Squash Sense..... Really Simple Skillet Recipes

As promised, here are a few more recipes using summer squash.  Enjoy.......and let me know if you try any of these recipes and how they turned out......

Summer Squash in a Skillet

6 large summer squash, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 -2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Slice squash in medium slices. In large iron skillet heat the olive oil;  add the squash and onions in layers, sprinkling salt and pepper between layers. Cover and cook over low heat. When squash starts to become tender, mix gently and chop the squash a bit as you mix, but not a lot. Cook until squash is tender, about 20 minutes or so.


It really doesn't get any easier than this :)

Zucchini Tomato Skillet

1/2 cup sliced green onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 lbs zucchini, unpeeled, sliced 1/2 " thick
3 fresh tomatoes, peeled and each cut into 8 wedges

 Cook onion and garlic in oil until onion is tender. Add sugar, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and zucchini. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes; heat through. Remove bay leaf before serving.  You can toss into hot cooked pasta as a quick delicious meal. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

And this is my Daily Cyn............

Summer Squash...........they are abundant. Our gardens are beginning to overflow with them. They seem to multiply and take over. You have so much of it that you give bags of it away to everyone who stops by the house. Not a gardener? Perhaps you push right by bins of squash each week at the produce market. They are inexpensive but you don't know anything about and have no idea how to cook them.

July is going to be all about Squash Sense. All month long we will be exploring these soft-shelled vegetables, learning how good they are for us, and trying new recipes. We will be baking them into bread, tossing them into stir frys, stuffing them with goodies, and more!


Summer squash are relatives of both the melon and the cucumber and come in many different varieties.  They come in different in shapes, color, size and flavor, but all share some common characteristics. The entire vegetable, including its flesh, seeds and skin, is edible. Some varieties of the squash plant produce edible flowers. Unlike winter squash, summer squash are more fragile and cannot be stored for very long.  This is why we try to give them away so quickly!

Although not as potent as root vegetables like burdock, garlic or onion, squashes have been found to have anti-cancer type effects. Although phytonutrient research on squash is limited, some lab studies have shown vegetable juices obtained from squash to be parallel to juices made from leeks, pumpkin, and radish in their ability to prevent cell mutations (cancer-like changes).


In research studies, extracts from squash have also been found to help reduce symptoms of a condition occurring in men called benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. In this condition, the prostate gland becomes problematically enlarged, which can cause difficulty with urinary and sexual function. Serve your man some squash and make it quick!!

Packed with nutrients, summer squash are excellent sources of manganese and vitamin C and a very good source of magnesium, vitamin A, fiber, potassium, folate, copper, riboflavin, and phosphorus.  They are good for your heart and can even help relieve the symptoms of arthiritis! Who knew?


Types of Summer Squash:

Zucchini: Probably the best known of the summer squashes, zucchini is a type of narrow squash that resembles a cucumber in size and shape. It has smooth, thin skin that is either green or yellow in color and can be striped or speckled. Its tender flesh is creamy white in color and features numerous seeds. Its edible flowers are often used in French and Italian cooking.

Crookneck and Straightneck Squash: Both of these summer squashes have creamy white flesh and generally have yellow skins, although sometimes you can find them with green skin. Crookneck squash is partially straight with a swan-like neck.

Pattypan Squash: This small saucer-shaped squash features skin that can either be pale green or golden yellow in color. Its cream-colored flesh is more dense and slightly sweeter than that of zucchini.


The possibilities for these abundant gifts from the earth are endless. Shred and bake in bread ( a sneaky way to get the kids to eat more veggies), lightly steam, slice and serve with dip, saute' in garlic and olive oil and toss into pasta dishes, scoop out the insides and stuff with rice, nuts, and raisins (my favorite).  You will never run out of ideas.

And this is my Daily Cyn...........

Go Ahead and Splurge

I know I post some pretty odd recipes for dishes that some of you might consider forbidden or fattening. I just recently shared a recipe I found for heirloom tomato and goat cheese fondue. You bake it and serve along with homemade croutons for dipping! Have I lost my mind? Absolutely not!

Here is how I look it at. I stress the importance of REAL food. Real food is not processed, pre-packaged, or artificial. If God made it, it's ok to eat. The more it is tampered with, the more unhealthy it becomes for you. Yes, I am a vegetarian. NO, I don't eat meat. Yes, sometimes I post MEAT recipes- good, healthy ones! Not everyone can be like me. Not everyone can exist on my type of a diet. I don't expect you to and would never push it on you if it was something you absolutely, positively did not want. You want your meat, then by George, have it. I just want you to purchase and nourish yourselves with the best quality meat out there.

