The King's Dinner

Ingredients:  Water, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Maltodextrin (corn), Soybean oil, Onion, Xanthan Gum, Red Bell Peppers, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Spices, DL Apha Tochophery Acetate (vitaminE) Reb A (Natural Stevia leaf Sweetner), Caramel Color, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Modified Corn Starch

I just finished what I considered to be an excellent Thanksgiving meal.   I go through a lot of trouble making sure I have quality ingredients.  I order a pasture raised, organic turkey.  I drive 50 miles to a certified organic farm to pick up vegetables.  The remaining items are purchased at Whole Foods.  There are no GMO’s, nothing boxed or canned, nothing artificial, no refined sugar or flour.   I make the traditional fare; turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cranberry sauce, cornbread, brussel sprouts and a tossed salad.  My dinner was fit for a king.  In addition, I had enough extra food to feed all the king's horses and all the king’s men.  However, there were only six of us:  my parents, my husband and my two children.  Technically, there were only five of us because my father, in recent years, has decided not to eat the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  Instead, he brings his own food.  Why you ask….. BECAUSE HE DOESN’T EAT ANY FAT!  Nothing, zilch, nada!!

My father brought two manicotti’s stuffed with no fat cheese.  He also brought a bottle of salad dressing to toss in my salad because he will not touch olive oil.  Life is about choices, and I must respect my father’s view on food.  That is until I looked at the back of the fat free bottle of  Italian Dressing (ingredients listed above).  Once I saw those ingredients, the gloves came off!  How in the world is that food??  I felt badly for my organic vegetables.  Imagine getting tossed in that dressing?  My father was as happy as can be, but I decided to look up some of those ingredients in the book, What’s in your Food by Bill Statham:

                Maltodextrin – Flavor enhancer – probably genetically engineered – Potential Effects – Believed safe in foods at low levels; excess may elevate blood sugar and insulin levels and increase risk of diabetes.  Found in chocolate, candy…oh and fat free salad dressing.

                Sodium Benzoate – Preservative – Potential Effects – Asthma; hives; hay fever; contact dermatitis; mouth & skin irritation; hyperactivity, cardiovascular, liver, skin, gastrointestinal, kidney and neurotoxicity.  Found in soft drinks, fruit juice, jam condiments, baked gods, tomato paste, pickles, margarine…oh and fat free salad dressing…

                Calcium disodium EDTA – Preservative – Potential Effects – Muscle cramps, blood in the urine, intestinal upset, kidney damage, mineral imbalance, chromosome damage, may increase the uptake of heavy metals, may affect liver and reproduction.  Found in soft drinks, sandwich spreads, beer, ale, margarine, instant teas…oh and fat free salad dressing.

                Caramel Color  - Coloring – Potential Effects – May effect reproduction, liver and stomach, hyperactivity , caused blood toxicity and convulsions in animal tests.  Found in jams, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cookies, crackers, pickles, dark bread, dark beers ….oh and fat free salad dressing.

Now that cannot be good for you can it??!!

Book Club List - Man's Search for Meaning

Please read along with me for personal growth and enrichment.  Sometimes the easiest way to learn and grow is just by reading a book.  A great book can stimulate your thinking and open up a new world.  Throughout my life, I have turned to books to teach myself something new or to learn vicariously how other people have experienced their life and faced their challenges.  I have provided a link to my current book reading list on the left side of my blog.  The books are chosen from the recommendations of others or book reviews I have come across.  Feel free to message me with your books of interest.

 Please join me in reading Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl.  One word of warning, the first half of this book is about the author’s experiences in Nazi concentration camps.  I made the mistake of reading this part before I went to bed last night and couldn’t sleep.  I would recommend reading the first part earlier in the day so you have some time to reflect and clear your head.  This is a powerful book whereby the author espouses his view (called logotherapy) that the greatest task for any person is to find the meaning in his or her life.

Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl

Afterword:

Extraordinary is the only word I can think of to describe Viktor E. Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning.”  Frankl espouses his view called “logotherapy” which he describes through his experiences as a concentration camp survivor.  Frankl’s unbelievable account of surviving four different concentration camps, including Auschwitz is incomprehensible.  Even though he was held captive, he was able to stay in control of his mind.   Frankl makes a very convincing argument that those who survived the camps did so because they believed there was a point to their suffering.  This point is the basis of his theory called logotheraphy which is that life is meaningful and that we must find meaning in our life (attained through work, love or suffering). When one finds what his/her true meaning is, happiness will follow. 

We all must search for meaning in our lives.  Reading this book will help you to look at your life in a new way.  **I highly recommend this book!  It is truly a gift.

Inner Beauty Workshops - Five Quick Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

1.        Farm stands are still open – Shop local for your vegetables and fruit.

2.       Look for Organic or Free Range Turkeys – You can find organic turkeys in most supermarkets these days.  Pay the extra money!  It is worth it.  Conventional turkeys are full of chemicals.

3.       Don’t eat too much – Stop eating before you get that full feeling.

4.       Take a walk in between courses – Even if the weather is bad, get outside for a bit to walk off the extra calories

5.       Enjoy your day – Make the day fun and memorable with your family and friends…..

Supermarket Turkey

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our Thanksgiving." -W.T. Purkiser

I bet those who know me are going to expect me to rant and rave about the conventional turkeys in the supermarket.  In fact, I would almost wager a bet.  Why?  Because, I can fill volumes on the subject.  However, if you took that bet, I am sorry to say you would have lost because, surprisingly, conventional supermarket turkeys are NOT what this blog post is going to be about.  Did you breathe a sigh of relief?  I am not going to rip apart your Thanksgiving meal.  So why name this post supermarket turkey, you ask?

I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year.  It’s time to plan, shop and cook in preparation for Thanksgiving Day.  Why do we go through all that work and stress for one meal?  I often ask myself, is it worth it?  I do not have to think very long before I answer, “YES!”  As everyone knows, there are two parts to Thanksgiving, the “thanks” and the “giving”.  Thanksgiving is not about drudgery, it’s about spending time with family and friends and being thankful for our blessings, both past and present.  Thanksgiving is also about “giving,” sharing a part of ourselves with others.   Oh wait…I think Pilgrims and Indians fit somewhere in the definition of Thanksgiving too. 

Why do you feel you are blessed?  What are you thankful for?  What people/places/things in your life brings you great joy?  I propose that for Thanksgiving, make a list of why you feel blessed and look at it often to remind yourselves of what is important to you.  If you have to write it on a post-it and place it on the counter while cooking, do so.  Or, how about placing that post-it note by the television set as you are watching some football game (I hear the Jets are playing).  It will renew your soul and bring you energy and appreciation for the good things in your life.  These blessings come from fond memories.  For one day, let them fill your mind and your heart. 

I am feeling grateful this year.  I am truly blessed to have two wonderful kids.  I want to share a fond memory with you.  While getting out the Thanksgiving decorations a few days ago, I found this story at the bottom of the box.  It was written by my son probably around the age of 7. 

I cannot help but laugh every time I read this short story.  The main reason is, my husband would not come within ten feet of a gun or the supermarket for that matter.  It also makes me feel nostalgic because my son is now a senior and will be away at college next year.

What fond memories do you have of passed Thanksgivings?  Look back at them and smile.  Even though life can have many twists and turns and you may be in a different place, be happy where you are at the moment.  There is always someone less fortunate then you.  This brings me to the “giving” part of Thanksgiving.

Can I make a suggestion about this Thanksgiving?  Do not make this Thanksgiving dinner just another Thanksgiving dinner.  You can feed your soul by giving to others.  How can you give?  You can give the conventional ways; donate some food to a shelter, make some extra food and bring it over to an elderly neighbor or how about inviting someone over for Thanksgiving who is alone. You can also set some time aside to call someone who may really need to hear your voice.  The act of giving makes you feel fulfilled.  Just like acknowledging our blessings, giving of ourselves should not be just around the holidays.   We should attempt to give a little of ourselves daily.  For instance, opening a door for someone, not zooming passed someone who is trying to back out of their parking spot (big pet peeve of mine), letting someone pay before you online at the cash register because they only have three items and you have a full cart.  Doesn’t it bring a smile to your face when someone does these things for you? 

