The Goodness Of Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is delicious.  Economical, filling, and nutritious, peanut butter is a good source of protein, resveratrol [a substance that studies suggest may extend the life of cells], vitamin B3, vitamin E, magnesium, folate, and fiber.

Once you develop a taste for pure peanut butter, made with only one ingredient, namely roasted peanuts, it's very addicting.  Many health food stores have peanut butter makers, and just like George Washington Carver, you can grind your own.

Peanut butter is scrumptious combined with so many foods, from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich washed down with a cold glass of milk to a ripe banana with a dollop of peanut butter on each and every bite.  Peanut butter is a perfect snack, whether you eat it as is off the spoon, or spread on a saltine cracker. It's equally good on fresh bread or on toast with a bit of honey.

And of course, you can cook and bake with it.  I like to make a simple Peanut Sesame Sauce to pour over noodles. Here is my recipe for one large or two regular servings: For the noodles: Prepare 5 ounces of spaghetti according to the box directions (I cook Number 8 size spaghetti for 7 minutes) and transfer to a bowl (use the bowl you will eat out of so you save yourself washing 2 bowls). Save the salted pasta water. You may use more pasta water as the noodles are getting tender.

For the peanut sauce:

Ingredients:

1 cup pasta water

3 tablespoons peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon of garlic

1/6 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon of sesame seeds

Sprinkle of parsley

Top with crumpy diced vegetables (carrot, green onion, etc.)

Directions: 

1) Pour 1 cup of the salted pasta water into a 12-inch skillet on a stovetop, and bring to a boil.

2) While simmering add about 3 tablespoons of peanut butter, and stir until smooth. Update: As Barry (below) reminded me, fresh or dried ginger gives the sauce an extra kick, so begin with 1/2 teaspoon of ginger.

3) Next add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to the hot mixture.

4) Season with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of garlic, 1/6 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, and parsley to taste.  I eyeball the seasonings. The red pepper flakes are tricky as I don't actually measure 1/6 of a teaspoon. I use a pinch of red pepper flakes. A little gives the dish a nice kick, but overdoing it ruins the dish with too much heat.

5) If the peanut sauce gets dry, add a bit more of the pasta water, but just a little at a time. You want to end up with enough sauce, so add more pasta water if needed.

6) When the sauce has thickened, it is done; turn off the heat.  Throw the pasta back in the pan to coat with sauce, then return the noodles to the bowl to eat.  

7) Optional: For crunch, top with a bit of finely chopped lettuce, carrots, and green onion (or even diced regular onion).

Voilà, you are ready to eat! 

Also once you've made the dish over and over like I have, you won't have to remove the noodles from the pan to make the sauce. With experience, you'll be able to make the sauce while the pasta is cooking, near the end of the noodles' cooking time. Not at 1st because you may overcook the noodles, but with the repetition of making peanut sesame noodles you'll become a pro.  I also like the dish with linguine noodles. {If you have the more expensive sesame paste you can toss a tablespoon in to make the sauce, but I think it is unnecessary. The dish is a balanced protein, simple and delicious as is!}

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Baking with peanut butter is quick and easy too.  My Reese's cup-inspired cookie bars are always a big hit.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups peanut butter

2 eggs

¾ cup sugar

12 ounces chocolate

Directions: 

1. Mix the peanut butter, eggs, and sugar together and spread on a cookie sheet. (Line the pan with aluminum foil so you will only have to rinse, not wash the pan. We're not work-hugs here. Think of ways to save labor!) 

2. Bake at 350 degrees F until golden brown 25 - 30 minutes.

3. Remove from the oven and lay the chocolate on top.  I slide the tray back into a warm oven with the heat turned off.  Allow the chocolate to melt, then spread.

4. Cool completely and cut into bars.

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TotalBeauty: 3 Lipsticks That Flatter Every Woman

Savvy Shoppers strive to make smart decisions.  The goal is to live well while spending less, as well as, avoiding mistakes.  Do you buy lipsticks that are all wrong for the undertones in your skin?  It's disappointing when a new color doesn't work for your complexion.

After consulting celebrity makeup artists, then testing their recommendations on women of varying skin tones, TotalBeauty came up with three no-fail lipstick shades, which flatter everyone, regardless of a woman's (cool or warm) undertones, or her (fair, medium or dark) coloring.

The three universal lipsticks are:

1. Light pink: Prestige Lipstick in Passion, $6.50.

2. Coral: Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lip Color in Coral Lustre, $7.49.

3. Wine Red: Two Faced Lip Of Luxury in Drop Dread Red, $16.

So you can reduce and save. Get rid of all those other lipsticks you never wear, and spruce up your look with just three, mistake proof, hues.  Now ... that's savvy shopping at it's core.

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Who Shares The Shape Of Your Face?

 

Charlize Theron is an oval.

