7 Unusual Fruits to Try …

7 Unusual Fruits to Try …

One of the things I like best about summer is the abundance of fresh fruits that happen to be in season, at their ripest, juiciest, sweetest best! But already I’m bored with peaches and plums… I want to try something new! If you’re with me, keep reading! I’ve done a little chatting with my local grocer, and he’s recommended 7 unusual fruits to try that you can find at almost any supermarket… and here they are!

1. Kiwi

While many of us have tried a kiwi fruit already, for those of you who haven’t, what are you waiting for? Peel or cut away the fuzzy brown peel and slice the green insides into little ovals. Feel free to eat the seeds and the whitish inner core… they’re delicious, sweet with a tart tanginess.

2. Starfruit

Starfruit, or carambola, gets its nickname because when you slice it, it actually has a star shape. They’re gorgeous for use in fruit salads, but even better, they’re delicious! They’re very juicy, with a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture. They’re also rich in vitamin C!

3. Asian Pear

4. Kumquat

Where I grew up in California, we had a kumquat tree. The fruits are small and sweet, with a slightly fuzzy texture on their skin, like a peach, but they’re actually closer in relation to an orange. They’re very sweet, and rich, so their size is perfect! Anything bigger and you might not be able to finish it!

5. Lychee

I haven’t tried one of these yet, but I really want to! They’re mostly cultivated in China, and are supposed to be very sweet and rich, with a whitish pulpy inside. They have even been featured in an episode of “Ni Hao Ki-Lan,” on Nick Jr. I really want to try one of these!

6. Pomegranate

I know pomegranates aren’t in season until the fall, but I had to include them because (a) they’re my very favorite unusual fruit and (b) they’re going to be available at most grocery stores, so you can keep an eye out for them! They’re a lot of work, but they’re delicious… and I’ve just discovered that some stores (like Costco) sell the seeds in packages… yay!

7. Guava

I first tried guava at a friend’s house. His mother is Hawaiian and she made it with soy sauce, salt, and pepper, which I thought was odd for a fruit… but it was delicious! I see it now as a tropical fruit, added to smoothies and made in fruit salads. I want to try it again!

I’m already a fan of the pomegranate, and I can’t wait to try the lychee! Which of these unusual fruits have you tried, and what did you think? Or is your favorite out-there fruit not on my list? Please share! I’d love to try something new!

Be careful when purchasing and storing these delicious fruits — they bruise very easily! But they’re so tasty, don’t let that scare you off! They’re also very, very juicy, with a high water content and a slightly grainy texture, much like a standard pear. They’re very crisp and sweet, and so good when they’re cold!

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10 Household Uses of Aluminum Foil …

10 Household Uses of Aluminum Foil …

We have all searched for something at one time or another in the kitchen or elsewhere around the home and not been able find it, which can be very annoying. So what do you do? Making do and mending can sometimes work just as well as the real thing if it’s a temporary solution that is needed. With a little thought and imagination you can often be surprised by your own ingenuity. Take this for example – here are 10 household uses of aluminum foil.

1. Funnel

If you need a funnel and can’t find one anywhere around the house, you can get some aluminum foil and shape it into one. Not only will this solve your problem, but you can shape the aluminum funnel into the exact shape you need. It’s a great household use for aluminum foil.

2. Lunch Wrap

When you need to make up a packed lunch but don’t have enough containers all you have to do is wrap your goodies, sandwiches or cakes in aluminum foil. If you do this, your sandwiches stay as fresh as when you made them. Works even better than sandwich bags!

3. Frozen Bread

If you have a loaf of bread that needs to be defrosted, a good way of doing this quickly without making it go solid is to wrap it in aluminum foil. Then, place it in a warm oven for a few minutes. When you get it out of the oven, you will be surprised at how moist the bread is because it was wrapped in foil.

4. Sharpening Scissors

Because there are plenty of household uses of aluminum foil, keep odd bits in a drawer. When you need to sharpen any scissors you have around the house, a great way of doing this is to place a few sheets together and then cut them into strips with the blunt scissors. This will sharpen your scissors wonderfully.

