24 minute read
Vegetable Soup & Basil Pesto
by Laurie Richardone
Serves 8
1/2 lb. haricots verts, cut into 3 inch long pieces or in half 2 cups carrots, (1/2 inch dice) 2 cups red potatoes,or other (1/2 inch dice) 1 cup yellow squash (1/2 inch dice) 2 cups chopped yellow/white onion 2 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts (3 leeks) 2 tsp. sea salt 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 3/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper 3 qt. homemade vegetable stock (recipe below) or organic box stock 1 tsp. saffron threads 1 cup pesto (recipe below) Fresh parmigiano reggiano for finish
Heat the oil in a large stock pot or dutch oven. Add onions and leeks and saute over low heat, until they become translucent. (about 10 minutes) Add in potatoes, carrots, salt, pepper and saute over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and saffron. Bring to a low boil. Then, lower the heat and simmer uncovered until vegetables are tender but still firm. (about 15 minutes)
Add the haricot verts and squash. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Turn heat off, and let sit for 10 minutes.
Taste for seasoning.
Remember you are adding parmigiano, which is salty, therefore wait until the end to add more salt if needed.
When ready to serve add 1/4 cup of pesto to hot soup. Then season to taste.
Serve soup in bowls and top with extra pesto and grated parmigiano.
Pesto (makes 1 cup)
Adding the tomato paste gives this traditional pesto a french flare
4 garlic cloves
25-30 large basil leaves Parmigiano cheese
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Place the garlic, basil, tomato paste and parmigiana in a food processor and pulse a few times.
Start to add the olive oil and continue to pulse until incorporated. You do not want to over mix as the basil can get a bitter taste.
Can be made a few hours ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature when serving.
Buon Appetito
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2 50+Living | February 2022
Love is the one thing you never run short of. So give plenty to everyone and yourself. May you celebrate love not only this one day but throughout the year. Happy Valentines Day!
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7 Chakras
and What You Must Know About Them
Chakras are energy points within our bodies - points where energy from outside us connects with that inside of us. They’re located at various places along the endocrine system (our ductless glands) but each one has its own physical location somewhere in our body. Each chakra corresponds to a color, an endocrine gland, a body function, and an aspect of our mental or emotional life.
ONE: THE ROOT CHAKRA
The first chakra is known as the root chakra, and its color is red. It’s located at the base of your spine and it deals with issues involving survival, fear, security, pleasure, pain, and grounding.
The root chakra, in terms of the body, relates to the adrenal glands and our bladder and kidneys. If this chakra is underactive, we’ll be ungrounded and we’ll handle stress by feeling victimized or playing the victim. We may also avoid issues dealing with responsibility.
If it’s overactive, we will try to control everything around us because of fear that something bad might happen. We’ll become very jealous, envious, controlling, or obsessive-compulsive in an effort to gain security for ourselves.
Crystals that align with the root chakra include red jasper, garnet, and onyx.
TWO: THE SACRAL CHAKRA
The second chakra, known also as the sacral chakra, is located just below our navels. Its color is orange and it has to do with issues involving relationships, pleasure, emotion, creativity, fertility, or fears about those things. It includes our adrenal glands and lower intestines.
If this chakra is underactive, we may feel lonely even when we’re in a relationship; we’ll also have little motivation, feel apathetic, or be afraid to express ourselves. If it’s overactive, we might constantly seek relationships because of a fear that coming home to ourselves means being alone. We’ll become obsessive about someone else in an effort to avoid loneliness.
Crystals that align with the sacral chakra include orange calcite, carnelian, and sunstone.
THREE: THE SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA
The third chakra, known also as the solar plexus chakra, is located at our stomachs. Its color is yellow, and it has to do with issues involving self-esteem, control of our lives, insight into people around us (including ourselves), action and drive, and confidence in that action or drive. It includes our pancreas, spleen, and stomach.
If this chakra is underactive, we’ll have a hard time standing up for ourselves because of fear that doing so will lead to rejection or failure. We might shy away from responsibility as well as be very self-deprecating.
If it’s overactive we’re bound to become dominating and controlling in our need to take action even when action isn’t necessary or the best option available. Crystals that align with the solar plexus chakra include yellow jasper, citrine, and amber.
