If You've Ever Been Tempted...and FIT TIP (#53)

If you've ever considered trying one of "my recipes"
please, pretty please...
let this be the one!
The two main ingredients
**that I'd rarely used until recently**
poblano peppers & polenta
are now among my favorites.
When given the choice **from here on out**
I will always choose the poblano over
the bell **as in peppers**

And the sauce...to die for...seriously.

polenta-stuffed poblano peppers

**start to finish: 30 minutes**

4 plum tomatoes, halved
1 red onion, cut into wedges
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 poblano peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
sea salt & pepper
1/2 cup polenta
1 10-ounce package frozen corn
1/4 cup soft goat cheese (2 ounces)
4 scallions, sliced

On baking sheet, toss tomatoes, onion and oil: turn tomatoes cut-side down. Place peppers on sheet, cut-side down. Broil until tender & charred, stirring onions and turning tomatoes and peppers halfway through, 5 to 8 minutes.

Puree tomatoes, onion, cinnamon, 1/2 t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper until smooth. Spread half the sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange peppers cut side up.

Prepare polenta, following package directions. Stir in corn, cheese and all but 2 T. of scallions.

Divide polenta among peppers. Top with remaining sauce and bake at 400 degrees until heated through, 5 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining scallions before serving.

My choice of polenta:

FIT TIP (#53): Exercise on the Brain (part 2)
Chronic back pain can cause you to lose up to a teaspoon of gray matter per year. Best way to beat back pain: Build muscle in your lower back and abdominals.

Hate to Admit it, but...and FIT TIP (#52)

--I have a thing for white paper towels--
**and own a good size stash to prove it**
I realize it's not
environmentally correct, but...
I try to make up for it in other ways.
p.s. I mainly use cloth dish towels **versus paper ones**
in the kitchen.

--I'm not the faithful follower of DWTS
that I once was--
I only watch it with the aid of a DVR remote...
**finger on the FF button**

--I kind of like Donny Osmond, again--
and I hope he wins!
**I hope you're not disappointed in me, Charee**

--I have discovered THE BEST chicken wings--
**since Papillons**
from a hole-in-the-wall eatery,
located in a SHADY, little shopping center.
p.s. By shady, I do not mean "lack of sunshine", ya know?

--I like hole-in-the-wall eating establishments--
**ahhhh, Elmer's**

--I cut off a big, black truck yesterday--
just so I could pull into Sonic
and order a cherry limeade w/crunchy ice.
**after all, it was 92 degrees**

--I am so pleased that Shaq is no longer a Sun--
Enough said about that, and now...


FIT TIP (#52): Exercise on the Brain
Normal aging drains neurotransmitters and shrink brain cells.

Getting your heart rate up can reverse this process by increasing blood flow to the brain to improve memory and brain function.

TRY THIS: Eat an apple a day to keep the neurologist away. Apples contain quercetin, an antioxidant that protects your brain.

Nothing Spooky Here...and FIT TIP (#51)

Total blast having Gavin & Stone in
the Valley of the Sun as
October slips away.

**for Chloe...we missed you**
Monkeys separated by Superman
**AKA Gavin, Stone, Dallen**


Monkey or not,
these are the most kissable cheeks.
Ever.


To touch or not to touch...
that is the question.
**as Stone meets Milo & Phoebe**


To touch, of course!
**c'mon now**
Was it ever really a question?

FIT TIP (#51): Meditation...
builds on deep breathing, and takes it a step further.

When you meditate, your brain enters an area of functioning that's similar to sleep, but carries added benefits you can't achieve as well in any other state...including the release of certain hormones that promote health.

Also, the mental focus on nothingness keeps your mind from working overtime, thus decreasing your stress level.

Fall Dippin'...and FIT TIPPIN' (#50)

Enjoyed a full house of out-of-town visitors this week.
We indulged in all kinds of delish eats...
including the following:
Toffee Apple Dip
~8 oz. cream cheese, softened
~8 oz. toffee bits
~3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
~1/2 cup granulated sugar
~1 tsp. vanilla extract
~6 large apples
Stir first six ingredients together in sauce pan over medium heat. Allow to cool. Dip apples (or slices) into mixture. Set aside until the dip sets up. Also works great with pears.


