Archive for June 2009

Tasty Tuesday: Tuscan Dinner

By Val · Comments (0)
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

TastyTuesdayThis is a one-dish wonder! Makes for quicker prep time and easier clean up – just what all busy moms are looking for, wouldn’t you agree?

While this dish is quite hearty on it’s own, you might stretch it to serve more by making it a side dish to grilled or seasoned baked chicken breasts, then maybe add a green salad on the side as well. Either way, be sure to have some crusty bread or dinner rolls to go along with it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoon Olive oil
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped zucchini
  • 1/2 cup sliced onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced celery
  • 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup dried tomato
  • 1 (15oz) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed & drained
  • 2 rosemary sprigs
  • 1 cup chopped spinach
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1/2 cup (2 oz) pre-shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

  1. Heat oil in skillet.
  2. Add zucchini and next 5 ingredients, sauté 10 minutes
  3. Stir in tomato, beans, and rosemary, cook 5 minutes
  4. Add spinach, salt, pepper to zucchini mixture.
  5. Cook until spinach wilts.
  6. Sprinkle with cheese.
  7. Cover & let stand until cheese begins to melt.

Reminder: Discard the rosemary sprigs before serving.

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Categories : Fruits & Veggies, Retreat Cookbook

5 Cool Twists for Your Summer Workout

By Val · Comments (0)
Friday, June 26th, 2009

fiveforfriday This past Sunday was the first day of Summer on the calendar, and this week we had our area’s hottest temperatures so far this year. I watched the news and the people running in this heat and it got me wondering “can’t they find ways to workout inside?” I am not an expert, but I did a little research and came up with these 5 cool twists to add to your indoor summer workout. Most of them are relatively inexpensive as well, and that’s always good.

  • Yoga - Grab 30 minutes before the kids wake up and start your day with a quiet yoga routine. It is good for the body improving your overall flexibility and strength, and it is good for the soul, leaving you feeling refreshed and clear headed, better able to concentrate. Then you will be ready to tackle your day.
  • Pole Dancing Workout - Poles aren’t just for firemen and strippers anymore! Pole Dancing workouts have exploded in popularity – you can find organized classes, or install one yourself to do your workout in the privacy of your own home. While definitely not low impact, the workouts tone muscles like thighs, calves, abdomen and arms. And because of the sexual overtones attached to a pole workout, it can leave you feeling more sexy and feminine.
  • Walking - An excellent low impact aerobic activity that can be done outdoors, around the neighborhood, or the local track – on the nice days. Indoors your options may be a little limited. If you have a treadmill – then hop on and walk away to a walking workout tape, or put on your MP3 player and listen to music that will get you walking at a good pace. Another indoor walking alternative is shopping malls, thing is you have to walk, not shop! Walking is excellent aerobic exercise when done strenuously enough.
  • Resistance or Exercise Bands - Think giant rubberbands with benefits. Seriously, these bands can be an affordable alternative to free weights. They are compact, and ultra portable, so they are easy to tuck away or pack to take with you anywhere. Check on the package as they are typically colorcoded by resistance levels. Too many benefits to go into in this little space, but not only can they help with building strength and muscle tone, they can also be beneficial in improving coordination and balance.
  • Balance Ball - Also known as an Exercise or Stability ball. This is an affordable option for beginners, and for those more advanced, it can bring some variation to your normal workout routine. You can do exercises with it to target core muscle groups, as well as use it being another way to improve your overall balance and coordination. It will be a great addition to your home-gym equipment, as long as you can keep the kids from bouncing on it.

So, the next time it’s 100 degrees outside in the shade, or tomorrow, take the dirty clothes off the treadmill, clear a spot on the floor somewhere. Add one or two of the above twists to your summer workout. Keep it indoors, and don’t sweat it – as much. LOL!

Find Time Mama

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Categories : Mom's Well-Being, Our Body
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Tasty Tuesday: Healthy Snacks

By Val · Comments (1)
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

TastyTuesday Boy, this can be a tough one to deal with on a daily basis for both you and your kids. Why? Now that school is out, the structure of your schedule can often be more flexible. Well, for working parents it’s hard to keep the routine in effect throughout the day. Since you aren’t with your children 24/7, then you have to hope they are educated enough about health and their body that they will make the right decisions.

If you are with your kids for most of the day, it’s a good idea to set up some sort of routine about snacks. If you allow two or three snack times throughout the day, one may be for ice cream or some other treat, and the others might be healthier. Below are some general options to implement in your daily life. Each of them allows for much variation.

The Veggie Tray
A good way to give your kids healthier snacks during the summer and after school is to make a veggie tray. It will allow them to try different vegetables, but it will also only give them the option of eating healthy. Oh, and yes, it’s okay to give them dip for the celery, carrots, cauliflower, or broccoli – maybe peanut butter for the celery, or ranch dressing with the carrots and other raw veggies. If you want to expand their taste buds, add something they haven’t had before and see if they try it. You never know what they may end up liking.

The Fruit Tray
Again, this is just another way to give them different options. Orange slices, apples, bananas, berries, pineapple chunks, and several other fruits will work well. The thing you need to remember is your tray doesn’t have to be boring. Add some peanut butter for dipping the apples or make fruit snacks out of several different fruits skewered on a popsicle stick, or serve the chunks on toothpicks. If you have older kids it may be a little cheesy, but for the younger ones they will enjoy it.

Remembering Milk
Unfortunately, milk has taken a backseat to Gatorade and other juices for some families today. (Not so much here – my kids LOVE milk!) A way to get your children to drink more each day is by adding a snack that goes well with milk. An alternative to cookies, try giving them graham crackers to dip in the milk. It’s a bit more of a healthier choice and there aren’t too many children who will turn their nose up to this snack.

Keep the Variety Going
You don’t have to do the same thing each week – variety is the spice of life. Try mixing up your healthy snacks, even give them some choices, and your children will be developing healthier eating habits. Not only will they enjoy it, but you will also be making this a new part of their daily routine, which will translate into healthier kids and a happier you.

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Categories : Retreat Cookbook, Snacks

7 Frugal Father’s Day Ideas

By Val · Comments (0)
Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Father’s Day is coming up this one week from today, June 21st. In an earlier post, we gave you some Special BBQ Recipes to get you started on your celebration’s menu. While you know you’d like to get him something nice, maybe an expensive gift isn’t in the budget. These seven frugal ideas for a special father are sure to make the father in your family feel loved and appreciated.

1. Let the children make him a T-shirt with their handprints on it. The craft is very simple and your children will love the opportunity to create something special just for Dad. Find fabric paints in Dad’s favorite colors and purchase a 100% cotton T-shirt for each child to decorate. Put the fabric paint on a disposable plate and then have the children place their hands on the shirt. Follow washing instructions after the paint has dried. You may want to have the children sign and date the shirt so Dad can see how much the children have grown.

2. Let Dad know you support his dreams by opening up a “dream fund” for him. You don’t have to fill the entire fund up immediately, but you can add a little here and there every year to help him make his dream item a reality. Maybe you could save change in a jar for him to add to his dream fund or put aside as little as $5.00 a month. Before long there will be a good sized amount in the account and he’ll be well on his way to getting that dream tool or bigger ticket item.

3. For those of you who have long distance Father’s Day wishes to send, many newspapers will run special advertisements for major holidays, and that could include Father’s Day. Purchase a small ad in Dad’s local newspaper to let him know how much he means to you and how much you love him. Just remember to put his name on the ad or someone else might think the ad is for them!

4. Gasoline prices change every day. Why not give Dad a gift card specifically for his next fill up? Not only is this gift practical, it will also let him keep that much money in his pocket for the week. He can either put the money into his dream fund or splurge and eat out with the guys at the office one day during the week.

5. If the Dad in your family is like most men, he most likely loves to grill. Why not purchase an inexpensive white barbecue apron and decorate it yourself? You can dye it any color and then use fabric paints to write “Kiss the Cook” or “King of the Grill” He’ll be sure to use the apron the next time he grills.

6. Plan an outing for everyone in the family to enjoy on Father’s Day. This might be something as simple as a picnic in the park to something more elaborate like planning an entire day going fishing with him. Whatever his favorite activity is – golfing, bicycling, playing card games, or just watching TV – do that activity with him. The time spent with him will mean more than any cheesy tie you could ever buy him.

7. Don’t forget to feed Dad on his special day. Many restaurants have special prices for Dads. If you can’t afford an entire meal out, why not treat him to his favorite ice cream? Remember the 5 Father’s Day BBQ Recipes we previously posted too – eat at home, save the gas and the money.

Perhaps these seven frugal ideas for a special Father’s Day have sparked some creative ideas of your own. Remember, whatever you choose to do with Dad on his day, as long as you let him know how much you love him, he’ll probably be happy.

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5 Father’s Day BBQ Recipes

By Val · Comments (1)
Friday, June 12th, 2009

This Five for Friday might help you get started thinking about Father’s Day. What do you have planned for Dad this year? If your husband, or Dad is like so many, he loves to barbecue. Why not use one of these five delicious recipes for a special Father’s Day barbecue and give him the day off? Of course, just because it’s “his” day, that doesn’t mean he’ll let you at his grill.

  1. Grilled hamburgers are always a hit, but you may want to incorporate another of Dad’s favorites – blue cheese. While you’re preparing the two pounds of ground beef (preferably ground chuck), add ¾ teaspoon onion powder, 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 ½ tablespoons horseradish (optional), salt and pepper to taste. Mix this thoroughly and then form into patties. Grill the burgers over hot heat until they reach a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Fix the burgers with your favorite fixings and enjoy!
  2. Steaks are another grilling favorite and nothing could be better than a great grilled rib eye steak for Father’s Day. Mix together ¼ cup steak sauce and ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Add one clove or minced garlic and ½ teaspoon dried oregano. Combine this thoroughly and then pour into a zip top bag that holds the steaks. Let them marinate in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. Then grill for four to five minutes on each side.
  3. Perhaps your dad prefers seafood. Why not grill up some spicy barbecue shrimp? The recipe is simple: ½ cup butter, 3/4 cup barbecue sauce, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 pounds of unshelled shrimp, ½ cup dry sherry, and cayenne pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder to taste. Toss the shrimp in the mixture and then prepare your grill. Be very careful when grilling the shrimp; you may need a fish tray or use skewers to keep the shrimp from falling through the grill. Cook for about four minutes on each side.
  4. Barbecued ribs are another favorite. You’ll need six pounds of ribs, 1 1/3 cup ketchup, ¾ cup water, ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 4 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 small onion, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Mix all of the ingredients together except the ribs, and cook for ten minutes. Brush the ribs with sauce and cook the ribs over medium hot coals for about an hour.
  5. Don’t forget about dessert! Yes, even this can be prepared using the grill. Why not prepare grilled pound cake with berries and ice cream. You’ll need one pound cake – already prepared or home-made, ice cream, and whatever kind of berries your dad likes most. Slice the pound cake and then heat each slice on a clean, hot grill for a couple of minutes or until you can see grill marks on each side of the cake. Remove the cake from the grill, then top each piece with a scoop of Dad’s favorite ice cream. Top it all off with ½ cup of fresh berries per slice.

    6. Father’s Day comes but once a year. Try one or more of these five recipes for a special Father’s Day BBQ. With food like this, your hubby, or dad may ask you to prepare the same feast every year!

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Categories : Retreat Cookbook
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