Take part in Natural Health Products Week

(NC) Canadians across the country will be celebrating Natural Health Products Week from November 4 to 10, 2013.

“This annual tradition shines a spotlight on the importance of natural health products and is a great opportunity to evaluate our current health regime,” says Helen Sherrard, president of the Canadian Health Food Association, which represents the natural health industry. “Many of us will be inspired to look for ways to improve our well-being through diet, lifestyle choices, exercise and supplementation.”

To celebrate Natural Health Products week, CHFAfamilies are being challenged to make these three simple, natural changes that can have a positive impact: 

1. Enjoy more whole foods—Convenience is entrenched in the modern lifestyle, which often means grabbing fast, processed food and snacks. However, it's just as convenient to eat whole foods, and a much healthier option. Whole foods are typically unprocessed or unrefined. Nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables are good examples of healthy ready-to-eat foods.

2. Learn which natural health options improve your health—Stop by your local health food retailer where knowledgeable staff can share helpful information and health tips with you. While there, you can celebrate Natural Health Products awareness week by participating in draws for prizes, enjoying a sample taste test, or picking up natural health items you need.

3. Go organic—Certified organic foods have been grown and handled according to strict procedures in an environmentally responsible way and without persistent toxic chemical inputs,. While exploring organic options check out other products from clothing to cleaners that are also fee of toxic chemicals and much kinder to the environment.

More information, including the locations of health food retailers in your community, can be found online at chfa.ca.

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Susan

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Watercress Baby Spinach Pomegranate Salad

Fast, Easy, Nutritious, Delicious!

1 bunch watercress, 1 bunch baby spinach, seeds of one pomegranate, handful of slivered almonds, 1/2 small red onion finely sliced. Toss together with

1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar, dash of white wine, dash of maple syrup, salt and pepper

Oh - and a handful of raw sunflower seeds too.

Enjoy!

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Susan

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Ground Turkey Stuffed Vegetables

Ground Turkey Stuffed Vegetables

I looked in the fridge and saw that I had a couple of zucchini, eggplants and tomatoes that needed to get used up. I have a tendency toward being a ‘kitchen sink’ cook at times. Use what you have on hand rather than letting it go bad – it saves you money! Yes, you can eat clean, eat organic and not spend a fortune if you are creative.

Oh – I looked into another container – there is about a cup of quinoa left from the other night. Hmmm. What can I do with this? Ahhhh here we go!

Ingredients:

•2 medium zucchini 2 medium tomatoes 2 medium eggplants •1 tsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil •1/2 med onion, finely diced •1/2 red pepper minced 1/2 yellow pepper minced •3 cloves garlic, minced •1/4 cup white wine ½ cup salsa (I used homemade organic) •2 lbs ground turkey (We bought 4 free range turkeys from our local farmers** had 1 for Thanksgiving, one in the freezer and took 2 to a local butcher*** and had breasts cut and wrapped, and ground turkey wrapped in one lb packages. Good for the winter! •1/4 cup + 2 tbsp fresh grated parmesan cheese •1 chicken broth (I have my own in the freezer and ready to go! •1 cup cooked quinoa •1 tsp marjoram •1 tsp dried basil •1 tsp paprika •1 tsp fresh chopped rosemary •Salt and fresh pepper

Directions: Preheat oven to 400°. Cut zucchini andi eggplant in half lengthwise and using a spoon, scoop out flesh, leaving 1/4" thick Cut the top off tomatoes and scoop out flesh.. Arrange in a baking dish. Set the scooped out vegetable aside. Mince the onion, peppers, garlic and scooped out vegetables. (I used my Pampered Chef hand food processor)****

In a large saute pan, melt butter and add the minced vegetables, including garlic.. Cook on a medium-low for about 2-3 minutes, until onions are translucent. Add a pinch of salt and wine. Cook until it reduces. Remove from pan and set aside. .Heat olive oil in pan, then add ground turkey and season with salt and pepper cooking until turkey is crumbly. Add spices, and salsa. Mix well and cook another minute. Place turkey meat in a large mixing bowl and set aside to cool. When cooled, add ¼ cup parmesan cheese, vegetable mixture and quinoa. Mix well. Using a spoon, fill hollowed zucchinis, eggplant and tomato with stuffing. Melt butter and mix with remaining parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. This mixture goes on the top of the stuffed vegetables. Pour chicken broth in bottom of the baking dish and cover with foil. Bake 35 minutes. 

*I just bought a bottle of Bragg’s Olive oil from http://www.thecountryway.ca/ It seems to be a very good quality! **Two turkeys came from http://www.valleyfieldfarm.ca And the other two from: http://buyalgoma.ca/farm/pearce-farm Very good turkeys from both places and I love knowing that they were raised locally by farmers who care about quality. ***Local butcher who does a fabulous job (and also carries local Buffalo among other great products: http://www.easygourmet.ca/

****Pampered chef products - https://www.facebook.com/kimscuisine

Hope you enjoy a healthy meal!

