Yes, it still the new year and we, here at Black Walnut T's hope your new year is getting off on a positive note and you are working daily to reach your new years goals. Sometimes that can be challenging, as we are upbeat and happy about our goals and resolutions during the holidays and the years end, only to find we get caught up in the same routines that got us in a place of stresses, hurriedness and discouragement in the first place. Then our goals and resolutions get pushed aside as everyday life requires our immediate attention. Our goal is to help you keep those goals and resolutions in the forefront of your day, so you may feel empowered by reaching the goals that will improve your life and bring you happiness.
During the holidays I had some time to think about the changes I wanted to make in the new year. One thing I decided to do is to continue this blog alone the lines of health and wellness, to include recipes, herbal information, stress management and address some chronic diseases and how to manage them with diet, exercise, relaxation and fulfillment of that which makes you happy. As I write this blog, I plan to walk beside you on this journey towards good health, happiness, prosperity and peace.
I'm starting by including a really tasty, quick and healthy green smoothie to start your morning. I found this recipe on the Vita Mix website. Any blender should work.
How To Create Your Own Green Smoothie
1. Choose one item from each column, A, B & C
2. Place all of your ingredients in the Vitamix (or blender), liquid first, soft ingredients then firmer
ones.
3. Add one cup of ice.
4. Secure the lid and elect Variable 1
5. Turn machine on slowly and increase to your machine's highest speed
6. Blend for 45 seconds or until smooth.
7. Drink and enjoy.
If using a blender follow blender manuel instructions for making smoothies.
Column A (choose 1 item)
2 cups spinach
1 cup kale
1/2 head of romaine
1 romaine heart
3/4 cup raw broccoli
1 small head of Bibb or Boston lettuce
Column B (choose 1 item)
1 cup grapes
1 apple
1 orange, peeled
1 cup melon, peeled
1 cup pineapple
1 cup berries
1 banana, peeled
1/2 cup cucumber, peele or unpeeled
1 kiwi, peeled
1 carrot
1 cup peaches
1 mango, peeled
1/2 cup papaya, peeled
2 stalks celery
1 pear
Column C (choose 1 item)
1 cup soy milk (plain or vanilla)
1 cup yogurt (flavored or plain)
1 cup fruit juice
1 cup water
Note: I have found original coconut milk works well and this is what I use in this smoothie)
There you have it. An easy, refreshing and nutritious start to your day. I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as I have. Let me know how it works for you.
Until next time, drink (a smoothie) to your good health and happiness.
The Nuts at Black Walnut T's
Monday, January 11, 2016
Friday, December 18, 2015
A Recipe for the Holiday
Christmas brings us many family traditions and traditional recipes. This year, step outside the box and try something a little different. I found this recipe on the Epicurious website and it was a big hit with our family last Christmas. I'd like to share it with you and maybe you will add a new dish to your traditional dinner. It pairs well with turkey, cranberry sauce and other vegetable dishes on your dinner table.
2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (2 large)
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 Teaspoons white wine vinegar
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Cup olive oil
4 Scallions, thinly sliced
Peel sweet potatoes, halve lengthwise, cut lengthwise into 3/4 inch wedges, then cut wedges crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Steam over boiling water in a large pot, covered, until just tender, 10-12 minutes.
While the potatoes steam, whisk together mustard, vinegar and salt in a large bowl, then add oil in a slow steady steam, whisking until emulsified. Add hot potatoes, gently toss to combine. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Add scallions and salt to taste, gently toss.
Cook's tip: May be made 2 hours ahead of time. Toss in scallions just before serving.
Find other delicious recipes at epicurious.com
Christmas is getting closer, so remember to slow down, be kind to yourself and enjoy the love and sharing of family and friends…..'tis the season……..
From all of us at Black Walnut Shirts wish you and yours all of the joy of the Christmas season.
