I haven't shared a cookie recipe in quite some time, so let's make up for that lapse right now, shall we?
Here's a terrific little recipe for...
VICKI'S CHOCOLATE PECAN FINGERS
This recipe calls for apples rather than fat to keep the recipe moist. The sugar can also be substituted with a favorite alternative for those with diabetes. Try with other nuts such as hazelnuts or add dried fruit such as dates. This recipe makes 8-12 fingers
1 green apple, peeled and diced
1 Tbs butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup sugar (or favorite alternative sweetener)
1/2 cup whole meal plain flour, sifted
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Stew apple on stove top over low heat till soft.
Puree apple. In a large bowl, combine pureed apple with butter and stir until butter has melted.
Beat in eggs and sugar till combined. Add sifted cocoa and flour, plus the pecans . Mix well.
Grease and line a loaf tin. Spread mixture over base of tin. Bake in a moderate oven (350F) for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when tested. Cool in tin.
Cut into fingers and serve.
... and here's a great recipe for...
SUSAN'S BANANA OAT COOKIES
2 jars baby banana puree or 1 cup mashed banana
1 Tbs softened butter
1/3 cup orange juice
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3 Tbs honey
1 cup oats
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat together the first ingredients. Stir in dry ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.
On another note, if you like healthy cookies, as well as traditional cookies, click here and sign up for my free weekly cookie recipe newsletter.
Or surf on over to my 101 favorite cookie recipes website. :)
Chet "Cookie Recipes" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
How to Sleep Better
If you're having trouble sleeping, I have a tip for you: start using your feet.
Say what?
Look, anyone who knows squat about natural health knows daily exercise is a sensible thing to do.
Well, medical science recently confirmed what us health nuts have known forever: older and middle-age people reported sleeping better when they added regular exercise to their days.
These aging baby boomers fell asleep about 15 minutes earlier and slept about 45 minutes longer at night.
Since most of us live frenetic lives and are seriously sleep-deprived anyway, doesn't it make sense to use our feet and legs for something other than appendages to move us from car to desk to car to home?
Of course it does.
So make a commitment today to exercise at least four times during the next seven days.
Begin today by brisk walking, swimming, or biking for at least 20 minutes.
This approach beats the tar out of the drug approach.
Sadly, though they compose only about 20% of the population, older Americans receive almost half the medications prescribed by doctors to aid sleep.
And these sorry drugs cause confusion, falls, extended drowsiness, and a host of other nasty side effects.
Here are some other exercising tips:
Chet "Sleep Tips" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Say what?
Look, anyone who knows squat about natural health knows daily exercise is a sensible thing to do.
Well, medical science recently confirmed what us health nuts have known forever: older and middle-age people reported sleeping better when they added regular exercise to their days.
These aging baby boomers fell asleep about 15 minutes earlier and slept about 45 minutes longer at night.
Since most of us live frenetic lives and are seriously sleep-deprived anyway, doesn't it make sense to use our feet and legs for something other than appendages to move us from car to desk to car to home?
Of course it does.
So make a commitment today to exercise at least four times during the next seven days.
Begin today by brisk walking, swimming, or biking for at least 20 minutes.
This approach beats the tar out of the drug approach.
Sadly, though they compose only about 20% of the population, older Americans receive almost half the medications prescribed by doctors to aid sleep.
And these sorry drugs cause confusion, falls, extended drowsiness, and a host of other nasty side effects.
Here are some other exercising tips:
- A drop in body temperature aids sound sleep. So time your exercise five to six hours before bedtime.
- Make your exercise vigorous enough to make you sweat a little. Previous studies have shown that non-aerobic stretching and concentration exercises alone did not impart sleep.
- Stick with it! Participants in this study did not report improved sleep until they had been exercising for 16 weeks.
Chet "Sleep Tips" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Refrigerated Spice Cookies
It's been quite a few years since one of the readers of our free Amazing Cookies newsletter sent in the recipe I'm going to share with you today.
But even though a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since I first tried this recipe, it's as good as ever.
Try it and see if you don't agree! :)
Bielka's Refrigerated Spice Cookies
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light molasses
2 cup unbleached white flour
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp baking soda
Vegetable cooking spray
In a small pot over medium heat, combine honey, butter, and molasses and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool for three minutes.
While mixture is cooling, combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in honey mixture until well combined.
Divide dough into four equal pieces and roll each piece into a log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate two or three hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly coat a non-stick baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. Lightly flour work surface. Roll each log into a thin dough about 1/8" thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer to baking sheet and bake for five minutes or until firm. Cool on wire cooling racks.
Makes 4 dozen delicious cookies.
Oh, before I shut this off, if you have a favorite spice cookie recipe you'd like to share, please use the "comment" link below to do just that.
Chet "Spice Cookie" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
But even though a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since I first tried this recipe, it's as good as ever.
Try it and see if you don't agree! :)
Bielka's Refrigerated Spice Cookies
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light molasses
2 cup unbleached white flour
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp baking soda
Vegetable cooking spray
In a small pot over medium heat, combine honey, butter, and molasses and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool for three minutes.
While mixture is cooling, combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in honey mixture until well combined.
Divide dough into four equal pieces and roll each piece into a log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate two or three hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly coat a non-stick baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. Lightly flour work surface. Roll each log into a thin dough about 1/8" thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer to baking sheet and bake for five minutes or until firm. Cool on wire cooling racks.
Makes 4 dozen delicious cookies.
Oh, before I shut this off, if you have a favorite spice cookie recipe you'd like to share, please use the "comment" link below to do just that.
Chet "Spice Cookie" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
5 Healthy Hair Tips
Today I'd like to share five tips for having healthy hair from my good friend Karen Van Cleef, whose head holds some of the healthiest hair I've ever seen.
Karen's not only a hair expert.
She also developed a natural dental health product that has saved me thousands on dental bills over the years.
And now for our five tips for having healthy hair:
To Make Your Hair Shine...
Always rinse your hair with cool water to seal the cuticle and make your hair shine.
For an Oily Scalp...
Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and dab all over your entire scalp.
For a Homemade Intensive Conditioner...
Mix 1/4 cup of olive oil with 1 egg and apply to hair. Use more olive oil if your hair is very long. Cover your head with aluminum foil, then with a towel that has been warmed in the dryer. Leave on for 30 minutes to an hour, then shampoo as usual.
To Texturize Limp Locks...
Braid slightly damp hair at the crown, make only a few braids depending upon the thickness of your hair. Let dry completely, take braids out, spritz on a lightweight hair spray and run fingers through.
For a Shine-boosting Hair Mask...
Mash an over-ripe banana; combine with 3 drops of almond oil. Massage into dry hair, leave on for 15 minutes, then shampoo out.
That's all for today.
Chet "Healthy Hair Tips" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Karen's not only a hair expert.
She also developed a natural dental health product that has saved me thousands on dental bills over the years.
And now for our five tips for having healthy hair:
To Make Your Hair Shine...
Always rinse your hair with cool water to seal the cuticle and make your hair shine.
For an Oily Scalp...
Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and dab all over your entire scalp.
For a Homemade Intensive Conditioner...
Mix 1/4 cup of olive oil with 1 egg and apply to hair. Use more olive oil if your hair is very long. Cover your head with aluminum foil, then with a towel that has been warmed in the dryer. Leave on for 30 minutes to an hour, then shampoo as usual.
To Texturize Limp Locks...
Braid slightly damp hair at the crown, make only a few braids depending upon the thickness of your hair. Let dry completely, take braids out, spritz on a lightweight hair spray and run fingers through.
For a Shine-boosting Hair Mask...
Mash an over-ripe banana; combine with 3 drops of almond oil. Massage into dry hair, leave on for 15 minutes, then shampoo out.
That's all for today.
Chet "Healthy Hair Tips" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Green Chili Soup
On occasion, I like to indulge myself with a recipe that I wouldn't consider optimal in terms of health.
Today I'm going to share such a recipe with you, one for...
Cream of Green Chile Soup
2 corn tortillas, 1 yellow and 1 blue if possible
1 12-oz tub Bueno green chiles, mild, hot, or x-hot
1/2 stick butter
2 cups chopped onion
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano, crumbled
2 bay leaves
3 1/2 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned
2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and chunked
1/3 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup whipping cream
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
Cut the tortillas into 1/4 inch wide strips and heat in an iron skillet until they're dry and hot.
Over low heat, melt the butter in a 4-quart saucepan. Add onions, garlic, oregano, and bay leaves and cook, covered, stirring once or twice, for about ten minutes.
Stir in the chicken broth, potatoes, salt, cumin and black pepper and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, partially covered, stirring once or twice, until the potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
Stir in the cream and adjust the seasoning to taste. This soup can be prepared up to three days ahead of serving. Cool it completely and refrigerate, covered. Rewarm it over low heat, stirring often, until steaming. Ladle the soup into wide bowls, sprinkle the cheese over the soup, and scatter the tortilla strips over the cheese. Serve immediately.
Chet "Green Chile Soup" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Today I'm going to share such a recipe with you, one for...
Cream of Green Chile Soup
2 corn tortillas, 1 yellow and 1 blue if possible
1 12-oz tub Bueno green chiles, mild, hot, or x-hot
1/2 stick butter
2 cups chopped onion
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano, crumbled
2 bay leaves
3 1/2 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned
2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and chunked
1/3 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup whipping cream
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
Cut the tortillas into 1/4 inch wide strips and heat in an iron skillet until they're dry and hot.
Over low heat, melt the butter in a 4-quart saucepan. Add onions, garlic, oregano, and bay leaves and cook, covered, stirring once or twice, for about ten minutes.
Stir in the chicken broth, potatoes, salt, cumin and black pepper and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, partially covered, stirring once or twice, until the potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
Stir in the cream and adjust the seasoning to taste. This soup can be prepared up to three days ahead of serving. Cool it completely and refrigerate, covered. Rewarm it over low heat, stirring often, until steaming. Ladle the soup into wide bowls, sprinkle the cheese over the soup, and scatter the tortilla strips over the cheese. Serve immediately.
Chet "Green Chile Soup" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Reduce Stress Tip
Today you're going to learn how to significantly reduce your stress any time you want to by recalling a simple but wonderfully wise Chinese proverb...
... and become flowing water.
Take a break right now and do this.
