WELLNESS

My New Year goal for this year is WELLNESS.  Long ago I stopped making resolutions that were precise and specific; they pretty much set me up for failure.  General targets leave lots of room for varying degrees of success and those successes keep me inspired and motivated for future goals.

Transitioning from the holidays to this New Year has not been quite as smooth as I would have liked.  Don’t know what I did or when I did it, but somehow I stressed both my feet/ankles and both my hands/thumbs.  This has caused a pretty significant flare of arthritis pain and tendonitis and has delayed me doing all I intended.  

I got myself checked out medically, nothing dire, more or less further conditions of aging.  I been going to PT and OT and have been fitted with hand and feet braces.  I’m now well on the mend, finally.  I will probably sport some sort hand supports full time, am thinking to quilt or embroider covers so that they can match my outfits!!!  The ones for my feet/ankles will be for exercising only.

In part, because of this it has taken me this whole month of January to put all that I identified as steps to WELLNESS into place.  But I’ve done it!  And I made it before the month ended! Just!

For me, WELLNESS includes the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual, along with the physical.  So, I have an assortment of activities geared to all of these.  Here they are in no other order than how they show up on my calendar

• I have joined Weight Watchers, where I had had success in the past.  I don’t have a specific weight goal, rather I want to lose enough weight to get out of plus sizes and get out of my own way.  It is a realistic goal that I know I can achieve by year end.  I also this will give some relief to my feet and stop my blood pressure from creeping up.

• I have joined a gym.  This is not the first time, but I feel that this is going to be unlike so many other times.  I will pay my weekly fee AND actually use the facility, been there 3 times already!  I am starting off gently as my hands and feet recover with 3x a week gentle water classes in the warm water (ahhh) pool.  As the body parts get better I will add a mix of over-50 stretching/balance/yoga.

• I have joined the book group at my library.  I have been reading the selections for quite a few months, but now have arranged my schedule so that I can also attend the monthly meetings.  It is nice to gather with others and share impressions and opinions about something we have all read.  As all these activities settle I may look for another book group, I love reading and enjoy discussing what I have read.

• I am attending my churches weekly Bible Study group.  I avoided this and, frankly, dismissed it for a long time.  When I lived and worked in Boston I belonged to a Scripture Prayer group based at the Paulist Center.  My rather superior and disapproving comment to myself was, I don’t want to just “study” Scripture, I want to pray it!  Not having a strong background in either the Old or New Testament (I was raised Catholic, after all) I think this was more my way to deflect the intimidation I felt for those who are well versed in scripture.  Well, surprise, surprise (she says, tongue in cheek) I really enjoy these weekly sessions.  And having the insights these discussion bring makes the Sunday reading so much more meaningful.

• I have joined 2 quilt guilds that I have been following on the Internet for a number of years.  Gathering with other quilters and seeing their work has really inspired and motivated me.  I began a baby quilt, who knows how many years ago; I suspect the intended child may now be in college!  Well, after a few more hours today it will be done.  And then I am onto another incomplete project.  I have committed to finishing at least four “in progress” projects before starting a new one or buying on single fat quarter!

• I volunteered to mentor a participant in a financial literacy program.  This is run by the non-profit, “Budget Buddies”.  I am so looking forward to being helpful and useful.

In addition to these regularly scheduled activities I’ve enrolled in one of the Life Long Learning classes at Norther Essex Community College and, if that is a positive experience, I shall enroll in others.  

I got a wonderful “Game of Thrones” coloring book for Christmas and spend time relaxing and coloring.   

My churches’ craft group is resuming in Feb and I look forward to our doing a group project.   

I’ve really gotten into making soups which I enjoy and enjoy sharing as I am incapable of making less than 2 gallons. I just tried a new one, Butternut Squash and Apple - so good, will post that recipe here.

I’ll not bore you with the week by week details, but as I complete things or reach milestones I will share my successes.   

This year I turn 70, it is quite conceivable that I have another 10 years or more ahead of me.  I want to go into this next phase with a feeling of overall WELLNESS which will energize me and allow me to do whatever intrigues or presents itself.  Probably not bungee jumping, but I can’t rule out a zip-line!

An Actual Recipe

 For this New Year I will try to post at least one actual recipe every month.   I tend to make things up as I go along and don't always note precise amount.  If a measurement seems off to you, use your judgement.  I think one of the things I especially enjoy when cooking is the opportunity to amend, improvise, or have one recipe inspire something completely different.


 This was the basis for a holiday brunch last year and I am thinking to do a repeat in the near future. The prep can be done way ahead of time, which makes less work day of.  Also, amounts can be increased to serve a medium to large group.  Hope you all like it!

PEAR AND ALMOND FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

1 large Sliced Cooked Pear

Challah Bread

1 stick of Butter

1/3 tube of Almond Paste

3 Eggs

½ cup Milk

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon Cinnamon

1 tablespoon Brown Sugar

1 teaspoon Almond extract

½ cup Sliced Almonds

This would serve four.

Have all ingredients at room temperature.

Sliced Cooked Pear – if using fresh fruit, peel and core the pear and cut into slices.  Lay on microwaveable plate, cover with microwave vented plate cover and microwave for 1 minute.  Check doneness.  Continue to microwave until tender, but not mushy.  If using canned fruit, rinse off syrup and drain.

Cut the Challah bread into 8 ¼ inch slices.  Lightly butter one side of ½ of the slices.  Slice the almond paste into the thinnest slices possible.  Roll thinner or press with fingers.  Break each slice of almond paste into a few pieces and gently press into the butter on the bread.  Lay a second slice of bread on top.  Cut each “sandwich” in half.

Beat eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.

Place pats of butter (about ½ of what it left) around the bottom of an 8 x 10 x 1 & ½ casserole pan.  Layer the pear slices.  Sprinkle with ½ of the almond slices.  Dip each ½ sandwich in egg batter, turning and then lay in pairs on top of the sliced pears, overlapping each other a bit.  Sprinkle the top with the remaining almonds

Melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan; add brown sugar, almond extract.  When sugar is completely dissolved, drizzle over the top of the bread and almonds.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Remove from refrigerator when setting oven temperature to 350 allowing it to come to room temperature while oven pre-heats.  Bake in middle of oven at 30 – 40 minutes, top of bread will be toasted and golden brown.

Suggested condiments:    Pear Compote, Brandied Blackberry Preserves, English Clotted Cream, Maple Syrup.

Suggested Cocktail:             Blackberry Champagne Royale

BLACKBERRY CHAMPAGNE ROYALE

Place 3 Frozen Blackberries in the bottom of a chilled Champagne glass.  Add 2 tablespoons of blackberry brandy.  Fill the rest of glass with champagne.

PEAR COMPOTE

3 large ripe pears, peeled, cored, sliced

1 orange, peeled cut into small pieces

Brown sugar

Lemon juice

Cinnamon

Ginger

Blackberry brandy

Brandied Blackberry Preserves

In medium saucepan, combine Preserves, brandy, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, & ginger.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 minute.

Place pears and orange in a 1 ½ quart covered casserole.  Pour blackberry mixture over the fruit.  Cover and bake at 325 for 1 or until pears are very tender, almost, but not quite mushy.  Using a sharp knife cut fruit into small pieces.  Best served warm.

Serving suggestions:

Condiment                             French toast and Pancakes

Dessert                                    Topped with whipped or clotted cream.  Or a topping for pound cake.