Now aren’t you glad I did not rave on and on about the supermarket turkeys?  Oh, I have one more thing…..

Today I am sharing with you a craft – making place cards out of pinecones for the Thanksgiving table.  This is something I made with my kids when they were small.  I have “tweaked” it a bit.  I am calling it “supermarket turkey,” after my son’s story.  It’s simple and fun and doesn’t require a lot of work.   If you have children, it’s a great way to spend quality time with them and let them play a part in the meal.  If you are visiting someone’s house where there are kids, why not bring the materials and sit with the children to keep them occupied while the host prepares the meal.  If you are not around kids at all, you can make a couple of these place cards and drop them off at a local hospital or children’s shelter. Feel free to use your imagination and have fun.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Supermarket Turkey

Pinecones* - These you can find on the ground.  You may have some in your back yard, local school, or park.  Just look down.

Four pieces construction paper – dark brown, yellow, red, white

Glue, scissors, pencil, feathers, plastic eyes (you can just use a black marker if you wish)

Instructions – Collect pinecones (you can spray paint them if you want to add some color).  Collect one pinecone per person.

Using dark brown paper, make two circles. - One circle about 1 ¼ in circumference, and the other circle about 1 ¾ in circumference.  Glue the smaller circle overlapping the larger circle.  Cut a small diamond (about ¾” long) out of the yellow construction paper.  You fold it in half and glue it on the smaller circle for the beak.  Glue or draw on two eyes.  Cut a thick “U” shape (see picture about 1”) out of the red construction paper and glue slightly under the yellow beak.  Place name tag (made out of white paper) on the bird, (see picture).  Once done, glue the brown bird on the top of the pinecone.  Place feathers on the pinecone and glue in.  Feel free to embellish or decorate the bird however you want.  It’s fun!!

Rice 101

Have you ever looked at all the different packages or bins of rice and wondered which one to buy?  It gets confusing.  What’s the difference between short, medium and long grain rice?  Should I choose brown over white rice?  What is brown basmati rice, jasmine rice, golden rose rice, sweet brown rice, wild rice and arborio rice?  Recently, while shopping in the bulk aisle of Wild By Nature in East Setauket, I picked up some wehani rice.  What is that?? Hmmmm…..This might be harder than I thought.  Maybe  I should change the title to Rice 301…..

White Rice - White rice is created by removing the brain and germ portions of brown rice.  Therefore, it loses most of its natural vitamins and minerals.  Manufacturers add synthetic vitamins back to the rice and call it "fortified white rice."  The dietary fiber in white rice is 1/4 of that found in brown rice.  This is not a whole food.  White rice is a simple carbohydrate (just like sugar!), the worst kind of carb you can eat.

Overview

Brown rice is a nutritious whole grain providing carbohydrates, fiber, protein, B vitamins and several minerals such as manganese and selenium.  A whole grain of rice has several layers.  Only the outermost layer, the hull, is removed to produce brown rice. Thus, it retains much of its nutrients.  There are no significant nutritional differences between short, medium and long grain brown rice.

Short Grain Brown Rice - Because short grain rice is smaller than its medium and long grain counterparts, it tends to be more starchy.  Therefore, when this rice cooks, it will be more sticky.  This is better suited for recipes where a creamy texture is desired such as puddings, paella and risotto.

Medium Grain Brown Rice - Medium grain brown rice yields a lighter, fluffier, dish than short grain rice.  Its soft texture is great in soups, stuffing's and dishes such as fried rice.

Long Grain Brown Rice - This rice has a chewier texture and contains lots of vitamins and fiber.  This rice is great all by itself or cooked in broth.

                                         _______________________________

Arborio Rice -  This rice was named after a tiny town in North-West Italy.  It is a short grain starchy rice which absorbs and binds the liquids it cooks in.  Arborio is more like a white than a brown rice, but is almost always unpolished, which means it retains much of the nutrients in the husk.  Since the rice is creamy in texture, it is a must for making risotto.

Brown Basmati Rice – This long grain brown rice has a mild nutty flavor to it.  It works well as a side dish and also well in gratin, salads and stir fries.  The American variety (texmati) and the variety grown in India are more nutritious than its cousin, white basmati.

