Me, Myself and I

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With the graduation of my youngest from High School and my turning the big 5-“O”, I am now officially weeks away from becoming part of that ‘empty nest’ group of parents. For 20 years, I have dedicated my life to my children, my husband and all the various animals that have gone through our home for 20+ years. 

 Funny, I really had not thought much about turning 50. I guess, part of the whole mystery of father time is we never really ‘feel’ the age that shows on our drivers license. But no matter what I feel inside, the march of time and the abuse of life has taken a toll on my body. I’ve had quite a number of surgeries, and battled the roller coaster life dishes out as I’m sure a majority of people do. My mind might feel fresh and young, but my body lets me know I have all 50 years of living life in it. 

I love to cook. I love to entertain. With some of the physical limitations I’ve dealt with have over the past few years combined with the natural slowing of a metabolism, changes of hormones, and a state which boasts weather I’m not a fan of,  a few pounds has settled around the waistline. Any other time in my younger years, I would just cut a few calorie, increase my exercise and BAM, the weight would drop. But, over the past 2 years, my exercise ‘enthusiams’ has resulted in blown out knees, severe back pain and a frozen shoulder. NOT. GOOD. Most certainly very discouraging.

 So, out of desperation, I called a friend of mine who went to a health and fitness camp and who had great success in achieving what I am desiring….a mental reboot. A treat to myself. A controlled environment that is supportive, encouraging, motivating, and a place to lose a couple of pounds, all under the close supervision of personal trainers, nutritionists and cooking experts. 

So, that is where I find myself right now. Sitting in my room after orientation, at the Eaglewood Resort and Spa, working with the staff and crew of The Biggest Loser Program. This is the beginning of my journey into a new phase of my life. My goal is to get fit, so that when my grandchildren want Grandma to hike up Black Butte with them, Grandma can. I don’t know how much energy I’ll have to post every night. I have high aspirations to share as much of my experience as possible, but the agenda is pretty full and packed with exercise and movement beginning at 6am and ending at 6pm. I might be crashing by 8pm!!! 

I am quite excited, if not a little nervous of the unexpected. What a novelty this is for me, doing something completely on my own, (with the wonderful support of my loving hubby I might add) not with anyone, just me. I do this for my husband, I do this for my kids and their future children. But most of all, this is for me, myself and I.

 

ps) I will be trying to post the delicious, and healthy, food they will be serving us. You can follow me on my facebook page, see the link button. If I have the energy at night, I will try to post the photos here also. Wish me luck!

pss) I will be changing the look of my blog very soon. I will be the same me, just an easier to read look. Just a heads up!

Super Easy Skinny Minnie Chip Dip

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Skinny Minnie Chip Dip

A dip one can feel good about? Yeah, I’m all over that!
Potato chips are the conventional vehicle for consumption, but a multi-grain GF chip is nummy also.

The base for this yummy concoction is Penzey’s Spice Company: ‘Chip & Dip‘, which to my knowledge is Gluten Free. (Celiacs, check their website) Conventional chip dips have sour cream and mayo, loaded with fat and salt. Mine, however, is 0% non-fat, plain greek yogurt (I prefer Fage) and low fat cottage cheese. A nice little side benny to your enjoyment is the protein hit you’ll get.

Simply combine about 1 cup of yogurt with about a 1/2 cup cottage cheese. Add chip dip powder to taste. Mine took between 1-2 tablespoons. Let this sit in the fridge for at least an hour, up to 24 hours. This is a great make ahead appetizer.

If you are going for the no-carb plan, then use thick cucumber or radish slices instead of potato chips or GF multigrain chips.

Then sit down and manga, scarf, gobble, heck…go ahead and pig out! It’s as guilt free as one is going to get with food! When your loved one (or you) sits down for a movie, sports game or board game, set a bowl out of this guilt-free snacking dip. You’re family will never know they are eating something good for them!

The old saying is ‘You can have your cake and eat it too’. Maybe that should be modified to ‘You can have your dip, and eat it too’!!

Note: This dip would be a delicious topping for a grilled burger, turkey or beef. Served on a bed of lettuce, it reminds me of the old Diner ‘low-calorie’ meal consisting of a hamburger patty and cottage cheese!

Cold Kicker Tonic, and Friendship

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Today, I am doing something new. I am highlighting someone else’s blog. (Photo comes from Keeper of the Home)

We have a lot of talented, creative, well-informed citizen ‘journalist-bloggers’ (you say potato, I say po-TAH-to, who is limit the definition of journalist nowadays!) out there on the internet who are sharing a incredible wealth of information, tips, tricks, resources and knowledge to what amounts now as ‘the world’. All the information that we used to have to go and dig for in the bowels of a library is at our fingertips, in the comfort of our homes. Heck, we can sit in our PJ’s or sweats and fill our minds with a cup of coffee at hand. For me personally, that has been a blessing. I’ve always had a sensitivity to the florescent lighting in those buildings and so I shun them like the plague.

