Author - Kevin Angileri

Turkey Stuffed Tomato Recipe

stuffed tomato recipe appetizer

Stuffed peppers are a very popular dish, but we thought of using a ripe firm tomato this time.  Just a little change up.  We used ingredients, we had on hand, just for convenience.  The nice thing about this Stuffed Tomato Recipe is that you can add or delete ingredients to suit your particular tastes.  The biggest difference is using ground turkey instead of ground beef.   Besides that, turkey is a little less expensive.  A bit healthier, too.

Prep time is about 30 minutes and cook time is about one hour.

Ingredients:

  • Six ounces of lean ground turkey
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of cooked brown rice.  Instant brown works, as well
  • 4 or 5 large ripe tomatoes with stems attached (they make a great presentation).  Make sure tomatoes are firm.
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup of frozen peas
  • 2 tablespoons of EVOO(extra virgin olive oil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of dry Italian seasoning.  Most grocery stores have it in their spice racks.  Contains Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, Rosemary and sage.
  • 3/4 cup of sweet onion, minced.
  • 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
  • 1 cup of herbed Italian breadcrumbs.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-inch-square baking dish with cooking spray.

Cook ground turkey in a skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling with a spoon, until brown and cooked through.  Place in mixing bowl

Add cooked rice to the bowl with the meat.

Slice enough off the top of each tomato to remove the core. Scoop out the tomato pulp using a teaspoon or melon baller. Finely chop 1/2 cup of the pulp and add to the bowl with the rice and meat. Season the inside of the tomatoes with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper and Italian seasoning.

Add peas, onion, 1/4 cup cheese, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to the rice mixture. Stir to combine. Divide the mixture evenly among the tomatoes and place the tomatoes in the prepared baking dish. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, breadcrumbs, oil and garlic in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the tomatoes.

Bake the tomatoes until the crumbs are golden and the tomatoes are soft, 20 to 25 minutes.  Top with baked tomato tops with stems.

We hope you enjoy this variation of a great entry.

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What Does Complacency Means To You?

complacency

What Does Complacency Mean:

Merriam Webster dictionary definition of Complacency:  A feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better.  Are you complacent?  Most of us, including myself, generally are.  We don’t want to make waves, so we just “go with the flow”.  Unfortunately, when it comes to our health, that doesn’t work.  As a young boy and into adulthood, I ate the things I was raised eating.  You have either heard or said, “I am a meat and potatoes kinda guy”.  That is what complacency does to us.  We have been satisfied with this mentality.

Now that I have reach my golden years, I have started making changes to how and what I eat.  Forty or fifty years ago, we were told that a healthy breakfast consisted of fruit, cereal, milk, bread and butter.  My guess is, that if you are reading this, that is not your typical healthy breakfast anymore.  Remember all those great cereals?  Frosted corn flakes, cheerios, fruit loops etc.  How about milk?  I buy a quart of milk, about every three or four months, when I need something to dunk my donuts in.  Bread is a real issue for me.  I love the comfort of bread, especially making PB and J sandwiches.  I walk down the peanut butter aisle at least three times having a mental battle.  Do I or don’t I.  I usually don’t, because I know, I will eat that jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread in three or four days.

Lunches don’t seem to be a big problem.  Even if you go to a fast food place, most have a decent salad.  In fact, that is probably their healthiest entry.  Just don’t drown the salad with the dressing.  The fast food industry has done us a big favor.  The have changed the kind of oil they use for frying.     This new oil leaves an awful after taste.  It was really hard to resist that super-sized order of French fries.  Now, it is a breeze.  Here is a tip, if you order a burger.  Ask them to substitute a leaf of lettuce and pitch the bun.  We could go on here till the cows come home.  But, it is these little changes than you can make, that makes a big difference.

Dinner:  What used to sound good to me was six to eight ounces of meat(beef, chicken or pork) and two big scoops of mashed potatoes and gravy.  Mmmmmm.  Oh, and an ounce or two of vegetables.  That is(was) the typical American dinner.  Not anymore, my friends.  That will kill you for sure.  If you are a traditional meat eater, try this instead.  Draw an imaginary line across your plate.  On one of the sides, divide that in half.  On the quarter size area, put a nice four once piece of meat or fish.  The second quarter, put a small portion of potatoes or rice.  You might want to try sweet potato or brown rice.  On the big half of the plate, load up raw or steamed vegetables.  Don’t worry, you cannot overdue the veggies.