Golden Rose Rice – The Lundberg family grows this organic rice.   It has a chewy texture and a sweet flavor.  This rice is kosher and gluten-free.  Great as a side dish.

Jasmine Rice – This aromatic long grain rice comes in a brown and white rice variety.  Great in side dishes, pilafs or desserts.

Sweet Brown Rice - Sweet brown rice is very popular among certain ethnic groups.  It has a waxy texture and is very glutinous.  It is primarily used for sticky sweets, snacks and desserts.  It can also be found in Japanese sushi.

 Wehani Rice – This brown rice is very nutritious and has a chewy texture when cooked.  This dark long grain rice is grown in Northern California.  This can be used in stuffing’s, salads and pilaf. **(See recipe below)

Wild Rice – Is a combination of different rice’s usually containing brown rice, sweet brown rice, wehani and other select rice’s.  It is great in stuffing’s and pilaf.  It pairs nice with seafood.

*Helpful Tips:

·    It’s better to rinse your rice before  cooking it (especially if you buy it in the bulk bin).  You never know if the rice is dirty or what might be clinging to it.

·    Most rice cooks well on a 2 to 1 ratio (2 cups liquid to 1 cup rice).  I usually add some type of broth instead of water for the liquid.  

·    Brown rice takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour to cook.  It’s always best to follow package instructions or do the taste test.

·    Brown rice should be stored in an air-tight container and will keep for about six months. If a good container is not available it should be stored in the fridge.

• ***Research recently published by Andrew Mehanrg and colleagues from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland (see footnote) suggests that some non-organic  U.S. long grain rice may have 1.4 to 5 times more arsenic than rice from Europe, India or Bangladesh. For this reason, select organically grown rice whenever possible.  For any crop to be labeled as organic, including rice, stringent testing of soils for contaminants, including arsenic, must be passed.
   

All this talk of rice made me want to experiment with the Wehani rice I purchased.   The recipe below came out really good.  I found the texture of this rice to be sticky, not what I expected:

Wehani Rice with Spinach

1 Cup Wehani rice 2 Cups broth (chicken, vegetable or water) ¼ Cup toasted sesame seeds 1 Small onion, finely chopped 2 Cups spinach, washed and chopped ½ Tbsp. balsamic vinegar ½ tsp. tamari 2 tsp. butter 1 tsp. honey Sea salt and pepper to taste

In saucepan, boil 2 cups of liquid.  When mixture comes to a boil, add rice.  Cover and cook until done, approximately  45 minutes.  Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350.  Toast sesame seeds for 5 minutes.  In saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.  Add onion and sauté until translucent.  Add spinach and sauté until wilted.  When rice is cooked, add spinach mixture and sesame seeds to rice.  Stir.  Mix additional ingredients in a small bowl.  Add to rice. Toss to combine….Serve

·         Williams PN, Price AH, Raab A, Hossain A, Feldmann J, Meharg AA. Variation in arsenic speciation and concentration in paddy rice related to dietary exposure. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2005 July;39 (15):5531-5540. 2005. PMID:16124284.

BORN LUCKY

A few years ago, I went to Rocky Point Statuary to purchase a lawn ornament for my yard.  The statues are handmade on the premises by pouring cement into various molds.  This is becoming another one of those “lost arts”, such as knitting or weaving wicker into a basket.  The gentleman who owns the store learned the craft in Italy and has been making cement statues by hand here in the States for over thirty years .  As I wandered aimlessly about deciding which statute to buy, he approached me.  Instead of asking if I needed any help, he looked me straight in the eye and said, “You were born lucky.”  I didn’t know quite how to answer as I looked at him in astonishment.  All I could muster up was “what?”  Again he repeated himself, “You were born lucky.”  Instead of being happy and thanking him for saying such a nice thing to me, I got defensive.  “Well let me tell you something,” I said.  It was at this point I proceeded to tell him that my husband was sick with a brain tumor and all that I had been through.  He listened intently as I went on and on about all the terrible things that had happened.  Therefore, I said, “I was not born lucky.”  He looked at me straight in the eyes again and said. “Yes you were.”  “Whatever,” I thought and purchased a statue and left.  To this day, his words have sat with me.  What does it mean to be “born lucky?”

