September is Hunger Action Month! Wear your orange tops, slacks or scarves to bring awareness. If at all possible, set some time aside to volunteer or put together some non-perishable food items to donate. The use of food banks and soup kitchens is on the rise daily; now more than ever it is an important time to give to your local food banks. Here is a list of the most common needed items:
Canned Chicken
Canned Tuna
Canned Salmon
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Mac n Cheese
Canned Soup/Stew/Chili
Canned/Dried Beans
Canned Nuts
Rice and Rice Mixes
Pasta
Noodle Mixes

As fall is quickly approaching, apple picking season in Maine is in full swing. Many local orchards are open and ready for business. Why not head out to a local orchard and spend the afternoon apple picking?
There are numerous ways to enjoy apples not just as a snack or dessert! There are soup recipes that incorporate apples, salads, roast them with vegetables, make cookies, or apple butter. Of course there are always the old stand bys of apple crisp, apple pie, apple sauce or pick up a gallon of apple cider! <em>
Check out this website that lists apple orchards in Maine as well as many mouth watering recipes and some history about the apple I bet you didn’t know! </em><strong></strong>http://www.maineapples.org/directory/

Foods that Can Hurt Your Dog

Most dogs love food, and they’re especially attracted to what they see us eating. While sharing the occasional tidbit with your dog is fine, it’s important to be aware that some foods can be very dangerous to dogs. Learn which ones.

Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, avocados…these foods may sound delicious to you, but they’re actually quite dangerous for our animal companions. Our nutrition experts have put together a handy list of the top toxic people foods to avoid feeding your pet. As always, if you suspect your pet has eaten any of the following foods, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine

These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Avocado

The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestions may even be fatal.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins

Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.

Yeast Dough

Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones

Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.

Xylitol

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies. An occasional low dose, such as what might be found in pet foods or treats, likely will not cause a problem, but we recommend that you do NOT give your pets large quantities of these foods.

Milk

Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Salt

Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty chips to yourself!

Foods that Can Hurt Your Dog

Most dogs love food, and they’re especially attracted to what they see us eating. While sharing the occasional tidbit with your dog is fine, it’s important to be aware that some foods can be very dangerous to dogs. Learn which ones.

My cousin, David Straight, is an amazing chef and former inn keeper and has spoiled us over the years with some fantastic meals. One of my favorites is his Minestrone soup – easy, hearty, and chuck-full of good-for-you vegetables! Don’t be afraid of the prep work, it’s easy and so worth it! Remember the Parmesan cheese before serving, it’s the perfect touch to a great cool weather dish.

Minestrone with fresh tomatoes

This can easily get very salty, so try to pick canned beans w/as low sodium as possible. Also, V8 has a low sodium version.

½ cup olive oil
4 small yellow onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 small zucchini, chopped
4 red potatoes, unpeeled, large chop
2 stalks celery, large chop
2 cups fresh green beans, cut to 1 inch pieces
5 ripe, plum tomatoes, chopped
8 cups vegetable broth (College Inn garden veg. Is the best!)
1 ½ tsp dried parsley
1 ½ tsp dried basil
¼ tsp dried sage
1 can canellini (white beans) undrained
1 can red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1/3 cup V8 juice
1/3 cup elbow macaroni

In a small saucepan, sauté onions and garlic in the olive oil until onion is translucent (5-7 minutes). In a soup kettle, combine zucchini, potatoes, celery, green beans, plum tomatoes, broth and onion/garlic mixture. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes.

Turn heat up and add herbs, beans, macaroni, and V8. Cook for length of time directed for macaroni.

Serve with Parmesan cheese, great with crusty bread and white wine!

Summer has flown by! September is approaching way to fast. I can’t complain though this summer has been amazing ! In the beginning of the season I wrote up a to do list, since then I did almost every single thing on my list.  I’ve taken a few last minute road trips out of state to visit family, watched the sun rise on more than one occasion, got caught in a few unexpected rain storms and gone to the lake almost every weekend. My friends and I have had some great BBQ’s and bon fires. We got to go hiking recently which is such a great way to get some exercise. The beach has become a common place to head to after the office. I learned how to surf and have enjoyed fresh seafood by the beach every chance I got. This summer has been great a lot of wonderful memories were created. I’m hoping for some great weather for labor day weekend to wrap it all up. I hope summer 2013 was good to you as well.

Your friends can be the best source of inspiration. One of my best friends has been doing the couch to 5K program. If you have never heard of this, it basically gets you up and running a 5K from scratch in 10 weeks. It is pretty brilliant and this past weekend she ran her first 5k!