FOUR: THE HEART CHAKRA
The fourth chakra, or the heart chakra, is represented by the color green, which has to do with issues involving love, compassion, forgiveness, healing, and peace. It includes our heart and lungs.
If this chakra is underactive, we might have a hard time loving ourselves or others; we may also have little compassion for those around us because of fear that they’ll hurt us or take advantage of us in some way.
If the heart chakra is overactive, we’ll be so busy trying to love everyone else that we neglect ourselves - which leads to resentment on our part when people don’t meet our expectations (which are set very high). We also tend to become martyrs in an effort to prove how loving we are - but this just makes others resentful instead of appreciative.
Crystals aligned with the heart chakra include green jade, emerald, and malachite.
FIVE: THE THROAT CHAKRA
The fifth chakra, known also as the throat chakra, is represented by the color sky blue, which has to do with issues involving our voice, communication, truth, finding our authentic self, and being comfortable in situations where we’re speaking publicly or putting ourselves out there. It includes our thyroid gland, neck, and shoulders.
If this chakra is underactive, we may have a hard time saying no or asserting boundaries because of fear that doing so will lead to rejection by others; we might be very passive even though it doesn’t serve us well, but stands as a way for us not to “rock the boat.”
If this chakra is overactive, we’ll be argumentative, controlling, and perhaps tyrannical in an effort to get our way. We may also have a hard time being honest with ourselves or others because of fear that if we did then it might lead to negative consequences.
Crystals that align with the throat chakra include blue agate, lapis lazuli, azurite, and turquoise.
SIX: THE THIRD EYE CHAKRA
The sixth chakra, known also as the third eye chakra, is represented by the color indigo, which has to do with issues involving insight into our own truth (which includes intuition), imagination (including dreams), psychic abilities, vision (including spiritual visions), and “knowing” without having concrete proof of it. It’s located between our eyes in the middle of our forehead.
If this chakra is underactive, we might have a hard time connecting with our intuition or dreams; we may also be out of touch with the spiritual and creative aspects of our lives.
If it’s overactive we’ll likely become closed-minded and unwilling to hear other people’s points of view, even if they make sense. We’ll also probably be stubborn about not accepting things at face value - refusing to trust in anything that can’t be seen with one (or more) of our five senses (including psychic abilities).
Crystals that align with the third eye include indigo fluorite, sodalite, lapis lazuli, and azurite.
SEVEN: THE CROWN CHAKRA
The seventh chakra is also referred to as the crown chakra and its color is violet/white, which has to do with issues involving being connected to our higher self/ oversoul, self-knowledge, intuitive knowledge of others, our relationship with the divine (including the presence of God), cosmic consciousness, and wisdom related to what’s best for us at any given time in our lives. It’s located at the top of our head.
If it’s overactive, we’ll likely be close-minded about anything that can’t be experienced with one (or more) of our five senses (including psychic abilities); we’ll also tend to be less willing to consider logical explanations for things - which could lead us into being gullible and easily hoodwinked.
Crystals that align with the crown chakra include clear quartz, amethyst, selenite, and selenite.
CONCLUSION
The chakra system is an important part of our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. By knowing what each chakra represents, what parts of the body and soul it influences, and what can go wrong if it isn’t in balance, we can learn how to keep our auric field clear. Doing this will help us to enjoy much better health in all areas of life.
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Zibibbo is over 5,000 years old and dates back to Ancient Egypt. Archeological evidence of winemaking is supported by the illustrations found in the Tomb of Nakht at Thebes. In what many viticulturalists call a viticultural miracle, the grape has not changed much genetically over the course of the 5000 years that it’s been cultivated.
Contributing to its longevity, Zibibbo is versatile and has been over the centuries used as a table grape, a wine grape and a raisin. But it is the very essence of the grape that makes it a survivor. The grape has proved it can endure and flourish in a drought and extreme heat and humidity. As we come face to face with warmer climatic conditions, Zibibbo is not only the past, but the future!
Until fairly recently, Zibibbo was considered a myth by the modern world. According to legend, Tanit, a goddess of Carthage, wanted to attract Apollo, one the most admired and respected gods. Following the advice of Venus, the Goddess of Love, Tanit served Apollo a glass of wine made from the vines of Pantelleria, a small island in the middle of the Mediterranean. Zibibbo’s seductive power was so strong that Apollo not only noticed Tanit, but also fell deeply in love with her.
