The Olivique Olive Oil-Love At First Bite

Eating good food is a joyful experience for me. It’s like basking in a symphony of flavors. So, I’m always thrilled when I encounter a new product that performs so well it makes my palette sing. Such is the case with The Olivique, a new brand of Spanish Mediterranean Extra Virgin Olive Oil. For me it was love at first bite. This flavorful oil is so delicious, I’ve been incorporating it into just about every dish I conjure up.

What makes it so special?

Flavor and simplicity. There are  four distinct varieties from which to choose: Arbequina, Picual, Koroneiki and Cornicabra.  All four are subtly textured and their unique flavors range from a woody herb blend to a peppery finish. (You can visit The Olivique web site for a full description of all four varieties.) Each one brings out the richness of a dish without overpowering it. That, my friends, is an impressive feat!

Currently, I’m smitten with the Arbequina, a delicate and fruity blend flavored with apples and almonds.  Try it with my simple recipe, Sautéed Scallops over Spaghetti Squash.  You can also drizzle it over freshly grilled fish: Amazing! Or be adventurous with any recipe of your choice.

Calling all foodies!

Anyone who is a lover of good food will love this product. These olive oils are delicious.

Health conscious? The oils are also beneficial for your health. High in oleic acid, they’ve been credited with improving heart and liver performance and overall health. So, tasty and healthy. Does it get any better than that?

Where does this delicious olive oil come from?

Just like its unique flavors, the location of its source is also unique. The Olivique is produced in the Old Monastery of El Bercial de San Rafael in Toledo, Spain. Local family farms provide the olives which are sourced  from trees up to one hundred years old or more. Some of the older orchards are still harvested by hand.

The Olivique prides itself on the purity of its product and their label says it all. “Truth, Simplicity & Olive Oil”

I couldn’t agree more.

The good news is, you don’t have to travel to Spain to find The Olivique.

WHERE TO BUY

Visit The Olivique web site for location info

DISCLAIMER–As a food and fitness blogger, I often receive free samples to review but I am never paid for my opinions. The views expressed here are based solely on personal experience with the products and my interactions with the company’s staff. Your experiences and sentiments may differ from my own.

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Something’s Brewing in Moorpark, CA

Lovers of craft brew know that a good beer fresh out of the tap is a joyful experience. And we love exploring new breweries. If you’re a brew lover like me, and you probably are if you’re reading this, I have news for you. Something new and wonderful is brewing in this neck of the woods.

What is it about craft beer that makes it so unique? Seekers of a good brew are so passionate about it, some are actually inspired to become brew masters themselves. Establishing a brewery in Southern California can be tricky business, though. Logistics are stricter in some places than others. Many businesses are buried before they even have a chance to get off the ground. Los Angeles is a good example of that. Fortunately, that’s not the case in Ventura and Orange Counties where breweries are a booming business.

This weekend, we found a tasty gem in Moorpark, CA, the Enegren Brewing Company.

The first thing we noticed was how inviting the place is. Housed in an industrial space hidden away from the street, the open space layout creates a very relaxed vibe. And even though the decor is sparse and industrial, it’s also warm and inviting. On one side of the room are two rows of gleaming brew tanks that honor the brew masters’ families. Each tank is named after a parent or spouse.

Although the place was busy, ample seating was available. We had our choice to sit at the bar, a long community-style table or one of the few more intimate 4-top tables.

Service was quick, and the brew staff was both knowledgeable and proud of their beer, as they should be. The variety of choices is vast enough to please any brew fan.

Flight pours are both generous and reasonably priced, and everything on my flight was impressively flavorful.

The Enegren Brewing Company is a must for brew lovers.

Be sure to check their calendar for special events. Different food trucks are available Wednesday through Sunday and sometimes they have live music.

Recommended

The Dun Cow Milk Stout  (on nitro) – So smooth, not to be missed!


The Lightest One, a German-Style Helles Lager – Easy drinking


Golden Spur Saison – Clean and fresh


Valkyrie, a German-Style Amber known as Altbier – Old school taste!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Enegren Brewing Company

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Tricks to an Easy Switch to Daylight Saving Time

Check out this great article I found on Daylight Savings time!

written by: Michael Gollust / Health.com/Mar 10, 2016

Warmer temperatures, longer days and the scramble to file your taxes point to one thing: spring is around the corner, and with it, the start of Daylight Saving Time. That means on Sunday, March 12 (at 2 a.m.), it’s time to turn your clocks ahead one hour to “spring forward.”

But it pays to be prepared. “Compared to the fall time change, most people actually have a harder time adjusting when we ‘spring forward,’ because we’re losing an hour of sleep,” explains sleep specialist and clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD.

Thankfully, though, there a few easy tweaks you can make to your routine to make the segue to DST smooth and easy.

Step back before you spring forward
More than one third of Americans are chronically sleep deprived, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If you’re in this set, it probably won’t be difficult for you to fall asleep at the new time,” Breus says, “but be sure to set your clock ahead before going to sleep on Saturday, March 12.” That way, seeing the lost hour up front will motivate you to go to bed earlier, rather than bumming you out the next morning when you wake up.

If you’re not sleep deprived, you can keep yourself on track by drawing back your bedtime gradually this week. “On the Wednesday before the time change, go to bed 15 minutes earlier,” Breus suggests. “On Thursday, go to bed another 15 minutes earlier, and another 15 the next two nights. That means that by Saturday, you’ll be going to bed an hour early and will have an easier adjustment the next morning.”

Got kids? They need extra help sticking to good sleep habits since they’re less attuned to the hands on the clock and more to their internal timekeepers. “If they get to stay up until 11pm on Friday night, make it 10pm,” says Breus. “Since they’re losing the hour the next day, they need to go to bed earlier so that on Sunday night, they’ll be set up for a good night’s sleep before school on Monday.”

Take stock of sleep habits
This year’s time change coincides with the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week, so it’s a great occasion to give your sleep habits a quick reboot.
That means turning off electronic devices at least and hour before bedtime (the blue light can interfere with slumber), avoiding eating and drinking (particularly caffeine and alcohol) just before bed, and recommitting to a consistent bedtime ritual (which may include a warm bath, gentle stretching or yoga, or jotting down reminders and worries on a pad of paper so you don’t carry them with you into dreamland).

“If exercise relaxes you, the extra hour of evening light we get in March gives you more opportunity to get outside to exercise,” Breus says. “Just remember to keep a three-hour window between your sweat session and bedtime so you have plenty of time to wind down.” On the other hand, if your workouts jazz you up, “you should keep doing them in the morning, time change or not, because you don’t want that energy boost to lead to insomnia,” Breus says.

Stay safe on the roads
This is one day out of the year when Breus advises seeking some flexibility on your morning commute, particularly if you drive. “Ask your boss if you can come in to work a little late the Monday after the time change, or ask if you can work from home.” Research has shown the Monday after the spring time change to be particularly dangerous for drivers relative to other Mondays through the year. “It’s not a bad idea to avoid rush hour on Monday morning when roads will be filled with sleep-deprived people running late for work or school,” Breus says.
Just remember: even though it takes a little work up front to get down with Daylight Saving Time, the payoff—longer spring and summer nights—is always worth it.

This article was originally posted in March 2016. Some information was updated to conform to 2017. Original article can be found at http://time.com/4252688/daylight-saving-time-2016/

 

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Fresh Herbs with Benefits

“An herb is the friend of physicians and the praise of cooks.” – Charlemagne

It’s true, fresh herbs not only add flavor and color to dishes, they may also benefit your health. Fresh herbs contain a ton of vitamins and minerals. Basil, parsley, thyme, lavender and rosemary are particularly beneficial. If you know me at all, you understand my need to throw in the fact that organic is best, especially if you are using them frequently.

Fresh herbs are fairly easy to grow in pots, which makes them quickly accessible and much less expensive than the market.

Buyer beware: If you are getting your herbs from the supermarket or even the farmer’s market, please be aware that not all growers are created equal. Be a detective, ask questions and read labels.

Basil

 

An article in The New York Times recently credited basil as a top-notch source of vitamin K with healthy amounts of iron, calcium and vitamin A. According to the Times, Vitamin K is needed for blood to clot, while iron prevents anemia and calcium promotes strong bones. Vitamin A helps night vision, among things. Fresh basil also has anti-inflammatory properties and its oils may fend off some harmful bacteria.

Parsley

Parsley is loaded with powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. In fact, fresh parsley has almost twice the carotenoid content of carrots and the same amount found in kale and red peppers, reports the Christian Broadcasting Network. Parsley is also high in Vitamin K and Vitamin C, another antioxidant that also helps wounds heal and aids immunity. It is also a good source of iron and folate, a B vitamin that is particularly important during pregnancy.

Rosemary

According to the August 23, 2012 issue of Phytotherapy Research, rosemary has been reported to decrease blood sugar levels. Other research that was conducted by scientists at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, California suggests the herb may help protect against the oxidative damage associated with macular degeneration. Fresh rosemary may also have cancer-protecting properties and has been shown to help support the immune system.

Tips

To enjoy the healthful benefits of fresh herbs, University of Nebraska Extension recommends cooking with them. For example, fresh basil is delicious in pesto and rosemary, thyme, and even culinary lavender can be added to chicken, fish, pork and vegetable dishes, as well as soups and grain dishes. Fresh herbs are more flavorful than dried herbs, so use three times as much in recipes and buy them close to the time you plan to use them. If growing your own fresh herbs in a garden, the University of Nebraska says morning is the best time to pick them before the heat of the day sets in. Bump up the taste and your benefit your health by adding fresh herbs to food.

Feel Calmer, Lessen Cramps and Reduce Migraines With Lavender

Some of the health benefits of culinary lavender as an herb is in combination with marjoram, orange, and rosemary to add exotic fragrance to savory and sweet foods and at the same time feel calmer from the lavender but stimulated from the rosemary.

Health benefits such as possible relief from migraine and menstrual cramps or anxiety combine with culinary fragrances in foods when lavender is used. But use only in tiny amounts.

NOTE: A small study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 concluded that lavender and tea oils in some shampoos, soaps, and lotions may cause gynecomastia (breast development) in males, according to the article,  Lavender Herb – Health Benefits and Precautions.

Boost Brainpower With Rosemary

Here’s a great reason to keep a pot of fragrant rosemary in your kitchen: Recently, scientists at the Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre in the U.K. reported that having higher blood levels of one of this herb’s main chemical compounds—absorbed from its aroma—was linked to the speed and accuracy of study participants’ cognitive performance. The higher the level of the compound in the blood, the better the outcome.

Ginger to the Rescue When the Sniffles Show Up

Ward off tummy upset with raw ginger

Did you know that ginger is known to sooth a sore throat and can also zap those nasty flu viruses? In addition, ginger is  a natural way to relieve pain and reduce fever.

Soothe Your Colon With Peppermint

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 20 percent of Canadians and many more women than men. Last year, scientists at the University of Adelaide in Australia showed how peppermint helps to relieve IBS by activating an anti-pain channel in the colon. It reduced pain-sensing fibers, particularly those activated by eating chili and mustard.

Fight Inflammation With Oregano

Research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that when mice with inflamed paws were treated with oregano’s active ingredient—beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP)—the swelling subsided in 70 percent of cases. E-BCP links to structures in a cell’s membrane, inhibiting the production of substances that signal inflammation.

Get Your Antioxidants From Fresh Thyme

Sprinkle fresh thyme on salmon or chicken that’s headed for the grill: Among fresh herbs, thyme has the second-highest amount of antioxidants (sage has slightly more), according to its oxygen radical absorbance capacity—a measure of a food’s ability to fight off disease-causing free radicals in our body. Thyme is also a very good source of vitamins A and C, as well as iron and dietary fiber.

I hope after reading this article you will decide to incorporate more fresh herbs into your kitchen and reap the health benefits. Of course, one of the easiest ways to do this is by bringing My Sage Gourmet’s Herbed Seasoning Blends into your kitchen.

I’m here to help.

Book your Kitchen Coaching appointment today!

To your health,

Signature

DISCLAIMER– The views expressed here are based solely on personal experience with the products and my interactions with the company’s staff. Your experiences and sentiments may differ from my own.

 

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I Am In Mulberry Love

 

One of my favorite things about being a nutrition consultant is testing new products and sharing them with my peeps.

Let’s face it, foodies are always on the lookout for something to love, but when something has deliciousness and is on the healthy side too, well even better.

I have fallen in Mulberry Love! When I first tasted Mulberry Love’s Organic Green Tea with Organic Mulberry Juice, I thought there is no way something can taste this sweet and delicious and not be loaded with sugar. After all, how many times have you bought a drink that said all natural or 100% juice, only to see the list of ingredients looking like this: water, apple juice from concentrate, grape juice from concentrate, then hidden toward the end of the label is the star of the show?

So deceptive and so frustrating.

Mulberry Love Organic Green TeaWell, I am happy to report that this was far from being the case with Mulberry Love’s Organic Mulberry and Green Tea.  The ingredient label is short and sweet: Organic Green Tea and Black Mulberry Juice. That’s it!  No extras, no fillers, no kidding!  The sugar content is a reasonable 7 grams (1.5 teaspoons) per 8.5 ounce serving, and only 40 calories per serving.  Just the right size, and delicious too. I was instantly a fan.

Packed full of antioxidants, Mulberry Love is at the top of the list when it comes to superfruit drinks.

Try it today.

I recommend a glass while you’re cooking up my Grilled Cod with Mulberry Fennel Glaze.

 

In Southern California, Mulberry Love’s Organic Green Tea with Organic Mulberry Juice is available at Gelsons, Vons and Whole Foods, to name a few.

For more locations, check out the company’s store locator

 

DISCLAIMER–As a food and fitness blogger, I often receive free samples to review but I am never paid for my opinions. The views expressed here are based solely on personal experience with the products and my interactions with the company’s staff. Your experiences and sentiments may differ from my own. 

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