Saturday, August 16, 2014

Enjoy Garden-Fresh Veggies

Parsleyed Green Beans

Servings: 6 to 8

Prep Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

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1 1/2 pounds

green beans, washed and both ends trimmed
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3 tablespoons

unsalted butter
2 teaspoons

fresh garlic, finely chopped with pinch of salt
2 tablespoons

chopped parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Flat-leaf parsley (optional)

Directions

Fill large pot with water; bring to rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the beans. Cook, uncovered, for 5 to 8 minutes or until tender but still vibrant green and slightly resistant to the bite. Drain beans; immediately submerge in bowl of lightly salted ice water to stop cooking and set color. When thoroughly chilled, drain well. Cover and chill up to 24 hours.

In a wide skillet heat butter over medium-high heat until hot and foaming. Add beans. Cook, tossing often, until heated through. Sprinkle with garlic and parsley, a generous amount of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook 1 minute longer, tossing frequently to distribute flavorings and avoid burning the garlic. Sprinkle with additional parsley. Serve immediately. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Note

To serve right away: Omit chill green beans.

Nutrition information

Per Serving: cal. (kcal) 90, Fat, total (g) 6, chol. (mg) 15, sat. fat (g) 4, carb. (g) 9, Monosaturated fat (g) 2, fiber (g) 4, sugar (g) 2, pro. (g) 2, vit. A (IU) 972, vit. C (mg) 16, Thiamin (mg) 0, Riboflavin (mg) 0, Niacin (mg) 1, Pyridoxine (Vit. B6) (mg) 0, Folate (µg) 28, sodium (mg) 80, Potassium (mg) 231, calcium (mg) 50, iron (mg) 1, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

See more Enjoy Garden-Fresh Veggies Recipes

8 Tips for Managing Stress

Stress reduction is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, just like diet and exercise. These tips will help you keep your stress levels under control.

By Diana Rodriguez

Medically reviewed by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

When you're stressed, your head may start to hurt, or you may feel nauseous, dizzy, jittery, or just plain overwhelmed. Stress can have a huge impact on every aspect of your life, so stress reduction is necessary for maintaining both your physical and emotional health. Since you can't simply wish stress away, managing stress is a vital skill to develop.

Managing Stress: When You Experience a Sudden Spike
Certain situations create stress instantly, such as a major issue at work or a crisis at home that needs to be addressed right away. When there's an urgent problem that requires your immediate attention, managing stress is important so that you can think clearly. Try these stress reduction tips to help you deal with anxiety-provoking experiences:

Put it in perspective. Maybe you're disappointed that you didn't get a promotion you were up for or concerned that money is a little tight this month because of an unexpected medical bill. Feeling stressed is a natural reaction. But try to take a step back and ask yourself: will this issue still matter in a year? In five years? If the answer is no, take a deep breath and try to move forward. Keeping things in perspective is crucial to managing stress.
Come up with a plan. If there's a specific problem you need to fix, make a list of all possible solutions and pick the best one for your situation. Realizing that you have options and coming up with a concrete plan will have a direct effect on stress reduction.
Accept what you can't control. Some circumstances are simply beyond our control, and we have to learn to cope with and accept them. Fortunately, you do have control over how you react to stressful situations. Staying calm and being willing to accept emotional support from others can help in managing stress.

Managing Stress: When It’s at a Slow, Steady Boil
Sometimes it’s not one specific problem, but rather nagging concerns about your job, health, finances, or family members that create a steady build-up of stress. Try these tips to help you with stress reduction:

Give yourself a break. Daily stressors can creep up on you before you realize it, so treat yourself to at least one relaxing activity every day. Listening to music, meditating, visualization exercises, writing in a journal, or enjoying a soothing bubble bath are all great ways to relax and relieve stress. Taking time for yourself is important for both preventing and managing stress.
Get regular exercise. Exercise is one of the best methods for managing stress because it can relieve both the physical and emotional effects of stress. Consider fitness choices that also deliver specific stress-reducing effects like yoga, tai chi, Pilates, or one of the martial arts, all great ways to get rid of pent-up stress and negativity.
Express your feelings. If something's bothering you, don't keep it to yourself. Talk to people you trust, like friends, family, or co-workers, about what's on your mind. Even if you're not looking for specific advice, it usually feels good just to get your feelings out into the open.

