Beauty Tip of the Month - December 2008

One of the easiest ways to keep us feeling and looking youthful is by having healthy radiant skin that glows. The skin around our eyes is the thinnest on our entire body; it has no oil glands of its own and doesn’t hold moisture well. Because of its delicacy, this skin needs a specialized moisturizer, one that it can absorb and that isn’t so heavy it pulls on this fragile skin. Unfortunately, we can’t stop the aging process, and many of us will have to deal with wrinkles at some point. However, there are many ways to prevent and treat wrinkles. One of the easiest ways is to treat them right from your home using homemade wrinkle cream.

We want simple, natural solutions that provide results. Are there alternatives to cosmetic eye creams? Yes, there are, and you can start right in your kitchen.

Be aware that the eyes are very sensitive, so before you apply anything around their immediate vicinity, you should do a skin test to check for allergies. One homemade wrinkle cream that has proven to work is an Avocado Cream. All you need is almond oil and avocado slices. You mix these two ingredients and make it into a paste. You can use this around the eyes and on the entire face. You rinse it off with warm water, and voila!

Premium homemade wrinkle cream!

If you fear the use of homemade products….ask Santa to put a tube of your favorite store bought eye cream in your stocking. There are dozens of these; it may take a bit of trial and error to see which one your skin likes most and which one does the best job of coming through on its claims.

After you have spread the cream on your own eyes….spread the word to your daughters….if they start taking care of their eyes while they are young they’ll be ever so grateful later.

Cranberry Limeade

Cranberry Limeade

Ingredients:

1 bottle Cranberry juice cocktail

2 cups Limeade, frozen concentrate

2 cups Pineapple juice

1 can pineapple tidbits

2 oranges sliced
1 quart Ginger ale

1 1/2 liters Soda water

Ice

Directions:

In punch bowl, combine cranberry cocktail, limeade concentrate, pineapple and ginger ale. Just before serving, add soda water and ice.

Our Favorite Cranberry Bruschetta

1 1/2 cups Fresh or Frozen Cranberries

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into rings

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons minced fresh basil

1 teaspoon oregano

1 (8-ounce) loaf French bread

Extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Combine cranberries, sugar and red wine vinegar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add onion and garlic, return to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer on low for 10 minutes or until cranberries pop. Pour into a glass bowl. Stir in basil and oregano. Cool at room temperature. Cut bread diagonally into 16 (3/4-inch) slices; brush both sides with oil. Broil each side for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Top each slice with cranberry mixture.

Cranberry Pie

Cranberry Pie

1 (15 oz.) pkg. refrigerated pie crusts

1 (3 oz.) pkg. raspberry Jell-O

3/4 c. boiling water

1/2 c. orange juice

1 (16 oz.) can cranberry sauce (whole berry)

1 tsp. orange peel, grated

1 (4 oz.) pkg. vanilla instant pudding & pie filling

1 c. cold Half and Half

1 c. Cool Whip, thawed

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare and bake 1 (9-inch) pie crust according to package directions.Dissolve gelatin in boiling water; add orange juice. Chill until thickened, but not set. Stir in cranberry sauce and orange peel. Spoon into pie crust. Chill 30 minutes or until just set.Mix pudding mix with Half and Half until smooth; fold in whipped topping. Spread over gelatin mixture.Chill 2 hours or until firm. Garnish with whipped topping, red currents and fresh mint, if desired. Serves 6 to 8.Variations: Substitute orange or any other red flavor gelatin for raspberry. Substitute milk for Half and Half.

It's Flu Season

It’s Flu Season and we certainly hope you are not among those who come down with the dreaded stuff……here are just a few tips that may help you avoid the gomboo!☺ Drink water, drink more water, drink lots of water☺ Snack every 2 hrs throughout the day on whole foods☺ Be a wholefood vegetarian from Halloween until January 13th ☺ Go for a 20 to 40 minute walk as often as you can☺ Stay home and get better! When my kids have a bad cold or the flu, I didn't send them to school and I stay home myself if I’m under the weather. I really think if everyone did that, colds would be far less common.

