Joe's Italian Ice

On hot days, it’s worth the drive down Harbor Blvd to Joe’s Italian Ice. It’s the best Italian ice around.

Authentic Italian Ice cools and refreshes as it melts in your mouth. Incredible flavors include the traditional fruit flavors as well as some tasty original flavor combinations. Fruit flavors to consider for your treat are Apple Pie, Banana n cream, Grape Devine, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Peach, Sour Cherry Strawberry, Tangerine, Watermelon or Wild Cherry. Some flavors are specifically for the adult palette, for example: Birch beer, Blue Hawaii, Java Joe and Pina Colada. For the more adventurous Italian ice eaters, there is an imaginative selection which includes: Bada Bing Cherry, Chocolate Moose, Fuzzy Wuzzy, Poison Apple, Smurf Poison and Snozzberry.

If ice isn’t your thing, that’s fine, Joe’s Italian Ice has some of the smoothest ice cream in town. Soft serve ice cream in a cone or Super Sundaes in a bowl; there’s something for everyone. Soft serve cones are served with your choice of dipped shell flavors: blue raspberry, butterscotch, chocolate, or peanut butter. Super Sundaes for the old-fashioned ice cream eater will be pleased to find the standards on the menu: Brownie Fudge, Oreo, Peanut Butter as well as Banana Splits.

Priced by size Italian Ice comes in a cup: small $2.49, regular $3.49, large $4.49, quart $6.49, 1 ¼ gallon $24.98, 2 ½ gallon $39.98 (plus a $10 deposit on the bucket). Ice Cream Cones & Cups start at $3.49 with the super sundaes from $5.99 to $7.49.  

I took my son who had never had Italian ice before. He selected his favorite flavor: chocolate. I selected the historically correct Italian ice flavor, lemon. We both were completely delighted with our selections.

Joe’s Italian Ice is a popular place on a hot day. The line was well into the parking lot. We were ordering & served in less than 10 minutes. The young people that work at Joe’s really move quickly. 

Special price on Italian ice, if it’s raining: 2 for 1.

Joe’s Italian Ice is located at 12302 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840, just a few blocks away from Disney Resort. Hours of operation are Sun-Thurs 11 am – 10 pm, Fri & Sat 11 am – 11 pm with extended hours during summer. 

Billy & Miss Sally

“Would you like a glass of Sassafras?” The barmaid offered her suggestion to the rugged cowhand. She liked Billy. She also knew that Billy had a problem with whiskey. It seemed the strong stuff led him one of two places into jail or into a gun-fight.

“Why, yes, ma’am, I’d love me some of your Sassafras,” he smiled his charming smile at Miss Sally. “I never liked it before, but your recipe is the best in the west.”

Miss Sally’s recipe changed every time she made it based on available ingredients. She was thrilled that Billy liked hers best. The base ingredient was the Sassafras root but she could use Licorice or Sarsaparilla too. Spicing the root for a zing flavor, she often added chocolate, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, hops, mint or anise.

“I’m so pleased you like it Billy, but you know it’s different every time,” Sally smiled.

“This one is the very best Miss Sally, I hope you wrote down what went into this here, Root Beer,” he said with some foam dripping from his upper lip.

“This time I did,” she waved a small piece of paper with the ingredients back & forth like a flag.

Billy sighed, “Sally, I think I’m in love.”

Save the Farmers! Save the Humans!

Driving up I-5 in California, travelers watch swirling dust as it moves along the ground by the roadside on what was once fertile farmland.

For the traveler the several hundred mile stretch of highway is dull and brown with barren land and the remains of orchards. The dead dark branches reach for the sky.

For the farm families the current situation is devastating. A broken economy, broken industry and even broken families are the result of broken promises as the water that once fed this land was turned off.

Signs along the road state 'Congress created a Dust Bowl' and 'No Water = No Jobs'.

What's the story? Why would Congress devastate a region and an industry?

It's all about a small fish in the Sacramento Delta that isn't breeding fast enough. The Smelt became endangered. Rather than seeking to relocate the fish or help it find additional breeding grounds, Congress upheld the decision to stop all irrigation to Central California Farms.

Is this bothering anyone? An even bigger story is that there is little to no coverage of this issue in over a year. Why is there no media coverage since the water has been turned off?