Pause for a second and take a few deep breaths and visualize yourself as flowing water.
Wow.
It works.
Practice this exercise when you feel stress coming on and you're going to be a much more relaxed and happy person. I promise!
Oh, speaking of stress, I have a comprehensive and all natural system you can use to manage all the stresses in your life at LessStressSystem.com.
Chet "Reduce Stress Tip" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Flowing water never goes bad.Starting right now, when your life gets crazy and your stress level starts to go through the ceiling, stop for a moment and take a few deep breaths...
... and become flowing water.
Take a break right now and do this.
Pause for a second and take a few deep breaths and visualize yourself as flowing water.
Wow.
It works.
Practice this exercise when you feel stress coming on and you're going to be a much more relaxed and happy person. I promise!
Oh, speaking of stress, I have a comprehensive and all natural system you can use to manage all the stresses in your life at LessStressSystem.com.
Chet "Reduce Stress Tip" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Winnie the Pooh Meditation
Let's do something a big different today and turn to Winnie the Pooh, who once observed...
Visualize yourself leaning over a bridge railing, watching the river of life slipping slowly away beneath you.
Be the river, be the flow... then just be.
Ah!
Chet "Just Be" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you suddenly know everything there is to be known.Right now, take three or four long, slow, deep breaths, focus on the pauses between breaths, and feel your consciousness shift.
Visualize yourself leaning over a bridge railing, watching the river of life slipping slowly away beneath you.
Be the river, be the flow... then just be.
Ah!
Chet "Just Be" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Monday, July 27, 2009
Oatmeal Spice Cookies
Monday's are kind of grim sometimes, so I thought I'd lighten this particular one up a bit by sharing a healthy and tasty cookie recipe...
Ida's Oatmeal Spice Cookies
1 cup water
2 cups raisins
4 Tbs favorite sweetener
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp baking soda
Boil 1 cup water and 2 cups raisins. Cool for 5 minutes. Mix in other ingredients. Form into balls and bake on lightly greased cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 325F degrees.
On another note, if you haven't been following Josh and Leah's video blog of their 21 day detox and cleansing diet, you're missing out on a lot of informative fun.
Take a few minutes and learn a lot about detox diets from a young couple who are walking the walk at http://chetday.com/21days/
That's all for this Monday.
Oh, if you have a favorite oatmeal cookie recipe, I hope you'll use the "comment" link to share it below.
Chet "Oatmeal Spice Cookie" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Ida's Oatmeal Spice Cookies
1 cup water
2 cups raisins
4 Tbs favorite sweetener
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp baking soda
Boil 1 cup water and 2 cups raisins. Cool for 5 minutes. Mix in other ingredients. Form into balls and bake on lightly greased cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 325F degrees.
On another note, if you haven't been following Josh and Leah's video blog of their 21 day detox and cleansing diet, you're missing out on a lot of informative fun.
Take a few minutes and learn a lot about detox diets from a young couple who are walking the walk at http://chetday.com/21days/
That's all for this Monday.
Oh, if you have a favorite oatmeal cookie recipe, I hope you'll use the "comment" link to share it below.
Chet "Oatmeal Spice Cookie" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Monday, July 13, 2009
Fire Meditation
Today I'd like to share one of my favorite fire meditations with you.
If you've not yet taken up the practice of meditation, I urge you to do so because it has so many documented health benefits, with new benefits being discovered on a regular basis.
Without further preamble, for a great fire meditation, we turn to the late Zen master Shunryu Suzuki, who tells us...
To start, breathe deeply, pause for a second, and start centering your focus.
Repeat breathing and focusing three times or until you're deeply aware and intensely in the present moment.
When you're focused and centered in the moment, burn yourself and your ego and your petty concerns about this and that which are distracting you from the real you.
Breathe and let it all float up and away... like shimmering heat above the point of a flame.
Now, breathe again and feel the cool, calm peace that comes from burning yourself up completely, like a good bonfire.
Ah!
In closing, if you enjoyed this meditation, check out my weekly meditation newsletter at http://meditation101.com
Chet "Fire Meditation" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
If you've not yet taken up the practice of meditation, I urge you to do so because it has so many documented health benefits, with new benefits being discovered on a regular basis.
Without further preamble, for a great fire meditation, we turn to the late Zen master Shunryu Suzuki, who tells us...
When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.Let's play with this meditation a bit, shall we?
To start, breathe deeply, pause for a second, and start centering your focus.
Repeat breathing and focusing three times or until you're deeply aware and intensely in the present moment.
When you're focused and centered in the moment, burn yourself and your ego and your petty concerns about this and that which are distracting you from the real you.
Breathe and let it all float up and away... like shimmering heat above the point of a flame.
Now, breathe again and feel the cool, calm peace that comes from burning yourself up completely, like a good bonfire.
Ah!
In closing, if you enjoyed this meditation, check out my weekly meditation newsletter at http://meditation101.com
Chet "Fire Meditation" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Peanut Butter Oatmeal
I have an excellent (and less expensive) alternative today for those of you who buy individual packets of flavored oatmeal.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal
1/2 cup instant or regular oatmeal
1/3 cup hot water
1 or 2 Tbs chunky peanut butter or favorite nut butter
1 banana, sliced
1/4 cup raisins
Cinnamon
2 Tbs maple syrup
Cook the oatmeal by pouring the water into it and mixing until smooth. Add maple syrup and peanut butter and blend it thoroughly. Serve by putting the bananas and raisins on top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
This recipes is quick, easy, healthy, and very delicious... yummy for peanut butter lovers.
If you have a favorite oatmeal recipe to share, just click on the "Comment" link and have at it!
Chet "Peanut Butter Oatmeal" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Peanut Butter Oatmeal
1/2 cup instant or regular oatmeal
1/3 cup hot water
1 or 2 Tbs chunky peanut butter or favorite nut butter
1 banana, sliced
1/4 cup raisins
Cinnamon
2 Tbs maple syrup
Cook the oatmeal by pouring the water into it and mixing until smooth. Add maple syrup and peanut butter and blend it thoroughly. Serve by putting the bananas and raisins on top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
This recipes is quick, easy, healthy, and very delicious... yummy for peanut butter lovers.
If you have a favorite oatmeal recipe to share, just click on the "Comment" link and have at it!
Chet "Peanut Butter Oatmeal" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Friday, July 03, 2009
Quinoa Cookies
Today I'm going to share a recipe for some healthy cookies made with quinoa, a little-known grain that's healthier than wheat... by a long shot.
Coconut Raisin Quinoa Cookies
2 cups quinoa flakes (like oatmeal), found in health food stores
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup raisins
4 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
3 Tbs water
2 Tbs vanilla flavoring
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp white stevia powder
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or cover with parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until well-combined and tacky.
Form into two-inch balls and place two inches apart on the cookie sheet. Flatten slightly and shape (the cookies don't spread very much when they bake). Bake for 15 minutes, until golden.
Try these. You'll like 'em.
And if you have a favorite healthy grain cookie recipe you'd like to share, use the "Comment" link and start typing, eh?
Chet "Quinoa Cookie" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Coconut Raisin Quinoa Cookies
2 cups quinoa flakes (like oatmeal), found in health food stores
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup raisins
4 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
3 Tbs water
2 Tbs vanilla flavoring
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp white stevia powder
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or cover with parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until well-combined and tacky.
Form into two-inch balls and place two inches apart on the cookie sheet. Flatten slightly and shape (the cookies don't spread very much when they bake). Bake for 15 minutes, until golden.
Try these. You'll like 'em.
And if you have a favorite healthy grain cookie recipe you'd like to share, use the "Comment" link and start typing, eh?
Chet "Quinoa Cookie" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Monday, June 29, 2009
Garlic Coleslaw
I have this strange -- some would say -- habit of collecting coleslaw recipes, especially healthy ones that are a bit out of the ordinary in terms of palate pleasing.
Well, today, I'd like to share a healthy coleslaw recipe for all you garlic lovers out there.
It's called...
Fred T's Garlic Coleslaw
1 small head cabbage
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Shred cabbage, press garlic (quantity to taste), add other ingredients in stainless or ceramic bowl. Toss until well mixed. All quantities are variable, so it's best to start with small amounts and add to taste. This slaw tastes better on the second day if it's stored cold and well sealed.
Thanks to Fred for sharing this recipe with me so many years ago.
If you have a favorite coleslaw recipe you'd like to pass along to others, click on the comment link below and start typing, willya? :)
Chet "Coleslaw Recipe" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Well, today, I'd like to share a healthy coleslaw recipe for all you garlic lovers out there.
It's called...
Fred T's Garlic Coleslaw
1 small head cabbage
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Shred cabbage, press garlic (quantity to taste), add other ingredients in stainless or ceramic bowl. Toss until well mixed. All quantities are variable, so it's best to start with small amounts and add to taste. This slaw tastes better on the second day if it's stored cold and well sealed.
Thanks to Fred for sharing this recipe with me so many years ago.
If you have a favorite coleslaw recipe you'd like to pass along to others, click on the comment link below and start typing, willya? :)
Chet "Coleslaw Recipe" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Aging Boomer's Blog
Hey, a short entry today to plug my relatively new website where I'm blogging on a regular basis about getting older and all the trappings that come with it.
I named the site cleverly...
AgingBoomersBlog.com
Okay, so that's not so clever. But it was an available domain name that more-or-less reflected what it was going to be about.
Anyway, if you're an aging boomer, surf on over and bookmark my new site. Then spend some time there reading the many posts already up and then spending some more time commenting and moving the discussions forward.
I promise my AgingBoomersBlog.com will never be dull or boring or politically correct!
Chet "Aging Boomer" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
I named the site cleverly...
AgingBoomersBlog.com
Okay, so that's not so clever. But it was an available domain name that more-or-less reflected what it was going to be about.
Anyway, if you're an aging boomer, surf on over and bookmark my new site. Then spend some time there reading the many posts already up and then spending some more time commenting and moving the discussions forward.
I promise my AgingBoomersBlog.com will never be dull or boring or politically correct!
Chet "Aging Boomer" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Morning Sickness Cure
At age 61, I haven't had a pregnant wife in many, many years, I'm happy to report, so I haven't had to deal with any morning sickness, either.
With that said, during my one and only wife's pregnancies with our two boys, we were fortunate because she had very limited nausea both times.
