1-219-765-8600

carol@inkwellcoaching.com

Crown Point, IN

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July 16, 2025

The Peach vs. Nectarine Debate

I love them both. Lately I’ve been wondering about their slight differences, which sent me down the rabbit hole of looking into their unique charact

July 9, 2025

The Dog Days of Summer

How often I’ve heard this phrase, yet never knew that Dog Days were official. Turns out, the Dog Days of Summer run from July 3 to August 11. This t

July 3, 2025

Can Bananas Ruin Your Berry Smoothie?

This past week I received an email with this question: “I recently read an article about bananas reducing the nutrition of the berries in a smoothie

June 26, 2025

Hot Weather, Cool Tips

Lots of ideas swirling around in my head today—to which Mr. Non-Compliant would say, “Uh Oh!” Since I couldn’t decide on one topic, thought I&

June 19, 2025

Savor the Solstice and Welcome Summer

On June 20 at 10:42 p.m. EST, the sun will reach its highest point in the sky, ushering in the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Th

June 18, 2025

Summer Solstice Fruit Salad with Mint & Citrus Honey Drizzle

This bright and refreshing fruit salad is perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or a simple treat to celebrate the season. With a citrus-honey drizz

June 12, 2025

Flossing Beyond the Gums

We all know we should floss—but it turns out this simple daily habit might do more than just protect your smile. More and more research suggests tha

June 4, 2025

The Cancer-Fighting Power of Habits

Every so often, you stumble on two articles in one day that seem to shout the same message from different rooftops. That’s exactly what happened thi

May 29, 2025

Survival and Everyday Strength

There are books you read, and there are books that change you. One that recently left a lasting mark on me is Resolute by Benjamin Hall, a Fox News co

May 22, 2025

Celebrate Smart with Memorial Day Tips

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, many of us look forward to picnics, cookouts, family gatherings, and the unofficial start of summer. But before we

A Special Pasta Dish Just for You

I was fortunate to work with my friend, Chef Lynn and make this special recipe with her. She recreated it from her favorite dish at Popolano’s and likes her version even better than the original.

Since it was simple to make and extremely yummy, I got permission to share her Spicy Chicken Rigatoni with Gorgonzola Sauce with you. Thanks, Chef Lynn!

Here’s the direct link to the recipe: Chef Lynn’s Spicy Chicken Rigatoni with Gorgonzola Sauce

Oh, and I made notes on how to make it without dairy and gluten too.

 It’s the month of summer, strawberries and peonies.

Be on the lookout for farmer’s markets to get your freshest local berries and other produce. I have 3 strawberry plants in my garden; however, I have to be quick in order to beat the bunny family to them.

I think it’s time I put up a small garden fence.       

My peonies are in full bloom for the next couple weeks. We transplanted them from the farm when my parents moved here over 20 years ago.

Mom used to fill as many vases as she had with peonies for the house. I take after my mom.

It’s a great month to spend some time sitting on a porch or patio and watching the world (or bunnies) go by. The bugs and humidity haven’t shown up to the party yet.

June 14th is flag day, so if you need to update your flag, you have plenty of time.

June 20th is Father’s Day and Summer Solstice—the first official day of summer. The Spicy Chicken Rigatoni can be made ahead of time for your celebrations.

Enjoy your June.

Much love,
Carol

” Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.” —John Lubbock

Chef Lynn’s Spicy Chicken Rigatoni with Gorgonzola Sauce

This is Chef Lynn’s version of her favorite dish at Popolano’s, one that she likes even better than the original. While it looks like lots of steps at first glance, the most time consuming task is combining all the seasonings to coat the chicken. Another bonus: other than the pot to cook the pasta, you only need one skillet to make this dish. Makes 4-6 servings. (I have permission to share her recipe.)

I’ve made some notes about substitutions below. While we discussed making this healthier, she makes it so rarely that we are going with the “only eat it if it’s amazing” principle. Portion control is also a great way to enjoy this pasta dish and stick with a healthy eating plan.

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Basil
1 Tbsp Oregano
1 Tbsp Thyme
1/4 tsp Ground Rosemary
1 tsp crushed Red Pepper
1 tsp Chili Powder
1/8 tsp Cumin
2 Tbsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 lb. Mushrooms, sliced
1 Shallot, minced
3/4 cup low sodium Chicken Broth/Stock
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 oz Gorgonzola Cheese
1 oz fresh Parmesan Cheese
1 oz Romano Cheese
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
2 Tbsp fresh Parsley, chopped
3/4 pound rigatoni

Instructions:
Mix the salt, black pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, red pepper, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic and onion powders in a large bowl. Add the cubed chicken and toss until coated. In a large frying pan, heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil over moderate heat. Once hot, add the chicken, brown on all sides and cook until done. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Add the remaining olive oil to the hot pan, along with the mushrooms and 1/8 tsp salt. Cook for about 3 minutes, just until they start to get a little soft. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside with the chicken.