Do you know the shape of your face?  Figuring it out can be confusing, but once you do, you can select hairstyles, eyeglasses and sunglasses to flatter your best features and hide any flaws.

Here are charts showing the possibilities of face shapes:

---------------Male---------------

---------------Female---------------

Gisele is a Rectangle.

Now, let's determine the shape of your face. (It's easier to tell if you pull your hair back away from your face):

1. Oblong – Your face is a lot longer than wide.  The sides of your face are straight – the forehead, cheeks and jawlines are the same width, and you have a round chin. Examples of oblong faces include Liv Tyler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cher, Terri Hatcher, John Corbett and Elle Macpherson.

2. Rectangle – Your face is long ... i.e. oblong, with an angular or square chin like [anchorman] Lester Holt, Stephanie Seymour, Ricky Martin, Eminem, Elisabetta Canalis and Gisele Bundchen.

Cameron is a round.

3. Round – Your face is as wide as it is long.  You have full cheeks and a wide jawline  Your face will maintain a youthful appearance longer than the other shapes.  Lucky you!  Cameron Diaz, Christina Ricci, Emma Stone, Kristen Dunst, Daniel Radcliffe and Mariska Hargitay all have round faces.

4. Square – Your face is nearly as wide as it is long. Your forehead, cheeks and jawlines are the same width.  You have an angular, or square chin.  Examples of a square face include, Sandra Bullock*, Jessica Simpson, David Beckham, Ryan Seacrest, Keira Knightley and Angelina Jolie.

Reese is a heart.

5. Heart – Your face is slightly longer than wide.  Your forehead (or brow) is wide, and your jawbone, or chin is narrow.  Reese Witherspoon, Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashley Judd and Leonardo Decaprio are heart shapes.

6. Triangle – Your forehead is tapered, i.e. narrow.  Your jawline is the widest part of your face, like how a pear expands.  Academy award winner, Geena Davis, Minnie Driver, Kathy Ireland, Tiffani Thiessen, Keith Urban and Justin Tumberlake have triangle faces.

Rihanna is a diamond.

7. Inverted Triangle – Your face is slightly longer than wide.  It's a heart-shape, without a peak at the forehead.  Your jaw and chin are slender, or pointy like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Victoria Beckham, (The Dixie Chicks') Natalie Maines, Ethan Hawk, Johnny Depp and Tyra Banks.  Also Derek Hough -- what do you think?

8. Oval – Like an egg, your face is longer than wide, but has symmetry.  You have prominent cheekbones, but your forehead and jaw are the same width.  Your chin is round.  An oval face has the balance to wear almost any hairstyle.  Examples of ovals include Uma Thurman, Amanda Peet, Heidi Klum, Megan Fox,

Sandra is a square.

Matt Damon, Jude Law and Sharon Stone.

9. Diamond – You have an oval face with high cheekbones, but possess a more angular, or pointed chin like Rihanna, Elizabeth Hurley, Felicity Huffman, Nicole Kidman, Pete Wentz and (24's) Kim Raver.  {By the way, Nicole Kidman's 2 youngest daughters take after daddy Keith.  They are triangles.}

Have you found your face yet?  I'm an oval.

Liv is an oblong

Notice how an oval face is more balanced, but not more beautiful.  Yes, Charlize Theron, an oval, is beautiful, but so is Reese Witherspoon, a heart.  As is Sandra Bullock, a square and Liv Tyler, an oblong.  Yep.  The variety of faces is interesting ... and spectacular.  I love the differences!

After you discover the shape of your face, you can find styles to help you look your fabulous best.  For a short lesson, click here.  

Your homework is to find one face, from real life or on television, to match each of the shapes on the charts.  Be sure your face fills in one slot, and share your answers under comments, if you'd like.

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Help For Crippling Migraines

Migraines are debilitating.  In addition to intense headaches, symptoms can include nausea, vomiting and a sensitivity to light, sounds or odors.  They can last from two hours, or up to three days.  And the pain can be on one side of the head, or both sides.

Many people who think they suffer from sinus headaches are actually experiencing migraines.  According to Dr. Michael Chandler, who specializes in allergy and immunology, a way to tell the difference is, sleep will alleviate a migraine but not a sinus headache.

Although migraines do run in families and there is a relation between hormones and migraines, there is much doctors don't know about what causes and how to prevent them.  It's hard to figure out causes because there are so many, and it varies from one person to the next.  Triggers can include red wine, chocolate, cheese, processed food, soy, yeast, MSG, stress and not getting enough sleep.

Doctors think the cerebral cortex, an outer layer of neural tissue, is the area that is sensitive, when people suffer from migraines.

Treatment varies from avoiding the triggers to alleviating the pain.

Often common pain relievers like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen sodium [Aleve] do little to stop the pain.