WELCOME TO THE COUNTRY WAY!

www.thecountryway.ca

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How to Choose a Kitchen Layout Based on the Fridge-Oven-Sink Work Triangle [Infographic]

Keep those triangles happy!  Via


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Interior Eye Candy (For you viewing pleasure)

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Color Trends 2014 Benjamin Moore

Don't forget! I offer complimentary home staging to qualified Home Sellers in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
More paint details here.


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Susan

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Sault Ste. Marie Architecture

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Decorating Your Front Door and Porch for Autumn

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Candice Olson's Favorite Paint Colours

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Take boring out of the bathroom

(NC) It shouldn't be so, but the bathroom is often the most neglected room in the house design-wise. It should be bright and welcoming, warm and relaxing. Is it time for you to take action? Here are some considerations:

• Too often, in small bathrooms, there's just one small light shining from above, throwing more shadows than light. Changing the light fitting or bulbs to create more light is a start; better, is installing wall lights on each side of the main mirror.

• Simply replacing the shower curtain can make a big difference. Depending on your personal style, you can hang a splash of colour or try for elegance, or an illusion of elegance. There are many fabrics to choose from.

• What's going on behind the curtain? Is the shower experience all it should be? Changing the showerhead doesn't always require a plumber. Fit a rainforest head for a generous all-over soak: a power-boost spray will wake up your senses. Or you can keep the family happy with a multi-function showerhead head such as the American Standard Flo-Wise, which has three different spray patterns and can cut down on water consumption.

• New towels can dramatically change a bathroom. Fluffy towels in white and neutral colours will bring a hint of spa into your home. If there are youngsters around try vibrant colours and over-the-top patterns. Is there space for an electric towel warmer?

The typical powder room doesn't have a lot of space – just enough for the essentials. But it's an opportunity to create a small showplace on an affordable budget. American Standard suggests the essentials with their Ravenna Pedestal Basin and Tropic Cadet Pro collection – a pedestal hand basin, a tall, slim, faucet and a toilet sharing the same pared-down elegance, plus a few accessories set between gleaming white walls.

More information is available at www.americanstandard.ca.

Like A Hawke, Susan Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Freshen up your fridge for the holidays

(NC) As the busy holiday season quickly approaches with all those family reunions, festive gatherings, and delicious dinner parties, keeping the kitchen clean and organized is the secret to stress-free entertaining – and it will also give you more quality time with family and guests.

An important part to staying organized is making sure your fridge is tidy and smelling fresh all season long. To help you get ready for a landslide of leftovers and sweet treats, here are four tips to keep your fridge in tip-top shape:

Only keep what you can eat: After a big meal, avoid putting a large amount of leftovers in the fridge. Prevent expiry of your favourite festive foods by storing excess portions in the freezer so you can enjoy them another time.

Make it visible: One of the reasons food is left to expire is because it's hidden in the back of the fridge where it can easily be forgotten. Make sure your fridge is not too full, organized into sections, and that your food is properly labeled so you can easily spot most items. Another way to make your food more visible is relocating or removing excess shelves.

Clear the air: There is nothing worse than opening your fridge to the smell of blue cheese, cold turkey, or other smelly leftovers blending together. Keep your fridge smelling fresh all season long with odour-eliminating products such as Arm and Hammer Fridge Fresh. They destroy strong odours to help food taste fresher longer. Remember to change them every three months. It's easy to do; just change the filters on the first day of each new season.

Keep it sealed: Make sure your tasty leftovers are placed in tightly sealed containers or bags. This will help prolong the life of favourite recipes and means that they can also be easily thrown into the freezer at any time.

More information is available at www.armandhammerbakingsoda.ca.

Like A Hawke, Susan Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Reality Check: Why Home Inspections Matter

One of the best pieces of advice you can heed when it comes to buying a house is to order a home inspection. Regardless of whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or an old pro, you might have on rose-colored glasses when it comes to buying a house – your future home. Luckily, a certified home inspector has no emotional attachment to your new place and can impartially and appropriately identify structural, electrical and plumbing problems. Plus, this person can offer insight into the safety and value of the house.

During your home search, you’ll probably notice the great front yard, charming breakfast nook and spacious bedrooms. What you won’t notice, however, are the termites in the basement, nests in the chimney or cracks in the foundation. That’s why it’s important to speak with your real estate agent, who will be able to recommend inspectors who can reliably and responsibly check the nooks and crannies, walls and roofs.

The inspection will cost you several hundred dollars, depending on where you live, but it’s a small price to pay to ensure your home is worth the investment. Usually conducted after an offer is accepted, the inspection also provides leverage for negotiating concessions with the seller before the sale is finalized. Based on the inspector’s detailed report, you're able to alert the seller to all issues you’d like fixed or addressed before the sale is closed.

