Monthly Archives: October 2007

Halloween 1994

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I couldn’t resist – my son was 7 here, my daughter 4

Thirteen years ago Halloween was way more fun.

I have an entire album that I scrapbooked  that is JUST of Halloween

They so loved to dress up. The day had a wanting that would build for a month. We would decorate the entire house. Trick or treating was something we did together as a family.  The neighborhood in these pictures wasn’t the greatest. I would actually drive and visit our friends and trick or treat that way

The neighborhood following was absolutely amazing. Parades of kids up and down the streets. Major shuffling of feet through rustling leaves. 

Like when I was a kid. Like the way it’s supposed to be

I of course would advocate that they have healthy treats. Apple bobbing was good.  Boxes of raisens, popcorn, apple cider,spooky pencils, spider and glow in the dark skull rings and stickers were WAY better than candy. I would turn Halloween candy into a math game – insisting they sort and count every sugar filled morsel. They did this with such great enthusiasm – gosh it makes me smile thinking about it . Some years we had charts and graphs and contests to see who had the most etc.  It was a total blast

Admittedly I would mommy select certain candy that would immediately get tossed. Either it was candy noone would ever eat – ewwwww, or it was candy that looked old, or slightly opened and if I could get away with getting rid of a good portion of it, I would feel better. Sooner it was gone the sooner we could get our immune cells a break. That sugar was a constant attack for sure

I used to try and make chile each year – for me chile was what my mom made on Halloween, but to this day neither one enjoys chile. I guess I made the chile for me

This year I ate leftover pizza.

This year my son is not living at home.

This year my Kate drove to a completely different neighborhood to be with her current set of friends. She’s wearing an infant toddler sleeper on her head that looks like Winnie the Pooh, it’s adorable. ( see ya at 8!!)

This year my landlord isn’t home yet – she said she had treats. It’s almost 6. The doorbell rang twice. Curfew is at 7 for Halloween. Where is everyone?

Its just not the same.

Oh well — Happy Halloween.

K a r e n     H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success
708.482.0678
 
Websites:
Nutrition
Weight Loss

Member of BNI – West Suburban BNI: “Chapter Mentor”
Member of West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs www.wswe.org
WSWE Board Member and Programming Chair 

60% of affiliate funds earned from this site are donated to cause —
currently to the what if foundation and the american forests campaign

The other 40% are donated to Mother Earth’s feet…in the form of shoes, after all she is  human. 

Moroccan Chicken with Couscous

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As I am always searching for new chicken recipes, I discovered this and it sounded intriguing

It’s from one of Martha’s Everyday Food little seasonal cookbooks

The recipe calls for couscous which I love eating out, but I have never actually made successfully. My last attempt was with couscous that was the small kernal kind and it was a disastor, so this time I bought the isreali big pearly kind hoping that it would make a difference

I am going to have to get some serious couscous lessons. 


pearly giant flickr image couscous credit

The chicken was totally fantastic

Saute slivered garlic in olive oil

Add one small canned crushed tomato ( fresh is OK also, if using fresh add 2 T of water) ground ginger, 1/4 packed cup of fresh chopped cilantro, salt and pepper

Bring to a boil, simmer until most of the liguid is gone although it should still be sortof saucy

Stir in 1 teas of honey, boneless breasts of chicken and thin slices of zucchini. Simmer 10 minutes, turn chicken, simmer for another 10

Top with another 1/4 packed cup of fresh chopped cilantro

Eat over couscous (If you can figure out how to make it!)

After thoughts:  I think this would be better if the chicken was sauteed in more garlic and fresh ginger vs powdered.  Remove and then make the sauce,  adding the chicken in again and finish cooking it in a simmer.

I also think if one grilled the zucchini seperately with a bit of balsamic vinegar – it might have a better texture - the zucchini was good but a tad mushy

I loved the sauce. It had enough leftover that I can freeze and use as a ready made simmer sauce

Yum


ginger flower flickr image credit

K a r e n     H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success
708.482.0678
 
Websites:
Nutrition
Weight Loss

Member of BNI – West Suburban BNI: “Chapter Mentor”
Member of West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs www.wswe.org
WSWE Board Member and Programming Chair 

60% of affiliate funds earned from this site are donated to cause —
currently to the what if foundation and the american forests campaign

The other 40% are donated to Mother Earth’s feet…in the form of shoes, after all she is  human. 

Fried Green Tomatoes

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This weekend I put the tomato beds to rest. Love the smell of the dirt and being outside. I can’t say I am a devoted gardener. I tend to get all inspired by the blossoming of spring, plant great seeds or seedlings and then get completely distracted or lazy. Limited space gave me 3 tomato plants this year and some basil, all of which provided a nice yield. My tomato plants were taller than me.

If I had to survive on my own planting I wonder if my attitude would be different.

