Lemon Drop Martini

Stirrings makes a great Lemon Drop Martini Mix as well as an awesome Rimmer.

3 oz. Ciroc Vodka
1/2 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 1/2 oz. Stirrings Lemon Drop Martini Miz

Shake Vigorously with ice.  Pour into a chilled, Lemon-Drop Rimmed Glass and garnish with 2 fresh lemon wheels.

Enjoy!

Southern Hoppin John

This Southern Hoppin John is full of healthy fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.

• 2 cups fresh shelled, rinsed black eye peas (from produce section) - Boiled in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes, drained, set aside.

• 1 med. onion chopped
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• dash celery salt
• dash black pepper, white pepper, and sea salt
• 1 package Uncle Ben's microwavable whole grain brown rice  (2 cups)
• 2 cups washed, fresh chopped Kale
• 2 Tb. butter to finish

Add the cooked, rinsed, and drained peas with the ingredients that follow (except the rice and butter) and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes.  Fold in the rice and butter to finish.

This is an excellent, healthy dish.  Hope you enjoy!  

Recent Visit to Wine Country

Above is a picture from the brand new Trinchero Winery location. (The new open kitchen) My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful private luncheon at their new facility.  We had ribs, crab cakes, heirloom tomatoes w/ buffalo mozzarella, Caesar salad...and of course, wine. 

Below is the view of the vineyards from their new location.

 

Trinchero purchased their new winery from two psychiatrists.  The psychiatrist partners (romantic, I think) made their own label of wine and named it "Folie a Deux"...because everyone thought they were crazy for quitting their practice and starting a winery.  It translates as "two people who share the same madness or delusion".  Trinchero liked the wine and the name -  and so they kept it.

From Wikipedia:  

Folie à deux (English pronunciation: /fɒˈli ə ˈduː/, from the French for "a madness shared by two") is a rare psychiatric syndrome in which a symptom of psychosis (particularly a paranoid or delusional belief) is transmitted from one individual to another. The same syndrome shared by more than two people may be called folie à trois, folie à quatre, folie à famille or even folie à plusieurs ("madness of many"). Recent psychiatric classifications refer to the syndrome as shared psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) (297.3) and induced delusional disorder (folie à deux) (F.24) in the ICD-10, although the research literature largely uses the original name.

Too Funny, right?!

 

The Beringer Estate House is exceptional and beautiful. (See Below)

 

We visited a lot of wineries on our trip.  We went to both Napa and Sonoma.  It was so much fun.  Silver Oak was super nice, Chalk Hill, Beringer, St. Francis, Rodney Strong, Stag' Leap,...Oh, there were so many that were unbelievably nice!

Blackstone: 

We met a wonderful woman, Judy Oliver-Rose, at Blackstone Winery.  We tasted everything!  (Here is my new friend, Judy)

We tried a wonderful new wine that I highly recommend.  It is Blackstone Rubric. 

It is a blend of: Cabernet Suvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Tannat, Merlot, and Petie Sirah.  And - It is amazing!

Judy was so generous with her time...she took us into the barrel room, with a thief in hand, and allowed us to sample some truly wonderful wines.  

Judy then took a little time off and we followed her to the local Cheese Monger.  I do so love cheese.  

Thanks to Judy for her hospitality and making me a fan of Blackstone!

Here is the Cheese Monger: 

Raymond & Company Cheesemongers in Jack London Village - Glen Ellen, CA.

Oh, and I have to say Cakebread Winery, BV, Rutherford, and Charles Krug were all outstanding!

I totally should have taken more pictures, but, I was too busy drinking wine!

 

Beautiful Flowers from My Husband for Our Anniversary

Zucchini and Turkey Lasagna

(This Recipe Makes a Large Deep-Dish Lasagna or 2 square pans)

You can get a disposable deep-dish casserole pan or the recipe can be used to make two 8 x 8 lasagnas - which I did.

• 2 pounds Ground Turkey
• 1/2 Green Bell Pepper (chopped)
• 1/2 Red Bell Pepper (chopped)
• 1/2 Red Onion (diced)
• 6 Cloves Fresh Garlic (minced)
• 2 TB Dried Oregano
• 2 Cups Loosely Packed Fresh Chopped Basil
• 38 Ounces Tomato Sauce

Cook the Ground Turkey in a sauce pot on medium heat until cooked thoroughly.  Add the peppers, onions, garlic, and 1/2 cup of water. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.  Add the remaining ingredients from above and cover and cook for another 20 minutes on low heat.

