The New Year is here, yet again, and I say "bring it on"!!!  I am super psyched about what doors could potentially be opened this year for you, for me - for everyone!  To be 40 and finally find "what I want to be when I grow up" has been amazing and I'm jumping in with both feet.  Are you feeling the same way!?!  I truly hope so!  Here's to the New Year and endless possibilities... 

Oh, and don't forget your collard greens and black-eyed peas!  Who couldn't use some good luck and additional money in the New Year?  Not only that, but it's good for your health!  Collards are packed with nutrition and provide anticancer properties.  They offer an excellent source of vitamins B6 and C, chlorophyll and manganese.  Collard greens are also a very good source of fiber and several minerals, including iron, copper and calcium.   And those black-eyed peas?  Like many beans, they are low in fat and high in quality protein and fiber.  Here's a simple recipe to enjoy this New Year's Eve or Day - just switch to vegetable broth and omit the smoked ham to make this vegetarian.  Feel free to play around with the measurements - some prefer more beans or more collards.  Have fun with it!


                                Smoked Ham, Black-eyed Pea and Collard Green Soup

Time 25 minutes   |   Serves 4 


Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 4 ounces of cooked smoked ham
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 pound collard greens
• 2 cup chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 16 ounce can black-eyed peas
• 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
• Splash of Tabasco (optional)

How to make it

• In 3-quart saucepan, cook onions, garlic, ham over moderate heat, stirring occasionally
• While onion mixture is cooking, wash, discard stems and center ribs from collards
• Finely chop leaves
• Add collards, broth, water to onion mixture
• Simmer until collards are tender, about 20 minutes
• Rinse and drain black-eyed peas
• In a bowl mash half of peas with a fork
• Stir mashed and whole peas into soup and simmer 5 minutes
• Season soup with salt and pepper, stir in vinegar and Tabasco for a little or a lot of heat!
• Makes about 4 cups

 Serve this with some corn bread and you've got a nice filling meal to start the New Year out right!

Wishing you and yours all the best in this New Year!!! 

Hard to believe that Christmas is less than a week away - time flies when you're having fun, right?  For many this is a very stressful time of year with shopping, wrapping, sending, parties, drinking, eating and being merry!  We are bombarded with sweets, treats and "goodies" that can make us feel bloated, sluggish and ultimately unhappy.

How do we avoid putting ourselves through the roller coaster of emotions this time of year and make choices we can pat ourselves on the back for?  My motto is "never say never".  I don't believe in restricting ourselves from anything we truly enjoy,  but I do believe in moderation.  And I know we've all heard it before,  so how do we do it?  Through awareness.  Just be aware of your surroundings and your feelings when you're circling the buffet table.  Be conscious of what and how much you're dishing out to yourself.  Also, be aware of how you feel before, during and after you eat.  I think just being in touch with your feelings can make a world of difference!

Okay, some practical tips: 

Don't starve yourself thinking you'll save yourself calories.  You'll only end up being ravenous and most likely eating everything in sight!  Eat a couple of handfuls of raw nuts before you hit a party and you won't feel so inclined to consume all there is to offer.

Load up on veggies first.  Go for the healthy stuff and leave less room for the not so healthy stuff.  If you're in doubt if there will be anything healthy - bring your own!  A veggie tray is easy to assemble and can brighten up any table.

Think color.  Go for foods that are easily identifiable and colorful.  Remember you are what you eat.  So the more colorful the food, the more colorful you!  And I'm not talking about the dyes that make those cookies look so pretty!

And lastly, for Pete's sake, don't fret if you over indulge!  Move on and make better choices the next time.  It is the Holidays after all and I believe it is a time to enjoy yourselves, your friends and your family.  Just don't go crazy!!! 

So keep some of these things in mind while you're out partaking in the festivities and you'll be moving into 2011 with a more positive attitude!!!   Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!!!

Now that I've started a blog,  I realize that I actually have to keep up with it.  So I'm back at it...  

I got a Vitamix about a month ago and I still look at it and wonder - what do I do with this thing?  Did I just buy a glorified blender or is this thing going to make a huge nutritional difference in my life?  Well, I can't really answer that question just yet,  but I will say that  I am loving my green spinach smoothies and thought I'd share my oh so easy recipe with you.  

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6.  It's also a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, protein, phosphorous, zinc and vitamin E.  Now who can argue with that?!

I basically take a few handfuls of organic spinach (cleaned well and roots removed), throw them in the Vitamix (or other heavy duty blender) with a couple of handfuls of red grapes (preferably with seeds) and about a half cup of water.  Blend and voila!  Green healthy goodness in a glass!

Try this recipe or any other variation and I guarantee you'll feel clear-headed and refreshed.