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Healthy Halloween Pumpkin Cookies – Yummm

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Halloween is the time when we have to remember that our kids are not the healthiest in the world and we must protect them from diabetes, obesity and heart disease which are are on the rise among children.

So, I would like to share with you this Healthy Recipe I found at www.foodnetwork.com

Why is it healthy?

Just in case if you don’t know, spices, like ginger and cinnamon boost our immune system helping fight with cold and flu.

Dark molasses are a great substitute for sugar as well as a good source of iron and B vitamins.

As for raisins, they can protect our oral, dental and bone health, be helpful for our vision and beneficial if you have constipation, weight gain or anemia.

Spiced Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients

pumpkin cookies

2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin puree

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup dark molasses

1 cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 baking sheets with cooking spray.

Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Whisk pumpkin, brown sugar, oil and molasses in a second bowl until well combined. Stir the wet ingredients and raisins into the dry ingredients until no traces of dry ingredients remain. Drop the batter by level tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies until firm to the touch and lightly golden on top, 10 to 12 minutes, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

Bon Appetit!

Don’t forget to breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Related Articles, Podcast and Video:

Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

Create Your Own Healthy and Delicious Pie

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Laugh Your Winter Blues Off !

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

Suffer from seasonal depression? Need a little bit to lighten up? Don’t be SAD! Let us laugh our winter blues off, because, as Victor Hugo said: “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.catlaugh

Here are for you some famous health/women related quotes and proverbs to laugh at:

:lol: “Think about what you’re thinking about. And don’t believe everything you think.” — Loretta LaRoche

:lol: Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” — Victor Hugo

:lol: “A woman has the age she deserves.”–Coco Chanel

:lol: “Men make laws; women make morals.” — French Proverb

:lol: “It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense. – Robert Green Ingersoll

:lol: “Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” — Mark Twain

:lol: “To eat is human, to digest – divine.” — Mark Twain

:lol: “Everything I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening.” — Alexander Woollcott

:lol: “I’m fat, but I’m thin inside. Has it ever struck you that there’s a thin man inside every fat man, just as they say there’s a statue inside every block of stone?” — George Orwell

:lol: “My advice if you insist on slimming: Eat as much as you like – just don’t swallow it.” — Harry Secombe

:lol: “At 50, you have the choice of keeping your face or your figure and it’s much better to keep your face.” – Barbara Cartland

:lol: “Anatomically speaking, a bust is here today and gone tomorrow.” — Isobel Barnett

:lol: “We have no faith in ourselves. I have never met a woman who, deep down in her core, really believes she has great legs. And if she suspects that she might have great legs, then she’s convinced that she has a shrill voice and no neck.” — Cynthia Heimel

:lol: Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.”– John Wilmot (Lord Rochester)

:lol: “I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.” — Harry S. Truman

:lol: “One should never trust a woman who tells one her real age. A woman who would tell one that, would tell one anything.” — Oscar Wilde, 1854-19laughing00

:lol: “A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” — Nancy Reagan

:lol: “People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.” — Leo J. Burke

:lol: “My mother said it was simple to keep a man, you must be a maid in the living room, a cook in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom. I said I’d hire the other two and take care of the bedroom bit.” – Jerry Hall

:lol: “Kissing is a means of getting two people so close together that they can’t see anything wrong with each other.” – Gene Yasenak

:lol: “To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.” — Benjamin Franklin

:lol: “One must eat to live and not live to eat.” — Moliere

:lol: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”– Albert Einstein

:lol: “The best way to lose weight is to close your mouth – something very difficult for a politician. Or watch your food – just watch it, don’t eat it.” — Edward I. Koch

:lol: The biggest seller is cookbooks and the second is diet books – how not to eat what you’ve just learned how to cook.” — Andy Rooney

:lol: “Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out. That is what it’s for. Spend all you have before you die; and do not outlive yourself.” -- George Bernard Shaw

:lol: “Women dress alike all over the world: they dress to be annoying to other women.” — Elsa Schiaparelli

Let me know which ones you like the most, and stay tuned for more. If you think these jokes might help people you know to feel better, please share this post.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

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Ten Tips to Stay Healthy through the Cold and Flu Season

Friday, December 12th, 2008

Do you feel that your clothes feel already tighter? Feel exhausted?

What about anxiety and cravings?

Here are some tips on how to go through the Holidays and Cold and Flu Season without gaining too much weight, staying healthy and feeling fabulous.

1. Start your day with a glass of warm water with juice of ½ lemon. This simple drink will help detoxify liver and colon as well as suppress appetite. As for me, I take a glass of warm water with 1 tbsp organic apple-cider vinegar and ½ tsp organic honey.

