Garlic Festival

For those of you who live in a community where there is a devote love of the annual state fair - I finally understand. I live in Minnesota and we are proud of our annual State Fair (which starts tomorrow 8/26/2010). I must say that even as a child I was never a huge fan of the fair. Let me take that back it was something to do and when I was in junior high and high school there was the possibility of meeting boys so that was a bonus to hangin at the fair. It wasn't with the horticulture building or animal barn, nor with the farming machinery - though I did enjoy checking out the new cars and the technology building. I also wasn't interested in the fried food, but I allotted myself 2 - 3 chocolate shakes from the dairy barn, but made sure to eat nothing else.

(picture from 2 years ago - pickle on a stick)

The Minnesota State Fair is well known for its butter sculptures, 4-H projects, concerts, huge hogs, and its midway among many other fascinating foods that come on sticks. The talk the last few weeks when mentioning the fair is always about what the person is planning on eating - corn dogs, foot longs, mini donuts, cheese curds, funnel cakes, deep fried candy bars on sticks, deep fried bacon on a stick, beer on a stick...

In the last 10 years I have probably attended the fair twice. It just doesn't thrill me like it does others. However, I have now found my very own equivalent - the Garlic Festival in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Woot! I cannot tell you enough how much I love garlic and attending a county fair dedicated to its stinky-ness is quite the treat for me.

Not only is Garlic EVERYWHERE at this fair. There is also food friendly options for dairy-free/gluten-free types - Garlic Ice Cream, Corn on the Cob with Garlic butter, Tofu Coconut Curry, Pulled Pork with Garlic Aioli, etc. The food at this fair comes from sustainable farmers and local restaurants like Birchwood, Brasa, Sen Yai Sen Lek, Common Roots. Just typing that gets me salivating! It is like a farmers market and a fair rolled into one.

Last year, I purchased some delicious gluten-free noodles from Vintage Farmer. I am not the biggest pasta fan, but these noodles were delicious. I served them at an impromptu dinner party for a few GF/DF friends and we were all really impressed. I made a point to track her down. I picked up a few more packages this year and I am waiting to break them out on a rainy day I don't feel like cooking.

(Last year's photo)

The Garlic Festival also had fabulous events for the kiddies - bowling with gigantic zucchinis, belly dancing lessons, storytelling, kite and mask making

For the adults there were cooking presentations from the awesome chefs of Birchwood, Brasa, Sen Yai Sen Lek, Common Roots, Lucia's and more.

I have several amazing friends who were working the Garlic Fair too:

Maggie and Sarah of SimplyNeutral, showcasing their AMAZINGLY clean, green and safe household cleaning products. (I love the laundry detergent and the scrub - works great on my porcelain tub and sink).

We also chatted with my friend Melissa Shelton, DVM from Crow River Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic. We both love young living essential oils for the furry friends and the multitude of uses that these powerful oils have against bugs, ticks, fleas as well as reducing stress in pets or even kennel cough or pink eye.

Garlic Festival was a blast this year and I hope you consider taking a trip to Hutchinson next year. Here are a few more pictures of the festivities.

(Garlic wheel)

(honey bees)

Detox your Wardrobe

Finally, after months and months of talking about going shopping for a few necessities I finally made it happen. On Friday I called up my best friend and as luck would have it her plans had been swapped to another night and she was free. Woo hoo.

I have been "detoxing" my wardrobe for the last year or so. Who am I kidding I love to purge and it makes my closet look squeaky clean. Ask my friend, Feng Shui expert Jessica on how to do this effortlessly. However, this has started to pose a bit of a problem lately as I am starting to feel like I have nothing (given I haven't been in the mood to shop). I wish I was the type of person who knew how to purchase key pieces that work with everything. Instead I have had a problem in the past with binging on sale items because I could validate buying MORE although maybe not the best quality. Not to mention that my terrific pieces do not mix and match well and therefore are left hanging on the hangers.

