Thanksgiving is four days away and it's time to plan. Eating more calories than we should at the Thanksgiving dinner has less to do with the turkey and more to do with the side dishes. So many of them are heavy with fats and sugar that just a serving of each favorite thing can really add up.
While there is nothing wrong with one day of indulgence, it helps to develop healthy habits if we learn moderation at that festive meal. We can also find ways to cut the calories on favorite dishes, or serve alternatives that are just as delicious. Turkey is a lean protein and can be the healthy centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast as long as we don't smother it with high calorie side dishes.
Having a clear plan of action can smooth the way for an enjoyable, healthy holiday. Aside from roasting the turkey, we need to have a repertoire of great side dishes that won't break the caloric bank and will blend tradition with nutrition. From the stuffing to the cranberry sauce, a little creativity can improve the nutritional and caloric profile of our trimmings.
If the family will be deeply disappointed if you don't serve grandma's marshmallow-topped candied sweet potatoes, go ahead and make it. But do also fix an alternative to those who are watching their sugar intake. The same goes for any dish that would raise a protest if it were absent from the table.
This may sound like more work, but if you choose recipes that can be made in advance and reheated in the microwave or served cold, it doesn't have to be. You can also plan for a few sides that can go from the refrigerator to the table. For example, green beans or asparagus vinaigrette is delicious and easy to prepare. Another choice is a light, colorful vegetable slaw. Skip the mayonnaise on this one and dress it lightly with a little vinaigrette. Making it the day before and allowing the flavors and juices to develop in the refrigerator makes heavy dressing unnecessary.
Some preparation tips:
•Carefully plan the timing of each dish so that you aren't short of oven space.
•Assign someone to clean up as you work. Washing pots and bowls as soon as they are no longer needed prevents that big pile up near the sink.
•Set out the serving dishes and utensils so you don't have a last minute scramble looking for the gravy ladle.
•Set the table well in advance. Even children can be taught to do this nicely.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Drink Yourself Beautiful With Lemon Water
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade … literally. Drinking water with fresh-squeezed lemons helps you to stay healthy, fight signs of aging and stoke your metabolism.
Here’s the skinny: The beauty of lemon water is that it’s tasty, refreshing and best of all, alkalizing. Many of the foods we crave -- coffee, carbohydrates, meats and sugar -- are acidic. And that can have an adverse effect on our body, giving us wrinkles, illness and fatigue. Powerful properties in lemons can relieve the symptoms of poor digestion, including bloating. Vitamin C combats the effects of free radical damage, like fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture. Lemons are also high in potassium, which can combat headaches and bloating.
How to make this magic drink: Squeeze the juice of two lemons -- the heavier the better -- into a glass of room-temperature water. Sip every morning and afternoon. Skip the sugar -- it'll only cancel out all those amazing health benefits.
Here’s the skinny: The beauty of lemon water is that it’s tasty, refreshing and best of all, alkalizing. Many of the foods we crave -- coffee, carbohydrates, meats and sugar -- are acidic. And that can have an adverse effect on our body, giving us wrinkles, illness and fatigue. Powerful properties in lemons can relieve the symptoms of poor digestion, including bloating. Vitamin C combats the effects of free radical damage, like fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture. Lemons are also high in potassium, which can combat headaches and bloating.
How to make this magic drink: Squeeze the juice of two lemons -- the heavier the better -- into a glass of room-temperature water. Sip every morning and afternoon. Skip the sugar -- it'll only cancel out all those amazing health benefits.
Panda Express© Mandarin Chicken Recipe
Makes 4 servings
Here?s a dish from a rapidly growing Chinese food chain that should satisfy anyone who loves the famous marinated bourbon chicken found in food courts across America. The sauce is the whole thing here, and it?s quick to make right on your own stove top. Just fire up the barbecue or indoor grill for the chicken and whip up a little white rice to serve on the side. Panda Express ? now 370 restaurants strong ? is the fastest-growing food outlets in supermarkets, casinos, sports arenas, college campuses, and malls across the country passing out free samples for the asking.
Ingredients
2/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1/4 cup water
4 teaspoons arrowroot
3 chicken breast (6 Chicken Breast Halves)
Directions
1.Cook your chicken, bake, boil, grill, or anyway you like.
2.In a medium sized pan mixed remaining ingredients.
3.Cut Chicken into cubes.
4.Add chicken to pan, simmer for 15-20 minutes.
