Heart Healthy Monday

Heart Healthy Tip.  We know that Fiber is good and can lower the risk of heart disease - but - only soluble fiber actually reduces the risk of heart disease. Soluble fiber is the one that will mix with liquid, bind to fatty substances, and moooove them through the body.

Good sources of soluble fiber are whole oats, barley, fruits, vegetables, and legumes (which include beans, peas, and lentils).

Heart Healthy Recipe:  Oatmeal
If you don't like oatmeal it is probably because you haven't had GOOD oatmeal!!! Use Steel-cut Oats.
2 cups water
2 cups low-fat milk
small dash salt
1 cup steel-cut oats
2 to 4 tablespoons dried fruit, such as raisins, chopped dried apricots, dried cranberries
1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup, agave syrup, honey or brown sugar (more to taste)
Fresh fruit (such as diced apples and pears, optional)
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

1. Combine the water, milk and salt in a large, heavy saucepan, and bring to a boil. Slowly add the oats, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Stir in the butter, dried fruit and sweetener. Cover, and continue to simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often to prevent the cereal from sticking to the bottom of the pan, until the oats are soft and the mixture is creamy. Serve, with added fruit and nuts stirred in if desired, or refrigerate and reheat as desired.
Yield: Four servings.

Detectives Don't Wear Seat Belts by CiCi McNair

Amazon.com link for Detectives Don't Wear Seat Belts by CiCi McNair 
Book Description: Growing up in Mississippi, Cici McNair was always more the tomboy her mother supported than the Southern belle her father demanded. She escaped her suffocating upbringing the first chance she had to travel the world. Whether working at the Vatican in Rome or consorting with a gunrunner in Haiti, she lived a life of international adventure. When Cici finds herself in New York, divorced, broke, and fashionably starving to death in a Madison Avenue apartment, she impulsively decides to become a private detective.
My Review: What interesting tales CiCi McNair has to tell! From her sad childhood, her rebellious young adult life of high adventure, and then her quest to become a PI, CiCi’s adventures come to life. The emotions in the book run from sad, to frightening, and at times hilarious.

She started in PI work by seeking employment with different PI firms at a very low wages. From this meager start she was eventually able to start her successful business, Green Star Investigations, out of Philadelphia, PA.

Not only did she have to deal with the problems of being a woman in a man’s world, but because of her unique background and travels, her employers and coworkers were always suspicious of her. Many of the people she worked with were rough characters, mostly retired male law enforcement, but she always held her own and made the best of the situation. She could make the most mundane stakeout sound exciting and the rather hum drum product knockoff case as interesting as a high profile case.

As the story of her life unfolds, the reader learns about her family, the mysterious and dangerous men in her life, and her desire for a life “outside the box”. Her personality and energy radiates throughout the book as she shares her very unusual life.

In Plain Sight by Mike Knowles

To Preorder In Plain Sight by Mike Knowles

About the Book: Wilson thought he had acquired freedom from being a gritty, gruesome criminal when a car accident puts him back in the crosshairs. This time, dirty cops use him as bait, telling him the only way to stay out of cuffs is to put someone worse in them. Knowing that justice isn’t blind in the city, Wilson picks a fight with the Russian mob to lure both the corrupt cops and brutal robbers into a trap, scavenging once again for his freedom. Full of gory conflict, this latest in the Wilson Mystery series offers nonstop action and savage violence.


My Review: If any book deserved the description of gritty crime drama, it is In Plain Sight by Mike Knowles. Written in narrative style with dialog only when necessary, you get directly into the mind of Wilson who is a very good, bad guy. This is a vicious, bloody and violent story with the Russian mob, crooked cops, and people who get in their way.

The author uses a unique style of adding a psychological look at his characters. There was an interesting look at a lesson Wilson’s uncle taught him about the necessary behavior to learn to hide in plain sight. This psychological twist is also used when Wilson sizes up his enemies. There was not a character in the book I really liked, but I don’t think it matters. In Plain Sight is not a warm fuzzy. Had I read Mr. Knowles’ previous Wilson Mysteries, Darwin’s Nightmare and Grinder, I think would have understood the character of Wilson more.

Heart Healthy Monday

Heart Healthy Web site - Beating Heart Disease Together

Heart Healthy Tip: Use only 5-8 teaspoons of fat a day. (that INCLUDES fat used in cooking and what is put in salads)

Artichoke-Tomato Pitas (from Healthy Heart One-Dish Meals)
(4 servings)
4 8" pita bread rounds
1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and sliced
2 cups seeded and chopped plum tomatoes
1/2 cup sliced fresh basil
1/4 cup fat-free ranch dressing
1 cup (4 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Place the pita bread on a large baking sheet.  Place one-fourth of each of the artichoke hearts, basil, tomato, and dressing down the center of each pita.  Broil 3 inches from heat for 2-3 minutes or until cheese melts.  Remove from oven and roll up.  Wrap the bottom of each pital roll in waxed paper or decorative tissue paper and serve.


