Healthy Cupcakes? What??

Okay, maybe not healthy but definitely healthier. I was so excited to come across this article because it lists recipes that don't include a ridiculous number of ingredients you've never even heard of. I mean, this is stuff you're likely to already have in your cupboards. Applesauce? Sure. Black beans? Yep.

Now my dilemma is which do I make first? The chocolate espresso or the pumpkin? Or pumpkin espresso? Spicy with a little kick in the pants? Sounds good to me.

Eating My Way Through the Peninsula

The other day, I convinced a couple of my aunties along with my mom and one of my sisters to spend the day in Door County with me. It had been at least a decade since my last visit and with the smell of autumn in the air, it seemed like perfect timing. For you non-Wisconsinites, Door County is basically the thumb of our cute little mitten state filled with all sorts of darling shops, quaint B&B's, and a whole lot of Chicago folk we are trying our best to send back home.

I wanted to relive old childhood memories so I suggested beginning the day with a good ole' Swedish breakfast of paper thin pancakes at Al Johnson's in Sister Bay. Plus, who doesn't want to see goats on the roof of your eating establishment? This was followed by some boutique shopping which then led to the good kind of shopping: the purchasing of baked goods. My aunt convinced us to go to this Seaquist place up the road and it was indeed amazing. As one gentleman patiently cut up a variety of apples for customers to try (I'm still a fan of the Honeycrisp and the Golden Ginger), our little group purchased a stockpile of cherry pies and apple cider doughnuts. God forbid there be a shortage of pie in anyone's house this fall.

A few hours later, we found ourselves in Ephraim and well, we just had to stop at Wilson's for some old-fashioned ice cream. Although I was quite certain I wasn't hungry, I still found myself licking off of everyone else's cones. Butter pecan? Sneakers? Cherry chocolate? Yes, yes, and yes! And I was ever so pleased to find that they still put a jelly bean at the bottom of their cones at Wilson's. Aww, thanks for the memories.

Then we were off to Fish Creek where we hit a few more shops and downed some coffee as the sun went down. Although we had enjoyed a perfect, sunny fall day, the setting sun along with the chill of the lake urged us to get in the car and head home.

By the time we reached Green Bay, the ice cream and pancakes had completely worn off and someone mentioned burgers. Now, I'm not much of a meat eater anymore but I can't tell you how much I crave a burger now and then. Since we were in Green Bay, there really was no discussion as to where we would go for dinner. I soon found myself driving to Kroll's across from Lambeau Field where we indulged in butter burgers and fried cheese curd. (Had we not had ice cream just a few hours before, I'm certain there would have been accompanying chocolate malts. But apparently even we have our limits)

By the time we got home that night, I had done a mental calculation of everything I had ingested and realized that it was time for some sort of cleansing tea. I also realized I could never, ever, EVER be vegan. Butter? Cheese? And ice cream? Who am I to return to the Dairy State and not partake? I would never be so insulting. Nah, I'd much rather celebrate you, Wisconsin. I raise my curd to you. Cheers!

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Not fast enough for many. But it's a step. Finally.

But why, oh why, can't I still be twenty-five? (If I had a dime for every time...)

Praying for a Frost

I know I was complaining about the mosquitoes not long ago but it bears repeating, especially since it's now officially FALL. The mosquito epidemic has been running rampant throughout Wisconsin all summer but come Labor Day, most of the state seemed to be in the clear. However, the area in which I live is where the last of them are congregating for a series of final pre-frost parties.

Never in all of my years in Wisconsin have I seen such a plague. I recently visited a neighbor and upon my arrival, she yelled at me to run to the door, lest I be attacked. I was barely inside her house when she slammed the door behind me. I think we were both panting.

"It's like a zombie movie!" she complained. "Just when you think it might safe outside at high noon or whatever, you finally creep outside and then wham! They come out of nowhere for the kill."

She's right, too. Not only are these things zombie-like in their attack methods but they have seem to have mutated, now carrying super strength abilities to bite through clothing. I kid you not. The other day I was outside for five minutes in a jeans and hoodie (because that's how chilly it now is for God's sake) and in that short time, I ended up with multiple bites all over my body. What? These things can now pierce denim?!

And to make things worse, it is now fly season. Yes, those darn houseflies which usually replace the mosquitoes have now come to terrorize us alongside their blood sucking friends.