• 32 ounces of Fresh Ricotta Cheese
• 1 1/2 Cups of Egg Beaters

Mix above two items together and set aside.

• 1 Package of "No Pre-Cook" Dry Lasagna Noodles
• 1 Package of Fresh Shredded Cheddar
• 1 Package of Sliced Mozzarella
• 5 Medium Fresh Zucchini (sliced lengthwise)

Assembly:

Start with a layer of meat sauce. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Then spread on a layer of the Ricotta-Egg mixture. Add another layer of meat sauce and then assemble mozzarella slices to top. Next add a layer of fresh sliced zucchini. Top that with the Ricotta-Egg mixture. Then add a layer of meat sauce. Then add another layer of noodles and more mozzarella and meat sauce. Finish with a final layer of shredded mozzarella.

Loosely cover the lasagna with foil to prevent the cheese from browning too soon. Cook on 325 degrees for about and hour to one and a half hours. Remove foil at the end of the cooking cycle for about 15 minutes to brown the top slightly.

I have also made this recipe with just Zucchini and no pasta. You can also use ground beef or buffalo instead of turkey. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil From Spain is Highest in Polyphenols

My favorite varieties of Extra Virgin Olive Oils are from Spain.  (Particularly the Andalusian and Catalonian regions)  It has become evident in recent research that the health benefits of Olive Oil are due (in part) to their concentration of polyphenols.

Polyphenol content is mainly dependent upon the production process, but it has also been shown that the origin/region of the olive plays a factor as well. Whether the higher concentrations of health benefiting polyphenols is dependent upon the region which the olives are grown or lies solely within the production process is up for debate. (I have read that the Spanish regions mentioned above have the added impact of soil integrity that may affect the oils’ health report of higher antioxidants, polyphenols, and oleic acid profiles.)

I always opt for Extra-Virgin First Cold-Press Olive Oil using Organic Farming methods. It is the healthiest type of Olive Oil you can buy. Researchers have shown that the polyphenol ppm (parts per million) values are vastly different. Extra Virgin comes in at about 50 -80 ppm and regular olive oil comes in at about 5 ppm. That’s huge.

Another interesting tidbit you might not be aware of is that Spain is the world’s largest producer of olive oil and that many of the “Italian” olive oils are actually blended or even 100% Spanish that has simply been “bottled” in Italy. All oils in Europe are basically bottled in Italy - regardless of their origin.

So if you use olive oil for more than flavor and would like to also enjoy the health benefits you should make an effort to buy the best olive oil available. One of my very favorites is L'Estornell. The name is derived from a bird that frequently is seen around the olive harvest in the region of Catalonia, Spain. The terrior (soil-terrain) and climate of the area are ideal. The production process employed by the manufacturer is superb, rising above the standards set by the International Oil Council. In the states it can be found at most gourmet markets. I personally have found the oil in retail markets like: Williams Sonoma and Whole Foods.

They also produce some other varieties that are awesome, like the Lérida Veá, which is the first cold extraction of the buttery, flavorful Arbequina Olive.












The health benefits of EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) are numerous.

Some Of the Health Benefits Include:

* Anti-inflammatory
* Protective against heart disease
* Antioxidative
* Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases HDL (good)
* Lowers blood sugar levels and helps to prevent insulin sensitivity
* Stimulates immune cells
* Gobbles up free radicals (through enzyme activation)
* Protects DNA from free radical damage
* Lowers blood pressure
* Functions as an anticoagulant (platelet aggregation)
* Oleic Acid, found in Olive oil can initiate cell death of aggressive breast cancer cells
* Helps prevent bone loss
* Protective against peptic ulcers
* Promotes gastrointestinal health
* Monounsaturated fats in Olive oil can help to break down stored fat in cells

The link below is for further, more in-depth information about the above referenced statements concerning the health benefits of Olive Oil.

It is from one of my favorite sites: WHFoods.com.


Read Informative Information about Olive Oil:  (Link Bellow)

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil (From Spanish Olives) Often! 