From corresponding with a lot of people over the years, however, I know that our experience wasn't the norm and that most women have to deal with morning sickness.
Well, today I want to share a couple of excellent morning sickness resources that may well cure the problem for you or a favorite pregnant lady.
The first solution comes from Beth G, who shared the following...
Finally, if you have a morning sickness cure you'd like to share, I hope you'll take a few moments to write about it by clicking on the "comment" link.
Yours for calm and happy pregnancies,
Chet "No Morning Sickness" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
With that said, during my one and only wife's pregnancies with our two boys, we were fortunate because she had very limited nausea both times.
From corresponding with a lot of people over the years, however, I know that our experience wasn't the norm and that most women have to deal with morning sickness.
Well, today I want to share a couple of excellent morning sickness resources that may well cure the problem for you or a favorite pregnant lady.
The first solution comes from Beth G, who shared the following...
Chet, with both of my pregnancies I was sick pretty much for the first five or six months. The first time around I used ginger root extract from the health food store and would put a few drops on or under my tongue when nauseated.If Beth's experience and approach doesn't work for you, then you might want to try the natural and safe morning sickness cure discovered by Claire Batten, who has helped thousands of women get rid of their morning sickness quickly and easily with long lasting results. Click here to learn more about Claire's popular method for solving this unpleasant pregnancy problem.
During the second pregnancy I just got a big chuck of fresh ginger root from the grocery store and would slice off a real thin dime or nickel-sized piece and just pop it in my mouth and stuff it in my cheek. Worked like a miracle!
Finally, if you have a morning sickness cure you'd like to share, I hope you'll take a few moments to write about it by clicking on the "comment" link.
Yours for calm and happy pregnancies,
Chet "No Morning Sickness" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Eggs and Cholesterol
If you're like most people, you've been misinformed about eggs and cholesterol for years and years.
Let me put this frankly... I believe chicken eggs may well be nature's most perfect animal food.
In today's blog entry, I'll point you to some interesting findings about the much-maligned egg.
Interestingly enough, mainstream medical authorities as well as many natural health gurus seem to be terribly ignorant about the value of eggs.
Click on the title below to read the first good article I have for you today, entitled...
Are You Throwing Away Your Egg Yolks?
According to natural health authority Dr. Ben Kim, cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance that is absolutely necessary for you to be healthy.
High cholesterol itself does not cause heart disease.
Once you read Are You Throwing Away Your Egg Yolks?, I predict you'll join me and Dr. Kim in never throwing away another egg yolk.
Not yet convinced about the value of eggs?
Then, you need to click on the title of the article below. This one's called...
An Organic Egg Really Does Do Your Body Good
If you've been staying away from eggs because of the fear of high cholesterol, it may be worth your while to get cracking. Cracking organic eggs, that is. Read An Organic Egg Really Does Do Your Body Good and learn more about the health value of one of nature's truly perfect foods.
Chet "I Eat Eggs" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Let me put this frankly... I believe chicken eggs may well be nature's most perfect animal food.
In today's blog entry, I'll point you to some interesting findings about the much-maligned egg.
Interestingly enough, mainstream medical authorities as well as many natural health gurus seem to be terribly ignorant about the value of eggs.
Click on the title below to read the first good article I have for you today, entitled...
Are You Throwing Away Your Egg Yolks?
According to natural health authority Dr. Ben Kim, cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance that is absolutely necessary for you to be healthy.
High cholesterol itself does not cause heart disease.
Once you read Are You Throwing Away Your Egg Yolks?, I predict you'll join me and Dr. Kim in never throwing away another egg yolk.
Not yet convinced about the value of eggs?
Then, you need to click on the title of the article below. This one's called...
An Organic Egg Really Does Do Your Body Good
If you've been staying away from eggs because of the fear of high cholesterol, it may be worth your while to get cracking. Cracking organic eggs, that is. Read An Organic Egg Really Does Do Your Body Good and learn more about the health value of one of nature's truly perfect foods.
Chet "I Eat Eggs" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
How to Be Happy
Today to learn how to be happy, we're turning to Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali poet, visual artist, playwright, novelist, educationist, social reformer, nationalist, business-manager and composer who tells us:
You know, in life, you won't find happiness or peace of mind by standing around feeling sorry for yourself or by not meditating because you're just too busy.
If you want to cross the sea to happiness and peace of mind, stop standing and staring.
Stop making excuses about how you're too busy or too tired or too distracted or too whatever.
Instead, right now, take a deep breath, hold for a second, and then exhale slowly. Feel the peace coming on as you slow down.
This is your true nature.
Repeat the above breathing technique at least two more times.
Now you're crossing the sea.
Ah! There's the happiness!
Chet "How to Be Happy" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
You can't cross the sea merely byNow, that's a good one, isn't it?
standing and staring at the water.
You know, in life, you won't find happiness or peace of mind by standing around feeling sorry for yourself or by not meditating because you're just too busy.
If you want to cross the sea to happiness and peace of mind, stop standing and staring.
Stop making excuses about how you're too busy or too tired or too distracted or too whatever.
Instead, right now, take a deep breath, hold for a second, and then exhale slowly. Feel the peace coming on as you slow down.
This is your true nature.
Repeat the above breathing technique at least two more times.
Now you're crossing the sea.
Ah! There's the happiness!
Chet "How to Be Happy" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunburn Remedies
Today I'd like to share three natural sunburn remedies.
First, we have an old standby... apple cider vinegar.
To use this method, load up a spray bottle with unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (never use white vinegar) and keep it handy during the sunny months.
When your or someone in your family catches too many rays, spray apple cider vinegar on the hot, red skin, and leave it on until it dries. Once dry, you can rinse with cool water.
Ah, relief!
Here's another food remedy for sunburn that's said to be effective...
Pull a fresh cucumber out of the veggie bin.
Grab your vegetable peeler and scalp the skin right off that cuke.
Slice thin and then gently put cool slices on the burned skin areas and leave them there until they get warm.
Soothing, eh?
Also, I read recently that grating a white potato and then applying the moist gratings to sunburned skin will ease the pain. I've never tried this method myself, so I don't know how good it is.
One final tip... to avoid sunburn altogether do what I do... use your brain and don't stay out in the summer sun for too long.
Duh!
Oh, if you have a sunburn remedy you'd like to share, click on the "comment" link below and start typing. :)
Chet "I Don't Burn" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
First, we have an old standby... apple cider vinegar.
To use this method, load up a spray bottle with unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (never use white vinegar) and keep it handy during the sunny months.
When your or someone in your family catches too many rays, spray apple cider vinegar on the hot, red skin, and leave it on until it dries. Once dry, you can rinse with cool water.
Ah, relief!
Here's another food remedy for sunburn that's said to be effective...
Pull a fresh cucumber out of the veggie bin.
Grab your vegetable peeler and scalp the skin right off that cuke.
Slice thin and then gently put cool slices on the burned skin areas and leave them there until they get warm.
Soothing, eh?
Also, I read recently that grating a white potato and then applying the moist gratings to sunburned skin will ease the pain. I've never tried this method myself, so I don't know how good it is.
One final tip... to avoid sunburn altogether do what I do... use your brain and don't stay out in the summer sun for too long.
Duh!
Oh, if you have a sunburn remedy you'd like to share, click on the "comment" link below and start typing. :)
Chet "I Don't Burn" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Ingrown Toenail Remedy
Here's an ingrown toenail tip from a reader of one of our free newsletters:
Josh Day
Co-Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
My spouse used to get ingrown toenails. We avoided a doctor visit on the most recent one by having him soak his foot in hot water, then put a lot of tea tree oil on it and bandaged it. Within 3 days the skin and nail had softened enough to allow the nail to come out, and the tea tree prevented infection. -MKJWe have something else you'll enjoy reading... an article by Chet where he shares the fascinating story of how he used a natural technique several years ago to totally relieve my brother's post-operative pain from ingrown toenail surgery.
Josh Day
Co-Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Healthy Breakfast Cookies
by Chet Day
I first published this fantastic recipe for healthy breakfast cookies from Vicki F. many years ago in my free Amazing Cookies newsletter.
I made a slight modification and replaced the 1/3 cup olive oil she uses with 1/3 cup coconut oil since my taste buds prefer coconut to olive.
If everyone in your family is in such a hurry most morning that breakfast is getting skipped, try these cookies!
Healthy Breakfast Cookies
3 cups oats
2 medium bananas
Just under 1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 tsp salt or to taste
1/3 to 1/2 cup dates (pitted)
2/3 cup toasted almonds or any nut you like (optional)
2/3 cup carob chips (optional)
Mix oats and salt. Add coconut oil and mix well.
In a blender, mix bananas and dates until well blended and smooth. You can add a little brown rice syrup or maple syrup if you want them sweet.
Add banana mixture to the oats and blend well. Add nuts and carob if you like. Let stand for half an hour.
On an ungreased cookie sheet, form cookies (they will not spread or change at all with baking, so make them nice!)
Bake in a preheated 350F degree oven for 12-15 minutes
Makes about 24 cookies, unless a bigger cookie is desired.
Chet "Don't Skip Breakfast" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
I first published this fantastic recipe for healthy breakfast cookies from Vicki F. many years ago in my free Amazing Cookies newsletter.
I made a slight modification and replaced the 1/3 cup olive oil she uses with 1/3 cup coconut oil since my taste buds prefer coconut to olive.
If everyone in your family is in such a hurry most morning that breakfast is getting skipped, try these cookies!
Healthy Breakfast Cookies
3 cups oats
2 medium bananas
Just under 1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 tsp salt or to taste
1/3 to 1/2 cup dates (pitted)
2/3 cup toasted almonds or any nut you like (optional)
2/3 cup carob chips (optional)
Mix oats and salt. Add coconut oil and mix well.
In a blender, mix bananas and dates until well blended and smooth. You can add a little brown rice syrup or maple syrup if you want them sweet.
Add banana mixture to the oats and blend well. Add nuts and carob if you like. Let stand for half an hour.
On an ungreased cookie sheet, form cookies (they will not spread or change at all with baking, so make them nice!)
Bake in a preheated 350F degree oven for 12-15 minutes
Makes about 24 cookies, unless a bigger cookie is desired.
Chet "Don't Skip Breakfast" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Friday, May 01, 2009
Hand Washing Tips
by Chet Day
I'm going to share several quick hand washing tips you should keep in mind because following them will help you avoid getting sick, in weather fair or fowl.
