Blueberry Breakfast Tart

When I was a child there were no baking mixes. No cake from a box, no muffins either, and no pie crust. Home cooks made everything from scratch. My mother was an excellent baker and I learned the basic skills from her. At 16 years of age, I was making made-from-scratch French chocolate layer cake for church suppers, a fact I can hardly believe myself.

Even when mixes were available, my mother was still a scratch cook. Over the years I've followed here example, but do use some commercial products, such as a baking mix. These mixes are pretty much the same: flour, shortening, salt, dehydrated milk, and a leavening agent. Reduced fat mixes are also available.The reduced fat baking mix has about 40 percent less than all-purpose mix.

Using a mix saves some time. You don't have to measure flour, or shortening, or leavening. If I use a mix, I try to make it my own by adding different ingredients, changing the method, and in some instances, changing the pan size. Minnesota mornings are getting chiller and I wanted to eat something warm from the oven.

I decided to use a baking mix and the last of some blueberries in the refrigerator. Although I started with a crumb cake recipe, I used a sugar substitute, spreadable butter product, unsweetened applesauce and, of all things, a packet of instant oatmeal with apples and cinnamon. It turned out well and we enjoyed it. Kids will enjoy this too.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/3 cups baking mix

3/4 cup sugar substitute (or granulated sugar).

1 cup fresh blueberries.

1 tablespoon spreadable butter.

2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce.

1 large egg, room temperature.

3/4 cup fat-free milk.

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract.

1 packet instant oatmeal with apples and cinnamon.

2 tablespoons cold butter.

METHOD.

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 9 1/2" layer cake pan with cooking spray.

2. Whisk baking mix and sugar substitute (or sugar) together in a batter bowl.

Add rinsed blueberries into this mixture.

3. Stir in spreadable butter and applesauce.

4. Beat egg with fork and add milk and vanilla extract.

5. Combine this mixture with the other ingredients.

6. Transfer to prepared pan.

7. Cut top off oatmeal packet and sir contents with spoon. Sprinkle half of the oatmeal over coffee cake and dot with cold butter.

8. Bake 35 minutes, or until tart starts to pull away from pan. Makes 8 servings.

New Year's Day Traditional Eats

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Traditional foods eating on New Year's Day for dinner may be more along the lines of superstition than really good eats. For centuries the tradition or superstition has been that BLACK EYED PEAS must be eaten because they represent or will bring not only good luck or fortune but also money. In the south, USA, it is hard to find a household where black eyed peas will not be a part of the menu. It is believed that these rather innocent little legumes look something like coins which makes them representative of money or that when they are cooked they expand which represents expanding wealth. There is no traditional cooking method for the unassuming peas but they are usually combined with some pork.

These are legumes so they are naturally high in fiber and also a rich source of potassium. Calorie wise, when consumed alone, are about 70 calories in a normal serving. The black eyed peas are rather bland so most recipes have sea salt, garlic, and something hot like chili pepper or hot sauce to punch up the flavor. It can be made into soup, salad, dip for chips, put in casseroles and more. Nothing in the tradition or superstition dictates they must be eaten plain.

No self-respecting dinner table on New Year's Day would not include the mighty Collard Green. Greens are always going to be a good food choice nutrition wise but if you cook them to 'death' then you will cook away most of the nutritional value. Remember, the darker green the vegetable, the more nutritional value it contains.

Like all greens, the collard greens are loaded with wonderful nutritional value such as great vitamins like A and E, magnesium, fiber, iron, antioxidants, and more. The list goes on with this vegetable. In fact, it outshines the all-mighty broccoli in terms of lowering cholesterol. It is also attributed to a cancer fighting food. If collard greens is not one of your normal choices of veggies, perhaps it needs to be included in your menu plan for the week.

There are many ways to prepare this vegetable but most often it is combined with or served with some type of pork. If you find it to be bitter a spoon full of sugar goes a long way and it makes it more attractive for children. Not too much though. It does need salt to bring out the most flavor so perhaps sea salt is a good choice. Salt intake is necessary for good health but too much does more damage than good, health wise.

The collard green and other greens like mustard greens are from the group of vegetables referred to as cruciferous (broccoli and cabbage family) vegetables. These have amazing health benefits and really should be eating in large portion sizes at least three times a week. The best cooking method is steamed as with all vegetables but as long as you do not cook them down to mush they are still a great addition to your menu, on New Years Day and all year long. If you do cook them too long they will begin to have a strange and unappetizing smell. To cook them quicker just cut the leaves into half-inch pieces and the stems should be removed and cut into quarter-inch pieces.

The tradition of eating Collard Greens on New Years Day is to bring money into the home. The green of the greens representing the green of money. Somehow, though, in southern tradition the collard greens and black eyed peas must be accompanied with corn bread, southern that is!

