Z is for Zest, Zeaxanthin and Zeal.

     Oh January. It's the time of year where my bank account has reached its lowest point, my spirits have peaked and begun to plummet again (mostly due to the bank account rape) and it's time to begin those resolutions. I'd like to reconsider the point of a resolution, it is supposed to help us on our quest for perfection, and assist our spirits into sticking with it. But what happened last year? Yep, you were good for a week or two. Eating salads with low fat dressing, taking a morning jog, maybe even eating cabbage soup. But then something happens. All of a sudden our memory fails us and there we are staring into the face of that damn chocolate fancy cake nonsense. It catches your eye with its lovely frosting and thick moist layers, jumps into your cart and before you know it you've eating it in the car outside the store, inhaling it like a starving orphan in the movie Oliver. Too bad. Why don't we make a resolution to work on will power, instead going on a diet? That may help to curb both issues, don't you think?
      Since most people rely on the turn of the New Year to help them decide on what kind of diet they will be going on, try to start making changes in small ways, rather than jumping into some kind of commitment that will ultimately end  with an oversized burrito in hand and a gigantic soda in the other. Think, "no no, I've made a resolution about will power" and you will put the lard laden monster down.
    
      Start it with zest.
      End it with zeal.
    
      Hopefully you are already using zest in baked goods, soups and other recipes. If not, try it out. Not only does it add that extra special "what is in this" factor, but the oils from the zest of lemons, oranges and citrus alike have an added antioxidant bonus.
      Zest and Zeal, thats all we need in 2010. (It's going to be in Obama's next speech, I kid you not.)
    

      Since this is also the end of the alphabet, I'd like to make a mention of all the letters that got me to this point. I began in September with some random ramblings about things I like, foods to eat, places to go and things to remember. Now, 4 months later, and 26 letters down, I feel semi-accomplished by using my time away from school in this manner. At least I was researching something, reading a little and writing kinda. So in an effort to stay nutritionally based here is one more word that you may be hearing more about in the years to come, Zeaxanthin. Pronounced Zee-ah-zann-thin, it is a carotenoid that is also a component of the retina of the eye. It is usually found with lutein, another antioxidant, in foods like kale, spinach, broccoli, brussels spouts and one more Z , Zucchini! So, mostly dark green leafy vegetables. It helps protect cells from free radical degradation, most importantly, and obviously, those in your eyes. So eat up those greens! They are good  for your eyes. You don't want to loose these, they are what you eat with first! So get some Z rich foods and ingredients into that News Years Resolution "Diet" or better yet lifestyle. 
      

      So here is to Z. The last letter in our alphabet, but really, just the beginning for me. Now that I know my ABC's what order should The Cauliflower Lollipop go in next? Hummmm......

      For now, here is my New Year Resolution Soup Recipe full of zest, that will give you some zeal and loaded with zeaxanthin. Perfect for more cold days to come this winter.

Resolute Resolution Veggie Soup
By Joy Jenkins

Ingredients:
3  15 oz. can unsalted diced organic tomatoes
1  5 oz. can organic tomato paste
8  cups filtered water
1  bay leaf
3  tsp dried organic oregano
2  tsp dried organic basil
1  tsp celery seeds
1  tsp garlic powder
1  tsp onion powder
1 1/2  tsp lemon zest
1 - 2   tsp chili flakes
1/8 - 1/4  tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2  tsp sea salt
4  tbl. red wine vinegar
3  large organic zucchini - chopped into 1/4 inch rounds
8  large stalks organic celery - diced
3  large organic carrots - peeled chopped into 1/4 inch rounds
1  medium organic shallot -  peeled, diced
1  large red organic bell pepper - diced
1/2  organic cabbage-  roughly chopped
8 oz  organic crimini mushrooms -  cleaned, sliced thin
5 tbl  organic parsley -  chopped fine

Directions:
1.) Find a REALLY big pot.
2.) Put ALL the ingredients in the pot. Make sure the water covers the vegetables about 1 to 2 inches above them. Stir until everything is well incorporated (tomato paste should be well dispersed.)
3.) Put on medium high heat and bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce to simmer and let simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Vegetables should be tender.
4.) Eat bowls and bowls of it! Its fat free, high in vitamins, low in calories and really warming and good!
    

Feel free to modify it. Add Beans, or meat, or different vegetables. Sometimes I like to add pasta to it.
Enjoy! and Happy New Year, hope all your resolutions come true!