Started my garden

I've started my garden officially. Because I'm in the NorthEast, I need to wait until after Memorial Day typically to plant some things.
But the cooler weather vegetables are starting to grow.

Snap peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes, Golden Beets and Onions.

I'll be snapping a picture soon.
And, farmer's market season is here. I'll be bringing back my weekly posts of the great bargains I've found.

Happy Earth Day!

Take a little time today to do something good for our beautiful planet. Even, if you stop to admire mother nature.

Spring is getting here!!!

Okay... so I've been a slacker with this blog most of the winter... but spring is here and last weekend I was able to get my garden bed ready. I'm going to plant some different things this year... but this weekend I am going to plant my snap peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onions and beets. I also learned about staggering... I don't know why I didn't think of this last year so that I could spread out the harvest a little more. The other things I am going to plant will be beans, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers...

Last October I canned tomatoes, peaches and applesauce and they turned out to be real useful. So I am going to plant tomatoes this year. In fact, I picked up a package of seeds for tangerine mama.. they are orange tomatoes that have less seeds and aren't as gooey... I planted them in a little planter to get them started. I also planted some Basil to get that started.

So I picked up the pot to water the basil and out of the corner of my eye I see my son take the pot with tomato seeds and pour it into this big pot that I had sitting nearby. The soil I used had little white specs in it as well so there was no getting the seeds back. I think I did cry for a second. I put all the soil back in the pot and I'm going to hope for the best.

I'm also going to join a CSA that will deliver weekly to my husband's workplace. It's $255 for a 1/2 share for the season and it breaks down to about $15/week. Plus it will be neat to have a surprise of the items that we'll receive.

All right, well I should be posting more often now. I even took the winter off from the Farmer's Market. But I'm gonna get back to posting my weekly finds.

My life as a Registered Dietitian

Note: This post is participating in an "RD Blogfest" in honor of National Registered Dietitian Day (March 11)

I was asked to write a post about how my work life and being a dietitian coincide.

I should clarify to readers. A Registered Dietitian is someone who has 4 years of school in dietetics, 900 experience hours, and passed the registration exam. These are the folks that you should see for advice. Because we aren't a licensed profession (yet).... anyone is able to call themselves a nutritionist and dole out advice, sometimes correctly, sometimes not.

There are many places where you'll find Registered Dietitians. It just so happens that I work in a dialysis center. Dialysis is a life sustaining treatment that keeps people alive whose kidneys aren't working. Diet plays a huge role since the kidneys function in keeping your electrolytes in balance, getting rid of excess sodium and fluid, converting Vitamin D to a usable form for your body, and helps produce red blood cells that helps oxygen travel around the body.

The thing I really like about my job is the relationships I've formed with my patients. Because I see them 3 times a week and they're there for about 4 hours, I have plenty of time to speak with them. I find something in common with just about any of them. One patient has taught me so much about gardening (something that I'm just getting in to). He spent many years landscaping. He's from Puerto Rico and his brother sent him some seeds for a sweet pepper plant. He even brought me in some. I had a huge batch of flat, pole beans that I brought to him. He opened my eyes to sofrito as well.

There are others that I talk sports with. Even some fellow Mets fans. One of them just received a transplant from his daughter last week and he is recovering well. I will miss my chats with him. He even was a basketball player for a short time with the Detroit Pistons and would tell me stories about his playing days.

Some others politics, family, childraising. I've gotten great tips for helping me with my son. They always like to see my pictures and listen to my stories.

So you see, for as much as I've given them... I received it back twofold. I pride myself in being a dietitian that they don't dread seeing as I come by with their lab reports. Occasionally, I get a couple that pretend to be sleeping... but I'm on to them!

Check out some other fabulous Registered Dietitians and the work they do. Wish them a Happy Registered Dietitian's Day! March 11th.

