Event: National Medication Disposal Day: April 28, 2012

Do you have unwanted or expired medications sitting around cluttering your space?  It's time to kick them to the curb!

If you take them to your pharmacy, they will charge a fee to dispose of them.  If you flush them down your toilet, you will contaminate the public water supply.  If you throw them away, that's a safety hazard.  If you leave them lying around, someone who shouldn't (kids) could get into them.

Instead, take advantage of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day sponsored by The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  

When: April 28, 2012
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Where: Find a collection site near you
Cost: FREE!

This program is anonymous and no questions will be asked as to what you are dropping off.

Need more info? Call 1-800-882-9539

Event: Plant-Based Cooking Class

Learn how to create plant-based meals that are fat free and delicious! The West Shore Veg Group is sponsoring a cooking lesson with Chef Robin Blair.

Menu:

• Grilled Asparagus Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Orange Vinaigrette
• Portabella Mushroom Marsala Pasta (Mushrom marsala sauce served with whole grain pasta)
• Berry Compote (Mixed Berries can be served over vegan ice cream)

When: Friday, April 20, 2012
Where: West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church: 20401 Hilliard Blvd. Rocky River, Ohio 44116
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Cost: $35 per person
Registration: Limited to 15 people

For more information & to register go to: Cooking With C.A.R.E

Join The KLUTCHclub!

We all like getting stuff in the mail - the UPS man has become Santa Claus and delivery day is like Christmas!   Try to pretend you don't count down those estimated delivery dates and memorize your tracking numbers.  I know who you are - I'm on a first name basis with my delivery guy!

How awesome would it be to kick that excitement up a notch by getting a surprise goodie box every month chocked full of health & wellness products?  A dream come true if you ask me!

KLUTCHclub has done just that!  For $18 bucks a month, you get a customized box of health & wellness products valued at $50!!!  Not bad, eh?

Here's what you can expect for the month of April:

• A detoxifying Yoga workout from MTV Power Yoga star, Kristin McGee
• A brand new energizing drink product to kick-start your workout
• Post workout coconut water hydration to replenish electrolytes
• Soothing teas with plant based anti-oxidants to improve your skin
• A cleansing organic deep-pore facial wash
• Organic omega 3, flax and fish oil supplements in new flavors
• Satisfying healthy snacks and nutritious treats
• A gift from an organic yoga clothing company

Plus, you'll be eligible for special members only promotions & just for providing your opinion (like we all don't have one), you can score a free box!

Hungry for more info?  Check out KLUTCHclub for yourself!

Not ready to commit?  Sign-up for KLUTCHnews, their newsletter so you can check out each monthly preview to see if this is for you!

Keep It Healthy!

The Hoff

Cream of ... Soup

Cream of Broccoli

A super quick prep, cook and clean-up meal. The beauty of this soup is that it can be whatever you want it to be!



Cream of ... Soup
Serves: 2
meat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, oil-free


Ingredients:

• 1 can Potatoes or Hominy (rinsed & drained)
• 1 can Vegetables (rinsed & drained) or 2 cups Vegetables
• 1 1/2 cups Veggie Broth
• 1 tsp Italian Herbs
• 1 tsp Brown Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Bragg Liquid Aminos

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a Vitamix and blend for 6 minutes
2. If using a traditional blender, blend until smooth and then heat as usual
3. Serve!

My2Cents: The potatoes or hominy gives this soup its creaminess.  If using frozen vegetables, run under cold water in a colander to thaw.  Try this soup with a variety of vegetable such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, squash, etc...

Happy Birthday Healthy Hoff!!!

Thanks Everybody for making the 1st year of The Healthy Hoff a most excellent year!!!

Here's to many more to come and lot and lots of info shared!

Keep It Healthy!
The Hoff

Check out my birthday video!


Make your own slide show at Animoto.

Event: Make Yourself Heart Attack Proof

"Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., has been a surgeon, researcher, and clinician at the Cleveland Clinic for more
than 35 years and is the first recipient of the Benjamin Spock Award for Compassion in Medicine. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association in 2009. Dr. Esselstyn, who summarized his pioneering research in his best-selling book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, has written for more than 150 scientific publications, and has recently been featured in the film Forks Over Knives.  He and his wife, Ann Esselstyn, have followed a plant-based diet for more than 26 years. Dr. Esselstyn currently directs the Cardiovascular Prevention and Reversal Program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute.

When: Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Where: West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church: 20401 Hilliard Blvd. Rocky River, Ohio 44116

Time: 7:00 pm

Cost: Free

Deadline to Register: No advance registration is required

Seating is limited to 350 people & doors will open at 6:15 pm.

More info, call: 440-333-2255

I have seen Esselstyn speak and he is phenomenal!  This guy is the real deal!

Washing & Storing Greens

I'm on the greens bandwagon because of the mega wattage of micronutrients they provide and those are really, really important. But a pain point is getting them prepped for use.  The key is to do it all at once as soon as or close to when you bring them in the door.

So, this is what I do to prep my greens:

1. Soak cut or shredded greens in a cold water bath in your kitchen sink for 20 minutes (any dirt and debris will sink to the bottom), I like to add ground sea salt or baking soda to the water to aid in the cleaning
2. Spin dry greens in a salad spinner
3. Lay out a line of paper towels to accommodate the amount of greens
4. Spread greens out for additional drying time (timing will vary)
5. Gently roll up paper towels like a giant sushi roll, keep it lose
6. Put "sushi roll" into a plastic zip lock bag, push out all the air and seal
7. Place in the frig

This should give you at least 7 days with your greens - ready to go when you are!