The Nuts at Black Walnut T's
May your Christmas be nutty and bright
2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (2 large)
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 Teaspoons white wine vinegar
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Cup olive oil
4 Scallions, thinly sliced
Peel sweet potatoes, halve lengthwise, cut lengthwise into 3/4 inch wedges, then cut wedges crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Steam over boiling water in a large pot, covered, until just tender, 10-12 minutes.
While the potatoes steam, whisk together mustard, vinegar and salt in a large bowl, then add oil in a slow steady steam, whisking until emulsified. Add hot potatoes, gently toss to combine. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Add scallions and salt to taste, gently toss.
Cook's tip: May be made 2 hours ahead of time. Toss in scallions just before serving.
Find other delicious recipes at epicurious.com
Christmas is getting closer, so remember to slow down, be kind to yourself and enjoy the love and sharing of family and friends…..'tis the season……..
From all of us at Black Walnut Shirts wish you and yours all of the joy of the Christmas season.
The Nuts at Black Walnut T's
May your Christmas be nutty and bright
Monday, December 7, 2015
A Stress Free Christmas
With Thanksgiving behind us and the Christmas season underway, it may be time to determine what you "really" want to do for the holidays. Even though Christmas can be a happy and fun filled time of year, it can bring its own stressors. Where do you fall on the holiday stress continuum? Most of us fall somewhere in the middle. Before the season is in full swing, take time to set priorities and remember to
include downtime for yourself.
If hosting Christmas dinner is on your list this year, remember, you don't have to do all the cooking.
Try cooking the turkey, dressing, ham and beverages. Have each guest bring a dish. Your guests don't want you to be frazzled and unable to enjoy your day, besides they want to help, so don't deny them this gift. If you find it necessary for rounding out your menu, co-ordinate with your guests what food dishes will compliment dinner. Many times, suggestions help and you will feel better about your meal planing.
Now that you have a plan in place for Christmas dinner, its time to finish holiday shopping, remember to keep your list within time and budget constraints. The Christmas holiday is about enjoying time with family and friends, so take time during a shopping day to have lunch with friends or even better, a trip to the spa.
An ounce of prevention: remember to slow down, take a few deep breaths and find a quiet place for meditation or a walk. You're worth it. If you are relaxed and centered, you will bring peace and joy to those around you. After all, joy, peace, love and happiness are the messages the season brings.
Wishing you the best the season!
The Black Walnut Nuts :-)))
include downtime for yourself.
If hosting Christmas dinner is on your list this year, remember, you don't have to do all the cooking.
Try cooking the turkey, dressing, ham and beverages. Have each guest bring a dish. Your guests don't want you to be frazzled and unable to enjoy your day, besides they want to help, so don't deny them this gift. If you find it necessary for rounding out your menu, co-ordinate with your guests what food dishes will compliment dinner. Many times, suggestions help and you will feel better about your meal planing.
Now that you have a plan in place for Christmas dinner, its time to finish holiday shopping, remember to keep your list within time and budget constraints. The Christmas holiday is about enjoying time with family and friends, so take time during a shopping day to have lunch with friends or even better, a trip to the spa.
An ounce of prevention: remember to slow down, take a few deep breaths and find a quiet place for meditation or a walk. You're worth it. If you are relaxed and centered, you will bring peace and joy to those around you. After all, joy, peace, love and happiness are the messages the season brings.
Wishing you the best the season!
The Black Walnut Nuts :-)))
Friday, October 30, 2015
Halloween Soup
Holiday time is approaching, starting with the favorite of many, Halloween. That ghostly time of year when we decorate with Jack-O-Lanterns, carved from pumpkins or made of various other reusable materials and other spooky things. There are costumes in which to dress up as our favorite hero or heroine or just something kooky. Of course, there are those yummy sugar laden treats we have become
accustomed to for this holiday.
Before sending the little tykes (and bigger tykes as well), out on their candy collecting adventures, boost their immune systems with a hearty bowl of vegetable soup. There are many recipes for soups, but lots of chunky veggies cooked with fresh and/or dried herbs for additional flavor and nutrition, will give them a healthy start for the evening.
