Spicing It Up With Turmeric

I first heard about turmeric on the Oprah show. When Dr. Oz introduced this spice to the audience, he focused on the following benefit: turmeric helps activate genes that keep our brains clear of waste.

In some cultures, turmeric is used to soothe burns, bruises, and skin conditions such as acne, diaper rash, and psoriasis. A paste made from powdered turmeric is applied directly to the skin, as often as needed.

Others use it as a dietary supplement to assist with pain and discomfort.

In her book, Everyday Indian: 100 Fast, Fresh, and Healthy Recipes, Bal Arneson claims that turmeric "fights free radicals, protects the liver against toxins, aids circulation, lowers cholesterol levels, improves blood vessel health, and has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties."

Turmeric (also known as E100, Wiki/turmeric) can be found in the following items: yellow cake mix, orange juice, Dijon mustard, biscuits, popcorn, cereal, sauces, curry, and yogurt. According to Dr. Oz, we need 17 mg of turmeric a day, about what's in a teaspoon of mustard.

Sharing Recipes--Sponge Cake

This is an old family favourite which is quick and easy to make. Add a scoop of ice cream (or frozen yogurt) and fresh strawberries on the side.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

6 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 cups Five Roses flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla

Procedure

• Position oven wires near the bottom of the oven.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grease a tube pan.
• Beat eggs.
• Add sugar and continue beating.
• Heat the milk and add to the mixture.
• Add flour, one cup at a time, and beat at high speed.
• Add baking powder and vanilla and continue beating.
• Pour mixture into the pan.
• In the oven, place a pot of water beside the pan. (For steam)
• Bake for 50 minutes.

Makes 15 servings

Reducing Our Carbon Footprints

Among the three environmental commandments--reduce, reuse, and recycle--reduce is by far the most important.

In their book, David Suzuki's Green Guide, David Suzuki and David Boyd present a number of creative ways to reduce consumption without making sacrifices.

• Share books, CDs, and magazine subscriptions.

• Instead of buying hedge clippers, chain saws or other power tools, consider sharing them with your neighbours.

• Rent or lease instead of buying. This applies to a wide variety of products from video games to appliances.

• Only buy products that you have time to enjoy. Instead of subscribing to a daily newspaper, buy a newspaper only when you are actually going to read it. Consider reading newspapers and magazines online or at the library.
  

• When choosing between similar products, select the one with the least amount of packaging.
  

• Take advantage of new technologies to reduce your footprint. You can download music (legally) from the Internet instead of purchasing CDs. You can send e-cards instead of paper cards.

A Bit of Humour

Andrew found himself in dire straits. His business had gone bust, and he was in serious financial trouble. He was so desperate that he decided to ask God for help. He began to pray:

"God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lottery."

Lotto night came and somebody else won. Again, Andrew prayed:

"God, please let me win the lottery. I've lost my business, my house, and I'm going to lose my car as well."

Lotto night came and he still had no luck. Once again, Andrew prayed:

"My God, why have you forsaken me? I've lost my business, my house, and my car. My children are starving. I don't often ask you for help, and I have always been a good servant to you. Please just let me win the lottery this one time so I can get my life back in order."

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light as the heavens opened, and Andrew was confronted by the voice of God.

"Hey, come on now, you are going to have to meet me halfway on this. Buy a ticket!"

Source: 1000 Ventures

Cut Clutter

Decluttering the car can be done in just the same way as any room in our homes. We need to be organized and set aside some time for the task.

Consider the following tips:

• Using a large garbage bag, remove all the newspapers, magazines, pop cans, parking tickets and receipts, chocolate bar wrappers and other trash.

• Get rid of anything that doesn't belong there. Return toys, books, and other items to their rightful place in the house.

• Be ruthless and reduce the number of CDs you carry with you down to a reasonable limit. Consider storing them in a small CD cases and get rid of their bulky, plastic cases.

• Keep one disposable cleaning cloth in the car. This will be useful for wiping steamed-up windows and clearing up small spills.
  

• Clear out the trunk. All you need to carry with you on a regular basis is an emergency kit and a spare tire. Everything else is excess baggage.

• If you eat in the car, you will find it useful to keep a supply of small bags.