"Oh, great. Now we are on to the Amityville Horror stage," a friend complained as we drove up his driveway, only to find his house covered with flies.

So for the first time in my life, I have started to pray for frost. Yes, me. The girl who can never get enough summer. I mean, what's the point of summer if you can't get out and enjoy it?

I'm not the only one, hoping for a night of dipping temperatures. The other day, my Amityville house owning friend said to me in a nearly delirious state, "We were only five degrees from freezing the last night. Why? Oh, God, why can't we just get a frost?" And then he proceeded to pummel mosquitoes on his living room wall.

All of this coming from people who will have a good six months of freezing temperatures ahead of them. We may be generally tolerant of the elements but this is simply getting to be too much, even for us. Help! (Of course, that really means, Send cookies!)

Your Housebound Correspondent,
Rachael

Slowwwww Down

Even though I did slow down enough to enjoy some tacos and the newspaper the other day, kicking it into high gear the next few days really did not help in my quest for balanced living. Friday morning, I woke up feeling kind of junky but I had all sorts of work to do so I pushed through the day, not stopping until 9pm. I reasoned that since most of my work was sedentary, it didn't really count. I'm used to my home visiting and nannying days when I was running around a good eight hours of the day. But as many of you probably already know, enough hours of sitting hunched over a laptop, employing all sorts of brain power will catch up.

This, I discovered, yesterday morning when I woke up with what felt like the worst hangover in my life. Pounding sinus pressure, a rocking stomach, chills, and complete disbelief that I had already slept for ten hours. Surely, it had only been fifteen minutes. I pried myself out of bed, the intensity of my headache increasing with every inch of elevation, put something in my tummy, and headed straight back to bed to sleep another four hours. In total yesterday, I managed a shower, a call to my sister, and a bit of email correspondence. Then, completely wiped out, I hightailed it back to bed.

And even though I knew I needed a very chill day, I found myself complaining to a friend that I hadn't "accomplished anything." Why is it that unless we are productive in the traditional sense (i.e. crossing things off of our "to do" lists, cleaning out the closet, responding to those work emails), it doesn't seem to count? Why couldn't I give myself credit for accomplishing a little self-care?

Because that's not really how American society operates. We go to work sick even though it means we will prolong our illnesses by days or weeks while infecting the whole office. We push through to meet personal obligations even when we are completely worn out and have no desire to do them. We tend to be impressed by the level of work produced by others and wonder what we can do to be more like that. So we power through the day by ingesting way too much caffeine, then wonder why we can't sleep at night, only to start the another day, feeling groggy, stressed, and unhealthy.

Ugh. Really?

Yes, in my opinion, really. Spending time overseas has made this more apparent, not only through my own observations but because I continually heard from Europeans, "You Americans are crazy with your work" or "I thought about moving to the U.S. but then I found out how you hardly have any vacation time."

Of course, I always argued that a lot of us don't have a choice. We have to deal with the fact that we only have two weeks of vacation a year and that we have limited sick days. Yet, that doesn't always mean we need to agree to another committee or another Girl Scout outing. And if we can't teach ourselves to slow down, our bodies will certainly do it for us. That's for certain. More Sudafed, please.

Stop, Plop, and Breathe

Ever have one of those days when you say,"Wow, I really cannot be spending any money at all right now" and then you end up playing the Let's See How Many Times I Can Possibly Use My Credit Card In One Day game?

Yep, that was me yesterday. I wasn't too happy. It's not like I said, "Screw it! I deserve a new dress!" and then ran to the mall to commence some sort of wild shopping spree. No, it went more like this:

"Wait...how much to clean up my laptop?"

"Oh, crap...I need gas again. Already?"

"113.84, please."

I was doing my best to calm myself down with my It's only money, I have my health mantra running through my head. But on top of the stress of finances, I was a feeling just a little bit wound up about all the work I had to complete and couldn't seem to get to. My plan had been to run a few errands in the morning, then spend the rest of the day at home working. But when the geeky seventeen-year-old behind the counter said, "Yeah, this shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to clean up your laptop," I tried not to freak out. I was not expecting a two hour time lapse. What was I going to do for the next few hours when all I really needed to do involved that precious piece of technology?