While I’m not sure about that program during Maine winters, this one sounds like a good option for the chilly months that are right around the corner. It’s turn on, tune in, tone up. It’s essentially a workout planned for a 30 minute TV show. Check it out!
http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2006/10/work-out-while-watching-tv-slideshow#slide=1

Has anyone seen the article online discussing the newly-found Oldest Man Alive? I found this article discussing this man in Bolivia, Carmelo Flores Laura, who is not only the oldest person alive at the estimated age of 123, but also the oldest person ever documented.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57599028/is-bolivian-peasant-carmelo-flores-laura-oldest-person-ever-documented/

Most of us want to live long, fulfilling lives and rarely live to an age even close to Flores. This man made me think that if we would like to live as long as possible to get the most out of life, we should really simply our lives in general. As this article from CBS news states, Flores lives in a straw-roofed, dirt-floor hut and walks a lot. He also doesn’t eat noodles, rice or barley. He drinks water from the snow-capped mountains near his home, and doesn’t drink alcohol. He also has never traveled farther than fifty miles from his home. And while he has lost all his teeth, he doesn’t wear glasses or use a cane. He lives an extremely simply life as a farmer and rancher, and is the patriarchal leader of a very large family.

But would we want to live a very simple, somewhat uneventful life just to live as long as possible, or do we live every moment to the fullest and get to enjoy the most that life has to offer? Every person’s answer will vary, but this man definitely gets me thinking. I think I’d like to live somewhere in the middle of each philosophy. Maybe take care of my body while also exploring and experiencing as much as I can. So maybe I’ll cut back on all the processed foods and plan a hiking trip! Who’s with me?

Grilled Chicken Quesadillas
Prep Time: 35 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 5 Minutes

Servings: 6

“This recipe is a delicious snap. The meat is coated with adobo seasoning, grilled, and cut into bite-sized pieces. Then a tortilla is layered with cheese, chile peppers, chicken, and olives.”

Ingredients:

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

adobo seasoning to taste

12 (10 inch) flour tortillas

1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

1 onion, chopped

1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained

1 (7 ounce) can diced green chilies, drained
Directions:

1. Place the chicken on a plate, and sprinkle with adobo seasoning on both sides. Let it marinate for 15 minutes.

2. Heat grill for medium-high heat.

3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place chicken on grill, and cook for 10 minutes per side, or until juices run clear. Remove chicken from grill, and cut into bite-size pieces.

4. Place one or two tortillas on the grill, and sprinkle with a thin layer of cheese, chicken, onion, olives, and chiles. Top with another tortilla, and grill until brown and crispy on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cut into wedges to serve.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 8/16/2013

There is a song by the Rolling Stones, “Time Is On My Side,” but I’m realizing that may not be the case. I feel like I’m always running out of time. Busy with this job, busy with my part time job, busy being a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter. I wear many different hats, and sometimes my head gets tired and I just want to rest.

I am a fan of lists, so here is my list of things you can do to save time for the important things in life.

5. When doing work on your home computer, shut all other apps down. Sometimes I am working on my second job at home, and I not only have my work website up, but I have my Facebook, email, this website, that website… I realize if I shut everything down but the one thing I should be working on, my work gets done in more than half of the time.

4. Stop saying yes. Instead of saying yes to every summer cookout, event, party, take some time for yourself and for your close loved ones. On the 4th of July, my husband and I decided to stay home. We got wine and a bunch of different cheeses and just relaxed. It was absolutely wonderful! My parents joined us for a bit, and it was so much better than running here and there to make everyone happy. Instead of fireworks, we had smores. Delicious!

3. Slow down. Don’t schedule things so close. I find with two jobs and a household it can be a difficult juggling act. I am constantly answering emails for job number two while I’m riding the bus to work, talking with clients on my lunch break, and the minute I leave work at 6 I’m on the phone with clients. Sometimes I have to just step out of the office for lunch and actually enjoy a nice salad and some chit chat or go home and watch a movie with my husband instead of talking with clients. It’s all about time management.

2. Keep a journal or blog. Write down fun things that you have done, experiences that you have had. This way you can read back on them in years to come.

1. Instead of spending money, spend time. I love to just take the day, take a drive with my husband, or go to a port city with my sister, or the zoo with my parents. Instead of birthday presents, say let’s spend the day together!

Need a refreshing and healthy salad? This is the one! It’s super easy to make and delicious.

What you will need:
-1lb jumbo cooked shrimp-chopped
-1 medium tomato-diced
-1 avocado-diced
-1 jalapeno- seeds removed-diced fine
-1/4 cup chopped red onion
-2 limes
-1 tsp olive oil
-1 tsp chopped cilantro
-salt and pepper to taste

In a small bowl combine red onion, lime juice, olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper. Let them marinate at least 5 minutes to mellow the flavor of the onion.

In a large bowl combine chopped shrimp, avocado, tomato, and jalapeno. Combine all the ingredients together, add cilantro and gently toss. ENJOY! 🙂