Although there seems to be some controversy as to whether it is today or on whatever date the Super Bowl falls on, the majority seems to side with National Popcorn Day falling on January 19^th. So  get in the kitchen to try these three “poptastic” recipes! If you have your own recipes or want to let us know what you think, please share them on our Facebook page, or upload a photo!

Ingredients
3 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup cheddar cheese powder, plus 1 tablespoon
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 cups popped popcorn
Salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the butter, cheddar cheese powder, mustard powder, cayenne pepper.
2. Add the popcorn and the season with salt and pepper to taste, then toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Ingredients
1 bag of light microwave popcorn, popped (about 9 cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Put popcorn in a large bowl.
2. Drizzle olive oil evenly over the top, followed by the Italian herbs and grated Parmesan.
3. Toss to blend well. Keep in a sealable plastic bag and eat within 2 days.

Ingredients
12 cups popped popcorn
1 cup firm-pack brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecan halves

Directions

1. Place popcorn in greased 15 x 10-inch baking pan.
2. In a 1-1/2 quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, margarine and honey. Cook over medium heat until boiling, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
3. Continue cooking at a gentle boil for five minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Slowly pour mixture over popped corn. Add pecans and stir gently until pecans and popcorn are evenly coated.
5. Bake at 300-degrees for 15 minutes.
6. Stir and bake five minutes more. Turn out on waxed paper. Cool, break into chunks and store in tightly covered container.

Have any extra? Thread some on a string (you can use dental floss), hang outside within view of a window, sit back & enjoy the show!

Today is Monday January 9th 2012, which means…Happy National Bubble Bath Day!!! What a wonderful way to start off the week! If you haven’t yet perfected the art of the bubble bath, have no fear! Below are some simple do it yourself homemade bubble bath recipes you can enjoy. So start the tub, pour some wine and get ready to sit back and relax!

Vanilla & Honey Recipe
1 cup sunflower oil
1/2 cup castile soap
1/4 cup honey
1 TBS vanilla

Instructions:
Grate the castile soap and cover with a bit of water, heat until melted.
Stir in the rest of the ingredients, add to running bath.

Vanilla Foam Bath Recipe
1/4 cup sweet almond or sunflower oil
1 c. liquid soap or unscented shampoo
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup dried milk powder, optional

Instructions:
This is a very simple recipe, making it perfect for anyone! Use a large plastic container to blend the ingredients together thoroughly. Mix well in any order. Pour the combined mixture into a lidded glass jar. Shake very well before each use.

Basic Recipe
1 cup mild shampoo (baby shampoo) or a mild dish soap
1/3 cup Glycerin
2 Tablespoons of Water
Essential Oil of your choosing

Instructions:
Gently mix together the shampoo, glycerin, and water. If desired, add 10 – 25 drops of water scent of essential oil you enjoy, and, again, gently mix. Pour mixture into a bottle or jar that can close tightly.

Let us know how you enjoyed the recipes or share your own on our Facebook page, ENJOY!!!

Watch our Holiday Video here!

Need a quick tasty & healthy dinner? Then you will LOVE this salad, super crunchy, full of flavor and satisfying. Let us know what you think!

Serving Size: 6 to 8

Ingredients:

2 bunches Watercress (2 to 3 cups)

6 cups peeled and shredded carrots

3 celery stalks, cut in half lengthwise and thinly cut on a diagonal

½ cup finely chopped red or Vidalia onion

1 cup currants or ½ cup raisins

Dressing:

½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon canola oil

¼ teaspoon, or to taste

½ cup sliced almonds

Directions:

• Strip the watercress leaves from the large stems. Wash leaves in a bowl of cool water; lift out to drain, and spin dry. Chop delicately by making a few random slices through the bunch.

• In a medium-sized bowl, combine carrots, celery, onion, watercress, and raisins or currants. Mix gently.

• Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a jar and shake until mixed. Pour over salad. Adjust salt to taste.

• Toast sliced almonds in a 350 degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes. Use as a garnish.

Recipe Courtesy of Elise Rubenstein

It seems that we all can’t wait for spring, but for some of us, we are suffering as we admire the gorgeous blooming cherry blossoms and the new green grass. My philosophy is to always ask “Why?” What is causing this reaction and what can you do, other than take a pill, to support yourself and ease your symptoms?

An allergy is an over-reaction of the immune system. The body responds as though it is under attack, releasing antibodies and triggering inflammation. So if the pollen is an irritant for you, your body is inflamed and one of the best things you can do is support your body with the right kinds of food! Using food to soother allergies? Diet has a direct affect on the inflammation in your body.

If you system is already on alert from the outside allergens, then you need to remove the foods from your diet that will also create inflammation. Eating inflammatory foods when you are experiencing an allergic reaction is like throwing gasoline on a burning fire.

Sugar, refined grains, wheat and dairy are the big ones to look out for. Too much sugar places major demands on our digestive system, suppressing the immune system, not to mention wreaking havoc with our metabolism.

It is estimated the over 90 million Americans have certain genetic variants that make them sensitive to gluten, the protein found within the seeds or grains of wheat, rye, barley, spelt and kamut. The system responds to gluten as an intruder in the body, not a food. If you are sensitive to gluten and continue to include it in your diet, you will be setting the stage for systemic inflammation, triggering other sensitivities.