Add the shallot, broth and Worcestershire sauce to the hot pan. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to dislodge any browned bits that cling to the bottom. Simmer until the liquid is reduced to about 1/3 cup, approximately 5 minutes.

Add all of the cheese and cream to the pan along with the chicken, mushrooms and any accumulated juices. Add the parsley and simmer to heat through.

Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the rigatoni until just done, about 14 minutes. Drain pasta and toss it with the sauce.

Carol’s substitutions (because I didn’t have the right ingredient or require gluten and dairy free)

*Shallot—Finely chopped red or yellow onion, ¼ to ½ cup
*Chicken broth–vegetable broth
*Gorgonzola, Parmesan, Romano cheeses—6 ounces goat cheese
*Heavy Cream—Reconstituted goat milk
*Rigatoni—Gluten-free pasta of your choice cooked according to package directions

Mr. Non-Compliant vs. the Corn Cob Holders

Corn on the cob is one of Mr. Non-Compliant’s (aka my husband’s) favorite foods. Indiana offers the best, come late July and August.

The rest of the year, I sometimes find pretty tasty corn in the grocery store. This past week I discovered some at Whole Foods for 50 cents an ear and decided to splurge on this starchy treat.

Mr. NC was happy, until he experienced a corn on the cob holder incident. As he was eating his nicely buttered and salted ear, the holder slipped off the end of the corn and bit him on the cheek. 

Fortunately, he didn’t require stitches and lost only a small amount of blood. He has recovered quite nicely.

I’ve threatened to take those dangerous corn aids away from him. Maybe I can find some with rubber tips in time for corn eating high season. 🙂

Eat at your own risk.

The Wonder Drug That Isn’t

I have a friend who had to forfeit her exercise regimen this past year due to a variety of circumstances.

She felt horrible—unhealthy, unhappy, and downright gross.

To make matters worse, her love of sugar and other not-so-nutritious foods had scored a starring role in her diet.

And then, she found her way back. She’s now working out 4x a week on her best weeks, and twice a week when things don’t quite go as planned.

She has less pain, more energy, and feels healthier. Because she’s moving again, her diet is improving too.

Getting back into her exercise routine has improved her quality of life, and she hasn’t even been focused on changing her food.

Exercise is life changing. If it could be put into a capsule, it would be the most widely prescribed drug on the planet. 

If your routine isn’t where you’d like it to be, today is the perfect time to begin. You’ll feel better tomorrow.

Have a blessed Memorial Day weekend.

Much love,
Carol

“I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.”- John Thune

The Coconut Cake

For those of you who are interested in the coconut cake I mentioned last week, the recipe is now on my website.

You’ll find it in the Recipes section under Treats, of course.

It’s AMAZING.

Full gluten eaters even like it.

If you’re not a coconut fan, there’s also a recipe for Strawberry Crumble. I made the crumble this week using half rhubarb and half strawberries. 

Eating well to maintain good health is about the balance. Every once in a while, in between my many salads with chicken, I just need a piece of coconut cake.

When I make the cake, I often cut a portion of it in small pieces that I wrap individually and freeze.

It’s a perfect treat.

The Wascally Wabbit

My resident rabbit still hangs around and has brought friends. They’ve managed to eat the okra plants in my garden.

Okra is typically a southern plant and a popular dish is stewed okra and tomatoes. I like to add a little okra to my beef vegetable soup.

Guess I’m out of luck, unless I find more plants.

Sneaking in Exercise

With the onset of warmer weather, getting some exercise doesn’t necessarily mean a trip to the gym.

Consider the many activities you can enjoy outdoors that get your heart rate up, allow for some stretching, and help improve muscle tone.

We know that exercise extends life while reducing the risk of everything from heart disease to cancer to dementia.

And the best form of exercise is the one you’ll do consistently.   

Gardening, golfing (walk instead of riding in a cart), biking, mowing the lawn, playing tennis, are just some of the ways you can have fun while extending your life and its quality.

Low Gluten Communion

As was listed in my series on gluten, communion wafers typically contain wheat. My church offers low gluten (not 100% GF, but ok for many) hosts which makes me very happy.

If this is something that affects you, I suggest you call your church office and see if there are special accommodations for those who must avoid gluten.

Wishing you a magnificent week!

Much love,
Carol

“A party without cake is really just a meeting” – Julia Child