We
hope everyone will join us for this week’s delicious and tempting Pathfinder
Produce markets, in Edmeston at Pathfinder Village Commons on Thursday,
December 15, from 1 to 5 p.m., and in Morris at the UMC Church Hall, 17 Church
Street, Morris, on Friday, December 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Chef Matt Grady
will be at the Morris market, demonstrating and sharing several great dishes
that you’ll want to try.
Here
is one of Chef Matt’s recipes for your review; we’ll share the others in the
weeks ahead! This Spinach Salad really sounds delicious and accentuates
fresh veggies and fruits as key ingredients.
Spinach Salad with
Apple, Beets, Cheese Curds & Vinaigrette
1
pound spinach washed
3
apples your choice of variety sliced
2
beets red or yellow cooked, chilled sliced
Cheese
curds
Vinaigrette
1/4cup
cider vinegar
1/2
cup olive oil
2T
Dijon mustard
Juice
of 1 lemon
Fresh
dill
Fresh
oregano
Salt
and pepper
Toss
together, serve and enjoy!
***
A few folks I
know have lousy, rotten colds. I think that holiday season colds are the
absolute worst, inasmuch as everyone has so many things to take care of and
extra events to attend. And not to play the Scrooge, but perhaps holiday
colds are influenced by seasonal stress, being run-down, and going to
gatherings where exposure to cold and other viruses occurs readily.
Here are some
thoughts about how to avoid colds or lessen their severity:
1. Wash
your hands well and often: This is perhaps the easiest, surest way to
prevent yourself from getting a cold or passing your cold to others. A
good hand-washing gets the palms, tops, and between the fingers, and lasts for
at least 20 seconds (change your linens and towels often as well). Some
folks use the hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes too to help keep things
germ free.
2. Don’t
Smoke: Smoking affects every system in the body, but of course, is
particularly harmful to the respiratory system.
3. Hydrate:
After a brief look online, it seems there aren’t any evidenced-based studies
that show drinking fluids during a cold lessen the severity or duration of the
illness. However, with stuffy noses and scratchy throats, losing water
through coughing and drippy noses, and fever symptoms, I concur with “Dr.
Mom’s” advice for drinking water (and other clear beverages) as they help with
symptoms and make you feel slightly less blah.
4. If you’re sick, stay
home and rest: We all want to fight losing work or school time, but
going to work or school while you are ill causes two things to happen: You do
not get the rest you need to recuperate, AND you spread your cold to others
which can result in the never-ending workplace-classroom cold. Allowing
yourself to get rest really is essential … if you have trouble sleeping, try
relaxing in other ways like reading, meditating or listening to music or
audiobooks.
5. Cover
your Cough: We all need to cough on occasion, and there are pros and
cons to both the “Cough in Your Hand” vs. “Vampire Cough” methods.
Viruses are easily transmissible through droplets, which are a natural
consequence of sneezing and coughing.
6. Limit
your exposure: If someone is in the throes of a “Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Cold” try to avoid direct contact (stay 6 feet away). Also, try
to limit what you are touching at the stores or at events you must attend --
revisit tip #1 as soon as you can.
7. Get
some fresh air: Germs recirculate in stale air, which is why it’s not
uncommon for people to get sick with virus-borne illnesses after taking
commercial flights. Try to let some fresh air into your indoor
environments occasionally.
8.
Eat
plenty of fresh fruit and veggies to get your vitamins: Vitamins and
other anti-oxidants build up your immune system, and that’s exactly what your
body needs during the onset of colds and other viruses.
Until next time,
eat and be well, and remember the best present you can give yourself year-round
is good health.
Lori