It has taken me a few years to understand what he did for me that day.  He was giving life to one of the lifeless forms around him.  That form was me.  I was just like the cement statues he made.   His insistence I was born lucky made me realize that I had let the negative events of my life overtake me.   His words were an offering of hope, an awakening of my spirit.   He made me reflect upon what is truly important in life and what it means to be born lucky.    When something overwhelmingly negative or tragic happens in life, we tend to focus in on it, let it consume us, and we lose sight of all the positives surrounding us.  There are always positives in life.  Heck, even life is a positive.  There are big positives, little positives, complex positives and simple positives.  These positives generate pleasures in life.  For instance, watching a baby crawl or having a dog place his head in your lap while looking for food can constitute a simple pleasure derived from a positive.  Can it be that you are born lucky if you can identify your positives and appreciate them or do you need a bit of luck?

I am one of those persons who have never found a four leaf clover.  It’s not for lack of trying.  As a child, I would search in a clover patch on my hands and knees for hours.  Even as an adult, I would always look for luck while weeding out that pesky clover patch.   How come some people can pluck one right out?  Are some people luckier than others?   A few years ago, I remember walking with a friend through a neighborhood with large houses and perfectly manicured clover free lawns.  These people must have been born lucky for look at all they have.  I would express to my friend how great it would be to live in one of these houses.  Her response was one that I will never forget. “Christine,” she said.  It may look grand from the outside, but you have no idea what’s really going on behind those walls.”  It made me think.  Of course, we all know money cannot buy luck or happiness but neither can a clover free lawn.  Can it be that it isn’t lucky to find the four leaf clover?  Maybe its luck if you haven’t found it because it’s the journey of finding that clover, not the destination of actually having it, that brings the greatest reward.

 I’m still on my journey and don’t have a complete definition of what it means to be “born lucky.”  Ask me again in a few years and I may have more to say.  However, here’s what I’ve learned so far:  We are born lucky if we can see the positives through the negatives.  We are born lucky if we can appreciate life’s simplest of pleasures.  We are born lucky if we can turn around when going the wrong way.  We are born lucky if we are still searching for that four leaf clover.  We are born lucky if we walk away with words of wisdom while purchasing a cement statue.

**After I wrote this blog piece, I went back to Rocky Point Statuary to take some pictures to accompany this writing.  I asked for the owner.  The same man that told me I was “born lucky” came out from the workroom.  “I know you.  Tell me your name,”  he said.   “Christine,” I told him.   He responded “Kristen.  That’s it.  So nice of you to come by and say hello.  How is your husband?”  I couldn’t believe he remembered me.  I told him I was writing a blog piece and was it okay if I took some pictures.  He was happy to oblige and gave me a tour of his remarkable and amazing place.  What an art!!  I was very impressed as he showed me the various pieces he was working on.  He took me to a back workroom where he was making rubber molds.   In that room there was a statue covered in rubber.  He said, “See that girl over there?  I’m naming her Kristen after you.  Do you want to know why?  Because you were born lucky.”  Kristen won’t be ready until the spring.  I cannot wait to pick her up.  She is now the Inner Beauty Workshops mascot.  I am lucky!!  Thanks Mario!



"Kristen"  Inner Beauty Workshops Mascot





Fall/Winter Vegetable Broth

Who doesn’t love soup?   I enjoy making soup just as much as I enjoy eating it, and the good news is, you can’t mess it up!   Over the past 25 years, I have tried countless soup recipes.  Depending on the recipe, I always start with a homemade vegetable, chicken, beef or lamb broth.  I NEVER buy broth in the grocery store because it usually contains MSG (monosodium glutamate).  MSG is used as a flavor enhancer.   However, it is a neurotoxin and has toxic effects on the body.  For me, that means I get very jittery and have difficulty sleeping.
 
