Cranberry Leek Quinoa with Butternut Squash Recipe

I've been trying to use Quinoa more and more in my family's favorite recipes. In addition, a huge fan of butternut squash. I admit though, I'm not a big fan of leeks. With that said, this recipe looks like a great combination of good for you ingredients!

The recipe and photo are courtesy of: Pure Bar Founder Veronica Bosgraaf and the recipe can be found in her Pure Food cookbook which is available for purchase now.

Cranberry Leek Quinoa with Butternut Squash Recipe

2 cups filtered water
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
2 cups finely chopped butternut or acorn squash
2 leeks, white and pale green parts only, washed well and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 cup cranberries
¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon agave nectar or maple syrup
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. In a medium saucepan set over high heat, bring the water and quinoa to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the squash and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 6 minutes. Add the leeks and sage and cook, stirring, until the squash is tender and the leeks are lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Add the cranberries and cook just until they start to pop, about 2 minutes. Stir in the parsley, agave, and lemon juice. Add the cooked quinoa and stir well. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot, warm, at room temperature, or cold.

Are You Misguided In Your Headache Treatment?

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Are You Misguided In Your Headache Treatment? You May Be Missing The Root Of The Problem, Doctor Says

It’s human nature to want to take the shortest route to ending debilitating pain, and that’s part of why the pharmaceutical industry makes its hundreds of billions of dollars each year, says Dr. Fred Abeles.

“Just like we’re all tempted to reach for that sweet, salty or fatty snack when we’re hungry, many of us want to treat our chronic headaches with a quick fix by popping a pill,” says Dr. Abeles, author of the book “Break Away: The New Method for Treating Chronic Headaches, Migraines and TMJ Without Medication”.

“While it’s understandable, pills are often another example of the easy path being a temporary one. Just like a candy bar ensures hunger will come raging back sooner than later, so too does pain medication tend to guarantee a future date with pain.”

Many headache sufferers may be under the mistaken impression that their headache is the result of nerves, but that’s wrong in most cases, he says. Most pain originates in muscle and connective tissues, he says.

Dr. Abeles reviews ways to best navigate the problem of painful and persistent headaches.

• Priority No. 1: avoid misdiagnosis. Doctors are experts who spend many years in college, training and helping others. Patients figure that surely they know best. But that’s not 100 percent true. A real estate agent can’t make you happy without your input. A financial advisor cannot meet your goals unless you communicate your goals and money situation effectively. The same is true for doctors, who are busy in today’s healthcare system and may be misled by patients, who tend to be flustered and potentially vague about their symptoms. In other words, patients need to be their own top advocate for their own health, and that means doing one’s due diligence in paying close attention to symptoms, communicating effectively to healthcare providers and considering multiple causes. A simple pain-relieving prescription is often not a lasting solution.

• Don’t just treat your symptoms; get to the root cause. As mentioned, pain-relief drugs are like candy bars for hunger – they only kick the problem down the road temporarily. The real culprit for chronic headaches usually includes inflammation, muscles of the head and neck, forward head posture, cervical alignment and its effect on the cranial nerves and vertebral artery.

And, for millions of sufferers, the cause of headaches is a misaligned bite. This includes the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. This is located at the front of the ear where the temporal bone meets the lower jaw on the side of the head.

• Your answer may be found in a painless, non-pharmaceutical treatment. Headaches have a variety of causes, from lifestyle choices to chemical activity to a combination of reasons. Millions overlook the symptoms of TMJ, which include a clicking or popping jaw, a bite that feels off, snoring, pain in the jaw/jowl areas and a forward head posture. If you have any of these symptoms, there is a silver lining to your problem, because there are multiple options that are free of pain and do not require altering your body chemistry with pharmaceutical drugs. A few bite adjustments, for example, can dramatically improve the alignment of your lower jaw, resulting in happy, calm muscles that don’t create pain. Physical therapy may include one or more of the following: ultra-sound, cold laser, NuCalm, trigger point muscle relaxation, Cefaly and more.

About Dr. Fred Abeles - Dr. Fred Abeles is known as one of the most sought after TMJ experts in the United States (www.FredAbeles.com). He’s famous for getting results where all other have failed and getting those results without the use of surgery, needles or drugs. He is author of the new book “Break Away: The New Method for Treating Chronic Headaches, Migraines and TMJ Without Medication.” Dr. Abeles is the Clinical Instructor and Regional Director for the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies – one of the most prestigious post-graduate teaching centers in the world today. Dr. Abeles has been featured on NBC and CBS, consults with leading dental manufacturers on the development of new dental products, been on the cover of the profession’s biggest magazines and instructed dentists throughout the United States and Canada on state-of-the-art techniques for treating headaches and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Tocabe Green Chile Stew Recipe

Football fans can warm up their tailgates and viewing parties up this weekend and all winter with Tocabe’s spicy Green Chile Stew. An authentic American Indian recipe made with both hot and mild green chiles, ground beef and hearty potatoes, it’s the perfect side dish to a hearty helping of football this weekend.

Owners Matt Chandra and member of the Osage Nation, Ben Jacobs have adapted their recipe from the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives-featured restaurant for the home chef:

Tocabe: An American Indian Eatery’s Green Chile Stew Recipe
SERVES 4-6

1 large potato
8 ounces fresh ground beef
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
4 cups cold water
1/3 cup flour (might need more depending on how much grease is in the meat)
3⁄4 cup mild green chili (prefer fresh, but can substitute with frozen or canned)
1⁄2 cup hot green chili (prefer fresh, but can substitute with frozen or canned)
1 1⁄2 cups corn (prefer cut off cob, but can substitute frozen or canned)
2 teaspoons green chili powder (optional)
Grated cheese (optional, we like cheddar)
Sour cream (optional)

Peel and cube the potato into 1/2 inch diameter pieces and set aside. In a sauté pan on medium heat, cook the ground beef and lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Break into serving sized pieces (whatever size you want). Cook the green chili powder, if you are using, into the beef.

While the beef is cooking, place 4 cups water in a stock pot with the potatoes and bring to a boil. Cook the potatoes until fork tender; do not cook until the potatoes mash. When all the rawness is cooked out of the beef, turn off the heat. Slowly add the flour while mixing into the beef in order to make a roux. Mix the flour into the beef completely until no dry flour remains. Once your roux is complete, add to the stockpot with the cooked potatoes. Add the green chiles, corn, 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Fully mix all the ingredients and place the stockpot back on the stovetop. Bring up to temperature on medium heat, stirring occasionally. This may take up to 30 minutes or more. Feel free to add cheese or sour cream, if desired.

Recipe and photo are courtesy of Tocabe. Please visit their site to learn more.

10 Lifestyle and Career Tips for 2016

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Life is a series up and downs. Many people today are facing challenges they never expected. They have lamented they think it is ‘too late’ to create the life they always wanted, they believe they are ‘late’ to get married or ‘late’ to an opportunity or ‘late’ to accumulate the wealth they believe they need. But is it really too late?

People from all walks of life––from multi (multi) millionaires to struggling single mothers, from middle-age disenchanted professionals facing being ‘let go’ to executives in general who are miserable in the corporate world––and worse––have been 'riffed' before they have enough money to retire are facing financial hardships they never dreamed they would be facing at this stage in life. They are in a quandary wondering what next, what can they can do now, and more importantly has time passed them by.

Kristin S. Kaufman, a former corporate executive, founder of Alignment, Inc.® and author of the Is This Seat Taken? book series says, "it is never too late" and dares anyone who doesn't believe in second chances to think again. Further adding, "The joy of discovery is having the courage to take that next step, whether it's a personal goal yet to be attained, a midlife career crisis, or seeking a new adventure. Now is the time to dig deep, take a chance, and strive hard to make it happen."

Kaufman prompts people to discover or rediscover their core strength, revisit values and talents, and revisit their ultimate goals in order exceed expectations and enable them to move forward with confidence.