Don't forget to check to check out healthymonday.org and start your own Healthy Monday blog feature!

Hidden and Imminent Dangers by D.W. Hardin

Amazon.com link for Hidden and Imminent Dangers  

Book Description: Nurse Mac MacIntosh spends his days immersed in the chaos of a Louisville, Kentucky emergency room, struggling to shout down the demons that have haunted him since his tour as a medic in war-torn Afghanistan. But when a patient with suspicious flu-like symptoms arrives from a nearby poultry farm, Mac finds himself caught up in a horrific humanitarian crisis. Infectious disease specialist Mercato Marcus is the first to suspect the outbreak of a mutant strain of avian flu, but administrative in-fighting delays the involvement of the CDC, triggering a disastrous and deadly chain of events that threatens to destroy the United States.


My Review: It is because of books like this one that I love being a book blogger. I read a lot of good books, but then sometimes I get an absolutely great book like this one. Hidden and Imminent Dangers by D.W. Hardin can hold its own against any of those “Famous” thriller authors on the market today.

Whether describing the emergency department or a compound in Afghanistan, the book’s details bring the locations to life without ever getting too technical. It is fascinating and exciting as the reader becomes an observer in the middle of the action. I especially like that the book includes the stories of not only the doctors, but also police, politicians, soldiers, and religious leaders. This is very well written and scary pandemic drama. I believe it is a very realistic account of just how prepared we would be in case of a pandemic.

There are several dramatic twists and some surprises that I did not expect. I highly recommend Hidden and Imminent Dangers, and I look forward to D.W. Hardin’s next book. This one should be a best seller.

About the Author:  D. W. Hardin is a registered nurse. He drew on his experience working in the emergency room of a class-one trauma and university teaching hospital to write Hidden and Imminent Dangers, his first novel. He is also a Lieutenant (Reserve) with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Book Website: D.W. Hardin

Wisdom for the Aging by Malcolm Boyd

To Purchase: Wisdom for the Aging

Episcopal priest and spiritual director, Malcolm Boyd is the author of more than 30 books. For ten years he was a columnist for AARP's magazine Modern Maturity answering questions sent in by readers. In Wisdom for the Aging – Practical Advice for Living the Best Years of Your Life Right Now, Pastor Boyd shares some of his answers to the most universal questions.


The questions are grouped by the topics of Relationships, Memories, Health, Changes and Wisdom. Each page contains one question or a comment followed by sage advice by the author. His advice reflects respect in the differences in others and reasons to reject the bitterness that can linger for years.

Although the questions are from the older readers of AARP magazine readers, there is nothing in the book that will not benefit a reader of any age. If you are not experiencing some of the trials now, you may have a family member that is. His responses are thoughtful, peaceful and encouraging.

At times I found his answers too brief. Some subjects just seemed to need a more in depth answer, but I suspect that was due to the space constraints of his column in the magazine. There was still enough here to give me insight to some of the questions that would relate to my own life. The book trailer below is the author talking about Wisdom for the Aging.

Heart Healthy Monday

OK, late again, but this time it isn't my fault!!!! Blogger was down all morning and I was gone all afternoon so here is Heart Healthy Monday:
Heart Healthy Website - Sister to Sister
Heart Healthy Tip - Read the nutritional labels on the foods you buy.  If you don't regularly read them you may be surprised, especially the "health" foods.  Sometimes they have enormous amounts of fat and sodium.

Heart Healthy Recipe In season now - Sugar Snap Peas - If you have never had sugar snap peas, these are not your grandma's peas!

Sugar Snap Peas
1 lb fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 tsp light tub margarine
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crumbled
1/4 tsp salt
Steam the peas for 5-6 minutes or until tender-crisp.  Transfer to a medium serving bowl and stir in the remaining ingredients. 

Desserts 4 Today by Abigail Johnson Dodge

Link to preorder Desserts 4 Today by Abigail Johnson Dodge

It’s been a long time since I have found a dessert cookbook that captured my attention as Desserts 4 Today has. What could be better than delicious recipes for desserts with only 4 ingredients! Even with 4 ingredients these are elegant and mostly made-from-scratch desserts. Just an example of the recipes are:

Walnut Rugelach
Blueberry-Yogurt Panna Cotta
Whipped Caramel Toffee Ice Box Trifle
Raspberry – Peach Sugar Puffs
Ice Cream Puffs – The picture of this one looks wonderful.
Grown – Up Chocolate Bourbon Balls

At the end of each recipe there is additional information for substitutions and optional add-ins. There is also information at the end of the book on some of the ingredients, their handling and tips for use.

I confess that one of my favorite things about the book is that there are several recipes using Nutella™ a Hazelnut cream, which is one of my favorite sweets in the whole world. I love the simple ingredient list that creates beautiful and tasty desserts.

Abby Dodge, a former pastry chef and the author of seven cookbooks, is also a contributing editor to Fine Cooking magazine. Her website is Abby Dodge.