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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

ROASTED CARROTS WITH TAHINI DRESSING

Recipes courtisey of Living Plate. Visit at LivingPlate.com. See ad on page 35.
  • 2 lbs. carrots, peeled if desired and sliced in half lengthwise
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1  tsp. ground coriander
  • ½  tsp. turmeric
  • Parchment paper
  • ¼ c. tahini [sesame seed paste]
  • 1 garlic clove [small], crushed
  • 2 lemons
  • 1 Tbs. nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese [see notes]
  • 1 Tbs. olive oil
  • ¼ c. warm water [plus more if needed]
  • ¼  tsp. sea salt
  • ¼  tsp. black pepper
  • ¼ c. cilantro, chopped
  • 2 Tbs. pumpkin seeds, raw
Prep:
  • 1. Peel [if desired] and slice carrots.
  • 2. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • 3. Juice lemon.
  • 4. Chop cilantro.
Make:
  1. Toss carrots with olive oil, salt and spices. Place carrots on parchment-lined baking sheets, making sure they are spaced apart.
  2. Roast for about 30 minutes until soft and slightly browned.
  3. Whisk together tahini, garlic, 4 Tbs. lemon juice, and nutritional yeast or cheese. Add olive oil and water, adding more water if needed to thin.
  4. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
  5. When carrots are done, remove from oven and place on plate.
  6. Drizzle with dressing and garnish with cilantro and pumpkin seeds.
 
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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