Plus, I was far enough from home that going back to clean the house or something really wasn't an option. I certainly did not have the money to treat myself to a leisurely, wine soaked lunch under the sun so I tried to do a bit of window shopping instead. However, I was having some trouble not thinking about this PRECIOUS TIME WASTED and how I was ONLY GETTING FURTHER BEHIND WITH EVERYTHING ELSE I NEEDED TO DO.

The fingers started tapping. The humming commenced. (Why I do this when I'm nervous, I'll never know. I also do it when I'm happy.) As an individual who is never bored and always has a mile long "to do" list, I realized at that moment, I had no idea what to do with myself. After wandering around aimlessly for a while, I plopped down in my car and just sat there for a few moments, trying to think. What else could I possibly accomplish right now?

Then suddenly, I thought about my old field work supervisor from my grad school days. While interning in a hospital psych unit, he had taught me how to facilitate group therapy. A lot of our clients had anxiety issues and I remember him once saying during a group session, "You know, sometimes it's just about how we look at things. Traffic can be really stressful. The honking, the yelling, the waiting. I used to hate it, too. But now, after a busy day, I'm more than happy to have to sit at a red light. Finally, I can just do nothing but breathe for a moment."

Throughout the past ten years, this piece of wisdom has entered my brain on many occasions and it caught up with me while sitting in the driver's seat yesterday. I sat there and breathed for a minute, then realizing that in my tizzy, I had been ignoring body's basic needs. My stomach growling, I then decided that although I didn't need a huge French dinner, I certainly could use a little sustenance to keep me going. So I treated myself to a simple but leisurely lunch while I read the paper, reminding myself that I could easily catch up on all that work tomorrow. And you know what? I sure enjoyed those tacos.

Yah, Junior Cooks!

Okay, you all know about my crush on the Nourishing Kitchen of NYC. But I ask you, how can my feelings possibly dissipate when they keep doing such awesome things?

For example, take the Junior Chef Cookbook that they recently released online. This cookbook not only includes an assortment of wonderful, simple recipes, it also includes some really helpful, core nutrition information. For example, what is the food pyramid? What does organic really mean? And what is an appropriate serving size?

Now I realize this is geared toward kids but I've got to admit, I appreciate being refreshed on the definition of a calorie. Plus, I am definitely going to try out some of their recipes, especially that black bean brownie one. My most recent attempt at low-fat brownies was a serious flop, only made edible after a "healthy" slathering of chocolate frosting.

Anyway, I plan on printing this and giving a copy to my niece who adores cooking and baking. Perhaps we'll make those brownies together. I have a feeling that even though they won't be as sugary or rich as the usual ones, there will still be a race to lick the bowl.

Not a Bad Way to Start the Day

A little while ago, my alarm clock began its incessant buzzing and I eventually managed to pry myself out of my warm, cozy bed to start the day. I went to the window, drew back the curtains, and sucked in my breath when hit with this view. I mean, if this is any preview of what my autumn days are going to be like, I'm totally, 100% up for it.

And as I stared at that warm light, my brain decided to hold a mini mental session of all that's good in my life right now. I read somewhere a few years back that it's helpful to sit down at the end of every day and write down three things for which you are grateful. This could be your mate or a helpful coworker but it could also be related to things you have accomplished like those five extra minutes on the treadmill. Or the supportive shoulder you were able to lend a friend. Or the clean water that is accessible to you on a daily basis. Or maybe you just need to give yourself credit for the expected and mundane because oftentimes, these are the most challenging. For example, maybe tonight I will be grateful that I got an article in on deadline (ahem). Being appreciative of every day accomplishments does wonders for the psyche.

But if I had been journaling Monday night, it would not have been about the ordinary. (This is what went through my mind in front of the window this morning.) Instead, I would have made a list of what made my three day weekend so amazing. Things like:

- Reconnected with fantastic, inspiring old friends.
- Met more wonderful people, establishing new, exciting friendships.
- Set relaxed pace and fully enjoyed my time rather than rushing around trying to see each and every single friend of mine.
- Took in more of Wisconsin and felt a true appreciation for all it has to offer.
- Managed to avoid Alterra when laptop stealing gunman chose to visit. (Okay, I probably shouldn't joke about that one.)

And as always:
- I'm healthy, loved, and loving.

Hmm, maybe it's okay to start the day with all you are grateful for, too.

Not Just in Harlem...

More good news!