So.....back to the fondue recipe aka Sin in a Baking Dish..... If I am going to indulge or splurge on something I still want it to be something REAL. Sometimes you just crave something a little fattening, something considered "bad". Life would be so boring without the occasional treat. This fondue recipe would be absolutely PERFECT to serve to some guests on a nice summer evening out on the deck. Open a nice bottle of wine, put on some jazz , sit and chat and eat. I don't think it can get better than that. Your alternative? A pot of coffee and a dozen Dunkin Donuts..... donuts that will be left over because everyone is watching their weight? Donuts are heavy, sweet and for the most part, artificial. You will be left the next day with a bunch of stale donuts and tempted to dunk them into your morning coffee.

Constant denial can result in a total breakdown. The first emotional upset or situation that does not go your way will cause you to binge and eat every fattening, unhealthy thing in sight. Don't deny yourself. Give the fondue recipe a try! This dish will not cause you to gain weight, your blood pressure to increase, or your arteries to harden. Consuming an entire dish of it every day for the rest of your life just might! A Fast Food breakfast, lunch, dinner and the fondue later in the evening even a couple of times a week could be a recipe for disaster. 

Avoid artificial, processed, pre-packaged no fat, low fat, low sugar items. As appealing and guilt-free as that kind of food might sound; it is not REAL and you will NEVER, EVER be satisfied with it. You have to think and plan. You have to use a little wisdom.  Choose REAL whole food rather than faux-food as often as you can. You will be satisfied every time...

Find the recipe for the Heirloom Tomato and Goat Cheese Fondue on my Metamorphosis Facebook Page. Just click the banner to your right....

And this is my Daily Cyn..........

Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave..............

I am taking a break from all things technological to enjoy my 4 day Independence Weekend! I always seem to be plugged in to something:  laptop, office phone and computer, my Blackberry.  I am always making or returning calls, posting, commenting, emailing, researching, Tweeting, writing a daily blog, managing my Metamorphosis page on Facebook and I just recently took on the responsibility of managing the Facebook page of a friend who just started a new business venture. I am always eating, sleeping and breathing these things because they are my passion and my lively-hood. Time to log-off for a few days........

I have posted below all the verses to our National Anthem - The Star Spangled Banner.  It is such a beautiful poem/song that I want to share it with everyone!  Most people might not even realize there are additional verses because all they've ever heard is the first one.  I hope you will take your time to read and reflect on the words for they are truly beautiful.  I hope they inspire a new love and appreciation for our great nation especially during this time of war and uncertainty.

May our flag always fly high and proud.  May we never forget those who fought for our freedom.  May we never forget those who are still fighting even now.  May God protect our soldiers and bring them back to the land of the free and the home of the brave.......

And this is my Daily Cyn..............

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics

By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?



On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!



And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!



Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Wrist Reminders.........

Every day, whether I am at home, out on the town or at the office I wear a collection of bracelets around my wrist. They are 6 different bracelets, none of them match, and to the ordinary person they probably look like nothing more than a cumbersome burden of clanging noise-makers. In all honesty, they don't cause too much of distraction and I am so accustomed to wearing them that they rarely get in the way. Most nights I take them off before I go to sleep but sometimes I forget. They are a part of me and my daily attire and I feel "naked" if I ever forget to wear them.

Some folks are fascinated by them, especially children, who insist that I take some of them off and hand them over for them to hold, play with, or wear.  I never begrudge or deny them--special things are meant to be shared even if only for a short time.  People ask me why I wear so many mismatched bracelets that appear to have no real rhyme or reason.  Each one (some expensive, some not) has a special meaning or purpose, and serve as reminders to me as I go about my hectic day and the combination of all of them together makes me feel whole. 

The first bracelet is my silver Tiffany heart.  I purchased this several years ago.  I had just landed my first job in the city and was earning more money than I had ever dreamed possible.  It was also my first Valentine's Day without a sweetheart ( I recently had left my husband and did not have and did want a boyfriend). Rather than sulk or cry, I treated myself to this classic piece of jewelry and celebrated by admiring it around my wrist each time my left hand reached into the biggest heart-shaped box of chocolate I could possiby find.   This bracelet serves as a reminder to always give my heart, always walk in love, and to always believe in and hope for love.  Love is the most precious gift we can give to ourselves and to others.  I never want to forget that so this simple silver chain with the danging heart never leaves my wrist for any reason. 

The second adornment is Buddhist prayer beads.  I bought these several years ago in a little shop on Hollywood Boulevard across from Eat Well (my favorite restaurant in LA for breakfast).  I spent alot of time in Los Angeles with my brother during those years. I was at the high-point of my life (finally free from an abusive marriage, earning an income that allowed me to travel as often as I wanted, and on a journey of self-discovery). It was also the lowest point in my beloved brother's life when he struggled with demons that just would not let go.  It was during those precious times I spent with him in his world that we got to know, respect and love each other in ways we never had before.  These beads are a memory of those special times, the fire we have both walked through together and separately, the victorious crossing to the other side, the bond that that can never break or tear us apart, and a constant reminder to offer my prayers of thanksgiving.

