Saturday, November 28, 2009

Healthy Banana Cookies

Hello everyone;
Here is a super simple recipe I found for some delicious (and healthy!) banana cookies. I found it on http://www.familyoven.com/, so if you enjoyed this one, check some more out!

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in oats, dates, oil, and vanilla. Mix well, and allow to sit
3. for 15 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Why Shop Local? Whats in it for you?

With the holiday season looming in your will hear chatter of "shopping local" on the streets. What does it mean and why should you care? Does shopping local really make a difference to anyone? Lets take a minute and learn a few things about shopping local. Then you can decide for yourself if shopping local is important to you.

1. Better Service and Friendly People.

When you walk into a local shop you are often greeted by the shop owner, they can tell you all about what they sell with great passion. Often they are a million times more helpful and friendlier then the help you might find in a big box store.

2. Local Economic Stimulus.

Ah yes, something everyone is worried about these days. When you shop at a locally owned business rather than a national chain more money is kept in the community. This helps grow the other businesses around and the local tax base.

3. New Jobs in the Community.

Sick of your commute? Local businesses are the most likely to offer new jobs to the marketplace in a community. They also offer great opportunities for youth to gain work experience.

4. Local Businesses Give Back where YOU need it.

Did your baseball team or organization have a raffle this year? Chances are that locally owned businesses donated the prizes for your event. Local business are owned by the people that rally to raise money when there is a family with a sick child or donate when the schools are having a fundraiser. Does your favorite big box store do that for you?

5. Unique businesses create a Unique and Prosperous town.

The Businesses that are in a town largely determine the character of the town. This adds to the overall satisfaction that you feel living there and also the value of your property and home.

6. Local Decision Making.

Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.

7. Ensuring Choice and Diversity.

Retailers sift through competing goods and services to find those that appeal to their customers. Even though a single local shop may have a smaller selection than a big chain outlet, a multiplicity of independent retailers creates great diversity.

8. Shopping Local is something fun to do on a Rainy Day.

Got the rainy day blues? Go browse your local shops for unique items and for fun. You could spend a whole afternoon trying things on and checking things out. Chat with the owners and learn more about your local neighborhood.

9. Its More Environmentally Friendly to Shop local.

Walking around town shopping is easier on the environment then driving to the big box stores. Small little shops in a towns core cause less environmental impact then large sprawling malls, resulting in less habitat loss, energy use and waste.

10. Vote with your Wallet.

Your values and opinions are much more important to a small local shop then a large chain store. You can influence what products they carry and convince them to cater to YOUR needs. They will value so much more and take note of what you like!

So there you have it, 10 amazing reasons to stimulate your local economy today. When you spend $100 at a local business $73 off that will stay in your local economy. With the same $100 spent at a national chain only $43 will stay in your local economy. The rest of the money will be hard at work providing jobs for people far, far away.

Salts!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Swine flu Immunity Super Boost Juice.

Jump start your immune system with a juicy drink packed full of antioxidants and all the building blocks for super natural immunity against Swine flu and other winter time infections. All you need is a juicer and piles of organic veggies. I have found great working juicers at Thrift and secound hand stores for less than $10. You can grab a new juicer at most appliance or health food stores. If you are going to buy new then please consult an expert on juicers before you shell out big bucks. The expert I most trust is Natalia Rose, check her out at www.Detoxtheworld.com, you can also buy juicers there.

So without further ado, here is my immunity boost juice recipe.

2 organic apples
1 organic lemon
a few leaves of romaine (3-5)
handful of parsley sprigs
big ol chunk of ginger (more you can handle the better, it gives you a nice buzz)
1 stalk celery
add 20 drops of echinacea if your going to be around a lot of sneeze y swine people (ie Christmas time mall or school gathering)

you may want to add garlic, I love the taste without so I rarely do. I would add garlic if I definitely felt something coming on....

Tip: If you can't buy all organic produce, make sure that your leafy greens are your priorty to get organic. They get the most spray, root veggies get less spray on the edible part. Non organic lemons can be peeled before juicing. Juicing is definitly the time you want to go organic if you can though.

Enjoy a happy healthy winter! Be sure to check out Natalia's site and books.

With Love,
Jenny

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Endless Benefits of Green Tea

I am sure that you have all read countless articles and blogs on this subject, so I apologize in advance for any dull repetitions! Personally, I can't learn enough about this amazing drink...it's truly miraculous, and I wanted to share some facts that I've recently read.
1. Studies show that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

2. Research [at University of Purdue] has shown that green tea contains a compound which inhibits the growth of cancer cells, without harming healthy tissue!

3. It is very high in catechin polyphenols, namely epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is a powerful anti-oxidant.

4. It has proven effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

5. Green, oolong, and black tea are from the same plant, called Camellia Sinensis. Green tea is different due to it's processing, which consists of boiling the leaves, instead of fermenting them. The boiling process allows the EGCG to oxidize, whereas the fermenting process converts the EGCG into other compounds which have proven considerably less useful.

6. The only harmful side effect is possible insomnia due to caffeine levels. However, green tea contains contains 20mg of caffeine (per 8 oz), whereas coffee contains 60-120 mg.