self-care &

In just 10 minutes, the tasty blend of brown rice, red rice, wild rice and quinoa cooks up light and fluffy for a slightly chewy, nutty flavor. It’s also a dependable replacement for oatmeal in other breakfast dishes so you can complete your mission to make meals quick and enjoyable. Not to mention, the bag is BPA-free and recyclable via store drop-off in most communities, while the carton is recyclable curbside.

Find more brunch inspiration for spring celebrations at MinuteRice.com.

Mini Banana Rice Pancakes

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 2

1 cup Minute Brown Rice & Quinoa

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 bananas, divided

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup pure maple syrup, divided

4 teaspoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat rice and quinoa according to package directions.

In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In medium bowl, whisk milk and lemon juice. Let stand 5 minutes.

Mash 1/2 banana. Transfer to milk mixture. Add egg and 1 teaspoon maple syrup; stir to combine. Stir in melted butter. Pour milk mixture over flour mixture. Whisk just until combined; do not overmix. Fold in rice and quinoa. Let batter rest 10-15 minutes.

Preheat large nonstick skillet over medium heat; brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Once skillet is hot, reduce heat to mediumlow. In batches, adding oil as necessary, scoop 1 tablespoon batter per pancake into skillet and cook 3-4 minutes, or until bubbles start to form. Flip and cook 1-2 minutes until golden on bottom.

Slice remaining half and full bananas. Serve pancakes with remaining maple syrup, banana slices and cinnamon.

Hearty Bacon and Egg Breakfast

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 12

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2 bags Minute Rice & Quinoa

9 eggs, lightly beaten 5 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 teaspoon salt black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 325 F. Coat 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare rice and quinoa according to package directions.

In medium bowl, combine rice and quinoa, eggs, bacon, cheese, salt and pepper, to taste.

Divide batter between prepared cups and bake 18-20 minutes, or until eggs are just set.

By Nancy Zanicchi-Bobb newbeginningconsulting11@gmail.com

Every April, the history of counseling awareness is recognized as a monthlong observance of mental health, highlighting mental health for all ages while mindfulhonoring mental health professionals in all specialties. This field requires dedication and commitment to assisting, guiding, and advocating for the emotional needs and well-being of individuals and communities. This work also requires years of study, internships, and training to balance and maintain quality, compassionate, and empathetic public service. Counseling techniques trace back through the generations when people gathered to share their life experiences, strife, and hope. However, it wasn’t until the late 1900s that a scientific approach to problems surfaced, and Sigmund Freud introduced the concept of psychology. Soon, psychology became a global study, and psychoanalyzing developed what we now understand as the service of therapy or counseling. Whether for behavior, substance abuse, or self-care, counseling is no longer a stigma as significantly more individuals seek professional help to obtain balance, meditation, guidance, and healing.

Thought for the day: “Learn to differentiate between your intuition guiding you and your traumas misleading you.”

Sixty-five percent or more of the population have experienced adverse experiences which can lead to trauma, loss, grief, and anxiety. Many times, our efforts to do the right thing are often lost in translation due to our lived trauma, and we end up circling back to the drawing board, beginning again and again because of unresolved angst. Self-care and self-awareness, being mindful and connected, help to establish more clarity and direction. The moral compass will always let you know which direction to go. Usually, it is the road less taken, but listen to the voice inside your heart; this is a gift of intuition. Perhaps you connect with this as being a higher power, the Universe, or your

Soul. Whatever it is, pay attention because it never fails.

April is the month of new beginnings in nature as the flowers blossom, the trees bud with new life, and the bulb pops up from the garden with crocus and hyacinth. It is fragrant, colorful, and divine. It inspires the thought - how perfect is the planet with every season?

Take a deep breath, open your eyes, and connect with the world around you. You are so blessed.

Happy April!

Nancy Zanicchi-Bobb, M.A. Counseling Psychology, author & narrator,

“I Only Paint in Watercolors, Changing the Landscape, A Relationship with Self”, speaker for transition, loss & grief