Canning - Preserves and Pickles

This is probably not the best time of year to be talking about canning (I suppose it's more of a spring/summer activity), but I've been thinking/doing some canning lately during my holiday break - about 2 weeks in, yay!

For preserves, I like to do an organic strawberry or mixed berry preserves with some red wine (merlot or cabernet) using frozen fruit.  I think the first time, I didn't use enough pectin and too much wine (whoops!), so it didn't firm up very well.

...But now they turn out gorgeous and lovely.  I just bought a few bags of frozen strawberries from Trader Joe's, so let the winter canning commence!

(And the pot afterwards!)

I started pickling cucumbers when we were going through so many jars of store-bought pickles and me being increasingly wary of yellow dye and high fructose corn syrup so often among the ingredients list (urg).  I still have yet to master those scrumptious bread-and-butter pickles you get at the store, but I have increased the sugar content - though some recipes call for several cups of it, oof!

I also add some pickling spice, salt, some vinegar-based barbecue sauce for heat (I don't add too much - don't want a Bloody Mary-looking jar!), and regular white vinegar.  So far, so good.

Transportation and Health

I like (effective) infographics - really caters to my right- and left-brain interests!  The one below is a little long, but has a lot of interesting information.  It suggests solutions to alternative transportation, though they aren't always that clear cut in real practice...

For instance, due to my partner's job, I commute about 40-45 minutes to campus for my MPH courses - but the trade-off is that he only travels about 15 minutes to work.  Sure, moving closer to campus would cut down on gasoline, etc., costs, but for many reasons, this works out the best for the both of us.  Not entirely environmentally friendly, but I think that's OK.  (If the infographic is hard to see, here's the link.)

Oh!  Speaking of bicycling, here's another graphic on biking safely - always a nice reminder, I think!

Ride safe, readers!

Rum Chocolate Muffins

Over the past month, I think, my partner and I have been searching for the just right replacement car for his old Subaru WRX (obviously, trying not to dwell too much on the hours wasted/arguing over this...).  A bit sporty, automatic transmission, roomy enough to fit his mountain bike, and new(er) model were the main concerns.

After much hemming and hawing (and perhaps some semi-ultimatums and threats to speed the process along), we decided on a new Volkswagen GTI.  Which, btw, is no easy feat as we are both varying levels of indecisiveness and worriers and overthinkers and just a bit Type A.  (Lovely combination when it comes to large, expensive purchases.)

Though we're both excited and relieved that this process is over, he enlisted the help of some of his friends/coworkers to view cars (including one that was 3 hours away!!), provide opinions on cars, and general moral support.  Quite commendable of them - and so glad I didn't have to participate in some of that process!

Thus...I spent today baking rum chocolate muffins as a token of appreciation and general peace offering for their time and efforts.  [THANK YOU for putting up with the crazy!]

Besides rum and cocoa powder - to make these extra special, I added spices (cayenne pepper included!), orange juice, coffee to bring out the chocolate, and a small pile of chocolate chips in the center (and a few dots on top) so that it oozes yum as you bite into them.

  ...But mostly, I just taste the chocolate and the spicy tingle of that rum in the back of my throat.  (And yes, I save a few for myself!)

Back to Cooking for 2...Tapas-style!

Fridays are my grocery days.  I do my research on the sales for the week, make my meal list, grab my coupons if applicable, and off I go.

I'm not sure how long grocery shopping takes you, but I tend to meander, compare prices, study the nutritional labels, go back and forth between the aisles for that forgotten item a few aisles back...so it takes me a few hours to get all my groceries.  By the time I get home, it's nearing dinner time - and I gotta start cooking.

Some days are more food productive than others.  Recently, I got this brilliant idea of throwing together several side items and calling it a meal - tapas-style, a.k.a. lazy dinners when it's too difficult to think about a coherent meal!  (For some reason, this feels like less effort on my part...hmmm, arguable!)

