Tea Mixology

Warm weather has finally hit the Chicagoland area and I am just thrilled. As the temperature goes up so does my thirst. For the most part I drink water, and lots of it. I do like to add some tea to my life for a little added interest and in the winter I like it warm but in the summer I like it iced.

The problem for me is that iced tea has caffeine and I am pretty sensitive to caffeine so I try to steer clear of it or limit myself to one glass otherwise I am bouncing off the walls. I was never a fan of herbal teas but I have been experimenting with different flavors and different brands trying to find ones I like.

For the warmer weather I enjoy the fruity tasting teas. They have a nice light flavor and a mild sweetness that makes me happy. I have recently been mixing flavors to add another dimension and it is so fun! I mixed the Raspberry Zinger with the Acai Mango Zinger for a wonderful tasting tea. I also made a batch with a couple of black tea bags to add another layer. Fun!

There are so many great brands and great flavors to explore. I love the Yogi brand teas. I find mine at my local Whole Foods. Another great brand of tea is Harney & Sons. Their teas have a rich, full bodied taste and there are lots of flavors to explore. I've only found their tea in a local restaurant and Midway Airport of all places but you can buy it online from their website.

So get out and enjoy the warm weather and be sure to bring along plenty of fresh water and some yummy iced herbal tea. Have fun with it and mix away. Go crazy, you never know what you will come up with. Be sure to let me know if you invent something delicious.

You Can Have It!

Event: You Can Have it! Teleseminar
Location: On the phone in the comfort of your home
Date: Wednesday, June 10th
Start Time: 7:00pm CST
Press: Chicago Examiner Article


Are you walking through life unconsciously, feeling as if you aren't living the life of your dreams?

Do you feel like you don't know how to go about making changes because you don't even know what it is you truly want?

What would it feel like to get in touch with what it is you truly desire and then to see that vision realized?

Join me for this guided introspection that will help you uncover your deepest vision for your life and give you the momentum you need to see it through. This work is offered twice a year, once in January and once in June. Don't wait 6 months for another opportunity.

This free workshop is being offered as a teleseminar. Call in from a quiet location where you will not be disturbed. Have a paper and pen ready.

Phone Number 218.338.2626
Access Code: 239594

5 Minute Lunch

I was looking for a fast and easy salad I could make for lunch and I came up with this recipe. It was really delicious and I enjoyed every mouthful!

Spinach Raspberry Salad
Spinach Leaves
Canned Wild Salmon
Pecans, Chopped
Red Onions, sliced
Feta Cheese Crumbles
Raspberries

Dressing- I combined a pomegranate vinegar with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh minced garlic. You could use a raspberry vinegar too.

Kiwi Love

Kiwi is a fantastic fruit to enjoy during the fresh days of spring. The vibrant green flesh practically screams spring. Kiwi is originally from China where it was known as the Chinese Gooseberry. It was introduced to New Zealand around 1906 where it picked up its current name. Today, California actually provides 95% of the US supply of kiwi.


What's So Good About a Kiwi?

They are loaded with Vitamin C and also offer folate, potassium, fiber, carotenoids, polyphenols, chlorophyll, glutathione, and pectin. They even contain Vitamin E which is usually found in nuts and oils. Another great thing about the kiwi is that it is low on the glycemic index.


How to Find the Perfect Kiwi

There are several different types of kiwi including gold kiwis, and baby kiwis. The most common variety is the Hayward which has the classic brown fuzzy skin covering the green flesh. When shopping for kiwis look for plump fruits that yield slightly to the touch. Avoid fruits that are shriveled, moldy or have soft spots.


If your kiwifruits aren't quite ripe yet, you can leave them at room temperature for a few days before eating. If you simply can't wait that long you can put them in a paper bag with an apple or a banana and that will speed up the ripening process.


Kiwi in the Kitchen

Believe it or not, you can eat the skin of a kiwi. Simply rub off the fuzz and dig it. Like most fruits and vegetables there are a lot of nutrients to be found in the skin. You can of course peel the kiwi as well. When I first started getting kiwis I used to dread having to peel them. It seemed to take so long and with 5 boys I had a lot of kiwis to peel. And the I found the secret to peeling a kiwi. It is so simple and it changed my life.

1. Cut off both ends of the fruit
2. Take a spoon and insert into the fruit along the edge of the skin with the curve following the natural curve of the spoon. The back of the spoon with be facing the outside of the fruit.
3. Glide the spoon along the edge of the skin all the way around the fruit until the flesh is free from the skin.
4. Pop out the flesh and enjoy.

