Month: November 2023
Dance Me To The End Of Love by Leonard Cohen
Dance Me To The End Of Love
Leonard Cohen
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Oh let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We’re both of us beneath our love, we’re both of us above
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Make Egg Plant into a Healthy, High Protein Dinner
5 Ways to Turn Eggplant into a Healthy, High Protein Dinner!
- Stuffed Eggplant:
- Halve an eggplant and scoop out some of the flesh to create a boat.
- Sauté the removed flesh with garlic, onions, tomatoes, and chickpeas or lentils for a protein boost.
- Stuff the mixture back into the eggplant halves and top with breadcrumbs and nutritional yeast or vegan cheese for extra flavor.
- Bake until the eggplant is tender and the top is crispy.
- Eggplant and Bean Casserole:
- Slice eggplant and layer it in a baking dish with canned or cooked beans of your choice for protein (e.g., white beans, kidney beans).
- Add layers of tomato sauce and sprinkle with herbs like basil and oregano for flavor.
- Top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese (or a vegan alternative) and bake until bubbly and browned on top.
- Eggplant “Steaks” with Quinoa Salad:
- Cut eggplant into thick slices and marinate with soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, and your favorite spices.
- Grill or pan-fry the eggplant “steaks” until they are well-cooked and have grill marks.
- Serve with a side salad made of quinoa, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and roasted nuts. Drizzle with a lemon-tahini dressing for added flavor and a protein punch.
- Eggplant Rollatini:
- Slice eggplant lengthwise into thin strips and grill or bake until tender.
- Mix cooked spinach with ricotta cheese (or a tofu ricotta mixture) and a plant-based protein such as pea protein or tempeh, seasoned to your liking.
- Place the mixture on each eggplant slice, roll it up, and place it seam side down in a baking dish.
- Pour over your favorite marinara sauce and bake until the dish is heated through and the top is browned.
- Eggplant and Tofu Stir-fry:
- Cut eggplant into cubes and sauté it with tofu and a variety of vegetables like bell peppers, snow peas, and broccoli.
- Create a stir-fry sauce with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a touch of maple syrup or your sweetener of choice.
- Serve the stir-fry over a bed of brown rice or whole grains for a filling and protein-rich dinner.
By pairing eggplant with legumes, whole grains, and tofu, you can create a hearty and nutritious plant-based meal that’s high in protein and flavor.
Source: ChatGPT
Today’s Joke: Joe & His Girlfriend Found the Secret
Joe: “My girlfriend and I love dietary fiber.”
Pete: “You do?”
Joe: “Yes. It keeps our relationship bran new.”
Thinking Out Loud: Good Things Are Coming Your Way
Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Boris Pasternack’s work, Dr. Zhivago.
“And remember: you must never, under any circumstances, despair. To hope and to act, these are our duties in misfortune.”
Note: We all face misfortune at times. It comes with living. How we respond to it sets a stamp on our character. Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning said we always have the freedom to choose the attitude we take toward our circumstances. Boris Pasternack encourages us to never despair or allowing ourselves to fall into the black pit. Instead, hope is the antidote to despair. Yes, tomorrow will better than today. Believe good things are coming your way. If you’re awake, you’ll catch them.
Today’s Mind Sharpening Anagram – Can You Solve It?
Today’s mind sharpening anagram is a two or three word phrase related to a health related topic. Can you unscramble the anagram to discover the two or three word phrase?
Today’s Anagram:
Turn Your Weaknesses Into Strengths – Advice from Basketball Legend Larry Bird
I learned what my weaknesses were and I went out the next day to turn those weaknesses intro strengths.
Larry Bird
“The Night Dance” A Poem by Thomas Moore
The Night Dance
Thomas Moore
Strike the gay harp! see the moon is on high,
And, as true to her beam as the tides of the ocean,
Young hearts, when they feel the soft light of her eye,
Obey the mute call, and heave into motion.
Then, sound notes — the gayest, the lightest,
That ever took wing, when heaven look’d brightest
Again! Again!
Oh! could such heart-stirring music be heard
In that City of Statues described by romancers,
So wakening its spell, even stone would be stirr’d,
And statues themselves all start into dancers!
Why then delay, with such sounds in our ears,
And the flower of Beauty’s own garden before us —
While stars overhead leave the song of their spheres,
And, listening to ours, hang wondering o’er us?
Again, that strain! — to hear it thus sounding
Might set even Death’s cold pulses bounding —
Again! Again!
Oh, what delight when the youthful and gay
Each with eye like a sunbeam and foot like a feather,
Thus dance, like the Hours to the music of May,
And mingle sweet song and sunshine together.
A Sweet Potato Recipe low in added fats and high in protein
Sweet potatoes are a nutritious choice, packed with vitamins, fiber, and important minerals. Preparing them in a healthy and tasty way that is low in added fats and high in protein can be both simple and delicious. Here’s a recipe you can try:
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Beans and Greens
Ingredients:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups of chopped kale or spinach
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 cup water or vegetable broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional toppings: avocado, salsa, Greek yogurt, or a sprinkle of cheese (if not strictly plant-based)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Pierce the sweet potatoes several times with a fork and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until tender all the way through.
- While the sweet potatoes are baking, prepare the filling. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a little water or vegetable broth and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 3-5 minutes, adding more liquid as needed to prevent sticking.
- Add the kale or spinach to the skillet and cook until the greens are wilted and tender. Add the black beans and season with cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until everything is heated through, adding the 1/4 cup water or broth to keep everything moist.
- Once the sweet potatoes are done, let them cool for a few minutes until they’re safe to handle. Slice them open lengthwise and fluff the insides with a fork.
- Stuff each sweet potato with the bean and greens mixture. Add any of the optional toppings as desired, such as avocado for healthy fat, salsa for flavor without the fat, or a dollop of Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
- Serve warm with any additional toppings on the side.
This recipe combines the health benefits of sweet potatoes with the protein-rich black beans and nutrient-packed greens, creating a balanced meal with a good mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fat, while keeping added fats to a minimum. It’s easy to adjust to taste and can be modified to fit different dietary preferences or to include additional protein sources as desired.
