I posted on Facebook awhile ago wondering what the winter salad is. I eat a lot of salads (one a day keeps me sane!). When the weather turns cold, I shy away from lettuce and other raw veggies. They take a lot of energy to digest, and when I’m using my energy warming myself up, the last thing I want is to sacrifice some of it to superfluous digestion.
Some friends came through with some great suggestions: whole grain salads with barley, garlic, orange zest, olive oil, and pickled veggies, roasted veggies tossed with herbs and balasamic, and green salads full of fennel citrus and red onion. Yum!!
I have more experimenting ahead of me, but I want to share this awesome recipe my aunt Liz suggested: Tassajara Warm Red Cabbage Salad.
Composed of sauteed red onion, cabbage, raisins, feta and slightly sweet toasted sunflower seeds, this warm salad is sweet, savory, crunchy and warm. I nervously made it for the first time and brought it to a Thanksgiving potluck the other week. I wasn’t sure what the reaction would be–I’ve met many people afraid of cabbage and raisins (I was once myself!). I was shocked by what a hit this salad was! I had even been hoping to take some home with me, but alas, no luck.
I make it in the Cuisinart and last night I whipped it up a second time in literally twenty minutes. That’s pretty quick for me — I’m a slow cook. My aunt recommends making extra sunflower seeds (they store well and are great for snacking) and adding more raisins, balsamic and feta than the recipe suggests. I agree!
Tupperware’s Stuffables containers are AWESOME for storing dishes like this. At first glance, my dish wasn’t going to fit in the container:
But thankfully, the flexible lid accommodates!!
A lifetime guarantee, flexible lids and it’s even dishwasher safe. Get yours today!
I’ve had a rocky couple of months, and it’s been hard on my life, my optimistic nature and my relationship. Somewhere along the line I started seeing Geraldine Shute, LAc, over at Deep Healing Acupuncture*.
At first we were just addressing my intense arm pain (due to overambitious work habits), but after a few months we delved into the physical reasons for my mood swings, which, it must be admitted, were starting to rule my life.
She recommended the following changes:
Sunshine in the Morning
Get twenty minutes of sunshine in before 10 a.m.. I chose to do this with a morning walk. It sounds so simple, but for someone who works at home, it was a challenge to leave the house before the work day was over, and now that it’s dark at 5pm, that means greeting a world shrouded in night.
Morning sunshine does more than just create Vitamin D3; it signals your brain to stop producing a sleepy neurochemical, and to start producing serotonin (which makes you feel good!!). Having specialized in brain chemistry in college, I immediately recognized this usefulness. Serotonin is essential to being happy, and is produced by exercise, video games and lots and lots of addictive drugs. Who knew we could stimulate its production just by getting a little morning sunshine??
Omega Supplements with added Vitamin D3
Your brain is comprised of tons and tons of lipids, or fats. Mine is too. We live in a world where it’s hard to get Omega 6’s (an essential form of fat) as I’m sure you’ve heard. Taking Omega supplements will provide your brain with a coating of lipids.
I like to look at it as a little Omega buffer between you and the world. You know how if you have an open wound, and you brush against something, or something pokes it, how much it hurts? You know how little it hurts if you have a band-aid on? That’s what I understand Omega supplements do for you. Without it, your brain reacts more harshly to upsets than need be. Introduce some daily Omega supplements and you’re golden.
It must be noted that it takes two weeks of daily Omega supplements to feel the effects fully. I’m on day 8 and I feel better. For serious.
Not all Omega supplements are created equal. My acupuncturist recommends Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega with D3, which is comprised of fish oil, something your body easily digests and incorporates into the brain. Of course, it does come with some fishy burps on occasion, but it’s a small price (in my opinion) for feeling better and can be avoided by taking them with meals.
An added benefit to choosing Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega with D3 is that they also contain Vitamin D3, mentioned above, and will help replicate some of that sunshiney feeling in you. Can’t argue with that.
