Grab Bag Non-stick Sticky Situation:
Non-stick coating. What a modern miracle. Eggs just slide off the pan and onto your plate.
Ummm… I hate to be the bearer of sticky news, but there are some suspect chemicals involved in moving our food around like a fifth grader on a Slip n’ Slide, and some of those chemicals may transfer to our food.
And this is a big deal, because we use these things EVERY DAY.
All kinds of “greener” alternatives are cropping up. How good are they? The Environmental Working Group lays out the bare facts here.
Want a better way to cook up a storm that won’t load the food with unintended ingredients?
Safer Cookware Alternatives
Lodge Iron cast iron cookware: www.lodgemfg.com. They come preseasoned now! And… these transfer extra iron into your food.
Le Creuset enamel cookware: http://www.lecreuset.com/usa/products/guide.php
Calphalon stainless steel: calphalon.com
Crate & Barrel’s Mario Batali enamel: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/chefs-pans-everyday-pans/kitchen-accessories/1
Grab Bag See Tea:
I know, I know. You may be tired of hearing about green tea.
But this is a NEW finding, and we should know it all, right? RealAge released this article last month. Just one more reason to start your day with this magic elixir, n’est-ce pas?
See Better with This Tea
Gulp down this zero-calorie refresher and it could pay some unexpected dividends for your vision. We’re talking about green tea.
A new lab study suggests that the flavonoids in this steamy drink may offer protection against a host of vision problems, including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and possibly even some forms of glaucoma.
Peeper Protector
One particular flavonoid found in green tea — called gallocatechin — may be particularly good for eyes. Studies show it tends to accumulate in the retina. And that’s a good thing because flavonoids in your retina function like bionic sunscreen, protecting fragile cells against the sun’s damaging rays. It’s the same way that other vision-friendly flavonoids found in spinach, kale, and orange peppers operate. They also tend to concentrate in your eyes and protect your retinas. (Wondering whether your vision changes are normal or not? Get the facts on vision and aging here.)Edible Sunscreen
More research is needed to confirm whether green tea truly does have an eye-friendly function, but the good news is that it probably doesn’t take much to experience positive effects. Still, at least a daily helping would be best. In the study, a single “dose” offered protection for about 20 hours.
And just to recap, here’s a list of green tea health highlights (check these out here on WebMD or any major health site):
• Weight control
• Cancer Protection
• Cardiac Protection
• Skin Supplement
• Eye Support
To read about Gyokuro Imperial, the best tasting green tea available, hark back to this post from January of this year.
Grab Bag Excuse Buster:
No time? No problem.
No equipment? No issue.
Here’s a brief (15 minute) workout found on eHow:
Getting a small workout into a busy schedule is challenging, but very possible. The moves below will have you sweating in no time and can be done anywhere. Try to fit this routine in at least five times a week. Tools you can use include a mat and a pair of five- to eight-pound weights or a resistance band/tube.
- Jogging on the spot in this routine will serve two purposes. First to warm up muscles–so jog slowly for about a minute. Then to start burning calories–jog twice as fast for the next two minutes. In the second faster interval, focus on lifting your knees higher to burn more calories. Emphasize arm movements and pump your arms harder.
- This move works your butt, legs, and core and biceps muscles. Stand with your feet slightly apart. If using hand weights, grab them and hold them against your body, with your elbows slightly bent. If using workout bands, place the center of the band under your feet, below the arches. Lift up the band and hold it to your side with elbows bent. To increase resistance, wrap the band around your palms until the band is firm. Pretend there is a bench to sit on and then lower you body as if sitting down on a low bench. Make sure your knees are not over the feet. Lift back up, almost to standing, and lift the left leg to the side, balancing on the right leg. Return the lifted leg to standing with slightly bent knees. Repeat the squat on the other side. As you lower, pump your arms up and curl to the chest. As you come up, arms come down. Repeat this move for three minutes.
- Squat thrusts work all major muscle groups and burn calories fast. Stand with your feet slightly apart and bend your knees slightly. Squat down and place your palms on the ground, making sure your chest is lifted. Using your arms to balance, press palms to the ground and jump back into a push up pose. Hold this pose for a second. Jump back to squat. Return to standing. This counts as one repetition; repeat for at least 10 reps, which should bring you to about a minute-and-a-half.
- This is a combination move that works the core as well as the upper body. Lie down with stomach facing down. Lift up with arms and elbows slightly bent. Tuck in the tummy. Hold this pose for 30 seconds. Take a 10-second break. Then repeat this move for eight repetitions.
- Stand up with feet together. Jump to the right and land on the right leg, keeping up the left knee. Hold for three seconds. Jump to the left with the left leg, keeping up the right knee. Hold for three seconds. Repeat this move for three minutes and make sure to pump the arms back and forth to burn more calories.
- Vigorously march in place by pumping the arms and lifting the legs as high as possible. Continue this move for 90 seconds. Slow it down and continue really slowly for an additional 90 seconds. Your 15-minute workout routine is now complete.
Jogging on the Spot
Squat, Biceps Curl and Leg Lift
Squat Thrust
Core Plank
Side Jump
Marching
Grab Bag Brain Game:
Unscramble and submit words before they fall to the bottom of the grid.
Grab Bag Cute Stuff:
Do otter pups know how to swim from the get-go? Apparently not.
Watch this otter-mom teach her pup how to swim.
Adorable.
LK's Grab Bag 
Love dogs in costumes… you can just hear the dog thinking
“okay, let the master dress me up as a french maid or a banana… whatever”
I’ve been using cast iron pans forever, I have about 5 different
sizes, some of them handed down from my grandmother.
They work great… season them and clean them right, they’re
amazing!
Good post Layla… as usual.
Love you friend
JP
We just bought some of the Lodge cast iron pans. Makes me reflect on my childhood, as they were much more common back then. They make a unique noise when they clang into things, don’t they?