Managing Stress: Keeping Stressful Situations to a Minimum
Being prepared for difficult situations, managing your time well, and solving problems quickly can help you avoid unnecessary stress:

Set reasonable expectations. Being busy is sometimes inevitable, but regularly taking on more than you can manage can cause unwanted and unwelcome stress. Tell yourself that it's okay to say no to activities at your child's school or to extra projects at work — you are not obligated to accept every request made of you. Additionally, don't take on more financial responsibilities — such as a new car or a bigger house — if you think they'll be a stretch. Being realistic about your finances is an important strategy for managing stress.
Resolve issues before they become crises. It’s human nature to avoid unpleasant topics and circumstances, but if you're concerned about a brewing situation, whether it's at work or at home, address it early to keep it from becoming more serious, harder to solve, and more stressful for you. Problems are always easier to handle before they develop into full-blown calamities.

If stress is interfering with your life or dictating your actions, talk to your doctor, as it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. But everyone experiences stress from time to time. Setting realistic expectations of yourself, learning how to keep problems in perspective, and enjoying relaxing breaks from the daily demands of life can help you keep stress under control.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Top 30 Healthy Tomato Recipes and Cooking Tips

Tuna Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes with Arugula

The tuna in this great-looking stuffed tomato recipe isn’t your typical mayo-based affair. The sherry vinaigrette does double duty: it adds fresh flavor to the tuna filling and also dresses the baby arugula and white bean salad.

Makes: 4 servings
Serving Size: 1 tomato, 2/3 cup filling & 1 3/4 cups arugula salad
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 large tomatoes
2 5-ounce cans chunk light tuna in olive oil, drained
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped Kalamata olives
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 15-ounce can great northern beans, rinsed
8 cups baby arugula

Preparation

Whisk oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Transfer 3 tablespoons of the dressing to a large bowl and set aside.
Slice enough off the top of each tomato to remove the core (1/2 to 1 inch). Chop enough of the tops to equal 1/2 cup and add to the medium bowl. Scoop out the tomato pulp using a teaspoon or melon baller. (Discard the pulp or save for another use.)
Add tuna, celery, onion, olives and thyme to the medium bowl; gently toss to combine. Fill the hollowed tomatoes with the tuna mixture.
Add beans and arugula to the dressing in the large bowl and toss to combine. Divide the salad among 4 plates and top each with a stuffed tomato.

Nutrition

Per serving: 353 calories; 18 g fat (2 g sat, 11 g mono); 7 mg cholesterol; 30 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 9 g total sugars; 20 g protein; 11 g fiber; 476 mg sodium; 878 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (70% daily value), Vitamin A (63% dv), Potassium (25% dv), Folate (21% dv), Magnesium (16% dv), Vitamin B12 (15% dv)
Carbohydrate Servings: 1 1/2

Click here for 30 recipes

11 Things Robin Williams Taught Me (you'll learn something too)

As most of us already heard about it, the iconic and loveable Robin Williams was found dead in his California home at the age of 63.

I always love his movies because most of the time, I can learn something out of the things he says.

He will be sorely missed for the light humor and deep philosophical lessons he imparted on Millennials and the rest of the world alike.

Here's a list of the most profound and beautiful quotes from the late actor who so tragically left this earth far too young. You will be missed Robin Williams.

#1: There's nothing wrong with being alone

"I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel alone."

#2: Learn to forgive yourself, not just others

"Good people end up in Hell because they can't forgive themselves."

#3: It's OK to be crazy

"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."

#4: The modern man has real struggles

"See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time."

#5: Pick your battles wisely

"Never fight with an ugly person, they've got nothing to lose."

#6: Never stop reaching for greatness

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."