GABA Supplements
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain; this means that it has a calming effect. For those who are prone to stressing out, a GABA supplement taken as needed can help calm the overworked anxiety systems. Geraldine does warn, however, that there should be some caution taken when introducing GABA to your diet. I know from my history in neurochemistry that introducing any neurotransmitter regularly will effect your brain’s normal production, a delicate balance that we often mess with but needs to be respected. She suggests that you consult a medical practitioner before incorporating GABA supplements, but also notes that you can pick it up at any drugstore (or on Amazon by following my links).
I’ve found that happy music, singing in the morning, and punctuating my day with Zumba youtube dance videos (dance along, it’s fun!) and jumping jacks, keeps my spirits up in the face of adversity.
Pay Attention
If Geraldine hadn’t asked me to start paying attention to my moods, I wouldn’t have noticed that the days when I walk in the morning I’m happier than the others, or that I am known to go from singing in the rain to bawling at a cell phone commercial within an hour. I always thought that my moods were in charge of me, and that is not an empowering way to view the world. Taking charge of my moods by noticing my triggers and what helps or doesn’t has been a powerful tool in feeling good.
I leave you with Levon Helm’s song, Feelin’ Good. A man who faced throat cancer, recovered, and has released three albums since, I find him a continual inspiration. Though this song may arguably be about using retail therapy to feel good, I like it and it makes me feel good. I would love to hear from you what songs make you feel good!
*It has to be noted that it was with a sorry heart that I didn’t continue seeing Christine Friel, LAc, at Double Happiness Health. The trek to Potrero Hill was more than my weakened state could take twice a month, but I recommend her very highly. For the east bay folks, I also highly recommend Geraldine. Message me for more info!
Last night I went to the best party I have ever been to. It was an open house thrown by the local, organic catering company Devoted Catering by Aimee Alan.
I hired Devoted for an event I coordinated for the Berkeley Student Cooperative last year. The food was excellent. I remember when I was first talking to them being concerned about running out of food. The event coordinator I was working with, Zoe, said, “We have never run out of food.” I was heartened. I have since been to another event that they catered which also had excellent food. When I got the invite for their open house, I responded with a “Hell yes!” and RSVPed for two right away. Next year I will RSVP for more!
I knew that last night was going to be special when we were greeted by a red carpet stretching the length of the sidewalk and speckled with rose petals. ROSE PETALS! Faint red lights lit up the gorgeous space. I felt like I was walking into a ball. Continue Reading
Back when I first started selling Tupperware in 2005, my sister and I created the above Why Tupperware graphic (still viewable at my Tupperware site!)
5. Burp the air and liquid tight seal!
Patented in 1950, the airtight seal of Tupperware was the first of its kind.
Today, Tupperware keeps your food the freshest for the longest with its air and liquid (including oil!) tight seal. Your leftovers and lunch to go will never spill all over your bag again!
To ensure maximum freshness, when storing food, remember to burp the seal. Lift the tab on the lid and push down on the center to let the air out of the container and ensure that your food will be kept fresher longest.
Tupperware designs its products with the consumer in mind. Since it’s invention in 1946, Tupperware has been the highest quality, most durable food storage option available. Back in the fifties, housewives would take it to the store with them to avoid using plastic bags; Tupperware has always been the greenest food storage available. The following are the top four Tupperware products that I guarantee that with use will save you money immediately! Continue Reading
My sister got me the best birthday present ever. It’s a “Now you can find it” wireless locating system. I attach these little pagers to my phone and keys and such, and then press a button on the locator panel, the little pagers ring, and I track down my phone in a fraction of the time it once took. It’s seriously useful, especially for me.
But now I’m away, the locator panel left at home, and I’m stuck searching the car, my bag and the hotel room for my keys. And my cell phone is long distance, so I can’t even call it from the hotel phone. I’ve learned my lesson–I’m never leaving that locator panel at home again. I better not lose it though. Sharper Image doesn’t sell replacement locator panels, but they do sell replacement little pagers in case you misplace one. They aren’t cheap though; it’s lucky I still have my locator panel so I can find mine. Even if it is at home.
Everytime I shave with my new Gillette Venus razor, I involuntarily hear, “I’m your Venus, I’m your fire, your desire!” And I think that ultimately it does make me feel more desirable.
. I love it!