Corn bread is about 190 calories in a piece like in the picture. That will vary on how it is prepared, as in from scratch, with things added (corn, peppers, etc.) or from a mix. Northern corn bread is much sweeter than southern so the calorie intake will be higher from the sugar added. Corn bread is basically 10% from fat, 10% cholesterol, and 20% sodium. Health wise this is not your best food choice but one piece once in a while should not disrupt your diet. As in all foods the second and third helping will be problematic. Corn bread is a great treat on New Years Day and if it does attract money to your household the why not indulge.

Ham:

Ham contains a high level of some of the essential B vitamins, such as B1, B12, and niacin. It is also rich in other nutrients, such as phosphorous, zinc, potassium, iron and magnesium, which are important to our daily diet. Our bodies require a certain amount of protein daily and the body does not store protein so we need to replenish it each day. A 3-ounce portion of ham provides approximately 30% to 50% of our daily requirement for protein, depending on the type of ham.

Ham is high in sodium due to the curing process. It can contain half of the daily recommended intake for sodium. When planning a menu that includes ham, you should add items that are low in sodium to try to keep your total sodium intake down.

Protein is good in any menu as long as you do not add tons of salt, sugar or oils like in fried foods.

If you are using food combining techniques or have digestive problems then eat your corn bread separately from the ham. It will make a nice snack a couple hours after the big meal.

Enjoy your day! It is the first day of the year and the mark of a new beginning.

Set New Year's Resolution to Be Organized

A New Year marks a rebirth and new beginning. It's also the time when we set goals for ourselves to improve upon the prior year. In the past you may have set a resolution (probably to later be disappointed) to lose those extra 5 or 10 pounds, or that you would learn a new language, or even travel the world. This year, why don't you point toward something that you know can be accomplished? Get organized!

Getting organized is almost on every top ten New Years resolutions list you'll find, but it's actually a good, reasonable goal to make. It is not always easy, but it can be done. During our day to day activities, we often don't take the time to put everything in its appropriate place, leaving us searching for that address we scribbled down on a piece of paper or that great recipe we clipped from a magazine. Make 2011 the year where this doesn't happen to you anymore. Make the effort to finally have everything organized.

Start by organizing your 2010 photos into albums and scrapbooks. There are many different albums and scrapbooks to choose from. Next, think about how you organize your addresses. Is your current address book up-to-date? If you are looking for a new one or want to start fresh, keep in mind size limitations and how you will use it. If you plan to keep it with you at all times, does it fit in your purse, messenger back, backpack, or briefcase? Or will you keep it at your office or at home where a desk sized organizer may work better. Some address books can be refillable and often hold up to 600 entries!

There are plenty of kitchen gadgets and containers for organizing food in your fridge, but have you taken the time to organize your take-out menus, recipes, and coupons? Did you even know you could buy such a thing? Many people find that having a single place to organize all their favorite take-out menus, recipes and coupons makes eating in, cooking, and grocery shopping much easier!

So this year, make your resolution one that is achievable and will leave you organized for years to come.

Healthy Foods to Eat - Cultivate Good Eating Habits in Children

If you have been giving in to your child's demand for fast food over healthy foods, then think again. Regardless of the stress you are undergoing, be it at home or at the office, it is a sin to just give in to the child's demands. The child can not think right, but you as the parent have the onus of ensuring they get the needful nutrition, that they cultivate healthy eating habits so that they can grow strong and healthy. Most fast foods, though labelled "the most nutritious protein food" is more often made up of more than 50% non-nutritional material such as preservatives, stabilizers, sodium, sugars, synthetic substances and fat. Protein, the most important nutrition for healthy growth makes up less than 10%. With a wailing 3 year-old on your hand, it is understandable to just give in and have some peace, but this is detrimental to your child's health. If you have been finding it difficult to manage, here are some tips.

Get your child involved in the preparation of family meals from an early age. Show them what to prepare, teach them what is healthy food, explain why they are healthy and most of all, make the food look and taste good. In as much as possible, stock up plenty of healthy foods of many varieties so that your child gets accustomed to healthy eating from an early age. Allow your children to make their own snacks; in this way they are more likely to eat what they have prepared. Make your marketing and grocery trips interesting and fun. Bring along your children. This is one area where it allows you to educate them on the value of healthy food. It will also give them the sense of pride that they are allowed to take part in making purchases.

Children love finger food snacks especially chicken. No, do not run to the nearest fast food outlet. Make your own, they are easy. Just cut chicken breasts into "finger" size, and bake them or have them grilled. At all times, avoid frying. Make some healthy and tasty yogurt dressings to go with them. Serve a variety of foods and a spectrum of colors to make the foods you are serving attractive and delicious. There are times when you do need to eat out and when that happens ask for food to be grilled instead of fried.

Fruits and vegetables are healthy foods to eat

As an adult, you need to show good examples. Children ape their parents, so as a responsible parent avoid snacking on salted chips or processed food too often. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, they do make delectable snacks and meals. So, make a habit to snack on fruits, salad and juices instead of reaching for that bag of chips. Fruits can be sliced; carrots and celery cut into sticks and serve with a bowl of yogurt dip, low-fat sour cream added with honey as well as applesauce. Children just love anything that comes with a bowl of dip.