Today I am sharing with you a recipe for Fall/Winter Vegetable Broth.  It is not too time-consuming to make, because you just assemble the vegetables and give them a rough chop. You can use whatever vegetables are in season during the fall and/or winter months such as root vegetables and winter squash.  There is an ingredient that I use in my vegetable broth that you may not be familiar with …Wakame Seaweed.   Wakame is a type of kelp that is high in vitamins A, C, E and K.  It is also a good source of minerals, such as iron, calcium and iodine.  I put in one handful and strain out with the rest of the vegetables when the broth is done.  Now go and have fun making some yummy broth to warm you up on a cold day and remember, no worries, since there is no wrong way to make this vegetable broth. 

2 Tbsp. butter
1 Onion, diced into squares
1 Leek, (use entire leek plus greens), sliced
1 Carrot, peeled and chopped
1 Daikon Radish, peeled and chopped
2 Celery stalks with leaves, peeled and chopped
1  Winter squash (about 1 cup), cubed
1 Sweet Potato, peeled and cut into cubes
Handful of Kale stems and/or leaves
Handful of Swiss Chard stems and/or leaves
Handful of Beet Greens
3 Garlic cloves
¼ tsp. thyme
2 Bay leaves
Handful of Wakame
12 Cups filtered Water

Heat the butter in a large stock pot.  Add the onion, garlic and herbs and cook briskly over a medium flame until the onion and garlic are softened (stirring occasionally).  Add the vegetables, rest of ingredients and 1 cup of water, bring to a boil, cover and cook for 20 minutes at a low simmer.  Pour in the remainder of the water (11 cups) and bring to a boil.  Cover again and cook at a simmer for 2-3 hours.  When done, pour into a strainer and strain out vegetables.  Let stock cool, cover and refrigerate until use.
This stock freezes well.  Enjoy!

INNER BEAUTY WORKSHOPS RECYCLES……………

When I was a young child, my family used to take many car trips.  When I think back on those days, one destination in particular always sticks out in my mind, driving to visit my grandparents’ house in Delaware.  The reason is not why you think.  Now obviously I have fond memories of those times spent with my grandparents, but more so when passing through New Jersey, my eyes would widen in disbelief as we passed large piles of trash.   My brothers, sister and I knew exactly when to roll up the car windows as we pinched our noses from the smell of those piles.  It is sad, but true that even 30 plus years later, the sight of all that garbage, piled high, still upsets me.  What a waste!    It is mind boggling how much trash even one person can generate, and what I’ve come to realize is that most things do NOT need to be thrown out.  Most items can be REUSED in some way.   For example, the scraps from fruits and vegetables can be saved, turned into compost and used as organic fertilizer in a garden.  Ideally, there is no reason to throw out much of anything.  Okay, maybe just dirty tissues, but that’s about it.  To reuse and repurpose items may require some imagination.  It is so much fun turning someone else’s trash in your treasure.  I love being able to do my part in helping to protect the environment.

It is out of my experiences as a child, and my research as an adult that I have adopted the policy, at Inner Beauty Workshops, of buying as much second hand items as I can for the business.  I must admit it is fun, as well as challenging to find the perfect used items.   I have found that one great place to find second hand items is on Craigslist.  I have learned once you see a listing for a particular item, you must act fast, as most items go rather quick.   I was lucky enough to find a fax/copier machine, file cabinet and office chair at a business in Bohemia that was consolidating its offices.   They also sold me some office incidentals such as file folders, calculator, stapler and even a box of paperclips.   I filled up the entire back of my Toyota Highlander.  The best find for me on Craigslist was a set of 20 chairs that were located in Brooklyn.  Okay, it was a bit of a drive, but well worth it.  I was charged only $9 a chair!  Aside from Craigslist, I also really enjoy visiting tag/yard sales.  Recently, I was lucky enough to spot an antique-Victorian styled birdcage for only $15.  It is a great decorative item, and I may repurpose it as a planter. 

Craigslist and tag/yard sales are all respectable avenues to find second hand items, but I have to make a confession.  I have done some trash picking.  My brother likes to call it dumpster diving, but in my case, it is picking through the red recycle cans of my neighbors.  Basically, I was looking for labels from food containers for my workshops.  Hopefully, the neighbors were not looking out their windows.   Sometimes, you can find treasures in places you never thought you would go.