I have wanted to turn over a new leaf and start investing in high quality clothes that make me feel like a Queen! After speaking with two of my favorite style advisers Sasha and Gretchen I have learned a few key tips that had lead me to this trip to the Mall. One of them being that you should shop a few times a year so that your wardrobe doesn't go out of style all at once (whoops). The other is that you do not need to break the bank to look and feel great. The last, is that you want to make sure you shop with purpose so that those great jackets, sweaters, shirts can coordinate. Otherwise, as I said before you are stuck with beautiful clothes that do not get worn. (check out their sites for more information).

What's this post got to do with Health and Wellness?

Many of my clients who are looking to heal their health feel like crap. I know because I used to be there. And, we all know that there is nothing worse than opening your closet and trying to find something, anything to wear. Having a closet full of stuff that doesn't make you look and feel like the fabulous person you are can be really deflating and create low energy. Which can lead to strange behavior (with food, image, relationships).

I believe that EVERYTHING feeds you; relationships, career, movement, food, creativity, spirituality, etc. So why would your wardrobe be any different? I also think this pertains to make-up.

Here is my confession. I finally invested in high-quality undergarments. Which was WAY overdo given I just admitted I have purged a heck of a lot of stuff. And none of these new items were on sale - though of course it would have made handing over my credit card easier had they been. Why I am sharing this (I am asking myself the very same question - is this too personal, on a blog yes probably)?

The fact that undergarments are closest to your skin means they are the first layer. So that means we need to rid ourselves of undergarments (both the men folk and the women) with pit stains, holes, snags, tears, over stretched, too tight, etc. Invest in yourself. You are worth it - I promise! Putting something on that makes you smile and feels really comfortable is a great way to start the day. Think of them as your "Superman/woman" gear.

Detoxing your wardrobe of old "stuff" that no longer serves you is VERY similar to detoxing your body. You are worth feeding your body good real food. Looking and feeling your best can do wonders for your energy levels, your confidence and your overall sense of well-being. When you invest in yourself whether it is in the form of good food, education, relaxation, socializing with friends you feel better. You feel like your true self.

Start making yourself a priority.

P.S. Check out this Mind, Body, Spirit Detox program and make a commitment to your health. Pam and Jen are amazing and I am so happy to have them in my life. They have brought together fabulous holistic healers to help you reclaim your natural state of awesomeness. If you are ready to upgrade your life this program will allow you to do that. It is a 12 week detox program (a value of $300 dollars per month) that will only cost the price of the delicious products at wholesale! Did you catch that? Given your relationship with me (this is key) you will get this program for the price of the products at WHOLESALE. Not to mention I am including a weekly 60 minute check-in call with Q&A during the program to help catapult your success. Check out the site and give me a call with any questions or to sign up. These amazing products are free of fillers and preservatives plus they are endorsed by Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins and Oprah. What's not to love?

Check out the Local Scene

 Mill City Farmer's Market (DT Mpls)

Farmer's Markets are in full swing during the summer months and you do not want to miss the abundant local and seasonal goodness that is cropping up in your neck of the woods. 

Use this link to locate a farmer's market near you.

 Farmer's Market in Oakland, CA (July 2010)

Yes, Farmer's Markets are great for gathering ingredients (fruits, veggies, meats), but they are also wonderful places to:

 

Abelskievers - Sort of like pancakes (Mill City, Mpls)

• Support Local Agriculture and Local Businesses
• Dine out
• Find Homemade Products or pre-made goodies
• Artisan Breads, Cheeses, Chocolates, Candies
• Raw Honey
• Jams and other canned foods read for storage
• Local Artists, Jewelers, Clothing
• Performances
• Activities for the kiddies
• Flowers

The BEST part about farmer's markets is the cost. You can load up on super fresh and nutritious foods for much less than a grocery store. So go, have fun and load up on yummy goodness while making a difference.

Share with us!
What's your favorite farmer's market? 
Any tips we should be aware of when shopping local?

