I had a really busy day yesterday. It started off by being trapped and chained to my desk reading and answering emails, doing blog-related computer tasks, and trying to keep my inbox under better control than the ever-growing national debt. My inbox can relate to the ever-growing part.
Then I went to the post office and mailed package to a friend. She wants to start brewing her own kombucha and I am helping her get started.
Speaking of fermented beverages, Zukay Foods sent me some of their products to try.
The Zukay beet juice was refreshing and there are many benefits to consuming beets:
Information from Zukay Foods:
– Beet juice can help to strengthen both the liver and the gall bladder; even more so when mixed with other juices such as carrot or cucumber.
· Beet fiber such as Pectin, binds toxins, heavy metals, and excess hormones that build up in the liver, and removes them from the body, as opposed to being reabsorbed.
· They are a blood building herb that detoxifies blood and renews it with minerals and natural sugars.
· Beets have been found to have a regulating effect on blood pressure
· Because beets are so beneficial to the bloodstream, it has been found that they can also protect from heart disease and help to fight off anaemia
· The folic acids found in beets are especially helpful to pregnant women, as they are known to prevent birth defects.
· After long, tiring days, raw beets have the ability to reenergize and rejuvenate.
· Beet juice reduces the uptake of oxygen, thus allowing an increase in endurance and stamina in those physically active. It allows for longer workouts because of less fatigue.
· And of course, Zukay’s Beet Kvasses (and other kvasses) are all fermented and probiotic, so they have all the natural enzymes of the veggies intact, and are naturally probiotic and low in sugar
This Carrot Ginger juice was sweet with a bit of heat. Tasty stuff.
And although I am not a fan of onions at all, Scott seemed to really enjoy this salad dressing.
I’ve been dipping all my veggies in Spicy Doritos Cheezy Dip
The dip is really fast and easy to make I use it as either a salad dressing or as a veggie dip.
If you like nooch or Doritos, make that dip.
After errand running, it was time to fix Skylar a snack.
She requested a Microwave Blueberry Banana Oat Cake
Smart choice. For her and me since I was rushing around and the microwave saves me. Not a fan of it? That’s ok, I am. Just a tool that I use as needed.
From my previous post, Learn Something New Every Day, can you believe that about koi fish? 200 year old “pets”? Crazy but true!
Questions:
1. Do you like beets? Ever tried beet juice?
I love beets and have a recipe post coming soon with them but until about 6 years ago, I used to think I didn’t like them.
It wasn’t until getting my first CSA share and learning how to roast them properly that I fell in love with beets. A little too in love and I gave myself an unintentional liver cleanse but I survived and was, ahem, cleaner and purer, afterward.
If your only experience with beets is from a can or something that’s been pre-cooked and is a strange plastic container or can, and the texture is really ahem, unique, yes, I can see why you wouldn’t like them either. Ick!
Real beets, prepared properly, are amazing. As is beet juice if you’re so inclined to juice them. I am such a crybaby about juicer cleanup that I almost never juice anymore.
I captured the shot of those gems at the Farmers Market over the weekend
2. What Busy Beeter Busy Beaver tasks have you crossed off your list today or recently?
Yesterday I also hit up the grocery store
Cleaned my shower
Changed the sheets on Skylar’s bed
Went for a great run
And oh yes, went to my paid job. The rest of that list is just unpaid manual labor.
3. Do you get sucked into your computer, your email, blogs (reading them, writing your own, maintaining your own, etc.), websites, and just things that keep you sitting at your desk and staring at your screen?
I sure do! Some days it just seems never ending the sheer volume of computer work I need to plow through!
Thanks for the entries on the NuNaturals Stevia Giveaway. Keep ’em coming!
And for the locals, enter the Taste of Adams Avenue Giveaway!
Ahhahaha… I can totally related to the “unintentional” cleanse. Valentine’s Day, 2 years ago… I ate a whole pan of roasted beets before going to my night shift. I peed pink, and went OMG, WTH, (I have frequent UTI’s but that wasn’t something I’d ever seen before)– thank God for Google! First three hits on pink urine were about beets. Well… my hubs and I went up to a nice mountain town after I got off work, and I had several sudden “detours” to the restroom. Let’s just say I’ve never pooped so much in my life. It was *unreal.*
I still love roasted beets tho!