There tips from directly from an interesting new article on hand washing by Josh Day.
Chet "Hand Wash" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
I'm going to share several quick hand washing tips you should keep in mind because following them will help you avoid getting sick, in weather fair or fowl.
There tips from directly from an interesting new article on hand washing by Josh Day.
- Wash your hands quick but thoroughly. Forget the antibacterial soap that makes crazy claims -- simple bar soap and hot water will do just fine.
- Wash frequently, but don't get obsessive about it or you might end up like poor old crazy Howard Hughes!
- When you're out in public, never touch your face. Your hands are constantly in contact with surfaces that are covered with dirt, grime, sweat, and... ugh, germs!
- When you get home, first thing, wash those hands!
Chet "Hand Wash" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Natural Flu Remedies
by Chet Day
This'll be short and to the point.
Because of the current scare going on related to the Mexican Swine Flu outbreak, I spent a good part of this past weekend updating the description and PDF of my popular collection of 37 natural cold and flu remedies.
If you're concerned about the potential of this new swine flu turning into the long-predicted flu pandemic, you'll want to have access to the time-tested flu remedies in my special report.
I especially recommend the powerful Natural Tonic on page 27 in my collection of flu remedies. Though it tastes worse than just about anything I've ever passed between my tongue and my stomach, this tonic has worked wonders for me, my family, and hundreds of flu remedy collection owners since I first learned the recipe early in 2004.
Anyway, you can read all about How to Beat Colds and Flu with 37 Natural Remedies right now at http://natural-cold-flu-relief.com.
Chet "Natural Flu Remedies" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
This'll be short and to the point.
Because of the current scare going on related to the Mexican Swine Flu outbreak, I spent a good part of this past weekend updating the description and PDF of my popular collection of 37 natural cold and flu remedies.
If you're concerned about the potential of this new swine flu turning into the long-predicted flu pandemic, you'll want to have access to the time-tested flu remedies in my special report.
I especially recommend the powerful Natural Tonic on page 27 in my collection of flu remedies. Though it tastes worse than just about anything I've ever passed between my tongue and my stomach, this tonic has worked wonders for me, my family, and hundreds of flu remedy collection owners since I first learned the recipe early in 2004.
Anyway, you can read all about How to Beat Colds and Flu with 37 Natural Remedies right now at http://natural-cold-flu-relief.com.
Chet "Natural Flu Remedies" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
More cold sore remedies
by Josh Day
For a week I've had a massive, painful cold sore above my right canine.
Interestingly enough, a reader wrote in with this tip:
"Yes, I discovered lysine about 25 years ago. I had a terrible attack and was in pain for 8 months. I could not swallow food. The doctor said there was nothing he could do. After all these years I do not get attacks. If a feel a little sensation I will take 1 pill. It is so good that you have given your readers this advice. It saved my life of terrible throat pain. - Irene"
You can read the original post about lysine and cold sores here.
To sign up for our free newsletter that also featured the lysine tip, you can subscribe here.
Josh Day
Co-Editor
The Natural Health Circus
For a week I've had a massive, painful cold sore above my right canine.
Interestingly enough, a reader wrote in with this tip:
"Yes, I discovered lysine about 25 years ago. I had a terrible attack and was in pain for 8 months. I could not swallow food. The doctor said there was nothing he could do. After all these years I do not get attacks. If a feel a little sensation I will take 1 pill. It is so good that you have given your readers this advice. It saved my life of terrible throat pain. - Irene"
You can read the original post about lysine and cold sores here.
To sign up for our free newsletter that also featured the lysine tip, you can subscribe here.
Josh Day
Co-Editor
The Natural Health Circus
Monday, April 20, 2009
Simple Acne Tip
by Chet Day
I was rummaging through archives of old Health & Beyond Weekly newsletters recently and ran into some nice little tips I'm going to share in coming entries here in the Natural Health Circus blog.
Today we have a simple tip for helping acne problems from Suzanne M:
If you have a natural health tip you'd like to share, click on the "Comment" link below and share away, eh?
Chet "No Zits" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
I was rummaging through archives of old Health & Beyond Weekly newsletters recently and ran into some nice little tips I'm going to share in coming entries here in the Natural Health Circus blog.
Today we have a simple tip for helping acne problems from Suzanne M:
Although I personally have never had an acne problem, I have nephews who were constantly "zitting out."Okay, that's it for our first simple natural health tip.
I recommended that they try simple witch hazel, patted on twice a day. You will be as surprised at the results in just a few days as my nephews were. All for a buck and a quarter. :)
If you have a natural health tip you'd like to share, click on the "Comment" link below and share away, eh?
Chet "No Zits" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Ceremonial Salsa Recipe
by Chet Day
This beautiful Saturday I'd like to share a wonderful recipe for salsa that I received several years ago from Priss Lindsey, a reader of my free vegetarian recipes newsletter.
When she emailed me the recipe, Priss wrote, "Chet, after 40 years of perfecting salsa, this is the best!"
Whoa, that's high praise indeed.
If you like salsa, you're going to love today's recipe...
New Mexico Ceremonial Salsa
6-8 tomatillos, husked and cut into large chunks
1 basket cherry tomatoes, washed and stemmed
1 bunch cilantro, washed and cut up
4 cloves chopped garlic or 1 Tbs minced garlic
Juice of one lime
2-4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced
1 giant Spanish onion, peeled and cut into large chunks
Put ingredients in blender and blend thoroughly. It may help to do the cherry tomatoes and tomatillas first to get a liquid consistency and then add in the other ingredients. Salt to taste.
This salsa gets better in the fridge and will keep for 4-7 days.
It's great with white corn chips or inside burritos or on tostados or even in a bowl of beans.
Try this salsa recipe and then come back and comment about it, won't you?
And if you have a favorite salsa recipe you'd like to share, please do so below.
Chet "Salsa Recipe Collector" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
This beautiful Saturday I'd like to share a wonderful recipe for salsa that I received several years ago from Priss Lindsey, a reader of my free vegetarian recipes newsletter.
When she emailed me the recipe, Priss wrote, "Chet, after 40 years of perfecting salsa, this is the best!"
Whoa, that's high praise indeed.
If you like salsa, you're going to love today's recipe...
New Mexico Ceremonial Salsa
6-8 tomatillos, husked and cut into large chunks
1 basket cherry tomatoes, washed and stemmed
1 bunch cilantro, washed and cut up
4 cloves chopped garlic or 1 Tbs minced garlic
Juice of one lime
2-4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced
1 giant Spanish onion, peeled and cut into large chunks
Put ingredients in blender and blend thoroughly. It may help to do the cherry tomatoes and tomatillas first to get a liquid consistency and then add in the other ingredients. Salt to taste.
This salsa gets better in the fridge and will keep for 4-7 days.
It's great with white corn chips or inside burritos or on tostados or even in a bowl of beans.
Try this salsa recipe and then come back and comment about it, won't you?
And if you have a favorite salsa recipe you'd like to share, please do so below.
Chet "Salsa Recipe Collector" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Memory Improvement Tip
by Chet Day
I have a great memory improvement tip this morning for those of you who, like me, are starting to wander into their golden years with less than a stellar recollection system.
Here's the story...
The other night my wife and I were having a little pillow talk about the past, recalling people we'd known and enjoyed during our more than 35 years together.
I started talking about one of the guys who hired me as an English teacher when we lived in New Orleans, a man who was witty and smart and just plain fun to be around.
I could remember all kinds of good stories about him, but do you think I could dredge up his name to save my life?
Nope.
His name just wasn't there. For a few moments, it hovered around the edge of coming into consciousness, but it wouldn't surface.
This sort of lapse usually doesn't bother me too much because most often the name (or whatever else I'm trying to recall) will pop into being amongst my fading gray cells in a few minutes.
But not this time.
His name completely eluded me.
We stopped reminiscing after a time and my wife fell asleep, but I stayed awake, trying to recall my old friend's name.
Well, I kept that up for almost two hours before I finally got frustrated enough to capitulate to age and fading memory.
Then, for some reason, I told myself mentally, "When you wake up in the morning, you'll remember your old friend's name."
I repeated this to myself several times and then turned on my sleep CD and went to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up and walked a few steps into the bathroom and sat down on the throne, and, holy smokes, the name "Lewis Garvin" pops into consciousness.
And, yup, you guessed it... that was the name of my old friend and boss in the best English department I ever taught in.
I was practically giggling with glee over how this memory improvement technique worked, so I started yelling "Lewis, Lewis Garvin," as loud as I could, loud enough to wake my wife, who thought I'd finally gone around the bend for good. "His name was Lewis Garvin."
Well, I guess that's enough wandering around in what passes for a brain in my skull for today, but I did want to share this memory tip because it's a good one.
And it works!
Chet "Memory Tip" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
I have a great memory improvement tip this morning for those of you who, like me, are starting to wander into their golden years with less than a stellar recollection system.
Here's the story...
The other night my wife and I were having a little pillow talk about the past, recalling people we'd known and enjoyed during our more than 35 years together.
I started talking about one of the guys who hired me as an English teacher when we lived in New Orleans, a man who was witty and smart and just plain fun to be around.
I could remember all kinds of good stories about him, but do you think I could dredge up his name to save my life?
Nope.
His name just wasn't there. For a few moments, it hovered around the edge of coming into consciousness, but it wouldn't surface.
This sort of lapse usually doesn't bother me too much because most often the name (or whatever else I'm trying to recall) will pop into being amongst my fading gray cells in a few minutes.
But not this time.
His name completely eluded me.
We stopped reminiscing after a time and my wife fell asleep, but I stayed awake, trying to recall my old friend's name.
Well, I kept that up for almost two hours before I finally got frustrated enough to capitulate to age and fading memory.
Then, for some reason, I told myself mentally, "When you wake up in the morning, you'll remember your old friend's name."
I repeated this to myself several times and then turned on my sleep CD and went to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up and walked a few steps into the bathroom and sat down on the throne, and, holy smokes, the name "Lewis Garvin" pops into consciousness.
And, yup, you guessed it... that was the name of my old friend and boss in the best English department I ever taught in.