2. Eat as much as you can high-fiber foods (regular bowel movements are an important mechanism for removing toxins from your body and loosing some weight) such as fresh fruits, raw green leafy vegetables (kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, spinach, arugula), whole-grain oatmeal, barley, asparagus, beans, cabbage, carrots, garlic, kale, sweet potatoes, cranberries, prunes. More on High-fiber foods

Also consume plenty of foods that are high in pectin, such as apples, carrots, beets, cabbage, citrus fruits.

3. Wash your hands80% of dangerous germs will be eliminated. And don’t touch your face:germs enter you through your face (eyes, nose and mouth). Some adults touch their faces more than 100 time, and kids…

4. Take a break from protein, dairy products, fat and sweets, and try to eat more:

soups, such as Pumpkin Soup, Mushroom Pumpkin Soup, Butternut Squash Soup, Fennel Soup, etc;

grains, such as brown rice, millet, quinoa, buckwheat (especially good for weigh loss) and

seasonal vegetables. Recipes

5. Drink more water, and teas with nettles, ginger, clover, dandelion, burdock root.

6. Use detoxifying spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, rosemary, oregano, ginger. Try Immunity Boosting Spices Mix.

7. Have omega-3 foods daily (walnuts, flax seed oil or freshly ground flax seeds, salmon)

8. Between meals have healthy snacks (walnuts, raisins, almonds, prunes, figs, carrots, celery, etc.)

9. Get some exercises – at least take a walk before and/or after your meal more on walks

10. Take time to reduce stress and  relax: listen to music, enjoy nature, spend time with your friend, dance, or maybe have some extra sleep .

And never forget to breathe, smile and be happy.

Look forward to hearing from you: let me know how I can help you.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

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Soup Time to Feel and Look Fabulous

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Take a break from fats, diary products, sweets, protein and try more soups to feel and look fabulous:

Fennel Soup

Ingredients:

1/4 cup ghee

5 fennel bulbs, trimmed and quartered

1 (32 fluid ounce) container vegetable broth

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the quartered fennel bulbs; cook and stir until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Pour in the broth, and simmer until fennel is tender, about 15 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Season with Immunity Boosting Spices.

Chicken Ginger Soup

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds chicken, skinned

3 long stocks celery

1 medium onion chopped

½ basmati rice

1 bunch scallions

1 3-inch piece fresh ginger cut into slivers 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 /2 chopped parsley

½ chopped cilantro

I /2 cup chopped dill to garnish

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Place the chicken in water, enough to cover chicken, then cover the pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add celery, scallions, rice, ginger and onion. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the chicken, cool, then pull the meat from the bones. Return chicken to the pot and add salt and pepper, lemon juice, parsley, cilantro. Garnish with dill. Season with Immunity Boosting Spices.

Mushroom Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 chopped onion
2 tbsp.oil
2 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. curry powder
3 cups chicken broth
1 can (1 lb.) pumpkin
1 tbsp. honey
dash nutmeg
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 cup evaporated milk
optional sour cream or yogurt, topping

Directions:

Sautée mushrooms and onion in oil. Add flour and curry and
stir. gradually adding broth. Add all but milk and cook, stirring,
for 10 – 15 minutes. Add milk and heat through without boiling.
Top with sour cream if you wish. Season with Immunity Boosting Spices.

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash, peeled

1 onion, chopped

6 cups vegetable stock

dash nutmeg

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Parsley and dill to garnish

Directions:

Cut squash into 1-inch chunks. Sautee onion until translucent. Add squash and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until squash is tender. Remove squash chunks with slotted spoon and place in a blender and puree. Return blended squash to pot. Stir and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Garnish with parsley and dill. You might top with sour cream. Season with Immunity Boosting Spices.

Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

2 Tbs olive oil

2 small onions, chopped
5 cups frozen peas ( you can use dried split peas -16 oz package- and first cook them for 1 hour and a half , stirring from time to time)
2 cups chicken broth

1 bay leaf
1 Tbs chopped parsley

1 tbsp chopped dill

Salt and pepper

Immune Boosting Spices Mix

Directions:

Sautee onions in olive oil, until translucent (you can also add carrots and ham). Add the peas, broth, bay leaf and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes, until peas are tender. Puree the soup in a blender, add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley and dill. Season with Immunity Boosting Spices.

More Soups

Bon Appetit and don’t forget to

breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

More Healthy Food Recipes

Eight Reasons to Eat a Butternut/Acorn Squash Soup

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Hug Therapy to Reduce Stress, Fight Cold and Flu, and Avoid Seasonal Depression

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

It is the most stressful time of the year – time of the cold and flu, holiday anxiety and stress, seasonal depression as well as one of the most stressful times ever in our economic history. My suggestion: let us hug! Are you a hugging person? Actually it doesn’t matter, because if hugging is a challenge for you, it might be even better – we all need challenges from time to time, am I right?