But there are a few effective treatments to try, so you don't waste a day lying in a dark room, curled up in bed:

1. Feverfew – Some people claim 380 mg a day of the herbal supplement works to lessen the frequency of migraines and relieves them, if one starts.

2. Rizatriptan benzoate – Manufactured as Maxalt and available by prescription.  It is taken at the onset of a migraine.  There are a variety of prescription drugs to relieve pain, as well as, to make the brain less sensitive to the triggers.  Patients work with a headache specialist to find which medication works for them.  The most commonly prescribed drugs are triptans, which stop pain by narrowing blood vessels in the head.

3. Botox  – Looks promising in stopping chronic migraines.  There are doctors, who specialize in treating migraines with botox injections.

4. Battery powered plaster* – Available in England, delivers medicine directly into the bloodstream. (The British call a band-aid, or patch "plaster.'')  The treatment helps sufferers who can't keep oral medication down.  The single use patch is put on the upper arm as soon as a person feels an attack coming on. In a study, 59% of sufferers were pain free within two hours of treatment.

*Source: Roger Dobson from the UK's Daily Mail.

With the care of a knowledgeable doctor, relief is frequently a treatment away. 

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5 Dollar Dinners Cooked in 5 Minutes From Top Chefs

Why not start a new year by learning some new dishes you can prepare at home?  Cooking at home can be healthy, inexpensive and fun.  Quick and easy, here are two dishes that can go from a stovetop to your plate in 5 minutes flat. Simple like ordering a pizza.  Costs about $5 a serving.  Eat like this for 30 days and as a bonus, you could lose 5 pounds.    

Michael Symon's Grilled Salmon With Carrot Peanut Salad

Ingredients: 

4- 6 ounce pieces of salmon

salt and pepper

4 ounce extra virgin olive oil plus extra for salmon

3 medium organic carrots

1 tablespoon cumin seed

1 bunch scallions

1 cup mint leaves

1/2 cup toasted peanuts

2 ounce red wine vinegar

Directions:

1. Season the salmon with salt, pepper and olive oil.

2. Grill for 2 minutes.  Now may be a good time to invest in a cast iron skillet.

3. While the salmon is grilling, shave the carrots, toast the cumin seeds, thinly slice the scallions and tear the mint leaves.

4. Place the carrots, cumin seeds, scallions and mint in a large mixing bowl with the peanuts.

5. Whisk together the oil and red wine vinegar and add to the shaved vegetables. Season liberally with salt and pepper.

6. Place the salmon on a platter and top with the shaved carrot salad.

This is delicious served with fresh spinach and wild rice.

                                

Bobby Flay's Low Calorie Filet Mignon

Ingredients:

For the Vinaigrette --

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

½ small shallot, minced

2 tablespoons reduced fat mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons chopped tarragon

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Touch of clover honey

4 filet mignon steaks (2 1/2 inches thick each) – or lean steaks of your choice, i.e. whatever goes on sale.

Canola oil – I use extra virgin olive oil.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bobby Flays Steak Rub*

Tarragon sprigs, for garnish

Parsley leaves, for garnish

Directions:

1) For the vinaigrette, combine vinegar, lemon juice, shallot, mayonnaise, mustard, tarragon, salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth.

2) With the motor running, add the oil until emulsified. 

3) Add honey if needed.

4) Then, remove the steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking and let sit at room temperature. 

5) Heat a large cast iron pan over high heat until almost smoking. 

6) Take each filet - brush both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. 

7) Season one side with the rub. 

8) Place the steaks in the pan, rub-side down and cook until golden brown and a crust has formed, about 2 minutes.

9) Flip over and continue cooking until cooked to medium-rare doneness (internal temp of 135 degrees F).

Serves 4.  It tastes great with potatoes and a green salad. 

*To make your own steak rub:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon granulated garlic

1 tablespoon granulated onion

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon white pepper

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Bon appétit!

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Crystal Heels For Glamour

I saw a cute line for these: "Pardon my back."

I love shoes with glitter.  Because I rarely wear heels, I only have 2 pairs of pumps. But both pairs have glimmer heels.  One pair is a little flashier than the other.  On occasions when I pull my glitter heels out of my closet, I get lots of compliments.  I think everyone likes sparkle.  Since many designers include them in their collections, they are available at every price point. Crystals are more expensive than rhinestones.

You will find bejeweled ballet flats too.  Shimmer can take you from the office to a night out on the town without having to change your attire.  Rhinestone-and-crystal footwear pushes a casual smart look up a notch and jazzes up an otherwise understated outfit.  You look dressy without trying too hard.  Worn with a little black dress, chiffon gown, or black velvet paints, the look is classic with a little extra pizzazz.  Stepping out with glitter accented feet adds a bit of glamour all year around.  It's a vintage look that never goes out of style.

Places to shop include: Zappos, Nordstrom and Endless.  

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