Blen goes camping! Yes—REAL camping!

Hey family!

I hope you are enjoying what’s left of the summer..it is coming to a close quickly! While I am glad for everyday, one of the highlights of my favorite season thus far was my weekend camping trip. Yep, REAL camping! In recent years, I said I wanted to go, but no one I knew wanted to. My desire was answers when a few (well, ten) female co-workers from four different states were planning a trip to Pine Acres Camping Ground in Massachusetts. I was in!

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As I arrived on Friday evening, the ladies had set up a few tents, a covered, lit picnic area and were starting a fire. As I “checked in” to my my home for the next two days, it was replete with a welcome mat, air mattresses, and even a lamp to welcome four of us in. We talked, laughed and ate into the night around a cozy fire.

20130825-164839.jpgAway from that fire, it was COLD–like 40 degrees of so. Initially, I thought I made a mistake packing my flannel, two blankets and a housecoat, but it was needed. The other thing was the um…the facilities.

20130825-170201.jpgThe restrooms and showers were about a 2-3 minute walk away from the campsite. Now during the day, that was fine–it was the night that was interesting, seeing that with the exception of a few dimly lit picnic areas, the dirt road leading to restroom was PITCH BLACK. In the spirit of unity, once one of us started stirring, and some else heard, we braved the walk together, flashlights in hand, chatting, whispering and admiring God’s handiwork.

20130825-164939.jpg The campsite offered a pool, beach area, general store, biking, hiking, cabins and plenty of pet and child friendly activities. While we all went hiking, some of us took advantage of the beach, while others of us got back around the fire, snacked, chatted, napped and enjoyed the blessing of a stress-free Saturday.

20130825-165054.jpgOn the food front, there was no shortage of sustenance—in addition to an assortment of dips, snacks and beverages we brought, there were eggs, toast, bagels, muffins, chicken, burgers, salads, coffee, tea, fruit, old-school Jiffy Pop and my newest favorite–s’mores! Hey, every now and again it’s okay to get off the road of eating healthy. It’s good for the metabolism! 😜

As our trip came to a close on Sunday, we worked together to pack up tents, sleeping gear, tidy up the picnic area, parcel out leftover goodies, and say our goodbyes.😞 If I had to do anything differently:

>NOT forget my flashlight (thank God for the iPhone and cell phone service. The Lord nudged me about downloading a flashlight app when I had to make a 2 a.m. visit to the loo).

>Invest in a sleeping bag. I was warm enough with what I had–a sleeping bag would have added to the overall camping experience.

>Get to the site earlier so I could experience setting up the tent. The takedown was great, I want to see how they come together.

>Take another day or so at the campsite. I’m thinking a three-day weekend would be ideal.

Overall, I LOVED the experience and would love to go camping again. In fact, we are planning a trip for next year, Lord will. If you have not had the camping experience, I’d highly recommend it. There’s something about being out in the open with God and the sounds/functions of nature that relaxes yet recharges you. Put it on the list, Family!

God bless you and thanks for reading!

Blen

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Visual: Food swap 101

Hey Family,

I often say since I’m “over 19”,😛 I have to (actually, want to in many cases) to do things a little differently. Part of my “differently” is recognizing when there is a healthier alternative for certain things, I typically do a little research and try it out.

The following infographic on healthy food swaps from MBG Wellness Expert, Jess Ainscough (WellnessWarrior.com.au), outlines 80% of the swaps I’ve successfully incorporated into my diet. (I’m not a rye bread fan, nor have I tried nut cheese, but I’m willing). 😃

When you’re used to eating a certain way, it can take some time (and nerve) to add something different–and you may need to experiment with cooking methods, herbs, spices and condiments. Once you do, you and your body will reap overall health benefits. No, we didn’t come here to stay–we do want to be as healthy as possible while we are here so we can be a blessing to others. Let me know what changes you’ve made!

Love and God Bless you!

Blen

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2 Forks -Part Deux

Hey family,

I received some FANTASTIC feedback on my “2 Forks” segment—thank you! I have another installment that may give you some more health food ideas. Yes, the fried chicken and smothered pork chops are good, we just can’t eat like that all the time. Try these on for size! As previously mentioned, I shopped at Trader Joe’s for many of their brand items. Similar healthy foods from other manufacturers like Kashi can be found at the health food section of your local market.

Breakfast–I haven’t done frozen breakfast foods since my now-grown daughter was little. Since a loaf of bread would likely wither from lack of attention in my house, I decided to try Trader Joe’s French Toast.

French Toast and eggs...sound good, huh?

This all-natural wheat French toast goes from freezer to toaster to plate in minutes. Drizzle a little agave nectar, and if you want, scramble an egg and top with salsa for a filling and nutritious start to the day!

