Not too long ago my husband and I went on a date for the first time in a really long time. When you’ve been married for as long as we have you can sometimes get really comfortable in your relationship and forget that you still need to take the time to nurture and care for each other.
What You Need To Know and Do When Tough Times Hit
It’s inevitable that we’re going to face tough times in our lives. The most important thing about walking through these difficult times is how we approach them. [Read more…]
Why I’m Not Waiting Another Day To Begin Exercising
The new year begins in less than a week. Many people wait until January 2nd to begin their New Years resolutions with the desire to begin exercising at the top of that list.
Getting fit, regaining health, and losing weight are all great goals but it takes a lot of willpower and determination not only to begin but to continue.
Merry Christmas
I am so very thankful for each and every one of you who faithfully read my blog. I love hearing from you, hearing your stories and how my posts encourage you. It makes a difference knowing the things I write and share are helpful.
Will You Be Present For Christmas?
Are you feeling it yet? That pressure to make the next few days a magical perfection of Christmas Bliss? Are you so busy that you’re incapable of truly being present for Christmas?
Creamy, Nutritional Butternut Squash Soup
One of my daughter’s favorite soups is Butternut Squash Soup. She’ll eat it for lunch, dinner or for a snack. It’s rich, it’s creamy and it’s very good for you. My daughter doesn’t know all the nutritional information about butternut squash but she does know it’s good for her and she loves to eat it.
Butternut squash is rich in B-complex vitamins like folate, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, thiamin and pantothenic acid. It has loads of vitamin A and minerals like iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
Butternut squash seeds are a good source of dietary fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids which are great for heart health. They’re also an excellent source of amino acids such as tryptophan. Tryptophan converts to GABA which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces feelings of fear and anxiety.
Here’s the recipe I use!
Butternut Squash Soup
INGREDIENTS
1 2-3lb Butternut Squash; peeled, seeded, and chopped
2 Carrots, peeled and diced
2 TBSP Butter
1 onion, chopped
6 Cups Chicken Stock
Salt and Pepper
Optional: Nutmeg, ginger, diced apple.
DIRECTIONS
Scrub the outside of your butternut squash and cut it in half length-wise. Scoop out the seeds and if you plan to roast those, set them aside. Salt and pepper the inside of each side of the squash. Drizzle a little avocado oil on each side and place them face down into a baking dish. Bake at 350° F for 30 minutes or until cooked and soft.
In the meantime, dice the onion, carrots, and apple. In a stockpot over medium heat, melt butter and saute onion, carrot until all are tender. Once the butternut squash is cooked and tender, let it cool until you can peel the skin off or scoop the squash out. Puree everything together in a blender or use an immersion blender. Return the puree to the stockpot, add chicken stock and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Season to taste. Enjoy
My Absolute Favorite Biscotti Recipes
Today I’m baking my absolute favorite biscotti recipes.
Years ago, I found these two biscotti recipes in a popular magazine that was delivered to my home. I was intrigued by these recipes and couldn’t believe that I could actually make biscotti at home.
Biscotti goes great with coffee! I’m a coffee lover and I mean, I really love coffee. I don’t need sweeteners or fancy schmancy drinks, just a good strong brew made with freshly ground java beans.
But, I digress; on to my biscotti recipes.
The first recipe is for an Almond Biscotti from Joy of Baking. This biscotti is delicious exactly the way the recipe calls or you could add lemon or orange extract, (I use Young Living Lemon or Orange Essential Oils), in place of the almond extract.
The second biscotti I make is a Chocolate Brownie Biscotti from Good Housekeeping, which is just as delightful as it sounds. This recipe make a larger biscotti and it’s chewier than the almond but still holds up to dunking it into a large mug of coffee.
If you’re not a dunker, no problem, just don’t double bake them. That’s what makes them a hard cookie.
Drizzle or dip in chocolate. Sprinkle with chopped nuts or chopped candy cane and you have the perfect gift.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Need a Gluten Free recipe? Try substituting Namaste Perfect Flour Blend which converts cup for cup. I use Organic Cane Sugar whenever I use sugar. It’s non-GMO and unrefined.
Biscotti is so easy to make. You might want to double the batch, they won’t last long, I promise.
On the Search for Healthier Christmas Cookies
I’ve already shared how much I love Christmas baking. Before Lyme disease, my list of favorite baked goods was quite long. I could bake for an entire week and I was totally in my happy place.
My Annual Christmas Shopping Date
Preparing for Christmas used to be quite a bit stressful for me, mostly of my own doing. I was a perfectionist, love Christmas and love to have everything beautiful and magical for my family.
Where Are All the Good Doctors? My Search to Find a Doctor I Can Trust
I’m looking for a doctor and it hasn’t been easy. I don’t need a Lyme doctor, just a doctor I can go to without fear of being prescribed medication for every ailment or told my cholesterol is bad because I eat eggs and butter.
For years I’ve avoided the medical community because I disagreed with their philosophy. I prefer to use food, herbs, homeopathic remedies and [Read more…]