GREATER GOOD - SUMMER CHALLENGE!

My Personal Challenges

STEP 4 – Spring Cleaning and Summer Fun! July 1st, 2010


Category 1: Living like a minimalist

• I cleaned out my closet this past weekend and realized I had a few pairs of jeans I no longer wear. Continuing with my last challenge not to buy anything new, I took the jeans and gave them as hand-me-downs, or turned them into capri's, just in time for summer. So, every other weekend I would like to try to clean out, get rid of or donate stuff from an area in my home. For example, last week I cleaned out my closet and the next time I will sort through my storage room. The following week perhaps it would be a good idea to go through my desk and so on....lets see how far I can get!?!?

Category 2: Healthy Living

• July is the month where we can hopefully anticipate summer weather. But more than ever, summer time is smoothie time! A smoothie is the perfect way to cool off and get quick nutrition. A healthy guideline is to try to drink a nutritious smoothie every day in order to get your nutrients in a complete liquid form that is easy to digest. Smoothies are also easier and quicker to prepare than other complete meals.

Category 3: Pay it Forward

• I have been coaching kids camps during the week as my summer job while I am off school and although I have been doing it for years, I still find it fascinating to watch children interact. The younger ones have so much innocence and without a fleeting thought, seem to naturally help one another (for the most part!). One of the sunny days that we had last week, we allowed the kids to get smoothies at lunch. Low and behold one of the youngest girls ends up dropping her smoothie on the ground and as you can imagine, devastation set in immediately for this little girl. Without hesitation - and just before the tears start pouring down her face - another little girl about 7 years old interrupts and insists that she will share her smoothie with the little child who no longer had one. Not only was this the cutest thing to watch as it unfolded, but I thought to myself...... that 7 year old didn't hesitate to make the situation better. She didn't stop and wager what was in it for herself and didn't expect anything in return.

Sometimes I think as adults we all too often forget that an act of kindness should come without a price tag and without wager. I believe in karma and truly think that what you put out you will get in return. Perhaps we should all be a little more like six and seven year olds?!?

‘Greater Good’ Tid Bits

For your health: Summer Time Meatless Grilling! (compliments of the food network).

Grilled pizzas topped with avocado, fresh spinach, and goat cheese are a California dream come true.

Stretch the dough to whatever shape fits your grill most easily: round, oval, or even free form. Flipping a large round of dough on a hot grill can be tricky, so we made two smaller pieces and turned them over with tongs and a spatula -- no sweat.

Prep: 25 minutes

Total: 25 minutes

Serves 4

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• All-purpose flour, for shaping dough

• 1 pound store-bought pizza dough, fresh, or thawed if frozen

• 2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced crosswise

• 2 scallions, white and green parts separated, thinly sliced

• 1 log (5 ounces) soft goat cheese, crumbled

• Coarse salt and ground pepper

• 1 bag (5 ounces) baby spinach

• 1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and diced

• 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

Directions

1. Heat grill to medium. Brush a large rimless baking sheet (or an inverted rimmed sheet) with 1 tablespoon oil. On a lightly floured work surface, roll and stretch dough to two 8-inch ovals or rounds. Transfer to prepared sheet. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon oil.

2. Transfer dough to grill. Cook, without turning over, until undersides are firm and begin to char, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs and a large spatula, place crusts on baking sheet, grilled side up.

3. Scatter crusts with tomatoes, scallion whites, and cheese; season with salt and pepper, and slide back onto grill. Cook, rotating occasionally, until cooked through and cheese begins to melt, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board.

4. In a medium bowl, combine spinach, avocado, scallion greens, vinegar, and remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Pile mixture onto pizzas; halve, and serve.