5.Let cool and serve over cooked rice. (I prefer brown but white will do, Nutrition Info does not include rice.)
6.Also you can substitute cornstarch for arrowroot
Here?s a dish from a rapidly growing Chinese food chain that should satisfy anyone who loves the famous marinated bourbon chicken found in food courts across America. The sauce is the whole thing here, and it?s quick to make right on your own stove top. Just fire up the barbecue or indoor grill for the chicken and whip up a little white rice to serve on the side. Panda Express ? now 370 restaurants strong ? is the fastest-growing food outlets in supermarkets, casinos, sports arenas, college campuses, and malls across the country passing out free samples for the asking.
Ingredients
2/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1/4 cup water
4 teaspoons arrowroot
3 chicken breast (6 Chicken Breast Halves)
Directions
1.Cook your chicken, bake, boil, grill, or anyway you like.
2.In a medium sized pan mixed remaining ingredients.
3.Cut Chicken into cubes.
4.Add chicken to pan, simmer for 15-20 minutes.
5.Let cool and serve over cooked rice. (I prefer brown but white will do, Nutrition Info does not include rice.)
6.Also you can substitute cornstarch for arrowroot
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Translia - A Translation Tool
Haben Sie ein Material, das unmittelbar aus muss übersetzt werden? Es wäre besser, wenn man so will, wäre, die Nutzung von übersetzungsbüro statt dieses Geld für freie Übersetzung Werkzeuge zur Auswahl treffen. Vielleicht haben Sie zu zahlen, aber Sie können qualitativ hochwertige Übersetzungen im Gegenzug für etwas, das nicht durch freie Übersetzung Standorten gewährleistet werden kann erwartet werden kann genießen. Profitieren Sie von übersetzungsbüro ist für Materialien, die für Geschäfts-oder Bildung verwendet werden empfohlen. Wenn Sie professionelle Übersetzung benötigen, kann ich mit Ihnen teilen ein Übersetzungsbüro, dass qualitativ hochwertige Übersetzungen und gute Angebote bietet für jeden Kunden.
Translia ist nur eine der übersetzungsbüro, die Sie online finden können. Was unterscheidet sie von den übrigen, die gute Angebote bieten und garantieren, dass alle übersetzten Materialien von guter Qualität. Das Folgende ist eine Liste der guten Angebote für Übersetzungen aus Translia.
- Die niedrigsten Preise auf Übersetzungsdienste. Translia hat die günstigsten Preise unter allen Online-übersetzungsbüro. Sie können jeden Preis Übersetzung Firma, die Sie gefunden haben, können es beweisen.
- Keine Eile Gebühr. Wussten Sie müssen in der Übersetzung für den kürzest möglichen Zeit zu helfen? Sie müssen eine Firma, die leicht erreichbar ist und dass viele Übersetzer Aufteilung der Aufgabe. Translia kann es tun.
- Keine Mindestgebühr. Translia ist das einzige Unternehmen, dass ich nicht, minimale Gebühren. Es ist sehr vorteilhaft, wenn Sie professionelle Übersetzung eines Wortes müssen.
- Geld-zurück-Garantie. Translia bietet Geld-zurück-Garantie auf alle unzufriedenen Kunden in Bezug auf die Output-Qualität. Sie bieten auch alle verspäteten Lieferung. Ist die Bestellung Vergangenheit der Frist kam, können Sie Ihr Geld zurück, aber man kann immer noch die übersetzten Materials.
Translia ist nur eine der übersetzungsbüro, die Sie online finden können. Was unterscheidet sie von den übrigen, die gute Angebote bieten und garantieren, dass alle übersetzten Materialien von guter Qualität. Das Folgende ist eine Liste der guten Angebote für Übersetzungen aus Translia.
- Die niedrigsten Preise auf Übersetzungsdienste. Translia hat die günstigsten Preise unter allen Online-übersetzungsbüro. Sie können jeden Preis Übersetzung Firma, die Sie gefunden haben, können es beweisen.
- Keine Eile Gebühr. Wussten Sie müssen in der Übersetzung für den kürzest möglichen Zeit zu helfen? Sie müssen eine Firma, die leicht erreichbar ist und dass viele Übersetzer Aufteilung der Aufgabe. Translia kann es tun.
- Keine Mindestgebühr. Translia ist das einzige Unternehmen, dass ich nicht, minimale Gebühren. Es ist sehr vorteilhaft, wenn Sie professionelle Übersetzung eines Wortes müssen.
