Author Archives: ByCandace

Recipe: All-In-One-Meal or Side Dish – Eggplant Pizzas

24 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Food

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When eating only whole non-processed foods, I like to find ways to enjoy the flavors of the more processed less ideal foods.

I love pizza! And I have been kicking around the idea of trying to make a cauliflower pizza crust…..but I had an eggplant in my refrigerator already. I think these can also be made in zucchini boats as well if you do not like or cannot eat eggplant.

Recipe: All-In-One Meal – Eggplant Pizzas

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium to large eggplant
  • Sea salt
  • 5 – 6 fresh finely chopped garlic cloves
  • Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • 1 Can of petite diced tomatoes or you can cut up fresh tomatoes
  • Pepperoni
  • Dried or Fresh Basil
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Black pepper
  • Finely Shredded Mozzarella

Side note: I think that the next time I make it, I might add in a small amount of onion and green bell pepper for flavor layering.

Directions:

Gather all your ingredients, including a sharp knife, chopping board, paper towels, a frying pan, and a baking sheet. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.

Other Stuffs

Start by chopping the ends off the eggplant and discarding or composting it. Then slice the eggplant about 3/4 of an inch think slices, for now leave the skin on. Lay out a double layer of paper towels and place the eggplant on them. Liberally salt both sides of the eggplant and allow to sit for about 20 – 30 mins to draw the water out of the eggplant. If you do not, they will tend to get mushy while cooking.

Salted Eggplant

While the eggplant is resting, chop up your garlic in relatively small pieces (also, onion and green bell pepper) if you so desire. Saute the garlic in the pan with some butter and salt, do not over cook or it will have a biter taste. Add in the petite diced tomatoes with some salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, to taste. I was fairly liberal with all of them because the tomatoes and garlic is where most of the flavor from the dish will come from.

While that is cooking down (most of the liquid will evaporate). Use paper towels to blot and rub the salt off both sides of the eggplant. You will notice that the paper towels they were laying on is quite wet. Place eggplant on the baking sheet (a silicone liner or parchment paper will help them from sticking) and brush with olive oil. Season then with black pepper, Italian seasoning, and a little garlic powder. Place in oven for 25 minutes to cook. Do not over cook or the end result will be mushy; so if your oven runs hot keep an eye on them starting around 20 minutes.

Once the time as lapsed, pull them out and turn on the broiler. While the broiler is rising to temperature, top with the tomato mixture (you shouldn’t have any left), mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and a little more mozzarella cheese. Place under the broiler until the cheese is melted and a little brown. This took about 1 minute and 10 seconds in my oven!

Finished

Let them sit for a few mins to cook a bit – they will be really hot and burn you. The little bit of cooling also allows for them to solidify together more like a pizza. After I plated mine, I slit the side of the skin and peeled it off; you can eat it if you want to.

Done! Eat! Enjoy!

Face Wash

11 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Beauty

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I love this face wash!

I gave my sister the ingredients and directions as a Christmas gift this year. She sent me a text approximately two weeks later and told me that she has seen a big difference in her skin, loves it, and will continue to use it!

This is easy and fast to make….cause I like easy and fast. Also very cost effective!

Face Wash

Aloe Vera Gel is the base. I like the brand shown below.

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Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap. I like using the tea tree oil one for my face wash (orange).

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Lastly – Rosehip Oil

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Get a container you like – I personally re-purposed a small bottle of Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap and use that for my face wash. Depending on the size of your bottle will depend on how much of each you use.

Use equal parts of Aloe Vera Gel and Dr. Bronner’s soap and as much Rosehip oil as you like and get results with. I have used less and more (by accident) and just went with it.

I use 1/4 cup of Aloe Vera Gel, 1/4 cup of Dr. Bronner’s soap, and 2 Tbs of the Rosehip Oil. For a bigger bottle you can double these measurements.

The best part of this recipe for me is that it gets all my make-up off and my face is not striped; the Rose hip oil makes my face feel supple, however I still use my skin toner and moisturizer after.

In the morning when I do not have make-up on I love to use unfiltered raw local honey on my damp face, let it sit for a while and then rinse it off. Honey is really healthy for your skin.

Happy Washing!

What is Self-Care to you?

03 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Lifestyle

≈ 3 Comments

In my podcasts that I listen to each week, see my post Recommended Podcasts to see what I listen to, the word “self-care” keeps coming up so I thought I would share my self-care with you.

 

In a world and lives full of stress, if we do not take the time to take care of ourselves we will run ourselves down to a sick and tired heap. I have done this to myself on more than one occasion in my life.

