Inspiration of the Day - 12/21/10

Time and health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.

~Denis Waitley

I read this quote and thought, "How true this is".  We tell ourselves, "Tomorrow is the day" or "I'll do it next year", when it comes taking care of ourselves and eating healthy.  But really, how many times have you said that, and tomorrow never came or the next year rolled in and you had not stayed committed to your resolution?

As far as time...there are never enough hours in a day. But what's really important? During this Holiday Season I would like to think family and loved ones.  Are we taking time to spend with them or are we letting ourselves get caught up in the Holiday Frenzy?  Remeber the reason for the season is Jesus, but also it's a time to reconnect with those we may have lost contact with. It's a time to slow our lives down and focus in on what matters most. God, family and friends... And take time for yourself.

-LK

Inspiration of the Day - 12/20/10

A bodily disease, which we look upon as whole and entire within itself, may, after all, be but a symptom of some ailment in the spiritual past.

~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Inspiration of the Day - 12/17/10

Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy.

~Izaak Walton

Inspiration of the Day - 12/16/10

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live.

~Jim Rohn

Healthy Cookies for Healthier Baking!

Christmas can often be synonymous with sugar. Loads and loads of sugar. And, while I am not one to say that there isn’t a time and place for sweets and cookies and all things sugary and glittery, I do feel that we often turn to those simply because we don’t know the alternatives can be so good. This Christmas season, in the midst of the wine and cheese plates and sugar-laden cakes and cookies, I encourage you to try some healthier variations to share with your friends and families. Not only will they be a refreshing break from the sugar-highs and sugar-crashes you’re used to experiencing, I think you’ll find many healthier ideas incredibly delicious and inspirational in making you want to repeat them, not just because they’re “healthy” but because they taste so good!

Some tips to consider for Healthier Baking include:

* Use oatmeal whenever possible. It adds filling fiber and takes the place of regular white flour (empty calories).
* Substitute applesauce for butter. You can read up on the best ways to do this, but I’ve had great luck with it and actually prefer many of my recipes this way. * Try to include recipes with nuts. Protein and fiber boosts are great ways to curb extensive holiday eating.
* Toast your spices. You’ll need less of the sugar and fat when your spices have a fuller flavor from the toasting process.
* Use fruits to sweeten whenever possible. Bananas are practically dessert themselves, see where you can add them. Make your own fruit sweeteners.
* Use Yogurt! I adore yogurt, and the more recipes I can find to use it, the happier I am. It’s loaded with protein, its fat-free, and it gives an extremely moist texture to things like muffins and breads.

And now, here's a healthy cookie recipe that is perfect for adults. You'll love the flavors, and it goes well with your Christmas drinks or Hot chocolate, but the best part, you'll never know its Healthy! Just use your coffee makers with your favorite coffee flavor, and follow the recipe for a delicious treat.

Coffee Almond Gluten-Free Cookies
Recipe adapted from Healthy Green Kitchen

Ingredients
2 cups almonds or almond flour
1 Tb. freeze-dried regular or decaf organic coffee or use espresso powder
3/4 cup organic sugar
1/2 tsp. Himalayan or sea salt
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Method

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat. Process almonds, coffee, sugar, and salt in a high speed blender or food processor until fine. Transfer to a mixing bowl. If using almond flour, you can skip the blender/food processor and mix the ingredients right in your bowl.

Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff.

Fold nut mixture into the egg whites. Add the vanilla and cinnamon and mix just until blended.

Spoon the batter onto your cookie sheets. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

You'll love this simple recipe, which is fancy enough for your Holiday baking, yet takes care of your waist size! Thanks Tara, for sharing such great tips with us. Tara Alley is a freelance writer from Big Sky, MT, a passionate baker and a lover of all things coffee-related. She is now working for Coffee Home Direct in Orange County, CA. You can reach her at: tara@coffeehomedirect.com

For more Christmas Baking, check out these Christmas Recipes at Fun and Food Cafe.

Inspiration of the Day - 12/15/10

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like and do what you'd druther not.

~Mark Twain

Inspiration of the Day - 12/14/10

They say "variety is the spice of life" and they are right. Especially when it comes to training and eating healthy, variety is an important factor. Not only is it good for you to mix up your exercise routines and the foods you eat for health reason, but it is good also to keep you interested in living a fit life. Doing the same work out routines and eating the same "plain Jane" health foods can burn a person out and eventually lead them to giving up on living a healthy lifestyle. 

The good thing is, that there are more fruits and vegetables at our grocery stores then most of us can sit down and name. Not even including our local farmer's markets.  And there are of number of different training regimens to fit your needs to keep you interested in exercising, especially when you see the results. So keep it fresh. Mix it up!

~LK