Pumpkin Soup from Susan Branch. Enjoy this Halloween Weekend!

Susan Branch - What's Cooking?

Chicken Butternut Squash Soup - Betty Robinson

Chicken Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
· 1-1/4 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut in 3/4-inch pieces (4 cups)
· 1 small red onion, cut in 1/2-inch wedges
· 1 Tbsp. curry powder
· 1 Tbsp. olive oil
· 3 14-oz. cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
· 1 15- to 16-oz. can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained
· 1/3 cup dried apricots, snipped
· 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
· 1 tsp. olive oil
· 1/4 tsp. freshly grated or ground nutmeg
· 1 deli-roasted chicken or oven-baked chicken, skinned and cut up
· Fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In shallow roasting pan toss squash and onion with curry powder and the 1 tablespoon oil. Roast, uncovered, 20 minutes or until tender. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
2. In 4-quart Dutch oven combine roasted vegetables, broth, beans, and apricots. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Cook about 5 minutes. Transfer half the soup to food processor or blender. Cover; process or blend until smooth. Return to Dutch oven; heat through.
3. Meanwhile, in bowl toss walnuts with 1 teaspoon oil and the nutmeg. Spread nuts on baking sheet. Bake 7 minutes or until golden and toasted. Reheat chicken according to package directions, if needed.
4. To serve, top soup with nuts, chicken, and cilantro. Makes 6 main-dish servings.

Who Has a Healthy Soup Recipe to Share!

Hello Everyone!

We just finished up our 2nd 'Open Mike' night and, once again, we had a wonderful conversation and some great ideas shared.

One request that has come out of tonight's call is for people to share a healthy soup recipe on the blog. I know I love soups made from scratch with fresh ingredients and it's so easy to have these both healthy AND delicious.

You can post as a comment on this entry or create a new post.

So - Soup's ON! Let's hear from you!

Love! Gerri

Healthy Grazing List

We all have to find what works when it comes to shifting from snacks to healthy grazing. It’s not always easy. I’m glad that we’ve collaborated and add items to our group list every session.

Remember that grazing means eating small amounts. This is important because many of these foods are high in calories so you need to eat just enough to satisfy the need to chew or get the taste. Several of us also find the more we take vitamins the less cravings we have between meals. And don't forget to drink water first - you might just be thirsty.

Here is our collaborated list to date for each of us to POST in our Pantry. Thanks for that suggestion San!

Always start with...
Water - sometimes it's really that we're thirsty when we feel hungry

Then try these wonderful Arbonne Options...
Fizzy Tabs - If you need help with the taste of water and want an energy boost
Fizzy Tab Popsicles – Just buy the popsicle trays available at any home store
Arbonne Chews
Protein Bars - made from Fig8 Chocolate Protein Mix - try making 1" cubes like chews!
Cup of Detox Tea or splurge on Chai

And Then We Can Choose…
Apples with natural peanut butter/almond butter
Frozen grapes - yummy in the summer
Fresh fruitDried Fruits

Almonds, Walnuts
Seeds such as Pepitas - roasted and shelled pumpkin seeds

Hard Boiled Egg
Baby Bell cheeses
Protein, Lunch Meat, Chicken, Fish – try cooking extra so there will be something in the fridge ready to eat
Greek Yogurt with Honey
Yogurt/small cups of yogurt - sprinkle w/granola if you need something crunchy

Baby carrots or Hummus with carrots
Prepared Veggies ... celery, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, cherry tomatoes

Parmesan Zucchini Crisps - you can google the recipe
Rice cakes

Chewing Gum – especially while preparing food – stops you from sampling as you fix your meal!
Peppermint sugar free gum

Do you have a favorite not listed here? Please Share!

Correction ... Call tonight!!

Hi Everyone,

I apologize that my calendar ... or my brain ... was off by one week.
Tonight is a regular Abundant Healthy Living Call with Tee leading us.
The Open Mike Call will be next week.

Dial 616-347-8300 Pin Code 939046# to join us at 7:55 so we can begin at 8.

Thanks and looking forward to being with you all this evening! Love, San

T-Tapp!

I am thrilled to report that I have finally begun T-Tapp! It will be a challenge for me as I am not coordinated. The amazing news is that in addition to significant inch and pound drop, T-Tapp is proven to connect left and right brain activity so my coordination and thinking will improve!