~This one I haven’t tried, but a wonderful older woman from my church says she sautées yellow squash and zucchini together in a bit of canola oil,and scrambles and egg to go with the veggies–that keeps her going. Sister Rita says that vitamin “punch” first thing in the morning does your body good! I can see it in her face–she has pretty skin, clear eyes and a fantastic smile. Y’all know I bought those veggies, right? LOL!

Grilled Portobello Mushroom and friends

Lunch/Dinner–As promised, I grilled Portabella (or Portobello) mushrooms and LOVED them! After I washing them, I doused them with my garlic olive oil and a little sea salt and threw them on a hot George Foreman grill for about 10 minutes or so. The chewy texture reminds you of meat, so it’s as tasty as it is satisfying. Optimally if you can soak the mushrooms in your oil and seasoning choice for hour, you’ll get more flavor. I just did about 2 minutes… I was ready to eat! Lolol! With my trusty asparagus and baked fries (oh, man–baked fries drizzled with garlic olive oil–SO good! Can you tell I LOVE that stuff)?

I branched out and tried Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), this week as well. According to an article on Buzzle.com: 


Quinoa (pronounced Qin-wah) is always thought as a type of grain. The truth is contrary to this general belief, as quinoa is not a grain but seeds of a leafy plant related to spinach! It is considered to be a pseudocereal or pseudograin. This means it is not a true grain or true cereal. Quinoa is an organic food grown in the Andes mountains of Ecuador. It is a small, round, yellow grain, that can be cooked in under 12 minutes. It has a very crunchy, light, fluffy texture with a slight nutty flavor after cooking. It was known as ‘the gold of the Incas’ as they had discovered one of the important quinoa nutrition facts. This fact helped them learn that consumption of this grain-like seed, increased the stamina of their warriors. They called it ‘chisaya mama’ that is, “mother of all grains...'”

WOW! These impressive little seeds boast helps with diabetes, weight loss, migraines and relaxing blood vessels. So I cooked it like rice.. 1 cup Quinoa to 2 cups veggie broth in my rice steamer. I liked it–I need to up my flavor game, though. I liked it better topped with veggies or beans, so I’ll be sure to add more herbs and spices to the next Quinoa batch. It is a keeper!

Snacks- Y’all know I love my snacks! Trader Joe’s has a cereal bar called “A Blueberry Walked Into A Bar” (cute, huh)? Chock full of blueberry goodness and selenium, this bar makes a fantastic in between snack or quick breakfast.

Snack time! Baked Pita Chips, guac & salsa...mmm!

I bought TJ’s Pita Bites and Triscuits crackers for my snack cravings! The tasty baked wheat squares are a great source of my favorite–FIBER!! I also bought a container of guacamole to accompany my crackers. Avocado/guacamole has so much nutrition, “good” fat, and flavor, it’s a tasty way to get healthy. Sometimes, I add some salsa for a little kick and extra vitamin C.


Dessert–I bought some Silk brand Coconut Milk (next to the refrigerated Almond Milk), frozen organic berries (blueberry, blackberry and strawberry medley) and bananas. I put a glass of milk in the freezer till after dinner and then poured the really cold milk, a handful of frozen berries, added a banana and a little agave nectar in the blender for a few pulses. After a sip, I was instantly hooked!

Yea-ya...Fruit smoothies ROCKS!

I have one almost every day.  Warning: Coconut milk is a little high in fat, it’s supposed to be “good” fat and if you are eating well most of the time, you should be all right drinking it. I will likely reserve it for when I want a treat, using Almond or Hemp milk   (yep, I said Hemp Milk) as a smoothie base. This is a great snack or breakfast as well.

Well folks, that’s it for this 2 Forks segment. Stay tuned to see what’s cookin’ in Blenblogs kitchen!

Thanks for reading and God bless you!

Blen

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And..the “2 Forks” award goes to…

Hey family,

I pray this finds you well! No frowny faces here, thank God!

A couple of weeks ago, among other things,  an opportunity and  challenge in some respects came along to eat meatless, healthy, whole and as many organic foods as possible.  While I already have incorporated things like bran cereal and brown rice into my diet, I was looking forward to the challenge of adding different foods to my regimen. In doing so, I found a few things I’d like…no, love!!!  Thanks to my sista, T. Riley’s suggestion, I thought share my “2 Forks” award foods with you. As a warning, I have to tell you Trader Joe’s (TJ’s) and I got close.  No, I don’t have any stock there–I do market at other places, I just like the variety they have.

“Brequess” or Breakfast (that first pronunciation is how some of my South Carolina family say it! :-D)

Paper covers rock--steel-cut beats instant!

