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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

ROASTED ASPARAGUS AND QUINOA SALAD

Recipes courtisey of Living Plate. Visit at LivingPlate.com. See ad on page 35.
  • 1½ lbs. asparagus [about two bunches]
  • 2 Tbs. olive oil
  • 1 c. quinoa
  • 2 c. vegetable broth or water
  • ½ c. chopped almonds
  • 1 Tbs. orange zest
  • 3 ounces crumbled goat cheese [optional]
  • 1/8 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbs. olive oil
  • 2 small oranges, juiced
  • 3 Tbs. red wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/8 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
Prep:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Chop almonds.
  3. Zest orange - for 1 Tbs. zest.
  4. Juice 2 oranges.
  5. Trim touch ends from asparagus.
Make:
  1. Toss asparagus and olive oil together in a bowl and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tender and browned on the edges. Set aside.
  2. Rinse quinoa well in a fine strainer under cold water. Transfer to a saucepan and add broth. Bring to a simmer and cover. Cook 15 minutes or until broth has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add the asparagus, quinoa, almonds, orange zest, salt and pepper. 4. In a jar, add all of the dressing ingredients - oil, orange juice, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Cover and shake until emulsified. Pour over salad ingredients and toss to coat. Serve!
recipes
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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