Editorial
Front Page - Friday, September 11, 2009
Kay's Cooking Corner
Kathy Joyner
I was told there were a few people out there who really did like my article and my recipe last week! Of course, I’m not getting a big head or anything like that since I do understand that those people just happened to be my husband, my mom, my sister, my daughter…you get the picture.
Your “real” cooking expert and my sister, Kay, has asked me to fill in for her for a couple more weeks, and I guess if she thought I wasn’t running off all of her loyal readers, then I can’t get much higher praise than
that, can I?
But seriously, I really hope you did enjoy the very important information about Alzheimer’s disease last week. This week, I have another topic equally, if not more important, to talk about which will lead to a yummy recipe, too!
If this disease has not touched your family or someone close to you, you are a very special person. I’m talking about heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is our nation’s number-one killer! It has certainly affected my family and continues to. This is why I felt it heavy on my heart to write about this week.
Do you know the warning signs of a heart attack? Of course the most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort but there are others. Learn all the signs and if you have any doubts or suspicions at all, please, talk to your doctor about it. Every minute can make a difference.
Heart health needs to become a bigger priority to not only our generation, but our generation to come. We can help do our part by watching our diet, getting some exercise and plenty of sleep. Walk for your heart health! Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity and has multiple health benefits. And what better way for a family to spend some good quality time together?
As parents, now is the time to set heart-healthy habit examples for our children. Be positive role models. If you’re practicing healthy habits, it’s a lot easier to convince children to do the same. Get the whole family active. Plan a time to get everyone outdoors doing something together, even if everyone is doing something different. And really important, try to make dinnertime a sit-down family time as much as possible. This will increase the chances of having a heart-healthy meal.
Heart disease is such a serious subject. There’s no way I can begin to do it justice in this small article. If you or someone you know or love has heart disease, please visit the American Heart Association Web site for more information: http://www.americanheart.org/.
Also, very importantly, I urge you, if you don’t know CPR, please find a class near you and enroll. CPR can make the difference between life and death! It can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival! To find the location nearest you, please visit the American Heart Association Web site. Don’t let the words “heart-healthy” scare you away from a recipe or a food item on a restaurant menu! They are not what they used to be! Here’s one that your kids will never know is “healthy”!
Fajita-Ranch Chicken Wraps
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 small red, yellow or green pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips
2 tbsp low-fat ranch dressing
2 10-inch whole-wheat, tomato, jalapeno or plain flour tortillas, warmed
1/3 cup easy fresh salsa
1/3 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
Sprinkle chicken strips with chili powder and garlic powder. Coat non-stick skillet with spray and heat over medium heat. Cook chicken and peppers 4 to 6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and peppers are tender. Drain if necessary and toss with salad dressing.
Divide chicken and pepper mixture between warmed tortillas. Top with easy fresh salsa and cheese. Roll up; cut in half.
Easy fresh salsa:
In a medium bowl, combine 2 seeded and chopped tomatoes, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, 1/4 cup yellow or green pepper, 2 to 3 tsp minced garlic, 1/8 tsp salt, dash of black pepper, few drops hot pepper sauce. Serve immediately or cover and chill for up to 3 days. Stir before serving. Makes 1 2/3 cups.
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