Today is National Walking Day!

We spend more time at work than ever before and as a nation we are becoming more inactive. So today – April 3, 2013 is American Heart Association’s National Walking Day – a day to get up and move! Take a 3o minute walk, enjoy what spring has to offer – green grass, flowering trees, and the promise of nicer weather and more opportunity to walk!

It’s a great way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and to give us a friendly nudge towards a healthier lifestyle.

An Uplifting Message to Start Your Day!

I found this positive message on Alison Buffkin’s Pinterest site under the heading Inspirations. Did you know the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women website has a Go Red BetterU tab offering a FREE 12-week online nutrition and fitness program that can makeover your heart. Each week will focus on a different area of your health and provide step-by-step guidance. You’ll have access to everything from daily expert tips to an online journal. Check it out!

World Stroke Day – Oct. 29

Today - October 29, is World Stroke Day. For seven years, on the popular TV show “Hercules,” Kevin Sorbo embodied the legendary half-god, half-man character from Greek mythology.

Actor – Kevin Sorbo

But in real life, he suffered three strokes at age 38.

Get your Personal Risk Assessment by checking a few boxes related to your age, family history, medical history, tobacco use, total cholesterol, blood pressure, physical activity, body weight and diabetes.

Carriage House Quilts – Naples, New York

Carriage House Quilts is located in Naples, New York, nestled in the picturesque Naples Valley located at the south end of Canandaigua Lake. Carriage House Quilts is an independent quilt shop specializing in the finest quality 100% cotton fabric. The shop is in a 140 year old carriage house. Upstairs is the Gammill long arm sewing machine.We’re proud to be one of New York State’s Gammill sales representatives.

We also offer a wide selection of books and patterns to entice you and just the right fabrics to delight you! Our fabrics include Moda, South Seas Imports, Hoffman, Timeless Treasures Clothworks, P & B Textiles, and many more delightful selections. Carriage House is fully stocked with all the notions and tools you’ll need to create your very own special quilts.

While you’re visiting our quilt shop for your quilting fabric, patterns and notions, visit our local wineries to sample world renowned Finger Lakes wines.

Photo and information courtesy of Carriage House Quilts.

Grandma’s Attic

Grandma's Attic

Discover the online home for GrandmasAtticQuilting.Com.  Its a great place for quilters, stitchers, embroiderers, fabric lovers, and anyone else who loves the Fiber Arts. If you get a chance, visit the shop in Dallas, Oregon.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Grandma Rachel created our QuiltRed CD with help from our program designer. It includes 12 red & white pieced quilt projects, 12 redwork quilt projects, 3 redwork pillow projects and 13 full-size redwork embroidery patterns. QuiltRed™ was inspired by the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign, which focuses attention on heart health, encouraging women to take good care of their hearts.

Have a Heart Sampler

Say I Love You over and over again with Grandma’s Sweethearts Redwork
Sampler Club. Embroidered hearts, designed and/or adapted by Grandma Rachel
from vintage redwork patterns, are easy to stitch and fun to create. Each month,
you’ll receive the fabric and floss you need to create an embroidered heart
block, plus information from FabShopNet’s Quilt Red program with tips for
keeping your own heart healthy and strong.

Look what else I found on her website:

Gram’s Delicious Apple Pie

6-8 tart
Apples. Peel, core and slice. Use a mix of Apples for texture and flavor.
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 to 1/2 cup white Sugar depending on taste.
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Clove
1/8 teaspoon Salt

Place sliced apples in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss gently. If the apples are dry, add two or more tablespoons water or apple juice. Arrange slices in prepared pie nine inch plate. Dot with butter. Cover with upper crust. Prick. Brush top of crust with one egg white that has been beaten and
sprinkle with sugar. Place pie in hot oven 450 degrees for ten minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake until done — 45 to 60 minutes. If the edges of the crust brown too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil.

Text, picture and recipe courtesy of Grandma’sAtticQuilting.com.

Myths versus Realities

The American Heart Association has released an infographic that compares myths to realities in an easy-to-understand format. Download the PDF from GoRedForWomen.org.

5 Heart-Healthy Foods – WebMD

Five heart-healthy foods are blueberries

salmon, soy protein, oatmeal

and spinach according to WebMD.
 Find a recipe for the heart-healthy Lemon Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins pictured above here.

Wear Red for Women’s Heart Health – Feb. 3

  About Go Red For Women®

Since 2004, the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement has been educating millions of women on the urgent truths of heart disease. The fact is: More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, this killer isn’t as easy to see and is often silent, hidden and misunderstood. Go Red For Women works to spread life-saving truths about heart disease and fund lifesaving research – all which can make the difference between life and death. Learn more at GoRedForWomen.org

Heart-friendly Valentine’s Day treat

With Valentine’s Day approaching in just a couple of weeks, I’m already on the hunt for a special dessert. But like so many, there are dietary limitations and I have to hunt a little harder for desserts that are both heart-friendly and don’t include gluten. That’s a tall order, but luckily the American Heart Association had some recipes on their site, including this delight:

Berry-Topped Pudding Pie.

Canola or corn oil for pie pan
2 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
1 small package fat-free, sugar-free instant lemon or vanilla pudding mix, prepared with 2 cups cold fat-free milk
12 ounces fresh berries or other fruit, sliced if needed
1/2 cup fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed (optional)

Cooking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 300°F. Pour a small amount of oil onto a paper towel and lightly wipe the bottom and side of an 8- or 9-inch pie pan.

In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites, vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt on medium speed until foamy. With the mixer still running, gradually add the sugar in a slow, steady stream, until stiff peaks form. (The peaks shouldn’t fold over when the beater is lifted.) Very gently fold in 1/2 cup of the nuts.

Using a flexible spatula or rubber scraper, spread the meringue over the bottom and up the side of the pie pan and onto the lip of the pan, but not over the edge of the pan. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with the remaining nuts.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until the meringue is firm and lightly browned. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely, at least 2 hours.

Using the package directions, prepare the pudding. Spread over the cooled crust. Arrange the fruit decoratively over the pudding. Top with the whipped topping.

Note: In warm weather, meringues will get gummy after a few days, so it’s best to serve this dessert within 24 hours.

Nutritional Analysis Per serving
Calories Per Serving 169
Total Fat 6.5 g
Saturated Fat 0.5 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Sodium 223 mg
Carbohydrates 25 g
Fiber 3 g
Sugar 18 g
Protein 5 g

Take the Women’s Heart Health Risk Quiz

Are you at risk for heart disease? Take this quiz from the Women’s Heart Foundation to find out. Won’t you walk with me, down the path for a healthy heart, by exercising regularly, eating sensibly, managing the stress in your life and controling high blood pressure.