Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Healthy Chicken and Vegetables

This is a "recipe" given to my class by one of our nutrition professors.

You will need:

  • chicken
  • fresh lemon
  • 1/2 cup of white wine
  • any combination of chopped vegetables (peppers, carrots, celery, chard, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, red onion, etc.) See below for specific directions. I suggest using 3 - 4 cups of veggies per chicken breast (or equivalent).
  • dry or fresh herbs such as rosemary and/or thyme
  • chopped raw garlic or garlic salt/powder, if desired
  • extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle AFTER cooking
 Generally, here's how things go:

Juice the lemon into a large stainless steel pot (e.g., Dutch oven). Be sure to remove any pips. Add the chicken, garlic, herbs, and wine. Cook so that neither side is pink. Simmer, adding the chopped vegetables, starting with the ones that take longest to cook. You can start with chard/kale stems that are chopped into small pieces (or freeze them in small pieces for soups or stews later). Also, chopped broccoli stems, carrots, and celery are good candidates for the "first pass". Then add chopped peppers, broccoli florets, zucchini pieces, etc. About 2 - 3 minutes before chicken and vegetables are cooked to your liking, add in the chard or kale. Once these leaves are brightly coloured and tender, remove the pot from the stove and serve. Drizzle with olive oil.

Note: cooking with wine and lemon juice means you don't need to use any oils to prevent sticking. If at any time the simmering pot starts becoming dry, you can add a small amount of water or wine.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Children of the Tsunami

This is a poignant and remarkable documentary. Such charming and beautiful children who will make you want to hug the children in your life and keep them safe. 

Friday, May 04, 2012

What Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones? | Mother Jones

What Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones? | Mother Jones

Fascinating history of Detroit.

Andrew Coyne: Canada's stealth prime minister

Andrew Coyne: Canada's stealth prime minister


Even the government's most ambitious plans, such as the simultaneous negotiation of free trade treaties with virtually every major trade bloc in the world, or its top-to-bottom reform of immigration policy, are presented as faits accompli, unveiled in rapid succession without much opportunity for consultation - or for op-position to form.
It may be a majority, in other words, but it's still playing the minority game: only it is no longer the opposition parties it is attempting to outfox, but the public. 
Time was when a government that wished to implement some major reform would first issue a green paper, to kick off discussion; then a white paper, containing more finely tuned proposals; and only then proceed to legislation. But this government has no wish to win hearts and minds. The Harper government's strategy, rather, is to take ground in a series of lightning-fast guerrilla raids; to neutralize opposition, as by the defunding of advocacy groups, rather than to rally public opinion to its side.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Led by the child who simply knew - The Boston Globe

Led by the child who simply knew - The Boston Globe


This article is a hard read because the thought of transgender children is a challenging one. To be honest, I would have been opposed to aiding a minor in transitioning genders, until I read this article. It is thought-provoking and informative. Full kudos to the parents of this child for trusting, respecting, and accepting her.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Do Bach flower remedies have a ro... [Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007] - PubMed - NCBI

Do Bach flower remedies have a ro... [Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007] - PubMed - NCBI


"The use of Bach flower remedies has brought about positive emotional changes in the majority of clients in this study. Whilst it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion as to significance of the therapeutic value of these remedies in relation to pain above that of a placebo, the results are encouraging. In particular, relief of negative emotions and promotion of positive thought including how clients opened up about, and dealt with, emotional issues. The indication is that potential for Bach flower remedies as a therapeutic agent in the relief of pain does exist and is worthy of further qualitative and quantitative investigation through robust, purpose-designed studies to replicate and progress the results shown here."

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Gluten-free banana-chocolate-chip bread

1 stick butter (one quarter-cup)

1 cup sugar

1.5 – 2.0 cups applesauce

2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 4 bananas)

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 and one-quarter cups flour (can use gluten-free flour from Bulk Barn – you can't tell the difference)

milk chocolate chips to taste, one-quarter to one-half a cup (optional)


In large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add bananas, eggs, and applesauce. Combine baking soda and flour. Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix, stirring just enough to moisten the flour. Stir in the chocolate chips.


Pour batter into 2 greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 55 mins or until bread tests done. Run knife around edge and turn out immediately. Cool on wire racks.

Effect of delayed versus early umbilical cord clamping on neonatal outcomes and iron status at 4 months: a randomised controlled trial | BMJ

Effect of delayed versus early umbilical cord clamping on neonatal outcomes and iron status at 4 months: a randomised controlled trial | BMJ


Babies whose umbilical cords were clamped 3 mins or more had better iron levels at 4 months of age compared to those whose cords were clamped within 10 seconds of birth. FYI.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory // University of Notre Dame

Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory // University of Notre Dame


James J. McKenna is probably THE expert on co-sleeping. It's a longer video interview (12 mins) but his discussion of bed-sharing is thoroughly considered and articulate. A pleasure to watch someone who is so good at what he does.