5. Slug Repellent

After you have sharpened your scissors keep the strips you have cut and mix them with the mulch you have bought to put around the cucumber plants in your garden. By mixing the foil strips with the mulch you will keep slugs and other hungry insects away from your plants. You can also fix a strip of foil around a plant tub to prevent slugs making their way up the sides and over the rim.

6. Bird Boogies

Another great way of using up the strips of foil you have used to sharpen your scissors is to hang the strips on your fruit trees. This will stop any wild birds from stealing all the fruit on them, especially if you hang them in a line on some fishing wire. The rustling of the foil will scare away the birds very effectively.

7. Fireplace Liner

Another household use of aluminum foil is in a fireplace to catch all the ashes from the fire. Put some heavy duty foil under your fire grate before you light the fire. The next day when you come to clean out the fireplace, all you have to do is take the cooled off ashes which are on the foil and fold it all up neatly to safely discard it in your rubbish bin or put the ashes on your garden around your plants.

8. Paintbrush Maintenance

If you are decorating your home and need to keep your paint brushes moist overnight and ready to use the next day, a good way of doing this is to wrap the brushes in aluminum foil. Make sure that you wrap them in the foil as tightly as possible. Your brushes will be fine to use again the following day.

9. Lost Lids

If you have ever lost the lid to something, foil makes a great emergency substitute for whatever you need to cover. It is really easy to get the shape you need. That way, it doesn’t matter what form of size the container is.

10. Illumination

The household uses of aluminum foil include inside and out. If your exterior lights don’t give off enough light, a brilliant idea is to place some foil in them to act as reflectors. This will illuminate your backyard really well on those dark evenings or when you are entertaining friends for a barbeque.

The uses are wide and varied. Foil is more durable than many other forms of wrap or paper products, can protect or preserve and is cheap and easy to store to boot. With all these great household uses of aluminum foil it’s like having a magic tool kit in your pantry. Does anyone know anymore?

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8 Ways to Improve Your Health Today …

8 Ways to Improve Your Health Today …

It can seem a little daunting to think about how to improve your health and well-being. You know you should eat better, but how? And what else, besides dieting, do you need to do to improve your health, right now, today? I can help! I’ve chatted with my personal trainer and my physician to compile a list of the things you can do today… and none of them are ridiculously challenging or expensive.

1. Stop smoking

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Well, I start off with a big lie. I said none of these would be ridiculously challenging, and this one probably is. If you stop smoking now, today, you’ll notice better health in as little as a week. That is, once you’re not clawing at the walls, dying for a smoke. The health risks associated with smoking are well-known and documented. Bottom line: it can, and probably will, kill you. What’s healthier than not being dead?

2. Start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables

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Most adult women are supposed to get about 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, but most of us only get two… maybe three. One of the easy things you can do to improve your health today is to grab an apple or a handful of carrot sticks and start munching! If you’re not a fan of the fruit, then try sneaking in a serving by drinking it as a juice … or by experimenting until you find a fruit or veggie you love! Pomegranate or Asian pear, anyone?

3. Get your grains

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Along with adding more fresh fruits and veggies to your diet, you’re probably also in need of fiber and all of the other health-boosting goodies in whole grains. This one is easy: swap your Sunbeam or Wonder Bread for your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for whole wheat. If you’re feeling particularly daring, switch your breakfast cereal to whole grain, too.

4. Get moving!

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We all know we’re supposed to be at least somewhat active, but at the end of a long day, that couch, parked right in front of the TV, looks so much more appealing than the treadmill. But, sweetie! I know it’s hard, and that you’re tired, but truly, this is one thing you can do to improve your health today! After dinner, load the dishwasher then go for a brisk walk. You’ll feel invigorated, energetic, and you’ll sleep better, too!

5. Watch your sexual health

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When you start having periods, and especially when you become sexually active, it’s time to start seeing a gynecologist annually for a pelvic exam and once every two years for a Pap smear. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions and voice concerns. Sexual health and well-being is completely in your control, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Trust me, whatever questions you have aren’t the strangest, nor will your doctor judge you.

6. Don’t stress!

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If your schedule looks anything like mine, you barely have time to sleep, not to mention eat well and exercise… but all three of these work together to help you combat the negative effects of stress. Add a session of yoga or meditation to your routine. Start saying “no” when you feel overloaded. It’s time to de-stress a little!

