Month: February 2018

Putting Your Life In Order Or On Paper

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After the much needed purging/cleaning up the house, scheduling donations and curb-side pickup the entire month of January, I am finally ready to tackle the rest of putting my life in order. You know, documentation, files, passwords, and will. Believe it or not, it’s never to early but it is too late when something unplanned happens. So to make life easier for my beneficiaries, I have taken the following into consideration when organizing – simply put- how it should go down when I am no longer living and breathing. Apparently there are 12 documents we need to have ready and easily accessible. Will Why you need it: To choose an executor and spell out your final wishes for how your estate should be distributed after you die. What happens without it: You die “intestate” and your assets go through probate, where your state’s intestacy laws determine how to pay your debts and distribute your assets according to survivorship rights in that state, McMillan says. Living Revocable Trust  Why you need it: To retain control of your assets while …

Food: Dinner Tonight – White Bean Burger

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I’ll try any veggie burger, at least once, and this one is something the entire clan appreciated a few weeks ago, so I decided to share it here, in case variety in veggie meals is something you need right about now. Sure it’s a bit of work, but make the slaw and aoli the day before or save it all for a lazy Saturday afternoon at home: WHITE BEAN BURGERS WITH FENNEL SLAW   INGREDIENTS – FOR THE BURGERS 2 cloves garlic zest from 1/2 lemon 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds 1/4 cup chickpea flour 1 15oz can navy beans, drained and rinsed 1/4 cup parsley oil for frying FOR THE SLAW 1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon olive oil juice form 1/2 lemon salt and pepper to taste FOR THE CAPER AOLI 1/4 cup capers, roughly chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon honey 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon black pepper {more}

Lifestyle: Changes Your Body Undergoes When Heartbroken

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Four weeks later, and I am still experiencing sadness over the early-passing of a beloved family pet. What sucks the most is that I wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, wondering if there was more any of us could have done to prevent it. But then after a good cry-hyperventilation, I reflect upon all the signs in the past year, leading to his faith three weeks ago. Heartbreak sucks. Past the emotional pain, there is the physical aches I’ve never felt before, or rather some discomfort  worsened since January 22nd. Here’ what apparently happens to our bodies when we experience the worst of heart-breaks: Hormonal change – When you experience a heartbreak and are upset, the happiness hormones turn off and are replaced by cortisol and epinephrine; the stress hormones. All that happiness and joy is channeled and turned into anxiety and stress. When stress hormones chronically linger, a person’s ability to form and make new memories starts to reduce. It is probably a coping mechanism developed by the brain in …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Spicy Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

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My favorite, after spaghetti of course, is the combo – tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich and the recipe I found here for the soup is a nice touch – spicy – something I’ve never considered before. The rest of the suggestions are up to you. Here we go: Ingredients: 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups diced onion 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon crushed chili flakes 1 teaspoon paprika 4 (14.5 ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 cup heavy cream 4 tablespoons butter 2 quarts broth {more}  

Tea Party With The Girls

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I love a tea party – where a group of friends get together on a Saturday mid-afternoon for tea and goodies. You know, a collection of cakes and pastries everyone brings to the gathering. My mother, her sisters, and even sister’s in law hosted a tea-party in rotation. Each month we would get dressed up and haul our baked goods to someone’s house and have tea. You can imagine how happy I was as a child tasting every sweet cake or cookie while sipping on tea. In case you host a similar gathering – or even just need to bring a cake to a bridal shower or the one for baby – here’s a cool recipe I recommend: INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature 3 tablespoons vegetable (or canola) oil 2 large eggs, room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar pinch orange zest (just a little) 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup almond flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries …

Friday Fun Reads On Your Way To A Long Weekend

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I just realized this is a long weekend for Americans – celebrating ‘President’s Day’ for some and rushing off somewhere for a quick getaway for others – normally attaching today as an extended mini-vacation. So, if you are stuck in a car as a passenger, or on a flight taking you away from your norm, I figured you might appreciate a few interesting topics to read about.

Food: Dinner Tonight – Salmon Burger

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Variation is key to a successful dinner get-together – even for a busy family – who sometimes can’t sit down together for a proper meal. I say, create a menu and put it on display in the kitchen and see just how quickly everyone shifts their schedules around to be present for dinner. Here’s one I’m making tonight. I love Salmon burger and most of the time I order it in restaurants, thinking I can’t make it happen at home. But…this recipe has helped me get over my insecurity about making Salmon burgers: INGREDIENTS FOR THE SALMON BURGERS 1 8-ounce salmon fillet 1 teaspoon salt freshly cracked black pepper 2 stalks lemongrass 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled zest and juice from 1 lime 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 3 tablespoons ground flax 3 tablespoons oil FOR THE PICKLED CUCUMBER 1/2 cup rice vinegar 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 1 tablespoon peppercorns 1 tablespoon honey 1 cucumber, ribboned 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced FOR THE CILANTRO …

Romantic Dinner Prepared By You

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Going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day is over-rated and simply too expensive and less personal. I mean the idea of sharing a romantic dinner with 50-75 other couples, all dressed up in like colors, in the past had me giggling the second my loved-one and I were ushered to our table. I think the most romantic is making dinner for him or for her. Send the kids off to the grandparents and take the afternoon off to make the perfect dinner for the special person in your life. And if cooking is unobtainable, then order in – with a bottle of his or her favorite wine. In case you choose to make dinner, there is a list of 25 romantic recipes to help with the process. Here’s what I’m going for. Please cross your fingers. I don’t like to mix alcohol – but the plan is – start with a good bottle of wine – in this case, I’ve chosen a bottle of Chateau St. Jean 2013 and since this variation is my first …