With these few changes, you will have broken down your complacency.  If nothing else, you will shred some unwanted weight and after a few weeks, you will probably start feeling better.  Your  body is a wonder of life.  It can heal itself.  It just needs a little of your help.  Be kind to your body and it will last a long time.  I hope you have enjoyed this .  If you have share it on your fav media and give us a “like’’”.  Have a wonderful day.

Do You Know The Definition Of Diet?

What Diet Means:

Look up the definition of diet.  There are many.  What they all boil down to is, what we eat to maintain our bodies.  These include fats, proteins and carbs.  We need these three things to survive.  However, most of us don’t know to eat these elements properly.  Hence, we either gain or lose weight.  Now, here come people, who develop different plans about, what we should eat to preserve our bodies.  These are called “Diets”.

Diet Plans:

There are hundreds of diets to choose from, hundreds.  Different way to eat.  Most of us are either too fat or too skinny or we have a condition that needs different types of diets.  Lo calorie, low carbohydrate, low fat.  It gets all so confusing.

Why Diets Don’t Work For Us?

I have been dieting for 50 years, to no avail.  I have tried many types of diets, as I am sure, you have.  There is not one diet, that will not work.  They all work, to some degree.  Most of the time, the problem lies with “Us”.  We take a little divergence from our planned diet and gain back the weight. we lost.  In fact, most of the time, we gain added pounds.  You all have heard of the “see-saw” effect.  Lose 20 pounds and gain back 25.  Happens all the time, at least for me.

That is why, Diets don’t work.  We never stick to them.  Heck, we are just human and we all have our faults.  So, what do we do next?  If you are very obese, you can spend $10,000 for Gastric bypass surgery.  Great weight losses can be attained, through this extreme method.  As for me, I am not going under the knife to lose the weight.  Besides, approx. 50% of bypass patients gain their weight back.

Secret To Losing Weight & Keeping Those Pounds Off

Many people lose lots of pounds and keep those pounds off.  Many have diseases, they have arrested or completely cured.  They have kept their excess weight off for years.  How do they do it and I can’t?  What do they know, that I do not?  What is their Secret?

Here is their Secret.  Determination to cure their own bodies.  Determination!!!  That is the Secret.  They study and learn what their particular body needs and what to feed it.  They let nothing stand in their way to a healthier body.

Most of us know, what our bodies need to eat to reach our optimum weight.  We have studied and learned.  We have tried many diet plans and have succeeded to lose weight.  Then we lose “Determination”.  And the weight floods back.  Depression sets in and we eat more, lots more.  My fav is ice cream.  It only takes 1 bowl of ice cream, and I am off and running.  Not running on the treadmill, but running for another bowl of ice cream or some other food to appease my depression.  Two or three weeks later, I am back where I started.  So, what do we need to do?

Let’s get our determination back.  Let’s decide to give it 100% percent, this time.  This time, we will not fail.  Pick out a plan, that is suited to your particular needs and start immediately.  We all know how hard it is to start.  Heck, we have started many times before.  Make this time, the time you persist and succeed.

Last week, I posted on Face Book, That I wanted to eat a donut, but I was on a diet.  A Face Book friend said  “Stop worrying about dieting and love yourself the way you are”.  I was not sure, how to take that, so I read it a few more times.  Then, I got angry.  I do love myself as a person, but not a person that is 50 pounds overweight.  I will thank her, for the input, because she gave me back my determination.  It was that kick in the butt, that I needed to get me started.  I hope it does the same for you.  Remember “Determination”.  If you don’t got it…..get it.

If you get it and it works, let us know.  We love you.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c Test

Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c Blood Test

Most people think that only overweight people can be Diabetics.  That certainly is not true.  Slim and trim people may also be diabetic and never ever know it.  Most of us have had a lipid panel blood test.  Their results may show everything looking good.  The truth is that this test may not show if you are or are not a Diabetic,  The A1c Blood Test (Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c test) is the test, that will show, if you are a pre-diabetic or a type 1 or type 2 Diabetic.  It is the gold standard test for diabetes.  It will definitively show, if you have diabetes or if you are a pre-diabetic.

