A Meal of Tilapia

The supermarket has been having tilapia fish at the counter for the past few months.

Having not tried it, I was curious to see what it was like.

But paying $6.99 a pound to try it was risky just in case it wasn't something we liked.

When we found it on sale for $1.99 a pound, we were pleased and anxious to have a meal of it.

We had read it was quickly becoming a favorite through out the US for it's very mild flavor that didn't have a fishy taste.

We cooked it on the grill, as we usually cook our fish to avoid the smell indoors.

The fillets were thin and it didn't take very long.

The cooked texture reminded me of salmon, not the like the other white fish of cod or haddock.

The taste was extremely mild - not much flavor at all.

But the thing that got me was the texture in my mouth.

It was mushy.

Salmon is not mushy.

Mush and me do not get along.

So glad we got the tilapia at such a deal - we will not be buying it again.

I can say the cat sure appreciated it though!

Raw Honey

We have always enjoyed honey - especially in our tea.

It gives it a smooth flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.

I never really paid too much attention to the different kinds of honey though.

As long as it looked clear with a golden color, I figured that was how it was supposed to be.

And when it begins to crystallize and look cloudy, as it tends to do over time, that is something that is easily remedied.

By setting the jar in a warm pan of water it will go back to it's clear, smooth condition.

But my daughter told me about the raw honey that she has been using these last few weeks.

I checked it out, and there is a difference between it and the one I usually buy.

The raw honey is completely unprocessed.

No pasteurizing or heating it to destroy the natural yeast cells in the liquid.

It's not filtered to remove the pollen grains or small particles from the comb.

Nor has it been strained either.

It contains all the minerals, enzymes, and propolis which all work together as an antiseptic with antibiotic properties.

An all natural product that tastes good too.

It must be used in moderation though as the unprocessed variety may contain toxins from certain flowers that the bees gather the pollen from.

There is no way of controlling the way the bees work.

But when used in small amounts, the health benefits of the raw honey far outweigh the risks.

Conquering Those Raised Beds

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Help is on the way for us with our raised bed gardens.

For years we have used these beds - some for vegetables and some for flowers and herbs.

And each year the yield from the veggies is okay.

The green beans are our best growers, followed by the cucumbers and the tomatoes.

The flowers and herbs don't do too badly, but I am sure their beds could use some new life put back into them.

And we try to do that by adding manure and soil each season.

But this season we are going to go by the books - or videos as it is today.

The Gardenieres has some great info for us gardeners, and one I will be paying attention to is the one for choosing soil.

I am sure that by using the tips that Coach Dave has to offer, my gardens will be doing much better next season.

By using the correct soil for my flower beds this fall, they will get what they need to help them through the winter and they will be off to their best start for the next season.

I never really thought about putting the soil in the beds in the fall, and I will be anxious to see the results next season.

In New England, the ability to Find beauty in the Fall is all around us, and keeping those beds in shape will keep them lasting even longer.

Check out and "like" the Miracle-Gro Facebook page where you can find many other helpful tips from the Gardenieres.

 

 

 

Love That Bread

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nature's Pride Bread for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I must admit, bread is one of my weaknesses, but I have become more picky over the years.

Years ago, the soft white breads had my heart, but as I got older and began to realize that I needed to put the healthiest things I could in my body, the white bread took a back seat.

A back seat to the delicious whole grain breads that are available everywhere today.

Getting the most nutrition from my bread became a priority for me and I scoured those labels looking at what the different ones had to offer.

Then it became that just the nutrition wasn't enough.

As I became a more aware consumer, I realized that not all whole grain breads are created equally.

Some had artificial colors or flavorings in them.

I could certainly do without those ingredients in me.

And trans fats is such a no-no for me that nothing with it ever finds it's way into my cart.

So, that is when I was lucky enough to discover Nature's Pride Bread.

They only use all natural ingredients in their breads, and I am sure that is what makes them so delicious.

So delicious they can be used in a variety of different recipes, and nobody would even be the wiser that they are eating so healthy.

One of my favorites is the Pizza Panini.

It is so simple to make too.

Starting with a garlic butter mixture, spread it on one side of  the 12 Grain variety of bread.

Spread the other side with your favorite pizza sauce.

Top that with some turkey pepperoni - keeping it low fat too!

Then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and top the whole thing with another slice of bread.

Make sure you butter the top of it before sticking it in the panini grill.

When that cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, you have one delicious, low fat, healthy lunch.

If you have a great recipe using Nature's Pride Bread, please let me know it in my comment section.

And don't forget to Like Nature’s Pride on Facebook - you can enter their contest to win Free Bread for a month!

 

From Swimming to Walking

We knew it had to end.

Our daily swims at the lake have been over for about three weeks now.

Last year we made it into October, but this year it just wasn't possible - the weather didn't cooperate at all.

Last year I picked up yoga to replace the swimming, and I have stuck with it right through the whole year.

I miss the swimming, but joining the Y or a fitness club is just out of our reach at this time.

So, my husband tells me, "I would like to do something to replace the swimming"

Knowing that Yoga was not for him, I began to think.

We needed something we could do that didn't cost us anything.

Something close to home would be great too.

And nothing too hard - I didn't want him to quit before he began.

Walking was the just the ticket.

We figure a good 40 minute walk a couple of times a week would get us started.

Of course, the weather has been cooperating perfectly so far.

But I know it will get colder - New England can be counted on for that.

But hopefully by then it will have become such a desired thing that we won't let it bother us.

Fingers are crossed!