Easy Deviled Eggs (Eggs are THE Perfect Food)

Easy Deviled Eggs (Eggs are THE Perfect Food)


Makes 12 Deviled Eggs

Combine the following and spoon into the egg white halves :

• Yolks from 6 Boiled Eggs
• 3 Tb. Mayo
• 1 tsp. Mustard
• 2 Tb. Diced Bread and Butter Pickles
• 1 Tb. Pickle Juice
• Dash White Pepper
• Dash Black Pepper
• Dash Salt

Sprinkle a touch of Paprika on top and serve well chilled.

Read Informative Article: Eggs are THE Perfect Food!

Hope you have a great day!

Canine Seizure Control Update - Using New Prescription (Zonisamide) for Our Siberian Husky

Our Siberian Husky has had Grand Mal Seizures for the past three years.  They started in 2006 and he is 9 years old.  We could not find any diagnosis other than Idiopathic Epilepsy.

For the most part the prescription for Phenobarbital has controlled the seizure activity.  He would have one or two a year and we would adjust the medication.

In April of this year he started having multiple seizures frequently.  We increased the meds again and it did not help control them.

I have thoroughly researched everything known to man about this topic, possible causes, any and all treatments...you name it.  I have adjusted his diet and started giving him natural supplements and vitamins as well.

After 8 seizures since April of this year we went to see a Vet Neurologist.  I cannot tell you how much I love this new doctor.  I went in armed with huge amounts of info and a lot of questions.  She was impressed with my plethora of information and logs and I was impressed with her knowledge, compassion, and her generosity with her time in speaking with me.  She prescribed a new drug that I, too, was also interested in trying for our puppy - after reviewing the studies and comparing ongoing symptoms and observations in our Husky.

We started the new drug, Zonisamide, in conjunction with the current phenobarbital regimen and also added some more "Liver Protecting" natural supplements.  We started the Zonisamide on a half-dose of what would be recommended for our dog's size.  This was, in part, due to my reluctance on the "side-effect" period.

In April of this year our regular Vet prescribed Potassium Bromide - with no help.  The Potassium Bromide caused a host of horrible side-effects and I took him off the meds within a week.  The Bromide made him very ataxic (weak, wobbly legs) and gave him tremors that were like seeing someone with progressive Parkinson's Disease.

So, the Vet Neurologist agreed that we would try a half-dose of the Zonisamide and keep the Phenobarbital the same and watch and wait.  She said that after a while on this therapy, considering its' effectiveness, that we could start to decrease the Phenobarbital and increase the Zonisamide.  The Zonisamide is supposed to have fewer side-effects and be less harmful to Liver function.

So far he is doing well.  I am so very thankful and appreciative of this new therapy.  If you've ever dealt with Canine Grand Mal Seizures on a consistent basis...you know that controlling and minimizing the seizure activity is truly a God-send.

I feel completely and totally blessed to have found such a wonderful Vet Neurologist to assist us in taking care of our Husky.  We are hopeful and optimistic that this new therapy is well-suited for our beloved pet. :)

The Best Pot Roast Recipe (Super Easy and Tasty!)

This Recipe Makes THE Best Beef Pot Roast.  It simple, easy, and tasty!

In your crock pot add the following:

• (2) cans of Campbell's Beef Consomme
• (1) can of Campbell's Double Strength Beef Broth
• (1) Package of Knorr Au Jus (Dry)
• (1) Package of McCormick Slow Cooker "Pot Roast" Seasoning

Place your Beef Roast in the above liquid.

Add your Vegetables:

• 2 cups Baby Carrots
• 2 Sweet Onions (halved)
• 4 Large Baking Potatoes (halved)

Add enough water to cover the Roast
Add 3 fresh sprigs of Rosemary

Cook on low for 5 hours and then turn on high for approx. 3 more hours.

Remove Roast and Vegetables to cool on platter.

Save the broth!

• The broth can be used to make your gravy.

• You can also use the broth for a nice Beef Stew (using your leftovers).

I will post the Beef Stew Recipe this week as well...stay tuned.

I hope you enjoy this simple, easy, beef pot roast!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs over Rice

(I used a nice pre-made meatball for this recipe.)

