Category Archives: Health

Grilled Balsamic Asparagus…How Easy Can it Get?

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By Jodee Weiland

Grilled Balsamic Asparagus…How Easy Can it Get? We love to grill outdoors and not just in the summer. We live in the Midwest, but we still grill outdoors all year round on our gas barbecue grill. We don’t just grill meats either.  We grill all kinds of vegetables right along with our meats and fish.

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Why do we grill outdoors even in the snowy weather?  Well, that’s easy to answer.  We like the taste and using our gas grill, makes every meal a little healthier.

Years ago, we did vegetables, other than potatoes and corn inside, but then everyone starting talking about oven roasted vegetables.  We did this as well in our extra virgin olive oil, and it was really good, but put some olive oil on any vegetable, add a little seasoning, and grill it, you will be amazed!  It’s even better!

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Today a lot of people talk about doing this, but it never ceases to amaze us that when we invite people over, they love the vegetables this way, but only a few have tried it.  Our guests are usually surprised by the range of vegetables we grill and also, by the many different ways we season or flavor them.

https://learnfromyesterday.comOne of the ways we like best is to marinate our vegetables in extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings.  It isn’t rocket science, but it sure tastes good!  This is how we like to grill our asparagus and so far, it’s a hit every time.  Here’s what we do, but you can vary your seasonings to your own taste.

https://learnfromyesterday.com Grilled Balsamic Asparagus…How Easy Can it Get?

1 pound asparagus spears cleaned and ends cut off
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
Garlic powder and a little sea salt or garlic salt, if you prefer it, to taste
Seasonings can vary according to taste

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That’s it!  Place the asparagus in a shallow dish about 20 to 30 minutes prior to grilling, drizzling them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste.  Add in your seasonings making sure to coat each asparagus spear.  Let this sit and marinate for the 20 to 30 minutes.  When done, place the asparagus on the grill in either a grill pan or as we like to do, directly across the grill.  We like to grill it directly on the grill, but either way it tastes delicious.  Grill the spears for 2 to 3  minutes over a medium heat, then turn over and grill for 2 to 3 more minutes or until done.

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This recipe is so simple, anyone can do it.  We like to use this same recipe for other vegetables as well.  It really adds a lot of good flavor to your barbecue and on top of that, it’s healthy, if you don’t get carried away with the salt.  We totally enjoy asparagus done this way and grill it with chicken, steak, and even salmon.  It makes a wonderful side to any grilled meal, and it is definitely a crowd pleaser, especially these days with more and more people becoming aware of healthy eating.  Give it a try and enjoy!

Jog Indoors on an Exercise Mini Trampoline…an Easy to Use and Low Cost Piece of Exercise Equipment

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By Jodee Weiland

 

Many years ago, I wanted to lose weight and be able to exercise without having to go to a gym. At the time the cost of a gym was not something I could afford with a young family and all the expenses that go along with having children. I also wanted something that would be easy to use, while maintaining the busy schedule of a young mother and later, a working mother. When I first attempted to find something that fit this description, I found it in a most unexpected place.

 

I was shopping in one of the local retail stores and attempting to find a new workout video. The problem with workout videos and having small children to attend to or being a working mom, there is a small window of opportunity during the day to be able to use one.  Nonetheless, I continued to look for those videos that were short enough to give me a good workout in what time I could squeeze in during the day. Don’t get me wrong, I use quite a few workout videos that I love, but sometimes it’s difficult to find a time when you can put one on and use it without either interrupting someone else or being interrupted by someone else.

 

On this one particular day, I was searching for something new and inexpensive to use for exercise, as was my habit at the time, and as my eyes searched the aisles and shelves, I noticed something I had not come across before. There in front of me was a box labeled Rebounder Mini Trampoline. At first I thought it was some sort of toy, but on closer inspection, I realized it was an inexpensive, easy to use, and easy to store piece of workout equipment. At the time, the price was about twenty-five dollars and much easier to afford than a treadmill, so I thought to myself, “Why not?” I decided to give it a try, and that has been a decision I have never regretted to this day.

