A recent walk in the woods yielded a brilliant treasure. Attached to the trunk of a dead tree was a giant mushroom. It was splashed with colors of yellow and orange and fanned out in layers resembling firm giant petals. We delicately removed it from the tree trunk and carefully carried it home. Research on the internet and a consult with a mushroom foraging expert confirmed it was a Chicken of the Woods, considered a delicacy in the food world. After photographing our find for posterity and Instagram we sliced it into thin strips and sautéed them in olive oil
Read more →Most people are aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but how many of you are also aware that September Is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month? At the end of this article I have provided a graph to give you a brief understanding of the impact both breast and ovarian cancer have on women in the United States of all ages and backgrounds, What’s important to also understand is that if you or a loved one is diagnosed with either disease, you don’t have to feel alone. There is an amazing support network available through organizations like SHARE, a non-profit whose mission
Read more →When people ask me what I like to make for dinner I usually answer “Reservations.” This stems from my childhood. I had a busy mother who worked full time, earned her Masters Degree at night and volunteered for numerous civic and charitable organizations. She loved to food shop but was usually to occupied to cook. We had a lot of wasted food in our refrigerator! Dinner was usually something rapidly prepared or heated from a bag, box or can. Dining out was where the adventure started. Mom was happy. Dad was happy. I was happy. The meals tasted different and it was a
Read more →Imagine being diagnosed with a life threatening illness. “How can I gain control of my life and manage my health?” you ask. It’s happened to me and to many friends and colleagues. And it happened to my guest August 24th on Fearless Fabulous You! Shari Leidich was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2004. MS affects approximately 2.3 million people worldwide. MS is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. At this time the cause is still unknown, and there is no cure. Research is being done in many areas including genetics, immunology, hormonal and environmental risks. According to the National Multiple
Read more →Many people, including myself until I was diagnosed in August 2009, never really understand the complexity of breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 women. Breast cancer impacts women- and men- of all ages and cultural backgrounds. While lifestyle choices may help reduce your risk, there are many factors that can be related to a breast cancer diagnosis such as genetics and family history, but there is no one cause. And anyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer should not feel any blame or shame, or a “what if” or “if only” mind set. The focus should be on getting the best treatment
Read more →Can you eat on a $4 a day budget? I bet your $4 latte or juice you say you can’t. But $4 is the daily budget 46 million Americans must survive on to eat, based on the allocation of SNAP, the U.S. government’s food stamps program. And millions more, including cash strapped working parents, fixed income retirees, students and grads entering the workforce, live with similar limitations. We’re talking food and nourishment and the fact that many people don’t have enough on their plates for themselves or their families despite living in a country where food is plentiful. It’s called food insecurity
Read more →In a recent issue of MORE magazine entrepreneur Susan Lynne, founder of BBG ventures, an company than investments in women-owned tech startups said, “Learning to code is far more valuable than learning to speak French. Coding is a universal language. It allows you to work wherever you want.” I filed that one in the back of my mind. Growing up as a teen the word “code” was usually associated with “secret” and “Morse” and the only languages offered in my high school were Spanish and French. Today “code” means the language of technology, and it goes far beyond gigabytes, search engine
Read more →Walking the aisles of the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show this year I was on the prowl to find healthy and delicious foods made by people with an inspiring story and mission. I found it in Shauna Martin, Founder of Daily Greens™. Shauna is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed on July 28, 2004, at the age of 33, the date of her son’s birthday. Just three weeks later her younger sister, Tamara, was also diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31. Two sisters are diagnosed at an early age with breast cancer with no
Read more →The Greek economy may be in turmoil, but the Greek diet is healthier than ever. International renowned Chef Maria Loi joins me July 13, 4pm EST on Fearless Fabulous You! to discuss her 12 Pillars to eating healthy using fundamental and simple recipes that are fresh and flavorful from her book The Greek Diet. The Greek Diet by Chef Maria Loi and veteran health journalist Sarah Toland offers a path to healthy eating that is not only sustainable but also completely satisfying and enjoyable. A few things I love about Maria’s approach: Yes, you can, enjoy good coffee and wine, both in moderation, and everything
Read more →I’ve been curious about alternative and complementary medicines after researching my books and studying integrative nutrition. One that fascinates me is homeopathy, a system of natural medicine dating back over 200 years. It is very common in Europe where its originator, Samuel Hahnemann, created the word “homeopathy” from the Greek words for ‘similar suffering’ referring to the ‘like cures like’ principle of healing.” Ref: http://www.homeopathyschool.com/. Benefits can alleviate side effects from traditional Western medicine, strengthen your immune system, help healing and reduce pain, among other conditions. You probably have seen all sorts of homeopathic essences, gels, creams and pellets at your local health foods store. But do
Read more →Every cancer survivor I speak with remembers their “cancer-versary.” It’s the date you were diagnosed. And every cancer survivor will tell you hearing the news is gut wrenching. Your head spins; your heart skips a beat, and many people, including myself, go numb or break down in tears. Imagine being a beautiful young woman whose life is filled with promise hearing this news. Maybe you are newly married or a new mother. Maybe you are a fun loving single gal who looks forward to finding that someone special. The future and its possibilities seem limitless. Then cancer pays an unwelcome visit
Read more →Building a successful #specialtyfood brand is more than having a dollop and a dream @mightymelanie #fearlessfabulousyou Are you a dynamo in the kitchen with a dream of cooking up a successful food business? Does everyone tell you one of your signature dishes or a product you make should be packaged, bottled and sold to food hungry-for-new things consumers? According to the National Specialty Food Association sales of specialty foods are at a record high of $109 billion and account for nearly 15 percent of all U.S. retail food sales. Women are more likely to purchase specialty foods than men, according to a separate report by the Specialty Food
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