This time of year, it can be very difficult to keep up with it with all the hustle and bustle from the holidays. With Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all in a row, it's easy to get worn down and not even realize it. There's cooking, decorating, shopping, and gatherings. The sun has been going down earlier for less time to get out in the sunshine and get vitamin D for your immune system. It all adds up. We all get tired and burned out. I naturally start looking for more ways to re-energize myself.
This weeks recipe is a recommendation from a friend of mine. Thank you K. The recipe is from juliasalbum.com you may choose to add cranberries and pecans to your recipe to make it fancy for holiday dinners.
Ingredients:
2 bags of Brussel sprouts
2 small butternut squash
4 tbsp. sugar free maple syrup
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
4 tbsp. olive oil divided in half
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. cinnamon
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400°.
Steam the brussels sprouts for 5 to 10 minutes. This makes them easier to slice in half.
Remove all the skin from the butternut squash and slice them into 1 inch cubes.
Place the sliced brussels sprouts in a plastic container with 2 tablespoons of olive oil; and shake to coat.
Spread the brussels sprouts out on an aluminum lined baking sheet with the shiny side facing down.
Repeat the same process with two tablespoons of olive oil, butternut squash, cinnamon, and garlic.
Spread the butternut squash out on a separate aluminum lined baking sheet.
Place the two trays in the oven for 20 minutes.
Pull the pans out and flip the vegetables.
Return the pans to the oven for 20 more minutes.
Pull out the pans and mix the vegetables in a large bowl.
Add the salt, pepper, and sugar-free maple syrup to the bowl and mix.
Source: juliasalbum.com
As a child, I used to detest Brussel sprouts. The family dog, duchess, used to rescue me from having to eat them at the holidays. I’m sure my mother wonders when the aliens swapped her child for me. Now I adore Brussels sprouts. So let’s look at how brussels sprouts help rejuvenate you....They:
Have lots of nutrients.
Are loaded with antioxidants.
Might be able to prevent cancer.
Have plenty of fiber.
Are an excellent source of vitamin K.
May assist with keeping health blood sugar levels.
Are one of the best sources of plant sourced ALA omega-3's.
Might reduce inflammation in the body.
Are high in vitamin C.
Can be easily added to your diet.
Source: "Ten Ways Brussel Sprouts Benefit Your Health"
Healthline 09/18/2017
This will give our bodies plenty of building materials to repair our bodies from the wear and tear of the holidays. Now we should add in a bit of extra rest to allow your body to actually use the nutrients. I work in more self care the best I can this time of year. I double down going into the New Year. My gift to you this year is this bonus recipe:
Peppermint Lavender Bath Oil
Ingredients:
3/4 oz. jojoba oil
1/4 oz. sweet almond oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
1 oz. blue or brown glass bottle
Directions:
1.) Put the jojoba oil in the bottle with peppermint and lavender.
2.) Cap the bottle and shake to mix.
3.) Reopen the bottle and add sweet almond oil.
4.) Close the bottle and mix.
With the cold air, our skin gets really dry during this time of year. You will want to test a small area of your skin first. Different skin types react differently to different oils. I apply the oil to my wet skin when I first get out of the shower to dilute it. Then I use a towel designated for oil skin treatments to sit in until the oil absorbs into my skin. This doesn’t just work for diabetics. It works for anyone with dry skin issues. It worked well for my mom while she was going through chemo. You will just want to be very cautious with the smell of the essential oil. During chemotherapy, patients usually have an extremely strong sense of smell that will make them sick to their stomach from certain smells. She found she could tolerate lemon oil while going through chemo.
I’m off to go enjoy my homemade bath oils, so my skin doesn't get to be as rough as this little pig's hair and skin. I hope you enjoy this recipe. Please comment, like, share, and come back next week for more recipes, ideas, and tips. Subscribe to the website, if you would like weekly email reminders to add more recipes to your recipe book.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice, but a compilation of research from medical sites. Make sure to see your doctor and have up to date lab work.