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KICK in the TUSH Club™
for light-hearted, low-cal loving, nutritional friendly folks who crave mammoth portions of food-facts, recipes, art and inspiration.
August 29, 2005
Our Lady of Weight Loss ™®
is a division of Oy-Caramba! Ltd.
Have a fabulous Labor Day Weekend.
The next KICK is scheduled for Monday, September 12.
There is a natural hootchy-kootchy to a goldfish. - Walt Disney
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Motivational Musing
faToid
Eggplant are native to the general SouthEast Asian region of India and modern day Pakistan and was first domesticated there over 4000 years ago. |
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Eggplant: Bitter or Divine?
The eggplant was not always as popular as it is today, particularly in Europe. People felt that because eggplants had a bitter taste, they must have a bitter nature as well, and therefore they caused insanity, leprosy and cancer. (Wow, that’s quite a leap.)
For centuries eggplants were used only as decorative garden plants. It wasn’t until the 18th century, when new varieties were cultivated that the eggplant’s reputation was cleared.
The eggplant also known as aubergine, brinjal, melanzana, garden egg and patlican, is a member of the potato family. It is available year-round, however eggplants are at there best in August and September.
When choosing an eggplant, go for the smaller ones. They’re best, as the big, puffy ones have hard seeds and may be bitter. Try and find yourself a smooth-skinned eggplant that feels heavy for its size.
To pick a ripe one, simply push gently with your thumb and forefinger. If the eggplant gives slightly and then bounces back, it’s saying “I’m yours.” If you fingerprint remains, it’s overripe and its insides may be mushy. (Yuk!) If it’s hard as a rock, it was picked too early. And finally, if you knock on the eggplant and you hear a hollow sound, run for the hills.
Eggplants are perishable and should be stored in a cool, dry place and used within a day or two of purchase. If you want to store it in the refrigerator, then first place it in a plastic bag.
A Cautionary Tale:
Eggplants are one of a small number of foods that hold quantifiable amounts of oxalates. Even though Oxalates are naturally-occurring substances found in plants, animals, and human beings, should they become too concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize which can lead to health problems. Should you already have existing and untreated kidney or gallbladder problems, you may want to steer clear of eggplant.
Oxalates may impede the body’s calcium absorption. If you are trying to increase your level of calcium, then you also may want to stay away from eating eggplant. Otherwise, talk to your doctor about calcium supplements.
.LINKS:
Everything you ever wanted to know about eggplants but were afraid to ask.
Eggplant Nutritional Facts.
For the vegetarians - Planet Eggplant, a vegetarian chat room!
Righteous Recipe ~ End of Summer Grill 'em Eggplant
Grab a few eggplants and grill 'em up this Labor Day weekend. Simple, easy, healthy and delicious.
Ingredients:
6 to 8 Japanese eggplant, about 2 pounds
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
salt and pepper, to taste
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Directions:
Wash eggplants and pat dry.
Combine olive oil and minced garlic.
Rub eggplants with olive oil mixture, coating each well.
Sprinkle eggplants with salt and pepper.
Grill 'em up whole
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Non-Killer Caremal Corn -
Linda R., from Ibakara, Japan, asks "Do you want non-killer snack recipes?" Are you kidding, Linda? Of course!
This makes a low calorie snack that tastes like caramel corn. Like not exactly but it is good, filling and not a diet killer.
Ingredients: 1 tsp. Olive Oil -
1 tsp. Real Maple Syrup -
2-3 tbs. popcorn
Directions : Put ingredients in popper and stir well. Then pop away.
Want to whip up another dish?
Send Our Lady your favorite recipe! Keep them easy, low-cal and FUN.
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Pious Project™ - My son insisted on real butter, so I settled on this brand because the box was colorful and appealing. So appealing, in fact, that I didn't want to throw it out. What to do? Make it into a faux-vase with faux-flowers, of course!
Next time you go food shopping, keep an eye out for cool boxes and cans. There are a host of creative things you could do with them.
Title: Faux Butter Cup
Supplies Needed:
One empty 'food' box.
One bunch of faux flowers, dried, plastic or otherwise.
Instructions:
Arrange! Voila. A masterpiece.
Want to play cut-out Eggplant dolls? Here's your chance: Egglin the Eggplant
Fruitful Contest - Jennifer Aniston has been photographed kissing Vince Vaughn - further fueling rumors of a romance.
TRUE or FALSE. Your thoughts please.
Write Our Lady.
RULES: The42nd to enlighten Our Lady wins an Our Lady of Weight Loss prize! (Sometimes people send in their answers within minutes - even seconds - of each other. Our Lady declares them all winners!)