10 Tips to Set You Free and On Your Way in 2016

Face your fears they can lead to opportunity
Push yourself out of your comfort zone
Recognize that incidental encounters can change your life, and that individuals are placed in your life for a reason
Listen to your gut and follow your intuition––take risks
Always play to your strengths and surround yourself with people who augment, extend, and complement
Think forward. Never dwell in the past. The past is the past
If you want to own a company, get on with it
Stay connected to the world and listen to what it needs
Know your legacy is not determined, until the last breath is taken
Define success on your own terms

Time is of the essence––in life and in business. Any successful business person will tell you that a sense of urgency is a critical success factor for success of any type. If we are worried about it ‘being too late’ then one thing is for sure…..time slows down for no one. There has NEVER been a better time to explore alternative ways to enrich one's life–– nothing more liberating or exciting than creating the life you want whatever that may be: financial freedom, time freedom, and purpose.

To learn more, visit: www.kristinkaufman.com.

**** This is a guest Post ****

Myths about Cold and Flu Supplements

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Cold and flu season is upon us. According to NYC certified fitness trainer, exercise physiologist and nutritionist Franci Cohen, the majority of the population has some major myths when it comes to supplements. Below are some of the most commonly used remedies broken down by Franci.

1. Zinc: High levels of zinc can actually compromise your immune system and make you sicker. This is because high levels of zinc can interfere with how your body uses iron, which can lead to fatigue and anemia. In addition, zinc and copper compete for absorption in the body, and zinc usually wins. How? Zinc binds to something called metalothionine in copper, rendering it un-absorbable in the body. This is problematic, as copper plays a vital role in the function of the immune system. Copper deficiency causes low white blood cells and increases the risk of infection.

2. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, as opposed to fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K, which get stored in the body. As a water-soluble vitamin, the body can only hold a certain amount of Vitamin C at a time. That amount is capped off a180 mg. So those taking tablets up to 2500mg are not getting any added benefits as the body absorbing 180mg and getting rid of the rest. So, while Vitamin C may help a cold go away sooner, just make sure to take it wisely. Take it in divided doses throughout the day , in order to ensure maximum absorption.

3. Echinacea: While Echinacea has been known to help at the onset of a cold, there are no clinical studies that show it will make a cold go away. People think that if they load up on Echinacea, their cold will go away faster and this can cause problems. Too much Echinacea has been shown to drastically increase symptoms on those who suffer from asthma. And prolonged use, for anyone, can cause liver problems and. Doctors advise to never take Echinacea for longer than six to eight weeks consistently.

4. Monolaurin: This is a chemical made from lauric acid (a saturated fat found in coconut oil and human breast milk.) Research shows that monolaurin may be able to combat bacteria and viruses in test tubes, but no research has shown it to have any effect on humans. However, it has been deemed safe when consumed in food products and used in cosmetic products.

About Franci Cohen: is a personal trainer, certified nutritionist, exercise physiologist and creator of SPIDERBANDS®, a total-body cardio resistance workout that leverages gravity and your body weight with other intense exercise modules such as rebounding, kickboxing and indoor cycling. With over 18 years of experience, Franci has been a mainstay in the fitness and nutrition industries. Franci believes in a tough love approach to fitness and health. “We all have our fitness wake-up call at some point in our lives and it can be a powerful catalyst for change,” says Franci. “Unfortunately, many people overcompensate and try to change everything at once, which is a disaster. Making lasting change involves going through stages that aren't necessarily linear. People fluctuate and transition between the stages. Franci has been married for 14 years and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and four children.

Easy Fruit Nachos Recipe

Who doesn't like good serving nachos? They've become a staple at almost every restaurant, but they always seem to be the same, right? Nacho chips, chicken or beef and cheese, maybe with some black beans and some other extras thrown in. Certainly good, but Terra's Kitchen, West-Coast meal-delivery service, has found a way to up the ante with their recipe for Fruit Nachos. Not only healthy but incredibly sweet and delicious, you can now enjoy your favorite appetizer for dessert!

Terra’s Kitchen Fruit Nachos

2-3 medium peaches, apricots, berries, and/or bananas, sliced
1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon honey
Optional topping: granola, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips, mini chocolate chips, dried and snipped cherries, or dried and snipped apricots

Arrange the fruit slices on a large serving platter. Stir together the yogurt, lemon juice, vanilla, and honey in a small bowl. Drizzle over the peaches and sprinkle on toppings as desired. Serve immediately.