Its easy to put together a quick pot of soup with some leftovers from the vegetable bin. Start with a base of sautéed onion and garlic in coconut/olive or your favorite cooking oil, then add any variety of chopped vegetables, such as carrots, celery, potatoes, cabbage and squash. Add enough water to make the soup the consistency you desire. Fresh or dried herbs added at the end of the cooking time, add extra nutrients. Fresh chopped parsley, basil or oregano will be quite tasty in your soup. There are also dried vegetable seasonings on the market which can give added flavor. With all of these wonderful veggies and herbs you will give your family an extra nutritional boost for Halloween night, as well as the satisfaction of creating a quick nutritious meal for those you love.
Here's to a Happy Hallow's Eve !!!
The Nuts at Black Walnut T's
accustomed to for this holiday.
Before sending the little tykes (and bigger tykes as well), out on their candy collecting adventures, boost their immune systems with a hearty bowl of vegetable soup. There are many recipes for soups, but lots of chunky veggies cooked with fresh and/or dried herbs for additional flavor and nutrition, will give them a healthy start for the evening.
Its easy to put together a quick pot of soup with some leftovers from the vegetable bin. Start with a base of sautéed onion and garlic in coconut/olive or your favorite cooking oil, then add any variety of chopped vegetables, such as carrots, celery, potatoes, cabbage and squash. Add enough water to make the soup the consistency you desire. Fresh or dried herbs added at the end of the cooking time, add extra nutrients. Fresh chopped parsley, basil or oregano will be quite tasty in your soup. There are also dried vegetable seasonings on the market which can give added flavor. With all of these wonderful veggies and herbs you will give your family an extra nutritional boost for Halloween night, as well as the satisfaction of creating a quick nutritious meal for those you love.
Here's to a Happy Hallow's Eve !!!
The Nuts at Black Walnut T's
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
The Grocery List
How do you plan your meals and do your grocery shopping? What needs to be improved in this area?
Take an inventory of your pantry and work on your food list at the same time. By keeping shelves organized, all it takes is glance to see what needs to go on "the list". Personally, I may have to reorganize few times before I am satisfied with the results, so if at first glance your organization system is lacking, go back and re-work it until you have a good system that works for you.
If weight is an issue for yourself or your loved ones, take a close look at what is in your cupboard that may add additional calories. Look for foods with added sugar and fats. Now is the time to read labels. Look for fat, sugar and calorie content per serving. In future posts we will go into more detail on counting calories, but lets face it, most of us know that the sugar and fat laden snacks are empty calories that add weight and leave us nutritionally deficient. Now if the time to replace those snacks with foods that nourish.
If your food budget allows, purchase precut vegetables in your produce department. This saves time and adds more nutrient rich foods to your diet. You can purchase precut fruits as well, which makes good desserts or snacks. There are also precut snack vegetables, like carrots, celery sticks, cauliflower, broccoli and shredded cabbage. Look for natural dressings or sauce to accompany the raw or steamed veggies.
Paring and preparing your own vegetables is budget wise and can be done quickly. If you have no experience with preparing fresh foods, start by preparing simple foods like peeling and cutting potatoes and carrots, dicing onions or peppers. If your are still uncertain and hesitate to cook with fresh vegetables because of prep and/or budget, try searching you tube for ideas about paring veggies. If you don't have access to a computer, and many do not, try the local library for a computer search as well as books on the subject. I found that with practice I became very good at "slicing and dicing." It was also empowering to learn new skills that I can use for many years to come.
And last, but not least, look at your daily menus, how many days in advance do you plan. Do you plan or just "wing it?" If planning is a challenge, start where you are and take it in small steps, just as we discussed earlier when making dietary changes. When you start planning for just a meal or two a week you will find it is less stressful when you have a plan than planning dinner on your way through the market after a tiring day at work or keeping up with the kids and all of their activities.
Looks like you've got some homework to do. We'll be back soon with more tips and encouragement on your road to good health.
Until next time we wish you good health and healthy eating.
We are "nuts for nuts".