Last week's Fruitful query: Name the famous, Dutch painter who cut off his ear. Sunflowers. He was enamored with Sunflowers and painted them on more than one occasion. The answer: Vincent Van Gogh
The winners:
Cherie A., Felton, CA and Madeleine B., Kenner. LA
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Chewing the Fat - How you doin'? Write Our Lady.
If you've written and your letter has not been published, it's probably coming down the pike and will be in next week's KICK or the week after! NOTE: If your letter and/or Weighty Confession and/or Righteous Recipe are published, you will receive an Our Lady of Weight Loss prize! Be sure to send your mailing address with your email.
 Dear OLofWL ~ I am an artist who discovered your wonderful artwork and website a couple of months ago. It was one of those "perfect things at a perfect time" things for me, as I was licking the wounds of a lost commercial art job and emotionally ready to re-claim myself as a fine artist. I had the chance to make a few new things for a small exhibit at a bank, and I did this piece in honor of you and your truly positive outlook on weight loss and creativity. It is called "Living Outside of the Donut Box". It sure beats eating those little suckers! ~ Hugs, Peggy
Dear Peggy ~ What a thrill. Your art is spectacular and right up my donut box, that's for sure! Many, many thanks for honoring us and for sharing. ~ OLofWL
To see more of Peggy's truly innovative and fabulous art, click here: Jester Studio
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Dear OLofWL ~ I have been enjoying your newsletter for a few months. Between your inspiration and a wandering rodent, I had to put all of my dark chocolate into a tin, which I promptly forgot about. This week I'm on a clear liquid diet prior to a test. The day before the chicken broth began, I was looking for something really good to eat (so I would remember what it felt like to eat). I opened the tin and had 2 pieces of chocolate. IT DIDN'T TASTE GOOD! I can easily not eat it again! Wahoo! I am a reformed, recovering chocoholic. Thank you for all of your inspiration! WOW I never thought I would say that any chocolate didn't taste good. You are too cool! ~ JudyP
Dear JudyP ~ Oh My! Yuk - a rodent. I'm horrified. Killed my appetite for sure. Thank you!!!! Tis you who are cool. ~OLofWL
Forgive me, for I have sinned.
Since I've gotten pregnant, I've ignored everything my
nutritionist ever advised and stopped exercising on
the grounds of "it's too much trouble," "I'm tired," or
"It's the baby growing, not my weight." After eating a
tray of chocolate chip cookies, those excuses are
getting harder to swallow. Forgive me of my indulgence
and deliver me from variacose veins and gestational
diabetes.
~Mama-sama
All is Forgiven * Move On.
Send your confession to info@ourladyofweightloss.com.
No Names - Strictly Anonymous
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The Art of Weight Loss Workshops
Six Week Workshop ~
Gain insight into your inner Weight Loss Artist ™ while steadily shedding pounds.
When it comes to permanent fat removal, thinking outside of the donut box is key! New six week workshop forming now.
Six Weeks of Inspirational Weight Loss via USPS Mail ~ Revolutionary Concept!!! Very cool, inspirational, art-filled stuff! Motivational, inspirational and fun!
For more info... click here or contact: info@ourladyofweightloss.com
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The Our Lady of Weight Loss CHEERLEADERS
IV Patti rocks.
Janet T., keep on goin'. You're an inspiration.
Three cheers for Judith.
You can do it. If Janice can, seriously, you can too!
Send OUR LADY of WEIGHT LOSS your name, handle, initials (identify yourself in some way, please), and we'll all cheer you on.
Let's all clap and root for each other! Cheering can be healing. Send an email to: Cheer On!
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The KICK in the TUSH Club provides a weekly reminder in the form of an Art-KICK for those who wish to anchor themselves to their weight loss and/or health goals (or for those who need to satisfy their craving for a quirky kick). It's fun, fab and fat-free. Sign-up now (there's no charge). Click here! Our Lady. (Or send an email to: info@OurLadyofWeightLoss.com) and say, "YES! I need a KICK in the TUSH.
Volume II, KICK #33™©
Janice Taylor
www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com™®
a Division of Oy-Caramba, Ltd!
Interested in reprinting the KICK in the TUSH or licensing the art?
Contact: info@ourladyofweightloss.com
Our Lady of Weight Loss has been recommended by:
The New York Daily News, The Arizona Republic Newspaper, SKIRT! Magazine,
Energy Express, Tribune Media Co., Herbs for Health, Good Housekeeping, First for Women,
Family Circle and Good Morning America.
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Disclaimer: This column is for information only and no part of its contents should be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, recommendation or endorsement by Our Lady of Weight Loss, Oy-Caramba, Ltd! or Ms. Taylor.
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