Since ancient times, Zibibbo has been a well-kept secret of the locals in Pantelleria. The wine was not even exported to the Italian mainland until 1880. But today, the secret is out, as Pantelleria has become part of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity for traditional viticultural methods still used for vine training. Following this method, Zibibbo is cultivated in holes dug in the ground to protect vines from winds that whip the islands 300 hundred days each year.
Zibibbo is the same grape as Muscat of Alexandria. Settle down! Muscat does not necessarily mean sweet. Zibibbo can be made dry or sweet. Many historians say Muscat is the oldest grape family in the world. As the name suggests, Muscat of Alexandria originated from Alexandria, Egypt. The name, Zibibbo, is derived from the Arabic word zabib for raisins.
Both the Phoenicians and the Greeks brought Zibibbo plantings to Sicily and Pantelleria around 800 B.C. And it was during the Roman Empire that the grape traveled north to Europe. Today, Zibibbo is harvested in South
Africa, California, Australia, and South America, with over 200 synonyms registered.
The bottle of Zibibbo at Metro Wines is Gorghi Tondi, 2020. In the glass, the wine is straw yellow with greenish reflections. The nose is intense and highly aromatic with aromas of jasmine, orange blossoms, peaches, apricots, and almonds. Aromas are carried through as flavors on the palate and the wine has a long finish. The grapes are
organically grown and aged in steel to preserve the bright aromatics and flavors.
By Gina Trippi
And Gorghi Tondi Zibibbo is low in alcohol at only 11.5%. Could this bottle be more perfect? Enjoy a wine that has been a customer favorite for 5,00 years!
Metro Wines Asheville
Charlotte Street! It’s the Next BIG Thing! “Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service” 828-575-9525 | metrowinesasheville.com
Science-Backed Ways Massage Helps Control Pain
Nothing feels better when you’re stressed out than a relaxing massage. Yet massage is more than just a technique for relaxation. It’s used in various medical settings to relieve stress and relax tight muscles. Research even suggests that massage may be beneficial for controlling pain.
For example, some research suggests massage can help relieve neck pain, back pain, and headaches. However, unlike pain medications, it only has positive side effects like feeling relaxed and stress-free. But how might massage ease pain?
By Increasing Blood Flow to Tissues
When you massage and warm sore achy muscles and other tissues, blood flow to painful areas rises. Increased blood flow means increased oxygenated blood flow to the muscles, tendons, joints, and other tissues of your body. This leads to increased muscle flexibility and reduces muscle spasms. This mechanism of pain relief is beneficial if you have neck pain, back pain, or tightness in one or more muscles. It also feels delightful after a tough workout.
By Relaxing Your Body and Easing Stress
Another way massage eases pain is by easing stress. When you’re in a relaxed state, you’re less aware of the discomfort that you’re feeling. A study found that massage helps people with health conditions in hospitals and other acute care settings better deal with pain and psychological aspects of their illness. Those who received massage felt more relaxed, slept better, and experienced less pain.
When you’re constantly stressed, your central nervous system (which includes the brain and spinal cord) is in high alert mode and can’t turn off. This causes a constant flow of chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol through your body, which can create pain and tension. Massage helps balance these chemicals by easing stress, so you feel more relaxed and less aware of pain. It helps restore balance to an overactive nervous system. Many people suffering from chronic pain experience stress due to their condition, and this stress can worsen pain.
Another theory is that massage therapy boosts endorphins, natural pain killers your bod produces
in response to factors like massage and exercise. Endorphins also promote a feeling of well-being that helps you forget about the pain. These are the same chemicals that explain the runner’s high, the sensation of being at peace with the world runner’s experience during a run.
By Closing Pain Gates
According to Harvard Health, the gate control theory of pain may explain some of the benefits of massage for pain control. This theory points out that your spinal cord has “gates” that allow pain messages to travel to the brain. Massage and other forms of touch provide sensory information that blocks the gates that carry pain information to the brain, so you feel more comfortable and experience less pain. So, massage may shut down the transmission lines for pain, at least temporarily.
