New Year's Day and a Fruit Ninja, too!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012!!!

Our New Year's celebration was delayed by a day because when we got home from Tim and Shelly's at around 10:30 pm, our oldest son was already asleep!

Therefore, we did our tapas and kinect today.  And tomorrow is when the futile attempts at the new resolutions begin. 

I have a list of 10 this year.  Yep, the classic over achiever.  Except for that whole constant failure thing....lol.

Maybe I just need something like “The Idiot's Guides to Setting Manageable Goals”. I have a vague idea as to what to do. Follow thru though is quite another thing. Goals at work? Goals for anything else? Totally there for you. This goal that last an entire year!!!!???? Not so much. Especially if it is not a particularly fun goal.

So, here they are.....applying the KISS method of goal setting:

1. Blog weekly
2. one digital scrapbook layout per week
3. one photo per day, you know, that whole 365 project thing
4. one chapter from my digital learning library per week
5. fire up the Champion Juicer and do 90 days of juicing & fresh fruits and veggies
6. go golfing once per week (do not judge – I have not golfed in YEARS, and I love golfing)
7. learn two awesome youtube videos per month
8. take a photography tour
9. play kinect at least 3 times per week with the kids -- BE the Fruit Ninja,...bwahahahahaha!
10. drink 2 liters of water every day

So, the whole Fruit Ninja thing...
We downloaded a new (to me) kinect game called Fruit Ninja.  You use your hands/arms as blades and as fruit and bombs fly across the screen, you try to slice the fruit without hitting any bombs.  Today's high score.....428 in arcade mode.  As Fruit Ninja's go, I suck.  As far as middle aged Fruit Ninja momma's....I guess I'll do.  heh.  Anyway, Fruit Ninja just happens to be appropriate for my current endeavor of juicing.  I think I will fruit ninja daily! One more way to move my way to big booty!

My first week is going to be one liter of juice daily along with fresh, whole fruits and veggies.  If that seems to be working for me, then I will maintain that.  If I need to, then I will add two liters of juice along with the veggies. With banana whips sprinkled in  here and there, of course.  :)

I had to move my blog because my freewebs blog was waaaaaay to unreliable.  I have not been able to access it more than twice this past week. And there has been a history of that.  I like the format, but it is useless if not accessible.

Anyway, here are a few non processed food subsititutes that are quite good if you want to add some fresh goodness to your menu:


Tigger's Raw Ketchup (yep, that's me!)

3.5 oz package of sundried tomatoes
2 - 3 cups filtered water
1 tablespoon sea salt
6 dates , smallish
agave, 3 tablespoons
honey 3 tablespoons
acv or white vinegar, 1/4 cup
dry mustard, 1 pinch
1 tsp onion
1 tsp chili powder
1 pinch cayenne pepper or couple shakes of tobasco

Put the sundried tomatoes in the blender and add enough water to cover.
Whiz until smooth. Add pitted, soft dates and whiz smooth again, adding water as necessary to keep the sauce moving smoothly. Add the agave, honey, mustard, and cayenne or tobasco. Whiz smooth while adding enough water to keep the sauce flowing. Now add the vinegar a little at a time until it tastes the way that you like. If you like it zestier, add more vinegar. Just adjust to your own liking.



Ketchup is the base (or tomato sauce) for many condiments.




Cocktail Sauce

1 cup of ketchup
1 - 2 tablespoons horseradish (to taste)

Mix well and serve.



Barbeque Sauce

1 cup ketchup
4-8 dates (to taste)
sea salt - 1 tsp or to taste
3 tablespoons chopped onion
agave - 2 to 3 tablespoons (to taste)
honey - 2 tablespoons ( to taste)
fresh ground pepper, a couple of shakes
nam shoyu - 1/2 capful (or worcestershire)
hickory smoke (liquid or salt to taste - sesame oil could be tried as well - optional)
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped onion
garlic or garlic powder to taste (optional)
pinch of mustard powder
May add water to desired consistency.

Whiz together all BUT NOT the onion. Get it the consistency you like and then stir in the onions.

Serve.




Mango Mix Up
(sweet salad dressing - mango tasting french - without all the oil)

1/2 mango
1 cup ketchup
1 - 2 tablespoons EVOO ( opt)
2-3 tablespoons agave
2-3 tablespoons honey
2-6 dates , according to your own taste
1 - 2 tablespoons chopped onion
pinch of mustard powder
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon ACV or white vinegar
May try adding more honey or dates if you like it sweeter.

Whiz all together until smooth. Add water if you want to, I like mine thicker.



And last, but not least.....CRISPS!!!!!

