Boneless Turkey breast is absolutely delicious and can be ready in less than 10 minutes, complete with lovely silky gravy. The Stovetop Method was used here, but any method will work perfectly.Here’s what you’ll need:
  • 1 pkg. Celebrity Boneless Turkey Breast with Home-style Gravy
(1.8 to 2.2 lbs.)Microwave Method: Remove clear wrap and sleeve from microwaveable tray. Cut a 1″ slit in center of pouch. Microwave on high for about 7 minutes or until hot. Let stand 2 minutes before carving.

Your doctor may have warned you to avoid grapefruit juice if you’re taking statin drugs like Lipitor or Zocor, or blood thinners such as Warfarin or any of several prescription drugs, including some antibiotics. Why? Grapefruit juice contains furanocoumarins, although most other citrus juices contain none or very little of these compounds. Furanocoumarins inhibit an important enzyme, CYP3A4, which helps in metabolizing almost 50% of all prescription drugs.Persons who drink grapefruit juice while on certain medications may be unable to eliminate the drugs from their system efficiently. The drugs could remain concentrated in the bloodstream for longer than expected and create the potential for dangerous and potentially fatal overdoses. Researchers at the University of North Carolina have confirmed that furanocoumarins in grapefruit juice inhibit the metabolism of certain drugs. Their findings were published in the May 2006 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. If you’re taking medication, ask your doctor whether you can safely drink grapefruit juice.

Try this delicious recipe courtesy of Celebrity Foods. Happy Eating!

The ingredients: Fresh cranberries, walnuts (crushed or whole) and Celebrity’s Sweet Italian sausage to make it special.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 pkg. Celebrity Sweet Italian Sausage (use 3 links – about 3/4 lb.) 

• 5-6 cups dried, crumbled cornbread or bread crumbs (pre-seasoned are fine) 

• 3 stalks celery, diced

• 1 large onion, diced 

• 1 1/2 tablespoon dried sage or 15 fresh minced sage leaves, finely chopped 

• 1 stick butter (8 tablespoons) 

• 1/2 cup walnut pieces 

• 3/4 cup dried cranberries

• 1 1/2 to 3 cups chicken broth

Crumble sausage meat and cook in large pan until done. Set aside. Cook the diced onion, minced sage or dried sage, and diced celery together in the butter over medium low heat for about 5 minutes, until the celery shows color and the onions start to become translucent. Set aside.

Place crumbled cornbread, cranberries, and walnuts in large bowl. Add celery and onion mixture, and cooked sausage, and gently toss to mix all ingredients evenly.

The last step is most important. Carefully add 1 cup of broth, toss to fully moisten bread mixture. If mixture still has dry parts, continue to add remaining broth a little at a time, until mixture is moistened but not soggy. Place in buttered baking pan and cover with foil. Cook for 35 minutes at 350° F, and then remove foil for 3-5 minutes and place under broiler to crisp the top.

With eating disorders at an all time high, it is important to keep a monitored eye out on your children and their struggles in daily life. A recent study from the National Eating Disorders Association and Global Market Institute Inc. found that 20 percent of college students ranging from freshman to post baccalaureate are suffering from eating disorders. Over thirty percent are said to be male and over sixty percent are female. The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late teen/early adult years, but symptoms can occur as young as kindergarten.  Although, there may be a number of reasons for your child to develop any eating disorder such as stress in family, the pressures of the world to be thin, or other psychological problems, getting help is of number one importance, along with positive support and help from family and friends.

  Take care of your children, and take care of yourself. The #1 role model your child has, is you! 

Did you know that almonds originated from China and Central Asia centuries ago? ….no? Well, did you know that they are ancestors (I prefer them term sisters, if you will) from peaches, plums and nectarines? How about the fact that they are botanically considered a fruit? “WHAT? THAT’S MADNESS!!”… I know, I know. That’s what I thought too.

In addition to these little bad boys being titled a fruit, they are also full of nutritional value.

A one-ounce serving of almonds includes:

- 7 grams of protein

- Magnesium

- Vitamin E

- Phosphorus

- Copper

- Riboflavin

Best of all, they hold no cholesterol or sodium…Woooo Hoooo!

And according to my colleague, a handful of almonds (six to be exact) can actually help with hunger pains. Now, that I’ll have to look up J hee hee hee…..

Enjoy your almonds every one!

xoxo

~Lisa

Here I am, minding my own business, just enjoying my frozen yogurt, until WHAM! The most excruciating pain has grabbed hold of my brain, forcing all thoughts, memories and even mental visionaries to move out of my mind.

