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Cinnamon

I read recently that 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day has been shown to do the following:

  • Helps manage your blood sugar
  • Reduces triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels
  • Supports digestive function
  • Constricts and tones tissues (does that include thighs?)
  • Relieves congestion
  • Relieves pain and stiffness of muscles and joints
  • Relieves menstrual discomfort
  • Stimulates circulation via blood-thinning compounds
  • May relieve arthritis through anti-inflammatory compounds
  • Helps prevent urinary tract infections, tooth decay and gum disease, and
  • It’s a powerful anti-microbial agent that can kill E. coli and other bacteria

But, cinnamon can only help you if you eat it, so when I saw Cinn-A-Stacks at IHOP I decided to order them for my health. The best way to describe this delectable dish is Cinnabon in french toast or pancake form, complete with cream cheese drizzle. I figured that since cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels it would cancel out all the sugar. If you want to try them, hurry up because it’s just a temporary menu item.

Another way to get your cinnamon is TGIFriday’s Cinnabon Cheesecake. It has swirls of the same Korintje (Indonesian) cinnamon goo that Cinnabon uses in their buns, plus the all-important cream cheese drizzle.

And if you want to make your own Cinnabon buns, check out this recipe.

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Eye candy and goat cheese

Yesterday I went to a gem & jewelry trade show on my way to visit my parents for the weekend. Booth after booth was filled with beads or fine jewelry, all at wholesale price. It’s so much fun for me to go to these shows because I can feel the beads (as opposed to when I buy online) and see what’s new in the industry. I went a little crazy, though, as my got frozen because I was buying a lot of beads (mostly sterling silver) from vendors registered all over the country, so the fraud department thought my card was stolen. Better safe than sorry, and I was almost finished shopping anyway.

Because the show was in Chantilly, VA and there is a Wegmans about 8 miles away, I went there to shop for dinner: steak stuffed with spinach, feta, & olives and all you have to do is bake it. Creme fraiche and berries for dessert, and I also got pastries from the bakery and Gjetost (Norwegian goat cheese) from the fromagerie. We like to slice that in tissue-thin pieces; as Martha puts it, “it is like eating smooth, smelly caramel.” If you have a Wegmans near you, count yourself blessed and visit often.