Steel Cut Oats~ I have been eating these for a minute as the kids say (do they still say that?) Anyway, these take a little more time to cook–that’s ok, though, the flavor and texture is so worth it. It’ s got a nutty flavor and stick to your ribs texture which I need to function on all 8 cylinders. I top mine with a little agave nectar, honey or honey, cinnamon and walnuts or pecans. Then a little Almond or Hemp milk (I’ll talk about that next time)  tops off the most important meal of the day! I got these at TJ’s or at Price Chopper in the health section. Quaker also has FANTASTIC steel-cut oats.

Other times, I have bran cereal or granola based cereal with skim/Hemp milk. Kashi has some of the best cereals out there in terms of high protein and fiber (Fiber makes me happy–right Wanda?)

Lunch/Dinner:

You had me at spinach...

Spinach Ricotta Ravioli~I LOVE spinach like Popeye, so I saw these in TJ’s and decided to give them a try. With no artificial colors or preservatives, 12 grams of protein and 35% of the RDA of Vitamin “A”, this is a tasty lunch or dinner entrée. You just need to boil them for about 5-6 minutes and they are done! These are good without any condiments, but add your favorite organic spaghetti sauce topped with olive oil (Dr. Oz says you really get the nutritional benefits from tomato based products when you add olive oil) and you are good to go! The package pictured runs about $3.49.

You can make a similar dish by using frozen spinach, ricotta or cottage cheese and manicotti pasta.  Top with sauce and you’ll be licking your chops!

Grilled Asparagus~ I tell everyone that will listen about my new obsession with my favorite new veggie!! After washing my FRESH and NOT canned asparagus, I lay them on a foil-lined baking sheet and then drizzle the delectable stalks with garlic olive oil, (any brand) lemon and sprinkle with a little sea salt. Pop them in the oven on 300-350 degrees for about 7 minutes or so (crunchy is key–wilted and soggy, make me sad) and ala peanut butter sandwiches– they are done! I eat them like french fries. Not only are they tasty, they pack a great nutritional punch that is fantastic.  For more info, click here.

Healthy 8 Veggies all day!

Salad~Besides my beloved asparagus, TJ’s also has a Healthy 8 Chopped Veggie Mix. This mix is loaded with carrots, green and red cabbage, broccoli, jicama, green bell peppers, radishes and celery. While you can cook these veggies for your favorite dishes, I just have this as a salad with a whole wheat flatbread. I will say that a serving of this makes a tasty lunch, light dinner or side salad with your main entrée.

Brown rice and beans with veggie ala Blen

Arroz moreno con frijoles negros~  Brown rice and black beans–I pop 1 cup of brown rice and 2 cups of organic veggie stock in my rice steamer, warm my black beans, top with plain yogurt (or sour cream) and salsa and you’ve got a comfort food that is packed with beneficial protein and heart-healthy fiber.

I don't care if it's for kids...they are GOOD!

Snacks and dessert

Looking to satisfy my sweet and snack tooth, I was in Stop and Shop and stumbled onto some Clif bars. I was so excited about the organic ingredients and the sale (2 for $5) I failed  to see the kid on the skateboard on the front of the box–hence, this is marketed toward kids! LOL!! That’s ok, though…Adults are grown up kids, right? These baked energy snacks are made with whole grain and have 12 vitamins and minerals including zinc, vitamin B12 and folate. This is a health alternative to my beloved red velvet cake 🙂 and also make a good snack or in between meal.

For a snack, I re-discovered hummus (basically mashed chickpeas with various spices).  I was afraid of it for some reason (long story) but decided to go for it

This snack makes me happy...

again. TJ’s had a couple of varieties, including  a garlic and horseradish flavor which I devoured with wheat crackers one afternoon. I texted a few people to tell them this snack was the cats’ pajamas!

On deck:

I am planning to grill Portobello mushrooms. I hear they taste like steak if you do them right! I also picked up broccoli sprouts (not sure what to “do” with them) and organic coconut milk that I found alongside the Silk Almond Milk.  I plan to make a fruit smoothie with the milk and also topping off my oatmeal with it.  So Lord will, stay tuned for the next installment of 2 forks up!

Thanks for reading and may God bless you!

Love,

Blen

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Relaxed about [being] natural

Happy 2011 all!!

I apologize for my extended absence! Between the holidays and me getting the flu, I’ve been out of commission. But thank God I’m back!

My first post is out of a request and support–(shout-out to Tanya, Wendy, Wanda, Liz, Dorian and Nati) about going natural! I thought I’d share some of my story to answer some questions and encourage those thinking about it.

I don’t think I’ve seen more that a couple of months worth of new growth since I was about 12, when “press and curl” went out and the relaxers/”curly kits” went in. Yep…I had a gherri curl up to 1996! Hey, I LOVED it!

I’m “over 29” now, and unlike many women, I don’t have much in the way of horror stories about my hair and scalp being damaged from relaxers, thank God. I have always tried to get my hair done professionally and regularly in part because I’m “ok” at doing my own hair, but more so because it is such a big part of my image and self-confidence (hey, if your hair doesn’t look good, YOU don’t feel like you look good), that I made the investment into getting it done, thanks to the ideals my parents instilled in me.