It is a Holiday Time, time of giving, so let us give hugs to people we love and people we know, and maybe even to people we don’t know. Let us try this simple stress-relief tool as many times as we can during this month. Deal?

I would like to share with you the article about hugs by Michael Clutton.

“Hugs are very different from handshakes. Hugs are a way of expressing love and healing for the soul. Sometimes, when there are no words that will help a situation, a simple hug will.

Not only are hugs nice, they are much needed. Hugs can relieve pain and depression.  They can make you healthier and happier. Hugging feels good and overcomes fear. Hugs are a crucial part of human communications. Hugs are a healthy, genuine way to express affection, friendship and love. It is never be wrong to hug a friend (of either gender) or your child, sibling or parent.

Hugs are also proven to be medically beneficial. First used with autistic, withdrawn children, “hug therapy” is used to teach basic trust.

Hugs are good for any occasion: birthdays, holidays, greetings, good byes or sometimes just because you want to. When you get a hug, you feel warm, fuzzy and complete.  The hug of another person expresses a certain feeling of union and caring.  They’re a friendly way to express appreciation of another person.

There are group hugs, tender lover hugs, around the waist hugs, kissing hugs, sweet and tender hugs and yes, even the grab-ass hug.  There is the awkward “lean in” for the timid and the breathtaking squeeze-you-till-your-eyes-pop hug.

Not to be overlooked, there’s also the lingering, head on shoulder version often used during joyful reunions, such as a soldier returning from long duty.  Mutual rocking or a gentle swaying motion often accompanies this incredible hug.

Hugs show love with speed. It helps the body’s immune system, keeps you healthier, cures depression, reduces stress, induces sleep, is invigorating, has no unpleasant side affects, is all natural and is 100% wholesome.

As a stress relief tool, hugging will help us boost our immune system, fight  cold and flu, increase our energy level and avoid seasonal depression.

Let us hug, breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

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Create a Healthy and Delicious Thanksgiving Pie

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Here is an opportunity for you to create your own delicious Sweet Potato or Squash Pie for your Thanksgiving dinner. Or… you can bake three different pies to impress and surprise your family and friends :-)

Good Luck!

Ingredients to choose:

I. Pick one:

1 and a half can pumpkin puree

3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes

3 cups cooked mashed buttercup squash

Shop with spices in Morocco

3 cups cooked mashed butternut squash

II. Pick one:

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup honey

½ cup maple syrup

¾ cup Agave Nectar

III. Pick three or more:

1/5 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cloves

¼ tsp allspice

1 tbsp lemon zest

1 tbsp orange zest

sweet potato pie

IV. Pick one:

1 cup soy milk

1 cup evaporated milk

1 cup almond milk

1 cup rice milk

V. Pick one:

3 eggs slightly beaten + 2 tbsp flour

¼ cup cornstarch

½ cup firm tofu

2 tbsp semolina

VI. pinch of salt

VII. I – 2 tbsp Molasses

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and pour into the crust.* Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 F and bake for 45 – 50 minutes.

* Basic Crust

Ingredients:

3 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon salt

¾ cup margarine

5- 6 tbsp cold water

Directions:

Mix together flour, margarine and salt. Add water, one spoon at a time until pastry holds together. Shape the pastry into a ball and put into the refrigerator for 45 min.

Bon Appetit!

Let me know which one you like best.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas,HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Pumpkin Brulee

Banana – Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pudding

More Recipes

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Green Beans with Lemon and Cranberries

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Here is a delicious and very easy to cook recipe you can prepare for your family healthy Thanksgiving Dinner or for any occasion.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound  of organic green beans

4 tbsp olive oil

Green common beans on the plant

Image via Wikipedia

2 tsp lemon zest

2 tsp fresh mint, chopped

2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

2 tsp minced garlic

2 tbsp dried cherries or/ and cranberries

1 tbsp sesame seeds

Sea salt, ground black pepper

Directions:

Bring half a medium sized pot of water to a boil with some sea salt.
Once boiling, add in green beans and boil for 5- 7 minutes. Drain and place in a bowl. Add mixture of olive oil, lemon zest, dried, cranberries, mint and dash of black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.

P.S. You can also add sliced almonds, walnuts, prunes.

Be creative and let me know how you like it best.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Sweet Potato Pudding

Quick Pumpkin Cupcake

More Healthy Recipes

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