 

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I still use my mini trampoline, even though I now have a workout room in my home with a treadmill and an elliptical, as well as weight training equipment, plus more. Although I use these other pieces of equipment, I still find my mini trampoline to be the easiest to use, anywhere any time.  I will put it in front of the television while watching a movie, the news, a TV program, whatever and jog in place, sometimes for an hour or more.  The best part is that it allows me to jog indoors no matter what the weather is outdoors, and I don’t have to worry about impact injuries to my body. As a matter of fact, after a fall jogging outdoors several years ago and sustaining injuries to my knees, the mini trampoline has helped to alleviate the pain in my knees associated with that injury, while my treadmill did not. I, also, sustained an injured disc in my back, and the mini trampoline has helped strengthen my back once again as well.

 

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I have purchased one or two replacements, since that first purchase years ago, but I have never paid more than thirty-five dollars, although there are now mini trampolines priced over one hundred dollars or more, as well as the less expensive but still durable versions. They also have ones with folding legs, attached stabilizing bars to hold on to as you jog, etc. They are usually about 36 to 38 inches wide with easily removable legs, but they vary in size and style. If you decide to look into a mini trampoline, an increase in popularity has made them available at even more stores and online if you search for mini trampoline or rebounder. Nowadays mini trampolines are easily accessible and have features I don’t remember seeing early on when I first purchased one.

 

The bottom line is the mini trampoline is a safe effective way to get a good cardiovascular workout in your home with an easy to use, low cost piece of exercise equipment. The benefits are that it will improve cardiovascular fitness not only by helping you to lose those extra pounds, but also by toning your legs, buttocks, abs, and even your back.  It will help increase your metabolism and control your weight. It is, without a doubt, an easy and effective way to fit exercise into anyone’s schedule, no matter how busy you may be, because you can do it while watching the television or even while you talk on the phone.  It’s that easy!  The intensity you use with the mini trampoline is up to you, but even a low jog will bring health benefits to you that will improve your life. You can even add a weight belt or handheld weights to your workout to add intensity. The benefits for you are there, just try it…what have you got to lose?
Enjoy!

Poppy’s Spicy Lemon Cabbage

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By Jodee Weiland

My father was a lovable character, who was one awesome cook! He could take a head of cabbage and make it into a gourmet side dish easier than anyone I’ve ever known.

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All the grandchildren in our family called my father Poppy. One thing that Poppy loved to do was cook. The recipes he created were absolutely delicious! There was only one problem. He never measured anything or wrote down directions for his recipes. Dad was a great cook, but he was terrible at giving us recipes we could follow and repeat for ourselves. So when he started getting on in years, I decided to start measuring as he cooked and then writing down the recipes that were most important to all of us. I will never regret this decision and to this day, I still hand down some of his all time favorites to my family members. Inevitably, we will share stories and memories that went along with each of the recipes.

Dad and I both loved cooking. So eventually, he began comparing our recipes for different dishes and even setting up a little competition on whose version of a particular recipe was better. We would both continually try to make a recipe better and see who could find the best way to make it better first. He loved this. I would walk into his kitchen, and he would say, “Sit down Jo. I want you to taste something!” Mind you, this was always done with the same mischievous sparkle in his smiling eyes, especially, if he thought he had outdone me. Many times he did!

This recipe is his Spicy Lemon Cabbage, which is amazingly easy to make if you buy the prepared shredded cabbage. I like to shred my own, so it is a little more involved when I do it, but believe me, either way it is worth it!

Spicy Lemon Cabbage

1/2 large cabbage head (either pre-shredded or shred yourself)
1 medium to large onion
2 cloves garlic chopped
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
Juice from 1 to 2 small lemons (use more or less according to your taste)
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper (or to taste)
1/3 teaspoon of crushed red pepper (or to taste)

 

The amount of lemon juice and peppers can be adjusted according to your personal preference. The amounts I have listed are what I use and prefer.

First, saute the onion and garlic in olive oil. Once they are cooked, add the shredded cabbage, gradually blending the onions and garlic into the cabbage as it begins to cook over a medium heat. After mixing this together, add the juice of the lemons, the black pepper, and the crushed red pepper, blending each in to the cabbage. Cover and cook until the cabbage is done, but not soggy and overdone. The whole process does not take all that long.

This dish is very tasty and goes well with a wide variety of main courses. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family has throughout the years. I still remember my father’s smile and excitement when he first made it for me! I miss him and think of him every time I make it, as do my children. Poppy’s cooking was always a treat for all of us. Enjoy!