Ingredients:

10 Meatballs
1 Package of Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Brown Rice (Microwave Pack)
1 Sliced Green Pepper
1/2 an Onion - cut into medium strips

Sauce:

1 small can Crushed Pineapple w/ juice
1/2 c. Pineapple Tidbits
1/2 c. Grape Jelly
1/2 c. Ketchup
Dash of Hot Sauce
1/4 c. Soy Sauce
Dash of Nutmeg and Allspice

Directions:

• Mix your sauce and warm over med-low heat.  
• Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover and marinate for 20 minutes.  
• Saute the peppers and onions.
• Microwave the Whole Grain Brown Rice (Per Package Instructions)
  
• Serve by layering the rice with the peppers and onions and top with meatballs and sauce.

Enjoy!

Iodine Deficiency Common among Women - Supplement with Kelp for Optimal Health

The US introduced iodized salt in 1924 to help protect the population from deficiency symptoms.

However, a recent study published in 2008 Environmental Science & Technology Journal, revealed that 47 of 88 samples randomly tested did not meet the US FDA Standard for Iodine content.

Add to that the ever-growing trend of people avoiding salt and we are looking at a resurgence of an iodine deficient American population.  I admit myself that I consistently use Himalayan Pink Salt and Celtic Sea Salt. (Which do not contain any significant amounts of iodine)

Women considering pregnancy should be aware that iodine largely affects nervous system development of a growing infants and women should be aware of/monitor their iodine intake during pregnancy.  This also poses another problem due to the avoidance of seafood items during pregnancy months.  Iodine deficiency has also been shown to be a factor in ADD and ADHD disorders, which may develop during infant growth.

The most widely recognized and understood facet of iodine use within the body is its regulation of thyroid hormones.  This is of particular interest to women, who seem to experience thyroid irregularities far more frequently than men. Iodine is also useful as a bacterial inhibitor, per its use as a topical skin disinfectant, and a purifying agent in water.

Recently I learned that iodine plays quite the role in preventing Fibrocystic Breast Disease.  It appears to normalize the effect of estrogen in breast tissue – which would also lead us to believe that by lowering the effects of estrogen in the breast that it may also play a role in the prevention of breast cancer in general.

In addition, it seems that several experts agree that overall iodine deficiency plays a role in immune system function as well.

While goiter (enlarged thyroid) is the most recognizable symptom of iodine deficiency, there are other warning signs to watch out for concerning hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.  

• Hypothyroidism:  (fatigue, weight gain, lethargy, depression).
• Hyperthyroidism:  (weight loss, rapid heartbeat, changes in appetite).

The utilization of iodine is thwarted by certain foods, including those that contain goitrogenic compounds, like: Cruciferous vegetables (for example: cabbage and broccoli).

Proper Iodine levels may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of:

• Cognitive impairment
• Fibrocystic breast disease 
• Goiter 
• Hyperthyroidism 
• Hypothyroidism
• Multiple miscarriages
• Breast Cancer
• Diabetes 

 










Sources of dietary iodine include:

• Sea Vegetables (like kelp)
• Most fish/shellfish – However, it is hard to predict the amount of iodine in fish due to its concentration being dependent upon the feeding regimen and cycles
• Milk, Eggs and Yogurt
• Strawberries

I recently started supplementing with Kelp myself to help with my own weight loss efforts and to provide some relief from cyclical tenderness associated with Fibrocystic Breast Disease.

Here are some informative articles from Natural News:

“Iodine May Be the Critical Mineral for Weight Loss, Energy and Beauty” – by Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor

“Iodine Deficiency and Its Link to Diseases in the Body” – by Mary Laredo, citizen journalist

Always consult your physician, nutritionist, or health care advocate before beginning any supplement regimen.

Canine Epilepsy - Phenobarbital Losing Effectiveness

My Little Baby is having trouble with his seizure control.  It is breaking my heart. He has had Grand Mal Seizures since 2006 and the Phenobarbital Meds have worked for some time.  However, the Pheno is not working well anymore, even after increasing it 300%.  We tried Potassium Bromide and the side effects were too great.  It is so sad and hard to deal with increased seizure activity...it has only been a week in between seizures.  I want to make him all better.  But, I have to say it is breaking my spirit.  I have another appointment with the vet and am armed with a lot of research info on various meds to try.  Wish me luck.  We love our puppy so much...if anyone has any helpful information please share. :)

What Are Your Guilty Pleasures? - Curious Minds Want To Know

Okay - I know, you know, we all KNOW...We all have some guilty pleasures.