There has been much controversy around dairy. But, 60% of the world’s population can’t digest dairy. Dairy triggers mucus production that can lead to sinus congestion and sinus headaches. I have personally witnessed the most profound results in my clients’ respiratory and digestive healing from removing dairy from their diets!

So if you are already inflamed and suffering, remove the foods from your diet that will add to your discomfort and inflammation. Food can be your medicine, so use it wisely and pay attention to the foods that are making your feel worse, rather than better.

This article is courtesy of Elise Rubenstein, let us know what you think!

Looking for a healthy and festive Cinco De Mayo dinner option? Here is a great recipe from Elise Rubenstein, let us know what you think!

Savory Moroccan Veggie Stew

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

3  cups low-sodium chicken broth, or vegetable stock
1 can diced tomatoes, with their juice
1 cup zucchini, sliced into half circles
1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
4 artichoke hearts, cut in half (frozen or packed in water and drained)
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
1/4 cup  parsley, chopped
1/4 cup raisins
2 scallions , thinly sliced (including green tops)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp basil
1/2  tsp oregano

Directions:

Bring stock, plus 1 cup of water to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and add remaining ingredients. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, until the quinoa is cooked.  Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Susan Testa is a licensed nutritionist in the state of Maryland. Since 1991, Ms. Testa has been practicing a combination of conventional, holistic, functional and complimentary nutrition, otherwise known as “Integrative Nutrition”. She specializes in working with those who have chronic diseases, such as gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, cardiovascular and vascular diseases, depression, arthritis, allergies and weight issues. Ms. Testa currently holds private practice and treats patients nutritionally and as a health coach in the Baltimore area.

The Integrative Health Transitional Program is a 12-month program designed to improve your current health or medical condition. You will learn how to take better care of yourself and control your well-being by recognizing your own health status through taking specialized integrative health self-assessments. The program will provide you with a full understanding and application of integrative and holistic health. You can improve your life now and change your life in only two hours a month. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle now will give you the advantage of preventing diseases and health symptoms. It’s never too late to take care of yourself.

* Learn how to take better care of yourself.

* Learn how your body really works and how body functions like digestion and gut health can change one’s health condition.

* Learn how nutrition can improve function.

* Learn how to integrate complimentary therapies into your conventional medical care and take control of your health.

Learn all this and more!

If you are interested in improving your health and well-being, call 410-433-HPHQ (4747) or email Info@HealthPlanHQ.com today and take the next step towards improving the rest of your life.

Perhaps the greatest evidence of the depth of the crisis is that we have come to accept such levels of chronic disease or symptoms as normal, despite evidence that much of it is preventable. Evidence has shown us that dietary imbalances are the leading preventable contributors to premature death in the U.S.

Medical care often treats the symptoms and not the cause. For example, if you can’t sleep or suffer from headaches, indigestion, have high cholesterol, anxiety, stress or depression; the doctor will routinely prescribe you medication.

People realize that their headaches are not due to aspirin deficiency and are seeking answers that address the root of the problem and aid in restoring normal, healthy body function. This is not to say that treatment of the symptoms of a condition is wrong. What would be wrong would be to think that by eliminating the symptom we have dealt with the problem itself.

As a result, many people utilize conventional medicine for diagnosis and basic information and symptom relief, while turning to complementary choices for therapy or health & wellness enhancing measures. Studies indicate that complementary approaches are often used in conjunction with conventional medicine with positive outcomes.

The Integrative Health Transitional Program offers broader concepts and includes more facets of human life than the traditional definition of health. The integration of holistic concepts and practices in conjunction with conventional care is not found in conventional wellness programs. An integrative health program will help you broaden your perspective on health and healing and offer more alternatives that support self-care and self-responsibility.

HealthPlan Headquarters wants to offer you an opportunity to experience the HealthPlanHQ.com website with a scavenger hunt.   It will take just a few minutes of your time and by submitting your response by January 3rd you will be eligible for a raffle drawing to win an Apple iPad (keep reading to find out how you can get more than one raffle ticket) !

Answer the following 8 questions and when you are finished submit your answers to Info@HealthPlanHQ.com with scavenger hunt in the subject line, good luck!

Scavenger Hunt:

1. Finish this statement, “Access to Coverage. People who…”?

2. If you select products and services, and then click on the business owner icon, what does his quote say?

3. Click on products and services, then click on the yellow business and employers icon on the left hand side, what does the fifth paragraph say? (By accurately…)

4. Where are we located?

5. Under individuals and families, if you click on the medical icon on the left side, then scroll to the bottom of the page and press the yellow bar for a quote; after you fill out the request (this is strictly for the contest, your information will not be used) where does it take you?

6. Under the about us tab, select meet our team of HPHQ Gurus, what is a guru?

7. Go to our FAQ section (found in the middle of the homepage under “whether online, over the phone, or in-store, we’re here to help!”) what is the answer to number 1, “how does a broker get compensated”?

8. For each social media outlet you friend us on we will put your name on an additional raffle ticket (Follow the icons on our homepage!).

Complete the scavenger hunt and send your answers to Info@HealthPlanHQ.com by Monday January 3^rd 2011.

All completed responses received by January 7^th 2011 will be entered into a drawing for an Apple iPad!  We will notify everyone of the winner by Friday January 7^th 2011. Thank you for your participation we look forward to hearing from you, good luck!