Similar to the Nourishing Kitchen of NYC, some organizations in Madison have teamed up and are harvesting local gardens and donating to local pantries. Wouldn't it be wonderful if hungry people could have as much access to beautiful, fresh produce as they did to canned beans? Seems that the times really are a-changin'...

Eating From the Backyard

A friend of mine from Madison recently sent me a copy of the Sustainable Times which was full of all sorts of environmentally friendly Wisconsin resources. While paging through it, I noticed an ad for the Willy Street Co-op's Eat Local Challenge. For one month, people are encouraged to pony up and eat as locally as possible.

In a nutshell, from Megan Blodgett's entry, "Are You Up for the Eat Local Challenge?" from the Willy Street Co-op website:

We’ll include as many challenge takers as possible by providing several different levels of challenge to choose from, from Hard-Core Locavore (everything you eat is grown locally), to Toe in the Water Locavore (at least one ingredient in each of your meals is either grown or produced locally). That way, you can have local tomatoes and your Gail Ambrosius chocolates, too. If you don’t want to choose one of our levels, you can make it up yourself and be a Choose Your Own Adventure Locavore.

Participants will get a packet with information about where to find local foods, coupons for local products, recipes and menu ideas, a food diary to record their meals and their thoughts, and access to online networking with other challenge-takers. We’ll also be hosting events throughout the month, including a celebration potluck at the end where participants will have the opportunity to share their favorite recipes and experiences. Not only will this Eat Local Challenge offer participants a chance to get to know their food, but it will allow us to get to know each other, too.

Obviously, being local and all, this caters to the residents of Madison but don't despair! The co-op's website lists a sample menu and recipes, too. For someone like me who has never taken on such a challenge, this kind of guide is darn near necessary. And as I did a little more research on the matter, I see that these challenges are taking place all over the country. Check out these sites for more guidance.

Now I must admit, this is pretty horrible timing for me to take on such a challenge so I doubt that I will sign on the dotted line for anything at the moment. However, I do plan on taking some time to look at these recipes while continuing to utilize the local farmer's market as much as possible. In fact, today's Tuesday, isn't it? Perhaps I should get out of my pajamas and think about buying some tomatoes. Judging by the weather, I won't be doing that for much longer. But that's okay. I sure do love butternut squash.

LAME!!

Come on, California! I had so much hope for you!!

Washington? Oregon? Pretty please? The Midwest needs you to get the ball rolling...

Coffee, Café, Kaffee, Coffee, Café, Kaffee...

I have been saying "coffee" in three languages in my head like some sort of weirdo chant because apparently, I HAVE HAD TOO MUCH OF IT AND IT'S PRACTICALLY ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT!

Wow. Sorry about that.

It's just so odd. Usually, I can drink a pot of the stuff with little to no effects but today after just a few cups this morning and one leftover mug of sludge this afternoon, I'm zinging all over the place. It's been GREAT (!) for my writing but now I'm thinking I might actually need to go for a run so I don't scare my family with my incessant babbling when we meet up for dinner later. (And people, I hate to run).

Since I've gone wayyyy past the point of any sort of adult level of concentration and am instead heading straight to the land of jitters and involuntary leg twitches, I thought perhaps it would be good to revisit the idea of tea. I like tea but I don't drink much of it. But since my mind is on some sort of race track (the internet is really, really bad for me at this moment), it suddenly occurred to me that I've been meaning to research Tulsi tea. Well, according to www.learn-about-tea.com, it is known among many other things "to promote wellness by building the body’s immune system, reducing stress and promoting mental clarity." Hey, I could use some of that!

I guess it shouldn't surprise me with all of its stress reducing properties that it's caffeine free. I am tempted to incorporate a huge frownie into this sentence just to clearly illustrate my feelings about warm beverages that dare to rid themselves of caffeine. I mean, why were mochas even invented? Because hot chocolates are for kids who get to sleep any time they want, that's why!

Anyway, due to my non-stop finger tapping, I was about to concede and order myself some of this mentally clarifying, non-caffeinated exilir that will banish all problems from my life. However, I'm not a fan of buying something online when I'm sure a store in the vicinity is carrying it. But I can't find any links to any tea shops or health food stores that carry it. (Then again, my "research" has lasted a whole three minutes. Did I mention my attention span is a bit limited at the moment?)

So anyway, I'm wondering if anyone out there has tried the grand, life altering Tulsi Tea (also known as "Holy Basil"). If so, please let me know. Thank you!

ZING!