Marypause50 ~10 years later still a blog about gardens, simplicity, friendships, gratitude, health,

Easy Pasta Sauce & Added Blog Features

    I thought it was about time, with all the options this blog host has to offer, to take advantage of a few. First, you will notice to the left a search this blog option. With almost 200 posts under my belt, this feature is awesome. If you want to find a recipe, just enter a keyword. It is very cool...
   The second, also to the left, will allow you to receive e-mail alerts with every new post. You can also sign up a friend who you think may like this blog!

   I have posted this recipe before. Now I can refer to these recipes & you can find with a quick search. Yay! So this delicious recipe uses the abundance of plum you are harvesting right now. Very easy…
 7-10 Plum type tomatoes – boil quickly for a minute & remove from water, then peel the skins off easily (or 1 – 28-oz, can peeled, whole plum tomatoes)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (evoo)
1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. sugar (to taste)
¾ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried
½ tsp. tomato paste (squeeze tube works well for this).
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, more for serving

Heat evoo in a medium-sized saucepan, add garlic & cook until fragrant. Add tomatoes that have been roughly chopped (removing seeds prior to cooking). Add Balsamic, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, sugar & tomato paste. Cook over medium-high heat for 20 minutes. Add Parmesan, basil & any reserved sauce from canned tomatoes if you like. Add a little more evoo, sugar or salt to taste & cook 5 more minutes. Serve over 8-oz. of your favorite pasta shape. Ones with nooks & crannies work well to capture the sauce. Top with more grated Parmesan Serves 3-4. Easy & delish! Mangia!!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese ~ for the Lactose Intolerant

   I have very recently discovered that I am lactose intolerant. There I said it. The girl who would never give up cheese for Lent; the girl whose desert island food is New Jersey Boardwalk pizza (with Knorr’s vegetable, spinach dip a close second). I have probably been in denial for more than a year but finally have seen this to be not the end of the world. Last weekend I made a modified Mac & Cheese recipe accommodating my intolerance & let me tell you, it was best I’ve ever made. I used a super sharp cheddar cheese & extra seasonings to accommodate for what I thought would be lack of flavor. I definitely stumbled onto something. Even the Teenage Tester, reluctant at first, loved it. So here is the recipe. You can always substitute your milk for the Lactaid here in the recipe. I used Cracker Barrel cheese. They print right on the label the grams of lactose. This sharp has 0g & the yellow & white variety is visually perfect & delicious!
2 cups uncooked elbows (or small shells)
¼ cup butter or margarine (has some lactose, but not much)
¼ cup flour
2-1/2 cups Lactaid milk (I used fat free)
8-oz cubed/sliced Cracker Barrel marbled sharp cheddar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon bread crumbs
Cook macaroni according to directions. Meanwhile, bring milk, flour & butter to a slow boil. Whisk in seasonings & cheese until it melts completely. Drain macaroni & combine in cheese mixture. Pour into 2 quart baking dish sprayed with a non-stick. Top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Delish!
    This can easily be reheated in the microwave at 50% power to avoid the butter separating. Check out the Cracker Barrel link below for ideas on pairing cheeses with foods & wines.

http://www.crackerbarrelcheese.com/perfect-pairings/#pairing-basics

Fall Fashion Tips 2013

   With September almost here and the cooler temperatures coming, it means that time is near – to switch out your closet!! Some view this with dread, and do as needed (you will still find summer items in their closets in January) and some view it as a good time to purge & donate perhaps. Regardless, if you are shopping for a few new items this season, keep these ideas in mind. After hours of scouring fashion mags for you, here are the best ‘not so trendy trends’ & reminders of the styles that are here to stay & will give you style.
~ Jeans – especially skinny are in full force. There are patterns, colors (even ombre) to choose from & these days skinnies can be found to fit all body types.
~ Boots – wearing boots will always make you fashionable not matter if you are dressed up or down (sorry down does not mean ‘pajamas/yoga pants’ at the grocery store or bus stop or dropping the kids off). Stacked heel is back & lower bootie styles are everywhere. Wear with jeans (boot cut or skinnies) or with tights and a dress.
~ Leather in a skirt, pant or a detail in dresses, jackets or tops. Color blocking is still in so here is another texture for you. Extremely classic.
~ Prints are full force in pants, jeans, tops, dresses, scarves, nails. Polka dots (thanks Princess Kate), floral, animal, stripes, houndstooth, graphic, plaid/tartan (Go Scotland!!) Unless you are expert at mixing, keep the pattern to one piece.
~ Statement necklaces (or earrings – don’t combine both!) – A store like Charming Charlie has everything in accessories you can imagine & sooo inexpensive. But go with a plan, there is so much to look at (all divided into color families) your head will spin. I was recently at a store on vacation when a woman came in & said “I need red.” I thought, “I need to do that.” Here’s the link to find a store:
~ Bomber/motorcycle jackets /denim jackets – quilting also ‘in’
~ Cobalt & all jewel tones
~ ‘Fun’ manicures
~ Still in style – belts & scarves, pumps (single color & color blocked), peplums in dresses & tops, great bags in all kind of colors, shapes & sizes (good place to make a statement!).

