Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Play Nine - The Card Game of Golf

Since the beginning of the pandemic stay-at-home restrictions, we as a family (like many others) have returned to the old-fashioned pastime of playing games. Play Nine has become our obsession (dare I say, addiction!) and I wanted to share it with you in case you haven't heard of it. We have been gathering at the table every night to see who will have the best score and it has become such a competition that we are now keeping a tally.

Don't worry if you do not play or like golf, it is not really relevant to the game itself other than the names and theme. Two to six players are dealt 8 cards face down from the 108 total. Each card has a 'stroke' value range from 0 to 12, with 8 of each. There are also hole-in-one cards valued at -5 strokes. Those ones really help bring down your score!

Players turn over two cards and then take turns choosing a new card or one from the discard pile trying to match sets of cards. It sounds a little confusing but it only takes a hand or two to get the hang of it. I swear to you, it is so much fun! I am not much of a game player (choosing as some moms, to watch from the sidelines) but I cannot get enough of Play Nine. We are now even playing over lunch as some of the family are working from home.

Even though this is basically a simple matching game, there are plenty of strategic plays available to help lower your score. The more you play, the better you become at finding those ways to shave off strokes! It is highly satisfying to aim for a perfect hand or, to catch your opponents with a 'mitt-full'! Just like a real game of golf, sometimes you want to just throw your club into the water hazard!!!

I truly share my favourite items on this blog so if you like games, you can trust me on this one. My kids have been spreading the love of this game across the province, and now partner's families and extended families have their own Play Nine box at home. We have even had virtual game challenges over facetime and zoom!!! It is just that fun!

You can use my Amazon affiliate link* to the right of this post if you'd like to pick up your own copy of Play Nine. It is some of the most fun you'll have for under $20 bucks, I assure you! If you already are a Play Nine player, please let me know! Maybe we can set up a virtual game!!!

*This post contains affiliate links

theraWell Cooling Towel

I had never even heard of 'cooling towels' before our last trip to Disney World where they are sold in the gift shops. They are expensive to purchase at the park but when I returned home I found one locally for about $11. I was skeptical but thought it sounded like a useful item if it worked...and at that price, was worth a gamble.

theraWell is the brand of cooling towel I found. It is a reusable towel that lasts up to 4 hours. It offers instant cooling and doesn't need to be refrigerated to work. This particular one is 6.5" x 33"...so long and narrow. To use the towel you simply soak it with water, squeeze out the excess and then shake the towel to activate. When it is no longer cool you just repeat the steps to re-activate.

It was quite surprising when I tried the towel for the first time. It feels like what I imagine a dolphin fin would be, cold and rubbery! My daughter said it felt like a mushroom! I must say, it really IS cold! After a sweaty bike ride it instantly cooled me off. I dabbed it on my arms and then wrapped it around my neck. It is a strange feeling but I am really impressed with how it works. I can see many times when it will be a wonderful item to use: camping, exercising, sports events, amusement parks, or even when returning to a hot car after a day of shopping.

The towel is machine washable on the gentle cycle and air dried. It needs to be stored in an airtight container or bag. Mine came in a tube bottle with a convenient clip top to hang on a backpack, belt, bike bag, etc. Have you ever tried one of these towels?

Phillips Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush

I recently had the easiest, fastest, most comfortable dental check up ever and it is because of the Phillips Sonicare electric toothbrush. I've had it for just over a year and it's a life-changing way to take care of your teeth. I bought mine at Costco and while it was pricey (I can't remember exactly but way over $150??), the big box offering was a complete kit of charging/cleaning base, extra brushes, travel cases, and a travel charger...so a very well appointed toothbrush!

It feels a little strange at first, especially if you don't already use an electric toothbrush, but you get used to it within a few days. Our model has different settings, including a gum massage and a quick-clean cycle. The amazing thing is that all the options have a subtle timing feature to encourage brushing for 2 minutes. It goes even farther by alerting you when it's time to move on to a different section of your teeth based on quadrants of your mouth.

