Posted in February 2012 …
“Save it for a rainy day” stew
For me there’s no better way to spend one of those days but at home cozied up working inside on some writing and enjoying some heart warming comfort food (you all know I’m into healthy stuff, so whatever I do make I clean up as much as possible). Since today was one of those days where I didn’t have to be out fighting the rain, I took the liberty of making this delicious vegetable stew from scratch:
Instructions:
1) Boil a butcher’s beef bone in a pot of cold water for 2-3 hours to make the broth. After broth is made, remove the bone.
I keep beef bones from the butcher in the freezer for a rainy day (no pun intended) to make the stew’s broth. Homemade beef broth is much healthier than store bought broth out of a box or can. Bones are full of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur, collagen and trace minerals as well as the stuff that builds glucosamine and chondroitin (joint health).
2) Chop vegetables of your choice (I used) onion, celery, carrots, broccoli and toss into the pot.
3) I added some of Bob’s Red Mill veggie soup mix with green split peas, yellow split peas, barley, lentils and vegetable pasta (semolina wheat flour, dehydrated spinach and tomato). You could add meat or any beans of your choice.
4) Season with your favorites seasonings, I recommend using a bay leaf, sea salt, cayenne pepper and turmeric.
It takes a few hours for everything to set, so be patient with your stew! This one is not to be rushed.
Increase your wellbeing
There is no rush to be perfect, the only urgency is to get started!! The idea is to create a healthy practice to live by. You can do this by incrementally making positive choices and changes so that you’ll starting feel a little healthier each day. The process shouldn’t be extreme or punishing, find enjoyment in whatever you are doing that way you’ll be less likely to quit.
Self love: Think positive thoughts about thyself. What you believe, you become.
Be fit: For feeling and longevity, not just for looks
Be patient: With your body, quick fixes do not work long term!! They guarantee backlashes and disappointment.
Allow yourself: to have things you like in moderation. Deprivation ends in over indulgence.
Stop counting calories: Just be mindful and eat nutrient dense foods.
Don’t beat yourself up: for poor decisions, if you eat it enjoy it and move on.
Alcohol: Don’t over do it and hold off the sugary cocktails. If you do drink lighter, consume wine or lighter alcohols, like vodka at 60-70 calories per shot (the lighter it is the less sugar it contains). Avoid carbonated or juice mixers- they add up a lot faster.
The great outdoors: Connect with mother year round, there’s something so peaceful and magical about nature. Get grounded with outdoor activities like beach volleyball, basketball, hiking, water sports, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice-skating or hockey and tobogganing.
Sex: It relieves stress, helps you sleep better, increases self esteem, boosts immunity, increases mood, burns calories and it helps to increase intimacy between you and your partner. *Always practice safe sex*
Sleep: It assists the body in metabolizing food, especially carbohydrates, by stabilizing glucose and insulin levels. This prevents excessive storage of fat. Sleep is also when the body heals itself by renewing and rejuvenating.