Here is one example, which is more Italian-based than Spanish:
- Steamed artichoke with lemon (lemon-butter sauce for dipping)
- Pan-fried calamari and brussel sprouts (lemon and marinara for spritzing/dipping)
- Crab rangoons (sweet and sour chili sauce with green onions)
[Looking back, this meal was a little fry-heavy!]

I think the tapas-style meal that happened after this one included the artichoke again, chorizo, whole grain pita chips and hummus, some nice crusty bread, and 1 or 2 more things.

Btw, does anyone else smell a bit of crisp Fall air lately?  Time to use the last bit of charcoal sitting mournfully in the garage...Maybe I'll grill this weekend!

Cooking for One

So what does it mean to cook for one?  For me, it ironically means a lot more food hanging about!  It feels difficult, and at times wasteful, to cook a meal just for one dinner for one person.  I feel like I need to make the most of this cooking time and extend the meal for at least another day or two (I like energy conservation).

Thus, I made two meals that lasted the ~5 days my partner traveled for a workshop in Michigan.  Albeit a little lonely at the dinner table, this also meant I could add in ingredients that I enjoyed (and he not so much), such as white beans (I can't remember if they were Great Northern or cannellini).  I also tend toward eating less meat/vegetarian-style meals, which was a nice cost-saver that week.  The meals also needed to be somewhat hearty, keep well in the fridge (e.g., anything crunchy or crispy was out), and just generally easy to make as it's so much less motivating to cook for one than for multiple folks!

So I made vegetarian fried rice and a sausage & white bean pasta salad (what's the difference between pasta and pasta salad?  Temperature, ingredients??).

(And I may or may not have reused the same bowl for both meals...don't judge.)

2012 Walk a Mile to Save Our Babies (Sept. 18)

For those near Forsyth County, please consider registering for this event!

Here is the Forsyth County Infant Mortality Reduction Coalition website:

http://www.helpourbabies.org/default.aspx

Homemade Pizza

I'm surprised that I haven't posted this yet, but I'm a big advocate of making your own pizzas as time permits and your imagination allows.  (Unfortunately, perhaps, we tend to get a little topping-happy...including pineapples, ham, olives, spinach, artichokes, tomatoes, mozzarella and parm, pesto base = expensive and somewhat confusing-tasting pizza!)

I remember back in the days of undergrad when I first met my partner, we bonded over our love of a good margherita pizza for its simple deliciousness - a first for him!

Currently, time and laziness harken back to the frozen pizzas for now, but here are pictures of our last homemade pizza experience (look at that oblong whole wheat crust!):

What are your suggestions for pizza toppings or combinations of such?

Dining - Single, Paired, Group

The past few weeks have been met with different dining circumstances.  Usually, I eat with my partner (and sometimes our dog...) on most nights, but lately I've had to eat by myself and also with a guest (my little brother who visited for a week).  All three scenarios have been surprisingly different with varied challenges and advantages - hopefully, I'll be able to soon share some of our meals from these different times, especially when I was eating for just one (easy, yet so difficult!).

Here's a picture that reminds me of family dining (I think this was taken last Thanksgiving, when my family does a Chinese-American food fusion...This was the Chinese hot pot part - and I think my partner's first!):

I think we had imitation crabmeat, fish balls, seafood balls, pork balls, broccoli, napa cabbage, mushrooms?, corn on the cob?, and other ingredients I can't recall...Oh, and of course the sa cha sauce (not pictured).  Always a comforting meal/experience on a cold day!

Women's Health and Contraception

On August 1, 2012, many women with insurance that were non-grandfathered plans were able to utilize preventive health services that included contraceptives without cost-sharing/copays.  I was one of those women who scheduled a women's health appointment on that day, and I stared in awe at that line that said "You pay $0.00" (though I did have to pay for the actual appointment with the provider).

Although not a perfect system/legislation, this is a great step forward for women's health under the Affordable Care Act.