As much as possible, paper generated by Inner Beauty Workshops will be come from recycled materials.  Why should some trees be cut down so I can print out some brochures and advertisements that most people will just throw into the trash?  I have no problem spending a few extra dollars (that I saved from buying second hand items) and applying it toward buying recycled paper.  Also, to further help our environment, Inner Beauty Workshops will not be using any paper goods.  Clients will use drinking glasses and cloth napkins, if necessary.  Even the smallest details of this company will work towards making our earth a better place, therefore at Inner Beauty Workshops, even the toilet tissue will be from recycled materials.

I am proud to run a business that acts responsively toward the environment.   As the business grows, I will continue to seek out ways to do my part and recommend to others to do theirs.  

Lima Bean & Red Curry Squash Stew

This recipe is really Lima Bean and Pumpkin Stew.  However, I was shopping at Garden of Eve Farms in Riverhead, and the woman salesperson kept talking about how good a Red Curry Squash was.  Since I never tried a Red Curry Squash before, actually never heard of it, I decided to substitute the Squash for the Pumpkin. 

Red Curry Squash looks similar to a pumpkin from the outside (see picture), but has a mildly sweet flavor.  It is also loaded with beta carotene and many other nutrients including Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Potassium.  I peeled the outside, scraped out the seeds, and cut the squash into chunks.  Don’t forget to toast the seeds separately.  Enjoy!

 

Lima Bean & Red Curry Squash Stew

1 lb potatoes

1 lb squash or pumpkin, seeded and cubed

2 tbsp.  Butter

2 tbsp. Olive oil

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 jalapeno chili, minced (scrape out seeds if you do not want it too hot)

1 large tomato

Fresh thyme, minced

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 cup Lima Beans

¾ cup fresh or frozen peas

1 tbsp. parsley

Salt & pepper to taste

 

Cook the potatoes and squash in a saucepan of salted boiling water until they begin to soften.  Drain, reserving the cooking liquid.

Heat the oil and butter together in a large saucepan over medium heat and fry the onion, garlic and chili until soft.  Stir in the tomato, thyme and ground cumin.  Add the potatoes and squash.  Cook with a little of the reserved cooking water for a couple of minutes.  Add the lima beans and peas and cook for about ten minutes.  Add the salt and pepper to taste.  Sprinkle the parsley on top.

 

Serve over rice, couscous or quinoa

A Bit of Whimsy

It’s a lot of fun when you get to design a logo for your own company.   There’s no limit to the imagination when you are starting with a clean slate.   After coming up with the name of my company, Inner Beauty Workshops, I sat down to draw a logo.  I quickly realized that it would be daunting simply because I cannot draw.  I never understood the reason why especially since my brother is a Disney animator.  I swear we came from the same parents.    I convinced myself that it was a small hurdle and plunged ahead.

I decided to use the company initials “IBW.”  After all, there is IRS, NATO  and, of course, the good ole USA.  Now I needed to decide what to do with the letters.  I have really beautiful wallpaper in one of my bathrooms.  Luckily, I had a spare roll.  I cut out a piece of a floral spray and wrote in black ink the letters IBW.  It looked great but was missing something…..a bit of whimsy.

When I design a room, I love to put something unexpected in it.  If everything has a place and looks picture perfect, there’s nothing conversational to discuss.  You may say, “it looks great or it’s beautiful,” but again where is that item that sparks the imagination?   I have an example to share.   My bedroom is decorated very traditionally with dark cherry furniture and antique styled patterns and accessories.  It looks beautiful but needed that bit of something.  Therefore,  I purchased two antique figurine lamps that sit on our nightstands.  The figurine lamps are almost three feet tall (including the shade).  The figurines are dressed in traditional garb so I nicknamed them “George & Martha.”   I must say, they have sure sparked some interesting conversations over the years.

The background letter of my logo is a capital letter “H”.  Several people have asked me what the “H” stands for and they try to guess…."health, happiness, hope, help.”   Here comes the whimsy and unexpected, it’s going to stand for whatever you want it to stand for.  That should spark some conversation.  I have my own guess………….


*A special thanks to my brother John for helping with the computer graphics.