Root vegetables are perfect for comforting dishes on cold winter nights. Beneath their gnarly, knobby exterior, they are surprisingly sweet when harvested small and young. Switch up your winter vegetable routine with often-overlooked brassica roots like rutabagas, turnips, and daikon.
Hey! I’m testing moving the Good and Good for You™ newsletter to Saturday morning. I hope this will allow you to incorporate these ideas into your weekend. The goal is to be “a quick little read with a recipe” with real-life tips on how to make your life just a little bit better. Please let me know what you think.
This issue shares
- The Best Life Living Tip: When Bitter is Good for the Heart
- The Self-Care Technique: How to Give Yourself a Facial Massage
- Ideas and Inspiration: Infusions at the Ritz
Read on for more — including this simple, inexpensive, and tasty Rutabaga Puree.
Best Life Living Tip
Bitter foods sometimes get a bad rap in the culinary world since their strong flavors can be off-putting, but did you know that bitter vegetables are good for the heart? The veggies in this family are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.
Healthline reports, “The cruciferous family contains many bitter-tasting vegetables including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, radishes and arugula. These foods contain compounds called glucosinolates, which give them bitter taste and are responsible for many health benefits.”
Want more info? Check it out in Medical News Today.
Self-Care Technique
Facial massages offer several benefits including:
- Reduced puffiness: Eyebrow massages can help reduce puffiness around the eyes
- Improved circulation: Facial massages can increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage
- Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles: Eyebrow massages can help stimulate collagen production, which can fill out fine lines and wrinkles
- Relieved tension: Facial massages can help relieve tension and stress
- Improved skin texture: Facial massages can help improve the skin’s texture.
- Relaxation: Facial massages can help you relax
Check out this how-to on well+good.com
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Ideas and Inspiration
This video caught my eye! An infusion is an extract prepared by soaking the leaves of a plant or herb in liquid.
Here are three delicious and beneficial herbal infusion combinations for a soothing hot tea:
1. Calming & Sleep-Enhancing Blend
• 1 tsp chamomile
• 1 tsp lavender
• ½ tsp lemon balm
Benefits: Helps with relaxation, reduces stress, and promotes restful sleep.
2. Immune-Boosting & Warming Blend
• 1 tsp ginger (fresh or dried)
• Zest of 1 orange
• ½ tsp cinnamon
Benefits: Supports the immune system, aids digestion, and warms the body.
3. Refreshing & Digestive Support Blend
• 1 tsp peppermint
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• ½ tsp licorice root
Benefits: Soothes digestion, reduces bloating, and refreshes the senses.
Steep the herbs in hot water for 5–10 minutes, strain, and enjoy!
Good and Good for You™Living Spotlight
Healthy and strong! Who wants to be skinny and weak? Not me! This baseball cap is a great way to show it. The response has been really exciting. I am 100% certain that folks are looking to celebrate the positive. There’s a lot of dark and danger in the world. The only way to combat the dark is light.
Check it out and more fun things over at GoodandGoodforYouLiving.com
Make it Count
Each serving of this luscious Root Vegetable Mash is only 98 points! It’s simple, easy, and good and good for you! Give it a try.
Thanks so much for reading. Please give me a follow on IG @virginiawillis for more best life tips, self-care techniques, ideas and inspiration, and healthy recipes.
As long as you’re doing what’s Good and Good for You™ more often than not, you’re on the right track. 🙌🏻 You can do it!
Bon Appétit Y’all!
Virginia Willis
Rutabaga Puree
Ingredients
- 4 cups homemade chicken stock or reduced fat low sodium chicken broth
- 2 rutabagas peeled and cubed
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 2 sprigs thyme
- Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the stock, cubed rutabaga, and butter in a medium saucepan and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the rutabaga is tender to the point of a knife, about 30 minutes.
- To make the puree, using a slotted spoon, transfer the cubes to the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade or the jar of a blender. Add the garlic and process until a smooth puree. If the mixture is too thick, add some or all of the cooking liquid, if necessary. If too thin, transfer to a clean saucepan and cook over low heat to evaporate some of the moisture. Add thyme leaves and pulse to combine. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. If needed, re-warm the puree over medium-low heat. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