I was practically giggling with glee over how this memory improvement technique worked, so I started yelling "Lewis, Lewis Garvin," as loud as I could, loud enough to wake my wife, who thought I'd finally gone around the bend for good. "His name was Lewis Garvin."
Well, I guess that's enough wandering around in what passes for a brain in my skull for today, but I did want to share this memory tip because it's a good one.
And it works!
Chet "Memory Tip" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Friday, April 10, 2009
Bacon Sandwich + Hangover = Cure?
by Josh Day
According to a recent study, a bacon sandwich may actually help "cure" a hangover.
Josh "Never Hungover" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
According to a recent study, a bacon sandwich may actually help "cure" a hangover.
- Elin Roberts, of Newcastle University's Centre for Life said: "Food doesn't soak up the alcohol but it does increase your metabolism helping you deal with the after-effects of over indulgence. So food will often help you feel better.
- "Bread is high in carbohydrates and bacon is full of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. Your body needs these amino acids, so eating them will make you feel good."
- Ms Roberts told The Mirror: "Bingeing on alcohol depletes neurotransmitters too, but bacon contains a high level of aminos which tops these up, giving you a clearer head."(source)
Josh "Never Hungover" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Homemade Vanilla!
by Josh Day
Today I'd like to share my homemade vanilla recipe.
1 pint of quality vodka
6-8 vanilla bean stalks
Remove 1 or 2 shots of vodka. Slice open each vanilla stalk lengthwise, exposing beans. Put stalks in vodka. Seal and let sit in a dark, dry place for two months.
And here's another vanilla recipe sent in by a reader:
"Hi, Chet. I've been making my own vanilla for more than ten years. I prefer the taste of brandy as the base and use the cheapest I can find. Then I add three vanilla beans sliced lengthwise and put the bottle away for a long while. In fact, I have a 1.75 liter bottle that must have 30-40 beans in it. I just keep adding brandy to that from the new jug and have a great quantity for cookies. In fact, a .75 or 1-liter bottle makes a great Christmas gift to a baker." - Diann F.
Josh "Vanilla" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Today I'd like to share my homemade vanilla recipe.
1 pint of quality vodka
6-8 vanilla bean stalks
Remove 1 or 2 shots of vodka. Slice open each vanilla stalk lengthwise, exposing beans. Put stalks in vodka. Seal and let sit in a dark, dry place for two months.
And here's another vanilla recipe sent in by a reader:
"Hi, Chet. I've been making my own vanilla for more than ten years. I prefer the taste of brandy as the base and use the cheapest I can find. Then I add three vanilla beans sliced lengthwise and put the bottle away for a long while. In fact, I have a 1.75 liter bottle that must have 30-40 beans in it. I just keep adding brandy to that from the new jug and have a great quantity for cookies. In fact, a .75 or 1-liter bottle makes a great Christmas gift to a baker." - Diann F.
Josh "Vanilla" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Perfection in Red Beans and Rice
by Josh Day
I've been making red beans and rice for five years now. But I never felt I'd gotten it right until now. There was always something missing, a flavor not right. As it turns out, I needed to remove one key ingredient -- actually, a couple ingredients -- and include a new flavor.
This recipe started out as an Emeril recipe. I've modified it a lot over the years, attempting to recreate the red beans I remember from the New Orleans of my childhood.
There are two red beans and rice dishes that eclipse all others and whose flavors I'm always trying to capture. The first dish is the red beans made every other Wednesday at my old private school in Louisiana, Metairie Park Country Day School. It'd be a challenge to find a better plate of red beans anywhere in New Orleans. The second are the red beans made by Al Copeland's restaurant Copeland's as well as the red beans from his Popeyes chicken franchise.
Enough nostalgia. Let's get to the recipe.
Everything is as exact as possible so you too can make these perfect red beans.
Josh Day's Red Beans and Rice
1 bag of dry red kidney beans, soaked in a bowl overnight in your fridge
3/4 cup yellow onion, minced as finely as possible (a food chopper is ideal here)
1/4 cup celery, finely minced
1/4 cup green bell pepper, finely minced
1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely minced
1 smoked hamhock
1 32-ounce container chicken broth
32 ounces water
4 large cloves of garlic, minced
3 bay leaves
1 heaping Tbs Tony Chachere's Famous Creole Seasoning
1/2 tsp cayenne powder (or more if you want the red beans hot)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp natural liquid smoke
1 Tbs olive oil
Cooked rice
Soak your beans in a large bowl overnight. The beans will triple in size so be sure you fill with enough water to cover all beans.
Finely mince your onion, bell pepper, and celery. A food chopper or food processor makes things a lot easier as you want everything almost pureed.
Add olive oil to a cast iron pot and head on medium low. Add smoked hamhock and let cook for five minutes to release flavor. Now add onion, celery, and bell pepper. Stir until onions turn translucent.
Clear a small area in the pot and add garlic. You may need to add a drop or two more oil. Stir garlic and cook for no more than a minute. DO NOT brown garlic as this turns it bitter and can ruin the dish.
When garlic is cooked -- you'll know because you'll smell it -- stir in with vegetables and hamhock.
Add parsley and bay leaves.
Season with Famous Creole Seasoning, cayenne, and ground black pepper. Forgo salt as the creole seasoning has plenty.
Stir and let the flavors come together for a minute.
Pour in chicken broth. Fill up container with water and also pour in.
Drain and rinse the beans well and then pour in the beans.
Add Liquid Smoke -- you want natural liquid smoke; you'll know because there will be no MSG or funny-sounding chemical in the ingredients -- and stir everything well.
Cook on stovetop for a minimum of five hours. The longer you cook it, the better it will taste.
You'll need to check the pot at least once every hour to top off with water and to stir. As the dish cooks, the beans will become creamy and everything will come together. Expect the beans to be watery for the first 3 or 4 hours.
Near the end of cooking remove the ham hock and bay leaves and mash beans with a potato masher if you want them more creamy. This is how Al Copeland made his red beans; they were almost a puree.
The best way to cook rice is to first rinse the dry rice several times in running water. The ratio of rice to water is 1:1; so if you're making 1/2 cup of rice, add 1/2 cup water, 2 cups of rice, add 2 cups of water, etc.
Here's a little secret... add a spoonful or two of the creamy beans to the rice and stir well before cooking.
Cover pot and cook rice on medium heat until it begins to boil. Turn on the lowest setting and cook for exactly 20 minutes. Then remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes, still covered. Never remove the cover during the cooking process.
Serve beans over rice and garnish with green onion stalks and a scattering of dried parsley. Also provide condiments like Tobasco hot pepper sauce, vinegar, and croutons.
Josh "Red Beans" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
I've been making red beans and rice for five years now. But I never felt I'd gotten it right until now. There was always something missing, a flavor not right. As it turns out, I needed to remove one key ingredient -- actually, a couple ingredients -- and include a new flavor.
This recipe started out as an Emeril recipe. I've modified it a lot over the years, attempting to recreate the red beans I remember from the New Orleans of my childhood.
There are two red beans and rice dishes that eclipse all others and whose flavors I'm always trying to capture. The first dish is the red beans made every other Wednesday at my old private school in Louisiana, Metairie Park Country Day School. It'd be a challenge to find a better plate of red beans anywhere in New Orleans. The second are the red beans made by Al Copeland's restaurant Copeland's as well as the red beans from his Popeyes chicken franchise.
Enough nostalgia. Let's get to the recipe.
Everything is as exact as possible so you too can make these perfect red beans.
Josh Day's Red Beans and Rice
1 bag of dry red kidney beans, soaked in a bowl overnight in your fridge
3/4 cup yellow onion, minced as finely as possible (a food chopper is ideal here)
1/4 cup celery, finely minced
1/4 cup green bell pepper, finely minced
1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely minced
1 smoked hamhock
1 32-ounce container chicken broth
32 ounces water
4 large cloves of garlic, minced
3 bay leaves
1 heaping Tbs Tony Chachere's Famous Creole Seasoning
1/2 tsp cayenne powder (or more if you want the red beans hot)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp natural liquid smoke
1 Tbs olive oil
Cooked rice
Soak your beans in a large bowl overnight. The beans will triple in size so be sure you fill with enough water to cover all beans.
Finely mince your onion, bell pepper, and celery. A food chopper or food processor makes things a lot easier as you want everything almost pureed.
Add olive oil to a cast iron pot and head on medium low. Add smoked hamhock and let cook for five minutes to release flavor. Now add onion, celery, and bell pepper. Stir until onions turn translucent.
Clear a small area in the pot and add garlic. You may need to add a drop or two more oil. Stir garlic and cook for no more than a minute. DO NOT brown garlic as this turns it bitter and can ruin the dish.
When garlic is cooked -- you'll know because you'll smell it -- stir in with vegetables and hamhock.
Add parsley and bay leaves.
Season with Famous Creole Seasoning, cayenne, and ground black pepper. Forgo salt as the creole seasoning has plenty.
Stir and let the flavors come together for a minute.
Pour in chicken broth. Fill up container with water and also pour in.
Drain and rinse the beans well and then pour in the beans.
Add Liquid Smoke -- you want natural liquid smoke; you'll know because there will be no MSG or funny-sounding chemical in the ingredients -- and stir everything well.
Cook on stovetop for a minimum of five hours. The longer you cook it, the better it will taste.
You'll need to check the pot at least once every hour to top off with water and to stir. As the dish cooks, the beans will become creamy and everything will come together. Expect the beans to be watery for the first 3 or 4 hours.
Near the end of cooking remove the ham hock and bay leaves and mash beans with a potato masher if you want them more creamy. This is how Al Copeland made his red beans; they were almost a puree.
The best way to cook rice is to first rinse the dry rice several times in running water. The ratio of rice to water is 1:1; so if you're making 1/2 cup of rice, add 1/2 cup water, 2 cups of rice, add 2 cups of water, etc.
Here's a little secret... add a spoonful or two of the creamy beans to the rice and stir well before cooking.
Cover pot and cook rice on medium heat until it begins to boil. Turn on the lowest setting and cook for exactly 20 minutes. Then remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes, still covered. Never remove the cover during the cooking process.
Serve beans over rice and garnish with green onion stalks and a scattering of dried parsley. Also provide condiments like Tobasco hot pepper sauce, vinegar, and croutons.
Josh "Red Beans" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Vegetarian Ziti
Here's a simple and tasty recipe for...