The farmers unnecessarily join the ranks of the unemployed. Fewer farm, transportation and food service workers are needed in an already struggling economy.

What are the numbers?

Estimated impact of stopping food production on thousands of acres is difficult to calculate. Of course all the consumers are paying higher food prices. Additionally, direct adverse economic impact adds more than 5,000 to unemployment lines with a calculable ripple effect of close to 20,000.

I'm not anti-fish. I'm not anti-environment. I'm also not anti-farmer nor anti-food for humans. In the larger picture do we as a society value a small inedible fish more than thousands upon thousands of people?

Save the fish but not at the expense of the farms and farmers. Humans need food too!

Save the Farmers! Save the Humans!

More information:

http://goodsensepolitics.blogspot.com/2010/12/fish-study-that-turned-california-into.html

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/2012/02/house-can-prevent-big-green%E2%80%99s-california-dust-bowl/321401

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/20/its-farmers-vs-fish-for-california-water/

Business Review

Bottom Line it's how you treat your customers that counts.

Loyal customers are essential for a company's success especially when the economy is stressed.

Business: Starbucks

Situation: I had complained & they compensated me.

Continued Customer Service: A month later, I received a promotional coupon for a breakfast.

Review:
Starbucks Oatmeal is served in a small cup container with a lid. In a to-go bag to the side are fruit chips & a spoon.

Perspective: I'm an oatmeal eater. I cook oatmeal from scratch and in a rush, I use instant oatmeal.

The oatmeal was good quality. It mixed to a smooth consistency. The temperature maintained throughout the bowl. Flavorful oatmeal had a robust taste and didn't need any added sugar.

RECOMMEND: Starbucks Oatmeal for breakfast.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, drained and thaw
1 (14 ounce) jar artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon chopped basil
salt and pepper to taste

In a glass bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Grease a baking dish. Spoon mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle some mozzarella or Parmesan on top. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or bread.

Restaurant Tweets

Attracting customers to a new restaurant takes more than just good food. Everything counts: food, service, location, parking, atmosphere and marketing. Marketing is more important than ever. If people don’t know about a restaurant, how can they get there?

The savvy restauranteur or manager knows that marketing is increasingly more important. The more people talk (or tweet) about the restaurant, the more will walk through the door. Word of mouth is very important to keep patrons coming back but how does a restaurant start to get the word out?

New restaurants have an added challenge of getting all their information to their perspective clientele. If the restaurant is new, how do the restaurant owner and manager get reviewed, develop excitement and create the thriving business? The answer is branding.

Branding experts work to increase the number of “views” on websites and advertisements. Increasing the number of times a restaurant is mentioned directly effects the number of customers. Including good reviews in a marketing campaign or on websites for restaurants is more important than ever. People do take the time to scroll through reviews to find out about the food and the service.

Three simple steps will increase business.

Step One: Get people to notice the restaurant
Step Two: Create excitement for the dining experience
Step Three: Provide such an excellent experience that customers consider it an event!

Consider all online branding to be the 21st century equivalent to signs and balloons of the last century.

Thank customers by giving them something extra. Thank your branding expert for increasing your exposure. And thank yourself for understanding it takes a team to create an excellent dining experience.

Yummy, Sun Butter!

Sun Butter

Sunflowers like other weeds that yield food have a history of bring esthetic value to an otherwise dreary area. The sunflower has the habit of turning up in unusual places, sometimes unwanted but often to the delight of children and Nature’s admirers.

The Sunflower is native to the Americas, there is archeological evidence of Sunflower use dating to 2600B.C. It did not traveling to Europe until the 16th Century where it became immensely popular in the 18th Century.

As an annual, the sunflower grows best in moist fertile soil with heavy mulch. It grows best in full sun. Traditional gardens grow sunflowers within the combination of beans, corn , squash and sunflowers.

As a food, the sunflower seed is processed, roasted and salted. A favorite food in Germany, sunflower seeds are made into Sun Butter, similar to peanut butter. The seeds are a good source of protein.

Notes about Sunflowers:
In the US, Kansas is the sunflower state.
One of Van Gogh’s most recognizable paintings is Sunflowers.

Have you eaten your Roses today?

Not only are roses beautiful but they contain significant amounts of vitamin C.