I do my best to take care of myself through self-care daily, weekly, monthly – regularly.

There is physical self-care and mental self-care – here is what I do….

The mental part is more difficult than the physical part….I keep my perspective and this helps me to find joy in the mundane. When I start getting mentally outawhack, I go through all the things in my head that I am blessed and grateful for, there is always something no matter how bad life may seem at the time. I catch myself with negative self-talk, stop it, and then tell myself something good in that thought’s place. Meditation is great, I get into a meditative state when I cook, so if I am stressed out I go cook.

The physical self-care is much more fun! And I have pics!

First and foremost treat your body well with good whole healthy foods. You have to eat anyway, might has well be good for your body – that is the ultimate self-care.

breakfast

Roast

Do not take yourself so seriously! I am a serious gal by nature, so this one is hard for me, but I’m learnin!

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smile

Spend some time with you! Go get a manicure and pedicure, (if you cannot afford to go somewhere to do it, do it for yourself at home). Take a long hot bath (with Epsom Salt). Take a nap. Read a book or watch a movie you have been wanting to read or see. Get your hairs did, get a massage, or go workout.

Feet

Hair

Spend time with friends and hug it out!

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Do activities that you enjoy and if you can get outside!

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There are so many ways that we can give ourselves a break!

I would love to hear what you do for self-care. Please feel free to share in the “comments” section of this post.

What’s age have to do with it?!?

27 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in General

≈ 7 Comments

The other day I heard someone talking about a family member who was ill with a cold or flu or something like that. The the person said something to the effect of “it gets harder and harder to fight-off and recover from” the cold or flu “the older you get/are”.

It took everything I had inside of me to not interject my opinion on what the person had said.

Let’s talk perspective for a second….it is true that it seems like the older people get the easier it is to get sick and the more difficult it is to get well.

What’s age have to do with it?!?

I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT, THAT STATEMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TRUE!

Regardless of your age….young, teenage, middle aged, retirement age, twilight-years….if your body is in less than optimal health/poor health you will get sick often and have a difficult time recovering from illnesses. If your body is healthy you will not get sick often and when or if you do you will recover quickly.

This is not a state of age, it is a state of the health of your body.

It is NOT a given that as you age you have to resign to being unhealthy and wasting away.

I am getting into my middle aged years and the idea of muscle loss, posture loss, health and immune system loss is scary to me. I want to be old and healthy and strong. I want to wipe all my parts myself util I die.

If you are like me, you are interested in longevity and quality of life through he twilight-years. You can be healthy and strong!

 

You have to eat nutrient-dense foods, quality foods, quality water, have a healthy gut and digestion, support your immune system, support your brain health, walk during the day, exercise the right way (aka: sprints and lifting weights), mitigate stress, get quality sleep, spend time with those you love…having community with others.

Your body is one machine, all your systems are intertwine together, treat it as such when dealing with your health. Your body is a miraculous machine that wants to survive and thrive. Your body will heal itself and be healthy if you give it the inputs to match the outputs you want.

Do not resign to what society tells you will happen to you as you age.

Live long, live well, be healthy!

 

Recipe: Side Dish – Red Wine & Garlic Mushrooms

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Food

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Red Wine & Garlic Mushrooms 

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Ingredients:

  • 1 pkg Mushrooms
  • Lots Fresh Garlic
  • 1/4 Cup Red Wine (of choice)
  • 1/3 Stick of Butter
  • Garlic Powder
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Pepper (to taste)

Directions:

Heat up a skillet, add butter and let melt. I like to salt, pepper, and garlic powder the butter and then add in the mushrooms and then salt, pepper, and garlic powder again. Allow to cook at medium heat until the mushrooms cook down a bit and perhaps get a little color on them. Then add the fresh minced garlic. Allow the garlic to cook until soft and you can smell it, then add the red wine. Allow to cook until the wine is absorbed or cooked out (see picture above).

Done! Eat!

P.S. I made these last night as a side dish, but ended up eating the whole thing as an appetizer as I cooked the rest of dinner. Ooooops!

Exercise: What to do when your schedule gets crazy!

14 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Fitness

≈ 5 Comments

I have been thinking a lot about exercise lately, in my own attempt to be consistent. This week my schedule has gotten crazy with work and I do not know if I will make it to the gym the three days that I need and want to.

In attempt to get movement and something in when and where I can:

  1. Get up and walk the long way around the office to the bathroom once every hour
  2. When in the bathroom, go into the big stall and do as many air squats as you can
  3. If you have access to stairs use them! Walk up and down them a couple of times
  4. If you cannot walk around, stand up at your desk once every hour for a little bit, stretch your body if you can

How many squats do you think you will do in a day if you do them once an hour or even just when you take potty breaks?

