Gratitude- Top 10 Lists

I espouse wholeness. Connecting our spirits and our bodies creates harmony and builds a complete soul. To this end I ask readers to try this exercise: Identify your top ten best physical features, and then rank your top ten worst features. This exercise has a point. Please do it now. Scribble your lists on a napkin, notepad, or even better, write them in the comments section of this blog. Don’t think or censor, just write 10 best features and 10 worst.

How many items actually made it onto your “best feature” list? Did you strain your brain to find more than five? This exercise often reveals the second list to be much longer than the first. Sadly, we tend to rehearse our flaws in our own minds as well as discussing them with others. But, rarely do we shout to the world that we have beautiful hands and an elegant nose. When was the last time you told someone, out loud, about your best features?

Identify which items on your “worst” list are not remedied with greater health and balance. (Put a star or doodle by these.) For instance, height won’t change no matter how healthy we get. Put a star by it. If I am short-waisted and have a weak chin, all the weight control in the world won’t give me a longer torso and a stronger jawline. Do not put a star by the things you can fix with surgery—no surgery will ever help you make peace with the body you have been given. Even with a boob job, there will be other traits you despair over.

Universally, we easily identify flaws but we are thoroughly unaccustomed to acknowledging attributes. Was your design a mistake? If you believe in God you know, “He don’t make no junk.” So, what could possibly make us hold ourselves up to a fantasy standard that is unachievable (height, torso, chin) and therefore, by definition, inadequate?

The answer is gratitude. When I criticize myself I just plain forget to lose myself in gratitude. It is easier to knock my skinny lips and wide hips than it is to feel grateful for those hips ability to safely birth my glorious children. When I grumble about my thin hair I forget I got it from my beloved Grandma—no thin hair also means no Grandma. It is easier to hate my love handles than to recognize I go to bed without hunger. In India millions of orphaned street children live with hunger in crushing poverty and desperation, day-in-day-out, yet my compassion for those in need stops when all I can focus on is my own jelly belly. Gratitude is the answer. Gratitude is also the paradigm out of which true harmony with my body is achieved. I cannot properly “hear” my body’s messages if I am engaged in self-criticism, and it is by connecting to my body in a healthy way that I get prompts of what to eat and when to stop eating. Psychological warfare with myself won’t help me become permanently thin and healthy. Gratitude is the foundation for thinking thin.

For all those items above marked with a star or doodle, make peace with each one of them by identifying how they are a blessing in your life. Say aloud the following sentence:

Without (insert feature here) I would __________________________________________.

Personally, I am grateful for my muscular thighs. They weren’t designed for modeling skinny jeans but they were endowed with the strength to hike Angel’s Landing at Zion’s National Park with my children. My German thighs can dig dirt and squat in the yard, allowing me to grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers. My legs can dance West Coast Swing all night long and can do endless squats in a Zumba class. My thighs power big jumps in volleyball and help me lift heavy bags of flour and sugar for baking. I can waterski and snow ski without injury or exhaustion. On this lap I held all three of my babies. Most important, I can walk. I can run. How fantastic! These are thighs worthy of my gratitude. Never again will I disrespect my design by imagining I need legs different than the ones I have.

Tres Hatch is the author of Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy.

Chicken-Mango Salad

Have you ever opened your refrigerator to make dinner and found nothing but odd combinations of seemingly unrelated food? Perhaps an onion, half a bottle of caramel sauce, and miso paste; hmmm. To quote the Cake Boss: “Not for nuttun’, but waddya gonna do?”

In my recent foray into the realm of “make something out of nothing” I came up with this rather tasty chicken-mango salad. I know mangoes are not normally found lying about most American kitchens, but now is the time to indulge in this fruit because it is in-season and inexpensive. Select a variety of soft and firm mangoes so you can eat sweet mangoes today and have them ripen as you want them. If you are not a mango lover, which, incidentally, is the most widely eaten fruit in the world, you will be a fan after tasting the sweet, juicy, piney, peachy flesh. If you thought the prize went to bananas and apples for highest consumption, you need only to look a little further South towards the equator where human populations are dense and mango trees flourish.

This salad can be served on toast and over a bed of lettuce equally well.

Chicken Mango Salad

Serves 6 as an entree

If the prospect of separating the mango pulp from the skin and pit seems daunting, read the tip below.

2 (14.4 ounce) cans chicken chunks, drained (reserve broth for another use)

2 ribs celery, finely diced

1/2 small Persian cucumber, finely diced

1/4 red onion, finely diced

1 mango, finely diced

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

1 big glob mayo (about 1 cup)

salt and pepper

generous dash lemon pepper, or zest of 1/2 lemon

garnish with salted nuts and crushed tortilla chips

In a large bowl mix all ingredients well and adjust salt and pepper for seasoning. Serve over lettuce or on toasted bread.

*To dice a mango run a knife all the way through the middle (top to bottom/North to South) along one plane of the flat pit. Hold mango half without pit in palm of hand and score down to the skin in narrow slits. Rotate and again score crosswise down to the skin. Invert mango so flesh pops out toward you. Run a knife along the base by the skin to release attached pieces. Repeat with other half.

Ganache that’s good…

One question I am frequently asked: what is ganache? This topic may come up with great regularity because I obsessively talk about the decadently-rich chocolate confection. But, regardless of the source of the prompt, I am happy to elaborate on one of nature’s more perfect luxuries. Ganache is a combination of semi-sweet or dark chocolate (not milk chocolate) and cream, melted together in varying proportions. Equal parts chocolate-to-cream results in a mixture that, when cooled, thickens to a firm fudgy consistency. Use more cream, and it sets up softer, almost a sauce. Ganache is the stuff frequently found in the middle of a chocolate truffle. Or, as I like to call it: breakfast.

Ganache is used in more than just candy centers. When warm and liquid it can be poured over baked goods and then sets up to create a chocolate glaze. It can be allowed to stiffen and then formed into shapes as a decorative accent. Another innovation is to allow ganache to set up in the refrigerator until firm but pliable, and then whip it in a standing mixture until light and fluffy—to spread like frosting on cake and cupcakes. Add a spoonful of light corn syrup to melted ganache and it will stay soft and pliable, rather than setting up firm like chocolate bark.

However, my favorite use for ganache is to drizzle warm mixtures over vanilla bean ice cream. It hardens against the frozen cream and the texture explosion in my mouth is fantastic. Cold ice cream melts on my tongue in tandem with the buttery-tasting chocolate ganache. First, vanilla cream, then chocolate cream. Oi Veh! I need oxygen.

Use only good quality chocolate and cream because you will taste them both, unadorned, in ganache. I like any good bar chocolate: Amano, Lindt, Trader Joes, Guittard, Cadbury, Ghiradelli, Cote d’Or, etc. Use chocolate chips when in a pinch, but try to keep a great bar of chocolate on hand for a ganache emergency. Whether you actually use it for ganache or not, you will be prepared for the end of the world, because we all know chocolate will become the new currency.

The following recipe features a chocolate ganache glaze over zucchini brownies.

Zucchini-Walnut Brownies

With Ganache Glaze

Makes one 9 x 13 pan

(From Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy, by Tres Prier Hatch)

No one in my family suspects zucchini is hidden inside these moist brownies. They are nice and chocolaty, but not overwhelmingly rich. Try using light olive oil instead of canola or cooking oil. By my estimation, with zucchini, nuts, dark chocolate and olive oil they are practically health food.

2 cups zucchini, finely grated

½ cup oil

1 ½ cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

¼ cup cocoa

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

6-ounces good quality dark chocolate

½ cup cream

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. In a large bowl mix zucchini, oil, sugar and vanilla. In a medium bowl whisk together dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Gently stir in nuts. Mix until just combined. Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with cooking spray. Spread batter into pan. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Cool.

In a small bowl set over (not in) simmering water, melt chocolate and cream together, stirring frequently. Add more cream if mixture is quite thick. Pour melted ganache over brownies and use an offset spatula to spread to edges of pan. Refrigerate to set icing. Cut into squares and serve. For perfect slices, dip knife in hot water and wipe dry before cutting each slice.

Tres Hatch is the author of: Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy. She eats chocolate every day.

My daughter's Freedom Essay

New Threats to Freedom Scholarship Essay
By Kelsey Hatch

In response to the video, “Goodwin: The freedom to fail”, I wish to expound upon the idea that the loss of the freedom to fail destroys the pursuit of happiness. Not only do I wish to confirm this posit, I also want to demonstrate how the loss of the freedom to fail, ultimately results in the destruction of the American Democracy, the American dream and America’s purpose, in this world.

The Constitution guarantees the American people the right to the pursuit of happiness. As stated in the dictionary, the denotation of pursuit is, “an effort to secure or attain; quest.” So, in essence, the American people are guaranteed the right to a quest or an effort to secure their happiness.

It is common knowledge that in any pursuit, there must be failure and success. Only through mistakes can a person learn how to succeed. So if a person has freedom to make mistakes, or fail, then they have the freedom to succeed and vice versa. Also it is universally accepted that people feel happy or proud of themselves when they succeed or fulfill a goal. This reaction to success is human nature. Success is a fundamental factor in obtaining happiness.

The right to the pursuit of happiness is one of the cornerstones of the Constitution. It is also one of the key elements of the American Dream. The American government and culture were originally built to house the right to the pursuit of happiness. Because of our democratic government, the people have the opportunity to pursue whatever success they wish. True, that it does not guarantee happiness, but it guarantees the pursuit of happiness. I acknowledge that not all pursuits for happiness will be successful. There are outside factors playing into the efficiency of democracy and capitalism. Also, through the progression of time and the evolution of democracy, the American dream and capitalism is influenced. It does not change, but it takes on other meanings and connotations as the people grow in experience and knowledge. When boiled down to the bare minimum, the loss of the freedom to fail results in the loss of the freedom to pursue. The loss of the freedom to pursue results in the loss of the freedom to succeed. When the freedom to succeed is destroyed the entire purpose of the American democracy and the Constitution becomes meaningless, as the privileges guaranteed through these rights fall out of existence.

The loss of the freedom to fail does not affect only one constitutional right, or one group of American citizens. Rather, it affects the American democracy and the Constitution as a whole.

The freedom to fail must be protected. For without it, America’s purpose to its people and their happiness is essentially lost.

5 Healthy Tips for Busy Folks

In order to live healthy and in harmony with our bodies we need to fuel our marvelous machines with “high-grade fuel;” the kind of fuel that powers a Ferrari, not a go-kart. That said, few of us come equipped with a Jetson’s-style kitchen that produces exactly what we need at the touch of a button. What are we to do when life gets too busy to cook? The following tips are designed to help us fuel up our engines with delicious food and get us out of the kitchen and back into life with a minimum of fuss.

1) Cook in bulk. Instead of making just enough for today, prepare multiple pieces of cooked vegetables, fish, tofu (yes, tofu tastes great cooked with seasoning) or chicken at one time. Bag up extra servings in individual airtight bags or containers. Freeze or refrigerate.

To prepare: Season with your favorite spice mixtures, and sear in a little butter and olive oil in a frying pan. When brown, transfer the same pan to a 350-degree preheated oven to finish cooking. This method ensures moist, juicy results. Make extra brown rice, brothy soups, scrambled egg, and other healthy cooked items. A mound of brown rice on a salad, with slices of sautéed chicken, tomato, and avocado makes a super quick healthy meal. Top with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil for heart-healthy and tasty salad dressing.

2) Prep in advance. Wash and spin-dry greens as soon after bringing them home from the market as you possibly can. Prep enough for the week if you can. They keep for about 5 days in an air-tight bag. Wash, peel, and chop carrot, celery, radishes, cucumbers, and other firm vegetables to throw in a salad or stir-fry. Try to include seasonal vegetables—asparagus in spring, green beans in summer, zucchini in fall, and root vegetables in winter. Grab a handful of veggies on your way out the door or when the urge to snack hits you. Wash large baskets of berries or fruit to keep out on the counter throughout the week.

3) Keep tasty dip and salad dressing at the ready. They encourage us to think about including raw vegetables in our diet. A big plop of buttermilk-sour-cream dressing does not negate the high fuel value of the vegetables. Try the recipe below from my book: Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy . It features three variations of creamy dressing on the same base (Blue Cheese, Ranch, & Green Goddess).

4) Incorporate whole grain bread as your standard bread. Life presents lots of instances outside of our control where our meals contain white rolls, white-flour crackers, sandwiches on white bread, and white tortillas. You can keep your primary intake coming from whole grain by purchasing only bread with the words: 100% whole grain, on the label. Remember, 100% wheat flour is still white flour. The inclusion of the word “whole” confirms your bread contains the bran and germ of the grain. Whole grain is the foundation of a healthy diet and is powerful fuel.

