2010 - Page 13 of 18 - Better.Cheaper.Slower.

StretchOfTheWeek: calling this a stretch But ab crunches are good for your back

August 23, 2010

We loosened up your back with Knees-To-Chest and Spinal Twist. We gave your hamstrings, quadriceps and calves a good long stretch. We flexed and strengthened your ankles. We began to strengthen your core and back with Shoulder Bridge. Let's continue with your Abs.

Slower Sunday: Look at that

August 22, 2010

I thought about the totally weird and beautiful skyline of New Mexico's Tent Rocks National Monument while I walked down the suddenly and strangely magical Park Avenue last Saturday when it was a 3-mile pedestrian mall.

Ice cream or cheese for dessert?

August 21, 2010

Here's one solution to the old dessert dilemna, sweet or savory. Ice cream and fruit. Cheese and fruit. If you have a cheese grater and an ice cream machine, you can have it all in one scoop of Parmigiano Gelato.

Strange Skylines: Three Magical Miles

August 20, 2010

Take a long walk this weekend. With or without the magic. I was thinking about the totally weird and beautiful skyline of New Mexico's Tent Rocks while I walked down the suddenly magical Park Avenue on one of three summer Saturdays when it's a 2.8-mile pedestrian mall. If you were a Cochiti Indian who'd never left home, this would be one strange hike.

Chard again? Now what? Pickled Chard Stems

August 19, 2010

Swiss Chard. It's everywhere again. Might be in your CSA farm share, it's at the Farmers Markets. When I told you about my addictive (all leaves, no stems) flash-roasted Chard Chips, I promised a delectable use for the colorful, nutritious stems. Pickled Chard Stems!

Ripe Now: Plums. Pudding? Uh, no. Pizza!

August 18, 2010

Lots of plums this week. All sizes, shapes and colors. So I'm making a 4-Plum Pizza for brunch. If you have kids or a significant other with bad eating habits, pizza crust is a great platform for healthy ingredients. I mean, who doesn't want pizza?

Garden Watch #7: Tomato History from seeds to pizzas

August 17, 2010

It may be too hot for humans this summer, but it's been great for tomatoes. Today's Garden Watch starts and ends in the kitchen. The first day of Spring, March 20, I put some seeds in a little starter kit. Last night, I sliced some of the tomatoes they grew into and made a luscious basil pesto-tomato pizza.

Stretch of the Week: Shoulder Bridge with Hamstring Stretch

August 16, 2010

We loosened up your lower back with Knees-To-Chest and Spinal Twist. We gave your hamstrings, quadriceps and calves a good long stretch. We flexed and strengthened your ankles. Now we'll strengthen your core to support your lower back and hamstrings.

Slower Sunday: Listen to your beach

August 15, 2010

There's a small beach on California's Big Sur coast that's unmarked, unnamed and unvisited. Nobody goes there. If you do, it's your private beach. When you get there, for real, it's like a fantasy. Press play and fantasize for 90 seconds. Slowly.

Soda Pop: Surf’s Up Pineapple-Lime-Mint

August 14, 2010

Mix up these thoroughly healthy and flavorful ingredients; squirt in some of the bubbly water you just made. You get a better, cheaper soda - or wine - replacement. Today I'm mixing fresh pineapple, lime and mint to make a soda that's even more delicious than it is refreshing.