(Written for The River Current Publication December 27, 2012)

I recently read an
article which said that 2013 is being called the year of optimism; the year of
hope, heart and happiness. All I have to
say to that is…”Bring it on!” After a
difficult year, I shall embrace the New Year with the hope of good things
ahead….not just for myself, but for us all.
Here is a quick and easy appetizer to share with friends this New Year’s Eve. The sweetness of the dried cranberries with the savory Swiss cheese is a perfect combination. Cheers!
1/4 cup prepared pesto
6 tablespoons dried cranberries
1/2 cup shredded fontina or Swiss cheese
Nutrition Profile:
Per serving: 190 calories; 6 g fat ( 2 g sat , 3 g mono ); 7 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 7 g protein; 3 g fiber; 409 mg sodium; 114 mg potassium.
The start of the New Year is often
the perfect time to turn a new page in your life, which is why so many people
make New Year's resolutions. Researchers
have looked at success rates of peoples' resolutions: The first two weeks
usually go along beautifully, but by February people are backsliding. And by
the following December most people are back where they started—often even
further behind. According to research,
approximately 50 percent of the population makes resolutions each New Year.
Among the top resolutions are weight loss, exercise, stopping smoking, better
money management and debt reduction.
I think that we will
all have a stronger chance at succeeding in our resolutions, if we make them
within our reach. Simple and
precise. In case you are looking for a
couple of ideas for yourself, I will throw a couple your way in the hopes that
we will all welcome the New Year with a renewed commitment to happiness and healthy
living!
* Control
your portions. (This is made so much
easier by simply downsizing your dishes.)
* Be
active. Stay in motion. Quite simply...move!
* Reduce
sodium consumption. Americans consume
twice the recommended amount of sodium each day…which is 1 tsp. or 6
grams. Read your labels.
* Increase
antioxidants. Rich sources: pomegranates, coffee and chocolate. Yum!
* Wear
sun-screen.
* Expect
good things. Healthy expectations are
important; both physically and mentally.
* Stay
in touch. Research suggests people with
strong social ties live longer.
* Cut
your stress. Chronic stress can increase
your risk of insomnia, depression, obesity, heart disease and more!
* Go
back to school-regardless of your age. Several
studies have linked higher educational attainment to a decreased risk of
Alzheimer’s disease. You are gaining a
sense of accomplishment by gaining new knowledge, and you are out there
creating possibilities that were never there before.
* Volunteer. Our happiness increases when we help others.
* Get
more sleep. Sleep can do wonders for
your mood, appearance and health.
* Travel. Tap into an adventure; it leaves you feeling
rejuvenated and replenished. It doesn’t
have to be expensive or extravagant.
Friends of mine enjoyed traveling to local state parks this last
summer. It was a wonderful time of new
discovery and learning that they shared together as a couple.
Rustic
Pesto Tart
Ingredients:
1 pound prepared whole-wheat pizza dough, (see Tip)1/4 cup prepared pesto
6 tablespoons dried cranberries
1/2 cup shredded fontina or Swiss cheese
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Sprinkle work surface
and dough with flour. Press dough out and roll, stretch or toss it into a
14-inch circle. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Spread pesto on the dough
to within 1/8 inch of the edge. Sprinkle cranberries and cheese evenly over the
pesto. Fold 1 to 1 1/2 inches of the border over the filling all the way
around, leaving the center exposed.
3. Bake the tart until
browned and bubbling, 20 to 22 minutes. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes before
cutting into 12 pieces.
Tip: You can find a recipe for a whole wheat pizza crust on my
Butter Girl blog, under a post titled, Garden Bruschetta or look for
whole-wheat pizza-dough balls at your supermarket. Check the ingredient list to
make sure the dough doesn't contain any hydrogenated oils.
Nutrition Profile:
Per serving: 190 calories; 6 g fat ( 2 g sat , 3 g mono ); 7 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 7 g protein; 3 g fiber; 409 mg sodium; 114 mg potassium.
Since it's midnight that means I should probably go to bed huh? ;)
ReplyDeletelol..I am up late too; studying how to be healthy...at 12:45 a.m.!
ReplyDelete