December 06

Winter time in Arizona is a time of very low humidity. That is why you experience so much static this time of year. The forced air heating which most of us have is very drying to our skin and mucous membranes.

You can maintain skin moisture with a good quality oil or lotion. Be kind to your face, lips, and hands. Use it liberally. Adding bath oils to your bath water also helps. Taking baths less frequently or not using soap with every bath will prevent a loss of skin oils.

Your nose is the most important part of your body to protect this time of year. It protects you from the onslaught of bacteria that attack you with every breath you take. Many people wake up in the morning with either a stuffy nose or a dried up, caked up nose. This is a result of the low humidity and forced air heating.

Every night becomes an insult to your nasal airways and throat. The dryness damages the immune system that is active in your mucous membranes. This decreased immunity can lead to colds, sore throats and bronchial infections. Protect yourself with humidity.

Buy a humidifier for your sleeping area, or use a nebulizing unit by your bedside. Some companies sell humidification units that you can add to your heating system. Protecting yourself with night time moisture will prevent the nuisance of coughs and colds.

"Tell me the weight of a snowflake," the small bird asked.

"Nothing more than nothing," the dove answered.

"In that case, I must tell you a wonderful story," the small bird said. "I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow - not heavily, not in a raging blizzard - no, just like in a dream, without a wind, without any violence."

"Since I did not have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the 3,741,953rd one dropped onto the branch, nothing more than nothing, as you say, the branch broke off." With that the small bird flew away.

The dove thought about the story for a while, and said to herself, "Perhaps there is only one person's voice lacking for peace to come to the world."

May you each be beautiful snowflakes in your own way.

tom@energeticpathways.com

Viennese Crescents

1/2 cup unsalted butter
6 Tbsp sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup ground walnuts
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
powdered sugar
2 cups arborio rice


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar in a medium sized bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until dough is smooth.

Roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter to form crescents or half moons.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 10 to 12 minutes until just beginning to turn brown. Let stand before removing from cookie sheet.

Dust with powdered sugar. Makes 3.5 dozen cookies.

Mint Hideaways

This recipe was originally for mint wafers, which I can't find anymore, so I use Andes mints.

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 packages Andes mints
walnut halves

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream the butter and sugars in a medium bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by water and vanilla.

Mix dry ingredients, then add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for two hours.

Wrap one Tbsp chilled dough around each mint. Place on a greased cookie sheet two inches apart. Tope each with a half walnut.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cookies begin to turn brown. Remove to a cooling rack. Makes 5 dozen cookies.

Let's celebrate a multiethnic holiday. Be part of our special newsletter. Send me your favorite recipe. Email tom@energeticpathways.com

At Dynamic Pathways Wellness Center we realize that we are what we eat and we become whatever our energy is focused on.

If you are eating a healthy balanced diet, you will be transforming the energy of that food into health and balance in other areas of you life.

If you are focusing on positive people, positive activities and positive happenings, that is what you will find.

Be well until our next visit