Fashion: Looking Good & Feeling Good

12 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in Fun

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I think there is a direct link between what we put on our bodies and how those clothes make us feel. We present ourselves to the world each day and the clothes we do that in says something about us to ourselves and to others.

I am by no means a fashionista. I have even been told that I dress too plainly. I do like clothes and shoes. I like that the clothing I put on can express who I am and how I am feeling each day. I do not typically think of this when I am getting dressed each day, but it is true just the same.

Perhaps is it good to think….”what does this outfit say about me?” when getting dressed. Sometimes it is best to dress how you want to feel instead of how you do feel. Have you ever heard the expression – “dress for the job you want”? Well…it is sorta like that….sometimes when you get dressed in a certain way, even when you ‘arn’t feelin it’ it can change your mood and attitude.

My Fashion Tips:

#1 – Always wear clothes that fit your body. If they are too tight get something bigger so you do not look like an uncomfortable stuffed sausage. If they are too big buy smaller size or get them tailored to fit you.

#2 – Use a tailor! The average tailor is not expensive. Ill fitting clothes look weird on and seems people are always pulling on them somewhere. You can buy a cheap item have it tailored to ft your body and it will look expensive because it fits so well.

#3 – Feel good in your clothes.  – Dress to feel good. To present the best of yourself. Even if you are not comfortable at the weight you are at, you can dress well, feel better, and look good.

Let’s Talk Exercise

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Fitness

≈ 8 Comments

I am a firm believer that everything in life is about perspective (and definition). This thought also applies to exercise. A person’s perspective on exercise will determine how they approach, mange, execute, and recover from it; ultimately their “success” or “failure” as well (that is where definition comes in – success and failure is relative and subjective).

As with most things exercise is a mental issue. You have to deal with the mental issues before you can deal with the physical part.

My perspective on exercise:

Exercise is not a tool to get you or make you thin (skinny, lean, etc). Exercise can help your body to be insulin sensitive, so your body can put nutrients in to your cells for fuel. Exercise can help your body build muscle so you can move through your days, even as you age. Exercise can help your body to maintain bone density so you do not break a bone under load or force, even as you age. The right types of exercise can help your body maintain good cardiovascular and metabolic health. Exercise is a tool to help you be healthy; a healthy body will result in a non-fat body (I will not say “lean” because again my definition of lean may not be yours.)

Exercise will not create an environment to which you can eat whatever or however much you want to (aka: I will eat this and exercise it away later). You cannot exercise away a poor diet. The biochemical responses within the body from a poor food choice occur and the consequences are done to the body regardless of if you choose subsequently exercise.

More exercise is not better for you, it is just more. It is important to find how much of the right types (see below) of exercise will make you and keep you healthy. Who really wants to exercise hours per day?! If someone tells you that….they are delusional! They think that because that is what they think they have to do to look they way they do so they will be happy. Most people will tell you, if they could be not fat and feel good by not exercising then they would not exercise. Also, sometimes in certain cases less exercise is the right thing for a person to do to be healthier and fit.

Right types of exercise for optimal health and longevity:

It is my researched opinion, that lots of walking per day, lifting heavy weights 2 – 4 times per week, and opposite days of 1 -2 days of HIIT training or sprints for approximately 10 – 15 minutes is all it takes to have optimal health and longevity from exercise (not talking food here, but food is an uber-important component too).

When I say walk a lot – I mean walk as much as you can each day. This will change from day to day and from person to person. The more you can get in the better.

When I say lift heavy weights – I mean as heavy as you can lift with proper form (http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/) or (http://jassafit.com/). I will likely elaborate on this subject more in a separate post. I like an every other day regime for lifting, so it will give the body time to rebuild and recover from the lifting sessions (example: Mon., Wed., Fri. or Tues., Thurs., Sat.)

When I say HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) or sprints – I mean your “all out effort” at the activity. You can do this by running/sprinting that is….jump rope, row machine, bike, stairs, etc. Fast bursts of all out effort followed by slow recovery time till you can do it again. The slow down time in between all out efforts will get shorter and shorter over time as you gain conditioning. I like to start with once per week, every 7 days; if you are feeling good and energetic after your walking and lifting and can easily do another day, do it. If you are too tired and can only do once, that is ok. If you do this consistently over time you will see great fat burning results. Please note: in this case – MORE IS NOT BETTER.