• Cars get dusty--remember to vacuum the floor and seats and wipe the dashboard.
  

Dieting on a Budget

In a healthy diet, people usually want to limit or avoid the saturated fat. Saturated fat is known to raise blood cholesterol levels and is found in the following foods: fatty meats, poultry skin, coconut and palm oils, pastries, cookies, and high fat dairy products.

Unsaturated fats have been shown in recent studies to fight cardiovascular disease, improve skin appearance and help to lower cholesterol.

Consider the following low-cost tips to increase unsaturated fat in your diet:

• Have 1 or 2 tablespoons of salad dressing made with olive or canola oil and vinegar in salads each day.
  

• Add 1 teaspoon of margarine made with olive or canola oil to vegetables at dinner.
  

• Use olive or canola oil to saute vegetables and add to recipes.
  

• Have 30 grams of unsalted nuts or seeds as a snack or on cereals. That means any ONE of the following: 22 almonds, 28 peanuts, 20 pecans, 45 pistachios, 10 walnuts or 1/4 cup sunflower seeds.

Clean, Green, and Cheap

When we go into the kitchen to cook, very few of us are thinking about the possibility of food poisoning. This is especially important when we are preparing any chicken, fish, or meat dishes and salads.

Consider the following suggestions:

• The best way to get rid of germs on your hands is by using soap and hot water. But, if you have a weakened immune system or if there's some bug going around in your family, use an alcohol wash. It quickly kills bacteria and it's convenient. When buying an alcohol wash, make sure that "ethyl alcohol 62%" is one of the active ingredients listed on the label.

• Use clean cutting boards. Whether you choose wood or plastic boards, make sure that you run it through the dishwasher or use soap and hot water to clean and disinfect it properly. Some people keep one board exclusively for cutting meat, poultry, and fish and another board for chopping vegetables and other foods.
  

• Sponges are not the best choice to clean up kitchen counter tops. Dish cloths dry more quickly than sponges and there is less opportunity for bugs to grow in them.

• Store raw meat, chicken, or fish on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This prevents any leaking juices from dripping onto other foods.

• When cooking chicken or other meat, use a thermometer to ensure that the meat is properly cooked.
  

Sharing Recipes--Rigatoni with Eggplant and Mushrooms

This hearty, Italian pasta dish is one of my personal favourites. It is the ultimate comfort food and incorporates the wonderful flavours of tomatoes, eggplant, and mushrooms. And, it also satisfies the requirements of a vegetarian diet.

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 red onion, chopped
1 cup diced eggplant, unpeeled
1 cup sliced mushrooms
28 ounces plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
2 tsp minced thyme
1 tsp black pepper
6 cups cooked pasta

Procedure

• In a heavy skillet over medium heat, heat oil and wine.
  

• Add garlic and onion and saute for 5 minutes.
  

• Add eggplant and saute for 5 more minutes.
  

• Add mushrooms and saute until mushrooms begin to brown.
  

• Add plum tomatoes and bring to a boil.
  

• Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add thyme and pepper.
  

• Toss the sauce with the cooked pasta.

Makes 6 servings

Going Vegetarian

She is the only vegetarian in our family, but my niece, Deanna, is in good company. Notable vegetarians include Leonardo da Vinci, Pythagoras, Albert Einstein, Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, and Steve Jobs. And, a recent study in the British Medical Journal concluded that children with above average intelligence were more likely to become vegetarians.

Global trends indicate we need to reduce meat consumption now. Scientists are worried that by 2030, the world will be unable to produce enough grain to feed the livestock required to meet soaring demand for meat.

Eating less meat also reduces the risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer, gallbladder disease, and diabetes.

Vegetarians do not eat flesh, fowl, or fish. Vegans go one step further and do not eat eggs or dairy products.

In the book, David Suzuki's Green Guide, David Suzuki and David Boyd provide the following low-cost and no-cost tips for easing into a plant-based diet:

• Eat smaller portions of meat and dairy.

• Eat meat and dairy less frequently.

• Replace meat with products that look and taste like meat but are made of plant protein (e.g. veggie burgers or sausage)

• Borrow a vegan or vegetarian cookbook from the library and experiment with a few meals at home.

• Have at least one meat-free day a week.
  

Reducing Our Carbon Footprints

Buying items that have been used before--such as clothing, sports equipment, books, and CDs--means that your purchase uses no resources or energy. And, you will also save money.

The Internet offers incredible opportunities for buying, selling, or giving away used goods.

Consider visiting the following websites:

• www.Craigslist.org
• www.throwplace.com
• wwww.freecycle.org
• www.ebay.com
  

You can also sell secondhand items the old-fashioned way at fairs, bazaars, and garage sales. Or, donate used clothing, toys, kitchen goods, and other household items to charities and thrift stores.

Cut Clutter

Just because we cannot see the clutter on our computers does not mean it's not there. A computer is really a desktop and filing system in one. And, it is essential to create a filing system that works and have regular purges of the files that are no longer needed.

I find the following tips very helpful:

• Creating separate folders for accounts, articles, query letters, and letters makes it very easy to find information.
  

• I like getting creative with file names. I steer away from using dates or numbers to identify them. Sometimes, I will include the date as part of the file name.

• I back up my files regularly and delete any files that I am not currently using. This helps to free up space on my computer and helps it run faster.

• At least once a week, I empty the recycle bin.
  

• I use the Internet daily, and, as a result, a number of temporary files are stored. These "cookies" can be deleted by opening Temporary Internet Files in the Windows folder. Mac users can access the Cache folder in Preferences.

• Digital photographs can be saved on CDs so they don't take up valuable computer space. A single disk can hold hundreds of pictures.

Navigating the Food Court

Ideally, we should take time to eat before going to the mall, but sometimes that is not possible, and we need to eat on the run. Most food courts offer a wide variety of foods from around the world. And, if we carefully examine each menu, we can find low-fat, nutritional choices.

Italian: Pasta with tomato sauce, vegetable soup, or salad with dressing on the side are good picks here. The best pizza choice is vegetarian--get double vegetables instead of double cheese. Avoid garlic bread, cream-based sauces, Caesar salad, and chicken parmigiana.

Mexican: Choose chicken fajitas, enchilada, beef soft tacos, or vegetarian burritos without the high-fat toppings. Avoid high-fat nachos with cheese and guacamole.

Greek: Order chicken souvlaki and a salad with dressing on the side.

Chinese: Try egg drop and wonton soups, mixed vegetables, steamed dim sum, steamed rice, or stir-fries. Avoid deep-fried egg rolls, chicken balls, chicken wings, and fried rice.

Burger Outlets: Order a plain hamburger or veggie burger dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions. Or, consider grilled chicken on a bun, a stuffed pita, or a wrap. Avoid the special sauces, bacon, and cheese toppings.

Submarine Shops: Order a six-inch sub on a whole wheat bun with turkey, beef, chicken, or seafood, lots of vegetables and low-fat mayonnaise. Avoid club subs and those with meatballs or deep-fried chicken.

Sharing Recipes: Cocoa Delight

Consider serving this quick and easy-to-prepare dessert with a scoop of ice cream (or frozen yogurt) and a few strawberries on the side.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour (sifted)
1 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup oil
4 eggs
1/4 cup water

Procedure

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Apply PAM to a 9" x 12" pan
• Put all ingredients in a large bowl.
• Mix at low speed until smooth.
• Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
  

A Bit of Humour

A pastor asked his flock, "What would you like people to say when you're in the casket?"

One congregant said, "I'd like them to say I helped people."

Another said, "I'd like them to say I was a fine family man."

A third responded, "I'd like them to say, 'Look! I think he's moving!'"

Source: Readers' Digest

Dieting on a Budget

The main function of protein is to build, maintain, and repair tissue, such as muscles, organs, skin, and hair. Eating a variety of protein-rich foods throughout the day ensures that we are getting the balanced combination of the amino acids that our bodies need.

Consider the following quick and inexpensive tips if you wish to increase your daily protein intake:

• Use egg whites or egg substitutes at breakfast and in other meals.

• Top whole-grain cereal with 30 grams of unsalted nuts.

• Spread unsalted peanut butter on whole-grain toast.

• Add different kinds of beans to salads, recipes, and main dishes.

• Eat one serving of low-fat dairy (milk, yogurt, or cheese) at three meals or at two meals and a snack.

