The Pits . . . ARENT!

     According to researchers at Texas A&M University, stone fruits  -- those with pits -- contain bioactive compounds that may help prevent inflammation, obesity, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.  So load up your cart with peaches, nectarines, and plums, and check out the recipe for Fresh Peach and Maple Sorbet in a previous post.  Enjoy summer!

Attention Savvy Shoppers!

   So you're strolling down the snack aisle of your favorite grocery store hoping to pick up something for dinner on your way home from work, and you don't really have a concrete plan because you haven't had a minute to think about it all day, and you're getting pretty hungry yourself, and all of a sudden you hear these embarrassing words pouring out of your mouth:  "Oh my gosh, Moon Pies are on sale!"  Houston, we have got a problem.  

   You've heard it your whole adult life: Never grocery shop when you're hungry.  And brace yourself because here's the bad news -- it's true.  But if you can avoid falling into that fat-loaded trap and observe a couple of other rules for the aisles, your wallet and your waistline will thank you.

     1.  NEVER SHOP HUNGRY.  'Nuff said.

     2. PAY WITH CASH RATHER THAN DEBIT CARDS.  Studies have shown that shoppers make 30% fewer unhealthful impulse choices when they pay with cash.  The trick is to be prepared with a list and to stick to it.  

     3.  BUY LOCAL AND SEASONAL.  We've been hearing this for a couple of years now, but it makes perfect sense that you'll pay less for produce that is grown locally and doesn't have to be shipped all the way across the nation.

    4. ORGANIC FOOD -- YES OR NO?  The Environmental Working Group says that purchasing organic versions of the following fruits and vegetables may be worth the price because they practically inhale pesticides: apples, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, grapes, blueberries, celery, spinach, bell peppers, potatoes, lettuce, and kale.  These others, however, aren't as prone to pesticide residues, so you might want to save your money: pineapples, mangoes, cantaloupe, kiwi, watermelon, onions, sweet corn, avocados, asparagus, peas, eggplant, and cabbage.

    5.  DON'T FORGET THE BEAUTY OF FROZEN PRODUCE.  Many fruits and vegetables are flash frozen so they retain all their nutrients long after the fresh version would have wilted in your refrigerator.  So stock up on frozen goodies when they're on sale.  

    6.  CONSIDER CANNED SALMON.  If you don't have an extra $30 a pound to spend on wild Pacific salmon this week (and if you do, I need you to tell me what I'm doing wrong), head over to the canned fish aisle.  Salmon packed in tins and packets is often the wild type, and it's a fraction of the cost of fresh.  You heard it here first.  

    7.  IF POSSIBLE, LEAVE THE KIDDOS AT HOME WHEN YOU SHOP.  I don't even have kiddos myself, but I've encountered enough whacked-out Mommies in the cereal aisle throwing brightly colored boxes of nothing-but-sugar breakfast nightmares in their carts just to get the kiddos to stop shouting, "Mommy, Mommy, MOMMY, Sponge Bob is in that box!"  By that time, I would have bought them the blasted cereal with my own money.  

    8. IF POSSIBLE, LEAVE YOUR HUSBAND AT HOME WHEN YOU SHOP.  Or perhaps your husband or significant other is an integral part of your efficient shopping machine.  (How did you ever manage that, I wonder?  E-mail me.)  I took my husband with me once, and not only did the weekly 45-minute shopping process evolve into more than two hours, but I found myself in the cereal aisle throwing a brightly colored box of a nothing-but-sugar breakfast nightmare in my cart just to get my husband to stop shouting, "Honey, honey, HONEY, Sponge Bob is in that box!"  Not our most shining hour.  

    So next time you're headed to the grocery store, eat a piece of fruit before you go, or stop at the deli counter when you arrive and buy a couple of slices of turkey to satisfy your hunger, and don't forget your list!

