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Stuff, Bake, And Enjoy The Heck Out Of A Pumpkin

10/17/2016

It’s pumpkin season!

Not only do pumpkins fit well into a health-conscious diet, they taste good too! They are low in calories but high in fiber. They are also low in sodium. The seeds are high in protein, iron, and the B vitamins. Pumpkins are very high in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that converts Vitamin A, which is important to maintain a healthy body

Ingredients

1 pumpkin, about 7 pounds
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Spinach - about 2 cups
6 oz mushrooms (sliced)
2 oz diced bacon
1/2 lb chicken cut into ½ inch pieces
3 oz roasted red peppers

1 cup cooked wild rice
¼ pound cheese, such as Gruyere, Emmenthal, cheddar, or a combination, cut into ½ inch chunks
2–4 garlic cloves (to taste), split, germ removed, and coarsely chopped
About ¼ cup snipped fresh chives or sliced scallions
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
About 2/3 cup heavy cream
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Directions
1. Cut a good size hole in the top of the pumpkin. Large enough that makes it easy to clean out the seeds and place your stuffing inside.

2. In a separate pot, cook 1 cup of brown rice or wild rice and set aside.

3. Remove seeds and strings from pumpkin and top

4. In a pan sauté garlic and onion until they become fragrant (4-5mins)

5. Add the mushrooms, peppers, chicken, and bacon into the pan and light sauté until the chicken has browned and the bacon is mostly cooked. (these ingredients have a lot of water in them and you want to get some of it to evaporate out before putting it in your pumpkin)

6. Add the spinach and rice to the pan and mix until the ingredients are nicely combined.

7. Stuff that empty pumpkin with the fixings!

8. Add the cream and cheese, place pumpkin top on.

9. Bake at 350F for 2 hours. Check on the pumpkin at 90mins, remove the top so any extra liquid can evaporate and the top stuffing gets nice and brown

When the pumpkin is ready, carefully, very carefully (it's heavy, hot, and wobbly) bring it to the table or transfer it to a platter that you'll bring to the table

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Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Colds & Flu

10/13/2016

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September went by in a flash!

I hope you all had a great month and enjoying the extra stretch of great weather we're having. Now that we are officially in the Fall season, it's time to start thinking about boosting your immune system to prepare for cold and flu season.

Some common cold stats: There are about 1 billion colds in the US every year, with every child catching it 6-10 times a year, resulting in 22 million school days being lost every year!
Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Colds & Flu
When it comes to cold and flu season, prevention really is the first line of defense. To keep your body’s defense system—the immune system—in peak condition, follow our immunity-boosting tips to help your body fight off the bugs looking for a host. And, for times when you are feeling ill, the second set of tips can help ease your symptoms and support a quick recovery.

Wash your hands regularly to help prevent transfer of bacteria.
Stay clear of people sneezing or coughing. Avoid shaking hands or other close contact with anyone whom you know to be sick.
Make sure your home and work space are well-ventilated. Even on a cold day, open a window for a few minutes to clear out stale air.
Follow a consistent sleep/wake schedule so the immune system can repair and recover.
Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and veggies, which contain antioxidants that help the body neutralize cellular damage.

Natural Ways to Heal

Rest - Sometimes the body’s only way of getting your attention is to force you to slow down by getting sick. Don’t push through fatigue. Honor your body and sleep/rest as needed to promote healing. Reduce activity at home and at work as much as possible.
Increase fluid intake to include water, diluted vegetable juices, soups, and herbal and green teas.
Eat light meals and eat more soup. Whether you choose a vegetarian broth or a heartier bone-broth, soups for healing should be loaded with a variety of herbs and veggies.
Manage stress. Even just 10 minutes of meditation a day has positive effects on the immune system and promotes a positive mindset.
Laugh—it truly is good medicine. Patch Adams was onto something when he brought humor to his patients’ bedsides. Read a funny book. Watch stand-up comedy. Share jokes with a friend or your kids. Laughter lowers the stress hormones and elevates your mood—both are good for healing.

Vitamin, Mineral, and Botanical Support for the Immune System
Certain vitamins, minerals, and plant-based supplements can help prevent/curtail the symptoms of colds and flu. Some that you may want to include are listed below. Talk to your practitioner as these suggestions must be tailored to your specific needs and health status.

Vitamin C
Bioflavonoids, 1000 mg/day
Vitamin A
Vitamin D, 2000 IU/day
Zinc, 30 mg/day
Echinacea, elderberry, and astragalus (tea, capsule, or liquid extract) help prevent common cold and viral infections

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Stuff, Bake, And Enjoy The Heck Out Of A Pumpkin

Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Colds & Flu

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