#SaveYourMarbles Day 6: Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce: Goes Great on Everything!

Cilantro Chimichurri

  • Servings: Varies
  • Difficulty: moderate
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Okay people, here it is! I know, finally, after many days of teasing you with pictures. This recipe can make about 2-3 jars of prepared Chimichurri. This stuff tastes great on everything from bread (especially Cuban bread), skirt steak (churrasco), black beans (frijoles negros), tofu and even corn on the cob. This sauce will help any vegetable taste fabulous! I brought this today for Father’s Day with 2 lbs of prepared black beans (frijoles negros), 4 lbs of skirt steak and 6 packages of roasted tofu and it all went. There was just a small amount of sauce left and my sister in law claimed it. Enjoy!

Ingredients

    Base Mixture – makes a little more than two cups (steps 1-4)
  • 6-8 cups of cilantro leaves (about 3-4 bunches)
  • 1 cup shallots
  • 1/2 cup garlic cloves
  • For the items below, you will need the ingredients for each one cup of mixture (see step 4) (e.g. 1-1.5 tsp of salt in each jar, so if making 2 jars, then each jar gets 1-1.5 tsp of salt)
  • 1-1.5 tsp salt
  • 1.5 tsp dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh)
  • 1/2- 1 tsp dried red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup of vinegar
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1/2-3/4 cup olive oil

Directions

  1. Place all of the cilantro leaves in a food processor or chop by hand. It will come out to about 2 cups chopped. Set aside in a large bowl.
  2. Place 1 cup of peeled shallots in the food processor (or chop by hand) and pulse until finely chop. Add to the cilantro and toss until combined.
  3. Place the garlic in the food processor, a garlic press or chop by hand. Add to cilantro and shallots and mix completely.
  4. After combined completely, scoop out 1 cup and place in a glass container with a tight fitting lid. I use mason jars that hold 2 cups. If usually make enough for 2-3 mason jars or I make 2 and freeze any extra cilantro, shallot and garlic mixture for future use.
  5. Add remaining ingredients into each mason jar.
  6. Stir to combine.
  7. Allow to marinate on the kitchen counter for 6-8 hours.

#SaveYourMarbles Day 5: Colon Blow Shake (Your Welcome)

Colon Blow Shake

  • Servings: 1
  • Difficulty: easy
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Okay, I am disclosing the recipe for my magical smoothies. I enjoy these bad boys most days of the week because 1. I am usually on the “run” moving from patient to patient, and/or shuffling my kids around to and from activities (activities I am usually involved in), 2. I need something to provide the most nutrition possible in a form that is acceptable to consume when in my office, and 3. I cannot afford to skip meals, or I will hit a wall and pass out. If you have trouble with bowel movements and don’t go after a day or 2 of these, then you need to seek out the help of a professional.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup of unsweetened plant based milk such as unsweetened almond milk.
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 tbsp or 14 grams of ground flax seeds
  • 20 grams worth of plant based protein powder such as Garden of Like Sport (my favorite)
  • 2.5-5gm of amla powder (2-3 times per week)
  • 1 serving of any variety of frozen berries
  • 1 serving of other frozen fruit (e.g. mango, pineapple, cherries or banana)

Directions


Place all ingredients in a decent grade blender (I am partial to my Blentec) and blend together on the smoothie setting. Enjoy!

#SaveYourMarbles Day 4: Become a Part of the Solution in Your Community

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Fierce Group of Little Ladies!

So I am taking creative license here with the recommendation to maintain social and emotional relationships to help preserve and #saveyourmarbles. Think about it though. What better way to develop new social relationships as well as preserving existing ones, than to become active part of your community?

