Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
This tastes like Tzatziki, but it’s made with American supermarket yogurt (instead of strained Greek yogurt). I threw it together in less than 10 minutes (I wasn’t timing myself, now that I think about whether I’m stretching it, I’d say it’s likely I might have tossed it all up in less than five minutes). You’ll need: Plain Yogurt Cucumber Onion Lemon Garlic Salt As much of everything as you like–for as many people as you’re serving. I made a small bowl, about 1/4 cup onion, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/3 cup grated cucumber and 1/2 clove garlic. Okay, so it’s not …
Greek-seasoned Ground Meat Patties
Greek-seasoned Ground-meat Patties taste like Gyros. These want Cucumber-yogurt Sauce. For that recipe click here. And for our home-baked Pita recipe to stuff it all into, click here. To make the seasoning mix, which you will then sprinkle on the ground meat ( lamb, beef, pork, or any combination you like–or use eggs, or make a scramble out of tofu), stir together: 1 tablespoon salt (not Kosher, you want fine table salt when you’re blending up a seasoning mix) 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic**(see footnote) 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper Grind in a mortar or with a spice grinder: 1 …
Lifestyle Principles for Managing Fribromyalgia and Chronic Pain
Less is more. A few words explain everything I really need to know about putting my life in order so that I can live well, in spite of everything. Under-commit. Under-satisfy cravings. Underspend. Downsize expectations. Don’t try to please everyone. Be gentle. Seek quiet. Be grateful.
10 Steps to Success for Ordinary People
Don’t have a genius IQ? Weren’t born into wealth and status? Don’t have a degree from one of the top-10 Colleges/Universities? Too bad, because you’re not likely going to be able to change any of the factors which are assumed to determine a person’s likelihood for success… But the assumptions, as usual, turn out to be wrong. Research shows that inherited intelligence, upper-class wealth and degrees from impressive institutions don’t contribute all that much to success. “A person with less education who has fully developed their EQ, MQ, and BQ (read on to find out what those are) can be far …
Particularly Pleasing Pita Pockets
Okay, so calling them Particularly Pleasing Pita Pockets, gives away that I’ve been watching too much Rick Steve’s Europe on Hulu. His overuse of alliteration–too many strings of words with the same first sound–tickles me. But these pockets are exceptionally yummy, even if all those P‘s make a slightly sophomoric sentence structure— help! I’m alliterating and I can’t stop! Getting back on topic, This is my favorite pita–fresh from the oven. It takes about 1-1/2 hours from start to finish; about 25 minutes of active time and a little over an hour of waiting around for bread to raise and bake. And I’m going …
10 steps to happiness, from 14th-century Italy
“We wish and command that everyone who values our good grace shall bring only cheerful news… wherever he may come from, and whatever he may hear or see.” Giovanni Boccaccio, “The Decameron” (written in 1348, in Italy) When circumstances become challenging and discouraging, it sometimes helps me to take a broader perspective. History shows that life is filled with tragedies and losses, and that my own problems aren’t quite as magnificently huge as they feel. As scary as recent times have felt; all through the ages, dreadful things have happened and survivors have discovered happiness, despite everything. Recently I’ve been …
Sil Azevedo Photography is Visual Poetry
This is one of my favorites of all the photos I’ve ever seen. I just LOVE this image–a reflection of a theater in water, a squeegee wiping it partially away–but only partially! Our dreams get “squeegeed” somewhat, but not wiped out entirely! My mind craves art, music, and literature the way my body wants food–frequently! Sil Azevedo Photography online is one of the places I go when I need photography. Here, I can satisfy my desire for visual poetry. These images heighten my ability to see, enhance my perception of nuances, and make me aware of small things. They enliven my …
Posture Check–Act like you're Confident
Putting on good posture is like dressing up for an event, it elevates my mood and raises my hope. By adopting the posture of a dancer, I can trick my mind into believing I couldn’t possibly, really be in very much pain. Don’t slouch! (I tell myself). But..(my body retorts)…a full fetal position would be comforting and protective right now. My shoulders instinctively hunch forward and my arms wrap around me (like I’m freezing) whenever I’m in pain, which is frequent enough that my body has developed the habit of slouching.So, at least a couple times every day, I have to …
Managing Fibromyalgia–Keep a Health Journal
I’m giving away the health journal I wrote, to anybody who needs it. I don’t want any money for it. It comprehensively tracks aggravating and alleviating health factors. It has been useful for me, and now I want to make it available to anyone who needs to keep a health journal for any reason. I’m overwhelmed by the unexpected number of people emailing me to tell me my blog is helpful. Thank you, thank you! I’m glad for the feedback. It inspires me to keep blogging. Regretfully, I can’t respond immediately & personally to every email & inquiry I get. But I …
Variation on a Theme of Tabouli
Since I can’t stand myself when I waste good food, I had to come up with something that would use cilantro (they sell it in bunches too large for my salsa recipe). I also wanted to use up the leftover salsa. It’s like Tex-Mex Tabouli. I don’t like that name, though, so my quick and easy bulgur salad that uses up leftover cilantro shall be known as Variation on a Theme of Tabouli** You’ll need– 1 cup each of bulgar wheat boiling water chopped cilantro leaves (if you have less than a cup, use what you have); about 1/4 cup each …