5) When in doubt, go for brothy soups and sauces. Avoid fried food. A creamy corn chowder just cannot compare to the lean fuel of minestrone or chicken noodle. Any dish with a “cream sauce” will generally contain less plant product and have more processed fats (think hydrogenated fat out of a foil packet). Order the shrimp with tomato salsa instead of Fettucine Alfredo. Go for the chicken-broccoli stir-fry with soy sauce and ginger instead of the deep-fried egg rolls.

Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

with Green Goddess and Ranch Dressing Variations

Makes 2 ½ cups

Use equal parts sour cream and buttermilk as a base for a myriad of creamy salad dressings. Be creative.

Green Goddess Variation: Omit bleu cheese, garlic powder, and cayenne. Add chopped capers, walnuts, sweet pickles, and parsley for a delicious Green Goddess dressing.

Ranch Variation: Omit the bleu cheese, cayenne, and garlic powder, and add 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives.

Blue Cheese Dressing

1 cup sour cream

1 cup buttermilk

½ cup cottage cheese

6 ounces good quality bleu cheese (like Maytag, Stilton, or gorgonzola), crumbled

2 tablespoons onion, very finely minced

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

pinch of cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon dried dill

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients together. Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired. Thin with milk if too thick. Chill for at least four hours. Can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Tres Hatch is the author of: Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy.

Book Signing Chronicles

People are funny. This fact has never been more apparent to me than over the last year of book signings. Although the quirks of dealing with the public are not exactly a surprise there have been countless moments where I just let my jaw hang slack and, “huh?”, becomes the best response I can muster. I have experienced everything from hilarious to bizarre; with poignant and touching revelations slamming me back to Earth just when I start to lose my faith in humanity. Mostly, I feel inspired by talking with people, but occasionally, those conversations make such an impression they become part of my “signing chronicles.”

At a recent Costco Book signing I met a jaunty “gentleman” in his mid-seventies. He leered at the book posters surrounding the signing table before strutting up to me. With a swagger and a yellow-toothed grin, he told me he had recently lost forty pounds. I congratulated him and took the bait, “How did you do it?” He took my hand and winked as he said, “I started chasing women.” This walking advertisement for Viagra then leaned in and asked if I wanted to help him lose five more. Hmmm. Tempting, but... no. Had I been as quick as my friend Katrina I would have shot back “Heck yeah. My herpes has not flared up in over two weeks.” But sadly, I just stood there, yet again, mouth agape. Perhaps some moments need no flourish to earn entrance into (cue theme music)…the Signing Chronicles.

Another memorable moment happened at a Deseret Book store. I had not even found my designated table before an older gentleman bounded in with the energy of a puppy, grabbed my arm and asked if he could show me a certain framed portrait of Jesus on display. Don’t ask me why he felt compelled to share. I went reluctantly with him to a separate section of the book store where he excitedly pointed to a famous image of Christ. He proclaimed it was out of this very picture that years ago Jesus had actually emerged, appearing to him—in person. Feeling sure I had missed his meaning, I agreed it was a great picture and truly projected the spirit of the subject beyond the canvas. Oh no, no, no. He immediately set me straight. The artwork was not what he saw, but an actual manifestation of a person had emerged from the painting into a 3-dimensional being.

Although I’m not arrogant enough to put limits on the faith of others, and I believe miracles occur on a daily basis, I stood there blankly, with no idea how to respond to this particular story. I was quickly reduced down to a head scratch and a “huh.” I navigated back to my signing table, more than a little relieved to be in screaming earshot of other people.

On the flip side sometimes I am inspired. One particularly humbling encounter was with a friendly woman in her late 50’s with beautiful eyes. She asked me to sign her book while we chatted about her weight concerns. She looked great to me and laughed amiably when I told her so. With refreshing honesty she went on to tell me that her sweetheart of 40 years had passed away one year ago and she could not discern what her body needed anymore because the loneliness and grief were paralyzing. She could not “hear” her needs because she no longer cared. I could not have known from her sunny personality that she was starving to death while compassionately engaging me, a perfect stranger. Her giving nature was revealed as she asked me questions and offered compliments. Meanwhile, she battled sadness inside. I will never forget her grace as she steered the discussion away from herself and back to me, where she attentively listened and inquired about my happiness.

There are many gifts in this world, and certainly one of the most unsung is the ability to lose oneself in the care of others. This sweet woman was blessed with a fountain of unselfish consideration, while at the same time experiencing adversity that could just as easily made her bitter and withdrawn. I learned more about managing grief in ten minutes with her than I could in years of therapy. My prayers and gratitude go out to her.

Tres Hatch is the author of Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy.