VEGAN GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

A Thanksgiving Favorite. Now you can bring the vegetarian version! vegan green bean casserole

  • 1 pound green beans (rinsed, trimmed and cut in half)
  • Sea salt and black pepper                         
  • 2 Tbsp vegan butter or olive oil
  • 1 medium shallot (minced)                       
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms (button, baby bella, or cremini)
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour                            
  • 3/4 cup vegetable broth 
  • 1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk        
  • 1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions (divided )

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt well – it will help season the green beans. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes, then drain and place in an ice water bath to stop cooking. Drain and set aside.

In the meantime, start preparing sauce. In a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat, add vegan butter or olive oil and shallots and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add mushrooms and season with a bit more salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes more or until lightly browned.

Sprinkle in flour and whisk to stir and coat the veggies. Cook for 1 minute, then slowly add in veggie stock, whisking to incorporate.

Add almond milk next and whisk to stir again. Season with a touch more salt and pepper and bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low to thicken. Cook for 5-7 minutes more, or until thick and bubbly. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Remove from heat and add 1/3 of the fried onions (1/2 cup as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and all of the cooked green beans. Toss to coat well, and top with remaining fried onions. Bake for 15 minutes, or until warmed through and bubbly and slightly browned on top. Serve immediately (handle pan carefully).

 

Crispy Hasselback Potatoes Recipe

A BIG FAVE

Ingredients

  • Yukon gold potatoes, about 6 ounces eachHasselback Potatoes
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted              
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
  • Flaky sea salt, to taste

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 425ºF.

2 Slice the potatoes: Set a potato on a cutting board and place a chopstick on either side of the potato. With a sharp, thin knife, make deep vertical cuts 1/8-inch apart, but without cutting all the way through the potato. The chopsticks should keep you from accidentally cutting too deeply or going all the way through.

Place the potatoes with the cut side up in the baking dish, spaced a little apart so each one has some room. Fan the potatoes open slightly.

3 Season the potatoes: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, oil, and parsley. Drizzle this over the potatoes and then use a pastry brush to spread the butter and oil mixture evenly and in between the slices of each potato. Sprinkle with salt.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden and crispy. The potatoes will fan out more during cooking and take on their accordion-like appearance. Serve hot.

MUSHROOM AND SPINACH STRUDEL

 by Rachael Ray 

serves 4

This rich and decadent strudel is inspired by a recipe from the original Moosewood cookbook by Mollie Katzen, only this recipe uses spinach and feta cheese as well as her mushroom strudel mixture.  It’s like Spanakopita meets Mushroom strudel. 

Ingredients

  • 12 small sheets filo dough, defrostedmushrooms-1309246_1280
  • EVOO or EVOO spray  (extra virgin olive oil)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 pound fresh baby spinach
  • 1 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 12 ounce package cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs, plain
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta
  • 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350º F. 

Saute onions and garlic in EVOO in a large saute pan over medium heat.  When onions and garlic start to cook, after about 5 minutes, add spinach and mushrooms.  Allow mixture to cook thoroughly.  Add salt and pepper to taste and put mixture into a large mixing bowl.

While mixture is still warm, add cream cheese, feta cheese, bread crumbs and dill.  Mix thoroughly.  Mixture should not be loose-if it is, add more bread crumbs.

Take one sheet of filo dough and either spray EVOO evenly over it or brush about a teaspoon with a pastry brush.  Add another layer of dough and repeat with more EVOO until you have four sheets.  Add 1/4 of the filling to the dough 2 inches from one end and  spread it out so it is 1 inch from each width end. 

Fold the width ends over the filling and then start rolling the dough from the end closest to the filling until it is completely rolled up and the end is tucked under the bottom of the roll so it looks like a burrito. 

Repeat with the other filo leaves and place your strudels on a cookie sheet.  Bake for 1/2 hour.  Allow strudels to cool slightly before serving.  

“The Chiropractor Will Kill Your Baby”

In addition to the research we give you every month, we thought a personal story would be a nice addition. Thank you to our colleague Guy Furno, DC for this story.

An 8-month-old girl was not speaking any words, was not hitting her developmental milestones, couldn’t sit up on her own, could not hold infant girlher head up for too long, never turned her head to the left, held her breath, had rashes, and was constipated. When she would be in the high chair being fed, she would arc her whole body backwards and pass out unconscious.

The pediatrician and pediatric neurologist said the child needed proton pump inhibitors but that they would have to wait another 6 months to do an MRI because they needed to anesthetize her.

The parents asked about chiropractic care but both MDs told them that a chiropractor “would kill her.”

The parents were terrified, but eventually they came to my office because the baby was getting worse and modern medicine offered no answers.

The parents brought in the child. I adjusted her at C1 to correct the subluxation. It took less than a minute. The parents asked, “that’s it?” and I told them “that’s it.”

The parents called me that night to tell me that she was able to sit and eat without going unconscious and that she already had a bowel movement. Four days later at her next visit she was now rolling onto her belly, lifting her head while prone, turning her head to the left, and was no longer passing out. She was having about three bowel movements per day and, miracle of miracles … I didn’t “kill her.” 

A NOTE FROM DRS RAY & CHARMAINE…  we have witnessed many “miracles” in our office as we check and adjust infants and young children…….REMOVE THE BLOCKAGE(SUBLUXATION) AND LIFE FORCE FLOWS!!!!

 

Headaches and Chiropractic

What Puts the Ache in Headache?headache

The ache in headache does not come from your brain-your brain cannot feel pain. For example, during brain surgery a patient may be wide awake, talking to the surgeons while his brain is being operated on (a local anesthetic numbs the scalp). What puts the “ache” in headache? Stretched, compressed, irritated, inflamed or infected blood vessels, membranes and cranial nerves.

The Chiropractic Approach

Millions of headache sufferers turn to the natural, drug-free chiropractic approach to health. (1)

Why?

Because chiropractic has a unique approach-chiropractors are the only health professionals trained to analyze your body for a serious and often ignored condition that can damage your nerves, inflame your tissues, cause muscles to tighten and knot, weaken your body, cause fatigue and set the stage for sickness and disease: the subluxation. A subluxation is a tiny distortion or misalignment in your spine that stresses your nervous system, the system that controls your body.

Patients who received chiropractic showed significant improvement, on a par with those given a powerful prescription drugs and without the side effects. (2) 

Anyone suffering from headaches (and any other condition) should make sure they are free from subluxations-for the health of their whole body, not just certain parts.

The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence. To understand the true nature of the universe, one must think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. Nikola Tesla

  1.  Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J. The effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. JMPT. 1997;20:326-330.
  2. Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R et al. The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for prophylaxis of migraine headache. JMPT. 1998;21(8):511-519.

The Lastest from Charmaine: November 2019

Greetings All!!photo3

November seems to have rushed in with unseemly haste, bringing the month of weird weather and the constant question…Just where the heck did this year go?

Not sure I can answer that one, but I am trying hard, as I am sure many of you are, to get all the stuff done that we wanted to get done before the end of the year.

Please note: We will be out of the office from November 20th to December 2nd to be with our family in Florida.  Alfred is just shy of 3 years old (!) and we are looking forward to spending some quality time with them.

I have taken the liberty of sharing some of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes in this newsletter (we get the question what dishes do you, as a vegan/vegetarian prepare for this time of the year?).

This will be the final newsletter of the year…..so, we will take the opportunity to say -Thank You for trusting us with the opportunity to get you and yours on the road to health and may 2020 be TOTALLY AWESOME!

SEE YOU ON THE TABLE, UNDER THE BARBELLS, ON THE MAT OR JUST AROUND TOWN!

Researching Chiropractic: Migraines, Pregnancy Trauma, & Large Tonsils

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? Probably most of them.

Pregnant patient with a history of traumapregnant case study

A 36-year old pregnant woman who was 33-weeks’ pregnant started chiropractic care suffering from worsening intense pain in her hips, lower back and pubic area. Two weeks prior she had fallen down 15 steps. At her first visit, she was in severe pain and had significant difficulty walking. 

She had ten chiropractic spinal adjustments over a 4-week period. With each visit she experienced increased relief from her symptoms and was ultimately able to deliver a healthy baby. (1)

Child cannot sleep because of large tonsilslarge tonsils

A two-year-old girl was suffering from excessive snoring, choking, mouth breathing and obstructive sleep apnea. She was waking up three times per night. MDs diagnosed her with oversized adenoids and tonsils (adenotonsillar hypertrophy).

Her MD prescribed fluticasone spray followed by a referral for surgical intervention if that didn’t help. 

After researching the medication, the infant’s mother decided to take her child to a chiropractor who discovered a subluxation at the atlas and right ilium. 

After her first chiropractic adjustment, the child had less snoring and was not waking up as frequently. After 15 visits over a 12-week period, a pediatric examination found normal sized tonsils and adenoids. Surgery was no longer discussed. (2)

Migraines in a 52-year-old womanolder woman numbness case study

A 52-year-old woman had been suffering from migraine headaches 2-3 times a week for ten years. She also suffered from neck pain and spinal pain that radiated to her arms and legs for over 20 years. A neurologist said the cause of her migraines was “unknown.” Her problems worsened after a motor vehicle accident two years prior to her chiropractic visit. 

She was prescribed Prozac®, Synthroid® and Fioricet®. They were ineffective.

By her 3rd chiropractic visit, she excitedly reported she had not experienced any migraines since her first visit the prior week. A month later she remained completely migraine-free. After 10 weeks of continued care, the patient reported that all her presenting complaints of chronic migraines, neck pain and low back pain had completely resolved. All her prescriptions were discontinued. (3)

Do you know anyone with the above issues?

Please refer them to us. We can help! 517.627.4547

  1. Marjerrison EC, Alcantara J. Trauma during pregnancy: resolution of hip, pubic, and low back pain following chiropractic care in a pregnant woman: a case study & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. August 5, 2019:91-94.
  2. Shtulman I, Collins C, Alcantara J. Resolution of adenotonsillar hypertrophy, associated sleep disordered breathing & avoidance of surgery following chiropractic care: a case study & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. August 14, 2019:95-99.
  3. Hickman W, Alcantara J. Resolution of chronic pain & migraines following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case study. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. June 10, 2019:79-82.

Nourishing Traditions – The Good and the Bad

All traditional cultures consume lacto-fermented foods. 

These foods supply enzymes that help digestion and beneficial bacteria that support good intestinal health and immune function. With that knowledge in mind, here’s another study showing the benefits of eating fermented food.

The Good – fermented dairy products may help prevent heart disease

Researchers in Finland found that fermented dairy products such as:yogurt

  • cheese
  • yogurt
  • quark
  • kefir
  • sour milk 

may lower the risk of incident coronary heart disease in men. Conversely, the researchers warn that a very high consumption rate of non-fermented dairy products, like milk, could have the opposite effect and increase a man’s risk for heart disease. (1)

The Bad – fried foods 

Consumption of fried chicken, fried fish or fried shellfish at least once a week (as compared with no consumption) is associated with a significant 12%-13% increase in cardiovascular mortality.

The type of oil used may be a factor. Cooking with olive oil, animal fats and coconut oil is preferred over corn, vegetable, soybean, safflower and canola oils. (2)

fried foods

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. https://www.studyfinds.org/study-fermented-dairy-products-may-help-prevent-heart-disease/
  2. Sun Y et al. Association if fried food consumption with all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: prospective cohort study. British Medical Journal. 2019;364-k5420.

The Goal of the Chiropractor

If you spent the day in our waiting room you’d meet people coming to see us who have all kinds of health problems:

  • allergiesthe goal of the chiropractor
  • asthma
  • headaches
  • migraines
  • vision and hearing problems
  • digestive problems
  • immune system issues
  • pain in all kinds of places: back, hip, neck, shoulder, legs, arms;
  • people who’ve had sport injuries
  • so many others

But the ultimate goal of the chiropractor is to keep people so healthy that they don’t get sick in the first place! 

Good Health Is Easy: Sickness Takes Work

We are born with such wonderful bodies designed to last us over a hundred years in perfect physical and mental health. But a lifetime of physical, mental, and chemical stress and abuse wears us down, weakens us, and causes our body to malfunction. 

Chiropractors are the only professionals that are trained to locate and correct a serious deep stress most people have inside their body that can damage their ability to fight disease and stay healthy: a subluxation. It is usually painless and usually found in your spine.

When your body is free of subluxation stress you are better able to function at your best, to heal at your best and to think at your best because stress that has been sapping you of your life energy is now gone or reduced. Chiropractic promotes balance, resistance to disease and improved function. (1)

No matter what the disease or condition, you need a subluxation-free body to keep your healing ability at its optimum. That’s why you’ll find people with all kinds of health conditions in a chiropractor’s office. (2)

Call and schedule an appointment today! 517.627.4547

  1. Blanks RHI, Schuster TL. A retrospective assessment of network care using a survey of self-rated health, wellness and quality of life. JVSR. 1997;1(4):1.
  2. Marino MJ, Phillippa ML. A longitudinal assessment of chiropractic care using a survey of self-rated health wellness & quality of life: a preliminary study. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. 1999;3(2):1-9.

2019 Stuff The Bus Campaign

 

This is an open letter to all the business members and community members of Grand Ledge.

Firstly, we would like to express a heartfelt Thank YOU to each and every one of you who have so generously supported the Stuff the Bus for the Food Bank campaign that we have been spearheading for the last 29 years. 

stuff the bus

We have grown from a few bags of groceries in our very first year to a pickup truck-bed full to using the Independence Village bus to changing to an all monetary donation collection that exceeded $15,000 last year.

This town has a reputation of taking care of its own and The Grand Ledge Food Bank run by GLSDA has been a grateful recipient of the food and funds we have raised.

That time of the year has rolled around again and we are earnestly asking each of you to help us yet again.

We have looked at several different options to reach our goal and the one we like the best is, if we ask you if you could donate at least the value of one bag of groceries. We have a bag that includes toilet paper, deodorant, shampoo, soap, pasta sauce, pasta, 3 cans of veggies and 3 cans of beans and soup and it comes out to just around $35.00.  

stuff the bus

Our goal this year is $17,500 or the equivalent of 500 bags of groceries.

The question is: “How many bags of groceries would you be prepared to cover the cost of?”

We welcome all donations, great and small, and would ask that the checks be made out directly to GLSDA FOOD BANK.

Please mail them to our office so that we can coordinate the collection.

PLEASE SEND THE CHECKS TO:  

2019 STUFF THE BUS FOR HUNGER

C/O LANJOPOULOS FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

P O BOX 44

GRAND LEDGE MI 48837

This campaign will close November 22nd, 2019

THANK YOU AGAIN!