Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Breast Cancer awareness month


I got this information from a flyer yesterday at the new Sunflower Farmers Market that opened in town. Love the store! The thing I like best is that the majority of the floor space is taken up by fresh produce! What a novel concept :)
Some tips I thought were good to consider:
1. Eat right! Fresh fruits and veggies - it's easy to enjoy them. They contain all the inclusive vitamins and minerals with the cofactors and enzymes necessary for proper digestion. They are versatile, portable and disease preventing!
2. Screen. Simply be aware of your risk factors and your protective factors, those that put you at risk or decrease your risk, such as genes, diet, age and physical activity level. Conduct regular self-examinations.
3. Think positive. Maintain a healthy attitude. Good health is not just how much we weigh or what we eat, but your mental outlook. Do something every day that makes your feel good.
And some DO and DO NOTs to consider:
DO eat whole wheat, for energy and fiber, whole wheat or whole grain can keep you regular and feeling good. Be wary of refined flours, avoid "bleached" and "enriched" flours, as they are only imposters.
DON'T consume transfats, rancid fats or hydrogenated fats. Olive oil, flax seed oil, salmon, almonds and avocados are all good fats to try to incorporate into your diet. They can help joints, make the heart healthy and balance hormone levels.
DO drink lots of water. It's an essential nutrient for your cells. Avoid sugary sodas.
DON'T consume large amounts of white sugar. Eat and cook with natural sugars such a cane, honey, and agave nectar. White sugar is overly processed, containing little to no vitamins and minerals, wreaking havoc on your body.
DO take one day at a time. Stress not only takes a toll on your mind, but also on your body.
DO tale nutritional supplements and DO talk to your Doctor before beginning a supplment regine.
DO include broccoli and alfalfa sprouts in your diet. They contain phytochemicals found to reduce the risk of some cancers, not to mention, contain B vitamins and large amounts of A and C. The tiny alfalfa seed produces a root that can reach 100 feet into the earth, accessing minerals and trace elements untouched by other plants. They are a great source of protein and easily digestible because the sprouting process converts the starch to simple sugars. They pack a big nutrition punch in a small amount of food with very few calories.
DON'T each excessive amounts of processed, or packaged food. Don't make your body work harder to digest unhealthy foods.
DO get plenty of exercise. Women with higher BMI (body mass index) are at high risk for breast cancer. Not only can exercise maintain the waistline, but it can also boost your mood. No need to wear yourself out - it's the regularity, not the intensity, that makes a difference.
DO include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Even add extra yellow or orange fruits and veggies, as recent studies suggest the carotenoid, beta-carotene may help improve health conditions. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, include several servings at each and every meal you consume.

Monday, October 13, 2008

How fast can you type?

I don't really think I type this fast, but it is a fun test to take anyway. Give it a whirl!

80 words

Speed Test

Fresh Salsa (made by Dave)



















SO easy to make and SO GOOD!

Mom and I got these little hand crank salsa makers one year at the swap meet in Mesa. I got one for each of my girls and I'll get one for Courtney and Dave too. I used it to chop up all the ingredients for the bottled salsa too. There's nothing easier. Here's the recipe:
SALSA FRESCA
2-3 medium size ripe tomatoes (quartered)
1/2 medium onion
1/4 bunch fresh cilantro
2 cloves fresh garlic (or I've used bottled and it works great too)
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 lemon juice
1 jalapeno (1/3 for mild, 2/3 for medium and all for hot and spicy - or more if you're Rick)
Put all the ingredients in your Ultra Chef Express and mix to consistency desired. Serve with tortilla chips. They're addicting....

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Bottled Salsa



































































































Hal's Salsa Recipe
36 large tomatoes (approximately 1/4 bushel)
6 large onions
6 large Bell peppers
1 entire garlic pod
3 Anaheim peppers
12 jalapeno peppers
1 bunch cilantro

1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
6 TB salt

Chop all vegetables (except for the tomatoes) into fine pieces. Blanch tomatoes in hot water and remove skins. Chop tomatoes into fine pieces. Add vinegar, salt and sugar. Bring to a boil then turn down heat and slow cook for 30 minutes. Pour into bottles and steam or cold pack for 40 minutes. Enjoy throughout the winter! (Special thanks to Marie and Randy for sharing their fresh garden produce with us.)

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Ever Woman should have...

MAYA ANGELOU'S'
BEST POEM EVER



















A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... something perfect to wear
if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a past
juicy enough that she's looking forward
to retelling it in her old age..
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and...
a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. one friend who always makes her laugh..
and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a good piece of furniture
not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE a feeling of control
over her destiny..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love
without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend, without ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder...
and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...
but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do...
for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... how to live alone...
even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. . whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods.... when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month... and a year...

AND REMEMBER: GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS. YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THEM, BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THEY ARE THERE!!!!!! Be yourself..everyone else is already taken.