21 Day Meditation Challenge via The Chopra Center

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Join the Winter 21-Day Meditation Challenge - delivered via email with a link to each days meditation.
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The 21-day Meditation Challenge starts with small steps and gently progresses to longer meditations, then eases back down - exploring many different types of meditation along the way. The optimum length and frequency for a meditation practice is 30 minutes, twice each day (I have never quite been able to achieve this but I still find daily meditation very helpful). This program begins with a few minutes at first and works its way up to more extended meditations.
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Studies have shown that it takes 21 days of consistent behavior to change a habit or create a new one, such as establishing a regular exercise routine, eating a healthier diet, or taking time each day for self-care.
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Enjoy!
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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Creative Outlets - Olive and Rosemary Fougasse

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I think every girl should have many creative outlets - especially moms who get caught up in the world of pleasing everyone but themselves. My family is my life but I also have my own life filled with ideas, dreams and fun things that entertain only me!! There are times, when the mood strikes (and I make this quite clear to everyone), that I take time to cook or bake something new that sounds interesting and delish! Now, I do like the challenge of taking on a recipe I have never tried before but only when it's not about dinner guests or holidays ( I usually stick to tried and true recipes, so as not to add additional stress on top of stress - you know what I mean). At the end of my creative baking/cooking jag everyone is welcome to taste what I have whipped up and hopefully proclaim it's the best they've ever had (if they know what's good for them - jk- sort of) ;) This time around I tried a recipe courtesy of French Cooking At Home -- called Olive and Rosemary Fougasse. Truth be told, it turned out amazing and looked and tasted exactly as I had hoped -- delish!!
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Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of flour
  
• 1 package yeast (prepared as per instructions)
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 3 eggs (2 for recipe and 1 for egg wash)
  
• 1/2 cups olives (any kind - I used kalamata) chopped
  
• 1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped finely
• cornmeal (to cover baking pan)
  

Directions:

Mix the flour with 2 teaspoons salt in a bowl. Prepare yeast (as per instructions on package) in separate bowl and let sit for five minutes - then add a small amount of flour mixture to it - whisk in. Make a well in the flour mixture and with a -- fork beat in eggs, and olive oil and yeast mixture. Whisk well. Add rosemary and olives into the well and whisk with fork. Mix the dough with your fingers, bringing it all together into a ball. Put it in a bowl and cover it with a cloth to let rise for 1 hour. Punch down the dough and give it a quick knead until it reaches a smooth, elastic and bouncy consistency. Flatten it out into a leaf shape and use a rolling pin to help with this. Place onto a baking sheet covered with cornmeal. Cut slits into the dough (see photo) creating a leaf design. Cover with a cloth once again and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes until golden and yummy. Enjoy!!

(Top Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images - others are copyrighted to me)

Grapefruit Tea - Happy 2011!!

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Grapefruit Tea_

This is a wonderful tea (via M.S.) -- one of my favs for this time of year -- enjoy!!
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Grapefruit is high in vitamin C, potassium, several carotenoids including beta-carotene. The white pith contains pectin and bioflavonoids which makes grapefruits an excellent antioxidant food. _
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Time to break out the KitchenAid® Citrus Juicer Attachment. Love this simple solution for fresh fruit juice!!
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Serves 4 _

2 cups ruby red grapefruit juice (squeezed from 2 grapefruits)
2 to 4 tablespoons honey
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries
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Directions
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In a medium pot, combine juice, honey, cinnamon, allspice, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat; strain and discard solids. Serve with a grapefruit segment or strip of zest.

Grapefruit Basics

In Season:

Grapefruit growing season lasts from October through May. Grapefruit keeps well in cold storage, so it can be found in supermarkets year-round.

What to Look For:

Grapefruit comes in white, pink, and red varieties. Pink and red grapefruit gets its rosy blush from lycopene, the same antioxidant found in tomatoes. Choose fruit that's heavy for its size, with smooth, rather than bumpy skin. These are good indicators that the grapefruit will be juicy.

How to Store:

Grapefruit will keep at room temperature for a week when stored in a bowl or basket with good air circulation. Kept in an airtight bag in the refrigerator's crisper drawer, it can be stored for up to two months.

(Above info also via of M.S. - photo courtesy of Jupiter Images)