BlackWalnut T''s
Take an inventory of your pantry and work on your food list at the same time. By keeping shelves organized, all it takes is glance to see what needs to go on "the list". Personally, I may have to reorganize few times before I am satisfied with the results, so if at first glance your organization system is lacking, go back and re-work it until you have a good system that works for you.
If weight is an issue for yourself or your loved ones, take a close look at what is in your cupboard that may add additional calories. Look for foods with added sugar and fats. Now is the time to read labels. Look for fat, sugar and calorie content per serving. In future posts we will go into more detail on counting calories, but lets face it, most of us know that the sugar and fat laden snacks are empty calories that add weight and leave us nutritionally deficient. Now if the time to replace those snacks with foods that nourish.
If your food budget allows, purchase precut vegetables in your produce department. This saves time and adds more nutrient rich foods to your diet. You can purchase precut fruits as well, which makes good desserts or snacks. There are also precut snack vegetables, like carrots, celery sticks, cauliflower, broccoli and shredded cabbage. Look for natural dressings or sauce to accompany the raw or steamed veggies.
Paring and preparing your own vegetables is budget wise and can be done quickly. If you have no experience with preparing fresh foods, start by preparing simple foods like peeling and cutting potatoes and carrots, dicing onions or peppers. If your are still uncertain and hesitate to cook with fresh vegetables because of prep and/or budget, try searching you tube for ideas about paring veggies. If you don't have access to a computer, and many do not, try the local library for a computer search as well as books on the subject. I found that with practice I became very good at "slicing and dicing." It was also empowering to learn new skills that I can use for many years to come.
And last, but not least, look at your daily menus, how many days in advance do you plan. Do you plan or just "wing it?" If planning is a challenge, start where you are and take it in small steps, just as we discussed earlier when making dietary changes. When you start planning for just a meal or two a week you will find it is less stressful when you have a plan than planning dinner on your way through the market after a tiring day at work or keeping up with the kids and all of their activities.
Looks like you've got some homework to do. We'll be back soon with more tips and encouragement on your road to good health.
Until next time we wish you good health and healthy eating.
We are "nuts for nuts".
BlackWalnut T''s
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Tips for Making Dietary Changes
One thing I would like to emphasize when making your dietary changes or change of any kind, always start where you are and give yourself leeway, as dietary changes are challenging and change comes easier for some than for others. Be kind and considerate to yourself and family members. This is important because you want to be in a frame of mind that is nurturing and healing. What you think about yourself, those you love and the changes you are making is most important. You want these changes to become part of your lifestyle, not just a temporary change.
Unlike yesteryear, our lives are filled with more activity and irregular work hours, making our time and resources more exacting. My first suggestion would be to look at your schedule and how you arrange your current meal times and see if changes are needed. Are you eating to much on the go, eating out too much or is everyone responsible for themselves.
Without sounding too old fashioned, it is important to schedule some meals as a sit down occasion, whether it is just for yourself, yourself and a partner or the family. Make your meal special. With just a little effort you can set a nice table. If you have linens in the closet, get them out, use them. Nothing makes even a simple meal more elegant than a nice table cloth and cloth napkins. If you do not have linens, plan a special shopping trip, many stores carry reasonably priced table linens. If you do not have the time or budget for linens, placemats can be an artistic way to set your table, they come in various fabrics as well as easy to clean plastics and other materials. Add heavier paper dinner napkins and you have a lovely dinner table setting that is quick and easy. To keep costs low, use your paper dinner napkins only for your set down meals. This is a way of honoring yourself, making some meals special and changing the way you perceive food. You may find it so enjoyable, these special meals will become a part of your daily routine.
As you consider the changes you need to make in your relationship with food, you will find other creative ways to make this change easier, gratifying and special. Next time we will have tips for cleaning out the cabinets, easy ways to prepare delicious, healthy meals and snacks that will fit your time and food budget, plus getting the family involved in the process.
Wishing you happy and creative changes in your endeavor to eat healthier.