Vegetarian Ziti
1 box ziti or small shell pasta, cooked and drained
1 jar marinara sauce
1 small can black olives, drained
1 small onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
Several white mushrooms, diced
1 Tbs olive oil
Shredded Mozzerella cheese to taste
Heat olive oil in skillet. Add pepper and onion. When onion becomes translucent, add olives and mushrooms. Mix marinara sauce, pasta, and veggies together. Heat thoroughly in oven.
That's it for now.
Chet "Ziti" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Vegetarian Ziti
1 box ziti or small shell pasta, cooked and drained
1 jar marinara sauce
1 small can black olives, drained
1 small onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
Several white mushrooms, diced
1 Tbs olive oil
Shredded Mozzerella cheese to taste
Heat olive oil in skillet. Add pepper and onion. When onion becomes translucent, add olives and mushrooms. Mix marinara sauce, pasta, and veggies together. Heat thoroughly in oven.
That's it for now.
Chet "Ziti" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tips for Eating Out
You don't have to sacrifice fun restaurant trips because you're on a diet or you're leading a healthier lifestyle by eliminating processed foods. Aside from fast food chains, restaurants often employ fresh and healthy ingredients in their cooking, and when you add a little compromise and moderation, there's no reason you can't enjoy eating out.
Here are some tips to help you maintain your healthy food lifestyle while also enjoying your restaurant experience:
* Before you leave home, make a rough plan about your choices of foods. This way you wouldn’t be confronted with the problem of deciding what to order when the waiter gives you the menu.
* Never skip your meals earlier simply because you are eating out in the evening. That way you would end up consuming more calories in the night, when your calorie requirement is actually low. All excess calories would end up being stored as body fat. They are not going to compensate for having skipped the afternoon meal or be used for your next day’s requirement.
* Have a proper lunch so that in the evening you won’t engulf whatever comes to the table. Order a small fresh salad and skip fatty appetizers or chips and salsa while you wait for your meal.
* Go for an ‘a la carte’ menu instead of eat-as-much-as-you-can buffets. Choose dishes with extra portions of vegetables and order small portions or split portions with friends. You can also order a healthy appetizer for yourself as your entree. Seriously, you'll most likely find this is all you need!
* Start your meal with a glass of plain water. Since you are on a diet plan, you must already be aware of the kinds of foods to shun completely, namely, the deep-fried foods, creamy, buttery and sugary stuff, regular colas and sodas, etc. Ask instead for lower-fat steamed, grilled, roasted, broiled or flame-cooked items. Or maybe you can even order another appetizer as the main course itself.
* For drinks stick to water or carbonated water -- no sodas. One often forgets to count alcohol calories as part the food. Alcohol is very high in calories and can prevent you from making healthy food choices.
* Try to sit away from the breadbasket and the chips bowl. It is really easy to keep on munching on these while chatting with your friends without even realizing that you are.
* Be careful about the dressings that come with salads. They can defeat the whole purpose of your diet control. One ladle of a creamy salad dressing can give you about 300 calories. Ask for the dressing on the side rather than on the salad.
Josh
Co-Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com
Here are some tips to help you maintain your healthy food lifestyle while also enjoying your restaurant experience:
* Before you leave home, make a rough plan about your choices of foods. This way you wouldn’t be confronted with the problem of deciding what to order when the waiter gives you the menu.
* Never skip your meals earlier simply because you are eating out in the evening. That way you would end up consuming more calories in the night, when your calorie requirement is actually low. All excess calories would end up being stored as body fat. They are not going to compensate for having skipped the afternoon meal or be used for your next day’s requirement.
* Have a proper lunch so that in the evening you won’t engulf whatever comes to the table. Order a small fresh salad and skip fatty appetizers or chips and salsa while you wait for your meal.
* Go for an ‘a la carte’ menu instead of eat-as-much-as-you-can buffets. Choose dishes with extra portions of vegetables and order small portions or split portions with friends. You can also order a healthy appetizer for yourself as your entree. Seriously, you'll most likely find this is all you need!
* Start your meal with a glass of plain water. Since you are on a diet plan, you must already be aware of the kinds of foods to shun completely, namely, the deep-fried foods, creamy, buttery and sugary stuff, regular colas and sodas, etc. Ask instead for lower-fat steamed, grilled, roasted, broiled or flame-cooked items. Or maybe you can even order another appetizer as the main course itself.
* For drinks stick to water or carbonated water -- no sodas. One often forgets to count alcohol calories as part the food. Alcohol is very high in calories and can prevent you from making healthy food choices.
* Try to sit away from the breadbasket and the chips bowl. It is really easy to keep on munching on these while chatting with your friends without even realizing that you are.
* Be careful about the dressings that come with salads. They can defeat the whole purpose of your diet control. One ladle of a creamy salad dressing can give you about 300 calories. Ask for the dressing on the side rather than on the salad.
Josh
Co-Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Milk Bath
Everybody likes soft skin, except maybe for Godzilla and some of his amphibian kin, so I thought today I'd share with you a little home-made recipe for a milk bath concoction that sounded pretty cool.
I found this recipe in an old health magazine we had laying around here at CasaDay.
Enjoy...
Skin-Softening Milk Bath
Casey Kellar, author of Natural Beauty and Bath Book (Lark Books, 1997), says the milk in this recipe moisturizes rough skin.
1 cut full-fat powdered milk
2 tablespoons almond meal
2 tablespoons barley or oat flour
A few drops of rose (Rosa centifolia) essential oil
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, then add two tablespoons to a tub of water. Soak for 15 minutes. Store the remaining bath mix in a glass jar at room temperature. It should keep for two months.
In closing, if you haven't had a milk bath lately, now's the time to give one a try.
I mean, seriously, you'll have something new to talk about at the office.
Chet "Milk Bath" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
I found this recipe in an old health magazine we had laying around here at CasaDay.
Enjoy...
Skin-Softening Milk Bath
Casey Kellar, author of Natural Beauty and Bath Book (Lark Books, 1997), says the milk in this recipe moisturizes rough skin.
1 cut full-fat powdered milk
2 tablespoons almond meal
2 tablespoons barley or oat flour
A few drops of rose (Rosa centifolia) essential oil
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, then add two tablespoons to a tub of water. Soak for 15 minutes. Store the remaining bath mix in a glass jar at room temperature. It should keep for two months.
In closing, if you haven't had a milk bath lately, now's the time to give one a try.
I mean, seriously, you'll have something new to talk about at the office.
Chet "Milk Bath" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Monday, March 16, 2009
"Fried" rice can actually be healthy
Yep, you read that title correctly; fried rice can be a healthy food choice.
It's all in the way it's prepared and what you add to the rice.
I've been trying to make quality fried rice for years. I always seem to fall short with my endeavors, sometimes close to the culinary bar I've set for myself in my head, sometimes far from it.
Yesterday evening I attempted my first batch of Thai basil and vegetable fried rice. All in all the dish turned out well, if you ignore my first disastrous attempt to cook rice utilizing a new technique I saw on youtube. The rice ended up charred and burned to the bottom of the pot; a couple more minutes and the pot would have been ruined.
I've never been satisfied with the rice I cook and I'm always after the perfect form of cooked rice -- where it's fluffy, soft, and just plain perfect. I'm close, with the style I learned from Dr. Ben Kim, but I'm not quite there yet. I need to invest in a rice cooker, but that's for another blog.
Like I said, the results were overall good, but I feel the recipe needs some tinkering.
Okay, now let's talk about fried rice and how this meal can be healthy, if you make it the right way.
Fried rice is nothing more than cooked rice, either white or brown, that's "fried" in a wok or pan with vegetables, soy sauce, and other ingredients. Unfortunately, most fried rice you order at Asian restaurants is not at all healthy -- it's full of processed, chemical laced ingredients and a lot of MSG. Even hibachi Japanese restaurants -- where the chef cooks everything on a hot table before your eyes -- often miss the mark when it comes to healthy fried rice as they use way too much soy sauce.
When you make fried rice at home you have the luxury of choosing healthy ingredients and sauces. Soy sauce, for instance, can either be really bad for your health or neutral -- please read another fun and informative interview with Dr. Kim about this very subject right here. About the good stuff, here's Dr. Kim, "My understanding is that quality brands of naturally fermented soy sauce don’t have added MSG or MSG-like compounds. Cheaper brands use hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which behaves like MSG in the body."
Kikkoman soy sauce is a good brand that both Dr. Kim and I use.
Fried rice is also traditionally prepared with meats, ranging from chicken to pork to shrimp. Personally I like my fried rice with only vegetables, and a lot of them.
The rice is so flavorful and has so many other delicious things in it, as you'll see below, that you're really not missing anything.
Thai Basil and Vegetable Fried Rice
1 cup cooked rice, white or brown, per person (for two people, I prepare one cup of uncooked rice per directions listed here)
2 Tbs Kikkoman soy sauce (Note: both soy sauce and fish sauce are calculated for a serving of two people. Add 2 tsp extra for each additional cup of rice if serving more.)
2 Tbs fish sauce (this is like ketchup in Thai cooking, and it's crucial for the Thai flavor)
1/2 cup yellow onion, minced
1/2 cup carrot, finely minced
2 green onion stalks, chopped in 1/2 inch lengths
1 cup mung bean sprouts
1 egg, scrambled
1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn roughly
1/2 cup cilantro leaves, whole
1 Tbs raw, natural sugar
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Thai hot pepper, crushed to pieces or finely minced (or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes -- only add either ingredient if you want your rice HOT)
2 Tbs oil (many recipes I found call for vegetable oil, which is not healthy at all. I used olive oil, which worked fine, despite a few recipes warning me not to use olive oil. Coconut oil would also be good if you can find it. Actually, I plan to try coconut oil next because that will add a lot to the flavor.)
Salt and pepper, optional
Heat your wok on medium heat and add oil. When oil is hot, add both garlic and hot pepper. Stir rigourously for 1-3 seconds -- things should really be sizzling -- then add yellow onion and carrots. It's important here to NOT burn or even slightly brown the garlic. Adding the onion and carrots will slow the cooking.
Add sugar. It will dissolve and mix into the ingredients almost instantly.
Continue to stir until onions shrink and turn translucent. Push everything to one side, or make an empty crater at the center of the wok.
Add additional oil if needed.
