Eating low-glycemic can be a challenge especially when I'm looking for something sweet. I know it's best to eat sweet foods with a healthy fat and protein but sometimes it's hard. Imagine my surprise when I have some apple left over from another recipe that I remembered one of my grandkid's favorites snacks ... apple nachos!

The wonderful crunch from the apple, coconut, and pecans, the tartness from the lemon juice, plus the mellow, melt-in-your mouth peanut butter just made my day!

This recipe is so open to variations that you can pretty much do what you want!

Apple Nachos

Everyone - well, if you're over 60 - is thinking about brain health these days. All of us have misplaced our keys, phone or walked into a room wondering why. It happens. We're busy, we're tired, and we're old. But what can we do about our forgetfulness? Is it something to worry about? Yes and no.

Don't panic. Just take a look at what you're eating and see if you can make some changes ... and by all means don't do it all at once or your family and friends will notice!!

Recently, I have been reading about dementia and wondered why the US is riddled with dementia patients. What gives? I thought long and hard about it and wondered if the craze for low fat diets was really as helpful and we were being told. I don't think so. Our brain needs GOOD fats and sadly Americans are eating way too much food and BAD fats. Yes, it makes a difference. 

I'll let you do your own research, so don't just listen to me. What I do works for me - at least so far - and my husband and I are happy with our choices.

Here is a link to get you started ... please remember ... not everything thing you read, hear, learn, and utilize is the final answer. Research continues daily ... be a life-long learner.

Here's your link: ​https://www.eatingwell.com/article/290813/mind-diet-best-foods-to-eat-to-keep-your-brain-young/

I'll admit it! I am a butter snob. Recently, I went to a local restaurant and asked the waitress if they used butter or margarine. "Oh, honey, we only use real butter!" she said. "It comes in a big brown tub."

Sigh. "Oh, honey," I said, "that isn't butter, it's margarine." I got the deer in the headlight look and she walked away. 

I don't even care for American butter ... it just doesn't taste the way I think it should. I remember the days of my mother baking bread. As we walked in the door after school, my siblings and I couldn't wait to have a piece or two or three slathered with real butter! We could easily devour the entire loaf. Ah, those were the days of real food.

A little Google search took me to an interesting site about the preferred butter of famous chefs. Interested? CLICK.

I'm always talking about food. I admit it. I love food - and all aspects from researching recipes to preparing shopping lists and meal plans, and of course, cooking to cleaning up! My home is my happy place, especially my  kitchen. It isn't anything fancy, but it's filled with everything I need.

So often people ask me where I get my food. I love high quality foods, raised sustainably with respect for the animals. I have shared my goto online stores above and often with referral links, if you're interested in checking it out.  

Click 'COMMENTS' below the title to share your thoughts.

So many folks have asked for my homemade dog food recipe and I have promised many I would add it. Well, it's simple until it's not. First of all, it's best if your diet is well beyond what our government deems adequate. Fresh, wholesome meals filled with organic fruits and vegetables, whole ancient grains, lean meats, and lots of love!

Your pups are as fussy as you are ... if you wouldn't eat it save it for the compost pile! Over the years we have had two Irish Wolfhounds (the reason we started making our own food), a German Shepherd, a darling, sweet Airedale and a long list of rescues, strays, and giveaways. To date, those mentioned lived well beyond the expected years.

OK, OK ... here you go ...

Start saving your fruit and vegetable scraps in your freezer (we use a square tub that fits well in the corner of our freezer drawer). If you're not sure about giving your pup a particular food, don't do it. We often find ourselves saying, "Alexa, is pumpkin safe for dogs?" She promptly said, "Yes!"

Here are some ingredients OK for dogs:
Vegetables: carrots, celery, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, pumpkin. Say NO to onions, garlic, mushrooms, chives, and corn on the cob, in fact, avoid corn all together!

Fruit: blueberries, watermelon, bananas, cantaloupe, avocados, pumpkin, berries, mango cucumbers, apples, pears, cranberries. Just like us, limit sweets!

Meats: chicken thighs (breast is OK, too, but thighs taste better!), wild caught fish, ground beef/pork/turkey, organ meats.

Grains: Grains are not required, but we do feed our babies quinoa.

We also give our pups store bought dry food. The crunch is good for their teeth and makes dinner more interesting. Our preferred brand is Sam's Club Jinx food. Having one baby left, our sweet Luna, who is a Jackador, we make food about once a week. Each batch is put into small baggies - two for the frig and the rest for the freezer. This recipes should serve a 40# dog for about a week. Luna gets 1/2 cup of dry food and a 1/2 cup of homemade food, twice a day. 

There are several ways to prepare food for your dogs and we've done them all ... stovetop, crockpot, InstantPot, and oven. Our favorite way is our InstantPot.

Click 'COMMENTS' below the title to share your thoughts.

Today, I spoke with a friend who is dealing with some medical challenges. I offered her a book to provide information not about her challenges, but how to make life as it today, less challenging. If you noticed the blog graphic, I quote an English Proverb, "Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork." This quote says it all. My friend agreed wholeheartedly, then she said, "If it's approved by the FDA, I'll pass."

Sad, isn't it that we are still looking for answers ... I believe we need to ask different questions.

Easier said than done, right? Yes and no ... start by setting small and realistic goals. Maybe choose a few new recipes that fit into your plan; something like a healthier grain, smaller portion of meat or a new meat. How about adding wild-caught fish to your dinner plans? Shop ahead for meals so you don't hit a roadblock first thing.

Maybe trying to bring your lunch from home if you're working? Leftover are great especially if they are part of your new plan.

Calling a friend to walk with you after work or whenever you can makes it more likely you'll actually walk! Have a dog? Take him along!!! Try for at least once a week ... maybe two?

Remove any temptations from your home! Are chips tormenting you? Give them away or just don't buy anymore. Cookies .. give them away!

Eat more slowly and focus on what you're eating. Taste your food, enjoy it.

Have a cup of herbal tea after a meal to tell your brain ... "Hey, I'm finished eating!"

Hungry mid-afternoon? Have 10 raw whole almonds. Or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (make your own), or a string cheese! A little goes a long way. Overeating is so easy to do. Stay focused.