My family and I live in a small town in Sussex County, New Jersey named Hopatcong. I mean super small. It isn’t a through town into other towns.  When you come to Hopatcong, you meant to (or somehow got lost). It is a little lake community that has become a year round place of residency rather than a summer destination.  Like, honestly, everyone knows each other in some way, shape or form.  The people here are a beautiful lot, whether they realize it or not. Unfortunately, many of the residents don’t really comprehend how great we really are.  So rather than be a part of the problem, rather than complain, my family, like so many terrific individuals and families in town, roll up our sleeves and dive in.  Most weekends you can see my husband and I coaching and helping out on the soccer fields or leading Girl and Boy Scouts into becoming the future.  We don’t fill out complaint forms, rather, we complete volunteer applications. It isn’t giving up precious time. It is an investment in my community, my kids and the preservation of my brain cells.  Another way to #SaveYourMarbles. So before you complain, have you volunteered yet?

#SaveYourMarbles Day 3: Bacon and Butter Won’t Save You. 

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My “model” holds a 5 pound model of fat. 

Now before you get all upset with me, let me explain. Being a dietitian for almost 20 years and on this planet for close to 42, I have seen diet fads come and go. I have seen research come out and then get debunked. So before you go and jump on the bacon and butter band wagon take a listen.

Bacon and butter won’t #saveyourmarbles. You know it, I know it, heck, we all know it. Deep, deep, deep down in the recesses of your mind, it is in there.  You don’t want it to be true, but you know it. Stop kidding yourself.  Bacon and butter won’t save you.

Now before you go and tune me out, I will say, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If having 2 slices of bacon crumbled into your salad gets you to have 5 or more servings of low calorie, micronutrient dense vegetables, then go for it! With that said, having 5-6 slices of bacon and eggs swimming in butter is not going to #saveyourmarbles, like ever. Become one with the plants and leave the bacon and butter to where it belongs, as a condiment or gone altogether from the meal. Let the gasps begin!

What to do to #SaveYourMarbles: Day 2- Maintain A Tribe

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There will be many more twists and turns on this journey, but my tribe will be there.

Getting through this telenovela life I have been living has never been easy.  The one thing that I can constantly count on is the support and guidance from my tribe.  You see, I didn’t grow up with a large family. It was usually just my mom, sister and myself since my folks split before I hit the age 10.  Most of my father’s family lives in Cuba and my mother’s family lives in Florida. Over the years I have only maintained a close relationship with a handful of them (they all know who they are, and to you, I owe so much of sanity) 😉

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A sampling of just some of the tribe and some of the many gut busting good times.

Back to my tribe.  What I have learned throughout the years, is I didn’t need a large family to survive.  I just needed my nearest and dearest. My tribe is filled with a bunch of weirdos such as myself.  Some related to me by blood, but the vast majority are around by choice. A choice both parties have made to be there through it all.  Another way to #saveyourmarbles is to maintain great social and emotional networks. I think I may have that covered.

My tribe keeps me stable.

My tribe keeps me sane.

My tribe calls me out on my nonsense.

My tribe checks in on me.

My tribe doesn’t kick me when I am down, and they most definitely don’t jump down the rabbit hole with me.

My tribe lifts me up.

Most importantly, my tribe keeps me happy.  #Saveyourmarbles, be happy.

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The tribe that can travel together, stays together.
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Friends are the family you choose. I can’t thank you all enough. FYI they aren’t all here, but you get the idea.

Save Your Marbles 2

What I do to #SaveMyMarbles: Day 1

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So, as some of you following my journey already know, I first noticed my mother had the beginning of her cognitive decline a bit over 8 years ago. From that day forward, I have immersed myself in learning how to prevent it, if possible, so it doesn’t happen to me. Now, while I fear forgetting, what I fear most is my dear family and close friends having to watch me decline and ultimately care for me. A fear that keeps me up and disturbs my slumber.

As a dietitian I knew what I had to do, but the wife, mother, daughter, sister, coach, Girl Scout leader (and every other hat I wear) in me needed validation in the way of research. I know, it can still happen, but I am going down fighting.

So here, day 1, I begin describing how I am fighting and waging my personal battle. This is how I fight. Here is what is most important to me: Physical activity.  Surprised I didn’t say my diet? While that is a part of the puzzle I will discuss, staying active is the core of my plan.