We are the Black Walnut
"Nuts"for Healthy Living
Unlike yesteryear, our lives are filled with more activity and irregular work hours, making our time and resources more exacting. My first suggestion would be to look at your schedule and how you arrange your current meal times and see if changes are needed. Are you eating to much on the go, eating out too much or is everyone responsible for themselves.
Without sounding too old fashioned, it is important to schedule some meals as a sit down occasion, whether it is just for yourself, yourself and a partner or the family. Make your meal special. With just a little effort you can set a nice table. If you have linens in the closet, get them out, use them. Nothing makes even a simple meal more elegant than a nice table cloth and cloth napkins. If you do not have linens, plan a special shopping trip, many stores carry reasonably priced table linens. If you do not have the time or budget for linens, placemats can be an artistic way to set your table, they come in various fabrics as well as easy to clean plastics and other materials. Add heavier paper dinner napkins and you have a lovely dinner table setting that is quick and easy. To keep costs low, use your paper dinner napkins only for your set down meals. This is a way of honoring yourself, making some meals special and changing the way you perceive food. You may find it so enjoyable, these special meals will become a part of your daily routine.
As you consider the changes you need to make in your relationship with food, you will find other creative ways to make this change easier, gratifying and special. Next time we will have tips for cleaning out the cabinets, easy ways to prepare delicious, healthy meals and snacks that will fit your time and food budget, plus getting the family involved in the process.
Wishing you happy and creative changes in your endeavor to eat healthier.
We are the Black Walnut
"Nuts"for Healthy Living
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Meditation
On our quest to decrease stress, we have talked about different types of exercise. Now I would like to like to touch on the practice of meditation. Meditation is not a new practice, like yoga, it has been a part of the Indian culture and religion for thousands of years.
For those new to meditation, keep it simple. Did you know, that just by closing your eyes, you close the door to 80% of the outside world; add a deep breath or two and you can already feel a measure of relaxation. As a beginner, set attainable goals. Finding just five minutes once or twice a day is a good starting point for a novice. Many people find early morning or just before bedtime works well, but the best time is the time that is right for you and your schedule. You will need a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for five minutes. Sit straight with both feet flat on the floor and arms relaxed by your side or on your lap. Simply close your eyes, take a deep breath in and exhale slowly, continue this for another two to three slow deep breaths, in and out. With each breath, you will feel more relaxed. Allow any thoughts to enter and exit your mind by just observing them as if they were part of a play, entering and exiting, letting each thought go as it exits the stage. As you end your meditation, slowly open your eyes and give yourself a few seconds or a minute or so to acclimate you your surroundings.
As you become accustomed to the practice, you may want to lengthen the time you spend meditating. If interruptions are likely to occur, I have found a friendly sign on the door with an approximate time frame, helps others to respect your quiet time.
Practicing meditation has been shown to have positive health benefits and a feeling of well being.
Wishing you good health, happiness, love and peace.
The Black Walnut "Nuts"
For those new to meditation, keep it simple. Did you know, that just by closing your eyes, you close the door to 80% of the outside world; add a deep breath or two and you can already feel a measure of relaxation. As a beginner, set attainable goals. Finding just five minutes once or twice a day is a good starting point for a novice. Many people find early morning or just before bedtime works well, but the best time is the time that is right for you and your schedule. You will need a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for five minutes. Sit straight with both feet flat on the floor and arms relaxed by your side or on your lap. Simply close your eyes, take a deep breath in and exhale slowly, continue this for another two to three slow deep breaths, in and out. With each breath, you will feel more relaxed. Allow any thoughts to enter and exit your mind by just observing them as if they were part of a play, entering and exiting, letting each thought go as it exits the stage. As you end your meditation, slowly open your eyes and give yourself a few seconds or a minute or so to acclimate you your surroundings.
As you become accustomed to the practice, you may want to lengthen the time you spend meditating. If interruptions are likely to occur, I have found a friendly sign on the door with an approximate time frame, helps others to respect your quiet time.
Practicing meditation has been shown to have positive health benefits and a feeling of well being.
Wishing you good health, happiness, love and peace.
The Black Walnut "Nuts"
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