Kitchen tools that serve only one function have no place in my kitchen! Work smarter, not harder—get creative with the tools you’ve already got hanging around and save money you could otherwise spend on more delicious groceries! Try using these ten kitchen tools in the following innovative ways…
Glucose, the main form of sugar circulating in our blood stream, is also the main form of fuel burned by our cells so that we can live and function. For getting into many types of cells, glucose (and certain other nutrients) needs a key to open the “door.” That key is insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas. Though glucose is necessary for life, sometimes the level in circulation can get too high and cause all sorts of problems.
Mints are easy-to-grow perennials that are a beautiful and (usually) lovely-smelling addition to your garden—even if your garden is limited to a balcony, like mine is. They do well at sea level. They do well at mountainous elevations. They can hack cool, damp summers or hot, intense summers. They are fine being buried in snow and will be there waiting for you in the spring. While mints generally prefer rich and well-drained soil, I’ve grown them in heavy clay soils.
Whoever said that summers were not a loving time for a garden hasn’t quite planted a produce-happy summer garden. While winter vegetables are more heart-warming than a summer bounty, summer vegetables still have a lot going for them.
Being on the go doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice healthy eating habits. As the weather warms and we spend more time outdoors, more warm weather veggies are showing up in our gardens and at the farmers’ market.
Growing herbs is often the gateway to becoming a gardener and eventually starting a vegetable garden.
Folks looking to be active may think of working on some muscle strength, but let’s not forget about those important bits that actually hold us up and let us move…our various connective tissues. Tendons, ligaments, cartilage as well as our bones are all, technically, connective tissue. Tendons connect muscles to bone, which is why we can move. Ligaments connect bone to bone, which is why we don’t just collapse into a pile on the floor. Joints are a collection of connective tissues (cartilage and ligaments) that also let us move.
Did you know that at least 10% of the dogs in the U.S. suffer from heart disease? The rate is even higher in elderly dogs (my old chihuahua has the beginnings of congestive heart failure), and in certain breeds. Breeds with a susceptibility to heart issues include chihuahuas, along with basset hounds, lab retrievers, German shepherds, golden retrievers, boxers, rottweilers and others. If you have one of those breeds, it’s not a bad idea to start support early and, of course, to make sure your dog is checked out by the vet regularly.
When I was little, I would suffer from terrible stomachaches in school. They were so bad that I would have to go to the nurse’s office at times and even be sent home. It turns out I was lactose intolerant—that coupled with having high anxiety did not mix very well.
You may have heard of using lemon balm for preventing and treating cold sores. And it’s great. We know it’s helpful from a long history of traditional use as well as from research studies. But lemon balm’s not the only game in town.