~Ahhh...Relaxed and natural~
So why natural you say? My hairdresser, Wendy (Taj Beauty Salon, Hartford, CT) had been encouraging me for years to go natural, but I was fearful of what that meant. I was thinking huge ‘fro with a pic in it or Florida Evans from “Good Times.” I was a young kid when afros were popular, so that’s what I remember! Yes, it may sound unlearned, but that’s where I was–just being honest. The other thing was I didn’t want to draw attention or have to “explain” my hair to anyone. Certain people are curious about our hair and I honestly don’t like a lot of unnecessary attention they draw to it.

Braided in India! Cute look--I may go back, but not for now!
But after thinking about it, and doing some research, I thought, let me try to make it past the relaxer point (wearing a bob weave) and see what happens. That was March, 2010. I was feeling encouraged and continued with a couple of curly weaves, (May-July) two rounds of braids (August-Oct) and one of kinky twists (November-December).

I was going for another round of twists, but decided that I needed to give my hair a break. Plus, I was tired of ALL that hair. Wendy cut off about 3 inches or so of remaining relaxer and now I am all natural (about 4 inches or so). That was Dec 21, 2010.

I will say I initially got my hair blown straight, partially because I had ordered some products and they were not coming till after the the 2nd week of January. I spent WEEKS researching what I THINK will work best with my hair, but I know that’s all subject to change. The other thing was I was NOT ready to deal with comments about the “shorter-haired” me.

I spoke to a couple of people about going natural and some of the comments were “oh, Lord”; “I need to see it–another person did that and she looks a mess”. My favorite was “….you will need you to straighten that [your hair] out……a girl cut all her hair off …..and we were like “ewwww” behind her back. She can’t be in charge of……. with her hair looking like that.”

UMMM HELLO?! And these comments from people my age–totally unexpected! I will admit that I have seen some naturals that need some assistance, and while people are entitled to their opinions, the way they were expressed were petty, mean-spirited and uncalled for! But that’s ok, I still love them! I have support from my wonderful relatives, good friends and my fabulous Twitter, FB and YouTube family. I’m also noticing more natural sisters on TV and in magazines–it’s like we are part of a sisterhood!

So a few weeks into natural, this is what I’ve discovered:

Kinky-Curly, Curl Junkie, and Myhoneychild products
I don’t need a harsh shampoo. I used Jessie Curls (NOT Miss Jessie’s) shampoo creme–it cleanses without stripping. I also used Curl Junkie Hibiscus and Banana Moisturizing Deep Fix Conditioner. I NEED glycerin and water to soften my moisturize my parched curls. I read about/heard many mixed comments about glycerin, so I avoided it–BIG mistake. So now, I have a small spray bottle with a 75/25% glycerin/rosemary water mix. (I just took a few springs of fresh rosemary with a pot of water, boiled and cooled it), and it works great! If you want, you can add a few drops of your fav essential oil. I like Lemongrass and Peppermint Oils–it smells good and tingly!

As far as products, I did get some and am still experimenting. I like Kinky-Curly Leave in Conditioner and Kinky-Curly Curling Custard, (KCLI and KCCC)but it dries a little hard, so I may be using too much. I’ll adjust and keep you posted.

I also use Curl Junkie Coffee Coco Curling Creme which is creamy and quenches my thirsty curls big time. I am still working on trying to properly define my curls..my hair shrinks up A LOT, and I’d like to get a little more volume (at least at the crown) if possible. I welcome any suggestions!

Circa Jan 2011
This week, I did a twist out with my dry and detangled hair using KCCC and My Honey Child Moisturizing and Control hair creme (for type 3 and 4 hair–yes, the hair typing system was helpful to me, so I could understand my hair better). One side was a little frizzier that I would have liked, but overall very cute, thank God! I slept on it (with a satin cap) and I haven’t played with it today just yet, but yesterday’s results made me really happy and ready to ditch my hat! 🙂 I also use Shea butter and jojoba oil to keep my hair and scalp moisturized without harmful petroleum or mineral oils.
Look what God did!

So my advice is to research at naturallycurly.com or nappurality.com, check out YouTube (my faves are so far are curlynugrowth, seemyhealthyhair, NaturalhairGrwthShow and CoilsKinksCurls) and experiment! I am not a relaxer-basher—I loved them for years! I will say, though that I like the idea of curly hair without the “Soul Glow” effect. It IS taking some time to get it down and that CAN be frustrating, trust me!!! But in the final analysis I made the right decision–Yay natural!!!

Thanks for your love, support and please feel free hit me up with questions or comments!

God bless you!!!

~Blen

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