Third--a string of white jade stones.  These were a gift from my mom.  These are truly beautiful and have little specks of green in each little stone.  I love all things Asian, and have been collecting jade pieces since I was a little girl. Jade represents prosperity.  I wear these daily to remind me that no matter how tough life gets I am truly, truly blessed with so many gifts....my health,  my son, my family, my friends, a roof over my head,  my work.....the list is infinite.......


Next is a cuff of solid silver with etchings of dainty leaves and flowers.  Real silver will never change its color. This the largest bracelet I have.  It is like a shield I wear to remind me that no matter where I go, what I see, what I hear, or what I experience, I must be true to myself and never allow the world to tarnish or change me.

The fifth braclet is a band of leather with carvings of bouquets of flowers and peace signs.  I never wear leather but when I saw this I just had to have it.   It has such a special meaning that I was willing to make an exception to my rule.  I wear this to remind me to keep planting, keep growing, to help and allow others to grow, and to always walk in peace. 

Last, but not least, is the bracelet that joins all things together. It is bracelet of delicate bars of silver, gold and bronze. Etched into each bar are the words : LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE. Life is just a tedious passing of one day to the next  if we do not live with passion, if we cannot laugh at our own mistakes and shortcomings, and if we cannot love.  I never want a day in my life to go by without truly living, laughing, or loving and this is why I wear this bracelet daily.

To some of you, all this might seem ridiculous and to others these are just bracelets. To me....they are inspirations and reminders that my life is gift, every day is a new day, and it's my choice how I want to live it. I choose to live it lovingly, thankfully, prayerfully, carefully, peacefully, and full of passion and joy!

And this is my Daily Cyn...........

Who am I and Why do I Keep Talking about Nutrition?

 For years I have had successful career in the Mortgage Industry, however,  the economy has changed, the mortgage world has changed and I find myself disillusioned and frustrated with an industry where I  keep working so hard yet reap so little reward. I am also tired of trying to keep up the pace of a lifestyle of non-stop parties and unhealthy choices.  After being rushed to the hospital several times with sky-high blood pressure and chest pains and the unwanted weight gain due to the overproduction of cortisol in my body from stress and lack of sleep, I made the decision to slow down and return to my roots.  Years ago I earned my degree in Holistic Health and Nutrition and I have returned to my first love and passion.....helping others achieve good health and a happy life and that all starts with good nutrition.  Over the past year I have been working on myself first by completely restucturing my lifestyle because I know I  must "practice what I preach" or it won't do anyone else an ounce of good!  Take it from me....it is never too late to change and heal yourself!

Metamorphosis Consulting is a counseling practice I started over ten years ago.  I am a certified Health and Nutritional Counselor and a Reflexologist. I am also in the process of completing my certification as a Life Coach.  I firmly believe, "We are what we eat!". I suffered for years with depression, the chronic aches and pains of fibromyalgia, and the discomfort and aggravation of ovarian cysts, endrometriosis and rapidly growing uterine fibroid tumors. After years of therapy, unsuccessful anti-depressant drug treatments and countless surgeries I finally resolved myself to a life of sadness and pain. At 35 years old, I refused to submit to my doctor after he insisted the only option to end my depression, pain and suffering was a complete hysterectomy. I "fired" my doctor, threw away my Prozac and pain medication, and began working with a well-known psychologist who taught me to use my mind to manage the pain. I spent endless hours in libraries searching for answers and finally discovered several successful studies on women with similar symptoms. The majority of their health issues had been resolved with a vegetarian diet and by avoiding pre-packaged processed foods. Determined to heal myself naturally without drugs, hormone therapy or surgery, I eliminated all meat, dairy, and processed foods from my diet and within six months was pain-free and no longer depressed. In thirteen years, my uterine tumors have not grown or caused any further complications and I am currently treating my menopausal symptoms with diet, herbal remedies, and by embracing the 'change" gracefully. My own personal experience and desire to share what I learned inspired me to enroll in The Institute For Integrative Nutrition to receive the proper training and certification to teach and help others. I have had the privilege to work with cancer survivors, diabetics, and recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. My dream is to one day have my own wellness center--a sea-side haven in the midst of chaos with a huge professional stainless steel kitchen where I can cook glorious healthy feasts to share with others who come to pratice yoga, have a massage, a facial, or who just want to come and rest, eat, learn and share.