I have an over abundance of green tomatoes this year and decided to try them fried. Odd that I have never had them prepared this way.  I have made a relish before and a pasta sauce with a twist using tomatillo’s and cilantro but never classically fried like in the infamous film with Jessica Tandy or from the book by Fannie Flagg

I went on line and found this recipe, which had I read further I might have considered a different method of preparation, the commentary following this recipe was rather amusing.

I am not particulary sold on them. They were just OK. My Kate hated them. Spit them out. Ewwwwwww.

This is what I did tonight:

Cut into 1/2 inch slices. Salt and pepper them and let sit. (Others said slice thin – her memories were of her mom making them thin and them standing next to the stove waiting for them to eat hot off the skillet – that the fried tomatoes never made it to the table )

In shallow bowls put milk, flour, beaten egg and bread crumbs and or milled corn(Others said lose the egg, crumbs, and/or milled corn)

Dip accordingly and in the above order

Fry in olive oil ( Many said forget the olive oil, use bacon fat, lard or butter – too funny)

I gave them 6 minutes per side and they were mighty golden.

Some suggested milk gravy from bacon fat or a dip – I agree they needed a little something more.

Not sure if it’s worth experimenting with or not.


flickr image credit

K a r e n     H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success
708.482.0678
 
Websites:
Nutrition
Weight Loss

Member of BNI – West Suburban BNI: “Chapter Mentor”
Member of West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs www.wswe.org
WSWE Board Member and Programming Chair 

60% of affiliate funds earned from this site are donated to cause —
currently to the what if foundation and the american forests campaign

The other 40% are donated to Mother Earth’s feet…in the form of shoes, after all she is  human. 

Product of the Week: Sugar Intake Reduces Immune Function

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‘Tis the holiday of witches and goblins. Sugar consumption is at its all time high.

Please consider that this indulgence weakens the function of your immune system. Certain foods and environmental influences can keep the immune system army from doing a good job.

Sugar is one threat to your body’s natural defenses.

Dr Sears, America’s pediatrician writes: “HABITS THAT WEAKEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM” One habit he commented on was the overdosing of sugar.

Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. ( 40%!!!!) The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system.”

Here are several book sources that offer additional advice that many don’t really want to hear.

The classic Sugar Blues by William Dufty, which is about the health crusade of actress Gloria Swanson who defined multiple physical and mental miseries caused by human consumption of refined sucrose – commonly called sugar.

No Flour No Sugar actually suggests giving up the sandwich, and the sugar bowl and going for sugar free ice cream (What ? Sugar Free Ice Cream? I’ll pass on that book! Sugar alternatives are even worse! )

I am very curious about the book Sugar Shock by Connie Bennett. Her book shares a story of 44 symptoms related to sugar overload and she trots a who’s who of prominent nutritionists that argue that sugar is the road to physical ruin.

I’d rather eat an apple.

I am not going to say that I don’t eat sugar, white refined even – because that isn’t truthful, yet it’s much more occasional compared to the typical American.

My role and advocacy is to help those who’s immune function are hindered by poor diet. This path of addiction and often not knowing is an arena that I have great experience with. When it shows up in child’s behavior, troubled learning or reduced immunity then it’s time to look at why.

In the past some of my very very best clients have been children who understand that they are not well. They really get the immunity army is reduced by sugar conversation. One time a young boy that I had had a chat with was over playing with my son. He had a treat in the car on the way and confessed it to me. He then said, ” I blew it and killed 1/2 my army on the way over – I’m doomed “ From the mouths of babes

Let me be of help to you, your child or perhaps someone you know.

Have a BOOtastic (really spooky languaging for fantastic) Halloween!!


witchy painting flickr image credit

K a r e n     H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success
708.482.0678
 
Websites:
Nutrition
Weight Loss

Member of BNI – West Suburban BNI: “Chapter Mentor”
Member of West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs www.wswe.org
WSWE Board Member and Programming Chair 

60% of affiliate funds earned from this site are donated to cause —
currently to the what if foundation and the american forests campaign

The other 40% are donated to Mother Earth’s feet…in the form of shoes, after all she is  human. 

Binder Collage

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My Kate makes collages each year to slip into the front of her binders.

I adore this one. Whimsical, colorful, little surprises (like the tongue sticking out from one of the squares) Or the buttons strewn throughout.

The dog is kindof raunchy, but it’s a cool drawing. Gotta totally love that nose.

The whole thing speaks of youth to me.

I love that she uses this medium as a creative expression

K a r e n     H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success
708.482.0678
 
Websites:
Nutrition
Weight Loss

Member of BNI – West Suburban BNI: “Chapter Mentor”
Member of West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs www.wswe.org
WSWE Board Member and Programming Chair 

60% of affiliate funds earned from this site are donated to cause —
currently to the what if foundation and the american forests campaign

The other 40% are donated to Mother Earth’s feet…in the form of shoes, after all she is  human.