Todays blog highlight is called “Keeper of the Home” and you can go here (**Or see below for the recipe**) to find the Cold Kicker Remedy I am referring to.

This recipe came from my ‘grocery store friend’. Back when I was blessed enough to live on the east side of the bay area (oh, I long for the weather and scenery there) and I met my friend Jamie. My girls were runts back then, 2&4, when we moved from Oregon to California. It was an awesome home in the suburbs of Concord. I had on my property a Meyers Lemon tree, a pomegranate and grapefruit tree. We lived on a cul-de-sac at the foot of beautiful hills (deemed mountains, here in the midwestern flatlands ), mesquite trees from which I’d collect the pods to smoke meat on the grill, incredible farmers markets that were chockfull of heirloom produce, and sigh…..the weather. As I sit here staring out at the never-ending white wasteland of Minnesota, knowing there is still yet another 2 full months of winter-like weather, I long for that more temperate climate and abundant varieties of produce.

Back to the story.

For those who have no experience of living on the West Coast, it is particularly appealing for its’ transient, mobile and flexible communities. People migrate up and down the coast for jobs and family. I was born in California, my family moved to Oregon when I was 6, but my relatives lived back in southern CA and also up in Washington State. We put a lot of miles on the cars, driving up and down the coast to visit relatives, friends and vacation. I grew up thinking nothing of a 16 hour drive to have Christmas with my cousins. In college, I had many friends from up and down the coastline whom we’d visit. I think you get the point: We are mobile. As such, there is a spontaneity and openness in people I’ve not found here in the midwest. When you meet someone, and if you like them, you make friends. You invite them in to your home. You connect, because you never know how long they may stay in your area.

That is how I met my friend Jamie in the grocery store. I was with my girls, one in the cart and one at my hip, feeling at that time overwhelmed by the simple task of grocery shopping with 2 littles. Don’t get me wrong, my girls were angels compared to some of the behavior kids get away with nowadays. But I’ve always had high expectations for good behavior from my kids and more so back then.  Roaming from aisle to aisle I kept passing a woman with 4 kids and 2 shopping carts. Her oldest, a boy, pushed one cart with the youngest a boy; her oldest daughter was at her side, while the 2nd daughter sat in the shopping cart seat. She was going through the aisle calmly and orderly, kids quiet, well-mannered and well-behaved. I stopped dead in my tracks and complimented her on what an inspiration I thought she was! (We mom’s really do need positive feedback to keep us trudging through the day!)

We chatted for a bit, then she moved on, and a I finished up my shopping. We were destined to become friends, because there she was right behind me in the check out line! We got to chatting more, and exchanged both emails and phone numbers. Over the course of the next 6-9 months, we chatted via email as her 4 kids all went consecutively through the infection, incubation and scabbing of chicken pox. Finally, about 7-9 months after meeting in the grocery, we got together. I remember seeing her and laughing to myself that my mental image of her had changed in the course of time!

We have remained friends since sharing recipes and our lives back and forth over the distance. She sent this recipe to me quite awhile back, but it was this winter season that I actually used this tonic. We have had a bad winter here in MN. Lots of people have been coming down with the flu, and all other sorts of buggy nasties. I, however, have been dosing myself with this natural tonic, and have remained illness free. I’ve felt a couple of times that initial grunge that precedes an illness, but with a daily dosing, have never come down with anything.

Homeopathic remedies do work. I know we live in a world that is blessed by anti-biotics, but those are abused by the medical profession and I worry about the over-prescribing of them. When it’s not a bacterial infection (which most aren’t) there is not need for antibiotics.  Seems to me, an ounce of prevention is well worth the investment if we are to prevent anti-biotic resistance from becoming an issue.

This tonic taken straight is not for the faint of heart. Personally, I’ve grown to love the taste. It reminds me of a wonderfully spiced artisan vinegar. You can use it in a vinaigrette if that is the only way you can get it in. For me, I put a couple tablespoons in a shot glass, down it, and follow it with water. For those who have acid reflux, this really does help. I know it’s counter intuitive, but it does help. Starting the day with something acid forces our normally acid system to stop producing acid. It helps balance your gut out.

Since I am in need of a fresh batch, this recipe is out and ready to share. This time I am contemplating adding Tumeric, for its’ anti-oxidant properties. Brew yourself up a quart and then let me know what you think.
See the link above to read the entire recipe.

COLD KICKER TONIC

  • 1/4 c. ginger root, freshly grated
  • 1/4 c. onion, freshly chopped
  • 1/4 c. fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1/4 c. fresh sage leaves, chopped
  • 1/4 c. grated horseradish
  • 4 cloves of garlic (you can up it to 6, if you feel adventurous)
  • 2 Tbsp. ground cayenne pepper
  • organic apple cider vinegar to cover