If you don't relish the time spent getting a cleaning in the dentist's chair, it is totally worth every penny to invest in this fabulous toothbrush. I gifted all my kids their own Sonicare and they absolutely appreciate the difference in the feel of their teeth - and their check-ups. I used to take a pain reliever before going to my appointment to combat the ache after the hygienist's picking and scraping. This time I was in and out of the chair in less than 25 minutes and there was practically zero actual work done. I was even praised by my hygienist for the excellent "work" I was doing keeping my teeth clean! My appointment was a breeze and such a wonderful relief. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops that Sonicare is the best thing you can do for your dental hygiene!

I am in no way affiliated with Phillips and this blog is not sponsored by anyone. I truly want to share with you the good products I find that make life easier, better, healthier, and more efficient. A toothbrush may not seem like a big deal but this one is a game changer for me and my family. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime and I intend to do whatever I can to keep them healthy and clean :) 

Cheeky Monkey Hemp Smoothies

I don't often have smoothies, even though I love them, because my prep method uses fruit juices and yogurt. Juice has a lot of sugar and that adds up in calories and doesn't really contribute much nutrition-wise. A super alternative is this recipe from Julie Daniluk. The Cheeky Monkey Hemp Smoothie (recipe HERE) offers an antioxidant rich, higher protein, lower sugar smoothie that is filling and delicious.

When I purchased my Hemp Pro powder I inadvertently picked up the '+ fibre' version rather than the Pro 70 one. It is still chocolate flavoured but doesn't have quite the amount of protein but offers more fibre. That was ok with me and as this was my first time trying the product, I found it tasty and satisfying. I then heard from Julie herself that the added fibre variety is a little gritty tasting (which I didn't notice) but she assured me it was still an awesome choice and that I would be even more pleased when I tried the Pro 70. I'm looking forward to that but the container has a ton of powder so it might take me some time to get through it...

I have made the Cheeky Monkey recipe a couple times and love it! I used unsweetened almond milk with almond butter and it was great but you can choose any non-dairy beverage and nut butter. The addition of the ginger and cinnamon adds such a lovely bit of flavour which is so yummy. I'm very full after a milkshake-glass of this smoothie and find it really curbs my hunger for hours. I've also made a blueberry variation that is also delicious. You can really customize the recipe to suit your tastes.

My only complaint is that I wish I had a better blender. I'd love one of those VitaMix high speed blenders but I just can't fathom justifying more than $700 for a blender! That just seems bat crazy to me! I will accept a chunk or two of banana and ice from my under-a-hundred bucks hardware store model.

Hemp Hearts, Meals That Heal Inflammation, and Julie Daniluk

I have renewed passioned for healthy eating after watching nutritionist Julie Daniluk's many television appearances and videos posted on YouTube.  Julie is an author, speaker, and personality who promotes a 'live-it' theory of nutrition. As opposed to a 'di-et', Julie writes and speaks about superfoods which nourish and heal the body, based on medical information and ancient practices.

I just ordered the first of her three books, Meals That Heal Inflammation, because it got great reviews and has so many recipes to try. Her other two books are more centred on slimming meals and detoxing so I am focusing on the first book initially to expand my knowledge and get my 'feet wet'. I've already printed off some free recipes and a shopping list from her website to experiment with before the book arrives.

In many of Julie's appearances she enthusiastically talks about, and recommends, Hemp Hearts. My daughter has been eating them for a long time but I'd never tried them. I'm not a huge fan of chia seeds but hemp hearts are nutrition superstars and have a pleasing, nutty flavour similar to sesame seeds. They can be sprinkled on salad or in yogurt, but the easiest way for me to eat them will be in my morning cereal. I did add some to my favourite BRAN MUFFIN RECIPE and while I didn't notice any change in the taste, I know that the nutrition is boosted even further with the healthy add-in.