Crack egg over empty space and cook, stirring to scramble. When egg is fully cooked, mix garlic, hot pepper, onions, and carrots together.
Add rice. Pour in soy sauce and fish sauce. Stir until rice takes on the "fried" look. Add a little extra soy sauce if the rice is not brown enough.
Now add your salt and pepper, if using.
Stir constantly, paying close attention to the bottom of the wok. You don't want the rice to stick.
Add chopped mung bean sprouts and green onion and cook for 3-5 minutes.
Turn off heat but leave wok on burner. Add remaining ingredients, the basil and cilantro. Stir well until both are fully integrated into the rice. Then remove from heat and you're ready to serve!
I like to garnish with a little extra cilantro on top. You can also add a lime wedge and some raw, cool cucumber slices. Both additions are great if you like your Thai fried rice extra spicy.
- - -
This is exactly how I made my first batch. Ordinarily I'd wait to share the recipe until I've made it two or three times and honed it down, but I was so satisfied with this that I'm comfortable in sharing it.
Here is what I plan to add next time:
One red bell pepper, sliced into thin, long strips
1 medium tomato, cut into 2-inch pieces
I intend to add the bell pepper with the initial onion and carrot, and the tomato with the green onion near the end.
Josh
Co-Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com
It's all in the way it's prepared and what you add to the rice.
I've been trying to make quality fried rice for years. I always seem to fall short with my endeavors, sometimes close to the culinary bar I've set for myself in my head, sometimes far from it.
Yesterday evening I attempted my first batch of Thai basil and vegetable fried rice. All in all the dish turned out well, if you ignore my first disastrous attempt to cook rice utilizing a new technique I saw on youtube. The rice ended up charred and burned to the bottom of the pot; a couple more minutes and the pot would have been ruined.
I've never been satisfied with the rice I cook and I'm always after the perfect form of cooked rice -- where it's fluffy, soft, and just plain perfect. I'm close, with the style I learned from Dr. Ben Kim, but I'm not quite there yet. I need to invest in a rice cooker, but that's for another blog.
Like I said, the results were overall good, but I feel the recipe needs some tinkering.
Okay, now let's talk about fried rice and how this meal can be healthy, if you make it the right way.
Fried rice is nothing more than cooked rice, either white or brown, that's "fried" in a wok or pan with vegetables, soy sauce, and other ingredients. Unfortunately, most fried rice you order at Asian restaurants is not at all healthy -- it's full of processed, chemical laced ingredients and a lot of MSG. Even hibachi Japanese restaurants -- where the chef cooks everything on a hot table before your eyes -- often miss the mark when it comes to healthy fried rice as they use way too much soy sauce.
When you make fried rice at home you have the luxury of choosing healthy ingredients and sauces. Soy sauce, for instance, can either be really bad for your health or neutral -- please read another fun and informative interview with Dr. Kim about this very subject right here. About the good stuff, here's Dr. Kim, "My understanding is that quality brands of naturally fermented soy sauce don’t have added MSG or MSG-like compounds. Cheaper brands use hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which behaves like MSG in the body."
Kikkoman soy sauce is a good brand that both Dr. Kim and I use.
Fried rice is also traditionally prepared with meats, ranging from chicken to pork to shrimp. Personally I like my fried rice with only vegetables, and a lot of them.
The rice is so flavorful and has so many other delicious things in it, as you'll see below, that you're really not missing anything.
Thai Basil and Vegetable Fried Rice
1 cup cooked rice, white or brown, per person (for two people, I prepare one cup of uncooked rice per directions listed here)
2 Tbs Kikkoman soy sauce (Note: both soy sauce and fish sauce are calculated for a serving of two people. Add 2 tsp extra for each additional cup of rice if serving more.)
2 Tbs fish sauce (this is like ketchup in Thai cooking, and it's crucial for the Thai flavor)
1/2 cup yellow onion, minced
1/2 cup carrot, finely minced
2 green onion stalks, chopped in 1/2 inch lengths
1 cup mung bean sprouts
1 egg, scrambled
1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn roughly
1/2 cup cilantro leaves, whole
1 Tbs raw, natural sugar
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Thai hot pepper, crushed to pieces or finely minced (or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes -- only add either ingredient if you want your rice HOT)
2 Tbs oil (many recipes I found call for vegetable oil, which is not healthy at all. I used olive oil, which worked fine, despite a few recipes warning me not to use olive oil. Coconut oil would also be good if you can find it. Actually, I plan to try coconut oil next because that will add a lot to the flavor.)
Salt and pepper, optional
Heat your wok on medium heat and add oil. When oil is hot, add both garlic and hot pepper. Stir rigourously for 1-3 seconds -- things should really be sizzling -- then add yellow onion and carrots. It's important here to NOT burn or even slightly brown the garlic. Adding the onion and carrots will slow the cooking.
Add sugar. It will dissolve and mix into the ingredients almost instantly.
Continue to stir until onions shrink and turn translucent. Push everything to one side, or make an empty crater at the center of the wok.
Add additional oil if needed.
Crack egg over empty space and cook, stirring to scramble. When egg is fully cooked, mix garlic, hot pepper, onions, and carrots together.
Add rice. Pour in soy sauce and fish sauce. Stir until rice takes on the "fried" look. Add a little extra soy sauce if the rice is not brown enough.
Now add your salt and pepper, if using.
Stir constantly, paying close attention to the bottom of the wok. You don't want the rice to stick.
Add chopped mung bean sprouts and green onion and cook for 3-5 minutes.
Turn off heat but leave wok on burner. Add remaining ingredients, the basil and cilantro. Stir well until both are fully integrated into the rice. Then remove from heat and you're ready to serve!
I like to garnish with a little extra cilantro on top. You can also add a lime wedge and some raw, cool cucumber slices. Both additions are great if you like your Thai fried rice extra spicy.
- - -
This is exactly how I made my first batch. Ordinarily I'd wait to share the recipe until I've made it two or three times and honed it down, but I was so satisfied with this that I'm comfortable in sharing it.
Here is what I plan to add next time:
One red bell pepper, sliced into thin, long strips
1 medium tomato, cut into 2-inch pieces
I intend to add the bell pepper with the initial onion and carrot, and the tomato with the green onion near the end.
Josh
Co-Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Apple Nut Bars
It's a rainy Sunday afternoon here in rural North Carolina as I write these words, and I thought I'd take a few minutes before knocking off for the day to share one of my favorite snack recipes.
If you like apples and/or oatmeal cookies, you're going to jump on this recipe like white on rice!
Awesome Apple-Nut Bars
1 1/2 cup quick rolled oats
3/4 cup dates, chopped
1 tsp grated orange peel
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup apples, raw and shredded
Combine all ingredients. Press together into a flat casserole dish. Let stand 10 minutes. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes. Slice into little squares and enjoy.
Note: Almonds or other favorite nuts will work well in place of the walnuts. And if you need a high quality coconut oil, I recommend Dr. Ben Kim's Premium Virgin Coconut Oil, which is the only coconut oil we use at our home.
In closing, this recipe for apple nut bars is really easy to make, in addition to being very healthy and delicious.
Give it a try this week and then come back here and post a comment! :)
Chet "Nut Bar" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
If you like apples and/or oatmeal cookies, you're going to jump on this recipe like white on rice!
Awesome Apple-Nut Bars
1 1/2 cup quick rolled oats
3/4 cup dates, chopped
1 tsp grated orange peel
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup apples, raw and shredded
Combine all ingredients. Press together into a flat casserole dish. Let stand 10 minutes. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes. Slice into little squares and enjoy.
Note: Almonds or other favorite nuts will work well in place of the walnuts. And if you need a high quality coconut oil, I recommend Dr. Ben Kim's Premium Virgin Coconut Oil, which is the only coconut oil we use at our home.
In closing, this recipe for apple nut bars is really easy to make, in addition to being very healthy and delicious.
Give it a try this week and then come back here and post a comment! :)
Chet "Nut Bar" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Pork Tenderloin
Not exactly kosher or particularly healthy, but this recipe sure tastes good.
If you enjoyed Josh's last video, you're sure to like this one.
Chet
If you enjoyed Josh's last video, you're sure to like this one.
Chet
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Crockpot Video Recipe
Hey, good news today.
My son Josh uploaded his first crockpot recipe video to YouTube.
To save you a little surfing time, I've embedded the video below.
Now, that's fun, eh?
Chet "Crockpot Recipes" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
P.S. Be sure to bookmark Josh's CrockPot Recipe blog. He adds a favorite recipe at least once a week.
My son Josh uploaded his first crockpot recipe video to YouTube.
To save you a little surfing time, I've embedded the video below.
Now, that's fun, eh?
Chet "Crockpot Recipes" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
P.S. Be sure to bookmark Josh's CrockPot Recipe blog. He adds a favorite recipe at least once a week.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Two Diet Tips
Well, this beautiful Monday morning here in North Carolina I'd like to share two diet tips with you:
I took these two diet tips from an article on our new website, DietFatLossTips.com -- check it out!
Chet "Diet Tips" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
- Never eat standing up. One of the easiest ways to sabotage your diet is to 'eat without thinking'. Treat eating with the respect that it deserves. Fix yourself a plate. Sit down and eat properly. You'll be less likely to just pop food into your mouth without paying attention.
- Spread your meals out. When you eat three meals a day, your body tends to store whatever it doesn't need right that moment. By adopting a 'grazing' habit, you'll keep your metabolism working throughout the day. Have a small breakfast, a piece of fruit with crackers or toast at mid-morning, a light lunch and an 'after school snack' mid-afternoon. Just remember that you're breaking up the same amount of food into smaller meals, not ADDING more food into your daily diet.
I took these two diet tips from an article on our new website, DietFatLossTips.com -- check it out!
Chet "Diet Tips" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Self Improvement 101
Hey, I'm happy to report today that our latest website and free newsletter is now online at
http://selfimprovement101.com
On SelfImprovement101.com, you'll find dozens of thought-provoking articles and products you can use to build a happy, peaceful, and productive life.
http://selfimprovement101.com
On SelfImprovement101.com, you'll find dozens of thought-provoking articles and products you can use to build a happy, peaceful, and productive life.
While you're at the site's home page, be sure to sign up for a free subscription to our NewSelf Growth Tips newsletter.