Transforming Compost

According to a recent British study, one-third of all food purchased is thrown away. This drives up our grocery bills and the food garbage in our landfills contributes to global warming. Hinnerick von Baren, associate professor at the Culinary Institute of America has the following tips for turning compost into dinner:

• Puree very ripe fruit such as bananas and peaches and freeze in ice cube trays. These fruit cubes can be added along with other ingredients to produce smoothies.
• Ripe apples, plums, and pears can be peeled, diced, and cooked into a pot over low heat until they thicken. This makes an excellent sugar-free fruit spread.
• Wilted cabbage leaves, mushroom stems, carrots, potatoes, celery ends, and aged cheese can be thrown into a pot of boiling water and used to make homemade vegetable stock.
• Do not toss out broccoli stalks. Peel them with a paring knife and add them to stir fries.
• Hard bread can be used to make french toast or converted into croutons.
• Top hard pitas with tomato sauce, grated cheese, grilled cheese, and other available vegetables to create a mini pizza.

Reducing Our Carbon Footprints

One of the easiest ways of reducing our carbon footprints is to spend more time outdoors in natural settings. Connecting with nature will inspire us to become better stewards of the planet. And, we will also reap physical and psychological benefits.

In the book, David Suzuki's Green Guide, David Suzuki and David Boyd offer the following no-cost and low-cost tips for connecting with nature:

• Go for regular walks, runs, or bike rides in natural settings.

• Join a local parks group or environment organization and go on their outings.

• Enjoy regular picnics at a local park, a beach, or in your yard.

• Take lessons in a new outdoor activity such as gardening or sea kayaking.

• Plan a vacation around visiting a natural wonder (i.e. a national park).

• Hang a bird feeder outside your window and learn to identify a variety of birds.
  

The Right Cereal

It is possible to dine on a bowl of cereal and milk at any time of day. It takes just minutes to prepare and provides the following nutrients: fibre, protein, folic acid, zinc, iron, and B-vitamins.

But, not all cereals are created equal. Take a closer look at cereal boxes and their labels. In particular, look at the first item on the ingredient list. If sugar is the first item, the cereal is not a healthy choice. Instead, look for whole grains at the top of the list. Whole grains are complex carbohydrates which supply energy and help prevent hunger pangs.

Consider these additional tips:

• Look for cereals fortified with calcium, protein, and iron.
  

• Choose a cereal containing less than 3 grams of fat.

• Avoid saturated and trans fat which can increase cholesterol.

• The Heart and Stroke Foundation makes the following recommendations: select cereals with 6 grams of sugar or less and restrict sodium to 240 milligrams or less per serving.
  

• Skim milk is a good choice because it is low in saturated fat. If you have lactose intolerance, consider the following non-dairy alternatives: soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk.

• Add fresh fruits such as apples, bananas, blueberries, or strawberries to your bowl of cereal.

Sharing Recipes--Pineapple Cheesecake

This is one of the first cheesecakes I learned to make, and it is still one of my favourites. It is very light and easy to make.

If you can't find pineapple jello, substitute lemon jello.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 package graham cracker crumbs
250 grams Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese
385 ml Carnation milk
19 ounces crushed pineapple
3 ounces pineapple jello
8 ounces hot water
1/3 pound butter

Procedure

• Refrigerate Carnation milk overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs with butter.
• Press the mixture to the bottom of a 9" x 13" rectangular pan.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the oven.
• Cool the crust.
• Boil water and dissolve the jello.
• Mix cream cheese, crushed pineapple, and jello at medium speed.
• Using clean mixer spoons, beat carnation milk at medium speed.
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
• Pour mixture into the rectangular pan.
• Sprinkle non-buttered gram cracker crumbs on top.
• Refrigerate for 24 hours.

Makes 12-15 servings.

A Bit of Humour

A frog was feeling down in the dumps, so he went to visit a froggy fortune-teller, hoping to hear that good news was ahead.

"Froggy," said the psychic, "you are going to meet a beautiful young woman who'll want to know everything about you."

"That's great!" exclaimed the frog. "Where will I meet her--at a party, in a bar, down by the pond?"

"In a biology class," replied the psychic.

