A positive start to the new year

Chef Duff

Recipes from the chef's table

You may of heard of “peri peri” (or piri piri), which is a spicy Portuguese sauce.

Portuguese explorers in the 15th century discovered an African chili pepper which they brought home, incorpo - rated some European ingredients and created the now famous sauce!

The namesake actually means “pepper-pepper” in Swahili, which makes a sauce so nice, they named it twice!

This is a delicious soup, and while not a “peri peri” recipe it’s still very very tasty and takes on some heat from the both the chorizo and, of course, the addition of chili peppers.

Portuguese Style Tomato Soup

▢ 1/2 lb doublesmoked bacon, diced

▢ 1 pkg. chorizo, sliced

▢ 1 large red onion, diced

▢ 1 red chili, minced

1. Cook the bacon over medium heat until partially done, add chorizo and lightly colour.

2. Add in onions and chilis and stir until well softened. Add garlic

▢ 3-4 garlic cloves, minced

▢ 6-8 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

▢ 1 jar passata (strained tomatoes) and continue for additional seconds.

3. Add tomatoes, liquids and other seasonings and allow to come to a boil.

4. Reduce to a simmer

▢ 1-2 L veggie stock

▢ 1 cup calrose rice

▢ Salt, pepper, bay leaves, savoury herbs, chili powder

▢ Garnish: cilantro for about 20 minutes.

5. Add raw rice and simmer while stirring frequently until rice is softened.

6. Finish with cilantro.

MAYO CLINIC: Those with higher risks should be tested

aortic aneurysm. Most commonly, the condition starts to occur in people in their 50s and 60s, although it may not be detected until decades later, if at all.

A family history of aortic aneurysm puts you at increased risk.

Genetic connective tissue disorders – Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome – dramatically increase your risk. Those born with just two, rather than three, leaflets, or cusps, of the aortic valve – a condition called bicuspid aortic valve – are at increased risk.

Other factors that increase the risk of a thoracic aortic aneurysm include high blood pressure; smoking; high cholesterol levels; and development of blood vessel hardening and clogging, or atherosclerosis.

People at highest risk

– those with a family history plus one or more other risk factors – should ask their primary health care provider about having an echocardiogram to look for a thoracic aneurysm, even in the

The holidays have come and gone, and vacations and get-togethers with family and friends are complete. For many of us, going back to the daily grind can leave us feeling quite blue. But it is a new year, and in the spirit of new beginnings, we can start to nurture positive thinking and reap its benefits all year through.

Positive thinking is an emotional and mental attitude that focuses on the good at any given time. Instead of being a personality trait that one either has or does not, it is really a skill, choice, and habit you can develop.

Positive thinking is not about ignoring or making light of the challenges we face every day. It is about approaching life with the belief that things will go well and if they don’t go well, that we will have the ability and courage to get through tough times.

This attitude has a great impact on your health. Improved sleep, lower blood pressure, and better pain tolerance are just some of the health benefits of positive thinking. When it comes to mental health, positive thinking reduces stress and depression,

▢Your Mental Wellbeing

Woolwich Counselling Centre improves mood, increases ability to manage strong emotions, and can increase empathy. Socially, people who practice positive thinking have improved relationship satisfaction, are less lonely, and have better coping skills.

Get started on the path to positive thinking with these steps:

Nurture relationships: Relationships are at the heart of your wellbeing and happiness. Nurture them and they will nurture you. Investing in relationships increases your support system and resources which makes you more resilient in challenging times and better equipped to practice positive thinking. Relationships are cultivated by practicing kindness and cultivating an appreciation for others.

Be intentional: Take the time to reflect on the activities and relationships that bring you joy. Direct your time and attention to savouring these moments. Express gratitude to people in your life whose support you value.

Be your own cham - pion: Celebrate your successes – you may have worked hard and waited long for this moment. Give yourself grace when the unexpected happens. Use your gifts and abilities: For many of us, identifying our gifts or strengths can be difficult as we are often our own worst critics. But remember, your gifts lie in the place where your values, passions, and strengths meet. Using the skills that you enjoy will increase positive thinking and gratitude, leading to more happiness and contentment in everyday life. absence of signs or symptoms. Surgery generally is recommended for thoracic aortic aneurysms with a diameter of 5.5 centimetres or larger, and at smaller diameters, depending on the underlying cause of an aneurysm.

Seek out variety: Expand your horizons and seek out different experiences. Spread out indulgences over time to avoid forming bad habits. Anticipate happiness, health, and success while cultivating gratitude for your own successes and that of others. Get started on the path to positive thinking today.

ↆ This article is brought to you by Woolwich Counselling Centre. Check out their upcoming small group therapy sessions and workshops at www. woolwichcounselling.org.

A visit with a vascular or endovascular specialist may be warranted depending on the findings of the screening.

ↆ Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.