Per U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this lists coverage guidelines:
Required Health Plan Coverage Guidelines

I also wanted to share this video, created by the Guttmacher Institute that I came across on my blog feed:
Benefits of Contraceptive Use in the United States

I'm a big proponent of reproductive rights and sexual/reproductive health (and hope for more men joining in the conversations!), and I'm interested in hearing others' experiences with this -
Did you encounter issues, did things go smoothly, or did you experience no change at all?

More HIV/AIDS Thoughts - in DC and Beyond

As an extension of my last post about Truvada, I wanted to share this article I came across from The NY Times:
In Washington, H.I.V. Testing Moves Beyond the Clinic

My mentor and some of her colleagues are in DC right now for the conference mentioned in the article, the biannual International AIDS Society conference.  I help with a lot of research focused on youth, and the rates of just youth with an AIDS diagnoses and those living with AIDS are the highest in DC compared to other states and U.S. dependent areas at last survey.  Some of these stats can be found on CDC's (2012) website:
HIV Surveillance in Adolescents and Young Adults

So holding the conference in DC is both appropriate and timely.  And looking at the interventions and approaches that DC has taken to combat these still-high rates are incredible and inspiring.  And we should not think of DC as being synonymous with HIV/AIDS with fear and disdain, as an area afflicted with HIV/AIDS, as this is truly a global, human issue with many interacting contextual factors affecting rates from one area to another.

I think the take-away from this, if anything, is just to promote and practice safe sex behaviors in our own lives and those we know, particularly in youth who need support and accurate information at a time when there are so many developmental changes happening at once.  I think one major challenge is that HIV and other STIs remain largely 'hidden' and invisible in our day-to-day, sort-of under the radar and away from our public consciousness...

Truvada, FDA-approved drug to reduce HIV transmission

This post was originally published on public health newswire (as part of APHA, the American Public Health Association), and it shares some exciting news! 

The FDA has just approved the first drug (Truvada) to reduce HIV transmission to those not yet infected - so it's a preventive measure for those who are at high risk of HIV.  Unfortunately, not a cure, but a fabulous step in the right direction and adds an important prevention method to our HIV prevention arsenal.
"FDA approves first drug to reduce HIV risk"

I just finished helping work on a book chapter about HIV prevention interventions (this chapter focused on adolescents), and a part of what we wanted to convey was the importance of innovative methods as part of a comprehensive prevention plan.  So it's not just about telling someone to take the HIV medication, use condoms, and abstain from sex - which are all important points to convey in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but does not necessarily guarantee that these safe practices will happen each and every time.

That reminds me...

Though National HIV Testing Day (June 27) has passed, any day is a good one to get tested if you have not already!  It is painless and fairly quick - and you'll have some peace of mind, which is priceless.

Public health - for pets, too!

A quick post to share this poster from Petfinder.com (and where I recently found my dog, my first pet!):

A good reminder that public health also extends to our furry friends, as well.  I try to walk my dog in the early morning (before noon) or after dinner when the sun is starting to lower in the horizon; if in doubt, I'll put my hand on the ground to test the warmth of the pavement to ensure safe paws.  And keep them hydrated, as you do yourself!  (If it's getting to be too hot outside, I'll rub/splash some water on his belly or feet as I believe those are the best 'cooling spots'...correct me if I'm wrong!)


And meet the newest member of our family unit, as of a few short weeks ago!

(And yes, she's gotten a bit of a hair trim since then...Eat/drink up, pup!)

What do you do to keep your furry family members safe in these sweltering times?

What motivates you to exercise - and continue to do so?

I came across a news bit on NewPublicHealth.org that shared a new University of Michigan study suggesting that overweight men and women respond differently to exercise advertisements - and perhaps have different motivations for starting and maintaining exercise:
"Men and women respond differently to exercise advertisements"

This got me thinking about my own motivations to exercise and what keeps me going.  As I began and adjusted to being an MPH Student this year, exercise was one of the things that was dumped by the wayside.  This summer - and hopefully this extend to next year - I've tried to develop a do-able regimen that is tailored to my motivation level (= low) and needs.  So I exercise as time permits at least a few days a week and don't over-extend myself by keeping to a strict time commitment.  It also helps that I read while on the stationary bike - not good to do two things at once, but it sure helps me to stay on it!  When classes start again in August, I'll probably be reading and biking then, too (might even help me to stay awake and retain the info better!...ya think??).