Tech Woes = Nachos

     Ever had one of those days?  And THEN your computer crashes and burns?  Well, you'll appreciate this little trip with me down recent memory lane when my computer did just that last Monday.  There I was, minding my own beeswax when the confounded thing stopped.  Just stopped.  Refused to do anything.  Turn off, reboot, wait.  Refused to do anything.  Unplug, reboot, wait.  Still refused to do anything.  Unplug, CUSS LOUDLY AND CREATIVELY, reboot, stomp around the room, wait.  Nothing, nada, zip, zilch, zero.  And by then, I assure you, I had tried every resource in my fairly impressive arsenal for "fixing" the problem.  As much as I hated to do so, it appeared it was time to call in the cavalry.  But I don't have cavalry, so I called a friend to ask if she had a guy.  "Have I got a guy," she said.  I called, and that guy arrived 30 minutes later surrounded by heaven-sent mist and an angel chorus.  Half an hour after that, he departed with my pitiful, useless, eight-year-old piece of equipment (and I use that term loosely) under his arm, promising to return in less than 36 hours with my new best friend.  Things were looking up.  

     I said to my husband, "Nachos."

     "When?"

     "Now."

     "Where?"

     "Kitchen."

     "Enough to share?"

     "With the neighborhood."

     "Margaritas too?"

     "Are you kidding?"

     "I'm in."

     "Listen for the blender."

     And with that, things looked up even more.  We devoured the biggest, nastiest, most embarrassing pile of nachos you can possibly imagine, loaded with "stupid cheese," so much cheese, it's just stupid.  Washed down with a pitcher of Mama's mind-bending margaritas.  And suddenly, Mama was back in her happy place.  And if Mama's in her happy place, Daddy's life is better.  You know how it goes.  

     So this is all to say that sometimes the only thing that will do is nachos.  But life is always better afterwards.  Enjoy! 

     By the way, the guy with the angels did indeed return in 36 hours with new equipment that has changed my life.  I kid you not.  So if you ever need a guy . . . . .

Peachy Keen!

    As I walked into the grocery store the other day, I got my first whiff of summer -- PEACHES!  Stacked up high in the produce section, glowing in their orange and yellow glory, and smelling like heaven on earth.  How can we resist?  Even if fresh peaches aren't available in your store yet, here's a quick and delicious way to a summery mood (courtesy of our beloved Dr. Oz's daughter, Daphne):

     FRESH PEACH AND MAPLE SORBET

     3 cups of fresh or frozen peaches, sliced

     1 1/3 cups of almond milk

     2 tablespoons of maple syrup

     Combine all the ingredients in your blender and process until smooth.  Poor into a freezer-safe container, and freeze for about 2 hours or until firm.  Get out your spoon -- that's it! 

     What could be easier or more delicious this time of year?  Of course, other fruits would work just as well.  Let me hear your ideas! 

Boost Memory With Your Plate

I've been meaning to write this article for a month, but I kept forgetting.  Hmmmm.

These additions to your daily diet help protect DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that is the primary structural component of your brain:

1.) Eat lots of fruits and vegetables; they are vital brain food.  And seriously, when is eating fruits and vegetables NOT a good idea?

2.) Use turmeric as a seasoning.  Found in yellow mustards and in powder form, it helps clear cellular waste from your brain. 

3.)  Eat foods rich in omega-3's, including canned salmon, tuna, and sardines, as well as walnuts, avocados, canola oil, and flaxseeds. 

4.) Take 900 mg. of DHA omega-3's daily to help your brain cells maintain their fluidity, flexibility, and composition. 

5.)  Take 1000 IU's of Vitamin D3 daily to keep blood flowing smoothly to your brain. 

And don't forget to do your daily brain exercise -- the crossword puzzle!

It's National Doughnut Day!

     That's right, it's true, and I knew you would want to know it immediately.  Isn't it comforting that someone along the way, in his or her infinite wisdom, decided that the beginning of swimsuit season is the perfect day to celebrate the magic that is the doughnut.  In fact, if you live anywhere near a Krispy Kreme shop, they will actually give you a freebie today.  If you have a pair of sunglasses and a couple of hats in your car, you can probably score SEVERAL freebies.  And those bad boys are nothing but air anyway, so enjoy!