High-end smore's - love using a blow torch! (Mill City, Mpls)

Farmer's Market in Oakland, CA (July 2010)

Coffee stand (Midtown Market, Mpls)

Wood oven pizza (Midtown Market, Mpls)

Kiddy Performance (Midtown Market, Mpls)

Eggstatic

I love eggs.  Although, for a long time I thought eggs were bad for my health because they contain high amounts of cholesterol. As a person who wanted desperately to be healthy I avoided them.

When I started to revamp my health in a holistic way eggs were reintroduced into my diet. In fact, the holistic practitioner I worked with had me eating eggs daily. I noticed that I my energy increased and I wasn't starving a few hours after breakfast.

Our bodies actually need cholesterol to function. Cholesterol is an antioxidant and therefore helps us rebuild and fight off free radicals. That said there are plenty of junk foods and prepackaged foods that contain hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated fats that are highly toxic and are damaging to our health. These fake foods have been highly refined and are extremely taxing to the body. These are the fats you want to avoid. Sticking to traditional whole foods whenever possible, like eggs, is a good bet! These whole foods have been eaten for hundreds of years and have stood the test of time.

These days I do not eat as many eggs as when I was rebuilding my health, but they are definitely a staple in my home. We also eat more eggs in the fall then in the heat of summer. You might be wondering if it is the heat of summer why all this tak about eggs?

Recently, my lovely neighbors (yes you!) asked us if we would be interested in being part of a hen cooperative and we jumped at the chance. The signatures were gathered from surrounding neighbors and then the coop was built. The inspection took place and we were off to pick out some chickens.

The Coop

Getting ready to search out some chickens (above) Hens getting used to their new diggs

Hens hanging in the coop

Brahma one brown and one gray (the hawkish one)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma_%28chicken%29

Barred Rock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barred_Rock

Dominique (the dominatrix)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominique_%28chicken%29

Gold Laced Wynadotte
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyandotte_%28chicken%29

Buff Orpington
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buff_Orpington

Are you a fan of urban farmer fresh eggs? Do you have any tips or words of wisdom for new urban farmers? If so please post a comment below!

Gourmet Burger Class

Last weekend I had the pleasure of teaching a healthy cooking class. I focused on the health benefits of incorporating certain foods to create truly magnificent gourmet burgers.

The class turned out to be a ton of fun (of course!).

If you have spent any time reading this blog you will know that I am not a vegetarian, but that I love to eat loads and loads of veggies. There are so many vegetarians out there that do not get the benefit of a tasty, satisfying burger. Instead, the option is a veggie patty that usually comes out of a box and has little to no nutritional benefits (blah!). I wanted my class to have an easy option that would be quick and delicious to show their guests that they really care.

This recipe is great for on or off the grill

Portobello Burger

Ingredients:

• 4 Portobello Mushroom Caps (small enough to fit on a bun if you prefer, reserve stem)
• 1 Tbsp of Dijon Mustard
• 5 Tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• A few cranks of Celtic Sea Salt or Himalayan Sea Salt
• A crank of Pepper
• Optional - Dash of Balsamic Vinegar
• Optional Minced Garlic

Directions:

1. Clean the portobello mushrooms in cool water or use a damp cloth as these mushrooms can be delicate
2. Cut the stem off the mushroom and reserve the stem (you can cook them up too - yum)
3. Put all other ingredients in a bowl and mix
4. Then brush the mushrooms with the marinade/paste so that they are covered
5. Let them sit for 15-30 minutes
6. If you are cooking these mushrooms in a saute pan then put a bit of extra oil in a medium heat pan
7. Once the pan is hot - add the mushrooms, turn the heat down to medium/low
8. Watch the sides of the mushrooms and when the bottom looks like it is shrinking then flip it over
9. Cook the mushrooms on low-medium for about 5-10 minutes (depends on your range)
10. If you like you can top the mushrooms with sauteed leeks (again seems so fancy!)
11. Slice up the leeks and saute them in extra virgin olive oil
12. When the leeks are translucent spoon them on top of the mushrooms and enjoy

  Serving - 4 burgers
Now you are ready to enjoy these burgers on a bun or over mixed greens. Personally a meal isn't a meal without the greens so load up!