Cranberry - Food of the Month for November

Cranberries have been eaten by arctic peoples for millennials and remain a very popular fruit for wild harvesting in the Nordic countries and Russia. In Scotland the berries were formerly wild harvested but with the loss of suitable habitat, the plants have become so scarce that this is no longer done.

In North America, Native Americans were the first to recognize the use of the cranberry as a source of food. Some tribes called the red berries Sassamanash. They are reported to have introduced the cranberry to starving English settlers in Massachusetts around 1620, who incorporated the berry into the traditional Thanksgiving feast.

Cranberries are a good source of ellagic acid, a compound that has raised high hopes in cancer research. Ellagic acid has been shown to disarm cancer-causing agents and also to help prevent tumors from growing.

Cranberry juice is recommended to clear up urinary tract infections! AND IT WORKS!
**Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association proves the strongly beneficial effect that cranberry juice has on cystitis and urinary infections.

Cranberries were prized by the Natives who discovered them. Certain trible legends told of how cranberries were a gift from the Great Spirit, sent to earth in the beak of a crane.

Introduced to cranberries by the Natives, Pilgrims also valued this tart fruit. Some areas passed laws to protect the wild bogs. Only certain people could harvest at certain times. Lawbreakers were heavily fined.

It was the medicinal benefits that made the cranberry so valuable.

Today, modern science is proving what the Natives and Pilgrims knew from experience, that cranberries are good for you. The list of benefits is long ---

*prevention of urinary tract infection
*gum disease
*stomach ulcers
*heart disease
*cancer and other diseases

Cranberry Couscous

Ingredients:

1 12 oz. package couscous

1 14 oz. can vegetable broth

Pinch of salt

3 tablespoons walnut, almond or olive oil

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup pine nuts

Directions:

Cook the couscous according to the package directions, using broth instead of water. Add a pinch of salt to the broth. While the couscous is cooking, roast the pine nuts in a very low (250° F) oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Wash and finely chop the mint leaves. When the couscous has finished cooking, drain any excess liquid. If more liquid is needed to cook the couscous, add water, a little at a time. Pour the couscous into a serving bowl. Add the oil and the lemon juice. Stir well to coat all the grains. Add the cranberries, and pine nuts. Stir to combine all the ingredients. Serve immediately. I'm a couscous lover and is an amazing combo of cranberry, pinenuts, and couscous! Enjoy

Quote for the Month of November

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.

Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

Chase after money and securityand your heart will never unclench.

Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.

The only path to serenity.

Abundance is now available at "Good Earth"

or on our website www.abundancelivingfood.com

Principles of Health and Happiness

Natural whole foods
Water
Fresh air and sunshine
Walking
Loving relationship
Passion / a passionate partner
Work that excites you
Balance between work and play
Not taking on to much
Hobbies that engage you
Support from family and friends
A good nights sleepA spiritual connection

What is Abundance?

Abundance is packed with nature’s bounty of vitamins, enzymes, and all seven dietary fibers – one of the world’s most perfect foods. It is whole-food goodness in a convenient, delicious form. With its slow-burning sugars and essential fatty acids, Abundance brings renewed energy, enhanced natural immunity, and lasting, healthy weight management.

The inspiration for Abundance came from f the Old Testament, in Daniel Chapter 1. As a prisoner in Babylon, the biblical prophet Daniel refused to eat the "king’s meat," insisting on a diet of pulse and water. After just 10 days, Daniel was found to be stronger and healthier than those who had been fed the king’s food.

After 17 years of research, (the formula of today’s Abundance ), was rediscovered the recipes and numeric ratios involved in the original formulation with all of its nutritional benefits. We have put together this unique food with this perfect balance of fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains. Many people take the 10 Day Daniel Challenge and only eat Abundance and drink water for 10 days and find they are completely renewed in mind and body as well as lose weight. Life and health can be as simple as embracing whole foods, water, sunshine, walking and feelings of love and passion.You see, nature's foods are complex so that we don't have to be. Live your life with Abundance.