In the 19th century, small town doctors prescribe roses as a regular remedy. The apothecary rose was a frequent suggestion for home treatment of common ailments such as stomach disorder, diarrhea, constipation, gallbladder & kidney problems, gout, fever and exhaustion.

Long standing philosophical traditions find Rose garlands strewn around altars of Gods and Goddesses. The rose was one of the flowers which had cross culturally represented love and health throughout the World. Many are the brides who held roses in their bouquet as they entered into marriage with the well-wishes of life-long health and love.

It stands to reason that the ancients understood the relationship between the beautiful flower and its health giving properties. The flowers’ fragrance provides for a method of relaxation. The beauty and cultivation of the flower offers tranquility for all to behold. The internal properties of the flower, in the rose hip, offer to the health practitioner a potent and reliable source of immunity boosting properties.

The following is a brief review of the versatility of the Rose.

Rose petals make a light and fragrant tea which settles stomach upset and provides a soothing aroma.

Rose hips in vitamin form offers an extra boost for people needing to fend off colds and fevers.

Rose jams and jellies offer sweetness and vitamin C to boost children’s immunity to the everyday ails found in most daycare and school institutions.

Rose water is added to ice cream and cookies in the Middle East to give added flavor.

Rose water also adds moisture to skin preparations, Middle Eastern and European traditions.

French chefs add Rose syrup made from rose petal extract to pastries.

Chinese apothecaries are among the few practitioners who still use this remedy for stomach ailments.

As all things go full circle, scientists harkened back to a more intuitive time and are testing rose and rose hips in the treatment of some cancers.

Sheperd's Pie / Cottage Pie

Recently, I’ve been privileged to write not one but two articles about Shepherd’s Pie. Rarely, do I track the location of ghosted articles, so I decided to stick with the theme and write the true story about real Shepherd's Pie, as it appears and is eaten, in our house.

The history of Shepherd’s Pie begins in Ireland with sheep herders and potato farmers teaming up to make Meat Pie. This protein rich pie was filling and as history records: Potatoes were definitely in the daily diet of most Irish people. This dish dates to the pre-famine era.

The British enjoyed the Meat Pie but renamed it Cottage Pie.

In the 1870s, Shepherd’s Pie was printed in an American cookbook. As with all things American the pie not only grew in size but also in the number of ingredients. Today, cooks can find any number of regional “Traditional” Shepherd’s Pie with few calling for the original ingredient, Lamb.

In my vegetarian kosher kitchen, you’ll find neither meat, nor gluten in this incredibly yummy and filling dish. So what do I put in my Cottage Pie?

Ingredients

8 - Potatoes
2-slices of Butter
Dash of Kosher Salt
Splash of Milk
Cook 'em. Mash ’em. Set them aside.

In the skillet over medium heat:
Olive Oil
Large Onion
5-6 cloves of minced garlic
12 oz Bag of Meatless Sausage or Meatless Balls

Turn the heat to low and add the veggies:
10 oz Bag of Organic Peas & Carrots
10 oz Bag of Organic french beans/spinach
4- Diced Tomatoes
½ cup Vegetable Broth
½ cup Tomato Sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

My Cottage Pie bakes in a Quiche dish because it’s larger than a regular pie pan.

First, coat the bottom of the pan with butter or non-stick spray. Then place a thin layer of potatoes on the bottom of the pan and bake it for 5 minutes or so, until it seems firm. If I don’t do this the bottom of the pie can be squishy when served.

Pulling the pie pan from the oven, I pour everything form the skillet into the pie shell, and then cover with the mashed potatoes. I like to sprinkle cheese and wheat germ on top.

Bake 45 minutes. If you prefer you may bake @ 375 F for 30 minutes.

Cottage Pie is incredibly filling. Don’t let the kiddos eat it too fast because it expands.

Warning: Cottage Pie uses many pans and the baking dish in the preparation which in my house is a determining factor in menu selection. But everyone loves it so much I do serve it as a winter savory.

Has It Really Been a Year?

Some call it reflection, others call it inventory: I think it’s just a part of moving forward in life: Review.

Periodically, my mind reviews a particular segment of life: Work, Relationships, Location, Health and Inner Stuff. When I started this process in earnest more than 25 years ago, I followed direction to put it on paper. Through the years the need to put things to paper decreases as the problem to solution or goal to fruition methodology has become ingrained within my neuro-net. So ingrained is this that it would better be described as a continuing stock inventory system rather than a yearly goal setting session.

So it was not surprising when there is a “problem” my brain goes into hyper-drive to find a solution. This trait, call it Type-A personality or liken it to the Rabbit character in Winnie-the-Pooh, is helpful at minimizing situations so that they never become real problems.

The demarcation for this particular inventory came quickly in that it’s been a year since my last cross country move. Logical to look at the state of things/life, as the dust has settled and scramble has turned to routine.

Work ~ this year has marked more regular writing work than ever. With more than 50 ghosted articles sold and a regular technical writing gig, I’m pleased with the quality and the level of output. The downside is the ridiculously low pay. My son said yesterday, “That’s great money for 1856!” and he’s correct.

Relationships ~ really the key to a happy life are the people around. It may be old age creeping up on me hopefully, just wisdom probably a bit of both. But honestly, if it’s difficult, I’m really not interested. Relationships are so much better when they’re easy. Things are easy if everyone is polite.

I’ve noticed there are two kinds of people, probably more but for this example there are two: the kind of person that accepts an apology and the kind of person that continues to tell you how awful you are after you apologize.

Disrespect just leads to hard feelings, or in tough places, mortal peril. Personally, I choose to be polite for social cohesion. It’s easier to navigate situations if everyone cooperates and is forthright. I know, some would say I’m trying to live on Cloud Nine. And I would reply: If Cloud Nine requires manners then, yes. I require good behavior from myself when I make a mistake, I apologize and so expect the same from others.

Then of course, there are the people with whom I have no business being around. Take my ex, please! Seriously, we are ex, we don’t talk, we aren’t friends. If people ask me why? He's my ex, duh... Those who knew us should attest that the world is a happier place for the distance between us. After a number of years, I had a dream where I discovered he was doing really well. I woke really hoping the dream was true that he was doing well. I don’t know if he is or isn’t. It’s none of my business, that’s the ex-part. I consider this segment complete.

I learned a long time ago a relationship takes two people with a similar vision for the relationship for both people to be happy. I remind myself of that periodically as I continue life’s construction.

Location ~ Location, Location, Location… it’s true. Wishing to be somewhere and being somewhere are two entirely different things. Make a decision. Be there.

Health ~ As an issue health has come to the fore in the news as the overweight people outnumber the physically fit. The percentages coincide with the level of poverty and unhappiness, though not by simple equation. A simple way to live is healthfully: Eat right, sleep enough, avoid anger, and love daily.

Health is one of my favorite topics. I’ve been published on this subject more than any other in the last 20 years, probably because I love eating. I love good food. The flavors, spices, and textures of good food made into a fabulous dish is one of the things that make life enjoyable.

Memorable food moments this year: avocado off a tree, orange juice from personally picked oranges, Churro @ Olvera St, Soup in a Bread Bowl @ New Orleans Square, my daughter’s potato soup, ripe jalapeños, my neighbor’s lentil soup, my husband’s veggie burgers, my son’s quesadilla, my son’s rice & beans… I just discovered, the way to make my list of favorite people is to cook a tasty dish.

Inner Stuff (old & new) ~ I have these things called thoughts and feelings. Sometimes they’re old, sometimes their new, sometimes useful, sometimes just clutter… I decided to de-clutter the old and useless, just let it go, don’t beat the dead horse. Life got lighter, calmer, happier.

I liken the inner stuff to a closet. When I started my Fibber McGee closet was full. If I opened the door stuff would tumble out with a crash. Life went from one crash to another. It also made seeing today in reality difficult, if not impossible. Reality is where it’s at baby. Reality is today!

At a moment of clarity I realized I didn’t like the way a bunch of the old stuff felt when it crashed and I set about throwing out the stuff I didn’t want anymore. Some of closet junk I gave back to others, it wasn’t mine to keep. Some of the junk was mine and I had to face it, deal with it and move on. Some of the stuff was useful, some stuff was pleasant so I tidied up and placed those items in a mental file: Things Worth Remembering.

Things Worth Remembering:
Like the Kitty: Allergic to Kitty: Don’t pet Kitty.
Kids, like vegetables, spoil if you put them on a shelf & forget about them.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Share good things, it makes the world a better place.

Food Chemicals, Hyperactivity & Illness

A continuing study released findings that children’s behavior problems may be linked to or exacerbated by food dyes and other unnecessary ingredients in their food.

Any mother worth her stuff knows what foods work well and what foods send her children into crying fits, climbing mania or complete melt-down. It’s easy to blame sugar and for some kids that is the cause. But a recent release of a continuing study lists other food additives as the primary culprits.

Colours – Yellow 5 has been directly linked to hyperactivity in children with food sensitivities.

Other colour dyes approved by the FDA were linked to ailments within laboratory studies using lab mammals: Blue 2 led to brain cancer; Green 3 led to bladder and testes tumors; Red 3 led to thyroid tumors.

MSG can cause headaches, wheezing, and nausea among other symptoms. Research in the 1960s showed MSG destroyed nerve brain cells.

Olestra or Olean found in some Fat Free products is a synthetic fat that is not absorbed in the digestive system. In regular language, it causes diarrhea abdominal cramps and flatulence. If you have suffered these symptoms after eating a product with Olean you can file a report on the Center for Science in the Public Interest website: http://www.cspinet.org/olestraform/index.htm

Many of the ingredients on the sides of packages are completely unpronounceable. I usually wonder, what does that do to the food? Then I’m distracted by my child’s urgent need for something. Besides, where would I get the information about all the words I can’t pronounce and still ingest? The quick list is available http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm#mycoprotein in a listing called Chemical Cuisine.

For more information about the foods we eat everyday visit the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit which is celebrating 40 years of public service. http://www.cspinet.org/

Banana Bread in the Morning

One of life’s pleasures on a cool winter morning is the smell of banana baking in the oven. Sad to find many people have never experienced this simple pleasure. The process is easy.

Special equipment:
Masher or a fork to mash the bananas
Bread pans 9x5
Crisco
Toothpicks
Wire rack

Special ingredients:
Very ripe bananas
Some of the sweetest bananas for banana bread have nearly black peels. I would never eat the “over-ripe” mushy bananas but they are absolutely perfect for banana bread.

Banana Bread

6-7 large ripe bananas
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda

The process:

Mash the bananas in a bowl.

In a larger mixing bowl blend together the butter and sugar.

Mix in the bananas.

Mix in eggs and vanilla.

Combine the flour, salt and baking soda in a bowl.

Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Set aside.

Prepare the two bread pans with a thin layer of Crisco rubbed all over the inside of the pan.

Pour half the batter in each pan.

Bake at 350F, depending on your oven the bread maybe done in 35 - 60 minutes.

The first time you bake you’ll have to check it more often. Check by poking the bread in the center with a toothpick. Poke the bread at 35 minutes then every five minutes until it’s done. The toothpick will pull out clean when the bread is done.

Take the bread out of the oven. Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes.

Flip the bread out of the pan onto a wire rack for the final cooling.

Leonardo: A Vegetarian

We understand that Leonardo Da Vinci loved animals. He understood they are sentient beings, they have feelings. He understood that it was not required to kill to have a healthy body. He knew this to be true and lived without eating animals in the 15th Century.

"As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other." -Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

It is interesting that the act of killing any sentient being is brought together in this note as if he expects that one act leads to another. The act of killing, whatever it does within the soul makes the killer. There is no division in Leonardo’s mind.

“Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others” (Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519)

He lived in a tumultuous time. The government was involved in several wars for control of resources. The brutality of war may have prompted this statement. We do know that war interfered with some of the project on which he worked.

Of course, he was a genius or perhaps because of his conviction he became a genius. Regardless, he had hope for the future and that ethical men will look upon killing as killing without distinction of species.

"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men." -Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

Vegetarianism is a legitimate lifestyle choice. It doesn’t mean that you’re conservative or liberal but it does mean that the temple of your soul (your body) is maintained in optimum health. Some of the health conditions prevented or improved are:

Obesity
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Vitamin deficiency
Diminished Cognitive abilities
Heart Disease
Liver Disease
Gallbladder Disease
Sleep apnea
Osteoarthritis
Diabetes
Cancer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarian

Porridge in the morning, M-M- Good!

Oatmeal in the morning isn’t just for athletes. We can get all the same benefits weight lifters and other exercise fanatics get from their morning bowl of porridge. Health benefits include a leveling of metabolism, lower blood cholesterol and a stabilizing of blood glucose levels.

Oats grow on an Oat plant, also called Avena sativa. The top three producers of Oat are Russia (5.1 metric tons), Canada (3.3 metric tons) and the US (1.7 metric tons). Oats grow in temperate climates and require less heat and thrive with more rain.
Oats grow inside the hull of the plant. The plant is processed and the oats are rolled or ground for human consumption, while horses and cattle will eat the entire plant. Truly oats are an eco-friendly life cycle with every part of the plant being useful.

Health Benefits

The beta-glucan in oats is responsible for reducing the risk of heart disease, especially if combined with a low-fat diet. The fiber of rolled oat keeps digestion moving while providing maximum energy from the complex carbohydrates. Oatmeal is also high in B vitamins which are important for energy and overall good health and especially important for non-meat eaters.

Traditional Cooking Methods

Scotland: Oats have been a staple in the Scottish diet for centuries. Often cooks will soak the oats with some salt overnight then in the morning cook over a low heat until the mixture thickens.

Switzerland: Oats are soaked in milk, honey & cinnamon overnight then in the morning, add fruit & nuts, serve cold.

Vermont: An American version via Scottish settlers of the 19th Century, oatmeal is soaked overnight with a pinch of salt and maple syrup. In the morning, the mixture is cooked with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. This must be the best recipe because Vermont leads the US per capita for oatmeal consumption.

Clearly, oatmeal is a breakfast food of champions!

Benefits of Chocolate

Mary See’s understood good things are related to chocolate. There is nothing as memorable as the first time walking into the See’s Candy Store. With all the ladies behind the counter in white, white uniforms, proving just how clean and good for you the product can be… I am a believer… a chocolate believer.

I justify and supplement my dietary chocolate requirement with M&Ms. When I was busy creating my youngest child, I had cravings for M&Ms and lots of them. Believe me eating chocolate for two was a high point. :) Now, I know if a pregnant woman eats enough chocolate the baby will have brown eyes…

Italian scientist studied hypertension and found that chocolate lowers blood pressure. Even as little as one bar per day will ease the tension in your life creating a feeling of pleasure. It’s the endorphins doing their job.

Stressed out… eat chocolate

Research for this entry:
http://www.sees.com/
http://www.mymms.com/
and eating lots of chocolate. ;)

Importance of Vitamin D

In the not-too-distant past, the family doctor knew you well enough to recommend the proper treatment for nearly every condition. It was not unusual for him, as most family doctors at the beginning of the 20th century were men, to say, you need to spend the winter in a different climate or you need to move.

The treatment for melancholy or as it’s now known Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) was to move to a warmer, sunnier climate. It was the impetus for the saying : Go West Young Man!

Today we know that vitamin D deficiency can have a plethora of symptoms: Unexplained muscle pain, fatigue, weak bones, fractures, mood swings, lowered immunity, low energy, sleep disturbances, PMS, hormonal imbalance, slow healing from injuries, among other symptoms. Who knew that one vitamin could have such a wide range of symptoms if it reaches a critically low proportion in the body.

A simple blood test will determine if you are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. Current studies suggest that outdated information suggests 400-600IU as adequate for adults. But new studies are showing that truly healthy adults need 3000-5000 IU per day with the ability for an adult to metabolize up to 10,000 IU per day without any armful side effects. Moderates suggest an intake of 2,000 IU daily.

What Vitamin D Does

Vitamin D supports mineral absorption and metabolism.
Vitamin D regulates cell differentiation (prevents cancer).
Vitamin D regulates over 200 genes.
Vitamin D promotes blood sugar regulation.

Prolonged Vitamin D Deficiency

Higher Risk of Cancer
Higher Risk of Diabetes
Higher Risk of Osteoporosis
Higher Risk of Hormone Imbalance
Higher Risk of Depression
Higher Risk of Weight Gain/Obesity

How to Get More Vitamin D

15 - 40 minutes of Sun every day, depending on your skin pigmentation.
Cod Liver Oil
Vitamin D supplement
Egg Yolks
Fortified Organic Milk
Fortified Dairy Products
Fatty Fish

Travel Albuquerque

Few places leave as intense an impression as Albuquerque, New Mexico. We drove through on our way West and were thrilled to find many of the autumn attractions were in full swing in March…

Old Towne Albuquerque founded in the early 1700s, home to the San Felipe Catholic Church, is among the oldest of European settlements in the country. Merchants sell southwestern clothes and home décor from their shops. Street vendors sell their hand-crafted jewelry and carvings from blankets along the walkways.

The scent of roasted chili not comparable with any other, has become a favorite and a scent associated with this charming place. The chili is flavorful and HOT!

A great time to really enjoy the area is during October. The heat of summer has simmered to nice days and somewhat cool evenings. Roasters are rolling chili. And the International Balloon Fiesta adds colorful brilliance to the skies.

A good time to visit Albuquerque is for the International Balloon Fiesta October 2-10, 2010.

Wise Women in the Kitchen

Some of the best memories of childhood often center in the kitchen. Ask people about the things that made their childhood good, it usually includes yummy food from the kitchen given with love by a parent or grandparent who served the favorite food. Taste, Smell, Touch Sight and Sound these are the hallmarks that bring tears to the eyes of the old people when they recall their own family, their own childhood.

The wise women of today, often overlooked by contemporary culture quietly continue the tradition of kitchen memories; giving to their children and grandchildren old or new versions of family recipes. These are the things from which our souls and our bodies gain strength.

To create a family tradition and sensory experience children will take with them through life, you must rotate enjoyment of favored foods sprinkled with love and smiles.

Make a list of recipes you enjoy cooking. Make a list of recipes your family loves to eat.

Survey the lists: How many recipes on the list are for every day meals? Do you keep these ingredients on hand? How many recipes are for special occasions? How often do you prepare these recipes?

One of the points of wisdom grandmother so cleverly included in family traditions was the variety of meals that offered an array of foods over the course of the week, month and year. Many meals were prepared from similar ingredients but changed in taste and texture by the side dishes or the spices.

Traditional meals don't just happen. There is a plan, maybe grandmother didn't share the plan with you but if you smell a certain dish and think holiday or Sunday afternoon, I guarantee that your grandmother had a plan.

Confessions of a Chocoholic

Confessions of a Chocoholic

I LOVE CHOCOLATE! I’ve always loved chocolate, but good chocolate. I’m not a chocolate fiend that will eat any old kind of chocolate. You could call me a chocolate connoisseur.

Milk Chocolate is a staple of the American diet. Without milk chocolate there would be no Kiss; just a little smooch to get you through a tough time or a small hunger pang.

Dark Chocolate is for a serious moment. Suck on dark chocolate to realign the attitude. Breathe. Release the tension of the day.

Really Dark Chocolate, you know the kind, with the Cocoa warning label… only for the experienced chocolate eater; not to be taken lightly and beware the habit forming effects that could impact your waistline and love life.

Hot Chocolate may be served anytime of the day, it’s a tasty alternative to bitter coffee. Whipped cream or Marshmallows on top, I’ll have none of those frills. I’m hard core, I’ll drink my chocolate straight, thank you.

Chocolate in combination with other yummy tastes hit the spot mid-afternoon like nothing else. Reese’s Peanut Butter cup what a great food item. Peanuts are protein, with chocolate.

One thing I did notice recently, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups and even the smaller snack version in the multiple chocolate pack wrapped in pastel Easter colors are fresh and tasty, but somewhere along the way the candy man decided to add a second piece of paper cup adding to the overall weight of the product but not to the quantity of chocolate. In fact, if you think about it, buying candy by weight when each piece has two cups and one foil wrapper decreases your chocolate consumption significantly when you add it over a period of time. Frankly, I’d rather have the chocolate than add anymore to the landfill than is absolutely necessary.

Dear Reese’s

Please wrap the candy only once with light weight, biodegradable paper, so we can have more chocolate to meet the advertised weight on the bag. It's a truely sustainable plan for the betterment of humankind and the planet.

Yours Truly,
Chocoholic

Very Easy Yummy Recipe

My chiropractor's wife/receptionist told me how to make this cake. I was skeptical because it seemed just too easy. But it's yummy! And the empty pan can testify to a cross-generational success!

One box Devil's Food Chocolate Cake Mix
One 12 ounce can of Dr Pepper

Mix

Prep the baking dish as you would for cake. Bake as directed.

Top with powdered sugar, or ice cream, or plain...