Shake it Up

March 16, 2015

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

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Spring is almost here, the time of planting, rebirth, fresh starts and new beginnings.

Gardeners know that before one can sow the seeds of spring, one must aerate the hardened winter soil by breaking through the top layer and turning over fresh earth.  This shaking up of the old surface to create a new one is not only necessary for birthing new plants, but also new ideas, new habits and new possibilities.

It’s time to shake up your old habits to make way for the new.  This week, pick one new thing you will try for Spring.  No need to be grand, dramatic or drastic.  As Edward Lorenz, the mathematician who coined the term “butterfly effect” proved, sometimes the smallest change can ultimately make a big difference.

Here are some ideas:

When you return home from your day, walk around the block instead of switching on the TV, tablet or computer.

Stop on your way home from work or errands and take a stroll in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

Try one new food or cuisine each week.

Wear a color you normally avoid or choose an article of clothing that’s been sitting unworn in your closet.

Watch a documentary about a part of the world you’ve never visited or know little about.

If you regularly add salt or pepper to your prepared food, try leaving it out for one week.

If you drink soft drinks, switch to iced herbal tea, or sparkling water with a splash of juice.

Try a new fruit or vegetable.

Listen to a genre of music that you think you don’t like.

Look up how to say “Thank you” in three languages you don’t know.

Set aside one day a month to be “technology-free”.

~~~

Make some shaken (not whipped) cream.

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Shaken Cream
Shake up the way you whip cream.  No beaters, no bowl, no blender – whipped cream is easy, fast and fun to make in a mason jar.  Best of all, it’s a great workout for your abdominals!

You will need a quart-sized mason jar with lid.

8 oz organic heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 cup powdered sugar

 

Make sure the whipping cream is well-chilled.

Place the mason jar in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Remove jar from freezer.  Pour the chilled cream into the jar with the sugar and vanilla and seal the lid.

Shake the jar vigorously until cream is desired thickness.

I like my whipped cream very thick, so I shook my jar about 7 minutes.  I have heard some people say it only took them one minute.  It is a good idea to check the thickness of the cream every minute or so, so that you don’t shake it too much and end up making butter.

When cream reaches the desired thickness, use in your favorite dessert.

Store leftover shaken cream in the fridge in the same jar you made it.

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