7. Wear sunblock

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Your risk of skin cancer increases dramatically with every sunburn you get, even just one! Improve your health today by lessening that risk — by wearing sunblock. Any dermatologist or doctor or nurse or cancer survivor will tell you that your golden tan isn’t worth the risk. Besides, that’s what bronzers are for, right?

8. Drink water or milk

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During our childhood and young adulthood, our bodies are busily storing the calcium and other nutrients we’ll need for strong, healthy bones and lush, gorgeous skin. Once we reach our early 20s, that calcium storage stops, so be sure to drink milk (or other sources rich in calcium) to be healthier, now and in the future! It’s also important to drink water to keep hydrated. The jury’s still out on whether water will make your skin prettier, but we know it’s good for your digestive and renal systems.

Aside from quitting smoking, none of these are terribly difficult, but they can all make a difference, starting now! I admit I’m having a hard time with the stress… but that’s just me! Which of these ways do you think you’ll improve your health today? Or is there something else you’re doing to take better care of you? Please share!

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8 Sneaky Ways to Cheat on your Diet and Stay on Track …

8 Sneaky Ways to Cheat on your Diet and Stay on Track …

Yes, yes, yes…I am well aware of the penalties of straying away from a diet. All those extra inches around my waist remind me often enough without you having to chirp about it like a cuckoo clock. But – hear me out here – what if you could get to cheat on your diet and still not put on any weight? I am not kidding here, this is the real deal. Here are 8 sneaky, surreptitious, underhand ways by which you can cheat on your diet and still stay on track. I don’t know about you, but that’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.

1. Its okay to dine out

Once every few days, treat yourself to the kind of meals you’ve been craving for all this while, even the fattening ones. However, there are strings attached, which is you need to limit your portions. If you feel like having pizzas, eat only two small slices; or if it’s a fillet you are hankering after, have only small cuts of meats.

2. Give yourself a Treat

Once every week, go after that sinful indulgent you’ve been holding denying yourself, be it an ice-cream, a double chocolate chip cookie or a mug of rich hot chocolate. However, do not exceed your budget of 200-300 calories for each treat.

3. Don’t say no to Chocolates

Here’s the good news – you can have a little bit of chocolate every single day without upsetting the cart even the tiniest bit. However, the only caveat here is instead of going through an entire bar of chocolate in a day, have only two or three squares, which amounts to only 75 calories.

4. There’s no harm in Drinking

If you are finding it hard to cut back on your drinks – here’s a way out. Figure out how much your weekly quota is and slash that by one-fourth. That’s as many drinks as you can have in one week and no more if you want to lose at least a couple of pounds every week.

5. Don’t hold back in Parties

Those on a diet usually tend to look no further than the salad bar or crudités at a party. By all means, take your pick from the appetizers, but restrict yourself to two or three selections. For the rest of the meal you can gorge yourself on veggies and fresh fruit and save enough space for one dessert.

6. Love your Salad Dressings

While it is true that all those extra toppings in your salad pile in plenty of unkind calories, having a bowl of nothing but greens is not a very appetizing thought. So, what you do instead is this. Fill your plate with greens, veggies, fruits, and proteins. Add two or three 1-tbsp servings of high calorie toppings, such as dried fruit, croutons, nuts, bacon crumbles, cheese or avocado. For dressing, choose a tbsp of real vinaigrette or a tbsp of vinegar and oil. Now, relish your salad.

7. Munch on Breads

Most dieters tend to approach the bread basket wearily or skip it altogether. However, you can take a small slice of your favorite bread, gild with a little butter or a tsp of olive oil and munch away contentedly.

8. Soda is Acceptable – in Moderation

You don’t want to drink water with your meal, you aren’t allowed to drink soda, and it’s a pain having your food dry. That’s an understandable predicament, one that can be solved if you are ready to make a compromise. Switch your regular soda for a can of diet soda, and have no more than one every day.

Now, doesn’t dieting seem like less of a chore for you after I’ve showed you 8 different ways in which you can cheat it, have what you like, and still stay on track with your weight loss program? What are you going to treat yourself to first?

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