I'm very excited to receive the book and will post my review. In the meantime, I will be watching more videos and reading more of Ms. Daniluk's blog posts. She definitely has a lot of energy and looks amazing! She has even appeared on Dr. Oz and seems to be everywhere these days as she promotes her newest book, Hot Detox. While some of the recipes I've seen her demonstrating are a bit 'out there' ingredient-wise, I feel I can always learn something new and take away what I want for myself. Even if I only take advantage of some of the new foods and methods, any change to combat inflammation is a good one in my view...and so far I'm enjoying the hemp hearts!

Bladez Indoor Spin Cycle 600IC

As sad as it is, there is frost on the roof this morning and I know that cold weather is upon us. We have been so lucky with the gorgeous fall temperatures and I've been able to ride outside for longer than I anticipated. I'm not quite ready to hang the bike up yet but in anticipation of a long and cold winter, we set up an indoor spin cycle.

We chose a Bladez by BH and it's been amazing. It is very close to a road bike in geometry and is adjustable for a proper fit (seat height, bar height, seat tilt, and forward and back settings for the saddle and handle bars). I use the GCN indoor trainer workouts on YouTube and nothing makes me sweat more or work harder. I feel like a million bucks and I know the fat burning continues for a couple hours afterwards. My metabolism is roaring! I would love to have a Zwift set-up (a virtual reality bike trainer) but for now, this 600IC spin bike will do nicely.

Like anything else I tackle, I prefer to set up my environment to make things easy. I believe the success of my current healthy lifestyle is keeping things to a routine so there is no chance to fail. I'm fortunate that I am able to have free time to work out and cook healthy meals so I can imagine that an easy-to-follow schedule for any busy person is even more important! I like to stick to my timing and get in my training without even thinking about it. I've got a good system for myself and having it be simple and consistent allows me to plan my day.

We have a little gym set-up in the basement that's basic but functional, and really comfortable to use. There's a simple treadmill, the new bike, and a weight station. When we bought the bike we got a gym mat thrown in and it's been great to use (rather than our yoga mat). I added a small shelf above the spin cycle to stack fresh towels and water; small touches like that keep a workout area pleasant and convenient for the whole family. I love that our example rubs off on the kids and they absorb that knowledge of the importance of good health.

I'm really going to miss outdoor rides over the winter but having a good twice-weekly spin class at home will hopefully keep me conditioned and motivated to continue on next year. Maybe we'll even try to travel somewhere warmer to get in a bike tour!?! When I watch the gorgeous videos on GCN where the guys ride in Italy, Spain, or France I am so envious of their opportunities to experience the best cycling in the world!

So whatever you're doing, try to make your surroundings comfortable and plan for success. It doesn't take a lot of money or time, just some forethought and planning. Have a great day!

Cycling Rice Cakes

Cycling rice cakes aren't anything like those crunchy, chip-like flavoured snack food ones in the bag. These are high energy squares of cooked rice with added flavourings, like raisins, apple, and cinnamon. I learned about them from watching GCN videos (the Global Cycling Network) and they are a favourite food of pro racers while on the bike. They can be kept in a jersey pocket while riding, are quick to eat (barely need chewing), and pack easy to digest nutrition. The rice cakes sounded good and since they seem to be a universally eaten cycling food, I thought I'd give the GCN recipe a try.

Basically, the rice cakes are cooked short grain rice, such as arborio, combined with flavours and then cooled in a pan, chilled, and cut into portable squares. There is a lot of energy and calories going into the rice from brown sugar, apple juice, and dried fruit but that burst of energy is what long ride cyclists and racers require. I used my Instant Pot to cook the rice (really it's a sweet risotto) and then I mixed in the raisins, dried apples, cinnamon and brown sugar. We tasted it warm straight from the pot and it was delicious!!! If you like rice pudding, it had a very similar flavour.