I immediately dropped my spoon, and grabbed my head. What is this, and why is it hurting so much? Just make it stop!! Aaaaah, finally the pain dwindles down. Now I can get back to eating my yogurt in peace, hopefully.

 It is the most interesting scientific phenomenon no one ever thinks to look up on Google…. what is it? BRAIN FREEZE! Other terms used are “ice cream headache,” a “freezie,” or as one weird individual might say, a “frigid face,” …..what the heck?? All right, whatever. Moving on!

The scientific name for a brain freeze is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. The term is used to describe a cranium (brain) pain.

The reaction is generally caused a few seconds after cold contents are consumed, hitting the roof of your mouth.

The reaction is not of the cold itself, but more of the quick warming of the “hard palate.” Hey, don’t ask me. I don’t make up the rules, I just write about them. 

According to Wikipedia, the hard palate is a thin horizontal bony plate of the skull, located in the roof of the mouth. After your body slowly warms back up, you’re headache goes away.

Thank goodness this pain doesn’t last forever, otherwise we’d still be holding our heads from the very first time we discovered what a “brain freeze” was.

The next time, this happens, try drinking some room-temperature water to bring your hard palate back to normal more quickly.

J

If you didn’t know this, green tea, black tea, white tea and just about any other color kind of tea is made up of healthful and beneficial components.

Take the white tea for example. It contains the most antioxidants over any other kind of tea. And test-tube studies have shown it to block DNA mutations that help to trigger tumor formations. If I were you, I down this bad boy fast!

Another great tea and, an ever so popular one, is the green tea. Shown to prevent many forms of cancer, it also  helps to lower cholesterol and boost the body’s immune system. wooo hooo!

Black tea. Now although the name refers to the color of its leaves, the actual color of the tea itself is a rich amber hue. This proactive tea helps to lower your risk of heart disease and colon cancer. It also inhibits bacteria that causes cavities and stinky breath. I say, if you don’t have time to drink the stuff, pop a few leaves in your mouth and chomp away.

The last tea I’m going to introduce you to, is the pu-erh (poo-air) tea. This dark red, earthy flavored tea is delicious, and actually considered a delicacy in China. Of all teas it is said to be the most oxidized and can only improve with age, just like wine! So as I said, let’s get drunk!

So, drink up my little tea lovers. And as always, enjoy!

xoxo

Lisa

Oh, whatever…toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe, people!!

(deep breath) Alright, I’m OK now.

So,  after researching the many helpful and healthful benefits of mangos, I have to say, I am now an official fan of these incredible orange-colored treats.

Here’s what mangos have to offer you…

*Phenols.  A compound that fights off cancer and other ailments.

*Iron.  Great for those who are anemic or pregnant.

*Clear skin.  Apparently, these little babies can effectively relieve clogged pores.

*Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A). To help with your eye sight.

*Vitamin E. The “bonus vitamin.”  I heard this one helps your hormonal system to function more efficiently.  As Joey Tribiani from Friends would say, “Hey, how YOU doin’?” wink wink, nod nod.

Mangos are also low in carbs and rich in selenium, which helps to protect against heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.

So, the next time  you’re cruising through the produce department grab some mangos.  In fact, I’ve found a scrumptious mango muffin recipe that’s sure not to disappoint. http://southernfood.about.com/od/mangorecipes/r/bl80524g.htm

Enjoy my friends.

xo

Lisa

Research on antioxidants continues to grow regarding the knowledge of their rather helpful components.

For example, oxidation, or loss of electrons, can sometimes produce reactive substances known as free radicals that can very easily cause damage to the body’s cells.

What antioxidants do however, is stabalize free radicals before they have the chance to react and cause you harm.

Because oxidation is a naturally occurring process within the body, a balance with antioxidants must exist to maintain adequate and proper health. And who wouldn’t want to be healthy?

If strawberries are not in season where you live, look for produce rich in hue. For example, red tomatoes, bluer than blue…you guessed it….blueberries! There’s also raspberries and any other kind of berry you can find, really.

Load up as much as you can. Antioxidants are also said to help with fighting off cancers and other serious diseases!

Treat your body right and enjoy a handful of some delicious free radical fighting antioxidants. Enjoy!

~Lisa

 For further information on what antioxidants have to offer, check out this factsheet provided by the National Cancer Institute http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/antioxidantsprevention