I wear my Apple Watch and track my steps, calories burned, and the hours standing every day. I run on my treadmill most days of the week. I ride my fit desk stationary bike when watching webinars and while on conference calls. FYI I hate running. I mean I loathe it. Despise it. What I do love is how I feel about 20 minutes in and when I get off 30-45 minutes later. That natural lift in my mood and change in my attitude.  To quote the character “Elle Woods” from the Legally Blonde (yes, I am quoting this movie, and I do it all the time in my office):

“Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.”

I choose to be fit. I choose to be happy. I choose to fight to #savemymarbles. At least if it happens to me, I know it won’t be my fault.

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Where the running magic occurs: just me, my Brooks sneakers, my ancient iPad Generation 2 (that still works) and my NordicTrack treadmill.

 

Save Your Marbles

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Check out our gear on the His and Her Crunchy amazon.com site with prime shipping available 

The phrase “Lost My Marbles” and the many variations of it has become the way we allude to “losing it” or “going crazy” for quite some time.  The origination of this phrase is less clear, but may have begun as far back as the late 19th century with “marbles” being things such as personal property, a man’s testicles (yes, you read that right), common sense, and lastly a person’s “wits”.  Whenever this phrase began, it is clear that to “save your marbles” you are beginning to protect that which is important to you.  I rather like the idea of “Save Your Marbles” being the act of protecting your brain as much as you possibly can, with acts that are completely within your control. When you work to save your marbles, you also may also save things such as your:

  • Heart
  • Veins
  • Looks
  • Sex Life
  • Emotional/Social relationships
  • Sleep quality
  • Sanity

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.  Here at Nutrition Map and His and Her Crunchy, we will be spending all month long sharing ways to protect your marbles.  What are you doing to “Save Your Marbles”?  Remember to add #saveyourmarbles.  

Tofu and Broccoli in Brown Sauce

Tofu and Broccoli in Brown Sauce

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
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Everyone loves brown sauce. Okay, maybe not everyone, but I bet many of you do. This is my go to recipe for a fast meal that (usually) has enough leftovers for 2-3 people the next day. Don't like tofu? Feel free to substitute any protein source you prefer or just add more broccoli. You can even add other vegetables such as carrots or mushrooms. Really no rules for this one. Measurements of the vegetables and protein sources do not need to be exact.

Ingredients

  • 3 packages of firm tofu, sliced lengthwise into 4 long slices, then down the middle of the block, continuing to slice until you reach approximately 1/2 inch pieces
  • 10 cups of frozen broccoli florets (1/2 large bag of organic broccoli from a warehouse store)
  • 2 tbsp of any neutral flavored oil (e.g. avocado oil, but canola will do)
  • 2 small onions, chopped (comes out to about 1 cup)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped garlic (if you have a garlic press, even better)
  • 2 tbsp grated ginger (peel can be included, just make sure to scrub well)
  • 4 cups of vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey (rice syrup or sugar works too)
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 3 tbsp of arrowroot (or cornstarch) mixed in 2-3 tbsp of cold water
  • 1 tbsp Siracha (optional, I leave this out and just add to my plate)
  • Prepared brown rice

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Prepare 2 baking sheets by smearing with a small amount of neutral flavored oil or cooking spray.
  3. Spread the broccoli on 1 baking sheet and the tofu on each on the other.
  4. Bake the broccoli for 20 minutes and the tofu for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on each tray every 10 minutes to make sure the broccoli doesn’t burn and the tofu doesn’t over crisp.
  5. While the broccoli and tofu bake, heat the 2 tbsp of oil in a large, deep skillet for 2-3 minutes on medium.
  6. Add the onions and sauté until wilted and translucent. This will take about 5 minutes.
  7. Add the garlic and ginger, continuing to sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
  8. Add the broth, soy sauce, honey and sesame oil. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  9. By now the broccoli and tofu should be done. Add to the pan that the broth mixture is simmering in and toss to combine.
  10. Add the arrowroot (or cornstarch) and water combination, stir to combine and allow to simmer for another 2-3 minutes so the sauce thickens. Caution: do not over simmer at this point.
  11. Take off the heat and serve with brown rice.