I've also found that the well-being feelings I get after exercising (those endorphins, yea!) really help to keep me going.  And I always feel trimmer and tend to drink more water (another issue of mine), too!  I think as long as I focus on the positive benefits and keep having a positive outlook on it all, maintenance for the future will be better...we shall see!

Going back to the title of my post - what motivates you to exercise and, most importantly, maintain it?  Please share!

The BFD (Breakfast for Dinner)

On the occasional Saturday or Sunday evening, sometimes we just want something soft, sweet, and comforting - pancakes!  (Sure, we could do the whole 'morning pancakes' thing...but always found ourselves napping in a carb stupor afterwards, zzzzz!  Which is, evidently, less of a problem when done as BFDs.)

Here, our fridge contents lent themselves for some extras on these particular pancakes:  Namely, rum and banana slices (a bit bananas foster-esque, I suppose).  And yes, we usually serve them alongside lite sausage links and omelettes that Julia Child may not give the 2 thumbs up - but perhaps at least a slight nod!  (The vigorous pan-shaking and 60-seconds just leave me a bit scrambled...{pun unintended}).

 

What are your BFDs like (or even BFBs - would it just be Bs in this case?? - or BFLs if you'd prefer...)? 

Bike Helmets - To wear or not to wear?

For me, wearing a bike helmet is a no brainer (pun...not intended).  Particularly if I'm riding on roads, moderately difficult trails, and the like.  However, I admit if the ride is short or deemed relatively safe/leisurely, I'll forgo the helmet (as does my partner who is a more advanced rider).

This recent blog post from NewPublicHealth.org got me thinking of all the reasons folks don't wear helmets:
"Is Avoiding Injury Reason Enough to Compel Riders to Wear Bike Helmets?"

Come to think of it, I've noticed this particularly on greenways and neighborhood streets (usually among the adults or older kids)...But the main reason I wear a helmet is due to my lack of experience (and general clumsiness) with bike riding.  And I have certainly fallen a few times, though body armor could've helped a bit (especially the time I tumbled off the trail and onto rocks...:o/).

One of the commenters noted that some reasons folks may not wear a helmet is due to comfort, the seriousness/duration of the ride, and the extent to which it would mess up hair.

In my mind, I feel like society has normalized helmet-wearing (like cigarette non-smoking)...which is, apparently, a bit more optimistic than what's the reality out there!

What reasons do you choose - or you think might be why folks choose - not to wear a bike helmet?  Do you feel any guilt when not wearing one??...anxiety or nervousness?...

Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs)

I came across this news article from PublicHealthNewsWire.org (sponsored by APHA, American Public Health Association) via NewPublicHealth on my blogroll about some of the actions being taken to reduce sugar sweetened beverage consumption (e.g., sodas, fruit juices).

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed banning the sale of large SSBs in some public places (this was several weeks ago).  Recently, there was a National Soda Summit to address this issue - which is the primary topic of the news article:
‘National Soda Summit’ held to reduce soft drink intake, improve public’s health

I do think this is such an important topic, and something so pervasive and difficult to stop in our society.  I think we've normalized - and maybe even put on a pedestal for some drinks - these processed, 'easy' beverages.  Some purport health benefits, some tout the 'bandwagon effect,' the cool factor...
 For instance, my extended family on my partner's side treat Fresca as a 'special drink,' and I remember that Cheerwine was the IT beverage when I was younger because it was harder to find than some other drinks.

These stats were given in the article:
"Jacobsen said that intake of Pepsi-Cola beverages has dropped 46 percent since 1998 and 31 percent for Coca-Cola products, while Americans have doubled their water consumption during time span."