What is A1c?

When glucose molecules bond to a hemoglobin cell it becomes glycosylated hemoglobin .  Glycosylated hemoglobin is found in everyone’s blood in various amounts.  It never breaks down.  Hemoglobin cells, however, live for approximately for 120 days.  More glucose in the bloodstream means more A1c is formed.  When the A1c test is performed, it can show the elevated A1c in the bloodstream.  The doctor can then evaluate the patients need for medication.

There are many risks for diabetic, such as, nerve damage, blindness and kidney damage, to name a few.  Diabetes can lead to heart problems and Alzheimer’s.  Doctors strive to keep a patients blood levels in a normal range, to prevent these risks.  They will recommend doses of insulin or other meds and even recommend a certified diabetic dietician to assist in developing good healthy diets.  Well balanced diets are key to keeping A1c percentages.

The American Diabetes Association recommended the A1c test in 1988.  The normal range for a non-diabetic is between 4% and 6%.  Levels of 7% and above show a need to seek help in lowering these A1c levels.  Whether you are overweight or slim, ask your doctor, if you should have an A1c blood test.  You will have peace of mind knowing you don’t have diabetes or you can strive to heal yourself with the aid of your doctor.

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Controlling Diabetes Naturally

How to control your diabetes naturally

Big Improvements Via Small Changes

If you are a diabetic, what is your goal?  If you ask a hundred people, you will get the same answer.  I want to live a long and healthy life.  Isn’t that what you are saying, right now?  Most of us,however, don’t know how to get started.  We go to our doctor appointments and take our meds.  That’s it.  We expect miracles, just by following those rules. Trust me, it is not enough.

If you really want a long and healthy life, you will have to do more.  Right now, you are on a computer somewhere on this small planet and you have all that is necessary.  You have information.  Now, you must turn that information into knowledge.  Today, right now, start learning everything you can about this debilitating disease.  Don’t wait till you are unable to make the changes necessary.  There are millions of pieces of info that can help you fight this disease.  Your doctor can only spend 15 or 20 minutes for your appointment.  It is up to you to find ways to fight diabetes. The answer isn’t just taking your daily meds.  Learn what to eat and drink and what pitfalls, you run into everyday, that make diabetes worse.

Controlling Diabetes Naturally

Here are few starting steps, you can do to start controlling diabetes.  They are simple and easy and won’t change your everyday living.  But, they will get you on the road to a healthier You.

Drink More Water:

Water will save your life.  Stop drinking sodas, even those that are sugar and caffeine free.  If you have a taste for orange juice, eat an orange.  Remember that the processed fruit drinks have none of the actual fruit in them.  They have added other chemicals and preservatives so they keep on the store shelf.  Eat the real the thing, and feel better.

Controlling Diabetes With Food – Change Your Eating Habits:

Let’s talk about eating….my favorite subject.  If you are like me, you are a fast food junkie.  I have eating them from the very first day they opened.  Oops. I have given my age away.  Well, what do we do about fast foods????  Starting today and for the next 30 days try this. Cut your visits to the fast food place from 4 or 5 to once a week.  Make a healthy sandwich and piece of fruit for lunch.  A fast food lunch will generally cost about $5.00 and your homemade lunch will cost under $2.00.  Wow, eat better and save money!!!  What a deal.

Controlling Diabetes With Exercise

: Let’s talk about exercise, my least favorite subject.  If you are like me, you despise exercising.  So, for the next 30 days, lets not exercise.  Sound good?  Here comes the “but”  For the next 30 days, take two 15 minute walks.  One in the afternoon after lunch and one in the evening, after dinner.  That’s it….no lifting weights or sit-ups.  Just walk.  I know, you are wanting to know how fast, should I walk.  It does not matter how fast, just get off your dead “b__t”.  I will tell you this.  After religiously walking, after 10 days, you will increase your speed. That is the great thing about making a concerted effort to do something.

This may all seem a bit trivial right now, but 30 days from now, you will see improvement in your health.  You are going to feel BETTER.  Isn’t that the reason, you are here?

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