Sweet Pumpkin Dip
~2 cups confectioners sugar
~8 oz. cream cheese, softened
~15 oz. pumpkin pie filling
~1 tsp. ground cinnamon
~1/2 tsp. ground ginger
Combine sugar and cream cheese until well blended. Beat in remaining ingredients. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Serve with gingersnaps. Yummy!


FIT TIP (#50): Great Strides...five ways to get more out of your walks:

-1-Bend your elbows. Your arms will swing faster, helping your legs to move faster.

-2-Keep your stride short. Don't take long strides that feel awkward.

-3-Think heal-to-toe. Push-off with your heal. Toes should leave the ground last.

-4-Keep your abs pulled in and tight.

-5-Include interval training. Incorporate periods of very brisk walking followed by slower, recovery times.

Look Who's Hanging Around

My **scary people** vintage photo banner.
Truly hope you don't recognize any of the participants!

Came across a quick & entertaining read
at seriouseats.com
For the most part, I happen to agree...

TOP TEN WORST HALLOWEEN TREATS
**in no particular order**
~Raisins--Little boxes of stuck-together shriveled globs are not what little kids schlep around the neighborhood for.
~Candy Corn--The fruitcake of Halloween; it just never goes away.
~Toothbrushes--Complimentary bristles on a stick do not remind "treaters" to brush.
~Smarties--Fruit-flavored, but fruit does not **should not** taste like dust.
~Apples--Before the "poisoned candy scare", evil people handed out apples.
~Tootsie Rolls--Looks like chocolate and sort of smells like chocolate, but not chocolate.
~Misc. Wrapped Hard Candy--Something about them feels past the expiration date.
~Dum Dum Lollipops--See previous entry...misc. wrapped hard candy.
~Laffy Taffy--It gets all stucky to the teethy and doesn't even taste that goody.
~Anything Fun-Sized--Since when is one bite fun?
This list brings back such vivid third-grade memories!
And personally, I like fun-sized candy bars.
**could have something to do with my "portion control" obsession**

Not Your Daddy's Farmhouse...and FIT TIP (#49)

Old McDonald has nothing on this farm.

To my surprise & pleasure,
this is what I drove by the other day...
not far from where I grew up.

Wanting to share **with you**
I swung my car around and
pulled out my camera.

My neighbor knows the owners.
He said...
if they had seen me,
they would have invited me in.

Oh, how I wish they would have seen me!
**I want in**

FIT TIP (#49): Take Your Time
Try to take at least 20 minutes to complete a meal. This is how long it takes for your brain to recognize that your stomach is full.

For example:
Have you ever whipped up a second batch of pancake batter **by request** only to discover all tummies are full & content by the time the platter of warm pancakes are ready for consumption? Me too!

Dear Jack...and FIT TIP (#48)

Mr. O'Lantern,

I realize that you grow in various shades of white, yellow and orange. But really, for Halloween you must be orange.

Halloween IS orange. Orange and Black, with splashes of neon Green and a tad bit of Purple.

No matter what **creative** people **like Martha** are doing with/to your color, you will forever remain orange in my heart and in my Halloween decorations.

With much love and respect,

CC

P.S. Once Halloween is over, I may or may not be picking up some glorious off-white pumpkins **thank you Sprouts** to decorate for the next holiday.


FIT TIP (#48): Scheduling Success
Schedule your workouts. Mark them on the calendar and set-aside time to complete them. Consider them as important as any other appointment or event you have marked on your calendar.

Mystery Solved...and FIT TIP (#47)

This is what became of the hay delivery.
A pumpkin patch...
next to our office complex.

It appears they are serving up
food and fun,
along with an impressive
assortment of pumpkins.

I plan to mosey on over
tomorrow...
for a closer look, and
to check out the goods!

FIT TIP(#47): Progressive Muscle Relaxation
With no special training or equipment, you can relieve tension and feel much more relaxed in minutes...by tensing & relaxing all the muscle groups in your body.

Start by tensing all the muscles in your face, holding for ten seconds, then relaxing for ten seconds. Repeat this with your neck, followed by your shoulders, etc.

You can do this anywhere. As you practice, you will find you can relax more quickly & easily...reducing tension as quickly as it starts!