In the Old Testament the New is concealed, in the New the Old is revealed. St. Augustine
Friday, October 14, 2011
Holiday dieting . . . My way!
How many times have you said, "Okay, family, when the holiday goodies are gone, no more junk. We can enjoy the sweets related to the festivities at hand but will go back to healthy eating habits afterwards. October starts off the empty calory marathon as soon as that first piece of Halloween/All Saints Day candy falls into our children’s hands. Just as they finish this windfall, here comes Thanksgiving and Christmas. In my experience, one can pretty much keep the sugar high going right through until Easter.
Since the treats are going to be around, I’m here to give you a handy calory/food value outline of your best bets.
The old standby - Hershey bars. Now you would think that the plain chocolate would be the better choice. Nope! My research reveals that the Hershey bar with almonds is the healthier choice with only 7 grams of fat versus the 9 found in the plain bar! The protein is three grams higher for the almond bar. I guess the nuts displace some of the chocolate. Both bars have only four percent of the daily requirement of fiber so adjust your intake accordingly.
Snickers, the healthy choice, right? Hey, it has all those nuts in them! Well, the peanut Snicker bars 14 grams of fat whereas the almond type weighs in at only eleven. Think how good you will feel when you hand your child the almond version, knowing you are cutting their fat intake for the day by three grams. This is what makes motherhood so worthwhile.
Peanut M&Ms has 13 grams of fat which would make it an reasonable option if you feel like splurging. The weight watchers should probably still stick to the Almond Snickers, however. Surprisingly, of all the candy bars mentioned, the Hershey with Almonds has the most iron at four percent of you minimum, daily requirement. Something to think of when you are trying to enjoy your snacks and meet your daily needs.
Interesting, even with all that coconut, Almond Joy bars only provide two percent in the fiber department. It does have two percent less fat that the peanut Snickers so, again, you can use your common sense when incorporating one in your diet.
Don’t bother with Pay Day bars. There is no chocolate involved and they still come in at 14 grams of fat. Doesn’t seem right, somehow. Even with all the peanuts, the fiber content is a measly two percent, hardly worth the sacrifice of the chocolate.
Being a hard-working mom, I realize that I have to maintain strong bones in order to persevere with my daily life. Here is the big surprise - The two Hershey bars and the regular Snickers have eight percent of your calcium needs. The Snickers with Almonds have two percent less making them a reasonable option but not the best one. Twix and Peanut M&M’s show up with four percent. Pay Day bars and Almond Joys trail at only two percent making them a treat but not a permanent lifestyle for the health conscious.
Now that I’ve finished this research project, I still have to dispose of the research itself - eight candy bars. Funny how I happened to pick all my favorite ones! Oh, well, I figure that I can get 42 percent of my daily calcium requirement by disposing of this research myself.
Since the treats are going to be around, I’m here to give you a handy calory/food value outline of your best bets.
The old standby - Hershey bars. Now you would think that the plain chocolate would be the better choice. Nope! My research reveals that the Hershey bar with almonds is the healthier choice with only 7 grams of fat versus the 9 found in the plain bar! The protein is three grams higher for the almond bar. I guess the nuts displace some of the chocolate. Both bars have only four percent of the daily requirement of fiber so adjust your intake accordingly.
Snickers, the healthy choice, right? Hey, it has all those nuts in them! Well, the peanut Snicker bars 14 grams of fat whereas the almond type weighs in at only eleven. Think how good you will feel when you hand your child the almond version, knowing you are cutting their fat intake for the day by three grams. This is what makes motherhood so worthwhile.
Peanut M&Ms has 13 grams of fat which would make it an reasonable option if you feel like splurging. The weight watchers should probably still stick to the Almond Snickers, however. Surprisingly, of all the candy bars mentioned, the Hershey with Almonds has the most iron at four percent of you minimum, daily requirement. Something to think of when you are trying to enjoy your snacks and meet your daily needs.
Interesting, even with all that coconut, Almond Joy bars only provide two percent in the fiber department. It does have two percent less fat that the peanut Snickers so, again, you can use your common sense when incorporating one in your diet.
Don’t bother with Pay Day bars. There is no chocolate involved and they still come in at 14 grams of fat. Doesn’t seem right, somehow. Even with all the peanuts, the fiber content is a measly two percent, hardly worth the sacrifice of the chocolate.
Being a hard-working mom, I realize that I have to maintain strong bones in order to persevere with my daily life. Here is the big surprise - The two Hershey bars and the regular Snickers have eight percent of your calcium needs. The Snickers with Almonds have two percent less making them a reasonable option but not the best one. Twix and Peanut M&M’s show up with four percent. Pay Day bars and Almond Joys trail at only two percent making them a treat but not a permanent lifestyle for the health conscious.