The Day Everything Changed

 

Xander taking care of his crying baby. October 11, 2008

I didn’t think that there was actual proof of the pivotal turning point.  Thanks to Facebook and the memories of the day to look back on, I have reminder of when it happened.  When my eyes opened.  “Xander taking care of his crying baby.” October 11, 2008.  The day everything changed for me. See, this is the day I came to the realization that my mother may have the beginnings of cognitive decline, of some sort.

The evening started out simply.  My husband and I were going out for a quiet dinner. An early celebration of our wedding anniversary and my mom would watch my 2 children. My daughter was only about 3 months old and still breastfeeding pretty often.  I left 4 bottles of pumped breastmilk with 2 oz in each bottle for the 2 hours we may be out.  Way more than she would eat in such a short window, but I felt it better for my mom to have more milk than less. We also left prepared food for our son Xander, about 2 1/2 years old at the time. My theory was grandparents should be able to enjoy their grandchildren and not have to cook, especially with 2 grandchildren so young.

We enjoyed a wonderful quiet dinner together celebrating 7 years of marriage. Nothing prepared me for what happened next.  We walked in the door to my daughter’s blood curdling screams. Never before had I heard her cry in this manner, and never since. We were darn lucky to have 2 kids that were, for the most part, happy all the time.  Hungry? Feed them and they are fine. Soiled diaper and/or undergarments? Quick change and they were good to go (you get the idea).  This was bizarre.  My son commented “Mima, no more snacks. Real food please.”  Mom hadn’t fed him? Nope.  The food and the 4 bottles, still in the fridge where I left everything. I immediately put her to the breast which immediately settled her down while my husband fed our son.

I asked mom what happened and she had no idea what was wrong. “I fed her, bathed her, changed her, played with her. She is just too attached to you!”  When my daughter finished nursing, my husband took both kids upstairs to the guest room for bed while I went to investigate for myself.  There they were. All 4 bottles I had pumped. Now you may be thinking, could I have been off with the count? When you are breastfeeding and pumping, usually, you remember exactly how much you worked your butt off to produce. When I brought this to mom’s attention, she remarked “you must have brought more than 4.” Being the ridiculously logical of the bunch I asked “then where is the empty bottle?” She got up and said “I must have thrown it out by accident with all the crying!” She promptly took out the garbage in a hurry and left me there dumbfounded.

Mom often complained to various friends and family members that I had only used her as a babysitter and didn’t just come to just visit.  This despite the fact that I lived over an hour away and had paid sitters and friends that I trusted more.  A serious coping mechanism I guess.  My husband and I made a difficult decision that infamous night. From that pivotal night on October 11, 2008, my mother did not watch my children, alone, ever again.  That was the day my serious health journey began to defend myself to what could happen to me.  That was the day I began the transition to becoming plant based.  From that day, I waited for the inevitable, whatever it may be, and how I would handle it.  That is the day I began to grieve the loss of my mother, real or perceived. A process that will probably never end, even after she is completely gone.

 

Tex-Mex Soup Bowl

Tex-Mex Soup Bowl

  • Servings: 2-4
  • Difficulty: easy
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This is an easy, quick dish that can be used as a hearty soup for 2 people or a dip serving about 4 people. I usually make a vegan cheese sauce from another website (Brand New Vegan). When I make this cheese sauce, I freeze about half of it to use at a later date. Feel free to use 2 oz of shredded cheese instead.


Ingredients

  • 3 oz sliced kale (stripped from the stalk, then sliced)
  • 1 cup black beans (if using canned, make sure to rinse)
  • 4-6 oz diced tomato (any variety)
  • 3 oz chopped scallions
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 2/3 cup frozen sweet yellow corn
  • 2 cups of vegetable broth or reconstituted bouillon
  • 1 cup vegan cheese sauce of choice* (optional)

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a 2 1/2 quart pot.
  2. Heat on high, covered, until boiling, (about 5 minutes).
  3. Uncover, decrease heat to medium and continue to heat for 10-15 minutes until broth has reduced.
  4. Serve alone, with guacamole, chipotle “cream” or any other accompaniment.

Where Diet is a Four Letter Word.