It's nice to see improvement in numbers, but I'd also like to see ways in which we help folks make the transition or reduction of SSBs to water consumption.  I know that I have trouble staying hydrated and water is rather...dull and flavorless (which is what we expect 'good' water to be!), so what are low/no-calorie, low/no sweetened ways of making water palatable?
Is it creative advertising, carbonated water, having more lemons/limes around?  What are your thoughts of decreasing SSBs and/or increasing water consumption?

Sushi!

I made a list of cooking/food goals for the summer - things I would try to make homemade (all about self-sufficiency within reason/sanity!).  One was making sushi.

Actually, the idea came to me from a sartorial blog who shared that she liked to make sushi when having friends/guests over - for the Wow factor, relatively low cost, and low effort to make large quantities.

I bought some special supplies/ingredients from my local Asian grocery:  wasabi, bamboo mat, nori/seaweed wraps, canned eel, 'sushi vinegar' (rice vinegar + sugar?).  And sub-ed the white sticky rice for brown sticky rice (shhh!).

Eel rolls (my partner's favorite...modified with imitation crabmeat here):

Panko-crusted and -fried California rolls (slightly warm and crispy - afterwards, I made all my sushi rolls this way!):

Pre-rolling (cucumber, avocado, imitation crabmeat, cream cheese, canned eel, black sesame seeds, green onions):

 

All in all, a proud food moment for me...Very exciting!

Backyard Landscaping Project - The Results!

A few quick pictures of my recent landscaping project (new homeowner initiation?) - finally done, but anticipating continual touch-ups with shifty rocks!  And no, I'm not planning another yard project until...next summer (much to the joyousness of my muscles).

BEFORE:

DURING (a.k.a. "a hot mess"):

AFTER:

 

Eye Health Tips

Just a quick post sharing some tips for healthy vision/eyes from the National Eye Institute (of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH).  A bit of an unsexy topic, I admit, but one of those physical exams that are often not really part of those health exams - but should be.

Several years back, my optometrist found some benign spots in the back of one of my eyes - what they colloquially term "paw prints."  A bit like freckles, they caused a bit of a scare - and ended up being harmless for the time being - but good to know in case future check-ups find that these spots have changed.

Noodles and Spaghetti

I've been busy with a recent landscaping/gardening project in the backyard of our new house, so posts have been slow...but it's almost done and I'll share some pictures soon!

Until then, here's a short compilation of my noodley dishes...almost always eaten with chopsticks - even the Italian/American spaghetti in tomato sauce!  (Because why not??)

Spaghetti in meat sauce:

  

Sweet and sour noodles with pineapple:

Panko-crusted tofu in an orange stir-fry sauce:

The Weight of the Nation (HBO)

I know we talk a bit about weight on here - and it may all be a bit ad nauseam - but I wanted to encourage you to watch HBO's Weight of the Nation (in 4 parts) if you have not already.
Per HBO - http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/films/main-films/Consequences
Per YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/HBODocs/featured

Even though this issue is nothing terribly new, I think it's the faces and the stories that continue to matter...To each person who struggles with it, advocates for it, and knows someone who lives with it - let's not push it under the rug until tomorrow or after the holidays/celebrations or the new year.  I've experienced an uncomfortable silence during gatherings when I mention weight or show concern for both my partner and my amount of abdominal fat (a potential indicator for diabetes) or refuse purely liquid calories (no beer, sodas, or other sugar-sweetened beverages please!) - but why!?  This is not shameful nor should it be guilt-ridden - just honest.

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops with Shrimp Kebabs and Calamari

 

 

We had had a fairly heavy meal the night before, so I opted for a lighter, low carb meal this evening.  Lowe's Food had these scallop & shrimp kebabs in the 'clearance bin', so I paired them with homemade calamari (one of my favorite restaurant appetizers, but always a bit overpriced).  The panko didn't quite enrobe the squid as well as I would've liked (probably needed an eggwash pre-dip)...still yum, though!