Ok, so I wanted to make the krazy kale chips that everyone has been raving about for like YEARS! Not one place in town has kale!!!! Hy-vee, Piggly Wiggly, WallyWorld. Not one. Sigh. BUT.....Tiggers have a lot of imagination, you see.....so I got cabbage, purple cabbage, and chinese cabbage. And guess what? They all work well! Not nearly as sturdy as kale, but good enough. If you have uncontrollable cravings for chips like someone I know and love (hee), you should definitely give these a try. I really needed something with a salty crunch. And these do that! (Just make sure you make them on a screen or parchment, cuz, well.....they become a part of your pan otherwise. Heh. And flip them once in a while, that seems to help a lot.

The thing is, whatever flavor you use, that flavor becomes VERY intense once the crisps are crunchy. So just keep that in mind if you are planning to make garlicky ones or anything like that.

Here is a quick suggestion for a recipe to get you started....really the sky is the limit here. So many flavor options are available to you here. Just use your imagination.

I have also seen versions of this blended to a paste and then spread to make chips/crackers. Seems like that would be divine.



Crisps

In a bowl,....
3 tablespoons shoyu
3 tablespoons Bragg's
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 to 2 tablespoons agave or honey
(And now I think I would even add about 2 to 3 tablespoons water to decrease the flavor. Was very intense.)

Dip or marinate. Both work great.
Place in dehydrator until crispy. Munch, munch, munch!


Salad Krumbles

Salad krumbles are crisps with a different shape.
Get a bag of shredded cabbage and chop it up a bit more. Make bits or shreds, both are ok.
Toss the cabbage with your flavor sauce and put in dehydrator.

After the bits are dried, use them like you would bacon bits on your salads, etc.



These crisps have given me some interesting ideas. I am going to be in the kitchen this weekend. LOL!


I would be doing an injustice if I did not mention the infamous chocolate pudding.
Alissa's recipe is insanely good. She uses soaked dates as her sweetener. Very tasty. However, some find that without a high powered blender it can be difficult to achieve the level of creaminess they desire. You can achieve this by adding a bit more water or almond milk or by skipping the dates altogether.

My version of chocolate pudding is easy and although not as sweet, easy for even the most basic blender.

First - your avocados need to be really soft in order for the pudding recipe to work properly.

Recipe:

2 avocados
1/4 cup cocoa powder
pinch sea salt
1/2 cup agave (or to taste)
water or almond milk, to desired consistency, a cup ful maybe? Add until it is what you like

Put the avos, cocoa, salt and agave in the blender. Add about half the water. Blend until smooth, adding water/milk as desired. Eat!


That's all for today!  Have a fabulous new year!

The dreaded cholesterol check.....

Ok, so after a day (ok month) of less than stellar pathetically unhealthy and fattening dining, I decided to grab the CardioChek from the closet and dust it off.  I originally purchased it in early 2007 because my husband found out he had extremely bad cholesterol.  Now I just like using it because I am just curious that way.  :)  There are actually two different CardioChek units to choose from at this time. There is the Cardiochek PA (which I do NOT have) that gives a panel that has more tests and with just one drop of blood. It also has a printer option to print out the test panel for you.  I chose the regular Cardiochek.  I picked it up for $89 and the test strips are around $12 for a box of three.  The PA system is more like $400 plus printer and maybe $25 per test strip.  I have not kept up with the prices of the PA since I do not use it.  I simply can not afford it! Just in case you are curious or truly interested in getting a CardioChek, the less expensive one requires separate tests for each reading.  I use the total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and glucose strips.  The glucose strips actually come 25 per box, so they are a bit less expensive.

Ok, drumroll please.....the readings (close your eyes!!! look away!!!!! it is not good.......)
Total Cholesterol:  234  (when did that happen???  Just a few months ago it was normal. Darn pastries.
Triglycerides:  109
HDL: 39
LDL:  173  (gasp!)
Glucose: 126  (gasp!)

Obviously these were not the numbers I was expecting.  Someone needs to make better food choices.  :)

For you reading pleasure:
This site has some info on what you should look for regarding your cholesterol numbers (or just read what I copied and pasted below):
Heart.org

Total Cholesterol Level	Category
Less than 200 mg/dL	Desirable level that puts you at lower risk for coronary heart disease. A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or higher raises your risk.
200 to 239 mg/dL	Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above	High blood cholesterol. A person with this level has more than twice the risk of coronary heart disease as someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL.

HDL Cholesterol Level	Category
Less than 40 mg/dL (for men) Less than 50 mg/dL (for women)	Low HDL cholesterol. A major risk factor for heart disease.
60 mg/dL and above	High HDL cholesterol. An HDL of 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease.

With HDL (good) cholesterol, higher levels are better. Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at higher risk for heart disease. In the average man, HDL cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. An HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher gives some protection against heart disease. The mean level of HDL cholesterol for American adults age 20 and older is 54.3 mg/dL.
Smoking, being overweight and being sedentary can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. To raise your HDL level, avoid tobacco smoke, maintain a healthy weight and get at least 30-60 minutes of physical activity more days than not.
People with high blood triglycerides usually also have lower HDL cholesterol and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Progesterone, anabolic steroids and male sex hormones (testosterone) also lower HDL cholesterol levels. Female sex hormones raise HDL cholesterol levels.





The lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, it's a better gauge of risk than total blood cholesterol. In general, LDL levels fall into these categories:

LDL Cholesterol Level	Category
Less than 100 mg/dL	Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL	Near or above optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL	Borderline high
160 to 189 mg/dL	High
190 mg/dL and above	Very high

Your other risk factors for heart disease and stroke help determine what your LDL level should be, as well as the appropriate treatment for you. A healthy level for you may not be healthy for your friend or neighbor. Discuss your levels and your treatment options with your doctor to get the plan that works for you. The mean level of LDL cholesterol for American adults age 20 and older is 115.0 mg/dL.





Triglyceride is the most common type of fat in the body. Many people who have heart disease or diabetes have high triglyceride levels. Normal triglyceride levels vary by age and sex. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol seems to speed up atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty deposits in artery walls). Atherosclerosis increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.

Triglyceride Level	Category
Less than 150 mg/dL	Normal
150–199 mg/dL	Borderline high
200–499 mg/dL	High
500 mg/dL and above	Very high

Many people have high triglyceride levels due to being overweight/obese, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption and/or a diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent or more of calories). High triglycerides are a lifestyle-related risk factor; however, underlying diseases or genetic disorders can be the cause. The mean level of triglycerides for American adults age 20 and older is 144.2 mg/dl.

The main therapy to reduce triglyceride levels is to change your lifestyle. This means control your weight, eat a heart-healthy diet, get regular physical activity, avoid tobacco smoke, limit alcohol to one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men and limit beverages and foods with added sugars. Visit your healthcare provider to create an action plan that will incorporate all these lifestyle changes. Sometimes, medication is needed in addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

A triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or higher is one of the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for heart disease and other disorders, including diabetes.

So, as you can see, just  knowing your Total Cholesterol is nearly pointless except to calculate the other numbers.  And each one of those numbers affects the other ones.  Generally, if you can get your HDL number higher, your triglycerides will be lower as will the LDL number. 

So, ok, back to the healthy eating.  Fruits and veggies for Tigger!!! 

So, here are all of the readings that I took this morning when I woke up:

Blood pressure:  102/71 and pulse is 70

       ****a new number, the pulse pressure, has been given a lot of attention lately. It is the difference

               between the top number and the bottom number.  So mine would be 102 minus 71.  That = 31,

               which is good.  "They" say that you should be aiming for 50 or preferrably under.  

               Here is a link to a site with info on pulse pressure if you are curious: Pulse Pressure

               I use the Relion automatic monitor. The pink one that says for women.  You can also

               get larger cuffs to use with it for men or larger arms.

Cholesterol:

Total:  234

Triglycerides: 109  (seems ok until you see that LDL number I got)

HDL: 39

LDL:  173

Glucose: 126

        This number is a bit murky regarding the ideal number because it can vary so much depending on

        activity and what/when you last ate.  Try to establish what is a normal pattern for you over time.

        Here is a link that might be helpful:  Glucose readings

So, ok, now.......a 90 day test on myself.  I am going to try the raw vegan thing for 90 days and start running again.  I have not run for a month because of severe pain in both knees. Not sure what it is all about, but hopefully this shall pass as well with the change of diet.  Diet, exercise, and supplements.  Oh boy!  LOL.  I will update the results after each 30 day period just to see how it is going. Here is a list of the supplements and vitamins that I like to use:

salmon oil (one gel cap twice per day)

raw thyroid (one per day)

raw adrenal ( one twice per day)

vitamin C (primarily from fresh oranges)

iron (one per day)

b12 (one per day)

multi (the hair/skin/nails variety with biotin)

zinc  (just once in awhile as I am prone to cold sores)

iodoral (iodine - twice per day during the 90 days test)

I would like to get away from all the supplements as well.  My last test said my thyroid was hypo with a number of 12.  It had been at like 5 or 6 the year before.  Hopefully we can stop that trend!  I have no interest in the whole "take this little pill for the rest of your life" thing.  I know people who take synthroid and tell me, "it's no big deal, it is just a tiny little pill. easy to swallow. and you don't even notice that you took it."  Hmmm......first, shouldn't you be noticing it? Shouldn't you be feeling better???  And two....one tiny little drop of say...pulonium....just a drop that you can barely see with your eye......no big deal. Easy to swallow. But dead within a few weeks.  I do not care how tiny the pill is......side affects can be big.  And synthroid has its fair share of problems that it contributes to or even causes. So no thank you, kind pharmaceutical companies.  

Ok, I need a quick  nap and then a huge day of things to accomplish.