Beyond Prenatals - Food vs. Supplements and Real Advice vs. Fake Advice
Annette Colby - No More Diets! A Registered Dietitian Shares 9 Secrets to Real and Lasting Weight Loss
Ashley Colpaart - Dietitians working in food policy, a new frontier
Diana Dyer - There and Back Again: Celebration of National Dietitian Day 2009
Marjorie Geiser - RD Showcase for National Registered Dietitian Day - What we do
Cheryl Harris - Me, a Gluten Free RD!
Marilyn Jess - National Registered Dietitian Day--RD Blogfest
Julie Lanford - Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention
Renata Mangrum - What I'm doing as I grow up...
Liz Marr - Fruits and Veggies for Registered Dietian Day: Two Poems
Meal Makeover Moms' Kitchen - Family Nutrition ... It's our "Beat"
Jill Nussinow - The Registered Dietitian Lens I Look Through
Wendy Jo Petersen - March 11 is our day to shine!
Diane Preves - Registered Dietitians and the White House Forum on Health Reform
Andy Sarjahani - Dr. Seuss Tribute continued: Green Eggs and Ham and a Sustainable Food System
Rebecca Scritchfield - Big Tips from a "Big Loser"
Anthony Sepe - RD Showcase: Registered Dietitian Day, March 11, 2009
Kathy Shattler - RD Showcase for Nutri-Care Consultation
UNL-Extension, Douglas/Sarpy County - Nutrition Know How - Making Your Life Easier
Monika Woolsey - Dietitians--Can't Do PCOS Without Them
Monika Woolsey - In Honor of National Registered Dietitian Day

What's more green than the library?

I finally got myself to library tonight. I'll admit.. I probably haven't stepped foot in one since college. I don't even know where to find my library card, in fact they probably shut down my acct.

So, I've been checking out my favorite food blogs and there are so many good cookbooks recommended that I want to check out. So, I went to the library and found 4 good books. 3 cookbooks, plus "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee to refresh my memory about food science concepts.

This was so exciting. I can't believe how good it felt to go into the library again! Also picked up a flyer for storytimes for children... but sadly they are only offered M-Th during the day. I have Fridays off and thought it would be fun to take my little guy for something to do.

If it's been a long time for you, check it out... think of the $$ and paper you'll save.

Beauty products

This is a great website:

cosmeticdatabase.com

You can go there and type in the beauty products you use and find out how dangerous they are. I know, that sounds so discouraging... but it's best to know. It gives a number scale from 1-10 and grades it on different areas like whether the ingredients are known to be carcinogens or if they test on animals. It was an eye opener for me and I don't even use a lot of lotions and whatnot.

Dryer Sheets?... Nah, Dryer Balls!

I found these while grocery shopping last week. I rarely even go down the cleaning supply aisle at the grocery store, because it's more expensive than going to Target. But, these were $7.99 and it seemed like a good deal, rather than buying dryer sheets. These balls go into the dryer with the clothes and allows air to pass through them. I've done 3 loads of laundry with them and so far, so good. I would recommend them!

An easy dinner! and Frugal Friday.

I made this dinner on Monday. Took about 1/2 hour and was very tasty.

It's Chicken Pineapple Rolls, rice, and broccoli. The recipe comes with an easy sauce that you put inside the rolls. I used 1/2 long grain brown rice and 1/2 basmati rice. I had purchased a bottle of Caribbean Sauce at my supermarket that was on sale for 99 cents. I mixed just a small amount of it in with the rice for some flavor. Basmati rice is something new to me. I love it! I mix it with the brown rice, because I like the amount of fiber that provides. I steamed some fresh broccoli in the microwave. Out of the whole entire dinner, my son liked the broccoli best! (go figure).

Chicken Pineapple Rolls

1# skinless, chicken breast (cubed)

2 (8oz) pkgs Crescent rolls

1 (8oz) can pineapple chunks (drain and reserve)

3 tbsp honey

1 tbsp ginger

1. Place chicken in skillet with 1-2 tbsp oil. Cook over medium. Drain and set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350F

3. Separate crescent roll dough. Place triange on single layer on baking sheet.

4. In bowl, mix 3 tsp pineapple juice, honey and ginger.

5. Brush each roll triange with juice mix. Place 1 pineapple chunk and 1 tbsp chicken on each triangle. Roll and seal. Bake in oven for 15 mins.

Watch this space.

I know I've been neglecting this area. I'm dying for winter to be over so I can start my gardening for this year.

But, I'm working on a couple of things. I have a new thing that I've purchased to help with the laundry. I'm gonna take a picture and give a review!! It's very ecofriendly.

A nice blog and a giveaway

A great gal who frequents my blog is having a wonderful giveaway.

Stop by to check it out.

http://cynthialovespictures.blogspot.com/

Her posts are so funny and touching and real.