- Geld-zurück-Garantie. Translia bietet Geld-zurück-Garantie auf alle unzufriedenen Kunden in Bezug auf die Output-Qualität. Sie bieten auch alle verspäteten Lieferung. Ist die Bestellung Vergangenheit der Frist kam, können Sie Ihr Geld zurück, aber man kann immer noch die übersetzten Materials.
Free Products
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thanksgiving For All
Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness... it's an occasion to be spent in the warm and loving company of family, loved ones and friends enjoying turkey roast and pumpkin pies with them. Thanksgiving is also an opportunity to renew the ties that bind us with the ones we love... it is a time for remembering, cherishing and being thankful for all the good things you have been blessed with. So it's time to say 'Happy Thanksgiving'
Monday, November 8, 2010
Do's and Don't
It is always a little difficult for lovers to recuperate from a spat, especially right away. Disagreements are inevitable in every relationship, however, there are ways of handling such disturbances that will heal the hurt quickly. The following are guidelines for couples who are dealing with the after-effects of conflicts:
Don’t take it personal. One mistake many people make after an argument is to interpret the words their partners have spat out in anger literally. Many people say things they do not mean when their tempers are lit. Moreover, someone does not dislike you simply because they argue with you – even though common belief would have one think otherwise. Dilemmas arise that stir up arguments, but disagreements between a duo do not occur due to anyone’s hatred of the other.
Don’t dwell. The next step a couple must take in order to move forward effectively is to forget about the unpleasant event that has occurred. By ruminating about the argument, a partner may be tempted to bring up the issue again or will have a less enjoyable time with a mate than if he or she was concentrating on the good times ahead.
Do something fun. By partaking in interactive or intriguing activities, a couple can distract themselves from the mayhem they have just encountered together. An outing or amusing activity to enjoy at home is one step to happier moods for both parties.
Don’t initiate further conflict. Once the dispute between you and your love interest has been defused, it is best not to initiate arguments over minor details. Such quarrels are not only unnecessary, but they also make a relationship more problematic.
Don’t expect everything to be okay right away. Some couples may feel completely at peace after tearing each other’s hair out, while others need more time to get over a row. Therefore, one should not fret if one’s sweetheart is not too fond of him or her straight after a disagreement. In time, the pair should be as agreeable as they once were; in fact, they may even feel closer after a squabble.
It is essential for a couple to remember that time will aid them in developing a stronger, healthier, happier relationship. Thus, there is no reason for one to be negative after an argument with a significant other. The attitude with which one approaches the situation will determine the nature of the events that follow.
Don’t take it personal. One mistake many people make after an argument is to interpret the words their partners have spat out in anger literally. Many people say things they do not mean when their tempers are lit. Moreover, someone does not dislike you simply because they argue with you – even though common belief would have one think otherwise. Dilemmas arise that stir up arguments, but disagreements between a duo do not occur due to anyone’s hatred of the other.
Don’t dwell. The next step a couple must take in order to move forward effectively is to forget about the unpleasant event that has occurred. By ruminating about the argument, a partner may be tempted to bring up the issue again or will have a less enjoyable time with a mate than if he or she was concentrating on the good times ahead.
Do something fun. By partaking in interactive or intriguing activities, a couple can distract themselves from the mayhem they have just encountered together. An outing or amusing activity to enjoy at home is one step to happier moods for both parties.
Don’t initiate further conflict. Once the dispute between you and your love interest has been defused, it is best not to initiate arguments over minor details. Such quarrels are not only unnecessary, but they also make a relationship more problematic.
Don’t expect everything to be okay right away. Some couples may feel completely at peace after tearing each other’s hair out, while others need more time to get over a row. Therefore, one should not fret if one’s sweetheart is not too fond of him or her straight after a disagreement. In time, the pair should be as agreeable as they once were; in fact, they may even feel closer after a squabble.
It is essential for a couple to remember that time will aid them in developing a stronger, healthier, happier relationship. Thus, there is no reason for one to be negative after an argument with a significant other. The attitude with which one approaches the situation will determine the nature of the events that follow.
November 1st Reflection
November 1st is a significant holiday in the Filipino culture. Here are some thoughts from Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, a chaplain at Central Philippine University:
Most of us have visited our departed loved ones in the cemetery today. It is our tradition to light candles, eat sticky food, and reunite with family members on All Saints Day.
What lessons can we learn on our November 1 tradition?