Source: Become Who You Were Born to Be by Brian Souza

Extended Or Not?

Extended warranties are definitely a good deal for the retailers. A retailer usually keeps at least half of the purchase price of every extended warranty he or she sells. That is why you will rarely get out of a store without being subjected to a strong sales pitch for the extra coverage.

According to David Bach, author of Fight For Your Money, most consumer products are so reliable these days that they rarely break down during the period covered by most extended warranties. According to a 2007 Consumer Reports survey, two out of every three new-car buyers who bought extended warranties said they had spent a lot more on the warranty than they saved in repair costs. And, when it comes to electronics and appliances, for every 100 warranties sold, only 15 people ever file a claim.

So before you spend any money on an extended warranty, consider the following suggestions:

• You have 30 days from the date of purchase to buy an extended warranty. Take the time to think about it and take the contract home.
  

• Read the fine print carefully. It's very important to understand what's covered and what is not, especially when it comes to appliances and flat-screen televisions.

• Check to see if you need to bring to the item to the store or if repair personnel will come to your home. And, make sure that they will hook it back up after it's fixed.

• Ask about the deductible. Many warranties require you to pay the first $25, $50, or $100 of each repair.

• It is very important that you know who stands behind the warranty, especially in these tough economic times. Is it the manufacturer, the retailer, or a third-party warranty company.

• In some cases, extended warranties include such valuable extras as tech support. This can make a protection plan worthwhile for items like computers.
  

Reducing Our Carbon Footprints

One of the easiest ways of reducing our carbon footprints is to spend more time outdoors in natural settings. Connecting with nature will inspire us to become better stewards of the planet. And, we will also reap physical and psychological benefits.

In the book, David Suzuki's Green Guide, David Suzuki and David Boyd offer the following no-cost and low-cost tips for connecting with nature:

• Go for regular walks, runs, or bike rides in natural settings.

• Join a local parks group or environment organization and go on their outings.

• Enjoy regular picnics at a local park, a beach, or in your yard.

• Take lessons in a new outdoor activity such as gardening or sea kayaking.

• Plan a vacation around visiting a natural wonder (i.e. a national park).

• Hang a birdfeeder outside your window and learn to identify a variety of birds.
  

Dieting on a Budget

Healthy snacks will keep energy levels high and prevent hunger between meals. The goal is to plan ahead and prepare fast, easy, and inexpensive snacks so we are not tempted by vending machines and convenience stores.

In her book, "The De-Stress Diva's Guide to Life", Ruth Klein offers the following suggestions:

• Core and cut an apple into slices. Add lemon juice to keep it from turning brown. Use a small sandwich bag or storage container.

• Peel an orange and eat it, section by section, when you feel hungry between meals. According to Klein, the process of peeling will divert your attention from a stressful situation for a minute or two.

• Hard-boil an egg to peel and eat later for a high-protein snack.

• Pre-measure eight to ten nuts, and put these small portions in sandwich bags or storage containers.

• Open up a single serving of low-fat yogurt and add a drizzle of chocolate or fresh preserves. Reseal for a snack at a later time.

• Substitute a cup of no-fat broth for that afternoon cup of coffee or tea. A cup of broth is considered a comfort food which can help you get through a high-stress afternoon. And, you will also feel fuller.
  

A Bit of Humour

A Buddhist monk strolled into a Zen pizza parlor and said, "Make me one with everything on it."

The owner obliged. When he turned over the pizza with all the trimmings, the monk gave him a twenty-dollar bill, which the owner just stuck in the cash register.

"Where's my change?" the monk asked.

The owner replied, "Change must come from within."

Source: Become Who You Were Born to Be by Brian Souza

Sharing Recipes--Carrot Ginger Soup

This light soup is quick and easy to prepare. Because it is pureed, its consistency is like that of a thick cream soup.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

5 cups chicken broth
6 large carrots, sliced
1 large onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger, chopped or grated
Zest of half a lime
Juice of one lime
Dash pepper

Procedure

• Combine broth, carrots, onion, garlic and ginger in a large pot.
  

• Cover and bring to a boil.

• Simmer partially covered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Use blender or food processor to puree the soup.

• Add lime zest, juice, and pepper.

Makes 6 cups