The cooked mixture is spread into a baking sheet and cooled before it's chilled overnight in the fridge. In the morning, I cut the solidified rice into squares and wrapped them individually. Cooked rice needs to be handled carefully in terms of food safety and should be kept refrigerated or frozen, and not left a room temperature longer than a couple hours. The rice cakes tasted a lot less sweet once they are cold (which is another reason why there is so much sugar in the recipe), but were quite good. However, I did not enjoy the squares as much once they had been frozen and then thawed. The texture was much more dry and the flavour much more subtle. They weren't horrible or anything, just not as good, but they still served their nutritional purpose and eased hunger pangs after a ride. Since we are not racing or in the saddle for hours and hours, I cut the squares into very small portions and we only have the rice cakes occasionally.

Speaking of GCN, I am such a GCN fan that I ordered a bunch of gear from their on-line store. I bought a new hoodie (so fluffy and cozy!), a beautiful cycling jersey made in Italy, a geeky fan GCN water bottle (which is the exact CamelBak Podium model I currently use but red with the logo), and a phone pouch. Everything was awesome and I was also delighted to get a postcard featuring the presenters and a couple of stickers. They are now in my scrapbook album! :)

Apple Oatmeal Pancakes with Ground Flaxseed

It has been a while since I've cooked pancakes for breakfast but I was inspired this week by a recipe on the back of the flaxseed package. I wanted to add ground flaxseed into our diet but I wasn't quite sure how to do it. The Apple Oatmeal Pancakes sounded like a great place to start and the recipe is simple. I also liked that there wasn't a lot of sugar or oil listed - seemed like an healthy pancake.

Pancakes are just so fast and easy to make from scratch anyway and that (in my opinion) makes them a better option than a processed mix. I stirred the dry ingredients together, including the flax and oatmeal, and then combined the wet ingredients and added those in to the bowl. It only took one large apple to yield the grated amount so that was quick to do. You want to keep the pancakes fluffy so you don't even need a mixer - just stir with a spoon until the dry ingredients are moistened. That's all it takes, a tender touch and a quick mixing.

These really are so simple but oh my, were the pancakes fantastic! So light and the flavour is phenomenal! The apple-cinnamon combination is wonderful and reminded hubs of an apple fritter (but much, much healthier!). I will absolutely be making these pancakes for many a breakfast in the future. I even ate the leftovers the next day and they were just as good. Two thumbs up for adding flax to the menu in such a delicious way!

 

Road ID

I'm like a boy scout...always prepared. I plan, I organize, I insure, I ensure, I record, I anticipate. Maybe by being super ready I feel more in control at avoiding disasters or maybe I just want things to go as smoothly as possible. It's just in my nature.

About 8 years ago my hubby was participating in his first marathon. Through the 'running world' grapevine I heard about little dog-tag sort of ID plates that could be attached to running shoes. Because, obviously, runners carry very little if anything at all with them while training, during the race or on the trail, it is extremely important to have a form of ID along for the run. I ordered one of these custom-made shoe pouch IDs and felt much better about having hubby out on the road. Data such as name, birth year, hometown, and emergency contact information is added to the plate and whether attached to the shoe, wrist, neck or on wearables, it is the perfect way to be identified in case of an emergency when one is unable to answer for one's self.

Now that we are riding our bikes longer distances, and trying to do that with as little extra weight and baggage as possible, I went back to ROAD ID to order new IDs for both of us. I opted for a wrist band this time that has a strap like a fitness tracker. I added our updated info, selected our favourite colours, and even picked out some charms to decorate the bracelets. I chose a bike chain link for myself and 'run' for hubby (along with a medical alert symbol for his allergy).

The bands arrived in a really nice little tin (which can be re-used for all kinds of fun things - check the website for all the ideas!) and the bands were simply excellent. They are comfortable to wear and while the personal information is all there, it is not something someone could read in passing (e.g. on the subway, standing in line, etc.). Hubby loved his band and was happy to have the allergy alert and specifics on his person at all times. In addition to being great for exercise situations, Road IDs are also really a smart idea for travel, children, seniors, and I believe, everyone.

