The rainy season missed the Central Coast this year. We'll see what it will do to yields and prices. I have been fortunate to find fresh berries at the Farmers Markets, or gifts from friends and neighbors. This year I planted a blueberry and raspberry vine in the backyard. The lettuce seeds are providing leaves for small side salads and 2 of my 3 tomato plants survived. 

We have been eating the sweetest oranges for the past month and should have them for a few more months. The fig tree has new leaves and in 2015 it provided the first fruit (all of 2) and last year a few more. It is so interesting how the fruit grows at the end of the branch. It is a miniature fig. I like figs but two people can't eat that much fruit. I am blessed that my fruit trees don't all ripen at once. The stone fruit in June-July and the Apple in Sept-Oct. 

I think this small garden will survive some short trips as we like so many others are ready to venture out of town this year. 

No recipes today as I hope you trust yourselves to combine ingredients for new food experiences without lots of fuzzy directions. I am always surprised when asked for recipes for foods that seem to be internal combinations. Or I just spent so much time in the kitchen with my grandmothers that their steps and actions became emblazoned on my memory. I did make Easter Bread last week. Mine is my regular yeast bread recipe with additional butter (1/2 cup) and eggs (4) and instead of water I use milk. Add 1 cup  combination of fruit cake fruit diced and white raisins plus 1/2 cup slivered almonds, almond extract. We eat it warm with butter, hard boiled Easter eggs and coffee. A light breakfast before our main meal of either Salmon or Lamb. This year it was Lamb Kabobs made by my friend Irene. 

​Buen Provecho!

Accidentally posted this under food safety.... Cross posting health and safety. 

​What would happen if you treated your body as well as you do your car?
 
If you cared for your car like you care for yourself, what type of miles per gallon would you get? Or, would your auto move at all? Take this 10-question CAR CARE TEST and then compare the human equivalent (HEQ) for your body.

1. Do you recharge your car’s battery if it runs low?

HEQ: Do you get enough sleep?

1. Do you refill your car’s gas tank when it is empty?

HEQ: Do you eat meals/snacks at regularly-spaced times throughout the day?

       3.  Do you use the right type of fuel for your car?
HEQ: Do you eat the right variety of foods from each food group?

4.   Do you make sure your car’s radiator has enough water?
HEQ: Do you drink about 8 cups of liquid a day – mostly from water, juice and milk?

      5.   Do you read the owner’s manual to get the best performance from your car?
HEQ: Do you take advantage of opportunities to learn more about healthy eating and other healthy lifestyle choices since we did not come with a manual? Check out this blog and the monthly zoom meeting  otherswww.choosemyplate.gov, www.eatright.org, 

6.Do you clean your car’s body so it doesn’t rust out?
HEQ: Do you brush and floss your teeth daily?

7.Do you limit your passengers to a number your car’s structure can handle?
HEQ: Do you keep you weight at a healthy level?

8.If smoke poured from your car, would it concern you?
HEQ: Do YOU smoke?

9.Do you give your car regular tune-ups?
HEQ: Do you participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity most days?

10.Do you keep proper pressure in your tires?
HEQ: Do you keep your stress at a healthy level?
 
Sometimes there seem to be a lot of similarities between our cars and our bodies. There are, however, two major differences:

1. It’s easier to replace damaged parts on our cars.
2. We can trade our cars in for a newer model every few years. We have to live with our bodies forever.

Perhaps, after reading this, you feel it’s time for a tune-up to get back on track. Start your engine, rev up your motor and begin caring for your body as carefully as you do your car!
 
source was www.ianr.unl.edu/ianr/lanco/family/ftmar00.htm and is no longer available online. New info on health from this organization is found at https://food.unl.edu/
Revised and brought to you by Dr. Elsa Ramirez-Brisson at Food FUNdamentals