Your Well Being Tip of the Day

If you are angry about anything, try rolling the windows up in your car and screaming loudly; then take a cleansing deep breath or two afterward... it feels very good indeed.

The Fabulous "Rebar Caesar Salad" ...with roasted garlic, capers and lemon

This recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbooks: The Rebar Modern Food Cookbook by Audrey Alsterberg and Wanda Urbanowicz (2001). Rebar is a funky and wonderful little restaurant near the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. "The friendly staff, funky music and cheerful off-beat decor are charged with a genuine spirit of health and vitality. It’s clear from the start – this is no ordinary restaurant". I hope you enjoy this fabulous Caesar Salad from Rebar!

Ingredients (serves 8; yields 1 1/2 cups)

• 1 bulb roasted garlic (see recipe below)
• Juice of one lemon
• 1 tbsp capers
• 1 tbsp caper juice
• 1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cracked pepper
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup olive oil
• Extra parmesan for garnish
  
  * Helpful hint: Use a potato peeler to make shavings from a block of Parmesan cheese.

1. Combine all the ingredients, except oil, in a blender or food processor and blend. Add olive oil in a slow, thin stream. Correct seasoning to taste.
    
2. To serve, toss the dressing with washed, dried and torn romaine lettuce, fresh croutons (see recipe below for rebar’s own garlic croutons), and garnish with shaved Parmesan, fresh cracked pepper and lemon wedges. Enjoy!
    

Roasted Garlic

Yumm!!! I adore roasted garlic and nothing could be easier to make. Here’s the recipe:



Ingredients: 1 whole garlic bulb, 1 tsp olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper.

Instructions: Pre-heat oven (or toaster oven) to 400 degrees F. Using a sharp knife, slice the top off the garlic bulb, just enough to expose the tops of the garlic flesh (no need to skin them). Center the bulb on a square piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap the bulbs securely and pop into the oven. After 45 minutes, you should start to smell the sweet roasting aroma, but depending on the size of the bulb, it may need a bit more time. Test by slipping the sharp point of a paring knife into one of the cloves. If it slides in effortlessly, or the bulbs are starting to poke out of their skins, then the garlic is ready to serve.


Garlic Croutons

Ingredients: 5 slices bread, cubed ½" x ½", 3 tbsp olive oil, 3 garlic cloves (minced) and ¼ tsp salt.

Instructions: Toss bread cubes with oil, garlic and salt. Spread out on a lined baking sheet and bake in the oven at 350F for 8-10 minutes, or until evenly browned and crisp on the outside.
 

Books I'm Reading

Composing a Life
by Mary Catherine Bateson

What a fresh and inspiring read! ... "A radical rethinking of the concept of achievement." ... San Francisco Chronicle.



Prime Time: Making the Most of Your Life
by Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda inspires me. In this book she shares what she’s done to get (and stay) fit physically, emotionally and spiritually... she is real, funny, courageous and committed to doing the best she can in every way. What a brilliant journey.

My Trip Down Memory Lane

A part of my heart will always be in Eastern Washington where I spent my 24th and 25th years going to school, working at a beautiful state home for adults with developmental disabilities, cycling for thousands of miles on roads just like the one in this picture (paved roads with gentle slopes, where I’d see a car or farmhouse every 20 minutes or so) and making some of the best friends I could ever ask for. In short, it was such a special time in my life.

It helped that Eastern Washington University is just outside the city of Spokane and Spokane holds hundreds of special memories for me. For example, when I was 14 years old my mom and I shared one of our many road trips from Penticton to Spokane (for the great shopping and a stay at our favorite Hotel, The Davenport). Mom knew that I was deeply passionate to begin driving; by the age of 14 I’d studied the driver’s manual inside out and could have aced any test they gave me. Well, to this day I remain blown away by what my mom did on that particular trip... she took me to Spokane’s DMV Licensing Department where we discovered that the current state law allowed drivers to begin driving at age 14! We explained that we were from Canada and were told that all we needed to get a Washington State Driver’s License was a Washington State Address. So, on that special day, at age 14, I received my first ever Picture ID Driver’s License - a Washington State Driver’s license with my address listed as "Room 915, Davenport Hotel"! Amazing, right? Thank you mom – you took a real leap to do something unique and special for me – and then you took yet another leap by getting in the passenger seat of your car!

Speed up to August 1, 2011... it had been 25 years since I’d visited Eastern Washington and I could feel my heart clearly calling me back. So, I took a three day road trip down memory lane, to the spots that were so familiar to me, that held a dear place in my heart. I drove from Vancouver to Spokane through the Cascade Mountain Pass route, Washington State’s most scenic highway – with awe-inspiring beauty everywhere. I took video of gorgeous waterfalls and stunning mountain vistas. I listened and sang to Neil Young (Harvest), Joni Mitchell, Carole King and James Taylor... and a lot of my favorite Jazz. This part was more fun than I could possibly relate here - and I know that so many of you know what I mean! I opened the windows, revelled in the fresh mountain air and scent of warm pine. I stayed at the Davenport Hotel, rode the Carousel at Riverfront Park, walked the University Campus grounds, looked for anyone I knew that might still be there and left notes for special people I’d "just missed". All is all, it was the most refreshing three days I’d spent in years.

I’m sure some of you have visited Spokane yourselves... but in case you haven’t, I highly recommend it. There is great shopping and lots of outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities easily accessible in every direction (within a 5-20 min drive from downtown). And a stay at the gorgeous historic Davenport Hotel is a must. The rates are unbelievably low for this absolutely beautiful hotel right now and it’s in the heart of the city.

Happy travels everyone – and thanks for sharing my trip down memory lane!
...Lee
 

 

Coaches Corner

If you feel inspired to take action on any of the ideas, tips or themes in this newsletter, a good way to begin is to ask yourself "What is one small step I could take today? Will I commit to this?" Congratulations for asking! You're on your way.

Contact Lee to request fees and chat about a specific coaching plan designed to match your goals and budget. Find out more about Lee’s coaching.

Coach Lee