If you do not walk out of the gym feeling better than you did when you walked in; with energy, you might want to rethink your workout program and or assess your food choices.

My general exercise perspectives:

Everyone has to start somewhere. Start where you are, 10 or 15 minutes is better than none. Be consistent; you will not get lasting results being inconsistent. If you miss a step – no worries – start right back up like nothing ever happened; each day is a new opportunity. Do not worry about the other people in they gym – they are not worried about you. They are too concerned about themselves to notice if you have a jiggle or whatever you are worried about them noticing. Fat, unhealthy people belong in the gym! There are trainers in there to help you figure out what each machine does in there….ask for help.  Do not compare yourself with others; you have no idea what their story really is. Everyone’s journey is different. Do not put yourself in a box, there are too many limitations in there. Cut yourself some slack no one is perfect, but do not give yourself excuses or justifications. Make your exercise “you time”, the healthier you are the better you will be for your life and for those in it. Take the “you time” to meditate, think, workout stress, workout worries, and take out your frustrations physically. All of your life will still be out there in 30 – 60 minutes…it can wait.

I could go on and on…but I’m going to make myself stop before everything turns into a bumper sticker…..

If your perspective is outta whack – message me or leave a comment on this post – I am happy to talk you.

Does a New Year = Change for you?

05 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in General

≈ 3 Comments

Does a New Year = Change for you?

Going into a new calendar year usually brings up thoughts and feelings of a clean-slate, a new start, change for the better…..

Most people do not like change….we are creatures of habit….

Although I am a creature of habit – I personally know, think, and believe that change is the one thing that is dependable, therefore it should be embraced. That is the kind of change that we do not necessarily see coming….

But….I want to talk about deliberate change….meaning conscious and intentional engagement.

Deliberate change occurs with consistent and persistent action.

The word consistent is defined as “of a person, behavior, or process unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time” and “not containing any logical contradictions” and “holding firmly together” and “fixed; firm” (sources: google.com and dictionary.com).

The word persistent is defined as “continuing firmly in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition” and “continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period” of time and “lasting or enduring tenaciously” and “constantly repeated” (sources: google.com and dictionary.com).

I have heard it said and believe it to be true that permanent change cannot be made without a person being aware of their “why”. If a person does not have a strong enough attachment to the reason “why” the change needs to occur then the change they want will not come to pass. I agree with this thought.

In my life there have been changes that I have wanted and perhaps needed but my reason “why” was not big enough or strong enough to effect the change I wanted. For example, I smoked for years. I knew that I needed to stop, I wanted to stop, but I did not have a strong enough reason “why” to actually stop. I went back and forth for years, I stopped for 3 years and started back up again. When a family member close to me was diagnosed with cancer (not related to smoking) it hit me….”why” am I deliberately killing myself? This person did not treat their body the way I was and they are sick! All of a sudden my “why” became very BIG and STRONG. I stopped smoking immediately and that was that.

We all have desires, wishes, dreams, and improvements to be made; the need for deliberate, conscious, and intentional changes in our life. If you want and or need to make effective permanent change find your “why”. Make sure your “why” is specific, big, strong, and important to you. Remind yourself every day all day “why” you are going to make the choice that will bring your closer to your goal instead of further away from it.

Body Moisturizer

28 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Beauty

≈ 2 Comments

What we do not put on our skin is very important. Our skin absorbs what is placed on it. I have slowly switched to organic and non-toxic skin care products. Some products I have found are much less expensive and easy for me to make myself. This also is a comfort that I know exactly what I am putting on my skin.

Body Moisturizer

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Since it is winter time I like to warm my coconut oil slightly so it melts. It does not take much heat to do this, I do not like to warm it very hot. During summer months it is usually warm enough in the house that the coconut oil softens and is easily mixed with the essential oils without heating in a pot.

The amount of oil you use will depend on the size of the jar you use. I prefer to use a shallow wide-mouth jar so it is easy to get out and you can easily reach the bottom of the jar and none goes to waste.

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For my body I like to use a little bit of lavender and eucalyptus oil. I do not measure, I just shake a little out. Then I use about twice as much of the grapefruit and lemongrass oil. This combo makes you smell delicious and is good for the skin.

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Stir it around till mixed thoroughly and pour it up in a glass jar with a lid. Once it cools down the coconut oil will solidify. When it comes time to use, I just scoop some out with my fingers and it will melt in your hands and rub it into the skin.

NOTE: I got the idea for this recipe from http://draxe.com/grapefruit-cellulite-cream/ – however I like add several different essential oils that is also good for the skin other than just grapefruit oil.