Marilu Henner's Blog, page 175

Featured recipe from Marilu's table * Winter roast chicken

When we want a down-home meal that pleases all the big eaters, this is one we turn to. It's a good choice for a weekend or whenever you have more time to hang around the kitchen. The prep work is minimal, and there's plenty of time while the chicken is roasting to make a salad and some side dishes (like those Brussels sprouts we posted on Monday).

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Winter Roast Chicken

Blue * Serves 4-6

1 large (4 pound) whole free-range chicken

3 Stalks of celery, chopped

1/2 large yellow onion, chopped

1 Tablespoon of dried Italian seasoning (marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, basil)

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon of olive oil

Preheat oven to 400F. Wash chicken and pat dry. Mix all other ingredients in a bowl. Fill the cavity of the chicken with the mixture, tie the legs together and rub with olive oil. Sprinkle with a little more Italian seasoning and reduce heat to 350F. Place chicken in a baking dish, breast down. Put a meat thermometer in the thigh, making sure it doesn't touch any bone. Roast for 20-30 minutes per pound, basting every 10-15 minutes. Chicken is done when the thermometer registers 175F-180F, and juices run clear. Let the chicken sit for 10 minutes before carving.

 

Winter exercise music

Since our earlier post was all about surviving winter, here's a winter song we like for exercise. Good for the treadmill, good for moving of any kind.

//www.marilu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/02 - White Winter Hymnal.mp3

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Amazon.com Widgets

 

Fight the winter blahs

If you live where late February and early March are the gray months, when winter gets tiring and spirits start to sag, then use these ideas to create your own inner warmth and sunshine.

Keep exercising. The endorphins created by exercise will keep your spirits lifted.

While you're at it, try to get some kind of outdoor exercise. Yes, you'll have to dress for it, and it might not be enough, but try it. Fresh air is uplifting.

When you're inside, enjoy the benefits of winter – hot soup, a crackling fire, snuggling, flannel pj's.

Don't hibernate. Invite friends over or go out and socialize. Winter is perfect for board games with friends.

Dress for the weather. The people who create fashion spreads in magazines don't know how to dress for "real" winter. Now that outerwear is on sale, pick up a new (really warm) coat in a bright color, and look for warm, waterproof boots with a nice tread. While you're at it, bright warm scarves, hats, mittens, and gloves are fun, too.

Get some vitamin D. If you're not near the equator, it's hard to get enough sun in the winter to make your own vitamin D, so be sure to supplement. And of course, get outside on sunny days.

Eat for a good mood. Skip the sugary, fatty "comfort" foods (there's no comfort in looking at the scale tomorrow!) and replace them with foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains, vegetables, and B vitamins.

Stay hydrated. Winter air is drying, so keep drinking that water. Your skin will love you for it.

Moisturize. It's a corollary to staying hydrated. Use a citrus-scented lotion for the aromatherapy benefit of a bright, awakening scent.

 

♥ Top 10 reasons to quit smoking ♥

Quitting significantly decreases risk for cancer, heart disease, stroke, and emphysema. No other reasons are necessary, but here are the rest anyway.

You'll look and feel better with whiter teeth, fresher breath, and stronger lungs.

Freedom from addiction – no more being controlled by cravings.

Quitting decreases the risk of premature facial wrinkles. (We can tell you're a smoker by the lines around your mouth.)

Quitting saves money – easily $2000 a year for a pack-a-day smoker.

You will no longer look and smell like a "loser." Smoking is not cool.

Eventually you'll have more energy. Try it and see!

You'll no longer contribute to second-hand smoke illnesses and deaths. A non-smoker married to a smoker has 30% greater risk for smoke-related illness (and death) than if they were married to a non-smoker.

You'll no longer have to hide it from some people (your boss, your kids, that cute guy you want to date, your clients…).

Smoking claims about 400,000 lives in the US every year. You don't want to be one of them.

and a bonus…

Your house, car, and clothes won't smell anymore. (Yes. They do.)

 

You could have had it all

Hey – is that you?

Could you have had it all?

Did you choose to have less than your heart desires? Less than you deserve?

You could have had it all. And when it comes to your health, you still have a chance to improve it. You may be living with a chronic illness or a common cold, but either way (or anything in between), you can be healthier tomorrow than you are today.

It all comes down to your daily choices. There are so many factors in your control when it comes to health. Take advantage of that, and choose the healthy option – whether that's a positive attitude, daily exercise, an extra vegetable at your meal, or skipping the coffee for a big glass of water.

