A few weeks ago, I whipped up some delightful Red Velvet Mug Cakes. Talk about speedy! Those perfect-for-two morsels were ready in less than 6 minutes because you cook them in the microwave.
I couldn't wait to try another quick mug recipe. So I was thrilled to find this single-serving, spring sensation in Camilla V. Saulsbury's 250 Best Meals in a Mug (Robert Rose Inc., Jan. 16, 2014, $24.95). Superfast and easy, this tart lemon treat packs a zing sure to please any citrus fan.
Fresh-squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest enhance the taste. (Figure one lemon per mug cake.) All the other ingredients are pretty basic so it's a great spur-of-the-moment dessert option.
We usually tell you about things we looove in this column. This is not one of those times. Today I'm outing a couple of real stinkers masquerading as great entertainment so you can hopefully avoid them and not repeat our mistakes.
'cause the last one was a pane in the glass.
I've known people who want to live forever. Me? Not so much. I just want to live to a ripe old age and be healthy enough to enjoy it. As a cancer survivor, I can tell you that, at least for me, age isn't the goal. Good health that allows me to enjoy my age - whatever it is - is what it's all about.
I've known some people who talked out of this orifice...
One of the things that suck are great about reaching a "certain age" is getting to do all the fun procedures that come along with it. What kind of procedures you might ask? I dunno, really cool stuff like colonoscopies...yeah they're a blast.
And by blast, I mean the fact that the prep turns your pooper into a cannon worthy of WMD status. How is it that we put Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969, but still haven't figured out a better way to clean a colon **shakes fist at computer monitor**.
Sorry, the 13-year-old in me is still laughing at being able to say "poop" on the World Wide Web. I'll be back in a minute.
About two weeks ago I decided to do one of those "elective" procedures, because my eyesight had gotten to the point where I didn't really see things. I just wandered around our house like a drunken version of Roomba and bounced off immovable objects. Sometimes Charlotte was one of those objects and she was starting to complain.
So...I called up the local laser eye specialist and scheduled an appointment to get me some LASER EYES. The nice folks explained the procedure and assured me the only pain I'd feel was the money being sucked from my HSA MasterCard. SPOILER ALERT: That part IS painful and they do not give you a Valium before they run your card even if you ask nicely.
Laser eye surgery is a pretty common procedure these days and I'd put it off as long as I could. From the patient point of view, the surgery is simple.
The surgeon takes your money (remember, this is WITHOUT applying Valium); they put you in a blue mesh cap that reminds you of your grade school cafeteria; and blue mesh "booties" (nobody knows why).
Growing up in Texas, I ate fried chicken regularly. It was a favorite at family get-togethers and a special treat when served by my working mom during the week. She'd buy a whole bird, cut it into pieces (a trick I've yet to master) and always save the wish bone for the pickiest eater (woops, that was me!)
These days, frying is off the table at our house most of the time because Bob and I have to think about our waistlines. But every now and then, I like to give my iron skillet a workout. That's one reason I wanted to fix this lightly battered delight from Junior's Home Cooking (Taunton Press, October 2013, $24.95).
How do you eat for a healthy heart when there are so many different ways to eat, so many different diets and so many opinions? As an integrative cardiologist who emphasizes the healing power of food, I have been asked that question many times. My answer is based on what I've learned over nearly four decades in a medical practice dedicated to optimum health as well as what I've learned in the kitchen as an avid cook.
It's always the quiet ones who surprise you.
In January, I hosted a simple dinner for the lovely ladies in my Bunco group. The 12 of us have been meeting monthly for about 20 years. In the beginning, we played the dice game that brought us together religiously. These days, there's really no time for that because we're busy discussing the joys (our children and grandchildren), challenges (divorce and health scares) ... every detail of our lives.
Sometimes, simple is better. Bob and I became convinced of that in Italy, where we fell in love with basic pasta dishes featuring Pecorino cheese. There we ordered pasta, pizza, anything with Pecorino at most meals because this sharper, saltier cousin of Parmesan packs such a nice zing.
House of Cards, Netflix' entry into original programming, is a terrific indie drama I overlooked when it debuted over a year ago.
Because...
I'll admit that I'm not the most romantic person on the planet (Charlotte would be the second person to tell you that). Not really big on hugs. Kiss hello? NMD. It's not that I have anything against these things. They're just not part of my romantic DNA.
That doesn't mean I don't like romantic songs. Oh HELL no. There are some terrific ones that Charlotte and I both love. We've chronicled our (almost 36 years) life together with a soundtrack that ranges from Cole Porter to The Shins.
So, with Valentine's Day almost on top of us (great metaphor for the #1 sex holiday of the year AMIRITE?), I'm offering up a Baby Boomer V'Day Playlist to get you in the mood. If at least ONE of these songs isn't on your playlist, then Dude, you're a bigger curmudgeon that me. And you don't really want to go there, do you?
1. Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac
Nobody belts out a rock ballad better than Stevie Nicks and this is one of her best. Charlotte insists we play it every time we watch our Fleetwood Mac DVD.
2. I'm Still In Love With You - Al Green
Every Valentine's Day playlist has to have at least one Al Green song. It's in my contract with the WBF (World Blogging Federation).
Going gray is the least of my worries. At 56 (practically 57, yikes!), my once-blonde hair has gotten darker with no trace of silver just yet. It came back brown after a life-saving double mastectomy and 6 rounds of chemotherapy in 2009 ... but that's another story.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
Follow us on Twitter: @BoomerBrief
and @CharlotteBoomer
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