May Imerge 16

Why is it that all comfort
foods lead to starch? And
why again, pray tell, is it
that the worst food for
the human body
according to most health
gurus is the white over
processed stuff all
wonderful comfort foods
seem to be made of?

Here we have 3 of the
biggest comfort foods
that the healthy
conscious runs from. But
where can they run to?
Here are some
suggestions.

Cut the starch completely out of this favorite comfort
food by turning zuchinni into spaghetti. Then make a
delicious meat sauce out of ground turkey and you
have a fabulous dish that comforts and keeps you on
track with your healthy eating.



I used to drive to Boston Market after a bad day and get an
order of loaded mashed potatoes and eat them on the way
home. I later discovered I was eating over 1000 calories, not to
mention the carbs and fat. A good alternative is mashed
cauliflower, boiled until tender, then mashed with cream and low
fat butter with a sprinkle of turkey bacon, fat free sour cream
and low covered with cheddar. Try it, I think you’ll like it.



What can I say about pizza and how can anybody ever improve on
it? Thick greasy crust covered in sauce, meats, olives, peppers,
mushrooms and a ton of cheese. Pizza is a definite no no if you are
trying to stay on a Healthy Weight Loss Program, but if you
promise to not make it a regular occurrence, you can get by with
one of these flat breads, made with a whole wheat dough,
tomatos, pesto sauce, onions, zucchini and just enough cheese.

It is time to get out the tools and tear into the soil and make
the garden grow. And here in the north we are finally seeing
warm weather to get out in the sunny day to do some gardening.

The tools of the trade are simple but do yourself a favor and
don’t go cheap, you want your hand tools to stick around and do a
good job and as all work in the dirt where there may be a rock or
two and a whole bunch of strong and sturdy roots, the tools we
use have to be strong and sturdy, too. I usually get hand tools that
have a good grip and have a sturdy handle.

One of the most important things for me, with my glamorous
manicures is the gloves I have to have a good supply of garden
gloves. These are my favorite kind, they hve a stretchy cloth top
and are water proof on the palms and fingers so I don’t have to
worry about getting soaked.

Whatever you call them,
clippers, snippers or pruners
these are one of the most
important tools in the gardeners
tool belt. Use them when you’re
clearing up the perennials and
you don’t want to pull up the
entire plant, you need them to
snip off the old branches from
the bed brush and bushes, and
when you are pruning a tree,
dead heading roses or flowers—
this is the tool you want to have.
Once again don’t skimp on the
quality of these babies, and if
you do, be sure to buy a bunch
because they will not last you
the summer if you don’t buy
quality tools and keep them out
of the weather and oiled and
well cared for.

Every garden needs a wagon or a wheel-barrow to haul things
here and there with. When your cleaning up the garden, you
need to lug away weeds, brush and plant material. When you
are building your garden you will need it to haul your new
plants to their designated growing place. I also use mine to
move things about the yard when I’m mulching, fertilizing and
ringing in new garden decorations.

Whether your working in the yard, sitting by the pool,
frolicking on a beach or just hiking a trail activity in the good old
summer time brings on a big thirst and we are always busy
looking for thirst quenchers to take care of our need for
something cool and refreshing.

I’ve gone and proclaimed myself to be a summer
beverage specialist and I have come up with the summers top
five most cooling and refreshing beverages to drink.

At the top of my list is a favorite in any part of the country.
Does the saying “when life hands you lemons make lemonade
strike your fancy? One of my favorite flavors is the lemon and

of course lemonade has to be my favorite all time drink. Not
only is it very refreshing and satisfying, but its very easy to
make.

1 quart of water
4 lemons
1 cup of sweetener (sugar, Splenda, you choose)
1 tablespoon of lemon zest
Lots of ice
Mix all of the above and there you have it, my favorite
summer beverage.



Infused Waters
With Fruit or Vegetables

It’s a rule, your body is

mostly water and needs to Cucumber Water
have a lot of water to 1 quart of hot water
remain healthy. But 1 medium cucumber,
drinking at least 64 ounces
of water a day can be very sliced

difficult, water is wet, can Place the sliced cucumbers

be cold and nature’s gift to in a pitcher, pour hot

quench our thirst but truth water over the cucumbers,

is, it can be bland and not cover and place in

too exciting. Infused water refrigerator until cool.

is simply water flavored Pour over ice and you have

with fruit or vegetables. a delicious very refreshing

Here’s one of my favorites. water to satisfy any thirst.

If summer has a favorite, it must be iced tea. Every
restaurant has it, most kitchen all over the country serve it
by the gallons and now, thanks to good taste and creativity, it

Strawerry Iced Tea

8 tea bags

2 quarts of water

1 cup of fresh strawberries, processed in food
processor

1 small lemon squeezed

1 and 1/2 cup of sweetener

Lots of ice

Boil water and add teabags and allow to steep
for at least 10 minutes. Add processed
strawberry juice and lemon juice followed by
sweetener. Stir well. Pour into tall glasses full
of ice with a berry for a garnish.

You can do this with raspberries, blueberries
and blackberries, too.

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