Healthy Sinuses

After doing some extensive research on the web I found this article on Sinus Disease & Problems to have been the most helpful and comprehensive.

Pillow Cheesecake With Salted Butter Caramel Sauce

The criteria for this cheese cake recipe were: It has to be pillowy-soft, chocolate has to be involved, just a hint of citrus flavor, and there should be some salted butter caramel going on as well. Now you know where the name comes from.

Pad Thai Noodles

One of my favorite dishes is Pad Thai Noodles. The Temple of Thai website had a number of intriguing recipes for Pad Thai Noodles, as well as a host of other traditional Thai dishes. They also have a number of Thai cookbooks worth perusing for purchase. Best of all, some of those hard-to-find Thai ingredients (like tamarind paste) can be ordered as well.

Fudge Brownies

This looks like a very good recipe based on the ingredients and the comments of other people who tried the recipe. There are some helpful tips as well, if you read the entire article. Try some Fudge Brownies from King Arthur.

What You Need to Run in the Cold

It’s important to have a good attitude when running in the cold. Think of it as an adventure or a challenge. Try to have fun – have you ever run in a blinding blizzard? Try 40 below zero – I did and it made me a better runner and a stronger person.

What you will hopefully find is that it’s easy to run in the cold, especially if you have the right gear. Most of this gear is not expensive and you may already find in your closet. So let’s start at the top and work our way down.

Half the heat is pouring out of your head when it’s cold, so headgear is imperative. Just don’t overdo it. A simple stocking hat combined with something to cover your face is more than adequate. A balaclava will combine as both or maybe you have a windmask if you’re into skiing.

In a pinch a bandana tied around your neck and pulled up over your nose works great. As you run, your breath will freeze the bandana and it will not only stay up by itself but act as a marvelous windbreak.

For your torso, start with a long or short sleeved undershirt that is dry wicking in nature. In other words, not a cotton t-shirt. A Cool-Max type of shirt works great, or any other shirt that won’t accumulate sweat as you pour on the miles.

A thin fleece or wool top will go over this. It’s ability to wick moisture through is far more important than it’s warming capabilities. Trust me, when you top this with a nylon windbreaker jacket, staying warm won’t be a problem.

Gloves should also be minimal, windproof, and breathable. Mittens are a little warmer than gloves, all other things being equal. I have some thin glove liners and GoreTex mittens. With the options to wear the one, the other, or both one can be comfortable over a very wide temperature range.

Your legs need the least amount of warming, since they’re doing most of the work and they’re the biggest muscles. Try a pair of tights or thin running pants covered by a pair of nylon windbreaker pants. In real cold weather wear another pair of shorts over the tights but under the windbreaker.

Your feet are not likely to get cold, but a pair of wool socks are far more comfortable than cotton because of their ability to wick away moisture and still stay warm. Don’t wear socks that are too thick for your shoes or you will lose any insulation and probably screw up your stride as well.

You don’t need special shoes to run in the winter. Maybe get a pair that’s less ventilated and has good traction for snow and ice.

Now that you’re all dressed up, let’s head outside. Before we blast off, however, you may want to adjust your running to the conditions.

First of all, don’t get too hot and sweat like crazy, which is the likeliest scenario if you’re new to winter running. You should be a bit cold the first five or ten minutes. From then on you should be comfortable for the duration, even if you run for two hours at five minute pace.

If you get too warm you can make a number of adjustments. Unzip your torso underlayer first, then the jacket, if need be. Maybe put the gloves in your pockets and just wear the liners. Pull down the face mask whenever possible or pull your stocking hat up a bit.

With a little experimenting and patience with the above gear, you should find yourself able to run comfortably from 20 degrees above down to 40 degrees below zero and never mind the wind chill.

You will also want to adjust your running style when the conditions are cold and slippery. First of all, shorten your stride and avoid any snapping action of the hamstrings or calves. Your workouts should be focused on long, slow distance and endurance.

Also watch for slippery stretches and slow down for them. You may need to find new running routes for the winter where you have a minimum of ice, snow, and cars.

Go easy on your muscles. Spend a bit more time (at least ten minutes) warming up before shifting your run into high gear.

And now for the best part – you’re done. Now take a long hot shower or sit in the hot tub for an hour. Be sure and do lots of stretching after you run. Hot pads are not just for old guys, they are quite useful for warming up the big muscles hours after you have finished your run.

Stay flexible, stay warm, stay injury-free.

Climber's Elbow

Climber's or Golfer's elbow is difficult to diagnose and treat. Much of the information I received from my doctor and various web searches was an inconsistent or incorrect jumble of not-so-helpful information. Few, if any, mentioned tendonosis versus the more commonly misdiagnosed tendonitis, let alone what to do about it. This article by Eric J. Hörst is clear and concise in diagnosing and treating climber's elbow.

More Than Human

One of the more talked about episodes on Discovery Channel's "More Than Human" was about climber Tori Allen. View the YouTube video and find out the secret to this young girl's phenomenal climbing prowess.

How to Fry Tofu Like a Master

Cooking with tofu can be a trying experience. All those years of cooking meats won't prepare you for your first grease-splattering adventure when one of your family members decides to go vegetarian.

Never fear! One of the cooks at Recipe Zaar was willing to share some tips on the fine art of cooking tofu.

We're Out of Cheese Gromit!

Need some ideas for your next party or get-together? Want to try some different cheeses, but don't know where to start? AllRecipes.com has some great tips for matching wines and cheeses.

Swiss Army Knife

I have always had a fascination for Swiss Army Knives, or anything Victorinox. Here is a Rescue Tool that caught my eye. It has tools for breaking a windshield, sawing a windshield, or cutting a seat belt. I am considering getting one for each car.

There's also a nifty Flashlight Card or how about a cool MP3 Player Knife? What will they think of next?

Quote of the Day

rok iz gud.

:: Climer