T-Tapp was created over ten years ago by Theresa Tapp. Check out her website,
http://www.t-tapp.com/.

I am working with Kiona Leah, an old client and certified T-Tapp instructor. When she talked about T-Tapp principles it all made so much sense. I love it when that happens because it means I will commit and make this another Abundant Healthy Living choice.

We started our session with measurements so I promise I will keep you posted.

Happy Saturday to my Abundant Healthy Living Friends. Love, San

Staying Healthy While We Eat Right!

Because I'm used to a routine in daily use of Arbonne Hybrid Vitamins and the REsist Immune System booster, it's very rare that I catch a bug or virus! So, surprise! My husband, Rod, found himself laid low with a runny nose, sore throat, and chest cold that practically put him down yesterday. He really needs his voice to conduct services on Sunday and to sing beautiful liturgy, so when a virus looks for a place to rest, it finds his vocal chords and lungs. It seems to know exactly where to go to target his vulnerable places! AND yet! It is so rare that one of us gets sick these days.

So! In addition to the wonderful Figure 8 products, don't forget to take good care of your Immune System with Arbonne's BioNutria Remedy products: Get Well Soon (triple seal echinacea +), Herbal Vapor Rub (which, when applied to the bottom of the feet at bedtime will circulate thru your body as you sleep and help to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness caused by cold and flu) and Herbal Bath Soak. Increase your Vitamin C and Vitamin D intake, and STAY HYDRATED. So far, so good for me - and reduced time under the influence of this little bug will help Rod to repair quickly.

Take good care of yourselves as we move into fall and as leaves turn to magnificent bronzes, deep reds, dark greens, every shade of orange, yellow, and red. When I exercise and walk our pup, Hogan, I take the time to look at every leaf, every bittersweet vine, the gorgeous colors of even my not-good-friend, poison ivy...and find that I see things I've never noticed before. Gift yourself by looking closely at your world as our beautiful Earth puts on her special show!

Prue

Looking forward to tonights call

Hello everyone! I know I was gone less than a week but it feels like ages since we've connected thru AHL. Mark and I got a LOT of fresh air in Cape May. Three full days of birding with a group with do that for you! I kept myself hydrated and kept to healthy grazing to keep me going through the day. And even when we went out to eat, I was hungry, yet my inclination was still towards healthy meals. One night I had the most delicious bowl of mushroom soup and an amazing salad to accompany it.

It's nice to be able to go on vacation and not have that nagging expectation of gaining weight. It's gone. I won't weigh in until tomorrow and I know I'll be ok. The past 5 days were full of healthy activities for both body and spirit. After all - isn't that what vacations should be about!

Looking forward to being with ALL of YOU tonight.

Love! Gerri

Great shakes!

I’ve been having so much fun getting creative with my Arbonne Figure 8 protein shake recipes! I love them so much I want to share a few of my favorites with you. First, a little about the “shake-up” that got me started.

In April 2008 I was downsized out of my corporate job. Almost overnight, my already-crazy schedule got more jam-packed than ever. This huge change in my life meant that I now had to work more hours, at different kinds of jobs, just to keep up. With the stress plus the new time challenges, I found myself grabbing quick, unhealthy foods that I could eat on the run. Needless to say, I gained about 10 pounds within just a few months—on top of the extra weight I was already carrying.

Fast forward to July 2009. That’s when Arbonne entered my life.

The Figure 8 protein shake mixes were an answered prayer. Here was something quick, filling, and delicious, that I could even eat on the run. I included a Figure 8 set in chocolate on my very first order… and the vanilla flavor on my next one. That’s when I really started to play around with “meal in a glass” variations on the basic protein shake theme!

After a little more than two months, I’ve already lost the weight I gained—without being “on a diet”—AND I'm back into clothes I haven’t fit into in 5 years. I use these shakes almost every day, eat healthy at my other meals, and vary my exercise routines to keep it interesting.

My schedule’s still complicated, but eating on the run is easy, tasty, AND healthy now—thanks to the Arbonne “Great Shakes”! Just pour one into a tall, frosted glass and enjoy!


“Apple Pie a la Mode” Shake

• 1 cup skim or lowfat milk (or, you can use part milk and part apple-flavor nonfat yogurt, for a thicker shake)
• 1 small to medium apple, washed, with peel on (for the fiber & nutrients), cored and cut into 1” chunks (OR substitute ½ cup unsweetened applesauce)
• 1/8 to 1/4 tsp apple pie spice
• 2 scoops Arbonne Figure 8 vanilla shake mix

Add ingredients to blender in order shown and blend thoroughly. You can also add a half-cup or so of crushed ice for a thicker shake, if you like (optional). Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serves 1.

“Orange Dreamsicle” Shake

• 1 cup skim or lowfat milk (or, part milk and part orange-flavor nonfat yogurt)
• ½ to ¾ cup orange juice, frozen into small cubes in an ice cube tray
• 2 scoops Arbonne Figure 8 vanilla shake mix

Add to blender in order shown and blend thoroughly. Garnish with an orange slice or mint sprig. Serves 1.



Chocolate Raspberry Shake

• 1 cup water or skim/lowfat milk, your choice
• 1 6-oz container nonfat raspberry yogurt
• ½ cup raspberries, unsweetened, fresh or frozen (optional)
• 2 scoops Arbonne Figure 8 chocolate shake mix

Add to blender in order shown and blend thoroughly. You can also add a half-cup or so of crushed ice for a thicker shake, if you like. Garnish with a mint sprig. Serves 1.


Basic Fruit Shake

• 1 cup skim or lowfat milk
• ½ to ¾ cup crushed ice
• ½ to 1 cup frozen unsweetened fruit of your choice (peaches, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, dark sweet cherries – or mix and match)
• 2 scoops Arbonne Figure 8 vanilla shake mix

Add to blender in order shown and blend thoroughly. Garnish with a sprig of mint or slice of fruit. Serves 1.

Good~Detox Morning!

A few mornings each week when I don't have to run right out the door to walk or for an early appointment I make my Seasource Detox mornings!

I play healing music in the background. Weather permitting, I open the windows over my bathtub and enjoy the sounds of nature too.

While my bath runs I add the Sea Salt Soak and the room fills with the incredible smell of the healing ocean.

I do a total body dry brushing. I apply the Seasource Mud Mask on my face always and if times allows to all areas where I want to drop weight.

I make my first cup of Arbonne's Detox tea and then submerge to relax, meditate, pray all while detoxing my entire body. I like to soak at least 15 minutes but stay 30 if I can.

After I dry off, I apply the Seasource Massage Oil on all the areas I want to drop weight and finish with Re-Mineralizing 24 H Body Lotion all over.

This level of self care sets the tone for the day ... I love the entire Seasource Detox Spa product line! It is good for body, mind and soul!

Tuesday, Oct 6th - 'Open Mike' Night

Join us on Tuesday night, October 6th, for a 1/2 hour to share successes and challenges, support and encourage each other and hear how Abundant Healthy Living principles are being used.

Call in at 7:55 on 616-347-8300 PIN 939046#

Here are a couple of questions to help get us started:

• What aspect of our program helps you the most?
• Where do you need the most support right now?
• What can we help you with?
  

This will be our first 'Open Mike' Call. Your VOICE is important to us. We want to find out if this is something that adds to the support that this program can give you as you work towards your goals.

This call will NOT be recorded.

Why Rye?

I get Dr Oz's RealAge Tips of the Week by e-mail and often there's an interesting article that is perfect to share with this group. Here's one from this morning:

Make midafternoon cravings a thing of the past by bulking up your breakfast with a slice of rye toast. Research suggests that eating rye bread may do an even better job than wheat bread at keeping stomachs from growling later in the day.

In a study, people who ate rye bread with breakfast were less hungry before and after lunch compared with people who ate wheat. Rye’s super-high fiber content probably has something to do with it. But researchers suspect that rye may also produce a lower insulin response than wheat bread (this would help with hunger), and that rye may have a unique fiber composition that keeps people feeling full longer.

Of all the rye breads tested, rye-bran bread had the best effect on hunger. Makes sense, since it also has the highest fiber content of the breads.

And here's why you want to increase your water intake when you increase your fiber intake: Together they keep your food bulky and soft, so it can move easily through your system without putting too much pressure on your intestines. Remember, without water, fiber often turns to cement.

The combo of fiber and water also makes you feel full, which helps your overall health, because it keeps you from eating other things that are more likely to lead to problems associated with obesity, like heart disease and diabetes.

Hope this information helps get you off to a great start this week!
Love - Gerri