Here are the top ten reasons why one should wear one of these identification tags (as quoted from the Road ID website):

1. If you can't speak for yourself, Road ID will speak for you.
2. Road ID enables First Responders to immediately contact family members and friends.
3. Road ID enables family members to provide additional details about your health or give consent for potentially life saving procedures.
4. Road ID enables hospital staff to locate vital medical records.
5. Road ID can communicate medical conditions or allergy information to medical staff.
6. Road ID can prevent serious delays in treatment by saving crucial time during the "golden hour" of medical treatment.
7. It's far better to have Road ID and not need it than to need Road ID and not have it. It's not just a piece of gear, it's peace of mind.
8. Accidents happen far more than you think they do. Each year approximately 450,000 of us are taken to hospitals unconscious and without identification.
9. Road ID looks good on and makes a statement about your athletic lifestyle – not to mention that studies would probably prove that people that wear Road ID are considerably smarter than those that don't.
10. Road ID can save your Life. Period.

I have peace of mind knowing that husband and I have our ID with us when we ride.  It was fun to customize our designs and colours...and I love the cute tin! If you decide to order one of these IDs, make sure to contact the company prior (I used the online 'chat') and ask for the $5 discount code!!!

This 'n That

How is your summer going? I have been busy trying to catch up with life, getting ready for some August birthdays, vacation plans, scrapbooking and finally, back to quilting! My extra hexagon paper templates have finally arrived at my LQS, ready for me to pick up. I have been at a standstill with my English Paper Piecing because I needed more hexies but actually it's perfect timing now as we get ready for a road trip so I can take them along in the car.

My fridge has been bursting with healthy food as the plant-based eating plan continues. Paired with my cycling schedule, I'm feeling like I'm in awesome shape this summer. The farmer's market has so many lovely fruits and veggies right now and I still reserve my baker's sourdough loaves each week, with perhaps a yummy buttermilk honey loaf mid-week. The shopping and food prep keeps me busy for sure!

I'm also riding each morning, still learning a lot about my bike and cycling in general, and survived my first mishap when the chain came off at the farthest part of my ride. I was able to get it back on although unfortunately, I had ditched my saddle bag of supplies thinking I was just in the city and wouldn't need anything. Sure, I didn't need tools for the job but my disposable gloves would have been really handy! Luckily I had one tissue in my pocket and got the worst of the grease off my fingers before cycling home. I'm just glad I didn't break the chain or get a puncture and lesson learned: even while fairly close to home, always pack the essentials!

My home bicycle workshop is coming along nicely. I re-organized the entire garage so I could dedicate a small area to maintenance. I cleared off the garden potting bench and converted it to a workstation. I had hubs install a peg board above it so I could hang some tools...not that I have any yet! I was inspired by a couple home shops I found on the net and simply had to make one for myself.  I am pretty pleased with the progress so far. I don't plan on any big repair jobs or anything but even washing the bikes, which is really important to do, is easier when everything is ready to go. A clean bike runs better and just like when I wash the dog, it's a good practice to go over the bike and learn what is 'normal' so that I can detect any problems before they become worse. I'm having a lot of fun setting everything up (and shopping!) and it really is nice to have a place to put my stuff before and after a ride. I know the family appreciates it too even though they think I am crazy (I never go half way when I'm interested in something!). I plan on sharing pics when it's done and also starting a series of posts regarding taking care of bike maintenance yourself. I totally believe that (as women) we should be encouraged to learn how to perform these basic tune-up and minor repair jobs ourselves.

So that's what I've been up to in between Game of Thrones episodes (I was really, really late to the party but am caught up and thoroughly enjoying the series) and regular chores. I realized the other night that Over the Kitchen Counter has been a part of my life for almost 9 years now so I really appreciate any of you who take the time to visit and read. I know you have busy lives too! The blog world has really been quiet these past few months but if you know anyone who might be interested in what I have to say, please let them know about OTKC! Thank you!