How to Add Kiwis to Your Diet

• Add some chopped kiwi to your salad
• Throw into your smoothie.
• Mix into a fruit salad
• Use in a tuna or chicken salad in place of grapes
• Add to salsa
  

Grocery Shopping Just Got Easier!

Have you ever stood in the aisle looking at all the products, trying to decipher the ingredient lists and the nutritional information only to throw up your hands and grab the item with the prettiest package?

I know how you feel. Just recently I was at a new store looking for some whole grain bread. I had about four different loaves all lined up trying to figure out which one to buy. They all had different pluses and minuses and I found myself getting pretty frustrated. AND I'M A HEALTH COACH!

Luckily for us David Katz, a nationally recognized authority on nutrition has come to our rescue. He got together with a team of nutrition and medical experts from leading universities and health organizations to create an algorithm that scores food based on its nutritional value.

The scores will be found on the price tag that is posted on the shelf in the grocery store. It will be easy to use because items will have a score of 1 thru 100. The higher the number, the better choice it is.

The thing that makes this scoring system different is that it is independent. It has been funded by Griffin Hospital without any funding from manufacturers or anyone interested in promoting their product. It also takes 30 different nutrients and nutritional factors into account so it is giving a very accurate representation. Here is a list of some of them:

Fiber
Folate
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B6
Potassium
Calcium
Zinc
Omega-3 fatty acids
Total bioflavanoids
Total carotenoids
Magnesium
Iron
Saturated fat
Trans fat
Sodium
Sugar
Cholesterol

Right now the scoring system can be found in Price Chopper stores on the east coast and Hy-vee stores in the Midwest. I heard that it was going to be in Mejier stores on Monday, April 27. I actually went into my local Meijer store to inquire about it and I was excited to find out that it is true, it will be available. I made sure to tell them how thrilled I was and that I would be sharing the information with everyone I knew.

I can't wait to go in and check out all the numbers and see where the different brands score. If you have a store that has the NuVal scoring system, I invite you to check it out. If not, you can make it known that you would love to see something like this in your local store. You can also go to the website and sign up to receive updates when new stores are available.

Spring Entertaining

I was recently invited to a wonderful evening with a group of fellow IIN students. We all got together at my friend Holly's house. She lives on the 58th floor overlooking Lake Michigan. Wow! It was breathtaking.

I wanted to bring a dish to share with everyone and I wanted to keep it healthy. So often the recipes for entertaining can be heavy on the fat, sodium, calories and processed foods. I am not opposed to that kind of thing occasionally but it seems like I am hosting or attending some kind of function every week so I have made it a priority to find things that will taste good without all the junk.

I found this recipe while watching Everyday Italian on the Food Network. I was a bit nervous about it because to be perfectly honest, I don't even like peas and that is the base of the recipe. I decided it was worth a shot so I made it. I am so glad to did. It was really good! It's quick, easy and healthy.

Sun-dried Tomato and Peas on Endive Spears

Prep Time: 10 min Level: Easy Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1 pound frozen peas, thawed
8 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, drained (about 3/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 heads endive, ends trimmed and leaves separated

Directions
Combine the peas, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse the machine until the peas and tomatoes are finely chopped. Add the olive oil and pulse until the olive oil is incorporated and the mixture is minced but not yet pureed. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the salt and pepper. Serve as a dip with the endive spears alongside

Michelle's Note:

I scooped the dip into the endive spears and assembled them onto a platter to serve them. It looked really nice.

Spring Has Sprung!

In my area of the country it is beginning to feel like spring. The weather has warmed up, the sun is out, the birds are chirping and people have begun to emerge from there hibernation in their modern day caves.

The amazing thing about spring is how almost instantly our desires for food change. After a long winter of heavy foods, more meat, and less activity we begin to want to clean out our system and lighten up with salads, fruits and vegetables.

While we have access to a plethora of produce from all over the world, people have begun to get back to their roots and buy local. That means we eat what is in season. The best way to do that is to hit your local farmers market. If you are looking for one in your area check out the Local Harvest website.

It may be a bit early in the season just yet but let's take a look at some of the fruits and vegetables that we are lucky enough to enjoy in the spring season.

Apricots
Artichokes
Asparagus
Arugula
Baby Lettuce Mixes
Blueberries
Boysenberries
Broccoli
Broccoli Raab
Carrots
Celeriac Root
Chard
Cherries
Chives
Collards
Dandelion Greens
Fava Beans
Fennel
Fiddlehead Ferns
Garden Peas
Garlic
Green Onions
Lemons
Loganberries
Mangoes
Morels
Mustard Greens
New Potatoes
Pineapple
Plums
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Snow Peas
Sorrel
Spinach
Turnips
Watercress
Strawberries
Sugar Snap Peas