First, let us value our family. In our fast pace world nowadays we sometimes forget to greet our love ones, share stories with them, and just sit there and feel their presence.
We need to seek out our family members and let them feel that we value their existence. Sometimes a surprise visit does a lot of good.
When was the last time you visited your family?
Second, let us fellowship in our table. It increasingly alarming that we oftentimes eat alone, and in a fast food joint. One can note in the gospels that there are many stories of Jesus together with people attending a feast or having just plain supper. Jesus did not do it for the free food but in eating together, Jesus was teaching us about how to nurture our relationship with one another.
What is it in eating together? When we share a meal, there is ritual of passing the plates, viands, and drinks. While doing this, we are reconnecting with our family members – we would ask them what is happening with their life, and vice versa. This is why eating in a table with family and friends would sometimes take long to finish. Table fellowship is a good way of uniting our family.
Eating foods that are sticky on November 1 is a reminder for Filipinos to stick with your family. There are many families that are breaking up, and eating “suman” reminds us to keep our family together.
When was the last time you ate with your family?
Third, we need to keep and continue the legacy of our departed loved ones.
I noticed that in the cemetery, one of the purposes of lighting a candle is to start a conversation about the departed loved one and use the life of the candle as the timer when to end the conversation. Although the conversation is short, it rekindles memories. The swapping of stories becomes a great way of passing on to the next generation the legacy of the previous generation.
When was the last time you told a story of your departed loved one to the new generation of your family?
Most of us have visited our departed loved ones in the cemetery today. It is our tradition to light candles, eat sticky food, and reunite with family members on All Saints Day.
What lessons can we learn on our November 1 tradition?
First, let us value our family. In our fast pace world nowadays we sometimes forget to greet our love ones, share stories with them, and just sit there and feel their presence.
We need to seek out our family members and let them feel that we value their existence. Sometimes a surprise visit does a lot of good.
When was the last time you visited your family?
Second, let us fellowship in our table. It increasingly alarming that we oftentimes eat alone, and in a fast food joint. One can note in the gospels that there are many stories of Jesus together with people attending a feast or having just plain supper. Jesus did not do it for the free food but in eating together, Jesus was teaching us about how to nurture our relationship with one another.
What is it in eating together? When we share a meal, there is ritual of passing the plates, viands, and drinks. While doing this, we are reconnecting with our family members – we would ask them what is happening with their life, and vice versa. This is why eating in a table with family and friends would sometimes take long to finish. Table fellowship is a good way of uniting our family.
Eating foods that are sticky on November 1 is a reminder for Filipinos to stick with your family. There are many families that are breaking up, and eating “suman” reminds us to keep our family together.
When was the last time you ate with your family?
Third, we need to keep and continue the legacy of our departed loved ones.
I noticed that in the cemetery, one of the purposes of lighting a candle is to start a conversation about the departed loved one and use the life of the candle as the timer when to end the conversation. Although the conversation is short, it rekindles memories. The swapping of stories becomes a great way of passing on to the next generation the legacy of the previous generation.
When was the last time you told a story of your departed loved one to the new generation of your family?
Sticks
Fear, dissatisfaction, unhappiness and many other negative emotions can be extraordinarily unpleasant but, aside from the power of love, there are few motivators as powerful.
The key to turning your darkest feelings into catapulting good lies in how you choose to respond.
If you're afraid of a future that you dread and you're paralyzed by it, in addition to falling under the spell of wrongly used imagination, you're a sitting duck. Inevitably, bad will come. There is no such thing as inaction here, by remaining locked inside your fears you feed them and condition your mind to notice only that which confirms them. As a result, you become incapable of recognizing opportunities and solutions.
By contrast, if you use your fear to motivate you to be proactive, to be open to solutions, to force you out of your comfort zone and into the limitless possibilities that always abound, you make it your servant.
Our most negative experiences and feelings make magnificent servants and tyrannical masters. You have the power to choose, at any moment, to assume power over negative emotion and use it to bring out the very best in you.
The idealist in me would like to tell you that the accomplishments I am most proud of were born of my inherent high motivation and joyful intentions. They weren't. It took me many years to develop positivity driven motivation. For most of us, and myself still sometimes, we relax and enjoy the sunny days.
The greatest achievements of my life were born of fear, strife, dissatisfaction, dire need or the white hot motivator, "I must do this to give____________________ (insert name of a person or cause) a better life."
There is great power in every negative experience, use it.
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