As a subscriber, during the first four weeks, you'll learn the following self-growth techniques that will make your life happier and more productive:
- How to Refocus Negative Thoughts
- How to Rapidly Relax
- How to Let Go of Anger Instantly
- How to Go Quickly to Sleep
Mosey on over to SelfImprovement101.com and check it out now, eh? :)
Chet "Self-Growth" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
How to Refocus Your Thoughts
Today I'd like to share an excellent technique you can use to refocus your thoughts any time you want to.
In these crazy days of economic bailouts for the rich and powerful while the rest of us struggle to keep our heads above water, being able to change negative thoughts to positive thoughts is an important skill to have.
Well, in today's blog entry, I'm going to show you precisely how to develop that important survival skill by sharing a few paragraphs from one of my favorite self-help books...
HOW TO REFOCUS YOUR THOUGHTS
By Patrick J. Ryan
Excerpted from Five Steps to Personal Power
For the next three weeks, try the following.
Whenever you have a choice in a personal situation (and you always do have a choice), consciously assume that the situation is in your control rather than control being located in an external source; take a proactive, solution-centered posture rather than a reactive, problem-centered one.
This can be accomplished by turning your normal thought patterns on their head.
Whenever you catch yourself thinking "she (he, it, they) did this to me," consciously change the statement to "I did this to me."
Instead of moaning helplessly, "Why won't they give me a raise?" ask, "What needs accomplishing around here, and how can I contribute?"
Rather than the unproductively negative question, "What is wrong with this relationship?" substitute the more positive, generous response, "What can I give to this relationship?"
Try to be vigilant and catch every instance of disempowering thinking, and change each one into a more empowering thought focused on your assuming total responsibility for the particular situation.
Even if you are unconvinced that this can work for you, try it: you have nothing to lose but your powerlessness.
Three weeks is enough to convince most people that taking responsibility works.
Note from Chet
Professor Patrick J. Ryan is the author of Five Steps to Personal Power.
You can use the simple and effective techniques in Professor Ryan's book to take charge of your life.
If you're bored with your life, unhappy, not earning enough money, and ready to either hang it up or make empowering changes, Patrick Ryan will teach you effective techniques that work.
That's it for today.
Chet "I Know How to Refocus My Thoughts" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
In these crazy days of economic bailouts for the rich and powerful while the rest of us struggle to keep our heads above water, being able to change negative thoughts to positive thoughts is an important skill to have.
Well, in today's blog entry, I'm going to show you precisely how to develop that important survival skill by sharing a few paragraphs from one of my favorite self-help books...
HOW TO REFOCUS YOUR THOUGHTS
By Patrick J. Ryan
Excerpted from Five Steps to Personal Power
For the next three weeks, try the following.
Whenever you have a choice in a personal situation (and you always do have a choice), consciously assume that the situation is in your control rather than control being located in an external source; take a proactive, solution-centered posture rather than a reactive, problem-centered one.
This can be accomplished by turning your normal thought patterns on their head.
Whenever you catch yourself thinking "she (he, it, they) did this to me," consciously change the statement to "I did this to me."
Instead of moaning helplessly, "Why won't they give me a raise?" ask, "What needs accomplishing around here, and how can I contribute?"
Rather than the unproductively negative question, "What is wrong with this relationship?" substitute the more positive, generous response, "What can I give to this relationship?"
Try to be vigilant and catch every instance of disempowering thinking, and change each one into a more empowering thought focused on your assuming total responsibility for the particular situation.
Even if you are unconvinced that this can work for you, try it: you have nothing to lose but your powerlessness.
Three weeks is enough to convince most people that taking responsibility works.
I choose to take responsibility.This above statement is the first, and most important, principle of empowerment. Without it, empowerment simply can't happen.
Note from Chet
Professor Patrick J. Ryan is the author of Five Steps to Personal Power.
You can use the simple and effective techniques in Professor Ryan's book to take charge of your life.
If you're bored with your life, unhappy, not earning enough money, and ready to either hang it up or make empowering changes, Patrick Ryan will teach you effective techniques that work.
That's it for today.
Chet "I Know How to Refocus My Thoughts" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Tom Venuto's New Hardcover Book: The Body Fat Solution
Review by Josh Day
Reading Tom Venuto's book caused me to come to a self-realization.
In high school I lettered in three varsity sports one year. I ran cross country every year in the fall and we'd often run three to five miles a day with the occasional sprint training and running over rugged terrain. We had a meet at least once a week at various schools, parks, or trails.
My freshman year of college my BMI -- body mass index -- came out at five percent. I was in the best shape of my life but I felt like a strong wind could knock me over because I believed, no matter what I tried, I could not gain weight or bulk up.
Ten years later, here I am, ten pounds over my once desired weight. I'm still unsatisfied, but I'm at the other end of the spectrum: I want to shed those ten pounds instead of gaining them.
Tom's new book, The Body Fat Solution, made me look at both my past and present self. One of the most important facets of maintaining a healthy weight is your belief system.
Tom writes:
Beliefs are not only involved directly in the mind-body connection, they're also unconscious programs that control your behavior. Empowering beliefs can be a force that drives you to success beyond your wildest dreams. Limited beliefs, however, can put a cap on your level of achievement, stop you from taking action, or sabotage the best plans.
I knew the mental factor of weight loss and exercise was important, but I never appreciated how critical it actually is until The Body Fat Solution laid it all out in common sense, practical terms.
Speaking of common sense...
In The Body Fat Solution, you'll learn:
In fact my wife, who has little background in athletics, was so impressed by the book and openness of Tom's approach that she plans on formulating her own program for her own needs. She had a baby in February 2007 and would like to tone her stomach. This was the first time she's ever been interested in a weight training and nutrition program.
And, you know, if I had to recommend this book to only one of the genders, I'd recommend it to women -- simply because women could benefit so much with Tom's program.
So many women -- like Leah, my wife -- believe things about exercise that are just untrue, or they're put off by weight training due to the whole musclehead/Gold's Gym image. Tom examines each of these beliefs and misconceptions and reveals how his program will not turn a woman into a professional wrestler.
In The Body Fat Solution, the exercise tool of choice is the humble dumbbell, which is about as intimidating as a yoga ball.
Speaking of yoga, if you practice yoga regularly and enjoy it, you'll be surprised to see many of the depicted exercises are duplicates or very similar to your familiar poses!
The Body Fat Solution strips away years of bad advice and false beliefs while empowering you with realistic goals and an understanding of how your body works, how muscles and fat work, and why diets and exercise programs in the past may not have netted you the results you desired.
Click here to read more about The Body Fat Solution and to order.
Reading Tom Venuto's book caused me to come to a self-realization.
In high school I lettered in three varsity sports one year. I ran cross country every year in the fall and we'd often run three to five miles a day with the occasional sprint training and running over rugged terrain. We had a meet at least once a week at various schools, parks, or trails.
My freshman year of college my BMI -- body mass index -- came out at five percent. I was in the best shape of my life but I felt like a strong wind could knock me over because I believed, no matter what I tried, I could not gain weight or bulk up.
Ten years later, here I am, ten pounds over my once desired weight. I'm still unsatisfied, but I'm at the other end of the spectrum: I want to shed those ten pounds instead of gaining them.
Tom's new book, The Body Fat Solution, made me look at both my past and present self. One of the most important facets of maintaining a healthy weight is your belief system.
Tom writes:
Beliefs are not only involved directly in the mind-body connection, they're also unconscious programs that control your behavior. Empowering beliefs can be a force that drives you to success beyond your wildest dreams. Limited beliefs, however, can put a cap on your level of achievement, stop you from taking action, or sabotage the best plans.
I knew the mental factor of weight loss and exercise was important, but I never appreciated how critical it actually is until The Body Fat Solution laid it all out in common sense, practical terms.
Speaking of common sense...
In The Body Fat Solution, you'll learn:
- How to stop being fooled by crap and hype: lose x amount of pounds in x amount of days, burn fat with pills, lose weight while sitting on the couch, etc. If it sounds too good to be true, it most certainly is. Tom explains how it's scientifically impossible for some of these claims to be real while he outlines a realistic, empowering, and FLEXIBLE program that's tailored to the individual.
- The importance of setting realistic goals which lead to a workout schedule that works for you. If you hate going to the gym as much as I do, this is the book and program for you.
- A nutrition program that doesn't sound like it's coming out of the Third Reich. You needn't worry about embarking on a radical diet.
- All things in moderation. No rigid calorie counting, extreme food restrictions, or strict workouts here. Tom presents a handful of simple guidelines that can be incorporated into any lifestyle.
- The many myths and outright lies of the weight loss and exercise industry. This chapter alone will open many people's eyes to the frauds, sweeping statements, and outright lies depicted as truth. For example, "Dietary fat makes you gain body fat," and "carbs make you fat" are thoroughly debunked.
- The potential for success and danger for sabotage within your social network. The people you live with, work with, and count as friends may be one of the best tools for success or the greatest danger. Tom identifies these destructive archetypes (like "the hedonist," the guy who's always encouraging you to go out for a late night drink and preaches "live hard, die young, leave a good-looking corpse") and advises you how to immunize yourself from their negativity.
- Exercises ranging from clearly described and depicted warm-ups, dumbbell workouts, and body weight exercises. As stated before, no need for a gym membership.
In fact my wife, who has little background in athletics, was so impressed by the book and openness of Tom's approach that she plans on formulating her own program for her own needs. She had a baby in February 2007 and would like to tone her stomach. This was the first time she's ever been interested in a weight training and nutrition program.
And, you know, if I had to recommend this book to only one of the genders, I'd recommend it to women -- simply because women could benefit so much with Tom's program.
So many women -- like Leah, my wife -- believe things about exercise that are just untrue, or they're put off by weight training due to the whole musclehead/Gold's Gym image. Tom examines each of these beliefs and misconceptions and reveals how his program will not turn a woman into a professional wrestler.
In The Body Fat Solution, the exercise tool of choice is the humble dumbbell, which is about as intimidating as a yoga ball.
Speaking of yoga, if you practice yoga regularly and enjoy it, you'll be surprised to see many of the depicted exercises are duplicates or very similar to your familiar poses!
The Body Fat Solution strips away years of bad advice and false beliefs while empowering you with realistic goals and an understanding of how your body works, how muscles and fat work, and why diets and exercise programs in the past may not have netted you the results you desired.
Click here to read more about The Body Fat Solution and to order.
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