#7: Surround yourself with the right people

"When you have a great audience, you can just keep going and finding new things."

#8: You can't appreciate the good until you've felt the bad

"You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren't paying attention to."

#9: There's no such thing as a perfect person

"She is not perfect, You are not perfect. the question is whether or not you are perfect for each other."

#10: Everyone has a purpose, every action has a meaning

"I believe in destiny. There must be a reason that I am as I am. There must be."

#11: Never stop dreaming big and never stop dreaming until you finally reach it

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."

I hope that he can continue to inspire you and myself to live a better life. Seize the time you are given today and create the life you want.

R.I.P. Robin Williams

Robin Williams

R.I.P. Robin Williams 8/11/2014

Monday, August 11, 2014

Spot Prices as of close of trading in New York Monday, August 11, 2014

Spot Prices as of close of trading in New York

Monday, August 11, 2014

Gold

Today	Change	Week Ago	Month Ago	Year Ago

$1,310.85	-$0.40	$1,289.25	$1,337.55	$1,336.45

Silver

Today	Change	Week Ago	Month Ago	Year Ago

$20.10	+$0.14	$20.27	$21.49	$21.41

Platinum

Today	Change	Week Ago	Month Ago	Year Ago

$1,474.80	-$6.40	$1,469.60	$1,515.90	$1,502.80

Palladium

Today	Change	Week Ago	Month Ago	Year Ago

$870.70	+$14.70	$858.10	$876.40	$740.50

Gold/Silver Ratio

65.22

Insight for the Day 8/12/14

"Learn to trust your own judgment, learn inner independence, learn to trust that time will sort good from bad - including your own bad."

Doris Lessing
1919-2013, Author

Saturday, August 9, 2014

If You Want To Find The Secrets of The Universe

7 Amazing Summer Salads by Team Beachbody

7 Colorful Summer Salads

Recipes

July 25, 2014

When the temperature rises, the last thing anyone wants to do is stand over a hot stove to cook dinner. Summer salads to the rescue! Here are enough salad recipes to keep your menu fresh all week. Seasonal ingredients are the stars of these gorgeous, no-cook meals that can be prepared in minutes. If you are lucky enough to have a local farmer’s market, take advantage of the abundance of extra-flavorful produce that is at available right now.

Sliced Peach and Heirloom Tomato Salad
If you’ve never tried ripe summer peaches and tomatoes together, you’re in for a treat! These two ingredients make a perfect sweet and savory pair. In this recipe, they get extra zing from feta cheese and fresh mint. Heirloom tomatoes can be found in a variety of colors, from yellow and green to deep purple! Choose a mixture of colors for an even more appealing plate. Get the recipe.

Spinach and Berry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
Sweet blueberries and strawberries make this salad burst with summer flavor, while orange bell pepper and almonds give it a satisfying crunch. A tangy homemade vinaigrette makes it taste gourmet! Get the recipe.

Greek Salad
Our version of a Greek salad has everything we love about this classic dish—refreshing tomato and cucumber, crunchy bell pepper, olives, and feta—and is low in fat and calories!

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Have your croutons and eat them too with this lighter version of Caesar salad that’s high in protein but low in calories. Pair it with our creamy lemon Caesar dressing and use leftover cooked chicken to make this meal in minutes. Get the recipe.

Arugula Salad with Peaches and Mozzarella
This recipe is one of my favorite ways to eat the sweet, juicy peaches that are filling the farmers markets right now. Slice them and toss with some peppery arugula, fresh mozzarella, and a drizzling of good balsamic vinegar. Not all balsamic vinegar is created equal, aged balsamic has a sweeter, more complex flavor that makes this salad sing. Get the recipe.

Blackberry Spinach Salad
Blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all fruits, and their seeds are packed with fiber. We’re used to seeing them in oatmeal and baked goods, but did you ever think to add them to a salad? Get the recipe.

Spinach and Avocado Salad
We love sweet and tart dried cranberries paired with creamy avocado in this delicious salad. Poppy seeds give it extra texture and peppery flavor. Get the recipe.