In other words, a home inspection allows you to know exactly what you’re buying – and if it truly is the perfect place for you.

If you’ve already found your perfect place, let us know – you could win $10,000! The What’s Your Perfect Fit? contest runs through Oct. 16.

Contact me today to get your home search started today.

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Via Here

Most Asked For Paint Colours

Selecting the perfect wall paint colour can be daunting.  I found a great blog post with several wonderful selections.  Go here. 

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

50 Shades of Grey

50 Shades of Grey Walls!
Don't forget!  I offer complimentary home staging to my qualified Sault Ste. Marie Sellers.

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Mortgage Rates. What Now?

We’re at one of those points in the economic cycle where mortgage rates get especially confusing.  I want to share an interesting article with you. Here.  

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

General Tso’s Chicken

Saturday morning started out like most this time of year. We head to the farmers market and pick up most of our groceries for the week. Fresh veggies, free range meats, fresh herbs and some friendly chats with our local farmers.

This week was the week that our order of Chickens from Valleyfield farms was ready. We picked up 5 whole chickens – all free range and fed non GMO foods. The difference certainly is evident on first bite. We already had 4 whole chickens in the freezer so we decided to freeze just one of the 5. The remaining 4 were cut up into drumsticks, thighs, breasts, and wings. We froze all the breasts in packages of 2 and with all the remaining meat I decided to put together freezer crock pot meals. I put together 7 meals in bags and froze. All I need to do with them, is take out of the freezer the night before and in the morning put in the crock pot. Dinner will be ready at the end of a busy day – no fuss – no mess.

I will give you the recipes for these later on in the week. (It is fast to put together meals this way – cut up all the veggies, add some various sauces and you are good to go). 1.5 hours from start to clean up! Last night I made General Tso’s Chicken. It was easy and so good!

General Tso’s Chicken 3 Tablespoons organic gluten free soy sauce 2 Tablespoons raw honey 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 teaspoons fresh grated ginger Sprinkle of red chili flakes 2 – 3 tablespoons corn starch 2 free range egg whites plus 1 whole egg Black pepper to taste 2 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces 2 cups snow peas (ends trimmed) 2 large carrots sliced into thin round pieces 2 cups cooked basmati rice 1 green onion 1 tablespoon flax seeds About 2 tablespoons olive oil

In medium bowl add soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, chili flakes and ginger. In measuring cup mix about 1/3 cup water with 1 tablespoon corn starch. Add to soy sauce mixture and whisk.  

In another medium bowl add the eggs, 1 or more tablespoon of corn starch and add pepper. Whisk. Add chicken and stir to be sure it is evenly coated with the mixture.  

Heat a wok or pan over medium high heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add half the chicken and cook until done (about 8 – 10 minutes). Transfer to plate and cook the remaining chicken. (you will need to add a bit more oil)

When done remove the chicken, add a bit more oil. Add carrots, cook for about 3 minutes, add peas cook for about 2 minutes. Whisk the sauce again, add to veggies and add chicken. Heat for about 2 minutes or until sauce thinkens. Serve on rice. Top with sliced green onion and flax seeds.

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Nina Garcia's New York City Home

How about something a little different here on my blog?  Some design inspiration. Enjoy!

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

The “clean” dirt on mushrooms

What exactly are those specs of dirt on fresh mushrooms?(NC) The specs of dirt that you occasionally see on fresh mushrooms are particles of peat moss. Most Canadian mushroom growers use peat moss as the 'casing soil' on top of the growing medium called substrate. The substrate supplies the nutrients to mushrooms. The peat moss holds the moisture. Mushrooms are grown in beds made of wood, steel, or aluminum. Before each crop is planted, the rooms are sterilized at 160°F (71°C) for 24 hours to ensure that the equipment is clean before each crop.

Then, the beds are filled with substrate that has been pasteurized at 136°F (58°C) for 8 hours, before the mushrooms seeds (or spawn) are mixed into it. Spawn is mushroom mycelia attached to a sterile grain, such as millet or rye. It is the seedstock of mushrooms. Spawn is delivered to the grower, in sealed bags from sterile laboratories that specialize in mushroom mycelia genetics.

In the beds, the substrate layer is about 8 inches (20 cm) thick. Two inches (5 cm) of peat moss is spread over the substrate to supply moisture. This is called the 'casing layer'. The mushroom mycelia permeate throughout the substrate and grow up through the casing layer. By controlling the temperature, humidity, oxygen and CO2, the grower stimulates the mycelia to form mushrooms on the surface of the peat moss. The whole process from spawning to harvest takes about 14 days.

So, the specs that you see on fresh mushrooms are “clean dirt.” There is no need to peel the mushrooms or scrape out the gills. Simply rinse the mushrooms under cold running water and pat dry just before you use them.More mushroom nutrition information and references, great tips and recipes can all be found online at www.mushrooms.ca.

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada