Mark Bittman at the New York Times presents this delicious Winter Citrus Salad, just when we are all feeling cranky and waiting for darkness to get over already and Spring to arrive!

2 blood oranges or tangerines

1 pink grapefruit

1 navel orange

Salt

1/2 small red onion or 1 shallot, chopped

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

1/2 teaspoon honey

Lime or lemon juice to taste

1/4 teaspoon freshly chopped tarragon or a pinch dried.

Yield: 4 servings.

1. Peel citrus, removing as much pith as possible, and slice into wheels. Remove any pits, layer fruit on a serving dish, sprinkle with salt and garnish with chopped onion.
2. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, honey, lime juice and tarragon until well combined; taste, adjust seasoning as needed and drizzle over salad.

I made it and it is delicious!  You can make it, too, and help fight the end of Winter blahs!

And what else is great at the end of Winter?  A nice relaxing and energizing “Fast Swedish” massage.  Using the traditional strokes of Swedish massage, but performed with speed and energy, this massage will both relax you and shake up your blah mood and really lift your spirits!  Book now!

GGH Route Map on Google

WHEN: 31 January 2010, from 11am to 3pm
WHERE: Kirkham Street and 15th Avenue, at the base of the stairway.

Yes, 2010 is seeing a continuation of our fun and successful Stairway Walk Tours – this time we’ll be going to the neighborhood of Golden Gate Heights, full of curving streets, and interesting vistas of the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate, and San Francisco itself.  Also, the delightful Grand View Steps, a once-boring set of concrete steps that neighborhood artists and activists transformed with a truly stunning tile mosaic on the risers.  Photographs cannot adequately describe the beauty of the mosaic – you simply must see it yourself!

An event invitation exists over on Facebook, but if you do not have a Facebook account, you can RSVP by commenting to this blog entry.

Winter is nearly here, and with all the shortening of the days comes the winter blahs. Fortunately, there are easy ways to fight off the blues.

• Exercise: regular exercise, from a brisk walk around the neighborhood to more strenuous workouts at the gym, to everything in between can help keep one feeling alive and perky! The euphoric feelings that working out provides carry over into the rest of one’s life and can definitely help with feelings of depression and anxiety.
• Nutrition: The Harvard School of Public Health published its Food Pyramid as an alternative to the flawed USDA pyramid. At the bottom of the pyramid is Daily Exercise and Weight Control as the key to good nutrition, but right above that is a diet full of whole grains, plant oils, fruits and vegetables. Good nutrition helps the body function at its optimal state and staves off the winter blues.
• Care of the spirit: A practice of meditation or self-reflection can stimulate the body’s systems to lift mood and elevate one’s spirit.
• Massage: You knew I couldn’t leave this one out, right? Being touched in a caring and compassionate way soothes the body and calms the mind. It’s very good for both client and therapist. Studies by the Touch Research Institute show that massage can “enhance attentiveness, alleviate depressive symptoms, reduce pain, reduce stress hormones, and improve immune functions.”

Receiving regular massage can help keep you feeling at your peak!