Remember, it is the owner of the hand that feeds them that makes children what they are. So start now and give your children healthy foods to eat.

How To Shake Up Your Life!

Have you ever noticed that we generally tend to live trapped in a loop - living the same day, or few days, over and over again? I sometimes wonder if the enormous scale of human pathology and dysfunction might actually stem from a case of chronic boredom?

We're creatures of habit, yes, and that's generally the way society functions - we each have our role to play and our allotted duties and responsibilities. That needn't be a problem in itself.

The concept of dharma in the East is a very healthy and beneficial understanding, and one that's generally lacking in the West's desire-oriented culture. Dharma means responding appropriately to the needs of the situation and doing what's right. If you have a family, then your dharma is to look after them well. If you have a job, then the dharma of that situation is to do your job to the best of your ability. When we follow dharma, we generally tend to feel good because we're in flow with life. Violating dharma - which is to say, doing what we know is wrong either by action or inaction - creates emotional disharmony and stress.

So you got ta do what you got ta do. That's the way life works. But, here's the thing. You can do what you need to do while still making every day fresh, adventurous and enjoyable.

We should never let ourselves become robotic zombies, living life solely as a conditioned reflex. That's a surefire way to lose every last trace of the joy and spontaneity we had as young children - the joy and spontaneity that comes naturally to us and is a natural part of us. Society is kind of like a machine, and we're raised and socialised to be rather like machines ourselves; cogs in the wheel of society. But we're not machines! Most people have such a well-developed social self - the facade we present to the world; how we want the world to see us - that we've lost touch with our essential, innate self. It's no wonder we get so insanely bored and depressed.

Is it possible to shake things up and live with greater spontaneity and freshness while still attending to our dharma and duties? I definitely think so. We can all work within our limitations and find ways to make life a little more fun and exciting. It might take a little work at first, but I believe it's well worth the effort.

Here are some simple suggestions for breaking out of what's become the norm of robotic, reflex-living, and finding greater variety and authenticity in our lives:

1. Excavation work: we were never more 'ourselves' than when we were children. Back then we 'd yet to craft and slap on the masks of our 'social self'. We were just unconstrained expressions of consciousness, with our own set of natural tendencies, interests, passions and proclivities (now there's a word I don't get to use often!). It's fun to look back at the things that brought us the most joy when we were young, because that's a sure sign it's something that's aligned with our essential self, and innately makes us feel happy and fulfilled.

Obviously you're not going to want to throw water balloons at your neighbour (I assume!) or live in a treehouse at the bottom of your garden (although that could be kind of cool). But you might find ways you can get back to the natural sense of fun, adventurous and playfulness you had as a kid. I mean, why not take the afternoon to build sandcastles on the beach, or watch clouds or go for a bike ride somewhere cool? Or play a game. Or eat a Chomp caramel-chocolate bar (wonder if you still get them?). Or do anything that might have appealed to your younger self, allowing yourself to recapture that lost sense of fun and joy.

2. Do something different-- anything different! Wear clothes you wouldn't normally wear (a red sweatshirt. Or a purple one. Why the heck not?) Instead of eating and drinking the same old things, try something new. Walk a different route to work or school. Visit somewhere you've never been before. Go to a library and get out the kind of book you 'd never usually read, just out of curiosity. Listen to a different style of music. Make music! Get talking with someone new, or a friend you don't normally spend much time with. Take some babysteps out of your habitual comfort zone.

3. If there are any habits you think might be dulling you down, then temporarily - or, if you're so inclined, permanently - ditch them. Perhaps watch less TV, or just different TV. Put down the laptop and take a walk or exercise or go lie down and listen to some relaxing music. Stop hanging around with anyone you feel drags you down. Stop eating so many sugary things, or if you're particularly health conscious as I tend to be, allow yourself to be more indulgent.

4. Look at situations differently. Consider things from all angles. Most of the time we rigidly stick to our beliefs, opinions and viewpoints, but this is not the mark of a great mind. Be willing and open to changing your mind about things. Yeah, it can be disconcerting at first (we like to think we're right all the time), but it's also tremendously liberating.

5. Remember your dreams. We all have them, and we generally tend to set them aside as we get older and have to get on with the business of living. But if there's something within you, a spark or a fire that's never truly extinguished, then allow yourself to tend to that flame and bask in its warm glow. Find ways to explore your dreams and incorporate them, or elements of them, into your life.

That's just a simple list of suggestions. If you have any ideas of your own, please feel free to share. Once you get the ball rolling, you'll hopefully find more and more ways of reigniting the spark in your life, breaking free of conditioned reflex-living and approaching life with greater consciousness, awareness and freshness.

Don't come up with excuses such as 'I don't have the time for things like that'. That's nonsense; even the busiest of people can find ways to vary their routine and shake up their lives. If you argue for your limitations, they're yours. Even the smallest, simplest of changes can make us feel more satisfied and refreshed with our lives. We begin to adopt a more conscious approach to living and one that will ultimately enable us to embrace greater happiness, freedom and authenticity