Super Snack Foods

For many of us, snack time is when we lose control of our diets, either by overeating, or by indulging in high-fat, high-calorie foods. This often happens because we allow ourselves to get too hungry and then are unable to stop ourselves from overeating. To avoid getting too hungry, it is recommended that you always carrying a healthy, portable snack with you when you know you'll be out on the run without easy access to healthy food choices. Try getting at least two food groups in each of those snacks so that you're getting a combination of carbohydrates and fat/protein, which will help keep you satisfied longer. Here, are some super snack food ideas:

Nutty Corn Mix

This trail mix is made in our own new business Wholefood 2 U. We are just getting our company off the ground. We are so excited about our many products. This one is a snack food item. It has a cajun spice (not to spicy) mix coating. It is packed full of glad corn, giant corn nuts, regualr corn nuts, sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, soy nuts, pumpkin seeds, pecans, and the spices.

Recommended serving size: 1 oz 160 calories

Light Microwave Popcorn
Although this is a single-food snack, it is recommended because of its high fiber and B vitamin content. Plus, who can resist the smell of popcorn?
Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup, 30 calories

~~ Yogurt with Blueberries ~~

Dish up some plain low-fat yogurt with blueberries for a sweet treat that has a similar texture to ice cream. Yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein, and blueberries are packed with valuable antioxidants that help fight off heart disease. If fresh blueberries aren't in season, try frozen instead -- they work great in cool, creamy yogurt. Or if you get bored with blueberries, substitute any other fruit like mango, cranberries, cherries, kiwi, etc. Recommended Serving Size: Plain, low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup, 56 calories Blueberries, 2/3 cup, 30 calories

Banana with Almond Butter ~~~

This combination will keep you satisfied for a longer time than either on their own because of the combination of fiber in the banana and protein and fat in the almond butter.

Bananas are also an excellent source of potassium, which helps prevent muscle cramps and is essential for normal brain function. If you don't have almond butter, peanut butter is a great substitute.

Recommended Serving Size: Medium banana, 95 calories Almond butter, 1 tablespoon, 101 calories

Hummus with Pita Bread

~~~~ Our family favorite, we introduce all our friends to this tempting dish~~~~

Made from chickpeas, hummus provides protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. Spread hummus on pita bread for some added carbohydrates. This is by far my daughter’s favorite snack. She calls me often to send me on a Hummus run. We buy it from a local restaurant every chance we get. It comes garnished with thin sliced red onions, olives, and sun dried tomatoes. Next time we go to "Rooster's" we'll take a better picture.

Hummus makes a great sandwich spread as well. Recommended Serving Size: Hummus, 2 tablespoons, 83 calories Pita bread, 1 round, 195 calories

Apple with Brie Cheese

Our son introduced us to this, he loves brie cheese, and this snack is also a hit with everyone in the family. Please stick to a small amount of cheese with this snack because of brie's high saturated fat content ~pretty hard to do. However, brie does offer a good protein source. Apples have a low glycemic index, which means they keep hunger at bay longer than other fruits.

Recommended Serving Size: Apple, 47 calories Brie cheese, 2 ounces, 160 calories

Salsa with Baked Tortilla Chips

The ingredients in salsa vary greatly, but most tomato-based vegetable salsas are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin C, and lycopene, which helps prevent heart disease and some cancers. Avoid high-calorie fried chips by purchasing the baked varieties instead, and be sure to look for varieties that list zero trans fats on their nutrition labels.

Recommended Serving Size: Salsa, 2 ounces, 20 calories Baked tortilla chips, 1 ounce, 120

This is just a list of the few snack foods our family enjoys. The biggest thing people need to consider is the size of the portions. A snack is supposed to be something to carry you through and take the edge off. It's not a meal before a meal.
You can fill yourself up and not even realize you're doing it. In other words, even the right snack can sabotage your waistline if you're not careful.

Snacking is here to stay. We know it's hard to have three squares a day, so the goal should be to have a snack that's as healthy as it can be and keep us from pigging out at dinner.

Please visit our website to view many of our other products at:

http://www.abundancelivingfood.com/

Making Abundance

The mixture as it goes into the chopper

This is after being chopped On to the extruder

Sealing the bags

Bags weighed and sealed

Each packages is filled and weighed

Hmmmm... this is a raspberry batch ready for chopping

Raspberries are tasty and colorful.