    Just remember to follow these Marypause 50 rules: Never shop with an empty stomach & make sure you are hydrated. Try to purchase items that don’t already exist in your closet now. (think outside your closet) If you have a ton of black, try a jewel tone. Try everything on in the store & then again in the comfort of home. Fit is the most important factor here – embrace your curves & don’t try to hide them with oversizes or shlump-a-dinka styles. Ask yourself, does this have style? Do I need this color? And finally, when it comes to shoes & boots & you’ve already made a connection, never ask yourself do I need this?  Happy Shopping!!

The RealAge Test

   I am always intrigued by Dr. Oz and the time & care he and his show place with feeling your best, no matter your age. Sure he gets paid a lot for doing his show, but he is a Dr. first and you truly feel a sense of trust, even through a tv screen. So when I saw this RealAge test that he recommends taking, I went for it. The link is below. The test will take anywhere from 15-30 minutes. You can request at the beginning or the end information or to become of a follower of Dr. Oz or others. I feel it is worth the time. Just be honest with your answers. Your ‘real age’ revealed at the end may be good news or just the news you need to hear to make changes in your life, small or otherwise. The info is all there for you to request if you need through Sharecare. Enjoy this process, you are your best advocate for a healthy life!

http://www.sharecare.com/static/realage-test-marketing-landing?cbr=YHST1300011

8 Healthy Foods You're Ignoring

    It is hard to keep up with the ‘superfoods’ updates, but the knowledge is important for our overall great health. This list is special because it really is a list of delicious foods we grew up with, a staple at our meals. With constant reminders to replace white potatoes with sweet potatoes, or frozen veggies for fresh, we can easily forget that: a) these foods are nutritionally good for you & b) variety is important in our diets so go back to your roots! As soon as you read them you will know the alternatives that have come to replace them. Here they are:
1)   Iceburg Lettuce ~ Adds fiber, low in calories, H2O rich, contains folate, iron & potassium & is inexpensive. And yes, you just can’t replace that ‘crunch’. (just this weekend I’d almost forgotten how to de-core, clean & serve this childhood favorite!)
2)  Potatoes ~ One of the top sources of potassium, we require 4700mg a day. A medium baked potato has 926mg. And can anything ever replace yummy mashed potatoes?
3)  OJ ~ With so many exotic fruit blends out there, we forget how inexpensive & simply yummy 100% OJ is. If you choose the calcium fortified, you are also getting Vitamin D along with the usual Vitamin C, potassium & folate. All great for muscle & collagen repair & healing.
4)  Cauliflower ~ Loaded with phytonutrients, A, C & folic acid, this is a super immune booster that should be eaten raw (easy) or parboiled like broccoli for maximum nutrition.
5)  Frozen Veggies ~ Simply convenient & delicious, They are loaded with nutrients since they are packed & processed immediately! It’s true, often better than fresh which lose nutrients as soon as they are picked.
6)  Instant Oatmeal ~ Convenient & heart-healthy, instant still contains fiber, beta-glucans which help lower total blood cholesterol & your LDL levels.
7)  Canned Tomatoes ~ One word lycopene. Proven to help against skin cancer & promote a healthy prostate, the canned have more readily absorbed lycopene than fresh. Just watch for added sodium.

8)  Peanuts ~ Wow. So much to this humble guy. Just watch the added salt again. So rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, and cardio-protective resveratrol. And don’t you just love a peanut butter & jelly sandwich every now & then. Takes you back...

The Wet Brush Review

    You know by now that if I dedicate an entire blog to a single product it must be something special. Well, The Wet Brush is no exception! Advertised as ‘The Healthy Detangling After Shower Brush’, with claims of no tears, snags, clumps or tangles. My hairdresser told me about the brush knowing that my daughter has longer hair. Her college-age, wavy-haired twin daughters both swear by it. So, it was time for the Teenage Tester to spring into action. This is a no-brainer, it works like a charm. She was hooked after one use. Knowing that our hair is most vulnerable when wet, this brush is a God-send. No more detangling combs or worse yet, you or your kids ripping through their hair with something else! I will be picking up my own next time I am there. I purchased my first at a Hair Cuttery. See the link below for their website & other retailers & products. If you have daughters, nieces, friends with curly, wavy or shoulder length to long hair, this is the product for them! If you have young children with no patience with having their hair ‘combed’ out – this works fast! Enjoy the extra time in a day you get. Hey, those minutes add up! If you save one minute a day, that’s over six hours a year! As always, I am here to simplify your lives!

http://thewetbrush.com/