicable giddiness.

I recalled the orange dreamsicles, root beer and banana popsicles, and the traditional ice cream bars.

All eaten with my best live-down-the-block buddies. (I lived on the corner at the top of a hill.)

Pure Happiness.

I caught up with Pinky, the ice cream truck. The driver was one very happy guy. And yes, I did stop him and ask him to pose for the photo.

On another block, little ones (accompanied by mom and dad) ran to the curb yelling, “Wait, don’t go!” He slowed and stopped, and squeals of delight ensued.

How could you not be happy when you’re making a little kid’s day? I walked home smiling and thinking how fun it was to get caught up in that memory.

Interestingly, when I mentioned Pinky to Mr. Non-Compliant, he recalled that his younger sister had a Pinky. His grandma crocheted Pinky, an extremely thin rabbit with very loooong dangly legs.

Apparently THAT Pinky was often in grandma’s repair shop.

Mr. Non-Compliant had Deego—a stuffed dog that grandma had to recover oodles of times.

My oldest son fondly remembers our family dinners. When I was cooking, it was relaxing and warm in the house. He had a calm feeling knowing that there was nowhere else any of us had to be.

That is still a feeling he gets when anyone prepares a home cooked meal for him. (Good to know.)

What memories bring you a sense of comfort, happiness, security, giddiness, love? What do other family members, children, or grandchildren fondly remember? This might be a conversation you’d like to have sometime in the coming week.

Last week’s Haluski story and recipe struck a memory chord with several of you. Perhaps there are more stories tucked away that will make you smile.

Happiness and good feelings bring about more of the same.

Hoping that you rediscover your “Pinky” memory.

Much love,
Carol

“I go running when I have to. When the ice cream truck is doing sixty.” —Wendy Liebman

dreamsicles happiness ice cream ice cream bars ice cream truck memories pinky popsicles

Delicious Memories and a Recipe

September 2, 2021

Family, Food, Health

I recently received a head of green cabbage as a gift. Now, I’m not one to buy cabbage, although I like it on occasion.

Roasting it seemed like a good idea, so I sliced it in rather thin wedges, placed the wedges in a single layer on my pan, and sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.

After about 30 minutes, in a 400 degree oven, I had some pretty tasty roasted cabbage.

A day or so later I was faced with the leftovers. Recalling that my Slovakian grandma used to make a noodle and cabbage dish that was wonderful, I decided to make something similar.

I sautéed the leftover roasted cabbage in a skillet with some cooked rice noodles. Pretty good stuff. This was a quick and easy dish that brought back a delicious memory.

Last week, I decided to make the more traditional dish. It took a bit more time and was definitely worth it. I had plenty for a couple meals as a side dish.

This is a rediscovered comfort food for me. It’s not quite like grandma’s, as she used to even make her noodles! It’s good enough, and I find it to be very delicious and satisfying.

Here’s my version of a recipe that I found. Hope you enjoy it!

Haluski—Cabbage and Noodles

1/3 cup butter or so, divided (or Earth Balance Buttery Sticks)
1 small head of cabbage, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
A couple handfuls of your favorite noodles, cooked according to package directions and drained
Sweet paprika (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Melt about half of the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir onions until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Cook and stir remaining butter and cabbage into onions until cabbage is softened but not browned, 5 to 8 more minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Add the cooked noodles and stir gently to combine. Place the mixture into a buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle with paprika, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, 30 to 40 minutes.

Notes: I used Thai Kitchen stir-fry rice noodles and they worked great. The suggested noodle is medium-wide egg noodles. Of course, you could use homemade noodles if you have them. Adjust the amount of noodles according to your personal preference.

In case you’re wondering, cabbage belongs to the same group as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale, known as the Brassica family.

It is inexpensive, easy to store, and is an excellent source of vitamins C and K, folate, and a great source of protective phytochemicals.

I highly recommend that you give Haluski (some version) a try. You may have a new comfort food to help get you through the chilly months ahead.

Sending love,
Carol

“I grew up in Austria, and for me real comfort food is Wiener Schnitzel. Wiener Schnitzel and mashed potatoes because it reminds me of my youth… It reminds me when I grow up and it feels very comforting.”—Wolfgang Puck

Brassica cabbage grandma Haluski noodles Thai Kitchen rice noodles Wolfgang Puck

Love Chocolate

August 26, 2021

Food, Fun, Health

The good news is that chocolate is actually healthy for us.

The bad news is that we must be selective in the quality of chocolate we choose in order for it to work to our benefit. Lots of chocolate on the market is not nutritious and can work against us.

So, before you go out and start chomping on handfuls of M&M’s, keep reading. (Yes, Mr. Non-Compliant, this means YOU!)

High quality dark chocolate of at least 70% cocoa (or cacao) contains an assortment of minerals, including manganese, copper, and magnesium. (I’m using cocoa and cacao interchangeably here, although there are slight differences.)

In the same way that whole foods offer the best form of nutrients, so does pure cacao.

A serving of 100% cacao powder (2½ tablespoons) contains 4 grams of protein, 49mg of caffeine, and 195mg of flavanols.

The flavanols in cocoa can protect against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin, and increase skin density and hydration. (This is in addition to your current skin care routine.)

In spite of this, may I suggest that you not take your chocolate treats to the beach on a hot summer day.

Cocoa antioxidants boost heart health when eaten in moderate amounts, about one ounce, several times a week. These same powerful antioxidants are found in blueberries and acai berries.

A regular treat of a square or two can reduce stress hormones, help lower blood pressure, and improve circulation.

Chocolate may even improve brain function by increasing blood flow to the brain.

Minimally processed with few added ingredients and low sugar, dark chocolate is a treat that makes lots of people happy. It also contains unique natural substances that create a sense of euphoria similar to the feeling of being in love.

People all across the globe would benefit from eating some chocolate. My friend Barb stated, “A day without chocolate is like a day without sunshine.” There you have it.

At your next gathering, consider offering a snack or dessert tray with assorted berries, nuts, and squares of dark chocolate. There are a variety of chocolate bar brands that comply. You could even make your own Chocolate Nut Clusters using a dark chocolate that best suits your taste buds, increasing the cacao amount as you get used to the richer chocolate flavor.

I like to make a hot cocoa drink with oat milk (use your milk of choice), about a tablespoonful of 100% cacao powder, a scoop of collagen, and a dash of pure maple syrup. It’s a treat that satisfies as well as offers lots of nutrients.

In summary, the higher the cacao amount in your chocolate, the lower the sugar content and the greater the health benefits. Keep serving size to about an ounce.

Remember, you can train your taste buds over time. You cannot train the taste buds of your loved ones (unwillingly), unless you’re very, very sneaky.

Grateful for chocolate,
Carol

“Chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a tree that makes it a plant. Chocolate is salad.”–Anonymous

antioxidants cacao chocolate cocoa dessert flavanols hot cocoa M&M's Mr. Non-Compliant video

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