By Reducing Muscle Spasm
One way massage therapy works to reduce pain is by breaking up muscle spasms, which is one of the main contributors to chronic pain. Spasm is when a muscle contracts involuntarily. Such contractions can lead to tension headaches and even muscle tears if severe enough. One way that massage can help with chronic pain is by working out knots in your muscles. It is a form of bodywork that uses manipulation of the soft tissue to relieve muscle tension and pain. When you have chronic pain, your muscles are constantly in a state of spasm. Massage can help relax these muscles, allowing you to move about easier and feel less pain.
By Shifting the Focus Away from Pain
Massage is a diversion. It’s hard to think about pain when you’re relaxing with a massage. By shifting the focus away from pain and towards a calming activity, you give your body a chance to naturally reduce its stress response. Massage therapy usually feels quick, which is why most people find it helpful for pain relief.
The Bottom Line
Massage feels wonderful but it can also help reduce some types of pain, especially pain related to tight muscles or muscle spasms. Now you know how it works. Take advantage of the pain-relieving benefits that massage offers. It’s safer than using pain medications.
References: Adams R, White B, Beckett C. The effects of massage therapy on pain management in the acute care setting. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2010 Mar 17;3(1):4-11. PMID: 21589696; PMCID: PMC3091428. “How Massage and Exercise Release Endorphins ....” regenerativemassageclinic.wordpress.com/how-massageand-exercise-release-endorphins/. “Therapeutic massage for pain relief - Harvard Health.” 01 Jul. 2016, health.harvard.edu/alternative-andcomplementary-medicine/therapeutic-massage-for-pain-relief. Harvard Health Publishing. “Therapeutic massage for pain relief”
20 of the Best
Home Improvement Tips
Home improvement is not as simple as building a small addition onto your house. Planning, design, and sensible choices are all in order to make your space the best it can be.
If you’re interested in looking into home improvements for yourself or want to give some helpful tips for those you love, then this article will help you get started. Read on and discover 20 of the best home improvements tips that can upscale your home, add value, and make you fall in love with your home all over again.
1. Seal the Gaps Between the Baseboards and the Wall
It’s one of the simplest ways to get better noise control in the place you live. The gap will let unwanted noises seep into your room or home and will also create an increased echoing effect, which can be a distraction when you are trying to go to sleep. The gaps will also let in a draft, which will greatly affect the temperature of the room, not to mention increase your energy bills as you try to combat the cold air!
2. Clean Up Your Home’s Downspouts
Have you ever thought about how dirty your downspouts might be? It’s not a pretty sight! First, all of the rain runoff flows through the roof and then through the downspout. When dust and debris settle on them, they quickly get clogged up. What’s worse, the blockage stops water from flowing, and the ensuing overspills can severely damage your home. Time to give them a good cleaning with a garden hose or pressure washer. Also, check these parts for any missing or broken pieces. They’ll need replacing ASAP to prevent any serious maintenance bills from coming your way.
3. Install Storm Doors Instead of Regular Doors
If you live in a windy area, then storm doors should absolutely be part of your home improvements list. Storm doors are like regular doors but they have additional protection around the opening area of your door. They can be opened in the warm season, but they are mainly used for protection. Storm doors have metal latches, frames, door rests, and hinges to provide you with more protection to your home.
4. Increase Storage Space
For those who do not have as much space as they wish, this can be a really helpful step in home improvement. Beautiful or classy storage boxes don’t have to cost a lot of money, so buy some of your favorite boxes and put away any little bits in your home that are making it feel smaller than it is. A cluttered house can be overwhelming and uncomfortable. It is important to declutter your home to make it look lighter and more spacious.
Fresh flowers bring your home to life and add a splash of color that will make your place feel more personal and bright. Flowers are a cheap feature that can really add warmth and beauty to a room.
6. Replace Old Doors
Did you know that an old door can bring down the value of your house? If it’s damaged or not installed properly, then it’s time to upgrade. Nowadays, most doors are more energy-efficient and can be a real upgrade to your home. Even if you don’t plan on selling your house anytime soon, the new door will last for years to come and will be a better investment in the future.
