Pink Ribbon Recipe

*photo courtesy of Vitamix.

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this is the last day of the month, I want to feature a recipe I discovered on Tuesday night. My friend Debbie and I went to the Guitars For Girls concert at Lorain County Community College, and all of the proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This event was sponsored by WGAR radio, and the 3 wonderful gentlemen who performed did not receive a penny for the show. James Otto, Richie McDonald, and Chuck Wicks donated their time and talent to the cause.

There were many tables featuring information about breast cancer, and Vitamix had their own booth where they mixed up these Pink Ribbon Smoothies for us to sample. Not only is it delicious, but the fruits in the smoothie have awesome disease-fighting properties. Here is their recipe...The directions are for the Vitamix but you can also whip this up in a regular blender if that's what you have.

Pink Ribbon Smoothie

1 cup red grapes

1 cup strawberries, fresh

1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt

1 cup ice cubes

Place all ingredients in the Vitamix container in the order listed. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10, then to HIGH. Blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Yields 2 1/2 cups.

Recipe is low-fat, low-carb, low-sodium, low-cholesterol, heart healthy, gluten-free, and vegetarian. Please go to http://www.vita-mix.com/household/Health/breasthealth.asp for more information on the disease-fighting properties of red grapes and strawberries.

Just because this is the last day of October doesn't mean we should forget about breast cancer awareness. Continue to support the cause all year long...wouldn't it be great if we found a cure for this awful disease that affects so many people?

Also...Happy Halloween to all of you. Don't let the ghosts and goblins get you...and don't let the Halloween candy get you either!!! ;o)

Race For The Cure - I WILL!

I did not run today in our local Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. I've been wanting to do it for a few years, but something has always prevented me from participating. I was signed up one year for the walk portion of the race, but wound up with a sinus infection the day before the event, so I did not get to walk. The following year, I knew I would have to work the morning of the race, so I donated to a special part of the race that was called Sleep In For The Cure...if you were not running or walking, this was your category. I was happy to still give my money to the cause, but I've only worn the shirt to sleep in, since I wasn't actually sleeping in on the day of the race: I was at work. I must say, it's quite ironic to only wear a shirt that reads Sleep In For The Cure to bed!

This cause is near and dear to my heart. I lost my mom, cousin, and 2 aunts to breast cancer. As you may have read in some of my earlier posts this summer, I've had 3 surgical biopsies myself on a total of 4 "unusual masses" that showed up on mammogram and ultrasound. Thanks to God...they were all benign, but I still have to watch my body closely, as does my other cousin, because of our strong family history.

Every year, I say I will run the following year, but it hasn't happened yet. This year I couldn't even donate, because my husband got laid off in May and we're having trouble paying the bills. The other thing that has held me back from the race is my weight. I know I need to be in better shape to run this race. I want to make a good showing for my family, and not crumble in a heap on the course because I am not conditioned for it. I also know that by exercise and eating healthy, I am hopefully preventing this disease in my own body.

Today is the day that I make this promise: I will be running in next year's Race For The Cure in Cleveland, Ohio. I am already getting stronger and in better shape, so I am setting this goal for sure. AND...this time, it's not just a promise I am making in my head - now that I've posted it in this blog, it's as if I've signed a contract to run this race. To my mom Helen, cousin Carol, Aunt Jean and Aunt Paula...I love all of you and miss you so much, and I will not let you down!!!