Now that I’ve finished this research project, I still have to dispose of the research itself - eight candy bars. Funny how I happened to pick all my favorite ones! Oh, well, I figure that I can get 42 percent of my daily calcium requirement by disposing of this research myself.
A Quote to remember . . .
"The casting of the ballot is the supreme act of citizenship. Ballot in hand, the citizen is a sovereign, and with his fellow-citizens he decides the destiny of the Republic. Archbishop Ireland 1895
I need a trip to the Chinese grocery store . . .
I was browsing through my recipes and Asian food appealed to me but my cupboard is bare of soy sauce and my ginger root has dried out. I need to visit the Chinese grocery store. The store we shop at is tucked away in a small strip mall. When you walk in the door, you are blasted with the smell of fresh and frying fish. The fish/meat counter is fascinating as they deal with some cuts of meat I'm not familiar with and the sodden wood boxes of fish stare at you as you walk past. Believe it or not, in spite of the small size of the store, it is loaded with all the unique items many Asian recipes call for but you aren't likely to find in the regular grocery stores and the prices are more than reasonable. If I can get over to this store today, my family is likely to see one or two of the following recipes on the table this weekend.
Egg Rolls
1 package egg or spring roll wrappers (usually in the refrigerated section)
1 egg, scrambled
½ cup shredded cabbage (you don’t need any special type)
1 cup cooked, shredded meat. (Keep an eye on your leftovers for this!)
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Chinese barbeque sauce or paste, optional but a great flavor enhancement
1 egg, uncooked
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
Combine the cooked egg, cabbage, meat, garlic, soy sauce, barbeque sauce, raw egg and salt and pepper to taste. Take one sheet of egg roll wrapper. Place a tablespoon or so on the narrower edge closest to you. Brush the beaten egg on the other three edges. Fold the long sides over about an inch on each side. Roll the egg roll up, securing the end with a little more or your egg ‘glue’. Set aside on waxed paper until ready to cook. While you complete your egg rolls, heat a deep pot of vegetable oil or use a fryer if you have one. Deep fry each egg roll until golden. Drain on paper towels. After they have all cooled a bit, deep fry them again until deeper brown. This is what insures a crisp egg roll. If you have a delay in serving, they will keep pretty well in a 350 degree oven for five or ten minutes. Serve as soon as possible.
The wonton wrapper are a third of the size of the spring roll wrapper. These can be used to make small, appetizer-sized egg rolls. They are made the same as the egg rolls only you end up with miniature egg rolls that even the children will exclaim over.
If you have a handful of chicken or roast beef left over, save it and you can make Wonton Soup. The filling is up to your tastes, however, I can give you a few ideas to get you started.
Filled Wonton for Soup
Approximately one cup of finely chopped cooked chicken or beef.
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Dash soy sauce
½ teaspoon Sesame Oil
1 green onion, finely chopped
1 sliver fresh ginger (found in vegetable section), peeled and diced
1 raw egg
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, well beaten
Chicken broth, fresh or canned
Combine all ingredients in a bowl except for beaten egg and broth. Mix thoroughly. Take one wonton skin, brush entire surface with beaten egg. Place a teaspoon of filling in the middle. Fold over to form a triangle. Press edges together firmly. The egg ‘glue’ should keep them together. Set aside on waxed paper until all of them are ready.
These filled wonton can be boiled in a simple chicken broth and served piping hot as a starter to dinner. You can make the soup a bit heartier with the addition of diced vegetables, some Chinese pea pods, bamboo shoots or water chestnuts. What sounds good to you today?
Basic Chicken Broth
Save your chicken wings, necks and backs for this!
2 green onions
1 brown onion, quartered
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 thin slices of fresh ginger
2 ribs of celery
1 carrot
2 cloves fresh garlic, smashed
Water to cover ingredients
Place all of the above in a large cooking pot. Very slowly bring to a simmer and keep it cooking two hours. Cool down and strain out all the solids and discard. You may be able to salvage bits of chicken from the bones and that can only add to your creation. Add vegetables of choice, bring to a boil and gently toss in your filled wonton. Cook until they are just hot through. Serve in bowls with a sprinkling of minced green onion, parsley and, perhaps, a teaspoon of toasted Sesame seeds.
The egg roll and wonton wrappers are not limited to savory meal time offerings. They can also be used with sweet fillings for coffee time or interesting desserts.
Walnut-Wonton Treats
Won Ton skins
3/4 cup almost ground walnuts
Zest of one lemon
2 tablespoons honey or lemon juice and 1/4 cup dark, brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Thoroughly combine all ingredients. Fill wonton skins as previously instructed. Deep fry once until very golden brown. Drain on paper towel, arrange on a platter and dust with powdered sugar.
Spicy Apple-Filled Egg Rolls-
3-4 green apples, coarsely chopped
½ cup granulated sugar, more if you like it sweeter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Zest of one lemon
Sprinkling of lemon juice
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Use only a bit of lemon juice to flavor not soak! Wrap the egg rolls according to previous recipes using the raw egg to seal. Deep fry until pale golden. As before, when they are slightly cool, deep fry again until deep gold and crisp. Drain and serve with a dusting of powdered sugar, whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
If you need a quick sweet, try cutting either the wonton or egg roll wrappers into wide strips and deep fry until golden. Drain, pile on an attractive platter and dust with powdered sugar.
Egg Rolls
1 package egg or spring roll wrappers (usually in the refrigerated section)
1 egg, scrambled
½ cup shredded cabbage (you don’t need any special type)
1 cup cooked, shredded meat. (Keep an eye on your leftovers for this!)
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Chinese barbeque sauce or paste, optional but a great flavor enhancement
1 egg, uncooked
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
Combine the cooked egg, cabbage, meat, garlic, soy sauce, barbeque sauce, raw egg and salt and pepper to taste. Take one sheet of egg roll wrapper. Place a tablespoon or so on the narrower edge closest to you. Brush the beaten egg on the other three edges. Fold the long sides over about an inch on each side. Roll the egg roll up, securing the end with a little more or your egg ‘glue’. Set aside on waxed paper until ready to cook. While you complete your egg rolls, heat a deep pot of vegetable oil or use a fryer if you have one. Deep fry each egg roll until golden. Drain on paper towels. After they have all cooled a bit, deep fry them again until deeper brown. This is what insures a crisp egg roll. If you have a delay in serving, they will keep pretty well in a 350 degree oven for five or ten minutes. Serve as soon as possible.
The wonton wrapper are a third of the size of the spring roll wrapper. These can be used to make small, appetizer-sized egg rolls. They are made the same as the egg rolls only you end up with miniature egg rolls that even the children will exclaim over.
If you have a handful of chicken or roast beef left over, save it and you can make Wonton Soup. The filling is up to your tastes, however, I can give you a few ideas to get you started.
Filled Wonton for Soup
Approximately one cup of finely chopped cooked chicken or beef.
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Dash soy sauce
½ teaspoon Sesame Oil
1 green onion, finely chopped
1 sliver fresh ginger (found in vegetable section), peeled and diced
1 raw egg
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, well beaten
Chicken broth, fresh or canned
Combine all ingredients in a bowl except for beaten egg and broth. Mix thoroughly. Take one wonton skin, brush entire surface with beaten egg. Place a teaspoon of filling in the middle. Fold over to form a triangle. Press edges together firmly. The egg ‘glue’ should keep them together. Set aside on waxed paper until all of them are ready.
These filled wonton can be boiled in a simple chicken broth and served piping hot as a starter to dinner. You can make the soup a bit heartier with the addition of diced vegetables, some Chinese pea pods, bamboo shoots or water chestnuts. What sounds good to you today?
Basic Chicken Broth
Save your chicken wings, necks and backs for this!
2 green onions
1 brown onion, quartered
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 thin slices of fresh ginger
2 ribs of celery
1 carrot
2 cloves fresh garlic, smashed
Water to cover ingredients
Place all of the above in a large cooking pot. Very slowly bring to a simmer and keep it cooking two hours. Cool down and strain out all the solids and discard. You may be able to salvage bits of chicken from the bones and that can only add to your creation. Add vegetables of choice, bring to a boil and gently toss in your filled wonton. Cook until they are just hot through. Serve in bowls with a sprinkling of minced green onion, parsley and, perhaps, a teaspoon of toasted Sesame seeds.
The egg roll and wonton wrappers are not limited to savory meal time offerings. They can also be used with sweet fillings for coffee time or interesting desserts.
Walnut-Wonton Treats
Won Ton skins
3/4 cup almost ground walnuts
Zest of one lemon
2 tablespoons honey or lemon juice and 1/4 cup dark, brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Thoroughly combine all ingredients. Fill wonton skins as previously instructed. Deep fry once until very golden brown. Drain on paper towel, arrange on a platter and dust with powdered sugar.
Spicy Apple-Filled Egg Rolls-
3-4 green apples, coarsely chopped
½ cup granulated sugar, more if you like it sweeter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Zest of one lemon
Sprinkling of lemon juice
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Use only a bit of lemon juice to flavor not soak! Wrap the egg rolls according to previous recipes using the raw egg to seal. Deep fry until pale golden. As before, when they are slightly cool, deep fry again until deep gold and crisp. Drain and serve with a dusting of powdered sugar, whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
If you need a quick sweet, try cutting either the wonton or egg roll wrappers into wide strips and deep fry until golden. Drain, pile on an attractive platter and dust with powdered sugar.
Fun thought to think about . . .
"People might not get all they work for in this world, but they
must certainly work for all they get."
-- Frederick Douglass
-- Frederick Douglass
"There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who
wants to read a book and the tired man who wants a book to read."
-- G. K. Chesterton
-- G. K. Chesterton
"A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even
his name."
-- Evan Esar
-- Evan Esar
"Hello seeker! Now don't feel alone here in the New Age, because
there's a seeker born every minute."
-- Firesign Theatre
-- Firesign Theatre
Still shaking my head over the latest and greatest from our State Government . . .
It is still hard to wrap my head around the fact that our governor has signed into law a bill that allows our children, twelve and older, to make medical decisions for themselves regarding vaccines. Not only can they obtain these injections without our consent ot knowledge, the manufacturer is not going to be held responsible for any side effects which could include disability and death. Sure, you are thinking to yourself, my child hates shots and would never ask or or allow herself to get an injection. I'm thinking the government has already thought this out and peer pressure or bribes might be in the works to get as many of our children under this new, liberal agenda.
In a way, it is amusing that in the State of California, children who suffer ill effects from fresh milk (from the cow not the store) can sue the company/farm that produces this. We have to ban soft drinks from school grounds because we can't trust our children to make the right decision on what they drink. Many school lunch programs are mandatory because we can't trust children to bring a healthy lunch to school. We can't even allow them chocolate milk because it is 'bad for them'. Yet, the politicians think these same children are equipped to make an informed decision about a vaccine injected into their bodies.
And, why does the world think parents are unable to make personal decisions about their own children? Even before this law was passed, many of us have run into interference at the doctor's office over Gardasil. At my daughters' last check up, it was brought up and the friendly atmosphere cooled down a whole lot when I politely said we would like to wait until more research is done on this vaccine. Another friend said the nurse recommended the vaccine and when she turned it down, she came back with another nurse who mentioned a whole lot of sexual reasons to get her daughter injected. My friend did not appreciate this nurse and stranger speaking of such things in front of her innocent daughter.
You get apprehensive these days as you see so many of our rights as private citizens being eroded away in favor of government control. The people I know and myself have successfully raised our children to young adulthood without government 'help' yet the government keeps coming up with ways to tell us 'how to do it right'.
Prayer is our weaspon and until everyone puts this kind of occurance in our world on a daily prayer petition, we stand a good chance of being swallowed up in governmental red tape and rules.
In a way, it is amusing that in the State of California, children who suffer ill effects from fresh milk (from the cow not the store) can sue the company/farm that produces this. We have to ban soft drinks from school grounds because we can't trust our children to make the right decision on what they drink. Many school lunch programs are mandatory because we can't trust children to bring a healthy lunch to school. We can't even allow them chocolate milk because it is 'bad for them'. Yet, the politicians think these same children are equipped to make an informed decision about a vaccine injected into their bodies.
And, why does the world think parents are unable to make personal decisions about their own children? Even before this law was passed, many of us have run into interference at the doctor's office over Gardasil. At my daughters' last check up, it was brought up and the friendly atmosphere cooled down a whole lot when I politely said we would like to wait until more research is done on this vaccine. Another friend said the nurse recommended the vaccine and when she turned it down, she came back with another nurse who mentioned a whole lot of sexual reasons to get her daughter injected. My friend did not appreciate this nurse and stranger speaking of such things in front of her innocent daughter.
You get apprehensive these days as you see so many of our rights as private citizens being eroded away in favor of government control. The people I know and myself have successfully raised our children to young adulthood without government 'help' yet the government keeps coming up with ways to tell us 'how to do it right'.
Prayer is our weaspon and until everyone puts this kind of occurance in our world on a daily prayer petition, we stand a good chance of being swallowed up in governmental red tape and rules.
Nice quote to begin the weekend . . .
“Do not be suspicious of your brother, for you will lose purity of heart!”
~St. John of the Cross
My productive Day . . .
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