Now get up and enjoy the next few minutes while you get moving. The beat of this song encourages bold movements, like kickboxing or squats. Whatever movement you choose, get into it.

//www.marilu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Rolling In The Deep.mp3

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Amazon.com Widgets

 

Featured recipe from Marilu's table * Brussels sprouts with vinegar-glazed onions

Are you getting tired of the same old side dishes? Try this one for something new and different. Brussels sprouts often get a bad rap, but really, they're delicious if properly prepared. They can stand up to bold flavors, so the vinegar-glazed onions are a great partner.

This side dish is also good for holiday meals.

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Brussels Sprouts with Vinegar-Glazed Onions

Blue * Serves 4

1 basket Brussels sprouts (about 10 ounces)

salt

1 Tablespoon non-dairy margarine

1 Tablespoon olive oil

freshly ground black pepper

1 small red onion

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Trim the outer leaves and stems from the Brussels sprouts and discard. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add Brussels sprouts and cook until tender but stlll bright green, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, and plunge into a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain well and cut in half lengthwise.

Heat 1/2 Tablespoon margarine and 1/2 Tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add Brussels sprouts and cook, tossing occasionally, until they are brown and crisp on the edges, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt adn pepper and transfer to a large bowl. Cover with foil to keep warm.

Cut the onion in half lengthwise ("pole cut"); then cut each half lengthwise in thin slices. Add the remaining margarine and oil to the pan over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted and transparent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the vinegar (stand back to avoid the fumes), and stir to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until vinegar is reduced and onions are glazed, about 30 seconds.

Add the onions to the Brussels sprouts and toss well. Serve immediately.

 

Spirit Sunday * You are what you…

"You are what you eat."

We've all heard that, and it makes sense, in a literal way. The food we consume becomes a part of us as it breaks down and feeds our cells.

But there's more. You are also what you think.

In the course of a year, almost all of your cells are replaced (you're a whole new person every year!). Think of the cells that are created in times of sadness, depression, or anger. According to ayurvedic medicine, the energy from those emotions becomes part of who you are. In the same way, cells that are created in times of joy, creativity, or celebration also become part of who you are. The belief affects your health.

Today, focus on being joyful, confident, and full of hope – and let today's cells bring those qualities to your future.

 

Gusto, baby!

We recently saw an excellent example of living with gusto, and we had to share it here. Gusto is a certain attitude, a certain way of going through your day, a way of being in the moment and taking charge of that moment.

This video was taken at a Jason Mraz ("Lucky," "I'm Yours") concert in Fortaleza, Brazil earlier this month. The video starts near the end of the song, when he goes to the side of the stage and invites a young woman from the audience to dance with him.

Now most of us would probably be a bit embarrassed to dance with a musician to one of his songs on his stage, but not Isabel. She went for it! She's having a blast, getting into the music and the dance, and then… every so often, you can see it in her eyes… she is totally aware that this could be embarrassing, but nope! Not going there, she's back in the moment. It's also obvious that Jason Mraz enjoys her total commitment to having fun with him.

Just think – Isabel could have missed out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But she went for it, and had a blast, and a memory (now preserved on the internet forever) she'll never forget. And seeing her joy? Neither will we.

How will you "just go for it" today?

 

Marilu teaching at Kripalu in July

Marilu will be teaching The Role of Your Life workshop at the world-renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health the weekend of July 1-4, 2011 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Treat yourself to an amazing health retreat and take the intensive Role of Your Life class with Marilu. There are also evening activities (a chanting concert and a salsa dance party are currently on the schedule for that weekend, as well as regular evening programs) and yoga classes for all experience levels. Oh, and the food is good, too. This is a great opportunity to experience one of the best health retreat centers in the world – with Marilu.

Call (toll-free) to register 1-866-200-5203

More information is available here.

 

Fitness Friday * Run a race

Sign up for a community 5K, 10K or triathlon. It's that time of year to get signed up and start training!

You don't have to be an iron man (or woman) to join a community race – you just need spirit and some determination! In fact, we know of a woman who conquered her fear of swimming by signing up for a triathlon… and then completing it. Now that's determination.

Many of these events are part of community celebrations, so there are lots of participants who just want to have fun. If you fall in that category (yay! finisher! instead of yay! winner!), then join them! Have some fun! And maybe you'll even get a t-shirt!