Recently, I've been watching old Julia Child (the inimitable!) videos on YouTube, and she had an episode on The French Chef about kebabs/skewers in particular.  Her advice - which I found to be so true - was to keep the items on the skewers about the same cooking time...thus vegetables and bacon should be separate from the meat, since they all have different cooking times.  How sensible!  In this case, the bacon on the scallops really needed much more time than the quick-cooking seafood items...

If bacon was wanted, perhaps...cooking it separately, THEN wrapping them on the scallops??  Any ideas?

Salmon with Quinoa and Roasted Vegetables

The other week, I splurged on salmon and wanted to keep the rest of the meal pretty light, so I opted for some simple preparation.  The skin didn't come out as crispy as hoped - higher heat next time, maybe?

Quinoa is my go-to grain for these occasions with its light, yet quick-filling attributes.  Come to think of it, I pair a lot of seafood dishes with quinoa...I also roasted some fresh and frozen vegetables - evidently, frozen veg will nicely cook in the oven! - though came out a bit dry due to insufficient oil-ing.

I take that back - apparently, I like to pair fish with crusty bread, too!  (I think this one's a tilapia with beurre blanc sauce in the dipper.)

Brownies for Friends

I've been making bread for neighbors and friends lately (will make one tomorrow, too - must remember to take a picture!), and I came across this old picture of brownies I made for my partner's game night with his co-worker buddies.

Apparently, they went over well and requested it again for another gathering of his friend's.  The top has a peanut-butter swirl...and the inside includes coffee, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a more 'adult' brownie.

Come to think of it, rum brownies with semi-sweet chocolate chips sound quite lovely, too!  #mentalnote

Happy Monday to you all!

Make Time + Break Time = Cancer Protection

I wanted to take another moment to speak about weight, particularly as it relates to obesity.  I received an e-mail update from the AICR (American Institute for Cancer Research), which I subscribe to, about the importance of limiting long periods of sedentary movement during the day.

Yes, exercise is important, but moving is also important.  I, too, tend to stay on the couch once I sit (on the search for a firmer, slightly less comfy couch!) - a work in progress - but I also think back when I was working a regular job and the sheer amount of sitting & typing that were involved day after day.  I remember just getting up to get water/coffee, go the bathroom, and saying "Hi" as an excuse to get up...and wake up.

So I encourage all of us to at least try to remember to get up and just go...move...do whatever!  Last semester, we had to create a mock intervention, and I'm reminded of my own - which I called "Get Up and Go...Together!"  So true.

Here is the graphic that the AICR included with more information here:

Mental Health: "Depression, Suicide, and Disparity"

I recently received my Daily Digest Bulletin from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (part of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services), and it primarily discussed the state of U.S. mental health - and it's a bit sobering.

These statistics particularly hit home as I went through dark times some years back, so it's something I hold close.  If you'd like to learn more, I encourage you to go to HealthyPeople.gov for stats and other evidence-based resources.

For those living with depression or know others who do, Feeling Good:  The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, M.D., may be a helpful resource.  This book was recommended by a counselor at UNC-Chapel Hill's counseling and wellness services.

Mother's Day Gathering - The Menu!

For Mother's Day, I was able to shoot a few shots of our spread before things got too hectic and people started coming in.

For our new (and bigger) space this year, we decided to hold a 'family fusion' gathering with my partner's family and his (new) sister-in-law's family.  And you know it's a good party when people stay later than anticipated cos the time flies by.  Ponderponder about Father's Day...

My personal favorites were the spinach and tomato quiche (so buttery!) and the caprese (mozzarella, basil, and tomato with balsamic glaze).  I've been convincing my partner to try quiche - finally a convert!

I also had some chickpea/garbanzo bean salad with cilantro & lime, sweet & red potato hash, and roasted turkey breast to round out the meal.

What are some menu ideas for Father's Day?  Apparently, something steak-related is a MUST...(go figure)