Let's Fill Up the Universe!

I had a completely different thought to share today, until I read my Facebook page. A post took my breath away.

A friend's daughter, my daughter's age, underwent breast cancer surgery yesterday. Oh my.
Oh my.

And so this Women and Wednesdays, I want to share thoughts of good health, no...GREAT health and hope they surround my friend and her daughter.

Here is what I know that is some good news. Every day we have brand new cells...a fresh start in every part of our bodies, minds and hearts. Who knows exactly how cancer starts. But we do know how we can start off our new cells. Feed these "newbies" well and focus a good chunk of your lifestyle on them. 

This holiday season, if you do nothing else, take great care of yourself, your loved ones and educate yourself on how to live "free" of some of the harmful foods, harmful chemicals and harmful thoughts in your life.

I am right here learning all I can along with you and will keep adding recipes and resources. Won't you join me? Let's fill the universe with thoughts and actions for great health. xoxox

Speaking of "Taking Ten"

Here is a list of the 10 most power-packed foods for winter health, just in case you have a little E.R. today. Eater's Remorse. Good news...go ahead and keep indulging. Just load up on these and hey, then you can feel free to say, "Yes, I will have seconds of that yummy sweet potato pie!"

1. Kale (Yes...call me consistent!)
2. Cucumber (extra water for healthier skin)
3. Carrots
4. Spinach
5. Avocados
6. Chia Seeds (I add them into my shake)
7. Brazil nuts
8. Beets
9. Cashews
10. Filtered Water

Some of you may want to actually detox a bit after the Opening Holiday Eating Weekend and so here is a recipe that will do the trick. And remember, all the green shakes I have posted are perfect Holiday cocktails!

Beet, Fennel and Fig Salad (adapted from Candle 79...one of my fave NY restaurants)

Cranberry-Sage Dressing

1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 c. finely chopped shallots
1 c. fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed if frozen
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 fresh sage leaf, chopped
1/3 c. filtered water
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until softened, about five minutes. Add cranberries and cook, stirring, until softened and begin to pop, about five minutes. Set aside to cool; transfer to a blender. Add vinegar, rosemary, sage, water, maple syrup, salt and remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil and process until smooth.

Salad

1 lb. fresh beets
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and halved
olive oil for drizzling
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 c. cashews (pix and original recipe use pecans)
1/2 lb. baby arugula or spinach
1 pear, cored and thinly sliced (optional)
6 fresh figs, cut into wedges (if available; if not, there are ample dried ones)

Heat oven to 350°F. Wrap beets in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Put the fennel on a separate baking sheet, cut side up, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Put the beets and fennel in the oven and roast until fork-tender, about 30 minutes for fennel, and 50 to 60 minutes for beets. When cool enough to handle, peel the beets and cut into thin slices; cut fennel into very thin slices.

Meanwhile, spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, about five to eight minutes.

Place the arugula in a large bowl, add the beets, fennel, pecans and pear; gently toss. Drizzle with dressing and scatter figs over salad. Serves and detoxs 6. Yum

I am sad to leave Thanksgiving behind because among other treats, it means the Crazy Target Lady is singing her last hurrah. "There will be some serious repercussions..." is one of her most hysterical ads. Laughter is a great detoxifier, too, and goes perfectly with this joyous salad. Here she is. Enjoy!

Minding the Store

of my own well-being this holiday season may seem selfish but it is something I aim to do. I love giving my time to others. The hope that I have helped out in some way and the joy I get from giving feed me well, emotionally and spiritually, but can leave me feeling physically a little worn around the edges.

As a little girl, I was always intrigued by certain gifts my grandmother had in her stash labeled "To me, from me". Those boxes seemed kind of strange at the time. I never really knew what was in them, but now, I have a guess.

I saw this article online about taking time for yourself and the recipe really resonated. I am going to get some little boxes and put these weekly lessons in them. Then, as I am doing things for others, I am also going to open my own "To me, from me" gifts and take ten this holiday season. To restock my store so to speak.

And so, my Thanksgiving and Women and Wednesdays wish for all is that peace is a recipe that also intrigues you, you bring it home, make it and enjoy an abundant serving that fills your plate and feeds you well. Then, you pass peace and its recipe on to all your loved ones, your community and Mother Earth. 

I love this beautiful table from Vogue 2006

and I would add The Peace Rose to it and of course, lots of these

Peace of Well-Being and Happy Thanksgiving!

For the Green Love of It, Sip and See...

How healthy you will be this holiday season! Today is officially the opening day of "Crunch Time". And, although Thanksgiving and Christmas are, by choice, waaay simpler for me than Halloween, there is always lots to do and lots of people to care for...even more this year!

And so, it is really important that I stay well and have fun munching away the days but don't put on too many pounds (easy for me...lifelong battle) or climb up too many sugar highs. Delicious on the way up...so not much on the way down! (I love the actor in Target's commercials...so wired and hysterical, she looks like she is going to pop!)



This morning I turned to my blender to officially toast the holiday season with...my life-saving green shake, seasonalized with lovely green apples, mint and pomegranate juice. A shake of cinnamon, a little ginger and of course, greens. They aren't just for decorating!! Eat 'em up!

These shakes are a salad to sip on and a great way to build a body up...sip by sweet sip. They are rich in antioxidants that cool inflammation (think anti-aging!) and deliver a big alkaline boost to your body (think healing, think calming!). If you don't want to DIY this shake first time around, go to Whole Foods and ask for their "Trice". Our local Whole Foods juice bartender, Anthony, has a radar, apparently, and knows when I am in the store. He always has a freshly juiced Trice waiting for me and sometimes, even comes to find me and hand delivers it! Thanks, Anthony! Abrazos!


For the Green Love of the holidays, take a sip and get your glow on!

Fall for Greens Shake

1-2 large leaves of green kale (or a big handful of spinach)
quarter sized slice of fresh ginger
several leaves of mint...to taste (I like lots)
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 organic green apple
5-6 raw almonds or walnuts
good shake of cinnamon (I also add a good shake of turmeric)
3 ice cubes
pomegranate juice and filtered water or chilled green tea to total about 1/2 cup (you can add more to make it the consistency you like...slushy or juicy)

Toss all into a blender and blend away. Add more liquid to make it thinner if you like. Add protein powder (I have a great one) if you are having this as a meal. Serves 1-2.
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