There are a few recipes that just say “Irish!” and this is one of them. Try our simple, healthier version this year. Soda bread is best eaten warm, the day it was made.

Irish Soda Bread
Green ~ makes 1 loaf

1-1/4 cup to 2-1/2 cup soy milk, or other milk substitute (quantity will vary depending on the flour’s absorbency)
1-2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cups unbleached flour
1-1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon sucanat
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup currants, optional

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Put 2 generous Tablespoons apple cider vinegar in a glass measuring cup and fill with milk substitute to the 2-1/2 cup line. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5 minutes while you mix the dry ingredients.

Put dry ingredients into a bowl, and mix well (dry) with whisk. Soda must be thoroughly distributed throughout mixture.

Make a well in the center and add half the soured milk. Stir, adding more soured milk until dough looks fairly dry but is squashy. You may need to add the full amount (but you may not need to add it all!). Stir in the currants, if using.

Turn onto floured board and knead gently for no more than thirty seconds (hardly at all!). Over kneading will result in a tough bread!!

Shape the dough into a circle with a diameter of 8 or 9 inches. Cut a cross on top and place on a floured or parchment covered baking sheet. Bake for 45 or 50 minutes. Wrap in a dishtowel after removing from oven. This will give the bread a softer crust and maintain the texture. Enjoy!

Refresh your spirit by connecting with nature. Take advantage of every opportunity to get outside and breathe fresh air, hear birds singing, and see sunlight play on the water.

Photo by J. Lacy

Here are a few different ways you can burn 100 calories. Remember that burning calories is only one of the benefits of exercise – you’re also toning and firming your muscles, stoking your metabolic furnace, and increasing seratonin.

• WALK * a brisk stroll on level ground for 25 minutes
• RUN * a slow and steady jog on level ground for 12 minutes
• BIKE * a nice ride around your neighborhood for 17 minutes
• DANCE * easy moves and simple steps for 20 minutes
• ELLIPTICAL TRAINER * steady movement at a comfortable pace for 15 minutes
• SWIM FREESTYLE * a consistent crawl stroke for 15 minutes
• ROWING MACHINE * steady movement with a good flow for 25 minutes

These numbers are based on a 135-pound woman, at a level of effort that breaks a sweat, but a conversation is still fairly easy. Well, don’t talk while you swim.

Photo by Sanja Gjenero

Great posture equals great body language. With great posture you appear to be toned, balanced, and proportional, and you exude an air of confidence. And, believe it or not, you’re actually getting a workout throughout your day, because your muscles are constantly reminded to be in a healthy state of tension that is actually stimulating your muscles, rather than causing stress.

~Marilu Henner, Wear Your Life Well

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… to start your weekend.

Get up and dance!
(No eating!)

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Not using your old cell phone(s) anymore? Donate your phone to a charity or sell it to a third-party recycler. You can often take a tax deduction for the phone’s value, or get cash from a recycler. Charities to check out – your local women’s shelter or domestic abuse/crime victim’s hotline, Cellphones for Soldiers, or through your wireless retailer (ask for an envelope).

Less than 1 percent of cell phones are currently recycled, and there are 500 million used cell phones not being used – in the USA alone. Your old phone can help someone else. Why not make that happen?

The more you taste foods in their purest form, the more you develop a better appreciation and understanding of the difference between “real” food and “dead” food.

Think of real food as food that gives life. It has the right balance of vitamins and nutrients because it has grown and evolved in nature. Real foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish – anything that’s life-giving. Real food is often called “whole food” because what you eat is very close to the way it appears in nature.

Dead food is anything that no longer resembles the way it originally appeared in nature. Processing takes most of the nutrients and enzymes out of food. To make up for the loss of nutrients, food manufacturers add synthetic vitamins and minerals. These synthetics are not nearly as healthy or beneficial as their natural counterparts. In fact, they can sometimes be harmful. Processed foods usually have added refined sugar, extra salt, and chemicals used as preservatives and flavor enhancers. This is necessary because processed, dead, de-natured food is also flavorless. Along with being unhealthy, sugar, salt, and chemical enhancers dull your taste buds to “real” flavors. This leads to a greater desire for more processed foods to get the fake taste and satisfaction you now crave.

How much of your food today has been real, whole food? How much has been dead, processed food? Challenge yourself to add more real food (and subtract dead food) from your meals and snacks. Let us know how you’re doing!

Try this lighter spring version of guacamole. Who said you can’t have Mexican food for St. Patrick’s Day?

Sweet Pea Guacamole
Green (of course!) ~ serves 6

1 one pound bag of frozen peas
1/2 large avocado
1 teaspoons of fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (optional)
salt and pepper

Fill a medium saucepan half way with water and the peas. Heat on high to boil for 3 to 5 minutes or until peas are soft. Drain and set aside. Cut the avocado into chunks. In a food processor add the cooked peas and mix until smooth. Add avocado chunks and continue to process, again until smooth. Add lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper, then process a few more seconds until smooth. Chill for 1 to 2 hours, and serve with chips.

Recipe from Marilu Henner
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Photo by Yali Shi

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