Spring Inspiration

So, about those spring rolls I mentioned.  Yeah, let's wrap that one up (I know, my humor is limitless).  In addition to a wide array of vegetables, this recipe combines cilantro and mint leaves.  Two herbs that were absolutely meant for each other.  This has become one of my new favorite recipes for spring.

Awesome Veggie Spring Rolls 

(with or without mini shrimp* - depending on how cranky your husband is)

3 ounces bean thread noodles, cooked and drained (can omit)
1 cup finely shredded cabbage
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup sliced green onion
1/2 cup cucumber, sliced
3 Tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted if desired
2-3 Tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
2-3 teaspoons fresh mint leaves, chopped
2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce
1 cup mini dinner shrimp (optional)
round sheets rice paper

Mix everything except rice paper in a large bowl.  Soften a sheet of rice paper by dipping it into a pan of hot water (pie tin works great).  Lay softened rice paper on flat surface and place about 2-3 Tablespoons of vegetable mixture in the middle of the paper.  Fold in the sides and then roll.  Place finished spring roll on dampened wax paper sheets.  Lightly spray with vegetable oil in-between layers.  Refrigerate for up to 3 hours.

Peanut sauce
1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup warm water
1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
3-4 Tablespoons lime juice
1-2 Tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
2 teaspoons agave (optional)
few dashes of hot sauce (optional)

Mix all ingredients in small bowl.

*Seafood is the one exception I occasionally make as far as meat is concerned.  By occasionally I mean hardly ever.  But still, occasionally.

Mini Cabbages Get a Facelift

Did you hate brussel sprouts as much as I did when you were a kid?  I pulled the old pretend to cough into your napkin routine more times than I could possible count.  Usually I was caught and throughly reprimanded, but that didn't keep me from trying it again the next time (I was nothing if not obstinate).  I would not eat them on a train, I would not eat them in the rain, I would not eat them here or there, I would not eat them anywhere.   And this went on for the next 30 years, give or take.  

I took a cooking class last week.  As adventurous an eater as I am, I have to admit that I got nervous when the teacher busted out the brussels.  I even started to make a mental note of all the nearest building exits so that if needed, I could make the perfect escape.  But I aborted that plan the second I tried these.  They were so good in fact that I stopped and bought myself a bag of brussel sprouts at the grocery store on the way home so that I could have some more before I went to bed.  They were even better the second time.

If I didn't think that Jenny would come over and wash my mouth out with soap, I'd call these Better than Sex Brussel Sprouts.  Wait, on second thought, I'll just lock my door.  So here they are...

Better than Sex Brussel Sprouts (she's on her way over - I can feel it)

2-3 lbs brussel sprouts, (washed, bases trimmed, and cut in half lengthwise)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 teaspoons sesame oil
lemon juice
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 375.  Wash and cut brussel sprouts.  Lay out evenly on baking sheet.  Coat with olive oil, sesame oil, lemon juice, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Toss a bit to coat.  Bake for 30-35 minutes (open oven and stir them around a little about 1/2 way through the baking process).

Another thing I tried last week was to use a little balsalmic vinegar in place of the sesame oil (you could definately use it in addition to the sesame oil though).  I absolutely loved them prepared that way.  I served them with veggie spring rolls and peanut dipping sauce.  Recipe coming very soon.  

Sunscreen Options

My sister sent me an article this morning regarding sunscreen.  You can read it here. 

If you want to quickly access the Environmental Working Group's list of best sunscreens, click here.  

I actually learned a lot from the EWG's list.  I've always done my best to buy natural sunscreens that would lessen my family's exposure to chemicals through the skin, but I wasn't aware of some of the key ingredients of which to beware (oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate -- a type of Vitamin A).  Last year, I started using Goddess Garden sunscreen and am loving it. 

Hope this helps you make decisions for your family this summer!

Jenny :)

Check out my updates for our Sugar-Free Year!

Dentals X-Rays: Helpful or Harmful? Or Both?

I just got back from the dentist.  Good report, no cavitites.  Yay.  But I thought I'd tell you about an intersting conversation that occured between me and my dentist.  First of all, I love my dentist.  He is a family friend and I drive 30 minutes just to go to his office.  That said, our conversation this morning piqued my curiosity about whether or not he was doing everything he could to protect my health.  This is how it went down:

After my teeth were cleaned, the dental hygenist draped a protective radiation shield over me.  We were deep in conversation, and I hardly realized what was going on.  After looking down at the shield, I looked at her and asked, "Are you taking X-Rays?"

Yes, she was.

"Well, I usually get them every other time (which would be once a year, instead of twice).  Can you tell me when I last had them?"

It had only been 6 months, so I declined to have more. It was fine with her, no questions asked. We don't have dental insurance, so I'm sure she thought I just didn't want to pay the money for them.  Which was part of the reason. 

The dentist walked in.  The dental hygenist informed him that I hadn't had any x-rays done.

"This isn't about that news report about x-rays, is it?"

"What report? I didn't see anything like that on the news."  (My T.V.'s been broken for about a week and a half.  No T.V. for me)

He continued, "That report that said brain tumors were caused by dental x-rays. That's not what this is about, right?"

He was more assertive than normal, maybe a bit defensive even? I told him "no", because I hadn't seen the report and didn't know anything about it, but knew that I would reserach it when I went home ;)  I thought that the report probably had something to do with a study regarding radiation exposure, which was, in fact, the other part of why I didn't want x-rays every six months.  I had done enough research on radiation to know that if I could minimize my exposure, it would probably be worth it.  I was erring on the side of caution, but I might not have erred enough, it turns out.

The study was produced to determine whether meningiomas, or usually benign brain tumors that affect the lining of the brain, are linked to dental x-rays, particularly bitewing x-rays, which take pictures of the back teeth.  As I was reading the study that was conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Claus, a neurosurgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and a professor of epidemiology at Yale University School of Medicine, a few statements stood out:

The findings suggest that patients should talk to their dentists about the possible dangers of X-rays and be aware of national recommendations regarding their use, she said.



"I do not get the feeling that people are aware of those guidelines," she said. "Many people are having them every six months or every year when the American Dental Association is saying once every two to three years." (That's the recommendation for the patient who's never had a cavity or only a small number of fillings and isn't at increased risk for a cavity.)

Adult patients and parents of child patients should talk to their dentists about X-rays, Germano said. "It's always important to discuss what the X-ray is for and what the advantage is. It's not a good idea to assume that X-rays are a benign procedure," she said.



Messina agreed. "It's always good for patients to talk to their dentists about why they're getting X-rays and what is being done to shield the patient."


WOW.  Who knew?  While I'm really careful about using a radiation shield for my body, and requesting a neck shield to protect my thyroid from radiation exposure, I never thought about protecting my head! (If there's no neck shield available, just pull the body shield up over your neck.  I do the same for my children.) The thing that blows my mind is that my dentist has never told me that the ADA only recommends x-rays every two to three years for someone like me.  I'm sure in his mind he is giving a more thorough exam by taking x-rays every six months. My hope is that dentists will continually stay informed with new research so they can make sound decisions regarding their patients, as each patient is unique.  And maybe they'll come out with radiation shields for our heads! We'd look silly, but it may be worth it ;)
You can read the full report here.


Jenny :)