I like beets! But specially red beets… (they are good grilled, as a sauce, steamed, … you can do just about everything with these precious ones).
I get stuck on my computerscreen way too many times… Specially when I actually have to study (like, uhm, now).
I always feel conflicted about the microwave. We use it here, and it is definitely a time-saver, and for me it reduces my stress, especially when my family often eats different food than me because they like their gluten and mac and cheese…lol. And I hate turning the stove on in the heat. But I always worry that I may be causing damage to my family that I shouldn’t be. Well, i guess I will think about that more tomorrow…after I make a snack in the microwave. lol.
I love beets! I was just talking about them with a friend today. I know- very exciting conversation! I want to try them roasted. Looking forward to your recipe.
love beets! they contacted us too, cannot wait to try them
Microwaves are a challenging one! There was a time where I swore off microwaves for months, but I just realized it wasn’t practical for me. I can go weeks without a microwave in the summer, but winter at the office, freezing weather, and I need a warm bowl of soup! I guess it’s like anything to do with our health: make the changes you know you can, and stick to them. Realize that you’ll win and you’ll lose, but if you have the best intentions and you make educated choices [and love yourself!] everything will sort itself out.
In the grand scheme of things, giving Skylar a microwaved oat cake vs. a store bought sugar laden granola bar (not saying you’d give that to her, but you know what I mean), is a much better choice!
ps–I get sucked at my computer for HOURS all the time since blogging. Staring at the screen…it’s like a sickness! Nothing gets done!
I never liked beets until I was pregnant. Then I became OBSESSED!!! I feel like I recently sampled Zukay products in Whole Foods…or something like it? Looks great nonetheless.
Are you going to HLS this year? I think you went last year, or was that just Food Buzz?
not going to HLS b/c I have some other things that I am allotting time/money for in the budget.
last year i only went to FBuzz, never to HLS.
Have fun if you’re going!
I just got those juices but haven’t tried them yet. Thanks for the heads up! :)
hahah just as I was reading about the beets, on the episode of the office I am watching michael and dwight are arguing that no one likes beets! I was literally just about to start raving about beets in my comment as I was listening to that! but anyways yes I love beets so much. roasted is my favorite method.
I have some zukay products to review too–unfortunately, the post office mangled them up, but some of them survived! I love that kind of stuff.
Yes, all too easy to get sucked into the computer screen… Ever expanding inbox? Check…
mine were half leaking and a mess, too, upon arrival. I mentioned that to my contact that their shipping dept may want to tighten up the quality control of the boxes that go out b/c leaking, red, all over everything, sticky beet juice just does not make anyone real happy :)
Oh, that’s too bad that they came to you that way too. I thought it was just part of the price of living in AK! I’m definitely letting them know. The carrot-ginger one was gone completely, but it was the salad dressing that was spilt over everything, and with onion and turnip in it, I think my hands still smell!
I’m so intrigued by making your own kombucha!
I’m not a huge fan of fresh beets, but I love canned/jarred beets and beet juice!
I love Skylar’s socks. Hello Kitty (which is actually just America being weird. Her name is really just “Kitty” because in Japanese it is キッチーちゃん Kitty-chan. Just a random fact. Sorry for the randomness) is awesome.
I do get sucked into checking my email and blogging and reading blogs. On weekdays when I have school and other things to do I can get out of it pretty quickly, but on lazy weekends I can spend hours reading and drafting.
I go back and forth on whether I like beets or not. They have to be prepared just right! I did try a fresh juice that had beets in it recently and loved it.
Today I went to a yoga class, applied to work at a bookstore, did some grocery shopping and got sucked into blog reading. Always happens!
mmm i love beets and i’d totally drink just beet juice. whenever i go to a juice shop, i always order something that has beet as a component! so good for you! rich in iron too :) tasks crossed off? um i worked out, went to work and had a really busy day, headache! washed a load of laundry and am now sitting down for eats!
So I’ve tried beets so many times, and so many ways. I keep hoping I’ll find the love. And somehow I can never get through more than a bite or two before gagging. Which is too bad; I know how good they are for you!! Sad.