You know how everyone has that member of the family that is estranged – or just … strange?

Make time (and space) for that family member during this holiday season. Include him/her in your holiday plans.

So that person is difficult. Or annoying. Or requires special care. Most of the time we learn something from experiences that are a little bit trying – and it’s almost always something about ourselves.

If you can’t invite this relative to your home or your celebration, then make sure you at least call him/her on that special day.

Prepping For “60 Minutes” from Marilu on Vimeo.

Brussels sprouts may just top the list of least favorite vegetables. It’s too bad, because, prepared properly, they can be amazingly delicious.

The recipe below is for roasted Brussels sprouts. And they really are amazing. All testers (who were initially skeptical) agreed that they were surprised by just how amazing, and also? No leftovers. And a request to have them again soon.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Green * Serves 4

1 pound Brussels sprouts, stem ends trimmed, large ones cut in quarters and smaller ones cut in half
1 red Bartlett pear, cored and cut into 12 wedges
2 shallots, cut in eighths
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or 3-4 fresh thyme sprigs
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Sea salt & fresh ground pepper
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 425F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the Bsprouts, pear, and shallots on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and toss gently.

Roast about 30 minutes or until the Brussels sprouts are tender and browned. Toss with lemon juice and serve.

Copyright © 2009 Hennergy, Inc. All rights reserved.

We all want to look good and feel better about ourselves. Self-improvement isn’t just about aesthetics. “You” are not your body. “You” live within your body, and it’s important to make that distinction. There are so many areas of your life you can be proud of, but it all stems from within.

~ Marilu Henner, Total Health Makeover

If a journey implies a destination, then a destination implies a direction, and a direction implies decisions. But every decision we make entails the limiting of options. To choose one road, we must reject another. As Thomas Aquinas observed, ‘Every choice is a renunciation.’ Which means that to move forward with a genuine sense of purpose and direction, we must make sacrifices.

~ Steve Chalke

We see (and hear) a lot of diet martyrs – people who are miserable with their food choices, and sharing that misery with the rest of us.

We prefer to take responsibility for our decisions. To be positive about what we are choosing to do, instead of negative about what we are choosing not to do.

Here’s the positive *
I am eating nourishing, natural foods that keep me healthy.

Here’s the diet martyr *
I can’t have that, it’s not on my plan.

Recognize that you are making the choice. Then own it, and enjoy it. For real.

Isn’t that a great word? It’s from this song, which was recommended by member Sally. She thought it was a good fit for our current online class It’s a Wrap ~ The Time is WOW!

How do YOU get supercalifragisexy?

Is it your clothes?
Your hair and makeup?
The way you walk into a room?
Your attitude?
All of the above?

Go for it – play the song and show a little attitude. Strut your stuff. You are supercalifragisexy!

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Most Americans don’t wash their hands often enough – or long enough – to prevent disease. There’s no excuse for not doing it right.

Use warm water. Use soap. Wash for a minimum of 20 seconds. That’s moving your hands against each other, the backs of your hands and the fronts, and even between your fingers. Wash like a surgeon.

What’s more, we tend to lie about how often we wash, suggesting that we know what we should be doing but don’t always do it. Studies have shown that people will say they wash after using the restroom, but video evidence shows that at least one-third of people using public restrooms skip the handwashing. Eeeeewwwwww.

Wash after you sneeze or cough (into your elbow, please, not into your hand). And of course, wash before you get anywhere near food, either to eat it or to prepare it.

We pick up the bugs that cause colds, flu, and other infectious diseases by contact with someone who is already infected or by touching surfaces that harbor germs. Good handwashing is the best defense against all those germs.

Photo by William Stadler

Check your local library for exercise DVDs!

You can usually check them out for a week or so. You’ll get to try all kinds of new routines and instructors without spending any money, and this time of year is all about budgeting.

We’re so proud of member Linda Bianchi. Her Christmas CD is being released at a holiday party in New York next week. If you’re in the area, drop by to purchase a copy of Christmas in New York!

If you can’t make the release party, you can buy it on Linda’s website. You can also sample a couple of tracks there.

Hot off the presses just in time for the holidays – CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK CD by LINDA BIANCHI – the popular New York singer (Mets fans vote her as the best singer of the Star Spangled Banner at their games year after year). Linda sings Christmas favorites old and new in the jazzy, pop style that is all her own. This CD is going to be a holiday gift favorite for years to come.

*** Release party details ***
Friday, December 11 * 1-8 PM
Saturday, December 12 * 12-4 PM
235 West 48th Street, Suite 34E (between Broadway & 8th Avenue)
Hosted by Dr. Shelley Reciniello
Christmas in New York CD available for purchase (cash, checks with ID)

In keeping with the clothing theme of our current class That’s a Wrap ~ The Time is WOW, we have bowtie pasta today. Get it? Bowties? Clothing? (Okay, it’s a little lame, but the recipe is good.)

This is an easy, family-friendly vegan main dish. Serve with a green salad and perhaps some steamed green beans or broccoli for a complete meal.

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Vegan Bowties
Green * Serves 4

1 pound farfalle (bowtie) noodles
1 package Gimme Lean sausage
1/2 cup vegetable stock (or water)
1 12-oz bag frozen peas
1 small container (8 oz) non-dairy sour cream
1 Tablespoon oil

Boil noodles according to package directions and set aside.

In a large frying pan, brown the Gimme Lean sausage. Add 1/2 cup vegetable stock. Add peas and stir until peas are heated through. Reduce the heat and add the cooked noodles to the mixture, and then the non-dairy sour cream, mixing well.

Enjoy!

Copyright © 2009 Hennergy, Inc. All rights reserved.