What are yours?

Complete the Survey by leaving a comment with a few of YOUR "Secret" Guilty Pleasures!

A Few Of Mine Are:

• Doritos - Totally have to wash my hands many times to get rid of the evidence!
• Soap Operas -I've been taping them for years!
• Celebrity Rags - I leave them on the treadmill.
• Atkins Snack Bars - Love the Chocolate/Caramel Ones
• Big Brother- Total Mindless TV (Don't tell anyone)
• Long Sunday Naps with My Husband - I adore these...they are Amazing!
  

WHAT has happened to Customer Service?

I want great customer service! – Who doesn’t, right?  In today’s economy it seems logical that most companies would agree, however, I have found that NOT to be the case in a handful of recent, frustrating situations.

How many representatives does it take to change a light bulb? 

We’ve all been there.  It seems that phone customer service is perhaps the worst offender…is it "out of sight out of mind”?

After many prompts we finally get to an actual person and we tell them our situation.  Next, we are routed to another Rep and we re-tell the whole situation.  Then, we are re-routed again and WOW, guess what? – We’ve got to recite our situation/issue yet again!

Then, by some weird (or not so weird) freaky thing – we get disconnected.

We bite our lips and call again, enter the numbers requested, listen to some music or ads while we wait, then we are graciously allowed to speak to another representative only to go through being forwarded another 4 or 5 times (all the while reciting our now memorized issue each and every time).

Is it any wonder that we (Valued Customers - I use that term loosely) are completely frustrated by the time we actually speak to a manager?!

Email isn’t much better; I recently became completely annoyed trying to rent a property. (NOT naming names- much to their pleasure, I'm sure)

I have an idea for all those struggling companies out there – FOCUS on customer service.

Here’s another idea…if you have 30 check-out lines…open more than 2!

I suppose that I have been obviously misguided in my notion that “The Customer is ALWAYS right” and that “The Customer ALWAYS Comes First”.   I mean customers are WHY are companies built in the first place.

When I ran my restaurant many years ago, I had this elderly gentleman of about 80 years old that was a regular customer.  

EVERY single time he came in he asked for Oyster Stew as an appetizer.  I never had Oyster Stew on my menu, EVER.  

BUT, you know what? – I had oysters, milk, butter, celery, white pepper, salt, parsley, and paprika.   I must have made him Oyster Stew a hundred times.  I did this sort of thing for customers ALL the time…if you’ve got the ingredients, why not make it?! 

-Customers do come first sometimes and in some places.

I guess if you’re a Big Company it is easier said than done, YET I am only suggesting that they answer the phones and take care of their customers in a timely, suitable manner.

Good Business is NOT Rocket Science!

Salmon Burgers with Asian Slaw and Lemon-Dill Aioli /Tortellini Pasta Salad

I used Pre-made Limited Ingredient Wild Salmon Burgers from Whole Foods.
(Cooked them on the grill)

For the Asian Slaw:

• Mix a bag of pre-cut and washed cabbage.
• Coat and toss the cabbage with Sesame Oil.
• Sprinkle in a tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds (black and natural).
• Add 2 teaspoons of sugar and refrigerate to chill.

Lemon-Dill Aioli:
Mix and Chill the following:

• 1/3 c. Olive Oil Mayo
• 1 Tb. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 tsp. Dill
• 1 Clove fresh minced Garlic
• Dash of White Pepper

Tortellini Pasta Salad:

• Cook, rinse, and chill the Tri-Color Tortellini. 
• (I used a frozen bag of pasta- around 16 oz.)
• Coat and toss with about 1/4 c. Olive Oil. 
• (May need a little more, depending on your taste)
• Add 1/4 c. Pre-made Sun Dried-Tomato Pesto Sauce.
• Add 1 small can of drained Sliced Black Olives.
• Add 1 small jar of drained Pimentos.
• Add a Dry Package of Knorr Spring Veggie Mix
• Add 1/2 c. Fresh Shredded Parmesan.
• Mix all above well and chill for a couple of hours.

Enjoy!