I earned my graduate degree from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY. I am certified in Health and Nutritional Counseling, Reflexology and I am a board certified member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. I currently reside in Long Island, NY with my cat, Sambo and in my spare time read, research and write a daily blog, practice Bikram Yoga, and love to cook for my carnivorous boyfriend.

And this is my Daily Cyn............

The Journey Home.........

I previously wrote in one of my blogs about visions, goals and dreams and how important it is to have something you are passionate about and to visualize it until it is yours.  My goal is to have a little house on the beach or at the very least, within walking distance to some body of water, preferably the bay or the ocean.  I would even settle for a quiet lake.  I am not just sitting around dreaming about it, however.  I have a plan.... a two year plan.  In two years I will  be 50 years old. I am not afraid of turning 50.  I look forward to it.  What I am afraid of  is reaching that age and being in the same exact place I am at 48.  I am not necessarily talking about location, although that is part of the plan.   I am more interested in my emotional and physical state and my financial and job status more than anything.  Where I live is just geography.  Who I am and how I live (meaning quality of life) when I turn 50 is what matters most. 

Every week I get email updates from a couple of different realtors in the Virginia Beach area.  They send me photos and details on homes for sale or rent near the beach.  I am not quite ready to move yet, but they don't know that.  I want to get an idea of what's available out there and if something really catches my eye, it's an 8 hour drive from NY if I want to go check it out.  Why Virginia Beach? I have family there. It's South, but not too Southern.  It's warmer, the summers are definitely longer but the seasons also change. I wouldn't want to live without the changing leaves in the fall, the buds on the trees at springtime, or the crisp coolness of a winter morning.  Virginia Beach is where I spent alot of my childhood and I still love to visit as an adult.  It is full of wonderful memories; times of laughter and fun, summers on the beach, carefree craziness, and the love and comfort of dear relatives who, as I get older and my parents get even older, I just want to be near.   Am I trying to recapture my youth in some way? Perhaps.....but maybe there is something there for me that I need to discover, to learn, and to experience because out all the places in the world I could choose to live, that is where I want to be.

My two year plan also involves my work and finances.  I have worked very hard in the mortgage industry for years.  My goal was to be financially independent and for many years the loan business was very lucrative for me.  I earned a terrific income and sometimes spent my money foolishly because it appeared to be a well that would never run dry.  Over the past couple of years, the economy has changed, banks have closed and the lenders who do have money to lend are becoming more and more stringent.   Quailfying borrowers and the ability to write and close loans has become more and more difficult and quite frankly, I think the handwriting is on the wall concerning the industry. I am frustrated and disillusioned and the job, which once brought me great pleasure and was so rewarding, is now a burden.  It's time for a back-up plan and thankfully, I had the sense enough to go to school years ago and get training and a degree in something completely different.  My passion is and always has been nutrition and counseling others.  This past March, I reduced my work week at my mortgage company to three days and the other two days I spend at home trying to build my business, finding and working with clients, writing articles about health and nutrition, and educating myself to keep abreast and informed of the latest and greatest nutritional news.  In the next two years, I want to leave the mortgage industry behind, be completely self-employed and operating my consulting business from anywhere, whether I am sitting in a lounge chair on a beach, at my kitchen table, or from my little porch or deck over looking the water. I want to have enough finances to be comfortable, to pay my mortgage or rent, and to have a little left over at the end of the month to play with. 

 I have an idea of the home I would like to have.  It would simple, homey, earthy and inviting.  It must have a porch; a sweet resting place.  I will sit out there in the cool of the evening after the dishes are done with a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and gaze up at the stars or the moonlight over the water.  In the mornings I want to watch the sunrise from my front or back porch, sip my coffee, and meditate and pray.  In the back yard or off to the side I want a little garden to grow fresh vegetables and some herbs that I can brew into tea and for healing.  Between two trees, I want a hammock where loved ones can come rest their weary bones on lazy Sunday afternoons.  Inside, I want a fireplace to warm the chilly nights, and a big sunny kitchen to prepare feasts for family and friends, and to occassionally teach a cooking class to my clients.

This is my plan, my hope and my dream.  Does this sound like a lot to ask for? Perhaps.....but it's far from impossible.  Hopefully the special people I love will come with me but I will understand if they can't.  I am running out of time and I am not afraid to go alone.

This is a pretty big change for the girl who's motto has always been, "Where's the party?"  Life has a funny way of treating us and changing us.  When we are faced with difficult situations, illness, or trials and tribulations, it could be God's way of telling us to slow down a little.  I lived life in the fast lane for many years and I now suffer some of the consequences.  I've stomped my feet, cried my tears and have forgiven myself for my mistakes.  Now I only see stepping stones in a river I must cross over.  On the other side is the path leading to the road that is calling me home............

And this is my Daily Cyn............