Big Difference in Spinach

Fresh spinach has always been my spinach of choice.

After the first time cooking it, many years ago, I learned that you need A LOT of fresh spinach to make a meal serving.

It shrinks down so much once it's cooked.

That slimy green stuff in a can that Pop-eye is always eating is not something that will find itself on my table.

Salty, overcooked, swamp weed is what I classify that.

Then there is the frozen stuff.  

It works in a pinch - if you get the right one.

Chopped spinach for a meal - we found that was a no-no.

Way to dense, and just a tiny bit goes a long way.

The frozen leaf works better for a meal.

But, as I found today, not for a soup.

The strings are unbelievable in that soup.

I left it unattended for just a minute, and I began to hear snip, snip, snip.

I look over to see stands of that stringy spinach hanging from the spoon handle horizontally across the top of the pot.

My husband was giving it a haircut with the scissors.

Next those scissors were just dipping away into the pot to cut that spinach.

We did learn one thing today.

The frozen chopped variety goes in the soup, and the frozen leaf on the plate.

And only buy the frozen when the fresh isn't on sale.

The fresh is definitely the best all the way around.

Lowering the Sugar Intake

Sugar.

It's my biggest weakness.

And I have done several posts through the years about it.

For the most part, I do my best to keep the added sugars to a minimum.

Never being a soda drinker and not liking any sugary drinks to begin with, that was one habit I never had to break.

My love of tea in it's natural unsweetened state is also a good thing.

But, for my husband, it is a different story.

He loves his tea sweet, and added sugar finds it way into many of his foods.

But these last couple of weeks, he has been dramatically lowering his sugar intake.

Stevia has been his sweetener of choice for the tea.

And he has found that many foods don't need that extra sugar.

They are great just the way they are.

Glad to see him making these lifestyle changes.

Every little thing we do good for ourselves will keep us around longer for each other.

Way to go my dear!!

A Different Yoga Routine

My yoga routine has not changed much in the the last three years.

And it is too easy to get comfortable with one's favorite workout.

Not to mention that with fifty quickly approaching, I am not going to try something too difficult that would easily throw a shoulder, hip, or knee out of commission.

As I was browsing the apps that were available on my new laptop, I came across one I thought looked interesting.

After checking it out and reading the reviews, I downloaded it.

There are several routines, each aimed at different areas, and it includes three levels within each one for difficulty.

I have tried quite a few of them, finding my limitations as well as the ones that are too easy.

The flows are great, and much to my dismay at first, I find I like the animated lady as well.

The instructions are clear and precise as are the movements of the animated instructor.

I am really enjoying my new yoga routine.

But I must remember to switch it up sometimes - its's good all the way around!

To Begin Again

A new year and a good time to begin again.

So far, over the past year, I have lost 17 pounds.

It's not the first time I have done that, I have lost more in years past.

But I have never been able to keep it off.

This time has been different.

Even though I have not been trying to loose any weight these last couple of months, I haven't been really paying attention either to what I have been eating.

And since the middle of summer, I haven't been tracking my food.

I still eat pretty good - more sugar than what I should be eating does seem to find it's way into my diet though.

Exercise is still a priority - but not as much as in the warmer months - the lake is frozen for swimming and the morning exercise routine gets done about half the time now.

But I must be doing something right - the weight has stayed off.

So, as the new year begins, I will start to pay more attention again and see what happens.

From what I am seeing, it can only be a good thing!

Butternut Squash Secret

Butternut Squash has never been my favorite.

As a kid growing up, I used to dislike to see it on my plate, so much in fact, I have never served it in my house.

Until this past week.

We were lucky enough to find a bag of it on clearance already cubed and ready to be cooked.

I really didn't want to buy it, but it was a 2 pound bag and my husband wasn't giving up on it.

I read the recipe on the bag about how to cook it - and there were also several ways to cook it.

I remembered the dry, stringy stuff from the past, and I was determined not to end up with that.

So, I decided to spread it in a baking pan and drizzle it with butter and sprinkle it with brown sugar.

After tossing it around to coat it, I baked it for about 35 minutes in the oven, turning it once halfway through.

It smelled really good while it was cooking.

But the test was about to come once it finished baking.

And I have to admit, that Caramelized Butternut Squash is really good.

It's a good source of vitamins A and C.

And that two pound bag has lasted for four meals.

So now that I know the secret of cooking it, it will certainly find it's way into the grocery basket again.