7. Deep Clean Your Carpets
Carpets are one of the most affordable and most important home improvements. Clean carpets keep your home smelling fresh, the floor looking bright, and the air quality high. Carpets that are regularly cleaned also last longer and feel great! You don’t need to worry about hiring a professional company if you can’t afford it, you can hire the right equipment from most hardware stores that will give you the same results for relative pennies.
8. Use Quality Lighting
Lighting is important in many ways - not just for safety, but also for your mood. Bright light can help you wake up in the morning, and dim light will help you sleep better at night. This is a simple home improvement tip that really makes a difference in how you feel at home. Quality lighting is more energy-efficient and will, therefore, decrease your energy bills and save you money.
9. Choose a Neutral Color Scheme
Bold is not brave! When it comes to painting the walls, you should always go for neutral tones. These types of shades open up a space, give it more light, and allow your furniture to shine. Don’t ruin a room’s ambiance by adding loud or dark colors.
10. Clean Your Gutters
If you want to make sure that they are not clogged by leaves, then you need to give your gutters a good clean on a regular basis. You can also use an automatic blower to keep the gutter clean from leaves and other debris that has fallen into it. Gutters that are full of debris will only lead to leaks and water damage on your property. There are many quality appliances such as countertop ovens and refrigerators that will give your home a more expensive look without having a huge price tag. Even the ones that are a little more expensive last longer and do a better job of saving energy than cheaper models. Appliances that match and look like they are of good quality will instantly make the room look better.
12. Pay for an Energy Audit
You can reduce your energy costs by as much as 30% by a well-done home energy audit. The audit will review the different areas of your home such as insulation, ventilation, lighting, ceiling fans, etc., and let you know if there are ways that you can save money on your home’s energy usage.
13. Repair Worn-Out Flooring
A worn-out floor can really bring down the value of your house. If you don’t have enough funds to replace the floors, then you should look for a cheaper solution such as adhesive flooring. Since flooring covers such a huge area of your home overall, there will be a noticeable change when you repair or replace it.
14. Enhance the Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is the first thing anyone notices about your home. A clean yard, garage, driveway, and windows will do wonders for the aesthetics of your exterior, and all it takes is some cheap cleaning equipment and a few spare hours. Furthermore, if you want to sell your home quickly this is an essential step.
15. Clean Mold and Mildew Off the Roof
Your roof is probably the most important part of your home because it’s the main defense in keeping the interior of your home dry. The first step in cleaning it is to check for leaks and repair any you find. The next step is to scrub the roof with a good cleaner and rinse it off with water. For extra protection, add some silicone spray or caulk on top of your roof. This will keep the water from entering the roof or causing serious damage
18. Have Good Insulation
Insulation is a vital part of your home’s energy conservation strategy. If your home isn’t insulated efficiently, you could be wasting hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year trying to heat your property during the cold months.
19. Avoid Popcorn Ceilings
16. Update Hardware
You can change the look of your home by updating the hardware on your doors and windows. Hardware is super cheap and you can expect to pay less than a hundred dollars for new door handles, cabinet handles, and so on.
Additionally, if you want, you can also upgrade to keyless entry locks that will make your house look more expensive. Just make sure that you choose the perfect one for your home’s design. Stucco ceilings are outdated, and quite frankly, ugly. This isn’t the 80s anymore, they have to go. A smooth white ceiling is much more modern.
20. Have A Professional Home Inspection
A home inspection can help you learn what needs to be changed about your home, which parts can be improved, which areas need fixing, etc. A professional home inspection will give you a list of the most important areas of your home that need to be dealt with.
Know When to Hire a Professional It’s one thing to know what to do, but it’s another thing to know how to do it. Knowing when it’s a DIY job and knowing when it’s time to call in the professionals is crucial. Especially when it comes to electrical or plumbing work, if you don’t do it correctly, you could cause more damage or injure yourself. However, since most areas of home improvement can be done by yourself, for the most part, you should be able to do up your home, have fun, and greatly improve your living space.
17. Improve the Water Pressure
If you don’t have enough water pressure in your home, it could be because the pipes are coated in grime or mineral deposits. Not only does this make your water unclean, but you’ll not be getting the pressure you should. Call a plumber if you’re not sure how to clean the insides of the pipes although in most simple cases, drain unblocking fluid from the store is more than enough.
